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ground

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ground


  8  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Debatable  \De*bat"a*ble\,  a.  [Cf.  OF  debatable.  See  {Debate}.] 
  Liable  to  be  debated;  disputable;  subject  to  controversy  or 
  contention;  open  to  question  or  dispute;  as  a  debatable 
  question. 
 
  {The  Debatable  Land}  or  {Ground},  a  tract  of  land  between  the 
  Esk  and  the  Sark,  claimed  by  both  England  and  Scotland; 
  the  Batable  Ground. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Grind  \Grind\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Ground};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Grinding}.]  [AS.  grindan  perh.  akin  to  L.  frendere  to 
  gnash,  grind.  Cf  {Grist}.] 
  1.  To  reduce  to  powder  by  friction,  as  in  a  mill,  or  with  the 
  teeth;  to  crush  into  small  fragments;  to  produce  as  by  the 
  action  of  millstones. 
 
  Take  the  millstones,  and  grind  meal.  --Is.  xivii. 
  2. 
 
  2.  To  wear  down  polish,  or  sharpen,  by  friction;  to  make 
  smooth,  sharp,  or  pointed;  to  whet,  as  a  knife  or  drill; 
  to  rub  against  one  another,  as  teeth,  etc 
 
  3.  To  oppress  by  severe  exactions;  to  harass. 
 
  To  grind  the  subject  or  defraud  the  prince. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  4.  To  study  hard  for  examination.  [College  Slang] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ground  \Ground\  (ground),  n.  [OE.  ground,  grund,  AS  grund;  akin 
  to  D.  grond,  OS.,  G.,  Sw.,  &  Dan.  grund,  Icel.  grunnr  bottom, 
  Goth.  grundus  (in  composition);  perh.  orig.  meaning,  dust, 
  gravel,  and  if  so  perh.  akin  to  E.  grind.] 
  1.  The  surface  of  the  earth;  the  outer  crust  of  the  globe,  or 
  some  indefinite  portion  of  it 
 
  There  was  not  a  man  to  till  the  ground.  --Gen.  ii 
  5. 
 
  The  fire  ran  along  upon  the  ground.  --Ex.  ix  23. 
  Hence:  A  floor  or  pavement  supposed  to  rest  upon  the 
  earth. 
 
  2.  Any  definite  portion  of  the  earth's  surface;  region; 
  territory;  country.  Hence:  A  territory  appropriated  to  or 
  resorted  to  for  a  particular  purpose;  the  field  or  place 
  of  action  as  a  hunting  or  fishing  ground;  a  play  ground. 
 
  From  .  .  .  old  Euphrates,  to  the  brook  that  parts 
  Egypt  from  Syrian  ground.  --Milton. 
 
  3.  Land;  estate;  possession;  field;  esp.  (pl.),  the  gardens, 
  lawns,  fields,  etc.,  belonging  to  a  homestead;  as  the 
  grounds  of  the  estate  are  well  kept. 
 
  Thy  next  design  is  on  thy  neighbor's  grounds. 
  --Dryden.  4. 
 
  4.  The  basis  on  which  anything  rests;  foundation.  Hence:  The 
  foundation  of  knowledge,  belief,  or  conviction;  a  premise, 
  reason,  or  datum;  ultimate  or  first  principle;  cause  of 
  existence  or  occurrence;  originating  force  or  agency;  as 
  the  ground  of  my  hope. 
 
  5.  (Paint.  &  Decorative  Art) 
  a  That  surface  upon  which  the  figures  of  a  composition 
  are  set  and  which  relieves  them  by  its  plainness, 
  being  either  of  one  tint  or  of  tints  but  slightly 
  contrasted  with  one  another;  as  crimson  Bowers  on  a 
  white  ground.  See  {Background},  {Foreground},  and 
  {Middle-ground}. 
  b  In  sculpture,  a  flat  surface  upon  which  figures  are 
  raised  in  relief. 
  c  In  point  lace,  the  net  of  small  meshes  upon  which  the 
  embroidered  pattern  is  applied;  as  Brussels  ground. 
  See  {Brussels  lace},  under  {Brussels}. 
 
