The Scientific and Literary Treasury

TO ENCOURAGE THE FISHERIES, AND THEREBY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MARINERS, QUEEN ELIZABETH PASSED LAWS IN FAVOUR OF ABSTINENCE.

ABS]

TOTAL ABSTINENCE ABOVE SEVEN DAYS IS SAID TO BE FATAL TO MAN.

A New Bictionary of the Belles Lettres.

naturalists for the fibres of the roots of plants, which draw nourishment from the

surrounding earth.

ABSTE'MII, a name given to persons who could not partake of the sacrament from their natural aversion to wine.

ABSTER'GENTS, medicines proper for cleansing the body from concretions and other impurities, not to be effected by simple abluents. Abstergents are of a saponaceous nature, and therefore very different from mere abluents.

AB'STINENCE, the abstaining or refraining from what is either useful, agreeable, or pernicious; but more especially, from eating and drinking. In the Romish church there are "days of abstinence," as well as "fast days;" the former importing a partial, and the latter, almost a total abstinence from food.

AB'STINENTS, a sect of Christians who appeared in France about the end of the third century, professing celibacy, and abstinence from particular kinds of food, &c. -The most rigid ABSTINENTS of the present day, are those who, under the whimsical denomination of tee-totallers, (TEAtotallers?) profess to abstain wholly from the use of all liquors stronger than tea or coffee. In the United States, according to a calculation which has appeared, nearly half-a-million belong to the different "temperance societies;" and even their disciples in England, on a general muster-day, are able to make a display of forces sufficiently numerous, we should think, to alarm the proprietors and keepers of those temples of sin called gin-palaces, which rear their unblushing heads in every street in the metropolis, presenting to the mind, when viewed in contrast with the squalid and filthy wretches who support them, a truly appalling picture of moral, mental, and physical degradation. Whatever means may be found most effectual for banishing the detestable vice of drunkenness from civilized life, should most assuredly be promoted, whether it be tee-totalism, the stocks, or the whipping-post; yet we can. not help feeling that there is something bordering upon the ludicrous in these promiscuous assemblages, where "reformed" drunkards, i. e. emaciated old sots, either affecting abstemiousness or having spent all their substance in bacchanalian orgies, set up for apostles of temperance, and descant on their former bibulous propensities, in order that blushing maidens and innocent youths may have an adequate idea of the enormity of drinking a glass of homemade wine. It should, however be observed that, as among professing Christians some are less strict than others, so among the advocates of the "temperance system," some give much greater latitude than others to the meaning of the term; nay, there are those, we understand, who, so far from insisting on the necessity of tee-totalism, regard it as a wishy-washy doctrine, and are willing to allow their converts a generous glass whenever the wants of the body require one. There appears to be a

[ACA

wise liberality in this, which induces us to hope their efforts may eventually succeed. AB'STRACT, a concise but general view, or analysis, of some large work; in which sense it differs from an abridgment only as being shorter, and its entering less minutely into particulars; and from an extract, as this last is only a particular view of some part or passage of it.

ABSTRACTION, in logic, that operation of the mind whereby it forms abstract ideas. The faculty of abstraction stands directly opposite to that of compounding. By composition we consider those things together, which, in reality, are not joined together in any one existence. And by abstraction, we consider those things separately and apart, which, in reality do not exist apart. In its passive sense it implies occupation with one's-self to the exclusion of other objects.ABSTRACTION, in chemistry, the process of drawing off by distillation any part of a compound, and returning it again to the residue to be redistilled. ABSTRACTITIOUS, an epithet for the native spirits of aromatic vegetables, in distinction from those produced by fermentation. ABUTMENTS, the extremities of any body adjoining another, as the extremities of a bridge resting on the banks or sides of a river. Also the junctions or meetings of two pieces of timber.

ABYSS', any deep place that is supposed to be bottomless, as the deepest or unfathomable parts of the sea. ACA'CIA, a beautiful shrub, one of the species of which bears rose-coloured flowers. In the materia medica, acacia is the inspissated juice of the pods of the mimosa Nilotica of Linnæus.

ACE'NA, a genus of curious evergreen herbaceous exotics, chiefly from South America and New Holland.

