Part 2576

<hw>Cre"tin*ism</hw> <tt>(kr?"t?n-\'b5z'm)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>cr<?/tinisme</ets>.]</ety> <def>A condition of endemic or inherited idiocy, accompanied by physical degeneracy and deformity (usually with goiter), frequent in certain mountain valleys, esp. of the Alps.</def>

<h1>Cretinous</h1> <Xpage=344>

<hw>Cre"tin*ous</hw> <tt>(-?s)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Having the characteristics of a cretin.</def> "<i>Cretinous</i> stupefaction."

<i>Ruskin.</i>

<h1>Cretism</h1> <Xpage=344>

<hw>Cre"tism</hw> <tt>(kr?"t?z'm)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/<?/ lying, fr. <?/<?/<?/<?/<?/ to act like a Cretan, that is, to Me. "The Cretians are always liars." <ets>Titus</ets> i. 12.]</ety> <def>A Cretan practice; iying; a falsehood.</def>

<h1>Cretonne</h1> <Xpage=344>

<hw>Cre*tonne"</hw> <tt>(kr?-t?n")</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F., gr. <ets>Creton</ets>, its first manufacturer.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A strong white fabric with warp of hemp and welt of flax.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A fabric with cotton warp and woolen weft.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A kind of chintz with a glossy surface.</def>

<h1>Cretose</h1> <Xpage=344>

<hw>Cre"tose</hw> <tt>(kr?"t?s)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>cretosus</ets>, fr. <ets>creta</ets> chalk.]</ety> <def>Chalky; cretaceous.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Ash.</i>

<h1>Creutzer</h1> <Xpage=344>

<hw>Creut"zer</hw> <def>(kroitn. See <er>Kreutzer</er>.</def>

<h1>Creux</h1> <Xpage=344>

<hw>Creux</hw> <tt>(kr?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F., <ets>adj</ets>., hollow, <tt>n.</tt>, a hollow.]</ety> <def>Used in English only in the expression <i>en creux</i>. Thus, engraving <i>en creux</i> is engraving in intaglio, or by sinking or hollowing out the design.</def>

<h1>Crevalle</h1> <Xpage=344>

<hw>Cre`val*le"</hw> <tt>(kr?`v?l-l?")</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Prob. of same origin as <ets>cavally</ets>. See <er>Cavally</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>The cavally or jurel.</def> See <er>Cavally</er>, and <er>Jurel</er>. <sd>(b)</sd> <def>The pompano (<spn>Trachynotus Carolinus</spn>).</def>

<h1>Crevasse</h1> <Xpage=344>

<hw>Cre`vasse"</hw> <tt>(kr?`v?s")</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. See <er>Crevice</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A deep crevice or fissure, as in embankment; one of the clefts or fissure by which the mass of a glacier is divided.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A breach in the levee or embankment of a river, caused by the pressure of the water, as on the lower Mississippi.</def> <mark>[U.S.]</mark>

<h1>Crevet</h1> <Xpage=344>

<hw>Crev"et</hw> <tt>(kr?v"?t)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. <er>Creut</er>.]</ety> <def>A crucible or melting pot; a cruset.</def>

<i>Crabb.</i>

<h1>Crevice</h1> <Xpage=344>

<hw>Crev"ice</hw> <tt>(kr?v"?s)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>crevace</ets>, <ets>crevice</ets>. F. <ets>crevasse</ets>, fr. <ets>crever</ets> to break, burst, fr. L. <ets>crepare</ets> to crack,break. Cf. <er>Craven</er>, <er>Crepitate</er>, <er>Crevasse</er>.]</ety> <def>A narrow opening resulting from a split or crack or the separation of a junction; a cleft; a fissure; a rent.</def>

<blockquote>The mouse, Behind the moldering wainscot, shrieked, Or from the <b>crevice</b> peered about. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>