Chapter CXC: Foreword: Fore"word`, n (11)

GEMSBOK Gems"bok, n. Etym: [D.; akin to G. gemsbock the male or buck of the chamois; gemse chamois, goat of the Alps + bock buck.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A South African antelope (Oryx Capensis), having long, sharp, nearly straight horns.

GEMS-HORN Gems"-horn`, n. Etym: [G., prop., chamois horn.] (Mus.)

Defn: An organ stop with conical tin pipes.

GEMUL Ge*mul", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small South American deer (Furcifer Chilensis), with simple forked horns. [Written also guemul.]

-GEN -gen. Etym: [(1) From Gr. -gen-, from the same root as ge`nos race, stock (see Genus). (2) From Gr. suffix -genh`s born. Cf. F. -gène.]

1. A suffix used in scientific words in the sense of producing, generating: as, amphigen, amidogen, halogen.

2. A suffix meaning produced, generated; as, exogen.

GENA Ge"na, Etym: [L., the cheek.] (Zoöl.) (a) The cheek; the feathered side of the under mandible of a bird. (b) The part of the head to which the jaws of an insect are attached.

GENAPPE Ge*nappe", n. Etym: [From Genappe, in Belgium.]

Defn: A worsted yarn or cord of peculiar smoothness, used in the manufacture of braid, fringe, etc. Simmonds.

GENDARME Gen`darme", n.; pl. Gendarmes, or Gens d'armes. Etym: [F.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: One of a body of heavy cavalry. [Obs.] [France]

2. An armed policeman in France. Thackeray.

GENDARMERY Gen*darm"er*y, n. Etym: [F. gendarmerie.]

Defn: The body of gendarmes.

GENDER Gen"der, n. Etym: [OF. genre, gendre (with excrescent d.), F.genre, fr. L. genus, generis, birth, descent, race, kind, gender, fr. the root of genere, gignere, to beget, in pass., to be born, akin to E. kin. See Kin, and cf. Generate, Genre, Gentle, Genus.]

1. Kind; sort. [Obs.] "One gender of herbs." Shak.

2. Sex, male or female. [Obs. or Colloq.]

3. (Gram.)

Defn: A classification of nouns, primarily according to sex; and secondarily according to some fancied or imputed quality associated with sex. Gender is a grammatical distinction and applies to words only. Sex is natural distinction and applies to living objects. R. Morris.

Note: Adjectives and pronouns are said to vary in gender when the form is varied according to the gender of the words to which they refer.

GENDER Gen"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gendered; p. pr. & vb. n. Gendering.] Etym: [OF. gendrer, fr. L. generare. See Gender, n.]

Defn: To beget; to engender.

GENDER Gen"der, v. i.

Defn: To copulate; to breed. [R.] Shak.

GENDERLESS Gen"der*less, a.

Defn: Having no gender.

GENEAGENESIS Gen`e*a*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. genesis.] (Biol.)

Defn: Alternate generation. See under Generation.

GENEALOGIC Gen`e*a*log"ic, a.

Defn: Genealogical.

GENEALOGICAL Gen`e*a*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. généalogique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to genealogy; as, a genealogical table; genealogical order. -- Gen`e*a*log"ic*al*ly, adv. Genealogical tree, a family lineage or genealogy drawn out under the form of a tree and its branches.

GENEALOGIST Gen`e*al"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. généalogiste.]

Defn: One who traces genealogies or the descent of persons or families.

GENEALOGIZE Gen`e*al"o*gize, v. i.

Defn: To investigate, or relate the history of, descents.

GENEALOGY Gen`e*al"o*gy, n.; pl. Genealogies. Etym: [OE. genealogi, genelogie, OF. genelogie, F. généalogie, L. genealogia, fr. Gr. genus) +

1. An account or history of the descent of a person or family from an ancestor; enumeration of ancestors and their children in the natural order of succession; a pedigree.

2. Regular descent of a person or family from a progenitor; pedigree; lineage.

GENEARCH Gen"e*arch, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The chief of a family or tribe.

GENERA Gen"e*ra, n. pl.

Defn: See Genus.

GENERABILITY Gen`er*a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Capability of being generated. Johnstone.

GENERABLE Gen"er*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. generabilis.]

Defn: Capable of being generated or produced. Bentley.

GENERAL Gen"er*al, a. Etym: [F. général, fr. L. generalis. See Genus.]

1. Relating to a genus or kind; pertaining to a whole class or order; as, a general law of animal or vegetable economy.

2. Comprehending many species or individuals; not special or particular; including all particulars; as, a general inference or conclusion.

3. Not restrained or limited to a precise import; not specific; vague; indefinite; lax in signification; as, a loose and general expression.

4. Common to many, or the greatest number; widely spread; prevalent; extensive, though not universal; as, a general opinion; a general custom. This general applause and cheerful sShak.

5. Having a relation to all; common to the whole; as, Adam, our general sire. Milton.

6. As a whole; in gross; for the most part. His general behavior vain, ridiculous. Shak.

7. Usual; common, on most occasions; as, his general habit or method.

Note: The word general, annexed to a name of office, usually denotes chief or superior; as, attorney-general; adjutant general; commissary general; quartermaster general; vicar-general, etc. General agent (Law), an agent whom a principal employs to transact all his business of a particular kind, or to act in his affairs generally. -- General assembly. See the Note under Assembly. -- General average, General Court. See under Average, Court. -- General court-martial (Mil.), the highest military and naval judicial tribunal. -- General dealer (Com.), a shopkeeper who deals in all articles in common use. -- General demurrer (Law), a demurrer which objects to a pleading in general terms, as insufficient, without specifying the defects. Abbott. -- General epistle, a canonical epistle. -- General guides (Mil.), two sergeants (called the right, and the left, general guide) posted opposite the right and left flanks of an infantry battalion, to preserve accuracy in marching. Farrow. -- General hospitals (Mil.), hospitals established to receive sick and wounded sent from the field hospitals. Farrow. General issue (Law), an issue made by a general plea, which traverses the whole declaration or indictment at once, without offering any special matter to evade it. Bouvier. Burrill. -- General lien (Law), a right to detain a chattel, etc., until payment is made of any balance due on a general account. -- General officer (Mil.), any officer having a rank above that of colonel. -- General orders (Mil.), orders from headquarters published to the whole command. -- General practitioner, in the United States, one who practices medicine in all its branches without confining himself to any specialty; in England, one who practices both as physician and as surgeon. -- General ship, a ship not chartered or let to particular parties. -- General term (Logic), a term which is the sign of a general conception or notion. -- General verdict (Law), the ordinary comprehensive verdict in civil actions, "for the plaintiff" or "for the defendant". Burrill. -- General warrant (Law), a warrant, now illegal, to apprehend suspected persons, without naming individuals.

Syn. General, Common, Universal. Common denotes primarily that in which many share; and hence, that which is often met with. General is stronger, denoting that which pertains to a majority of the individuals which compose a genus, or whole. Universal, that which pertains to all without exception. To be able to read and write is so common an attainment in the United States, that we may pronounce it general, though by no means universal.

