water 
1. A transparent, inodorous, tasteless fluid, 
HgO. Water is a powerful refractor of light and an im 
perfect conductor of lieat and electricity ; it is very slightly 
compressible, its absolute diniinntion for a pressure of one 
atmosphere being only about one twenty-thousandth of its 
bulk. Although it is colorless in small quantities, it is blue 
like the atmosphere when viewed in mass. It assumes asolid 
form, that of ice or snow, at 3'2° F. (U°C.); and it takes the 
form of vapor or steam at 212° K. (100° C. ), under a pressure 
of 29.9 Inches (more exactly, 760 millimeters) of mercury, 
retaining that form at all higher temperatures. Under 
ordinary conditions, therefore, water possesses the liquid 
form only at temperatures lying between 32° and 212° F 
The specific gravity of water is 1 .it 89°.2 F. (4° C), being the 
unit to which the specific gravities of all solids and liquids 
are referred : one cubic foot of water at 62° F. weighs about 
1,000 oimces or 62.5 pounds. Water is 770 times heavier 
than atmospheric air at 32" F. (0° C. ) and under a pressure 
of 760 millimeters. It has its greatest density at 39°.2 F. 
(«■ C), and in this respect it presents a singular excep- 
tion to the general law of expansion by heat. If » ater at 
S9°.2 F. is cooled, it expands as it cools till reduced to 32°, 
when it Solidities ; and if water at 39°.2 F. is heated, it ex- 
pands as the temperature increases in accordance with 
the general law. Considered from a chemical point of 
yjew, water is a compound substance, consisting of hydro- 
gen and oxygen, in the proportion of 2 volumes of the 
former gas to 1 volume of the latter ; or by » eight it is 
composed of 2 parts of hydrogen imited with 18 parts of 
oxygen. It exhibit* in itself neither acid nor basic prop- 
erties. Water enters, as a li(iuid, into a peculiar kind of 
combination with the greater number of all known sub- 
stances. Of all liquids water is the n>ost powerful and 
general solveut, and on thi.s important propertv its use de- 
pends. Without water the processes of animal and vege- 
table life would come to a stand. The globe is covered on 
about ii of its surface by the ocean water, to an average 
depth of very nearly 12,,tOO feet. (See ocfati.) This wa- 
ter is, however, far from pure, sIiilc it holds in solution 
nearly 3} per cent of lu weight of saline matter, about 
three fourths of which is common salt. The ocean water 
is not potable, but pure water can be obtained from it by 
distillation, as is often done at sea — for which purpose, 
however, fuel and a somewhat cumbrous apparatus are re- 
quired. Some towns on the South American coast have 
been supplied with water exclusively in this way, up to 
the time when works were completed for bringing it from 
the distant mountains. The chief source of supply for 
the water which falls ui>on the earth is the ocean, from 
whose surface it is raised by the heat of the sun In the form 
of vapor, ready to be condensed again and fall as rain or 
snow either on sea or hind, in accordaiu^c witli varying 
and complicated conditions of climate and topography. 
The precipitation of rain and snow up<jn different i)art8 
of the earth's surface varies greatly, both in its total 
amount and in its seasonal distribution. .Some regions re- 
ceive as much as 800 inches in a year; over other exten- 
sive areas the rainfall is so small that it is hardly iwssible 
to measure It. In some districts the rain is pretty equally 
distributeil through the year ; in others it is all, or nearly 
all, limited to one season, as winter or suninier. These 
climatic comlitions are matters of the utmost importance, 
as regards both the rlistribution and the welfare of the hu- 
man raceandof animaland vegetaldelifeingeneral. The 
habitability and fertility of the earth depend in part on 
temperature and in part on the amount and character of 
the precipitation. In general, where there is no rainfall 
the region Is cither very sparsely or not at all inhabited, 
and vegetation is almost entirely wanting: of this char- 
acter is a considerable part of northern Africa and cen- 
tral Asia : such regions are called tiegertg. Other regions, 
where there is some rainfall, but where the amount is 
small, are destitute of forests but supiKirt a more or less 
abundant growth of grasses. .Such regions are, as a rule, 
thhily inhabited, and the population is pastoral and no- 
madic ; of this character are large areas in central Asia, and 
in both North and South America. Regions of abundant 
or ereu of moderately large precipitation arc generally 
forested, and can be successfully cultivated after the for- 
ests have been cut drtwn : these, in general, are the densely 
inhabited parts of the world. Such are llie essential facts 
and conditions of the distribution of population as con- 
nected with rainfall. But to these are ninny exceptions. 
