pnugues/EB7 huggingface dataset:
FICUS, the Fig Tree. The ficus religiosa, or banian tree, is a native of several parts of the East Indies. It has a woody stem, branching to a great height and vast extent, with heart-shaped entire leaves terminating in acute points. Some of these trees are of amazing size and ex- . tent, as they are continually increasing, and, contrary to most other things in animal and vegetable life, seem to be , exempted from decay. Every branch from the main body throws out its own roots, at first in small tender fibres, several yards from the ground; but these continually grow thicker until they reach the surface, and then striking in, increase to large trunks, and become parent trees, shooting out new branches from the top, which again in time suspend their roots, and these, swelling into trunks, produce other branches; thus continuing in a state of progression as long as the earth, the parent of them all, contributes her sustenance. The Hindus are particularly fond of the banian tree, which, from its long duration, its outstretching arms, and overshadowing beneficence, they look upon as an emblem of the Deity. Near these trees the most esteemed pagodas are generally erected; under their shade the Brahmins spend their lives in religious solitude; and the natives of all castes and tribes are fond of recreating in the cool recesses, beautiful walks, and lovely vistas of this umbrageous canopy, impervious even to the direct rays of a tropical sun.
FIDD, an iron pin used at sea to splice or fasten ropes together, and made tapering and sharp at one end. There are also fidds of wood, which are much larger than those of iron.

F rnν>-Hammer is used to signify a hammer, the handle of which is a fidd, or made tapering in that form.
FIDDES, Richard, a laborious English writer, was born at Hunmanby, near Scarborough, in the year 1671. Having received his grammatical education at a private school in the neighbourhood, he was admitted first of Corpus Christi, and then of University College, Oxford; but, after taking the degree of bachelor of arts, in 1693, he returned to his relations, and married the same year a lady of good family and fortune. In 1694 he was ordained priest, and not long afterwards presented to the rectory of Halsham; but this place, situated in a marsh, having proved insalubrious both to himself and his family, his residence on his benefice was dispensed with by his diocesan, upon which he removed to Wickham, where he continued for some time. Being thus unable to display his talents as a preacher, and having a numerous family to support, he resolved to devote himself to literature, and with this view proceeded to London in 1712, where, by the favour of Swift, he was introduced to the Earl of Oxford, who made him one of his chaplains, and procured for him a similar appointment from the queen. But the change of ministry in 1714 overturned all Fiddes’ hopes of preferment, and forced him to apply to writing with greater assiduity than ever. Yet he continued to enjoy the esteem of contemporary writers, particularly those of his own party, and was honoured with the friendship of some of the most eminent men of the time. By the interposition of Dr Radcliffe, the degree of bachelor of divinity was conferred upon him by diploma, in the beginning of 1713; and, in 1718, he was honoured with that of doctor by the university of Oxford. In 1725 he died in the house of a friend at Putney, leaving a wife and six children, one of whom, his eldest daughter, married Mr Barcroft, curate of St George’s, Hanover Square, who abridged Taylor’s Ductor Dubitantium. Dr Fiddes was the author of, 1. A Prefatory Epistle concerning some Remarks to be published on Homer’s Iliad, occasioned by the proposals of Mr Pope towards a new English version of that poem, 1714, in 12mo; 2. Theologica Speculativa, or the first part of a body of Divinity under that title, wherein are explained the principles of Natural and Revealed Religion, 171 , folio; 3. Fifty-two Practical Discourses on several subjects, 4. The Life of Cardinal Wolsey, 1724, folio; 5. Answer to Britannicus, compiler of the London Journal, 1725, being a defence of the Life of Wolsey; 6. A general Treatise o Morality, formed upon the principles of Natural Reason only, 1724, in 8vo; 7. A Preparative to the Lord s Supper; and, 8. A Letter in answer to one from a Freethm er, occasioned by the Duke of Buckingham’s Epitaph· Fiddes was an ingenious but not very learned man, possessed a retentive memory, and was capable of the rn0 [7:9:537]intense application; but his style as a writer is tedious and prolix, and, though commonly judicious, he almost never rises above mediocrity. His misfortunes, towards the close of his life, were chiefly owing to his connection with that party in thθ state t0 which, through Swift, he had been led to attach himself upon his arrival in London. (a.)
FIDDLE. See Violin.
FIDE-JUSSOR, in the Civil Law, is a surety, or one who obliges himself in the same contract with a principal, for the greater security of the creditor or stipulator.
FIDEI-COMMISSUM, in the Civil Law, an estate left in trust with any person, for the use of another.
FIDES, Faith, or Fidelity, one of the virtues deified by die Pagans. She had a temple near the capitol, founded by Numa Pompilius; but no animals were immolated, nor was any blood spilt, in her sacrifices. During the performance of her rites, her priests appeared in white vestments, with their heads and hands covered with linen, to show that fidelity ought to be sacred.
FIDIUS, in Pagan worship, a god who presided over alliances and promises. This deity, which the Romans borrowed from the Sabines, was also called Sanctus, Semon, and Semi-Pater.
FIELD, in Heraldry, is the whole surface of the shield or the continent, so called because it contains those achievements anciently acquired in the field of battle. It is the ground on which the colours, bearing, metals, furs, charges, and the like, are represented.

