cyperologist 
In bot., a writer or an authority upon the genu.s 
l 'i//>erus. 
Cyperus (Hi-pe'rus), . |NL. (L. cyperos, cy- 
perum), < Gr. Kintrpns (Herodotus), an aromatic? 
plant used in embalming, prob. same word as 
Kijric^of, name of a sweet-smelling marsh-plant, 
also sedge, gladiolus. The L. name appears 
in F. as cypere, and in E. as cypres (Gerard), 
rilpresse (Cotgrave) : see cypress^.] A genus 
of plants, natural order Cyperacetc, of about 
700 species, very widely distributed, but espe- 
cially abundant in tropical and subtropical re- 
gions. There arc about M) species ill the 1'iiit. .1 Mates 
They are annuals or perennials, witli triangular naked 
culniH usually hearing an irregular umbel of flattened 
spikelets. A few of the species, as C. ftcttlenttut and C. 
lniltntm. have tuberous roots which are used for food. C. 
riitinuliin, known as initgnias, and C. BAynuUodM multiply 
rapidly hy slender ttiheriferous rootstocks, and become 
pests In cultivated fields. The tubers of the former yield 
an oil, which is much used in upper India as a perfume. 
cyphel (xi'fel), n. Same as cyphella, 1. 
cyphella (si-fel'ji), n. [NL., < Gr. n'e^eMa, the 
hollow of the ear, akin to ni-jre/fov, a drinking- 
vessel, < Kiiufln, the hollow of a vessel : see cym- 
bal.] 1. PI. cyphellte (-e). A cup-like pit or 
depression on the under surface of the thallus 
in certain lichens. The color is usually white 
or yellow. Also cyphel. 2. [en/).] A genus 
of hymenomyeetous fungi, belonging to the 
family Auricularini. The hymenium is Inferior and 
confluent with the pileus, and the latter is somewhat 
cup-shaped and frequently pendulous. 
cyphellaeform (si-fel'e-fdrm), o. [< NL. cy- 
plit'lln, q. v., + L. forma, shape.] Cup-shaped, 
cyphellate (sl-fel'at), a. [< cyphella + -ate 1 .] 
In hot., provided with cyphellse. 
cypher, and v. See cipher. 
cyphi, n. Plural of cyphus^. 
Cyphomandra (si-fo-man'dra), n. [NL. (so 
called from the thickened aud curved connec- 
tive), < Gr. Kiyuiia, 
hump, + avf/p, man 
(mod. bot. stamen).] 
A solanaceous genus, 
of South America, 
closely allied to So- 
latium, comprising 
about 20 species of 
small trees or shrubs. 
C. betacea, the tree-tomato 
of Peru, is cultivated in 
subtropical countries for 
its large pear-shaped, or- 
ange-colored fruit, which 
is used In the same way as 
the tomato. 
Cyphon (si'fon), n. 
[NL., < Gr. xi^uv, a 
crooked piece of 
wood, < /ct^of, bent, 
stooping : see Cy- 
phiisl.] A genus of beetles, of the family Das- 
cillidcf, or giving name to a family Cyphonidte. 
Paukiill, 1798. 
cyphonautes (si-fo-na'tez), n. ; pi. cyphonautes. 
[NL., < Gr. K\Kf6f, bent, stooping, 4- vavriK, sail- 
or.] The larva of a gymnolasmatous polyzoan 
of the |*enus Mimbranipora : formerly mistaken 
for a distinct organism, and referred to a spe- 
cial genus of rotifers by Ehrenberg. 
Other larval forms (of Polyioa], which are apparently of 
a very different structure, . . . e.g. , Oi//</</m <tti'*, a larva 
which is found in all seas, and is, according to Schneider, 
the larva of Membranipora pilosa. 
Claus, Zoology (trans.), II. 76. 
