PHA'ETON, noun [Gr. to shine.]
1. In mythology, the son of Phoebus and Clymene, or of Cephalus and Aurora, that is, the son of light or of the sun. This aspiring youth begged of Phoebus that he would permit him to guide the chariot of the sun, in doing which he manifested want of skill, and being struck with a thunderbolt by Jupiter, he was hurled headlong into the river Po. This fable probably originated in the appearance of a comet with a splendid train, which passed from the sight in the northwest of Italy and Greece.
2. An open carriage like a chaise, on four wheels, and drawn by two horses.
3. In ornithology, a genus of fowls, the tropic bird.
PHAGEDEN'IC, adjective [Gr. to eat.] Eating or corroding flesh; as a phagedenic ulcer or medicine.
Phagedenic water, is made from quick lime and corrosive sublimate.
PHAGEDEN'IC, noun A medicine or application that eats away proud or fungous flesh.
PHALAN'GIOUS, adjective [Gr. a kind of spider.] Pertaining to the genus of spiders denominated phalangium.
PHAL'ANGITE, noun [Gr. a legionary soldier.]
A soldier belonging to a phalanx.
PHAL'ANX, noun In Grecian antiquity, a square battalion or body of soldiers, formed in ranks and files close and deep, with their shields joined and pikes crossing each other, so as to render it almost impossible to break it. The Macedonian phalanx celebrated for its force, consisted of 8000 men; but smaller bodies of soldiers were called by the same name.
1. Any body of troops or men formed in close array, or any combination of people distinguished for firmness and solidity of union.
2. In anatomy, the three rows of small bones forming the fingers.
3. In natural history, a term used to express the arrangement of the columns of a sort of fossil corolloid, called lithostrotion, found in Wales.
PHAL'AROPE, noun The name of several species of water fowls inhabiting the northern latitudes of Europe and America.
PHAN'TASM, noun [Gr. to show, to shine, to appear.]
That which appears to the mind; the image of an external object; hence, an idea or notion. It usually denotes a vain or airy appearance; something imagined.
All the interim is
Like a phantasm or a hideous dream.
PHANTAS'TIC
PHAN'TASY, [See Fantastic and Fancy.]
PHAN'TOM, noun [Latin phantasma.]
1. Something that appears; an apparition; a specter.
Strange phantoms rising as the mists arise.
2. A fancied vision.
PHA'RAON, noun The name of a game of chance.
PHARAON'IC, adjective Pertaining to the Pharaohs or kings of Egypt, or to the old Egyptians.
PHARISA'ICALNESS, noun Devotion to external rites and ceremonies; external show of religion without the spirit of it.
PHARISA'IC'ICAL, adjective [from Pharisee.] Pertaining to the Pharisees; resembling the Pharisees, a sect among the Jews, distinguished by their zeal for the traditions of the elders, and by their exact observance of these traditions and the ritual law. Hence pharisaic denotes addicted to external forms and ceremonies; making a show of religion without the spirit of it; as pharisaic holiness.
PHAR'ISAISM, noun The notions, doctrines and conduct of the Pharisees, as a sect.
1. Rigid observance of external forms of religion without genuine piety; hypocrisy in religion.
PHARISE'AN, adjective Following the practice of the Pharisees.
PHAR'ISEE, noun [Heb. to separate.] One of a sect among the Jews, whose religion consisted in a strict observance of rites and ceremonies and of the traditions of the elders, and whose pretended holiness led them to separate themselves as a sect, considering themselves as more righteous than other Jews.
PHARMACEU'TIC
PHARMACEU'TICAL, adjective [Gr. to practice witchcraft or use medicine; poison or medicine.] Pertaining to the knowledge or art of pharmacy, or to the art of preparing medicines.
PHARMACEU'TICAL, a. [Gr. to practice witchcraft or use medicine; poison or medicine.] Pertaining to the knowledge or art of pharmacy, or to the art of preparing medicines.
PHARMACEU'TICALLY, adverb In the manner of pharmacy.
