Part 653

3. A representation of the increasing moon, often used as an emblem or badge; as: (a) A symbol of Artemis, or Diana. (b) The ancient symbol of Byzantium or Constantinople. Hence: (c) The emblem of the Turkish Empire, adopted after the taking of Constantinople.

The cross of our faith is replanted, The pale, dying crescent is daunted. Campbell.

4. Any one of three orders of knighthood; the first instituted by Charles I., king of Naples and Sicily, in 1268; the second by RenÚ of Anjou, in 1448; and the third by the Sultan Selim III., in 1801, to be conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for valuable services. Brande & C.

5. (Her.) The emblem of the increasing moon with horns directed upward, when used in a coat of arms; -- often used as a mark of cadency to distinguish a second son and his descendants.

Cres"cent (kr&ebreve;s"sent), a. 1. Shaped like a crescent.

Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns. Milton.

2. Increasing; growing.

O, I see the crescent promise of my spirit hath not set. Tennyson.

Cres"cent, v. t. 1. To form into a crescent, or something resembling a crescent. [R.] Anna Seward.

2. To adorn with crescents.

Cres*cen"tic (kr&ebreve;s*s&ebreve;n"t&ibreve;k), a. Crescent-shaped. "Crescentic lobes." R. Owen.

Cres"cent*wise` (kr&ebreve;s"sent*wīz`), adv. In the form of a crescent; like a crescent. Tennyson.

Cres"cive (kr?s"s?v), a. [L. crescere to increase.] Increasing; growing. [R.]

Unseen, yet crescive in his faculty. Shak.

Cre"sol (krē"sōl), n. [From Creosote.] (Chem.) Any one of three metameric substances, CH3.C6H4.OH, homologous with and resembling phenol. They are obtained from coal tar and wood tar, and are colorless, oily liquids or solids. [Called also cresylic acid.]

Cre*sor"cin (kr?-s?r"s?n), n. (Chem.) Same as Isorcin.

Cress (kr&ebreve;s), n.; pl. Cresses (kr&ebreve;s"&ebreve;z). [OE. ces, cresse, kers, kerse, AS. cresse, cerse; akin to D. kers, G. kresse, Dan. karse, Sw. krasse, and possibly also to OHG. chresan to creep.] (Bot.) A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and antiscorbutic.

&fist; The garden cress, called also peppergrass, is the Lepidium sativum; the water cress is the Nasturtium officinale. Various other plants are sometimes called cresses.

To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread. Goldsmith.

Bitter cress. See under Bitter. -- Not worth a cress, or "not worth a kers." a common old proverb, now turned into the meaningless "not worth a curse." Skeat.

Cres*selle" (kr?s-s?l"), n. [F. crÚcelle rattle.] (Eccl.) A wooden rattle sometimes used as a substitute for a bell, in the Roman Catholic church, during the latter part of Holy Week, or the last week of Lent.

Cres"set (kr?s"s?t), n. [OF. crasset, cresset, sort of lamp or torch; perh. of Dutch or German origin, and akin to E. cruse, F. creuset crucible, E. crucible.] 1. An open frame or basket of iron, filled with combustible material, to be burned as a beacon; an open lamp or firrepan carried on a pole in nocturnal processions.

Starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed With naphtha and asphaltus. Milton.

As a cresset true that darts its length Of beamy luster from a tower of strength. Wordsworth.

2. (Coopering) A small furnace or iron cage to hold fire for charring the inside of a cask, and making the staves flexible. Knight.

Cress"y (kr&ebreve;s"&ybreve;), a. Abounding in cresses.

The cressy islets white in flower. Tennyson.

Crest (kr&ebreve;st), n. [OF. creste, F. crŕte, L. crista.] 1. A tuft, or other excrescence or natural ornament, growing on an animal's head; the comb of a cock; the swelling on the head of a serpent; the lengthened feathers of the crown or nape of bird, etc. Darwin.