Syn: Gen"er*al, n. Etym: [F. général. See General., a.]

1. The whole; the total; that which comprehends or relates to all, or the chief part; -- opposed to particular. In particulars our knowledge begins, and so spreads itself by degrees to generals. Locke.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: One of the chief military officers of a government or country; the commander of an army, of a body of men not less than a brigade. In European armies, the highest military rank next below field marshal.

Note: In the United States the office of General of the Army has been created by temporary laws, and has been held only by Generals U. S. Grant, W. T. Sherman, and P. H. Sheridan. Popularly, the title General is given to various general officers, as General, Lieutenant general, Major general, Brigadier general, Commissary general, etc. See Brigadier general, Lieutenant general, Major general, in the Vocabulary.

3. (Mil.)

Defn: The roll of the drum which calls the troops together; as, to beat the general.

4. (Eccl.)

Defn: The chief of an order of monks, or of all the houses or congregations under the same rule.

5. The public; the people; the vulgar. [Obs.] Shak. In general, in the main; for the most part.

GENERALIA Gen`e*ra"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [Neut. pl., fr. L. generalis.]

Defn: Generalities; general terms. J. S. Mill.

GENERALISSIMO Gen`er*al*is"si*mo, n. Etym: [It., superl. of generale general. See General, a.]

Defn: The chief commander of an army; especially, the commander in chief of an army consisting of two or more grand divisions under separate commanders; -- a title used in most foreign countries.

GENERALITY Gen`er*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Generalities. Etym: [L. generalitas: cf. F. généralité. Cf. Generalty.]

1. The state of being general; the quality of including species or particulars. Hooker.

2. That which is general; that which lacks specificalness, practicalness, or application; a general or vague statement or phrase. Let us descend from generalities to particulars. Landor. The glittering and sounding generalities of natural right which make up the Declaration of Independence. R. Choate.

3. The main body; the bulk; the greatest part; as, the generality of a nation, or of mankind.

GENERALIZABLE Gen"er*al*i`za*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being generalized, or reduced to a general form of statement, or brought under a general rule. Extreme cases are . . . not generalizable. Coleridge

GENERALIZATION Gen`er*al*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. généralisation.]

1. The act or process of generalizing; the act of bringing individuals or particulars under a genus or class; deduction of a general principle from particulars. Generalization is only the apprehension of the one in the many. Sir W. Hamilton.

2. A general inference.

GENERALIZE Gen"er*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Generalized; p. pr. & vb. n. Generalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. généraliser.]

1. To bring under a genus or under genera; to view in relation to a genus or to genera. Copernicus generalized the celestial motions by merely referring them to the moon's motion. Newton generalized them still more by referring this last to the motion of a stone through the air. W. Nicholson.

2. To apply to other genera or classes; to use with a more extensive application; to extend so as to include all special cases; to make universal in application, as a formula or rule. When a fact is generalized, our discontent is quited, and we consider the generality itself as tantamount to an explanation. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. To derive or deduce (a general conception, or a general principle) from particulars. A mere conclusion generalized from a great multitude of facts. Coleridge.

GENERALIZE Gen"er*al*ize, v. i.

Defn: To form into a genus; to view objects in their relations to a genus or class; to take general or comprehensive views.

GENERALIZED Gen"er*al*ized, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Comprising structural characters which are separated in more specialized forms; synthetic; as, a generalized type.

GENERALIZER Gen"er*al*i`zer (, n.

Defn: One who takes general or comprehensive views. Tyndall.

GENERALLY Gen"er*al*ly, adv.

1. In general; commonly; extensively, though not universally; most frequently.

2. In a general way, or in general relation; in the main; upon the whole; comprehensively. Generally speaking, they live very quietly. Addison.

3. Collectively; as a whole; without omissions. [Obs.] I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee. 2 Sam. xvii. ll.

GENERALNESS Gen"er*al*ness, n.

Defn: The condition or quality of being general; frequency; commonness. Sir P. Sidney.

GENERALSHIP Gen"er*al*ship, n.

1. The office of a general; the exercise of the functions of a general; -- sometimes, with the possessive pronoun, the personality of a general. Your generalship puts me in mind of Prince Eugene. Goldsmith.

2. Military skill in a general officer or commander.

3. Fig.: Leadership; management. An artful stroke of generalship in Trim to raise a dust. Sterne.

GENERALTY Gen"er*al*ty, n.

Defn: Generality. [R.] Sir M. Hale.

GENERANT Gen"er*ant, a. Etym: [L. generans, p. pr. of generare.]

Defn: Generative; producing; esp. (Geom.),

Defn: acting as a generant.

GENERANT Gen"er*ant, n.

1. That which generates. Glanvill.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: A generatrix.

GENERATE Gen"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Generated; p. pr. & vb. n. Generating.] Etym: [L. generatus, p. p. of generare to generate, fr. genus. See Genus, Gender.]

1. To beget; to procreate; to propagate; to produce (a being similar to the parent); to engender; as, every animal generates its own species.

2. To cause to be; to bring into life. Milton.

3. To originate, especially by a vital or chemical process; to produce; to cause. Whatever generates a quantity of good chyle must likewise generate milk. Arbuthnot.

4. (Math.)

Defn: To trace out, as a line, figure, or solid, by the motion of a point or a magnitude of inferior order.

GENERATION Gen`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [OE. generacioun, F. génération, fr.L. generatio.]

1. The act of generating or begetting; procreation, as of animals.

2. Origination by some process, mathematical, chemical, or vital; production; formation; as, the generation of sounds, of gases, of curves, etc.

3. That which is generated or brought forth; progeny; offspiring.

4. A single step or stage in the succession of natural descent; a rank or remove in genealogy. Hence: The body of those who are of the same genealogical rank or remove from an ancestor; the mass of beings living at one period; also, the average lifetime of man, or the ordinary period of time at which one rank follows another, or father is succeeded by child, usually assumed to be one third of a century; an age. This is the book of the generations of Adam. Gen. v. 1. Ye shall remain there [in Babylon] many years, and for a long season, namely, seven generations. Baruch vi. 3. All generations and ages of the Christian church. Hooker.

5. Race; kind; family; breed; stock. Thy mother's of my generation; what's she, if I be a dog Shak.

6. (Geom.)

Defn: The formation or production of any geometrical magnitude, as a line, a surface, a solid, by the motion, in accordance with a mathematical law, of a point or a magnitude; as, the generation of a line or curve by the motion of a point, of a surface by a line, a sphere by a semicircle, etc.

7. (Biol.)

Defn: The aggregate of the functions and phenomene which attend reproduction.

Note: There are four modes of generation in the animal kingdom: scissiparity or by fissiparous generation, gemmiparity or by budding, germiparity or by germs, and oviparity or by ova. Alternate generation (Biol.), alternation of sexual with asexual generation, in which the products of one process differ from those of the other, -- a form of reproduction common both to animal and vegetable organisms. In the simplest form, the organism arising from sexual generation produces offspiring unlike itself, agamogenetically. These, however, in time acquire reproductive organs, and from their impregnated germs the original parent form is reproduced. In more complicated cases, the first series of organisms produced agamogenetically may give rise to others by a like process, and these in turn to still other generations. Ultimately, however, a generation is formed which develops sexual organs, and the original form is reproduced. -- Spontaneous generation (Biol.), the fancied production of living organisms without previously existing parents from inorganic matter, or from decomposing organic matter, a notion which at one time had many supporters; abiogenesis.

