Chapter LI: Bella (79)

1. To make smooth and glossy, usually by friction; to burnish; to overspread with luster; as, to polish glass, marble, metals, etc.

2. Hence, to refine; to wear off the rudeness, coarseness, or rusticity of; to make elegant and polite; as, to polish life or manners. Milton. To polish off, to finish completely, as an adversary. [Slang] W. H. Russell.

POLISH Pol"ish, v. i.

Defn: To become smooth, as from friction; to receive a gloss; to take a smooth and glossy surface; as, steel polishes well. Bacon.

POLISH Pol"ish, n.

1. A smooth, glossy surface, usually produced by friction; a gloss or luster. Another prism of clearer glass and better polish. Sir I. Newton.

2. Anything used to produce a gloss.

3. Fig.: Refinement; elegance of manners. This Roman polish and this smooth behavior. Addison.

POLISHABLE Pol"ish*a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being polished.

POLISHED Pol"ished, a.

Defn: Made smooth and glossy, as by friction; hence, highly finished; refined; polite; as, polished plate; polished manners; polished verse.

POLISHEDNESS Pol"ished*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being polished.

POLISHER Pol"ish*er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, polishes; also, that which is used in polishing. Addison.

POLISHING Pol"ish*ing,

Defn: a. & n. from Polish. Polishing iron, an iron burnisher; esp., a small smoothing iron used in laundries. -- Polishing slate. (a) A gray or yellow slate, found in Bohemia and Auvergne, and used for polishing glass, marble, and metals. (b) A kind of hone or whetstone; hone slate. -- Polishing snake, a tool used in cleaning lithographic stones. -- Polishing wheel, a wheel or disk coated with, or composed of, abrading material, for polishing a surface.

POLISHMENT Pol"ish*ment, n.

Defn: The act of polishing, or the state of being polished. [R.]

POLISSOIR Po`lis`soir", n. [F.]

1. A polishing or grinding implement or instrument.

2. (Glass Making) A tool consisting of a flat wooden block with a long iron handle, used for flattening out split cylinders of blown glass.

POLITE Po*lite", a. [Compar. Politer; superl. Politest.] Etym: [L. politus, p. p. of polire to polish: cf. F. poli. See Polish, v.]

1. Smooth; polished. [Obs.] Rays of light falling on a polite surface. Sir I. Newton.

2. Smooth and refined in behavior or manners; well bred; courteous; complaisant; obliging; civil. He marries, bows at court, and grows polite. Pope.

3. Characterized by refinement, or a high degree of finish; as, polite literature. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Polished; refined; well bred; courteous; affable; urbane; civil; courtly; elegant; genteel.

POLITE Po*lite", v. t.

Defn: To polish; to refine; to render polite. [Obs.] Ray.

POLITELY Po*lite"ly, adv.

1. In a polished manner; so as to be smooth or glossy. [Obs.] Milton.

2. In a polite manner; with politeness.

POLITENESS Po*lite"ness, n.

1. High finish; smoothness; burnished elegance. [R.] Evelyn.

2. The quality or state of being polite; refinement of manners; urbanity; courteous behavior; complaisance; obliging attentions.

Syn. -- Courtesy; good breeding; refinement; urbanity; courteousness; affability; complaisance; civility; gentility; courtliness. -- Politeness, Courtesy. Politeness denotes that ease and gracefulness of manners which first sprung up in cities, connected with a desire to please others by anticipating their wants and wishes, and studiously avoiding whatever might give them pain. Courtesy is, etymologically, the politeness of courts. It displays itself in the address and manners; it is shown more especially in receiving and entertaining others, and is a union of dignified complaisance and kindness.

POLITESSE Pol`i*tesse", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Politeness.

POLITIC Pol"i*tic, a. Etym: [L. politicus political, Gr. politique. See Police, and cf. ePolitical.]

1. Of or pertaining to polity, or civil government; political; as, the body politic. See under Body. He with his people made all but one politic body. Sir P. Sidney.

2. Pertaining to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong; -- said of things; as, a politic treaty. "Enrich'd with politic grave counsel." Shak.

3. Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious; and in a bad sense, artful; unscrupulous; cunning; -- said of persons. Politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy. Shak.

Syn. -- Wise; prudent; sagacious; discreet; provident; wary; artful; cunning.

POLITIC Pol`i*tic, n.

Defn: A politician. [Archaic] Bacon. Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark he borrows a lantern; Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars. Lowell.

POLITICAL Po*lit"i*cal, a.

1. Having, or conforming to, a settled system of administration. [R.] "A political government." Evelyn.

2. Of or pertaining to public policy, or to politics; relating to affairs of state or administration; as, a political writer. "The political state of Europe." Paley.

3. Of or pertaining to a party, or to parties, in the state; as, his political relations were with the Whigs.

4. Politic; wise; also, artful. [Obs.] Sterne. Political economy, that branch of political science or philosophy which treats of the sources, and methods of production and preservation, of the material wealth and prosperity of nations.

POLITICALISM Po*lit"i*cal*ism, n.

Defn: Zeal or party spirit in politics.

POLITICALLY Po*lit"i*cal*ly, adv.

1. In a political manner.

2. Politicly; artfully. [Obs.] Knolles.

POLITICASTER Po*lit"i*cas`ter, n. Etym: [Cf. It. politicastro.]

Defn: A petty politician; a pretender in politics. Milton.

POLITICIAN Pol`i*ti"cian, n. Etym: [Cf. F. politicien.]

1. One versed or experienced in the science of government; one devoted to politics; a statesman. While empiric politicians use deceit. Dryden.

2. One primarily devoted to his own advancement in public office, or to the success of a political party; -- used in a depreciatory sense; one addicted or attached to politics as managed by parties (see Politics, 2); a schemer; an intriguer; as, a mere politician. Like a scurvy politician, seem To see the things thou dost not. Shak. The politician . . . ready to do anything that he apprehends for his advantage. South.

POLITICIAN Pol`i*ti"cian, a.

Defn: Cunning; using artifice; politic; artful. "Ill-meaning politician lords." Milton.

POLITICIST Po*lit"i*cist, n.

Defn: A political writer. [R.]

POLITICLY Pol"i*tic*ly, adv.

Defn: In a politic manner; sagaciously; shrewdly; artfully. Pope.

POLITICS Pol"i*tics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. politique, Gr. Politic.]

1. The science of government; that part of ethics which has to do with the regulation and government of a nation or state, the preservation of its safety, peace, and prosperity, the defense of its existence and rights against foreign control or conquest, the augmentation of its strength and resources, and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals.

2. The management of a political party; the conduct and contests of parties with reference to political measures or the administration of public affairs; the advancement of candidates to office; in a bad sense, artful or dishonest management to secure the success of political candidates or parties; political trickery. When we say that two men are talking politics, we often mean that they are wrangling about some mere party question. F. W. Robertson.

POLITIZE Pol"i*tize, v. i.

Defn: To play the politician; to dispute as politicians do. [Obs.] Milton.

POLITURE Pol"i*ture, n. Etym: [L. politura, fr. polire to polish. See Polish, v.]

Defn: Polish; gloss. [Obs.] Donne.

POLITY Pol"i*ty, n.; pl. Polities. Etym: [L. politia, Gr. politie. See 1st Policy, Police.]

1. The form or constitution of the civil government of a nation or state; the framework or organization by which the various departments of government are combined into a systematic whole. Blackstone. Hooker.

