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It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. |
CUCUMBER, n. [L.] The name of a plant and its fruit, of the genus Cucumis. The flower is yellow and bell-shaped; and the stalks are long, slender and trailing on the ground, or climbing by their claspers.
A
creeping plant, and its fruit, of several species of the genus
Cucumis, esp. Cucumis sativus, the unripe fruit of
which is eaten either fresh or picked. Also, similar plants or
fruits of several other genera. See below.
Bitter cucumber (Bot.), the
Citrullus or Cucumis Colocynthis. See
Colocynth. -- Cucumber beetle.
(Zoöl.) | ||||||||