Thus, the Nile flows for 2,000 miles through a rainless 
region, hut has a somewhat dense population for a consid- 
erable distance along its banks, though only there, the river 
itself lieing the sole source of water-supply for the inhabi- 
tants of the valley. .Some regions of very small rainfall 
are situated sntllcientiy near high mountain-ranges on 
which the precipitation is comparatively large, and from 
which water can l>e obtained in considerable quantity with 
a moilerate expenditure of money. In this connecti< m the 
fact that the precipitation at high altitudes is chiefly in 
the form of snow is a matter of great importance, as there- 
by the sujiply of water is made capable of lasting through, 
or nearly through, the summer, the snow melting gradu- 
ally, while the precipitation In the form of rain would be 
carrieil away much more rapidly. Rain, if caught at a dis- 
tance from human habitations and after it has been fall- 
ing for some time, contains hardly a perceptible trace of 
foreign matter. Snriw falling in the pillar regions is also 
very nearly chemically pure. Hy distillation, with suit- 
able precautions, water may be obtaiin-d which will leave 
no trace of residue when evapf>rated in a platinum ves- 
sel, and which will also be free from gaseous contents. 
The water of springs and rivers always contains more or 
less mineral matter, which it has dissolved out from the 
Soil and rock with which It has been in contact upfin the 
surface or underground. Next t^» rain-water, the purest 
natural water is that of nioiintain-Iakes fed frr>m melting 
snfiw, and resting on crystalline and impermeable rocks ; 
anrl rivers In uninbaiiited regions, running over similar 
rocks, are alsfj very nearly pure, sometimes leaving not 
more than two or three grains to the gallon of foreign mat- 
ter when evaporated to dryness. Klvers, on the other 
hand, which run over calcareous ami softshaly and clayey 
rocks always contain a c^msldcrable amount of inipuritiea ; 
from fifteen to twenty grains to the gallon is not an un- 
common amount under such (conditions. Pure water, such 
as that of monntain-lukes and rivers ninnlug over crystal- 
line rocks, is called go/t ; water contaiiiltig more than eight 
or ten grains Ui the gallon of mineral matter is called hard. 
6837 
The foreign matter in soft water is partly organic and part- 
ly mineral; in the latter a little silica is always present, 
as well as salts of potash, soda, lime, and magnesia. The 
impurities of hard water are varied in character, but car- 
bonate of lime generally predominates. The mineral im- 
purities of water are not necessarily deleterious to health, 
even if present in somewhat large quantities. The contami- 
nation of water by organic matter (sucli as sewage, and the 
like) is a matter of great Importance and often of great dan- 
ger. Dead organic matter is rapidly oxidized by exposure 
to the air in flowing water, and ceases to be dangerous to 
health. The living organisms with which water is some- 
times contaminated, in receiving the sewage of towns or 
in other ways, are sometimes the germs of deadly disease, 
and appear to possess a large amount of vitality, so that 
they can be conveyed for long distances without becom- 
ing disorganized, as is the case with dead organic matter. 
See water-mpply. 
Yit signes moo men see 
Tlier water is, as the fertilitee 
Of withl, reede, aller, yvy, or vyne. 
That tlier is water nyg'h Is verrey slgne. 
Palladim, Husbondrie (E. E. T. S.), p. 174. 
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so Is good news from a 
far country. prov. xxv. 25. 
Specifically — (a) Rain. 
By sudden floods imd fall of waters 
Buckingham's army is dispersed and scatter'd. 
SAo*., Rich. III.,iv. 4. 512. 
(6) Mineral water. See miixeral. 
Mineral- Waters, ... as the Sulpluirous Waters at the 
Bath. Gideon Harvey, Vanities of Philosophy and 
[Physick (ed. 1702), xvl. 
Then bouses drumly German water, 
To mak' binisel' look fair and fatter. 
Hums, The Twa Dogs, 
(c) pi. Waves, as of the sea ; surges ; a flood. 
Therefore will not wc fear, . . . tliou,-li the mountains 
be carried into the midst of tlie sea ; though the waters 
thereof roar and be troubled. Ps. xlvi. 3. 
Our Souls have sight of that Immortal sea, . . . 
And see the Children sport upon the shore, 
And hear the mighty waters rolling evermore. 
Wordsworth, Ode, Immortality. 
2. A limited body of water, as an ocean, a sea, 
or a lake; often, in provincial English and 
Scotch use, a river or lake: as, Derwent Wutcr 
(lake); Gala Water (stream), in law the right or 
title to a body of water is regarded as an incident to the 
right to the land which it covers, and the term larul in- 
cludes a body of water thereon. 