2. Hence: The form or constitution by which any institution is organized; the recognized principles which lie at the foundation of any human institution. Nor is possible that any form of polity, much less polity ecclesiastical, should be good, unless God himself be author of it. Hooker.

3. Policy; art; management. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Syn. -- Policy. -- Polity, Policy. These two words were originally the same. Polity is now confined to the structure of a government; as, civil or ecclesiastical polity; while policy is applied to the scheme of management of public affairs with reference to some aim or result; as, foreign or domestic policy. Policy has the further sense of skillful or cunning management.

POLITZERIZATION Po*litz`er*i*za"tion, n. (Med.)

Defn: The act of inflating the middle ear by blowing air up the nose during the act of swallowing; -- so called from Prof. Politzer of Vienna, who first practiced it.

POLIVE Pol"ive, n.

Defn: A pulley. [Obs.] Chaucer.

POLKA Pol"ka, n. Etym: [Pol. Polka a Polish woman: cf. F. & G. polka.]

1. A dance of Polish origin, but now common everywhere. It is performed by two persons in common time.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: A lively Bohemian or Polish dance tune in 2-4 measure, with the third quaver accented. Polka jacket, a kind of knit jacket worn by women.

POLL Poll, n. Etym: [From Polly, The proper name.]

Defn: A parrot; -- familiarly so called.

POLL Poll, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: One who does not try for honors, but is content to take a degree merely; a passman. [Cambridge Univ., Eng.]

POLL Poll, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. polle the head, the crest of a bird, the top of a tree, OD. pol, polle, Dan. puld the crown of a hat.]

1. The head; the back part of the head. "All flaxen was his poll." Shak.

2. A number or aggregate of heads; a list or register of heads or individuals. We are the greater poll, and in true fear They gave us our demands. Shak. The muster file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll. Shak.

3. Specifically, the register of the names of electors who may vote in an election.

4. The casting or recording of the votes of registered electors; as, the close of the poll. All soldiers quartered in place are to remove . . . and not to return till one day after the poll is ended. Blackstone.

5. pl.

Defn: The place where the votes are cast or recorded; as, to go to the polls.

6. The broad end of a hammer; the but of an ax.

7. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European chub. See Pollard, 3 (a). Poll book, a register of persons entitled to vote at an election. -- Poll evil (Far.), an inflammatory swelling or abscess on a horse's head, confined beneath the great ligament of the neck. -- Poll pick (Mining), a pole having a heavy spike on the end, forming a kind of crowbar. -- Poll tax, a tax levied by the head, or poll; a capitation tax.

POLL Poll, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Polled; p. pr. & vb. n. Polling.]

1. To remove the poll or head of; hence, to remove the top or end of; to clip; to lop; to shear; as, to poll the head; to poll a tree. When he [Absalom] pollled his head. 2 Sam. xiv. 26. His death did so grieve them that they polled themselves; they clipped off their horse and mule's hairs. Sir T. North.

2. To cut off; to remove by clipping, shearing, etc.; to mow or crop; -- sometimes with off; as, to poll the hair; to poll wool; to poll grass. Who, as he polled off his dart's head, so sure he had decreed That all the counsels of their war he would poll off like it. Chapman.

3. To extort from; to plunder; to strip. [Obs.] Which polls and pills the poor in piteous wise. Spenser.

4. To impose a tax upon. [Obs.]

5. To pay as one's personal tax. The man that polled but twelve pence for his head. Dryden.

6. To enter, as polls or persons, in a list or register; to enroll, esp. for purposes of taxation; to enumerate one by one. Polling the reformed churches whether they equalize in number those of his three kingdoms. Milton.

7. To register or deposit, as a vote; to elicit or call forth, as votes or voters; as, he polled a hundred votes more than his opponent. And poll for points of faith his trusty vote. Tickell.

8. (Law)

Defn: To cut or shave smooth or even; to cut in a straight line without indentation; as, a polled deed. See Dee. Burrill. To poll a jury, to call upon each member of the jury to answer individually as to his concurrence in a verdict which has been rendered.

POLL Poll, v. i.

Defn: To vote at an election. Beaconsfield.

POLLACK Pol"lack, n. Etym: [Cf. G. & D. pollack, and Gael. pollag a little pool, a sort of fish.] (Zoöl.) (a) A marine gadoid food fish of Europe (Pollachius virens). Called also greenfish, greenling, lait, leet, lob, lythe, and whiting pollack. (b) The American pollock; the coalfish.

POLLAGE Poll"age, n.

Defn: A head or poll tax; hence, extortion. [Obs.] Foxe.

POLLAN Pol"lan, n. Etym: [Cf. Gael. pollag a kind of fish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A lake whitefish (Coregonus pollan), native of Ireland. In appearance it resembles a herring.

POLLARD Pol"lard, n. Etym: [From Poll the head.]

1. A tree having its top cut off at some height above the ground, that may throw out branches. Pennant.

2. A clipped coin; also, a counterfeit. [Obs.] Camden.

3. (Zoöl.) (a) A fish, the chub. (b) A stag that has cast its antlers. (c) A hornless animal (cow or sheep).

POLLARD Pol"lard, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pollarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Pollarding.]

Defn: To lop the tops of, as trees; to poll; as, to pollard willows. Evelyn.

POLLAX Poll"ax`, n.

Defn: A poleax. [Obs.] Chaucer.

POLLED Polled, a.

Defn: Deprived of a poll, or of something belonging to the poll. Specifically: (a) Lopped; -- said of trees having their tops cut off. (b) Cropped; hence, bald; -- said of a person. "The polled bachelor." Beau. & Fl. (c) Having cast the antlers; -- said of a stag. (d) Without horns; as, polled cattle; polled sheep.

POLLEN Pol"len, n. Etym: [L. pollen fine flour, fine dust; cf. Gr.

1. Fine bran or flour. [Obs.] Bailey.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: The fecundating dustlike cells of the anthers of flowers. See Flower, and Illust. of Filament. Pollen grain (Bot.), a particle or call of pollen. -- Pollen mass, a pollinium. Gray. -- Pollen sac, a compartment of an anther containing pollen, -- usually there are four in each anther. -- Pollen tube, a slender tube which issues from the pollen grain on its contact with the stigma, which it penetrates, thus conveying, it is supposed, the fecundating matter of the grain to the ovule.

POLLENARIOUS Pol`len*a"ri*ous, a.

Defn: Consisting of meal or pollen.

POLLENED Pol"lened, a.

Defn: Covered with pollen. Tennyson.

POLLENIFEROUS Pol`len*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Pollen + -ferous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Producing pollen; polliniferous.

POLLENIN Pol"len*in, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pollénine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A substance found in the pollen of certain plants. [R.]

POLLENIZE Pol"len*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pollenized; p. pr. & vb. n. Pollenizing.]

Defn: To supply with pollen; to impregnate with pollen.

POLLER Poll"er, n. Etym: [From Poll]

Defn: One who polls; specifically: (a) One who polls or lops trees. (b) One who polls or cuts hair; a barber. [R.] (c) One who extorts or plunders. [Obs.] Bacon. (d) One who registers voters, or one who enters his name as a voter.

POLLEX Pol"lex, n.; pl. Pollices. Etym: [L., the thumb.] (Anat.)

Defn: The first, or preaxial, digit of the fore limb, corresponding to the hallux in the hind limb; the thumb. In birds, the pollex is the joint which bears the bastard wing.

