filter 
= Sp. Pg. fi/tro = It. frltro, felt, < ML. fettrum, 
Jiltni/H, felt: gee /aft*, and t-f.fi-ltrr, r.,fenl< r.] 
1. A device for arresting and separating any 
matter mechanic-ally suspended in a liquid. KM- 
ters used in the processes of analytical chemistry are made 
of paper or asbestos. The nlter-pai*-r is bibulous, con- 
sisting of nearly pure cellulose, with only bare traces of 
mineral matter. Many precipitates are more convenient- 
ly separated by an asbestos lilter, the most common form 
consisting of an ordinary platinum crucible having the 
bottom perforated with Hue holes which are covered 
with a thin asbestos felt. In the arts (liters are used 
to purify water, syrups, vinegar, the juices of cane and 
fruits, oils, liquors, sewage, liquid by-products, and mol- 
ten metals. The materials used in nitration are gravel, 
sand, charcoal, bone-black, sponge, fabrics, woven wire 
netting, asbestos, porous brick and stoue, mineral wool, 
rope, paper, and powdered glass. The devices used to hold 
the straining material are in a great variety of forms, from 
a simple wick or loose cloth hung over the edge of a bowl 
of water and acting as a capillary strainer, to a settling- 
pond filtering 400,000gallonsof water in a day. The most 
common filter is a cone of bibulous paper, or a square of 
cloth sewed together to form a bag (called Hippocrates' s 
sleeoe). Filters also consist of porous brick or stone par- 
titions, as in a cistern, or vessels partly filled with sand 
and gravel, or tubes filled with sponge, charcoal, or sand, 
etc. Domestic filters are used in connection with pumps 
and water-faucets. To cause the liquid to pass through a 
filter, the weight of a column of water, the pressure of the 
atmosphere, mechanical force from a screw or from steam- 
pressure, and centrifugal force are employed, as in the 
centrifugal filter, oii-liltei; vacuum-Jitter, and many forms 
of pressure-niters. Filters are also made reversible and 
intermittent, so that the filtering material may be freed 
from the collected sediment. In some pressure-filters the 
liquid or syrup is within a cylinder, and is forced outward 
through rings of fabric under steam-pressure ; in others it 
is forced through a series of strainers piled one above an- 
other. Where bone-black and charcoal are used, there i 
also a filtering or straining of a certain amount of gas and 
organic material that would pass through any other filter 
without detention. Filters are also used to remove dust 
and floating matter from air, but such devices are more 
properly termed air-strainers. 
Having for trial-sake filtered it through cap-paper, there 
remained in the Jiltre a powder of a very deep and lovely 
colour. Boyle, Works, I. 365. 
Specifically 2. In fish-culture, a long box in 
which screens, usually of flannel, are placed, 
through which the water is filtered before it 
passes into the hatching-troughs. Also called 
filtering-box, filtering-tank. Aerating filter. See 
aerate. Capillary filter. See capillary. Centrifugal 
filter. See centrifugal. Reversible filter, a filter so 
arranged that the fluid may flow through it in either di- 
rection ; a self-clearing filter. E. H. Knight. 
filter 1 (fil'ter), v. [= D. filtrcren = G. filtriren 
= Dan. filtrere = Sw. filtrera, < F. filtrer, OF. 
filtrer, earlier feutrer, = Sp. Pg. filtrar = It.fel- 
trare, < ML. filtrare, strain through felt, etc., < 
filtrum, feltrum, felt, a filter: see the noun.] 
I. trans. 1. To purify or defecate, as water or 
other liquid, by passing it through a filter or 
any cleansing medium ; strain. 
Sages after sages strove 
In vain to filler off a crystal draught 
Pure from the lees. Cowper, Task, ii. 508. 
Specifically 2. In analyt, cJtem., to separate (a 
solution) from the solid matter contained in it, 
either for the purpose of collecting and saving 
the solid matter, usually a precipitate, or of 
preparing the solution for further operations. 
II. intrans. To percolate; pass through or 
as through a filter. 
The huge black houses, between their almost meeting 
cornices, suffer a meagre light to filter down over rough- 
hewn stone. H. James, Jr., Trans. Sketches, p. 258. 
