6. (Mech.)
Defn: The system made up of a force and a couple of forces in a plane perpendicular to that force. Any number of forces acting at any points upon a rigid body may be compounded so as to be equivalent to a wrench. Carriage wrench, a wrench adapted for removing or tightening the nuts that confine the wheels on the axles, or for turning the other nuts or bolts of a carriage or wagon. — Monkey wrench. See under Monkey. — Wrench hammer, a wrench with the end shaped so as to admit of being used as a hammer.
WRENCHWrench, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wrenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Wrenching.]Etym: [OE. wrenchen, AS. wrencan to deceive, properly, to twist, fromwrenc guile, deceit, a twisting. Wrench, n.]
1. To pull with a twist; to wrest, twist, or force by violence.Wrench his sword from him. Shak.Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched With a woeful agony.Coleridge.
2. To strain; to sprain; hence, to distort; to pervert. You wrenched your foot against a stone. Swift.
WRESTWrest, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wrested; p. pr. & vb. n. Wresting.] Etym:[OE. wresten, AS. wr; akin to wr a twisted band, and wri to twist.See Writhe.]
1. To turn; to twist; esp., to twist or extort by violence; to pull of force away by, or as if by, violent wringing or twisting. "The secret wrested from me." Milton. Our country's cause, That drew our swords, now secret wrests them from our hand. Addison. They instantly wrested the government out of the hands of Hastings. Macaulay.
2. To turn from truth; to twist from its natural or proper use or meaning by violence; to pervert; to distort. Wrest once the law to your authority. Shak. Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor. Ex. xxiii. 6. Their arts of wresting, corrupting, and false interpreting the holy text. South.
3. To tune with a wrest, or key. [Obs.]
WRESTWrest, n.
1. The act of wresting; a wrench; a violent twist; hence, distortion; perversion. Hooker.
2. Active or moving power. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. A key to tune a stringed instrument of music. The minstrel . . . wore round his neck a silver chain, by which hung the wrest, or key, with which he tuned his harp. Sir W. Scott.
4. A partition in a water wheel, by which the form of the buckets is determined. Wrest pin (Piano Manuf.), one of the pins around which the ends of the wires are wound in a piano. Knight. — Wrest plank (Piano Manuf.), the part in which the wrest pins are inserted.
WRESTERWrest"er, n.
Defn: One who wrests.
WRESTLEWres"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wrestled; p. pr. & vb. n. Wrestling.]Etym: [OE. wrestlen, wrastlen, AS. wr, freq. of wr to wrest; akin toOD. wrastelen to wrestle. See Wrest, v. t.]
1. To contend, by grappling with, and striving to trip or throw down, an opponent; as, they wrestled skillfully. To-morrow, sir, I wrestle for my credit, and he that escapes me without some broken limb shall acquit him well. Shak. Another, by a fall in wrestling, started the end of the clavicle from the sternum. Wiseman.
2. Hence, to struggle; to strive earnestly; to contend.Come, wrestle with thy affections. Shak.We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Eph. vi. 12.Difficulties with which he had himself wrestled. M. Arnold.
WRESTLEWres"tle, v. t.
Defn: To wrestle with; to seek to throw down as in wrestling.
WRESTLEWres"tle, n.
Defn: A struggle between two persons to see which will throw the other down; a bout at wrestling; a wrestling match; a struggle. Whom in a wrestle the giant catching aloft, with a terrible hug broke three of his ribs. Milton.
WRESTLERWres"tler, n. Etym: [AS. wræstlere.]
Defn: One who wrestles; one who is skillful in wrestling.
WRESTLINGWres"tling, n.
Defn: Act of one who wrestles; specif., the sport consisting of the hand-to-hand combat between two unarmed contestants who seek to throw each other. The various styles of wrestling differ in their definition of a fall and in the governing rules. In Greco-Roman wrestling, tripping and taking hold of the legs are forbidden, and a fall is gained (that is, the bout is won), by the contestant who pins both his opponent's shoulders to the ground. In catch-as-catch-can wrestling, all holds are permitted except such as may be barred by mutual consent, and a fall is defined as in Greco-Roman style. Lancashire style wrestling is essentially the same as catch-as-catch- can. In Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling the contestants stand chest to chest, grasping each other around the body. The one first losing his hold, or touching the ground with any part of his body except his feet, loses the bout. If both fall to the ground at the same time, it is a dogfall, and must be wrestled over. In the Cornwall and Devon wrestling, the wrestlers complete in strong loose linen jackets, catching hold of the jacket, or anywhere above the waist. Two shoulders and one hip, or two hips and one shoulder, must touch the ground to constitute a fall, and if a man is thrown otherwise than on his back the contestants get upon their feet and the bout recommences.
WRETCH Wretch, n. Etym: [OE. wrecche, AS. wrecca, wræcca, an exile, a wretch, fr. wrecan to drive out, punish; properly, an exile, one driven out, akin to AS. wræc an exile, OS. wrekkio a stranger, OHG. reccheo an exile. See Wreak, v. t.]
1. A miserable person; one profoundly unhappy. "The wretch that lies in woe." Shak. Hovered thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son, Wretch even then, life's journey just begun Cowper.
2. One sunk in vice or degradation; a base, despicable person; a vile knave; as, a profligate wretch.
Note: Wretch is sometimes used by way of slight or ironical pity or contempt, and sometimes to express tenderness; as we say, poor thing. "Poor wretch was never frighted so." Drayton.
WRETCHEDWretch"ed, a.
1. Very miserable; sunk in, or accompanied by, deep affliction or distress, as from want, anxiety, or grief; calamitous; woeful; very afflicting. "To what wretched state reserved!" Milton. O cruel! Death! to those you are more kind Than to the wretched mortals left behind. Waller. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore . . .
2. Worthless; paltry; very poor or mean; miserable; as, a wretched poem; a wretched cabin.
3. Hatefully contemptible; despicable; wicked. [Obs.] "Wretched ungratefulness." Sir P. Sidney. Nero reigned after this Claudius, of all men wretchedest, ready to all manner [of] vices. Capgrave.
WRETCHEDLYWretch"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a wretched manner; miserably; despicable.
WRETCHEDNESSWretch"ed*ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being wretched; utter misery. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. A wretched object; anything despicably. [Obs.] Eat worms and such wretchedness. Chaucer.
WRETCHFULWretch"ful, a.
Defn: Wretched. [Obs.] Wyclif.