FiELD-Book, in Surveying, a book in which the angles, stations, distances, &c. are set down.

Field- Colours, οx Camp-Colours, in war, are small flags of about a foot and a half square, which are carried along with the quartermaster-general, to mark out the ground for the squadrons and battalions.

FiELD-Pieces, cannons of small calibre, from three to twelve pounders, which are carried along with an army in the field.

FiELD-Worhs, in Eortification. See Fortification.
FIERI Facias, in Law, a writ that lies where a person has recovered judgment for debt or damages in the king’s court, by which the sheriff is commanded to levy the debt and damages on the defendant’s goods and chattels.
FIESOLE, a city of the grand duchy of Tuscany, in Italy, in the province of Florence. It occupies an elevated situation, is the see of a bishop, and has a cathedral, several churches, and but few inhabitants. It is a place of great antiquity, having been in remote ages one of the twelve eminent cities of Etruria. It has now several country-seats of the Florentine nobles.
FIG, or Fig-tree. See Ficus.
FIGEAC, an arrondissement of the department of the Lot, in France, extending over 672 squaremiles. It is divided into eight cantons and 168 communes, containing 80,178 inhabitants. The capital is a city of the same name, situated on the river Celle, where there is some trade in corn and in wine. There are in it 1300 houses and 6452 inhabitants. Long. 1. 55. E. Lat. 44. 40. N.
FIGUERAS, a town and fortress of Spain, in the province of Catalonia, and one of the most important of its defences on the eastern frontiers of France. It is strongly fortified, and situated in the fruitful district of Ampurdan, abounding in fruits and grain, being watered by the river Fluvia, which, though usual!y fordable, becomes an extensive river when swollen with rain, or with the melting of the snow on the mountain whence it springs. It is in north latitude 43. 16. 1. and east longitude 3. 29. 15. from London. The fortress is capable of containing a garrison of from 12,000 to 16,000 men. The inhabitants of the town are reckoned at 4640.
FIGURAL, Figurate, or Figurative, a term applied to whatever is expressed by obscure resemblances.
FIGURE, in Physics, expresses the surface or terminating extremities of any body. Figures, in Arithmetic, are certain characters by which we denote any number which may be expressed by any combination of the nine digits. Figure, amongst divines, is used to signify the mysteries represented under certain types. Figure, in Dancing, denotes the several steps which the dancer makes as marking certain figures on the floor. Figure, in Painting and Designing, denotes the lines and colours which form the representation of any animal, but more particularly of the human form. Figure, in Logic, denotes a certain order and disposition of the middle term in any syllogism. (See Logic.) Figure of Speech is defined the using a word in a sense different from what is proper to it; and the .new or uncommon sense of the word is termed the figurative sense· Figure, in Theology, is used for the mysteries represented or delivered obscurely to us under certain types or actions, in the Old Testament.
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FILAMENT, in Anatomy and Natural History, a term used in the same sense with fibre, and signifying those fine threads of which the flesh, nerves, skin, plants, roots, &c. are composed.

