THE
`LAMERICAN
`HERITAGE
`COLLEGE
`DICTIONARY
`
`
`
`THIRD EDITION
`
`HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
`
`‘Boston - New York
`
`
`
`WMT 1012-1
`
`

`
`
`
`...—.»«.wna-:i>~d
`
`0~395~67161—2 (UPC)
`
`
`
`Words are included in this Dictionary on the basis of their
`usage. Words that are known to have current trademark reg-
`istrations are shown with an initial capital and are also iden-
`tified as trademarks. No investigation has been made of
`common-law trademark rights in any word, because such in~
`vestigation is impracticable. The inclusion of any Word in this
`Dictionary is not, however, an expression of the Publisher’s
`opinion as to whether or not it is subject to proprietary rights.
`Indeed, no definition in this Dictionary is to be regarded as
`affecting the validity of any trademark.
`American Heritage and the eagle logo are registered trade-
`marks of Forbes Inc. Their use is pursuant to a license agree~
`ment with Forbes Inc.
`_
`Copyright © 1993 by Houghton Mifflin.Company.
`All rights reserved.
`No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any
`form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
`including
`photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or
`retrieval system without the prior written permission of
`Houghton Mifflin Company unless such copying is expressly
`permitted by federal copyright law. Address inquiries to Ref-
`erence Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Company, 222 Berkeley V
`Street, Boston MA 02116.
`
`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`The American heritage college dictionary. —3rd ed.
`p.
`cm.
`ISBN 0-395-66917-0 (plain edge). —-ISBN 0-395-44638—4
`(thumb edge). -—lSBN O-395-66918-9 (deluxe binding).
`1. English language—Dictionaries. 2. Americanisms.
`PE1628.A6227
`1993
`423 '—dc2O
`
`9242124CIP
`
`Manufactured in the United States of America
`
`WMT 1012-2
`
`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`n3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lcndcd conditncr-I P'°P
`t with heavy curved legs and no back,
`I A
`le
`,.
`Nder n. A P0036“? l’
`or rounded projection on the chewing surface of a tooth. b. A
`°""l;,'ii.c u::aof the highest officials in ancient Rome.
`triangular fold
`coriander» turmeric’
`. Mm:
`and other sp1C<’-§-,1
`or flap of a heart valve. 3. Math. A point at
`l or pr3Y51' f°.' 6“ 9r
`owns (k,»,_,._,,5I5h;s) adj. Having the curves of a full or
`1,5) ,1. La. An GPP“.
`-— cur-va/ceous-ness n.
`figure.
`. v
`which a curve crosses itself and at which the two tangents to
`aV3'
`us
`ll someone or something‘
`b_ The evil or npslg‘ .
`9-chdbr’, —Chor) n. 1. The act of cu
`the curve coincide. 4. Archiz. The point of intersection of two
`onse to such an 3 P93
`ornamental arcs or
`rving or
`in 0; as if in res?
`villi)-wire (l<fi"“
`curved. 2. Math. a.
`curves. 5. Astron. Either point of a cres-
`A source
`or cause of evi-, a sco .,
`arc of l)Cl-“B
`xsed. 3.
`The rate of change in
`cent moon. 6. A transitional point or time, as between two
`earwmd. S. Eccles. A“
`
`tangent that moves over a given arc with respect
`a word or phrase? 3 ‘W
`- mgcola
`astrological signs. [Lat. cuspis, point.)
`the arc. b. The reciprocal of the radius of a
`6. Slang. Menst
`x anathema-
`' ”'
`‘3.
`"”‘2::‘.-.E:“’« cwwswof
`
`3 M955; A curving or bending, esp. an abnormal one:
`cus- pate (l<i“isIpit') also cus-pat-ed (-p§’tiCl) adj. 1. Having
`a cusp. Z. Shaped like a cusp.
