*onst*

v. t. To make monstrous or like a monster. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ NL. See Boa, and Constrictor. ] (Zool.) A large and powerful serpent of tropical America, sometimes twenty or thirty feet long. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It has a succession of spots, alternately black and yellow, extending along the back. It kills its prey by constriction. The name is also loosely applied to other large serpents which crush their prey, particularly to those of the genus Python, found in Asia and Africa. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. conestable, constable, a constable (in sense 1), OF. conestable, F. connétable, LL. conestabulus, constabularius, comes stabuli, orig., count of the stable, master of the horse, equerry; comes count (L. companion) + L. stabulum stable. See Count a nobleman, and Stable. ] 1. A high officer in the monarchical establishments of the Middle Ages. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The constable of France was the first officer of the crown, and had the chief command of the army. It was also his duty to regulate all matters of chivalry. The office was suppressed in 1627. The constable, or lord high constable, of England, was one of the highest officers of the crown, commander in chief of the forces, and keeper of the peace of the nation. He also had judicial cognizance of many important matters. The office was as early as the Conquest, but has been disused (except on great and solemn occasions), since the attainder of Stafford, duke of Buckingham, in the reign of Henry VIII. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) An officer of the peace having power as a conservator of the public peace, and bound to execute the warrants of judicial officers. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In England, at the present time, the constable is a conservator of the peace within his district, and is also charged by various statutes with other duties, such as serving summons, precepts, warrants, etc. In the United States, constables are town or city officers of the peace, with powers similar to those of the constables of England. In addition to their duties as conservators of the peace, they are invested with others by statute, such as to execute civil as well as criminal process in certain cases, to attend courts, keep juries, etc. In some cities, there are officers called high constables, who act as chiefs of the constabulary or police force. In other cities the title of constable, as well as the office, is merged in that of the police officer. [ 1913 Webster ]

High constable, a constable having certain duties and powers within a hundred. [ Eng. ] --
Petty constable, a conservator of the peace within a parish or tithing; a tithingman. [ Eng. ] --
Special constable, a person appointed to act as constable of special occasions. --
To
overrun the constable, or
outrun the constable, to spend more than one's income; to get into debt. [ Colloq. ] Smollett. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. conestablerie. Cf. Constabulary. ] 1. The constabulary. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The district or jurisdiction of a constable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office or functions of a constable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The wife of a constable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Constable + wick a village ] The district to which a constable's power is limited. [ Obs. ] Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. constabularius an equerry. See Constable. ] Of or pertaining to constables; consisting of constables. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The collective body of constables in any town, district, or country. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A constabulary. [ Obs. ] Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. constantia: cf. F. constance. See Constant. ] 1. The state or quality of being constant or steadfast; freedom from change; stability; fixedness; immutability; as, the constancy of God in his nature and attributes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fixedness or firmness of mind; persevering resolution; especially, firmness of mind under sufferings, steadiness in attachments, or perseverance in enterprise; stability; fidelity. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fellow of plain uncoined constancy. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Constancy and contempt of danger. Prescott.

Syn. -- Fixedness; stability; firmness; steadiness; permanence; steadfastness; resolution. See Firmness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. onstans, -antis, p. pr. of constare to stand firm, to be consistent; con- + stare to stand: cf. F. constant. See Stand and cf. Cost, v. t. ] 1. Firm; solid; fixed; immovable; -- opposed to fluid. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If . . . you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a constant body. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not liable, or given, to change; permanent; regular; continuous; continually recurring; steadfast; faithful; not fickle. Opposite of changeable and variable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained constant friends. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am constant to my purposes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

His gifts, his constant courtship, nothing gained. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Onward the constant current sweeps. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Math. & Physics) Remaining unchanged or invariable, as a quantity, force, law, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Consistent; logical. [ Obs. ] Shak.

