chancel of a church
That part of a church which contains the altar, and the seats set apart for the choir. It is generally raised a step or more above the floor of the nave.
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The minister of finance in the Cabinet; the highest financial official of State in the kingdom.
chancery
A pugilistic phrase for difficulties; "to get a man’s head into CHANCERY," i.e., to get an opponent’s head firmly under one’s arm, where it can be pommelled with immense power, and without any possibility of immediate extrication. From the helplessness of a suitor in Chancery. This opportunity was of very rare occurrence when the combatants were at all evenly matched.
chances are
it is likely or probable that
chancre mechanic
A medic.
change
Small money. The overplus returned after paying for a thing in a round sum. Hence a slang expression used when a person receives a "settler" in the shape of either a repartee or a blow—"Take your CHANGE out of that!"
change collars
To change jobs or careers
change hands
be sold or transferred to a new owner
change horses in midstream
To switch to a new approach or leader during a difficult situation
change of clothes
A different set of clothes
change of heart
A reversal of one's feelings or decision
change of life
A significant period of transition or transformation in life
change of pace
A new or different experience that breaks up routine
change of scenery
A new environment or situation to refresh one's mind
change of tack
To suddenly change one's approach or direction
change one's battery
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
change one's mind
Decide something different from what was previously thought
change one's story
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
change one's tune
To alter one's attitude or opinion
change over
to switch or exchange something for another
change the channel
To switch to a different topic or activity
change the game
Completely alter a situation or activity
change up
To throw a pitch at a much slower than expected speed.
Channel Islands
It is the title of a poem by Swinburne in his Songs of the Springtides.
chant two centuries later
His feast day is December 7th. His emblems are: (1) a beehive, in allusion to the legend that a swarm of bees settled on his mouth when lying in his cradle; (2) a scourge, by which he expelled the Arians from Italy.
Chantrey Bequest
When Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (1781-1841), the sculptor, died he left a sum yielding about £3,000 a year to the Royal Academy, of which the President was to receive £300, the secretary £50, and the re- mainder was to be devoted to the purchase for the nation of works of art executed in Great Britain.
Chaonian Bird
This is the poetic name for a dove, and takes its origin from the legend that the dove bore the oracles of Chaonia.
chaonian food
Acorns. So called from the oak trees of Chaonia or Dodona. Some think beech-mast is meant, and tell us that the bells of the oracle were hung on beech-trees, not on oaks.
chaotic neutral
Moral ambiguity with no preference for good or evil
chap
A fellow; An odd chap; A strange fellow.
chap
A fellow, a boy; "a low CHAP," a low fellow—abbreviation of CHAPMAN, a huckster. Used by Byron in his Critical Remarks.
Chapeau de Faille
This is the name given to Rubens's portrait of Susanna Fourment, the sister of his second wife. It is in the National Gallery, London, and was one of the chief paintings round which the pro- and anti-cleaning controversy raged in London in 1947.
chapeau hras
A soft three- cornered flat silk hat which could be folded and carried under the arm (Fr. chapeau, hat, bras, arm). It was used in France with the court dress of the 18th century.
chapel
A printers’ assembly, held for the purpose of discussing differences between employer and workmen, trade regulations, or other matters. The term is scarcely slang, but some "comps" ask its insertion in this work.
chapel of ease
A place of worship for the use of parishioners residing at a distance from the parish church.
chapel-of-ease
French, CABINET D’AISANCE, a house of office.
chaperon
The cicisbeo, or gentleman usher to a lady; from the French.
character assassination
Damaging someone's reputation by spreading false or misleading information
characterisms
Or the Modern Age Displayed; being an Attempt to Expose the Pretended Virtues of Both Sexes, 12mo (part i., Ladies; part ii., Gentlemen), E. Owen. 1750.
Charbonnene Democratize
It was organized at Marseilles by Mazzmi about 1834, and its chief object was to diffuse republican principles.
Chare Thursday
Another form of Shear or Shere Thursday, the same as Maundy Thursday
charge down
To rush or move quickly and forcefully towards something
charge up
to energize or motivate someone
ChargS d'Affaires
The proxy of an ambassador, or the diplomatic agent where none higher has been appointed.
Charing Cross
The original "Charing Cross" was erected in the centre of the ancient village of Charing, which stood midway between the cities of London and Westminster, by Edward I to commemorate his Queen, Eleanor, be- cause it was there that her coffin was halted for
chariot of the gods
So the Greeks called Sierra Leone, in Africa, a ridge of mountains of great height. A sierra means a saw, and is applied to a ridge of peaked mountains. Her palmy forests, mingling with the skies, Leona's rugged steep behind us flies. j ^ CAMOE"NS: Lusiad, Bk. v.
chariot-buzzing
Picking pockets in an omnibus.
charity begins at home
One should prioritize their family's needs before helping others.
charity begins at home. (14th century)
One should prioritize their family's needs before helping others.
charity mugger
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Charlemagne and Pope Gregory I
It is, how- ever, probably the work of Rabanus Maurus, in the early 9th century. It is sung at Vespers and Terce during Pentecost and on numerous occasions such as the consecration of a bishop, dedication of a church, etc.
Charles A
Meals that their insignia be the "Ace of Diamonds, less the Ace." Originally there was a white "5" in the centre. This was removed when they reached France.
Charles and the Oak
When Charles II fled from the Parliamentary army after the battle of Worcester, he took refuge in Boscobel House; but it being unsafe to remain there, he concealed himself in an oak (September 3rd, 1651). Dr. Stukeley says that this tree "stood just by a horse-track passing through the wood, and the king, with Colonel Carlos, climbed into it by means of the hen-roost ladder. The family reached them victuals with a nut-hook.
Charles I
In the Latin charter it is called Terra Marios. Marylebone (London) is not a corruption of Marie la bonne, but "Mary on the bourne," i.e. the Tyburn (#.v.), as Holborn is "Old Bourne.
Charles I of England
When Bernini's bust of Charles I was brought home, the King was sitting in the garden of Chelsea Palace. He ordered the bust to be uncovered, and at the moment a hawk with a bird in its beak flew by, and a drop of blood fell on the throat of the bust. The bust was ultimately destroyed when the palace was burnt down.
Charles the Bad was invited
While the guests were at table King John the Good entered the room with a numerous escort, exclaiming, "Traitor, thou art not worthy to sit at table with my son!" Then, turning to his guards, he added, "Take him hence! By holy Paul, I will neither eat nor drink till his head be brought me!" Then, seizing an iron mace from one of the men at arms, he struck another of the guests between the shoulders, exclaiming, "Out, proud traitor!
CHARLES VIII
"I hope never again to commit a mortal ski, nor even a venial one, if I can help it "
Charles X
The family is so named from the seigniory of Bourbon, in the Bour- bonnais, in Central France, and is a branch of the Capet stock, through the marriage of Beatrix, heiress of the Bourbons, to Robert, Count of Clermont, sixth son of Louis IX, in 1272. Henry IV was tenth in descent from Louis IX and the twentieth king to succeed him.
Charles's Wain
An old popular name for the Great Bear (see BEAR). The constellation forms the rough outline of a wheelbarrow or rustic wagon, and the "Charles" stands for "Charlemagne," possibly owing to the simi- larity of the names Arcturus (see ARCTIC) and Arturus (Lat. for Arthur), and the confusion in the popular mind between the legendary cycles of romance connected with King Arthur and Charlemagne respectively.
charley
A watchman, a beadle. Almost obsolete now.
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