words, Ab, Ben, Ruach-hakodesh, (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), and the Greek words, Zarngia aro Euλou (salvation from the cross); but more probably, it is made up of the Greek numerals, a=1, 6=2, g=100, α=1, σ=200, α=1, 60, which together make 365: for it was, 1. The name of the supreme god under whom the Basilidians supposed 365 dependent deities, who had the government of so many celestial orbs. It was the principle of the Gnostic hierarchy whence sprung the multitude of cons. 2. An antique gem or stone with the word abraxas engraven on it. There are many of various figures, e. g. of beetles, serpents, human heads, mostly as old as the third century. The letters are mostly Roman, Greek, and Phoenician. They appear to have been early sought after as amulets. ABRA'SION, from abrado (of Lat. abrado, to scrape off). In physics, the effect produced by attrition. In medicine, the effect produced by corrosive applications. ABRAUM, a red clay brought from the Isle of Wight, with which cabinet-makers darken and polish mahogany. ABRAXAS, in entomology, a subgenus in the classification of Leach, including the Phalana Grossulariata (magpie), and Phalana Ulmata (clouded magpie), of Latreille. Feed on the leaves of the currant and gooseberry. ABRAZITE, Zeagonite or Gismondine, a mineral which occurs in semi-globular masses (sometimes in octahedral crystals with a square base), in the volcanic rocks of Capo di Bove, near Rome. Conts. Silica, 41-4; lime, 48'6; alumina, 2'5; magnesia, 15; oxide of iron, 2:5.-Philips. ABREAST, (a and breast), in nautical language, the position of two or more ships which have their sides parallel, and their heads equally advanced. Abreast within ship, means in a line with the beam, main hatchway, &c. From this point the position is reckoned fore or aft. ABRIDG'MENT, from abridge (of Beaxus, short), an epitome; a summary of a book. In law, shortening a count or declaration; e. g. in assize, a man is said to abridge his plaint, and a woman her demand in action of dower, if any land be put therein, which is not in the tenure of the defendant: for, on a plea of non-tenure in abatement of the writ, the plaintiff may leave out those lands, and pray that the tenant may answer to the remainder. ABROGA'TION, from abrogate, to annul by an authoritative act. The act of abolishing by authority of the legislative power. The term is derived from abrogo, from rogo, to ask, in allusion to the Roman custom which admitted no law to be valid to which the consent of the ABRUPTLY-PINNATE, abrupte-pinnatus, a term applied in botany to a leaf which is pinnate, and terminates abruptly, without an odd leaflet or cirrus. A'BRUS, the knob-rooted wild liquorice, from afgos, soft, in reference to the softness of its leaves. A genus of plants of the class and order diadelphia decandria. Europe, the abrus precatorius. It grows There is only one species known in wild in both East and West Indies, and in Africa, and produces those beautiful red seeds, called Angola seeds, marked end, which have been so much used as with a black spot or eye at the one beads for making necklaces and rosaries (whence the specific name precatorius of the plant). ABSCE'DENT, Lat. abscedens (of abscedo, to depart). Applied to a decayed part of an organised body, which is separated from the sound. AB'SCESS, Lat. abscessus (of ab and cedo, of morbid matter or pus in the cellular to go from), an imposthume; a collection or adipose membrane; matter generated by the suppuration of an inflammatory tumour. ABSCISS, OF ABSCISSA, from ab and scindo, to cut. In conics, any part of the diame ter or axis of a curve, intercepted between the vertex, or some other fixed point, and another line called an ordinate. An absciss and ordinate considered together are called co-ordinates. By means of these the equation of the curve is defined. ABSCIS'SION, from abscindo to cut off. In surgery, the separation of any soft part of the body, by an edged instrument, and as amputation is when bones are cut. ABSCO'NSIO, from abscondo, to hide. anatomy, the cavity of a bone which receives and conceals the head of another bone.-Lat. In ABSCONSA. from abscondo, to hide. A dark lantern, used by the monks in burying the dead at night.-Lat. ABSINTHATE (absinthas), a salt formed by the combination of absinthic acid with a base. ABSIN'THIC, related to absinthium. A. acid (acidum absinthicum), a peculiar acid contained in absinthium. ABSINTHINE (absinthina), the bitter principle of absinthium. ASIN'THITES, Wine impregnated with absinthium. ABSINTHIUM, wormwood; a bitter plant used in medicine as a tonic. It is a species of artemisia (artemisia absinthium). Name Latinised from avtov, supposed to be derived from a, not, and vos, sweet, on account of its bitterness. AB'SIS, in astronomy, the same with Apsis (q.v.) ABSOLUTE, Lat. absolutus, independent of anything extraneous. 