Polycrotic - Polymorphous

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Polycrotic (pŏlĭkrŏtĭk), a. [Poly- + Gr. krotei^n to beat.] (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to polycrotism; manifesting polycrotism; as, a polycrotic pulse; a polycrotic pulse curve.
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Polycrotism (?), n. (Physiol.) That state or condition of the pulse in which the pulse curve, or sphygmogram, shows several secondary crests or elevations; -- contrasted with monocrotism and dicrotism.
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Polycystid (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the Polycystidea. (b) One of the Polycystina. -- a. Pertaining to the Polycystidea, or the Polycystina.
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Polycystidea (?), n. pl. [NL. See , and .] (Zoöl.) A division of Gregarinæ including those that have two or more internal divisions of the body.
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Polycystina (?), n. pl. [NL. See , and .] (Zoöl.) A division of Radiolaria including numerous minute marine species. The skeleton is composed of silica, and is often very elegant in form and sculpture. Many have been found in the fossil state.
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Polycystine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the Polycystina. -- n. One of the Polycystina.
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Polycyttaria (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. polys many + �, dim. fr. � a hollow vessel.] (Zoöl.) A division of Radiolaria. It includes those having one more central capsules.
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Polydactylism (?), n. [Poly- + Gr. � finger: cf. F. polydactylisme.] (Anat.) The possession of more that the normal number of digits.
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Polydipsia (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. polys much + � thirst.] (Med.) Excessive and constant thirst occasioned by disease.
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Polyedron (?), n. See .
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Polyedrous (?), a. See .
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Polyeidic (?), a. [Poly- + Gr. e'i^dos form.] (Zoöl.) Passing through several distinct larval forms; -- having several distinct kinds of young.
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Polyeidism (?), n. (Zoöl.) The quality or state of being polyeidic.
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Polyembryonate (?), a. [Poly- + embryonate.] (Bot.) Consisting of, or having, several embryos; polyembryonic.
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Polyembryonic (?), a. [Poly- + embryonic.] (Bot.) Polyembryonate.
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Polyembryony (?), n. [See , and .] (Bot.) The production of two or more embryos in one seed, due either to the existence and fertilization of more than one embryonic sac or to the origination of embryos outside of the embryonic sac.
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Polyfoil (?), n. [Poly- + foil, n.] (Arch.) Same as .
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Polygala (?), n. [L., milkwort, fr. Gr. �; polys much + � milk.] A genus of bitter herbs or shrubs having eight stamens and a two-celled ovary (as the Seneca snakeroot, the flowering wintergreen, etc.); milkwort.
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Polygalaceous (?), a. Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants (Polygalaceæ) of which Polygala is the type.
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Polygalic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, Polygala; specifically, designating an acrid glucoside (called polygalic acid, senegin, etc.), resembling, or possibly identical with, saponin.
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Polygamia (?), n. pl. [NL. See .] (Bot.) (a) A Linnæan class of plants, characterized by having both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant. (b) A name given by Linnæus to file orders of plants having syngenesious flowers.
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Polygamian (?), a. (Bot.) Polygamous.
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Polygamist (?), n. [Cf. F. polygamiste, polygame, Gr. �, a.] One who practices polygamy, or maintains its lawfulness.
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Polygamize (?), v. i. To practice polygamy; to marry several wives. Sylvester. Coleridge.
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Polygamous (?), a. [Gr. � living � polygamy; polys many + � marriage. Cf. .]
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1. Of or pertaining to polygamy; characterized by, or involving, polygamy; having a plurality of wives; as, polygamous marriages; -- opposed to monogamous.
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2. (Zoöl.) Pairing with more than one female.
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Most deer, cattle, and sheep are polygamous. Darwin.
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3. (Bot.) Belonging to the Polygamia; bearing both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant.
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Polygamy (?), n. [Gr. �; cf. F. polygamie.] 1. The having of a plurality of wives or husbands at the same time; usually, the marriage of a man to more than one woman, or the practice of having several wives, at the same time; -- opposed to monogamy; as, the nations of the East practiced polygamy. See the Note under , and cf. .