WRETCHLESSWretch"less, a. Etym: [See Reckless.]
Defn: Reckless; hence, disregarded. [Obs.] — Wretch"less*ly, adv.[Obs.] — Wretch"less*ness, n. [Obs.] Bk. of Com. Prayer.Your deaf ears should listen Unto the wretchless clamors of the poor.J. Webster.
WREYWrey, v. t.
Defn: See Wray. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WRIEWrie, a. & v.
Defn: See Wry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WRIGWrig, v. i.
Defn: To wriggle. [Obs.] Skelton.
WRIGGLEWrig"gle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wriggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Wriggling.]Etym: [Freq. of wrig, probably from OE. wrikken to move to and fro;cf. LG. wriggeln, D. wrikken, Sw. vricka, Dan. vrikke.]
Defn: To move the body to and fro with short, writhing motions, like a worm; to squirm; to twist uneasily or quickly about. Both he and successors would often wriggle in their seats, as long as the cushion lasted. Swift.
WRIGGLEWrig"gle, v. t.
Defn: To move with short, quick contortions; to move by twisting andsquirming; like a worm.Covetousness will wriggle itself out at a small hole. Fuller.Wriggling his body to recover His seat, and cast his right leg over.Hudibras.
WRIGGLEWrig"gle, a.
Defn: Wriggling; frisky; pliant; flexible. [Obs.] "Their wriggle tails." Spenser.
WRIGGLERWrig"gler, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, wriggles. Cowper.
WRIGHT Wright, n. Etym: [OE. wrighte, writhe, AS. wyrtha, fr. wyrcean to work. sq. root145. See Work.]
Defn: One who is engaged in a mechanical or manufacturing business; an artificer; a workman; a manufacturer; a mechanic; esp., a worker in wood; — now chiefly used in compounds, as in millwright, wheelwright, etc. He was a well good wright, a carpenter. Chaucer.
WRIGHTINEWright"ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A rare alkaloid found in the bark of an East Indian apocynaceous tree (Wrightia antidysenterica), and extracted as a bitter white crystalline substance. It was formerly used as a remedy for diarrhoea. Called also conessine, and neriine.
WRINGWring, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wrung, Obs. Wringed (; p. pr. & vb. n.Wringing.] Etym: [OE. wringen, AS. wringan; akin to LG. & D. wringen,OHG. ringan to struggle, G. ringen, Sw. vränga to distort, Dan.vringle to twist. Cf. Wrangle, Wrench, Wrong.]
1. To twist and compress; to turn and strain with violence; to writhe; to squeeze hard; to pinch; as, to wring clothes in washing. "Earnestly wringing Waverley's hand." Sir W. Scott. "Wring him by the nose." Shak. [His steed] so sweat that men might him wring. Chaucer. The king began to find where his shoe did wring him. Bacon. The priest shall bring it [a dove] unto the altar, and wring off his head. Lev. i. 15.
2. Hence, to pain; to distress; to torment; to torture. Too much grieved and wrung by an uneasy and strait fortune. Clarendon. Didst thou taste but half the griefs That wring my soul, thou couldst not talk thus coldly. Addison.
3. To distort; to pervert; to wrest. How dare men thus wring the Scriptures Whitgift.
4. To extract or obtain by twisting and compressing; to squeeze or press (out); hence, to extort; to draw forth by violence, or against resistance or repugnance; — usually with out or form. Your overkindness doth wring tears from me. Shak. He rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece. Judg. vi. 38.
5. To subject to extortion; to afflict, or oppress, in order to enforce compliance. To wring the widow from her 'customed right. Shak. The merchant adventures have been often wronged and wringed to the quick. Hayward.
6. (Naut.)
Defn: To bend or strain out of its position; as, to wring a mast.
WRINGWring, v. i.
Defn: To writhe; to twist, as with anguish. 'T is all men's office to speak patience To those that wring under the load of sorrow. Shak. Look where the sister of the king of France Sits wringing of her hands, and beats her breast. Marlowe.
WRINGWring, n.
Defn: A writhing, as in anguish; a twisting; a griping. [Obs.] Bp.Hall.
WRINGBOLTWring"bolt`, n. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: A bolt used by shipwrights, to bend and secure the planks against the timbers till they are fastened by bolts, spikes, or treenails; — not to be confounded with ringbolt.
WRINGERWring"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, wrings; hence, an extortioner.
2. A machine for pressing water out of anything, particularly from clothes after they have been washed.
WRINGINGWring"ing,
Defn: a. & n. from Wring, v. Wringing machine, a wringer. SeeWringer, 2.
WRINGSTAFFWring"staff`, n.; pl. Wringstaves (. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: A strong piece of plank used in applying wringbolts.
WRINKLEWrin"kle, n.
Defn: A winkle. [Local, U.S.]
WRINKLE Wrin"kle, n. Etym: [OE. wrinkil, AS. wrincle; akin to OD. wrinckel, and prob. to Dan. rynke, Sw. rynka, Icel. hrukka, OHG. runza, G. runzel, L. ruga.
1. A small ridge, prominence, or furrow formed by the shrinking or contraction of any smooth substance; a corrugation; a crease; a slight fold; as, wrinkle in the skin; a wrinkle in cloth. "The wrinkles in my brows." Shak. Within I do not find wrinkles and used heart, but unspent youth. Emerson.
2. hence, any roughness; unevenness. Not the least wrinkle to deform the sky. Dryden.
3. Etym: [Perhaps a different word, and a dim. AS. wrenc a twisting, deceit. Cf. Wrench, n.]
Defn: A notion or fancy; a whim; as, to have a new wrinkle. [Colloq.]
WRINKLEWrin"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wrinkled; p. pr. & vb. n. Wrinkling.]
1. To contract into furrows and prominences; to make a wrinkle or wrinkles in; to corrugate; as, wrinkle the skin or the brow. "Sport that wrinkled Care derides." Milton. Her wrinkled form in black and white arrayed. Pope.
2. Hence, to make rough or uneven in any way.A keen north wind that, blowing dry, Wrinkled the face of deluge, asdecayed. Milton.Then danced we on the wrinkled sand. Bryant.To wrinkle at, to sneer at. [Obs.] Marston.
WRINKLEWrin"kle, v. i.
Defn: To shrink into furrows and ridges.
WRINKLYWrin"kly, a.
Defn: Full of wrinkles; having a tendency to be wrinkled; corrugated;puckered. G. Eliot.His old wrinkly face grew quite blown out at last. Carlyle.
