Chapter LI: Bella (82)

2. The doorpost of a victualer's shop or inn, on which were chalked the scores of customers; hence, a score; a debt. [Obs.] When God sends coin I will discharge your post. S. Rowlands. From pillar to post. See under Pillar. -- Knight of the post. See under Knight. -- Post hanger (Mach.), a bearing for a revolving shaft, adapted to be fastened to a post. -- Post hole, a hole in the ground to set the foot of a post in. -- Post mill, a form of windmill so constructed that the whole fabric rests on a vertical axis firmly fastened to the ground, and capable of being turned as the direction of the wind varies. -- Post and stall (Coal Mining), a mode of working in which pillars of coal are left to support the roof of the mine.

POST Post, n. Etym: [F. poste, LL. posta station, post (where horses were kept), properly, a fixed or set place, fem. fr. L. positus placed, p. p. of ponere. See Position, and cf. Post a pillar.]

1. The place at which anything is stopped, placed, or fixed; a station. Specifically: (a) A station, or one of a series of stations, established for the refreshment and accommodation of travelers on some recognized route; as, a stage or railway post. (b) A military station; the place at which a soldier or a body of troops is stationed; also, the troops at such a station. (c) The piece of ground to which a sentinel's walk is limited.

2. A messenger who goes from station; an express; especially, one who is employed by the government to carry letters and parcels regularly from one place to another; a letter carrier; a postman. In certain places there be always fresh posts, to carry that further which is brought unto them by the other. Abp. Abbot. I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthless post. Shak.

3. An established conveyance for letters from one place or station to another; especially, the governmental system in any country for carrying and distributing letters and parcels; the post office; the mail; hence, the carriage by which the mail is transported. I send you the fair copy of the poem on dullness, which I should not care to hazard by the common post. Pope.

4. Haste or speed, like that of a messenger or mail carrier. [Obs.] "In post he came." Shak.

5. One who has charge of a station, especially of a postal station. [Obs.] He held office of postmaster, or, as it was then called, post, for several years. Palfrey.

6. A station, office, or position of service, trust, or emolument; as, the post of duty; the post of danger. The post of honor is a private station. Addison.

7. A size of printing and writing paper. See the Table under Paper. Post and pair, an old game at cards, in which each player a hand of three cards. B. Jonson. -- Post bag, a mail bag. -- Post bill, a bill of letters mailed by a postmaster. -- Post chaise, or Post coach, a carriage usually with four wheels, for the conveyance of travelers who travel post. Post day, a day on which the mall arrives or departs. -- Post hackney, a hired post horse. Sir H. Wotton. -- Post horn, a horn, or trumpet, carried and blown by a carrier of the public mail, or by a coachman. -- Post horse, a horse stationed, intended, or used for the post. -- Post hour, hour for posting letters. Dickens. -- Post office. (a) An office under governmental superintendence, where letters, papers, and other mailable matter, are received and distributed; a place appointed for attending to all business connected with the mail. (b) The governmental system for forwarding mail matter. -- Postoffice order. See Money order, under Money. -- Post road, or Post route, a road or way over which the mail is carried. -- Post town. (a) A town in which post horses are kept. (b) A town in which a post office is established by law. -- To ride post, to ride, as a carrier of dispatches, from place to place; hence, to ride rapidly, with as little delay as possible. -- To travel post, to travel, as a post does, by relays of horses, or by keeping one carriage to which fresh horses are attached at each stopping place.

POST Post, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Posted; p. pr. & vb. n. Posting.]

1. To attach to a post, a wall, or other usual place of affixing public notices; to placard; as, to post a notice; to post playbills.

Note: Formerly, a large post was erected before the sheriff's office, or in some public place, upon which legal notices were displayed. This way of advertisement has not entirely gone of use.

2. To hold up to public blame or reproach; to advertise opprobriously; to denounce by public proclamation; as, to post one for cowardice. On pain of being posted to your sorrow Fail not, at four, to meet me. Granville.

3. To enter (a name) on a list, as for service, promotion, or the like.

4. To assign to a station; to set; to place; as, to post a sentinel. "It might be to obtain a ship for a lieutenant, . . . or to get him posted." De Quincey.

5. (Bookkeeping)

Defn: To carry, as an account, from the journal to the ledger; as, to post an account; to transfer, as accounts, to the ledger. You have not posted your books these ten years. Arbuthnot.

6. To place in the care of the post; to mail; as, to post a letter.

7. To inform; to give the news to; to make (one) acquainted with the details of a subject; -- often with up. Thoroughly posted up in the politics and literature of the day. Lond. Sat. Rev. To post off, to put off; to delay. [Obs.] "Why did I, venturously, post off so great a business" Baxter. -- To post over, to hurry over. [Obs.] Fuller.

POST Post, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OF. poster. See 4th Post.]

1. To travel with post horses; figuratively, to travel in haste. "Post seedily to my lord your husband." Shak. And post o'er land and ocean without rest. Milton.

2. (Man.)

Defn: To rise and sink in the saddle, in accordance with the motion of the horse, esp. in trotting. [Eng.]

POST Post, adv.

Defn: With post horses; hence, in haste; as, to travel post.

POST-ABDOMEN Post`-ab*do"men, n. Etym: [Pref. post- + abdomen.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: That part of a crustacean behind the cephalothorax; -- more commonly called abdomen.

POSTABLE Post"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being carried by, or as by, post. [Obs.] W. Montagu.

POSTACT Post"act`, n.

Defn: An act done afterward.

POSTAGE Post"age, n.

Defn: The price established by law to be paid for the conveyance of a letter or other mailable matter by a public post. Postage stamp, a government stamp required to be put upon articles sent by mail in payment of the postage, esp. an adhesive stamp issued and sold for that purpose.

POSTAL Post"al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. postal.]

Defn: Belonging to the post office or mail service; as, postal arrangements; postal authorities. Postal card, or Post card, a card sold by the government for transmission through the mails, at a lower rate of postage than a sealed letter. The message is written on one side of the card, and the direction on the other. -- Postal money order. See Money order, under Money. -- Postal note, an order payable to bearer, for a sum of money (in the United States less than five dollars under existing law), issued from one post office and payable at another specified office. -- Postal Union, a union for postal purposes entered into by the most important powers, or governments, which have agreed to transport mail matter through their several territories at a stipulated rate.

POSTANAL Post*a"nal, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + anal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Situated behind, or posterior to, the anus.

POSTAXIAL Post*ax"i*al, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + axial.] (Anat.)

Defn: Situated behind any transverse axis in the body of an animal; caudal; posterior; especially, behind, or on the caudal or posterior (that is, ulnar or fibular) side of, the axis of a vertebrate limb.

POSTBOY Post"boy`, n.

1. One who rides post horses; a position; a courier.

2. A boy who carries letters from the post.

POST-CAPTAIN Post"-cap`tain, n.