ACADEMICS, a sect of philosophers who followed the doctrine of Socrates and Plato, as to the uncertainty of knowledge and the incomprehensibility of truth." Academic, in this sense amounts to much the same with Platonist; the difference between them being only in point of time. They who embraced the system of Plato, among the ancients, were called Academici; whereas those who did the same since the restoration of learning, have assumed the denomination of Platonists.

ACADEMY, in Grecian antiquity, a large villa in one of the suburbs of Athens, where the sect of philosophers called Academics held their assemblies. It took its name from Academus, a celebrated Athenian, who resided there, and became celebrated from its being the place in which Plato taught philosophy.ACADEMY, in the modern acceptation, is a society of persons united for the pursuit of some objects of study and application, as the Royal Academy of Arts of London, and the Royal Academy of Sciences of Berlin. The first academy of science, in modern times, was established at Naples, by Baptista Porta, in 1560.

ACADEMIES OF THE FINE ARTS ARE THE BEST INCENTIVES TO GENIUS.

ABSTRACTION IS THE GROUND-WORK OF CLASSIFICATION, BY WHICH THINGS ARE ARRANGED IN ORDERS, GENERA, AND SPECIES.

[B 3

ACANTHOPTERYGIOUS IS THE TERM APPLIED TO THOSE FISHES WHICH HAVE MARD, BONY, AND PRICKLY BACK FINS.

ACA]

THE ACCELERATION OF THE MOON WAS DISCOVERED BY DR. HALLEY.

The Scientific and Literary Treasury ;

ACAL'YPHA, a genus of exotic shrubs, natives of North and South America: the calyx of the male flowers consists of four small, roundish, concave, and equal petals, but no corolla; in the female flower the calyx is composed of three leaves, and no corolla.

ACALEP'TE (Sea Nettles), third class of Cuvier's Zoophites. The free species

(acaleptæ libera), float on the sea. The hydrostatic (acalepte hydrostatica), are so named from the air bladders or vessels by which means they suspend themselves in the water.

ACANA CEE, a class of plants which are prickly, and bear their flowers and seeds on a kind of head.

ACANTHA, a name given to the prickles of thorny plants. ACANTHA is also used by zoologists for the spines of certain fishes, as those of the echinus marinus, &c. ACANTHA'CEOUS, an epithet given to all the plants of the thistle kind.

ACANTHINE, among the ancients, something belonging to, or resembling the herb acanthus: hence we read of acanthine garments, acanthine woods, &c.

ACANTHOPIS, a genus of venomous serpents, classed by Cuvier with the vipers, but differing from them in many essential characters. They are natives of New Holland, where they live in holes at the roots of trees. Their name is derived from the tail, which is terminated by a little spur. ACANTHOPTERYGII, one of the divisions in the natural order of fishes which Cuvier has established. Its name is sug gested by its spinous fins.

ACANTHOS'CELIS, a genus of insects. Order, coleoptera; family, scarabide. ACANTHOCI'NUS, a genus of insects. Order, coleoptera; family, cerambycide. ACAN THURUS (Thorn-tailed or Lancet Fish), a genus of fishes; ninth family of Cuvier's order, with spinous fins; found in the West Indian Seas, and much relished as food.

ACAN'THUS, in architecture, an ornament representing the leaves of the acanthus, or herb bear's-breech; principally employed in the Corinthian and Compo site capitals. ACAN'ZII, Turkish light-horse, the avant-guard of the Grand Seignor's army. ACASTA, a genus of shells found in sponge, and never affixed to hard bodies. A'CARUS, in zoology, a numerous genus of insects, comprehending the vermin which infest several animals, and mites in general. ACAT'ALEPSY (acatalepsia), among ancient philosophers, the impossibility of comprehending something; uncertainty in science.

ACA'TERY, an officer of the king's household, designed to be a check between the clerks of the kitchen and the pur

veyors.

ACATHOLICI, the name by which Protestants are distinguished in some Catholic countries, as a term less objectionable than heretics.

ACATIUM, in antiquity, a kind of boat

[ACC

or pinnace used in military affairs. The acatium was a species of the naves actuaria.

ACAU'LOSE, or ACAU'LOUS, among botanists, a term used for such plants as have no stem.

