3. The tumbler of a gunlock. Knight.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: A projection on each side of the shank of an anchor, to secure the stock in place. Check nut, Jam nut, Lock nut, a nut which is screwed up tightly against another nut on the same bolt or screw, in order to prevent accidental unscrewing of the first nut. — Nut buoy. See under Buoy. — Nut coal, screened coal of a size smaller than stove coal and larger than pea coal; — called also chestnut coal. — Nut crab (Zoöl.), any leucosoid crab of the genus Ebalia as, Ebalia tuberosa of Europe. — Nut grass (Bot.), a plant of the Sedge family (Cyperus rotundus, var. Hydra), which has slender rootstocks bearing small, nutlike tubers, by which the plant multiplies exceedingly, especially in cotton fields. — Nut lock, a device, as a metal plate bent up at the corners, to prevent a nut from becoming unscrewed, as by jarring. — Nut pine. (Bot.) See under Pine. — Nut rush (Bot.), a genus of cyperaceous plants (Scleria) having a hard bony achene. Several species are found in the United States and many more in tropical regions. — Nut tree, a tree that bears nuts. — Nut weevil (Zoöl.), any species of weevils of the genus Balaninus and other allied genera, which in the larval state live in nuts.
NUTNut, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Nutting.]
Defn: To gather nuts.
NUTANT Nu"tant, a. Etym: [L. nutans, p. pr. of nutare to nod, v. intens. fr. nuere (in comp.) to nod; cf. Gr.
Defn: Nodding; having the top bent downward.
NUTATION Nu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. nutatio a nodding, fr. nutare to nod: cf. F. nutation.]
1. The act of nodding. So from the midmost the nutation spreads, Round and more round, o'er all the sea of heads. Pope.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A very small libratory motion of the earth's axis, by which its inclination to the plane of the ecliptic is constantly varying by a small amount.
3. (Bot.) (a) The motion of a flower in following the apparent movement of the sun, from the east in the morning to the west in the evening. (b) Circumnutation.
NUTBREAKER Nut"break`er, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The European nuthatch. (b) The nutcracker.
NUT-BROWNNut"-brown`, a.
Defn: Brown as a nut long kept and dried. "The spicy nutbrown ale."Milton.
NUTCRACKERNut"crack`er, n.
1. An instrument for cracking nuts.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) A European bird (Nucifraga caryocatactes), allied to the magpie and crow. Its color is dark brown, spotted with white. It feeds on nuts, seeds, and insects. (b) The American, or Clarke's, nutcracker (Picicorvus Columbianus) of Western North America.
NUTGALLNut"gall`, n.
Defn: A more or less round gall resembling a nut, esp. one of those produced on the oak and used in the arts. See Gall, Gallnut.
NUTHATCHNut"hatch`, n. Etym: [OE. nuthake. See 2d Hack.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of birds of the genus Sitta, as theEuropean species (Sitta Europæa). The white-breasted nuthatch (S.Carolinensis), the red-breasted nuthatch (S. Canadensis), the pygmynuthatch (S. pygmæa), and others, are American.
NUTHOOKNut"hook`, n.
1. A hook at the end of a pole to pull down boughs for gathering the nuts.
2. A thief who steals by means of a hook; also, a bailiff who hooks or seizes malefactors. Shak.
NUTJOBBERNut"job`ber, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The nuthatch. [Prov. Eng.]
NUTLETNut"let, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A small nut; also, the stone of a drupe.
NUTMEG Nut"meg, n. Etym: [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See Nut, and Musk.] (Bot.)
Defn: The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans), a native of the Molucca Islands, but cultivated elsewhere in the tropics.
Note: This fruit is a nearly spherical drupe, of the size of a pear, of a yellowish color without and almost white within. This opens into two nearly equal longitudinal valves, inclosing the nut surrounded by its aril, which is mace The nutmeg is an aromatic, very grateful to the taste and smell, and much used in cookery. Other species of Myristica yield nutmegs of inferior quality. American, Calabash, or Jamaica, nutmeg, the fruit of a tropical shrub (Monodora Myristica). It is about the size of an orange, and contains many aromatic seeds imbedded in pulp. — Brazilian nutmeg, the fruit of a lauraceous tree, Cryptocarya moschata. — California nutmeg, tree of the Yew family (Torreya Californica), growing in the Western United States, and having a seed which resembles a nutmeg in appearance, but is strongly impregnated with turpentine. — Clove nutmeg, the Ravensara aromatica, a laura ceous tree of Madagascar. The foliage is used as a spice, but the seed is acrid and caustic. — Jamaica nutmeg. See American nutmeg (above). — Nutmeg bird (Zoöl.), an Indian finch (Munia punctularia). — Nutmeg butter, a solid oil extracted from the nutmeg by expression. — Nutmeg flower (Bot.), a ranunculaceous herb (Nigella sativa) with small black aromatic seeds, which are used medicinally and for excluding moths from furs and clothing. — Nutmeg liver (Med.), a name applied to the liver, when, as the result of heart or lung disease, it undergoes congestion and pigmentation about the central veins of its lobules, giving it an appearance resembling that of a nutmeg. — Nutmeg melon (Bot.), a small variety of muskmelon of a rich flavor. — Nutmeg pigeon (Zoöl.), any one of several species of pigeons of the genus Myristicivora, native of the East Indies and Australia. The color is usually white, or cream-white, with black on the wings and tail. — Nutmeg wood (Bot.), the wood of the Palmyra palm. — Peruvian nutmeg, the aromatic seed of a South American tree (Laurelia sempervirens). — Plume nutmeg (Bot.), a spicy tree of Australia (Atherosperma moschata).
NUTMEGGEDNut"megged, a.
Defn: Seasoned with nutmeg.
NUTPECKERNut"peck`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The nuthatch.
NUTRIANu"tri*a, n. Etym: [Sp. nutria an otter, fr. L. lutra, lytra.]
Defn: The fur of the coypu. See Coypu.
NUTRICATION Nu`tri*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. nutricatio, fr. nutricare, nutricari, to suckle, nourish, fr. nutrix a nurse.]
Defn: The act or manner of feeding. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
NUTRIENTNu"tri*ent, a. Etym: [L. nutriens, p. pr. of nutrire. See Nourish.]
Defn: Nutritious; nourishing; promoting growth.— n.
Defn: Any substance which has nutritious qualities, i. e., which nourishes or promotes growth.
NUTRIMENTNu"tri*ment, n. Etym: [L. nutrimentum, fr. nutrire to nourish. SeeNourish.]