`irsed or cui-st lkurstl.‘ °“"5'l“9'
`damn. 2. To sweat‘
`4 “Ck”
`'
`{£173 spine. [ME < Lat. can/titxira < curwitus,
`cus-pid (kiisfpid) 2:. A canine tooth.
`
`[< Lat. cuspis, cuspidr,
`
`point.)
`evil or nfis‘onun:.u!l?:‘:Idl;eS. To Put und
`
`to bend < curvus, curved. See sker—3‘.]
`
`
`
`evil upon; amlctr
`cmtr. To utter CW1:
`
`‘
`fin.) ,,, La. A line that bends in a smooth continuous
`ma; cxcommunicate.
`cus-pl-date (ki“is'pi-dar') also cus-pi-dat-ed
`(-di’tld) ad/'.
`_
`.—cuts’er n.
`union.
`V
`‘
`b. A surface that bends in a smooth continuous fash-
`
`
`t (kutst) #413 5°
`1. Having a cusp. 2. Biol. Terminating in or tipped with a
`1 OE am}
`also cuts
`Somuhjng characterized by such a line or surface, esp.
`
`( (kfir’sTd’ kfirst)
`sharp firm point. [Lat. cuspidfitus,
`p,parr. of cuspidzire,
`to
`-*C‘“5'°d
`e to be cursed.
`able as to des6|'V
`xi. 0 Dr of the human body. 2. A relatively smooth bend in
`
`
`make pointed < cuspis, cu: id-, point]
`letters"
`'
`yeti-ness rt.
`4
`mnlfw 0,1,“ course. 3.8. A line representing data on a
`1
`cus-pi-da-tlon (kus’pivda’s an) n. Arcbit. Decoration with
`'
`the successive
` CUSPS.
`ph.
`
`
`’ ’°‘i b A mud derived from or as if from such a graph.
`e (ki“it’siV) rtdr
`. A mt
`l-lavin$1‘ A mrswe charamg
` Print
`[: cursive writing " "'
`died of grading students based on relative perform
`[Porn < cuspir,
`cusspl -dot (ki'is'pi-dot’, —dor’) n. A spittoon.
`
`
`tren in cu1'5l"“
`5 Math. a. The graph of a function on a coordinate
`,-nanuscriP‘ W“
`a
`characters.) 3.
`‘
`.
`_ p _ (écritme CMYSICQ‘
`to spit < Lat. conspuere, to spit upon : com~, com» + spuere,
`to spit.)
`The intersection of two surfaces in three dimensions.
`7'
`that imitates handwri
`ting lpia) gursiva < 1,3;
`lwriring) <.
`Jiglioliall. A curve ball. 7. Slang. A trick or deception. —- u.
`Med.Lat.
`ism‘
`_
`] «cut-Isa;
`ed wming, curves. ——intr. To move in or take the
`cuss (lcus) Informal. - intr. (y (mi. cussed. cuss-lng. cuss-es.
`to,run. SEC KGY5 ‘A
`-t. of currere,
`To curse or curse at. ~n. ‘I. A curse.
`Z. An odd or perverse
`rysweunesii it.
`_
`(3; 3 wnc, —Ir. 1. To cause to curve. See Syns at
`creature. [Alteration of CURSE.)
` grade
`x
`z_ Baseball. To pitch a curve ball to. 3. To
`.
`.
`it (ki'it’s9rl "‘
` at winch a character ta
`cuss-ed (kiislid) adj. In/omml. 1. Perversc-, stubborn. 2. Curs-
`,ug,,',;5, for example) on a curve. [< ME, curved < Lat.
`madqng the position
`ed. —cuss'ed~ly adv. -cuss/ed-ness n.
`,,,, Sec sker—Z'.] — curried-ness n. — cutvly adj.
