n.; pl. Abnormities [ LL. abnormitas. See Abnormous. ] Departure from the ordinary type; irregularity; monstrosity. “An abnormity . . . like a calf born with two heads.” Mrs. Whitney. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Adam. ] 1. A descendant of Adam; a human being. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of visionaries, who, professing to imitate the state of Adam, discarded the use of dress in their assemblies. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Admitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Admitting. ] [ OE. amitten, L. admittere, admissum; ad + mittere to send: cf. F. admettre, OF. admettre, OF. ametre. See Missile. ] 1. To suffer to enter; to grant entrance, whether into a place, or into the mind, or consideration; to receive; to take; as, they were into his house; to admit a serious thought into the mind; to admit evidence in the trial of a cause. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give a right of entrance; as, a ticket admits one into a playhouse. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To allow (one) to enter on an office or to enjoy a privilege; to recognize as qualified for a franchise; as, to admit an attorney to practice law; the prisoner was admitted to bail. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation which it is impossible to deny; to own or confess; as, the argument or fact is admitted; he admitted his guilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To be capable of; to permit; as, the words do not admit such a construction. In this sense, of may be used after the verb, or may be omitted. [ 1913 Webster ]

Both Houses declared that they could admit of no treaty with the king. Hume. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Admissible. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of admitting. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Permission to enter; the power or right of entrance; also, actual entrance; reception. [ 1913 Webster ]

To gain admittance into the house. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

He desires admittance to the king. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

To give admittance to a thought of fear. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Concession; admission; allowance; as, the admittance of an argument. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Admissibility. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Eng. Law) The act of giving possession of a copyhold estate. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Admission; access; entrance; initiation. -- Admittance, Admission. These words are, to some extent, in a state of transition and change. Admittance is now chiefly confined to its primary sense of access into some locality or building. Thus we see on the doors of factories, shops, etc. “No admittance.” Its secondary or moral sense, as “admittance to the church, ” is almost entirely laid aside. Admission has taken to itself the secondary or figurative senses; as, admission to the rights of citizenship; admission to the church; the admissions made by one of the parties in a dispute. And even when used in its primary sense, it is not identical with admittance. Thus, we speak of admission into a country, territory, and other larger localities, etc., where admittance could not be used. So, when we speak of admission to a concert or other public assembly, the meaning is not perhaps exactly that of admittance, viz., access within the walls of the building, but rather a reception into the audience, or access to the performances. But the lines of distinction on this subject are one definitely drawn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Elec.) The reciprocal of impedance. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ L., let him be admitted. ] The certificate of admission given in some American colleges. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Received as true or valid; acknowledged. -- adv. Confessedly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who admits. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. amittere, amissum, to lose; a (ab) + mittere to send. See Missile. ] To lose. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A lodestone fired doth presently amit its proper virtue. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See A- not, and Mitosis. ] (Biol.) Cell division in which there is first a simple cleavage of the nucleus without change in its structure (such as the formation of chromosomes), followed by the division of the cytoplasm; direct cell division; -- opposed to mitosis. It is not the usual mode of division, and is believed by many to occur chiefly in highly specialized cells which are incapable of long-continued multiplication, in transitory structures, and in those in early stages of degeneration. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to amitosis; karyostenotic; -- opposed to mitotic. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n.; pl. Amities [ F. amitié, OF. amistié, amisté, fr. an assumed LL. amisitas, fr. L. amicus friendly, from amare to love. See Amiable. ] Friendship, in a general sense, between individuals, societies, or nations; friendly relations; good understanding; as, a treaty of amity and commerce; the amity of the Whigs and Tories. [ 1913 Webster ]

To live on terms of amity with vice. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Harmony; friendliness; friendship; affection; good will; peace. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'ammi`ths, 'ammi`tis, sandstone, fr. 'a`mmos or "a`mmos sand.] (Geol.) Oölite or roestone; -- written also hammite. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

