AXAYA'CAT, noun A fly in Mexico, whose eggs, deposited on rushes and flags, in large quantities, are sold and used as a sort of caviare, called ahuauhtli. This was a dish among the Mexicans, as it now is among the Spaniards.

AXESTONE,

AX'IFORM adjective [Latin axis, and forma.] In the form of an axis.

AX'IL, noun [Latin axilla; Heb. to separate or set apart; whence armpits.]

1. The armpit; a cavity under the upper part of the arm or shoulder.

2. In botany, the space or angle formed by a branch with the stem, or by a leaf with the stem or branch.

AX'ILLAR,

AX'ILLARY, adjective Pertaining to the armpit, or to the axil of plants. Axillary leaves are those which proceed from the angle formed by the stem and branch.

AX'ILLARY, a. Pertaining to the armpit, or to the axil of plants. Axillary leaves are those which proceed from the angle formed by the stem and branch.

AX'INITE, noun A mineral which sometimes occurs in lamellar masses, but commonly in crystals, whose general form is that of a very oblique rhomb, or rather, four-sided prism, so flattened that some of its edges become thin and sharp, like that of an ax; whence its name, Gr. This is the thumerstone of Kirwan. It has been sometimes called yanolite and violet shorl.

AXINOM'ANCY, noun [Gr. an ax, and divination.]

Among the ancients, a species of divination, by means of an ax or hatchet, performed by laying an agate-stone on a red hot hatchet, or by fixing a hatchet on a round stake, so as to be poised; then the names of those suspected were repeated, and he at whose name the hatchet moved, was pronounced guilty.

AX'IOM, noun [Gr. authority, an authoritative sentence, or that which is assumed, from worthy, and to think worthy, to esteem; Eng. to ask, that which is asked, sought or esteemed.]

1. A self evident truth, or a proposition whose truth is so evident at first sight, that no process of reasoning or demonstration can make it plainer; as, 'the whole is greater than a part.'

2. An established principle in some art or science; a principle received without new proof; as, 'things which are equal to the same thing, are equal to one another.'

AXIOMAT'IC,

AXIOMAT'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to an axiom; having the nature of self evident truths or received principles.

AXIOMAT'ICAL, a. Pertaining to an axiom; having the nature of self evident truths or received principles.

AX'IS, noun plural axes. [Latin ; Gr.]

1. The straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body, or which it revolves, or may revolve; as the axis of the earth.

2. In geometry, a straight line in a plain figure, about which it revolves to produce a solid.

3. In conic sections, a right line dividing the section into two equal parts, and cutting all its ordinates at right angles.

4. In mechanics, the axis of a balance is that line about which it moves, or rather turns.

The axis of oscillation is a right line parallel to the horizon passing through the center, about which a pendulum vibrates.

The axis in peritrochio is a wheel concentric with the base of a cylinder, and movable with it about its axis

5. In optics, a particular ray of light from any object which falls perpendicularly on the eye.

6. In architecture, spiral axis is the axis of a twisted column spirally drawn in order to trace the circumvolutions without.

Aris of the Ionic capital is a line passing perpendicularly through the middle of the eye of the volute.

The axis of a vessel is an imaginary line passing through the middle of it, perpendicular to its base, and equally distant from its sides.

In botany, axis is a taper column in the center of some flowers or catkins, about which the other parts are disposed.

In anatomy, axis is the name of the second verteber of the neck; it has a tooth which enters into the first verteber, and this tooth is by some called the axis

AX'LE, AX'LE-TREE, noun [See Axis.]

A piece of timer or bar of iron, fitted for insertion in the hobs or naves of wheels, on which the wheels turn.

AX'OLOTE, noun A water lizard found in the Mexican lake, about eight inches in length, sometimes much larger. The skin is black and soft. It swims with its feet, which resemble those of a frog. It has a periodical evacuation of blood, like the human female.

AXSTONE, noun A mineral, a subspecies of jade; less hard than nephrite; of a leek or grass green, olive green or greenish gray color. It occurs amorphous, or in rolled fragments. It is found chiefly in New Zealand and the S. Sea isles, where it is used by the rude natives for axes and other instruments.