`I, corrected. °'
`deleted. IME, r.unner < Lav. <
`cus-tard (l<i'is'tord) 11. A dish consisting of milk, eggs, flavor~
`
`ball or cunIe~ball (ki'irv’b6l’) n. Baseball. A pitched ball
`ing, and sometime
`rt. of currere. ‘° 5”‘
`Set: iters— ,-i
`d
`5 sugar, boiled or baked until set. [ME crus-
`_551_,_) ad], Adaptc too.
`
`
`1, mm or breaks to the left when thrown with the right
`3 - ti - ai ll-<l“"'55‘ ' W1’
`,
`' '15 of n.inning.Sotr
`proh. < OPtov. croustado.
`
`tade, custard, a pie with a crust,
`
`mi md to the right when thrown with the left hand.
`Sec cnoustwe.) —- cusftard-y adj
`~
`. '
`dj.
`
`for runnmE- lé LW'r>:iiiiii1i"e.l with l13ST3 and
`mm, pitch (or throw) (someone) a curve ball. Slang.
`wry (kurisa re) "
`custard apple 71. 1. Any of several tropical American trees of
`cursorius, of running < La
`' 0.
`To mislead; deceive. 2. To cause to be surprised, esp. un~
`
`
`the genus Annona, esp. A. reliczrlata,
`having large, nearly
`ion to deta‘LS[LL(:ll'flSOR
`V] __cw.j50.,»i-ly adv. -. .
`
`
`:6r—, runner.
`66
`heart~shaped edible fruits. 2. The fruit
`of any of these trees.
`
`:::n{tg3,€,-51/) n, A light leap by a horse,
`in which both
`(ass 11.
`‘
`Cusvter (kusfrar),
`-e .
`'
`‘
`George Armstrong. 1839~76. Amer. sol-
`.
`-
`.3
`r curt~est 1 Rudely brief on.
`",3 kg; [cave the ground just before the forelegs are set
`kfin) ad], curt
`
`dier who was killed and his troops annihilated by Sioux and
`,,_ _ ,., «vet-ted, -vetvtlng. ~vets or ~vet°ed, -vet-lng,
`‘Peed, O; mariner.
`2. Usin‘gi:<Z\v_<wPoIr:]:ls,<tEI: .
`Cheyenne warriors at Little Bighorn.
`
`E, h “*1
`Lt. ~iutr. 1. To leap in a curver. 2. To prance; frolic.
`rtlness fir
`
`To cause to leap in a curvet. [Ital. con/etta < Oltal. <
`cus-to-dl-al (kL'i~sr6'clé-91) ad/'. 1. Of or relating to the work
`
`
`g. 2.a. Having custody, esp. of a
`
`i'-‘ ‘-l
`of guarding or maintainin
`"‘
`_mu.|ng, -tails. To
`1,. rourbelte < courlzer, to curve < Lat. curvire < curzms,
`child. b. Of or relating to ch
`rd. Soc sker-3‘.]
`restrict, prob. blen
`ild custody. 3. Marked by cars
`Y "0
`“ (kaptgll) 21.11.
`-
`
`and supervision rather than efforts to cure.
`yreviate. iME “"m”w
`and ME tailleri, to or .
`d. sag c1mTAL,
`-[In-e-ar (l(l‘ll"'V3'lln’é~3f) also cur-vl-lin-e-al (-all
`cus~to‘di ‘an (kt'i—st6'dé~an) n. 1.
`(ler rt.
`-— CUF"‘3ll'
`.
`over an
`
`One in charge of something;
`.
`.1 ~
`ormcd, bounded, or characterized by curved lines. [Lat.
`crtauld. d°°l‘° ’
`cu,-«at
`5, curved; see
`a caretaker. Z. A janitor. -cus~to/dl-an*ship' n.
`CURVE + mm.) -—-cur'vl-lln'e-arll-ty
`2:1,».‘&.°.I?"...‘3“3.. 1.
`.
`sctee
`cus-tovdy (kus/ta-dé) n., pl. —dies. 1.
