up. Addison. As to the numbers who are under restraint, people do not seem so much surprised at the confinement of some, as the liberty of others. Addis. CONFINER. n. s. [from confine.] 1. A borderer; one that lives upon confines; one that inhabits the extreme parts of a country. The senate hath stirr'd up the confiners. Shak. Happy confiners you of other lands, That shift your soil. Daniel's Civil War. 2. A near neighbour. Though gladness and grief be opposite in nature, yet they are such neighbours and confiners in art, that the least touch of a pencil will translate a crying into a laughing face. Wotton. 3. One which touches upon two different regions. The participles or confiners between plants and living creatures, are such as have no local motion; such as oysters. Bacon. CONFINITY. n. s. [confinitas, Latin.] Nearness; neighbourhood; contiguity. Dict. To CONFIRM. v. a. [confirmo, Lat.] 1. To put past doubt by new evidence. The testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. 1 Cor. So was his will Pronounc'd among the gods; and by an oath, Which, shook heav'n's whole circumference, confirm'd. Milton. Whilst all the stars that round her burn, And all the planets in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole. Addis. 2. To settle; to establish: either persons or things. I confirm thee in the high priesthood, and appoint thee ruler. 1 Maccabees. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs. Shakspeare. Fernelius never cured a confirmed pox without 3. To fix; to radicate. it. 4. To complete; to perfect. Wiseman. He only liv'd but till he was a man; The which no sooner had his prowess confirm'd, But like a man he died. Shakspeare. 5. To strengthen by new solemnities or ties. Those which are thus confirmed, are thereby supposed to be fit for admission to the sacrament. Hammond's Fundamentals. CONFIRMABLE. adj. [from confirm.] Capable of incontestable evidence. It may receive a spurious inmate, as is confirmable by many examples. Brown. CONFIRMATION. n. s. [from confirm.] 1. The act of establishing any thing or person; settlement; establishment. Embrace and love this man. With brother's love I do it- Witness how dear I hold this confirmation! Sbak, 2. Evidence by which any thing is ascertained; additional proof. A false report hath Honour'd with confirmation your great judgShakspeare. ment. The sea-captains answered, that they would perform his command; and, in confirmation thereof, promised not to do any thing which beseemed not valiant men. Knolles' Hist. 3. Proof; convincing testimony. Wanting frequent confirmation in a matter so confirmable, their affirmation carrieth but slow persuasion. Brown The arguments brought by Christ for the confirmation of his doctrine, were in themselves sufficient. South. 4. An ecclesiastical rite. What is prepared for in catechising, is, in the next place, performed by confirmation; a most profitable usage of the church, transcribed from the practice of the apostles, which consists in two parts: the child's undertaking, in his own name, every part of the baptismal vow (having first approved himself to understand it) and to that purpose, that he may more solemnly enter this obligation, bringing some godfather with him, not now (as in baptism) as his procurator to undertake for him, but as a witness to testify his entering this obligation. Hammond. CONFIRMATOR. n. s. [from confirmo, Latin.] An attester; he that puts a matter past doubt. There wants herein the definitive confirmator, and test of things uncertain, the sense of man. Brown's Vulgar Errours. CONFIRMATORY. adj. [from confirm.} Giving additional testimony; establishing with new force. CONFIRMEDNESS. n.s. [from confirmed.] Confirmed state; radication. If the difficulty arise from the confirmedness of habit, every resistance weakens the habit, abates the difficulty. Decay of Piety. CONFIRMER. n. s. [from confirm.] One that confirms; one that produces evidence or strength; an attester; an establisher. Be these sad sighs confirmers of thy words? Then speak again. Shakspeare. The oath of a lover is no stronger than the word of a tapster: they are both the confirmers of false reckonings. Shakspeare. CONFI'SCABLE. adj. [from confiscate.] Liable to forfeiture. To CONFISCATE. v. a. [confiscare, confisquer, i. e. in publicum addicere ; from fiscus, which originally signifieth. a