GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
   Capital , a. [F. capital, L. capitalis capital (in senses 1 & 2), fr. caput head. See Chief, and cf. Capital, n.]
   Of or pertaining to the head. [Obs.]
   1913 Webster
   Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise
   Expect with mortal pain.
   Milton.
   
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   Having reference to, or involving, the forfeiture of the head or life; affecting life; punishable with death; as, capital trials; capital punishment.
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   Many crimes that are capital among us.
   Swift.
   
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   To put to death a capital offender.
   Milton.
   
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   First in importance; chief; principal.
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   A capital article in religion
   Atterbury.
   
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   Whatever is capital and essential in Christianity.
   I. Taylor.
   
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   Chief, in a political sense, as being the seat of the general government of a state or nation; as, Washington and Paris are capital cities.
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   Of first rate quality; excellent; as, a capital speech or song. [Colloq.]
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   Capital letter [F, lettre capitale] (Print.), a leading or heading letter, used at the beginning of a sentence and as the first letter of certain words, distinguished, for the most part, both by different form and larger size, from the small (lower-case) letters, which form the greater part of common print or writing. -- Small capital letters have the form of capital letters and height of the body of the lower-case letters. -- Capital stock, money, property, or stock invested in any business, or the enterprise of any corporation or institution.
   Abbott.
   Syn. -- Chief; leading; controlling; prominent.
   1913 Webster