  6.  (Etching)  A  gummy  composition  spread  over  the  surface  of  a 
  metal  to  be  etched,  to  prevent  the  acid  from  eating  except 
  where  an  opening  is  made  by  the  needle. 
 
  7.  (Arch.)  One  of  the  pieces  of  wood,  flush  with  the 
  plastering,  to  which  moldings,  etc.,  are  attached;  -- 
  usually  in  the  plural. 
 
  Note:  Grounds  are  usually  put  up  first  and  the  plastering 
  floated  flush  with  them 
 
  8.  (Mus.) 
  a  A  composition  in  which  the  bass,  consisting  of  a  few 
  bars  of  independent  notes,  is  continually  repeated  to 
  a  varying  melody. 
  b  The  tune  on  which  descants  are  raised;  the  plain  song. 
  --Moore  (Encyc.). 
 
  On  that  ground  I'll  build  a  holy  descant. 
  --Shak. 
 
  9.  (Elec.)  A  conducting  connection  with  the  earth,  whereby 
  the  earth  is  made  part  of  an  electrical  circuit. 
 
  10.  pl  Sediment  at  the  bottom  of  liquors  or  liquids;  dregs; 
  lees;  feces;  as  coffee  grounds. 
 
  11.  The  pit  of  a  theater.  [Obs.]  --B.  Jonson 
 
  {Ground  angling},  angling  with  a  weighted  line  without  a 
  float. 
 
  {Ground  annual}  (Scots  Law),  an  estate  created  in  land  by  a 
  vassal  who  instead  of  selling  his  land  outright  reserves 
  an  annual  ground  rent,  which  becomes  a  perpetual  charge 
  upon  the  land. 
 
  {Ground  ash}.  (Bot.)  See  {Groutweed}. 
 
  {Ground  bailiff}  (Mining),  a  superintendent  of  mines. 
  --Simmonds. 
 
  {Ground  bait},  bits  of  bread,  boiled  barley  or  worms,  etc., 
  thrown  into  the  water  to  collect  the  fish,  --Wallon. 
 
  {Ground  bass}  or  {base}  (Mus.),  fundamental  base;  a 
  fundamental  base  continually  repeated  to  a  varied  melody. 
 
 
  {Ground  beetle}  (Zo["o]l.),  one  of  numerous  species  of 
  carnivorous  beetles  of  the  family  {Carabid[ae]},  living 
  mostly  in  burrows  or  under  stones,  etc 
 
  {Ground  chamber},  a  room  on  the  ground  floor. 
 
  {Ground  cherry}.  (Bot.) 
  a  A  genus  ({Physalis})  of  herbaceous  plants  having  an 
  inflated  calyx  for  a  seed  pod:  esp.,  the  strawberry 
  tomato  ({P.  Alkekengi}).  See  {Alkekengl}. 
  b  A  European  shrub  ({Prunus  Cham[ae]cerasus}),  with 
  small  very  acid  fruit. 
 
  {Ground  cuckoo}.  (Zo["o]l.)  See  {Chaparral  cock}. 
 
  {Ground  cypress}.  (Bot.)  See  {Lavender  cotton}. 
 
  {Ground  dove}  (Zo["o]l.),  one  of  several  small  American 
  pigeons  of  the  genus  {Columbigallina},  esp.  {C.  passerina} 
  of  the  Southern  United  States,  Mexico,  etc  They  live 
  chiefly  on  the  ground. 
 
  {Ground  fish}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  fish  which  constantly  lives  on 
  the  botton  of  the  sea,  as  the  sole,  turbot,  halibut. 
 
  {Ground  floor},  the  floor  of  a  house  most  nearly  on  a  level 
  with  the  ground;  --  called  also  in  America,  but  not  in 
  England,  the  {first  floor}. 
 