CyphonidSB (si-fou'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Cyphon 
4- -idte.] A family of serricorn malacoderma- 
tous Coleoptera or beetles, related to the Cebri- 
Otlidce. They are of small size, with rather soft, de- 
pressed, hemispherical or ovate bodies, and furcate labial 
palps. They are beetles of dull colors, found on plants 
in damp situations, flying and running with agility. The 
family is also ciillc'l lt<t-illi<lir. 
cyphonism (si'fo-nizm), . [< Gr. Ki*t>uvta/i6s, < 
*m0MMfv, < KVIJKJV, a pillory in which slaves and 
criminals were fastened by the neck.] A form 
of punishment practised in antiquity, supposed 
by some to have consisted in besmearing the 
eriminal with honey, and then exposing him to 
insects, and by others to have been identical 
with the Chinese caugue. See cmujuf. 
Cyphophthalmidse (si-fof-thal'mi-de), n. i>l. 
[NL.. < Cyphophthiilnius + -ida-.] A family of 
tracheate arachnidans, named from the genus 
' '.'//''"'/''' "'"''" '<, having stalked eyes: synony- 
mous witli Sirnnittie (which see). 
Cyphophthalmus (si-fof-thal'mus), n. [NL., 
< Gr. MVC, bent, 4- o^ftityof, eye.] A genus 
of harvest-spiders: a synonym of .S'i><>. 
cyphosis (si-fo'sis), H. '[NL., < Gr. ni^uatf, a be- 
ing humpbacked, < /a>0oDa0ai, be humpbacked, 
Cyfraa tigris. 
Fruiting Branch of Cyfhontandra 
bttacea. 
1431 
< M'O'k', humpbacked, bent forward, < 
bend.] In pathot., a backward curvature of 
the spine, tisually written kypliosix. 
CyphUB 1 (si'fus), N. [NL., appar. < Gr. mxpof, 
bent, curved, < niirreiv, bend.] 1. A genus of 
weevils, of the family ' 'iimiliiiinilii: x<-lt<inln-rr. 
1826. 2. A genus of South American barb. MS. 
The type is C. macrodactylus. Also Cyphos. 
>>-(., 1824. 
cyphus' j , . See scyphus. 
Cypraea (si-pre'a), n. [NL., with allusion to 
i i/l'i'ia, \ enus : see Cyprian.] A genus of gas- 
tropods, type of the 
family Ci/prteida:; the 
cowries. Cypraa moneta 
is the money-cowry, used in 
many parts of the world as 
a circulating medium. C. 
a/tnulu* is used by the Pa- 
cific islanders for barter, 
ornament, and other pur- 
poses. C. titrrin Is a hand- 
some species, a frequent 
mantel-ornament. See cow- 
ry. Also Cyprta. 
cypraeid (si-pre'id), . 
A gastropod of the 
family I'ypra-idce. 
Cypraeidae (si - pre ' i - 
de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Cyprita + -idee.] A 
family of gastropo- 
dous mollusks, the cowries. They have a ventrlcous, 
convoluted, enameled shell, with concealed spire and a 
long and narrow aperture with crenulated lips, canalicu- 
late at each end ; no operculum ; a broad foot ; and a lo- 
bate mantle. The leading genera are Cypraa (to which the 
family is now often restricted), Orulum(or Ontia), and /V- 
dicidaria. Also Cyprceadae, Cyprtadee, Cypreidae, Cyprid<f. 
cypraeiform (si-pre'i-fdrm), a. [< NL. Cypr<ea, 
q. v., + L. forma, form.] Having the form or 
characters of Cypraa. 
cypraeoid (si-pre'oid), n. and n. [< Cyprwa + 
-aid.] I. a. Of or relating to the Cypraidtc. 