POLLICATE Pol"li*cate, a. Etym: [L. pollex, pollicis, a thumb.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a curved projection or spine on the inner side of a leg joint; -- said of insects.

POLLICITATION Pol*lic`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. pollicitatio, fr. pollicitari to promise, v. intens. fr. polliceri to promise: cf. F. pollicitation.]

1. A voluntary engagement, or a paper containing it; a promise. Bp. Burnet.

2. (Roman Law)

Defn: A promise without mutuality; a promise which has not been accepted by the person to whom it is made. Bouvier.

POLLINATE Pol"li*nate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pollinose.

POLLINATE Pol"li*nate, v. t. (Bot.)

Defn: To apply pollen to (a stigma). -- Pol`li*na"tion, n. (Bot.)

POLLINCTOR Pol*linc"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. pollingere.] (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: One who prepared corpses for the funeral.

POLLING Poll"ing, n. Etym: [See Poll the head.]

1. The act of topping, lopping, or cropping, as trees or hedges.

2. Plunder, or extortion. [Obs.] E. Hall.

3. The act of voting, or of registering a vote. Polling booth, a temporary structure where the voting at an election is done; a polling place.

POLLINIFEROUS Pol`li*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. pollen, -inis, pollen + -ferous: cf. F. pollinifère.] (Bot.)

Defn: Producing pollen; polleniferous.

POLLINIUM Pol*lin"i*um, n.; pl. Pollinia. Etym: [NL. See Pollen.] (Bot.)

Defn: A coherent mass of pollen, as in the milkweed and most orchids.

POLLINOSE Pol"li*nose`, a. Etym: [L. pollen, -inis, dust.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the surface covered with a fine yellow dust, like pollen.

POLLIWIG; POLLIWOG Pol"li*wig, Pol"li*wog, n. Etym: [OE. polwigle. Cf. Poll head, and Wiggle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tadpole; -- called also purwiggy and porwigle.

POLLOCK Pol"lock, n. Etym: [See Pollack.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A marine gadoid fish (Pollachius carbonarius), native both of the European and American coasts. It is allied to the cod, and like it is salted and dried. In England it is called coalfish, lob, podley, podling, pollack, etc.

POLLUCITE Pol"lu*cite, n. Etym: [See Pollux, and 4th Castor.] (Min.)

Defn: A colorless transparent mineral, resembling quartz, occurring with castor or castorite on the island of Elba. It is a silicate of alumina and cæsia. Called also pollux.

POLLUTE Pol*lute", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Polluted; p. pr. & vb. n. Polluting.] Etym: [L. pollutus, p. p. of polluere to defile, to pollute, from a prep. appearing only in comp. + luere to wash. See Position, Lave.]

1. To make foul, impure, or unclean; to defile; to taint; to soil; to desecrate; -- used of physical or moral defilement. The land was polluted with blood. Ps. cvi. 38 Wickedness . . . hath polluted the whole earth. 2 Esd. xv. 6.

2. To violate sexually; to debauch; to dishonor.

3. (Jewish Law)

Defn: To render ceremonially unclean; to disqualify or unfit for sacred use or service, or for social intercourse. Neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die. Num. xviii. 32. They have polluted themselves with blood. Lam. iv. 14.

Syn. -- To defile; soil; contaminate; corrupt; taint; vitiate; debauch; dishonor; ravish.

POLLUTE Pol*lute", a. Etym: [L. pollutus.]

Defn: Polluted. [R.] Milton.

POLLUTED Pol*lut"ed, a.

Defn: Defiled; made unclean or impure; debauched. -- Pol*lut"ed*ly, adv. -- Pol*lut"ed*ness, n.

POLLUTER Pol*lut"er, n.

Defn: One who pollutes. Dryden.

POLLUTING Pol*lut"ing, a.

Defn: Adapted or tending to pollute; causing defilement or pollution. -- Pol*lut"ing*ly, adv.

POLLUTION Pol*lu"tion, n. Etym: [L. pollutio: cf. F. pollution.]

1. The act of polluting, or the state of being polluted (in any sense of the verb); defilement; uncleanness; impurity.

2. (Med.)

Defn: The emission of semen, or sperm, at other times than in sexual intercourse. Dunglison.

POLLUX Pol"lux, n. Etym: [L., the twin brother of castor; also, the constellation.]

1. (Astron.)

Defn: A fixed star of the second magnitude, in the constellation Gemini. Cf. 3d Castor.

2. (Min.)

Defn: Same as Pollucite.

POLLY Pol"ly, n.

Defn: A woman's name; also, a popular name for a parrot.

POLLYWOG Pol"ly*wog, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A polliwig.

POLO Po"lo, n. Etym: [Of Eastern origin; -- properly, the ball used in the game.]

1. A game of ball of Eastern origin, resembling hockey, with the players on horseback.

2. A similar game played on the ice, or on a prepared floor, by players wearing skates.

POLONAISE Po`lo*naise", a. Etym: [F. polonais, polonaise, Polish.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Poles, or to Poland. [Written also Polonese.]

POLONAISE Po`lo*naise", n. Etym: [Written also Polonese and Polonoise.]

1. The Polish language.

2. An article of dress for women, consisting of a body and an outer skirt in one piece.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: A stately Polish dance tune, in 3-4 measure, beginning always on the beat with a quaver followed by a crotchet, and closing on the beat after a strong accent on the second beat; also, a dance adapted to such music; a polacca.

POLONESE Po`lo*nese", a. & n.

Defn: See Polonaise.

POLONIUM Po*lo"ni*um, n. [NL. So named after Poland, in L. form Polonia, one of the discoverers being a Pole.] (Chem.)

Defn: A supposed new element, a radioactive substance discovered by M. and MMe. Curie in pitchblende. It is closely related chemically to bismuth. It emits only alpha rays and is perhaps identical with radium F.

POLONY Po*lo"ny, n. Etym: [Prob. corrupt. fr. Bologna.]

Defn: A kind of sausage made of meat partly cooked.

POLRON Pol"ron, n.

Defn: See Pauldron.

POLT Polt, n. Etym: [Cf. E. pelt, L. pultare to beat, strike.]

Defn: A blow or thump. Halliwell. -- a.

Defn: Distorted. Pot foot, a distorted foot. Sir T. Herbert.

POLT-FOOT; POLT-FOOTED Polt"-foot`, Polt"-foot`ed, a.

Defn: Having a distorted foot, or a clubfoot or clubfeet. B. Jonson.

POLTROON Pol*troon", n. Etym: [F. poltron, from It. poltrone an idle fellow, sluggard, coward, poltro idle, lazy, also, bed, fr. OHG. polstar, bolstar, cushion, G. polster, akin to E. bolster. See Bolster.]

Defn: An arrant coward; a dastard; a craven; a mean-spirited wretch. Shak.

POLTROON Pol*troon", a.

Defn: Base; vile; contemptible; cowardly.

POLTROONERY Pol*troon"er*y, n. Etym: [F. poltronnerie; cf. It. poltroneria.]

Defn: Cowardice; want of spirit; pusillanimity.

POLTROONISH Pol*troon"ish, a.

Defn: Resembling a poltroon; cowardly.

POLVERINE Pol"ve*rine, n. Etym: [It. polverino, fr. polvere ust, L. pulvis, - veris. See Powder.]

Defn: Glassmaker's ashes; a kind of potash or pearlash, brought from the Levant and Syria, -- used in the manufacture of fine glass.

