Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)


Page 1081

Phyllostome

Phyl"lo*stome (?), n. [Phyllo- + Gr. mouth.] (Zoöl.) Any bat of the genus Phyllostoma, or allied genera, having large membranes around the mouth and nose; a nose-leaf bat.

Phylloltomid

Phyl*lol"to*mid (?), n. A phyllostome.

Phyllotactic

Phyl`lo*tac"tic (?), a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to phyllotaxy.

Phyllotaxy, Phyllotaxis

Phyl"lo*tax`y (?), Phyl"lo*tax`is (?), n. [Phyllo- + Gr. order.] (Bot.) The order or arrangement of leaves on the stem; the science of the relative position of leaves.

Phyllous

Phyl"lous (?), a. (Bot.) Homologous with a leaf; as, the sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils are phyllous organs.

Phylloxanthin

Phyl`lo*xan"thin (?), n. [Phyllo- + Gr. yellow.] (Bot.) A yellow coloring matter extracted from chlorophyll.

Phylloxera

Phyl`lox*e"ra (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. leaf + dry.]

1. (Zoöl.) A small hemipterous insect (Phylloxera vastatrix) allied to the aphids. It attacks the roots and leaves of the grapevine, doing great damage, especially in Europe. &hand; It exists in several forms, some of which are winged, other wingless. One form produces galls on the leaves and twigs, another affects the roots, causing galls or swellings, and often killing the vine.

2. The diseased condition of a vine caused by the insect just described.

Phylogenesis, Phylogeny

Phy`lo*gen"e*sis (?), Phy*log"e*ny (?), n. [Gr. tribe + E. genesis, or root of Gr. to be born.] The history of genealogical development; the race history of an animal or vegetable type; the historic exolution of the phylon or tribe, in distinction from ontogeny, or the development of the individual organism, and from biogenesis, or life development generally.

Phylogenetic

Phy*lo*ge*net"ic (?), a. Relating to phylogenesis, or the race history of a type of organism. -- Phy*lo*ge*net"ic*al*ly (#), adv.

Phylon

Phy"lon (?), n.; pl. Phyla (#). [NL., fr. Gr. race, tribe.] (Biol.) A tribe.

Phylum

Phy"lum (?), n.; pl. Phyla (#). [NL. See Phylon.] (Zoöl.) One of the larger divisions of the animal kingdom; a branch; a grand division.

Phyma

Phy"ma (?), n.; pl. Phymata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. , fr. to produce.] (Med.) A tubercle on any external part of the body.

Physa

Phy"sa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. a bellows.] (Zoöl.) A genus of fresh-water Pulmonifera, having reversed spiral shells. See Pond snail, under Pond.

Physalia

Phy*sa"li*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. a bladder, fr. a bellows.] (Zoöl.) A genus of large oceanic Siphonophora which includes the Portuguese man-of-war. &hand; It has a large air sac, or float, with a sail-like crest on its upper side. Numerous zooids of different kinds are attached to the under side of the float. Some of the zooids have very long tentacles; some have a mouth and digest food; others produce gonophores. The American species (Physalia arethusa) is brilliantly colored, the float being pink or purple, and bright blue; the zooids blue. It is noted for its virulent stinging powers, as well as for its beautiful colors, graceful motions, and its ability to sail to windward.

Physaliæ

Phy*sa"li*æ (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) An order of Siphonophora which includes Physalia.

Physemaria

Phys`e*ma"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. a blowing.] (Zoöl.) A group of simple marine organisms, usually classed as the lowest of the sponges. They have inflated hollow bodies.

Physeter

Phy*se"ter (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. , fr. to blow: cf. F. physét\'8are.]

1. (Zoöl.) The genus that includes the sperm whale.

2. A filtering machine operated by air pressure.

Physianthropy

Phys`i*an"thro*py (?), n. [Gr. nature + man.] The philosophy of human life, or the doctrine of the constitution and diseases of man, and their remedies.

