Oscillating - Ostensible

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Oscillating (ŏssĭllātĭng), a. That oscillates; vibrating; swinging.
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Oscillating current. (Elec.) A current alternating in direction.
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Coloq. Oscillating engine , a steam engine whose cylinder oscillates on trunnions instead of being permanently fixed in a perpendicular or other direction. Weale.
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Oscillation (?), n. [L. oscillatio a swinging.]
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1. The act of oscillating; a swinging or moving backward and forward, like a pendulum; vibration.
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2. Fluctuation; variation; change back and forth.
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His mind oscillated, undoubtedly; but the extreme points of the oscillation were not very remote. Macaulay.
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Coloq. Axis of oscillation , Coloq. Center of oscillation . See under , and .
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Oscillative (?), a. Tending to oscillate; vibratory. [R.] I. Taylor.
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oscillator (ŏssĭllātẽr), n. 1. One that oscillates; specif.: (Electronics) Any device or circuit for producing electric oscillations, whether of current or voltage; esp., an apparatus for generating electric waves in a system of wireless telegraphy. Oscillators are essential components of radio transmission devices and digital computers, as well as many other types of electronic device. In computers the oscillator provides the voltage impulses which permit information bits to be transferred between parts of the computer in a defined sequence.
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2. (Mech.) An instrument for measuring rigidity by the torsional oscillations of a weighted wire.
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Oscillatoria (?), n. pl. [NL. See .] (Bot.) Same as .
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Oscillatory (?), a. [Cf. F. oscillatoire. See .] Moving, or characterized by motion, backward and forward like a pendulum; swinging; oscillating; vibratory; as, oscillatory motion.
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Oscillogram (?), n. [L. oscillare + -gram.] (Elec.) An autographic record made by an oscillograph.
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oscillograph n. 1. a device for making a record of the wave forms of fluctuating .
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Oscillograph (?), n. [L. oscillare to swing + -graph.] (Elec.) An apparatus for recording or indicating alternating-current wave forms or other electrical oscillations, especially of voltages or currents; it usually consists of a galvanometer with strong field, in which the mass of the moving part is very small and frequency of vibration very high. -- Oscillographic (#), a.
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Oscillometer (?), n. [L. oscillare to swing + -meter.] An instrument for measuring the angle through which a ship rolls or pitches at sea.
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oscilloscope (?), n. [L. oscillare to swing + -scope.] An electronic measuring instrument which provides a visual representation of the time variation of electrical quantities, such as voltage or current. It may be used to measure the shape of a voltage pulse or the frequency of an oscillating voltage. It can also be used to measure properties of other physical variables, such as sound or light intensity, if they can be translated into electrical voltage or current. The common cathode-ray oscilloscope uses a cathode-ray tube to project a beam of electrons onto the interior of a nearly flat surface surface of the tube, which is coated with a material which fluoresces when struck by the moving electrons. The location of the beam of electrons on the target surface is controlled by electrodes surrounding the point of origin of the beam, which control the horizontal and vertical deflection. The degree of deflection from the vertical center can be made to represent the electrical variable to be measured. The cathode-ray oscilloscope is similar in many respects to the most common form of television tube. -- oscilloscopic, a.
Syn. -- scope, cathode-ray oscilloscope, CRO
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Oscine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Relating to the Oscines.
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Oscines (?), n. pl. [L. oscen, -inis.] (Zoöl.) Singing birds; a group of the Passeres, having numerous syringeal muscles, conferring musical ability.
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Oscinian (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Oscines, or singing birds.
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Oscinian, n. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of dipterous flies of the family Oscinidæ.
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☞ Some, whose larvæ live in the stalks, are very destructive to barley, wheat, and rye; others, as the barley fly (Oscinis frit), destroy the heads of grain.
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Oscinine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Oscines.
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Oscitancy (?), n. [See .]
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1. The act of gaping or yawning.
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2. Drowsiness; dullness; sluggishness. Hallam.
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It might proceed from the oscitancy of transcribers. Addison.
