Part 714

Cu"rate (k?"r?t), n. [LL. curatus, prop., one who is charged with the care (L. cura) of souls. See Cure, n., and cf. CurÚ] One who has the cure of souls; originally, any clergyman, but now usually limited to one who assists a rector or vicar. Hook.

All this the good old man performed alone, He spared no pains, for curate he had none. Dryden.

Cu"rate*ship, n. A curacy.

Cu*ra"tion (k?-r?"sh?n), n. [Cf. OF. curacion.] Cure; healing. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Cur"a*tive (k?r"?-t?v), a. [Cf. F. curatif. See Cure, v. t.] Relating to, or employed in, the cure of diseases; tending to cure. Arbuthnot.

Cu*ra"tor (k?-r?"t?r). n. [L., fr. curare to take care of, fr. cura care.] 1. One who has the care and superintendence of anything, as of a museum; a custodian; a keeper.

2. One appointed to act as guardian of the estate of a person not legally competent to manage it, or of an absentee; a trustee; a guardian.

Cu*ra"tor*ship, n. The office of a curator.

Cu*ra"trix (-tr?ks), n. [L.] 1. A woman who cures.

2. A woman who is a guardian or custodian. Burrill.

Curb (k?rb), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Curbed (k?rbd); p. pr. & vb. n. Curbing.] [F. courber to bend, curve, L. curvare, fr. curvus bent, curved; cf. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?; curved. Cf. Curve.] 1. To bend or curve [Obs.]

Crooked and curbed lines. Holland.

2. To guide and manage, or restrain, as with a curb; to bend to one's will; to subject; to subdue; to restrain; to confine; to keep in check.

Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. Milton.

Where pinching want must curbthy warm desires. Prior.

3. To furnish wich a curb, as a well; also, to restrain by a curb, as a bank of earth.

Curb, v. i. To bend; to crouch; to cringe. [Obs.]

Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good. Shak.

Curb, n. 1. That which curbs, restrains, or subdues; a check or hindrance; esp., a chain or strap attached to the upper part of the branches of a bit, and capable of being drawn tightly against the lower jaw of the horse.

He that before ran in the pastures wild Felt the stiff curb control his angry jaws. Drayton.

By these men, religion,that should be The curb, is made the spur of tyranny. Denham.

2. (Arch.) An assemblage of three or more pieces of timber, or a metal member, forming a frame around an opening, and serving to maintain the integrity of that opening; also, a ring of stone serving a similar purpose, as at the eye of a dome.

3. A frame or wall round the mouth of a well; also, a frame within a well to prevent the earth caving in.

4. A curbstone.

5. (Far.) A swelling on the back part of the hind leg of a horse, just behind the lowest part of the hock joint, generally causing lameness. James Law.

Curb bit, a stiff bit having branches by which a leverage is obtained upon the jaws of horse. Knight. -- Curb pins (Horology), the pins on the regulator which restrain the hairspring. -- Curb plate (Arch.), a plate serving the purpose of a curb. -- Deck curb. See under Deck.

Curb"less, a. Having no curb or restraint.

Curb" roof` (r??f`). A roof having a double slope, or composed, on each side, of two parts which have unequal inclination; a gambrel roof.