Cenanthy Ce·nan"thy noun [ Greek ... empty + ... a flower.] (Botany) The absence or suppression of the essential organs (stamens and pistil) in a flower.

Cenation Ce·na"tion noun [ Latin cenatio .] Meal-taking; dining or supping. [ Obsolete] Sir T. Browne.

Cenatory Cen"a·to·ry adjective [ Latin cenatorius , from cenare to dine, sup, from cena , coena , dinner, supper.] Of or pertaining to dinner or supper. [ R.]

The Romans washed, were anointed, and wore a cenatory garment.
Sir T. Browne.

Cenobite Cen"o·bite noun [ Latin coenobita , from Greek koino`bios ; koino`s common + bi`os life: confer French cénobite .] One of a religious order, dwelling in a convent, or a community, in opposition to an anchoret, or hermit, who lives in solitude. Gibbon.

Cenobitic, Cenobitical Cen`o·bit"ic, Cen`o·bit"ic·al adjective [ Confer French cénobitique .] Of or pertaining to a cenobite.

Cenobitism Cen"o·bi·tism noun The state of being a cenobite; the belief or practice of a cenobite. Milman.

Cenogamy Ce·nog"a·my (se*nŏg"ȧ*mȳ) noun [ Greek koino`s common + ga`mos marriage.] The state of a community which permits promiscuous sexual intercourse among its members, as in certain societies practicing communism.

Cenotaph Cen"o·taph (sen"o*tȧf) noun [ Greek kenota`fion ; keno`s empty + ta`fos burial, tomb: confer French cénotaphe .] An empty tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person who is buried elsewhere. Dryden.

A cenotaph in Westminster Abbey.
Macaulay.

Cenotaphy Cen"o·taph`y noun A cenotaph. [ R.]

Lord Cobham honored him with a cenotaphy .
Macaulay.

Cenozoic Ce`no·zo"ic adjective [ Greek ... recent + ... life.] (Geol.) Belonging to the most recent division of geological time, including the tertiary, or Age of mammals, and the Quaternary, or Age of man. [ Written also cænozoic , cainozoic , kainozoic .] See Geology .

» This word is used by many authors as synonymous with Tertiary , the Quaternary Age not being included.

Cense Cense noun [ Old French cense , French cens , Latin census . See Census .] 1. A census; -- also, a public rate or tax. [ Obsolete] Howell. Bacon.

2. Condition; rank. [ Obsolete] B. Jonson.

Cense Cense transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Censed ; present participle & verbal noun Censing .] [ Abbrev. from incense .] To perfume with odors from burning gums and spices.

The Salii sing and cense his altars round.
Dryden.

Cense Cense intransitive verb To burn or scatter incense.

Censer Cen"ser noun [ For incenser , from Old French encensier , French encensoir , from Late Latin incensarium , incensorium , from Latin incensum incense. See Incense , and confer Incensory .] A vessel for perfumes; esp. one in which incense is burned.

» The ecclesiastical censer is usually cup-shaped, has a cover pierced with holes, and is hung by chains. The censer bearer swings it to quicken the combustion.

Her thoughts are like the fume of frankincense
Which from a golden censer forth doth rise.
Spenser.

Censor Cen"sor noun [ Latin censor , from censere to value, tax.] 1. (Antiq.) One of two magistrates of Rome who took a register of the number and property of citizens, and who also exercised the office of inspector of morals and conduct.

2. One who is empowered to examine manuscripts before they are committed to the press, and to forbid their publication if they contain anything obnoxious; -- an official in some European countries.

3. One given to fault-finding; a censurer.

Nor can the most circumspect attention, or steady rectitude, escape blame from censors who have no inclination to approve.
Rambler.

4. A critic; a reviewer.

Received with caution by the censors of the press.
W. Irving.

Censorial Cen·so"ri·al adjective 1. Belonging to a censor, or to the correction of public morals. Junius.

2. Full of censure; censorious.

The censorial declamation of Juvenal.
T. Warton.

Censorian Cen·so"ri·an adjective Censorial. [ R.] Bacon.

Censorious Cen·so"ri·ous adjective [ Latin censorius pertaining to the censor. See Censor .] 1. Addicted to censure; apt to blame or condemn; severe in making remarks on others, or on their writings or manners.

A dogmatical spirit inclines a man to be consorious of his neighbors.
Watts.

2. Implying or expressing censure; as, censorious remarks.

Syn. -- Fault-finding; carping; caviling; captious; severe; condemnatory; hypercritical.

-- Cen*so"ri*ous*ly , adverb -- Cen*so"ri*ous*ness , noun

Censorship Cen"sor·ship noun The office or power of a censor; as, to stand for a censorship . Holland.

The press was not indeed at that moment under a general censorship .
Macaulay.

Censual Cen"su·al adjective [ Latin censualis , from census .] Relating to, or containing, a census.

