from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Crown \Crown\ (kroun), n. [OE. corone, coroun, crune, croun, OF.
corone, corune, F. couronne, fr. L. corona crown, wreath;
akin to Gr. korw`nh anything curved, crown; cf. also L.
curvus curved, E. curve, curb, Gael. cruinn round, W. crwn.
Cf. {Cornice}, {Corona}, {Coroner}, {Coronet}.]
1. A wreath or garland, or any ornamental fillet encircling
the head, especially as a reward of victory or mark of
honorable distinction; hence, anything given on account
of, or obtained by, faithful or successful effort; a
reward. "An olive branch and laurel crown." --Shak.
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They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an
incorruptible. --1 Cor. ix.
25.
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Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a
crown of life. --Rev. ii. 10.
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2. A royal headdress or cap of sovereignty, worn by emperors,
kings, princes, etc.
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Note: Nobles wear coronets; the triple crown of the pope is
usually called a tiara. The crown of England is a
circle of gold with crosses, fleurs-de-lis, and
imperial arches, inclosing a crimson velvet cap, and
ornamented with thousands of diamonds and precious
stones.
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3. The person entitled to wear a regal or imperial crown; the
sovereign; -- with the definite article.
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Parliament may be dissolved by the demise of the
crown. --Blackstone.
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Large arrears of pay were due to the civil and
military servants of the crown. --Macaulay.
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4. Imperial or regal power or dominion; sovereignty.
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There is a power behind the crown greater than the
crown itself. --Junius.
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5. Anything which imparts beauty, splendor, honor, dignity,
or finish.
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The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found
in the way of righteousness. --Prov. xvi.
31.
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A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. --Prov.
xvi. 4.
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6. Highest state; acme; consummation; perfection.
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Mutual love, the crown of all our bliss. --Milton.
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7. The topmost part of anything; the summit.
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The steepy crown of the bare mountains. --Dryden.
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8. The topmost part of the head (see Illust. of {Bird}.);
that part of the head from which the hair descends toward
the sides and back; also, the head or brain.
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From toe to crown he'll fill our skin with pinches.
--Shak.
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Twenty things which I set down:
This done, I twenty more-had in my crown. --Bunyan.
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9. The part of a hat above the brim.
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10. (Anat.) The part of a tooth which projects above the gum;
also, the top or grinding surface of a tooth.
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11. (Arch.) The vertex or top of an arch; -- applied
generally to about one third of the curve, but in a
pointed arch to the apex only.
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12. (Bot.) Same as {Corona}.
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13. (Naut.)
(a) That part of an anchor where the arms are joined to
the shank.
(b) The rounding, or rounded part, of the deck from a
level line.
(c) pl. The bights formed by the several turns of a
cable. --Totten.
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14. The upper range of facets in a rose diamond.
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15. The dome of a furnace.
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16. (Geom.) The area inclosed between two concentric
perimeters.
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17. (Eccl.) A round spot shaved clean on the top of the head,
as a mark of the clerical state; the tonsure.
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18. A size of writing paper. See under {Paper}.
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19. A coin stamped with the image of a crown; hence,a
denomination of money; as, the English crown, a silver
coin of the value of five shillings sterling, or a little
more than $1.20; the Danish or Norwegian crown, a money
of account, etc., worth nearly twenty-seven cents.
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20. An ornaments or decoration representing a crown; as, the
paper is stamped with a crown.
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{Crown of aberration} (Astron.), a spurious circle around the
true circle of the sun.
{Crown antler} (Zool.), the topmost branch or tine of an
antler; also, an antler having a cuplike top, with tines
springing from the rim.
{Crown bar}, one of the bars which support the crown sheet of
steam-boiler furnace.
{Crown glass}. See under {Glass}.
{Crown imperial}. (Bot.) See in the Vocabulary.
{Crown jewels}, the jewels appertaining to the sovereign
while wearing the crown. [Eng.] "She pawned and set to
sale the crown jewels." --Milton.
{Crown land}, land belonging to the crown, that is, to the
sovereign.
{Crown law}, the law which governs criminal prosecutions.
[Eng.]
{Crown lawyer}, one employed by the crown, as in criminal
cases. [Eng.]
{Crown octavo}. See under {Paper}.
{Crown office}. See in the Vocabulary.
{Crown paper}. See under {Paper}.
{Crown piece}. See in the Vocabulary.
{Crown Prince}, the heir apparent to a crown or throne.
{Crown saw}. See in the Vocabulary.
{Crown scab} (Far.), a cancerous sore formed round the
corners of a horse's hoof.
{Crown sheet}, the flat plate which forms the top of the
furnace or fire box of an internally fired steam boiler.
{Crown shell}. (Zool.) See {Acorn-shell}.
{Crown side}. See {Crown office}.
{Crown tax} (Eccl. Hist.), a golden crown, or its value,
which was required annually from the Jews by the king of
Syria, in the time of the Maccabees. --1 Macc. x. 20.
{Crown wheel}. See in the Vocabulary.
{Crown work}. See in the Vocabulary.
{Pleas of the crown} (Engl. law), criminal actions.
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