Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Zē'tă, n. p. 1537[Lat., Gr. ζῆτα.] A Greek letter, ζ or ς, corresponding to our z. 2. [Lat. zeta, diæta, from Gr. δίαιτα, life, mode of life, dwelling.] (Arch.) A little closet or chamber, with pipes running along…Ze-tĕt'ic, a. p. 1537That seeks; that proceeds by inquiry.Zetetic method p. 1537the method used for finding the value of unknown quantities by direct search, in investigation, or the solution of problems. [Rare.] Hutton.Ze-tĕt'ic, n. p. 1537A seeker;— a name adopted by some Pyrrhonists.Ze-tĕt'ĭcs, n. sing. p. 1537(Math.) A branch of algebra which relates to the direct search for unknown quantities. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.] P. Cyc.Ze·ti·e'n-lā, n. p. 1537(Arch.) A small withdrawing room.Zeŭg'lo-dōn, n. p. 1537(Paleon.) A genus of aquatic cetaceous mammals, now extinct, remains of which have been found in Georgia and Alabama.Zeüg'mă, n. p. 1537(Gram.) A figure by which an adjective or verb, which agrees with a nearer word, is, by way of supplement, referred also to another more remote; as, “hic illius arma, hic currus fuit;” where fuit…Zeüg-măt'ic, a. p. 1537Of, or pertaining to, the grammatical figure called zeugma. Ellicott.Zēy'lan-īte, n. p. 1537(Min.) The same as CEYLANITE, q. v.Zhō, n. p. 1537(Zoöl.) A domestic animal common in the Himalayas.Zīb'et, n. p. 1537A digitigrade carnivorous mammal (the Viverra zibetha), a small quadruped, somewhat resembling the weasel. It inhabits both India and Africa. It is distinct from the civet, though nearly allied to it.Ziē'gā, n. p. 1537Curd produced from milk by adding acetic acid, after rennet has ceased to cause coagulation. Brande.Zĭg'zăg, a. p. 1537Having short, sharp turns; running this way and that in an onward course.Zĭg'zăg, n. p. 1537Something that has short turns or angles. “The fanatics going straightforward and openly, the politicians by the surer mode of zigzag.” Burke. 2. (Arch.) A chevron or molding running in a zigzag…Zig'zăg, v. t. p. 1537To form with short turns.Zig'zăg-ger-y, n. p. 1537The quality of being zigzag; crookedness. [Rare.] “The zigzaggery of my father's approaches.” Sterne.Zil'lah, n. p. 1537A district or local division of a country in India. Simmonds.Zĭm′ent-wa′ter, n. p. 1537A kind of water found in copper-mines; water impregnated with copper.Zīnc, n. p. 1537(Min.) A metal of a brilliant white color, with a shade of blue, and appearing as if composed of plates adhering together; spelter. It is not brittle, but less malleable than copper, lead, or tin.…Zinc'-ām/yle, n. p. 1537(Chem.) A colorless, transparent liquid, composed of zinc and amyle, which when exposed to the atmosphere emits fumes, and absorbs oxygen with rapidity. Miller.Zinc'-blēnde, n. p. 1537(Min.) A native sulphuret of zinc, often containing some iron, occurring crystallized, massive, or in other forms, and of various colors, but usually yellowish, red, brown, or black; blende. Dana.Zinc'-blōom, n. p. 1537(Min.) An opaque mineral, of a dull luster and white, grayish, or yellowish color, consisting chiefly of carbonic acid, oxide of zinc, and water. Dana.Zĭnc'-ēth'yl, n. p. 1537(Chem.) A colorless, transparent, poisonous liquid, which takes fire spontaneously on exposure to the atmosphere, composed of zinc and ethyl. Miller.Zin-cif'fer-ōūs or Zīnk-if'fer-ōūs, a. p. 1537Containing or affording zinc; as, zinciferous ore. [Written also zinciferous.]Zinc'ite, n. p. 1537(Min.) A brittle, translucent mineral, of a deep-red color, sometimes inclining to yellowish, and consisting chiefly of oxide of zinc, but containing also a small quantity of oxide of manganese, to…Zinc'-mĕth'yl, n. p. 1537(Chem.) A volatile liquid consisting of two equivalents of carbon, three of hydrogen, and one of zinc. It takes fire spontaneously on exposure to the atmosphere. Its vapors are very poisonous.