Chemic noun [ See Chenistry .]
1. A chemist; an alchemist. [ Obsolete]

2. (Bleaching) A solution of chloride of lime.

Chemic adjective Chemical. Blackw. Mag.

Chemical adjective Pertaining to chemistry; characterized or produced by the forces and operations of chemistry; employed in the processes of chemistry; as, chemical changes; chemical combinations.

Chemical attraction or affinity . See under Attraction .

Chemical noun A substance used for producing a chemical effect; a reagent.

Chemically adverb According to chemical principles; by chemical process or operation.

Chemiglyphic adjective [ Chemical + ... to engrave.] Engraved by a voltaic battery.

Chemigraphy noun [ Chemical + -graphy .] Any mechanical engraving process depending upon chemical action; specif., a process of zinc etching not employing photography. -- Chem`i*graph"ic adjective

Chemiloon noun A garment for women, consisting of chemise and drawers united in one. [ U. S.]

Chemise noun [ French, shirt, from Late Latin camisa , camisia , shirt, thin dress; confer German hemd , or OIr. caimmse sort of garment. Confer Camis .]
1. A shift, or undergarment, worn by women.

2. A wall that lines the face of a bank or earthwork.

Chemisette noun [ French, dim. of chemise .] An under-garment, worn by women, usually covering the neck, shoulders, and breast.

Chemism noun [ Confer French chimisme . See Chemistry .] The force exerted between the atoms of elementary substance whereby they unite to form chemical compounds; chemical attaction; affinity; -- sometimes used as a general expression for chemical activity or relationship.

Chemist noun [ Shortened from alchemist ; confer French chimiste .] A person versed in chemistry or given to chemical investigation; an analyst; a maker or seller of chemicals or drugs.

Chemistry (kĕm"ĭs*trȳ; 277) noun [ From Chemist . See Alchemy .]
1. That branch of science which treats of the composition of substances, and of the changes which they undergo in consequence of alterations in the constitution of the molecules, which depend upon variations of the number, kind, or mode of arrangement, of the constituent atoms. These atoms are not assumed to be indivisible, but merely the finest grade of subdivision hitherto attained. Chemistry deals with the changes in the composition and constitution of molecules. See Atom , Molecule .

» Historically, chemistry is an outgrowth of alchemy (or alchemistry), with which it was anciently identified.

2. An application of chemical theory and method to the consideration of some particular subject; as, the chemistry of iron; the chemistry of indigo.

3. A treatise on chemistry.

» This word and its derivatives were formerly written with y , and sometimes with i, instead of e , in the first syllable, chymistry , chymist , chymical , etc., or chimistry , chimist , chimical , etc.; and the pronunciation was conformed to the orthography.

Inorganic chemistry , that which treats of inorganic or mineral substances. -- Organic chemistry , that which treats of the substances which form the structure of organized beings and their products, whether animal or vegetable; -- called also chemistry of the carbon compounds . There is no fundamental difference between organic and inorganic chemistry. -- Physiological chemistry , the chemistry of the organs and tissues of the body, and of the various physiological processes incident to life. -- Practical chemistry , or Applied chemistry , that which treats of the modes of manufacturing the products of chemistry that are useful in the arts, of their applications to economical purposes, and of the conditions essential to their best use. -- Pure chemistry , the consideration of the facts and theories of chemistry in their purely scientific relations, without necessary reference to their practical applications or mere utility.

Chemitype noun [ Chemi cal + -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.

Chemolysis noun [ Chemi cal + Greek ... a loosing.] A term sometimes applied to the decomposition of organic substance into more simple bodies, by the use of chemical agents alone. Thudichum.

Chemosis noun [ New Latin , from Greek ... a swelling of the cornea resembling a cockleshell, from ... a gaping, hence a cockleshell.] (Medicine) Inflammatory swelling of the conjunctival tissue surrounding the cornea. -- Che*mot"ic adjective

Chemosmosis noun [ Chemi cal + osmosis .] Chemical action taking place through an intervening membrane.