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2. (Zoöl.) The state or habit of having more than one mate.
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3. (Bot.) The condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers.
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Polygastrian (pŏlĭgăstrĭ�n), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Polygastrica. [Obs.]
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Polygastric (-trĭk), a. [Poly- + gastric: cf. F. polygastrique.] 1. (Anat.) Having several bellies; -- applied to muscles which are made up of several bellies separated by short tendons.
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2. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the Polygastrica. [Obs.]
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Polygastric (pŏlĭgăstrĭk), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Polygastrica.
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Polygastrica (-trĭkȧ), n. pl. [NL. So called because they were supposed to have several stomachs, or digestive cavities.] (Zoöl.) The Infusoria. [Obs.]
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{ Polygenesis (-jĕn�sĭs), Polygeny (p�lĭj�n�), } n. [Poly- + genesis, or root of Gr. gignesqai to be born.] (Biol.) The theory that living organisms originate in cells or embryos of different kinds, instead of coming from a single cell; -- opposed to monogenesis.
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Polygenetic (?), a. 1. Having many distinct sources; originating at various places or times.
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2. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to polygenesis; polyphyletic.
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Coloq. Polygenetic mountain range (Geol.), one which is composite, or consists of two or more monogenetic ranges, each having had its own history of development. Dana.
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Polygenic (-jĕnĭk), a. (Biol.) Of or relating to polygeny; polygenetic.
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Polygenism (p�lĭj�nĭz'm), n. [Cf. F. polygénisme.] (Biol.) The doctrine that animals of the same species have sprung from more than one original pair.
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Polygenist (-nĭst), n. (Biol.) One who maintains that animals of the same species have sprung from more than one original pair; -- opposed to monogenist.
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Polygenous (?), a. [Poly- + -genous: cf. Gr. � of many families.] Consisting of, or containing, many kinds; as, a polygenous mountain. Kirwan.
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Polyglot (?), a. [Gr. polyglwttos many-tongued; polys many + glw^tta, glw^ssa, tongue, language: cf. F. polyglotte.] 1. Containing, or made up, of, several languages; as, a polyglot lexicon, Bible.
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2. Versed in, or speaking, many languages.
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Polyglot, n. 1. One who speaks several languages. [R.] “A polyglot, or good linguist.” Howell.
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2. A book containing several versions of the same text, or containing the same subject matter in several languages; esp., the Scriptures in several languages.
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Enriched by the publication of polyglots. Abp. Newcome.
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Polyglottous (?), a. [See .] Speaking many languages; polyglot. [R.] “The polyglottous tribes of America.” Max Müller.
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Polygon (?), n. [Gr. polygwnos polygonal; polys many + gwnia angle: cf. F. polygone.] (Geom.) A plane figure having many angles, and consequently many sides; esp., one whose perimeter consists of more than four sides; any figure having many angles.
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Coloq. Polygon of forces (Mech.), a polygonal figure, the sides of which, taken successively, represent, in length and direction, several forces acting simultaneously upon one point, so that the side necessary to complete the figure represents the resultant of those forces. Cf. Parallelogram of forces, under .
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Polygonaceous (?), a. [See .] (Bot.) Of or pertaining to a natural order of apetalous plants (Polygonaceæ), of which the knotweeds (species of Polygonum) are the type, and which includes also the docks (Rumex), the buckwheat, rhubarb, sea grape (Coccoloba), and several other genera.
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Polygonal (?), a. Having many angles.
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Coloq. Polygonal numbers , certain figurate numbers. See under .
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Polygoneutic (?), a. [Poly- + Gr. � offspring.] (Zoöl.) Having two or more broods in a season.
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Polygonometry (?), n. [Polygon + -metry.] The doctrine of polygons; an extension of some of the principles of trigonometry to the case of polygons.
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Polygonous (?), a. Polygonal.
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Polygonum (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � a kind of plant; polys many + gony the knee, a joint of a plant. So called in allusion to the numerous joints.] (Bot.) A genus of plants embracing a large number of species, including bistort, knotweed, smartweed, etc.
