*ask*

n. An antimask. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A secondary mask, or grotesque interlude, between the parts of a serious mask. [ Written also antimasque. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Asked p. pr. & vb. n. Asking. ] [ OE. asken, ashen, axien, AS. āscian, ācsian; akin to OS. ēscōn, OHG. eiscōn, Sw. āska, Dan. æske, D. eischen, G. heischen, Lith. jëskóti, OSlav. iskati to seek, Skr. ish to desire. √5. ] 1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; -- often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God. Judg. xviii. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John xv. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask? [ 1913 Webster ]

Ask me never so much dowry. Gen. xxxiv. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke xii. 48. [ 1913 Webster ]

An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about; to question. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. John ix. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

He asked the way to Chester. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To publish in church for marriage; -- said of both the banns and the persons. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat; beseech; implore; crave; require; demand; claim; exhibit; inquire; interrogate. See Beg. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To request or petition; -- usually followed by for; as, to ask for bread. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ask, and it shall be given you. Matt. vii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make inquiry, or seek by request; -- sometimes followed by after. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name? Gen. xxxii. 29. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 2d Asker. ] (Zool.) A water newt. [ Scot. & North of Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To turn aside. [ Poet. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

O, how are they wrapped in with infamies
That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } adv. [ Cf. D. schuin, schuins, sideways, schuiven to shove, schuinte slope. Cf. Asquint. ] Sideways; obliquely; with a side glance; with disdain, envy, or suspicion. [ 1913 Webster ]

They dart away; they wheel askance. Beattie. [ 1913 Webster ]

My palfrey eyed them askance. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Both . . . were viewed askance by authority. Gladstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. toward the side, rather than directly ahead; -- used of a glance.
Syn. -- askance, sidelong. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One who asks; a petitioner; an inquirer. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ A corruption of AS. a&unr_;exe lizard, newt. ] (Zool.) An ask; a water newt. [ Local Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. & a. [ Pref. a- + skew. ] Awry; askance; asquint; oblique or obliquely; -- sometimes indicating scorn, or contempt, or entry. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of inquiring or requesting; a petition; solicitation. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The publishing of banns. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. a- + task. ] To take to task; to blame. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Basked p. pr. & vb. n. Basking. ] [ OScand. baðask to bathe one's self, or perh. bakask to bake one's self, sk being reflexive. See Bath, n., Bake, v. t. ] To lie in warmth; to be exposed to genial heat. [ 1913 Webster ]

Basks in the glare, and stems the tepid wave. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To warm by continued exposure to heat; to warm with genial heat. [ 1913 Webster ]

Basks at the fire his hairy strength. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Of unknown origin. The modern Celtic words seem to be from the English. ] 1. A vessel made of osiers or other twigs, cane, rushes, splints, or other flexible material, interwoven. “Rude baskets . . . woven of the flexile willow.” Dyer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The contents of a basket; as much as a basket contains; as, a basket of peaches. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) The bell or vase of the Corinthian capital. [ Improperly so used. ] Gwilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The two back seats facing one another on the outside of a stagecoach. [ Eng. ] Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A container shaped like a basket{ 1 }, even if made of solid material rather than woven; -- the top is often, but not always, open and without a lid. [ PJC ]

6. a vessel suspended below a balloon, designed to carry people or measuring instruments for scientific research. The earliest balloons designed to carry people often had small vessels of woven flexible vegetable materials to hold the passengers, which resembled large baskets{ 1 }, from which the name was derived. [ PJC ]

7. (Basketball) A goal{ 3 } consisting of a short cylindrical net suspended from a circular rim, which itself is attached at about ten feet above floor level to a backboard, placed at the end of a basketball court. In professional basketball, two such baskets are used, one at each end of the court, and each team may score only by passing the ball though its own basket. In informal games, only one such basket is often used. [ PJC ]

8. (Basketball) An instance of scoring points by throwing the basketball through the basket; as, he threw four baskets in the first quarter; -- the ball must pass through the basket from above in order to score points. [ PJC ]