II. n. A cypraeid. 
cy-pres (se-pra'). [OF., so near, as near: 
cy, ci (see ci-devant) ; pres, mod. F. pres = It. 
presso, near, < L. pressus, pressed (close) : see 
press 1 .] In law, as near as practicable Doc- 
trine of cy-pres, an equitable doctrine (applicable only 
to cases of trusts or charities) which, in place of an illegal 
or impossible condition, limitation, or object, allows the 
nearest practicable one to be substituted. Thus, in some 
of the United States, when a charity necessarily ceases 
through the lapse of its object as, for instance, one for 
the emancipation of slaves the courts turn the property 
over to a similar charity rather than that it should revert 
to the heirs. 
cypress 1 (si'pres), . and a. [Early mod. E. 
also cypresse, cipresse; < ME. cipres, cipresse, cy- 
presse, cupressc, < OF. cypres, F. rypres = Pr. 
cypres = 8p. cipres = Pg. cyprestc = It. ci- 
presso = D. cipres = G. cypresse = Dan. cynrrs 
= Sw. cypress, < LL. cypressus, classical L. 
cupressus, rarely cyparissus, < Gr. nmdpioaof, 
Attic mnrapiTTof, the cypress-tree, common in 
Greece. A different word and tree from cy- 
prus^, a tree of Cyprus, though formerly con- 
fused with it; ME. cypyr-tre, later Cyprus (Cot- 
grave), cypress, in form < L. Cyprus: see cy- 
Cypridacea 
tall, slender, polemoniaceous herb, with divid- 
ed leaves and scarlet flowers, and the Belve- 
dere, broom-, or summer cypress, a tall cheno- 
podiiieeous plant, Kin-liin wiiparia, sometimes 
eultivati-il. 2. An emblem of mourning fi>r 
the dead, cypress-branches having been an- 
ciently used at funerals. 
Hind you my brows with mourning cypariue. 
/;//. Hull, Kl.-cy on lir. Whltaker. 
Instead of Bays, frown with sad Cypreit me ; 
Cypma which Trunks does Beautifle. 
Cowtey, Death of Mr. Wm. Harvey. 
Had success attended the Americans, the death of War- 
ren would have been Kutticicnt to damp the joys of victory, 
ami the f>ri>ri-*x would have )>een united with the laurel. 
' 
prus 
>), cypress, 
.] I. . 1. 
In bot. : (a) The popular name 
of coniferous trees of the genus Cupressus. 
The common cypress of south- 
ern Km "].. is C. Kfmptrviremt. 
of which there are two forms, 
one with upright appressed 
branches like a Lomhardy pop- 
lar, the other a flat-topped tree 
with horizontal branches. The 
wood is much used in carpentry. 
C. macrocarjKi, the Monterey 
cypress of California, is a Hne 
ornamental tree, and is frequent- 
ly cultivated. 
He heweth him down cedars, 
and taketh the cypress and the 
oak. Isa. xliv. 14. 
(6) A name given to other 
coniferous trees nearly al- 
lied to the true cypresses. 
Such are tawsons cypress, 
Chamcrrypari* Lawsoniana, 
and the yellow or Sitka cypress, 
C. Jfctteaub. of the Pacific 
coast of North America, both 
valuable timber-trees iin.l large- 
ly cultivated for ornament ; the 
bald, deciduous, black, swamp-, 
re. I. or white cypress, of the At- 
lantic States, Sfandfem ditfi- 
r/it/f/i. a large timlier-tree of 
which the wood varies much in 
color; the desert-cypress of Aus- 
tralia. AYfm'frt rohtitta ; and the 
Kotiien cypress, Riotn oriental!*, of Japan, witli yellow 
t..iiage. (o) One of various plants so named 
from a fancied resemblance to the true cypress. 
as the standing cypress, (Ulia coronopifolia, a 
II. . Belonging to or made of cypress. 
In Ivory coffers I have stuff'd my crowns ; 
In cyirreii chests my arras. Sliak., T. of the 8., li. 1. 
Within the navel of this hideous wood, 
Immur'd in cyprfits shades, a sorcerer dwells. 
ittttun, Comus, 1. 621. 
cypress 2 (si'pres), . and a. [First in Shak- 
spere's time, spelled cypress, cypregse, cipresse, 
cipres, Cyprus; origin unknowii ; possibly (since 
it is a book-word) from some misreading of 
OF. crespe, cypress, crape : see crape &n& crisp.] 