Defn: A captain of a war vessel whose name appeared, or was "posted," in the seniority list of the British navy, as distinguished from a commander whose name was not so posted. The term was also used in the United States navy; but no such commission as post-captain was ever recognized in either service, and the term has fallen into disuse.

POSTCAVA Post"ca`va, n.; pl. Postcavæ . Etym: [NL. See Post-, and Cave, n.] (Anat.)

Defn: The inferior vena cava. -- Post"ca`val, a. B. G. Wilder.

POSTCLAVICLE Post*clav"i*cle, n. Etym: [Pref. post- + clavicle.] (Anat.)

Defn: A bone in the pectoral girdle of many fishes projecting backward from the clavicle. -- Post`*cla*vic"u*lar, a.

POSTCOMMISSURE Post*com"mis*sure, n. Etym: [Pref. post- + commisure.] (Anat.)

Defn: A transverse commisure in the posterior part of the roof of the third ventricle of the brain; the posterior cerebral commisure. B. G. Wilder.

POSTCOMMUNION Post`com*mun"ion, n. Etym: [Pref. post- + communion.]

1. (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.)

Defn: The concluding portion of the communion service.

2. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A prayer or prayers which the priest says at Mass, after the ablutions.

POSTCORNU Post*cor"nu, n.; pl. Postcornua. Etym: [NL. See Post-, and Cornu.] (Anat.)

Defn: The posterior horn of each lateral ventricle of the brain. B. G. Wilder.

POSTDATE Post"date`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Postdated; p. pr. & vb. n. Postdating.] Etym: [Pref. post- + date.]

1. To date after the real time; as, to postdate a contract, that is, to date it later than the time when it was in fact made.

2. To affix a date to after the event.

POSTDATE Post"date`, a.

Defn: Made or done after the date assigned. Of these [predictions] some were postdate; cunningly made after the thing came to pass. Fuller.

POSTDATE Post"date`, n.

Defn: A date put to a bill of exchange or other paper, later than that when it was actually made.

POSTDILUVIAL; POSTDILUVIAN Post`di*lu"vi*al, Post`di*lu"vi*an, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + diluvial, diluvian.]

Defn: Being or happening after the flood in Noah's days.

POSTDILUVIAN Post`di*lu"vi*an, n.

Defn: One who lived after the flood.

POST-DISSEIZIN Post"-dis*sei"zin, n. Etym: [Pref. post- + disseizin.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A subsequent disseizin committed by one of lands which the disseizee had before recovered of the same disseizor; a writ founded on such subsequent disseizin, now abolished. Burrill. Tomlins.

POST-DISSEIZOR Post`-dis*sei"zor, n. Etym: [Pref. post- + disseizor.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A person who disseizes another of lands which the disseizee had before recovered of the same disseizor. Blackstone.

POSTEA Post"e*a, n. Etym: [L., after these or those (things), afterward.] (Law)

Defn: The return of the judge before whom a cause was tried, after a verdict, of what was done in the cause, which is indorsed on the nisi prius record. Wharton.

POSTEL Pos"tel, n.

Defn: Apostle. [Obs.] Chaucer.

POSTENCEPHALON Post`en*ceph"a*lon, n. (Anat.)

Defn: The metencephalon.

POSTENTRY Post"en*try, n. Etym: [Pref. post- + entry.]

1. A second or subsequent, at the customhouse, of goods which had been omitted by mistake.

2. (Bookkeeping)

Defn: An additional or subsequent entry.

POSTER Post"er, n.

1. A large bill or placard intended to be posted in public places.

2. One who posts bills; a billposter.

POSTER Post"er, n.

1. One who posts, or travels expeditiously; a courier. "Posters of the sea and land." Shak.

2. A post horse. "Posters at full gallop." C. Lever.

POSTERIOR Pos*te"ri*or, a. Etym: [L. posterior, compar. of posterus coming after, from post after. See Post-.]

1. Later in time; hence, later in the order of proceeding or moving; coming after; -- opposed to prior. Hesiod was posterior to Homer. Broome.

2. Situated behind; hinder; -- opposed to anterior.

3. (Anat.)

Defn: At or toward the caudal extremity; caudal; -- in human anatomy often used for dorsal.

4. (Bot.)

Defn: On the side next the axis of inflorescence; -- said of an axillary flower. Gray.

POSTERIORITY Pos*te`ri*or"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. postériorité.]

Defn: The state of being later or subsequent; as, posteriority of time, or of an event; -- opposed to priority.

POSTERIORLY Pos*te"ri*or*ly, adv.

Defn: Subsequently in time; also, behind in position.

POSTERIORS Pos*te"ri*ors, n. pl.

Defn: The hinder parts, as of an animal's body. Swift.

POSTERITY Pos*ter"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. posteritas: cf. F. postérité. See Posterior.]

1. The race that proceeds from a progenitor; offspring to the furthest generation; the aggregate number of persons who are descended from an ancestor of a generation; descendants; -- contrasted with ancestry; as, the posterity of Abraham. If [the crown] should not stand in thy posterity. Shak.

2. Succeeding generations; future times. Shak. Their names shall be transmitted to posterity. Shak. Their names shall be transmitted to posterity. Smalridge.

POSTERN Pos"tern, n. Etym: [OF. posterne, posterle, F. poterne, fr. L. posterula, fr. posterus coming after. See Posterior.]

1. Originally, a back door or gate; a private entrance; hence, any small door or gate. He by a privy postern took his flight. Spenser. Out at the postern, by the abbey wall. Shak.

2. (Fort.)

Defn: A subterraneous passage communicating between the parade and the main ditch, or between the ditches and the interior of the outworks. Mahan.

POSTERN Pos"tern, a.

Defn: Back; being behind; private. "The postern door." Dryden.

POSTERO Pos"te*ro

Defn: - (posterior, back; as, postero-inferior, situated back and below; postero-lateral, situated back and at the side.

POSTEXILIAN; POSTEXILIC Post`ex*il"i*an, Post`ex*il"ic, a.

Defn: After the exile; specif. (Jewish Hist.),

Defn: belonging to a period subsequent to the Babylonian captivity or exile (b. c. 597 or about 586-about 537).

POSTEXIST Post`ex*ist", v. i. Etym: [Pref. post- + exist.]

Defn: To exist after; to live subsequently. [Obs. or R.]

POSTEXISTENCE Post`ex*ist"ence, n.

Defn: Subsequent existence.

POSTEXISTENT Post`ex*ist"ent, a.

Defn: Existing or living after. [R.] "Postexistent atoms." Cudworth.

POSTFACT Post"fact`, a. Etym: [See Post-, and Fact.]

Defn: Relating to a fact that occurs after another.

POSTFACT Post"fact`, n.

Defn: A fact that occurs after another. "Confirmed upon the postfact." Fuller.

POSTFACTUM Post`fac"tum, n. Etym: [LL.] (Rom. & Eng. Law)

Defn: Same as Postfact.

POST-FINE Post"-fine`, n. Etym: [Pref. post- + fine.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A duty paid to the king by the cognizee in a fine of lands, when the same was fully passed; -- called also the king's silver.