PHARMACEU'TICS, noun The science of preparing and exhibiting medicines.
PHAR'MACOLITE, noun Arseniate of lime, snow white or milk white, inclining to reddish or yellowish white. It occurs in small reniform, botryoidal and globular masses, and has a silky luster.
PHARMACOL'OGIST, noun [Gr.] One that writes on drugs, or the composition and preparation of medicines.
PHARMACOL'OGY, noun [supra.] The science or knowledge of drugs, or the art of preparing medicines.
1. A treatise on the art of preparing medicines.
PHARMACOPAE'IA
PHARMACOP'OLIST, noun [Gr. to sell.]
One that sells medicines; an apothecary.
PHARMACOP'OLIST, n. [Gr. to sell.]
One that sells medicines; an apothecary.
PHAR'MACOPY, noun [Gr. to make.] A dispensatory; a book or treatise describing the preparations of the several kinds of medicines, with their uses and manner of application.
PHAR'MACY, noun [Gr. a medicament, whether salutary or poisonous.]
The art or practice of preparing, preserving and compounding substances, whether vegetable, mineral or animal, for the purposes of medicine; the occupation of an apothecary.
PHA'ROS, noun [Gr. This word is generally supposed to be taken from the name of a small isle, near Alexandria, in Egypt. But qu. is not the word from the root of fire, or from the Celtic fairim, to watch, and the isle so called from the tower upon it?]
1. A light-house or tower which anciently stood on a small isle of that name, adjoining the Egyptian shore, over against Alexandria. It consisted of several stories and galleries, with a lantern on the top, which was kept burning at night as a guide to seamen.
2. Any light-house for the direction of seamen; a watch-tower; a beacon.
PHARYNGOT'OMY, noun [Gr. the muscular and glandular bag that leads to the esophagus, and to cut.]
The operation of making an incision into the pharynx to remove a tumor or any thing that obstructs the passage.
PHASE
PHAS'EL, noun [Gr.] The French bean or kidney bean.
PHA'SIS, noun plural phases. [Gr. to shine.]
1. In a general sense, an appearance; that which is exhibited to the eye; appropriately, any appearance or quantity of illumination of the moon or other planet. The moon presents different phases at the full and the quadratures.
2. In mineralogy, transparent green quartz.
PHASM
PHAS'MA, noun [Gr. supra.] Appearance; fancied apparition; phantom.
[Little used.]
PHAS'MA, n. [Gr. supra.] Appearance; fancied apparition; phantom.
[Little used.]
PHAS'SACHATE, noun The lead colored agate. [See Agate.]
PHEASANT, noun phez'ant. [Latin phasianus.] A fowl of the genus Phasianus, of beautiful plumage, and its flesh delicate food.
PHEER, noun A companion. [See Peer.]
PHEESE, verb transitive To comb. [See Fease.]
PHEN'GITE, noun [Gr. to shine.] A beautiful species of alabaster, superior in brightness to most species of marbles.
PHEN'ICOPTER, noun [Gr. red winged; red, and wing.]
A fowl of the genus Phaenicopterus, the flamingo, inhabiting the warm latitudes of both continents.
PHE'NIX, noun [Latin phoenix, the palm or date tree, and a fowl.]
1. The fowl which is said to exist single, and to rise again from its own ashes.
2. A person of singular distinction.
PHENOGAM'IAN, adjective [Gr.] In botany, having the essential organs of fructification visible.
PHENOMENOL'OGY, noun [phenomenon and Gr. discourse.]
A description or history of phenomena.
PHENOM'ENON, noun plural phenomena. [Gr. to appear.]
In a general sense, an appearance; any thing visible; whatever is presented to the eye by observation or experiment, or whatever is discovered to exist; as the phenomena of the natural world; the phenomena of heavenly bodies, or of terrestrial substances; the phenomena of heat or of color. It sometimes denotes a remarkable or unusual appearance.
PHE'ON, noun In heraldry, the barbed iron head of a dart.
