catching 
Tin time to Hive them physic, their diseases 
Are grown su ^ntcliin<i. Sliifk., Hen. \ III., 1. 8. 
Your words are a grenadier's march t" my heart '. I be- 
lieve courage must be i-nii-liin : i ' 
Slifi-iilmi, The Rivals, iii. 4. 
2. Captivating; charming; attracting: as, a 
i-iiii-hing melody; a catching manner. 
That Khetorick is best which is most seasonable ud 
most cittfhiii'.l. >' '.'' ". Table-Talk, p. :>:.. 
3f. Acquisitive; greedy. 
Thei made be brought luellis and alle otllir riehe.^r. 
and vaf it to hvni to se whedir lie wolde be couetouse and 
,;,,;-iiilllilf. Merlin (V.. 1C. T. S.), I. KXi. 
catching-bargain (kach 'ing-bar' gan), n. In 
lair, a bargain made with the heir apparent or 
expectant of a succession for the purchase of 
his expectancy at an inadequate price. 
catch-land (kach'laud), H. Formerly, in Eng- 
land, land the tithes of which for any year fell 
to the minister who first claimed them for that 
year, because it was not known to which of two 
parishes the land belonged. 
catch-line (kach'lin), n. In printing, a short 
line of small-sized type between two longer 
lines of larger displayed type. 
catch-match (kach'mach), . An agreement 
concluded hastily, so that one party is taken at 
a ilisadvantage. 
catch-meadow (kach'med"6), . A meadow 
which is irrigated by water from a spring or 
rivulet on the declivity of a hill. 
catchment (kach'ment), . [< catch 1 + -ment.] 
Drainage : rarely used except in the following 
phrases. Area of catchment, among hydraulic engi- 
neers, the area the rainfall or drainage of which is to he 
made available for furnishing water at a desired point. 
Catchment-basin. Same as drainage-burin. Catch- 
ment-basin map, a map on which the water-shed limit- 
ing the whole of each subdivision of any river-system is ac- 
curately laid down, so that the position and acreage of any 
particular area of catchment may be determined from it. 
cat-chop (kat'chop), . A species of fig-mari- 
gold, Mesemliriantlieinunifeliiium, from the Cape 
of Good Hope. 
catchpenny (kach'pen'i), n. and a. [< catch 1 + 
obj.j)CMM.] I. .; pi. catchpennies (-\z). Some- 
thing of little value, adapted to attract popu- 
lar attention and thus secure a quick sale ; any- 
thing externally attractive, made merely to sell. 
You know already by the title, that it is no more than a 
catch-penny. Goldsmith, Letterto Rev. Henry Goldsmith. 
The whole affair is a manifest catchjienny. 
Hawthorn?, Main Street. 
II. a. Made or got up to gain money; put 
forth merely to sell : as, a catchpenny pamphlet. 
I call this the popular or utilitarian aspect, because it 
belongs to the catchpenny theory of human life according 
to which the value of a thing is just as much as it will 
bring. Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. lOtf. 
catchpole 1 , . See catchpoll. 
catchpole' 2 (kach'pol), n. [< catch 1 (attrib.) + 
pole 1 .] An implement formerly used for seiz- 
ing and securing a man who would otherwise 
be out of reach. It was carried by foot-soldiers in com- 
bats with horsemen, and later by civil officers in appre- 
hending criminals. The head, made of light metal bars 
was provided with strong springs, so arranged as to hold 
tlrmly anything, as the neck or a limb of one pursued, over 
which it was forced. 
catchpole 3 (kach'pol), n. [Sc., also catchpule, 
cachepolc, < D. kaatsspel, tennis (cf. kaatsl>al, 
tennis-ball), < kaats, chase (= E. chase 1 , catch 1 ), 
+ spel, game.] The game of tennis. [Scotch.] 
catchpoll (kach'pol), n. [Also catchpole, early 
mod. E. catchpot, < ME. catchepoll, cachepol, a 
bailiff, earlier a tax-gatherer, < OF. "cartpol, 
chacipol, chacepol, chassipol (ML. reflex cache- 
polus, cacepollus, ehacipolliis, cacipulcus), also 
"chacipolier, chassipoier, a tax-gatherer (cf. 
chassipolerie, defined as a tribute paid by vas- 
sals to their lord for the privilege of asylum in 
his castle in time of war, ML. chacipoleria, the 
office and emoluments of a tax-gatherer); of 
uncertain formation, appar. < coder, caeher (> 
ME. cachen, E. catch 1 ), charter (> ME. chacen, 
E. chase 1 ), in the sense of 'catch, take,' or 
'chase, hunt,' + "pol, of uncertain meaning. 