`n2
`Materlg‘ él.\?1S‘ol“:c"‘lfng ma‘
`me) n.
`-— cur'vl-llnle-ar-ly adv.
`The a_Clf or right of
`n VNn:1.5-‘! n
`a court. 2. Care, su-
`guarding, esp. such a tight granted by
`n (luir'zan), George Nathaniel. 1859-1925. British
`mbles a screen;
`l°°°"m°n’ shade’ or cover. 0
`as A
`. ‘‘
`3 that separat
`
`pervision, and control exerted by one in charge. See Syns or
`man who served as viceroy of India (1898-1905) and
`.
`.
`s as
`argfiw movable screen
`°’ ‘kg?
`The ns:
`(art of state for foreign affairs (1919——24).
`care. 3. The state of being detained or held under guard, esp.
`. auditori\,1m.°" 53”.‘
`»
`. o‘o'sk6). See Cuzco.
`a backdrop. l3- f
`the beginning °
`by the police: took the suspect into custody. [ME custodie <
`B of a theater cuffal“ 3‘
`f a theater curtain a
`'
`Lat. custodia < cuszés, custdd-, guard.)
`(kyo”oVsEk’) n. A volumetric unit for measuring the flow
`e concluding lint.
`uids, equal to
`
`one cubic foot per second.
`cus-tom (kiisltom) n. 1. A practice followed by people of a
`| act c_ The fall or closing.o_I_h
`4.ThE
`a person.
`Rush, koosh).
`particular group or region. ,2. A habitual practice of
`in the Bible, the oldest son of Ham.
`part of a ram?“An en '
`performance or 3“ :5:
`zcne of 3 P133’ ‘" all
`'
`Archit.
`usage so
`See Syns at habit. 3. Law. A common tradition or
`r at-es.S.
`also Kush (kush, ktiosh). 1. An ancient region of NE
`of law.
`,m,ecfi_ng two basti
`°“S° E
`r struCWl’°5-
`long established that it has the force or validity
`mnecting “"°
`rowers or Slmlla
`5- ‘- where the biblical descendants of Cush settled; often
`1
`rum. c.
`*4.a. Habitual patronage.
`b. Habitual customers; patrons.
`Death. _—"'
`lied with Ethiopia. 2. An ancient kingdom of Nubia in
`
`5. customs. (used with a sing.
`u.) a. A duty or tax imposed
`an; flourished from the 11th cent. 5.0. to the 4th cent.
`hing) withoi
`"‘é.°.r:;%‘.‘?r?.”:?o‘¢%«°a= or
`Cushllte’ ad/'. 6' n.
`
`on imported and, less commonly, exported goods. b. The gov~
`2 To shut off (Some
`cmmental agency authorized to
`'
`< 0
`collect these duties. C. The
`Fr. <
`hing) with_or L‘
`_
`_
`_,
`V
`_
`LL31, cértmn < ,
`(ka-she’, koofsho ) 21. Any of several kinds of winter
`procedure for inspecting goods and baggage entering a coun-
`5,1.’ vat. of cobors. 5
`try. 6. Tribute service
`}
`{Cucurbiza mixta) having a curved neck. [?]
`uttain. {MB mrmw ourr. See COUR1‘.l
`ratio
`1800—79.
`or rent paid by a feudal tenant to a
`g lkooshllngl, Caleb.
`e of performers or a w
`Amer. politician and
`(1 call u. The 3P?“
`.
`lord. _...1,:1.‘Mad ’
`e to order. 2. Specializing in the making
`ty (1844) that opened five
`pm,“ [Q applaust
`at who negotiated the ttea
`. trade.
`he end of a 13°‘
`ports to U.S
`formance in I5"? and given to a
`rtal
`or selling of made~to—ordet goods. [ME custume < 0Fr. cos~
`A private r<=P‘““
`lume < I.at._c6nsue'tt2d6, c6nsu§nldin-
`< cénsuétus, p.part. of
`. Harvey Williams. 1869» 1939.