PHI'AL, noun [Latin phiala.]
1. A glass vessel or bottle; in common usage, a small glass vessel used for holding liquors, and particularly liquid medicines. It is often written and pronounced vial.
2. A large vessel or bottle made of glass; as the Leyden phial which is a glass vessel partly coated with tinfoil, to be used in electrical experiments.
PHI'AL, verb transitive To put or keep in a phial
PHILADELPH'IAN, adjective [Gr.] Pertaining to Philadelphia, or to Ptolemy Philadelphus.
PHILADELPH'IAN, noun One of the family of love.
PHILANTHROP'IC
PHILANTHROP'ICAL, adjective [See Philanthropy.] Possessing general benevolence; entertaining good will towards all men; loving mankind.
1. Directed to the general good.
PHILANTHROP'ICAL, a. [See Philanthropy.] Possessing general benevolence; entertaining good will towards all men; loving mankind.
1. Directed to the general good.PHILAN'THROPIST, noun A person of general benevolence; one who loves or wishes well to his fellow men, and who exerts himself in doing them good.
PHILAN'THROPY, noun [Gr. to love, a friend, and man.] The love of mankind; benevolence towards the whole human family; universal good will. It differs from friendship, as the latter is an affection for individuals.
PHILIP'PIC, noun An oration of Demosthenes, the Grecian orator, against Philip, king of Macedon, in which the orator inveighs against the indolence of the Athenians. Hence the word is used to denote any discourse or declamation full of acrimonious invective. The fourteen orations of Cicero against Mark Anthony are also called Philippics.
PHIL'IPPIZE, verb intransitive To write or utter invective; to declaim against. [Unusual.]
1. To side with Philip; to support or advocate Philip.
PHILLYRE'A, noun A genus of plants, Mock privet.
PHILOL'OGER
PHILOLOG'IC
PHILOLOG'ICAL, adjective [See Philology.] Pertaining to philology, or to the study and knowledge of language.
PHILOL'OGIST, noun One versed in the history and construction of language. philologist is generally used.
PHILOL'OGIZE, verb intransitive To offer criticisms. [Little used.]
PHILOL'OGY, noun [Gr. to love, a word.]
1. Primarily, a love of words, or a desire to know the origin and construction of language. In a more general sense,
2. That branch of literature which comprehends a knowledge of the etymology or origin and combination of words; grammar, the construction of sentences or use of words in language; criticism, the interpretation of authors, the affinities of different languages, and whatever relates to the history or present state of languages. It sometimes includes rhetoric, poetry, history and antiquities.
PHI'LOMATH, noun [Gr. a lover, and to learn.] A lover of learning.
PHILOMATH'IC, adjective Pertaining to the love of learning.
1. Having a love of letters.
PHIL'OMATHY, noun The love of learning.
PHI'LOMEL
PHILOME'LA, noun [from Philomela, daughter of Pandion, king of Athens, who was changed into a nightingale.]
The nightingale.
PHILOME'LA, n. [from Philomela, daughter of Pandion, king of Athens, who was changed into a nightingale.]
The nightingale.
PHIL'OMOT, adjective Of the color of a dead leaf.
PHILOMU'SICAL, adjective Loving music.
PHILOPOLEM'IC, adjective [Gr. a lover, and warlike.]
Ruling over opposite or contending natures; an epithet of Minerva.
PHILOSOPHA'TION, noun Philosophical discussion. [Not used.]
PHILOS'OPHEME, noun [Gr.] Principle of reasoning; a theorem.
[Little used.]
PHILOS'OPHER, noun [See Philosophy.] A person versed in philosophy, or in the principles of nature and morality; one who devotes of nature and morality; one who devotes himself to the study of physics, or of moral or intellectual science.
1. In a general sense, one who is profoundly versed in any science.
Philosopher's stone, a stone or preparation which the alchimists formerly sought, as the instrument of converting the baser metals into pure gold.
PHILOSOPH'IC
PHILOSOPH'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to philosophy; as a philosophical experiment or problem.
