*tern*

{ ‖ } n. [ L. ala wing + terni three each. ] (Bot.) An ornamental evergreen shrub (Rhamnus alaternus) belonging to the buckthorns. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. alternus, fr. alter another: cf. F. alterne. ] Acting by turns; alternate. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Altern base (Trig.), a second side made base, in distinction from a side previously regarded as base. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Alternateness; alternation. [ R. ] Mitford. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. alternans, p. pr.: cf. F. alternant. See Alternate, v. t. ] (Geol.) Composed of alternate layers, as some rocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] A usage, among diplomats, of rotation in precedence among representatives of equal rank, sometimes determined by lot and at other times in regular order. The practice obtains in the signing of treaties and conventions between nations. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ L. alternatus, p. p. of alternate, fr. alternus. See Altern, Alter. ] 1. Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal. [ 1913 Webster ]

And bid alternate passions fall and rise. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second; as, the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. ; read every alternate line. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bot.) Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alternate alligation. See Alligation. --
Alternate angles (Geom.), the internal and angles made by two lines with a third, on opposite sides of it. It the parallels AB, CD, are cut by the line EF, the angles AGH, GHD, as also the angles BGH and GHC, are called alternate angles. --
Alternate generation. (Biol.) See under Generation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which alternates with something else; vicissitude. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Grateful alternates of substantial. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A substitute; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Math.) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Alternated; p. pr. & vb. n. Alternating. ] [ L. alternatus, p. p. of alternare. See Altern. ] To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; -- followed by with; as, the flood and ebb tides alternate with each other. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rage, shame, and grief alternate in his breast. J. Philips. [ 1913 Webster ]

Different species alternating with each other. Kirwan. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To vary by turns; as, the land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In reciprocal succession; succeeding by turns; in alternate order. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) By alternation; when, in a proportion, the antecedent term is compared with antecedent, and consequent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being alternate, or of following by turns. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Elec.) A current which periodically changes or reverses its direction of flow, especially an electric current that reverses direction sinusoidally, as is used for most domestic and industrial power requirements. Contrasted with direct curent.
Syn. -- AC [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

The common household current is alternating. Alternating current is easier than direct current to transform to high voltage and back, making long-distance transmission more efficient. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. alternatio: cf. F. alternation. ] 1. The reciprocal succession of things in time or place; the act of following and being followed by turns; alternate succession, performance, or occurrence; as, the alternation of day and night, cold and heat, summer and winter, hope and fear. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) Permutation. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The response of the congregation speaking alternately with the minister. Mason. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alternation of generation. See under Generation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. alternatif. ] 1. Offering a choice of two things. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Disjunctive; as, an alternative conjunction. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Alternate; reciprocal. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. alternative, LL. alternativa. ] 1. An offer of two things, one of which may be chosen, but not both; a choice between two things, so that if one is taken, the other must be left. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is something else than the mere alternative of absolute destruction or unreformed existence. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Either of two things or propositions offered to one's choice. Thus when two things offer a choice of one only, the two things are called alternatives. [ 1913 Webster ]

Having to choose between two alternatives, safety and war, you obstinately prefer the worse. Jowett (Thucyd.). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The course of action or the thing offered in place of another. [ 1913 Webster ]

If this demand is refused the alternative is war. Lewis. [ 1913 Webster ]

With no alternative but death. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A choice between more than two things; one of several things offered to choose among. [ 1913 Webster ]

My decided preference is for the fourth and last of these alternatives. Gladstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of alternatives, or that admits the choice of one out of two things. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being alternative, or of offering a choice between two. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Elec.) An electric generator or dynamo for producing alternating currents. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ LL. alternitas. ] Succession by turns; alternation. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) The five united jaws and accessory ossicles of certain sea urchins. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Pref. a- + stern. ] (Naut.) 1. In or at the hinder part of a ship; toward the hinder part, or stern; backward; as, to go astern. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Behind a ship; in the rear. “A gale of wind right astern.” De Foe. “Left this strait astern.” Drake. [ 1913 Webster ]

To bake astern, to go stern foremost. --
To be astern of the reckoning, to be behind the position given by the reckoning. --
To drop astern, to fall or be left behind. --
To go astern, to go backward, as from the action of currents or winds. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. a- not + sternal. ] (Anat.) Not sternal; -- said of ribs which do not join the sternum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality of being better or superior; superiority. [ R. ] Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The difference by which fine gold or silver exceeds in fineness the standard. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. bi- + ternate. ] (Bot.) Doubly ternate, as when a petiole has three ternate leaflets. -- Bi*ter"nate*ly, adv. Gray. [1913 Webster]

n. [ OE. bitoure, betore, bitter, fr. F. butor; of unknown origin. ] (Zool.) A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons, of various species. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common European bittern is Botaurus stellaris. It makes, during the brooding season, a noise called by Dryden bumping, and by Goldsmith booming. The American bittern is Botaurus lentiginosus, and is also called stake-driver and meadow hen. See Stake-driver. [ 1913 Webster ]