And many yers be for the passion of Ciist, the lay over 
the same watir a tree, ffor a foote bryge, wheroff the holy 
Crosse was aftyr wardes made. 
Torkinglim, Diarie of Eng. Travell, p. 27. 
Having travelled lu this Valley near four hours, we came 
to a large Water called the Lake. 
Mauiidrett, Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 3. 
'Hie mosses, waters, slaps, and stiles 
That lie between us and our hanie. 
Burnt, Tani o' Shanter. 
3. Any aqueous or liquid secretion, e-xudation, 
humor, etc.. of an atiimal body, (a) Tears. 
For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth 
down with water, because the comforter that should relieve 
my soul is far from me. Lam. i. 16. 
The water stood in his eyes. 
Buni/an, Pilgrim's Progress, li. 
(6) Sweat; perspiration. 
The word water may stand for sudor ; a horse is all on a 
irater [in Palsgrave]; ... we should say, lather. 
Oliphant, New English, I. 455. 
(c) Saliva; spittle. 
For the thought of Peter's oysters brought the water to 
his mouth. H^ S. Qilbert, Etiquette. 
(d) Urine. 
Well, I have cast thy water, and I see 
Th' art fall'n to wit's extremest iioverty. 
Sure in consumption of the spritely part. 
Marston, Satires, iv. 125. 
(e) The aqueous or vitreous humor of the eye ; eye-water. 
(/) The serous effusion of dropsy, in a blister, and the 
like: as, ivater on the brain. (</) pi. In obstet., the liquor 
aranii. 
4. A distilled liquor, essence, extract, or the 
like. See strong witter, under .itroiig^. 
But this water 
Hath a strange virtue in 't, beyond his art ; 
It is a sacred relic, part of that 
Most powerful juice with wliicb Medea made 
Old ^son young. Massinyer, Basliful Lover, v. 1. 
His wife afterwards did take me into my closet, and give 
me a cellar of waters of her own distilling. 
J'ejnjs, Diary, April 1, 1668. 
5. In pilar., a solution of a volatile oil, or of a 
volatile substance like ammonia or camphor, in 
•water. — 6. Transparency, as of water; the prop- 
erty of a precious stone in which its beauty chief- 
ly consists, involving also its refracting power. 
In this sense the word Is applied especially to diamonds, 
and Is used loosely to exjU'css their relative excellence : as, 
a diamond of the first water: hence used figuratively to 
note the degree of excellence or fineness of any object of 
esteem: as, genius of the purest wafer. See the phrase 
Jirst water, below. 
An excellent lapidary set these stones, sure ; 
Do you mark their waters? 
Fletcher, Rule a Wife, v. 2. 
7. The waterside ; the shore of a sea, lake, 
stream, or the like, considered with or apart 
water 
from its inhabitants; specifically, a watering- 
place ; a seaside resort. [Provincial.] 
Gar warn the water, braid and wide. 
Jamu Telfer (Child's Ballads, VI. 110). 
The water, in the mountainous districts of Scotland, Is 
often used to exiness the banks of the river, which are 
the only inhabitable parts of tlie country. To raise the 
water, therefore, was to alarm those who lived along its 
side. Quoted in Child's Ballads, VI. 110, note. 
The phrase "going to the waters" has been familiar 
to me for the last forty years as used by the peasantry in 
the counties of Huntingdon, Rutland, and Lincoln. By 
it is meant a seaside place, and not an inland watering- 
place, such as Malvern, Bath, Leamington, or Chelten- 
liaiH- N. and Q., 7th ser., VII. 378. 
8. In finance, additional shares created by wa- 
tering stock. See water, o. t., 4. 
By the much-abused word "property" he refelTed, of 
course, to the fictitious capital, or *'water," whicli the gas 
companies had added to their real capital. 
iV. A. Bee., CXLin. 92. 
Above water, afloat ; hence, flgurativcly, out of enihar- 
rassnieut or trouble. 
Being ask'd by some that were not ignorant in Sea Af- 
fairs liow long he thought the Ship mlglit be kept above 
Water,he said he could promise nothing, but that It could 
not be done above three Hours. 
