catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Square \Square\, n. [OF. esquarre, esquierre, F. ['e]querre a
     carpenter's square (cf. It. squadra), fr. (assumed) LL.
     exquadrare to make square; L. ex + quadrus a square, fr.
     quattuor four. See Four, and cf. Quadrant, Squad,
     Squer a square.]
     1. (Geom.)
        (a) The corner, or angle, of a figure. [Obs.]
        (b) A parallelogram having four equal sides and four right
            angles.
  
     2. Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so; as:
        (a) A square piece or fragment.
  
                  He bolted his food down his capacious throat in
                  squares of three inches.          --Sir W.
                                                    Scott.
        (b) A pane of glass.
        (c) (Print.) A certain number of lines, forming a portion
            of a column, nearly square; -- used chiefly in
            reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers.
        (d) (Carp.) One hundred superficial feet.
  
     3. An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side;
        sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or
        area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of
        two or more streets.
  
              The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large
              square of the town.                   --Addison.
  
     4. (Mech. & Joinery) An instrument having at least one right
        angle and two or more straight edges, used to lay out or
        test square work. It is of several forms, as the T square,
        the carpenter's square, the try-square., etc.
  
     5. Hence, a pattern or rule. [Obs.]
  
     6. (Arith. & Alg.) The product of a number or quantity
        multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8
        [times] 8 = 64; the square of a + b is a^{2 + 2ab +
        b^{2.
  
     7. Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct;
        regularity; rule. [Obs.]
  
              They of Galatia [were] much more out of square.
                                                    --Hooker.
  
              I have not kept my square.            --Shak.
  
     8. (Mil.) A body of troops formed in a square, esp. one
        formed to resist a charge of cavalry; a squadron. ``The
        brave squares of war.'' --Shak.
  
     9. Fig.: The relation of harmony, or exact agreement;
        equality; level.
  
              We live not on the square with such as these.
                                                    --Dryden.
  
     10. (Astrol.) The position of planets distant ninety degrees
         from each other; a quadrate. [Obs.]
  
     11. The act of squaring, or quarreling; a quarrel. [R.]
  
     12. The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually
         worked or embroidered. [Obs.] --Shak.
  
     Geometrical square. See Quadrat, n., 2.
  
     Hollow square (Mil.), a formation of troops in the shape of
        a square, each side consisting of four or five ranks, and
        the colors, officers, horses, etc., occupying the middle.
        
  
     Least square, Magic square, etc. See under Least,
        Magic, etc.
  
     On the square, or Upon the square, in an open, fair
        manner; honestly, or upon honor. [Obs. or Colloq.]
  
     On, or Upon, the square with, upon equality with; even
        with. --Nares.
  
     To be all squares, to be all settled. [Colloq.] --Dickens.
  
     To be at square, to be in a state of quarreling. [Obs.]
        --Nares.
  
     To break no square, to give no offense; to make no
        difference. [Obs.]
  
     To break squares, to depart from an accustomed order.
  
     To see how the squares go, to see how the game proceeds; --
        a phrase taken from the game of chess, the chessboard
        being formed with squares. [Obs.] --L'Estrange.