1. In grammar, the ABSOLUTE CASE is when a word or member of a sentence is not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence in government, e.g. "Pray without ceasing." the word pray is taken absolutely. who has appealed from a sentence of excommunication. ABSORBENT, Lat. absorbens (of ab-sorbeo, to drink in). 1. In anatomy, the delicate, transparent vessels which take up substances from the surface of the body, or from any cavity, and carry it into the blood, are termed absorbents. These are the lacteals and lymphatics. The same name is given by naturalists to those fibres of roots which draw nourishment from the earth.-2. In chemistry the term is applied to any substance which withdraws moisture from the atmosphere, neutralises acids, &c.-3. In pharmacy, a medicine which destroys acidities in the stomach and bowels (e.g. magnesia, prepared chalk). ABSORPTION, Lat. absorptio (of absorbeo, to drink in). 1. In physiology, a function of living organised bodies, which consists in taking up substances, and conveying them into the mass of circulating fluids, by means of the absorbing vessels. -Hooper.-2. In chemistry, the passage of a gas into the pores of a liquid or solid substance; the passage of a liquid into the pores of a solid." ABSTER GENT, from abstergo, to cleanse, (abstergeo), a medicine which removes foulness. The term detergent is now commonly used. -2. In mathematics, an ABSOLUTE TERM or NUMBER, is one which is completely known, and to which all the other part of the equation is made equal, e.g. in the eq. x+10x 25, the absolute number AB'STRACT, from Lat. abs-traho, to sepaterm is 25, which is equal to the square of rate; distinct from something else, e.g. z, added to ten times x.-3. In astroan abstract idea, in metaphysics, is an idea nomy, ABSOLUTE EQUATION is the sum of separated from a complex object, or from the optic and eccentric equations: the other ideas which naturally accompany apparent inequality of a planet's motion it: as the solidity of marble, considered in its orbit, arising from its being at dif- apart from its colour or figure. Abstract ferent times at different distances from terms are those which express abstract the earth, is called its optic equation: the ideas, as whiteness, roundness, (in coneccentric inequality arises from the uni- tradistinction to concretes, as white, formity of the planet's motion in an ellip-round), without regard to the subjects in tical orbit, which for that reason appears not to be uniform.-4. In physics, ABSOLUTE SPACE is space considered without relation to any object. Absolute gravity is that property in bodies by which they are said to weigh so much, without regard to circumstances of modification: this is always as the quantity of matter they contain. 5. In chemistry, absolute is applied to substances free of some usual combination, e. g. alcohol free of water is called absolute alcohol. ABSOLUTION, Lat. absolutio (of ab and solvo, to loosen). In civil law, a definitive sentence of acquittal by a judge, releasing the accused from all further prosecution. In the Scotch Presbyterian church, a sentence of the church judicatories, releasing an individual from excommunication and receiving him again into communion. In Roman Catholic churches, a remission of sins pronounced by a priest in favour of a penitent. Absolutio ad cautelam is a provisional absolution granted to a person which they exist. Abstract numbers are numbers used without application to any particular objects, as 3, 7; but when applied to anything, as 6 men, they become concrete. Abstract, or pure mathematics, treat of magnitude or quantity in general, as arithmetic and geometry; opposed to mixed mathematics, which treat of the relations of quantity, as applied to sensible objects, as astronomy, optics. An abstract is a summary, or epitome, containing the substance of a treatise or writing. To abstract means, in chemistry, to separate the volatile parts of a substance by distillation. In this sense the word extract is commonly used. ABSTRACTI, in church history, a sect of Lutherans, who asserted that Christ is to be adored not only in the concrete, as the Son of God, but that he is in the abstract an object of adoration. ABSTRACTION, the act of separating or state of being separated. See ABSTRACT. Abstraction may be regarded as the science of generalization, as it is by abstracting from individuals that which is peculiar to each, and retaining what is peculiar to all, that we come to form the idea of species, and proceeding in the same way with species, we arrive at genera; from thence we proceed to orders and classes. 