Vegetable Filaments form a substance of great use in the arts and manufactures; furnishing thread, cloth, cordage, and the like. For these purposes the filamentous parts of the Cannabis and Linum i or hemp and flax, are commonly used amongst us. But different vegetables have been employed in different countries for the same uses. Putrefaction destroys the pulpy or fleshy matter, and leaves the tough filaments entire. By putrefying the leaf of a plant in water, we obtain the fine flexible fibres which constitute the basis of the ribs and minute veins, and form as it were a skeleton of the leaf. The Sieur de-Flacourt, in his history of Madagascar, relates that different kinds of cloth are prepared in that island from the filaments of the bark of certain trees boiled in a strong lye; that some of these cloths are very fine, and approach to the softness of silk, but in durability fall short of cotton; that others are coarser and stronger, and last thrice as long as cotton; and that of these the sails and cordage of his vessel were made.
FILANDERS, in falconry, a disease in hawks, and some other birds, consisting of filaments or strings of blood coagulated; and occasioned by a violent rupture of a vein, by which the blood extravasated hardens into these figures, and incommodes the reins, hips, and other parts.

Filanders are also worms as small as thread, and about an inch long, which lie wrapt up in a thin skin or net, near the reins of a hawk, apart from either gut or gorge.
FILE, among mechanics, a tool used in order to smooth, polish, or cut metals. This instrument is of iron or forged steel, cut transversely in little furrows, with chisels and a mallet, and of a depth corresponding to the grain or touch required. After cutting the file, it must be tempered with a composition of chimney-soot, very hard and dry, diluted and wrought up with urine, vinegar, and salt, and the whole reduced to the consistence of mustard. Tempering files consists in rubbing them over with this composition, and in covering them with loam; after whic ı they are put in a charcoal fire, and taken out by the tunc they have acquired a cherry colour, which is known by a small rod of the same kind of steel put in along with them· Being taken out of the fire, they are thrown into co spring water, and subsequently cleaned with charcoal an a rag; after which they arc kept dry and free from rust J laying them up in wheat bran. Iron filings require moi e heating than steel ones. Files are of different form sizes, cuts, and degrees of fineness, according to the c ι θr ent uses and occasions for which they are made.
FILIBEG, or Philibeg. See Philibeg.
FILIPPO D’ARGYRO, a city of the province of Catania, in the island of Sicily. It is situated on the summit of a lofty insulated hill, abounds in churches and monasteries, contains 6118 inhabitants, and produces near it much saffron and good wine. It was the birth-place of the celebrated historian Diodorus Siculus.
FILLET, or Filet. See Architecture, Index. Fillet, in Heraldry, a kind of orle or bordure, containing only a third or fourth part of the breadth of the common bordure. It is supposed to be withdrawn inwards, and is of a different colour from that of the field. It runs quite round, near the edge, as a lacc over a cloak.

Fillet is also used among painters, gilders, and others, for a little rule or reglet of leaf gold, drawn over certain mouldings, or on the edges of frames, pannels, and the like, especially when painted white, by way of enrichment.

Fillets, in the Manege, are the loins of a horse, which begin at the place where the hinder part of the saddle usually rests. . . „
FILM, a thin skin or pellicle. In plants it signifies that thin woody skin which separates the seeds in the pods, and keeps them apart. .
FILOTI, a town of the Turkish province Yanina, and the capital of a district of the same name. It contains [7:9:580]4000 inhabitants, who make excellent oil, and cultivate a considerable extent of tobacco.
FIN, in Natural History, a well-known part of fishes, consisting of a membrane supported by rays, or little bony or cartilaginous ossicles.
FINAL, in general, whatever terminates or concludes a thing; as final judgment, final sentence, and the like.

Final Cause, is the end for which a thing is done. The final cause is the first thing in the intention of an agent, and the last in the execution.

Final Letters, among Hebrew grammarians, five letters so called,, because they have a different figure at the end of words from that which they have in any other situation.
FINALE, a sea-port in the duchy of Genoa, and kingdom of Sardinia. It is divided into two parts, one called the Hill, the other the Marina. It is strongly fortified, especially against maritime attacks. The inhabitants amount to 3974, who carry on a brisk trade in olives and in oil, which the surrounding district copiously supplies.
FINANCES, in political economy, the revenues of a king or state; analogous to the treasury or exchequer of the English, and ∖ λ ∖ cfiscus of the Romans. The word is derived from the German finantz, scraping or usury; though Du Cange ch uses rather to deduce it from the barbarous ∖ α!iνΛfinancia, prestatio pecuniaria. See Taxation.
FINE, that which is pure and without mixture. The term is particularly used in speaking of gold or silver.