1. That which nourishes; anything which promotes growth and repairs the natural waste of animal or vegetable life; food; aliment. The stomach returns what it has received, in strength and nutriment diffused into all parts of the body. South.
2. That which promotes development or growth. Is not virtue in mankind The nutriment that feeds the mind Swift.
NUTRIMENTALNu`tri*men"tal, a.
Defn: Nutritious.
NUTRITIALNu*tri"tial, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or connected with, nutrition; nutritious. [Obs.]Chapman.
NUTRITIONNu*tri"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nutrition. See Nutritious.]
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: In the broadest sense, a process or series of processes by which the living organism as a whole (or its component parts or organs) is maintained in its normal condition of life and growth.
Note: In this wide sense it comprehends digestion, absorption, circulation, assimilation, etc., in fact all of the steps by which the nutritive matter of the food is fitted for incorporation with the different tissues, and the changes which it undergoes after its assimilation, prior to its excretion. See Metabolism.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: In a more limited sense, the process by which the living tissues take up, from the blood, matters necessary either for their repair or for the performance of their healthy functions.
3. That which nourishes; nutriment. Fixed like a plant, on his peculiar spot, To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot. Pope.
NUTRITIONALNu*tri"tion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to nutrition; as, nutritional changes.
NUTRITIOUS Nu*tri"tious, a. Etym: [L. nutricius, nutritius, from nutrix, -icis, a nurse, nutrire to nourish. See Nurse, Nourish.]
Defn: Nourishing; promoting growth, or preventing decay; alimental.— Nu*tri"tious*ly, adv.— Nu*tri"tious*ness, n.
NUTRITIVENu"tri*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. nutritif.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to nutrition; as, the nutritive functions; having the quality of nourishing; nutritious; nutrimental; alimental; as, nutritive food or berries. Nutritive plasma. (Biol.) See Idioplasma. — Nutritive polyp (Zoöl.), any one of the zooids of a compound hydroid, or coral, which has a mouth and digestive cavity. — Nu"tri*tive*ly, adv. — Nu"tri*tive*ness, n.
NUTRITURENu"tri*ture, n. Etym: [L. nutritura, fr. nutrir to nourish.]
Defn: Nutrition; nourishment. [Obs.] Harvey.
NUTSHELLNut"shell`, n.
1. The shell or hard external covering in which the kernel of a nut is inclosed.
2. Hence, a thing of little compass, or of little value.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A shell of the genus Nucula. To be, or lie, in a nutshell, to be within a small compass; to admit of very brief or simple determination or statement. "The remedy lay in a nutshell." Macaulay.
NUTTERNut"ter, n.
Defn: A gatherer of nuts.
NUTTINGNut"ting, n.
Defn: The act of gathering nuts.
NUTTYNut"ty, a.
1. Abounding in nuts.
2. Having a flavor like that of nuts; as, nutty wine.
NUX VOMICANux` vom"i*ca. Etym: [NL., fr. L. nux vomere to vomit.]
Defn: The seed of Strychnos Nuxvomica, a tree which abounds on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts of the East Indies. From this seed the deadly poisons known as strychnine and brucine are obtained. The seeds are sometimes called Quaker buttons.
NUZZLENuz"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nuzzied;p. pr. & vb. n. Nuzzling.] Etym:[See Noursle.]
1. To noursle or nurse; to foster; to bring up. [Obs.] The people had been nuzzled in idolatry. Milton.
2. Etym: [Perh. a corruption of nestle. Cf. Nustle.]
Defn: To nestle; to house, as in a nest.
NUZZLENuz"zle, v. i. Etym: [Dim. fr. nose. See Nozzle.]
1. To work with the nose, like a swine in the mud. And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine Sheathed, unaware, the tusk in his soft groin. Shak. He charged through an army of lawyers, sometimes . . . nuzzling like an eel in the mud. Arbuthnot.
2. To go with head poised like a swine, with nose down. Sir Roger shook his ears, and nuzzled along. Arbuthnot.
3. Etym: [Cf. Nuzzle, v. t., 2.]
Defn: To hide the head, as a child in the mother's bosom; to nestle.
4. To loiter; to idle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
NYNy. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne I.]
Defn: Not I; nor I. [Obs.]
NY; NYENy, Nye, a. & adv.
Defn: Nigh. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NYASNy"as, n.
Defn: See Nias.
NYCTALOPIA Nyc`ta*lo"pi*a, n. Etym: [L. nyctalopia, fr. nyctalops a nyctalops, Gr. (Med.) (a) A disease of the eye, in consequence of which the patient can see well in a faint light or at twilight, but is unable to see during the day or in a strong light; day blindness. (b) See Moonblink.
Note: Some writers (as Quain) use the word in the opposite sense, night blindness. See Hemeralopia.
NYCTALOPSNyc"ta*lops, n. Etym: [L., from Gr.
Defn: One afflicted with nyctalopia.
NYCTALOPYNyc"ta*lo`py, n.
Defn: Same as Nyctalopia.
NYCTHEMERONNyc*the"me*ron, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The natural day and night, or space of twenty-four hours.
NYCTIBUNENyc"ti*bune, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American bird of the genus Nyctibius, allied to the goatsuckers.
NYCTITROPICNyc`ti*trop"ic, a. Etym: [From Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Turning or bending at night into special positions.
Note: Nyctitropic movements of plants usually consist in a folding or drooping of the leaves, the advantage being in lessening the radiation of heat.
NYCTITROPISMNyc*tit"ro*pism, n. [From Gr. , , night + to turn.] (Plant Physiol.)
Defn: The tendency of certain plant organs, as leaves, to assume special "sleeping" positions or make curvatures under the influence of darkness. It is well illustrated in the leaflets of clover and other leguminous plants.
NYCTOPHILENyc"to*phile, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any Australian bat of the genus Nyctophilus, having a very simple nasal appendage.
NYE Nye, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. F. nid nest, brood, L. nidus nest. See Nest, and cf. Eye brood, Nide.]
Defn: A brood or flock of pheasants.
NYENTEKNy*en"tek, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A carnivorous mannual (Helictis moscatus, or H. orientalis), native of Eastern Asia and the Indies. It has a dorsal white stripe, and another one across the shoulders. It has a strong musky odor.
NYLGHAU; NYLGAUNyl"ghau, Nyl"gau, n. Etym: [Hind. & Per. nilgaw, prop., a blue cow;Per. nil blue + gaw cow. See Lilac, and Cow the animal.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large Asiatic antelope (Boselaphus, or Portax, tragocamelus), found in Northern India. It has short horns, a black mane, and a bunch of long hair on the throat. The general color is grayish brown. [Written also neelghau, nilgau, and nylghaie.]
