GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Found 3 definitions
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Constable , n. [OE. conestable, constable, a constable (in sense 1), OF. conestable, F. connétable, LL. conestabulus, constabularius, comes stabuli, orig., count of the stable, master of the horse, equerry; comes count (L. companion) + L. stabulum stable. See Count a nobleman, and Stable.]
- A high officer in the monarchical establishments of the Middle Ages.1913 Webster
☞ The constable of France was the first officer of the crown, and had the chief command of the army. It was also his duty to regulate all matters of chivalry. The office was suppressed in 1627. The constable, or lord high constable, of England, was one of the highest officers of the crown, commander in chief of the forces, and keeper of the peace of the nation. He also had judicial cognizance of many important matters. The office was as early as the Conquest, but has been disused (except on great and solemn occasions), since the attainder of Stafford, duke of Buckingham, in the reign of Henry VIII.
1913 Webster - (Law) An officer of the peace having power as a conservator of the public peace, and bound to execute the warrants of judicial officers.Bouvier.1913 Webster
☞ In England, at the present time, the constable is a conservator of the peace within his district, and is also charged by various statutes with other duties, such as serving summons, precepts, warrants, etc. In the United States, constables are town or city officers of the peace, with powers similar to those of the constables of England. In addition to their duties as conservators of the peace, they are invested with others by statute, such as to execute civil as well as criminal process in certain cases, to attend courts, keep juries, etc. In some cities, there are officers called high constables, who act as chiefs of the constabulary or police force. In other cities the title of constable, as well as the office, is merged in that of the police officer.
1913 WebsterHigh constable, a constable having certain duties and powers within a hundred. [Eng.] -- Petty constable, a conservator of the peace within a parish or tithing; a tithingman. [Eng.] -- Special constable, a person appointed to act as constable of special occasions. -- To overrun the constable, or outrun the constable, to spend more than one's income; to get into debt. [Colloq.]
Smollett.1913 Webster
- A high officer in the monarchical establishments of the Middle Ages.
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Foot , n.; pl. Feet . [OE. fot, foot, pl. fet, feet. AS. fōt, pl. fēt; akin to D. voet, OHG. fuoz, G. fuss, Icel. fōtr, Sw. fot, Dan. fod, Goth. fōtus, L. pes, Gr. πούς, Skr. pād, Icel. fet step, pace measure of a foot, feta to step, find one's way. √77, 250. Cf. Antipodes, Cap-a-pie, Expedient, Fet to fetch, Fetlock, Fetter, Pawn a piece in chess, Pedal.]
- (Anat.) The terminal part of the leg of man or an animal; esp., the part below the ankle or wrist; that part of an animal upon which it rests when standing, or moves. See Manus, and Pes.1913 Webster
- (Zool.) The muscular locomotive organ of a mollusk. It is a median organ arising from the ventral region of body, often in the form of a flat disk, as in snails. See Illust. of Buccinum.1913 Webster
- That which corresponds to the foot of a man or animal; as, the foot of a table; the foot of a stocking.1913 Webster
- The lowest part or base; the ground part; the bottom, as of a mountain, column, or page; also, the last of a row or series; the end or extremity, esp. if associated with inferiority; as, the foot of a hill; the foot of the procession; the foot of a class; the foot of the bed; ; the foot of the page.1913 Webster
And now at foot
Of heaven's ascent they lift their feet.Milton.1913 Webster - Fundamental principle; basis; plan; -- used only in the singular.1913 Webster
Answer directly upon the foot of dry reason.
Berkeley.1913 Webster - Recognized condition; rank; footing; -- used only in the singular. [R.]1913 Webster
As to his being on the foot of a servant.
Walpole.1913 Webster - A measure of length equivalent to twelve inches; one third of a yard. See Yard.1913 Webster
☞ This measure is supposed to be taken from the length of a man's foot. It differs in length in different countries. In the United States and in England it is 304.8 millimeters.
1913 Webster - (Mil.) Soldiers who march and fight on foot; the infantry, usually designated as the foot, in distinction from the cavalry. “Both horse and foot.” Milton.1913 Webster
- (Pros.) A combination of syllables consisting a metrical element of a verse, the syllables being formerly distinguished by their quantity or length, but in modern poetry by the accent.1913 Webster
- (Naut.) The lower edge of a sail.1913 Webster
☞ Foot is often used adjectively, signifying of or pertaining to a foot or the feet, or to the base or lower part. It is also much used as the first of compounds.