Swedenborg's thought has been .slowly filteringiaio phi- 
losophy and theology, spiritualizing both. 
J. F. Clarke, Self-Culture, p. 77. 
filter 2 t, v, t. Same as felter. 
filter 3 !, n- See philter. 
filter-bed (fil'ter-bed), n. A pond or tank hav- 
ing a false bottom covered with sand, and serv- 
ing to filter river- or pond-waters. 
filter-faucet (fil'ter-fVset), . A faucet hav- 
ing a small filter affixed to its spout. 
filtering (fil'ter-ing), n. [Verbal n. offilterl, v.~\ 
Straining ; defecating : used in compounds. 
Filtering-bag, a conical bag made of close flannel, and 
kept open at the top by means of a hoop. It is used in 
filtering wine, vinegar, etc. Filtering-box. Same as 
filter!, 2. Filtering-cup, a pneumatic apparatus used 
for the purpose of showing that, if the pressure of the 
atmosphere be removed from an under surface by exhaus- 
tion with an air-pump, the pressure on the surface above 
will force a fluid through the pores of substances which 
it could not otherwise penetrate. Filtering-funnel, a 
glass or other funnel made with slight flutes or channels 
down the lower parts of the sides. When used it is lined 
with filtering-paper, folded and loosely put in. The 
channels allow the liquid to ooze more freely than in a 
smooth funnel. Filtering-paper, any paper unsized and 
sufficiently porous to allow liquids to pass through it. 
Filtering-press, a filter in which the liquid is forced 
through the strainers by atmospheric or mechanical pi c-^ 
sure or by the weight of a column of water ; a filter-press. 
Filtering-Stone, any porous stone, such as sandstone, 
through which water is filtered.- Filtering-tank Same 
as /Wi'i-1 . >. 
V217 
filter-paper (firter-pa"pe,r), n. Porous paper 
designed to lie used for filtering. 
filter-press (fil'ter- pros), n. 1. A filtering- 
press. Specifically 2. An apparatus for the 
extraction of oil from fish, as menhaden, and 
the compression of the residuum into cakes. 
filter-pump (fil'ter-pump), n. An arrangement 
devised by the German chemist Bunsen, and 
much used by chemists to accelerate the filter- 
ing process. The atmospheric pressure is diminished 
in the vessel into which the filtered liquid passes by the 
aspirating effect of a stream of water flowing through a 
connecting tube, and the full atmospheric pressure on the 
surf ace of the liquid in the funnel forces the liquid through 
the pores of the filter-paper or other material. 
filth (filth), . [< ME. filthe, felthe, ftilthe, < AS. 
fyltli (= OS.fulitlia = D. vuilte = OHG. fulida), 
filth, foulness, (fill, foul, + formative -th: see 
foul and./ife 2 .] 1. Anything that soils or de- 
files ; foul, offensive matter ; also, the state of 
being defiled ; a foul condition ; squalor ; nas- 
tiness. 
All oure fode is but filth. York Plays, p. 5. 
As false and foul 
As the poaeh'd filth that floods the middle street. 
Tennyxon, Merlin and Vivien. 
2. Anything that sullies or befouls the moral 
character; pollution; defilement. 
When we in our viciousness grow hard, 
. . . the wise gods seal our eyes 
In our own filth. Shalt., A. and C., iii. 11. 
Purifying our souls from the dross and filth of sensual 
delights. Tillvtiton, Sermons. 
3f. Figuratively, a low or foul fellow ; a wretch. 
Then was Meliors neig mad al-most for fere, 
Lest that foule felthe schold haue hem founde there. 
William ofPalerne (E. E. T. S.), 1. 2542. 
Filth, thou liest. Shah., Othello, v. 2. 
= Syn. 2. Impurity, grossness, obscenity. 
filth-disease (filth'di-zez*), n. A disease caused 
by or arising in consequence of filth. 
Typhoid fever and other preventable filth-disease*. 
Science, VI. 101. 
filthheadt, [ME. filtheheed; < filth + -head.] 
Filthiness ; foulness. 
Lo, I come as a nyght theef, blessid is he that wakith 
and kepith hise clothis that he wandre not nakid, and that 
thei se not the filtheheed of him. Wyclif, Rev. xvi. 15. 
filthily (fil'thi-li), adv. In a filthy manner; 
foully; offensively. 