  {Ground  form}  (Gram.),  the  stem  or  basis  of  a  word  to  which 
  the  other  parts  are  added  in  declension  or  conjugation.  It 
  is  sometimes  but  not  always  the  same  as  the  root. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
 
 
  {Ground  furze}  (Bot.),  a  low  slightly  thorny,  leguminous 
  shrub  ({Ononis  arvensis})  of  Europe  and  Central  Asia,;  -- 
  called  also  {rest-harrow}. 
 
  {Ground  game},  hares,  rabbits,  etc.,  as  distinguished  from 
  winged  game. 
 
  {Ground  hele}  (Bot.),  a  perennial  herb  ({Veronica 
  officinalis})  with  small  blue  flowers,  common  in  Europe 
  and  America,  formerly  thought  to  have  curative  properties. 
 
 
  {Ground  of  the  heavens}  (Astron.),  the  surface  of  any  part  of 
  the  celestial  sphere  upon  which  the  stars  may  be  regarded 
  as  projected. 
 
  {Ground  hemlock}  (Bot.),  the  yew  ({Taxus  baccata}  var. 
  Canadensisi)  of  eastern  North  America,  distinguished  from 
  that  of  Europe  by  its  low  straggling  stems. 
 
  {Ground  hog}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  The  woodchuck  or  American  marmot  ({Arctomys  monax}). 
  See  {Woodchuck}. 
  b  The  aardvark. 
 
  {Ground  hold}  (Naut.),  ground  tackle.  [Obs.]  --Spenser. 
 
  {Ground  ice},  ice  formed  at  the  bottom  of  a  body  of  water 
  before  it  forms  on  the  surface. 
 
  {Ground  ivy}.  (Bot.)  A  trailing  plant;  alehoof.  See  {Gill}. 
 
 
  {Ground  joist},  a  joist  for  a  basement  or  ground  floor;  a. 
  sleeper. 
 
  {Ground  lark}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  European  pipit.  See  {Pipit}. 
 
  {Ground  laurel}  (Bot.).  See  {Trailing  arbutus},  under 
  {Arbutus}. 
 
  {Ground  line}  (Descriptive  Geom.),  the  line  of  intersection 
  of  the  horizontal  and  vertical  planes  of  projection. 
 
  {Ground  liverwort}  (Bot.),  a  flowerless  plant  with  a  broad 
  flat  forking  thallus  and  the  fruit  raised  on  peduncled  and 
  radiated  receptacles  ({Marchantia  polymorpha}). 
 
  {Ground  mail},  in  Scotland,  the  fee  paid  for  interment  in  a 
  churchyard. 
 
  {Ground  mass}  (Geol.),  the  fine-grained  or  glassy  base  of  a 
  rock,  in  which  distinct  crystals  of  its  constituents  are 
  embedded. 
 
  {Ground  parrakeet}  (Zo["o]l.),  one  of  several  Australian 
  parrakeets,  of  the  genera  {Callipsittacus}  and 
  {Geopsittacus},  which  live  mainly  upon  the  ground. 
 
  {Ground  pearl}  (Zo["o]l.),  an  insect  of  the  family 
  {Coccid[ae]}  ({Margarodes  formicarum}),  found  in  ants' 
  nests  in  the  Bahamas,  and  having  a  shelly  covering.  They 
  are  strung  like  beads,  and  made  into  necklaces  by  the 
  natives. 
 
  {Ground  pig}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  large  burrowing,  African  rodent 
  ({Aulacodus  Swinderianus})  about  two  feet  long,  allied  to 
  the  porcupines  but  with  harsh,  bristly  hair,  and  no 
  spines;  --  called  also  {ground  rat}. 
 
  {Ground  pigeon}  (Zo["o]l.),  one  of  numerous  species  of 
  pigeons  which  live  largely  upon  the  ground,  as  the 
  tooth-billed  pigeon  ({Didunculus  strigirostris}),  of  the 
  Samoan  Islands,  and  the  crowned  pigeon,  or  goura.  See 
  {Goura},  and  {Ground  dove}  (above). 
 