hamper, pannier, basket, or freil; but metonymically the emperor's treasure, because it was anciently kept in such hampers. Cowell.] To transfer pri Thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Shakspeare struggle; to contend; to encounter; Shakspeare. A man would be content to strive with himself, and conflict with great difficulties, in hopes of a mighty reward. Tillotson. Lash'd into foam, the fierce conflicting brine Seems o'er a thousand raging waves to burn. Thomson. CONFLICT. n. s. [conflictus, Latin.] It was in every man's eye, what great forfeitures and confiscations he liad at that present to help himself. Bacon's Henry VII. CONFITENT. n. s. [confitens, Lat.] One confessing; one who confesses his faults. 2. A wide difference there is between a meer confitent and a true penitent. Decay of Piety. CONFITURE. n. s. [French; from confectura, Lat.] A sweetmeat; a confection; a comfit. It is certain, that there be some houses wherein confitures and pies will gather mould more than in others. Bacon. We contain a confiture house, where we make all sweetmeats, dry and moist, and divers pleasant wines. Bacon. To CONFIX. v.a. [configo, confixum, Lat.] As this is true, Let me in safety raise me from my knees; A marble monument! Shakspeare. CONFLAGRANT. adj. [conflagrans, Lat.] Burning together; involved in a general fire. Then raise Pour dephlegmed spirit of vinegar upon sålt of tartar, and there will be such a conflict or ebul lition, as if there were scarce two more contrary bodies in nature. Boyle. A combat; a fight between two. It is It is my father's face, 3. Contest; strife: contention. There is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and her, they never meet but there's a skirmish of wit between them.Alas! hə gets nothing by that. In our last conflict, fol. of his five wits went halting off. Shakspeare. 4. Struggle; agony; pang. No assurance touching victories can make present conflicts so sweet and easy, but nature will shrink from them. Hocker. If he attempt this great change, with what 2 streams. Nimrod, who usurped dominion over the res sat down in the very confluence of all those rives which watered Paradise. Raleigh Bagdet is beneath the confluence of Tigris and Euphrates. Brerewood on Language In the veins, innumerable little rivulets have their confluence into the great vein, the comme channel of the blood. Bentley. The act of crowding to a place. You see this confluence, this great flood d visitors. Shakipeni Some come to make` merry, because of the confluence of all sorts. Bacan. You had found by experience the trouble d all men's confluence, and for all matters, to yourself. Bacon to Fillari. 3. A concourse; a multitude crowded into one place. This will draw a confluence of people from all parts of the country. Trepit. 4. Collection; concurrence. We may there be instructed how to rate all goods by those that will concentre into the feli city we shall possess; which shall be made up of the confluence, perfection, and perpetuity, of all true joys. Bayle CONFLUENT. adj. [confluens, Latin.] Running one into another; meeting,* course. Knots, by the conflux of meeting sap, Infect the sound pine and divert his grain. Shak. 2. Crowd; multitude collected. He quickly, by the general conflux and concourse of the whole people, streightened his Clarendon. quarters. To the gates cast round thine eye, and see What conflux issuing forth, or ent ring in. Milt. CONFO'RM. adj. [conformis, Lat] Assuming the same form; wearing the same form; resembling. Variety of tunes doth dispose the spirits to variety of passions conform unto them. Bacon. To CONFORM. v. a. [conformo, Lat.] To reduce to the like appearance, shape, or manner, with something else: with to. Then followed that most natural effect of conforming one's self to that which she did like. Sidney. The apostles did conform the christians, as much as might be, according to the pattern of the Jews. Hooker. Demand of them wherefore they conform not themselves unto the order of the church? Hooker. To CONFO'RM, v. n. To comply with; to yield with to. Among mankind so few there are, Who will conform to philosophick fare. Dryden. CONFORMABLE. adj. [from conform.] I. Having the same form; using the same manners; agreeing either in exterior or moral characters; similar; resembling. The Gentiles were not made conformable unto the Jews, in that which was to cease at the Hooker. coming of Christ. 