<B>categorical, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1a. </B>without conditions or qualifications; positive. <BR> <I>Ex. His categorical answer left no doubt about his opinion. All we had from the union was a categorical "no" on all the points we raised (Wall Street Journal).</I> (SYN) absolute, unconditional. <DD><B> b. </B>explicit; direct. <BR> <I>Ex. The ratification of the Ghent treaty ... was in no wise distinct and categorical (John Motley).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>of or in a category. adv. <B>categorically.</B> noun <B>categoricalness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="categoricalimperative">
<B>categorical imperative,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the ethical principle of Immanuel Kant that a person should act only in the way he would will all others to act in the same situation. </DL>
<A NAME="categoricalsyllogism">
<B>categorical syllogism,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Logic.) a syllogism consisting only of categorical propositions, or such as do not involve a condition or hypothesis. </DL>
<B>categorize, </B>transitive verb, <B>-ized,</B> <B>-izing.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to place in a category or categories; classify. <BR> <I>Ex. The Dalai Lama of Tibet, visiting India, categorized Europeans as "the red-faced people" (New Yorker).</I> noun <B>categorization.</B> noun <B>categorizer.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="category">
<B>category, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ries.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a group or division in classification; class. <BR> <I>Ex. The crabby old man places all people in two categories: those he likes and those he dislikes.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Logic.) <DD><B> a. </B>one of the modes or aspects of conception under which the mind, according to Kant, organizes the impressions received from the senses. <BR> <I>Ex. The Kantian categories differ from those of Aristotle in being subjective.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>one of the fundamental modes or aspects of existence recognized by Aristotle. <BR> <I>Ex. Substance, quantity, quality, space, and time are all categories.</I> </DL>
<B>catelectrotonic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having to do with or exhibiting catelectrotonus. </DL>
<A NAME="catelectrotonus">
<B>catelectrotonus, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the changed physical and physiological condition in the neighborhood of the cathode when a constant electrical current is passed through a piece of nerve or muscle. </DL>
<A NAME="catena">
<B>catena, </B>noun, pl. <B>-nae.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a chain or connected series, especially a commentary or exegesis made up of excerpts from the works of the church fathers. </DL>
<A NAME="catenaccio">
<B>catenaccio, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a formation in soccer using four defenders in the defensive line, three players in midfield, and three on the attack. <BR> <I>Ex. Juventus ... represents the conservative, traditional style known as catenaccio (Time).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="catenane">
<B>catenane, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Chemistry.) a compound of carbon molecules interlocked like the links of a chain, but not chemically bonded together. </DL>
<B>catenary, </B>noun, pl. <B>-naries,</B> adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Mathematics.) <DD><I>noun </I> the curve formed by a heavy, perfectly flexible cord, cable, or the like, hanging freely from two fixed points not in the same vertical line. <DD><I>adj. </I> having to do with or like a catenary. </DL>
<A NAME="catenate">
<B>catenate, </B>verb, <B>-nated,</B> <B>-nating,</B> adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.t. </I> to link like a chain; connect in a series. <DD><I>adj. </I> having the nature or appearance of a chain. noun <B>catenation.</B> </DL>
<B>catenulate, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> chainlike in form or appearance. </DL>
<A NAME="cater">
<B>cater</B> (1), intransitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to provide food and supplies, and sometimes service. <BR> <I>Ex. He runs a restaurant and also caters for weddings and parties.</I> (SYN) purvey. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to provide what is needed or wanted. <BR> <I>Ex. The Children's Palace in Shanghai is a recreation centre catering for children from 7 to 17 years old (Manchester Guardian Weekly). The sculptor also won honor in San Mateo, a suburb that caters to split-level executives (Harper's).</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> to provide food or supplies for (a party, wedding, or other social function). <BR> <I>Ex. to cater an affair.</I> (SYN) purvey. </DL>
<A NAME="cater">
<B>cater</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Obsolete or Archaic.) <DD><B> 1. </B>four. <DD><B> 2. </B>the four at cards or dice. </DL>
<A NAME="cateran">
<B>cateran, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (History.) a member of a band of marauders or fighters in the Scottish Highlands. </DL>
<B>cater-cornered, </B>adjective, adverb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> diagonal; placed diagonally. <BR> <I>Ex. A cater-cornered walk crosses the park.</I> <DD><I>adv. </I> diagonally. <BR> <I>Ex. He walked cater-cornered across the park.</I> <DD> Also, <B>catty-cornered,</B> <B>kitty-cornered.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="catercousin">