GENERATIVE Gen"er*a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. génératif.]

Defn: Having the power of generating, propagating, originating, or producing. "That generative particle." Bentley.

GENERATOR Gen"er*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

1. One who, or that which, generates, begets, causes, or produces.

2. An apparatus in which vapor or gas is formed from a liquid or solid by means of heat or chemical process, as a steam boiler, gas retort, or vessel for generating carbonic acid gas, etc.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: The principal sound or sounds by which others are produced; the fundamental note or root of the common chord; -- called also generating tone.

GENERATRIX Gen`er*a"trix, n.; pl. L. Generatrices, E. Generatrixes. Etym: [L.] (Geom.)

Defn: That which generates; the point, or the mathematical magnitude, which, by its motion, generates another magnitude, as a line, surface, or solid; -- called also describent.

GENERIC; GENERICAL Ge*ner"ic, Ge*ner"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. genus, generis, race, kind: cf. F. générique. See Gender.]

1. (Biol.)

Defn: Pertaining to a genus or kind; relating to a genus, as distinct from a species, or from another genus; as, a generic description; a generic difference; a generic name.

2. Very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or their characteristics; -- opposed to Ant: specific.

GENERICALLY Ge*ner"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: With regard to a genus, or an extensive class; as, an animal generically distinct from another, or two animals or plants generically allied.

GENERICALNESS Ge*ner"ic*al*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being generic.

GENERIFICATION Ge*ner`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. genus kind, class + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]

Defn: The act or process of generalizing. Out of this the universal is elaborated by generification. Sir W. Hamilton.

GENEROSITY Gen`er*os"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. generositas: cf. F. générosité.]

1. Noble birth. [Obs.] Harris (Voyages).

2. The quality of being noble; noble-mindedness. Generosity is in nothing more seen than in a candid estimation of other men's virtues and good qualities. Barrow.

3. Liberality in giving; munificence.

Syn. -- Magnanimity; liberality.

GENEROUS Gen"er*ous, a. Etym: [F. généreux, fr. L. generous of noble birth, noble, excellent, magnanimous, fr. genus birth, race: cf. It. generoso. See 2d Gender.]

1. Of honorable birth or origin; highborn. [Obs.] The generous and gravest citizens. Shak.

2. Exhibiting those qualities which are popularly reregarded as belonging to high birth; noble; honorable; magnanimous; spirited; courageous. "The generous critic." Pope. "His generous spouse." Pope. "A generous pack [of hounds]." Addison.

3. Open-handed; free to give; not close or niggardly; munificent; as, a generous friend or father.

4. Characterized by generosity; abundant; overflowing; as, a generous table. Swift.

5. Full of spirit or strength; stimulating; exalting; as, generous wine.

Syn. -- Magnanimous; bountiful. See Liberal. -- Gen"er*ous*ly, adv. -- Gen"er*ous*ness, n.

GENESEE EPOCH Gen`e*see" ep"och. (Geol.)

Defn: The closing subdivision of the Hamilton period in the American Devonian system; -- so called because the formations of this period crop out in Genesee, New York.

GENESIAL Ge*ne"sial, a.

Defn: Of or relating to generation.

GENESIOLGY Ge*ne`si*ol"gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: The doctrine or science of generation.

GENESIS Gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. genus birth, race. See Gender.]

1. The act of producing, or giving birth or origin to anything; the process or mode of originating; production; formation; origination. The origin and genasis of poor Sterling's club. Carlyle.

2. The first book of the Old Testament; -- so called by the Greek translators, from its containing the history of the creation of the world and of the human race.

3. (Geom.)

Defn: Same as Generation.

GENET; GENETTE Gen"et, Ge*nette" (, n. Etym: [F. genette, Sp. gineta, fr. Ar. jarnei

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of several species of small Carnivora of the genus Genetta, allied to the civets, but having the scent glands less developed, and without a pouch.

Note: The common genet (Genetta vulgaris) of Southern Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa, is dark gray, spotted with black. The long tail is banded with black and white. The Cape genet (G. felina), and the berbe (G. pardina), are related African species.

2. The fur of the common genet (Genetta vulgaris); also, any skin dressed in imitation of this fur.

GENET Gen"et, n. Etym: [See Jennet.]

Defn: A small-sized, well-proportioned, Spanish horse; a jennet. Shak.

GENETHLIAC Ge*neth"li*ac, a. Etym: [L. genethliacus, Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to nativities; calculated by astrologers; showing position of stars at one's birth. Howell.

GENETHLIAC Ge*neth"li*ac, n.

1. A birthday poem.

2. One skilled in genethliacs.

GENETHLIACAL Gen`eth*li"a*cal, a.

Defn: Genethliac.

GENETHLIACS Ge*neth"li*acs, n.

Defn: The science of calculating nativities, or predicting the future events of life from the stars which preside at birth. Jhonson.

GENETHLIALOGY Ge*neth`li*al"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Divination as to the destinies of one newly born; the act or art of casting nativities; astrology.

GENETHLIATIC Ge*neth`li*at"ic, n.

Defn: One who calculates nativities. Sir W. Drummond.

GENETIC Ge*net"ic, a.

Defn: Same as Genetical.

GENETICAL Ge*net"ic*al, a. Etym: [See Genesis.]

Defn: Pertaining to, concerned with, or determined by, the genesis of anything, or its natural mode of production or development. This historical, genetical method of viewing prior systems of philosophy. Hare.

GENETICALLY Ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a genetical manner.

GENEVA Ge*ne"va, n.

Defn: The chief city of Switzerland. Geneva Bible, a translation of the Bible into English, made and published by English refugees in Geneva (Geneva, 1560; London, 1576). It was the first English Bible printed in Roman type instead of the ancient black letter, the first which recognized the division into verses, and the first which ommited the Apocrypha. In form it was a small quarto, and soon superseded the large folio of Cranmer's translation. Called also Genevan Bible. -- Geneva convention (Mil.), an agreement made by representatives of the great continental powers at Geneva and signed in 1864, establishing new and more humane regulation regarding the treatment of the sick and wounded and the status of those who minister to them in war. Ambulances and military hospitals are made neutral, and this condition affects physicians, chaplains, nurses, and the ambulance corps. Great Britain signed the convention in 1865. -- Geneva cross (Mil.), a red Greek cross on a white ground; -- the flag and badge adopted in the Geneva convention.

GENEVA Ge*ne"va, n. Etym: [F. genièvre juniper, juniper berry, gin, OF. geneivre juniper, fr. L. juniperus the juniper tree: cf. D. jenever, fr. F. genièvre. See Juniper, and cf. Gin a liquor.]