WRISTWrist, n. Etym: [OE. wriste, wrist, AS. wrist; akin to OFries.wriust, LG. wrist, G. rist wrist, instep, Icel. rist instep, Dan. &Sw. vrist, and perhaps to E. writhe.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The joint, or the region of the joint, between the hand and the arm; the carpus. See Carpus. He took me by the wrist, and held me hard. Shak.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A stud or pin which forms a journal; — also called wrist pin. Bridle wrist, the wrist of the left hand, in which a horseman holds the bridle. — Wrist clonus. Etym: [NL. clonus, fr. Gr. Clonic.] (Med.) A series of quickly alternating movements of flexion and extension of the wrist, produced in some cases of nervous disease by suddenly bending the hand back upon the forearm. — Wrist drop (Med.), paralysis of the extensor muscles of the hand, affecting the hand so that when an attempt is made to hold it out in line with the forearm with the palm down, the hand drops. It is chiefly due to plumbism. Called also hand drop. — Wrist plate (Steam Engine), a swinging plate bearing two or more wrists, for operating the valves.
WRISTBANDWrist"band, n.
Defn: The band of the sleeve of a shirt, or other garment, which covers the wrist.
WRISTERWrist"er, n.
Defn: A covering for the wrist.
WRISTLETWrist"let, n.
Defn: An elastic band worn around the wrist, as for the purpose of securing the upper part of a glove.
WRITWrit, obs.
Defn: 3d pers. sing. pres. of Write, for writeth. Chaucer.
WRITWrit, archaic
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Write. Dryden.
WRITWrit, n. Etym: [AS. writ, gewrit. See Write.]
1. That which is written; writing; scripture; — applied especially to the Scriptures, or the books of the Old and New testaments; as, sacred writ. "Though in Holy Writ not named." Milton. Then to his hands that writ he did betake, Which he disclosing read, thus as the paper spake. Spenser. Babylon, so much spoken of in Holy Writ. Knolles.
2. (Law)
Defn: An instrument in writing, under seal, in an epistolary form, issued from the proper authority, commanding the performance or nonperformance of some act by the person to whom it is directed; as, a writ of entry, of error, of execution, of injunction, of mandamus, of return, of summons, and the like.
Note: Writs are usually witnessed, or tested, in the name of the chief justice or principal judge of the court out of which they are issued; and those directed to a sheriff, or other ministerial officer, require him to return them on a day specified. In former English law and practice, writs in civil cases were either original or judicial; the former were issued out of the Court of Chancery, under the great seal, for the summoning of a defendant to appear, and were granted before the suit began and in order to begin the same; the latter were issued out of the court where the original was returned, after the suit was begun and during the pendency of it. Tomlins. Brande. Encyc. Brit. The term writ is supposed by Mr. Reeves to have been derived from the fact of these formulæ having always been expressed in writing, being, in this respect, distinguished from the other proceedings in the ancient action, which were conducted orally. Writ of account, Writ of capias, etc. See under Account, Capias, etc. — Service of a writ. See under Service.
WRITABILITYWrit`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Ability or capacity to write. [R.] Walpole.
WRITABLEWrit"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of, or suitable for, being written down.
WRITATIVEWrit"a*tive, a.
Defn: Inclined to much writing; — correlative to talkative. [R.]Pope.
WRITE Write, v. t. [imp. Wrote; p. p. Written; Archaic imp. & p. p. Writ; p. pr. & vb. n. Writing.] Etym: [OE. writen, AS. writan; originally, to scratch, to score; akin to OS. writan to write, to tear, to wound, D. rijten to tear, to rend, G. reissen, OHG. rizan, Icel. rita to write, Goth. writs a stroke, dash, letter. Cf. Race tribe, lineage.]
1. To set down, as legible characters; to form the conveyance of meaning; to inscribe on any material by a suitable instrument; as, to write the characters called letters; to write figures.
2. To set down for reading; to express in legible or intelligible characters; to inscribe; as, to write a deed; to write a bill of divorcement; hence, specifically, to set down in an epistle; to communicate by letter. Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves. Shak. I chose to write the thing I durst not speak To her I loved. Prior.
3. Hence, to compose or produce, as an author. I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time within the memory of men still living. Macaulay.
4. To impress durably; to imprint; to engrave; as, truth written on the heart.
5. To make known by writing; to record; to prove by one's own written testimony; — often used reflexively. He who writes himself by his own inscription is like an ill painter, who, by writing on a shapeless picture which he hath drawn, is fain to tell passengers what shape it is, which else no man could imagine. Milton. To write to, to communicate by a written document to. — Written laws, laws deriving their force from express legislative enactment, as contradistinguished from unwritten, or common, law. See the Note under Law, and Common law, under Common, a.
WRITEWrite, v. i.
1. To form characters, letters, or figures, as representative of sounds or ideas; to express words and sentences by written signs. Chaucer. So it stead you, I will write, Please you command. Shak.
2. To be regularly employed or occupied in writing, copying, or accounting; to act as clerk or amanuensis; as, he writes in one of the public offices.
3. To frame or combine ideas, and express them in written words; to play the author; to recite or relate in books; to compose. They can write up to the dignity and character of the authors. Felton.
4. To compose or send letters. He wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up into Jewry concerning their freedom. 1 Esdras iv. 49.
WRITERWrit"er, n. Etym: [AS. writere.]
1. One who writes, or has written; a scribe; a clerk. They [came] that handle the pen of the writer. Judg. v. 14. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Ps. xlv. 1.
2. One who is engaged in literary composition as a profession; an author; as, a writer of novels. This pitch, as ancient writers do report, doth defile. Shak.
3. A clerk of a certain rank in the service of the late East India Company, who, after serving a certain number of years, became a factor. Writer of the tallies (Eng. Law), an officer of the exchequer of England, who acted as clerk to the auditor of the receipt, and wrote the accounts upon the tallies from the tellers' bills. The use of tallies in the exchequer has been abolished. Wharton (Law. Dict.) — Writer's cramp, palsy, or spasm (Med.), a painful spasmodic affection of the muscles of the fingers, brought on by excessive use, as in writing, violin playing, telegraphing, etc. Called also scrivener's palsy. — Writer to the signet. See under Signet.
WRITERSHIPWrit"er*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a writer.