n. The quality or state of being anonymous; anonymousness; also, that which anonymous. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He rigorously insisted upon the rights of anonymity. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Opposition to, or hatred of, Semites, esp. Jews. The word is sometimes also applied to acts motivated by or evincing antisemitism. -- An`ti-Sem"ite n. -- An`ti-Sem*it"ic a. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. [ From the desert of Atacama, where found. ] (Min.) An oxychloride of copper, usually in emerald-green prismatic crystals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. azymite. ] (Eccl. Hist.) One who administered the Eucharist with unleavened bread; -- a name of reproach given by those of the Greek church to the Latins. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An inhabitant of a madhouse; a madman. “Raving bedlamites.” Beattie. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A descendant of Benjamin; one of the tribe of Benjamin. Judg. iii. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who believes in Benthamism. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. 1. An inhabitant of Bethlehem in Judea. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An insane person; a madman; a bedlamite. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One of an extinct English order of monks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A double form. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Bindheim, a German who analyzed it. ] (Min.) An amorphous antimonate of lead, produced from the alteration of other ores, as from jamesonite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Min.) Bismuth trioxide, or bismuth ocher. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Black (in allusion to the color of the metal) + smith. Cf. Whitesmith. ] 1. A smith who works in iron with a forge, and makes iron utensils, horseshoes, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The blacksmith may forge what he pleases. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A fish of the Pacific coast (Chromis punctipinnis, or Heliastes punctipinnis), of a blackish color. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Med.) A copious vomiting of dark-colored matter; or the substance so discharged; -- one of the most fatal symptoms in yellow fever. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A sword cutler. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. calamus a reed: cf. F. calamite. ] (Paleon.) A fossil plant of the coal formation, having the general form of plants of the modern Equiseta (the Horsetail or Scouring Rush family) but sometimes attaining the height of trees, and having the stem more or less woody within. See Acrogen, and Asterophyllite. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Calamitosus; cf. F. calamiteux. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Suffering calamity; wretched; miserable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Ten thousands of calamitous persons. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Producing, or attended with distress and misery; making wretched; wretched; unhappy. “This sad and calamitous condition.” South. “A calamitous prison” Milton.

Syn. -- Miserable; deplorable; distressful; afflictive; wretched; grievous; baleful; disastrous; adverse; unhappy; severe; sad; unfortunate.

-- Ca*lam"i*tous*ly, adv. -- Ca*lam"i*tous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n.; pl. Calamities [ L. calamitas, akin to in-columis unharmed: cf. F. calamité ] 1. Any great misfortune or cause of misery; -- generally applied to events or disasters which produce extensive evil, either to communities or individuals. [ 1913 Webster ]

The word calamity was first derived from calamus when the corn could not get out of the stalk. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Strokes of calamity that scathe and scorch the soul. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A state or time of distress or misfortune; misery. [ 1913 Webster ]

The deliberations of calamity are rarely wise. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where'er I came I brought calamity. Tennyson.

Syn. -- Disaster; distress; affliction; adversity; misfortune; unhappiness; infelicity; mishap; mischance; misery; evil; extremity; exigency; downfall. -- Calamity, Disaster, Misfortune, Mishap, Mischance. Of these words, calamity is the strongest. It supposes a somewhat continuous state, produced not usually by the direct agency of man, but by natural causes, such as fire, flood, tempest, disease, etc, Disaster denotes literally ill-starred, and is some unforeseen and distressing event which comes suddenly upon us, as if from hostile planet. Misfortune is often due to no specific cause; it is simply the bad fortune of an individual; a link in the chain of events; an evil independent of his own conduct, and not to be charged as a fault. Mischance and mishap are misfortunes of a trivial nature, occurring usually to individuals. “A calamity is either public or private, but more frequently the former; a disaster is rather particular than private; it affects things rather than persons; journey, expedition, and military movements are often attended with disasters; misfortunes are usually personal; they immediately affect the interests of the individual.” Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A telephone transmitter in which a carbon contact is used. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ L. Catamitus, an old form of Ganymedes Ganymede, Gr. Ganymh`dhs. ] A boy kept for unnatural purposes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Chemical + -type. ] (Engraving) One of a number of processes by which an impression from an engraved plate is obtained in relief, to be used for printing on an ordinary printing press. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Min.) A black submetallic mineral consisting of oxide of chromium and iron; -- called also chromic iron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) A compound or salt of chromous hydroxide regarded as an acid. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ L. ] (Rom. Antiq.) A public assembly of the Roman people for electing officers or passing laws. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ There were three kinds of comitia: comitia curiata, or assembly of the patricians, who voted in curiæ; comitia centuriata, or assembly of the whole Roman people, who voted by centuries; and comitia tributa, or assembly of the plebeians according to their division into tribes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. comitialis. ] Relating to the comitia, or popular assemblies of the Romans for electing officers and passing laws. Middleton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ It. ] A body of followers; -- applied to the lawless or brigand bands in Italy and Sicily. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n.; pl. Comities [ L. comitas, fr. comis courteous, kind. ] Mildness and suavity of manners; courtesy between equals; friendly civility; as, comity of manners; the comity of States. [ 1913 Webster ]

Comity of nations (International Law), the courtesy by which nations recognize within their own territory, or in their courts, the peculiar institutions of another nation or the rights and privileges acquired by its citizens in their own land. By some authorities private international law rests on this comity, but the better opinion is that it is part of the common law of the land, and hence is obligatory as law.