ACCA'LIA, in Roman antiquity, solemn festivals held in honour of Acca Laurentia, the nurse of Romulus: they were also called Laurentalia.

ACCAPITA'RE, in our old law books, the act of becoming a vassal, or paying homage to some lord. Hence ACCAPITUM signified the money paid by a vassal upon such an occasion. ACCELERATION, in mechanics, the increase of velocity in a moving body. Accelerated motion is that which continually receives fresh accessions of velocity, and is either equally or unequally accelerated. The word is particularly applied to falling bodies tending towards the centre of the earth by the force of gravity.ACCELERATING FORCE, being a sort of centripetal force, is expressed by that velocity, generated in a given time, with which bodies (considered as physical points) move towards the central body attracting them by its absolute force. This accelerating force is greater or less, according to the distance of the centre of the force, in a reciprocal duplicate proportion. The word ACCELERATION, is also used astronomically, and is applied to the moon, the planets, and fixed

stars.

ACCENDENTES, or ACCENSORES, in the church of Rome, an inferior rank of ministers, whose business it is to light, snuff, and trim the candles and tapers.

ACCEN DONES, in Roman antiquity, officers in the gladiatorial schools, who excited and animated the combatants during the engagement.

ACCEN'SI, in Roman antiquity, certain supernumerary soldiers, designed to supply the place of those who should be killed, or anywise disabled.-ACCENSI also denoted a kind of inferior officers, appointed to attend the Roman magistrates. AC'CENT; a modification of the voice in pronouncing certain words or syllables: also, the marks on the words or syllables; as, the acute accent, marked thus ('), the grave accent thus () the circumflex thus (^). This is called grammatical accent, but there is also a rhetorical accent or emphasis, which is designed to give to a sentence distinctness and clearness. In a sentence, therefore, the stress is laid on the most important word, and in a word on the most important syllable. When the accent falls on a vowel, that vowel has its long sound, as in porous; but when it falls on a consonant, the preceding vowel is short, as in pot'ter. Accents also not only give a pleasing variety and beauty to the modulation of the voice, but often serve to ascertain the true meaning of the word.

-In music, accent denotes a certain modulation or warbling of the sounds, to express passions, either naturally by the voice, or artificially by instruments. Every

THE ACCENSI IN THE ROMAN ARMIES FOUGHT WITHOUT ARMOUR.

THE ACCELERATION OF A PLANET, IS THE INCREASE OF ITS REAL DIURNAL MOTION, ABOVE ITS MEAN DIURNAL MOTION.

MANY OF THE MINERAL ACIDS ARE FOUND IN GREAT ABUNDANCE IN NATURE, THOUGH GENERALLY COMBINED WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES.

IN COMMERCE, AN ACCOUNT IS A REGISTRY OF DEBTS, CREDITS, AND CHARGES.

ACC]

A New Dictionary of the Belles Lettres.

bar or measure is divided into the accented and unaccented parts; the former being the principal, on which the spirit of the music depends. In mathematics, the accent is used to avoid the confusion of using too many letters in an algebraical problem.

ACCENTOR, a genus of birds which feed both on insects and seed; as the common hedge sparrow.

ACCEPTANCE, in commerce, is when a man subscribes, signs, and makes himself a debtor for the sum contained in a bill of exchange, or other obligation, drawn upon, or addressed to him; which is done by his writing the word "Accepted" on it, and signing his name.

ACCEPTOR, the person who accepts a bill of exchange by signing it, and thereby becoming bound to pay its contents. ACCEPTILATION, among civilians, signifies an acquittance given by a creditor to a debtor, without receiving any money. ACCESS, in a general sense, denotes the approach of one thing towards another; but it is more proper to say, the approach of bodies, the appulse of the planets, &c.ACCESS, or ACCESSION, in medicine, is used to denote the beginning of a paroxysm, or a fit of some periodical disease.

AC'CESSARY, in law, a person who aids in the commission of some felonious action. There are two kinds of accessaries, viz. before the fact, and after it. The first is he who commands and procures another to commit an offence; who, though he be absent when it is committed, is now regarded as much a principal as the actual offender. The accessary after the fact is one who receives, comforts, or assists the offender, knowing him to be such. In the highest crimes, as high treason, &c. and the lowest, as riots, forcible entries, &c. there are no accessaries, but all concerned are principals.

