*dicu*

‖n. [ NL. ] (Zool.) A genus of small free-swimming Tunicata, shaped somewhat like a tadpole, and remarkable for resemblances to the larvæ of other Tunicata. It is the type of the order Copelata or Larvalia. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) An order of annelids; the Polychæta. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Appendicle. ] Having small appendages; forming an appendage. [ 1913 Webster ]

Appendiculate leaf, a small appended leaf. Withering. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ Dim. of L. cauda tail, appendage. ] (Bot.) A slender, elastic process, to which the masses of pollen in orchidaceous plants are attached. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. cocculus (dim. of L. coccum kermes berry) + L. Indicus of India. ] (Bot.) The fruit or berry of the Anamirta Cocculus, a climbing plant of the East Indies. It is a poisonous narcotic and stimulant. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ pl. Dies juridici [ L. ] (Law) A court day. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. lodicula. dim, of lodix, lodicis, a coverlet: cf. F. lodicule. ] (Bot.) One of the two or three delicate membranous scales which are next to the stamens in grasses. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. modicus moderate, fr. modus. See Mode. ] A little; a small quantity; a measured supply. “Modicums of wit.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her usual modicum of beer and punch. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Pandiculation. ] Extended; spread out; stretched. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. pandiculari to stretch one's self, fr. pandere to spread out. ] A stretching and stiffening of the trunk and extremities, as when fatigued and drowsy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. pedicularis, fr. pediculus a louse: cf. F. pédiculaire. ] Of or pertaining to lice; having the lousy distemper (phthiriasis); lousy. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Pediculati. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. pl. [ NL. See Pedicle. ] (Zool.) An order of fishes including the anglers. See Illust. of Angler and Batfish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) Phthiriasis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Pedicle. ] A pedicel. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Pediculus. ] (Zool.) A division of parasitic hemipterous insects, including the true lice. See Illust. in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. pediculosus. ] Pedicular. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n.; pl. Pediculi [ L., a louse. ] (Zool.) A genus of wingless parasitic Hemiptera, including the common lice of man. See Louse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pedi- + L. cura care. ] 1. Professional care of the feet, toes, and toenails. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A single treatment of the feet, toes, and toenails. [ PJC ]

3. One who cares for the feet and nails; a chiropodist. -- Ped"i*cure, v. t. -- Ped"i*cur*ism n. -- Ped"i*cur*ist n. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

a. [ L. perpendicularis, perpendicularius: cf. F. perpendiculaire. See Perpendicle, Pension. ] 1. Exactly upright or vertical; pointing to the zenith; at right angles to the plane of the horizon; extending in a right line from any point toward the center of the earth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Geom.) At right angles to a given line or surface; as, the line ad is perpendicular to the line bc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Perpendicular style (Arch.), a name given to the latest variety of English Gothic architecture, which prevailed from the close of the 14th century to the early part of the 16th; -- probably so called from the vertical style of its window mullions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A line at right angles to the plane of the horizon; a vertical line or direction. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Geom.) A line or plane falling at right angles on another line or surface, or making equal angles with it on each side. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. perpendicularité. ] The quality or state of being perpendicular. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a perpendicular manner; vertically. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to roots, or the root of a plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A radicle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Producing numerous radicles, or rootlets. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ridicule, L. ridiculum a jest, fr. ridiculus. See Ridiculous. ] 1. An object of sport or laughter; a laughingstock; a laughing matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Marlborough ] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made him the ridicule of his contemporaries. Buckle. [ 1913 Webster ]

To the people . . . but a trifle, to the king but a ridicule. Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Remarks concerning a subject or a person designed to excite laughter with a degree of contempt; wit of that species which provokes contemptuous laughter; disparagement by making a person an object of laughter; banter; -- a term lighter than derision. [ 1913 Webster ]

We have in great measure restricted the meaning of ridicule, which would properly extend over whole region of the ridiculous, -- the laughable, -- and we have narrowed it so that in common usage it mostly corresponds to “derision”, which does indeed involve personal and offensive feelings. Hare. [ 1913 Webster ]

Safe from the bar, the pulpit, and the throne,
Yet touched and shamed by ridicule alone. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To see the ridicule of this practice. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Derision; banter; raillery; burlesque; mockery; irony; satire; sarcasm; gibe; jeer; sneer; ribbing. -- Ridicule, Derision, mockery, ribbing: All four words imply disapprobation; but ridicule and mockery may signify either good-natured opposition without manifest malice, or more maliciously, an attempt to humiliate. Derision is commonly bitter and scornful, and sometimes malignant. ribbing is almost always good-natured and fun-loving. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ridiculed p. pr. & vb. n. Ridiculing. ] To laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken ridicule toward or respecting. [ 1913 Webster ]

I 've known the young, who ridiculed his rage. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To deride; banter; rally; burlesque; mock; satirize; lampoon. See Deride. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. ] Ridiculous. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This action . . . became so ridicule. Aubrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who ridicules. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make ridiculous; to ridicule. [ Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being ridiculous; ridiculousness; also, something ridiculous. [ Archaic ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. ridiculosus, ridiculus, fr. ridere to laigh. Cf. Risible. ] 1. Fitted to excite ridicule; absurd and laughable; unworthy of serious consideration; as, a ridiculous dress or behavior. [ 1913 Webster ]

Agricola, discerning that those little targets and unwieldy glaives ill pointed would soon become ridiculous against the thrust and close, commanded three Batavian cohorts . . . to draw up and come to handy strokes. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Involving or expressing ridicule. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ It ] provokes me to ridiculous smiling. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Ludicrous; laughable; risible; droll; comical; absurd; preposterous. See Ludicrous. [ 1913 Webster ]

--- Ri*dic"u*lous*ly, adv. -- Ri*dic"u*lous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]