1792' a dictionary. i8l 



considered, the reverse of to melt ; but the word to 

 freeze has reference to water only. When other 

 objects than mere water are adverted to, it denotes 

 the change produced upon them, by that kind of 

 stiffening Avhich is usually experienced when the 

 watery particles connected Avith them are congealed. 

 No other bodies but those which are susceptible of 

 this kind of stiffening can be said to be frozen. See 

 thaw. 



Frosted, adj. Never respects water, but is only, 

 applicable to vegetable or other substances, living ani- 

 mals excepted, whose texture is destroyed by that 

 degree of cold which is capable of freezing water, — 

 as a frosted potatoe, a frosted turnip, "i^c. 



Frost-bitten, adj. Chiefly applies to live animals. 

 When animal life, itself, is suspended in consequence 

 of cold, or when the texture of some of the mem- 

 bers are destroyed, so as to drop ofi or become inser- 

 viceable, in consequence of being subjected to a very 

 severe degree of cold, they are said to ht frnst-bitten. 



By a small e:.tension of the meaning common iii 

 all languages, this word is also employed when it is 

 meant to denote that the small twigs of trees are 

 killed by cold. 



We have no v/ord that can be employed as a per- 

 fect contrast to frosted ^nA frost-hitten ; because the 

 objects cannot, when once destroyed, be again resto- 

 red to their former state. 



To THAW, v. Denotes the change that takes place 

 when the effects of frost upon bodies disappear, after 

 the air becomes so mild as to liquefy ice. 