Basket fish (Zool.), an ophiuran of the genus Astrophyton, having the arms much branched. See Astrophyton. --
Basket hilt, a hilt with a covering wrought like basketwork to protect the hand. Hudibras. Hence,
Basket-hilted, a. --
Basket work, work consisting of plaited osiers or twigs. --
Basket worm (Zool.), a lepidopterous insect of the genus Thyridopteryx and allied genera, esp. Thyridopteryx ephemeræformis. The larva makes and carries about a bag or basket-like case of silk and twigs, which it afterwards hangs up to shelter the pupa and wingless adult females. --
collection basket, a small basket{ 1 } mounted on the end of a pole, used in churches to collect donations from those attending a church service; -- the long pole allows the collector to hold the basket in front of those at the end of the pew, while the collector remains in the aisle.
waste basket, a basket{ 4 } used to hold waste matter, such as discarded paper, commonly shaped like a truncated cone, with the wide end open and at the top. Vessels of other shapes, such as oblong containers, are also called waste baskets. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. To put into a basket. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A ball game, usually played indoors in an area called the basketball court, in which two opposing teams of five players each contest with each other to toss a large inflated ball (the basketball) into opposite goals (baskets) resembling baskets, each typically a cylindrical mesh suspended from a circular rim which is held ten feet above the court. A goal scored by passing the basketball through the basket may count from one to three points, depending on the situation in which it was thrown.
Syn. -- basketball game. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

2. The inflatable ball used in the game of basketball. [ PJC ]

n.; pl. Basketfuls As much as a basket will contain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art of making baskets; also, baskets, taken collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) One of the largest species of sharks (Cetorhinus maximus), so called from its habit of basking in the sun; the liver shark, or bone shark. It inhabits the northern seas of Europe and America, and grows to a length of more than forty feet. It is a harmless species. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To mask; to conceal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A rustic dance, so called in ridicule of the people of Bergamo, in Italy, once noted for their clownishness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The stomach. [ Humorous ] S. Foote. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 1st Buck. ] A basket in which clothes are carried to the wash. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To put into a cask. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp. casco potsherd, skull, helmet, prob. fr. cascar to break, fr. L. Quassure to break. Cf. Casque, Cass. ] 1. Same as Casque. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A barrel-shaped vessel made of staves headings, and hoops, usually fitted together so as to hold liquids. It may be larger or smaller than a barrel. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The quantity contained in a cask. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A casket; a small box for jewels. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To put into, or preserve in, a casket. [ Poetic ] “I have casketed my treasure.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. casquet, dim. of casque belmet, fr. Sp. casco. ] 1. A small chest or box, esp. of rich material or ornamental character, as for jewels, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The little casket bring me hither. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A kind of burial case. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Anything containing or intended to contain something highly esteemed; as: (a) The body. (Shak.) (b) The tomb. (Milton). (c) A book of selections. [ poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They found him dead . . . an empty casket. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A gasket. See Gasket. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the quantity a cask will hold.
Syn. -- cask. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ From the city Damascus, L. Damascus, Gr. Damasko`s, Heb. Dammesq, Ar. Daemeshq; cf. Heb. d'meseq damask; cf. It. damasco, Sp. damasco, F. damas. Cf. Damascene, Damassé. ] 1. Damask silk; silk woven with an elaborate pattern of flowers and the like. “A bed of ancient damask.” W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Linen so woven that a pattern in produced by the different directions of the thread, without contrast of color. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A heavy woolen or worsted stuff with a pattern woven in the same way as the linen damask; -- made for furniture covering and hangings. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Damask or Damascus steel; also, the peculiar markings or “water” of such steel. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A deep pink or rose color. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Pertaining to, or originating at, the city of Damascus; resembling the products or manufactures of Damascus. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having the color of the damask rose. [ 1913 Webster ]

But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud,
Feed on her damask cheek. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Damask color, a deep rose-color like that of the damask rose. --
Damask plum, a small dark-colored plum, generally called damson. --
Damask rose (Bot.), a large, pink, hardy, and very fragrant variety of rose (Rosa damascena) from Damascus. “Damask roses have not been known in England above one hundred years.” Bacon. --
Damask steel, or
Damascus steel, steel of the kind originally made at Damascus, famous for its hardness, and its beautiful texture, ornamented with waving lines; especially, that which is inlaid with damaskeening; -- formerly much valued for sword blades, from its great flexibility and tenacity. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Damasked p. pr. & vb. n. Damasking. ] To decorate in a way peculiar to Damascus or attributed to Damascus; particularly: (a) with flowers and rich designs, as silk; (b) with inlaid lines of gold, etc., or with a peculiar marking or “water, ” as metal. See Damaskeen. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mingled metal damasked o'er with gold. Dryde&unr_;. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the soft, downy bank, damasked with flowers. Milton.

