Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CRES'CENT, a. [L. crescens, from cresco, to grow; Fr. croissant. See Grow.]

Increasing; growing; as, crescent horns. – Milton.

CRES'CENT, n.

1. The increasing or new moon, which, when receding from the sun, shows a curving rim of light, terminating in points or horns. It is applied to the old or decreasing moon, in a like state, but less properly. – Dryden.
2. The figure or likeness of the new moon; as that borne in the Turkish flag or national standard. The standard itself and figuratively, the Turkish power. – Gibbon.
3. In heraldry, a bearing in the form of a half moon.
4. The name of a military order, instituted by Renatus of Anjou, king of Sicily; so called from its symbol or badge, a crescent of gold enameled. – Encyc.

CRES'CENT, v.t.

To form into a crescent. – Seward.

CRES'CENT-ED, a.

Adorned with a crescent. – Keats.

CRES'CENT-FORM-ED, a.

Formed like a crescent. – Scott.

CRES'CENT-SHAP-ED, a.

In botany, lunate; lunated; shaped like a crescent; as a leaf. – Martyn.

CRES'CIVE, a. [L. cresco, to grow.]

Increasing; growing. – Shak.

CRESS, n. [Fr. cresson; It. crescione; Arm. creçzon; D. kers; G. kresse; Sax. cærse or cressen. Qu. its alliance to grass, or to L. cresco.]

The name of several species of plants, most of them of the class Tetradynamia. Water-cresses, of the genus Sisymbrium, are used as a salad, and are valued in medicine for their antiscorbutic qualities. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste. They grow on the brinks of rivulets and in other moist grounds. The word is generally used in the plural.

CRESS'ET, n. [Fr. croisette, dim. of croix, cross, because beacons formerly had crosses on their tops. See Cross.]

1. A great light set on a beacon, light-house, or watch-tower. – Johnson. Shak.
2. A lamp or torch. – Milton. Holinshed.

CREST, n. [Fr. crête; L. crista; It. cresta; Sp. creston. This is probably, a growing or shooting up, from the root of cresco, Fr. croître; Norm. crest, it rises, it accrues; Russ. rastu or rostu, to grow; rost, growth, size, tallness.]

1. The plume of feathers or other material on the top of the ancient helmet; the helmet itself. – Shak.
2. The ornament of the helmet in heraldry. – Encyc.
3. The comb of a cock; also, a tuft of feathers on the head of other fowls.
4. Any tuft or ornament worn on the head. – Dryden.
5. Loftiness; pride; courage; spirit; a lofty mien. – Shak.

CREST, v.t.

1. To furnish with a crest; to serve as a crest for. – Shak.
2. To mark with long streaks.

CREST'ED, a. [from crest.]

1. Wearing a crest; adorned with a crest or plume; having a comb; as, a crested helmet; a crested cock.
2. In natural history, having a tuft like a crest.

CREST'-FALL-EN, a.

1. Dejected; sunk; bowed; dispirited; heartless; spiritless. – Shak. Howell.
2. Having the upper part of the neck hanging on one side, as a horse. – Encyc.

CREST'ING, ppr.

Furnishing with a crest.

CREST'LESS, a.

Without a crest; not dignified with coat-armor; not of an eminent family; of low birth. – Shak.

CREST-MA-RINE', n.

Rock samphire.

CRE-TA'CEOUS, a. [L. cretaceus, from creta, chalk. Sp. It. id.; Fr. craie; D. kryt; G. kreide; Sw. krita.]

Chalky; having the qualities of chalk; like chalk; abounding with chalk.

CRE'TA-TED, a.

Rubbed with chalk.

CRE'TIC, n. [Gr. κρητικος.]

A poetic foot of three syllables, one short between two long syllables. Bentley.

CRE'TI-CISM, n.

A falsehood.

CRE'TIN, n.

A name given to certain deformed and helpless idiots in the valleys of the Alps.

CRE'TIN-ISM, n.

The state of a cretin. – Kidd.

CRE'TOSE, a.

Chalky.

CREV'ICE, n. [Fr. crevasse, from crever, to burst, to crack; It. crepatura; L. crepo, to burst. See Crepitate and Rip.]

A crack a cleft; a fissure; a rent; an opening; as, a crevice in a wall. Addison.

CREV'ICE, v.t.

To crack; to flaw. – Wotton.