Part 204

Chid"ing*ly (?), adv. In a chiding or reproving manner.

Chief (chēn), n. [OE. chief, chef, OF. chief, F. chef, fr. L. caput head, possibly akin to E. head. Cf. Captain, Chapter] 1. The head or leader of any body of men; a commander, as of an army; a head man, as of a tribe, clan, or family; a person in authority who directs the work of others; the principal actor or agent.

2. The principal part; the most valuable portion.

The chief of the things which should be utterly destroyed. 1 Sam. xv. 21

3. (Her.) The upper third part of the field. It is supposed to be composed of the dexter, sinister, and middle chiefs.

In chief. (a) At the head; as, a commander in chief. (b) (Eng. Law) From the king, or sovereign; as, tenure in chief, tenure directly from the king.

Syn. -- Chieftain; captain; general; commander; leader; head; principal; sachem; sagamore; sheik. -- Chief, chieftain, Commander, Leader. These words fluctuate somewhat in their meaning according to circumstances, but agree in the general idea of rule and authority. The term chief is now more usually applied to one who is a head man, leader, or commander in civil or military affairs, or holds a hereditary or acquired rank in a tribe or clan; as, the chief of police; the chief of an Indian tribe. A chieftain is the chief of a clan or tribe , or a military leader. A commander directs the movements of or has control over a body of men, as a military or naval force. A leader is one whom men follow, as in a political party, a legislative body, a military or scientific expedition, etc., one who takes the command and gives direction in particular enterprises.

Chief, a. 1. Highest in office or rank; principal; head. "Chief rulers." John. xii. 42.

2. Principal or most eminent in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; taking the lead; most important; as, the chief topic of conversation; the chief interest of man.

3. Very intimate, near, or close. [Obs.]

A whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov. xvi. 28.

Syn. -- Principal; head; leading; main; paramount; supreme; prime; vital; especial; great; grand; eminent; master.

Chief"age (-&asl;j), n. [OF. chevage, fr. chief head. See Chief.] A tribute by the head; a capitation tax. [Written also chevage and chivage.] [Obs.]

Chief" bar"on (?). (Eng. Law) The presiding judge of the court of exchequer.

Chief"est, a. [Superl. of Chief.] First or foremost; chief; principal. [Archaic] "Our chiefest courtier." Shak.

The chiefest among ten thousand. Canticles v. 10.

Chief" hare` (?). (Zo÷l.) A small rodent (Lagamys princeps) inhabiting the summits of the Rocky Mountains; -- also called crying hare, calling hare, cony, American pika, and little chief hare.

&fist; It is not a true hare or rabbit, but belongs to the curious family LagomyidŠ.

Chief" jus"tice (?). The presiding justice, or principal judge, of a court.

Lord Chief Justice of England, The presiding judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. The highest judicial officer of the realm is the Lord High Chancellor. -- Chief Justice of the United States, the presiding judge of the Supreme Court, and Highest judicial officer of the republic.

Chief"-jus"tice*ship, n. The office of chief justice.

Jay selected the chief-justiceship as most in accordance with his tastes. The Century.

Chief"less (?), a. Without a chief or leader.

Chief"ly (?), adv. 1. In the first place; principally; preŰminently; above; especially.

Search through this garden; leave unsearched no nook; But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge. Milton.

2. For the most part; mostly.

Those parts of the kingdom where the . . . estates of the dissenters chiefly lay. Swift.

Chief"rie (?), n. A small rent paid to the lord paramount. [Obs.] Swift.