The name is applied to other related birds, as the least bittern (Ardetta exilis), and the sun bittern. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Bitter, a. ] 1. The brine which remains in salt works after the salt is concreted, having a bitter taste from the chloride of magnesium which it contains. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A very bitter compound of quassia, cocculus Indicus, etc., used by fraudulent brewers in adulterating beer. Cooley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. biternys; biter better + -nys = -ness. ] 1. The quality or state of being bitter, sharp, or acrid, in either a literal or figurative sense; implacableness; resentfulness; severity; keenness of reproach or sarcasm; deep distress, grief, or vexation of mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lip that curls with bitterness. Percival. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Job vii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A state of extreme impiety or enmity to God. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Acts viii. 23. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Dangerous error, or schism, tending to draw persons to apostasy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Looking diligently, . . . lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you. Heb. xii. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The swamp hickory (Carya amara). Its thin-shelled nuts are bitter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Bot.) An American tree (Juglans cinerea) of the Walnut family, and its edible fruit; -- so called from the oil contained in the latter. Sometimes called oil nut and white walnut. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) The nut of the Caryocar butyrosum and Caryocar nuciferum, of S. America; -- called also Souari nut. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ AS. Chiltern the Chiltern, high hills in Buckinghamshire, perh. Fr. ceald cold + ern, ærn, place. ] A tract of crown land in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, England, to which is attached the nominal office of steward. As members of Parliament cannot resign, when they wish to go out they accept this stewardship, which legally vacates their seats. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. cisterne, OF. cisterne, F. cisterne, fr. L. cisterna, fr. cista box, chest. See Cist, and cf. chest. ] 1. An artificial reservoir or tank for holding water, beer, or other liquids. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A natural reservoir; a hollow place containing water. “The wide cisterns of the lakes.” Blackmore. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L.cithara, Gr. kiqa`ra. Cf. Cithara, Gittern. ] (Mus.) An instrument shaped like a lute, but strung with wire and played with a quill or plectrum. [ Written also cithern. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Not to be confounded with zither. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Blockhead; dunce; -- so called because the handle of a cittern usually ended with a carved head. Marsion [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Equally eternal. -- Co`e*ter"nal*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven first born!
Or of the Eternal coeternal beam. Milton. [1913 Webster]

n. Existence from eternity equally with another eternal being; equal eternity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. compaternitas, fr. compater godfather; com- + pater father. ] The relation of a godfather to a person. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The relation of gossipred or compaternity by the canon law is a spiritual affinity. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Confraternities /plu>. [ LL. confraternitas: cf. F. confraternité. See Fraternity. ] A society or body of men united for some purpose, or in some profession; a brotherhood. [ 1913 Webster ]

These live in one society and confraternity. Stow. [ 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 ]

n. (Zool.) The puffin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Contrary to nature. [ R. ] Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. eástern. ] 1. Situated or dwelling in the east; oriental; as, an eastern gate; Eastern countries. [ 1913 Webster ]

Eastern churches first did Christ embrace. Stirling. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Going toward the east, or in the direction of east; as, an eastern voyage. [ 1913 Webster ]

. That portion of the Christian church which prevails in the countries once comprised in the Eastern Roman Empire and the countries converted to Christianity by missionaries from them. Its full official title is The Orthodox Catholic Apostolic Eastern Church. It became estranged from the Western, or Roman, Church over the question of papal supremacy and the doctrine of the filioque, and a separation, begun in the latter part of the 9th century, became final in 1054. The Eastern Church consists of twelve (thirteen if the Bulgarian Church be included) mutually independent churches (including among these the Hellenic Church, or Church of Greece, and the Russian Church), using the vernacular (or some ancient form of it) in divine service and varying in many points of detail, but standing in full communion with each other and united as equals in a great federation. The highest five authorities are the patriarch of Constantinople, or ecumenical patriarch (whose position is not one of supremacy, but of precedence), the patriarch of Alexandria, the patriarch of Jerusalem, the patriarch of Antioch, and the Holy Synod of Russia. The Eastern Church accepts the first seven ecumenical councils (and is hence styled only schismatic, not heretical, by the Roman Catholic Church), has as its creed the Niceno-Constantinopolitan (without the later addition of the filioque, which, with the doctrine it represents, the church decisively rejects), baptizes infants with trine immersion, makes confirmation follow immediately upon baptism, administers the Communion in both kinds (using leavened bread) and to infants as well as adults, permits its secular clergy to marry before ordination and to keep their wives afterward, but not to marry a second time, selects its bishops from the monastic clergy only, recognizes the offices of bishop, priest, and deacon as the three necessary degrees of orders, venerates relics and icons, and has an elaborate ritual. See also Greek Church, under Greek. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. an inhabitant of an eastern area; especially of the eastern U. S. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Most eastern. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Endo- + sternum. ] (Zoöl.) The part of each apodeme derived from the intersternal membrane in Crustacea and insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Entosterna [ NL. See Ento-, and Sternum. ] (Anat.) See Entoplastron. -- En`to*ster"nal a. [1913 Webster]

a. (Anat. & Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the episternum. [ 1913 Webster ]