3. In chemistry, the term denotes the separation by heat of the volatile parts of a compound. When the part abstracted is collected, the process is called distillation or sublimation, according as the process is wet or dry. ABSTRINGENT, Lat. abstringens. Medicines which are used to resolve obstructions, concretions, &c., are called abstringents, e. g. soap. ABSURD, Lat. absurdus (from ab and surdus, deaf), opposed to manifest truth. In mathematics, a term employed in demonstrating converse propositions. The proposition is not proved in a direct manner from principles before laid down, but the contrary of the proposition is proved to be impossible or absurd, and this indirectly proves the truth of the proposition itself. Thus the fourth proposition of the first book of Euclid is demonstrated by showing that if the extremities of two right lines coincide, the lines themselves will coincide in all their parts, otherwise they would enclose a space, which is absurd, being contrary to the tenth axiom. This is called reductio ad absurdum. AB'SUS, the trivial name of a small Egyptian lotus (cassia absus). The powdered seeds are used in the cure of ophthalmia. ABUN'DANT, Lat. ab-undans (from unda, a wave). In arithmetic, a number, the sum of whose aliquot parts is greater than the number itself, is called an abundant number, e. g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, the aliquot parts of 12, make the sum 16. This is opposed to a deficient number, as 14, the aliquot parts of which are 1, 2, 7, the sum of which is 10, and both to a perfect number, which is equal to the sum of all its aliquot parts, as 6, whose aliquot parts are 1, 2, 3. ABUT'ILON, a genus of exotic shrubs, containing 26 species; class monadelphia, order polyandria, natives of South America, East and West Indies, Senegal, Egypt, and Canaries. One species (A. Aricenna) is a native of the south of France. ABUTMENT, from abut, to meet (chiefly used in describing the bounds or situation denote the solid mound or pier erected of land). The extremity; chiefly used to on the bank of a river, to support the end of a bridge. Synonymes, land-stool, landpier. The term, however, often means simply the masonry casing of this pier. Among carpenters, the joining of two pieces of timber is called an abutment. In this the fibres of the wood are placed as nearly as practicable at right angles to each other. ABUTTAL, the butting or boundary of land; a headland. See ABBUTTALS. something profound, as it were bottomABYSS, from aureos, without bottom; less; e.g. the ocean, hell (bottomless pit). The term has been used by some to denote a vast cavity filled with water, which they supposed to exist in the centre of the earth; and by others, to signify a deep mass of water, which they conceived encompassed the earth in its state of chaos. These waters were, according to the same authorities, collected by the Deity, into the abyss in the centre of the earth, on the third day of creation. Geology has done much of late to correct our no. tions on these subjects. 2. In heraldry, the centre of an escutcheon, e. g. "He bears azure, a fleur de lis, in abyss," i. e. in the middle of the shield clear of everything else.-3. In archeology, the temple of Proserpine, so called from the immense treasures it was supposed to contain. ABYSSIN'IANS, a sect of Christians in Abyssinia, who admit but one nature in Jesus Christ, and reject the council of Chalcedon. They are governed by a bishop, called an abura. Ac, in Saxon, oak; the initial syllable of names, as Acton, Oaktown. A.C., an abbrev. of Ante Christum (before Christ). ACAC'ALOT, the Tantalus Mexicanus, a Mexican fowl. See ACALOT. ACA'CIA, Gr. anania, from azazw, to sharpen, the Egyptian-thorn, a genus of shrubaceous plants, of the class polygamia, and order monacia. This genus contains about 132 species, all natives of hot climates. The Chinese make a yellow dye from the flowers of one species of it, which bears washing on silks. From another species of it (acacia vera), we derive our gum arabic, gum senegal, &c.; and the astringent medicine called catechu is the production of a species of the same tree (acacia catechu), which is a native of the East Indies 2. In medicine, the name of the expressed juice of the immature pods of the acacia vera. It is brought chiefly from Egypt in roundish masses, wrapped up in thin bladders.