Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CUT'TING-LY, adv.

In a cutting manner.

CUT'TLE, or CUT'TLE-FISH, n. [Sax. cudele, from the sense of withdrawing or hiding, allied to cuddle, W. cuziaw, to hide, Arm. cutaff, or cuddyo, to hide.]

1. A genus of Mollusca, called Sepia. They have small arms, with serrated cups, by which they lay fast hold of any thing. They have also two tentacula longer than the arms; the mouth is in the center of the arms, and is horny, and hooked like the bill of a hawk. They feed on sprats, lobsters, and other shell-fish. They have a little bladder under the throat, [near the liver, Cuvier,] from which, when pursed, they throw out a black liquor that darkens the water, by which means they escape. Hence cuttle is used for a foul-mouthed fellow; one who blackens the character of another. – Encyc. Shak.
2. A knife. [Not in use.] – Shak.

CUT'-WA-TER, n.

The fore part of a ship's prow, or knee of the head, which cuts the water. Also, a water-fowl, a species of gull; or rather, the Rhyncops, or razor-bill.

CUT'-WORK, n.

Embroidery. [Not in use.] – B. Jonson.

CY'AN-ATE, n.

A saline compound of cyanic acid with a base. – Ure.

CY-AN'IC-AC'ID, n. [CY-AN'IC AC'ID.]

A compound of cyanogen and oxygen.

CY'AN-ID, n.

A basic compound of cyanogen, with some other element or compound.

CY'AN-ITE, n.

See KYANITE.

CY-AN'O-GEN, n. [Gr. κυανος, blue, and γενναω, to beget.]

A compound acidifying and basifying principle, composed of one equivalent of nitrogen and two of carbon.

CY-AN-OM'E-TER, n. [Gr. κυανος, and μετρεω.]

An instrument to ascertain degrees of blueness, or the azure color of the ocean or sky. Humboldt.

CY-AN'U-RET, n.

A basic compound of cyanogen, and some other element or compound. More correctly cyanid.

CY-ATH'I-FORM, a. [L. cyathus, a cup; Gr. κυαθος.]

In the form of a cup, or drinking-glass, a little widened at the top. – Lee.

CY-CA'DE-A, n.

A genus of plants allied to the palms and ferns. – Mantell.

CY'CLADES, n. [plur. Gr. κυκλος, a circle.]

A number of isles arranged round the isle of Delos, in the Grecian Sea, in the form of a circle.

CY'CLE, n. [Gr. κυκλος, L. cyclus, an orb or circle; Ir. ciogal. Qu. Eng. gig; Ch. Heb. חוג. Class Gk, No. 13, 16.]

1. In chronology, a period or series of numbers, which regularly proceed from first to last, and then return to the first, in a perpetual circle. Hence,
2. The cycle of the moon, or golden number, or Metonic cycle, so called from its inventor Meton, is a period of nineteen years, which being completed, the new and full moons return on the same days of the month.
3. The cycle of the sun, is a period of twenty-eight years, which having elapsed, the dominical or Sunday letters return to their former place, and proceed in the former order, according to the Julian calendar.
4. Cycle of indiction, a period of fifteen years, at the end of which the Roman emperors imposed an extraordinary tax, to pay the soldiers who were obliged to serve in the army for that period and no longer.
5. A round of years, or period of time, in which the same course begins again; a periodical space of time. – Holder.
6. An imaginary orb or circle in the heavens. – Milton.

CYC'LI-CAL, a.

Pertaining to a cycle.

CY'CLO-GRAPH, n. [Gr. κυκλος, circle, and γραφω, to describe.]

An instrument for describing the area of circles.

CY'CLOID, n. [Gr. κυκλος, circle, and ειδος, form.]

A geometrical curve on which depends the doctrine of pendulums; a figure made by the upper end of the diameter of a circle, turning about a right line. – Bailey. The genesis of a cycloid may be conceived by imagining a nail in the circumference of a wheel; the line which the nail describes in the air, while the wheel revolves in a right line, is the cycloid. – Johnson.

CY-CLOID'AL, a.

Pertaining or relating to a cycloid; as, the cycloidal space is the space contained between the cycloid and its substance. Chambers. Or the space contained between the curve or crooked line and the subtense of the figure. – Bailey.

CY-CLOID'I-ANS, n. [plur.]

The radiated molluscous animals.

CY'CLO-LITE, n.

A name given to Madrepores. – Dict. Nat. Hist.

CY'CLOM'E-TRY, n. [Gr. κυκλος, circle, and μετρεω, to measure.]

The art of measuring cycles or circles. – Wallis.

CY-CLO-PE'AN, a. [from Cyclops.]

Pertaining to the Cyclops; vast; terrific. – Hall.

CY-CLO-PE'DI-A, or CY'CLO-PEDE, n. [Gr. κυκλος, circle, and παιδεια, discipline, erudition.]

The circle or compass of the arts and sciences; circle of human knowledge. Hence, the book or books that contain treatises on every branch of the arts and sciences, arranged under proper heads, in alphabetical order, [See Encyclopedia.]

CY-CLOP'IC, a.

Pertaining to the Cyclops; gigantic; savage. – Bryant.