POLWIG Pol"wig, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A polliwig. Holland.

POLY- Pol"y-. Etym: [See Full, a.]

Defn: A combining form or prefix from Gr. poly`s, many; as, polygon, a figure of many angles; polyatomic, having many atoms; polychord, polyconic.

POLY Po"ly, n. Etym: [L. polium, the name of a plant, perhaps Teucrium polium, Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A whitish woolly plant (Teucrium Polium) of the order Labiatæ, found throughout the Mediterranean region. The name, with sundry prefixes, is sometimes given to other related species of the same genus. [Spelt also poley.] Poly mountain. See Poly-mountain, in Vocabulary.

POLYACID Pol`y*ac"id, a. Etym: [Poly- + acid.] (Chem.)

Defn: Capable of neutralizing, or of combining with, several molecules of a monobasic acid; having more than one hydrogen atom capable of being replaced by acid radicals; -- said of certain bases; as, calcium hydrate and glycerin are polyacid bases.

POLYACOUSTIC Pol`y*a*cous"tic, a. Etym: [Poly- + acoustic: cf. F. polyacoustique.]

Defn: Multiplying or magnifying sound. -- n.

Defn: A polyacoustic instrument.

POLYACOUSTICS Pol`y*a*cous"tics, n.

Defn: The art of multiplying or magnifying sounds.

POLYACRON Pol`y*a"cron, n.; pl. Polyacra, E. Polyacrons. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. poly`s many + 'a`kron summit.] (Geom.)

Defn: A solid having many summits or angular points; a polyhedron.

POLYACTINIA Pol`y*ac*tin"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Actinia.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An old name for those Anthozoa which, like the actinias, have numerous simple tentacles.

POLYADELPHIA Pol`y*a*del"phi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having stamens united in three or more bodies or bundles by the filaments.

POLYADELPHIAN; POLYADELPHOUS Pol`y*a*del"phi*an, Pol`y*a*del"phous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Belonging to the class Polyadelphia; having stamens united in three or more bundles.

POLYANDRIA Pol`y*an"dri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polyandry.] (Bot.)

Defn: A Linnæan class of monoclinous or hermaphrodite plants, having many stamens, or any number above twenty, inserted in the receptacle.

POLYANDRIAN Pol`y*an"dri*an, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Polyandrous.

POLYANDRIC Pol`y*an"dric, a. Etym: [Cf. polyandrique.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, polyandry; mating with several males. "Polyandric societies." H. Spencer.

POLYANDROUS Pol`y*an"drous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Belonging to the class Polyandria; having many stamens, or any number above twenty, inserted in the receptacle.

POLYANDRY Pol`y*an"dry, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. polyandrie.]

Defn: The possession by a woman of more than one husband at the same time; -- contrasted with Ant: monandry.

Note: In law, this falls under the head of polygamy.

POLYANTHUS Pol`y*an"thus, n.; pl. Polyanthuses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. [Written also polyanthos.] (Bot.) (a) The oxlip. So called because the peduncle bears a many-flowered umbel. See Oxlip. (b) A bulbous flowering plant of the genus Narcissus (N. Tazetta, or N. polyanthus of some authors). See Illust. of Narcissus.

POLYARCHIST Pol"y*ar`chist, n.

Defn: One who advocates polyarchy; -- opposed to monarchist. Cudworth.

POLYARCHY Pol"y*ar`chy, n. Etym: [Poly- + -archy: cf. F. polyarchie. Cf. Polarchy.]

Defn: A government by many persons, of whatever order or class. Cudworth.

POLYATOMIC Pol`y*a*tom"ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + atomic.] (Chem.) (a) Having more than one atom in the molecule; consisting of several atoms. (b) Having a valence greater than one. [Obs.]

POLYAUTOGRAPHY Pol`y*au*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Poly- + autography.]

Defn: The act or practice of multiplying copies of one's own handwriting, or of manuscripts, by printing from stone, -- a species of lithography.

POLYBASIC Pol`y*ba"sic, a. Etym: [Poly- + basic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Capable of neutralizing, or of combining with, several molecules of a monacid base; having several hydrogen atoms capable of being replaced by basic radicals; -- said of certain acids; as, sulphuric acid is polybasic.

POLYBASITE Pol`y*ba"site, n. Etym: [See Polybasic.] (Min.)

Defn: An iron-black ore of silver, consisting of silver, sulphur, and antimony, with some copper and arsenic.

POLYBRANCHIA Pol`y*bran"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Nudibranchiata including those which have numerous branchiæ on the back.

POLYBROMIDE Pol`y*bro"mide, n. Etym: [Poly- + bromide.] (Chem.)

Defn: A bromide containing more than one atom of bromine in the molecule.

POLYCARPELLARY Pol`y*car"pel*la*ry, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Composed of several or numerous carpels; -- said of such fruits as the orange.

POLYCARPIC; POLYCARPOUS Pol`y*car"pic, Pol`y*car"pous, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Bot.) (a) Bearing fruit repeatedly, or year after year. (b) Having several pistils in one flower.

POLYCHAETA Pol`y*chæ"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the two principal groups of Chætopoda. It includes those that have prominent parapodia and fascicles of setæ. See Illust. under Parapodia.

POLYCHLORIDE Pol`y*chlo"ride, n. Etym: [Poly- + chloride.] (Chem.)

Defn: A chloride containing more than one atom of chlorine in the molecule.

POLYCHOERANY Pol`y*choer"a*ny, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A government by many chiefs, princes, or rules. [Obs.] Cudworth.

POLYCHORD Pol"y*chord, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Having many strings.

POLYCHORD Pol"y*chord, n. (Mus.) (a) A musical instrument of ten strings. (b) An apparatus for coupling two octave notes, capable of being attached to a keyed instrument.

POLYCHREST Pol"y*chrest, n. Etym: [Gr. polychreste.] (Med.)

Defn: A medicine that serves for many uses, or that cures many diseases. [Obs.] Polychrest salt (Old Med. Chem.), potassium sulphate, specifically obtained by fusing niter with sulphur.

POLYCHROISM Pol"y*chro*ism, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

Defn: Same as Pleochroism.

POLYCHROITE Pol"y*chro*ite, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. polychroïte.] (Chem.)

Defn: The coloring matter of saffron; -- formerly so called because of the change of color on treatment with certain acids; -- called also crocin, and safranin.

POLYCHROMATE Pol`y*chro"mate, n. Etym: [See Polychromic.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of a polychromic acid.

POLYCHROMATE Pol`y*chro"mate, n. Etym: [See Polychromatic.] (Chem.)

Defn: A compound which exhibits, or from which may be prepared, a variety of colors, as certain solutions derived from vegetables, which display colors by fluorescence.

POLYCHROMATIC Pol`y*chro*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + chromatic.]

Defn: Showing a variety, or a change, of colors. Polychromatic acid (Old Chem.), a substance obtained by the action of nitric acid on aloes.

POLYCHROME Pol"y*chrome, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: Esculin; -- so called in allusion to its fluorescent solutions. [R.]

POLYCHROME Pol"y*chrome, a. Etym: [Cf. F. polychrome.]

Defn: Executed in the manner of polychromy; as, polychrome printing.

POLYCHROMIC Pol`y*chro"mic, a. Etym: [Poly- + (sense 1) Gr. chromic.]

1. Polychromatic.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, any one of several acids (known only in their salts) which contain more than one atom of chromium.

