feministe

[Fr.] One devoted to the interests of women; especially one who advocates the extension to women the same civil and social rights po e ed by men. *fě-min-i-ty, *fe-min-i-tee, s. [ Lat.femina = a woman; Eng. suff. -ity .) The qualities becoming a woman; womankind. fěm-i-nize, v . t. [Lat. fem in (a)=a woman; Eng. suff. -ize .] To make womanish, or effeminate. fem-õr-al, a. [Low Lat. femoral is , from Lat. femur (gen it. femoris )=a thigh; Fr. fémoral ; Sp. femoral. Of or belonging to the thigh. femoral-artery, s. Anat.: That portion of the artery of the lower limb which lies in the upper two-thirds of the thigh. fe-mür, s. [Lat. the thigh.] 1. Anat .: In vertebrate animals the first bone of the leg or pelvic extremity, situated between the os in nomina tum and the tibia. 2. Arch .: The long, flat, projecting face between each channel of a triglyph in the Doric order. 3. Entom.: The third joint of the leg; it is long and generally compre ed. fen, *fenne, *venne, s. [A. S. fen; cogn. with Dut. veen; Icel. fen; Goth. fan i; O. H. Ger. fenni= mud.] 1. Low, flat and wet land; a marsh or moor; low lying land covered wholly or partially with water, and producing only sedge or coarse gra . forest, and einde acaulaye Hist. Eng., con "The remainder was believed to consist of moor, 2. A disease affecting hops; it is caused by a quick-growing fungus or mold. Obvious compound: Fen - born . IMG:content-1537.png:[graphic] IMG:content-1538.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-1539.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-1540.png:[blocks in formation] (2) That which serves to inclose and protect a piece of ground, or to keep cattle from straying; a structure on the boundary of a lot, field, or estate, to keep off intruders or to act as a screen; as, a wall, a hedge, a paling, a bank, a line of rails or posts, . "In front, near the edge of the mora , were some fences out of which a breast-work was without difficulty constructed."- Macaulay : Hist . Eng ., ch. xvii. (3) The art of using the sword, or fencing; skill in fencing or sword-exercise; the art of self-defense with a sword. "I bruised my shin the other day, with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence." Shakesp.: Merry Wives of Windsor, i. 1. 2. Figuratively : (1) Skill or adroitne in meeting and defeating the attacks of an opponent in argument. (2) A guard, defense, or protection of any kind. "Whatever disregard certain modern refiners of morality may attempt to throw on all the instituted means of public religion, they must in their lowest view be considered as the out-guards and fences of virtuous conduct." -Blair. (3) A purchaser or receiver of stolen goods. ( Slang .) *(4) The act of opening a court, parliament, . "The affirmatioun and fence of the court, that na man tak speech upon hand, without leave ask it and obtenit." Balfour : Practics , p. 273. IMG:content-1541.png:[blocks in formation] 2. Locks .: An arm or projection which enters the gates of the tumblers when they are adjusted in proper position and coincidence, and at other times prevents such movement of the dog, stump, or other obstructing member as would permit the retraction of the bolt. In common tumbler-locks the fence forms the obstructing medium between the bolt and the tumblers, to prevent the retraction of the former when the tumbler-gates are not in coincidence. 3. Wood- work .: An adjustable guard-plate or edge on a gauge, or on a grooving, banding, plow, fillister, or rglet plane, by which the distance of the groove from the guide-edge is regulated. A straight edge on the work-table of a circular, band, or scroll saw, or of a planing, molding, or mortising machine. It acts as a gauge and guide, and is adjustable to any required distance from the tool. Crabb t thus discriminates between fence , guard , and security : "The fence in the proper sense is an inanimate object, the guard is a living agent: the former is of permanent utility, the latter acts to a partial extent: in figurative sense they retain the same distinction. Modesty is a fence to woman's virtue: the love of the subject is the monarch's greatest safeguard The guard only stands at the entrance to prevent the ingre of evil: the security stops up all the avenues, it locks up with firmne . A guard serves to prevent the ingre of everything that may have an evil intention or tendency; the security rather secures the po e ion of what one has, and prevents a lo ." ( Crabb : Eng. Synon.) Ring-fence: A fence which completely encircles an estate.