Defn: A strongly alcoholic liquor, flavores with juniper berries; -- made in Holland; Holland gin; Hollands.

GENEVAN Ge*ne"van, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Geneva, in Switzerland; Genevese.

GENEVAN Ge*ne"van, n.

1. A native or inhabitant of Geneva.

2. A supported of Genevanism.

GENEVANISM Ge*ne"van*ism, n. Etym: [From Geneva, where Calvin resided.]

Defn: Strict Calvinism. Bp. Montagu.

GENEVESE Gen`e*vese", a. Etym: [Cf. L. Genevensis, F. génevois.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Geneva, in Switzerland; Genevan. -- n. sing. & pl.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Geneva; collectively, the inhabitants of Geneva; people of Geneva.

GENIAL Ge*ni"al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Same as Genian.

GENIAL Gen"ial, a. Etym: [L. genialis: cf. OF. genial. See Genius.]

1. Contributing to, or concerned in, propagation or production; generative; procreative; productive. "The genial bed." Milton. Creator Venus, genial power of love. Dryden.

2. Contributing to, and sympathizing with, the enjoyment of life; sympathetically cheerful and cheering; jovial and inspiring joy or happiness; exciting pleasure and sympathy; enlivening; kindly; as, she was of a cheerful and genial disposition. So much I feel my genial spirits droop. Milton.

3. Belonging to one's genius or natural character; native; natural; inborn. [Obs.] Natural incapacity and genial indisposition. Sir T. Browne.

4. Denoting or marked with genius [R.] Men of genius have often attached the highest value to their less genial works. Hare. Genial gods (Pagan Mythol.), the powers supposed to preside over marriage and generation.

GENIALITY Ge`ni*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. genialitas.]

Defn: The quality of being genial; sympathetic cheerfulness; warmth of disposition and manners.

GENIALLY Gen"ial*ly, adv.

1. By genius or nature; naturally. [Obs.] Some men are genially disposed to some opinions. Glanvill.

2. Gayly; cheerfully. Johnson.

GENIALNESS Gen"ial*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being genial.

GENIAN Ge*ni"an, a. Etym: [Gr. Chin.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the chin; mental; as, the genian prominence.

GENICULATE Ge*nic"u*late, a. Etym: [L. geniculatus, fr. geniculum little knee, knot or joint, dim. of genu knee. See Knee.]

Defn: Bent abruptly at an angle, like the knee when bent; as, a geniculate stem; a geniculate ganglion; a geniculate twin crystal.

GENICULATE Ge*nic"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Geniculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Geniculating.]

Defn: To form joints or knots on. [R.] Cockeram.

GENICULATED Ge*nic"u*la`ted, a.

Defn: Same as Geniculate.

GENICULATION Ge*nic`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. geniculatio a kneeling.]

1. The act of kneeling. [R.] Bp. Hall.

2. The state of being bent abruptly at an angle.

GENIE Gé`nie, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: See Genius.

GENIO Ge"ni*o, n. Etym: [It. See Genius.]

Defn: A man of a particular turn of mind. [R.] Tatler.

GENIOHYOID Ge`ni*o*hy"oid, a. Etym: [Gr. hyoid.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the chin and hyoid bone; as, the geniohyoid muscle.

GENIP; GENIP TREE Gen"ip, n., or Genip tree.

1. Any tree or shrub of the genus Genipa.

2. The West Indian sapindaceous tree Melicocca bijuga, which yields the honeyberry; also, the related trees Exothea paniculata and E. trifoliata.

GENIPAP Gen"i*pap, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The edible fruit of a West Indian tree (Genipa Americana) of the order Rubiaceæ. It is oval in shape, as a large as a small orange, of a pale greenish color, and with dark purple juice.

GENISTA Ge*nis"ta, n. Etym: [L., broom.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants including the common broom of Western Europe.

GENITAL Gen"i*tal, a. Etym: [L. genitalis, fr. genere, gignere, to beget: cf. F. génital. See Gender.]

Defn: Pertaining to generation, or to the generative organs. Genital cord (Anat.), a cord developed in the fetus by the union of portions of the Wolffian and Müllerian ducts and giving rise to parts of the urogenital passages in both sexes.

GENITALS Gen"i*tals, n. pl. Etym: [From Genital, a.: cf. L. genitalia.]

Defn: The organs of generation; the sexual organs; the private parts.

GENITING Gen"i*ting, n. Etym: [See Jenneting.]

Defn: A species of apple that ripens very early. Bacon.

GENITIVAL Gen`i*ti"val, a.

Defn: Possessing genitive from; pertaining to, or derived from, the genitive case; as, a genitival adverb. -- Gen`i*ti"val*ly, adv.

GENITIVE Gen"i*tive, a. Etym: [L. genitivus, fr. gignere, genitum, to beget: cf. F. génitif. See Gender.] (Gram.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to that case (as the second case of Latin and Greek nouns) which expresses source or possession. It corresponds to the possessive case in English.

GENITIVE Gen"i*tive, n. (Gram.)

Defn: The genitive case. Genitive absolute, a construction in Greek similar to the ablative absolute in Latin. See Ablative absolute.

GENITOCRURAL Gen`i*to*cru"ral, a. Etym: [Genital + crural.] (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the genital organs and the thigh; -- applied especially to one of the lumbar nerves.

GENITOR Gen"i*tor, n. Etym: [L.]

1. One who begets; a generator; an originator. Sheldon.

2. pl.

Defn: The genitals. [Obs.] Holland.

GENITOURINARY Gen`i*to*u"ri*na*ry, a. Etym: [Genital + urinary.] (Anat.)

Defn: See Urogenital.

GENITURE Gen"i*ture, n. Etym: [L. genitura: cf. F. géniture.]

Defn: Generation; procreation; birth. Dryden.

GENIUS Gen"ius, n.; pl. E. Geniuses; in sense 1, L. Genii. Etym: [L. genius, prop., the superior or divine nature which is innate in everything, the spirit, the tutelar deity or genius of a person or place, taste, talent, genius, from genere, gignere, to beget, bring forth. See Gender, and cf. Engine.]

1. A good or evil spirit, or demon, supposed by the ancients to preside over a man's destiny in life; a tutelary deity; a supernatural being; a spirit, good or bad. Cf. Jinnee. The unseen genius of the wood. Milton. We talk of genius still, but with thought how changed! The genius of Augustus was a tutelary demon, to be sworn by and to receive offerings on an altar as a deity. Tylor.

2. The peculiar structure of mind with whoch each individual is endowed by nature; that disposition or aptitude of mind which is peculiar to each man, and which qualifies him for certain kinds of action or special success in any pursuit; special taste, inclination, or disposition; as, a genius for history, for poetry, or painting.

3. Peculiar character; animating spirit, as of a nation, a religion, a language.

4. Distinguished mental superiority; uncommon intellectual power; especially, superior power of invention or origination of any kind, or of forming new combinations; as, a man of genius. Genius of the highest kind implies an unusual intensity of the modifyng power. Coleridge.

5. A man endowed with uncommon vigor of mind; a man of superior intellectual faculties; as, Shakespeare was a rare genius.

