Part 60

&fist; One principal kind of capias is a writ by which actions at law are frequently commenced; another is a writ of execution issued after judgment to satisfy damages recovered; a capias in criminal law is the process to take a person charged on an indictment, when he is not in custody. Burrill. Wharton.

Ca`pi*ba"ra (?), n. (Zo÷l.) See Capybara.

Cap`il*la"ceous (?), a. [L. capillaceus hairy, fr. capillus hair.] Having long filaments; resembling a hair; slender. See Capillary.

Cap`il*laire" (?), n. [F. capillaire maiden-hair; sirop de capillaire capillaire; fr. L. herba capillaris the maidenhair.] 1. A sirup prepared from the maiden-hair, formerly supposed to have medicinal properties.

2. Any simple sirup flavored with orange flowers.

Ca*pil"la*ment (?), n. [L. capillamentum, fr. capillus hair: cf. F. capillament.] 1. (Bot.) A filament. [R.]

2. (Anat.) Any villous or hairy covering; a fine fiber or filament, as of the nerves.

Cap"il*la*ri*ness (?), n. The quality of being capillary.

Cap`il*lar"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. capillaritÚ.]

1. The quality or condition of being capillary.

2. (Physics) The peculiar action by which the surface of a liquid, where it is in contact with a solid (as in a capillary tube), is elevated or depressed; capillary attraction.

&fist; Capillarity depends upon the relative attaction of the modecules of the liquid for each other and for those of the solid, and is especially observable in capillary tubes, where it determines the ascent or descent of the liquid above or below the level of the liquid which the tube is dipped; -- hence the name.

Cap"il*la*ry (kăp"&ibreve;l*l&asl;*r&ybreve; or k&adot;*p&ibreve;l"l&adot;*r&ybreve;; 277), a. [L. capillaris, fr. capillus hair. Cf. Capillaire.] 1. Resembling a hair; fine; minute; very slender; having minute tubes or interspaces; having very small bore; as, the capillary vessels of animals and plants.

2. Pertaining to capillary tubes or vessels; as, capillary action.

Capillary attraction, Capillary repulsion, the apparent attraction or repulsion between a solid and liquid caused by capillarity. See Capillarity, and Attraction. -- Capillarity tubes. See the Note under Capillarity.

Cap"il*la*ry, n.; pl. Capillaries (&?;). 1. A tube or vessel, extremely fine or minute.

2. (Anat.) A minute, thin-walled vessel; particularly one of the smallest blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, but used also for the smallest lymphatic and biliary vessels.

Cap`il*la"tion (?), n. [L. capillatio the hair.] A capillary blood vessel. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Ca*pil"la*ture (?), n. [L. capillatura.] A bush of hair; frizzing of the hair. Clarke.

Ca*pil"li*form (?), a. [L. capillus hair + -form.] In the shape or form of, a hair, or of hairs.

Cap"il*lose` (?), a. [L. capillosus.] Having much hair; hairy. [R.]

Ca*pis"trate (?), a. [L. capistratus, p. p. of capistrare halter.] (Zo÷l.) Hooded; cowled.

Cap"i*tal (?), a. [F. capital, L. capitalis capital (in senses 1 & 2), fr. caput head. See Chief, and cf. Capital, n.] 1. Of or pertaining to the head. [Obs.]

Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise Expect with mortal pain. Milton.

2. Having reference to, or involving, the forfeiture of the head or life; affecting life; punishable with death; as, capital trials; capital punishment.

Many crimes that are capital among us. Swift.

To put to death a capital offender. Milton.

3. First in importance; chief; principal.