a. [ L. agrarius, fr. ager field. ] 1. Pertaining to fields, or lands, or their tenure; esp., relating to an equal or equitable division of lands; as, the agrarian laws of Rome, which distributed the conquered and other public lands among citizens. [ 1913 Webster ]

His Grace's landed possessions are irresistibly inviting to an agrarian experiment. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Wild; -- said of plants growing in the fields. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One in favor of an equal division of landed property. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An agrarian law. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

An equal agrarian is perpetual law. Harrington. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An equal or equitable division of landed property; the principles or acts of those who favor a redistribution of land. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To distribute according to, or to imbue with, the principles of agrarianism. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Native name. ] (Zool.) The palm (or great black) cockatoo, of Australia (Microglossus aterrimus). [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Tupi. ] 1. Goa powder. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A fabaceous tree of Brazil (Centrolobium robustum) having handsomely striped wood; -- called also zebrawood. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. In an arbitrary manner; by will only; despotically; absolutely. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being arbitrary; despoticalness; tyranny. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. arbitrarius. See Arbitrary. ] Arbitrary; despotic. [ Obs. ] -- Ar`bi*tra"ri*ous*ly, adv. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

a. [ L. arbitrarius, fr. arbiter: cf. F. arbitraire. See Arbiter. ] 1. Depending on will or discretion; not governed by any fixed rules; as, an arbitrary decision; an arbitrary punishment. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was wholly arbitrary in them to do so. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rank pretends to fix the value of every one, and is the most arbitrary of all things. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Exercised according to one's own will or caprice, and therefore conveying a notion of a tendency to abuse the possession of power. [ 1913 Webster ]

Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused licentiousness. Washington. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Despotic; absolute in power; bound by no law; harsh and unforbearing; tyrannical; as, an arbitrary prince or government. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Arbitrary constant,
Arbitrary function (Math.), a quantity of function that is introduced into the solution of a problem, and to which any value or form may at will be given, so that the solution may be made to meet special requirements. --
Arbitrary quantity (Math.), one to which any value can be assigned at pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. arborarius, fr. arbor tree. ] Of or pertaining to trees; arboreal. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ LL. ] (Anc. Fort.) A narrow opening, often cruciform, through which arrows might be discharged. Parker. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any of a group of small carnivorous freshwater percoid fishes of North America usually having a laterally compressed body and metallic luster: crappies; black bass; bluegills; pumpkinseed.
Syn. -- sunfish. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a natural family of fish comprising the sunfishes. See sunfish.
Syn. -- family Centrarchidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. ke`ras horn + 'a`rgyros silver. ] (Min.) Native silver chloride, a mineral of a white to pale yellow or gray color, darkening on exposure to the light. It may be cut by a knife, like lead or horn (hence called horn silver). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So named from the emphatic word certiorari in the Latin form of the writ, which read certiorar volumus we wish to be certified. ] (Law) A writ issuing out of chancery, or a superior court, to call up the records of a inferior court, or remove a cause there depending, in order that the party may have more sure and speedy justice, or that errors and irregularities may be corrected. It is obtained upon complaint of a party that he has not received justice, or can not have an impartial trial in the inferior court. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A certiorari is the correct process to remove the proceedings of a court in which cases are tried in a manner different from the course of the common law, as of county commissioners. It is also used as an auxiliary process in order to obtain a full return to some other process. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or derived from, the lichen, Iceland moss (Cetaria Islandica). [ 1913 Webster ]

Cetraric acid. See Cetrarin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Cetraria Islandica, the scientific name of Iceland moss. ] (Chem.) A white substance extracted from the lichen, Iceland moss (Cetraria Islandica). It consists of several ingredients, among which is cetraric acid, a white, crystalline, bitter substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. LL. cinerarius pert. to ashes, fr. cinis ashes. So called from the ash-colored down on the leaves. ] (Bot.) A Linnæan genus of free-flowering composite plants, mostly from South Africa. Several species are cultivated for ornament. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. cinerarius, fr. cinis ashes. ] Pertaining to ashes; containing ashes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cinerary urns, vessels used by the ancients to preserve the ashes of the dead when burned. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age.
Syn. -- coevals, generation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Existence at the same time; contemporaneousness. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. con- + L. temporarius of belonging to time, tempus time. See Temporal, and cf. Contemporaneous. ] 1. Living, occuring, or existing, at the same time; done in, or belonging to, the same times; contemporaneous. [ 1913 Webster ]

This king [ Henry VIII. ] was contemporary with the greatest monarchs of Europe. Strype. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of the same age; coeval. [ 1913 Webster ]