POLYCHROMOUS Pol`y*chro"mous, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to polychromy; many-colored; polychromatic.

POLYCHROMY Pol"y*chro`my, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Anc. Art)

Defn: The art or practice of combining different colors, especially brilliant ones, in an artistic way.

POLYCHRONIOUS Pol`y*chro"ni*ous, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

Defn: Enduring through a long time; chronic.

POLYCLINIC Pol`y*clin"ic, n. Etym: [Poly- + clinic.] (Med.)

Defn: A clinic in which diseases of many sorts are treated; especially, an institution in which clinical instruction is given in all kinds of disease.

POLYCONIC Pol`y*con"ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + conic.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or based upon, many cones. Polyconic projection (Map Making), a projection of the earth's surface, or any portion thereof, by which each narrow zone is projected upon a conical surface that touches the sphere along this zone, the conical surface being then unrolled. This projection differs from conic projection in that latter assumes but one cone for the whole map. Polyconic projection is that in use in the United States coast and geodetic survey.

POLYCOTYLEDON Pol`y*cot`y*le"don, n. Etym: [Poly- + cotyledon: cf. F. polycotylédone.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant that has many, or more than two, cotyledons in the seed. -- Pol`y*cot`y*led"on*ous, a.

POLYCOTYLEDONARY Pol`y*cot`y*led"on*a*ry, a. Etym: [Poly- + cotyledonary.] (Anat.)

Defn: Having the villi of the placenta collected into definite patches, or cotyledons.

POLYCRACY Po*lyc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Poly- + -cracy, as in democracy.]

Defn: Government by many rulers; polyarchy.

POLYCROTIC Pol`y*crot"ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to polycrotism; manifesting polycrotism; as, a polycrotic pulse; a polycrotic pulse curve.

POLYCROTISM Po*lyc"ro*tism, n. (Physiol.)

Defn: That state or condition of the pulse in which the pulse curve, or sphygmogram, shows several secondary crests or elevations; -- contrasted with monocrotism and dicrotism.

POLYCYSTID Pol`y*cys"tid, n. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the Polycystidea. (b) One of the Polycystina. -- a.

Defn: Pertaining to the Polycystidea, or the Polycystina.

POLYCYSTIDEA Pol`y*cys*tid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Cystidea.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Gregarinæ including those that have two or more internal divisions of the body.

POLYCYSTINA Pol`y*cys*ti"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Cyst.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Radiolaria including numerous minute marine species. The skeleton is composed of silica, and is often very elegant in form and sculpture. Many have been found in the fossil state.

POLYCYSTINE Pol`y*cys"tine, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to the Polycystina. -- n.

Defn: One of the Polycystina.

POLYCYTTARIA Pol`y*cyt*ta"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Radiolaria. It includes those having one more central capsules.

POLYDACTYLISM Pol`y*dac"tyl*ism, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. polydactylisme.] (Anat.)

Defn: The possession of more that the normal number of digits.

POLYDIPSIA Pol`y*dip"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Excessive and constant thirst occasioned by disease.

POLYEDRON Pol`y*e"dron, n.

Defn: See Polyhedron.

POLYEDROUS Pol`y*e"drous, a.

Defn: See Polyhedral.

POLYEIDIC Pol`y*ei"dic, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Passing through several distinct larval forms; -- having several distinct kinds of young.

POLYEIDISM Pol`y*ei"dism, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The quality or state of being polyeidic.

POLYEMBRYONATE Pol`y*em"bry*o*nate, a. Etym: [Poly- + embryonate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Consisting of, or having, several embryos; polyembryonic.

POLYEMBRYONIC Pol`y*em`bry*on"ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + embryonic.] (Bot.)

Defn: Polyembryonate.

POLYEMBRYONY Pol`y*em"bry*o*ny, n. Etym: [See Poly-, and Embryo.] (Bot.)

Defn: The production of two or more embryos in one seed, due either to the existence and fertilization of more than one embryonic sac or to the origination of embryos outside of the embryonic sac.

POLYFOIL Pol"y*foil, n. Etym: [Poly- + foil, n.] (Arch.)

Defn: Same as Multifoil.

POLYGALA Po*lyg"a*la, n. Etym: [L., milkwort, fr. Gr.

Defn: A genus of bitter herbs or shrubs having eight stamens and a two-celled ovary (as the Seneca snakeroot, the flowering wintergreen, etc.); milkwort.

POLYGALACEOUS Pol`y*ga*la"ceous, a.

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

POLYGALIC Po*lyg"a*lic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, Polygala; specifically, designating an acrid glucoside (called polygalic acid, senegin, etc.), resembling, or possibly identical with, saponin.

POLYGAMIA Pol`y*ga"mi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polygamous.] (Bot.) (a) A Linnæan class of plants, characterized by having both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant. (b) A name given by Linnæus to file orders of plants having syngenesious flowers.

POLYGAMIAN Pol`y*ga"mi*an, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Polygamous.

POLYGAMIST Po*lyg"a*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. polygamiste, polygame, Gr. a.]

Defn: One who practices polygamy, or maintains its lawfulness.

POLYGAMIZE Po*lyg"a*mize, v. i.

Defn: To practice polygamy; to marry several wives. Sylvester. Coleridge.

POLYGAMOUS Po*lyg"a*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. Bigamy.]

1. Of or pertaining to polygamy; characterized by, or involving, polygamy; having a plurality of wives; as, polygamous marriages; -- opposed to monogamous.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pairing with more than one female. Most deer, cattle, and sheep are polygamous. Darwin.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: Belonging to the Polygamia; bearing both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant.

POLYGAMY Po*lyg"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr. polygamie.]

1. The having of a plurality of wives or husbands at the same time; usually, the marriage of a man to more than one woman, or the practice of having several wives, at the same time; -- opposed to monogamy; as, the nations of the East practiced polygamy. See the Note under Bigamy, and cf. Polyandry.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The state or habit of having more than one mate.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: The condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers.

POLYGASTRIAN Pol`y*gas"tri*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Polygastrica. [Obs.]

POLYGASTRIC Pol`y*gas"tric, a. Etym: [Poly- + gastric: cf. F. polygastrique.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Having several bellies; -- applied to muscles which are made up of several bellies separated by short tendons.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to the Polygastrica. [Obs.]

POLYGASTRIC Pol`y*gas"tric, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Polygastrica.

POLYGASTRICA Pol`y*gas"tri*ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL. So called because they were supposed to have several stomachs, or digestive cavities.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Infusoria. [Obs.]

POLYGENESIS; POLYGENY Pol`y*gen"e*sis, Po*lyg"e*ny, n. Etym: [Poly- + genesis, or root of Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: The theory that living organisms originate in cells or embryos of different kinds, instead of coming from a single cell; -- opposed to monogenesis.

POLYGENETIC Pol`y*ge*net"ic, a.

1. Having many distinct sources; originating at various places or times. 2. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to polygenesis; polyphyletic. Polygenetic mountain range (Geol.), one which is composite, or consists of two or more monogenetic ranges, each having had its own history of development. Dana.

POLYGENIC Pol`y*gen"ic, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Of or relating to polygeny; polygenetic.

POLYGENISM Po*lyg"e*nism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. polygénisme.] (Biol.)

Defn: The doctrine that animals of the same species have sprung from more than one original pair.

POLYGENIST Po*lyg"e*nist, n. (Biol.)

Defn: One who maintains that animals of the same species have sprung from more than one original pair; -- opposed to monogenist.