POSTFIX Post"fix, n.; pl. Postfixes. Etym: [Pref. post- + -fix, as in prefix: cf. F. postfixe.] (Gram.)

Defn: A letter, syllable, or word, added to the end of another word; a suffix. Parkhurst.

POSTFIX Post*fix", v. t.

Defn: To annex; specifically (Gram.), to add or annex, as a letter, syllable, or word, to the end of another or principal word; to suffix. Parkhurst.

POSTFRONTAL Post*fron"tal, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + frontal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Situated behind the frontal bone or the frontal region of the skull; -- applied especially to a bone back of and below the frontal in many animals. -- n.

Defn: A postfrontal bone.

POSTFURCA Post*fur"ca, n.; pl. Postfurcæ. Etym: [NL., fr. post behind + furca a fork.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the internal thoracic processes of the sternum of an insect.

POSTGENITURE Post*gen"i*ture, n. Etym: [Pref. post- + L. genitura birth, geniture.]

Defn: The condition of being born after another in the same family; - - distinguished from primogeniture. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

POSTGLACIAL Post*gla"cial, a. (Geol.) (a) Formed or occurring after the last glacial epoch of the Pleistocene period, or at a locality within the area of Pleistocene glaciation after the final disappearance of the glacier from the locality. (b) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an epoch after the last Glacial and before the Terrace epoch. [R.]

POSTGLENOID Post*gle"noid, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + glenoid.] (Anat.)

Defn: Situated behind the glenoid fossa of the temporal bone.

POSTGRADUATE Post*grad"u*ate, a. [Pref. post-+ graduate.]

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the studies pursued after graduation, esp., after receiving the bachelor's degree at a college; graduate. -- n.

Defn: A student who pursues such studies.

Most careful writers consider the word graduate to be the proper word to use in this sense.

POSTHASTE Post`haste", n.

Defn: Haste or speed in traveling, like that of a post or courier. Shak.

POSTHASTE Post`haste, adv.

Defn: With speed or expedition; as, he traveled posthaste; to send posthaste. Shak.

POSTHETOMY Pos*thet"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Circumcision. Dunglison.

POSTHOUSE Post"house`, n.

1. A house established for the convenience of the post, where relays of horses can be obtained.

2. A house for distributing the malls; a post office.

POSTHUME; POSTHUMED Post"hume, Post"humed, a.

Defn: Posthumos. [Obs.] I. Watts. Fuller.

POSTHUMOUS Post"hu*mous, a. Etym: [L. posthumus, postumus, properly, last; hence, late born (applied to children born after the father's death, or after he had made his will), superl. of posterus, posterior. See Posterior.]

1. Born after the death of the father, or taken from the dead body of the mother; as, a posthumous son or daughter.

2. Published after the death of the author; as, posthumous works; a posthumous edition.

3. Being or continuing after one's death; as, a posthumous reputation. Addison. Sir T. Browne.

POSTHUMOUSLY Post"hu*mous*ly, adv.

Defn: It a posthumous manner; after one's decease.

POSTIC Pos"tic, a. Etym: [L. posticus, fr. post after, behind.]

Defn: Backward. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

POSTICOUS Pos"ti*cous, a. Etym: [L. posticus.] (Bot.) (a) Posterior. (b) Situated on the outer side of a filament; -- said of an extrorse anther.

POSTIL Pos"til, n. Etym: [F. postille, apostille, LL. postilla, probably from L. post illa (sc. verba) after those (words). Cf. Apostil.]

1. Originally, an explanatory note in the margin of the Bible, so called because written after the text; hence, a marginal note; a comment. Langton also made postils upon the whole Bible. Foxe.

2. (R. C. Ch. & Luth. Ch.)

Defn: A short homily or commentary on a passage of Scripture; as, the first postils were composed by order of Charlemagne.

POSTIL Pos"til, v. t. Etym: [Cf. LL. postillare.]

Defn: To write marginal or explanatory notes on; to gloss. Bacon.

POSTIL Pos"til, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Postiled (Postilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Postiling or Postilling.]

Defn: To write postils, or marginal notes; to comment; to postillate. Postiling and allegorizing on Scripture. J. H. Newman.

POSTILER Pos"til*er, n. Etym: [Written also postiller.]

Defn: One who writers marginal notes; one who illustrates the text of a book by notes in the margin. Sir T. Browne.

POSTILION Pos*til"ion, n. Etym: [F. postillon, It. postiglione, fr. posta post. See Post a postman.]

Defn: One who rides and guides the first pair of horses of a coach or post chaise; also, one who rides one of the horses when one pair only is used. [Written also postillion.]

POSTILLATE Pos"til*late, v. t. Etym: [LL. postillatus, p. p. of postillare.]

Defn: To explain by marginal notes; to postil. Tracts . . . postillated by his own hand. C. Knight.

POSTILLATE Pos"til*late, v. i.

1. To write postils; to comment.

2. To preach by expounding Scripture verse by verse, in regular order.

POSTILLATION Pos`til*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. postillatio.]

Defn: The act of postillating; exposition of Scripture in preaching.

POSTILLATOR Pos"til*la`tor, n. Etym: [LL.]

Defn: One who postillates; one who expounds the Scriptures verse by verse.

POSTILLER Post"il*ler, n.

Defn: See Postiler.

POST-IMPRESSIONISM Post`-im*pres"sion*ism, n. (Painting)

Defn: In the broadest sense, the theory or practice of any of several groups of recent painters, or of these groups taken collectively, whose work and theories have in common a tendency to reaction against the scientific and naturalistic character of impressionism and neo- impressionism. In a strict sense the term post-impressionism is used to denote the effort at self-expression, rather than representation, shown in the work of Cézanne, Matisse, etc.; but it is more broadly used to include cubism, the theory or practice of a movement in both painting and sculpture which lays stress upon volume as the important attribute of objects and attempts its expression by the use of geometrical figures or solids only; and futurism, a theory or practice which attempts to place the observer within the picture and to represent simultaneously a number of consecutive movements and impressions. In practice these theories and methods of the post- impressionists change with great rapidity and shade into one another, so that a picture may be both cubist and futurist in character. They tend to, and sometimes reach, a condition in which both representation and traditional decoration are entirely abolished and a work of art becomes a purely subjective expression in an arbitrary and personal language.

POSTING Post"ing, n.

1. The act of traveling post.

2. (Bookkeeping)

Defn: The act of transferring an account, as from the journal to the ledger. Posting house, a post house.

POSTLIMINIAR Post`li*min"i*ar, a. Etym: [See Postliminium.]

Defn: Contrived, done, or existing subsequently. "Postliminious after applications of them to their purposes." South.

POSTLIMINIARY Post`li*min"i*a*ry, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or involving, the right of postliminium.

POSTLIMINIUM; POSTLIMINY Post`li*min"i*um, Post*lim"i*ny, n. Etym: [L. postliminium, post after + limen, liminis, a threshold.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: The return to his own country, and his former privileges, of a person who had gone to sojourn in a foreign country, or had been banished, or taken by an enemy. Burrill.