NYMPHNymph, n. Etym: [L. nympha nymph, bride, young woman, Gr. nymphe. Cf.Nuptial.]
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A goddess of the mountains, forests, meadows, or waters. Where were ye, nymphs, when the remorseless deep Closed o'er the head of your loved Lycidas Milton.
2. Hence: A lovely young girl; a maiden; a damsel. Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remembered. Shak.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pupa of an insect; a chrysalis.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of a subfamily (Najades) of butterflies including the purples, the fritillaries, the peacock butterfly, etc.; — called also naiad.
NYMPHANym"pha, n.; pl. Nymph. Etym: [L. See Nymph a goddess.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Nymph, 3.
2. pl. (Anat.)
Defn: Two folds of mucous membrane, within the labia, at the opening of the vulva.
NYMPHAEANym*phæ"a, n. Etym: [L., the water lily, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of aquatic plants having showy flowers (white, blue, pink, or yellow, often fragrant), including the white water lily and the Egyptia lotus.
Note: Recent critics have endeavored to show that this genus should be called Castalia, and the name Nymphæa transferred to what is now known as Nuphar.
NYMPHALNymph"al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a nymph or nymphs; nymphean.
NYMPHALESNym*pha"les, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive family of butterflies including the nymphs, the satyrs, the monarchs, the heliconias, and others; — called also brush-footed butterflies.
NYMPHEANNym*phe"an, a. Etym: [Gr. Nymph.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, nymphs; inhabited by nymphs; as, a nymphean cave.
NYMPHETNymph"et, n.
Defn: A little or young nymph. [Poetic] "The nymphets sporting there." Drayton.
NYMPHIC; NYMPHICALNymph"ic, Nymph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to nymphs.
NYMPHIPAROUSNym*phip"a*rous, a. Etym: [Nymph + L. parere to produce.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Producing pupas or nymphs.
NYMPHISHNymph"ish, a.
Defn: Relating to nymphs; ladylike. "Nymphish war." Drayton.
NYMPHLIKE; NYMPHLYNymph"like`, Nymph"ly, a.
Defn: Resembling, or characteristic of, a nymph.
NYMPHOLEPSYNym"pho*lep`sy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A species of demoniac enthusiasm or possession coming upon one who had accidentally looked upon a nymph; ecstasy. [R.] De Quincey. The nympholepsy of some fond despair. Byron.
NYMPHOLEPTICNym`pho*lep"tic, a.
Defn: Under the influence of nympholepsy; ecstatic; frenzied.[Poetic]
NYMPHOMANIANym`pho*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Morbid and uncontrollable sexual desire in women, constituting a true disease.
NYMPHOMANYNym"pho*ma`ny, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nymphomanie.] (Med.)
Defn: Same as Nymphomania.
NYMPHOTOMYNym*phot"o*my, n. Etym: [Nympha + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Excision of the nymphæ.
NYSNys.
Defn: Is not. See Nis. Chaucer. Spenser.
NYSTAGMUSNys*tag"mus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A rapid involuntary oscillation of the eyeballs.
NYULANy*u"la, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of ichneumon (Herpestes nyula). Its fur is beautifully variegated by closely set zigzag markings.
1. O, the fifteenth letter of the English alphabet, derives its form, value, and name from the Greek O, through the Latin. The letter came into the Greek from the Phoenician, which possibly derived it ultimately from the Egyptian. Etymologically, the letter o is most closely related to a, e, and u; as in E. bone, AS. ban; E. stone, AS. stan; E. broke, AS. brecan to break; E. bore, AS. beran to bear; E. dove, AS. dufe; E. toft, tuft; tone, tune; number, F. nombre. The letter o has several vowel sounds, the principal of which are its long sound, as in bone, its short sound, as in nod, and the sounds heard in the words orb, son, do (feod), and wolf (book). In connection with the other vowels it forms several digraphs and diphthongs. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 107-129.
2. Among the ancients, O was a mark of triple time, from the notion that the ternary, or number 3, is the most perfect of numbers, and properly expressed by a circle, the most perfect figure. O was also anciently used to represent 11: with a dash over it (O O, n.; pl. O's or Oes (.
1. The letter O, or its sound. "Mouthing out his hollow oes and aes." Tennyson.
2. Something shaped like the letter O; a circle or oval. "This wooden O [Globe Theater]". Shak.
3. A cipher; zero. [R.] Thou art an O without a figure. Shak.
O'O', Etym: [Ir. of a descendant.]
Defn: A prefix to Irish family names, which signifies grandson or descendant of, and is a character of dignity; as, O'Neil, O'Carrol.
O'O', prep.
Defn: A shortened form of of or on. "At the turning o' the tide."Shak.
OO, a. Etym: [See One.]
Defn: One. [Obs.] Chaucer. "Alle thre but o God." Piers Plowman.
OO, interj.
Defn: An exclamation used in calling or directly addressing a person or personified object; also, as an emotional or impassioned exclamation expressing pain, grief, surprise, desire, fear, etc. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Ps. cxix. 89. O how love I thy law ! it is my meditation all the day. Ps. cxix. 97.
Note: O is frequently followed by an ellipsis and that, an inexpressing a wish: "O [I wish] that Ishmael might live before thee !"Gen. xvii. 18; or in expressions of surprise, indignation, or regret:"O [it is sad] that such eyes should e'er meet other object !"Sheridan Knowles.
Note: A distinction between the use of O and oh is insisted upon by some, namely, that O should be used only in direct address to a person or personified object, and should never be followed by the exclamation point, while Oh (or oh) should be used in exclamations where no direct appeal or address to an object is made, and may be followed by the exclamation point or not, according to the nature or construction of the sentence. Some insist that oh should be used only as an interjection expressing strong feeling. The form O, however, is, it seems, the one most commonly employed for both uses by modern writers and correctors for the press. "O, I am slain !" Shak. "O what a fair and ministering angel !" "O sweet angel !" Longfellow. O for a kindling touch from that pure flame ! Wordsworth. But she is in her grave, — and oh The difference to me ! Wordsworth. Oh for a lodge in some vast wilderness ! Cowper. We should distinguish between the sign of the vocative and the emotional interjection, writing O for the former, and oh for the latter. Earle. O dear, and O dear me! Etym: [corrupted fr. F. O Dieu! or It. O Dio! O God! O Dio mio! O my God! Wyman], exclamations expressive of various emotions, but usually promoted by surprise, consternation, grief, pain, etc.
OADOad, n.
Defn: See Woad. [Obs.] Coles.
OAFOaf, n. Etym: [See Auf.]