WRITHE Writhe, v. t. [imp. Writhed; p. p. Writhed, Obs. or Poetic Writhen (; p. pr. & vb. n. Writhing.] Etym: [OE. writhen, AS. wri to twist; akin to OHG. ridan, Icel. ri, Sw. vrida, Dan. vride. Cf. Wreathe, Wrest, Wroth.]
1. To twist; to turn; now, usually, to twist or turn so as to distort; to wring. "With writhing [turning] of a pin." Chaucer. Then Satan first knew pain, And writhed him to and fro. Milton. Her mouth she writhed, her forehead taught to frown. Dryden. His battle-writhen arms, and mighty hands. Tennyson.
2. To wrest; to distort; to pervert. The reason which he yieldeth showeth the least part of his meaning to be that whereunto his words are writhed. Hooker.
3. To extort; to wring; to wrest. [R.] The nobility hesitated not to follow the example of their sovereign in writhing money from them by every species of oppression. Sir W. Scott.
WRITHEWrithe, v. i.
Defn: To twist or contort the body; to be distorted; as, to writhe with agony. Also used figuratively. After every attempt, he felt that he had failed, and writhed with shame and vexation. Macaulay.
WRITHENWrith"en, a.
Defn: Having a twisted distorted from.A writhen staff his step unstable guides. Fairfax.
WRITHLEWri"thle, v. t. Etym: [Freq. of writhe.]
Defn: To wrinkle. [Obs.] Shak.
WRITINGWrit"ing, n.
1. The act or art of forming letters and characters on paper, wood, stone, or other material, for the purpose of recording the ideas which characters and words express, or of communicating them to others by visible signs.
2. Anything written or printed; anything expressed in characters or letters; as: (a) Any legal instrument, as a deed, a receipt, a bond, an agreement, or the like. (b) Any written composition; a pamphlet; a work; a literary production; a book; as, the writings of Addison. (c) An inscription. And Pilate wrote a title . . . And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. John xix. 19.
3. Handwriting; chirography. Writing book, a book for practice inpenmanship.— Writing desk, a desk with a sloping top for writing upon; also, acase containing writing materials, and used in a similar manner.— Writing lark (Zoöl.), the European yellow-hammer; — so calledfrom the curious irregular lines on its eggs. [Prov. Eng.] — Writingmachine. Same as Typewriter.— Writing master, one who teaches the art of penmanship.— Writing obligatory (Law), a bond.— Writing paper, paper intended for writing upon with ink, usuallyfinished with a smooth surface, and sized.— Writing school, a school for instruction in penmanship.— Writing table, a table fitted or used for writing upon.
WRITTENWrit"ten,
Defn: p. p. of Write, v.
WRIZZLEWriz"zle, v. t.
Defn: To wrinkle. [Obs.] Spenser.
WROKENWro"ken, obs.
Defn: p. p. of Wreak. Chaucer.
WRONGWrong, obs.
Defn: imp. of Wring. Wrung. Chaucer.
WRONG Wrong, a. Etym: [OE. wrong, wrang, a. & n., AS. wrang, n.; originally, awry, wrung, fr. wringan to wring; akin to D. wrang bitter, Dan. vrang wrong, Sw. vrång, Icel. rangr awry, wrong. See Wring.]
1. Twisted; wry; as, a wrong nose. [Obs.] Wyclif (Lev. xxi. 19).
2. Not according to the laws of good morals, whether divine or human; not suitable to the highest and best end; not morally right; deviating from rectitude or duty; not just or equitable; not true; not legal; as, a wrong practice; wrong ideas; wrong inclinations and desires.
3. Not fit or suitable to an end or object; not appropriate for an intended use; not according to rule; unsuitable; improper; incorrect; as, to hold a book with the wrong end uppermost; to take the wrong way. I have deceived you both; I have directed you to wrong places. Shak.
4. Not according to truth; not conforming to fact or intent; not right; mistaken; erroneous; as, a wrong statement.
5. Designed to be worn or placed inward; as, the wrong side of a garment or of a piece of cloth.
Syn. — Injurious; unjust; faulty; detrimental; incorrect; erroneous; unfit; unsuitable.
WRONGWrong, adv.
Defn: In a wrong manner; not rightly; amiss; morally ill; erroneously; wrongly. Ten censure wrong for one that writes amiss. Pope.
WRONGWrong, n. Etym: [AS. wrang. See Wrong, a.]
Defn: That which is not right. Specifically: (a) Nonconformity or disobedience to lawful authority, divine or human; deviation from duty; — the opposite of moral Ant: right. When I had wrong and she the right. Chaucer. One spake much of right and wrong. Milton.
(b) Deviation or departure from truth or fact; state of falsity; error; as, to be in the wrong. (c) Whatever deviates from moral rectitude; usually, an act that involves evil consequences, as one which inflicts injury on a person; any injury done to, or received from; another; a trespass; a violation of right. Friend, I do thee no wrong. Matt. xx. 18. As the king of England can do no wrong, so neither can he do right but in his courts and by his courts. Milton. The obligation to redress a wrong is at least as binding as that of paying a debt. E. Evereth.
Note: Wrongs, legally, are private or public. Private wrongs are civil injuries, immediately affecting individuals; public wrongs are crimes and misdemeanors which affect the community. Blackstone.
WRONGWrong, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wronged; p. pr. & vb. n. Wronging.]
1. To treat with injustice; to deprive of some right, or to withhold some act of justice from; to do undeserved harm to; to deal unjustly with; to injure. He that sinneth . . . wrongeth his own soul. Prov. viii. 36.
2. To impute evil to unjustly; as, if you suppose me capable of a base act, you wrong me. I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, Than I will wrong such honorable men. Shak.
WRONGDOERWrong"do`er, n.
1. One who injures another, or who does wrong.
2. (Law)
Defn: One who commits a tort or trespass; a trespasser; a tort feasor. Ayliffe.
WRONGDOINGWrong"do`ing, n.
Defn: Evil or wicked behavior or action.
WRONGERWrong"er, n.
Defn: One who wrongs or injures another. Shak. "Wrongers of the world." Tennyson.
WRONGFULWrong"ful, a.
Defn: Full of wrong; injurious; unjust; unfair; as, a wrongful takingof property; wrongful dealing.— Wrong"ful*ly, adv.— Wrong"ful*ness, n.
WRONGHEADWrong"head`, n.
Defn: A person of a perverse understanding or obstinate character.[R.]
WRONGHEADWrong"head`, a.
Defn: Wrongheaded. [R.] Pope.
WRONGHEADEDWrong"head`ed, a.