1. Proceeding from philosophy; as philosophic price.
2. Suitable to philosophy; according to philosophy; as philosophical reasoning or arguments.
3. Skilled in philosophy; as a philosophical historian.
4. Given to philosophy; as a philosophical mind.
5. Regulated by philosophy or the rules of reason; as philosophic fare.
6. Calm; cool; temperate; rational; such as characterizes a philosopher.
PHILOSOPH'ICAL, a. Pertaining to philosophy; as a philosophical experiment or problem.
1. Proceeding from philosophy; as philosophic price.2. Suitable to philosophy; according to philosophy; as philosophical reasoning or arguments.3. Skilled in philosophy; as a philosophical historian.4. Given to philosophy; as a philosophical mind.5. Regulated by philosophy or the rules of reason; as philosophic fare.6. Calm; cool; temperate; rational; such as characterizes a philosopher.PHILOSOPH'ICALLY, adverb In a philosophical manner; according to the rules or principles of philosophy; as, to argue philosophically
1. Calmly; wisely; rationally.
PHILOS'OPHISM, noun [Gr. a lover, and sophism.]
1. The love of fallacious arguments or false reasoning.
2. The practice of sophistry.
PHILOS'OPHIST, noun A lover of sophistry; one who practices sophistry.
PHILOSOPHIS'TIC
PHILOSOPHIS'TICAL, adjective Pertaining to the love or practice of sophistry.
PHILOSOPHIS'TICAL, a. Pertaining to the love or practice of sophistry.
PHILOS'OPHIZE, verb intransitive [from philosophy.] To reason like a philosopher; to search into the reason and nature of things; to investigate phenomena and assign rational causes for their existence. Sir Isaac Newton lays down four rules of philosophizing.
Two doctors of the schools were philosophizing on the advantages of mankind above all other creatures.
PHILOS'OPHIZING, participle present tense Searching into the reasons of things; assigning reasons for phenomena.
PHILOS'OPHY, noun [Latin philosophia; Gr. love, to love, and wisdom.]
1. Literally, the love of wisdom. But in modern acceptation, philosophy is a general term denoting an explanation of the reasons of things; or an investigation of the causes of all phenomena both of mind and of matter. When applied to any particular department of knowledge, it denotes the collection of general laws or principles under which all the subordinate phenomena or facts relating to that subject, are comprehended. Thus, that branch of philosophy which treats of God, etc. is called theology; that which treats of nature, is called physics or natural philosophy; that which treats of man is called logic and ethics, or moral philosophy; that which treats of the mind is called intellectual or mental philosophy or metaphysics.
The objects of philosophy are to ascertain facts or truth, and the causes of things or their phenomena; to enlarge our views of God and his works, and to render our knowledge of both practically useful and subservient to human happiness.
True religion and true philosophy must ultimately arrive at the same principle.
2. Hypothesis or system on which natural effects are explained.
We shall in vain interpret their words by the notions of our philosophy and the doctrines in our schools.
3. Reasoning; argumentation.
4. Course of sciences read in the schools.
PHILOS'PHATE, verb intransitive [Latin philosophor, philosophatus.]
To play the philosopher; to moralize. [Not used.]
PHIL'TER, noun [Latin philtra; Gr. to love.]
1. A potion intended or adapted to excite love.
2. A charm to excite love.
PHIL'TER, verb transitive To impregnate with a love-potion; as, to philter a draught.
1. To charm to love; to excite to love or animal desire by a potion.
PHIZ, noun [supposed to be a contraction of physiognomy.]
The face or visage; in contempt.
PHLEBOT'OMIST, noun [See Phlebotomy.]
One that opens a vein for letting blood; a blood-letter.
PHLEBOT'OMIZE, verb transitive To let blood from a vein.
PHLEBOT'OMY, noun [Gr. a vein, and to cut.] The act or practice of opening a vein for letting blood for the cure of diseases or preserving health.