Defn: Originally, an elf's child; a changeling left by fairies or goblins; hence, a deformed or foolish child; a simpleton; an idiot.
OAFISHOaf"ish, a.
Defn: Like an oaf; simple.— Oaf"ish*ness, n.
OAKOak, n. Etym: [OE. oke, ok, ak, AS. ac; akin to D. eik, G. eiche,OHG. eih, Icel. eik, Sw. ek, Dan. eeg.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Any tree or shrub of the genus Quercus. The oaks have alternate leaves, often variously lobed, and staminate flowers in catkins. The fruit is a smooth nut, called an acorn, which is more or less inclosed in a scaly involucre called the cup or cupule. There are now recognized about three hundred species, of which nearly fifty occur in the United States, the rest in Europe, Asia, and the other parts of North America, a very few barely reaching the northern parts of South America and Africa. Many of the oaks form forest trees of grand proportions and live many centuries. The wood is usually hard and tough, and provided with conspicuous medullary rays, forming the silver grain.
2. The strong wood or timber of the oak.
Note: Among the true oaks in America are: Barren oak, or Black-jack,Q. nigra.— Basket oak, Q. Michauxii.— Black oak, Q. tinctoria: — called also yellow or quercitron oak.— Bur oak (see under Bur.), Q. macrocarpa; — called also over-cupor mossy-cup oak.— Chestnut oak, Q. Prinus and Q. densiflora.— Chinquapin oak (see under Chinquapin), Q. prinoides.— Coast live oak, Q. agrifolia, of California; — also calledenceno.— Live oak (see under Live), Q. virens, the best of all forshipbuilding; also, Q. Chrysolepis, of California.— Pin oak. Same as Swamp oak.— Post oak, Q. obtusifolia.— Red oak, Q. rubra.— Scarlet oak, Q. coccinea.— Scrub oak, Q. ilicifolia, Q. undulata, etc.— Shingle oak, Q. imbricaria.— Spanish oak, Q. falcata.— Swamp Spanish oak, or Pin oak, Q. palustris.— Swamp white oak, Q. bicolor.— Water oak, Q. aguatica.— Water white oak, Q. lyrata.— Willow oak, Q. Phellos. Among the true oaks in Europe are: Bitteroak, or Turkey oak, Q. Cerris (see Cerris).— Cork oak, Q. Suber.— English white oak, Q. Robur.— Evergreen oak, Holly oak, or Holm oak, Q. Ilex.— Kermes oak, Q. coccifera.— Nutgall oak, Q. infectoria.
Note: Among plants called oak, but not of the genus Quercus, are:African oak, a valuable timber tree (Oldfieldia Africana).— Australian, or She, oak, any tree of the genus Casuarina (seeCasuarina).— Indian oak, the teak tree (see Teak).— Jerusalem oak. See under Jerusalem.— New Zealand oak, a sapindaceous tree (Alectryon excelsum).— Poison oak, the poison ivy. See under Poison.— Silky, or Silk-bark, oak, an Australian tree (Grevillea robusta).Green oak, oak wood colored green by the growth of the mycelium ofcertain fungi.— Oak apple, a large, smooth, round gall produced on the leaves ofthe American red oak by a gallfly (Cynips confluens). It is green andpulpy when young.— Oak beauty (Zoöl.), a British geometrid moth (Biston prodromaria)whose larva feeds on the oak.— Oak gall, a gall found on the oak. See 2d Gall.— Oak leather (Bot.), the mycelium of a fungus which formsleatherlike patches in the fissures of oak wood.— Oak pruner. (Zoöl.) See Pruner, the insect.— Oak spangle, a kind of gall produced on the oak by the insectDiplolepis lenticularis.— Oak wart, a wartlike gall on the twigs of an oak.— The Oaks, one of the three great annual English horse races (theDerby and St. Leger being the others). It was instituted in 1779 bythe Earl of Derby, and so called from his estate.— To sport one's oak, to be "not at home to visitors," signified byclosing the outer (oaken) door of one's rooms. [Cant, Eng. Univ.]
OAKENOak"en, a. Etym: [AS. acen.]
Defn: Made or consisting of oaks or of the wood of oaks. "In oakenbower." Milton.Oaken timber, wherewith to build ships. Bacon.
OAKEROak"er, n.
Defn: See Ocher. [Obs.] Spenser.
OAKLINGOak"ling, n.
Defn: A young oak. Evelyn.
OAKUM Oak"um, n. Etym: [AS. acumba; pref. er-, Goth. us-, orig. meaning, out) + cemban to comb, camb comb. See Comb.]
1. The material obtained by untwisting and picking into loose fiber old hemp ropes; — used for calking the seams of ships, stopping leaks, etc.
2. The coarse portion separated from flax or hemp in nackling. Knight. White oakum, that made from untarred rope.
OAKYOak"y, n.
Defn: Resembling oak; strong. Bp. Hall.
OAR Oar, n Etym: [AS. ar; akin to Icel. ar, Dan. aare, Sw. åra; perh. akin to E. row, v. Cf. Rowlock.]
1. An implement for impelling a boat, being a slender piece of timber, usually ash or spruce, with a grip or handle at one end and a broad blade at the other. The part which rests in the rowlock is called the loom.
Note: An oar is a kind of long paddle, which swings about a kind of fulcrum, called a rowlock, fixed to the side of the boat.
2. An oarsman; a rower; as, he is a good car.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An oarlike swimming organ of various invertebrates. Oar cock (Zoöl), the water rail. [Prov. Eng.] — Spoon oar, an oar having the blade so curved as to afford a better hold upon the water in rowing. — To boat the oars, to cease rowing, and lay the oars in the boat. — To feather the oars. See under Feather., v. t. — To lie on the oars, to cease pulling, raising the oars out of water, but not boating them; to cease from work of any kind; to be idle; to rest. — To muffle the oars, to put something round that part which rests in the rowlock, to prevent noise in rowing. — To put in one's oar, to give aid or advice; — commonly used of a person who obtrudes aid or counsel not invited. — To ship the oars, to place them in the rowlocks. — To toss the oars, To peak the oars, to lift them from the rowlocks and hold them perpendicularly, the handle resting on the bottom of the boat. — To trail oars, to allow them to trail in the water alongside of the boat. — To unship the oars, to take them out of the rowlocks.
OAROar, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Oared; p. pr. & vb. n. Oaring.]
Defn: To row. "Oared himself." Shak.Oared with laboring arms. Pope.
OAREDOared, a.