  {Ground  pine}.  (Bot.) 
  a  A  blue-flowered  herb  of  the  genus  {Ajuga}  ({A. 
  Cham[ae]pitys}),  formerly  included  in  the  genus 
  {Teucrium}  or  germander,  and  named  from  its  resinous 
  smell.  --Sir  J.  Hill. 
  b  A  long,  creeping,  evergreen  plant  of  the  genus 
  {Lycopodium}  ({L.  clavatum});  --  called  also  {club 
  moss}. 
  c  A  tree-shaped  evergreen  plant  about  eight  inches  in 
  height,  of  the  same  genus  ({L.  dendroideum})  found  in 
  moist,  dark  woods  in  the  northern  part  of  the  United 
  States.  --Gray. 
 
  {Ground  plan}  (Arch.),  a  plan  of  the  ground  floor  of  any 
  building,  or  of  any  floor,  as  distinguished  from  an 
  elevation  or  perpendicular  section. 
 
  {Ground  plane},  the  horizontal  plane  of  projection  in 
  perspective  drawing. 
 
  {Ground  plate}. 
  a  (Arch.)  One  of  the  chief  pieces  of  framing  of  a 
  building;  a  timber  laid  horizontally  on  or  near  the 
  ground  to  support  the  uprights;  a  ground  sill  or 
  groundsel. 
  b  (Railroads)  A  bed  plate  for  sleepers  or  ties;  a 
  mudsill. 
  c  (Teleg.)  A  metallic  plate  buried  in  the  earth  to 
  conduct  the  electric  current  thereto.  Connection  to 
  the  pipes  of  a  gas  or  water  main  is  usual  in  cities. 
  --Knight. 
 
  {Ground  plot},  the  ground  upon  which  any  structure  is 
  erected;  hence  any  basis  or  foundation;  also  a  ground 
  plan 
 
  {Ground  plum}  (Bot.),  a  leguminous  plant  ({Astragalus 
  caryocarpus})  occurring  from  the  Saskatchewan  to  Texas, 
  and  having  a  succulent  plum-shaped  pod. 
 
  {Ground  rat}.  (Zo["o]l.)  See  {Ground  pig}  (above). 
 
  {Ground  rent},  rent  paid  for  the  privilege  of  building  on 
  another  man's  land. 
 
  {Ground  robin}.  (Zo["o]l.)  See  {Chewink}. 
 
  {Ground  room},  a  room  on  the  ground  floor;  a  lower  room 
  --Tatler. 
 
  {Ground  sea},  the  West  Indian  name  for  a  swell  of  the  ocean, 
  which  occurs  in  calm  weather  and  without  obvious  cause 
  breaking  on  the  shore  in  heavy  roaring  billows;  --  called 
  also  {rollers},  and  in  Jamaica,  {the  North  sea}. 
 
  {Ground  sill}.  See  {Ground  plate}  a  (above). 
 
  {Ground  snake}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  small  burrowing  American  snake 
  ({Celuta  am[oe]na}).  It  is  salmon  colored,  and  has  a  blunt 
  tail. 
 
  {Ground  squirrel}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  One  of  numerous  species  of  burrowing  rodents  of  the 
  genera  {Tamias}  and  {Spermophilus},  having  cheek 
  pouches.  The  former  genus  includes  the  Eastern 
  striped  squirrel  or  chipmunk  and  some  allied  Western 
  species;  the  latter  includes  the  prairie  squirrel  or 
  striped  gopher,  the  gray  gopher,  and  many  allied 
  Western  species.  See  {Chipmunk},  and  {Gopher}. 
  b  Any  species  of  the  African  genus  {Xerus},  allied  to 
  {Tamias}. 
 
  {Ground  story}.  Same  as  {Ground  floor}  (above). 
 
  {Ground  substance}  (Anat.),  the  intercellular  substance,  or 
  matrix,  of  tissues. 
 
  {Ground  swell}. 
  a  (Bot.)  The  plant  groundsel.  [Obs.]  --Holland. 
  b  A  broad,  deep  swell  or  undulation  of  the  ocean, 
  caused  by  a  long  continued  gale,  and  felt  even  at  a 
  remote  distance  after  the  gale  has  ceased. 
 
  {Ground  table}.  (Arch.)  See  Earth  table,  under  Earth. 
 
