Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
capital
cap′i-tal
(kăp′ĭ-tal)
, Noun.
1.
(Arch.)
The head or uppermost member of a column, pilaster, etc. It consists generally of three parts,
abacus
, bell
(or vase
), and necking
. See these terms, and Column
. 2.
[Cf. F.
capilate
, fem., sc. ville
.] (Geog.)
The seat of government; the chief city or town in a country; a metropolis.
“A busy and splendid capital” Macauly.
3.
[Cf. F.
capital
.] Money, property, or stock employed in trade, manufactures, etc.; the sum invested or lent, as distinguished from the income or interest. See
Capital stock
, under Capital
, Adj.
4.
(Polit. Econ.)
That portion of the produce of industry, which may be directly employed either to support human beings or to assist in production.
M’Culloch.
☞ When wealth is used to assist production it is called
capital
. The capital of a civilized community includes fixed capital
(i.e. buildings, machines, and roads used in the course of production and exchange) and circulating capital
(i.e., food, fuel, money, etc., spent in the course of production and exchange). T. Raleigh.
5.
Anything which can be used to increase one's power or influence.
He tried to make
capital
out of his rival's discomfiture. London Times.
6.
(Fort.)
An imaginary line dividing a bastion, ravelin, or other work, into two equal parts.
7.
A chapter, or section, of a book.
[Obs.]
Holy St. Bernard hath said in the 59th
capital
. Sir W. Scott.
8.
(Print.)
Active capital
. See under
– Active
, Small capital
(Print.)
, a small capital letter; informally referred to (in the plural) as
– small caps
; as, the technical terms are listed in small caps
. See under Capital
, Adj.
To live on one's capital
, to consume one's capital without producing or accumulating anything to replace it.
Webster 1828 Edition
Capital
CAPITAL
,Adj.
1.
Literally, pertaining to the head; as a capital bruise, in Milton, a bruise on the head.2.
Figuratively, as the head is the highest part of a man, chief; principal; first in importance; as a capital city or town; the capital articles of religion.3.
Punishable by loss of the head or of life; incurring the forfeiture of life; punishable with death; as, treason and murder are capital offenses or crimes.4.
Taking away life, as a capital punishment; or affecting life, as a capital trial.5.
Great, important, though perhaps not chief; as, a town possesses capital advantages for trade.6.
Large; of great size; as capital letters, which are of different form, and larger than common letters.Capital stock, is the sum of money or stock which a merchant, banker or manufacturer employs in his business; either the original stock, or that stock augmented. Also, the sum of money or stock which each partner contributes to the joint fund or stock of the partnership; also, the common fund or stock of the company, whether incorporated or not.
A capital city or town is the metropolis or chief city of an empire, kingdom, state or province. The application of the epithet indicates the city to be the largest, or to be the seat of government, or both. In many instances, the capital, that is, the largest city, is not the seat of government.
CAPITAL
,Noun.
By the customary omission of the noun, to which the adjective, capital, refers, it stand for,
1.
The chief city or town in a kingdom or state; a metropolis.2.
A large letter or type, in printing.3.
A stock in trade, in manufactures, or in any business requiring the expenditure of money with a view to profit.