Grain

grān, n. a single small hard seed: ( coll. ) the seeds of certain plants which form the chief food of man: corn, in general: a minute particle: a very small quantity: the smallest British weight, supposed to be the average weight of a seed or well-ripened ear of corn: the arrangement of the particles or fibres of anything, as stone or wood: texture, as of leather: the crimson dye made from cochineal insects, which, in the prepared state, resemble grains of seed—hence to dye in grain is to dye deeply, also to dye in the wool: innate quality or character of anything.— v.t. to form into grains, cause to granulate: to paint in imitation of wood, marble, .: in tanning, to take the hair off.— n. Grain′age , duties on grain.— adj. Grained , rough: furrowed.— ns. Grain′er , one who paints in imitation of the grain of wood; Grain′ing , painting so as to imitate the grain of wood: a proce in tanning in which the grain of the leather is raised.— adj. Grain′y , having grains or kernels.— Grains of Paradise , an aromatic and pungent seed imported from Guinea.— Against the grain , against the fibre of the wood—hence against the natural temper or inclination; With a grain of salt , with reservation, as of a story that cannot be admitted (L. cum grano sal is ). [Fr.,—L. granum , seed, akin to corn .]