`Amer. neurologist not~
`rtalngecture rt:
`+ suéscere, to become
`cénsuéscere, to accustom : com-, com-
`his study of the brain and the
`pituitary gland.
`0
`.
`accustomed; see s(w)e-'.]
`rials-er in?’ 2
`. William. 1732-1810. Amer.
`duction 2. A preliminall
`jurist; associate justice
`before the Principal Pr
`cus-tom-a-ble (kiisfta-ms-bal) adj. Subject to tariffs.
`ham 1, An animal
`-
`s
`‘r
`I“
`with 1'4 ‘. L_l-5.d[Suprcme Court (1789--1810).
`it-tai (l<fiY"ll "' A"
`cus-tom-arty (ki‘is’to—inEr’é) adj. 1. Commonly practiced,
`n. The form of Cushing's
`docked.
`-— Ildl‘ ob”
`c iniglavlrlag(lll1(f3oIs7}l1fiill:f:})'
`used, or encountered; usual. See Syns at usual. 2. Based on
`gland.
`,2. Somethin[g()<3“)’sf‘:’1l‘:(°ext}=(,:_‘. courtaul
`or docked.
`custom or/tradition rather than written law or contract.
`§ syndrome 21. A syndro
`me caused by an increased
`ion of ACTH or b
`h lc. A C‘-ll
`- cus'tom-arll-ly (-mar’;-lé) adv. - cusltom-at’!-ness n.
`Lat. curtu5- 5°C skepullass. [BY f°“‘ cry‘ < will
`y excessive intake of glucocorti-
`coruss-l
`haracterized by obe
`sity and weakening of the muscles.
`cus~tom-built (ki"i,s’tam-hilt’) adj. Built according to the spec-
`i
`re
`_
`.
`Mia; < 011:. cou‘€£‘::3$[:at.
`canal
`lrtal all "‘ cm
`ifications of the buyer.
`arvcy Williams CusmNo.]
`t s
`ilclfiftgte (l<i‘it/tat’ ) I1?
`Abbtevi
`{mm See cm
`cusetom-er (kfis’ta-mar) n. 1. One that buys goods or sew»
`lk°7’_5l'|’5.fll 9}. ‘i. A pad or
`pillow with a soft filling,
`The hie‘
`r resting, reclining, or knecli
`ices. 2. Informal. An individual with whom one must deal.
`,, pl.
`ng. 2. Something resilient
`‘“"'i§’iei‘i Law-
`cumire, t0 §l‘°‘f°‘3 ”
`pl‘.
`-‘ "St. suppon.
`ur-te'5Y (l‘“".“"e)
`or shock absorber.
`cus-tom-house (l<iiS’t9m~ll0us’) also cus-toms-house
`.
`by a man
`1117185. The
`3. A padlike body
`common law is held
`over th;:hl:‘:m
`(~tomz-) n. A governmental building or office where customs
`rim bordering the playing surface of a
`ceased wife if childre
`n with rigtlfiS_ °l ‘
`.__..-........_—.....
`ME coll?‘ esi
`3 curtesie. SK table. 5. A
`pillow ‘used in lacemak
`-
`atria e.
`country.
`are collected and ships arecloared for entering or leaving the
`ing. 6. Something
`enclosed 3”
`5 pat
`oi boy
`£1, Law. The
`Isalqs or relieves an adverse effect. ~tr.v. —loned.
`-ions. 1. To
`,,,‘§‘iE,‘,'i%a‘._;‘,‘.§’ iiiatrcftii
`5 pay
`ou out
`or dwelling.
`cus-tom -lze (kiisl ra—miz’) tr.v. -ized. -lzv lng. —lz.-es. To make
`{M}; < OFL
`provide with a cushion. 2.. To place or
`at care
`66 to”ok
`-1 Cushion. 3,
`surrounding a house
`or alter to individual or personal specifications. —— cus’tom-
`court- 5°C C°”“T'] 99.74.