Syn. -- Genius, Talent. Genius implies high and peculiar gifts of nature, impelling the mind to certain favorite kinds of mental effort, and producing new combinations of ideas, imagery, etc. Talent supposes general strength of intellect, with a peculiar aptitude for being molded and directed to specific employments and valuable ends and purposes. Genius is connected more or less with the exercise of imagination, and reaches its ends by a kind of intuitive power. Talent depends more on high mental training, and a perfect command of all the faculties, memory, judgment, sagacity, etc. Hence we speak of a genius for poetry, painting. etc., and a talent for business or diplomacy. Among English orators, Lord Chatham was distinguished for his genius; William Pitt for his preëminent talents, and especially his unrivaled talent for debate.

Genius loci ( Etym: [L.], the genius or presiding divinity of a place; hence, the pervading spirit of a place or institution, as of a college, etc.

GENOA CAKE Gen"o*a cake. (Cookery)

Defn: A rich glazed cake, with almonds, pistachios, filberts, or other nuts; also, a rich currant cake with almonds on the top.

GENOESE Gen`o*ese", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Genoa, a city of Italy. -- n. sing. & pl.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Genoa; collectively, the people of Genoa.

GENOUILLERE Ge*nouil`lère", n. Etym: [F.]

1. (Anc. Armor)

Defn: A metal plate covering the knee.

2. (Fort.)

Defn: That part of a parapet which lies between the gun platform and the bottom of an embrasure.

-GENOUS -ge*nous. Etym: [-gen + -ous.]

Defn: A suffix signifying producing, yielding; as, alkaligenous; endogenous.

GENRE Genre, n. Etym: [F. See Gender.] (Fine Arts)

Defn: A style of painting, sculpture, or other imitative art, which illustrates everyday life and manners.

GENS Gens, n.; pl. Gentes. Etym: [L. See Gentle, a.] (Rom. Hist.)

1. A clan or family connection, embracing several families of the same stock, who had a common name and certain common religious rites; a subdivision of the Roman curia or tribe.

2. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A minor subdivision of a tribe, among American aborigines. It includes those who have a common descent, and bear the same totem.

GENT Gent, a. Etym: [OF. gent, fr. L. genitus born, or (less prob.) fr. gentilis. See Genteel.]

1. Gentle; noble; of gentle birth. [Obs.] All of a knight [who] was fair and gent. Chaucer.

2. Neat; pretty; fine; elegant. [Obs.] Spenser. Her body gent and small. Chaucer.

GENTEEL Gen*teel", a. Etym: [F. gentil noble, pretty, graceful. See Gentle.]

1. Possessing or exhibiting the qualities popularly regarded as belonging to high birth and breeding; free from vulgarity, or lowness of taste or behavior; adapted to a refined or cultivated taste; polite; well-bred; as, genteel company, manners, address.

2. Graceful in mien or form; elegant in appearance, dress, or manner; as, the lady has a genteel person. Law.

3. Suited to the position of lady or a gentleman; as, to live in a genteel allowance.

Syn. -- Polite; well-bred; refined; polished.

GENTEELISH Gen*teel"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat genteel.

GENTEELLY Gen*teel"ly, adv.

Defn: In a genteel manner.

GENTEELNESS Gen*teel"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being genteel.

GENTERIE; GENTRIE Gen"ter*ie, Gen"trie (, n. Etym: [OE. See Gentry.]

Defn: Nobility of birth or of character; gentility. [Obs.] Chaucer.

GENTIAN Gen"tian, n. Etym: [OE. genciane, F. gentiane, L. gentiana, fr. Gentius, an Illyrian king, said to have discovered its properties.] (Bot.)

Defn: Any one of a genus (Gentiana) of herbaceous plants with opposite leaves and a tubular four- or five-lobed corolla, usually blue, but sometimes white, yellow, or red. See Illust. of Capsule.

Note: Many species are found on the highest mountains of Europe, Asia, and America, and some are prized for their beauty, as the Alpine (Gentiana verna, Bavarica, and excisa), and the American fringed gentians (G. crinita and G. detonsa). Several are used as tonics, especially the bitter roots of Gentiana lutea, the officinal gentian of the pharmacopoeias. Horse gentian, fever root. -- Yellow gentian (Bot.), the officinal gentian (Gentiana lutea). See Bitterwort.

GENTIANACEOUS Gen`tian*a"ceous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants (Gentianaceæ) of which the gentian is the type.

GENTIANELLA Gen`tian*el"la, n. Etym: [See Gentian.]

Defn: A kind of blue color. Johnson.

GENTIANIC Gen`ti*an"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to or derived from the gentian; as, gentianic acid.

GENTIANINE Gen"tian*ine, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A bitter, crystallizable substance obtained from gentian.

GENTIANOSE Gen"tian*ose`, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A crystallizable, sugarlike substance, with a slightly sweetish taste, obtained from the gentian.

GENTIL Gen"til, a. & n.

Defn: Gentle. [Obs.] Chaucer.

GENTILE Gen"tile, n. Etym: [L. gentilis belonging to the same clan, stock, race, people, or nation; in opposition to Roman, a foreigner; in opposition to Jew or Christian, a heathen: cf. F. gentil. See Gentle, a.]

Defn: One of a non-Jewish nation; one neither a Jew nor a Christian; a worshiper of false gods; a heathen.

Note: The Hebrews included in the term goyim, or nations, all the tribes of men who had not received the true faith, and were not circumcised. The Christians translated goyim by the L. gentes, and imitated the Jews in giving the name gentiles to all nations who were neither Jews nor Christians. In civil affairs, the denomination was given to all nations who were not Romans.

Syn. -- Pagan; heathen. See Pagan.

GENTILE Gen"tile, a.

1. Belonging to the nations at large, as distinguished from the Jews; ethnic; of pagan or heathen people.

2. (Gram.)

Defn: Denoting a race or country; as, a gentile noun or adjective.

GENTILE-FALCON Gen"tile-fal`con, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Falcon-gentil.

GENTILESSE Gen`ti*lesse", n. Etym: [OF. gentilesse, gentelise, F. gentillesse. See Gentle. a.]

Defn: Gentleness; courtesy; kindness; nobility. [Obs.] Chaucer.

GENTILISH Gen"til*ish, a.

Defn: Heathenish; pagan.

GENTILISM Gen"til*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. gentilisme.]

1. Hethenism; paganism; the worship of false gods.

2. Tribal feeling; devotion to one's gens.

GENTILITIAL; GENTILITIOUS Gen`ti*li"tial, Gen`ti*li"tious, a. Etym: [L. gentilitius. See Gentile.] [Obs.]

1. Peculiar to a people; national. Sir T. Browne.

2. Hereditary; entailed on a family. Arbuthnot.

GENTILITY Gen*til"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. gentilitas the relationship of those who belong to the same clan, also, heathenism: cf. F. gentilité heathenism. See Gentile.]

1. Good extraction; dignity of birth. Macaulay. He . . . mines my gentility with my education. Shak.

2. The quality or qualities appropriate to those who are well born, as self-respect, dignity, courage, courtesy, politeness of manner, a graceful and easy mien and behavior, etc.; good breeding.