Syn. -- Fixed; steadfast; unchanging; permanent; unalterable; immutable; invariable; perpetual; continual; resolute; firm; unshaken; determined. -- Constant, Continual, Perpetual. These words are sometimes used in an absolute and sometimes in a qualified sense. Constant denotes, in its absolute sense, unchangeably fixed; as, a constant mind or purpose. In its qualified sense, it marks something as a “standing” fact or occurence; as, liable to constant interruptions; constantly called for. Continual, in its absolute sense, coincides with continuous. See Continuous. In its qualified sense, it describes a thing as occuring in steady and rapid succession; as, a round of continual calls; continually changing. Perpetual denotes, in its absolute sense, what literally never ceases or comes to an end; as, perpetual motion. In its qualified sense, it is used hyperbolically, and denotes that which rarely ceases; as, perpetual disturbance; perpetual noise; perpetual intermeddling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which is not subject to change; that which is invariable. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) A quantity that does not change its value; -- used in countradistinction to variable. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) A number whose value, when ascertained (as by observation) and substituted in a general mathematical formula expressing an astronomical law, completely determines that law and enables predictions to be made of its effect in particular cases. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

4. (Physics) A number expressing some property or condition of a substance or of an instrument of precision; as, the dielectric constant of quartz; the collimation constant of a transit instrument. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

5. (Computers) a data structure that does not change during the course of execution of a program. It may be a number, a string, or a more complex data structure; -- contrasted with variable. [ PJC ]

Aberration constant, or
Constant of aberration (Astron.), a number which by substitution in the general formula for aberration enables a prediction to be made of the effect of aberration on a star anywhere situated. Its value is 20″.47. --
Absolute constant (Math.), one whose value is absolutely the same under all circumstances, as the number 10, or any numeral. --
Arbitrary constant, an undetermined constant in a differential equation having the same value during all changes in the values of the variables. --
Gravitation constant (Physics), the acceleration per unit of time produced by the attraction of a unit of mass at unit distance. When this is known the acceleration produced at any distance can be calculated. --
Solar constant (Astron.), the quantity of heat received by the earth from the sun in a unit of time. It is, on the C. G. S. system, 0.0417 small calories per square centimeter per second. Young. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ] --
Constant of integration (Math.), an undetermined constant added to every result of integration. [ 1913 Webster + Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. a copper-nickel alloy composed of approximately 55 per cent copper and 45 per cent nickel, with high electrical resistance and a low temperature coefficient; it is used as resistance wire and in thermocouples. It has a resistance factor ρ of 44.1 x 10-6 ohm-cm at 0° C, in comparison to the value 1.71 x 10-6 ohm-cm for pure copper and 7.8 x 10-6 ohm-cm for pure nickel. It is similar to the alloy Eureka, which has a ρ = 47 x 10-6 ohm-cm. Handbook of Ch. 61. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. A superior wine, white and red, from Constantia, in South Africa. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

prop. n. the former capital of the Eastern Roman Empire; it was built on the site of ancient Byzantium, and the name was changed to Istanbul by the Turks.
Syn. -- Istanbul, Stambul, Stamboul. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

The name change was the subject of a humorous song in the 1950's "Istanbul (not Constantinople)":

 Artists: The Four Lads -- peak Billboard position # 10 in 1953 -- Words by Jimmy Kennedy and Music by Nat Simon -- (C) Chappell & Co. Istanbul was Constantinople Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople Been a long time gone, Constantinople Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night Every gal in Constantinople Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople So if you've a date in Constantinople She'll be waiting in Istanbul Even old New York Was once New Amsterdam Why they changed it I can't say People just liked it better that way Take me back to Constantinople No, you can't go back to Constantinople Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople Why did Constantinople get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks' 

adv. With constancy; steadily; continually; perseveringly; without cessation; uniformly. [ 1913 Webster ]

But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Acts. xii. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., it is evident. ] (Law) A certificate showing what appears upon record touching a matter in question. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ F. constater; L. con- + stare to stand. ] To ascertain; to verify; to establish; to prove. F. P. Cobbe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Pref. con- + L. stellatus, p. p. of stellare to cover with stars, stella star. See Stellate. ] To join luster; to shine with united radiance, or one general light. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The several things which engage our affections . . . shine forth and constellate in God. Boule. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To unite in one luster or radiance, as stars. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Whe know how to constellate these lights. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To set or adorn with stars or constellations; as, constellated heavens. J. Barlow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. constellation, L. constellatio. ] 1. A cluster or group of fixed stars, or division of the heavens, designated in most cases by the name of some animal, or of some mythologial personage, within whose imaginary outline, as traced upon the heavens, the group is included. [ 1913 Webster ]