1. Furnished with oars; — chiefly used in composition; as, a four- oared boat.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) Having feet adapted for swimming. (b) Totipalmate; — said of the feet of certain birds. See Illust. of Aves. Oared shrew (Zoöl.), an aquatic European shrew (Crossopus ciliatus); — called also black water shrew.
OARFISHOar"fish` (or"fish`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ribbon fish.
OARFOOTOar"foot` (-foot`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any crustacean of the genus Remipes.
OAR-FOOTEDOar"-foot`ed a.
Defn: Having feet adapted for swimming.
OARLESSOar"less, a.
Defn: Without oars. Sylvester.
OARLOCKOar"lock` (or"lok`), n. (Naut.),
Defn: The notch, fork, or other device on the gunwale of a boat, in which the oar rests in rowing. See Rowlock.
OARSMANOars"man (orz"man), n.; pl. Oarsmen (-men).
Defn: One who uses, or is skilled in the use of, an oar; a rower.
At the prow of the boat, rose one of the oarsmen.Longfellow.
OARSWEEDOars"weed` (or"wed`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any large seaweed of the genus Laminaria; tangle; kelp. SeeKelp.
OARYOar"y (or"y), a.
Defn: Having the form or the use of an oar; as, the swan's oary feet.Milton. Addison.
OASIS O"as*is (o"a*sis or o*a"sis; 277), n.; pl. Oases (-sez). [L., fr. Gr. 'o`asis; cf. Copt. ouahe.]
Defn: A fertile or green spot in a waste or desert, esp. in a sandy desert.
My one oasis in the dust and drouthOf city life.Tennyson.
OASTOast (ost), n. [OE. ost, AS. ast; cf. Gr. a'i^qos burning heat.]
Defn: A kiln to dry hops or malt; a cockle. Mortimer.
OATCAKEOat"cake, n.
Defn: A cake made of oatmeal.
OATENOat"en, a.
1. Consisting of an oat straw or stem; as, an oaten pipe. Milton.
2. Made of oatmeal; as, oaten cakes.
OATH Oath, n.; pl. Oaths. Etym: [OE. othe, oth, ath, AS. a; akin to D. eed, OS. e, G. eid, Icel. ei, Sw. ed, Dan. eed, Goth. ai; cf. OIr. oeth.]
1. A solemn affirmation or declaration, made with a reverent appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed. "I have an oath in heaven" Shak. An oath of secrecy for the concealing of those [inventions] which we think fit to keep secret. Bacon.
2. A solemn affirmation, connected with a sacred object, or one regarded as sacred, as the temple, the altar, the blood of Abel, the Bible, the Koran, etc.
3. (Law)
Defn: An appeal (in verification of a statement made) to a superior sanction, in such a form as exposes the party making the appeal to an indictment for perjury if the statement be false.
4. A careless and blasphemous use of the name of the divine Being, or anything divine or sacred, by way of appeal or as a profane exclamation or ejaculation; an expression of profane swearing. "A terrible oath" Shak.
OATHABLEOath"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of having an oath administered to. [Obs.] Shak.
OATHBREAKINGOath"break`ing, n.
Defn: The violation of an oath; perjury. Shak
OATMEALOat"meal`, n.
1. Meal made of oats. Gay.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Panicum; panic grass.
OB-Ob-. Etym: [L. ob, prep. Cf. Epi-.]
Defn: A prefix signifying to, toward, before, against, reversely, etc.; also, as a simple intensive; as in oblige, to bind to; obstacle, something standing before; object, lit., to throw against; obovate, reversely, ovate. Ob- is commonly assimilated before c, f, g, and p, to oc-, of-, og-, and op-.
OBBEOb"be, n.
Defn: See Obi.
OBCOMPRESSEDOb"com*pressed". a. Etym: [Pref. ob- + compressed.]
Defn: Compressed or flattened antero-posteriorly, or in a way opposite to the usual one.
OBCONIC; OBCONICALOb*con"ic, Ob*con"ic*al, a. Etym: [Pref. ob- + conic, conical.]
Defn: Conical, but having the apex downward; inversely conical.
OBCORDATEOb*cor"date, a. Etym: [Pref. ob- + cordate.]
Defn: Heart-shaped, with the attachment at the pointed end; inversely cordate: as, an obcordate petal or leaf.
OBDIPLOSTEMONOUSOb*dip`lo*stem"o*nous, a. Etym: [Pref. ob- + diplostemonous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having twice as many stamens as petals, those of the outer set being opposite the petals; — said of flowers. Gray.
OBDIPLOSTEMONYOb*dip"lo*stem"o*ny, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The condition of being obdiplostemonous.
OBDORMITIONOb"dor*mi"tion, n. Etym: [L. obdormire to fall asleep.]
Defn: Sleep. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
OBDUCE Ob*duce", v. t. Etym: [L. obducere, obductum; ob (see Ob-) + ducere to lead.]
Defn: To draw over, as a covering. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
OBDUCTOb*duct" (, v. t. Etym: [See Obduce.]
Defn: To draw over; to cover. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
OBDUCTIONOb*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L.obductio.]
Defn: .The act of drawing or laying over, as a covering. [Obs.]
OBDURACYOb"du*ra*cy, n.
Defn: The duality or state of being obdurate; invincible hardness of heart; obstinacy. "Obduracy and persistency." Shak. The absolute completion of sin in final obduracy. South.
OBDURATE Ob"du*rate, a. Etym: [L. obduratus, p. p. of obdurare to harden; ob (see Ob-)+ durare to harden, durus hard. See Dure.]
1. Hardened in feelings, esp. against moral or mollifying influences; unyielding; hard-hearted; stubbornly wicked. The very custom of evil makes the heart obdurate against whatsoever instructions to the contrary. Hooker. Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel, Nay, more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth Shak.
2. Hard; harsh; rugged; rough; intractable. "Obdurate consonants." Swift.
Note: Sometimes accented on the second syllable, especially by theolder poets.There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart. Cowper.
Syn. — Hard; firm; unbending; inflexible; unyielding; stubborn; obstinate; impenitent; callous; unfeeling; insensible; unsusceptible. — Obdurate, Callous, Hardened. Callous denotes a deadening of the sensibilities; as. a callous conscience. Hardened implies a general and settled disregard for the claims of interest, duty, and sympathy; as, hardened in vice. Obdurate implies an active resistance of the heart and will aganst the pleadings of compassion and humanity. — Ob"du*rate*ly, adv. — Ob"du*rate*ness, n.
OBDURATEOb"du*rate, v. t.
Defn: To harden. [Obs.]
OBDURATIONOb"du*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. obduratio.]
Defn: A hardening of the heart; hardness of heart. [Obs.]