If she do not paint, she will look so filthily thou canst 
not love her! Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 572. 
filthiness (fil'thi-nes), n. 1. The state of be- 
ing filthy, polluted, or defiled. 
Who seeth not the filthines of euil wanteth a great foile 
to perceiue the beauty of vertue. 
Sir P. Sidney, Apol. for Poetrie. 
Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh 
and spirit. 2 Cor. vii. 1. 
2. That which is filthy; filth; squalor; pollu- 
tion; corruption. 
Carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. 
2 Chron. xxix. 5. 
= Syn. See filth. 
filthlesst, a. [ME. filthlesse; < filth + -Jess.] 
Undefiled. 
Fountain alfilthlexse, as birell current clere. 
Commendation of our Lady, 1. 51. 
filthy (fil'thi), <i. [< filth + -yl.J 1. Contain- 
ing or involved in filth ; foul ; dirty ; noisome ; 
nasty. 
Fair is foul, and foul is fair : 
Hover through the fog and filthy air. 
Shak., Macbeth, i. 1. 
The filthy by-lane rings to the yell of the trampled wife. 
Tennyson, Maud, i. 
The environs of the camp were in a filthy state, the 
Russians neglecting the most simple sanitary precautions. 
O'Donovan, Merv, iv. 
2. Morally foul; defiled by sinful practices; 
polluted. 
He which Is filthy, let him tie filthy still. Rev. xxii. 11. 
The rank debauch suits Clodio's filthy taste. 
Cowper, Progress of Error, 1. 188. 
To abound, if I please at any moment, in all manner of 
profane, injurious, and filthy behavior. 
//. James, Subs, and Shad., p. 84. 
3. Low; scurvy; contemptible; mean. 
He wrought better that made the painter; and yet he's 
but & filthy piece of work. Shak., T. of A., i. 1. 
Hab. Here is the cap your worship did bespeak. 
Pet. . . . 'Tis lewd and filthy. 
Why, 'tis a cockle, or a walnut-shell, 
A knack, a toy, a trick. Shak., T. of the S., iv. 3. 
= Syn. 1. Dirty, Foul, etc. (see nasty)', squalid. 2. Im- 
pure, corrupt, gross. 
filtrate (fil'trat). v. t.; pret. &ndpp. filtrated, ppr. 
filtrating. [< ML. filtratus, pp. of filtrare, fil- 
ter : see filter 1 , v."] To filter; defecate, as liquor, 
by straining or percolation: also used figura- 
tively. 
fimbriate 
From hence il appears that the expressed juices of 
\'^< tables, not filtrated very clear, contain their whole 
specinek virtues. Aruuthnat, Aliments, iii. 
To believers . . . it must be even more evident than to 
unbelievers that a Christianity filtrated of all its "sec- 
tarian" dogmas is a Christianity so enlightened as to be 
able to dispense with Christ. 
//. .V. Oxruham, Short Studies, p. 331. 
filtrate (fil'trat), n. [< NL. filtrtitum, neut. of 
filtratus, pp. of filtrare, filtrate: see filtrate, t'.] 
The liquid which has been passed through a 
filter. 
filtration (fil-tra'shon), n. [= F. filtration = 
Sp. filtration = Pg. fillrayao = It. feltrazione, 
< ML. as if * filtratio^i-), < filtrare, filter : see fil- 
ter 1 , .] The act or process of filtering; the 
process of mechanically separating and remov- 
ing the undissolved particles floating in a li- 
quid, as by passing the liquid through filtering- 
paper, charcoal, sand, etc. See filter^. 
The nature of suction, the cause of filtration, and the 
rising of water in siphons. Glanville, Essays, iii. 
The process of upward filtration through sand is ineffi- 
cient for the purification of sewage from soluble offensive 
matters. E. Frankland, Exper. in Chem., p. 750. 
filum (fi'lum), n. ; pi. fila (-la). [L., a thread: 
see file^.] 1. A thread; a filament, fibril, or 
fine fiber; a filar structure. 2. In musical no- 
tation, the stem or tail of a note Fila sperma- 
tica, spermatic threads ; spermatozoa. Kolliker. Filum 
termiuale, the terminal thread of the spinal cord ; the 
continuation of the spinal cord, greatly diminished in 
caliber, after the giving off of the great leashes of lumbar 
and sacral nerves known as the cauda eqiiina. 
