Cath`e*dra"ted (?), a. [From Cathedra.] Relating to the chair or office of a teacher. [Obs.]
Cath`e*ret"ic (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to bring down or raze; &?; down + &?; to take.] (Med.) A mild kind caustic used to reduce warts and other excrescences. Dunglison.
Cath"er*ine wheel` (?). [So called from St. Catherine of Alexandria, who is represented with a wheel, in allusion to her martyrdom.] 1. (Geoth.Arth.) Same as Rose window and Wheel window. Called also Catherine-wheel window.
2. (Pyrotechny) A revolving piece of fireworks resembling in form the window of the same name. [Written also Catharine wheel.]
Cath"e*ter (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; a thing let down or put in, catheter, fr. &?; to send down, to let down; &?; + &?; to send.] (Med.) The name of various instruments for passing along mucous canals, esp. applied to a tubular instrument to be introduced into the bladder through the urethra to draw off the urine.
Eustachian catheter. See under Eustachian. -- Prostatic catheter, one adapted for passing an enlarged prostate.
{ Cath"e*ter*ism (?), Cath`e*ter*i*za"tion (?), } n. (Med.) The operation of introducing a catheter.
Cath"e*ter*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catheterized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Catheterizing.] (Med.) To operate on with a catheter. Dunglison.
Cath`e*tom"e*ter (?), n. [From Gr. &?; vertical height + -meter.] An instrument for the accurate measurement of small differences of height; esp. of the differences in the height of the upper surfaces of two columns of mercury or other fluid, or of the same column at different times. It consists of a telescopic leveling apparatus (d), which slides up or down a perpendicular metallic standard very finely graduated (bb). The telescope is raised or depressed in order to sight the objects or surfaces, and the differences in vertical height are thus shown on the graduated standard. [Written also kathetometer.]
||Cath"e*tus (?), n.; pl. catheti (#). [L., fr. Gr. &?; a perpendicular line, fr. &?; let down, fr. &?;. See Catheter.] (Geom.) One line or radius falling perpendicularly on another; as, the catheti of a right-angled triangle, that is, the two sides that include the right angle. Barlow.
Cath"ode (?), n. [Gr. &?; descent; &?; down + &?; way.] (Physics) The part of a voltaic battery by which the electric current leaves substances through which it passes, or the surface at which the electric current passes out of the electrolyte; the negative pole; -- opposed to anode. Faraday.
Cathode ray (Phys.), a kind of ray generated at the cathode in a vacuum tube, by the electrical discharge.
Ca*thod"ic (k&adot;*th&obreve;d"&ibreve;k), a. (Physiol.) A term applied to the centrifugal, or efferent, course of the nervous influence. Marshall Hall.
Cat"-hole` (kăt"hōl`), n. (Naut.) One of two small holes astern, above the gunroom ports, through which hawsers may be passed.
Cath"o*lic (kăth"&osl;*&ibreve;k), a. [L. catholicus, Gr. kaqoliko`s, universal, general; kata` down, wholly + "o`los whole, probably akin to E. solid: cf. F. catholique.] 1. Universal or general; as, the catholic faith.
Men of other countries to bear their part in so great and catholic a war. Southey.
&fist; This epithet, which is applicable to the whole Christian church, or its faith, is claimed by Roman Catholics to belong especially to their church, and in popular usage is so limited.
2. Not narrow-minded, partial, or bigoted; liberal; as, catholic tastes.
3. Of or pertaining to, or affecting the Roman Catholics; as, the Catholic emancipation act.
Catholic epistles, the epistles of the apostles which are addressed to all the faithful, and not to a particular church; being those of James, Peter, Jude, and John.
Cath"o*lic, n. 1. A person who accepts the creeds which are received in common by all parts of the orthodox Christian church.
2. An adherent of the Roman Catholic church; a Roman Catholic.
Old Catholic, the name assumed in 1870 by members of the Roman Catholic church, who denied the ecumenical character of the Vatican Council, and rejected its decrees, esp. that concerning the infallibility of the pope, as contrary to the ancient Catholic faith.
Ca*thol"i*cal (?), a. Catholic. [Obs.]
Ca*thol"i*cism (?), n. [Cf. F. catholicisme.]
1. The state or quality of being catholic or universal; catholicity. Jer. Taylor.
2. Liberality of sentiment; breadth of view.
3. The faith of the whole orthodox Christian church, or adherence thereto.
The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section C · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.