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curtain

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curtain


  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Curtain  \Cur"tain\  (k?r"t?n;  48),  n.  [OE.  cortin,  curtin,fr.  OF 
  cortine,  curtine,  F.  courtine,  LL  cortina,  curtian  (in 
  senses  1  and  2),  also  small  court,  small  inclosure 
  surrounded  by  walls,  from  cortis  court.  See  {Court}.] 
  1.  A  hanging  screen  intended  to  darken  or  conceal,  and 
  admitting  of  being  drawn  back  or  up  and  reclosed  at 
  pleasure;  esp.,  drapery  of  cloth  or  lace  hanging  round  a 
  bed  or  at  a  window;  in  theaters,  and  like  places,  a 
  movable  screen  for  concealing  the  stage. 
 
  2.  (Fort.)  That  part  of  the  rampart  and  parapet  which  is 
  between  two  bastions  or  two  gates.  See  Illustrations  of 
  {Ravelin}  and  {Bastion}. 
 
  3.  (Arch.)  That  part  of  a  wall  of  a  building  which  is  between 
  two  pavilions,  towers,  etc 
 
  4.  A  flag;  an  ensign;  --  in  contempt.  [Obs.]  --Shak. 
 
  {Behind  the  curtain},  in  concealment;  in  secret. 
 
  {Curtain  lecture},  a  querulous  lecture  given  by  a  wife  to  her 
  husband  within  the  bed  curtains,  or  in  bed.  --Jerrold. 
 
  A  curtain  lecture  is  worth  all  the  sermons  in  the 
  world  for  teaching  the  virtues  of  patience  and 
  long-suffering.  --W.  Irving. 
 
  {The  curtain  falls},  the  performance  closes. 
 
  {The  curtain  rises},  the  performance  begins. 
 
  {To  draw  the  curtain},  to  close  it  over  an  object,  or  to 
  remove  it  hence: 
  a  To  hide  or  to  disclose  an  object. 
  b  To  commence  or  close  a  performance. 
 
  {To  drop  the  curtain},  to  end  the  tale,  or  close  the 
  performance. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Curtain  \Cur"tain\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Curtained}  (-t?nd;  48); 
  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Curtaining}.] 
  To  inclose  as  with  curtains;  to  furnish  with  curtains. 
 
  So  when  the  sun  in  bed  Curtained  with  cloudy  red. 
  --Milton. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  curtain 
  n  1:  hanging  cloth  used  as  a  blind  [syn:  {drape},  {drapery},  {mantle}, 
  {pall}] 
  2:  any  barrier  to  communication  or  vision;  "a  curtain  of 
  secrecy";  "a  curtain  of  trees" 
  v  :  provide  with  curtains,  as  of  a  room  or  a  window 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Curtain 
  (1.)  Ten  curtains,  each  twenty-eight  cubits  long  and  four  wide, 
  made  of  fine  linen,  also  eleven  made  of  goat's  hair,  covered  the 
  tabernacle  (Ex.  26:1-13;  36:8-17). 
 
  (2.)  The  sacred  curtain,  separating  the  holy  of  holies  from 
  the  sanctuary,  is  designated  by  a  different  Hebrew  word 
  (peroketh).  It  is  described  as  a  "veil  of  blue,  and  purple,  and 
  scarlet,  and  fine  twined  linen  of  cunning  work"  (Ex.  26:31;  Lev. 
  16:2;  Num.  18:7). 
 
  (3.)  "Stretcheth  out  the  heavens  as  a  curtain"  (Isa.  40:22), 
  is  an  expression  used  with  reference  to  the  veil  or  awning  which 
  Orientals  spread  for  a  screen  over  their  courts  in  summer. 
  According  to  the  prophet,  the  heavens  are  spread  over  our  heads 
  as  such  an  awning.  Similar  expressions  are  found  in  Ps  104:2l; 
  comp.  Isa.  44:24;  Job  9:8. 
 




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