Fine, in Law, has different applications. Sometimes it is used for a formal conveyance of lands or tenements, or of any thing inheritable, being in esse temporis finis, in order to cut off all controversies. Others define it a final agreement between persons, concerning any lands, rents, or other subjects, of which any suit or writ is depending between them in any court.

Fine sometimes signifies a sum of money paid for entering lands or tenements let by lease; and sometimes a pecuniary mulct for an offence committed against the king and his laws, or against the lord of the manor.

EiN ε-D rawing, or Rentering, a dexterous sewing up or rejoining the parts of any cloth, stuff, or the like, torn or rent in the dressing, wearing, or otherwise.

Fine- Stiller, in the distillery. That branch of the art which is employed in distilling spirit from treacle or other preparations or recrements of sugar, is called fine-stilling, by way of distinction from malt-stilling; and the person who exercises this part of the trade is called a fine-stiller.
FINERS of Gold and Silver are those who purify and separate these metals from other coarser ones, or their ores, by means of fire and acids. They are also called porters in our old law books, and sometimes departers.
FINEERING. See Veneering.
FINGAL, king of Morven, in ancient Caledonia. See Ossian. .
FINKENWERDER, an island in the river Elbe, belonging to the kingdom of Hanover, in the bailiwick of Harburg, and between that city and Hamburg. It is fertile, and contains a small town of the same name, with o60 [7:9:586]inhabitants, who furnish the market of both cities with fruits and vegetables.
FINISTERRE, a maritime department of France. It is bounded by the sea on three sides, and on the east by the departments of the Côte du Nord and of Morbihan. It is in the shape of a triangle, and extends over 2890 square miles, or, according to the Almanac-Royal, 693,384 hectares, of which 252,704 are under the plough, 106,281 are in fallow, 23,389 are pasturel and, 148,364 are woods, 35,868 are waste, 56,414 are covered with lakes and estuaries, 22,267 are the beds of rivers and harbours, and the remainder roads, and the sites of cities, towns, and villages. The surface is very unequal, consisting of chains of hills running through the peninsula, some reaching the height of 1000 feet, with valleys between them of various extent.

The civil divisions are into five arrondissements, forty-three cantons, and 287 communes, inhabited by 452,450 persons. The inhabitants are a distinct race from the French, and mostly speak the old language of the Brey-zards, the name by which they are distinguished. They are obstinate in their adherence to old and antipathy to new customs. Their clothing is little altered in the last thousand years, which in form and colour varies in each place, thus showing the dwelling of each person. There are whole communes in which no individuals are to be found who can read or write. They live either in scattered houses or small hamlets, and more than 25,000 houses are so wretched in appearance when seen, that they resemble the huts of savages. They are mostly hidden behind hedges and banks, and only visible by the smoke which issues from the doors, for they have neither chimneys nor windows. The cattle and the families live together in a state of disgusting filth. The females, who are commonly very ugly, are oppressed by their labour, and so contemptuously treated that they are not even suffered to eat with the men.

With all this they are said to be hospitable, upright, brave, and patriotic, and content with their barley bread, milk, and (but of late years) potatoes. The agriculture is in a backward state, and produces less corn than is required for the consumption; and since the population has increased, severe scarcity would be annually felt but for the introduction of potatoes, which are now extensively cultivated. The sheep, cows, and especially the horses, are diminutive; but the swine are fine and numerous.

The inhabitants of the towns in general are more like the other parts of the French nation. Those on the coast pursue the fisheries with success, especially that for sardinias. The only mines are those of lead, in which silver is found mixed with that metal. In two mines, at Poul-lalouen and Huelgoet, 900 workmen are employed, who raise yearly 600 tons of lead, and from it extract 26,000 ounces of silver.