I.t n. A thin transparent black or white stuff; 
a kind of crape. 
Shadow their glory, as a milliner's wife does her wrought 
stomacher, with a smoaky lawn, or a black c\n>ru! 
B. Jinuon, Every Man In his Humour, i. -'. 
A beauty, artificially covered with a thin cloud of Cy- 
pm*, transmits its excellency to the eye, made more frreedy 
and apprehensive by that imperfect and weak restraint. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 21. 
II. a. Made of or resembling cypress.- 07- 
press cat, a tabby cat 
While discussing the merits of a new kitten recently 
with a lady from Norwich, she described its colour as Cy- 
pna dark grey with black stripes and markings. I 
took an opportunity of asking a gentleman who had lived 
in Norfolk as to the colourof the kitten, and his reply was, 
"In Norfolk we should call It Cypnut." 
X. and <j., 7th ser., IV. 288. 
Cypress damask*, a rich silk cloth made in the fifteenth 
and sixteenth centuries with cypress gold. Cypresa 
gold, gold thread so made that the surface of the metal is 
brilliant like metal wire. See cyi>rftin dama*k, and gold 
thrmii, under thread, lliiclc, Textile Fabrics. Cypress 
lawnt. Same as I. 
Sable stole of Cw>ni* lawn 
Over thy decent shoulders drawn. 
Milton, II Penseroso, 1. 35. 
cypress 3 (si'pres), w. [Also spelled cypresse, 
cypres, altered, by confusion with cypress*, from 
L. cyperos, galingale : see Cypfrus.~\ The Eng- 
lish galingale, Cyperus lotigus : called street cy- 
press from its aromatic roots. Also cypress-root. 
cypress-knee Csi'pres-ne), . One of the large, 
hollow, conical excrescences which rise from 
the roots of the swamp-cypress, Tafodiutu dis- 
tich um. The cause or reason of their growth is 
unknown. They are frequently used as bee- 
hives by the negroes. 
cypress-moss (si'pres-m6s), n. The club-moss, 
I.ycopodiuHi alpiiium. 
cypress-root (si'pres-rot), n. Same as cypress 3 . 
cypress-vine (si'pres-vin), n. A Mexican con- 
volvulaceous climber, Ipomcea Quamoclit, with 
finely parted leaves and bright-scarlet or white 
flowers. It is frequently cultivated. 
Cyprian (sip'ri-an), a. and n. [< L. Cyprius, < 
Gr. Ki'irpiof, pertaining to Kfcny)wr, L. Cyprus, 
famous for its worship of Venus (Aphrodite) ; 
hence fern., L. Cyprta (also Cypris, < Gr. Kr- 
irpif), Venus (Aphrodite) : see cyprusl.] I. a. 
1. Same as Cypriote. 2. Pertaining to Aphro- 
dite or Venus ; hence, lewd ; wanton. 
Is this that jolly god. whose Cyprian bow 
Has shot so many flaming darts? 
V"< ', .-. Emblems, il. 9. 
II. n. 1. Same as Cypriote. 2. A lewd wo- 
man ; a courtezan ; a strumpet. 
Cypricardia (sip-ri-kar'di-a), n. [NL., as Cy- 
priiia, q. v., + Gr. 
Kopiia = E. heart.] ' + 
A genus of conchif- 
erous or lamelli- 
1 inin i-li mollusks, of 
the family Cuprini- 
d<e, having an ob- 
long shell, with two 
cardinal teeth and a 
lateral tooth on each 
si. le of the hinge. 
Cypridacea (sip-ri- 
da'se-a), n. />/. [NL., 
< Ci/'prix ( <'</i>rid-) + 
-acea.] A group of ostracoid crustaceans : sy- 
nonymous with Ostracoda (which see). 
Cypricardia obesa. 