Usually explained as catch 1 + obj. poll, the 
head; but the earliest sense known is 'tax- 
gatherer,' and poll as associated with 'tax' does 
not seem to occur in ME., and it is not found 
in any sense in OF. or ML. The W. ceisbwl, a 
bailiff, catchpoll, is prob. an accom. of the E. 
word. Cf. ME. cacherel, equiv. to cachepol.] 
If. A tax-gatherer. 
-Mathens, thet wes mcheiwl (in orig. AS. text tollere, 
toller), thene he iwende to god-sjiellere. 
Old. Eny. Uomilie* (ed. Morris), Istser., p. 97. 
2. A sheriffs officer, bailiff, constable, or other 
person whose duty is to make arrests. 
BB0 
Saul Rente rntrlirimUi* \ I., lii-tiirrs] for to take David. 
;/, 1 Ki. \ix. a i. 
<)nikliche cam a caccln'iml and craked a-two here legges. 
Plovmtn (('), \\i. Tii. 
Let not thy scores come robbe thy ncc.lj purse. 
Make not the rrifr/iy'f rich by thine arrest. 
/;<l.vr. /;,.. Steel.- Mas, p. 07. (.Ir'wV.) 
There shall be two Serjeants at Mace, of wh the lirst 
named -crjeant at mace shall execute all writs, mandates, 
processes and such like within the said borough and lib- 
el ties of the same, ami shall IK- called the' OatahpoU, a. 
cording t" the- name anciently given in that place t" the 
same- ..nicer. .l/i'/e'r///. C5fJ. AV/.'.,-f- 1816, p. -Jr.:.!. 
catchup, ketchup (kach'up, kech'up), . [< 
E. Ind. kit/a p.] A name common to several 
kinds of sauce much used with meat, fish, 
toasted cheese, etc. Also written fufxn/i. l.ni- 
xitp.- Mushroom catchup, a sauce made from the 
e ai.n. mushroom, .|.;m-iV./- by breaking 
the fungi into small pieces and mixing with salt, which 
has the effect of reducing the whole mass to an almost 
li.inid state. It is then strained, spiced, and boiled. 
Tomato catchup, a sauce made from tomatoes by a 
similar process. Walnut catchup, a sauce made from 
unripe walnuts before the shell is hardened. They are 
beaten to a pulp, and the juice is separated by straining ; 
salt, vinegar, and spices are a.lded. and the whole is boiled. 
catchwater (kaoh'wa'ter), ii. [< catch 1 + obj. 
irittrr.] Hame as catchwork. 
catchweed (kach'wed), n. [< catch 1 + weed 1 .] 
A weed which readily catches hold of what 
comes in contact with it; cleavers. 
catchweight (kach'wat), . [< catch 1 + weight : 
that is, the weight one has at the moment.] In 
hnrse-racing, a weight left to the option of the 
owner of a horse, who naturally puts up the 
lightest weight possible. 
catchweight (kach'wat), adv. [< catchweight, 
n.] In horse-racing, without being handicap- 
ped: as, to ride catchweight. 
Come, 111 make this a match, if you like : you shall ride 
catchmiyht, which will be about 11 st. 7 Ib. Lawrence. 
catchword (kach'werd), n. [< catch 1 + word.] 
1. In old writing and printing, a word of the 
text standing by itself in the right-hand corner 
of the bottom of a page, the same as the first 
word of the next page, to mark the connection 
or proper sequence. In old manuscript books a 
catchword was at first inserted only at the end of a sheet 
or quire (that is, the quantity folded together); in print- 
ing it was the practice until the nineteenth century to 
insert one at the foot of every page. 