-3. In archæology, a roll or bag on the medals of the Greek and Roman emperors, supposed by some to represent simply a handkerchief rolled up, with which signals were given at the games: by others it is said to be a roll of petitions; others make it a purple bag filled with earth, to remind the prince of his mortality. ACA'CIANS, in church history, sects so denominated from their leaders, Acacius, bishop of Cæsarea, and Acacius, patriarch of Constantinople. Some of them maintained that the Son was only a similar, not the same sustance with the Father; others, that he was not only a distinct but a dissimilar substance. ACADEMIC, 1. pertaining to an academy, college, or university, e. g. academie studies; also what belongs to the school or philosophy of Plato, e. g. the academic sect.2. An academician (q. v.).-3. One who belonged to the school or adhered to the philosophy of Socrates and Plato. ACE'NA, the generic name of a Mexican shrub (A. elongata) of the class tetrandria, and order monogynia. Name azana, a prickle. ACENITUS, in entomology, a genus of ichneumonides.-Latreille. ACALOT, a Mexican fowl resembling the ibis; it is called by some the water-crow. ACA'LYCINE, Lat. acalycinus, (a, without, and xaλvž, a calyx), without calyx or flower-cup. ACA'LYPHA, from azaλnon, the nettle, (urtica, Lin.). 1. A genus of plants of 16 species, some of which much resemble the broad-leaved pellitory of the wall: class monacia, order monadelphia.-2. A class of radiated animals (radiata animalia), comprising zoophytes (zoophyta), which swim in the ocean, and in whose organisation vessels can be recognised. These tions of the intestines excavated in the are generally, however, "mere producparenchyma of the body." The acalypha are divided into two orders; the A. sim plicia (simple A.), and the A. hydrostatica (hydrostatic A.). The first swim by the alternate contractions and dilatations of their body, although their substance is apparently without fibres. The hydrostatic A. have one or more bladders, filled with air, by means of which they sustain themselves in their liquid element. Plato, the founder of the academical philosophy in Greece, taught that matter is eternal and infinite, but without form, refractory, and tending to disorder, and that there is an intelligentzilian fly-catcher, or todus (q. v.). cause, the author of spiritual being, and the material world. ACADEMICIAN, a member of an academy, or society for promoting arts and sciences, particularly a member of the French academies; also an academic philosopher; an academist. ACADEMY, Lat. academia, from axadna; originally a garden or grove near Athens, where Plato and his followers held their philosophical conferences, and ultimately, the sect of academic philosophers. In the modern sense, a society of learned men united for the promotion of the arts and science in general, or of some special department. Hence academies of antiquity (for the illustration of whatever regards archæology, as medals, coins, inscriptions, &c.), ecclesiastical, chirurgical, and dancing academies; academies of belles-lettres, of languages, of painting, of sculpture and architecture, &c. The first modern school under this name was established by Charlemagne, at the instance of Alcuin, an English monk. Academy is also applied with us for a kind of school in which the elementary branches of education are taught. ACADEMY-FIGURE, a draught or design made after a model with a crayon or pencil. ACAMACU, the local name of the Bra ACA'MPSY, Lat. acampsia, from a, not, and zaprτw, to bend. The same with Anchylosis (q. v.). ACANA CEE, a class of plants in some systems of botany, including all those which are prickly, and bear their flowers and seeds on a kind of head; name, from azavos, a prickly shrub. ACANA'CEOUS, armed with prickles; belonging to the class of plants called acanacea. ACANGIS, in Turkish military affairs," a kind of light-armed horse." ACA'NOS, from axaves, a spine. The onopordium (q. v.). ACANTHA, from axavla, a thorn. In botany, a thorn. In zoology, the spine of a prickly fin of a fish; also an acute process of the vertebra. In anatomy, the spina dorsi. ACANTHA BOLUS, from axavba, a thorn, and faλλw, to throw out. In surgery, a kind of forceps for pulling thorns, &c. from the skin. ACANTHIA, in entomology, a genus of hemipterous insects; form oval, with a spinous thorax, and ciliated abdomen. Found chiefly on the banks of rivers. Name anciently given to a species of grasshopper found near the city of Acanthus? Acanthia cicada (singing grasshoppers), had the same meaning