`
`To cover or hide (something) with or as
`- Cushion. 4.
`courtil, d”“' °f 60”’
`a father
`cTo b6‘ot
`I-zaltlon (-i-25/shan) n. ——cusltom-iz'er n.
`Benlam
`To protect as if with cushions. 5. To
`the effects of.
`gm-.us (kurltisl.
`in Robbins. 1(83ourt (1
`2 pet
`it cut
`
`cusvtom~made (ki“is’tam-mad’) adj. Made according to the
`[ME cusbin < 0Fr. coussin < VI,at.
`I < Lac.
`associate l“5“°° °
`specifications of an individual purchaser.
` foxa, hip.) -— cu5h’ion~y adj.
`f the U-5» ggffifiiiaaenc of
`1860~1936.
`
`e be
`fir urge
`Curtis. Charles-
`3 il<0‘o—sh
`
`
`Afro'—Asiatic lan-
`“'ll<l 71. A branch of the
`customs union n. An international association organized to
`th thin
`
`
` . th this73-1930 3 -
`
`ud
`eliminate customs restrictions between member nations and
`omalia, Ethiopia, and northern Ken-
`‘ll §poken in S
`hw which
`c3‘«.)t155 (kGr’(l5)s
`Glenn Ham“‘°“d~' 18 ..
`lan
`establish a uniform tariff policy toward nonmember nations.
`Orono, and Somali. —Cush'lt’ ic adj.
`211 vision
`ation Pl°“°" W.
`no d=ve‘°P°“:‘:."..§.‘i‘.-.f..‘;”..»
`‘
`'55)
`cut (kit) v. cut. cut-tlng. cuts. — tr. 1. To penetrate with a
`‘est. Informal. Making few dc-
`:2 about.
`sharp edge; strike a narrow opening in. 2. To separate into
`,,;utt.9il ogcgiiaiggcgggnade ch
`slzy job.
`[P] —cush/l-ly adv.
`.
`'
`~—
`In
`icfly by W°‘f,ff
`parts with or as if with a sharp~edged instrument; sever. 3. To‘
`l)<i'i:::p\?vith one foot iorwar
`P/~ <11S_K or cusks. ‘l. A food fish (Brosme bros-
`d and lower g ~59!"
`.5eyed. -59)1"'l“9'
`sever the edges or ends of; shorten: cut one"s hair. 4. To reap;
`harvest: cut grain. 5. To fell by sawing; hew. 6. To have (a
`.siea. -sy'l“9' ‘SR5 or i
`Prob.
`sit ina '
`-‘ltlantic coastal waters that is related to the cod.
`; r
`curtsy. W3"
`of COURTESY’
`'1
`ed to
`new tooth) grow through the gums. 7. To form or shape by
`hair 4
`alteration of tuslz, codfish, perh. <
`cu-rule (l<Y<7"
`,5,t:) adj: Ifrivifeg wk C
`severing or incising. 8.21. To form by penetrating, probing, or
`;l~. vat. of N
`orw. toslz < ON tborskr. See tel$-‘.]
`[Lac Curullsi 0 3 ‘“
`>rt.1,_.\P0;n
`superior rank.
`See kers-‘J
`< currere» W “m'
`digging: cut a trench. b. To exhibit the appearance or give the
`tor pointed end. 2. Anal. a. A. pointed
`impression of: cuts a fine figure. 9. To separate from a main
`
`341
`
`curuie chair
`out
`
`i,‘
`
`'
`
`I
`
`l
`
`r
`
`V
`-1
`
`-
`
`.
`'l
`
`3’
`
`
`
` .
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`item Stress marks:
`
`_
`’ (primary);
`’ (secondary), as in
`dictionary (diklsha-nét’é)
`——aui-—n—-———-i-:i-
`
`WMT 1012-3