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Oscitant (?), a. [L. oscitans, -antis, p. pr. of oscitare: cf. F. oscitant.] 1. Yawning; gaping.
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2. Sleepy; drowsy; dull; sluggish; careless.
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He must not be oscitant, but intent on his charge. Barrow.
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Oscitantly, adv. In an oscitant manner.
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Oscitate (?), v. i. [L. oscitare; os the mouth + citare, v. intens. fr. ciere to move.] To gape; to yawn.
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Oscitation (?), n. [L. oscitatio: cf. F. oscitation.] The act of yawning or gaping. Addison.
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Osculant (?), a. [L. osculans, -antis, p. pr. of osculari to kiss. See .]
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1. Kissing; hence, meeting; clinging.
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2. (Zoöl.) Adhering closely; embracing; -- applied to certain creeping animals, as caterpillars.
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3. (Biol.) Intermediate in character, or on the border, between two genera, groups, families, etc., of animals or plants, and partaking somewhat of the characters of each, thus forming a connecting link; interosculant; as, the genera by which two families approximate are called osculant genera.
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Osculate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Osculated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Osculating.] [L. osculatus, p. p. of osculari to kiss, fr. osculum a little mouth, a kiss, dim. of os mouth. See , and cf. .]
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1. To kiss.
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2. (Geom.) To touch closely, so as to have a common curvature at the point of contact. See , 2.
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Osculate, v. i. 1. To kiss one another; to kiss.
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2. (Geom.) To touch closely. See , 2.
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3. (Biol.) To have characters in common with two genera or families, so as to form a connecting link between them; to interosculate. See .
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Osculation (?), n. [L. osculatio a kissing: cf. F. osculation.] 1. The act of kissing; a kiss.
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2. (Geom.) The contact of one curve with another, when the number of consecutive points of the latter through which the former passes suffices for the complete determination of the former curve. Brande & C.
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Osculatory (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to kissing; kissing. “The osculatory ceremony.” Thackeray.
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2. (Geom.) Pertaining to, or having the properties of, an osculatrix; capable of osculation; as, a circle may be osculatory with a curve, at a given point.
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Coloq. Osculatory circle . (Geom.) See Osculating circle of a curve, under . -- Coloq. Osculatory plane (to a curve of double curvature), a plane which passes through three successive points of the curve. -- Coloq. Osculatory sphere (to a line of double curvature), a sphere passing through four consecutive points of the curve.
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Osculatory, n. [LL. osculatorium. See .] (R. C. Ch.) Same as , 2.
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Osculatrix (?), n.; pl. Osculatrixes (#). [NL.] (Geom.) A curve whose contact with a given curve, at a given point, is of a higher order (or involves the equality of a greater number of successive differential coefficients of the ordinates of the curves taken at that point) than that of any other curve of the same kind.
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Oscule (?), n. [Cf. F. oscule. See .] (Zoöl.) One of the excurrent apertures of sponges.
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Osculum (?), n.; pl. Oscula (#). [L., a little mouth.] (Zoöl.) Same as .
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-ose (?) suff. [L. -osus: cf. F. -ose. Cf. .]
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1. A suffix denoting full of, containing, having the qualities of, like; as in verbose, full of words; pilose, hairy; globose, like a globe.
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2. (Chem.) A suffix indicating that the substance to the name of which it is affixed is a member of the carbohydrate group; as in cellulose, sucrose, dextrose, etc.
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Osier (?), n. [F. osier: cf. . F. oisis, Armor. ozil, aozil, Gr. �, �, �, L. vitex, and E. withy.] (Bot.) (a) A kind of willow (Salix viminalis) growing in wet places in Europe and Asia, and introduced into North America. It is considered the best of the willows for basket work. The name is sometimes given to any kind of willow. (b) One of the long, pliable twigs of this plant, or of other similar plants.
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The rank of osiers by the murmuring stream. Shak.
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Coloq. Osier bed , or Coloq. Osier holt , a place where willows are grown for basket making. [Eng.] -- Coloq. Red osier . (a) A kind of willow with reddish twigs (Salix rubra). (b) An American shrub (Cornus stolonifera) which has slender red branches; -- also called osier cornel.