2. It has commonly to before that with which there is agreement. He gives a reason conformable to the princiArbuthnot. ples. 3. Sometimes quith, not improperly; but to is used with the verb. The fragments of Sappho give us a taste of her way of writing, perfectly conformable with Addison. that character we find of her. 4. Agreeable; suitable; not opposite; consistent. Nature is very consonant and conformable to herself. Neruton. The productions of a great genius, with many lapses, are preferable to the works of an inferiour author, scrupulously exact, and conformable to all the rules of correct writing. Addison. 5. Compliant; ready to follow directions; submissive; peaceable; obsequious. I've been to you a true and humble wife, At all time to your will conformable. Shakspeare. For all the kingdoms of the earth to yield themselves willingly conformable, in whatever should be required, it was their duty. Hooker. Such delusions are reformed by a conformable devotion, and the well-tempered zeal of the Spratt. true christian spirit. CONFORMABLY. adv. [from conform VOL. I. able.] With conformity; agreeably; So a man observe the agreement of his own Addison. I have treated of the sex conformably to this 1. The form of things, as relating to each Varieties are found in the different natural shapes of the mouth, and several conformations Holder. of the organs. Where there happens to be such a structure and conformation of the earth, as that the fire may pass freely into these spiracles, it then reaWoodward's Nat. Hist. dily gets out. 2. The act of producing suitableness, or conformity, to any thing: with to. Virtue and vice, sin and holiness, and the conformation of our hearts and lives to the duties of true religion and morality, are things of more consequence than the furniture of understandWatts. ing. CONFO'RMIST. n. s. [from conform.] One that complies with the worship of the church of England; not a dissenter. They were not both nonconformists, neither Dunten. both conformists. CONFORMITY. n. s. [from conform.] 1. Similitude; resemblance; the state of having the same character of manners or form. By the knowledge of truth, and exercise of virtue, man, amongst the creatures of this world, aspireth to the greatest conformity with God. Hooker. Judge not what is best Space and duration have a great conformity in this, that they are justly reckoned amongst our Locke. simple ideas. This metaphor would not have been so gene ral, had there not been a conformity between the Addison, mental taste and the sensitive taste. 2. It has in some authors with before the model to which the conformity is made. The end of all religion is but to draw us to a Decay of Picty. conformity with God." 3. In some to. We cannot be otherwise happy but by our. Tillotson. conformity to God. Conformity in building to other civil nations, hath disposed us to let our old wooden dark Graunt. houses fall to decay. 4. Consistency. Many instances prove the conformity of the essay, with the notions of Hippocrates. Arbuth. CONFORTATION. n. s. [from conforte, a low Latin word.] Collation of strength; corroboration. For corroboration and confortation, take such bodies as are of astringent quality, without manifest cold. Bacon's Nat. Hist. To CONFO’UND. ~. a. [confendre, Fr. confundo, Lat.] 1. To mingle things so that their several forms or natures cannot be discerned. Let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. Genesis. Two planets rushing from aspect malign Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. Milton. 2. To perplex; to compare or mention without due distinction. A fluid body and a wetting liquor are wont, because they agree in many things, to be confounded. Boyle. Locke. They who strip not ideas from the marks men use for them, but confound them with words, must have endless dispute. 3. To disturb the apprehension by indistinct words or notions. I am yet to think, that men find their simple ideas agree, though, in discourse, they confound one another with different names. Locke. 4. To throw into consternation; to perplex; to terrify; to amaze; to astonish; to stupify. So spake the Son of God; and Satan stood A while as mute, confounded what to say. Milton. Now with furies surrounded, Despairing, confounded, He trembles, he glows, Amidst Rhodope's snows. Pope's St. Cecilia. 