Part 1854

<i>John. xii. 42.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Principal or most eminent in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; taking the lead; most important; <as>as, the <ex>chief</ex> topic of conversation; the <ex>chief</ex> interest of man.</as></def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Very intimate, near, or close.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>A whisperer separateth <b>chief</b> friends. <i>Prov. xvi. 28.</i></blockquote>

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

<h1>Chiefage</h1> <Xpage=247>

<hw>Chief"age</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>chevage</ets>, fr. <ets>chief</ets> head. See <er>Chief</er>.]</ety> <def>A tribute by the head; a capitation tax.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>chevage</asp> and <asp>chivage</asp>.]</altsp> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Chief baron</h1> <Xpage=247>

<hw>Chief" bar"on</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <fld>(Eng. Law)</fld> <def>The presiding judge of the court of exchequer.</def>

<h1>Chiefest</h1> <Xpage=247>

<hw>Chief"est</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Superl. of <er>Chief</er>.]</ety> <def>First or foremost; chief; principal.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark> "Our <i>chiefest</i> courtier."

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>The <b>chiefest</b> among ten thousand. <i>Canticles v. 10.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Chief hare</h1> <Xpage=247>

<hw>Chief" hare`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A small rodent (<spn>Lagamys princeps</spn>) inhabiting the summits of the Rocky Mountains; -- also called <altname>crying hare</altname>, <altname>calling hare</altname>, <altname>cony</altname>, <altname>American pika</altname>, and <altname>little chief hare</altname>.</def>

<note>&hand; It is not a true hare or rabbit, but belongs to the curious family <spn>Lagomyid\'91</spn>.</note>

<h1>Chief justice</h1> <Xpage=247>

<hw>Chief" jus"tice</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <def>The presiding justice, or principal judge, of a court.</def>

<cs><col>Lord Chief Justice of England</col>, <cd>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.</cd> -- <col>Chief Justice of the United States</col>, <cd>the presiding judge of the Supreme Court, and Highest judicial officer of the republic.</cd></cs>

<h1>Chief-justiceship</h1> <Xpage=247>

<hw>Chief"-jus"tice*ship</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The office of chief justice.</def>

<blockquote>Jay selected the <b>chief-justiceship</b> as most in accordance with his tastes. <i>The Century.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Chiefless</h1> <Xpage=247>

<hw>Chief"less</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Without a chief or leader.</def>

<h1>Chiefly</h1> <Xpage=247>

<hw>Chief"ly</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>In the first place; principally; pre\'89minently; above; especially.</def>

<blockquote>Search through this garden; leave unsearched no nook; But <b>chiefly</b> where those two fair creatures lodge. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>For the most part; mostly.</def>