1913 WebsterFoot artillery. (Mil.) (a) Artillery soldiers serving in foot. (b) Heavy artillery. Farrow. -- Foot bank (Fort.), a raised way within a parapet. -- Foot barracks (Mil.), barracks for infantery. -- Foot bellows, a bellows worked by a treadle. Knight. -- Foot company (Mil.), a company of infantry. Milton. -- Foot gear, covering for the feet, as stocking, shoes, or boots. -- Foot hammer (Mach.), a small tilt hammer moved by a treadle. -- Foot iron. (a) The step of a carriage. (b) A fetter. -- Foot jaw. (Zool.) See Maxilliped. -- Foot key (Mus.), an organ pedal. -- Foot level (Gunnery), a form of level used in giving any proposed angle of elevation to a piece of ordnance. Farrow. -- Foot mantle, a long garment to protect the dress in riding; a riding skirt. [Obs.] -- Foot page, an errand boy; an attendant. [Obs.] -- Foot passenger, one who passes on foot, as over a road or bridge. -- Foot pavement, a paved way for foot passengers; a footway; a trottoir. -- Foot poet, an inferior poet; a poetaster. [R.] Dryden. -- Foot post. (a) A letter carrier who travels on foot. (b) A mail delivery by means of such carriers. -- Fot pound, and Foot poundal. (Mech.) See Foot pound and Foot poundal, in the Vocabulary. -- Foot press (Mach.), a cutting, embossing, or printing press, moved by a treadle. -- Foot race, a race run by persons on foot. Cowper. -- Foot rail, a railroad rail, with a wide flat flange on the lower side. -- Foot rot, an ulcer in the feet of sheep; claw sickness. -- Foot rule, a rule or measure twelve inches long. -- Foot screw, an adjusting screw which forms a foot, and serves to give a machine or table a level standing on an uneven place. -- Foot secretion. (Zool.) See Sclerobase. -- Foot soldier, a soldier who serves on foot. -- Foot stick (Printing), a beveled piece of furniture placed against the foot of the page, to hold the type in place. -- Foot stove, a small box, with an iron pan, to hold hot coals for warming the feet. -- Foot tubercle. (Zool.) See Parapodium. -- Foot valve (Steam Engine), the valve that opens to the air pump from the condenser. -- Foot vise, a kind of vise the jaws of which are operated by a treadle. -- Foot waling (Naut.), the inside planks or lining of a vessel over the floor timbers. Totten. -- Foot wall (Mining), the under wall of an inclosed vein.
1913 WebsterBy foot, or On foot, by walking; as, to pass a stream on foot. -- Cubic foot. See under Cubic. -- Foot and mouth disease, a contagious disease (Eczema epizoötica) of cattle, sheep, swine, etc., characterized by the formation of vesicles and ulcers in the mouth and about the hoofs. -- Foot of the fine (Law), the concluding portion of an acknowledgment in court by which, formerly, the title of land was conveyed. See Fine of land, under Fine, n.; also Chirograph. (b). -- Square foot. See under Square. -- To be on foot, to be in motion, action, or process of execution. -- To keep the foot (Script.), to preserve decorum. “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God.” Eccl. v. 1. -- To put one's foot down, to take a resolute stand; to be determined. [Colloq.] -- To put the best foot foremost, to make a good appearance; to do one's best. [Colloq.] -- To set on foot, to put in motion; to originate; as, to set on foot a subscription. -- To put one on his feet, or set one on his feet, to put one in a position to go on; to assist to start. -- Under foot. (a) Under the feet; (Fig.) at one's mercy; as, to trample under foot. Gibbon. (b) Below par. [Obs.] “They would be forced to sell . . . far under foot.” Bacon.
1913 Webster
- (Anat.) The terminal part of the leg of man or an animal; esp., the part below the ankle or wrist; that part of an animal upon which it rests when standing, or moves. See Manus, and Pes.
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To , prep. [AS. tō; akin to OS. & OFries. tō, D. toe, G. zu, OHG. zuo, zua, zō, Russ. do, Ir. & Gael. do, OL. -do, -du, as in endo, indu, in, Gr. , as in homeward. √200. Cf. Too, Tatoo a beat of drums.]
- The preposition to primarily indicates approach and arrival, motion made in the direction of a place or thing and attaining it, access; and also, motion or tendency without arrival; movement toward; -- opposed to from. “To Canterbury they wend.”Chaucer.1913 Webster
Stay with us, go not to Wittenberg.
Shak.1913 WebsterSo to the sylvan lodge
They came, that like Pomona's arbor smiled.Milton.1913 WebsterI'll to him again, . . .
He'll tell me all his purpose.
She stretched her arms to heaven.Dryden.1913 Webster - Hence, it indicates motion, course, or tendency toward a time, a state or condition, an aim, or anything capable of being regarded as a limit to a tendency, movement, or action; as, he is going to a trade; he is rising to wealth and honor.1913 Webster
☞ Formerly, by omission of the verb denoting motion, to sometimes followed a form of be, with the sense of at, or in. “When the sun was [gone or declined] to rest.” Chaucer.