ACCIACATU'RA, in music, a sweeping of the chords of the pianoforte, and dropping sprinkled notes usual in accompani

ments.

ACCIDENS, or PER ACCIDENS, a term applied to the operations of natural bodies, in distinction from per se; thus fire is said to burn per se, but a heated iron per accidens.

AC'CIDENCE, a display of the variations of words according to their govern

ment or sense.

ACCIDENT, that which belongs accidentally, not essentially, to a thing, as sweetness, softness, &c.-ACCIDENTAL, in heraldry, an additional mark in a coat of arms, which may be either omitted or retained, without altering its character. ACCIDENTAL, in philosophy, a term applied to effects which result from causes Occurring by accident. ACCIDENTAL POINT, in perspective, that point in the horizontal line, where all lines parallel among themselves meet the perspective plane. Accidental colours depend on the affections of the eye in contradistinction to light itself.

ACCIPITRES, the first order of birds,

[ACC

including four genera of birds of prey, whose distinguishing characteristics are, that they have hooked bills, strong legs, and sharp claws.

ACCLAMATION, in Roman antiquity, a shout raised by the people, to testify their applause, or approbation of their princes, generals, &c. In ages when people were more accustomed to give full utterance to their feelings, acclamations were very com mon, whenever a mass of people was influenced by one common feeling. We find, therefore, acclamations in theatres, senates, ecclesiastical meetings, elections, at nuptials, triumphs, &c. In the carly times of Christianity, the bishops were elected by acclamation. The first German emperors were elected in the same way; and at the present day, wherever the forms of civilized life are least regarded, approbation or disapprobation of proposed public measures is shown by acclamations of the assembled multitude.

AC'COLA, among the Romans, signified a person who lived near some place; in which sense it differed from incola, the inhabitant of such a place.

ACCOLA DE, the ancient ceremony of conferring knighthood, by the king's laying his arms about the young knight's neck, and embracing him. This familiar expression of regard appears to have been exchanged for the more stately act of touching, or gently striking, with the royal sword, the neck of the kneeling knight. The present ceremony of conferring the honour of knighthood is evidently derived from it.

ACCOMPANIMENT, an instrumental part added to a musical composition by way of embellishment, and in order to support the principal melody. When the piece may be performed with or without the accompaniment at pleasure, it is called accompaniment ad libitum; but when it is indispensable, accompaniment obligato.

ACCOMPLICE, in law, a person who is privy to, or aiding in, the perpetration of some crime.

ACCOMPLISHMENT, in a general sense, denotes the perfecting, or entirely finishing and completing any matter or thing; but it more expressly describes the acquirement of some branch of learning, useful art, or elegant amusement.-AcCOMPLISHMENT is also particularly used for the fulfilment of a prophecy; in which sense, we read of a literal accomplishment, a mystical accomplishment, &c. ACCORDATU'RA, an Italian word, to express the tuning of an instrument.

ACCOR'DION, a new musical instrument, of German invention, but now also made in this country, consisting of a double series of vibrating tongues, acted on by a current of air from a sort of bellows, and producing tones very similar to those of the organ.

ACCOUNT'ANT, or ACCOMPTANT, in a general sense, denotes one whose business it is to compute, adjust, and range in due order accounts in commerce. In a

ACIDS AND ALKALIES, MIXED IN EQUAL PROPORTIONS, NEUTRALIZE EACH OTHER.

IN ACHROMATIC TELESCOPES, THE COLOURS OF REFRACTION ARE CORRECTED BY COMBINING GLASS LENSES OF DIFFERENT DISPERSIVE POWERS.

ACANTHOPTERYGIOUS IS THE TERM APPLIED TO THOSE FISHES WHICH HAVE HARD, BONY, AND PRICKLY BACK FINS.

ACA]

THE ACCELERATION OF THE MOON WAS DISCOVERED BY DR. HALLEY.

The Scientific and Literary Treasury ;

ACALYPHA, a genus of exotic shrubs, natives of North and South America: the calyx of the male flowers consists of four small, roundish, concave, and equal petals, but no corolla; in the female flower the calyx is composed of three leaves, and no corolla.