He caused the whole realm to be described in a censual roll.
Sir R. Baker.

Censurable Cen"sur·a·ble adjective Deserving of censure; blamable; culpable; reprehensible; as, a censurable person, or censurable conduct.

-- Cen"sur*a*bleness , noun -- Cen"sur*a*bly , adverb

Censure Cen"sure noun [ Latin censura from censere : confer French censure . Confer Censor .] 1. Judgment either favorable or unfavorable; opinion. [ Obsolete]

Take each man's censure , but reserve thy judgment.
Shak.

2. The act of blaming or finding fault with and condemning as wrong; reprehension; blame.

Both the censure and the praise were merited.
Macaulay.

3. Judicial or ecclesiastical sentence or reprimand; condemnatory judgment.

Excommunication or other censure of the church.
Bp. Burnet.

Syn. -- Blame; reproof; condemnation; reprobation; disapproval; disapprobation; reprehension; animadversion; reprimand; reflection; dispraise; abuse.

Censure Cen"sure intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Censured ; present participle & verbal noun Censuring .] [ Confer French ensurer .] 1. To form or express a judgment in regard to; to estimate; to judge. [ Obsolete] "Should I say more, you might well censure me a flatterer." Beau. & Fl.

2. To find fault with and condemn as wrong; to blame; to express disapprobation of.

I may be censured that nature thus gives way to loyalty.
Shak.

3. To condemn or reprimand by a judicial or ecclesiastical sentence. Shak.

Syn. -- To blame; reprove; rebuke; condemn; reprehend; reprimand.

Censure Cen"sure intransitive verb To judge. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Censurer Cen"sur·er noun One who censures. Sha.

Census Cen"sus noun [ Latin census , from censere . See Censor .] 1. (Bot. Antiq.) A numbering of the people, and valuation of their estate, for the purpose of imposing taxes, etc.; -- usually made once in five years.

2. An official registration of the number of the people, the value of their estates, and other general statistics of a country.

» A general census of the United States was first taken in 1790, and one has been taken at the end of every ten years since.

Cent Cent noun [ French cent hundred, Latin centum . See Hundred .] 1. A hundred; as, ten per cent , the proportion of ten parts in a hundred.

2. A United States coin, the hundredth part of a dollar, formerly made of copper, now of copper, tin, and zinc.

3. An old game at cards, supposed to be like piquet; -- so called because 100 points won the game. Nares.

Centage Cent"age noun Rate by the hundred; percentage.

Cental Cen"tal noun [ Latin centum a hundred.] A weight of one hundred pounds avoirdupois; -- called in many parts of the United States a Hundredweight .

Cental Cen"tal noun Relating to a hundred.

Cental system , the method of buying and selling by the cental, or hundredweight.

Centare Cen"tare` noun [ French centiare ; centi- (L. centum ) + -are .] A measure of area, the hundredth part of an are; one square meter, or about 1⅕ square yards.

Centaur Cen"taur (sĕn"tar) noun [ Latin centaurus , Greek Ke`ntayros .]

1. (Class. Myth.) A fabulous being, represented as half man and half horse.

2. (Astron.) A constellation in the southern heavens between Hydra and the Southern Cross.

Centaurea Cen`tau·re"a noun [ New Latin See Centaury .] (Botany) A large genus of composite plants, related to the thistles and including the cornflower or bluebottle ( Centaurea Cyanus ) and the star thistle ( C. Calcitrapa ).

Centauromachy Cen`tau·rom"a·chy noun [ Greek ...; ... centaur + ... battle.] (Ancient Art) A fight in which centaurs take part, -- a common theme for relief sculpture, as in the Parthenon metopes.

Centaury Cen"tau·ry (sĕn"ta*rȳ) noun [ Latin centaureum and centauria , Greek kentay`rion , kentay`reion , and kentayri`h , from the Centaur Chiron.] (Botany) A gentianaceous plant not fully identified. The name is usually given to the Erytheræa Centaurium and the Chlora perfoliata of Europe, but is also extended to the whole genus Sabbatia , and even to the unrelated Centaurea .

Centenarian Cen`te·na"ri·an adjective Of or relating to a hundred years. -- noun A person a hundred years old.

Centenary Cen"te·na·ry adjective [ Latin centenarius , from centum a hundred.] 1. Relating to, or consisting of, a hundred.

2. Occurring once in every hundred years; centennial. " Centenary solemnities." Fuller.

Centenary Cen"te·na·ry noun ; plural Centenaries 1. The aggregate of a hundred single things; specifically, a century. "Every centenary of years." Hakewill.

2. A commemoration or celebration of an event which occurred a hundred years before.

Centennial Cen·ten"ni·al adjective [ Latin centum a hundred + annus year.] 1. Relating to, or associated with, the commemoration of an event that happened a hundred years before; as, a centennial ode.