3. The class in society who are, or are expected to be, genteel; the gentry. [R.] Sir J. Davies.

4. Paganism; heathenism. [Obs.] Hooker.

GENTILIZE Gen"til*ize, v. i. Etym: [See Gentile.]

1. To live like a gentile or heathen. [Obs.] Milton.

2. To act the gentleman; -- with it (see It, 5). [Obs.]

GENTILIZE Gen"til*ize, v. i.

Defn: To render gentile or gentlemanly; as, to gentilize your unworthy sones. [R.] Sylvester.

GENTILLY Gen"til*ly, adv. Etym: [From Gentil, a.]

Defn: In a gentle or hoble manner; frankly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

GENTIOPIKRIN Gen`ti*o*pi"krin, n. Etym: [Gentian + Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A bitter, yellow, crystalline substance, regarded as a glucoside, and obtained from the gentian.

GENTISIN Gen"ti*sin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A tasteless, yellow, crystalline substance, obtained from the gentian; -- called also gentianin.

GENTLE Gen"tle, a. [Compar. Gentler; superl. Gentlest.] Etym: [OE. gentil, F. gentil noble, pretty, graceful, fr. L. gentilis of the same clan or race, fr. gens, gentis, tribe, clan, race, orig. that which belongs together by birth, fr. the root of genere, gignere, to beget; hence gentle, properly, of birth or family, that is, of good or noble birth. See Gender, and cf. Genteel, Gentil, Gentile, Gentoo, Jaunty.]

1. Well-born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble. British society is divided into nobility, gentry, and yeomanry, and families are either noble, gentle, or simple. Johnson's Cyc. The studies wherein our noble and gentle youth ought to bestow their time. Milton.

2. Quiet and refined in manners; not rough, harsh, or stern; mild; meek; bland; amiable; tender; as, a gentle nature, temper, or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address; a gentle voice.

3. A compellative of respect, consideration, or conciliation; as, gentle reader. "Gentle sirs." "Gentle Jew." "Gentle servant." Shak.

4. Not wild, turbulent, or refractory; quiet and docile; tame; peaceable; as, a gentle horse.

5. Soft; not violent or rough; not strong, loud, or disturbing; easy; soothing; pacific; as, a gentle touch; a gentle gallop. "Gentle music." Sir J. Davies. O sleep! it is a gentle thing. Coleridge. The gentle craft, the art or trade of shoemaking.

Syn. -- Mild; meek; placid; dovelike; quiet; peaceful; pacific; bland; soft; tame; tractable; docile. -- Gentle, Tame, Mild, Meek. Gentle describes the natural disposition; tame, that which is subdued by training; mild implies a temper which is, by nature, not easily provoked; meek, a spirit which has been schooled to mildness by discipline or suffering. The lamb is gentle; the domestic fowl is tame; John, the Apostle, was mild; Moses was meek.

GENTLE Gen"tle, n.

1. One well born; a gentleman. [Obs.] Gentles, methinks you frown. Shak.

2. A trained falcon. See Falcon-gentil.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A dipterous larva used as fish bait.

GENTLE Gent"le, v. t.

1. To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar; to ennoble. [Obs.] Shak.

2. To make smooth, cozy, or agreeable. [R. or Poet.] To gentle life's descent, We shut our eyes, and think it is a plain. Young.

3. To make kind and docile, as a horse. [Colloq.]

GENTLEFOLK; GENTLEFOLKS Gen"tle*folk`, Gen"tle*folks` (, n. pl.

Defn: Persons of gentle or good family and breeding. Etym: [Generally in the United States in the plural form.] Shak.

GENTLE-HEARTED Gen"tle-heart`ed, a.

Defn: Having a kind or gentle disposition. Shak. -- Gen"tle-heart`ed*ness, n.

GENTLEMAN Gen"tle*man, n.; pl. Gentlemen. Etym: [OE. gentilman nobleman; gentil noble + man man; cf. F. gentilhomme.]

1. A man well born; one of good family; one above the condition of a yeoman.

2. One of gentle or refined manners; a well-bred man.

3. (Her.)

Defn: One who bears arms, but has no title.

4. The servant of a man of rank. The count's gentleman, one Cesario. Shak.

5. A man, irrespective of condition; -- used esp. in the plural (= citizens; people), in addressing men in popular assemblies, etc.

Note: In Great Britain, the term gentleman is applied in a limited sense to those having coats of arms, but who are without a title, and, in this sense, gentlemen hold a middle rank between the nobility and yeomanry. In a more extended sense, it includes every man above the rank of yeoman, comprehending the nobility. In the United States, the term is applied to men of education and good breeding of every occupation. Gentleman commoner, one of the highest class of commoners at the University of Oxford. -- Gentleman usher, one who ushers visitors into the presence of a sovereign, etc. -- Gentleman usher of the black rod, an usher belonging to the Order of the Garter, whose chief duty is to serve as official messenger of the House of Lords. -- Gentlemen-at-arms, a band of forty gentlemen who attend the sovereign on state occasions; formerly called gentlemen pensioners. [Eng.]

GENTLEMANHOOD Gen"tle*man*hood, n.

Defn: The qualities or condition of a gentleman. [R.] Thackeray.

GENTLEMANLIKE; GENTLEMANLY Gen"tle*man*like`, Gen"tle*man*ly, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, resembling, or becoming, a gentleman; well- behaved; courteous; polite.

GENTLEMANLINESS Gen"tle*man*li*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being gentlemanly; gentlemanly conduct or manners.

GENTLEMANSHIP Gen"tle*man*ship, n.

Defn: The carriage or quality of a gentleman.

GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT Gen"tle*men's a*gree"ment.

Defn: An agreement binding only as a matter of honor; often, specif., such an agreement among the heads of industrial or merchantile enterprises, the terms of which could not be included and enforced in a legal contract.

GENTLENESS Gen"tle*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being gentle, well-born, mild, benevolent, docile, etc.; gentility; softness of manners, disposition, etc.; mildness.

GENTLESHIP Gen"tle*ship, n.

Defn: The deportment or conduct of a gentleman. [Obs.] Ascham.

GENTLESSE Gent"lesse, n.

Defn: Gentilesse; gentleness. [Obs.]

GENTLEWOMAN Gen"tle*wom`an, n.; pl. Gentlewomen (.

1. A woman of good family or of good breeding; a woman above the vulgar. Bacon.

2. A woman who attends a lady of high rank. Shak.

GENTLY Gen"tly, adv.

Defn: In a gentle manner. My mistress gently chides the fault I made. Dryden.

GENTOO Gen*too", n.; pl. Gentoos. Etym: [Pg. gentio gentile, heathen. See Gentile.]

Defn: A native of Hindostan; a Hindoo. [Archaic]

GENTRY Gen"try, n. Etym: [OE. genterie, gentrie, noble birth, nobility, cf. gentrise, and OF. gentelise, genterise, E. gentilesse, also OE. genteleri high-mindedness. See Gent, a., Gentle, a.]

