curvedness (kervednes)

The state of being curved. [Rare.] form. Also called line of beauty. - Curve of curvature, curvet (ker'vet or kér-vet'), n. [Formerly a curve drawn upon a surface in such a manner that at every point normals to the surface at consecutive points of the curve intersect one another. - Curve of double curvature, a curve not contained in one plane. - Curve of elastic resistance, in gun., a curve whose ordinates give the elastic resistance of a built-up gun at the different points along the bore. - Curve of equal or equable approach. See approach. - Curve of probability, a curve whose equation is IMG:content-1859.png:[ocr errors][merged small] the point of light depends upon the difference of pitch between the two forks, and also upon the difference of phase. - Loxodromic curve. See loxodromic. - Magnetic curves. See magnetic. - Mechanical curve, a curve of such a nature that the relation between the ab sci a and the ordinate cannot be expre ed by an algebraic equation. Such curves are now generally called transcen dental curves: opposed to algebraic curve. Order of an algebraic curve, the number of points, real or imaginary, in which it cuts every plane (or every line in that plane). Organic description of curves, in geom,, the description of curves on a plane by means of instruments. - Periodic curve, a curve which represents a periodic function.Plane curve, a curve lying in a plane. - Quartic curve, a curve of the fourth order. - Radical curve, a spiral having several branches through the origin. -- Range curve, a curve employed to determine the approximate ranges for different angles of elevation of a projectile fired from a given piece with a given charge of powder. It is constructed by tracing a line through the points of intersection of the ordinates and absci as representing respec tively the angles of elevation given and the corresponding ranges obtained from practice. It gives a rapid method for interpolating intermediate ranges. The tabulation of these elevations with their corresponding ranges taken from the curve constitutes a range table. Rank of a curve. See rank. Sextic curve, a curve of the sixth order. Skew, twisted, or tortuous curve, a curve not lying in a plane. Transcendental curve, a curve whose equation contains transcendental functions of one or more of the coördinates. Twisted cubic curve. Same as twisted cubic (which see, under cubic, n.). curve (kèrv), v.; pret. and pp. curved, ppr. curving. [In earlier use curb (now with deflected senses: see curb, v.), And li ome Vivien.. .. curved an arm about his neck. Tennyson, Merlin and Vivien. Brunelleschi curred the dome which Michel Angelo hung in air on St. Peter's. Lowell, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 2. II. in trans. To have or a ume a curved or flexed form: as, to curve inward. Out again I curve and flow. corvet, IMG:content-1860.png:[blocks in formation] 2. Figuratively, a prank; a frolic. Johnson. curvet (kėr'vet or kér-vet'), v.; pret. and pp. curveted or curvetted, ppr. curveting or curvetting. [Formerly corvet; = It. corvet tare = F. cour better; from the noun.] I. in trans. 1. Το leap in a curvet; prance. Anon he rears upright, curvets and leaps. Shak., Venus and Adonis, 1. 279. He ruled his eager courser's gait; Forced him, with chastened fire, to prance, And, high curvetting , slow advance. Scott, L. of L. M., iv. 18. The huge steed. plunged and curveted , with redoubled fury, down the long avenue. Poe , Tales, I. 480. 2. To leap and frisk. Cry, holla! to the tongue, I prithee; it curvets unseasonably. Shak., As you Like it, iii. 2. A gang of merry roistering devils, frisking and curvet ing on a flat rock. Irving , Knickerbocker, p. 348. II. trans. To cause to make a curvet; cause to make an upward spring. The upright leaden spout curvetting its liquid filament into it. Landor .