Ferriage Fer"ri·age noun [ From Ferry .] The price or fare to be paid for passage at a ferry.

Ferric Fer"ric adjective [ Latin ferrum iron: confer French ferrique . See Ferrous .] Pertaining to, derived from, or containing iron. Specifically (Chemistry) , denoting those compounds in which iron has a higher valence than in the ferrous compounds; as, ferric oxide; ferric acid.

Ferric acid (Chemistry) , an acid, H ₂ FeO ₄ , which is not known in the free state, but forms definite salts, analogous to the chromates and sulphates. -- Ferric oxide (Chemistry) , sesquioxide of iron, Fe ₂ O ₃ ; hematite. See Hematite .

Ferricyanate Fer`ri·cy"a·nate noun [ Ferri- + cyanate .] (Chemistry) A salt of ferricyanic acid; a ferricyanide.

Ferricyanic Fer`ri·cy·an"ic adjective [ Ferri- + cyanic .] (Chemistry) Pertaining to, or derived from, a ferricyanide.

Ferricyanic acid (Chemistry) , a brown crystalline substance, H ₆ (CN) ₁₂ Fe ₂ , obtained from potassium ferricyanide, and regarded as the type of the ferricyanides; -- called also hydro-ferricyanic acid , hydrogen ferricyanide , etc.

Ferricyanide Fer`ri·cy"a·nide noun [ Ferri- + cyanide .] (Chemistry) One of a complex series of double cyanides of ferric iron and some other base.

Potassium ferricyanide (Chemistry) , red prussiate of potash; a dark, red, crystalline salt, K ₆ (CN) ₁₂ Fe ₂ , consisting of the double cyanide of potassium and ferric iron. From it is derived the ferrous ferricyanate, Turnbull's blue .

Ferrier Fer"ri·er noun A ferryman. Calthrop.

Ferriferous Fer·rif"er·ous adjective [ Latin ferrum iron + -ferous : confer French ferrifère .] Producing or yielding iron.

Ferriprussiate Fer`ri·prus"si·ate noun [ Ferri- + prussiate .] (Chemistry) A ferricyanate; a ferricyanide. [ R.]

Ferriprussic Fer`ri·prus"sic adjective [ Ferri- + prussic .] (Chemistry) Ferricyanic. [ R.]

Ferris wheel Fer"ris wheel An amusement device consisting of a giant power-driven steel wheel, revolvable on its stationary axle, and carrying a number of balanced passenger cars around its rim; -- so called after G. W. G. Ferris, American engineer, who erected the first of its kind for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

Ferro- Fer"ro- (Chemistry) A prefix, or combining form, indicating ferrous iron as an ingredient; as, ferro cyanide.

Ferro-concrete Fer"ro-con"crete noun (Arch. & Engin.) Concrete strengthened by a core or foundation skeleton of iron or steel bars, strips, etc. Floors, columns, piles, water pipes, etc., have been successfully made of it. Called also armored concrete steel , and reënforced concrete .

Ferrocalcite Fer`ro·cal"cite noun [ Ferro- + calcite .] Limestone containing a large percentage of iron carbonate, and hence turning brown on exposure.

Ferrocyanate Fer`ro·cy"a·nate noun [ Ferro- + cyanate : confer French ferrocyanate .] (Chemistry) A salt of ferrocyanic acid; a ferrocyanide.

Ferrocyanic Fer`ro·cy·an"ic adjective [ Ferro- + cyanic : confer French ferrocyanique .] (Chemistry) Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, a ferrocyanide.

ferrocyanic acid (Chemistry) , a white crystalline substance, H ₄ (CN) ₆ Fe, of strong acid properties, obtained from potassium ferrocyanide, and regarded as the type of the ferrocyanides; -- called also hydro-ferrocyanic acid , hydrogen ferrocyanide . etc.

Ferrocyanide Fer`ro·cy"a·nide noun [ Ferro- + cyanide .] (Chemistry) One of a series of complex double cyanides of ferrous iron and some other base.

Potassium ferrocyanide (Chemistry) , yellow prussiate of potash; a tough, yellow, crystalline salt, K ₄ (CN) ₆ Fe, the starting point in the manufacture of almost all cyanogen compounds, and the basis of the ferric ferrocyanate, prussian blue . It is obtained by strongly heating together potash, scrap iron, and animal matter containing nitrogen, as horn, leather, blood, etc., in iron pots.