PHLEGM
PHLEGMAGOGUE, noun phleg'magog. [Gr. phlegm and to drive.]
A term anciently used to denote a medicine supposed to possess the property of expelling phlegm
PHLEGMAT'IC, adjective [Gr.]
1. Abounding in phlegm; as phlegmatic humors; a phlegmatic constitution.
2. Generating phlegm; as phlegmatic meat.
3. Watery.
4. Cold; dull; sluggish; heavy; not easily excited into action or passion; as a phlegmatic temper or temperament.
PHLEGMAT'ICALLY, adverb Coldly; heavily.
PHLEG'MON, noun [Gr. to burn.] An external inflammation and tumor, attended with burning heat.
PHLEG'MONOUS, adjective Having the nature or properties of a phlegmon; inflammatory; burning; as a phlegmonous tumor.
PHLEM, noun [Gr. inflammation; and pituitous matter, to burn; hence the word must have originally expressed the matter formed by suppuration.]
1. Cold animal fluid; water matter; one of the four humors of which the ancients supposed the blood to be composed.
2. In common usage, bronchial mucus; the thick viscid matter secreted in the throat.
3. Among chimists, water, or the water of distillation.
4. Dullness; coldness; sluggishness; indifference.
PHLEME, noun [See Fleam.]
PHLOGIS'TIAN, noun A believer in the existence of phlogiston.
PHLOGIS'TIC, adjective [See Phlogiston.]
Partaking of phlogiston; inflaming.
PHLOGIS'TICATE, verb transitive To combine phlogiston with.
PHLOGISTICA'TION, noun The act or process of combining with phlogiston.
PHLOGIS'TON, noun [Gr. to burn or inflame.]
The principle of inflammability; the matter of fire in composition with other bodies. Stahl gave this name to an element which he supposed to be pure fire fixed in combustible bodies, in order to distinguish it from fire in action or in a state of liberty. But the theory has been proved to be false and is generally abandoned.
PHO'LADITE, noun A petrified shell of the genus Pholas.
PHON'ICS, noun [Gr. sound.] The doctrine or science of sounds; otherwise called acoustics.
1. The art of combining musical sounds.
PHONOCAMP'TIC, adjective [Gr. sound, and to inflect.] Having the power to inflect sound, or turn it from its direction, and thus to alter it.
PHON'OLITE, noun [Gr. sound, and stone.] Sounding stone; a name proposed as a substitute for klingstein [jingling stone.]
PHONOLOG'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to phonology.
PHONOL'OGY, noun [Gr. sound, voice, and discourse.] A treatise on sounds, or the science or doctrine of the elementary sounds uttered by the human voice in speech, including its various distinctions or subdivisions of tones.
PHOS'GENE, adjective [Gr. light, and to generate.] Generating light. phosgene gas is generated by the action of light on chlorin and carbonic oxyd gas.
PHOS'PHATE, noun [See Phosphor and Phosphorus.]
1. A salt formed by a combination of phosphoric acid with a base of earth, alkali or metal.
2. A mineral found in Estremadura, etc.
PHOS'PHITE, noun A salt formed by a combination of phosphorous acid with a salifiable base.
PHOS'PHOLITE, noun [phosphor and Gr. a stone.]
An earth united with phosphoric acid.
PHOS'PHOR, noun [Gr. light, to shine, and to bring. See Phosphorus.]
The morning star or Lucifer; Venus, when it precedes the sun and shines in the morning. In this sense, it is also written Phosphorus.
PHOS'PHORATE, verb transitive To combine or impregnate with phosphorus.
PHOS'PHORATED, participle passive Combined or impregnated with phosphorus.
PHOS'PHORATING, participle present tense Combining with phosphorus.
PHOSPHORESCE, verb intransitive phosphoress'. [See Phosphorus.]
To shine, as phosphorus, by exhibiting a faint light without sensible heat.
Arenaceous limestone phosphoresces in the dark, when scraped with a knife.