2. (Internat. Law)

Defn: The right by virtue of which persons and things taken by an enemy in war are restored to their former state when coming again under the power of the nation to which they belonged. Kent.

POSTLUDE Post"lude, n. Etym: [Pref. post- + -lude, as in prelude.] (Med.)

Defn: A voluntary at the end of a service.

POSTMAN Post"man, n.; pl. Postmen (.

1. A post or courier; a letter carrier.

2. (Eng. Law)

Defn: One of the two most experienced barristers in the Court of Exchequer, who have precedence in motions; -- so called from the place where he sits. The other of the two is called the tubman. Whishaw.

POSTMARK Post"mark`, n.

Defn: The mark, or stamp, of a post office on a letter, giving the place and date of mailing or of arrival.

POSTMARK Post"mark`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Postmarked; p. pr. & vb. n. Postmarking.]

Defn: To mark with a post-office stamp; as, to postmark a letter or parcel.

POSTMASTER Post"mas`ter, n.

1. One who has charge of a station for the accommodation of travelers; one who supplies post horses.

2. One who has charge of a post office, and the distribution and forwarding of mails.

POSTMASTER-GENERAL Post"mas`ter-gen"er*al, n.; pl. Postmasters-general.

Defn: The chief officer of the post-office department of a government. In the United States the postmaster-general is a member of the cabinet.

POSTMASTERSHIP Post"mas`ter*ship, n.

Defn: The office of postmaster.

POSTMERIDIAN Post`me*rid"i*an, a. Etym: [L. postmeridianus; post after + meridianus. See Meridian.]

1. Coming after the sun has passed the meridian; being in, or belonging to, the afternoon. (Abbrev. P. M.)

2. Fig., belonging to the after portion of life; late. [R.]

POST-MORTEM Post-mor"tem, a. Etym: [L., after death.]

Defn: After death; as, post-mortem rigidity. Post-mortem examination (Med.), an examination of the body made after the death of the patient; an autopsy.

POSTNARES Post*na"res, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Post-, and Nares.] (Anat.)

Defn: The posterior nares. See Nares.

POSTNATAL Post*na"tal, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + natal.]

Defn: After birth; subsequent to birth; as, postnatal infanticide; postnatal diseases.

POSTNATE Post"nate, a. Etym: [LL. postnatus second or subsequently born; L. post after + natus born.]

Defn: Subsequent. "The graces and gifts of the spirit are postnate." [Archaic] Jer. Taylor.

POST NOTE Post" note`. (Com.)

Defn: A note issued by a bank, payable at some future specified time, as distinguished from a note payable on demand. Burrill.

POSTNUPTIAL Post*nup"tial, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + nuptial.]

Defn: Being or happening after marriage; as, a postnuptial settlement on a wife. Kent.

POST-OBIT; POST-OBIT BOND Post-o"bit, n., or; Post-o"bit bond`. Etym: [Pref. post- + obit.] (Law)

Defn: A bond in which the obligor, in consideration of having received a certain sum of money, binds himself to pay a larger sum, on unusual interest, on the death of some specified individual from whom he has expectations. Bouvier.

POST-OBIT; POST-OBIT BOND Post-o"bit, n., or Post-o"bit bond`. [Pref. post- + obit.] (Law)

Defn: A bond in which the obligor, in consideration of having received a certain sum of money, binds himself to pay a larger sum, on unusual interest, on the death of some specified individual from whom he has expectations. Bouvier.

POSTOBLONGATA Post*ob`lon*ga"ta, n. Etym: [NL. See Post-, and Oblongata.] (Anat.)

Defn: The posterior part of the medulla oblongata. B. G. Wilder.

POSTOCULAR Post*oc"u*lar, a. & n. Etym: [Pref. post- + ocular.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Postorbital.

POST OFFICE Post" of`fice, n.

Defn: See under 4th Post.

POSTORAL Post*o"ral, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + oral.] (Anat.)

Defn: Situated behind, or posterior to, the mouth.

POSTORBITAL Post*or"bit*al, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + orbital.] (Anat. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Situated behind the orbit; as, the postorbital scales of some fishes and reptiles. -- n.

Defn: A postorbital bone or scale.

POSTPAID Post"paid`, a.

Defn: Having the postage prepaid, as a letter.

POSTPALATINE Post*pal"a*tine, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + palatine.] (Anat.)

Defn: Situated behind the palate, or behind the palatine bones.

POSTPLIOCENE Post*pli"o*cene, a. (Geol.) Etym: [Pref. post- + pliocene.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the period immediately following the Pliocene; Pleistocene. Also used as a noun. See Quaternary.

POSTPONE Post*pone", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Postponed; p. pr. & vb. n. Postponing.] Etym: [L. postponere, postpositum; post after + ponere to place, put. See Post-, and Position.]

1. To defer to a future or later time; to put off; also, to cause to be deferred or put off; to delay; to adjourn; as, to postpone the consideration of a bill to the following day, or indefinitely. His praise postponed, and never to be paid. Cowper.

2. To place after, behind, or below something, in respect to precedence, preference, value, or importance. All other considerations should give way and be postponed to this. Locke.

Syn. -- To adjourn; defer; delay; procrastinate.

POSTPONEMENT Post*pone"ment, n.

Defn: The act of postponing; a deferring, or putting off, to a future time; a temporary delay. Macaulay.

POSTPONENCE Post*pon"ence, n. Etym: [From L. postponens, p. pr.]

Defn: The act of postponing, in sense 2. [Obs.] Johnson.

POSTPONER Post*pon"er, n.

Defn: One who postpones.

POSTPOSE Post*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Postposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Postposing.] Etym: [F. postposer. See Post-, and Pose, v. t.]

Defn: To postpone. [Obs.] Fuller.

POSTPOSIT Post*pos"it, v. t. Etym: [L. postpositus, p. p. See Postpone.]

Defn: To postpone. [Obs.] Feltham.

POSTPOSITION Post`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. postposition. See Postpone.]

1. The act of placing after, or the state of being placed after. "The postposition of the nominative case to the verb." Mede.

2. A word or particle placed after, or at the end of, another word; - - distinguished from preposition.

POSTPOSITIONAL Post`po*si"tion*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to postposition.

POSTPOSITIVE Post*pos"i*tive, a. Etym: [See Postpone.]

Defn: Placed after another word; as, a postpositive conjunction; a postpositive letter. -- Post*pos"i*tive*ly, adv.

POSTPRANDIAL Post*pran"di*al, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + prandial.]

Defn: Happening, or done, after dinner; after-dinner; as, postprandial speeches.

POSTREMOGENITURE Pos*tre`mo*gen"i*ture, n. Etym: [L. postremus last + genitura birth, geniture.]

Defn: The right of the youngest born. Mozley & W.

POSTREMOTE Post`re*mote", a. Etym: [Pref. post- + remote.]

Defn: More remote in subsequent time or order.

