Emily Dickinson Lexicon

centre (-s), n. [Fr. < L. centr-um, center of rotation < Gk. κεντρον, sharp point, stationary point of a pair of compasses.]

1. Inner parts; central part of the body; [fig.] soul.
2. Aspiration; goal; focus; ultimate point; main purpose.
3. The midst; the middle; the central point; farthest point away from home.

century (centuries), n. [Fr. centurie or L. centuria, an assemblage or division of one hundred things.] (webplay: company, enacting, people, time, years).

Ear; epoch; period of time lasting one hundred years; [fig.] personification of a very long time.

cerement (-s), n. [Fr. 'a waxing, a searing, a dressing, closing, covering, or mingling with wax'.]

Shroud; winding-sheet; burial garment, often covered with wax; [fig.] constraints of death; limits of mortality.

ceremonious, adv. [Fr. cermonieux < L. cærimoniosus, ceremony.]

Rigidly formal; strictly observant.

certain, adj. [OFr < late L. cert-us, determined, settled, sure.] (webplay: death, number, states, true, undoubted).

1. Particular; specific.
2. Assured; confident; positive; sure.

certainly, adv. [see certain, adj.] (webplay: doubt, man, righteous).

Definitely; surely; undoubtedly.

certainty (certainties), n. [OFr certainete; (see certain).] (webplay: fact, God, know, mind, real, truth).

Conviction; sureness; surety.

certificate, n. [Fr. certificat, or med. L. certificatum, thing certified.] (webplay: hand).

Document; piece of paper; official record of an an event; [fig.] confirmation; proof; validation; something that shows evidence.

certify (certified, -ing), v. [Fr. certifie-r; see certain.] (webplay: certain, hand, known).

1. Attest; endorse; confirm as trustworthy.
2. Become ready; show worthiness for something.

chafe (chafing, -s), v. [ME chaufe-n < L. calefacere, to heat, make warm.] (webplay: perfume, worn).

1. Rub; excite; make warm by rubbing.
2. Fret against; act violently against.