OBDUREOb*dure", v. t.
Defn: To harden. [Obs.] Milton.
OBDURE; OBDUREDOb*dure", Ob*dured", a.
Defn: Obdurate; hard. [Obs.]This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured. Milton.
OBDURENESS; OBDUREDNESSOb*dure"ness, n., Ob*dur"ed*ness, n.
Defn: Hardness. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
OBEOb"e (o"be), n.
Defn: See Obi.
OBEAHO*be"ah. n.
Defn: Same as Obi.— a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to obi; as, the obeah man. B. Edwards.
OBEDIBLEO*be"di*ble, a.
Defn: Obedient. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
OBEDIENCEO*be"di*ence, n. Etym: [F. obédience, L. obedientia, oboedientia. SeeObedient, and cf.Obeisance.]
1. The act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control. Government must compel the obedience of individuals. Ames.
2. Words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness. Shak.
3. (Eccl.) (a) A following; a body of adherents; as, the Roman Catholic obedience, or the whole body of persons who submit to the authority of the pope. (b) A cell (or offshoot of a larger monastery) governed by a prior. (c) One of the three monastic vows. Shipley. (d) The written precept of a superior in a religious order or congregation to a subject. Canonical obedience. See under Canonical. — Passive obedience. See under Passive.
OBEDIENCIARYO*be`di*en"ci*a*ry, n.
Defn: One yielding obedience. [Obs.] Foxe.
OBEDIENT O*be"di*ent, a. Etym: [OF. obedient, L. obediens, oboediens, -entis. p.pr. of obedire, oboedire, to obey. See Obey.]
Defn: Subject in will or act to authority; willing to obey; submissive to restraint, control, or command. And floating straight, obedient to the stream. Shak. The chief his orders gives; the obedient band, With due observance, wait the chief's command. Pope.
Syn.— Dutiful; respectful; compliant; submissive.
OBEDIENTIALO*be`di*en"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. obédientiel.]
Defn: According to the rule of obedience. [R.]An obediental subjection to the Lord of Nature. Sir M. Hale.
OBEDIENTLYO*be"di*ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an obedient manner; with obedience.
OBEISANCEO*bei"sance, n. Etym: [F. obéissance obedience, fr. obéissant. SeeObey, and cf. Obedience, Abaisance.]
1. Obedience. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. A manifestation of obedience; an expression of difference or respect; homage; a bow; a courtesy. Bathsheba bowed and did obeisance unto the king. 1 Kings i. 16.
OBEISANCYO*bei"san*cy, n.
Defn: See Obeisance. [Obs.]
OBEISANTO*bei"sant, a. Etym: [F. obéissant, p.pr. of obéir to obey.]
Defn: Ready to obey; reverent; differential; also, servilely submissive.
OBELIONO*be"li*on, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The region of the skull between the two parietal foramina where the closure of the sagittal suture usually begins.
OBELISCALOb`e*lis"cal, a.
Defn: Formed like an obelisk.
OBELISKOb"e*lisk, n. Etym: [L. obeliscus, Gr. obélisque.]
1. An upright, four-sided pillar, gradually tapering as it rises, and terminating in a pyramid called pyramidion. It is ordinarily monolithic. Egyptian obelisks are commonly covered with hieroglyphic writing from top to bottom.
2. (Print.)
Defn: A mark of reference; — called also dagger [&dag;]. See Dagger, n., 2.
OBELISKOb"e*lisk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obelisked; p. pr. & vb. n.Obelisking.]
Defn: To mark or designate with an obelisk.
OBELIZEOb"e*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obelized; p. pr. & vb. n. Obelizing.]Etym: [Gr. Obelus.]
Defn: To designate with an obelus; to mark as doubtful or spirituous.[R.]
OBELUSOb"e*lus, n.; pl. Obeli. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Print.)
Defn: A mark [thus —-, or ÷]; — so called as resembling a needle. In old MSS. or editions of the classics, it marks suspected passages or readings.
OBEQUITATE Ob*eq"ui*tate, v. i. Etym: [L. obequitatus, p.p. of obequitare to ride about.]
Defn: To ride about. [Obs.] — Ob*eq`ui*ta"tion, n. [Obs.] Cockerman.
OBERONOb"er*on, n. Etym: [F., fr. OF. Auberon; prob. of Frankish origin.](Mediæval Mythol.)
Defn: The king of the fairies, and husband of Titania or Queen Mab.Shak.
OBERRATIONOb`er*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. oberrate to wander about.]
Defn: A wandering about. [Obs.] Jonhson.
OBESE O*bese". a. Etym: [L. obesus eaten away, lean; also, that has eaten itself fat, fat, stout, p.p. of obedere to devour; ob (see Ob-) + edere to eat. See Eat.]
Defn: Excessively corpulent; fat; fleshy.
OBESENESSO*bese"ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being obese; obesity.
OBESITYO*bes"i*ty, n.Etym: [L. obesitas: cf.F. obésité.]
Defn: The state or quality of being obese; incumbrance of flesh.
OBEYO*bey", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obeyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Obeying.] Etym:[OE. obeyen, F. obéir, fr. L. obedire, oboedire; ob (see Ob-) +audire to hear. See Audible, and cf. Obeisance.]
1. To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of. Children, obey your parents in the Lord. Eph. vi. 1. Was she the God, that her thou didst obey Milton.
2. To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by. My will obeyed his will. Chaucer. Afric and India shall his power obey. Dryden.
3. To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm.
OBEYO*bey", v. i.
Defn: To give obedience.Will he obey when one commands Tennyson.
Note: By some old writers obey was used, as in the French idiom, withthe preposition to.His servants ye are, to whom ye obey. Rom. vi. 16.He commanded the trumpets to sound: to which the two brave knightsobeying, they performed their courses. Sir. P. Sidney.
OBEYERO*bey"er, n.
Defn: One who yields obedience. Holland.
OBEYINGLYO*bey"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Obediently; submissively.
OBFIRM; OBFIRMATE Ob*firm", Ob*firm"ate, v. t. Etym: [L. obfirmatus, p.p. of obfirmare to make steadfast. See Ob-, and Firm, v. t.]
Defn: To make firm; to harden in resolution. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Sheldon.
OBFIRMATIONOb"fir*ma"tion, n. Etym: [LL. obfirmatio.]
Defn: Hardness of heart; obduracy. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
OBFUSCATE Ob*fus"cate, a. Etym: [L. obfuscatus, p.p. of obfuscare to darken; ob (see Ob-) + fuscare, fuscatum, to darken, from fuscus dark.]