Physic

Phys"ic (?), n. [OE. phisike, fisike, OF. phisique, F. physique knowledge of nature, physics, L. physica, physice, fr. Gr. , fr. natural, from nature, fr. to produce, grow, akin to E. be. See Be, and cf. Physics, Physique.]

1. The art of healing diseases; the science of medicine; the theory or practice of medicine.<-- obsolete -- superseded by medicine --> A doctor of physik." Chaucer.

2. A specific internal application for the cure or relief of sickness; a remedy for disease; a medicine.

3. Specifically, a medicine that purges; a cathartic.

4. A physician. [R.] Shak. Physic nut (Bot.), a small tropical American euphorbiaceous tree (Jatropha Curcas), and its seeds, which are well flavored, but contain a drastic oil which renders them dangerous if eaten in large quantities.

Physic

Phys"ic (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Physiced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Physicking (?).]

1. To treat with physic or medicine; to administer medicine to, esp. a cathartic; to operate on as a cathartic; to purge.

2. To work on as a remedy; to heal; to cure.

The labor we delight in physics pain. Shak.
A mind diseased no remedy can physic. Byron.

Physical

Phys"ic*al (?), a.

1. Of or pertaining to nature (as including all created existences); in accordance with the laws of nature; also, of or relating to natural or material things, or to the bodily structure, as opposed to things mental, moral, spiritual, or imaginary; material; natural; as, armies and navies are the physical force of a nation; the body is the physical part of man.

Labor, in the physical world, is . . . employed in putting objects in motion. J. S. Mill.
A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere physical force. Macaulay.

2. Of or pertaining to physics, or natural philosophy; treating of, or relating to, the causes and connections of natural phenomena; as, physical science; physical laws. Physical philosophy." Pope.

3. Perceptible through a bodily or material organization; cognizable by the senses; external; as, the physical, opposed to chemical, characters of a mineral.

4. Of or pertaining to physic, or the art of medicine; medicinal; curative; healing; also, cathartic; purgative. [Obs.] Physical herbs." Sir T. North.

Is Brutus sick? and is it physical To walk unbraced, and suck up the humors Of the dank morning? Shak.
Physical astronomy, that part of astronomy which treats of the causes of the celestial motions; specifically, that which treats of the motions resulting from universal gravitation. -- Physical education, training of the bodily organs and powers with a view to the promotion of health and vigor. -- Physical examination (Med.), an examination of the bodily condition of a person. -- Physical geography. See under Geography. -- Physical point, an indefinitely small portion of matter; a point conceived as being without extension, yet having physical properties, as weight, inertia, momentum, etc.; a material point. -- Physical signs (Med.), the objective signs of the bodily state afforded by a physical examination.

Physically

Phys"ic*al*ly, adv. In a physical manner; according to the laws of nature or physics; by physical force; not morally.
I am not now treating physically of light or colors. Locke.

2. According to the rules of medicine. [Obs.]

He that lives physically must live miserably. Cheyne.

Physician

Phy*si"cian (?), n. [OE. fisician, fisicien, OF. physucien, a physician, in F., a natural philosopher, an experimentalist in physics. See Physic.]

1. A person skilled in physic, or the art of healing; one duty authorized to prescribe remedies for, and treat, diseases; a doctor of medicine.<-- one trained and licensed to treat illness and prescribe medicines. -->

2. Hence, figuratively, one who ministers to moral diseases; as, a physician of the soul.

Physicianed

Phy*si"cianed (?), a. Licensed as a physician. [Obs.] A physicianed apothecary." Walpole.

Physicism

Phys"i*cism (?), n. The tendency of the mind toward, or its preoccupation with, physical phenomena; materialism in philosophy and religion.
Anthropomorphism grows into theology, while physicism (if I may so call it) develops into science. Huxley.

Physicist

Phys"i*cist (?), n. One versed in physics.

2. (Biol.) A believer in the theory that the fundamental phenomena of life are to be explained upon purely chemical and physical principles; -- opposed to vitalist.