Chemosmosis noun [ Chem ical + osmosis .] Chemical action taking place through an intervening membrane. -- Chem`os*mot"ic adjective

Chemosmotic adjective Pertaining to, or produced by, chemosmosis. [ R.]

Chemosynthesis noun [ Chem ical + synthesis .] (Plant Physiol.) Synthesis of organic compounds by energy derived from chemical changes or reactions. Chemosynthesis of carbohydrates occurs in the nitrite bacteria through the oxidation of ammonia to nitrous acid, and in the nitrate bacteria through the conversion of nitrous into nitric acid. -- Chem`o*syn*thet"ic adjective

Chemotaxis noun Formerly also Chem`i*o*tax"is [ Chem ical + Greek ... arrangement, from ... to arrange.] (Biol.) The sensitiveness exhibited by small free-swimming organisms, as bacteria, zoöspores of algæ, etc., to chemical substances held in solution. They may be attracted ( positive chemotaxis ) or repelled ( negative chemotaxis ). -- Chem`o*tac"tic adjective -- Chem`o*tac"tic*al*ly , adverb

Chemung period (Geol.) A subdivision in the upper part of the Devonian system in America, so named from the Chemung River, along which the rocks are well developed. It includes the Portage and Chemung groups or epochs. See the Diagram under Geology .

Cheng noun [ Chinese.] A chinese reed instrument, with tubes, blown by the mouth.

Chenille (she*nēl") noun [ French, prop., a caterpillar.] Tufted cord, of silk or worsted, for the trimming of ladies' dresses, for embroidery and fringes, and for the weft of Chenille rugs.

Chenomorphæ noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek ... the wild goose + ... form.] (Zoology) An order of birds, including the swans, ducks, geese, flamingoes and screamers.

Chepster (chĕp"stẽr) noun (Zoology) The European starling. [ Local, Eng.]

Cheque (chĕk) noun See Check .

Chequer (chĕk"ẽr) noun & v. Same as Checker .

Chequin (che*kēn") noun A coin. See Sequin . Shak.

Chequy noun (Her.) Same as Checky .

Cherif (shĕr"ĭf) noun See Sherif .

Cherimoyer noun [ French chérimolier .] (Botany)
1. A small downy-leaved tree ( Anona Cherimolia ), with fragrant flowers. It is a native of Peru.

2. Its delicious fruit, which is succulent, dark purple, and similar to the custard apple of the West Indies.

Cherish (chĕr"ĭsh) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Cherished (- ĭsht); present participle & verbal noun Cherising .] [ French chérir , from cher dear, from Latin carus . See Caress , Finish .]
1. To treat with tenderness and affection; to nurture with care; to protect and aid.

We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.
1 Thess. ii. 7.

2. To hold dear; to embrace with interest; to indulge; to encourage; to foster; to promote; as, to cherish religious principle.

To cherish virtue and humanity.
Burke.

Syn. -- To nourish; foster; nurse; nurture; entertain; encourage; comfort; protect; support; See Nurture .

Cherisher (chĕr"ĭsh*ẽr) noun One who cherishes.

The cherisher of my flesh and blood.
Shak.

Cherishment noun Encouragement; comfort. [ Obsolete]

Rich bounty and dear cherishment .
Spenser.

Chermes noun See Kermes .

Cherogril noun [ Latin choerogryllus , Greek ...; ... a young swine + ... a pig.] (Zoology) See Cony .

Cherokees noun plural ; sing. Cherokee . (Ethnol.) An Appalachian tribe of Indians, formerly inhabiting the region about the head waters of the Tennessee River. They are now mostly settled in the Indian Territory, and have become one of the most civilized of the Indian Tribes.

Cheroot (che*rōt"; 277) noun [ Tamil shuruttu , prop., a roll.] A kind of cigar, originally brought from Manila, in the Philippine Islands; now often made of inferior or adulterated tobacco.