Syn. -- Civility; good breeding; courtesy; good will. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To sin; esp., to be incontinent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Commit not with man's sworn spouse. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Committed; p. pr. & vb. n. Committing. ] [ L. committere, commissum, to connect, commit; com- + mittere to send. See Mission. ] 1. To give in trust; to put into charge or keeping; to intrust; to consign; -- used with to, unto. [ 1913 Webster ]

Commit thy way unto the Lord. Ps. xxxvii. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bid him farewell, commit him to the grave. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To put in charge of a jailor; to imprison. [ 1913 Webster ]

These two were committed. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To do; to perpetrate, as a crime, sin, or fault. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt not commit adultery. Ex. xx. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To join for a contest; to match; -- followed by with. [ R. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To pledge or bind; to compromise, expose, or endanger by some decisive act or preliminary step; -- often used reflexively; as, to commit one's self to a certain course. [ 1913 Webster ]

You might have satisfied every duty of political friendship, without commiting the honor of your sovereign. Junius. [ 1913 Webster ]

Any sudden assent to the proposal . . . might possibly be considered as committing the faith of the United States. Marshall. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To confound. [ An obsolete Latinism. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Committing short and long [ quantities ]. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

To commit a bill (Legislation), to refer or intrust it to a committee or others, to be considered and reported. --
To commit to memory, or
To commit, to learn by heart; to memorize.

Syn. -- To Commit, Intrust, Consign. These words have in common the idea of transferring from one's self to the care and custody of another. Commit is the widest term, and may express only the general idea of delivering into the charge of another; as, to commit a lawsuit to the care of an attorney; or it may have the special sense of intrusting with or without limitations, as to a superior power, or to a careful servant, or of consigning, as to writing or paper, to the flames, or to prison. To intrust denotes the act of committing to the exercise of confidence or trust; as, to intrust a friend with the care of a child, or with a secret. To consign is a more formal act, and regards the thing transferred as placed chiefly or wholly out of one's immediate control; as, to consign a pupil to the charge of his instructor; to consign goods to an agent for sale; to consign a work to the press. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the trait of sincere and steadfast fixity of purpose.
Syn. -- commitment. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The act of committing, or putting in charge, keeping, or trust; consignment; esp., the act of committing to prison. [ 1913 Webster ]

They were glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower, whence he was within few days enlarged. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A warrant or order for the imprisonment of a person; -- more frequently termed a mittimus. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of referring or intrusting to a committee for consideration and report; as, the commitment of a petition or a bill. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A doing, or perpetration, in a bad sense, as of a crime or blunder; commission. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The act of pledging or engaging; the act of exposing, endangering, or compromising; also, the state of being pledged or engaged. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being committed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of committing, or the state of being committed; commitment. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. Bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude. Opposite of uncommitted. [ Narrower terms: bound up, involved, wrapped up; dedicated, devoted; pledged, sworn ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Associated in an exclusive sexual relationship; also called attached. Opposite of unattached. [ Narrower terms: affianced, bespoken, betrothed, engaged, pledged, promised(predicate); married ] [ Also See: loving. ]
Syn. -- attached. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. Consigned involuntarily to custody, as in a prison or mental institution. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ From Commit, v. t. ] (Law) One to whom the charge of the person or estate of another, as of a lunatic, is committed by suitable authority; a guardian. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. comité company, and LL. comitatus jurisdiction or territory of a count, county, assize, army. The word was apparently influenced by the verb commit, but not directly formed from it. Cf. County. ] One or more persons elected or appointed, to whom any matter or business is referred, either by a legislative body, or by a court, or by any collective body of men acting together. [ 1913 Webster ]

Committee of the whole [ house ], a committee, embracing all the members present, into which a legislative or deliberative body sometimes resolves itself, for the purpose of considering a particular measure under the operation of different rules from those governing the general legislative proceedings. The committee of the whole has its own chairman, and reports its action in the form of recommendations. --
Standing committee. See under Standing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A member of a committee. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who commits; one who does or perpetrates. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fornicator. [ Obs. ] T. Decker. [ 1913 Webster ]