Physicking

Phys"ick*ing (?), p. pr. & vb. n. fr. Physic, v. t.

Physico-

Phys"i*co- (?). [Fr. Gr. natural, physical.] A combining form, denoting relation to, or dependence upon, natural causes, or the science of physics.

Physicochemical

Phys`i*co*chem"ic*al (?), a. [Physico- + chemical.] Involving the principles of both physics and chemistry; dependent on, or produced by, the joint action of physical and chemical agencies. Huxley.

Physicologic

Phys`i*co*log"ic (?), n. [Physico- + logic.] Logic illustrated by physics.

Physicological

Phys`i*co*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to physicologic. Swift.

Physicology

Phys`i*col"o*gy (?), n. [Physico- + -logy.] Physics. [R.] -- Phys`i*col"o*gist (#), n. [R.]

Physico-mathematics

Phys`i*co-math`e*mat"ics (?), n. [Physico- + mathematics.] Mixed mathematics.

Physico-philosophy

Phys`i*co-phi*los"o*phy (?), n. [Physico- + philosophy.] The philosophy of nature.

Physico-theology

Phys`i*co-the*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Physico- + theology.] Theology or divinity illustrated or enforced by physics or natural philosophy.

Physics

Phys"ics (?), n. [See Physic.] The science of nature, or of natural objects; that branch of science which treats of the laws and properties of matter, and the forces acting upon it; especially, that department of natural science which treats of the causes (as gravitation, heat, light, magnetism, electricity, etc.) that modify the general properties of bodies; natural philosophy. &hand; Chemistry, though a branch of general physics, is commonly treated as a science by itself, and the application of physical principles which it involves constitute a branch called chemical physics, which treats more especially of those physical properties of matter which are used by chemists in defining and distinguishing substances.

Physiocrat

Phys"i*o*crat (?), n. [Gr. nature + to rule.] One of the followers of Quesnay of France, who, in the 18th century, founded a system of political economy based upon the supremacy of natural order. F. A. Walker. -- Phys`i*o*crat"ic (#), a.

Physiogeny

Phys`i*og"e*ny (?), n. [Gr. nature + root of to be born.] (Biol.) The germ history of the functions, or the history of the development of vital activities, in the individual, being one of the branches of ontogeny. See Morphogeny. Haeckel.

Physiognomer

Phys`i*og"no*mer (?), n. Physiognomist.

Physiognomic, Physiognomical

Phys`i*og*nom"ic (?), Phys`i*og*nom"ic*al (?), a. [Gr. : cf. F. physiognomonique.] Of or pertaining to physiognomy; according with the principles of physiognomy. -- Phys`i*og*nom"ic*al*ly, adv.

Physiognomist

Phys`i*og*nom"ist (?), n. Same as Physiognomy, 1.

Physiognomist

Phys`i*og"no*mist (?), n. [Cf. F. physiognomiste.]

1. One skilled in physiognomy. Dryden.

2. One who tells fortunes by physiognomy. Holland.

Physiognomize

Phys`i*og"no*mize (?), v. t. To observe and study the physiognomy of. [R.] Southey.

Physiognommonic

Phys`i*og`no*mmon"ic (?), a. Physiognomic.

Physiognomy

Phys`i*og"no*my (?), n.; pl. Physiognomies (#). [OE. fisonomie, phisonomie, fisnamie, OF. phisonomie, F. physiognomie, physiognomonie, from Gr. ; nature + one who knows or examines, a judge, fr. , , to know. See Physic, and Know, and cf. Phiz.]

1. The art and science of discovering the predominant temper, and other characteristic qualities of the mind, by the outward appearance, especially by the features of the face.

2. The face or countenance, with respect to the temper of the mind; particular configuration, cast, or expression of countenance, as denoting character.

3. The art telling fortunes by inspection of the features. [Obs.] Bale.

4. The general appearance or aspect of a thing, without reference to its scientific characteristics; as, the physiognomy of a plant, or of a meteor.

