Part 146

3. A ceremonial symbols; an emblem, as a crown, scepter, garland, etc. [Obs.]

Disrobe the images, If you find them decked with ceremonies. . . . Let no images Be hung with CŠsar's trophies. Shak.

4. A sign or prodigy; a portent. [Obs.]

CŠsar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet, now they fright me. Shak.

Master of ceremonies, an officer who determines the forms to be observed, or superintends their observance, on a public occasion. -- Not to stand on ceremony, not to be ceremonious; to be familiar, outspoken, or bold.

Ce"re*ous (?), a. [L. cereus, fr. cera was.] Waxen; like wax. [Obs.] Gayton.

Ce"res (?), n. [L., Ceres, also corn, grain, akin to E. create.] 1. (Class. Myth.) The daughter of Saturn and Ops or Rhea, the goddess of corn and tillage.

2. (Actron.) The first discovered asteroid.

Cer"e*sin (?), n. [L. cera wax.] (Chem.) A white wax, made by bleaching and purifying ozocerite, and used as a substitute for beeswax.

||Ce"re*us (?), n. [L., a wax candle, fr. cera wax. So named from the resemblance of one species to the columnar shape of a wax candle.] (Bot.) A genus of plants of the Cactus family. They are natives of America, from California to Chili.

&fist; Although several species flower in the night, the name Night-blooming cereus is specially applied to the Cereus grandiflorus, which is cultivated for its beautiful, shortlived flowers. The Cereus giganteus, whose columnar trunk is sometimes sixty feet in height, is a striking feature of the scenery of New Mexico, Texas, etc.

Cer"i*al (?), a. Same as Cerrial. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ce*rif"er*ous (?), a. [L. ra wax + -ferous.] Producing wax.

Ce"rin (?), n. [L. cera wax + -in: cf. L. cerinus wax-colored.] 1. (Chem.) A waxy substance extracted by alcohol or ether from cork; sometimes applied also to the portion of beeswax which is soluble in alcohol. Watts.

2. (Min.) A variety of the mineral allanite.

Ce*rin"thi*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of an ancient religious sect, so called from Cerinthus, a Jew, who attempted to unite the doctrines of Christ with the opinions of the Jews and Gnostics. Hook.

Cer"iph (?), n. (Type Founding) One of the fine lines of a letter, esp. one of the fine cross strokes at the top and bottom of letters. [Spelt also seriph.] Savage.

||Ce*rise" (?), a. [F., a cherry. See Cherry.] Cherry-colored; a light bright red; -- applied to textile fabrics, especially silk.

Ce"rite (?), n. [Gr. ke`ras horn.] (Zo÷l.) A gastropod shell belonging to the family Cerithi´dŠ; -- so called from its hornlike form.

Ce"rite, n. [From Cherium.] (Min.) A mineral of a brownish of cherry-red color, commonly massive. It is a hydrous silicate of cerium and allied metals.

Ce"ri*um (?), n. [Named by Berzelius in 1803 from the asteroid Ceres, then just discovered (1801).] (Chem.) A rare metallic element, occurring in the minerals cerite, allanite, monazite, etc. Symbol Ce. Atomic weight 141.5. It resembles iron in color and luster, but is soft, and both malleable and ductile. It tarnishes readily in the air.

Cer"nu*ous (?), a. [L. cernuus with the face turned toward the earth.] (Bot.) Inclining or nodding downward; pendulous; drooping; -- said of a bud, flower, fruit, or the capsule of a moss.

Ce"ro (?), n. [Corrupt. fr. Sp. sierra saw, sawfish, cero.] (Zo÷l.) A large and valuable fish of the Mackerel family, of the genus Scomberomorus. Two species are found in the West Indies and less commonly on the Atlantic coast of the United States, -- the common cero (Scomberomorus caballa), called also kingfish, and spotted, or king, cero (S. regalis).

Ce"ro*graph (?), n. [Gr. khro`s wax + -graph.] A writing on wax. Knight.

{ Ce`ro*graph"ic (?), Ce`ro*graph"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to cerography.

Ce*rog"ra*phist (?), n. One who practices cerography.

Ce*rog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. khro`s wax + -graphy.]

1. The art of making characters or designs in, or with, wax.