ACALEP'TE (Sea Nettles), third class of Cuvier's Zoophites. The free species (acaleptæ libera), float on the sea. The hydrostatic (acalepte hydrostatica), are so named from the air bladders or vessels by which means they suspend themselves in the water.

ACANA CEA, a class of plants which are prickly, and hear their flowers and seeds on a kind of head.

ACAN'THA, a name given to the prickles of thorny plants.-ACANTHA is also used by zoologists for the spines of certain fishes, as those of the echinus marinus, &c. ACANTHA'CEOUS, an epithet given to all the plants of the thistle kind.

ACANTHINE, among the ancients, something belonging to, or resembling the herb acanthus: hence we read of acanthine garments, acanthine woods, &c.

ACANTHOS CELIS, a genus of insects. Order, coleoptera; family, scarabide. ACANTHOCI'NUS, a genus of insects. Order, coleoptera; family, cerambycida. ACAN THURUS (Thorn-tailed or Lancet Fish), a genus of fishes; ninth family of Cuvier's order, with spinous fins; found in the West Indian Seas, and much relished as food.

ACAN'THUS, in architecture, an ornament representing the leaves of the acanthus, or herb bear's-breech; principally employed in the Corinthian and Compo site capitals. ACANʼZII, Turkish light-horse, the avant-guard of the Grand Seignor's army. ACASTA, a genus of shells found in sponge, and never affixed to hard bodies.

A'CARUS, in zoology, a numerous genus of insects, comprehending the vermin which infest several animals, and mites in general. ACAT'ALEPSY (acatalepsia), among ancient philosophers, the impossibility of comprehending something; uncertainty in science.

ACA'TERY, an officer of the king's household, designed to be a check between the clerks of the kitchen and the pur

veyors.

ACATHOLICI, the name by which Protestants are distinguished in some Catholic countries, as a term less objectionable than heretics.

ACATIUM, in antiquity, a kind of boat

[ACC

or pinnace used in military affairs. The acatium was a species of the naves ac

tuariæ.

ACAU'LOSE, or ACAU'LOUS, among botanists, a term used for such plants as have no stem. ACCA'LIA, in Roman antiquity, solemn festivals held in honour of Acca Laurentia, the nurse of Romulus: they were also called Laurentalia.

ACCAPITA'RE, in our old law books, the act of becoming a vassal, or paying homage to some lord. Hence ACCAPITUM signified the money paid by a vassal upon such an occasion. ACCELERATION, in mechanics, the increase of velocity in a moving body. Accelerated motion is that which continually receives fresh accessions of velocity, and is either equally or unequally accelerated. The word is particularly applied to falling bodies tending towards the centre of the earth by the force of gravity.ACCELE RATING FORCE, being a sort of centripetal force, is expressed by that velocity, generated in a given time, with which bodies (considered as physical points) move towards the central body attracting them by its absolute force. This accelerating force is greater or less, according to the distance of the centre of the force, in a reciprocal duplicate proportion. The word ACCELERATION, is also used astronomically, and is applied to the moon, the planets, and fixed

stars.

ACCENDENTES, or ACCENSORES, in the church of Rome, an inferior rank of ministers, whose business it is to light, snuff, and trim the candles and tapers.

ACCEN DONES, in Roman antiquity, officers in the gladiatorial schools, who excited and animated the combatants during the engagement.

AC'CENT; a modification of the voice in pronouncing certain words or syllables: also, the marks on the words or syllables; as, the acute accent, marked thus ('), the grave accent thus () the circumflex thus (^). This is called grammatical accent, but there is also a rhetorical accent or emphasis, which is designed to give to a sentence distinctness and clearness. In a sentence, therefore, the stress is laid on the most important word, and in a word on the most important syllable. When the accent falls on a vowel, that vowel has its long sound, as in poʻrous; but when it falls on a consonant, the preceding vowel is short, as in pot'ter. Accents also not only give a pleasing variety and beauty to the modulation of the voice, but often serve to ascertain the true meaning of the word.