Ferroprussiate Fer`ro·prus"si·ate (... or ... or ...; see Prussiate , 277) noun [ Ferro- + prussiate .] (Chemistry) A ferrocyanate; a ferocyanide. [ R.]

Ferroprussic Fer`ro·prus"sic adjective [ Ferro- + prussic .] (Chemistry) Ferrocyanic.

Ferroso- Fer·ro"so- (Chemistry) See Ferro- .

Ferrotype Fer"ro·type noun [ Latin ferrum iron + -type .] A photographic picture taken on an iron plate by a collodion process; -- familiarly called tintype .

Ferrous Fer"rous adjective [ Confer French ferreux . See Ferreous .] (Chemistry) Pertaining to, or derived from, iron; -- especially used of compounds of iron in which the iron has its lower valence; as, ferrous sulphate.

Ferruginated Fer·ru"gi·na`ted adjective [ See Ferrugo .] Having the color or properties of the rust of iron.

Ferrugineous Fer`ru·gin"e·ous adjective Ferruginous. [ R.]

Ferruginous Fer·ru"gi·nous adjective [ Latin ferruginus , ferrugineus , from ferrugo , - ginis , iron rust: confer French ferrugineux . See Ferrugo .] 1. Partaking of iron; containing particles of iron. Boyle.

2. Resembling iron rust in appearance or color; brownish red, or yellowish red.

Ferrugo Fer·ru"go noun [ Latin , iron rust, from ferrum iron.] A disease of plants caused by fungi, commonly called the rust , from its resemblance to iron rust in color.

Ferrule Fer"rule noun [ Formerly verrel , French virole , from Latin viriola little bracelet, dim. of viriae , plural, bracelets; probably akin to viere to twist, weave, and English withe . The spelling with f is due to confusion with Latin ferrum iron.] 1. A ring or cap of metal put round a cane, tool, handle, or other similar object, to strengthen it, or prevent splitting and wearing.

2. (Steam Boilers) A bushing for expanding the end of a flue to fasten it tightly in the tube plate, or for partly filling up its mouth.

Fer*ru"mi*nate transitive verb [ Latin ferruminatus , past participle of ferruminare to cement, solder, from ferrumen cement, from ferrum iron.] To solder or unite, as metals. [ R.] Coleridge.

Ferrumination Fer·ru`mi·na"tion noun [ Latin ferruminatio : confer French ferrumination .] The soldering or uniting of metals. [ R.] Coleridge.

Ferry Fer"ry transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Ferried ; present participle & verbal noun Ferrying .] [ Middle English ferien to convey, Anglo-Saxon ferian , from faran to go; akin to Icelandic ferja to ferry, Goth. farjan to sail. See Fare .] To carry or transport over a river, strait, or other narrow water, in a boat.

Ferry Fer"ry intransitive verb To pass over water in a boat or by a ferry.

They ferry over this Lethean sound
Both to and fro.

Milton.

Ferry Fer"ry noun ; plural Ferries . [ Middle English feri ; akin to Icelandic ferja , Swedish färja , Danish færge , German fähre . See Ferry , transitive verb ] 1. A place where persons or things are carried across a river, arm of the sea, etc., in a ferryboat.

It can pass the ferry backward into light.

Milton.

To row me o'er the ferry .

Campbell.

2. A vessel in which passengers and goods are conveyed over narrow waters; a ferryboat; a wherry.

3. A franchise or right to maintain a vessel for carrying passengers and freight across a river, bay, etc., charging tolls.

Ferry bridge , a ferryboat adapted in its structure for the transfer of railroad trains across a river or bay. -- Ferry railway . See under Railway .

Ferryboat Fer"ry·boat` noun A vessel for conveying passengers, merchandise, etc., across streams and other narrow waters.

Ferryman Fer"ry·man noun ; plural Ferrymen One who maintains or attends a ferry.

Fers Fers adjective Fierce. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Ferthe Ferthe adjective Fourth. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Fertile Fer"tile adjective [ Latin fertilis , from ferre to bear, produce: confer French fertile . See Bear to support.] 1. Producing fruit or vegetation in abundance; fruitful; able to produce abundantly; prolific; fecund; productive; rich; inventive; as, fertile land or fields; a fertile mind or imagination.

