n. Literally, that which happens or befalls. Hap; contingency; event; chance.n. State; condition; state of circumstances.n. A particular determination of events or circumstances; a special state of things coming under a general description or rule.n. In medicine, an instance of disease under or requiring medical treatment, or the series of occurrences or symptoms which characterize it: as, the doctor has many cases of fever in hand; the patient explained his case.n. A state of things involving a question for discussion or decision.n. Specificallyn. In law: A cause or suit in court; any instance of litigation: as, the case was tried at the last term.n. The state of facts or the presentation of evidence on which a party to litigation relies for his success, whether as plaintiff or defendant: as, in cross-examining plaintiff's witness, defendant has no right to go beyond the limits of the direct examination, for such inquiries are part of his own case.n. Under American procedure, a document prepared by the appellant on an appeal, containing the evidence, or the substance of it, and the proceedings on the trial in the court below.n. In grammar, in many languages, one of the forms having different offices in the sentence which together make up the inflection of a noun: as, the nominative case, that of the subject of the verb, as he, dominus (Latin); the accusative or objective case, as him, dominum; the genitive or possessive case, as his (John's), domini.n. A person who is peculiar or remarkable in any respect: as, a queer case; a hard case: sometimes used without qualification: as, he is a case.n. In logic, a proposition stating a fact coming under a general rule; a subsumption.To put cases; bring forward propositions.n. That which incloses or contains; a covering, box, or sheath: as, a case for knives; a case for books; a watch-case; a pillow-case.n. Specifically A quiver.n. The skin of an animal; in heraldry, the skin of a beast displayed with the head, feet, tail, etc.n. The exterior portion of a building; an outer coating for walls.n. A box and its contents; hence, a quantity contained in a box. Specifically — A pair; a set.n. Among glaziers, 225 square feet of crown-glass; also, 120 feet of Newcastle or Normandy glass.n. In printing, a shallow tray of wood divided by partitions into small boxes of different sizes, in which the characters of a font of printing-types are placed for the use of the compositor.n. In bookbinding, a book-cover made separately from the book it is intended to inclose.n. A triangular sac or cavity in the right side of the nose and upper portion of the head of a sperm-whale, containing oil and spermaceti, which are together called head-matter.n. 9. In milit. engin., a square or rectangular frame made from four pieces of plank joined at the corners, used (in juxtaposition to similar frames) to form a lining for a gallery or branch.n. In loam-molding, the outer portion of a mold. Also called cope.n. In porcelain-making, same as saggar.n. Milit., same as case-shot.n. In mining, a fissure through which water finds its way into a mine.n. The wooden frame in which a door is hung. Also called casing.n. The wall surrounding a staircase. Also called casing.To cover or surround with a case; surround with any material that incloses or protects; incase.Specifically — In architecture, to face or cover (the outside wall of a building) with material of a better quality than that of the wall itself.In plastering, to plaster (as a house) with mortar on the outside, and strike a ruler laid on it while moist with the edge of a trowel, so as to mark it with lines resembling the joints of freestone, In glass-making, to “plate” or cover (glass) with a layer of a different color. In bookbinding, to cover with a case. See case, n., 7.In printing, to put into the proper compartments of compositors' cases; lay: as, to case a font of type.To remove the case or skin of; uncase; skin.To cover one's self with something that constitutes a casing.n. In the tobacco trade, the state of the leaf, during and after the process of curing, with respect to moisture-content and pliability: common in such phrases as in case (more or less moist), in good case (with the right degree of moisture), too high case, etc. See order, 17.n. An action brought, usually by agreement between parties, in which the constitutionality or validity of an act will be brought in question and judicially determined.To bring into the desired ‘case’ or condition; specifically, in the tobacco trade, to bring the leaf into the desired condition as to moisture and pliability, and the admixture of ingredients to give flavor, etc. See case, n., 9, *caser, n., and *casing, n. Also spelled in the trade, kase.n. In the postal service, a series of open boxes or large pigeonholes in which letters are placed in assorting them for distribution. Each box is for a particular place, and the distributor, standing at a table in a post-office or railway postal car, throws each letter into the proper box in the case.n. Nautical, the outside planking of a vessel.n. In whaling, the well or hole in the head of a sperm-whale, which contains, in a free state, the most valuable oil given by it.n. In faro, a card when it is the only one of its denomination remaining in the dealing-box.