  {Ground  tackle}  (Naut.),  the  tackle  necessary  to  secure  a 
  vessel  at  anchor.  --Totten. 
 
  {Ground  thrush}  (Zo["o]l.),  one  of  numerous  species  of 
  bright-colored  Oriental  birds  of  the  family  {Pittid[ae]}. 
  See  {Pitta}. 
 
  {Ground  tier}. 
  a  The  lowest  tier  of  water  casks  in  a  vessel's  hold 
  --Totten. 
  b  The  lowest  line  of  articles  of  any  kind  stowed  in  a 
  vessel's  hold 
  c  The  lowest  range  of  boxes  in  a  theater. 
 
  {Ground  timbers}  (Shipbuilding)  the  timbers  which  lie  on  the 
  keel  and  are  bolted  to  the  keelson;  floor  timbers. 
  --Knight. 
 
  {Ground  tit}.  (Zo["o]l.)  See  {Ground  wren}  (below). 
 
  {Ground  wheel},  that  wheel  of  a  harvester,  mowing  machine, 
  etc.,  which  rolling  on  the  ground,  drives  the  mechanism. 
 
 
  {Ground  wren}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  small  California  bird  ({Cham[ae]a 
  fasciata})  allied  to  the  wrens  and  titmice.  It  inhabits 
  the  arid  plains.  Called  also  {ground  tit},  and  {wren  tit}. 
 
 
  {To  bite  the  ground},  {To  break  ground}.  See  under  {Bite}, 
  {Break}. 
 
  {To  come  to  the  ground},  {To  fall  to  the  ground},  to  come  to 
  nothing;  to  fail  to  miscarry. 
 
  {To  gain  ground}. 
  a  To  advance;  to  proceed  forward  in  conflict;  as  an 
  army  in  battle  gains  ground. 
  b  To  obtain  an  advantage;  to  have  some  success;  as  the 
  army  gains  ground  on  the  enemy. 
  c  To  gain  credit;  to  become  more  prosperous  or 
  influential. 
 
  {To  get  or  To  gather},  {ground},  to  gain  ground.  [R.] 
  ``Evening  mist  .  .  .  gathers  ground  fast.''  --Milton. 
 
  There  is  no  way  for  duty  to  prevail,  and  get  ground 
  of  them  but  by  bidding  higher.  --South. 
 
  {To  give  ground},  to  recede;  to  yield  advantage. 
 
  These  nine  .  .  .  began  to  give  me  ground.  --Shak. 
 
  {To  lose  ground},  to  retire;  to  retreat;  to  withdraw  from  the 
  position  taken  hence  to  lose  advantage;  to  lose  credit 
  or  reputation;  to  decline 
 
  {To  stand  one's  ground},  to  stand  firm;  to  resist  attack  or 
  encroachment.  --Atterbury. 
 
  {To  take  the  ground}  to  touch  bottom  or  become  stranded;  -- 
  said  of  a  ship. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ground  \Ground\  (ground),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Grounded};  p.  pr 
  &  vb  n.  {Grounding}.] 
  1.  To  lay,  set  or  run,  on  the  ground. 
 
  2.  To  found  to  fix  or  set  as  on  a  foundation,  reason,  or 
  principle;  to  furnish  a  ground  for  to  fix  firmly. 
 
  Being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love.  --Eph.  iii. 
  17. 
 
  So  far  from  warranting  any  inference  to  the 
  existence  of  a  God,  would  on  the  contrary,  ground 
  even  an  argument  to  his  negation.  --Sir  W. 
  Hamilton 
 
  3.  To  instruct  in  elements  or  first  principles. 
 
  4.  (Elec.)  To  connect  with  the  ground  so  as  to  make  the  earth 
  a  part  of  an  electrical  circuit. 
 