A grove born with himself he sees,
And loves his old contemporary trees. Cowley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Contemporaries 1. One who lives at the same time with another; as, Petrarch and Chaucer were contemporaries. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a person of nearly the same age as another.
Syn. -- coeval. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One who remonstrates in opposition or answer to a remonstrant. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They did the synod wrong to make this distinction of contraremonstrants and remonstrants. Hales. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. contrarians, p. pr. of contrariare to oppose, fr. L. contrarius: cf. F. contrariant, p. pr. of contrarier to contradict. See Contrary. ] taking an opposing view, especially a view opposite to that taken by the majority. [ PJC ]

n. [ see contrarian, a.. ] a person who habitually takes a view opposite to that held by the majority; as, the contrarians in the stock market prefer to sell when most analysts advise us to buy. [ PJC ]

a. [ LL. contrarians, p. pr. of contrariare to oppose, fr. L. contrarius: cf. F. contrariant, p. pr. of contrarier to contradict. See Contrary. ] Contrary; opposed; antagonistic; inconsistent; contradictory. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The struggles of contrariant factions. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Contrarily. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ Pl. of Contrary, n. ] (Logic) Propositions which directly and destructively contradict each other, but of which the falsehood of one does not establish the truth of the other. [ 1913 Webster ]

If two universals differ in quality, they are contraries; as, every vine is a tree; no vine is a tree. These can never be both true together; but they may be both false. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n.; pl. Contrarieties [ L. contrarietas: cf. F. contrariété. ] 1. The state or quality of being contrary; opposition; repugnance; disagreement; antagonism. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a contrariety between those things that conscience inclines to, and those that entertain the senses. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Something which is contrary to, or inconsistent with, something else; an inconsistency. [ 1913 Webster ]

How can these contrarieties agree? Shak.

Syn. -- Inconsistency; discrepancy; repugnance. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a contrary manner; in opposition; on the other side; in opposite ways. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. state or quality of being contrary; opposition; inconsistency; contrariety; perverseness; obstinacy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. contrariosus: cf. OF. contrarios contralius. ] Showing contrariety; repugnant; perverse. [ Archaic ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

She flew contrarious in the face of God. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Contrarily; oppositely. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. On the contrary; oppositely; on the other hand. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise, blessing. 1 Pet. iii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In a contrary order; conversely. [ 1913 Webster ]

Everything that acts upon the fluids must, at the same time, act upon the solids, and contrariwise. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Circular motion in a direction contrary to some other circular motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. contrarie, contraire, F. contraire, fr. L. contrarius, fr. contra. See Contra-. ] 1. Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse; as, contrary winds. [ 1913 Webster ]

And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me. Lev. xxvi. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

We have lost our labor; they are gone a contrary way. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Opposed; contradictory; repugnant; inconsistent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fame, if not double-faced, is double mouthed,
And with contrary blast proclaims most deeds. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be contrary to the sacred Scripture. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Given to opposition; perverse; forward; wayward; as, a contrary disposition; a contrary child. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Logic) Affirming the opposite; so opposed as to destroy each other; as, contrary propositions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Contrary motion (Mus.), the progression of parts in opposite directions, one ascending, the other descending.

Syn. -- Adverse; repugnant; hostile; inimical; discordant; inconsistent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Contraries 1. A thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities. [ 1913 Webster ]

No contraries hold more antipathy
Than I and such a knave. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An opponent; an enemy. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. the opposite; a proposition, fact, or condition incompatible with another; as, slender proofs which rather show the contrary. See Converse, n., 1. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Logic) See Contraries. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the contrary, in opposition; on the other hand. Swift. --
To the contrary, to an opposite purpose or intent; on the other side. “They did it, not for want of instruction to the contrary.” Bp. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ F. contrarier. See Contrary, a. ] To contradict or oppose; to thwart. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I was advised not to contrary the king. Bp. Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Living or being at the same time; contemporary. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Cotemporaries One who lives at the same time with another; a contemporary. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. craier, creer, croyer, ship of war, LL. craiera, creyera, perh. from G. krieger warrior, or D. krijger. ] A slow unwieldy trading vessel. [ Obs. ] [ Written also crayer, cray, and craie. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Native name. Cf. Wourall. ] A black resinoid extract prepared by the South American Indians from the bark of several species of Strychnos (Strychnos toxifera, etc.). It sometimes has little effect when taken internally, but is quickly fatal when introduced into the blood, and used by the Indians as an arrow poison. [ Written also urari, woorali, woorari, etc. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A deadly alkaloid extracted from the curare poison and from the Strychnos toxifera. It is obtained in crystalline colorless salts. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To poison with curare. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Cursory; hasty. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

With a cursorary eye o'erglanced the articles. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Bringing dishonor on; tending to disgrace; lessening reputation. Holmes. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Extemporaneously. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Extemporaneous. “In extemporary prayer.” Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Made for the occasion; for the time being. [ Obs. ] “Extemporary habitations.” Maundrell. [ 1913 Webster ]