Cherry (chĕr"rȳ) noun [ Middle English chery , for cherys , from French cerise (cf. Anglo-Saxon cyrs cherry), from Late Latin ceresia , from Latin cerasus Cherry tree, Greek keraso`s , perhaps from ke`ras horn, from the hardness of the wood.]
1. (Botany) A tree or shrub of the genus Prunus (Which also includes the plum) bearing a fleshy drupe with a bony stone; (a) The common garden cherry ( Prunus Cerasus ), of which several hundred varieties are cultivated for the fruit, some of which are, the begarreau, blackheart, black Tartarian, oxheart, morelle or morello, May-duke (corrupted from Médoc in France). (b) The wild cherry; as, Prunus serotina (wild black cherry), valued for its timber; P. Virginiana (choke cherry), an American shrub which bears astringent fruit; P. avium and P. Padus , European trees (bird cherry).

2. The fruit of the cherry tree, a drupe of various colors and flavors.

3. The timber of the cherry tree, esp. of the black cherry, used in cabinetmaking, etc.

4. A peculiar shade of red, like that of a cherry.

Barbadoes cherry . See under Barbadoes . -- Cherry bird (Zoology) , an American bird; the cedar bird; -- so called from its fondness for cherries. -- Cherry bounce , cherry brandy and sugar. -- Cherry brandy , brandy in which cherries have been steeped. -- Cherry laurel (Botany) , an evergreen shrub ( Prunus Lauro- cerasus ) common in shrubberies, the poisonous leaves of which have a flavor like that of bitter almonds. -- Cherry pepper (Botany) , a species of Capsicum ( C. cerasiforme ), with small, scarlet, intensely piquant cherry-shaped fruit. -- Cherry pit . (a) A child's play, in which cherries are thrown into a hole. Shak. (b) A cherry stone. -- Cherry rum , rum in which cherries have been steeped. -- Cherry sucker (Zoology) , the European spotted flycatcher ( Musicapa grisola ); -- called also cherry chopper cherry snipe . -- Cherry tree , a tree that bears cherries. -- Ground cherry , Winter cherry , See Alkekengi .

Cherry (chĕr"rȳ) adjective Like a red cherry in color; ruddy; blooming; as, a cherry lip; cherry cheeks.

Chersonese (kẽr"so*nēs) noun [ Greek cherso`nhsos ; che`rsos land + nh`sos island.] A peninsula; a tract of land nearly surrounded by water, but united to a larger tract by a neck of land or isthmus; as, the Cimbric Chersonese , or Jutland; the Tauric Chersonese , or Crimea.

Chert (chẽrt) noun [ Ir. ceart stone, perhaps akin to English crag .] (Min.) An impure, massive, flintlike quartz or hornstone, of a dull color.

Cherty adjective Like chert; containing chert; flinty.

Cherub noun ; plural Cherubs ; but the Hebrew plural Cherubim is also used. [ Hebrew kerūb .]
1. A mysterious composite being, the winged footstool and chariot of the Almighty, described in Ezekiel i. and x.

I knew that they were the cherubim .
Ezek. x. 20.

He rode upon a cherub and did fly.
Ps. xviii. 10.

2. A symbolical winged figure of unknown form used in connection with the mercy seat of the Jewish Ark and Temple. Ez. xxv. 18.

3. One of a order of angels, variously represented in art. In European painting the cherubim have been shown as blue, to denote knowledge, as distinguished from the seraphim (see Seraph ), and in later art the children's heads with wings are generally called cherubs .

4. A beautiful child; -- so called because artists have represented cherubs as beautiful children.

Cherubic, Cherubical adjective Of or pertaining to cherubs; angelic. "The cherubic host." Milton.

Cherubim noun The Hebrew plural of Cherub .. Confer Seraphim .

» Cherubims , in the King James version of the bible, is an incorrect form, made by adding the English plural termination to the Hebrew plural cherubim instead of to the singular cherub .

Cherubin adjective Cherubic; angelic. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Cherubin noun A cherub. [ Obsolete] Dryden.