Defn: Obfuscated; darkened; obscured. [Obs.] [Written also offuscate.] Sir. T. Elyot.
OBFUSCATEOb*fus"cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obfuscated; p. pr. & vb. n.Obfuscating.]
Defn: To darken; to obscure; to becloud; hence, to confuse; to bewilder. His head, like a smokejack, the funnel unswept, and the ideas whirling round and round about in it, all obfuscated and darkened over with fuliginous matter. Sterne. Clouds of passion which might obfuscate the intellects of meaner females. Sir. W. Scott.
OBFUSCATIONOb`fus*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. obfuscatio.]
Defn: The act of darkening or bewildering; the state of being darkened. "Obfuscation of the cornea." E. Darwin.
OBIO"bi, n. Etym: [Prob. of African origin.]
1. A species of sorcery, probably of African origin, practiced among the negroes of the West Indies. [Written also obe and obeah.] De Quincey. B. Edwards.
2. A charm or fetich. [West Indies] B. Edwards.
OBIISMO"bi*ism, n.
Defn: Belief in, or the practice of, the obi superstitions and rites.
OBIMBRICATEOb*im"bri*cate, a. Etym: [Pref. ob- + imbricate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Imbricated, with the overlapping ends directed downward.
OBIT O"bit, n. Etym: [OF. obit, L. obitus, fr. obire to go against, to go to meet, (sc.mortem) to die; ob (see Ob-) + ire to go. See Issue.]
1. Death; decease; the date of one's death. Wood.
2. A funeral solemnity or office; obsequies.
3. A service for the soul of a deceased person on the anniversary of the day of his death. The emoluments and advantages from oblations, obits, and other sources, increased in value. Milman. Post obit Etym: [L. post obitum]. See Post-obit.
OBITER Ob"i*ter, adv. Etym: [L., on the way; ob (see Ob-) + iter a going, a walk, way.]
Defn: In passing; incidentally; by the way. Obiter dictum (Law), an incidental and collateral opinion uttered by a judge. See Dictum, n., 2(a).
OBITUALO*bit"u*al, a. Etym: [L. obitus death. See Obit.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to obits, or days when obits are celebrated; as, obitual days. Smart.
OBITUARILYO*bit"u*a*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of an obituary.
OBITUARYO*bit"u*a*ry, a. Etym: [See Obit.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the death of a person or persons; as, an obituary notice; obituary poetry.
OBITUARYO*bit"u*a*ry, n.; pl. Obituaries. Etym: [Cf. F. obituaire. See Obit.]
1. That which pertains to, or is called forth by, the obit or death of a person; esp., an account of a deceased person; a notice of the death of a person, accompanied by a biographical sketch.
2. (R.C.Ch.)
Defn: A list of the dead, or a register of anniversary days when service is performed for the dead.
OBJECTOb*ject", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Objected; p. pr. & vb. n. Objecting.]Etym: [L. objectus, p.p. of objicere, obicere, to throw or putbefore, to oppose; ob (see Ob-) + jacere to throw: cf. objecter. SeeJet a shooting forth.]
1. To set before or against; to bring into opposition; to oppose. [Obs.] Of less account some knight thereto object, Whose loss so great and harmful can not prove. Fairfax. Some strong impediment or other objecting itself. Hooker. Pallas to their eyes The mist objected, and condensed the skies. Pope.
2. To offer in opposition as a criminal charge or by way of accusation or reproach; to adduce as an objection or adverse reason. He gave to him to object his heinous crime. Spencer. Others object the poverty of the nation. Addison. The book … giveth liberty to object any crime against such as are to be ordered. Whitgift.
OBJECTOb*ject", v. i.
Defn: To make opposition in words or argument; — usually followed by to. Sir. T. More.
OBJECTOb"ject, n. Etym: [L. objectus. See Object, v. t.]
1. That which is put, or which may be regarded as put, in the way of some of the senses; something visible or tangible; as, he observed an object in the distance; all the objects in sight; he touched a strange object in the dark.
2. That which is set, or which may be regarded as set, before the mind so as to be apprehended or known; that of which the mind by any of its activities takes cognizance, whether a thing external in space or a conception formed by the mind itself; as, an object of knowledge, wonder, fear, thought, study, etc. Object is a term for that about which the knowing subject is conversant; what the schoolmen have styled the "materia circa quam." Sir. W. Hamilton. The object of their bitterest hatred. Macaulay.
3. That by which the mind, or any of its activities, is directed; that on which the purpose are fixed as the end of action or effort; that which is sought for; end; aim; motive; final cause. Object, beside its proper signification, came to be abusively applied to denote motive, end, final cause…. This innovation was probably borrowed from the French. Sir. W. Hamilton. Let our object be, our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country. D. Webster.
4. Sight; show; appearance; aspect. [Obs.] Shak. He, advancing close Up to the lake, past all the rest, arose In glorious object. Chapman.
5. (Gram.)
Defn: A word, phrase, or clause toward which an action is directed, or is considered to be directed; as, the object of a transitive verb. Object glass, the lens, or system of lenses, placed at the end of a telescope, microscope, etc., which is toward the object. Its office is to form an image of the object, which is then viewed by the eyepiece. Called also objective. See Illust. of Microscope. — Object lesson, a lesson in which object teaching is made use of. — Object staff. (Leveling) Same as Leveling staff. — Object teaching, a method of instruction, in which illustrative objects are employed, each new word or idea being accompanied by a representation of that which it signifies; — used especially in the kindergarten, for young children.
OBJECTOb*ject", a. Etym: [L. objectus, p. p.]
Defn: Opposed; presented in opposition; also, exposed. [Obs.]
OBJECTABLEOb*ject"a*ble, a.
Defn: Such as can be presented in opposition; that may be put forward as an objection. [R.]
OBJECTIFYOb*jec"ti*fy, v. t. Etym: [Object + -fy.]
Defn: To cause to become an object; to cause to assume the character of an object; to render objective. J. D. Morell.
OBJECTIONOb*jec"tion, n. Etym: [L. objectio: cf. F. objection.]
1. The act of objecting; as, to prevent agreement, or action, by objection. Johnson.
2. That which is, or may be, presented in opposition; an adverse reason or argument; a reason for objecting; obstacle; impediment; as, I have no objection to going; unreasonable objections. "Objections against every truth." Tyndale.
3. Cause of trouble; sorrow. [Obs. or R.] He remembers the objection that lies in his bosom, and he sighs deeply. Jer. Taylor.
Syn.— Exception; difficulty; doubt; scruple.
OBJECTIONABLEOb*jec"tion*a*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to objection; likely to be objected to or disapproved of; offensive; as, objectionable words. — Ob*jec"tion*a*bly, adv.