Catch-imrds to connect the quires date back to the 12th 
century. Encyc. Brit., XVIII. 144. 
2. In the drama, the last word of a speaker, 
which serves to remind the one who is to follow 
him of what he is to say; a cue. 3. A word 
caught up and repeated for effect; a taking 
word or phrase used as a partizan cry or shib- 
boleth : as, the catchword of a political party. 
The catch-words which thrilled our forefathers with 
emotion on one side or the other fall with hardly any 
meaning on our ears. J. McCarthy, Hist. Own Times, v. 
Liberty, fraternity, equality, are as much as ever the 
party catch-words. Quarterly Jli-r. 
catchwork (kach'werk), n. [< catch 1 + work.] 
An artificial watercourse or series of water- 
courses for irrigating such lands as lie on the 
declivities of hills; a catch-drain. Also called 
catch water. 
cate (kat), n. [By apheresis from acate, q. v.] 
An article of food; a viand; more particularly, 
rich, luxurious, or dainty food; a delicacy; a 
dainty: a later form of acate: most commonly 
used in the plural. [Archaic or poetic.] 
I had rather live 
With cheese and garlic in a windmill, far, 
Than feed on rates, and have him talk to me. 
Shale., 1 Hen. IV., Hi. 1. 
Christmas pye, which ... is a kind of consecrated cate. 
Taller, No. 255. 
Not the ale, nor any other fates which poor Elspeth's 
stores afforded, could prevail on the Sub-Prior to break 
his fast. Scott, Monastery, I. 118. 
That day a feast had been 
Held in high hall, and many a viand left, 
And many a costly care. 
Tennyson, Gareth and Lynette. 
catechetic (kat-e-ket'ik), a. [= F. cattchetique, 
< Gr. naTiixViKo'c, < KaTr/x^f, an instructor, < 
narrixeiv, instruct, teach by word of mouth : see 
catechize.] Consisting of question and answer : 
applied to a method of teaching by means of 
questions put by the teacher and answered by 
the pupil, whether the questions are addressed 
to the understanding, as by Socrates in his 
dialogical method, or to the memory. 
catechetical (kat-e-ket'i-kal), a. Same as cat- 
echetic. 
Socrates introduced a catechetical method of arguing. 
Addison, Spectator. 
Catechetical schools, schools established in the early 
church for the instruction of catechumens. 
catechize 
catechetically (kat-e-kct 'i-kal-i), tulr. Ill 
a catechetical manner; by question and an- 
catechetics (kat-e-kct 'iksj. . [Pi. of </<- 
i-tiftif : see -irx.] 'Tho art or practice of teach- 
ing by means of question and answer. See 
I'll Ill-Ill III'. 
catechin, catechine (knt'e-chim. . [< onto- 
i-li n + -in-, -ini--.] A principle (C/igHigQg) ex- 
tracted from catechu, having a snow-white silky 
appearance, and crystallizing in fine needles. 
Also called rilln-lmii- nrnl ami rulfcliiiin. 
catechisation, catechise, etc. See <//<*,:.(- 
tiilll, etc. 
catechism (kat'e-ki/.m), . [= F. i-nti'i-liixim 
= Sp. flltfi'ixlllii. I'll/I l/lli.-ilini I'g. cil liTllixnitl = 
It. riltrl-llixiiin. i-lltii-inlllll = I), mil rliixiimx = (i. 