Defn: Wrong in opinion or principle; having a perverse understanding;perverse.— Wrong"head`ed*ly, adv.— Wrong"head`ed*ness, n. Macaulay.
WRONGLESSWrong"less, a.
Defn: Not wrong; void or free from wrong. [Obs.] — Wrong"less*ly, adv. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
WRONGLYWrong"ly, adv.
Defn: In a wrong manner; unjustly; erroneously; wrong; amiss; as, he judges wrongly of my motives. "And yet wouldst wrongly win." Shak.
WRONGNESSWrong"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being wrong; wrongfulness; error;fault.The best great wrongnesses within themselves. Bp. Butler.The rightness or wrongness of this view. Latham.
WRONGOUSWron"gous, a. Etym: [Cf. OE. wrongwis. See Wrong, and cf. Righteous.]
1. Constituting, or of the nature of, a wrong; unjust; wrongful. [R.]
2. (Scots Law)
Defn: Not right; illegal; as, wrongous imprisonment. Craig.
WRONG-TIMEDWrong"-timed`, a.
Defn: Done at an improper time; ill-timed.
WROOTWroot, obs.
Defn: imp. of Write. Wrote. Chaucer.
WROTEWrote, v. i. Etym: [OE. wroten. See 1st Root.]
Defn: To root with the snout. See 1st Root. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WROTEWrote,
Defn: imp. & archaic p. p. of Write.
WROTH Wroth, a. Etym: [OE. wroth, wrap, AS. wraedh wroth, crooked, bad; akin to wriedhan to writhe, and to OS. wreedhangry, D. wreed cruel, OHG. reid twisted, Icel. reiedhr angry, Dan. & Sw. vred. See Writhe, and cf. Wrath.]
Defn: Full of wrath; angry; incensed; much exasperated; wrathful."Wroth to see his kingdom fail." Milton.Revel and truth as in a low degree, They be full wroth [i. e., atenmity] all day. Chaucer.Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Gen. iv. 5.
WROUGHTWrought,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Work.Alas that I was wrought [created]! Chaucer.
WROUGHTWrought, a.
Defn: Worked; elaborated; not rough or crude. Wrought iron. See underIron.
WRUNGWrung,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Wring.
WRYWry, v. t. Etym: [AS. wreón.]
Defn: To cover. [Obs.]Wrie you in that mantle. Chaucer.
WRY Wry, a. [Compar. Wrier; superl. Wriest.] Etym: [Akin to OE. wrien to twist, to bend, AS. wrigian to tend towards, to drive.]
1. Turned to one side; twisted; distorted; as, a wry mouth.
2. Hence, deviating from the right direction; misdirected; out of place; as, wry words. Not according to the wry rigor of our neighbors, who never take up an old idea without some extravagance in its application. Landor.
3. Wrested; perverted.He . . . puts a wry sense upon Protestant writers. Atterbury.Wry face, a distortion of the countenance indicating impatience,disgust, or discomfort; a grimace.
WRYWry, v. i.
1. To twist; to writhe; to bend or wind.
2. To deviate from the right way; to go away or astray; to turn side; to swerve. This Phebus gan awayward for to wryen. Chaucer. How many Must murder wives much better than themselves For wrying but a little! Shak.
WRY Wry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wried; p. pr. & vb. n. Wrying.] Etym: [OE. wrien. See Wry, a.]
Defn: To twist; to distort; to writhe; to wrest; to vex. Sir P.Sidney.Guests by hundreds, not one caring If the dear host's neck werewried. R. Browning.
WRYBILLWry"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Crookbill.
WRYMOUTHWry"mouth`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of large, elongated, marine fishes of the genus Cryptacanthodes, especially C. maculatus of the American coast. A whitish variety is called ghostfish.
WRYNECKWry"neck, n. (Med.)
1. A twisted or distorted neck; a deformity in which the neck is drawn to one side by a rigid contraction of one of the muscles of the neck; torticollis.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of Old World birds of the genus Jynx, allied to the woodpeckers; especially, the common European species (J. torguilla); — so called from its habit of turning the neck around in different directions. Called also cuckoo's mate, snakebird, summer bird, tonguebird, and writheneck.
WRYNECKEDWry"necked`, a.
Defn: Having a distorted neck; having the deformity called wryneck.
WRYNESSWry"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being wry, or distorted. W. Montagu.
WRYTHENWryth"en, obs. p. p. of Writhe.
Defn: Writhen.
WULFENITE Wul"fen*ite, n. Etym: [So named after F. X. Wulfen, an Australian mineralogist.] (Min.)
Defn: Native lead molybdate occurring in tetragonal crystals, usually tabular, and of a bright orange-yellow to red, gray, or brown color; — also called yellow lead ore.
WULLWull, v. t. & i.
Defn: See 2d Will.Pour out to all that wull. Spenser.
WUNG-OUTWung"-out`, a.
Defn: Having the sails set in the manner called wing-and-wing.[Sailors' slang]
WURBAGOOLWur"ba*gool, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fruit bat (Pteropus medius) native of India. It is similar to the flying fox, but smaller.
WURMALWur"mal, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Wormil.
WURRALUHWur"ra*luh, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Australian white-quilled honey eater (Entomyza albipennis).
WUST; WUSTEWust, Wuste, obs.
Defn: imp. of Wit. Piers Plowman.
WYANDOTSWy`an*dots", n. pl.; sing. Wyandot (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: Same as Hurons. [Written also Wyandottes, and Yendots.]
WYCH-ELM Wych"-elm`, n. Etym: [OE. wiche a kind of elm, AS. wice a kind of tree. Cf. Wicker.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of elm (Ulmus montana) found in Northern and WesternEurope; Scotch elm.
Note: By confusion this word is often written witch-elm.
WYCH-HAZELWych"-ha`zel, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The wych-elm; — so called because its leaves are like those of the hazel.
WYCLIFITE; WYCLIFFITEWyc"lif*ite, Wyc"liff*ite, n.
Defn: A follower of Wyclif, the English reformer; a Lollard.
WYDWyd, a.
Defn: Wide. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WYEWye, n.; pl. Wyes (.
1. The letter Y.
2. A kind of crotch. See Y, n. (a).
WYKEWyke, n.
Defn: Week. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WYLAWy"la, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A helmeted Australian cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus); — called also funeral cockatoo.
WYN; WYNN; WENWyn, Wynn, n. Also Wen. [AS. wen.]