N. Bailey, tr. of Colloquies of Erasmus, I. 277. 
Aerated waters. Sec ocra^e.— Aix-la-Chapelle wa- 
ter, a mineral water obtained from various thermal 
springs at Ai.x-la-Cliapelle iu Rhenish Prnssla, containing 
a large proportion of common salt, also other sodium 
salts and sulphur. — Aix-lea-Balns water, from thermal 
springs of the same name iu Savoy, contains chiefly sul- 
phates and carbonates of sodium, magnesium, and cal- 
cium in small proportion, employed in the form of sys- 
tematic bathing in the treatment of gout, iheumatlsni, 
skin-diseases, etc.— Alien water. See alien.— Apom- 
narls water, an agreeable sparkling water from Rhenish 
niissia, containing a very minute proportion of mineral 
ingredients, used as a talile-water — Bag Of waters, in 
obstet., the liniging fetal membranes, filled with liquor 
umnil, which act as a bydiauiic wedge to ililate the mouth 
of the womb.— Ballston Spa waters, from Ballston, 
New York, effervescent waters, containing a large amount 
of common salt with carbonates of calciiiin and magne- 
sium. They possess tonic and cathartic properties.— 
Baryta- water. Soeiary^a.- Basic water. Hea basic. 
— Benediction of the waters, in the Gr. Ch.. the solemn 
public ceremony of Ijlessiug the water in the phiale, the 
running waters, and the sea, observed annually with a 
procession and other rites on the feast of the Epiphany. 
See holy water, below.— Bethesda water, from Wauke- 
sha, Wisconsin, an effervescent water, containing but a 
small proportion of mineral ingredients: used chiefly iu 
the treatment of urinary disorders ami as a table-water.- 
Between wind and water. See wind'^.— Bitter water, 
a purgative mineral water having a bitter taste owing to 
the presence of a large amount of sulphate of magnesium, 
or Epsom salts. Fricdriclisliall water is an example of a 
bitter water.— Black water. Same as pyrosis.— 'Bias 
Lick water, a strong suijihur water, containing alsoalarge 
amount of salt, obtained from the Blue Lick Springs, Ken- 
tucky. It possesses cathartic projjerties, and is used large- 
ly in the treatment of catarrhal troul)les nf the respira- 
tory, digestive, and urinary tracts.— Broken water. See 
trirfen.— Buffalo Uthia water, an alkaline sulphur wa- 
ter, containing some lithia, from Jlecklenburg county, 
Virginia. It is diuretic and slightly laxative, and is em- 
ployed lu the treatment of lithemia, Bright's disease, and 
certain forms of dyspepsia.— Burning watert, alcohol. 
Compare /r(!-H'fl(er. 
Take the beste wiyn that 3e may fynde. . . . Kutflrste 
3e muste distille this wiyn .7. tymes, and thanne banc ge 
good brennynye watir. 
Book o/Quinte Essence (ed. Fnrnivall), p. 4. 
Canterbury water, water tinctured with the blood of 
lliomas BecKct, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was mur- 
dered in 1170, and afterward canonized as a saint and m.ar- 
tyr. See the quotation. 
To satisfy these cravings, so as to hinder an uneasy feel- 
ing at the thought of tasting human blood, a tiny drop 
was mingled with a chalice-fuU of water, and in this man- 
ner given to those who begged a sip. This was the far- 
famed "Canterbury-water." Never had such a thing as 
drinking a martyr's blood been done before ; never has it 
been done since. Hock, Church of our Fathers, III. i. 424. 
Carbonated water, water charged with carbonic-acid 
gas : either natural spring-water like seltzer and apollina- 
ris, or (iistillerl water artificially charged with the gas.— 
Carlsbad water, an alkaline sulpliated water, heavily 
charged with carlionic aciil, from various thermal springs 
in Carlsliad, Bohemia : employed extensively in the treat- 
ment of gout, rheumatism, urinary disorder.'), chronic dis- 
eases of the eye anil ear, intestinal catarrh, and chronic 
constipatif.n. —Chow-chow water. See chow-chow.- 
Clysmic water, an agreeable sparkling table-water, con- 
taining chiefly calcium bicarbonate, from Waiikeslia, Wis- 
consin. It Is used also as a diuretic in bladder troubles. 
— Cologne water, same as cofoi/nc- Crab Orchard 
water, a cathartic water, containing a rather large propor- 
tion of magnesium sulphate and a smaller amount of some 
other sulphates and carbonates, obtained from siuings of 
the same name in Kentucky.- Deep water or waters, 
water too deep for comfort or safety ; hence, figuratively, 
embarrassment, trial, or distress. 
Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of 
the deep waters. Ps. Ixix. 14. 
Once he had been very nearly iu deep water because 
Mrs. Proudie had taken it in dudgeon that a certain young 
rector, who had been left a widower, had a very pretty 
governess for bis children. trollope. 
False waters, in obi^tet., a fluid ,wlileh occasionally col- 
lects Itetween the amnion and the chorion.— First water, 
the highest degree of fineness in a diamond or other pre- 
cious stone; hence, figuratively, the highest rank morally. 