OBJECTISTOb"ject*ist, n.
Defn: One who adheres to, or is skilled in, the objective philosophy.Ed. Rev.
OBJECTIVATEOb*jec"ti*vate, v. t.
Defn: To objectify.
OBJECTIVATIONOb*jec`ti*va"tion, n.
Defn: Converting into an object.
OBJECTIVEOb*jec"tive, a. Etym: [Cf.F. objectif.]
1. Of or pertaining to an object.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to an object; contained in, or having the nature or position of, an object; outward; external; extrinsic; — an epithet applied to whatever ir exterior to the mind, or which is simply an object of thought or feeling, and opposed to subjective. In the Middle Ages, subject meant substance, and has this sense in Descartes and Spinoza: sometimes, also, in Reid. Subjective is used by William of Occam to denote that which exists independent of mind; objective, what is formed by the mind. This shows what is meant by realitas objectiva in Descartes. Kant and Fichte have inverted the meanings. Subject, with them, is the mind which knows; object, that which is known; subjective, the varying conditions of the knowing mind; objective, that which is in the constant nature of the thing known. Trendelenburg. Objective means that which belongs to, or proceeds from, the object known, and not from the subject knowing, and thus denotes what is real, in opposition to that which is ideal — what exists in nature, in contrast to what exists merely in the thought of the individual. Sir. W. Hamilton. Objective has come to mean that which has independent exostence or authority, apart from our experience or thought. Thus, moral law is said to have objective authority, that is, authority belonging to itself, and not drawn from anything in our nature. Calderwood (Fleming's Vocabulary).
3. (Gram.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, the case which follows a transitive verb or a preposition, being that case in which the direct object of the verb is placed. See Accusative, n.
Note: The objective case is frequently used without a governing word, esp. in designations of time or space, where a preposition, as at, in, on, etc., may be supplied. My troublous dream [on] this night make me sad. Shak. To write of victories [in or for] next year. Hudibras. Objective line (Perspective), a line drawn on the geometrical plane which is represented or sought to be represented. — Objective plane (Perspective), any plane in the horizontal plane that is represented. — Objective point, the point or result to which the operations of an army are directed. By extension, the point or purpose to which anything, as a journey or an argument, is directed.
Syn. — Objective, Subjective. Objective is applied to things exterior to the mind, and objects of its attention; subjective, to the operations of the mind itself. Hence, an objective motive is some outward thing awakening desire; a subjective motive is some internal feeling or propensity. Objective views are those governed by outward things; subjective views are produced or modified by internal feeling. Sir Walter Scott's poetry is chiefly objective; that of Wordsworth is eminently subjective. In the philosophy of mind, subjective denotes what is to be referred to the thinking subject, the ego; objective what belongs to the object of thought, the non-ego. Sir. W. Hamilton
OBJECTIVEOb*jec"tive, n.
1. (Gram.)
Defn: The objective case.
2. An object glass. See under Object, n.
3. Same as Objective point, under Objective, a.
OBJECTIVELYOb*jec"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner or state of an object; as, a determinate idea objectively in the mind.
OBJECTIVENESSOb*jec"tive*ness, n.
Defn: Objectivity. Is there such a motion or objectiveness of external bodies, which produceth light Sir M. Hale
OBJECTIVITYOb`jec*tiv"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf.F. objectivité.]
Defn: The state, quality, or relation of being objective; character of the object or of the objective. The calm, the cheerfulness, the disinterested objectivity have disappeared [in the life of the Greeks]. M. Arnold.
OBJECTIZEOb"ject*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make an object of; to regard as an object; to place in theposition of an object.In the latter, as objectized by the former, arise the emotions andaffections. Coleridge.
OBJECTLESSOb"ject*less, a.
Defn: Having no object; purposeless.
OBJECTOROb*ject"or, n. Etym: [L., an accuser.]
Defn: One who objects; one who offers objections to a proposition or measure.
OBJIBWAYSOb*jib"ways, n.pl.
Defn: See Chippeways.
OBJICIENTOb*jic"i*ent, n. Etym: [L. objiciens, p.pr. of objicere to object.]
Defn: One who makes objection; an objector. [R.] Cardinal Wiseman.
OBJURATION Ob`ju*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. objurare to bind by oath; ob (see Ob-) + jurare to swear, fr. jus right.]
Defn: A binding by oath. [R.] Abp. Bramhall.
OBJURGATEOb*jur"gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Objurgated; p. pr. & vb. n.Objurgating.] Etym: [L.objurgatus, p.p. of objurgare to chide; ob(see Ob-) + jurgare to quarrel, scold, fr. jus right, court. SeeJury.]
Defn: To chide; to reprove.
OBJURGATIONOb`jur*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. objurgatio: cf.F.objurgation.]
Defn: The act of objurgating; reproof.While the good lady was bestowing this objurgation on Mr.Ben Allen.Dickens.With a strong objurgation of the elbow in his ribs. Landor.
OBJURGATORYOb*jur"ga*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. objurgatorius.]
Defn: Designed to objurgate or chide; containing or expressing reproof; culpatory. Bancroft. The objurgatory question of the Pharisees. Paley.
OBLANCEOLATEOb*lan"ce*o*late, a. Etym: [Pref. ob- + lanceolate.]
Defn: Lanceolate in the reversed order, that is, narrowing toward the point of attachment more than toward the apex.
OBLATEOb*late", a. Etym: [L. oblatus, used as p.p. of offerre to bringforward, offer, dedicate; ob (see Ob-) + latus borne, for tlatus. SeeTolerate.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: Flattened or depressed at the poles; as, the earth is an oblate spheroid.
2. Offered up; devoted; consecrated; dedicated; — used chiefly or only in the titles of Roman Catholic orders. See Oblate, n. Oblate ellipsoid or spheroid (Geom.), a solid generated by the revolution of an ellipse about its minor axis; an oblatum. See Ellipsoid of revolution, under Ellipsoid.
OBLATE Ob*late", n. Etym: [From Oblate, a.] (R.C.Ch.) (a) One of an association of priests or religious women who have offered themselves to the service of the church. There are three such associations of priests, and one of women, called oblates. (b) One of the Oblati.
OBLATENESSOb*late"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being oblate.
OBLATI Ob*la"ti, n. pl. Etym: [LL., fr. L. oblatus. See Oblate.] (R.C.Ch.) (a) Children dedicated in their early years to the monastic state. (b) A class of persons, especially in the Middle Ages, who offered themselves and their property to a monastery. Addis & Arnold.