5. To destroy; to overthrow. The sweetest honey still? Is loathsome in its own deliciousness, Milton.. CONFOUNDER. n. You are confoundedly given to squirting up and L'Estrange. down, and chattering. Thy speculations begin to smell confoundedly of woods and meadows. Addison's Spectator. 5. [from confound.] He who disturbs, perplexes, terrifies, or destroys. CONFRATERNITY. . s. [from con and fraternitas, Lat.] A brotherhood; a body of men united for some religious purpose. We fnd days appointed to be kept; and a confraternity established for that purpose, with the laws of it. Stilling fleet. CONFRICA'TION. n. s. [from con and ico, Lat.] The act of rubbing against any thing. It hath been reported, that ivy hath grown out of a stag's horn; which they suppose did rather come froma confrication of the horn upon the ivy, than from the horn itself. Bacon. To CONFRONT. va. [confronter, Fr.] 3. The East and West churches did both cenfrent the Jews, and concur with them. Hooker. Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answer'd blows, Strength match'd with strength, and power cas fronted power. Shakspeart. Bellona's bridegroom, lapt in proof, Confronted him with self comparisons, Point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm. Shakspeare's Macbeth. To oppose one evidence to another in open court. We began to lay his unkindness unto him: he seeing himself confronted by so many, went not to denial, but to justify his cruel falshood. Sidney. 4. To compare one thing with another. When I confront a medal with a verse, I only shew you the same design executed by different hands. Addison on Medals. CONFRONTATION. n. s. [French.] The act of bringing two evidences face to face. To CONFU'SE. v. a. [confusus, Lat.] In confus'd march forlorn, th' advent'rous bands 2. To mix, not separate. Miltan At length, an universal hubbub wild, Of stunning sounds and voices all confus'd, Borne through the hellow dark, assaults his ear. Milton. 3. To perplex, not distinguish; to obscure. We may have a clear and distinct idea of the existence of many things, though our ideas of their intimate essences and causes are very confused and obscure. Watts's Legish. 4. To hurry the mind. Confus'd and sadly she at length replies. Pe. CONFUSEDLY. adv. [from confused.] 1. In a mixed mass, without separation. Those four nations are every where mixt in the Scriptures, because they dwelt confused together. Raligh's History. 2. Indistinctly; one mingled with another. 3. The inner court with horror, noise, and tears, Confus'dly fill'd; the women's shricks and cries The arched vaults re-echo. Denham. On mount Vesuvius next he fix'd his eyes, And saw the smoaking tops confus'dly rise; A hideous ruin! Addisen en Italy. I viewed through a prism, and saw them mest confusedly defined, so that I could not distinguish their smaller parts from one another. Netten. Heroes and heroines shouts confus'dly rise, And base and treble voices strike the skies. Pope. Not clearly; not plainly. He confusedly and obscurely delivered his opi4. Tumultuously; hastily; not deliberately; not exactly. The propriety of thoughts and words, which are the hidden beauties of a play, are but c fusedly judged in the vehemence of action. Dryd CONFUSEDNESS. . s. [from confused.] Want of distinctness; want of clearness Hitherunto these titles of honour carry a kind of confusedness, and rather betokened a successive office than an established dignity. Carew. The cause of the confusedness of our notions, next to natural inability, is want of attention. Norris. CONFUSION. n. s. [from confuse.] 1. Irregular mixture; tumultuous medley. God, only wise, to punish pride of wit, Among men's wits hath this confusion wrought; As the proud tow'r, whose points the clouds did hit, By tongues confusion was to ruin brought. Davies. 2. Tumult; disorder. God is not a God of sedition and confusion, but of order and of peace. Hooker, Preface. This is a happier and more comely time," Than when these fellows ran about the streets Crying confusion. Shakspeare's Coriolanus. 3. Indistinct combination." The confusion of two different ideas, which a customary connexion of them in their minds hath made to them almost one, fills their heads with false views, and their reasonings with false consequences. 