…Zinc'ōde, n. p. 1537(Elec.) The positive pole of a galvanic battery.Zinc-ōg'ra-pher, n. p. 1537An engraver on zinc. Simmonds.Zinc'-o-grāph'ic or Zinc'-o-grāph'ic-al, a. p. 1537Of, or pertaining to, zincography.Zinc-ōg'ra-phy, n. p. 1537Engraving on zinc in the style of wood-cuts. Dana.Zinc'ōus, a. p. 1537Of, or pertaining to, zinc; pertaining to the positive pole of a galvanic battery; electro-positive. Graham.Zĭnc'-vĭt'ri-ol, n. p. 1537(Chem.) Sulphate of zinc; white vitriol.Zĭnc'-whīte, n. p. 1537The oxide of zinc, a pigment largely used in the place of white-lead, being free from poisonous qualities. Simmonds.Zĭnk, n. p. 1537See ZINC.Zĭnk'en-īte, n. p. 1537(Min.) A steel-gray ore of antimony and lead. Dana.Zĭnk'y, a. p. 1537Pertaining to zinc, or having its appearance. [Obs.] [Written also zincky.] Some effervesce with acids, some not, though soluble therein as to the zinky part. Kirwan. The zinky ores are said to be…Zin'zi-ber-ā'ceōs, a. p. 1537Of, pertaining to, or relating to, ginger, or the ginger tree; — applied especially to a natural order of endogens found in the tropics. Smart.Zi'ōn, n. p. 1537(Jewish Antiq.) A hill in Jerusalem, which, after the capture of that city, became the royal residence of David and his successors. 2. Hence, the theocracy, or church of God.Zir'con, n. p. 1537(Min.) A mineral containing the earth zirconia and silica, occurring in square prisms with pyramidal terminations of a brown or gray color, occasionally red, and often nearly transparent. A red…Zir-cō'ni-ā, n. p. 1537(Chem.) An oxide of zirconium, discovered by Klaproth, in the year 1789, in the zircon of Ceylon. It is, when pure, a white powder, soluble in sulphuric acid, but not in the other acids.Zir'con-īte, n. p. 1537(Min.) A variety of zircon, of a grayish or brownish color, and frequently rough and opaque. Dana.Zir-cō'ni-ūm, n. p. 1537(Chem.) A metal obtained from the minerals zircon and hyacinth. It was first obtained by Berzelius in 1824; but Davy had previously rendered its existence quite probable. It is commonly obtained in…Zith'ern, n. p. 1537(Mus.) An instrument of music used in Austria and Germany. It has twenty-eight strings, and is placed on a table before the performer, who uses both hands in playing on it.Zi-zā'ni-ā, n. p. 1537(Bot.) A genus of plants, including the wild rice.Zīz'el, n. p. 1537(Zoöl.) A rodent mammal of the genus Arctomys; the suslik. See SUSLIK. [Written also zisel.]Zo-ān’thia, n. p. 1537(Zoöl.) A genus of polyps having many arms, and not secreting a stony stem, but developing by creeping shoots. Dana.Zō'ō-an-thā'rī-ā, n. pl. p. 1537(Zoöl.) A portion of the great class of zoophytes, including the actiniæ and the corals. [Rare.] Baird.Zo-ăn’thro-py, n. p. 1537A kind of monomania in which the patient believes himself transformed into one of the lower animals.Zōc'eo or Zōc'eo-lo or Zō'cle or Zōc'le, n. p. 1537(Arch.) A socle. See SOCLE.Zō′di-āc, n. p. 1537(Astron.) An imaginary belt in the heavens, 16° or 18° broad, in the middle of which is the ecliptic, or sun’s path. It comprises the twelve constellations, which once constituted, and from which are…Zo-dĭ'aç-al, a. p. 1537Of, or pertaining to, the zodiac; within the zodiac; as, the zodiacal planets. Zodiacal light (Astron.), a luminous track, of an elongated, triangular figure, lying nearly in the ecliptic, its base…Zō'hār, n. p. 1537A Jewish book of cabalistic commentaries on Scripture. Brande.Zo-īl'e-an, a. p. 1537Having the characteristic of Zōīlus, a bitter, envious, unjust critic, who lived about 270 years before Christ.Zō'i-lĭsm, n. p. 1537Character like that of Zoïlus; resemblance to Zoïlus in style or manner. Bring candid eyes to the perusal of men's works, and let not Zoïlism or detraction blast well-intended labors. Browne.Zois'ite, n. p. 1537(Min.) A grayish or whitish mineral, related to epidote. Dana.Zōll'ver-eīn, n. p. 1537An agreement or union among the German states, for the collection of custom-house duties.Zō'nar, n. p. 1537A belt or girdle which the Christians and Jews of the Levant are obliged to wear to distinguish them from Mohammedans. [Written also zomar.]Zōne, n. p. 1537A girdle. An embroidered zone surrounds her waist. Dryden. Loose were her tresses seen, her zone unbound. Collins. 2. (Geog.) One of the five great divisions of the earth, with respect to latitude…Zōned, a. p. 1538Wearing a zone or zones. Pope. 2. Having zones, or concentric bands.