Part 116

Cat"e*na*ry, n.; pl. Catenaries (&?;). (Geol.) The curve formed by a rope or chain of uniform density and perfect flexibility, hanging freely between two points of suspension, not in the same vertical line.

Cat"e*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catenated; p. pr. & vb. n. Catenating.] [L. catenatus, p. p. of catenare, fr. catena chain. See Chain.] To connect, in a series of links or ties; to chain. E. Darwin.

Cat`e*na"tion (?), n. [L. catenatio.] Connection of links or union of parts, as in a chain; a regular or connected series. See Concatenation. Sir T. Browne.

Ca*ten"u*late (?), a. [L. catenuia, dim. of catena chain.] 1. Consisting of little links or chains.

2. (Zo÷l.) Chainlike; -- said both or color marks and of indentations when arranged like the links of a chain, as on shells, etc.

Ca"ter (?), n. [OE. catour purchaser, caterer, OF. acator, fr. acater, F. acheter, to buy, provide, fr. LL. accaptare; L. ad + captare to strive, to seize, intens, of capere to take, seize. Cf. Acater, Capacious.] A provider; a purveyor; a caterer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ca"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Catered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Catering.] [From Cater, n.] 1. To provide food; to buy, procure, or prepare provisions.

providently caters for the sparrow. Shak.

2. By extension: To supply what is needed or desired, at theatrical or musical entertainments; -- followed by for or to.

Ca"ter, n. [F. quatre four.] The four of cards or dice.

Ca"ter, v. t. To cut diagonally. [Obs.] Halliwell.

Cat"e*ran (?), n. [Gael. ceatharnach. Cf. Kern Irish foot soldier.] A Highland robber: a kind of irregular soldier. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Ca"ter-cor`nered (?), a. [Cf. Cater to cut diagonally.] Diagonal. [Colloq.]

Ca"ter-cous`in (?), n. A remote relation. See Quater-cousin. Shak.

Ca"ter*er (?), n. One who caters.

The little fowls in the air have God for Their provider and caterer. Shelton.

Ca"ter*ess, n. A woman who caters. Milton.

Cat"er*pil`lar (?), n. [OE. catyrpel, corrupted fr. OF. chatepelouse, or cate pelue, fr. chate, F. chatte, she-cat, fem. of chat, L. catus + L. pilosus hairy, or F. pelu hairy, fr. L. pilus hair. See Cat, and Pile hair.] 1. (Zo÷l.) The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm.

2. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Scorpiurus, with pods resembling caterpillars.

Caterpillar catcher, or Caterpillar eater (Zo÷l.), a bird belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on caterpillars. The name is also given to several other birds. -- Caterpillar hunter (Zo÷l.), any species of beetles of the genus Callosoma and other allied genera of the family CarabidŠ which feed habitually upon caterpillars.

Cat"er*waul (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caterwauled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Caterwauling.] [Cat + waul, wawl, to cry as a cat.] To cry as cats in rutting time; to make a harsh, offensive noise. Coleridge.

Cat"er*waul, n. A caterwauling.

Cat"er*waul`ing, n. The cry of cats; a harsh, disagreeable noise or cry like the cry of cats. Shak.

Ca"ter*y (?), n. [See Cater, n.] The place where provisions are deposited. [Obs.]

Cates (?), n. pl. [Cf. Acates, and see Cater, n.] Provisions; food; viands; especially, luxurious food; delicacies; dainties. Shak.

Cates for which Apicius could not pay. Shurchill.

Choicest cates and the fiagon's best spilth. R. Browning.

Cat"-eyed` (?), a. Having eyes like a cat; hence, able to see in the dark.