To turn the tables

Table Ta"ble, n. [F., fr. L. tabula a board, tablet, a painting. Cf. {Tabular}, {Taffrail}, {Tavern}.] 1. A smooth, flat surface, like the side of a board; a thin, flat, smooth piece of anything; a slab. [1913 Webster]

A bagnio paved with fair tables of marble. --Sandys. [1913 Webster]

2. A thin, flat piece of wood, stone, metal, or other material, on which anything is cut, traced, written, or painted; a tablet; pl. a memorandum book. ``The names . . . written on his tables.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest. --Ex. xxxiv. 1. [1913 Webster]

And stand there with your tables to glean The golden sentences. --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

3. Any smooth, flat surface upon which an inscription, a drawing, or the like, may be produced. ``Painted in a table plain.'' --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

The opposite walls are painted by Rubens, which, with that other of the Infanta taking leave of Don Philip, is a most incomparable table. --Evelyn. [1913 Webster]

St. Antony has a table that hangs up to him from a poor peasant. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

4. Hence, in a great variety of applications: A condensed statement which may be comprehended by the eye in a single view; a methodical or systematic synopsis; the presentation of many items or particulars in one group; a scheme; a schedule. Specifically: [1913 Webster] (a) (Bibliog.) A view of the contents of a work; a statement of the principal topics discussed; an index; a syllabus; a synopsis; as, a table of contents. [1913 Webster] (b) (Chem.) A list of substances and their properties; especially, the a list of the elementary substances with their atomic weights, densities, symbols, etc. [1913 Webster] (c) (Mach.) Any collection and arrangement in a condensed form of many particulars or values, for ready reference, as of weights, measures, currency, specific gravities, etc.; also, a series of numbers following some law, and expressing particular values corresponding to certain other numbers on which they depend, and by means of which they are taken out for use in computations; as, tables of logarithms, sines, tangents, squares, cubes, etc.; annuity tables; interest tables; astronomical tables, etc. [1913 Webster] (d) (Palmistry) The arrangement or disposition of the lines which appear on the inside of the hand. [1913 Webster]

Mistress of a fairer table Hath not history for fable. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]

5. An article of furniture, consisting of a flat slab, board, or the like, having a smooth surface, fixed horizontally on legs, and used for a great variety of purposes, as in eating, writing, or working. [1913 Webster]

We may again Give to our tables meat. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The nymph the table spread. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

6. Hence, food placed on a table to be partaken of; fare; entertainment; as, to set a good table. [1913 Webster]

7. The company assembled round a table. [1913 Webster]

I drink the general joy of the whole table. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

8. (Anat.) One of the two, external and internal, layers of compact bone, separated by diplo["e], in the walls of the cranium. [1913 Webster]

9. (Arch.) A stringcourse which includes an offset; esp., a band of stone, or the like, set where an offset is required, so as to make it decorative. See {Water table}. [1913 Webster]

10. (Games) (a) The board on the opposite sides of which backgammon and draughts are played. (b) One of the divisions of a backgammon board; as, to play into the right-hand table. (c) pl. The games of backgammon and of draughts. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

This is the ape of form, monsieur the nice, That, when he plays at tables, chides the dice. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

11. (Glass Manuf.) A circular plate of crown glass. [1913 Webster]

A circular plate or table of about five feet diameter weighs on an average nine pounds. --Ure. [1913 Webster]

12. (Jewelry) The upper flat surface of a diamond or other precious stone, the sides of which are cut in angles. [1913 Webster]

13. (Persp.) A plane surface, supposed to be transparent and perpendicular to the horizon; -- called also {perspective plane}. [1913 Webster]

14. (Mach.) The part of a machine tool on which the work rests and is fastened. [1913 Webster]

{Bench table}, {Card table}, {Communion table}, {Lord's table}, etc. See under {Bench}, {Card}, etc.

{Raised table} (Arch. & Sculp.), a raised or projecting member of a flat surface, large in proportion to the projection, and usually rectangular, -- especially intended to receive an inscription or the like.

{Roller table} (Horology), a flat disk on the arbor of the balance of a watch, holding the jewel which rolls in and out of the fork at the end of the lever of the escapement.

{Round table}. See Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.

{Table anvil}, a small anvil to be fastened to a table for use in making slight repairs.

{Table base}. (Arch.) Same as {Water table}.

{Table bed}, a bed in the form of a table.

{Table beer}, beer for table, or for common use; small beer.

{Table bell}, a small bell to be used at table for calling servants.

{Table cover}, a cloth for covering a table, especially at other than mealtimes.

{Table diamond}, a thin diamond cut with a flat upper surface.

{Table linen}, linen tablecloth, napkins, and the like.

{Table money} (Mil. or Naut.), an allowance sometimes made to officers over and above their pay, for table expenses.

{Table rent} (O. Eng. Law), rent paid to a bishop or religious, reserved or appropriated to his table or housekeeping. --Burrill.

{Table shore} (Naut.), a low, level shore.

{Table talk}, conversation at table, or at meals.

{Table talker}, one who talks at table.

{Table tipping}, {Table turning}, certain movements of tables, etc., attributed by some to the agency of departed spirits, and by others to the development of latent vital or spriritual forces, but more commonly ascribed to the muscular force of persons in connection with the objects moved, or to physical force applied otherwise.

{Tables of a girder} or {Tables of a chord} (Engin.), the upper and lower horizontal members.

{To lay on the table}, in parliamentary usage, to lay, as a report, motion, etc., on the table of the presiding officer, -- that is, to postpone the consideration of, by a vote; -- also called to {table} . It is a tactic often used with the intention of postponing consideration of a motion indefinitely, that is, to kill the motion.

{To serve tables} (Script.), to provide for the poor, or to distribute provisions for their wants. --Acts vi. 2.

{To turn the tables}, to change the condition or fortune of contending parties; -- a metaphorical expression taken from the vicissitudes of fortune in gaming.

{Twelve tables} (Rom. Antiq.), a celebrated body of Roman laws, framed by decemvirs appointed 450 years before Christ, on the return of deputies or commissioners who had been sent to Greece to examine into foreign laws and institutions. They consisted partly of laws transcribed from the institutions of other nations, partly of such as were altered and accommodated to the manners of the Romans, partly of new provisions, and mainly, perhaps, of laws and usages under their ancient kings. --Burrill. [1913 Webster]