The constellations seem to have been almost purposely named and delineated to cause as much confusion and inconvenience as possible. Sir J. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In each of the constellations now recognized by astronomers (about 90 in number) the brightest stars, both named and unnamed, are designated nearly in the order of brilliancy by the letters of the Greek alphabet; as, α Tauri (Aldebaran) is the first star of Taurus, γ Orionis (Bellatrix) is the third star of Orion. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An assemblage of splendors or excellences. [ 1913 Webster ]

The constellations of genius had already begun to show itself . . . which was to shed a glory over the meridian and close of Philip's reign. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fortune; fate; destiny. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It is constellation, which causeth all that a man doeth. Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. to cause to be confused; confuse emotionally; to dismay.
Syn. -- confuse, flurry, disconcert, put off, bewilder, bemuse, discombobulate, throw. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. consternatio, fr. consternare to overome, perplex, an accessory form of consternere to throw down, prostrate; con + sternere to spread out, throw down: cf. F. consternation. See Stratum. ] Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for reflection; terror, combined with amazement; dismay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The chiefs around,
In silence wrapped, in consternation drowned.
Attend the stern reply. Pope.

Syn. -- Alarm; fright; amazement; astonishment; surprise; panic; perturbation. See Alarm. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Constipated; p. pr. & vb. n. Constipating. ] [ L. constipatus, p. p. of constipare; con- + stipare to crowd together. See Costive. ] 1. To crowd or cram into a narrow compass; to press together or condense. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Of cold the property is to condense and constipate. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To stop (a channel) by filling it, and preventing passage through it; as, to constipate the capillary vessels. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) To render costive; to cause constipation in. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. having difficult or incomplete or infrequent evacuation of the bowels; costive. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. causing constipation.
Syn. -- binding. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. constipatio a crowding together: cf. F. constipation. ] 1. Act of crowding anything into a less compass, or the state of being crowded or pressed together; condensation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Fullness of matter, or a pretty close constipation . . . of its particles. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A state of the bowels in which the evacuations are infrequent and difficult, or the intestines become filled with hardened fæces; costiveness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Constituencies A body of constituents, as the body of citizens or voters in a representative district. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. constituens, -entis, p. pr. See Constitute. ] 1. Serving to form, compose, or make up; elemental; component. [ 1913 Webster ]

Body, soul, and reason are the three parts necessarily constituent of a man. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having the power of electing or appointing. [ 1913 Webster ]

A question of right arises between the constituent and representative body. Junius. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The person or thing which constitutes, determines, or constructs. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their first composure and origination require a higher and nobler constituent than chance. Sir M. Hale [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which constitutes or composes, as a part, or an essential part; a component; an element. [ 1913 Webster ]

We know how to bring these constituents together, and to cause them to form water. Tyndall. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One for whom another acts; especially, one who is represented by another in a legislative assembly; -- correlative to representative. [ 1913 Webster ]

The electors in the district of a representative in Congress, or in the legislature of a State, are termed his constituents. Abbot. [ 1913 Webster ]

To appeal from the representatives to the constituents. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) A person who appoints another to act for him as attorney in fact. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Constituted; p. pr. & vb. n. Constituting. ] [ L. constitutus, p. p. of constiture to constitute; con- + statuere to place, set, fr. status station, fr. stare to stand. See Stand. ] 1. To cause to stand; to establish; to enact. [ 1913 Webster ]

Laws appointed and constituted by lawful authority. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make up; to compose; to form. [ 1913 Webster ]

Truth and reason constitute that intellectual gold that defies destruction. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To appoint, depute, or elect to an office; to make and empower. [ 1913 Webster ]

Me didst Thou constitute a priest of thine. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Constituted authorities, the officers of government, collectively, as of a nation, city, town, etc. Bartlett. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An established law. [ Obs. ] T. Preston. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who constitutes or appoints. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. constitution, L. constitutio. ] 1. The act or process of constituting; the action of enacting, establishing, or appointing; enactment; establishment; formation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being; that form of being, or structure and connection of parts, which constitutes and characterizes a system or body; natural condition; structure; texture; conformation. [ 1913 Webster ]