4. Overthrow; destruction. The strength of their illusion Locke. Shall draw him in to his confusion. Shakspeare. 5. Astonishment; distraction of mind; hurry of ideas Confusion dwelt in ev'ry face, And fear in ev'ry heart, When waves on waves, and gulphs in gulphs, O'ercame the pilot's art. Spectator. CONFU'TABLE. adj. [from confute.] Possible to be disproved; possible to be shewn false. At the last day, that inquisitor shall not present to God a bundle of calumnies, or confutable accusations; but will offer unto his omniscience a true list of our transgressions. Brotun. CONFUTATION. n. s. [confutatio, Lat.] The act of confuting; disproof. A confutation of atheism from the frame of the world. Bentley To CONFUTE. v. a. [confuto, Latin.] To convict of error or falsehood; to disprove. He could on either side dispute; Confute, change hands, and still confute. Hudib. For a man to doubt whether there be any hell, and thereupon to live as if there were none, but, when he dies, to find himself confuted in the flames, must be the height of woe. South. CO'NGE. n. s. [conge, French] 1. Act of reverence; bow; courtesy. The captain salutes you with congé profound, And your ladyship curt'sies half way to the ground. Swift. 2. Leave; farewell. So, courteous cong both did give and take, With right hands plighted, pledges of good-will. Fairy Queen. To Co'NGE. v. n. [from the noun.] To take leave. I have congeed with the duke, and done my adieu with his nearest. Shakspeare. CO'NGE D'ELIRE is French; and signifies in common law, the king's permission royal to a dean and chapter, in time of vacation, to chuse a bishop. The king, as sovereign patron of all archbishopricks, bishopricks, and other ecclesiastical benefices, had, in ancient times, the free appointment of all eccle siastical dignities; investing them first per baculum & annulum, and afterwards by his letters patent In process of time he made the election over to others, under certain forms and conditions; as, that they should, at every vacation, before they chuse, demand of the king a congé d'elire, that is, licence to proceed to election. Corvell. A woman, when she has made her own choice, for form's sake, sends a congé d'elire to her friends. Spectator. CON'GE. n. s. [In architecture.] A moulding in form of a quarter round, or a cavetto, which serves to separate two members from one another: such is that which joins the shaft of the column to the cincture. Chambers. To CONGE'AL. v. a. [congelo, Latin.} 1. To turn, by frost, from a fluid to a solid state. What more miraculous thing may be told, Than ice, which is congeal'd with senseless cold, Should kindle fire by wonderful device? Spenser. In whose capacious womb A vapoury deluge lies, to snow congeal'd. Thomson's Winter, 2. To bind or fix, as by cold To CONGEAL. v. n. To concréte; to gather into a mass by cold. In the midst of molten lead, when it beginneth to congreal, make a little dent, into which put quicksilver wrapt in linen, and it will fix and run no more, and endure the hammer. Bacon. When water congeals, the surface of the ice is smooth and level, as the surface of the water was before. Burnet's Theory. CONGEALMENT. n. s. [from congeal.] The clot formed by congelation; concretion. Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends; Tell them your feats, whilst theywith joyful tears Wash the congealment from your wounds. Shakspeare's Antony and Cleopatra. CONGE'LABLE. adj. [from congeal.) Susceptible of congelation; capable, of losing its fluidity. The consistencies of bodies are very divers : dense, rare, tangible, pneumatical, fixed, hard, soft, congelable, not congelable, liquefiable, not liquefiable. Bacon. The chymists define salt, from some of its properties, to be a body fixable in the fire, and congelable again by cold into brittle glebes or crystals. Arbuthnot on Aliments. CONGELA'TION. n. s. [from congeal.] 1. Act of turning fluids to solids by cold. The capillary tubes are obstructed either by outward compression, or congelation of the fluid. Arbuthnot on Aliments. There are congelations of the redundant water, precipitations, and many other operations. Arbuthnot on Air. 2. State of being congealed, or made solid, by cold. a Many waters and springs will never freeze; and many parts in rivers and lakes, where thereare mineral eruptions, will still persist without congelation. Brown's Vulgar Errours. |