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Osier, a. Made of osiers; composed of, or containing, osiers. “This osier cage of ours.” Shak.
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Osiered (?), a. Covered or adorned with osiers; as, osiered banks. [Poetic] Collins.
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Osiery (?), n. An osier bed.
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Osiris (?), prop. n. [L., fr. Gr. �; of Egyptian origin.] (Myth.) One of the principal divinities of Egypt, the brother and husband of Isis. He was figured as a mummy wearing the royal cap of Upper Egypt, and was symbolized by the sacred bull, called Apis. Cf. . -- Osirian (#), a.
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Osmanli (?), n.; pl. Osmanlis (#). [So called from Osman. See .] A Turkish official; one of the dominant tribe of Turks; loosely, any Turk.
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Osmate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of osmic acid. [Formerly written also osmiate.]
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Osmaterium (?), n.; pl. Osmateria (#). [NL., fr. Gr. � smell.] (Zoöl.) One of a pair of scent organs which the larvæ of certain butterflies emit from the first body segment, either above or below.
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Osmazome (?), n. [Gr. � smell, odor + � broth: cf. F. osmazôme.] (Old Chem.) A substance formerly supposed to give to soup and broth their characteristic odor, and probably consisting of one or several of the class of nitrogenous substances which are called extractives.
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Osmiamate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of osmiamic acid.
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Osmiamic (?), a. [Osmium + amido.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a nitrogenous acid of osmium, H2N2Os2O5, forming a well-known series of yellow salts.
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Osmic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, osmium; specifically, designating those compounds in which it has a valence higher than in other lower compounds; as, osmic oxide.
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Coloq. Osmic acid . (Chem.) (a) Osmic tetroxide. [Obs.] (b) Osmic acid proper, an acid analogous to sulphuric acid, not known in the free state, but forming a well-known and stable series of salts (osmates), which were formerly improperly called osmites. -- Coloq. Osmic tetroxide (Chem.), a white volatile crystalline substance, OsO4, the most stable and characteristic of the compounds of osmium. It has a burning taste, and gives off a vapor, which is a powerful irritant poison, violently attacking the eyes, and emitting a strong chlorinelike odor. Formerly improperly called osmic acid.
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Osmidrosis (?), n. [NL., from Gr. 'osmh smell + � to sweat.] (Med.) The secretion of fetid sweat.
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Osmious (?), a. (Chem.) Denoting those compounds of osmium in which the element has a valence relatively lower than in the osmic compounds; as, osmious chloride. [Written also osmous.]
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Coloq. Osmious acid (Chem.), an acid derived from osmium, analogous to sulphurous acid, and forming unstable salts. It is a brown amorphous substance.
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osmite (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of osmious acid.
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osmium (ŏzmĭŭm), n. [Gr. 'osmh a smell, odor, akin to 'ozein to smell. So named in allusion to the strong chlorinelike odor of osmic tetroxide. See .] (Chem.) A rare metallic element of the platinum group with atomic number 76. It is found native as an alloy in platinum ore, and in iridosmine. It is a hard, infusible, bluish or grayish white metal, and the heaviest substance known. Its tetroxide is used in histological experiments to stain tissues. Symbol . Atomic weight 190.2. Specific gravity 22.477.
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osmogene (ŏsm�jēn or ŏzm�jēn), n. [Osmose + root of Gr. genos race.] An apparatus, consisting of a number of cells whose sides are of parchment paper, for conducting the process of osmosis. It is used especially in sugar refining to remove potassium salts from the molasses.
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osmograph (ŏzm�grȧf), n. [Osmose + -graph.] (Physics) An instrument for recording the height of the liquid in an endosmometer or for registering osmotic pressures.
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osmometer (ŏzmŏm�tẽr or ŏsmŏm�tẽr), n. [Gr. 'wsmos impulse + -meter.] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the amount of osmotic action in different liquids.