POSTRIDER Post"rid`er, n.

Defn: One who rides over a post road to carry the mails. Bancroft.

POSTSCAPULA Post*scap"u*la, n. Etym: [NL. See Post-, and Scapula.] (Anat.)

Defn: The part of the scapula behind or below the spine, or mesoscapula.

POSTSCAPULAR Post*scap"u*lar, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the postscapula; infraspinous.

POSTSCENIUM Post*sce"ni*um, n. Etym: [L., fr. post + scena a scene.]

Defn: The part of a theater behind the scenes; the back part of the stage of a theater.

POSTSCRIBE Post*scribe", v. t. Etym: [L. postscribere. See Postscript.]

Defn: To make a postscript. [R.] T. Adams.

POSTSCRIPT Post"script, n. Etym: [L. postscriptus, (assumed) p. p. of postscribere to write after; post after + scribere to write: cf. F. postscriptum. See Post-, and Scribe.]

Defn: A paragraph added to a letter after it is concluded and signed by the writer; an addition made to a book or composition after the main body of the work has been finished, containing something omitted, or something new occurring to the writer. [Abbrev. P. S.]

POSTSCRIPTED Post"script*ed, a.

Defn: Having a postscript; added in a postscript. [R.] J. Q. Adams.

POSTSCUTELLUM Post`scu*tel"lum, n. Etym: [NL. See Post-, and Scutellum.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The hindermost dorsal piece of a thoracic somite of an insect; the plate behind the scutellum.

POSTSPHENOID Post*sphe"noid, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + sphenoid.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the posterior part of the sphenoid bone.

POST-TEMPORAL Post-tem"po*ral, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + temporal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Situated back of the temporal bone or the temporal region of the skull; -- applied especially to a bone which usually connects the supraclavicle with the skull in the pectoral arch of fishes. -- n.

Defn: A post-temporal bone.

POSTTERTIARY Post*ter"ti*a*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + tertiary.] (Geol.)

Defn: Following, or more recent than, the Tertiary; Quaternary.

POST-TRAGUS Post"-tra`gus, n. Etym: [NL. See Post-, and Tragus.] (Anat.)

Defn: A ridge within and behind the tragus in the ear of some animals.

POST-TYMPANIC Post`-tym*pan"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. post- + tympanic.] (Anat.)

Defn: Situated behind the tympanum, or in the skull, behind the auditory meatus.

POSTULANT Pos"tu*lant, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. postulans, p. pr. of postulare. See Postulate.]

Defn: One who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate.

POSTULATE Pos"tu*late, n. Etym: [L. postulatum a demand, request, prop. p. p. of postulare to demand, prob. a dim. of poscere to demand, prob. for porcscere; akin to G. forschen to search, investigate, Skr. prach to ask, and L. precari to pray: cf. F. postulat. See Pray.]

1. Something demanded or asserted; especially, a position or supposition assumed without proof, or one which is considered as self-evident; a truth to which assent may be demanded or challenged, without argument or evidence.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: The enunciation of a self-evident problem, in distinction from an axiom, which is the enunciation of a self-evident theorem. The distinction between a postulate and an axiom lies in this, -- that the latter is admitted to be self-evident, while the former may be agreed upon between two reasoners, and admitted by both, but not as proposition which it would be impossible to deny. Eng. Cyc.

POSTULATE Pos"tu*late, a.

Defn: Postulated. [Obs.] Hudibras.

POSTULATE Pos"tu*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Postulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Postulating.]

1. To beg, or assume without proof; as, to postulate conclusions.

2. To take without express consent; to assume. The Byzantine emperors appear to have . . . postulated a sort of paramount supremacy over this nation. W. Tooke.

3. To invite earnestly; to solicit. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

POSTULATED Pos"tu*la`ted, a.

Defn: Assumed without proof; as, a postulated inference. Sir T. Browne.

POSTULATION Pos`tu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. postulatio: cf. F. postulation.]

Defn: The act of postulating, or that which is postulated; assumption; solicitation; suit; cause.

POSTULATORY Pos"tu*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. postulatorius.]

Defn: Of the nature of a postulate. Sir T. Browne.

POSTULATUM Pos`tu*la"tum, n.; pl. Postulata. Etym: [L. See Postulate, n.]

Defn: A postulate. Addison.

POSTUMOUS Pos"tu*mous, a.

Defn: See Posthumous. [R.]

POSTURAL Pos"tur*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to posture.

POSTURE Pos"ture, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. positura, fr. ponere, positum, to place. See Position.]

1. The position of the body; the situation or disposition of the several parts of the body with respect to each other, or for a particular purpose; especially (Fine Arts), the position of a figure with regard to the several principal members by which action is expressed; attitude. Atalanta, the posture of whose limbs was so lively expressed . . . one would have sworn the very picture had run. Sir P. Sidney. In most strange postures We have seen him set himself. Shak. The posture of a poetic figure is a description of his heroes in the performance of such or such an action. Dryden.

2. Place; position; situation. [Obs.] Milton. His [man's] noblest posture and station in this world. Sir M. Hale.

3. State or condition, whether of external circumstances, or of internal feeling and will; disposition; mood; as, a posture of defense; the posture of affairs. The several postures of his devout soul. Atterbury.

Syn. -- Attitude; position. See Attitude.

POSTURE Pos"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Postured; p. pr. & vb. n. Posturing.]

Defn: To place in a particular position or attitude; to dispose the parts of, with reference to a particular purpose; as, to posture one's self; to posture a model. Howell.

POSTURE Pos"ture, v. i.

1. To assume a particular posture or attitude; to contort the body into artificial attitudes, as an acrobat or contortionist; also, to pose.

2. Fig.: To assume a character; as, to posture as a saint.

POSTURER Pos`tur*er, n.

Defn: One who postures.

POSTZYGAPOPHYSIS Post*zyg`a*poph"y*sis, n.; pl. Postzygapophyses. Etym: [NL. See Post- , and Zygapophysis.] (Anat.)

Defn: A posterior zygapophysis.

POSY Po"sy, n.; pl. Posies. Etym: [Contr. fr. poesy.]

1. A brief poetical sentiment; hence, any brief sentiment, motto, or legend; especially, one inscribed on a ring. "The posy of a ring." Shak.

2. Etym: [Probably so called from the use of flowers as having an enigmatical significance. Wedgwood.]

Defn: A flower; a bouquet; a nosegay. "Bridegroom's posies." Spenser. We make a difference between suffering thistles to grow among us, and wearing them for posies. Swift.

POT Pot, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. pott, D. pot, Dan. potte, Sw. potta, Icel. pottr, F. pot; of unknown origin.]

1. A metallic or earthen vessel, appropriated to any of a great variety of uses, as for boiling meat or vegetables, for holding liquids, for plants, etc.; as, a quart pot; a flower pot; a bean pot.