/.nil i-hisiitiix=:l)ttn. kiitckinninx (cf. Hw.kntffln-x I, 
cateehi/.e: see riili-i-ltizf.] 1. A form of instruc- 
tion by means of questions and answers, par- 
ticnlarly in the principles of religion. 2. An 
elementary book containing a summary of prin- 
ciples in any science or art, but especially in 
religion, reduced to the form of questions and 
answers, and sometimes with notes, explana- 
tions, and references to authorities. The follow - 
ing are the principal authoritative church catechisms: The 
l.iiiliii'ini. prepared by I.nthcr (I.VJ'P), still in general use 
in the (ierman Protestant churches; the lli'in-niii. ].r. 
pared by Calvin (1. '.:!). the //.,././/.,/./. published at Hei 
delberg(l..i;.(). and still a ree.igni/cil doctrinal standard in 
the Reformed (Dutch) church; the .!/..//.> (ir.r.i win. 
contained in the Book of ('..MIIIH.II l'ia\er and directed b> 
rubric to be taught systematically to children ; the Wnl- 
tititnti'r Assembly's, in two forms, Shorter anil Ijirger Cate 
chisms (1047), in use in the Presbyterian and to some ex- 
tent in Congregational churches ; the M>'tliilixt (United 
States, IDAS), in three forms. The Tridentine catechism 
(1586) is a statement of doctrines prepared in obedience 
to a decree of the Council of Trent . and is of high though 
not absolute authority in the Roman Catholic Church, but 
is not intended for use in the instruction of children. 
The Cracorjinn and Racorian catechisms (1574, 1605) are 
Polish in origin and Socinian in doctrine. Numerous 
other catechisms have lieen prepared by individuals, but 
they possess no ecclesiastical authority. 
catechismal (kat-e-kiz'mal), a. [< catechiffiii 
+ -al.] Of, pertaining to, or in the style of a 
catechism; interrogatory; catechizing; cate- 
chetical. 
Children hate to lie bothered with questions, . . . and 
yet how we bore them with catechismal demands. 
J. T. Fields, Underbrush, p. 124. 
catechist (kat'e-kist), . [=F. catechinte=8i>. 
catequista = Pg. It. catechistfi, < LL. catechinta. 
< Gr. *naTi/x laT fa> ( naTr/xi&tv, catechize: see cat- 
echize.] One who instructs orally, or by ques- 
tion and answer; acatechizer; specifically, one 
appointed to instruct catechumens in the prin- 
ciples of religion as a preparation for baptism. 
This was a special function in the early church, as it has 
also been to some extent in later times ; but catechists 
have never constituted a distinct ecclesiastical order. 
Tlie word Catechist implied ... a function, not a class. 
Stnith, Diet. Christ. Antiq. 
In the absence of the regular clergyman the catechist 
conducts the service [at Oodhavn, Greenland]. 
C. F. Hall, Polar Exp., 1876, p. ;>4. 
catechistic, catechistical (kat-e-kis'tik, -ti- 
kal), a. [< catechist + -ic, -ical. Cf. F. cateche- 
tique = Sp. catequistico = Pg. It. catechistieo.] 
Pertaining to a catechist or a catechism; of a 
catechizing character. 
Some of them are in the catechistical method. 
Burke, Abridg. of Eng. Hist., ii. -2. 
catechistically (kat-e-kis'ti-kal-i), adv. In a 
catechistie manner ; by question and answer. 
catechization (kafe-ki-za'shon), H. [< cate- 
chize + -ation; = F. catechisation = Pg. cate- 
chizaySo = G. Jcateehisation.] The act of cat- 
echizing; examination by questioning. Also 
spelled catechisation. 
The catechisation of the man horn blind. 
Schaf, Hist. Christ. Church, I. I 83. 
catechize (kat'e-kiz), r. (. ; pret. and pp. cate- 
chized, ppr. catechizing. [= F. catechiger = Pr. 
cathezizar = Sp. catequizar = Pg. catechizar = 
It. catechizzare = D. catfchiaeren = G. katechi- 
sieren = Dan. katekisere, < LL. catechizare, cat- 
echize, < Gr. naTrixi&tv, catechize, a later ex- 
tended form of KOTtixeiv, catechize, instruct, 
teach by word of mouth, particularly in reli- 
gion, also resound. < KOTO, down, + >/xt'v, sound ; 
cf. rixil, a sound, i;x"> echo, > E. echo.] 1. To 
instruct orally by asking questions, receiving 
answers, and offering explanations and correc- 
tions ; specifically, so to instruct on points of 
Christian doctrine. 
Catechize gross ignorance. 
Burton, Anat. of Mel.. To the Reader, p. .':'. 
