*cris*

{ ‖ } n. [ L. apocrisiarius, apocrisarius, fr. Gr. &unr_; answer, fr. &unr_; to answer; &unr_; from + &unr_; to separate. ] (Eccl.) A delegate or deputy; especially, the pope's nuncio or legate at Constantinople. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Crises [ L. crisis, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, fr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to separate. See Certain. ] 1. The point of time when it is to be decided whether any affair or course of action must go on, or be modified or terminate; the decisive moment; the turning point. [ 1913 Webster ]

This hour's the very crisis of your fate. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

The very times of crisis for the fate of the country. Brougham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) That change in a disease which indicates whether the result is to be recovery or death; sometimes, also, a striking change of symptoms attended by an outward manifestation, as by an eruption or sweat. [ 1913 Webster ]

Till some safe crisis authorize their skill. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which is crisp or brittle; the state of being crisp or brittle; as, burned to a crisp; specifically, the rind of roasted pork; crackling. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Crisped p. pr. & vb. n. Crisping. ] [ L. crispare, fr. crispus. See Crisp. a. ] 1. To curl; to form into ringlets, as hair, or the nap of cloth; to interweave, as the branches of trees. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to undulate irregularly, as crape or water; to wrinkle; to cause to ripple. Cf. Crimp. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lover with the myrtle sprays
Adorns his crisped tresses. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Along the crisped shades and bowers. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The crisped brooks,
Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To make crisp or brittle, as in cooking. [ 1913 Webster ]

Crisping iron, an instrument by which hair or any textile fabric is crisped. --
Crisping pin, the simplest form of crisping iron. Is. iii. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. crisp, fr. L. crispus; cf. carpere to pluck, card (wool), and E. harvest. Cf. Crape. ] 1. Curling in stiff curls or ringlets; as, crisp hair. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Curled with the ripple of the water. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

You nymphs called Naiads, of the winding brooks . . .
Leave jour crisp channels. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Brittle; friable; in a condition to break with a short, sharp fracture; as, crisp snow. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cakes at tea ate short and crisp. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Possessing a certain degree of firmness and freshness; in a fresh, unwilted condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

It [ laurel ] has been plucked nine months, and yet looks as hale and crisp as if it would last ninety years. Leigh Hunt. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Lively; sparking; effervescing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your neat crisp claret. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Brisk; crackling; cheerful; lively. [ 1913 Webster ]

The snug, small room, and the crisp fire. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To undulate or ripple. Cf. Crisp, v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

To watch the crisping ripples on the beach. Tennuson. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. crispatus, p. p. of crispare. ] Having a crisped appearance; irregularly curled or twisted. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ CF. F. crispation. ] 1. The act or process of curling, or the state of being curled. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A very slight convulsive or spasmodic contraction of certain muscles, external or internal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Few men can look down from a great height without creepings and crispations. O. W. Holmes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being crispate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, crisps or curls; an instrument for making little curls in the nap of cloth, as in chinchilla. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A shoemaker; -- jocularly so called from the patron saint of the craft. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A member of a union or association of shoemakers. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a crisp manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being crisp. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Formed into short, close ringlets; frizzed; crisp; as, crispy locks. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Crisp; brittle; as, a crispy pie crust. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) 1. Pertaining to the crissum; as, crissal feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having highly colored under tail coverts; as, the crissal thrasher. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ A corruption of Christcross. ] 1. A mark or cross, as the signature of a person who is unable to write. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A child's game played on paper or on a slate, consisting of lines arranged in the form of a cross. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To mark or cover with cross lines; as, a paper was crisscrossed with red marks. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In opposite directions; in a way to cross something else; crossing one another at various angles and in various ways. [ 1913 Webster ]

Logs and tree luing crisscross in utter confusion. W. E. Boardman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. With opposition or hindrance; at cross purposes; contrarily; as, things go crisscross. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Christcross-row. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ n.; pl. Crissa [ NL.; cf. L. crisso to move the haunches. ] (Zool.) That part of a bird, or the feathers, surrounding the cloacal opening; the under tail coverts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. ctistatus, fr. crista crest. ] (Bot. & Zool.) Crested. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Curled. [ Obs. ] Skelton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. 'e`pakros pointed at the end. So called in allusion to the sharply pointed leaves. ] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs, natives of Australia, New Zealand, etc., having pretty white, red, or purple blossoms, and much resembling heaths. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Hypocrisies [ OE. hypocrisie, ypocrisie, OF. hypocrisie, ypocrisie, F. hypocrisie, L. hypocrisis, fr. Gr. "ypo`krisis the playing a part on the stage, simulation, outward show, fr. "ypokri`nesqai to answer on the stage, to play a part; "ypo` under + kri`nein to decide; in the middle voice, to dispute, contend. See Hypo-, and Critic.] The act or practice of a hypocrite; a feigning to be what one is not, or to feel what one does not feel; a dissimulation, or a concealment of one's real character, disposition, or motives; especially, the assuming of false appearance of virtue or religion; a simulation of goodness. [1913 Webster]

Hypocrisy is the necessary burden of villainy. Rambler. [1913 Webster]

Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue. La Rochefoucauld (Trans. ). [1913 Webster]

n. A mediocre person. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The palma Christi. (Jonah iv. 6, margin, and Douay version, note.) [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., the wife of Cephalus, Gr. &unr_;. ] (Zool.) Any species of small moths of the genus Procris. The larvæ of some species injure the grapevine by feeding in groups upon the leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. sacrista. See Sacristan. ] A sacristan; also, a person retained in a cathedral to copy out music for the choir, and take care of the books. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. sacristain, LL. sacrista, fr. L. sacer. See Sacred, and cf. Sexton. ] An officer of the church who has the care of the utensils or movables, and of the church in general; a sexton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Sacristies [ F. sacristie, LL. sacristia, fr. L. sacer. See Sacred. ] An apartment in a church where the sacred utensils, vestments, etc., are kept; a vestry. [ 1913 Webster ]