2. An earthen or pewter cup for liquors; a mug.

3. The quantity contained in a pot; a potful; as, a pot of ale. "Give her a pot and a cake." De Foe.

4. A metal or earthenware extension of a flue above the top of a chimney; a chimney pot.

5. A crucible; as, a graphite pot; a melting pot.

6. A wicker vessel for catching fish, eels, etc.

7. A perforated cask for draining sugar. Knight.

8. A size of paper. See Pott. Jack pot. See under 2d Jack. -- Pot cheese, cottage cheese. See under Cottage. -- Pot companion, a companion in drinking. -- Pot hanger, a pothook. -- Pot herb, any plant, the leaves or stems of which are boiled for food, as spinach, lamb's-quarters, purslane, and many others. -- Pot hunter, one who kills anything and everything that will help to fill has bag; also, a hunter who shoots game for the table or for the market. -- Pot metal. (a) The metal from which iron pots are made, different from common pig iron. (b) An alloy of copper with lead used for making large vessels for various purposes in the arts. Ure. (c) A kind of stained glass, the colors of which are incorporated with the melted glass in the pot. Knight. -- Pot plant (Bot.), either of the trees which bear the monkey-pot. -- Pot wheel (Hydraul.), a noria. -- To go to pot, to go to destruction; to come to an end of usefulness; to become refuse. [Colloq.] Dryden. J. G. Saxe.

POT Pot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Potted; p. pr. & vb. n. Potting.]

Defn: To place or inclose in pots; as: (a) To preserve seasoned in pots. "Potted fowl and fish." Dryden. (b) To set out or cover in pots; as, potted plants or bulbs. (c) To drain; as, to pot sugar, by taking it from the cooler, and placing it in hogsheads, etc., having perforated heads, through which the molasses drains off. B. Edwards. (d) (Billiards) To pocket.

POT Pot, v. i.

Defn: To tipple; to drink. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] It is less labor to plow than to pot it. Feltham.

POTABLE Po"ta*ble, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. potabilis, fr. potare to drink; akin to Gr. po`tos a drinking, po`sis a drink, Skr. pa to drink, OIr. ibim I drink. Cf. Poison, Bib, Imbibe.]

Defn: Fit to be drunk; drinkable. "Water fresh and potable." Bacon. -- n.

Defn: A potable liquid; a beverage. "Useful in potables." J. Philips.

POTABLENESS Po"ta*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being drinkable.

POTAGE Pot"age (; 48), n.

Defn: See Pottage.

POTAGER Pot"a*ger, n. Etym: [F. fr. potage soup, porridge. See Pottage.]

Defn: A porringer. [Obs.] Grew.

POTAGRO Po*tag"ro, n.

Defn: See Potargo.

POTALE Pot"ale`, n.

Defn: The refuse from a grain distillery, used to fatten swine.

POTAMIAN Po*ta"mi*an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A river tortoise; one of a group of tortoises (Potamites, or Trionychoidea) having a soft shell, webbed feet, and a sharp beak. See Trionyx.

POTAMOGRAPHY Pot`a*mog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]

Defn: An account or description of rivers; potamology.

POTAMOLOGY Pot`a*mol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: A scientific account or discussion of rivers; a treatise on rivers; potamography.

POTAMOSPONGIAE Pot`a*mo*spon"gi*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The fresh-water sponges. See Spongilla.

POTANCE Po"tance, n. Etym: [F. potence. See Potence, Potency.] (Watch Making)

Defn: The stud in which the bearing for the lower pivot of the verge is made.

POTARGO Po*tar"go, n. Etym: [Cf. Botargo.]

Defn: A kind of sauce or pickle. King.

POTASH Pot"ash`, n. Etym: [Pot + ash.] (Chem.) (a) The hydroxide of potassium hydrate, a hard white brittle substance, KOH, having strong caustic and alkaline properties; -- hence called also caustic potash. (b) The impure potassium carbonate obtained by leaching wood ashes, either as a strong solution (lye), or as a white crystalline (pearlash).

POTASHES Pot"ash`es, n. pl. (Chem.)

Defn: Potash. [Obs.]

POTASSA Po*tas"sa, n. Etym: [NL., fr. E. potash.] (Chem.) (a) Potassium oxide. [Obs.] (b) Potassium hydroxide, commonly called caustic potash.

POTASSAMIDE Pot`ass*am"ide, n. Etym: [Potassium + amide.] (Chem.)

Defn: A yellowish brown substance obtained by heating potassium in ammonia.

POTASSIC Po*tas"sic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, potassium.

POTASSIUM Po*tas"si*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Potassa, Potash.] (Chem.)

Defn: An Alkali element, occurring abundantly but always combined, as in the chloride, sulphate, carbonate, or silicate, in the minerals sylvite, kainite, orthoclase, muscovite, etc. Atomic weight 39.0. Symbol K (Kalium).

Note: It is reduced from the carbonate as a soft white metal, lighter than water, which oxidizes with the greatest readiness, and, to be preserved, must be kept under liquid hydrocarbons, as naphtha or kerosene. Its compounds are very important, being used in glass making, soap making, in fertilizers, and in many drugs and chemicals. Potassium permanganate, the salt KMnO4, crystallizing in dark red prisms having a greenish surface color, and dissolving in water with a beautiful purple red color; -- used as an oxidizer and disinfectant. The name chameleon mineral is applied to this salt and also to potassium manganate. -- Potassium bitartrate. See Cream of tartar, under Cream.

POTASSOXYL Pot`ass*ox"yl, n. Etym: [Potassium + oxygen + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: The radical KO, derived from, and supposed to exist in, potassium hydroxide and other compounds.

POTATION Po*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. potatio, fr. potare. See Potable.]

1. The act of drinking. Jer. Taylor.

2. A draught. "Potations pottle deep." Shak.

3. Drink; beverage. "Thin potations." Shak.

POTATO Po*ta"to, n.; pl. Potatoes. Etym: [Sp. patata potato, batata sweet potato, from the native American name (probably batata) in Hayti.] (Bot.) (a) A plant (Solanum tuberosum) of the Nightshade family, and its esculent farinaceous tuber, of which there are numerous varieties used for food. It is native of South America, but a form of the species is found native as far north as New Mexico. (b) The sweet potato (see below). Potato beetle, Potato bug. (Zoöl.) (a) A beetle (Doryphora decemlineata) which feeds, both in the larval and adult stages, upon the leaves of the potato, often doing great damage. Called also Colorado potato beetle, and Doryphora. See Colorado beetle. (b) The Lema trilineata, a smaller and more slender striped beetle which feeds upon the potato plant, bur does less injury than the preceding species. -- Potato fly (Zoöl.), any one of several species of blister beetles infesting the potato vine. The black species (Lytta atrata), the striped (L. vittata), and the gray (L. cinerea, or Fabricii) are the most common. See Blister beetle, under Blister. -- Potato rot, a disease of the tubers of the potato, supposed to be caused by a kind of mold (Peronospora infestans), which is first seen upon the leaves and stems. -- Potato weevil (Zoöl.), an American weevil (Baridius trinotatus) whose larva lives in and kills the stalks of potato vines, often causing serious damage to the crop. -- Potato whisky, a strong, fiery liquor, having a hot, smoky taste, and rich in amyl alcohol (fusel oil); it is made from potatoes or potato starch. -- Potato worm (Zoöl.), the large green larva of a sphinx, or hawk moth (Macrosila quinquemaculata); -- called also tomato worm. See Illust. under Tomato. -- Seaside potato (Bot.), Ipomoea Pes-Capræ, a kind of morning-glory with rounded and emarginate or bilobed leaves. [West Indies] -- Sweet potato (Bot.), a climbing plant (Ipomoea Balatas) allied to the morning-glory. Its farinaceous tubers have a sweetish taste, and are used, when cooked, for food. It is probably a native of Brazil, but is cultivated extensively in the warmer parts of every continent, and even as far north as New Jersey. The name potato was applied to this plant before it was to the Solanum tuberosum, and this is the "potato" of the Southern United States. -- Wild potato. (Bot.) (a) A vine (Ipomoea pandurata) having a pale purplish flower and an enormous root. It is common in sandy places in the United States. (b) A similar tropical American plant (I. fastigiata) which it is thought may have been the original stock of the sweet potato.