  5.  (Fine  Arts)  To  cover  with  a  ground,  as  a  copper  plate  for 
  etching  (see  {Ground},  n.,  5);  or  as  paper  or  other 
  materials  with  a  uniform  tint  as  a  preparation  for 
  ornament. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ground  \Ground\,  v.  i. 
  To  run  aground;  to  strike  the  bottom  and  remain  fixed;  as 
  the  ship  grounded  on  the  bar. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ground  \Ground\, 
  imp.  &  p.  p.  of  {Grind}. 
 
  {Ground  cock},  a  cock,  the  plug  of  which  is  ground  into  its 
  seat,  as  distinguished  from  a  compression  cock.  --Knight. 
 
  {Ground  glass},  glass  the  transparency  of  which  has  been 
  destroyed  by  having  its  surface  roughened  by  grinding. 
 
  {Ground  joint},  a  close  joint  made  by  grinding  together  two 
  pieces,  as  of  metal  with  emery  and  oil,  or  of  glass  with 
  fine  sand  and  water. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ground 
  adj  :  broken  or  pounded  into  small  fragments;  used  of  e.g.  ore  or 
  stone;  "paved  with  crushed  bluestone";  "ground  glass  is 
  used  as  an  abrasive"  [syn:  {crushed}] 
  n  1:  the  solid  part  of  the  earth's  surface;  "the  plane  turned 
  away  from  the  sea  and  moved  back  over  land";  "the  earth 
  shook  for  several  minutes";  "he  dropped  the  logs  on  the 
  ground"  [syn:  {land},  {dry  land},  {earth},  {solid  ground}, 
  {terra  firma}] 
  2:  a  rational  motive  for  a  belief  or  action  "the  reason  that 
  war  was  declared";  "the  grounds  for  their  declaration" 
  [syn:  {reason}] 
  3:  the  loose  soft  material  that  makes  up  a  large  part  of  the 
  surface  of  the  land  surface;  "they  dug  into  the  earth 
  outside  the  church"  [syn:  {earth}] 
  4:  a  relation  that  provides  the  foundation  for  something  "they 
  were  on  a  friendly  footing"  or  "he  worked  on  an  interim 
  basis"  [syn:  {footing},  {basis}] 
  5:  a  position  to  be  won  or  defended  in  battle  (or  as  if  in 
  battle);  "they  gained  ground  step  by  step";  "they  fought 
  to  regain  the  lost  ground" 
  6:  the  part  of  a  scene  (or  picture)  that  lies  behind  objects  in 
  the  foreground;  "he  posed  her  against  a  background  of 
  rolling  hillls"  [syn:  {background}] 
  7:  what  plants  grow  in  (especially  with  reference  to  its 
  quality  or  use);  "the  land  had  never  been  plowed";  "good 
  agricultural  soil"  [syn:  {land},  {soil}] 
  8:  a  relatively  homogeneous  percept  extending  back  of  the 
  figure  on  which  attention  is  focused  [ant:  {figure}] 
  9:  a  connection  between  an  electrical  device  and  the  earth 
  (which  is  a  zero  voltage)  [syn:  {earth}] 
  10:  (art)  the  surface  (as  a  wall  or  canvas)  prepared  to  take  the 
  paint  for  a  painting 
  11:  the  first  coat  of  paint  applied  to  a  surface  [syn:  {flat 
  coat},  {primer},  {priming  coat},  {undercoat}] 
  v  1:  fix  firmly  and  stably;  "anchor  the  lamppost  in  concrete" 
  [syn:  {anchor}] 
  2:  confine  or  restrict  to  the  ground;  "After  the  accident,  they 
  grounded  the  plane  and  the  pilot" 
  3:  place  or  out  on  the  ground 
  4:  instruct  someone  in  the  fundamentals  of  a  subject 
  5:  bring  to  the  ground,  as  of  vessels  [syn:  {run  aground}] 
  6:  hit  or  reach  the  ground  [syn:  {run  aground}] 
  7:  cover  with  a  primer;  apply  a  primer  to  [syn:  {prime},  {undercoat}] 
  8:  connect  to  a  ground,  of  electrical  connections  for  safety 
  reasons 
  9:  use  as  a  basis  for  found  on  "base  a  claim  on  some 
  observation"  [syn:  {establish},  {base},  {found}] 




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