*nast*

n. [ Gr. 'ana` up + ista`nai to make to stand. ] (Physiol.) One of a series of substances formed, in secreting cells, by constructive or anabolic processes, in the production of protoplasm; -- opposed to katastate. Foster. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'ana` up + ista`nai to make to stand: cf. statiko`s causing to stand. ] Pertaining to a process or a style of printing from characters in relief on zinc plates. [ 1913 Webster ]

In this process the letterpress, engraving, or design of any kind is transferred to a zinc plate; the parts not covered with ink are eaten out, leaving a facsimile in relief to be printed from. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 a genus of plants consisting of a single species, rose of Jericho (also called resurrection plant).
Syn. -- genus Anastatica. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. compound lens or lens system designed to be free of astigmatism and able to form approximately point images. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Pref. an-not + astigmatic. ] (Optics) Not astigmatic; free of astigmatism; -- pertaining to a lens or lens system, and used especially of a lens system which consists of a converging lens and a diverging lens of equal and opposite astigmatism but different focal lengths, and sensibly free from astigmatism. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Anastomozed p. pr. & vb. n. Anastomosing. ] [ Cf. F. anastomoser, fr. anastomose. See Anastomosis. ] 1. (Anat. & Bot.) To inosculate; to intercommunicate by anastomosis, as the arteries and veins. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ribbing of the leaf, and the anastomosing network of its vessels. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of any channels or lines, to meet and unite or run into each other, as rivers; to coalesce; to interjoin. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n.; pl. Anastomoses [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; opening, fr. &unr_; to furnish with a mouth or opening, to open; &unr_; + &unr_; mouth: cf. F. anastomose. ] (Anat. & Bot.) The inosculation of vessels, or intercommunication between two or more vessels or nerves, as the cross communication between arteries or veins. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to anastomosis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 openbills.
Syn. -- genus Anastomus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to turn up or back; 'ana` + &unr_; to turn. ] (Rhet. & Gram.) An inversion of the natural order of words; as, echoed the hills, for, the hills echoed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a form of rummy using two decks and four jokers; jokers and deuces are wild; the object is to meld groups of seven of the same rank.
Syn. -- basket rummy, meld. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Sp. canasta, canastro, basket, fr. L. canistrum. See Canister. ] A kind of tobacco for smoking, made of the dried leaves, coarsely broken; -- so called from the rush baskets in which it is packed in South America. McElrath. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. chei`r hand + &unr_; trainer of athletes, gymnast. ] A mechanical contrivance for exercising the fingers of a pianist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. dynastes, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to be able or strong: cf. F. dynaste. See Dynamic. ] 1. A ruler; a governor; a prince. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A dynasty; a government. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Dynast. ] A tyrant. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; of a dynast, fr. &unr_;: cf. F. dunastique. ] Of or relating to a dynasty or line of kings. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Dynastic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, fem. of &unr_;. See Dynast. The name alludes to the immense size of some species. ] (Zool.) One of a group of gigantic, horned beetles, including Dynastus Neptunus, and the Hercules beetle (Dynastus Hercules) of tropical America, which grow to be six inches in length. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Dynasties [ Gr. dynastei`a lordship, fr. dynastey`ein to hold power or lordship, fr. dyna`sths: cf. F. dynastie dynasty. See Dynast. ] 1. Sovereignty; lordship; dominion. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A race or succession of kings, of the same line or family; the continued lordship of a race of rulers. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_; a return, epanastrophe; 'epi` + &unr_; to return. ] (Rhet.) Same as Anadiplosis. Gibbs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. epi- + Gr. &unr_; pressed close. ] (Physiol.) A term applied to that phase of vegetable growth in which an organ grows more rapidly on its upper than on its under surface. See Hyponastic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gymnasth`s a trainer of athletes: cf. F. gymnaste. See Gymnasium. ] One who teaches or practices gymnastic exercises; the manager of a gymnasium; an athlete.