POTATOR Po*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: A drinker. [R.] Southey.

POTATORY Po"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. potatorius, from potare to drink.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to drinking. Ld. Lytton.

POT-AU-FEU Pot`-au`-feu", n. [F., lit., pot on the fire.] (Cookery)

Defn: A dish of broth, meat, and vegetables prepared by boiling in a pot, -- a dish esp. common among the French. Grant Allen.

POT-BELLIED Pot"-bel`lied, a.

Defn: Having a protuberant belly, like the bottom of a pot.

POT-BELLY Pot"-bel`ly, n.

Defn: A protuberant belly.

POTBOILER Pot"boil`er, n.

Defn: A term applied derisively to any literary or artistic work, and esp. a painting, done simply for money and the means of living. [Cant]

POTBOY Pot"boy`, n.

Defn: A boy who carries pots of ale, beer, etc.; a menial in a public house.

POTCH Potch, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Poach to stab.]

Defn: To thrust; to push. [Obs.] "I 'll potch at him some way." Shak.

POTCH Potch, v. t.

Defn: See Poach, to cook. [Obs.] Wiseman.

POTCHER Potch"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, potches. Potcher engine (Paper Making), a machine in which washed rags are stirred in a bleaching solution.

POTECARY Pot"e*ca*ry, n.

Defn: An apothecary. [Obs.]

POTEEN Po*teen", n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. potaim, poitim, I drink, poitin a small pot.]

Defn: Whisky; especially, whisky illicitly distilled by the Irish peasantry. [Written also potheen, and potteen.]

POTELOT Po"te*lot, n. Etym: [F.,; cf. G. pottloth black lead.] (Old Chem. & Min.)

Defn: Molybdenum sulphide.

POTENCE Po"tence, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. potentia staff, crutch, L., might, power. See Potency.]

Defn: Potency; capacity. [R.] Sir W. Hamilton.

POTENCY Po"ten*cy, n. Etym: [L. potentia, from potens, -entis, potent. See Potent, and cf. Potance, Potence, Puissance.]

Defn: The quality or state of being potent; physical or moral power; inherent strength; energy; ability to effect a purpose; capability; efficacy; influence. "Drugs of potency." Hawthorne. A place of potency and away o' the state. Shak.

POTENT Po"tent, a. Etym: [L. potens, -entis, p. pr. of posse to be able, to have power, fr. potis able, capable (akin to Skr. pati master, lord) + esse to be. See Host a landlord, Am, and cf. Despot, Podesta, Possible, Power, Puissant.]

1. Producing great physical effects; forcible; powerful' efficacious; as, a potent medicine. "Harsh and potent injuries." Shak. Moses once more his potent rod extends. Milton.

2. Having great authority, control, or dominion; puissant; mighty; influential; as, a potent prince. "A potent dukedom." Shak. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors. Shak.

3. Powerful, in an intellectual or moral sense; having great influence; as, potent interest; a potent argument. Cross potent. (Her.) See Illust. (7) of Cross.

Syn. -- Powerful; mighty; puissant; strong; able; efficient; forcible; efficacious; cogent; influential.

POTENT Po"tent, n.

1. A prince; a potentate. [Obs.] Shak.

2. Etym: [See Potence.]

Defn: A staff or crutch. [Obs.]

3. (Her.)

Defn: One of the furs; a surface composed of patches which are supposed to represent crutch heads; they are always alternately argent and azure, unless otherwise specially mentioned. Counter potent (Her.), a fur differing from potent in the arrangement of the patches.

POTENTACY Po"ten*ta*cy, n. Etym: [See Potentate.]

Defn: Sovereignty. [Obs.]

POTENTATE Po"ten*tate, n. Etym: [LL. potentatus, fr. potentare to exercise power: cf. F. potentat. See Potent, a.]

Defn: One who is potent; one who possesses great power or sway; a prince, sovereign, or monarch. The blessed and only potentate. 1 Tim. vi. 15. Cherub and seraph, potentates and thrones. Milton.

POTENTIAL Po*ten"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. potentiel. See Potency.]

1. Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result; efficacious; influential. [Obs.] "And hath in his effect a voice potential." Shak.

2. Existing in possibility, not in actuality. "A potential hero." Carlyle. Potential existence means merely that the thing may be at ome time; actual existence, that it now is. Sir W. Hamilton. Potential cautery. See under Cautery. -- Potential energy. (Mech.) See the Note under Energy. -- Potential mood, or mode (Gram.), that form of the verb which is used to express possibility, liberty, power, will, obligation, or necessity, by the use of may, can, must, might, could, would, or should; as, I may go; he can write.

POTENTIAL Po*ten"tial, n.

1. Anything that may be possible; a possibility; potentially. Bacon.

2. (Math.)

Defn: In the theory of gravitation, or of other forces acting in space, a function of the rectangular coordinates which determine the position of a point, such that its differential coefficients with respect to the coördinates are equal to the components of the force at the point considered; -- also called potential function, or force function. It is called also Newtonian potential when the force is directed to a fixed center and is inversely as the square of the distance from the center.

3. (Elec.)

Defn: The energy of an electrical charge measured by its power to do work; hence, the degree of electrification as referred to some standard, as that of the earth; electro-motive force.

POTENTIALITY Po*ten`ti*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being potential; possibility, not actuality; inherent capability or disposition, not actually exhibited.

POTENTIALLY Po*ten"tial*ly, adv.

1. With power; potently. [Obs.]

2. In a potential manner; possibly, not positively. The duration of human souls is only potentially infinite. Bentley.

POTENTIATE Po*ten"ti*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Potentiated; p. pr. & vb. n. Potentiating.]

Defn: To render active or potent. Coleridge.

POTENTIOMETER Po*ten`ti*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Potential + -meter.] (Elec.)