1. Birth; condition; rank by birth. [Obs.] "Pride of gentrie." Chaucer. She conquers him by high almighty Jove, By knighthood, gentry, and sweet friendship's oath. Shak.

2. People of education and good breeding; in England, in a restricted sense, those between the nobility and the yeomanry. Macaulay.

3. Courtesy; civility; complaisance. [Obs.] To show us so much gentry and good will. Shak.

GENTY Gen"ty, a. Etym: [From F. gentil. Cf. Jaunty.]

Defn: Neat; trim. [Scot.] Burns.

GENU Ge"nu, n.; pl. Genua. Etym: [L., the knee.] (Anat.) (a) The knee. (b) The kneelike bend, in the anterior part of the callosum of the brain.

GENUFLECT Gen`u*flect", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Genuflected; p. pr. & vb. n. Genuflecting.] Etym: [See Genuflection.]

Defn: To bend the knee, as in worship.

GENUFLECTION Gen`u*flec"tion, n. Etym: [F. génuflexion, fr. LL. genuflexio, fr. L. genu knee + flexio a bending, fr. flectere, flexum, to bend. See Knee, Flexible.]

Defn: The act of bending the knee, particularly in worship. Bp. Stillingfleet.

GENUINE Gen"u*ine, a. Etym: [L. genuinus, fr. genere, gignere, to beget, in pass., to be born: cf. F. génuine. See Gender.]

Defn: Belonging to, or proceeding from, the original stock; native; hence, not counterfeit, spurious, false, or adulterated; authentic; real; natural; true; pure; as, a genuine text; a genuine production; genuine materials. "True, genuine night." Dryden.

Syn. -- Authentic; real; true; pure; unalloyed; unadulterated. See Authentic. -- Gen"u*ine*ly, adv. -- Gen"u*ine*ness, n. The evidence, both internal and external, against the genuineness of these letters, is overwhelming. Macaulay.

GENUS Ge"nus, n.; pl. Genera. Etym: [L., birth, race, kind, sort; akin to Gr. Gender, and cf. Benign.]

1. (Logic)

Defn: A class of objects divided into several subordinate species; a class more extensive than a species; a precisely defined and exactly divided class; one of the five predicable conceptions, or sorts of terms.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: An assemblage of species, having so many fundamental points of structure in common, that in the judgment of competent scientists, they may receive a common substantive name. A genus is not necessarily the lowest definable group of species, for it may often be divided into several subgenera. In proportion as its definition is exact, it is natural genus; if its definition can not be made clear, it is more or less an artificial genus.

Note: Thus in the animal kingdom the lion, leopard, tiger, cat, and panther are species of the Cat kind or genus, while in the vegetable kingdom all the species of oak form a single genus. Some genera are represented by a multitude of species, as Solanum (Nightshade) and Carex (Sedge), others by few, and some by only one known species. Subaltern genus (Logic), a genus which may be a species of a higher genus, as the genus denoted by quadruped, which is also a species of mammal. -- Summum genus Etym: [L.] (Logic), the highest genus; a genus which can not be classed as a species, as being .

GENYS Ge"nys, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Conys.

GEOCENTRIC; GEOCENTRICAL Ge`o*cen"tric, Ge`o*cen"tric*al, a. Etym: [Gr. géocentrique.] (Astron.) (a) Having reference to the earth as center; in relation to or seen from the earth, -- usually opposed to heliocentric, as seen from the sun; as, the geocentric longitude or latitude of a planet. (b) Having reference to the center of the earth. Geocentric latitude (of place) the angle included between the radius of the earth through the place and the plane of the equator, in distinction from geographic latitude. It is a little less than the geographic latitude.

GEOCENTRICALLY Ge`o*cen"tric*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a geocentric manner.

GEOCHEMISTRY Ge`o*chem"is*try (je`o*kem"is*try), n. [Gr. ge`a, gh^, the earth + chemistry.]

Defn: The study of the chemical composition of, and of actual or possible chemical changes in, the crust of the earth. -- Ge`o*chem"ic*al (#), a. --Ge`o*chem"ist (#), n.

GEOCRONITE Ge*oc"ro*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. geokronit.] (Min.)

Defn: A lead-gray or grayish blue mineral with a metallic luster, consisting of sulphur, antimony, and lead, with a small proportion of arsenic.

GEOCYCLIC Ge`o*cyc"lic, a. Etym: [Gr.

1. Of, pertaining to, or illustrating, the revolutions of the earth; as, a geocyclic machine.

2. Circling the earth periodically.

GEODE Ge"ode, n. Etym: [F. géode, L. geodes, fr. Gr. (Min.) (a) A nodule of stone, containing a cavity, lined with crystals or mineral matter. (b) The cavity in such a nodule.

GEODEPHAGOUS Ge`o*deph"a*gous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Living in the earth; -- applied to the ground beetles.

GEODESIC; GEODESICAL Ge`o*des"ic, Ge`o*des"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. géodésique.] (Math.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to geodetic.

GEODESIC Ge`o*des"ic, n.

Defn: A geodetic line or curve.

GEODESIST Ge*od"e*sist, n.

Defn: One versed in geodesy.

GEODESY Ge*od"e*sy, n. Etym: [Gr. géodésie.] (Math.)

Defn: That branch of applied mathematics which determines, by means of observations and measurements, the figures and areas of large portions of the earth's surface, or the general figure and dimenshions of the earth; or that branch of surveying in which the curvature of the earth is taken into account, as in the surveys of States, or of long lines of coast.

GEODETIC; GEODETICAL Ge`o*det"ic, Ge`o*det"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to gebdesy; obtained or determined by the operations of geodesy; engaged in geodesy; geodesic; as, geodetic surveying; geodetic observers. Geodetic line or curve, the shortest line that can be drawn between two points on the elipsoidal surface of the earth; a curve drawn on any given surface so that the osculating plane of the curve at every point shall contain the normal to the surface; the minimum line that can be drawn on any surface between any two points.

GEODETICALLY Ge`o*det"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a geodetic manner; according to geodesy.

GEODETICS Ge`o*det"ics, n.

Defn: Same as Geodesy.

GEODIFEROUS Ge`o*dif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Geode + -ferous.] (Min.)

Defn: Producing geodes; containing geodes.

GEODUCK Ge"o*duck, n. Etym: [American Indian name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gigantic clam (Glycimeris generosa) of the Pacific coast of North America, highly valued as an article of food.

GEOGNOSIS Ge`og*no"sis, n. Etym: [See Geognosy.]

Defn: Knowledge of the earth. [R.] G. Eliot.

GEOGNOST Ge"og*nost, n. Etym: [Cf. F. géognoste.]

Defn: One versed in geognosy; a geologist. [R.]

GEOGNOSTIC; GEOGNOSTICAL Ge`og*nos"tic, Ge`og*nos"tic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. géognostique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to geognosy, or to a knowledge of the structure of the earth; geological. [R.]

GEOGNOSY Ge*og"no*sy, n. Etym: [Gr. géognosie.]