2. Happening once in a hundred years; as, centennial jubilee; a centennial celebration.

3. Lasting or aged a hundred years.

That opened through long lines
Of sacred ilex and centennial pines.
Longfellow.

Centennial Cen·ten"ni·al noun The celebration of the hundredth anniversary of any event; a centenary. [ U. S.]

Centennial State Centennial State Colorado; -- a nickname alluding to the fact that it was admitted to the Union in the centennial year, 1876.

Centennially Cen·ten"ni·al·ly adverb Once in a hundred years.

Center Cen"ter noun [ French centre , from Latin centrum , from round which a circle is described, from ... to prick, goad.] 1. A point equally distant from the extremities of a line, figure, or body, or from all parts of the circumference of a circle; the middle point or place.

2. The middle or central portion of anything.

3. A principal or important point of concentration; the nucleus around which things are gathered or to which they tend; an object of attention, action, or force; as, a center of attaction.

4. The earth. [ Obsolete] Shak.

5. Those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who support the existing government. They sit in the middle of the legislative chamber, opposite the presiding officer, between the conservatives or monarchists, who sit on the right of the speaker, and the radicals or advanced republicans who occupy the seats on his left, See Right , and Left .

6. (Architecture) A temporary structure upon which the materials of a vault or arch are supported in position until the work becomes self-supporting.

7. (Mech.) (a) One of the two conical steel pins, in a lathe, etc., upon which the work is held, and about which it revolves. (b) A conical recess, or indentation, in the end of a shaft or other work, to receive the point of a center, on which the work can turn, as in a lathe.

» In a lathe the live center is in the spindle of the head stock; the dead center is on the tail stock. Planer centers are stocks carrying centers, when the object to be planed must be turned on its axis.

Center of an army , the body or troops occupying the place in the line between the wings. -- Center of a curve or surface (Geom.) (a) A point such that every line drawn through the point and terminated by the curve or surface is bisected at the point. (b) The fixed point of reference in polar coördinates. See Coördinates . -- Center of curvature of a curve (Geom.) , the center of that circle which has at any given point of the curve closer contact with the curve than has any other circle whatever. See Circle . -- Center of a fleet , the division or column between the van and rear, or between the weather division and the lee. -- Center of gravity (Mech.) , that point of a body about which all its parts can be balanced, or which being supported, the whole body will remain at rest, though acted upon by gravity. -- Center of gyration (Mech.) , that point in a rotating body at which the whole mass might be concentrated (theoretically) without altering the resistance of the intertia of the body to angular acceleration or retardation. -- Center of inertia (Mech.) , the center of gravity of a body or system of bodies. -- Center of motion , the point which remains at rest, while all the other parts of a body move round it. -- Center of oscillation , the point at which, if the whole matter of a suspended body were collected, the time of oscillation would be the same as it is in the actual form and state of the body. -- Center of percussion , that point in a body moving about a fixed axis at which it may strike an obstacle without communicating a shock to the axis. -- Center of pressure (Hydros.) , that point in a surface pressed by a fluid, at which, if a force equal to the whole pressure and in the same line be applied in a contrary direction, it will balance or counteract the whole pressure of the fluid.

Center, Centre Cen"ter, Cen"tre intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Centered or Centred ; present participle & verbal noun Centering or Centring .] 1. To be placed in a center; to be central.

2. To be collected to a point; to be concentrated; to rest on, or gather about, as a center.

Where there is no visible truth wherein to center , error is as wide as men's fancies.
Dr. H. More.

Our hopes must center in ourselves alone.
Dryden.

Center, Centre Cen"ter, Cen"tre transitive verb 1. To place or fix in the center or on a central point. Milton.

2. To collect to a point; to concentrate.

Thy joys are centered all in me alone.
Prior.

3. (Mech.) To form a recess or indentation for the reception of a center.

Center, Centre Cen"ter, Cen"tre seal (Gas Manuf.) A compound hydraulic valve for regulating the passage of the gas through a set of purifiers so as to cut out each one in turn for the renewal of the lime.

Center, Centre Center, Centre punch (Mech.) (a) A punch for making indentations or dots in a piece of work, as for suspension between lathe centers, etc. (b) A punch for punching holes in sheet metal, having a small conical center to insure correct locating.

Centerbit, Centrebit Cen"ter·bit`, Cen"tre·bit` noun An instrument turning on a center, for boring holes. See Bit , noun , 3.

Centerboard, Centreboard Cen"ter·board`, Cen"tre·board , noun (Nautical) A movable or sliding keel formed of a broad board or slab of wood or metal which may be raised into a water-tight case amidships, when in shallow water, or may be lowered to increase the area of lateral resistance and prevent leeway when the vessel is beating to windward. It is used in vessels of all sizes along the coast of the United States

Centerfire cartridge Cen"ter·fire` car"tridge See under Cartridge .

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