Defn: One of the runes adopted into the Anglo-Saxon, or Old English, alphabet. It had the value of modern English w, and was replaced from about a. d. 1280 at first by uu, later by w.
WYNDWynd, n. Etym: [See Wind to turn.]
Defn: A narrow lane or alley. [Scot.] Jamieson.The narrow wynds, or alleys, on each side of the street. Bryant.
WYNKERNELWyn"ker*nel, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European moor hen. [Prov. Eng.]
WYNNWynn, n.
Defn: A kind of timber truck, or carriage.
WYPEWype, n.
Defn: The wipe, or lapwing. [Prov. Eng.]
WYSWys, a.
Defn: Wise. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WYTE; WYTENWyte, Wy"ten, obs.
Defn: pl. pres. of Wit.
WYTHEWythe, n. (Naut.).
Defn: Same as Withe, n., 4.
WYVERNWy"vern, n. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Wiver.
XX (eks).
Defn: X, the twenty-fourth letter of the English alphabet, has three sounds; a compound nonvocal sound (that of ks), as in wax; a compound vocal sound (that of gz), as in example; and, at the beginning of a word, a simple vocal sound (that of z), as in xanthic. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 217, 270, 271.
The form and value of X are from the Latin X, which is from the Greek X, which in some Greek alphabets had the value of ks, though in the one now in common use it represents an aspirated sound of k.
XANTHAMIDEXanth*am"ide, n. [Xanthic + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: An amido derivative of xanthic acid obtained as a white crystalline substance, C2H5O.CS.NH2; — called also xanthogen amide.
XANTHATEXan"thate, n. [See Xanthic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of xanthic; a xanthogenate.
XANTHELASMA Xan`the*las"ma, n. [NL.; Gr. xanqo`s yellow + 'e`lasma a metal plate.] (Med.)
Defn: See Xanthoma.
XANTHIANXan"thi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Xanthus, an ancient town on Asia Minor; — applied especially to certain marbles found near that place, and now in the British Museum.
XANTHICXan"thic, a. [Gr. xanqo`s yellow: cf. F. xanthique.]
1. Tending toward a yellow color, or to one of those colors, green being excepted, in which yellow is a constituent, as scarlet, orange, etc.
2. (Chem.)(a) Possessing, imparting, or producing a yellow color; as, xanthicacid.(b) Of or pertaining to xanthic acid, or its compounds; xanthogenic.(c) Of or pertaining to xanthin.
Xanthic acid (Chem.), a heavy, astringent, colorless oil, C2H5O.CS.SH, having a pungent odor. It is produced by leading carbon disulphide into a hot alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide. So called from the yellow color of many of its salts. Called also xanthogenic acid. — Xanthic colors (Bot.), those colors (of flowers) having some tinge of yellow; — opposed to cyanic colors. See under Cyanic.
XANTHIDEXan"thide, n. [See Xantho-.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound or derivative of xanthogen. [Archaic]
XANTHIDIUMXan*thid"i*um, n.; pl. Xanthidia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. xanqo`s yellow.](Bot.)
Defn: A genus of minute unicellular algæ of the desmids. These algæ have a rounded shape and are armed with glochidiate or branched aculei. Several species occur in ditches, and others are found fossil in flint or hornstone.
XANTHINXan"thin, n. [Gr. xanqo`s yellow.]
1. (Physiol. Chem.) A crystalline nitrogenous body closely related to both uric acid and hypoxanthin, present in muscle tissue, and occasionally found in the urine and in some urinary calculi. It is also present in guano. So called from the yellow color of certain of its salts (nitrates).
2. (Chem.) A yellow insoluble coloring matter extracted from yellow flowers; specifically, the coloring matter of madder. [Formerly written also xanthein.]
3. (Chem.) One of the gaseous or volatile decomposition products of the xanthates, and probably identical with carbon disulphide. [Obs.]
XANTHINE; XANTHINXan"thine, n. Also Xan"thin . [Gr. xanqo`s yellow.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A white microcrystalline nitrogenous compound, C5H4O2N4, present in muscle tissue, in the liver, spleen, pancreas, and other organs, and also in urine (in small quantities) and some urinary calculi, and in the juices of certain plants; — so called because it leaves a yellow residue when evaporated to dryness with nitric acid. Xanthine is closely related to uric acid.
XANTHININEXan"thi*nine, n. [Gr. xanqo`s yellow + quinine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A complex nitrogenous substance related to urea and uric acid, produced as a white powder; — so called because it forms yellow salts, and because its solution forms a blue fluorescence like quinine.
XANTHIUM Xan"thi*um, n. [NL., fr. Gr. xa`nqion a plant used for dyeing the hair yellow, said to be the Xanthium strumarium, from xanqo`s yellow.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of composite plants in which the scales of the involucre are united so as to form a kind of bur; cocklebur; clotbur.
XANTHO-Xan"tho-.
Defn: A combining form from Gr. xanqo`s yellow; as in xanthocobaltic salts. Used also adjectively in chemistry.
XANTHOCARPOUSXan`tho*car"pous, a. [Xantho-+ Gr. karpo`s fruit.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having yellow fruit.
XANTHOCHROIXan*thoch"ro*i, n. pl. [NL. See Xanthochroic.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: A division of the Caucasian races, comprising the lighter- colored members.
The Xanthochroi, or fair whites, . . . are the prevalent inhabitants of Northern Europe, and the type may be traced into North Africa, and eastward as far as Hindostan. Tylor.
XANTHOCHROICXan`tho*chro"ic, a. [Xantho-+ Gr. chro`a color.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: Having a yellowish or fair complexion; of or pertaining to theXanthochroi.
XANTHOCHROIDXan"tho*chroid, a. [See under Xanthrochroic, -oid.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: Having a yellowish or fair complexion. — n.
Defn: A person having xanthochroid traits.
XANTHOCHROISMXan*thoch"ro*ism, n.
Defn: Abnormal coloration of feathers in which yellow replaces the normal color, as in certain parrots. It is commonly due to lack of the dark pigment which with yellow forms green.
XANTHODONTOUSXan`tho*don"tous, a. [Xantho-+ Gr. 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, tooth.]
Defn: Having yellow teeth.
XANTHOGEN Xan"tho*gen, n. [Xantho- + -gen.] (Chem.) (a) The hypothetical radical supposed to be characteristic of xanthic acid. [Archaic] (b) Persulphocyanogen. [R.]