Physiogony

Phys`i*og"o*ny (?), n. [Gr. nature + birth.] The birth of nature. [R.] Coleridge.

Physiographic, Physiographical

Phys`i*o*graph"ic (?), Phys`i*o*graph"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. physiographique.] Of or pertaining to physiography.

Physiography

Phys`i*og"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. nature + -graphy: cf. F. physiographie.] The science which treats of the earth's exterior physical features, climate, life, etc., and of the physical movements or changes on the earth's surface, as the currents of the atmosphere and ocean, the secular variations in heat, moisture, magnetism, etc.; physical geography.

Physiolatry

Phys`i*ol"a*try (?), n. [Gr. nature + service.] The worship of the powers or agencies of nature; materialism in religion; nature worship. The physiolatry of the Vedas." M. Williams.

Physiologer

Phys`i*ol"o*ger (?), n. A physiologist.

Physiologic

Phys`i*o*log"ic (?), a. [L. physiologicus, Gr. : cf. F. physiologique.] Physiological.

Physiological

Phys`i*o*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to physiology; relating to the science of the functions of living organism; as, physiological botany or chemistry.

Physiologically

Phys`i*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv. In a physiological manner.

Physiologist

Phys`i*ol"o*gist (?), n. [Cf. F. physiologiste.] One who is versed in the science of physiology; a student of the properties and functions of animal and vegetable organs and tissues.

Physiologize

Phys`i*ol"o*gize (?), v. i. To speculate in physiology; to make physiological investigations. Cudworth.

Physiology

Phys`i*ol"o*gy (?), n.; pl. Physiologies (#). [L. physiologia, Gr. ; nature + discourse: cf. F. physiologie.]

1. The science which treats of the phenomena of living organisms; the study of the processes incidental to, and characteristic of, life. &hand; It is divided into animal and vegetable physiology, dealing with animal and vegetable life respectively. When applied especially to a study of the functions of the organs and tissues in man, it is called human physiology.

2. A treatise on physiology. Mental physiology, the science of the functions and phenomena of the mind, as distinguished from a philosophical explanation of the same.

Physiophyly

Phys`i*oph"y*ly (?), n. [Gr. nature + a clan.] (Biol.) The tribal history of the functions, or the history of the paleontological development of vital activities, -- being a branch of phylogeny. See Morphophyly. Haeckel.

Physique

Phy*sique" (?), n. [F. See Physic.] The natural constitution, or physical structure, of a person.
With his white hair and splendid physique. Mrs. Stowe.

Physnomy

Phys"no*my (?), n. Physiogmony. [Obs.]

Physoclist

Phys"o*clist, n. (Zoöl.) One of the Physoclisti.

Physoclisti

Phys`o*clis"ti (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. a bellows + to close.] (Zoöl.) An order of teleost in which the air bladder has no opening.

Physograde

Phys"o*grade (?), n. [Gr. a bellows + L. gradi to walk, go.] (Zoöl.) Any siphonophore which has an air sac for a float, as the Physalia.

Physophoræ

Phy*soph"o*ræ (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. a bellows + to bear.] (Zoöl.) An order of Siphonophora, furnished with an air sac, or float, and a series of nectocalyces. See Illust. under Nectocalyx.

Physopod

Phy"so*pod (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Physopoda; a thrips.

Physopoda

Phy*sop"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. a bellows + -poda.] (Zoöl.) Same as Thysanoptera.

Physostigmine

Phy`so*stig"mine (?), n. (Chem.) An alkaloid found in the Calabar bean (the seed of Physostigma venenosum), and extracted as a white, tasteless, substance, amorphous or crystalline; -- formerly called eserine, with which it was regarded as identical.

Physostomi

Phy*sos"to*mi (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. a bellows + mouth.] (Zoöl.) An order of fishes in which the air bladder is provided with a duct, and the ventral fins, when present, are abdominal. It includes the salmons, herrings, carps, catfishes, and others.