PHOSPHORES'CENCE, noun A faint light or luminousness of a body, unaccompanied with sensible heat. It is exhibited by certain animals, as well as by vegetable and mineral substances.
PHOSPHORES'CENT, adjective Shining with a faint light; luminous without sensible heat.
PHOSPHORES'CING, participle present tense Exhibiting light without sensible heat.
PHOS'PHORIC, adjective Pertaining to or obtained from phosphorus. The phosphoric acid is formed by a saturated combination of phosphorus and oxygen.
PHOS'PHORITE, noun A species of calcarious earth; a subspecies of apatite.
PHOSPHORIT'IC, adjective Pertaining to phosphorite, or of the nature of phosphorite.
PHOS'PHOROUS, adjective The phosphorous acid is formed by a combination of phosphorus with oxygen.
PHOS'PHORUS
PHOS'PHOR, noun [Latin from the Greek. See Phosphor.]
1. The morning star.
2. phosphorus in chimistry, a combustible substance, hitherto undecomposed. It is of a yellowish color and semi-transparent, resembling fine wax. It burns in common air with great rapidity; and in oxygen gas, with the greatest vehemence. Even at the common temperature, it combines with oxygen, undergoing a slow combustion and emitting a luminous vapor. It is originally obtained from urine; but it is now manufactured from bones, which consist of phosphate of lime.
PHOS'PHURET, noun A combination of phosphorus not oxygenated, with a base; as phosphyret of iron or copper.
PHOS'PHURETED, adjective Combined with a phosphuret.
PHO'TIZITE, noun A mineral, an oxyd of manganese.
PHOTOLOG'IC
PHOTOLOG'ICAL, adjective [See Photology.] Pertaining to photology, or the doctrine of light.
PHOTOLOG'ICAL, a. [See Photology.] Pertaining to photology, or the doctrine of light.
PHOTOL'OGY, noun [Gr. light, and discourse.] The doctrine or science of light, explaining its nature and phenomena.
PHOTOM'ETER, noun [Gr. light, and measure.]
An instrument for measuring the relative intensities of light.
PHOTOMET'RIC
PHOTOMET'RICAL, adjective Pertaining to or made by a photometer.
PHOTOMET'RICAL, a. Pertaining to or made by a photometer.
PHRASE, noun s as z. [Gr. to speak.]
1. A short sentence or expression. A phrase may be complete, as when it conveys complete sense, as humanum est errare, to err is human; or it may be incomplete, as when it consists of several words without affirming any thing, or when the noun and the verb do the office of a noun only; as, that which is true, that is, truth, satisfied the mind.
2. A particular mode of speech; a peculiar sentence of short idiomatic expression; as a Hebrew phrase; an Italian phrase
3. Style; expression.
Thou speak'st
In better phrase
4. In music, any regular symmetrical course of notes which begin and complete the intended expression.
PHRASE, verb transitive To call; to style; to express in words or in peculiar words.
These suns,
For so they phrase them.
PHRA'SELESS, adjective Not to be expressed or described.
PHRASEOLOG'IC
PHRASEOLOG'ICAL, adjective Peculiar in expression; consisting of a peculiar form of words.
PHRASEOLOG'ICAL, a. Peculiar in expression; consisting of a peculiar form of words.
PHRASEOL'OGY, noun [Gr. phrase, and to speak.]
1. Manner of expression; peculiar words used in a sentence; diction.
2. A collection of phrases in a language.
PHRENET'IC, adjective [Gr. See Phrensy.] Subject to strong or violent sallies of imagination or excitement, which in some measure pervert the judgment and cause the person to act in a manner different from the more rational part of mankind; wild and erratic; partially mad. [It has been sometimes written phrentic, but is now generally written frantic.]
PHRENET'IC, noun A person who is wild and erratic in his imagination.
PHREN'IC, adjective [from Gr. the diaphragm.] Belonging to the diaphragm; as a phrenic vein.
PHREN'ITIS, noun [Gr. from the mind; Latin animus, animosus, and the Teutonic mod; Eng. mood.]
