Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TART, a. [Sax. teart; D. taartig. See the next word.]

1. Acid; sharp to the taste; acidulous; as a sharp apple.
2. Sharp; keen; severe; as, a tart reply; tart language; a tart rebuke.

TART, n. [D. taart; Sw. tart; Fr. tarte; It. torta; G. torte; Sp. tarta. The Italian and German orthography seem to connect this word with torto, L. tortus, twisted; and this may be the primary sense of tart, acid, sharp, and hence this noun, something acid or made of acid fruit. But qu.]

A species of pie or pastry, consisting of fruit baked on paste.

TAR-TAN, n. [Sp. and It. tartana.]

A small coasting vessel with one mast and a bowsprit, and the principal sail, which is very large, extended by a lateen-yard. Mar. Dict.

TAR-TAR, n.¹ [Fr. tartre; Sp. tartaro; from tart, acid.]

1. An acid concrete salt, deposited from wines completely fermented, and adhering to the sides of the casks in the form of a hard crust. It is white or red, the white being most esteemed. In its crude state, it is much used as a flux in the assaying of ores. Nicholson. Cyc. The tartar of wine is a bitartrate of potassa, i. e. common cream of tartar.
2. A person of a keen irritable temper.
3. A native of Tartary; a corruption of Tatar.

TAR-TAR, n.² [L. Tartarus.]

Hell. [Not in use.] Shak.

TAR-TA'RE-AN, or TAR-TA'RE-OUS, a.

Hellish; pertaining to Tartarus. Milton.

TAR-TA'RE-OUS, a.

Consisting of tartar; resembling tartar, or partaking of its properties. Grew.

TAR-TAR'IC, or TAR-TA'RE-AN, a.

Pertaining to Tartary, in Asia.

TARTARIC-ACID, n. [Tartaric acid.]

The acid of tartar.

TAR-TA-RIN, n. [from tartar.]

Fixed vegetable alkali er potassa.

TAR-TA-RI-NA-TED, a.

Combined with tartarin.

TAR-TAR-IZE, v.t.

To impregnate with tartar; to refine by means of the salt of tartar. Cyc.

TAR-TAR-IZ-ED, pp.

Impregnated with tartar; refined by tartar.

TAR-TAR-IZ-ING, ppr.

Impregnating with tartar; refining by means of the salt of tartar.

TAR-TAR-OUS, a.

Containing tartar; consisting of tartar, or partaking of its qualities.

TAR-TAR-UM, n.

A Preparation of tartar, called petrified tartar. Cyc.

TAR-TA'RUS, n. [Gr. ταρταρος.]

The name of the internal regions over which Pluto or Hades ruled.

TART-LY, adv.

1. Sharply; with acidity.
2. Sharply; with poignancy; severely; as, to reply or rebuke tartly.
3. With sourness of aspect. Shak.

TART-NESS, n.

1. Acidity; sharpness to the taste; as, the tartness of wine or fruit.
2. Sharpness of language or manner; poignancy; keenness; severity; as, the tartness of rebuke.

TAR-TRATE, n. [from tartar.]

A salt formed by the combination of tartaric acid with a base; as, tartrate of potassa; tartrate of soda.

TAR-TRO-VI'NIC-AC'ID, n. [TAR-TRO-VI'NIC AC'ID.]

An acid composed of tartaric acid in combination with the elements of ether. Brande.

TAR-TUFF, n.

A stupid, morose fellow.

TAR-TUF-FISH, a. [Fr. tartuffe, a hypocrite.]

Precise; formal [Not in use.] Sterne.

TAR-WA-TER, n. [tar and water.]

A cold infusion of tar, used as a medicine. Cyc.

TASK, n. [Fr. tache; W. tasg, a bond, a pledge, that which is settled or agreed to be done, a job, a task; Gaelic and Ir. tasg, task, and tasgaire, a slave; It. tassa. The sense is that which is set or fixed, from throwing or putting on.]

1. Business imposed by another, often a definite quantity or amount of labor. Each man has his task. When he has performed his task, his time is his own. Exod. v.
2. Business; employment. His mental powers were equal to greater tasks. Atterbury.
3. Burdensome employment. To take to task, to reprove; to reprimand; as, to take one to task for idleness. Addison.