Small capital

Small capital
capital cap"i*tal (k[a^]p"[i^]*tal), n. [Cf. L. capitellum and capitulum, a small head, the head, top, or capital of a column, dim. of caput head; F. chapiteau, OF. capitel. See {chief}, and cf. {cattle}, {chattel}, {chapiter}, {chapter}.] 1. (Arch.) The head or uppermost member of a column, pilaster, etc. It consists generally of three parts, abacus, bell (or vase), and necking. See these terms, and {Column}. [1913 Webster]

2. [Cf. F. capilate, fem., sc. ville.] (Geog.) The seat of government; the chief city or town in a country; a metropolis. ``A busy and splendid capital'' --Macauly. [1913 Webster]

3. [Cf. F. capital.] Money, property, or stock employed in trade, manufactures, etc.; the sum invested or lent, as distinguished from the income or interest. See {Capital stock}, under {Capital}, a. [1913 Webster]

4. (Polit. Econ.) That portion of the produce of industry, which may be directly employed either to support human beings or to assist in production. --M'Culloch. [1913 Webster]

Note: When wealth is used to assist production it is called capital. The capital of a civilized community includes {fixed capital} (i.e. buildings, machines, and roads used in the course of production and exchange) and {circulating capital} (i.e., food, fuel, money, etc., spent in the course of production and exchange). --T. Raleigh. [1913 Webster]

5. Anything which can be used to increase one's power or influence. [1913 Webster]

He tried to make capital out of his rival's discomfiture. --London Times. [1913 Webster]

6. (Fort.) An imaginary line dividing a bastion, ravelin, or other work, into two equal parts. [1913 Webster]

7. A chapter, or section, of a book. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Holy St. Bernard hath said in the 59th capital. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

8. (Print.) See {Capital letter}, under {Capital}, a. [1913 Webster]

{Active capital}. See under {Active},

{Small capital} (Print.), a small capital letter; informally referred to (in the plural) as {small caps}; as, the technical terms are listed in {small caps}. See under {Capital}, a.

{To live on one's capital}, to consume one's capital without producing or accumulating anything to replace it. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • small capital — n. a capital letter of smaller size than the regular capital letter used: the regular capitals used in this dictionary are A, B, C, D, etc.; the small capitals are A, B, C, D, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Small capital letters — Capital Cap i*tal, a. [F. capital, L. capitalis capital (in senses 1 & 2), fr. caput head. See {Chief}, and cf. {Capital}, n.] 1. Of or pertaining to the head. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise Expect with mortal …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • small capital business — UK US noun [C or U] FINANCE ► a company that has a small total value of shares, or the business activity of these companies as a group: »This legislation is good news for small capital businesses …   Financial and business terms

  • small capital — small′ cap′ital n. pri a capital letter of a particular font, having the height of a lowercase x. Also called small′ cap′ • Etymology: 1760–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • small capital — noun a character having the form of an upper case letter but the same height as lower case letters • Syn: ↑small cap • Hypernyms: ↑capital, ↑capital letter, ↑uppercase, ↑upper case letter, ↑majuscule …   Useful english dictionary

  • small capital — noun Date: 1770 a letter having the form of but smaller than a capital letter (as in these words) called also small cap …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • small capital — a capital letter of a particular font, the same height as the x high letters. Also called small cap. [1760 70] * * * …   Universalium

  • small capital — upper case letter that is of a small size; small fortune, small amount of money …   English contemporary dictionary

  • small capital — noun a capital letter which is of the same height as a lower case x in the same typeface, as THIS …   English new terms dictionary

  • small caps — capital cap i*tal (k[a^]p [i^]*tal), n. [Cf. L. capitellum and capitulum, a small head, the head, top, or capital of a column, dim. of caput head; F. chapiteau, OF. capitel. See {chief}, and cf. {cattle}, {chattel}, {chapiter}, {chapter}.] 1.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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