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4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Key \Key\ (k[=e]), n. [OE. keye, key, kay, AS c[ae]g.] 1. An instrument by means of which the bolt of a lock is shot or drawn; usually, a removable metal instrument fitted to the mechanism of a particular lock and operated by turning in its place 2. An instrument which is turned like a key in fastening or adjusting any mechanism; as a watch key; a bed key, etc 3. That part of an instrument or machine which serves as the means of operating it as a telegraph key; the keys of a pianoforte, or of a typewriter. 4. A position or condition which affords entrance, control, pr possession, etc.; as the key of a line of defense; the key of a country; the key of a political situation. Hence that which serves to unlock, open discover, or solve something unknown or difficult; as the key to a riddle; the key to a problem. Those who are accustomed to reason have got the true key of books. --Locke. Who keeps the keys of all the creeds. --Tennyson. 5. That part of a mechanism which serves to lock up make fast or adjust to position. 6. (Arch.) a A piece of wood used as a wedge. b The last board of a floor when laid down 7. (Masonry) a A keystone. b That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place 8. (Mach.) a A wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their relative position; a cotter; a forelock. See Illusts of {Cotter}, and {Gib}. b A bar, pin or wedge, to secure a crank, pulley, coupling, etc., upon a shaft, and prevent relative turning; sometimes holding by friction alone, but more frequently by its resistance to shearing, being usually embedded partly in the shaft and partly in the crank, pulley, etc 9. (Bot.) An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara; -- called also {key fruit}. 10. (Mus.) a A family of tones whose regular members are called diatonic tones, and named key tone (or tonic) or one (or eight), mediant or three dominant or five subdominant or four submediant or six supertonic or two and subtonic or seven Chromatic tones are temporary members of a key, under such names as `` sharp four,'' ``flat seven,'' etc Scales and tunes of every variety are made from the tones of a key. b The fundamental tone of a movement to which its modulations are referred, and with which it generally begins and ends keynote. Both warbling of one song, both in one key. --Shak. 11. Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance. You fall at once into a lower key. --Cowper. {Key bed}. Same as {Key seat}. {Key bolt}, a bolt which has a mortise near the end and is secured by a cotter or wedge instead of a nut. {Key bugle}. See {Kent bugle}. {Key of a position} or {country.} (Mil.) See {Key}, 4. {Key seat} (Mach.), a bed or groove to receive a key which prevents one part from turning on the other {Key way}, a channel for a key, in the hole of a piece which is keyed to a shaft; an internal key seat; -- called also {key seat}. {Key wrench} (Mach.), an adjustable wrench in which the movable jaw is made fast by a key. {Power of the keys} (Eccl.), the authority claimed by the ministry in some Christian churches to administer the discipline of the church, and to grant or withhold its privileges; -- so called from the declaration of Christ, ``I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.'' --Matt. xvi. 19. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Country \Coun"try\, a. 1. Pertaining to the regions remote from a city; rural; rustic; as a country life; a country town; the country party, as opposed to city. 2. Destitute of refinement; rude; unpolished; rustic; not urbane; as country manners. 3. Pertaining, or peculiar, to one's own country. She bowing herself towards him laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spake in her country language. --2 Macc. vii. 27. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Country \Coun"try\ (k?n"tr?), n.; pl {Countries} (-tr?z). [F. contr['e]e, LL contrata, fr L. contra over against, on the opposite side Cf {Counter}, adv., {Contra}.] 1. A tract of land; a region; the territory of an independent nation; (as distinguished from any other region, and with a personal pronoun) the region of one's birth, permanent residence, or citizenship. Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred. --Gen. xxxxii 9. I might have learned this by my last exile, that change of countries cannot change my state. --Stirling. Many a famous realm And country, whereof here needs no account --Milton. 2. Rural regions, as opposed to a city or town. As they walked, on their way into the country. --Mark xvi. 12 (Rev. Ver. ). God made the covatry and man made the town. --Cowper. Only very great men were in the habit of dividing the year between town and country. --Macaulay. 3. The inhabitants or people of a state or a region; the populace; the public. Hence: a One's constituents. b The whole body of the electors of state; as to dissolve Parliament and appeal to the country. All the country in a general voice Cried hate upon him --Shak. 4. (Law) a A jury, as representing the citizens of a country. b The inhabitants of the district from which a jury is drawn. 5. (Mining.) The rock through which a vein runs. {Conclusion to the country}. See under {Conclusion}. {To put or throw, one's self upon the country}, to appeal to one's constituents; to stand trial before a jury. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: country adj 1: rough and uncouth; "a country boy" [syn: {country(a)}, {country-bred}] 2: typical of the country; "country-style sausage"; "country music" [syn: {country-style}, {country(a)}] 3: (of music) characteristic of rural life [syn: {country(a)}, {folk(a)}, {hillbilly}, {western(a)}] n 1: the territory occupied by a nation; "he returned to the land of his birth"; "he visited several European countries" [syn: {state}, {land}, {nation}] 2: a politically organized body of people under a single government; "the state has elected a new president" [syn: {state}, {nation}, {land}, {commonwealth}, {res publica}, {body politic}] 3: the people of a nation or country or a community of persons bound by a common heritage; "a nation of Catholics"; "the whole country worshipped him" [syn: {nation}, {nationality}, {land}, {a people}] 4: a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography); "it was a mountainous area"; "Bible country" [syn: {area}] 5: an area outside of cities and towns; "his poetry celebrated the slower pace of life in the country" [syn: {rural area}] [ant: {urban area}]
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