1. In medicine, an inflammation of the brain, or of the meninges of the brain, attended with acute fever and delirium.
2. Madness, or partial madness; delirium; phrenzy. [It is generally written in English, phrensy or frenzy.
PHRENOL'OGY, noun [Gr. the mind, and discourse.] The science of the human mind and its various properties.
Phrenology is now applied to the science of the mind as connected with the supposed organs of thought and passion in the brain, broached by Gall.
PHREN'SY, noun s as z. [supra.] Madness; delirium, or that partial madness which manifests itself in wild and erratic sallies of the imagination. It is written also frenzy.
Demoniac phrensy; moping melancholy.
PHRON'TISTERY, noun [Gr. to think; mind.] A school or seminary of learning. [Not used.]
PHRYG'IAN, adjective [from Phrygia, in Asia Minor.] Pertaining to Phrygia; an epithet applied to a sprightly animating kind of music.
Phrygian stone, a stone described by the ancients, used in dyeing; a light spungy stone resembling a pumice, said to be drying and stringent.
PHTHAGOREAN, noun A follower of Pythagoras, the founder of the Italic sect of philosophers.
PHTHIS'IC, noun tiz'zic. A consumption. [Little used.]
PHTHISICAL, adjective tiz'zical. [Gr. See Phthisis.] Wasting the flesh; as a phthisical consumption.
PHTHISIS, noun the'sis or thi'sis. [Gr. to consume.] A consumption occasioned by ulcerated lungs.
PHYLAC'TER
PHYLAC'TERED, adjective Wearing a phylactery; dressed like the Pharisees.
PHYLAC'TERED, a. Wearing a phylactery; dressed like the Pharisees.
PHYLAC'TERIC
PHYLACTER'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to phylacteries.
PHYLACTER'ICAL, a. Pertaining to phylacteries.
PHYLAC'TERY, noun [Gr. to defend or guard.]
1. In a general sense, any charm, spell or amulet worn as a preservative from danger or disease.
2. Among the Jews, a slip of parchment on which was written some text of Scripture, particularly of the decalogue, worn by devout persons on the forehead, breast or neck as a mark of their religion.
3. Among the primitive christians, a case in which they inclosed the relics of the dead.
PHYL'LITE, noun [Gr. a leaf, and a stone.] A petrified leaf, or a mineral having the figure of a leaf.
PHYLLOPH'OROUS, adjective [Gr. a leaf, and to bear.] Leaf-bearing; producing leaves.
PHYS'ALITE, noun [Gr. to swell or inflate, and a stone.] A mineral of a greenish white color, a subspecies of prismatic topaz; called also pyrophysalite, as it intumesces in heat.
PHYSETER. [See Cachalot.]
PHYSIAN'THROPY, noun [Gr.nature, and man.] The philosophy of human life, or the doctrine of the constitution and diseases of man, and the remedies.
PHYS'IC, noun s as z. [Gr. from nature; to produce.]
1. The art of healing diseases. This is now generally called medicine.
2. Medicines; remedies for diseases. We desire physic only for the sake of health.
3. In popular language, a medicine that purges; a purge; a cathartic. [In technical and elegant language this sense is not used.]
PHYS'IC, verb transitive To treat with physic; to evacuate the bowels with a cathartic; to purge.
1. To cure.
PHYS'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to nature or natural productions, or to material things, as opposed to things moral or imaginary. We speak of physical force or power, with reference to material things; as, muscular strength is physical force; armies and navies are the physical force of a nation; whereas wisdom, knowledge, skill, etc. constitute moral force. A physical point is a real point, in distinction from a mathematical or imaginary point. A physical body or substance is a material body or substance, in distinction from spirit or metaphysical substance.
1. External; perceptible to the senses; as the physical characters of a mineral; opposed to chimical.
2. Relating to the art of healing; as a physical treatise.
3. Having the property of evacuating the bowels; as physical herbs.
4. Medicinal; promoting the cure of diseases.
5. Resembling physic; as a physical taste.
[In the three latter senses, nearly obsolete among professional men.]