among the ancients that timber tuned has among ourselves. ACANTHINE, pertaining to, or resembling the plant acanthus. In architecture, a border or fillet ornamented with the acanthus-leaf. The acanthine garments of the ancients were made of the down of the thistle, or embroidered with representations of the acanthus. ACANTHINE-GUM (gummi acanthinum). Gum-acacia is sometimes so called, because it is produced by a thorny tree, the acacia vera. ACANTHOCEPHALA, an intestinal worm constituting a family of the order parenchymata, and class entozoa, and forming the genus echinorhynchus, of Gmelin. The A. attach themselves to the intestines by a prominence armed with recurved spines, which also appear to act as a proboscis: hence the name, axav0os thorny; zen, head. ACANTHOMERA, in entomology, a genus belonging to the tribe of blapsides of Latreille; name, from axavlos, spinous. ACANTHOPODA, a tribe of coleopterous insects composed of the single genus heterocerus, of Bosc; remarkable for their broadish flattened legs armed exteriorly with spines: whence the name, axava, a spine, and rous, a foot. ACANTHOPTERA, in entomology, a genus belonging to the tribe of cerambycini of Latreille. It comprises the callichroma, purpuricenus, and stenocorus, of Dejean; name, azavba, a spine, and regov, a wing. ACANTHOPTERYGII, the first and by far the most numerous division of fishes; distinguished by having the rays of their fins bony, and many of them prickly at the extremities: whence their name, azavla, a spine, and regu, a fin. The perch is an example of this order. ACANTHOPUS, in entomology, a genus of hymenoptera, belonging to the apis of Linnæus, and apiaria of Latreille. ACANTHOSCELLIS, a genus of coleopterous insects; anterior tibiæ strongly palmated; posterior short, broad, arched, and spinous: whence the name, xxxvox, a spine, &c. ACANTHUS, from axavlos, prickly. Lat. 1. In botany, the plant bear's breech or brank ursine; a genus of about ten species, receiving their name from their prickles: class didynamia, order angiospermia. The acanthus mollis is that which was formerly used in medicine: the branca ursi. It is a native of Italy, Sicily, and the Archipelago.2. In architecture, the leaf which forms one of the ornaments of the Corinthian capital. honour of introducing it is ascribed, by The Vitruvius, to Callimachus, who was by the Athenians called zararios (the first of artists). ACA'NTICONE, a sub-species of prismatoidal augite, occurring chiefly in primitive rocks, as micaceous schist, gneiss, &c. It is known also as pistacite and epidote. ACAPATLI, the iva frutescens, a corymbiferous plant which produces the Mexican quinquina. 1. Honey taken from the hive without ACA'PNON, from azarvos, unsmoked. smoking the bees.-2. The herb marjoram (which when burnt gives out no smoke). longing to the order of testaceous aceACA'RDA, a genus of fossil mollusca, bephala. solid or porous tissue. M. de Lamarck The shells are thick, and of a calls radiata. They are now usually dimakes a family of this genus, which he vided into radiolites, sphærulites, hippu rites, batholithes. ACA'RNAR, a bright star of the first magnitude in Eridanus. ACA'RPIA, from azagros, unfruitful. Unfruitfulness. Acarpious, sterile, barren. genus of insects of the order aptera, or AC'ARUS, the tick or mite; a numerous those which have no wings. The acari and two-jointed tentacula. Name, from are oviparous, have eight legs, two eyes, azsga, not divisible, as though the insect were too small to be divided. In the system of Cuvier, the acarus belongs to the family of holetra, class arachnides, and order tracheara. 35, and Gmelin 82 species of acari. They are excessively numerous, and most of them so small as to be almost microscopical. They abound everywhere, even attached to the bodies of other insects, and have been found in the brain and eye of man. Linnæus enumerates ACATALECTIC, from axaraλnzтos, not defective in number. In ancient poetry, applicable to such verses as have all their regular feet and syllables, e. g. the first two of the following lines of Horace are acatalectic, and the last catalectic:- Solvitur acris hyems grata vice Trahuntque siccas machinæ carinas. ACATALEP'SIA, from a, neg. and zara λaußava, to comprehend. Acatalepsy. In medicine, uncertainty in the prognosis or diagnosis of diseases. ACATALEPSY, from acatalepsia, (q. v.). In ancient philosophy, the impossibility of comprehending something. The distinguishing tenet of the pyrrhonists was, their asserting an absolute acatalepsy regarding everything. ACATA POSIS, from a, neg. and zarαriva, to swallow. Difficult deglutition. |