POLYGENOUS Po*lyg"e*nous, a. Etym: [Poly- + -genous: cf. Gr.

Defn: Consisting of, or containing, many kinds; as, a polygenous mountain. Kirwan.

POLYGLOT Pol"y*glot, a. Etym: [Gr. polyglotte.]

1. Containing, or made up, of, several languages; as, a polyglot lexicon, Bible.

2. Versed in, or speaking, many languages.

POLYGLOT Pol"y*glot, n.

1. One who speaks several languages. [R.] "A polyglot, or good linguist." Howell.

2. A book containing several versions of the same text, or containing the same subject matter in several languages; esp., the Scriptures in several languages. Enriched by the publication of polyglots. Abp. Newcome.

POLYGLOTTOUS Pol`y*glot"tous, a. Etym: [See Polyglot.]

Defn: Speaking many languages; polyglot. [R.] "The polyglottous tribes of America." Max Müller.

POLYGON Pol"y*gon, n. Etym: [Gr. polygone.] (Geom.)

Defn: A plane figure having many angles, and consequently many sides; esp., one whose perimeter consists of more than four sides; any figure having many angles. Polygon of forces (Mech.), a polygonal figure, the sides of which, taken successively, represent, in length and direction, several forces acting simultaneously upon one point, so that the side necessary to complete the figure represents the resultant of those forces. Cf. Parallelogram of forces, under Parallelogram.

POLYGONACEOUS Pol`y*go*na"ceous, a. Etym: [See Polygonum.] (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a natural order of apetalous plants (Polygonaceæ), of which the knotweeds (species of Polygonum) are the type, and which includes also the docks (Rumex), the buckwheat, rhubarb, sea grape (Coccoloba), and several other genera.

POLYGONAL Po*lyg"o*nal, a.

Defn: Having many angles. Polygonal numbers, certain figurate numbers. See under Figurate.

POLYGONEUTIC Pol`y*go*neu"tic, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having two or more broods in a season.

POLYGONOMETRY Pol`y*go*nom"e*try, n. Etym: [Polygon + -metry.]

Defn: The doctrine of polygons; an extension of some of the principles of trigonometry to the case of polygons.

POLYGONOUS Po*lyg"o*nous, a.

Defn: Polygonal.

POLYGONUM Po*lyg"o*num, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants embracing a large number of species, including bistort, knotweed, smartweed, etc.

POLYGONY Po*lyg"o*ny, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Polygonum.

POLYGORDIUS Pol`y*gor"di*us, n. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Gordius.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of marine annelids, believed to be an ancient or ancestral type. It is remarkable for its simplicity of structure and want of parapodia. It is the type of the order Archiannelida, or Gymnotoma. See Loeven's larva.

POLYGRAM Pol"y*gram, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A figure consisting of many lines. [R.] Barlow.

POLYGRAPH Pol"y*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. polygraphe.]

1. An instrument for multiplying copies of a writing; a manifold writer; a copying machine.

2. In bibliography, a collection of different works, either by one or several authors. Brande & C.

POLYGRAPHIC; POLYGRAPHICAL Pol`y*graph"ic, Pol`y*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. polygraphique.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or employed in, polygraphy; as, a polygraphic instrument.

2. Done with a polygraph; as, a polygraphic copy.

POLYGRAPHY Po*lyg"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. polygraphie.]

1. Much writing; writing of many books. [Obs.] Fuller.

2. The art of writing in various ciphers, and of deciphering the same. [R.]

3. The art or practice of using a polygraph.

POLYGROOVED Pol"y*grooved`, a. Etym: [Poly- + groove.]

Defn: Having many grooves; as, a polygrooved rifle or gun (referring to the rifling).

POLYGYN Pol"y*gyn, n. Etym: [Cf. F. polygyne. See Polygyny.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the order Polygynia.

POLYGYNIA Pol`y*gyn"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polygyny.] (Bot.)

Defn: A Linnæan order of plants having many styles.

POLYGYNIAN; POLYGYNOUS Pol`y*gyn"i*an, Po*lyg"y*nous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having many styles; belonging to the order Polygynia.

POLYGYNIST Po*lyg"y*nist, n.

Defn: One who practices or advocates polygyny. H. Spenser.

POLYGYNY Po*lyg"y*ny, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

Defn: The state or practice of having several wives at the same time; marriage to several wives. H. Spenser.

POLYHALITE Pol`y*ha"lite, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A mineral usually occurring in fibrous masses, of a brick-red color, being tinged with iron, and consisting chiefly of the sulphates of lime, magnesia, and soda.

POLYHEDRAL; POLYHEDRICAL Pol`y*he"dral, Pol`y*hed"ric*al, a. Etym: [See Polyhedron.] (Geom.)

Defn: Having many sides, as a solid body. Polyhedral angle, an angle bounded by three or more plane angles having a common vertex.

POLYHEDRON Pol`y*he"dron, n.; pl. E. Polyhedrons., L. Polyhedra. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. polyèdre.]

1. (Geom.)

Defn: A body or solid contained by many sides or planes.

2. (Opt.)

Defn: A polyscope, or multiplying glass.

POLYHEDROUS Pol`y*he"drous, a.

Defn: Polyhedral.

POLYHISTOR Pol`y*his"tor, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: One versed in various learning. [R.]

POLYHYMNIA Pol`y*hym"ni*a, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Anc. Myth.)

Defn: The Muse of lyric poetry.

POLYIODIDE Pol`y*i"o*dide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A iodide having more than one atom of iodine in the molecule.

POLYLOGY Po*lyl"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Talkativeness. [R.]

POLYLOQUENT Po*lyl"o*quent, a. Etym: [Poly- + L. loquens, p. pr. of logui to speak.]

Defn: Garrulous; loquacious. [R.]

POLYMASTISM Pol`y*mas"tism, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The condition of having more than two mammæ, or breasts.

POLYMATHIC Pol`y*math"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. polymathique. See Polymathy.]

Defn: Pertaining to polymathy; acquainted with many branches of learning.

POLYMATHIST Po*lym"a*thist, n.

Defn: One versed in many sciences; a person of various learning.

POLYMATHY Po*lym"a*thy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning. Johnson.

POLYMENISCOUS Pol`y*me*nis"cous, a. Etym: [See Poly-, and Meniscus.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having numerous facets; -- said of the compound eyes of insects and crustaceans.

POLYMER Pol"y*mer, n. Etym: [See Polymeric.] (Chem.)

Defn: Any one of two or more substances related to each other by polymerism; specifically, a substance produced from another substance by chemical polymerization. [Formerly also written polymere.]

POLYMERIC Pol`y*mer"ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: Having the same percentage composition (that is, having the same elements united in the same proportion by weight), but different molecular weights; -- often used with with; thus, cyanic acid (CNOH), fulminic acid (C2N2O2H2), and cyanuric acid (C3N3O3H3), are polymeric with each other.

Note: The figures expressing the number of atoms of each element in a number of polymeric substances are respectively multiples and factors of each other, or have some simple common divisor. The relation may be merely a numerical one, as in the example given above, or a chemical one, as in the case of aldehyde, paraldehyde, and metaldehyde.

POLYMERISM Po*lym"er*ism, n. (Chem.) (a) The state, quality, or relation of two or more polymeric substances. (b) The act or process of forming polymers.

POLYMERIZATION Pol`y*mer`i*za"tion, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The act or process of changing to a polymeric form; the condition resulting from such change.

