crescent (kres'ent), the increasing moon; anything shaped like a new moon; emblem of the Turkish Empire. crest (krest), upper curve of a horse's neck. crevice (krev'is), a narrow crack. crier (kri'er), one who gives notice by proclamation. criterion (kri-te'ri-un), standard of judging. critic (krit'Ik), one skilled in judging. critical (krit'i-kal), decisive; important. Croisickese (kroiz'i-kez), an inhabitant of Croisic, a small fishing-village near the mouth of the Loire. Here Browning wrote Herve Riel. Cromwell, Oliver (1599-1658), commander-in-chief of the parliamentary forces in the struggle with Charles I of England. cronies (kro'niz), intimate companions. cross (kros), emblem of the Roman Catholic church. croupe (kroop), the place on the horse behind the saddle. crucifix (kroo'si'fiks), a representation of the figure of Christ upon the cross. cruise (krooz), a voyage in various directions. crypt (kript), a vault; cell for burial purposes. crystaline (kris'tal-in), pure; transparent; consisting of crystal. culprit (kul'prit), a criminal. cumberless (kum'ber-les), without care. cumbrous (kum'brus), burdensome. cunning (kun'ing), skill. "cunning-warded keys," knowledge which comes only from close observation and which is hidden from the less observant. curb (kurb), to keep in check. curfew (kur'fu), an evening bell, originally to cover fires and retire to rest. curlew (kur'lu), a wading bird, having a long, curved bill. custom (kus'tum), duty or toll imposed by law on commodities imported or exported. cylindrical (si-lin'dri-kal), having the form of a cylinder. Dalhem (dal'em), town in Belgium. dalliance (dal'i-ans), delay; interchange of caresses. Damfreville (dam'fre-vil), commander of the fleet. Dante's Divine Comedy (dan'te), celebrated Italian poem in three parts, "Hell," "Purgatory," "Paradise." dapper (dap'er), little and active; trim. darkling (dark'ling), gloomy. Dartmouth (dart'muth), college at Hanover, N. H. dastard (das'tard), coward. daunted (dant'ed), dismayed. dauntless (dant'les), fearless. David. "dead of night," middle of the night. dearth (durth), want, lack. debatable (de-bat'a-b'l), open to question or dispute. decease (de-ses'), death. decisive (de-si'siv), positive, final. decorum (de-ko'rum), proper conduct. decree (de-kre'), law; decision given by a court or umpire. decrepit (de-krep'it), worn out with age. deeming (dem'mg), thinking. defaced (de-fast'), disfigured, marred. defer (de-fur'), postpone; yield to the wishes of another. deference (def'er-ens), respect. defiance (de-fi'ans), disposition to resist. defile (de-fil'), pass between hills. deflower (de-flou'er), deprive of flowers; take away the beauty of. defy (de-fi'), dare. degenerate (de-jen'er-at), grow worse or meaner. deities (de'i-tiz), heathen gods. delegate (del'e-gat), send as one's representative. deliberate (de-lib'er-at), not hasty; (de-lib'er-at), weigh in one's mind.