{ } v. t. [ F. damaschinare. See Damascene, v. ] To decorate, as iron, steel, etc., with a peculiar marking or “water” produced in the process of manufacture, or with designs produced by inlaying or incrusting with another metal, as silver or gold, or by etching, etc., to damask. [ 1913 Webster ]

Damaskeening is is partly mosaic work, partly engraving, and partly carving. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. damasquin, adj., It. damaschino, Sp. damasquino. See Damaskeen. ] A sword of Damask steel. [ 1913 Webster ]

No old Toledo blades or damaskins. Howell (1641). [ 1913 Webster ]

. [ After Sir James Dewar, British physicist. ] A double-walled glass vessel for holding liquid air, liquid nitrogen, etc., having the space between the walls exhausted so as to prevent conduction of heat, and sometimes having the glass silvered to prevent absorption of radiant heat; -- called also, according to the particular shape,
Dewar bulb,
Dewar tube, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

v. t. [ Pref. dis- + mask: cf. F. démasquer. ] To divest of a mask. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. flasce, flaxe; akin to D. flesch, OHG. flasca, G. flasche, Icel. & Sw. flaska, Dan. flaske, OF. flasche, LL. flasca, flasco; of uncertain origin; cf. L. vasculum, dim. of vas a vessel, Gr. fla`skh, fla`skwn, fla`skion. Cf. Flagon, Flasket. ] 1. A small bottle-shaped vessel for holding fluids; as, a flask of oil or wine. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A narrow-necked vessel of metal or glass, used for various purposes; as of sheet metal, to carry gunpowder in; or of wrought iron, to contain quicksilver; or of glass, to heat water in, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A bed in a gun carriage. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Founding) The wooden or iron frame which holds the sand, etc., forming the mold used in a foundry; it consists of two or more parts; viz., the cope or top; sometimes, the cheeks, or middle part; and the drag, or bottom part. When there are one or more cheeks, the flask is called a three part flask, four part flask, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Erlenmeyer flask, a thin glass flask, flat-bottomed and cone-shaped to allow of safely shaking its contents laterally without danger of spilling; -- so called from Erlenmeyer, a German chemist who invented it. --
Florence flask. [ From Florence in Italy. ] (a) Same as Betty, n., 3. (b) A glass flask, round or pear-shaped, with round or flat bottom, and usually very thin to allow of heating solutions. --
Pocket flask, a kind of pocket dram bottle, often covered with metal or leather to protect it from breaking. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. W. fflasged a vessel of straw or wickerwork, fflasg flask, basket, and E. flask. ] 1. A long, shallow basket, with two handles. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

In which they gathered flowers to fill their flasket. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A small flask. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A vessel in which viands are served. [ Obs. ] Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ Prob. corrupted fr. It. Grechesco Grecian, a name which seems to have been given in Venice, and to have been afterwards confused with Gascony, as if they came from Gascony. ] Loose hose or breeches; leather leg quards. The word is used loosely and often in a jocose sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. See Galligaskins.

n. [ Cf. F. garcette, It. gaschetta, Sp. cajeta caburn, garceta reef point. ] 1. (Naut.) A line or band used to lash a furled sail securely. Sea gaskets are common lines; harbor gaskets are plaited and decorated lines or bands. Called also casket. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mech.) (a) The plaited hemp used for packing a piston, as of the steam engine and its pumps. (b) Any ring or washer of made of a compressible material, used to make joints impermeable to fluids. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ Cf. Galligaskins. ] 1. Loose hose or breeches; galligaskins. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Packing of hemp. Simmonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A horse's thighs. [ Prov. Eng. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a mask with a filter which protects the face and lungs against poisonous gases. It is used in warfare, and also by police to allow them to effectively use tear gas or other disabling gas to disperse a crowd or force fugitives to leave a building.
Syn. -- respirator, gas helmet. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a container that is usually woven and has handles.
Syn. -- basket. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

go to hell in a handbasket to deteriorate substantially and quickly; as, after they lost the contract, the company's profits went to hell in a handbasket. [ PJC ]

(Naut.) A tub lashed to a vessel's deck and containing salted provisions for daily use; -- called also harness tub. W. C. Russell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Hassock. ] A basket made of rushes or flags, as for carrying fish. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]