POLYMERIZE Pol"y*mer*ize, v. t. (Chem.)

Defn: To cause polymerization of; to produce polymers from; to increase the molecular weight of, without changing the atomic proportions; thus, certain acids polymerize aldehyde.

POLYMERIZE Pol"y*mer*ize, v. i. (Chem.)

Defn: To change into another substance having the same atomic proportions, but a higher molecular weight; to undergo polymerization; thus, aldehyde polymerizes in forming paraldehyde.

POLYMEROUS Po*lym"er*ous, a.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Having many parts or members in each set. Gray.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: Polymeric. [Obs.]

POLYMNIA Po*lym"ni*a, n.

Defn: See Polyhymnia.

POLYMNITE Pol"ym*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A stone marked with dendrites and black lines, and so disposed as to represent rivers, marshes, etc.

POLYMORPH Pol"y*morph, n. Etym: [Gr. polymorphe.] (Crystallog.)

Defn: A substance capable of crystallizing in several distinct forms; also, any one of these forms. Cf. Allomorph.

POLYMORPHIC Pol`y*mor"phic, a.

Defn: Polymorphous.

POLYMORPHISM Pol`y*mor"phism, n.

1. (Crystallog.)

Defn: Same as Pleomorphism.

2. (Biol.) (a) The capability of assuming different forms; the capability of widely varying in form. (b) Existence in many forms; the coexistence, in the same locality, of two or more distinct forms independent of sex, not connected by intermediate gradations, but produced from common parents.

POLYMORPHOSIS Pol`y*mor*pho"sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Morphosis.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The assumption of several structural forms without a corresponding difference in function; -- said of sponges, etc.

POLYMORPHOUS Pol`y*mor"phous, a.

1. Having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles; as, a polymorphous author. De Quincey.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: Having, or occurring in, several distinct forms; -- opposed to monomorphic.

POLYMORPHY Pol"y*mor`phy, n.

Defn: Existence in many forms; polymorphism.

POLY-MOUNTAIN Po`ly-moun"tain, n. (Bot.) (a) Same as Poly, n. (b) The closely related Teucrium montanum, formerly called Polium montanum, a plant of Southern Europe. (c) The Bartsia alpina, a low purple-flowered herb of Europe.

POLYMYODAE Pol`y*my"o*dæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polymyoid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Oscines.

POLYMYODOUS Pol`y*my"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Polymyoid.

POLYMYOID Po*lym"y*oid, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having numerous vocal muscles; of or pertaining to the Polymyodæ.

POLYNEME Pol"y*neme, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of tropical food fishes of the family Polynemidæ. They have several slender filaments, often very long, below the pectoral fin. Some of them yield isinglass of good quality. Called also threadfish.

POLYNEMOID Pol`y*ne"moid, a. Etym: [Polyneme + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the polynemes, or the family Polynemidæ.

POLYNESIAN Pol`y*ne"sian, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Polynesia (the islands of the eastern and central Pacific), or to the Polynesians.

POLYNESIANS Pol`y*ne"sians, n. pl.; sing. Polynesian. (Ethnol.)

Defn: The race of men native in Polynesia.

POLYNIA Po*lyn"i*a, n. Etym: [Russ. poluineia a warm place in water, i. e., a place which does not freeze.]

Defn: The open sea supposed to surround the north pole. Kane.

POLYNOMIAL Pol`y*no"mi*al, n. Etym: [Poly- + -nomial, as in monomial, binomial: cf. F. polynôme.] (Alg.)

Defn: An expression composed of two or more terms, connected by the signs plus or minus; as, a2 - 2ab + b2.

POLYNOMIAL Pol`y*no"mi*al, a.

1. Containing many names or terms; multinominal; as, the polynomial theorem.

2. Consisting of two or more words; having names consisting of two or more words; as, a polynomial name; polynomial nomenclature.

POLYNUCLEAR Pol`y*nu"cle*ar, a. Etym: [Poly- + nuclear.] (Biol.)

Defn: Containing many nuclei.

POLYNUCLEOLAR Pol`y*nu*cle"o*lar, a. Etym: [Poly- + nucleolar.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having more than one nucleolus.

POLYOMMATOUS Pol`y*om"ma*tous, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

Defn: Having many eyes.

POLYONOMOUS Pol`y*on"o*mous, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

Defn: Having many names or titles; polyonymous. Sir W. Jones.

POLYONOMY Pol`y*on"o*my, n. Etym: [Cf. Gr.

Defn: The use of a variety of names for the same object. G. S. Faber.

POLYONYM Pol"y*o*nym, n.

1. An object which has a variety of names.

2. A polynomial name or term.

POLYONYMOUS Pol`y*on"y*mous, a.

Defn: Polyonomous.

POLYOPTRON; POLYOPTRUM Pol`y*op"tron, Pol`y*op"trum, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Opt.)

Defn: A glass through which objects appear multiplied, but diminished in size. [R.]

POLYORAMA Pol`y*o*ra"ma, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

Defn: A view of many objects; also, a sort of panorama with dissolving views.

POLYP Pol"yp, n. Etym: [L. polypus, Gr. polype. See Poly- and Foot, and cf. Polypode, Polypody, Poulp.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the feeding or nutritive zooids of a hydroid or coral. (b) One of the Anthozoa. (c) pl.

Defn: Same as Anthozoa. See Anthozoa, Madreporaria, Hydroid. [Written also polype.] Fresh-water polyp, the hydra. -- Polyp stem (Zoöl.), that portion of the stem of a siphonophore which bears the polypites, or feeding zooids.

POLYPAROUS Po*lyp"a*rous, a. Etym: [Poly- + L. parere to produce.]

Defn: Producing or bearing a great number; bringing forth many.

POLYPARY Pol"y*pa*ry, n.; pl. Polyparies. Etym: [See Polyp.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Polypidom.

POLYPE Pol"ype, n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Polyp.

POLYPEAN Pol`y*pe"an, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a polyp, or polyps.

POLYPERYTHRIN Pol`y*pe*ryth"rin, n. Etym: [Polyp + Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A coloring matter found in many simple Anthozoa and some hydroids.

POLYPETALOUS Pol`y*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Poly- + petal.] (Bot.)

Defn: Consisting of, or having, several or many separate petals; as, a polypetalous corolla, flower, or plant. Martyn.

POLYPHAGOUS Po*lyph"a*gous, a. Etym: [L. polyphagus, Gr. polyphage.]

Defn: Eating, or subsisting on, many kinds of food; as, polyphagous animals.

POLYPHAGY Po*lyph""a*gy, n.

Defn: The practice or faculty of subsisting on many kinds of food.

POLYPHARMACY Pol`y*phar"ma*cy, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. polypharmacie.] (Med.) (a) The act or practice of prescribing too many medicines. (b) A prescription made up of many medicines or ingredients. Dunglison.

POLYPHASE Pol"y*phase, a. [Poly- + phase.] (Elec.)

Defn: Having or producing two or more phases; multiphase; as, a polyphase machine, a machine producing two or more pressure waves of electro-motive force, differing in phase; a polyphase current.

POLYPHASER Pol"y*phas`er, n. (Elec.)

Defn: A machine generating more than one pressure wave; a multiphaser.