Physical education, the education which is directed to the object of giving strength, health and vigor to the bodily organs and powers.
PHYS'ICALLY, adverb According to nature; by natural power or the operation of natural laws in the material system of things, as distinguished from moral power or influence. We suppose perpetual motion to by physically impossible.
I am not now treating physically of light or colors.
1. According to the art or rules of medicine.
He that lives physically must live miserably.
PHYSI'CIAN, noun A person skilled in the art of healing; one whose profession is to prescribe remedies for diseases.
1. In a spiritual sense, one that heals moral diseases; as a physician of the soul.
PHYS'ICS, noun s as z. In its most extensive sense, the science of nature or of natural objects, comprehending the study or knowledge of whatever exists.
1. In the usual and more limited sense, the science of the material system, including natural history and philosophy. This science is of vast extent, comprehending whatever can be discovered of the nature and properties of bodies, their causes, effects, affections, operations, phenomena and laws.
PHYSIOGNOMER. [See Physiognomist.]
PHYSIOGNOM'IC'ICAL, adjective s as z. [See Physiognomy.] Pertaining to physiognomy; expressing the temper, disposition or other qualities of the mind by signs in the countenance; or drawing a knowledge of the state of the mind from the features of the face.
PHYSIOGNOM'ICS, noun Among physicians, signs in the countenance which indicate the state, temperament or constitution of the body and mind.
PHYSIOG'NOMIST, noun One that is skilled in physiognomy; one that is able to judge of the particular temper or other qualities of the mind, by signs in the countenance.
PHYSIOG'NOMY, noun [Gr. nature, and knowing; to know.]
1. The art or science of discerning the character of the mind from the features of the face; or the art of discovering the predominant temper or other characteristic qualities of the mind by the form of the body, but especially by the external signs of the countenance, or the combination of the features.
2. The face or countenance with respect to the temper of the mind; particular configuration, cast or expression of countenance.
[This word formerly comprehended the art of foretelling the future fortunes of persons by indications of the countenance.]
PHYSIOG'RAPHY, noun [Gr. nature, and to describe.] A description of nature, or the science of natural objects.
PHYSIOL'OGER, noun A physiologist. [The latter is generally used.]
PHYSIOLOG'IC
PHYSIOLOG'ICAL, adjective [See Physiology.] Pertaining to physiology; relating to the science of the properties and functions of living beings.
PHYSIOLOG'ICAL, a. [See Physiology.] Pertaining to physiology; relating to the science of the properties and functions of living beings.
PHYSIOLOG'ICALLY, adverb According to the principles of physiology.
PHYSIOL'OGIST, noun One who is versed in the science of living beings, or in the properties and functions of animals and plants.
1. One that treats of physiology.
PHYSIOL'OGY, noun [Gr. nature, to discourse.]
1. According to the Greek, this word signifies a discourse or treatise of nature, but the moderns use the word in a more limited sense, for the science of the properties and functions of animals and plants, comprehending what is common to all animals and plants, and what is peculiar to individuals and species.
2. The science of the mind, of its various phenomena, affections and powers.
PHYSY, for fusee. [Not used.]
PHYTIV'OROUS, adjective [Gr. a plant, and Latin voro, to eat.] Feeding on plants or herbage; as phytivorous animals.
PHYTOGRAPH'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to the description of plants.
PHYTOG'RAPHY, noun [Gr. a plant, and description.] A description of plants.
PHYT'OLITE, noun [Gr. a plant, and a stone.] A plant petrified, or fossil vegetable.
PHYTOL'OGIST, noun [See Phytology.] One versed in plants, or skilled in phytology; a botanist.
PHYTOL'OGY, noun [Gr. a plant, and discourse.] A discourse or treatise of plants, or the doctrine of plants; description of the kinds and properties of plants.
Pia mater, [Latin] in anatomy, a thin membrane immediately investing the brain.