XANTHOGENATEXan"tho*gen*ate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of xanthic acid.
XANTHOGENICXan`tho*gen"ic, a. [See Xantho-, and -gen.] (Chem.)
Defn: Producing a yellow color or compound; xanthic. See Xanthic acid, under Xanthic.
XANTHOMAXan*tho"ma, n. [NL. See Xantho-, and -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A skin disease marked by the development or irregular yellowish patches upon the skin, especially upon the eyelids; — called also xanthelasma.
XANTHOMATOUSXan*thom"a*tous, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to xanthoma.
XANTHOMELANOUSXan`tho*mel"a*nous, a. [Pref. xantho- + Gr. , , black.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the lighter division of the Melanochroi, or those races having an olive or yellow complexion and black hair.
XANTHOPHANEXan"tho*phane, n. [Xantho- + Gr. fai`nein to show.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The yellow pigment present in the inner segments of the retina in animals. See Chromophane.
XANTHOPHYLLXan"tho*phyll, n. [Xantho- + Gr. fy`llon leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: A yellow coloring matter found in yellow autumn leaves, and also produced artificially from chlorophyll; — formerly called also phylloxanthin.
XANTHOPOUSXan"tho*pous, a. [Xantho- + Gr. poy`s, podo`s, foot.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having a yellow stipe, or stem.
XANTHOPROTEICXan`tho*pro*te"ic, a. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, xanthoprotein; showing the characters of xanthoprotein; as, xanthoproteic acid; the xanthoproteic reaction for albumin.
XANTHOPROTEINXan`tho*pro"te*in, n. [Xantho-+ protein.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A yellow acid substance formed by the action of hot nitric acid on albuminous or proteid matter. It is changed to a deep orange- yellow color by the addition of ammonia.
XANTHOPUCCINEXan`tho*puc"cine, n. [Xantho-+ puccoon + -ine.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of three alkaloids found in the root of the yellow puccoon (Hydrastis Canadensis). It is a yellow crystalline substance, and resembles berberine.
XANTHORHAMNIN Xan`tho*rham"nin, n. [Xantho-+ NL. Rhamnus, the generic name of the plant bearing Persian berries.] (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside extracted from Persian berries as a yellow crystalline powder, used as a dyestuff.
XANTHORHIZAXan`tho*rhi"za, n. [NL., fr. Gr. xanqo`s yellow + "ri`za root.](Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubby ranunculaceous plants of North America, including only the species Xanthorhiza apiifolia, which has roots of a deep yellow color; yellowroot. The bark is intensely bitter, and is sometimes used as a tonic.
XANTHORHOEAXan`tho*rhoe"a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xanqo`s yellow + (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of endogenous plants, native to Australia, having a thick, sometimes arborescent, stem, and long grasslike leaves. See Grass tree.
XANTHOSEXan"those, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An orange-yellow substance found in pigment spots of certain crabs.
XANTHOSISXan*tho"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. xanqo`s yellow.] (Med.)
Defn: The yellow discoloration often observed in cancerous tumors.
XANTHOSPERMOUSXan`tho*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Xantho- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having yellow seeds.
XANTHOUSXan"thous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Yellow; specifically (Ethnol.), of or pertaining to those races of man which have yellowish, red, auburn, or brown hair.
XANTHOXYLENEXan*thox"y*lene, n. Etym: [See Xanthoxylum.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon of the terpene series extracted from the seeds of a Japanese prickly ash (Xanthoxylum pipertium) as an aromatic oil.
XANTHOXYLUM Xan*thox"y*lum, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xanqo`s yellow + xy`lon wood.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of prickly shrubs or small trees, the bark and rots of which are of a deep yellow color; prickly ash.
Note: The commonest species in the Northern United States isXanthoxylum Americanum. See Prickly ash, under Prickly.
XEBEC Xe"bec, n. Etym: [Sp. jabegue, formerly spelt xabeque, or Pg. xabeco; both from Turk. sumbeki a kind of Asiatic ship; cf. Per. sumbuk, Ar. sumb a small ship.] (Naut.)
Defn: A small three-masted vessel, with projecting bow stern and convex decks, used in the Mediterranean for transporting merchandise, etc. It carries large square sails, or both. Xebecs were formerly armed and used by corsairs.
XEMEXeme (zem), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Arctic fork-tailed gull (Xema Sabinii).
XENELASIAXen`e*la"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A Spartan institution which prohibited strangers from residing in Sparta without permission, its object probably being to preserve the national simplicity of manners.
XENIUMXe"ni*um, n.; pl. Xenia. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Class. Antiq.)
Defn: A present given to a guest or stranger, or to a foreign ambassador.
XENODOCHIUM Xen`o*do*chi"um, n. Etym: [LL., fr. L. xenodochium a building for the reception of strangers, Gr. (a) (Class. Antiq.)
Defn: A house for the reception of strangers. (b) In the Middle Ages, a room in a monastery for the reception and entertainment of strangers and pilgrims, and for the relief of paupers. [Called also Xenodocheion.]
XENODOCHYXe*nod"o*chy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Reception of strangers; hospitality. [R.]
XENOGAMYXe*nog"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos strange, foreign + (Bot.)
Defn: Cross fertilization.
XENOGENESIS Xen`o*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos a stranger + E. genesis.] (Biol.) (a) Same as Heterogenesis. (b) The fancied production of an organism of one kind by an organism of another. Huxley.
XENOGENETICXen`o*ge*net"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to xenogenesis; as, the xenogenetic origin of microzymes. Huxley.
XENOMANIAXen`o*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos strange + E. mania.]
Defn: A mania for, or an inordinate attachment to, foreign customs, institutions, manners, fashions, etc. [R.] Saintsbury.
XENOMIXen"o*mi, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xe`nos strange.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of soft-rayed fresh-water fishes of which the blackfish of Alaska (Dallia pectoralis) is the type.
XENONXen"on, n. [Gr. , neut. of strange.] (Chem.)
Defn: A very heavy, inert gaseous element occurring in the atmosphere in the proportion of one volume is about 20 millions. It was discovered by Ramsay and Travers in 1898. It can be condensed to a liquid boiling at -109º C., and to a solid which volatilizes without melting. Symbol Xe or X; atomic weight 130.2.
XENOPTERYGIIXe*nop`te*ryg"i*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xe`nos strange +(Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of fishes including Gobiesox and allied genera. These fishes have soft-rayed fins, and a ventral sucker supported in front by the pectoral fins. They are destitute of scales.