Though he in a fertile climate dwell.

Shak.

2. (Botany) (a) Capable of producing fruit; fruit-bearing; as, fertile flowers. (b) Containing pollen; -- said of anthers.

3. produced in abundance; plenteous; ample.

Henceforth, my early care . . .
Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease
Of thy full branches.

Milton.

Syn. -- Fertile , Fruitful . Fertile implies the inherent power of production; fruitful , the act. The prairies of the West are fertile by nature, and are turned by cultivation into fruitful fields. The same distinction prevails when these words are used figuratively. A man of fertile genius has by nature great readiness of invention; one whose mind is fruitful has resources of thought and a readiness of application which enable him to think and act effectively.

Fertilely Fer"tile·ly adverb In a fertile or fruitful manner.

fertileness fer"tile·ness noun Fertility. Sir P. Sidney.

Fertilitate Fer·til"i·tate transitive verb To fertilize; to fecundate. Sir T. Browne.

Fertility Fer·til"i·ty noun [ Latin fertilitas : confer French fertilité .] The state or quality of being fertile or fruitful; fruitfulness; productiveness; fecundity; richness; abundance of resources; fertile invention; quickness; readiness; as, the fertility of soil, or of imagination. " fertility of resource." E. Everett.

And all her husbandry doth lie on heaps
Corrupting in its own fertility .

Shak.

Thy very weeds are beautiful; thy waste
More rich than other climes' fertility .

Byron.

Fertilization Fer`ti·li·za"tion noun 1. The act or process of rendering fertile.

2. (Biol.) The act of fecundating or impregnating animal or vegetable germs; esp., the process by which in flowers the pollen renders the ovule fertile, or an analogous process in flowerless plants; fecundation; impregnation.

Close fertilization (Botany) , the fertilization of pistils by pollen derived from the stamens of the same blossom. -- Cross fertilization , fertilization by pollen from some other blossom. See under Cross , adjective

Fertilize Fer"ti·lize transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Fertilized ; present participle & verbal noun Fertilizing .] [ Confer French fertiliser .] 1. To make fertile or enrich; to supply with nourishment for plants; to make fruitful or productive; as, to fertilize land, soil, ground, and meadows.

And fertilize the field that each pretends to gain.

Byron.

2. To fecundate; as, to fertilize flower. A. R. Wallace.

Fertilizer Fer"ti·lizer noun 1. One who fertilizes; the agent that carries the fertilizing principle, as a moth to an orchid. A. R. Wallace.

2. That which renders fertile; a general name for commercial manures, as guano, phosphate of lime, etc.

Ferula Fer"u·la noun [ Latin ferula giant fennel (its stalks were used in punishing schoolboys), rod, whip, from ferire to strike; akin to Old High German berjan , Icelandic berja . Confer Ferule .] 1. A ferule. [ Obsolete] Beau. & Fl.

2. The imperial scepter in the Byzantine or Eastern Empire.

Ferulaceous Fer`u·la"ceous adjective [ Latin ferulaceus , from ferula rod: confer French férulacé .] Pertaining to reeds and canes; having a stalk like a reed; as, ferulaceous plants.

Ferular Fer"u·lar noun A ferule. [ Obsolete] Milton.

Ferule Fer"ule noun [ Latin ferula : confer French férule . See Ferula .] A flat piece of wood, used for striking, children, esp. on the hand, in punishment.

Ferule Fer"ule transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Feruled ; present participle & verbal noun Feruling .] To punish with a ferule.

Ferulic Fe·ru"lic adjective (Chemistry) Pertaining to, or derived from, asafetida ( Ferula asafœtida ); as, ferulic acid. [ Written also ferulaic .]

Fervence Fer"vence noun Heat; fervency. [ Obsolete]

Fervency Fer"ven·cy noun [ Confer Old French fervence . See Fervent .] The state of being fervent or warm; ardor; warmth of feeling or devotion; eagerness.

When you pray, let it be with attention, with fervency , and with perseverance.

Wake.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
You are here: Webster > Letter F > Page 21 of 91.
« Previous ¦13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ¦ Next »