Smashing (fim'a-shing), , [With accom. term., 
ult. < OF. fern's, dung (cf. femier, F. fumier, 
dunghill), < \j.fimus, dung: see fiants, fumets.] 
Among hunters, the dung of several sorts of 
wild beasts ; fumets. E. Phillips, 1706. 
fimble 1 (fim'bl), v. ; pret. and pp. fimbled, ppr. 
fimbling. [A dial. var. of fumble : see fumble, 
and cf. fimble'2.] I. intrans. To fumble; do 
anything imperfectly or irresolutely. Halli- 
icell; f'orby. [Prov. Eng.] 
II. trans. Totouchsomethinglightly. Wright. 
fimble 2 (fim'bl), n. [< MD. fimel, "cannabis 
brevior," i: e., the smaller sort of hemp, male 
hemp, teased hemp or flax, < fimelen, tease flax, 
hemp, or wool (D. fijmelen, card), prob. the 
same word as fimelen, fijmelen, femelen, move 
quickly, move the fingers quickly, play, trifle, 
etc., = E. fimble 1 , v. Hence G.fimmel, alsofem- 
mel, femel, fimble-hemp, fimmeln, pick fimble- 
hemp; F.dial./eWfer, pick fimble-hemp,/e'me(V., 
fimble-hemp. The larger sort of hemp is really 
female, but is popularly regarded as male, and 
hence called carl-hemp, q. v. ; hence the name 
fimble for the smaller sort has been regarded 
as a corruption of female and explained ac- 
cordingly.] The male plants of hemp, which, 
being soonest ripe, are picked out by hand from 
among the female, which are left to ripen their 
seed. 
fimble-hemp (fim'bl-hemp), . [= G. fimmel- 
hanf; as fimble 2 + hemp.'} Same as fimble^. 
The first season for pulling the hemp is usually about 
the middle of August, when they begin to pull what they 
call the fimble hemp, which is the male hemp. 
Miller, Gardener's Diet. 
fimbria (fim'bri-a), n. ; pi. fimbrife (-e). [= 
Pg. It. fimbria, < LL. fimbria, sing., a border, 
L. fimbria;, pi., fringe, fibrous part, threads, 
prob. a nasalized deriv. of fibrd, a thread, fiber: 
aee fiber 1 .'] 1. In zool. and bot., one of the parts 
or processes which collectively make a fringe ; 
a fringing filament, fibril, or filum. 2. pi. A 
set of fringing processes ; a fringe. Specifically 
(a) In a nat. : (1) The fringed extremity of a Fallopian tube. 
(2) A narrow band of white fibers running along the me- 
dian concave side of the hippocampus major. It is a con- 
tinuation of the pillars of the fornix. Also called tcenia 
hippocampi and corpus fimbriatum. (b) In entom., an ir- 
regular fringe of hairs on any margin or on the antennae; 
specifically, the ciliated hairs on the end of the abdomen, 
seen in Andrena and other bees, (c) In bot., a dissected, 
fringe-like border; in mosses, the peristome. 
3. [cap.] [NL.] A genus of mollusks. 
fimbrial (fim'bri-al), a. [< fimbria + -al.~\ 1. 
Of or pertaining 'to a fimbria. 2. Of or per- 
taining to the fimbriee of the brain Fimbrial 
fissure, in anat., a distinct and apparently constant de- 
pressed line between the fasciola and the flmbria:, thus co- 
inciding with the margin of the cinerea. It is not a true 
cortical fissure. Wilder and Gaffe. 
Fimbriaria (fim-bri-a'ri-ii), n. [NL., < ii.fim- 
bri<e, pi., fringe: see fimbria.] Agenus of Hepa- 
ticw, related to Marchantia,&n& differing in hav- 
ing the inner involucre split into from 8 to 16 
pendent linear divisions. 
fimbriate (fim'bri-at), a. [= It. fimbriato, 
fringed, < L. fimbriatm, fibrous, fringed, < fim- 