-In music, accent denotes a certain modulation or warbling of the sounds, to express passions, either naturally by the voice, or artificially by instruments. Every

THE ACCENSI IN THE ROMAN ARMIES FOUGHT WITHOUT ARMOUR.

THE ACCELERATION OF A PLANET, IS THE INCREASE OF ITS REAL DIURNAL MOTION, ABOVE ITS MEAN DIURNAL MOTION.

MANY OF THE MINERAL ACIDS ARE FOUND IN GREAT ABUNDANCE IN NATURE, THOUGH GENERALLY COMBINED WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES.

IN COMMERCE, AN ACCOUNT IS A REGISTRY OF DEBTS, CREDITS, AND CHARGES.

ACC]

A New Dictionary of the Belles Lettres.

ACCENTOR, a genus of birds which feed both on insects and seed; as the common hedge sparrow.

ACCEPTOR, the person who accepts a bill of exchange by signing it, and thereby becoming bound to pay its contents.

ACCEPTILA'TION, among civilians, signifies an acquittance given by a creditor to a debtor, without receiving any money.

ACCESS, in a general sense, denotes the approach of one thing towards another; but it is more proper to say, the approach of bodies, the appulse of the planets, &c.ACCESS, or ACCESSION, in medicine, is used to denote the beginning of a paroxysm, or a fit of some periodical disease.

ACCIACATU'RA, in music, a sweeping of the chords of the pianoforte, and dropping sprinkled notes usual in accompani

ments.

ACCIDENS, or PER ACCIDENS, a term applied to the operations of natural bodies, in distinction from per se; thus fire is said to burn per se, but a heated iron per accidens.

AC'CIDENCE, a display of the variations of words according to their government or sense.

ACCIDENT, that which belongs accidentally, not essentially, to a thing, as sweetness, softness, &c.-ACCIDENTAL, in heraldry, an additional mark in a coat of arms, which may be either omitted or retained, without altering its character. ACCIDENTAL, in philosophy, a term applied to effects which result from causes occurring by accident. ACCIDENTAL POINT, in perspective, that point in the horizontal line, where all lines parallel among themselves meet the perspective plane. Accidental colours depend on the affections of the eye in contradistinction to light itself.

ACCIPITRES, the first order of birds,

[ACC

including four genera of birds of prey, whose distinguishing characteristics are, that they have hooked bills, strong legs, and sharp claws.

ACCLAMATION, in Roman antiquity, a shout raised by the people, to testify their applause, or approbation of their princes, generals, &c. In ages when people were more accustomed to give full utterance to their feelings, acclamations were very com mon, whenever a mass of people was influ. enced by one common feeling. We find, therefore, acclamations in theatres, senates, ecclesiastical meetings, elections, at nuptials, triumphs, &c. In the carly times of Christianity, the bishops were elected by acclamation. The first German emperors were elected in the same way; and at the present day, wherever the forms of civilized life are least regarded, approbation or disapprobation of proposed public measures is shown by acclamations of the assembled multitude.

AC'COLA, among the Romans, signified a person who lived near some place; in which sense it differed from incola, the inhabitant of such a place.

ACCOLA'DE, the ancient ceremony of conferring knighthood, by the king's laying his arms about the young knight's neck, and embracing him. This familiar expression of regard appears to have been exchanged for the more stately act of touching, or gently striking, with the royal sword, the neck of the kneeling knight. The present ceremony of conferring the honour of knighthood is evidently derived from it.

ACCORDION, a new musical instrument, of German invention, but now also made in this country, consisting of a double series of vibrating tongues, acted on by a current of air from a sort of bellows, and producing tones very similar to those of the organ.

ACCOUNT'ANT, or ACCOMPTANT, in a general sense, denotes one whose business it is to compute, adjust, and range in due order accounts in commerce.

IN ACHROMATIC TELESCOPES, THE COLOURS OF REFRACTION ARE CORRECTED BY COMBINING GLASS LENSES OF DIFFERENT DISPERSIVE POWERS.

In a

ACIDS AND ALKALIES, MIXED IN EQUAL PROPORTIONS, NEUTRALIZE EACH OTHER.

« Previous Continue »

Books

The Scientific and Literary Treasury: A New and Popular Encyclopedia of the ...