<B>cater-cousin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>any person related in some respect to another. <BR> <I>Ex. cater-cousins in politics.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>intimate friend; close associate. </DL>
<A NAME="caterer">
<B>caterer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a person who provides food and supplies, and sometimes service, for parties, weddings, and other social functions. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) a person who caters in any way to the requirements of others. </DL>
<A NAME="cateress">
<B>cateress, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a woman caterer. </DL>
<A NAME="catering">
<B>catering, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the providing and serving of food and refreshment for parties, entertainments, and other social functions. </DL>
<A NAME="caterpillar">
<B>caterpillar, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the larva or wormlike form in which insects such as the butterfly and the moth hatch from the egg. <DD><B> 2a. </B><B>=caterpillar tractor.</B> <DD><B> b. </B>any vehicle or machine that moves on endless belts or chains instead of wheels. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) a person who preys upon society. <BR> <I>Ex. the caterpillars of the commonwealth (Shakespeare).</I> </DL>
<B>caterpillar fungus,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a fungus which grows upon the larvae of insects. </DL>
<A NAME="caterpillartractor">
<B>caterpillar tractor,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a tractor that can travel over very rough ground on its two endless belts. </DL>
<A NAME="caterwaul">
<B>caterwaul, </B>verb, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1. </B>(of cats) to utter long-drawn, wailing cries, especially in the night; give their characteristic cry at rutting time. <BR> <I>Ex. Dread midnight come, the cats 'gan caterwaul (Jeremy Taylor).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) <DD><B> a. </B>to howl like a cat; screech. <BR> <I>Ex. The bagpipes caterwauled.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>to quarrel noisily. <BR> <I>Ex. Those that are concerned in another's Love and Honour, are ... always caterwauling (Samuel Butler).</I> <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>the characteristic cry of a rutting cat. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) any sound, such as music or singing, likened to this; screech. <BR> <I>Ex. The lovely caterwaul, Tart solo, sour duet, and general squall,--These are our hymn (Oliver Wendell Holmes).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="caterwauling">
<B>caterwauling, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B><B>=caterwaul.</B> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) a whining or complaining. <BR> <I>Ex. There'll probably be a lot of caterwauling about the guaranteed annual wage (Wall Street Journal).</I> <DD><I>adj. </I> resembling the characteristic cry of a cat at rutting time. </DL>
<A NAME="cateye">
<B>cat eye,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a highly sensitive television system for viewing objects in the dark, used especially in navigation and photographing stars and planets. </DL>
<A NAME="cateyed">
<B>cat-eyed, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>able to see in the dark. <DD><B> 2. </B>having eyes like a cat, especially having an almond shape. <BR> <I>Ex. lovely, cat-eyed Yvonne (Time).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="catface">
<B>catface, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a partly healed scar left especially by fire on the stem of a tree, or on lumber from it. </DL>
<A NAME="catfacing">
<B>catfacing, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an injury to peaches caused by the punctures of various insects. </DL>
<A NAME="catfall">
<B>catfall, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Nautical.) the rope or tackle by which an anchor is hoisted to the cathead. </DL>
<A NAME="catfamily">
<B>cat family,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a family of carnivorous mammals including the domestic cat, the lion, tiger, jaguar, and the lynxes. </DL>
<A NAME="catfight">
<B>catfight, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a quarrel, especially between women, marked by intense acrimony and spite. <BR> <I>Ex. The clash between the two queens [was] a catfight on the imperial level (Punch).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="catfish">
<B>catfish, </B>noun, pl. <B>-fishes</B> or (collectively) <B>-fish.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any one of several fishes without scales, having long, slender feelers around the mouth that look somewhat like a cat's whiskers. Catfish have sharp spines on the breast. </DL>
<A NAME="catfoot">
<B>cat-foot, </B>intransitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD> to move in a cat-footed manner; go furtively like a cat. <BR> <I>Ex. Each night, he stole out of the ward with his knowing and insolent smile and cat-footed into the Rec Hall (Leo Rosten).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="catfooted">
<B>cat-footed, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>having feet like those of a cat; digitigrade, with sharp, retractile claws. <DD><B> 2. </B>soft-footed; noiseless; quiet; stealthy. <BR> <I>Ex. "We will meet by and by," the old, cat-footed hunter murmured under his breath as he urged me along the leafy path (Atlantic).</I> </DL>
