Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Check
Check
(chĕk)
, Noun.
1.
(Chess)
A word of warning denoting that the king is in danger; such a menace of a player’s king by an adversary's move as would, if it were any other piece, expose it to immediate capture. A king so menaced is said to be in check, and must be made safe at the next move.
2.
A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop; delay;
as, to hold an enemy in
. check
Which gave a remarkable
check
to the first progress of Christianity. Addison.
No
check
, no stay, this streamlet fears. Wordsworth.
3.
Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle, guard, restraint, or rebuff.
Useful
check
upon the administration of government. Washington.
A man whom no
check
could abash. Macaulay.
4.
A mark, certificate, or token, by which, errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified;
as,
. checks
placed against items in an account; a check
given for baggage; a return check
on a railroad5.
A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as therein stated. See
Bank check
, below. 6.
A woven or painted design in squares resembling the patten of a checkerboard; one of the squares of such a design; also, cloth having such a figure.
7.
(Falconry)
The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
8.
Small chick or crack.
Syn. – Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction; reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff; tally; counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft.
Check
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Checked
(chĕkt)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
checking
.] 1.
(Chess)
To make a move which puts an adversary's piece, esp. his king, in check; to put in check.
So many clogs to
check
and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression. Burke.
4.
To chide, rebuke, or reprove.
The good king, his master, will
check
him for it. Shakespeare
5.
(Naut.)
To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended.
6.
To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack;
as, the sun
. checks
timber
Syn. – To restrain; curb; bridle; repress; control; hinder; impede; obstruct; interrupt; tally; rebuke; reprove; rebuff.
Check
(chĕk)
, Verb.
I.
To make a stop; to pause; – with at.
The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, either is disabled for the future, or else
checks
at any vigorous undertaking ever after. Locke.
2.
To clash or interfere.
[R.]
Bacon.
3.
To act as a curb or restraint.
It [his presence]
checks
too strong upon me. Dryden.
4.
To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint, etc.
5.
(Falconry)
To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds.
And like the haggard,
That comes before his eye.
check
at every featherThat comes before his eye.
Shakespeare
Check
,Adj.
Checkered; designed in checks.
Webster 1828 Edition
Check
CHECK
, v.t.1.
To stop; to restrain; to hinder; to curb. It signifies to put an entire stop to motion, or to restrain its violence, and cause an abatement; to moderate.2.
To rebuke; to chide or reprove.3.
To compare any paper with its counterpart or with a cipher, with a view to ascertain its authenticity; to compare corresponding papers; to control by a counter-register.4.
In seamenship, to ease of a little of a rope, which is too stiffly extended; also, to stopper the cable.CHECK
, v.i.1.
To stop; to make a stop; with at.The mid checks at any vigorous undertaking.
2.
To clash or interfere.I love to check with business.
3.
To strike with repression.CHECK
,Noun.
1.
A stop; hindrance; rebuff; sudden restraint, or continued restraint; curb; control; government.2.
That which stops or restrains, as reproof, reprimand, rebuke, slight or disgust, fear, apprehension, a person; any stop or obstruction.3.
In falconry, when a hawk forsakes her proper game, to follow rooks, pies, or other fowls, that cross her in her flight.4.
The correspondent cipher of a bank note; a corresponding indenture; any counter-register.5.
A term in chess, when one party obliges the other either to move or guard his king.6.
An order for money, drawn on a banker or on the cashier of a bank, payable to the bearer.This is a sense derived from that in definition 4.
7.
In popular use, checkered cloth; check, for checkered.Check or check-roll, a roll or book containing the names of persons who are attendants and in the pay of a king or great personage, as domestic servants.
Clerk of the check, in the British Kings household, has the check and control of the yeomen of the guard, and all the ushers belonging to the royal family, the care of the watch, &c.
Clerk of the check, in the British Royal Dock-Yards, is an officer who keeps a register of all the men employed on board his majestys ships and vessels, and of all the artificers in the service of the navy, at the port where he is settled.