XENOTIMEXen"o*time, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos guest, stranger + xenotim.] (Min.)
Defn: A native phosphate of yttrium occurring in yellowish-brown tetragonal crystals.
XENURINEXe*nu"rine, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos strange + (Zoöl.)
Defn: A cabassou.
XENYLXen"yl, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos strange + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: The radical characteristic of xenylic compounds.
XENYLICXe*nyl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, designating, certain amido compounds obtained by reducing certain nitro derivatives of diphenyl.
XERAPHIM Xer"a*phim, n. Etym: [Pg. xarafin, xerafin, fr. Ar. ashrafi noble, the name of a gold coin.]
Defn: An old money of account in Bombay, equal to three fifths of a rupee.
XERESXer"es, n.
Defn: Sherry. See Sherry.
XERIFXer"if, n.
Defn: A shereef.
XERIFFXer"iff, n. Etym: [See Shereef.]
Defn: A gold coin formerly current in Egypt and Turkey, of the value of about 9s. 6d., or about $2.30; — also, in Morocco, a ducat.
XERODERMA Xe`ro*der"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.) (a) Ichthyosis. (b) A skin disease characterized by the presence of numerous small pigmented spots resembling freckles, with which are subsequently mingled spots of atrophied skin.
XERONATEXe"ro*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of xeronic acid.
XERONICXe*ron"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. conic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid, C8H12O4, related to fumaric acid, and obtained from citraconic acid as an oily substance having a bittersweet taste; — so called from its tendency to form its anhydride.
XEROPHAGYXe*roph"a*gy, n. Etym: [L. xerophagia, Gr.
Defn: Among the primitive Christians, the living on a diet of dry food in Lent and on other fasts.
XEROPHILOUSXe*roph"i*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Drought-loving; able withstand the absence or lack of moisture.Plants which are peculiarly adapted to dry climates are termed by DeCandolle xerophilous. Goodale.
XEROPHTHALMIAXe`roph*thal"mi*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Ophthalmia.] (Med.)
Defn: An abnormal dryness of the eyeball produced usually by long- continued inflammation and subsequent atrophy of the conjunctiva.
XEROPHTHALMYXe`roph*thal"my, n. (Med.)
Defn: Xerophthalmia.
XIPHIASXiph"i*as, n. Etym: [L., a swordfish, a sword-shaped comet, fr. Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fishes comprising the common swordfish.
2. (Anat.) (a) The constellation Dorado. (b) A comet shaped like a sword
XIPHIDIUMXi*phid"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xi`fos sword.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants of the order Hæmodraceæ, having two-ranked, sword-shaped leaves.
XIPHIOIDXiph"i*oid, a. Etym: [Xiphius + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a cetacean of the genusXiphius or family Xiphiidæ.
XIPHIPLASTRON Xiph"i*plas"tron, n.; pl. Xiphiplastra. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. xi`fos a sword + plastron.] (Anat.)
Defn: The posterior, or fourth, lateral plate in the plastron of turtles; — called also xiphisternum.
XIPHISTERNUM Xiph"i*ster"num, n.; pl. Xiphisterna. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. xi`fos a sword + sternum.] (Anat.) (a) The posterior segment, or extremity, of the sternum; — sometimes called metasternum, ensiform cartilage, ensiform process, or xiphoid process. (b) The xiphiplastron. — Xiph"i*ster"nal a.
XIPHIUSXiph"i*us, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. xi`fos a sword.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of cetaceans having a long, pointed, bony beak, usually two tusklike teeth in the lower jaw, but no teeth in the upper jaw.
XIPHODONXiph"o*don, n. Etym: [Gr. xi`fos a sword + (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct genus of artiodactylous mammals found in the European Tertiary formations. It had slender legs, didactylous feet, and small canine teeth.
XIPHOID Xiph"oid, a. Etym: [Gr. xi`fos a sword + xiphoide.] (Anat.) (a) Like a sword; ensiform. (b) Of or pertaining to the xiphoid process; xiphoidian.
XIPHOIDIANXiph*oid"i*an, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Xiphoid.
XIPHOPHYLLOUSXi*phoph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. xi`fos sword + (Bot.)
Defn: Having sword-shaped leaves.
XIPHOSURAXiph`o*su"ra, n. pl.
Defn: See Xiphura.
XIPHURAXi*phu"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xi`fos sword + (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Limuloidea. Called also Xiphosura. X ray. See underRay.
XPXP. [Belongs here in appearance only.]
Defn: The first two letters of the Greek word XRISTOS, Christ; — an abbreviation used with the letters separate or, oftener, in a monogram, often inclosed in a circle, as a symbol or emblem of Christ. It use as an emblem was introduced by Constantine the Great, whence it is known as the Constantinian symbol, or monogram. See Labarum.
X RAYS; X-RAYSX rays, or X"-rays`, n. pl.
Defn: The Röntgen rays; — so called by their discoverer because of their enigmatical character.
X-RAY TUBEX"-ray" tube. (Physics)
Defn: A vacuum tube suitable for producing Röntgen rays.
XYLAMIDEXy*lam"ide, n. Etym: [Xylic + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: An acid amide derivative of xylic acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance.
XYLANXy"lan, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A gummy substance of the pentosan class, present in woody tissue, and yielding xylose on hydrolysis; wood gum.
XYLANTHRAXXy*lan"thrax, n. Etym: [Gr. xy`lon wood +
Defn: Wood coal, or charcoal; — so called in distinction from mineral coal.
XYLATEXy"late, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of xylic acid.
XYLEMXy"lem, n. Etym: [Gr. xy`lon wood.] (Bot.)
Defn: That portion of a fibrovascular bundle which has developed, or will develop, into wood cells; — distinguished from phloëm.
XYLENEXy"lene, n. Etym: [Gr. xy`lon wood.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any of a group of three metameric hydrocarbons of the aromatic series, found in coal and wood tar, and so named because found in crude wood spirit. They are colorless, oily, inflammable liquids, C6H4.(CH3)2, being dimethyl benzenes, and are called respectively orthoxylene, metaxylene, and paraxylene. Called also xylol.
Note: Each of these xylenes is the nucleus and prototype of a distinct series of compounds.
XYLENOLXy"le*nol, n. Etym: [Xylene + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of six metameric phenol derivatives of xylene, obtained as crystalline substances, (CH3)2.C6H3.OH.
XYLETICXy*let"ic, a. (Chem.)