n. A gymnast. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. gymnasticus, Gr. gymnastiko`s: cf. F. gymnastique. See Gymnasium. ] 1. Pertaining to athletic exercises intended for health, defense, or diversion; -- originally said of games or exercises, as running, leaping, wrestling, throwing the discus, the javelin, etc.; in modern times more specifically applied to athletic exercises demonstrating balance and agility, such as tumbling, somersaulting, and bodily maneuvers performed on special equipment such as parallel bars or a balance beam; as, gymnastic exercises, contests, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pertaining to disciplinary exercises for the intellect. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a gymnastic manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Athletic or disciplinary exercises; the art of performing gymnastic exercises. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Disciplinary exercises for the intellect or character. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ fig. ] Feats demonstrating a quick mental agility; as, mental gymnastics, verbal gymnastics. [ PJC ]

a. [ Pref. hypo- + Gr. &unr_; pressed close. ] (Bot.) Exhibiting a downward convexity caused by unequal growth. Cf. Epinastic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Downward convexity, or convexity of the inferior surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. monasterials, fr. monasterium. ] Of or pertaining to monastery, or to monastic life. -- Mon`as*te"ri*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n.; pl. Monasteries [ L. monasterium, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; a solitary, a monk, fr. &unr_; to be alone, live in solitude, fr. mo`nos alone. Cf. Minister. ] A house of religious retirement, or of secusion from ordinary temporal concerns, especially for monks; -- more rarely applied to such a house for females. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Convent; abbey; priory. See Cloister. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A monk. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_; monk: cf. F. monastique. See Monastery. ] 1. Of or pertaining to monasteries, or to their occupants, rules, etc., as, monastic institutions or rules. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Secluded from temporal concerns and devoted to religion; recluse. “A life monastic.” Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a monastic manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The monastic life, system, or condition. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. See Monastic. ] A book giving an account of monasteries. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a nasty manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being nasty; extreme filthness; dirtiness; also, indecency; obscenity. [ 1913 Webster ]

The nastiness of Plautus and Aristophanes. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Nasturtium. ] (Bot.) Same as Nasturtium. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. nasturtium, for nasitortium, fr. nasus nose + torquere, tortum, to twist, torture, in allusion to the causing one to make a wry face by its pungent taste. See Nose of the face, and Torture. ] 1. (Bot.) A genus of cruciferous plants, having white or yellowish flowers, including several species of cress. They are found chiefly in wet or damp grounds, and have a pungent biting taste. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Tropaeolum, geraniaceous herbs, having mostly climbing stems, peltate leaves, and spurred flowers, and including the common Indian cress (Tropaeolum majus), the canary-bird flower (Tropaeolum peregrinum), and about thirty more species, all natives of South America. The whole plant has a warm pungent flavor, and the fleshy fruits are used as a substitute for capers, while the leaves and flowers are sometimes used in salads. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Nastier superl. Nastiest. ] [ For older nasky; cf. dial. Sw. naskug, nasket. ] 1. Offensively filthy; very dirty, foul, or defiled; disgusting; nauseous. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, loosely: Offensive; disagreeable; unpropitious; wet; drizzling; as, a nasty rain, day, sky. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Characterized by obscenity; indecent; indelicate; gross; filthy. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Vicious; offensively ill-tempered; insultingly mean; spiteful; as, a nasty disposition. [ PJC ]

5. Difficult to deal with; troublesome; as, he fell of his bike and got a nasty bruise on his knee. [ slang ] [ PJC ]

Syn. -- Nasty, Filthy, Foul, Dirty. Anything nasty is usually wet or damp as well as filthy or dirty, and disgusts by its stickiness or odor; but filthy and foul imply that a thing is filled or covered with offensive matter, while dirty describes it as defiled or sullied with dirt of any kind; as, filthy clothing, foul vapors, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. noncontractive. Opposite of astringent. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ See Photo-, and Epinastic. ] (Bot.) A disproportionately rapid growth of the upper surface of dorsiventral organs, such as leaves, through the stimulus of exposure to light. Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. pinus a pine. ] (Bot.) A species of pine (Pinus Pinaster) growing in Southern Europe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who is addicted to pleonasm. [ R. ] C. Reade. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr.&unr_; abundant, rich; cf. F. pléonaste. ] (Min.) A black variety of spinel. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. pléonastique. ] Of or pertaining to pleonasm; of the nature of pleonasm; redundant. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a pleonastic manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, nose + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; star. ] (Zool.) The borele. [ 1913 Webster ]