In some parts, especially at Morlaix, there are some manufactories of linen, sail-cloth, twine, cordage, and paper. At that port also the surplus productions of the soil are exported to other portions of the kingdom, as well as to foreign parts.
FINLAND, a province formerly of Sweden, but at present under the dominion of Russia, of which it is called a stadtholdership. It extends from 19. 35. to 33. 1. east longitude, and from 59. 50. to 69.55. north latitude; and, including Lappmark, extends over the vast space of 140,844 square miles, although the inhabitants in the year 1814 amounted to no more than 1,460,000. The country is generally hilly rather than mountainous, as none of the elevations exceed 3500 feet, and the highest are only in the north and in the west parts. In the east it is filled with sand hills, rocks, woods, marshes, lakes, and rivers; but between the hills are some spots, either cultivated, or affording natural pasture. On the sea shore both in the Gulf of Bothnia and in that of Finland, the rocks and sands, and the small islands and shores, are so numerous as to render the navigation highly dangerous.

The climate, though varying with the degrees of latitude, is unfavourable to a great population, from the excessive cold of the long winter, and the excessive heat and aridity of the short summer. Yet, when under the Swedish government, Finland not only produced sufficient corn, chiefly rye, for its own consumption, but supplied a part of the demand, of the metropolitan provinces. Of late the culture of potatoes has been extended. Finland produces hemp and flax; the former inferior in quality to the latter. The chief articles of export are the productions of the forest, which supply fuel to Stockholm, and masts and ship-timber to other countries. Considerable quantities of pot and pearl ashes, of pitch and tar, are also exported, and some salted fishes; but salt is a scarce commodity, and the want of it is felt by others as well as by the fishermen. The inhabitants being of different races, speak dialects of the Finnish, Lappish, and Swedish languages, whose origin being the same, are understood without much difficulty. The whole adhere to the Lutheran confession, except in some of the southern parts, where the Greek church has adherents among those of the Russian nation.

Since Russia possessed the country, the administration of that empire has been in part introduced, but with much deference to the ancient customs and laws of the inhabitants. The province is now divided into twelve circles.
FIRKIN, an English measure of capacity for liquids, being the fourth part of the barrel, and containing eight gallons of ale, soap, or herrings, and nine gallons of beer, old measure. Imperial measure contains one sixtieth part less in the gallon. See Weights and Measures.
FIRLOT, a dry measure used in Scotland. The wheat firlot contains 21j- pints of that country, or about 2214 cubic inches; and the barley firlot, 31 standard pints, or 3232 cubic inches. Hence the Scotch wheat firlot exceeds the old English bushel by 33 cubic inches, and the imperial bushel by 4 cubic inches.
FIRMAMENT, in the ancient astronomy, the eighth heaven or sphere, in which the fixed stars were supposed to be placed. It is called the eighth, with respect to the seven heavens or spheres of the planets which it surrounds.

The firmament is supposed to have two motions; a diurnal motion, given to it by the primum mobile, from east to west, about the poles of the ecliptic; and another opposite motion from west to east; which it completes, according to Tycho, in 25,412 years; according to Ptolemy, in 36,000; and according to Copernicus, in 258,000; when the fixed stars return to the same precise points in which they were at the commencement of this grand revolution. This period is commonly called the Platonic or great year. *
FIRMAN is a passport granted to travellers and others m the dominions of Turkey, and usually bearing the signet of the grand signior himself.
FISC (Fiscus), in the Civil Law, the treasury of a prince or state, or that into which all things due t° Jae public fall to be paid or delivered. The word is derive from the Greek φιΰχος, a great basket, used when they « en to market. By the civil law, none but a sovereign prince has a right to have a fisc or public treasury. At y under the emperors, the term cerarium was used for . . revenues destined to support the charges of the empire, [7:9:589] the fiscus for those of the emperor’s own family. The treasury, in fact, belonged to the people, and the fiscus, to the prince. Hence the goods of condemned persons, if appropriated to the use of the public, were said publicari ; if to the support of the emperor or prince, confiscari.
FISCAL, in the Civil Law, something relating to the pecuniary interest of the prince or people. The officers appointed for the management of the fisc were called procuratores fisci, and advocati fisci ; and among the cases enumerated in the constitutions of the empire, where it was their business to plead, one is against those who have been condemned to pay a fine to the fisc on account of their litigiousness, or frivolous appeals to the courts of law.