The physical constitution of the sun. Sir J. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The aggregate of all one's inherited physical qualities; the aggregate of the vital powers of an individual, with reference to ability to endure hardship, resist disease, etc.; as, a robust constitution. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our constitutions have never been enfeebled by the vices or luxuries of the old world. Story. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The aggregate of mental qualities; temperament. [ 1913 Webster ]

He defended himself with . . . less passion than was expected from his constitution. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The fundamental, organic law or principles of government of men, embodied in written documents, or implied in the institutions and usages of the country or society; also, a written instrument embodying such organic law, and laying down fundamental rules and principles for the conduct of affairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our constitution had begun to exist in times when statesmen were not much accustomed to frame exact definitions. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In England the constitution is unwritten, and may be modified from time to time by act of Parliament. In the United States a constitution cannot ordinarily be modified, exept through such processes as the constitution itself ordains. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. An authoritative ordinance, regulation or enactment; especially, one made by a Roman emperor, or one affecting ecclesiastical doctrine or discipline; as, the constitutions of Justinian. [ 1913 Webster ]

The positive constitutions of our own churches. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

A constitution of Valentinian addressed to Olybrius, then prefect of Rome, for the regulation of the conduct of advocates. George Long. [ 1913 Webster ]

Apostolic constitutions. See under Apostolic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A walk or other exercise taken for one's health or constitution. [ Colloq. ] Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

The men trudged diurnal constitutionals along the different roads. Compton Reade. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. constitutionnel. ] 1. Belonging to, or inherent in, the constitution, or in the structure of body or mind; as, a constitutional infirmity; constitutional ardor or dullness. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In accordance with, or authorized by, the constitution of a state or a society; as, constitutional reforms. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Regulated by, dependent on, or secured by, a constitution; as, constitutional government; constitutional rights. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Relating to a constitution, or establishment form of government; as, a constitutional risis. [ 1913 Webster ]

The anient constitutional traditions of the state. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. For the benefit or one's constitution or health; as, a constitutional walk. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Constitutional law, law that relates to the constitution, as a permanent system of political and juridical government, as distinguished from statutory and common law, which relate to matters subordinate to such constitution. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The theory, principles, or authority of constitutional government; attachment or adherence to a constitution or constitutional government. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who advocates a constitutional form of government; a constitutionalist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. -ties /plu>. [ Cf. F. constitutionalité. ] 1. The quality or state of being constitutional, or inherent in the natural frame. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being consistent with the constitution or frame of government, or of being authorized by its provisions. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Constitutionalities, bottomless cavilings and questionings about written laws. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In accordance with the constitution or natural disposition of the mind or body; naturally; as, he was constitutionally timid. [ 1913 Webster ]

The English were constitutionally humane. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In accordance with the constitution or fundamental law; legally; as, he was not constitutionally appointed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing would indue them to acknowledge that [ such ] an assembly . . . was constitutionally a Parliament. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who adheres to the constitution of the country. Bolingbroke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Tending or assisting to constitute or compose; elemental; essential. [ 1913 Webster ]

An ingredient and constitutive part of every virtue. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having power to enact, establish, or create; instituting; determining. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a constitutive manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Constrained p. pr. & vb. n. Constraining. ] [ OF. constraindre, F. contrainde, L. constringere; con- + stringere to draw tight. See Strain, and. cf. Constrict, Constringe. ] 1. To secure by bonds; to chain; to bond or confine; to hold tightly; to constringe. [ 1913 Webster ]

He binds in chains
The drowsy prophet, and his limbs constrains. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

When winter frosts constrain the fields with cold. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bring into a narrow compass; to compress. [ 1913 Webster ]

How the strait stays the slender waist constrain. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To hold back by force; to restrain; to repress. [ 1913 Webster ]

My sire in caves constrains the winds. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To compel; to force; to necessitate; to oblige. [ 1913 Webster ]

The love of Christ constraineth us. 2. Cor. v. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar. Acts xxviii. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To violate; to ravish. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To produce in such a manner as to give an unnatural effect; as, a constrained voice.

Syn. -- To compel; force; drive; impel; urge; press. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. OF. constraignable, F. contraignable. ] Capable of being constrained; liable to constraint, or to restraint. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Marked by constraint; not free; not voluntary; embarrassed; as, a constrained manner; a constrained tone. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By constraint or compulsion; in a constrained manner. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]