Part 364

Com*bine", v. i. 1. To form a union; to agree; to coalesce; to confederate.

You with your foes combine, And seem your own destruction to design Dryden.

So sweet did harp and voice combine. Sir W. Scott.

2. To unite by affinity or natural attraction; as, two substances, which will not combine of themselves, may be made to combine by the intervention of a third.

3. (Card Playing) In the game of casino, to play a card which will take two or more cards whose aggregate number of pips equals those of the card played.

Combining weight (Chem.), that proportional weight, usually referred to hydrogen as a standard, and for each element fixed and exact, by which an element unites with another to form a distinct compound. The combining weights either are identical with, or are multiples or submultiples of, the atomic weight. See Atomic weight, under Atomic, a.

Com*bined" (?), a. United closely; confederated; chemically united.

Com*bin"ed*ly (?), adv. In combination or co÷peration; jointly.

Com*bin"er (?), n. One who, or that which, combines.

Comb"ing (?), n. 1. The act or process of using a comb or a number of combs; as, the combing of one's hair; the combing of wool.

&fist; The process of combing is used in straightening wool of long staple; short wool is carded.

2. pl. (a) That which is caught or collected with a comb, as loose, tangled hair. (b) Hair arranged to be worn on the head.

The baldness, thinness, and . . . deformity of their hair is supplied by borders and combings. Jer. Taylor.

(c) (Naut.) See Coamings.

Combing machine (Textile Manuf.), a machine for combing wool, flax, cotton, etc., and separating the longer and more valuable fiber from the shorter. See also Carding machine, under Carding.

Comb"less, a. Without a comb or crest; as, a combless cock.

||Com`bo*lo"io (k&obreve;m`b&osl;*lō"y&osl;), n. A Mohammedan rosary, consisting of ninety-nine beads. Byron.

Comb"-shaped` (?), a. (Bot.) Pectinate.

Com*bust" (?), a. [L. combustus, p. p. of comburere to burn up; com- + burere (only in comp.), of uncertain origin; cf. bustum funeral pyre, prurire to itch, pruna a live coal, Gr. pyrso`s firebrand, Skr. plush to burn.] 1. Burnt; consumed. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. (Astron.) So near the sun as to be obscured or eclipsed by his light, as the moon or planets when not more than eight degrees and a half from the sun. [Obs.]

Planets that are oft combust. Milton.

Com*bus`ti*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being combustible.

Com*bus"ti*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. combustible.] 1. Capable of taking fire and burning; apt to catch fire; inflammable.

Sin is to the soul like fire to combustible matter. South.

2. Easily kindled or excited; quick; fiery; irascible.

Arnold was a combustible character. W. Irving.

Com*bus"ti*ble (?), n. A substance that may be set on fire, or which is liable to take fire and burn.

All such combustibles as are cheap enough for common use go under the name of fuel. Ure.