1913 Webster - In a very general way, and with innumerable varieties of application, to connects transitive verbs with their remoter or indirect object, and adjectives, nouns, and neuter or passive verbs with a following noun which limits their action. Its sphere verges upon that of for, but it contains less the idea of design or appropriation; as, these remarks were addressed to a large audience; let us keep this seat to ourselves; a substance sweet to the taste; an event painful to the mind; duty to God and to our parents; a dislike to spirituous liquor.1913 Webster
Marks and points out each man of us to slaughter.
B. Jonson.1913 WebsterWhilst they, distilled
Almost to jelly with the act of fear,
Stand dumb and speak not to him.Shak.1913 WebsterAdd to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2 Pet. i. 5,6,7.1913 WebsterI have a king's oath to the contrary.
Shak.1913 WebsterNumbers were crowded to death.
Clarendon.1913 WebsterFate and the dooming gods are deaf to tears.
Dryden.1913 WebsterGo, buckle to the law.
Dryden.1913 Webster - As sign of the infinitive, to had originally the use of last defined, governing the infinitive as a verbal noun, and connecting it as indirect object with a preceding verb or adjective; thus, ready to go, i.e., ready unto going; good to eat, i.e., good for eating; I do my utmost to lead my life pleasantly. But it has come to be the almost constant prefix to the infinitive, even in situations where it has no prepositional meaning, as where the infinitive is direct object or subject; thus, I love to learn, i.e., I love learning; to die for one's country is noble, i.e., the dying for one's country. Where the infinitive denotes the design or purpose, good usage formerly allowed the prefixing of for to the to; as, what went ye out for see? (Matt. xi. 8).1913 Webster
Then longen folk to go on pilgrimages,
And palmers for to seeken strange stranders.Chaucer.1913 WebsterSuch usage is now obsolete or illiterate. In colloquial usage, to often stands for, and supplies, an infinitive already mentioned; thus, he commands me to go with him, but I do not wish to.
1913 Webster - In many phrases, and in connection with many other words, to has a pregnant meaning, or is used elliptically. Thus, it denotes or implies: (a) Extent; limit; degree of comprehension; inclusion as far as; as, they met us to the number of three hundred.1913 Webster
We ready are to try our fortunes
To the last man.Shak.1913 WebsterFew of the Esquimaux can count to ten.
Quant. Rev.1913 Webster(b) Effect; end; consequence; as, the prince was flattered to his ruin; he engaged in a war to his cost; violent factions exist to the prejudice of the state. (c) Apposition; connection; antithesis; opposition; as, they engaged hand to hand.
1913 WebsterNow we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.
1 Cor. xiii. 12.1913 Webster(d) Accord; adaptation; as, an occupation to his taste; she has a husband to her mind.
1913 WebsterHe to God's image, she to his was made.
Dryden.1913 Webster(e) Comparison; as, three is to nine as nine is to twenty-seven; it is ten to one that you will offend him.
1913 WebsterAll that they did was piety to this.
B. Jonson.1913 Webster(f) Addition; union; accumulation.
1913 WebsterWisdom he has, and to his wisdom, courage.
Denham.1913 Webster(g) Accompaniment; as, she sang to his guitar; they danced to the music of a piano.
1913 WebsterAnon they move
In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood
Of flutes and soft recorders.Milton.1913 Webster(h) Character; condition of being; purpose subserved or office filled. [In this sense archaic] “I have a king here to my flatterer.”
Shak.1913 WebsterMade his masters and others . . . to consider him to a little wonder.
Walton.1913 Webster☞ To in to-day, to-night, and to-morrow has the sense or force of for or on; for, or on, (this) day, for, or on, (this) night, for, or on, (the) morrow. To-day, to-night, to-morrow may be considered as compounds, and usually as adverbs; but they are sometimes used as nouns; as, to-day is ours.
1913 WebsterTo-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow;
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day.Shak.1913 WebsterTo and again, to and fro. [R.] -- To and fro, forward and back. In this phrase, to is adverbial.
1913 WebsterThere was great showing both to and fro.
Chaucer.1913 Webster-- To-and-fro, a pacing backward and forward; as, to commence a to-and-fro. Tennyson. -- To the face, in front of; in behind; hence, in the presence of. -- To wit, to know; namely. See Wit, v. i.
1913 Webster☞ To, without an object expressed, is used adverbially; as, put to the door, i. e., put the door to its frame, close it; and in the nautical expressions, to heave to, to come to, meaning to a certain position. To, like on, is sometimes used as a command, forward, set to. “To, Achilles! to, Ajax! to!” Shak.
1913 Webster
- The preposition to primarily indicates approach and arrival, motion made in the direction of a place or thing and attaining it, access; and also, motion or tendency without arrival; movement toward; -- opposed to from. “To Canterbury they wend.”