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Osmometry (ŏzmŏm�tr� or ŏsmŏm�tr�), n. (Physics) The study of osmosis by means of the osmometer.
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Osmose (ŏzmōs), n. [Gr. �, equiv. to � impulse, fr. � to push.] (Chemical Physics) (a) The tendency in fluids to mix, or become equably diffused, when in contact. Same as , which see.
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Coloq. Electric osmose , or Coloq. Electric endosmose (Elec.), the transportation of a liquid through a porous septum by the action of an electric current.
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osmosis (ŏzmōsĭs), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'wsmos, equiv. to 'w^sis impulse, fr. 'wqei^n to push.] (Chemical Physics) (a) The tendency in fluids to mix, or become equably diffused, when in contact. It was first observed between fluids of differing densities, and as taking place through a membrane or an intervening porous structure. An older term for the phenomenon was Osmose. The more rapid flow from the thinner to the thicker fluid was then called endosmosis (formerly endosmose), and the opposite, slower current, exosmosis (formerly exosmose). Both are, however, results of the same force. Osmosis may be regarded as a form of molecular attraction, allied to that of adhesion. See also . (b) The action produced by this tendency.
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osmotic (?), a. Pertaining to, or having the property of, osmosis; as, osmotic force.
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osmotic pressure (?), n. (Physical Chemistry) The pressure which a solution of a substance in a liquid exerts on a semipermeable membrane, through which the solvent can diffuse but the dissolved substance (the solute) cannot diffuse, when separated across the membrane from the pure solvent. In general, the osmotic pressure will depend almost proportionally up to certain concentrations upon the molal concentration of the solute.
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Osmund (?), n. (Bot.) A fern of the genus Osmunda, or flowering fern. The most remarkable species is the osmund royal, or royal fern (Osmunda regalis), which grows in wet or boggy places, and has large bipinnate fronds, often with a panicle of capsules at the top. The rootstock contains much starch, and has been used in stiffening linen.
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Osnaburg (?), n. A species of coarse linen, originally made in Osnaburg, Germany.
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Oso-berry (?), n. (Bot.) The small, blueblack, drupelike fruit of the Nuttallia cerasiformis, a shrub of Oregon and California, belonging to the Cherry tribe of Rosaceæ.
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Osphradium (?), n.; pl. Osphradia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. � strong scent, fr. � to smell.] (Zoöl.) The olfactory organ of some Mollusca. It is connected with the organ of respiration.
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{ Osprey, Ospray } (?), n. [Through OF. fr. L. ossifraga (orig., the bone breaker); prob. influenced by oripelargus (mountain stork, a kind of eagle, Gr. �); cf. OF. orpres, and F. orfraie. See .] (Zoöl.) The fishhawk (Pandion haliaetus).
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Oss (?), v. i. [See , n.] To prophesy; to presage. [R. & Obs.] R. Edgeworth.
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Osse (?), n. [Gr. �.] A prophetic or ominous utterance. [R. & Obs.] Holland.
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Ossean (?), n. (Zoöl.) A fish having a bony skeleton; a teleost.
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Ossein (?), n. [L. os bone.] (Physiol. Chem.) The organic basis of bone tissue; the residue after removal of the mineral matters from bone by dilute acid; in embryonic tissue, the substance in which the mineral salts are deposited to form bone; bone collagen; -- called also ostein. Chemically it is the same as collagen.
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Osselet (?), n. [F.] 1. A little bone.
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2. (Zoöl.) The internal bone, or shell, of a cuttlefish.
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Osseous (?), a. [L. osseus, from os, ossis bone; akin to Gr. 'osteon, Skr. asthi. Cf. .] Composed of bone; resembling bone; capable of forming bone; bony; ossific.
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Osseter (?), n. [Russ, osetr' sturgeon.] (Zoöl.) A species of sturgeon.
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Ossianic (?), prop. a. Of or pertaining to, or characteristic of, Ossian, a legendary Erse or Celtic bard.
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The compositions might be fairly classed as Ossianic. G. Eliot.