Defn: An instrument for measuring or comparing electrial potentials or electro-motive forces.

POTENTIZE Po"ten*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Potentized; p. pr. & vb. n. Potentizing.]

Defn: To render the latent power of (anything) available. Dunglison.

POTENTLY Po"tent*ly, adv.

Defn: With great force or energy; powerfully; efficaciously. "You are potently opposed." Shak.

POTENTNESS Po"tent*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being potent; powerfulness; potency; efficacy.

POTESTATE Po"tes*tate, n.

Defn: A chief ruler; a potentate. [Obs.] Wyclif. "An irous potestate." Chaucer.

POTESTATIVE Po*tes"ta*tive, a. Etym: [L. potestativus, fr. potestas power: cf. F. potestatif. See Potent.]

Defn: Authoritative. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.

POTGUN Pot"gun`, n.

1. A pot-shaped cannon; a mortar. [Obs.] "Twelve potguns of brass." Hakluyt.

2. A popgun. [Obs.] Swift.

POTHECARY Poth"e*ca*ry, n.

Defn: An apothecary. [Obs.]

POTHEEN Po*theen", n.

Defn: See Poteen.

POTHER Poth"er, n. Etym: [Cf. D. peuteren to rummage, poke. Cf. Potter, Pudder.]

Defn: Bustle; confusion; tumult; flutter; bother. [Written also potter, and pudder.] "What a pother and stir!" Oldham. "Coming on with a terrible pother." Wordsworth.

POTHER Poth"er, v. i.

Defn: To make a bustle or stir; to be fussy.

POTHER Poth"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pothered; p. pr. & vb. n. Pothering.]

Defn: To harass and perplex; to worry. "Pothers and wearies himself." Locke.

POTHOLE Pot"hole`, n.

Defn: A circular hole formed in the rocky beds of rivers by the grinding action of stones or gravel whirled round by the water in what was at first a natural depression of the rock.

POTHOOK Pot"hook`, n.

1. An

2. A written character curved like a pothook; (pl.) a scrawled writing. "I long to be spelling her Arabic scrawls and pothooks." Dryden.

POTHOUSE Pot"house`, n.

Defn: An alehouse. T. Warton.

POTICHE Po`tiche", n.; pl. -tiches (#). [F., fr. pot a pot.] (Ceramics)

Defn: A vase with a separate cover, the body usually rounded or polygonal in plan with nearly vertical sides, a neck of smaller size, and a rounded shoulder.

POTICHOMANIA; POTICHOMANIE Po`ti*cho*ma"ni*a, Po`ti*cho*ma"nie, n. Etym: [F. potichomanie; potiche a porcelain vase + manie mania.]

Defn: The art or process of coating the inside of glass vessels with engravings or paintings, so as to give them the appearance of painted ware.

POTION Po"tion, n. Etym: [L. potio, from potare to drink: cf. F. potion. See Poison.]

Defn: A draught; a dose; usually, a draught or dose of a liquid medicine. Shak.

POTION Po"tion, v. t.

Defn: To drug. [Obs.] Speed.

POT LACE Pot lace.

Defn: Lace whose pattern includes one or more representations of baskets or bowls from which flowers spring.

POTLATCH Pot"latch`, n. [Chinook potlatch, pahtlatch, fr. Nootka pahchilt, pachalt, a gift.]

1. Among the Kwakiutl, Chimmesyan, and other Indians of the northwestern coast of North America, a ceremonial distribution by a man of gifts to his own and neighboring tribesmen, often, formerly, to his own impoverishment. Feasting, dancing, and public ceremonies accompany it.

2. Hence, a feast given to a large number of persons, often accompanied by gifts. [Colloq., Northwestern America]

POT LEAD Pot lead.

Defn: Graphite, or black lead, often used on the bottoms of racing vessels to diminish friction.

POTLID Pot"lid`, n.

Defn: The lid or cover of a pot. Potlid valve, a valve covering a round hole or the end of a pipe or pump barrel, resembling a potlid in form.

POTLUCK Pot"luck`, n.

Defn: Whatever may chance to be in the pot, or may be provided for a meal. A woman whose potluck was always to be relied on. G. Eliot. To take potluck, to take what food may chance to be provided.

POTMAN Pot"man, n.; pl. Potmen (.

1. A pot companion. [Obs.] Life of A. Wood (1663).

2. A servant in a public house; a potboy.

POTOO Po*too", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large South American goatsucker (Nyctibius grandis).

POTOROO Po`to*roo", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any small kangaroo belonging to Hypsiprymnus, Bettongia, and allied genera, native of Australia and Tasmania. Called also kangaroo rat.

POTPIE Pot"pie`, n.

Defn: A meat pie which is boiled instead of being baked.

POTPOURRI Pot`pour`ri", n. Etym: [F., fr. pot pot + pourri, p. p. of pourrir to rot, L. putrere. Cf. Olla-podrida.]

Defn: A medley or mixture. Specifically: (a) A ragout composed of different sorts of meats, vegetables, etc., cooked together. (b) A jar or packet of flower leaves, perfumes, and spices, used to scent a room. (c) A piece of music made up of different airs strung together; a medley. (d) A literary production composed of parts brought together without order or bond of connection.

POTSDAM GROUP Pots"dam group` (. (Geol.)

Defn: A subdivision of the Primordial or Cambrian period in American geology; -- so named from the sandstone of Potsdam, New York. See Chart of Geology.

POTSHARD; POTSHARE Pot"shard`, Pot"share`, n.

Defn: A potsherd. [Obs.] Spenser.

POTSHERD Pot"sherd`, n. Etym: [Pot + sherd or shard.]

Defn: A piece or fragment of a broken pot. Job ii. 8.

POT SHOT Pot shot.

Defn: Lit., a shot fired simply to fill the pot; hence, a shot fired at an animal or person when at rest or within easy range, or fired simply to kill, without reference to the rules of sport; a shot needling no special skill.

POTSTONE Pot"stone`, n. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of steatite sometimes manufactured into culinary vessels.

POTSURE Pot"*sure`, a.

Defn: Made confident by drink. [Obs.]

POT-SURE Pot"-sure` (-shur), a.

Defn: Made confident by drink. [Obs.]

POTT Pott, n.

Defn: A size of paper. See under Paper.

POTTAGE Pot"tage (; 48), n. Etym: [F. potage, fr. pot pot. See Pot, and cf. Porridge, Porringer.]

Defn: A kind of food made by boiling vegetables or meat, or both together, in water, until soft; a thick soup or porridge. [Written also potage.] Chaucer. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils. Gen. xxv. 34.

POTTAIN Pot"tain, n.

Defn: Old pot metal. [Obs.] Holland.

POTTEEN Pot*teen", n.

Defn: See Poteen.

POTTER Pot"ter, n. Etym: [Cf. F. potier.]

1. One whose occupation is to make earthen vessels. Ps. ii. 9. The potter heard, and stopped his wheel. Longfellow.

2. One who hawks crockery or earthenware. [Prov. Eng.] De Quincey.