POLYPHEMUS Pol`y*phe"mus, n. Etym: [L. Polyphemus the one-eyed Cyclops who was blinded by Ulysses.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A very large American moth (Telea polyphemus) belonging to the Silkworm family (Bombycidæ). Its larva, which is very large, bright green, with silvery tubercles, and with oblique white stripes on the sides, feeds on the oak, chestnut, willow, cherry, apple, and other trees. It produces a large amount of strong silk. Called also American silkworm.

POLYPHONE Pol"y*phone, n.

Defn: A character or vocal sign representing more than one sound, as read, which is pronounced red or rèd.

POLYPHONIC Pol`y*phon"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. polyphone.]

1. Having a multiplicity of sounds.

2. Characterized by polyphony; as, Assyrian polyphonic characters.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: Consisting of several tone series, or melodic parts, progressing simultaneously according to the laws of counterpoint; contrapuntal; as, a polyphonic composition; -- opposed to homophonic, or monodic.

POLYPHONISM Po*lyph"o*nism, n.

Defn: Polyphony.

POLYPHONIST Po*lyph"o*nist, n.

1. A proficient in the art of multiplying sounds; a ventriloquist.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: A master of polyphony; a contrapuntist.

POLYPHONOUS Po*lyph"o*nous, a.

Defn: Same as Polyphonic.

POLYPHONY Po*lyph"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr.

1. Multiplicity of sounds, as in the reverberations of an echo.

2. Plurality of sounds and articulations expressed by the same vocal sign.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: Composition in mutually related, equally important parts which share the melody among them; contrapuntal composition; -- opposed to homophony, in which the melody is given to one part only, the others filling out the harmony. See Counterpoint.

POLYPHORE Pol"y*phore, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A receptacle which bears many ovaries.

POLYPHOTAL; POLYPHOTE Pol`y*pho"tal, Pol"y*phote, a. [Poly- + Gr., , light.] (Elec.)

Defn: Pertaining to or designating arc lamps so constructed that more than one can be used on a single circuit.

POLYPHYLETIC Pol`y*phy*let"ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, descent from more than one root form, or from many different root forms; polygenetic; -- opposed to Ant: monophyletic.

POLYPHYLLOUS Po*lyph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Many-leaved; as, a polyphyllous calyx or perianth.

POLYPI Pol"y*pi, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Anthozoa.

POLYPIDE Pol"y*pide, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the ordinary zooids of the Bryozoa. [Spellt also polypid.]

POLYPIDOM Po*lyp"i*dom, n. Etym: [Polypus + L. domus house.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A coral, or corallum; also, one of the coral-like structure made by bryozoans and hydroids.

POLYPIER Po`ly`pier", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A polypidom.

POLYPIFERA Pol`y*pif"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Anthozoa.

POLYPIFEROUS Pol*y*pif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Polypus + -ferous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Bearing polyps, or polypites.

POLYPIPAROUS Pol`y*pip"a*rous, a. Etym: [Polypus + L. parere to produce.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Producing polyps.

POLYPITE Pol"y*pite, n.

1. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the feeding zooids, or polyps, of a coral, hydroid, or siphonophore; a hydranth. See Illust. of Campanularian. (b) Sometimes, the manubrium of a hydroid medusa.

2. (Paleon.)

Defn: A fossil coral.

POLYPLACOPHORA Pol`y*pla*coph"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Placophora.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Placophora.

POLYPLASTIC Pol`y*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Poly- + -plastic.] (Biol.)

Defn: Assuming, or having the power of assuming, many forms; as, a polyplastic element which does not preserve its original shape.

POLYPODE Pol`y*pode, n. Etym: [Cf. F. polypode. See Polypody.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Polypodium; polypody. [Written also polypod.]

POLYPODE Pol"y*pode, n. Etym: [Gr. polypode. See Polyp.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An animal having many feet; a myriapod.

POLYPODIUM Pol"y*po`di*um, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Polyp, and cf. 2d Polypode.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants of the order Filices or ferns. The fructifications are in uncovered roundish points, called sori, scattered over the inferior surface of the frond or leaf. There are numerous species.

POLYPODY Pol"y*po`dy, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Polypodium.

POLYPOID Pol"y*poid, a. Etym: [Polyp + -oid.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like a polyp; having the nature of a polyp, but lacking the tentacles or other parts.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Resembling a polypus in appearance; having a character like that of a polypus.

POLYPOMEDUSAE Pol`y*po*me*du"sæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polyp, and Medusa.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Hydrozoa.

POLYPOROUS Po*lyp"o*rous, a. Etym: [Poly- + porous.]

Defn: Having many pores. Wright.

POLYPORUS Po*lyp"o*rus, n.; pl. Polypori. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of fungi having the under surface full of minute pores; also, any fungus of this genus.

Note: Polyporus fomentarius was formerly dried and cut in slices for tinder, called amadou. P. betulinus is common in America, and forms very large thick white semicircular excrescences on birch trees. Several species of Polyporous are considered edible.

POLYPOUS Pol"y*pous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. polypeux. See Polyp.]

Defn: Of the nature of a polypus; having many feet or roots, like the polypus; affected with polypus.

POLYPRAGMATIC; POLYPRAGMATICAL Pol`y*prag*mat"ic, Pol`y*prag*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Poly- + pragmatic, -ical.]

Defn: Overbusy; officious. [R.] Heywood.

POLYPRAGMATY Pol`y*prag"ma*ty, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

Defn: The state of being overbusy. [R.]

POLYPROTODONTA Pol`y*pro`to*don"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of marsupials in which there are more fore incisor teeth in each jaw.

POLYPTEROIDEI Po*lyp`te*roi"de*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polypterus, and -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A suborder of existing ganoid fishes having numerous fins along the back. The bichir, or Polypterus, is the type. See Illust. under Crossopterygian.

POLYPTERUS Po*lyp`te*rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An African genus of ganoid fishes including the bichir.

POLYPTOTON Pol`yp*to"ton, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: A figure by which a word is repeated in different forms, cases, numbers, genders, etc., as in Tennyson's line, -- "My own heart's heart, and ownest own, farewell."

POLYPUS Pol"y*pus, n.; pl. E. Polypuses, L. Polypi. Etym: [L. See Polyp.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Polyp.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A tumor, usually with a narrow base, somewhat resembling a pear, -- found in the nose, uterus, etc., and produced by hypertrophy of some portion of the mucous membrane.

POLYRHIZOUS Pol`y*rhi"zous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having numerous roots, or rootlets.

POLYSCHEMATIST Pol`y*sche"ma*tist, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

Defn: Having, or existing in, many different forms or fashions; multiform.

POLYSCOPE Pol"y*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. polyscope.]

1. (Opt.)

Defn: A glass which makes a single object appear as many; a multiplying glass. Hutton.

2. (Med.)

Defn: An apparatus for affording a view of the different cavities of the body.

POLYSEPALOUS Pol`y*sep"al*ous, a. Etym: [Poly- + sepal.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the sepals separate from each other.

POLYSILICIC Pol`y*si*lic"ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + silicic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to compounds formed by the condensation of two or more molecules of silicic acid. Polysilicic acid (Chem.), any one of a series of acids formed by the condensation of two or more molecules of silicic acid, with elimination of water.

POLYSPAST Pol"y*spast, n. Etym: [L. polyspaston, fr. Gr. polyspaste.] (Surg.)

Defn: A machine consisting of many pulleys; specifically, an apparatus formerly used for reducing luxations.

POLYSPERMOUS Pol`y*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Containing many seeds; as, a polyspermous capsule or berry. Martyn.