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Ossicle (?), n. [L. ossiculum, dim. of os, ossis, a bone.] 1. A little bone; as, the auditory ossicles in the tympanum of the ear.
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2. (Zoöl.) One of numerous small calcareous structures forming the skeleton of certain echinoderms, as the starfishes.
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ossicular adj. Of or pertaining to an ossicle.
Syn. -- ossiculate.
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ossiculate adj. Of or pertaining to an ossicle.
Syn. -- ossicular.
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Ossiculated (?), a. Having small bones.
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Ossiculum (?), n.; pl. Ossicula (#). [L., a little bone.] (Zoöl.) Same as .
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Ossiferous (?), a. [L. os, ossis, a bone + -ferous: cf. F. ossifère.] Containing or yielding bone.
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Ossific (?), a. [L. os, ossis, bone + facere to make: cf. F. ossifique. See .] Capable of producing bone; having the power to change cartilage or other tissue into bone.
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Ossification (?), n. [Cf. F. ossification. See .] 1. (Physiol.) The formation of bone; the process, in the growth of an animal, by which inorganic material (mainly lime salts) is deposited in cartilage or membrane, forming bony tissue; ostosis.
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☞ Besides the natural ossification of growing tissue, there is the so-called accidental ossification which sometimes follows certain abnormal conditions, as in the ossification of an artery.
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2. The state of being changed into a bony substance; also, a mass or point of ossified tissue.
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Ossified (?), a. Changed to bone or something resembling bone; hardened by deposits of mineral matter of any kind; -- said of tissues.
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Ossifrage (?), n. [L. ossifraga, ossifragus, osprey, fr. ossifragus bone breaking; os, ossis, a bone + frangere, fractum, to break. See , , and cf. , .] (Zoöl.) (a) The lammergeir. (b) The young of the sea eagle or bald eagle. [Obs.]
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Ossifragous (?), a. [L. ossifragus. See .] Serving to break bones; bone-breaking.
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Ossify (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ossified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ossifying (?).] [L. os, ossis, bone + -fy: cf. F. ossifier. See .] 1. (Physiol.) To form into bone; to change from a soft animal substance into bone, as by the deposition of lime salts.
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2. (Fig.): To harden; as, to ossify the heart. Ruskin.
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Ossify, v. i. (Physiol.) To become bone; to change from a soft tissue to a hard bony tissue.
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Ossifying (?), a. (Physiol.) Changing into bone; becoming bone; as, the ossifying process.
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Ossivorous (?), a. [L. os, ossis, bone + vorare to devour: cf. F. ossivore.] Feeding on bones; eating bones; as, ossivorous quadrupeds. Derham.
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Osspringer (?), n. The osprey. [R.]
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Ossuarium (?), n. [L.] A charnel house; an ossuary. Walpole.
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Ossuary (?), n.; pl. -ries (#). [L. ossuarium, fr. ossuarius of or bones, fr. os, ossis, bone: cf. F. ossuaire.] A place where the bones of the dead are deposited; a charnel house. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Ost (?), n. See .
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Osteal (?), a. [Gr. 'osteon a bone.] Osseous.
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Ostein (?), n. [Gr. 'osteon bone.] Ossein.
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Osteitis (?), n. [NL. See , and .] (Med.) Inflammation of bone.
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Osteler (?), n. Same as . Wyclif.
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Ostend (?), v. t. [L. ostendere to show.] To exhibit; to manifest. [Obs.]
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Mercy to mean offenders we'll ostend. J. Webster.
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Ostensibility (?), n. The quality or state of being ostensible.
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Ostensible (ŏstĕnsĭb'l), a. [From L. ostensus, p. p. of ostendere to show, prop., to stretch out before; fr. prefix obs- (old form of ob-) + tendere to stretch. See .]
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1. Capable of being shown; proper or intended to be shown. [R.] Walpole.
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2. Outwardly appearing to be; shown to be; exhibited; apparent; evident.
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3. Declared; avowed; professed; pretended; -- often used as opposed to real or actual; as, an ostensible reason, motive, or aim. D. Ramsay.
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