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In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed... No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people. Preface to 1828 Dictionary
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PLUME, n. [L. pluma.]
PLUME
A feather; esp., a soft, downy feather, or
a long, conspicuous, or handsome feather.
Wings . . . of many a colored plume. Milton. An ornamental tuft of
feathers.
A feather, or group of feathers, worn as an
ornament; a waving ornament of hair, or other material resembling
feathers.
His high plume, that nodded o'er his head. Dryden. A token of honor or prowess; that on which
one prides himself; a prize or reward.
"Ambitious to win from me
some plume." Milton. A large and flexible panicle
of inflorescence resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain
large ornamental grasses.
Plume bird (Zoöl.), any bird that
yields ornamental plumes, especially the species of Epimarchus from
New Guinea, and some of the herons and egrets, as the white heron of
Florida (Ardea candidissima). -- Plume
grass. (Bot) To
pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of] to dress or
prink.
Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers. W. Irving. To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip;
to pillage; also, to peel.
[Obs.] Bacon. Dryden. To adorn with feathers or plumes.
"Farewell the plumed troop." Shak. To pride; to vaunt; to boast; -- used
reflexively; as, he plumes himself on his skill.
South.
Plumed adder (Zoöl.), an African viper (Vipera, or Clotho cornuta), having a plumelike structure over each eye. It is venomous, and is related to the African puff adder. Called also horned viper and hornsman. -- Plumed partridge (Zoöl.), the California mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus). See Mountain quail, under Mountain. | ||||||||