Defn: That part of geology which treats of the materials of the earth's structure, and its general exterior and interior constitution.

GEOGONIC; GEOGONICAL Ge`o*gon"ic, Ge`o*gon"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. géogonique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to geogony, or to the formation of the earth.

GEOGONY Ge*og"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. géogonie.]

Defn: The branch of science which treats of the formation of the earth.

GEOGRAPHER Ge*og"ra*pher, n.

Defn: One versed in geography.

GEOGRAPHIC; GEOGRAPHICAL Ge`o*graph"ic, Ge`o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. geographicus, Gr. géographique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to geography. Geographical distribution. See under Distribution. -- Geographic latitude (of a place), the angle included between a line perpendicular or normal to the level surface of water at rest at the place, and the plane of the equator; differing slightly from the geocentric latitude by reason of the difference between the earth's figure and a true sphere. -- Geographical mile. See under Mile. -- Geographical variation, any variation of a species which is dependent on climate or other geographical conditions.

GEOGRAPHICALLY Ge`o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a geographical manner or method; according to geography.

GEOGRAPHY Ge*og"ra*phy, n.; pl. Geographies. Etym: [F. géographie, l. geographia, fr. Gr. Graphic.]

1. The science which treats of the world and its inhabitants; a description of the earth, or a portion of the earth, including its structure, fetures, products, political divisions, and the people by whom it is inhabited.

2. A treatise on this science. Astronomical, or Mathematical, geography treats of the earth as a planet, of its shape, its size, its lines of latitude and longitude, its zones, and the phenomena due to to the earth's diurnal and annual motions. -- Physical geography treats of the conformation of the earth's surface, of the distribution of land and water, of minerals, plants, animals, etc., and applies the principles of physics to the explanation of the diversities of climate, productions, etc. -- Political geography treats of the different countries into which earth is divided with regard to political and social and institutions and conditions.

GEOLATRY Ge*ol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The worship of the earth. G. W. Cox. The Geological Series.

Note: The science of geology, as treating of the history of the globe, involves a description of the different strata which compose its crust, their order of succession, characteristic forms of animal and vegetable life, etc. The principal subdivisions of geological time, and the most important strata, with their relative positions, are indicated in the following diagram.

GEOLOGER; GEOLOGIAN Ge*ol"o*ger, Ge`o*lo"gi*an, n.

Defn: A geologist.

GEOLOGIC; GEOLOGICAL Ge`o*log"ic, Ge`o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. géologique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to geology, or the science of the earth.

GEOLOGICALLY Ge`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a geological manner.

GEOLOGIST Ge*ol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. Géologiste.]

Defn: One versed in the science of geology.

GEOLOGIZE Ge*ol"o*gize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Geologized; p. pr. & vb. n. Geologizing.]

Defn: To study geology or make geological investigations in the field; to discourse as a geologist. During midsummer geologized a little in Shropshire. Darwin.

GEOLOGY Ge*ol"o*gy, n.; pl. Geologies. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. géologie.]

1. The science which treats: (a) Of the structure and mineral constitution of the globe; structural geology. (b) Of its history as regards rocks, minerals, rivers, valleys, mountains, climates, life, etc.; historical geology. (c) Of the causes and methods by which its structure, features, changes, and conditions have been produced; dynamical geology. See Chart of The Geological Series.

2. A treatise on the science.

GEOMALISM Ge*om"a*lism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: The tendency of an organism to respond, during its growth, to the force of gravitation.

GEOMANCER Ge"o*man`cer, n.

Defn: One who practices, or is versed in, geomancy.

GEOMANCY Ge"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [OE. geomance, geomancie, F. géomance, géomancie, LL. geomantia, fr. Gr.

Defn: A kind of divination by means of figures or lines, formed by little dots or points, originally on the earth, and latterly on paper.

GEOMANTIC; GEOMANTICAL Ge`o*man"tic, Ge`o*man"tic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. géomantique.]

Defn: Pertaining or belonging to geomancy.

GEOMETER Ge*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [F. géomètre, L. geometres, geometra, fr. Gr. Meter measure.]

1. One skilled in geometry; a geometrician; a mathematician. I. Watts.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of geometrid moth; a geometrid.

GEOMETRAL Ge*om"e*tral, a. Etym: [Cf. F. géométral.]

Defn: Pertaining to geometry. [Obs.]

GEOMETRIC; GEOMETRICAL Ge`o*met"ric, Ge`o*met"ric*al, a. Etym: [L. geometricus; Gr. géométrique.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or according to the rules or principles of, geometry; determined by geometry; as, a geometrical solution of a problem.

Note: Geometric is often used, as opposed to algebraic, to include processes or solutions in which the propositions or principles of geometry are made use of rather than those of algebra.

Note: Geometrical is often used in a limited or strictly technical sense, as opposed to mechanical; thus, a construction or solution is geometrical which can be made by ruler and compasses, i. e., by means of right lines and circles. Every construction or solution which requires any other curve, or such motion of a line or circle as would generate any other curve, is not geometrical, but mechanical. By another distinction, a geometrical solution is one obtained by the rules of geometry, or processes of analysis, and hence is exact; while a mechanical solution is one obtained by trial, by actual measurements, with instruments, etc., and is only approximate and empirical. Geometrical curve. Same as Algebraic curve; -- so called because their different points may be constructed by the operations of elementary geometry. -- Geometric lathe, an instrument for engraving bank notes, etc., with complicated patterns of interlacing lines; -- called also cycloidal engine. -- Geometrical pace, a measure of five feet. -- Geometric pen, an instrument for drawing geometric curves, in which the movements of a pen or pencil attached to a revolving arm of ajustable length may be indefinitely varied by changing the toothed wheels which give motion to the arm. -- Geometrical plane (Persp.), the same as Ground plane . -- Geometrical progression, proportion, ratio. See under Progression, Proportion and Ratio. -- Geometrical radius, in gearing, the radius of the pitch circle of a cogwheel. Knight. -- Geometric spider (Zoöl.), one of many species of spiders, which spin a geometrical web. They mostly belong to Epeira and allied genera, as the garden spider. See Garden spider. -- Geometric square, a portable instrument in the form of a square frame for ascertaining distances and heights by measuring angles. -- Geometrical staircase, one in which the stairs are supported by the wall at one end only. -- Geometrical tracery, in architecture and decoration, tracery arranged in geometrical figures.

GEOMETRICALLY Ge`o*met"ric*al*ly, adv.

Defn: According to the rules or laws of geometry.

GEOMETRICIAN Ge*om`e*tri"cian, n.

Defn: One skilled in geometry; a geometer; a mathematician.

GEOMETRID Ge*om"e*trid, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining or belonging to the Geometridæ.

GEOMETRID Ge*om"e*trid, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of numerous genera and species of moths, of the family Geometridæ; -- so called because their larvæ (called loopers, measuring worms, spanworms, and inchworms) creep in a looping manner, as if measuring. Many of the species are injurious to agriculture, as the cankerworms.

GEOMETRIZE Ge*om"e*trize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Geometrized; p. pr. & vb. n. Geometrizing.]