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Polygony (?), n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Polygonum.
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Polygordius (?), n. [NL. See , and .] (Zoöl.) A genus of marine annelids, believed to be an ancient or ancestral type. It is remarkable for its simplicity of structure and want of parapodia. It is the type of the order Archiannelida, or Gymnotoma. See .
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Polygram (?), n. [Gr. � marked with many stripes; polys many + � a line.] A figure consisting of many lines. [R.] Barlow.
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Polygraph (?), n. [Gr. � writing much; polys much, many + � to write: cf. F. polygraphe.] 1. An instrument for multiplying copies of a writing; a manifold writer; a copying machine.
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2. In bibliography, a collection of different works, either by one or several authors. Brande & C.
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{ Polygraphic (?), Polygraphical (?), } a. [Cf. F. polygraphique.] Pertaining to, or employed in, polygraphy; as, a polygraphic instrument.
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2. Done with a polygraph; as, a polygraphic copy.
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Polygraphy (?), n. [Gr. �; polys much + grafein to write: cf. F. polygraphie.] 1. Much writing; writing of many books. [Obs.] Fuller.
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2. The art of writing in various ciphers, and of deciphering the same. [R.]
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3. The art or practice of using a polygraph.
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Polygrooved (?), a. [Poly- + groove.] Having many grooves; as, a polygrooved rifle or gun (referring to the rifling).
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Polygyn (?), n. [Cf. F. polygyne. See .] (Bot.) A plant of the order Polygynia.
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Polygynia (?), n. pl. [NL. See .] (Bot.) A Linnæan order of plants having many styles.
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{ Polygynian (?), Polygynous (?), } a. (Bot.) Having many styles; belonging to the order Polygynia.
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Polygynist (?), n. One who practices or advocates polygyny. H. Spenser.
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Polygyny (?), n. [Poly- + Gr. � woman, wife.] The state or practice of having several wives at the same time; marriage to several wives. H. Spenser.
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Polyhalite (?), n. [Poly- + Gr. � salt.] (Min.) A mineral usually occurring in fibrous masses, of a brick-red color, being tinged with iron, and consisting chiefly of the sulphates of lime, magnesia, and soda.
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{ Polyhedral (?), Polyhedrical (?), } a. [See .] (Geom.) Having many sides, as a solid body.
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Coloq. Polyhedral angle , an angle bounded by three or more plane angles having a common vertex.
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Polyhedron (?), n.; pl. E. Polyhedrons. (#), L. Polyhedra (#). [NL., fr. Gr. � with many seats or sides; polys many + � a seat or side: cf. F. polyèdre.] 1. (Geom.) A body or solid contained by many sides or planes.
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2. (Opt.) A polyscope, or multiplying glass.
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Polyhedrous (?), a. Polyhedral.
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Polyhistor (?), n. [Gr. � very learned.] One versed in various learning. [R.]
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Polyhymnia (?), n. [L., from Gr. �; polys many + � hymn.] (Anc. Myth.) The Muse of lyric poetry.
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Polyiodide (?), n. (Chem.) A iodide having more than one atom of iodine in the molecule.
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Polylogy (?), n. [Gr. �; polys much + � discourse.] Talkativeness. [R.]
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Polyloquent (?), a. [Poly- + L. loquens, p. pr. of logui to speak.] Garrulous; loquacious. [R.]
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Polymastism (?), n. [Poly- + Gr. � a breast.] (Anat.) The condition of having more than two mammæ, or breasts.
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Polymathic (?), a. [Cf. F. polymathique. See .] Pertaining to polymathy; acquainted with many branches of learning.
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Polymathist (?), n. One versed in many sciences; a person of various learning.
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Polymathy (?), n. [Gr. �; polys much + �, �, to learn.] The knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning. Johnson.
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Polymeniscous (?), a. [See , and .] (Zoöl.) Having numerous facets; -- said of the compound eyes of insects and crustaceans.
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Polymer (?), n. [See .] (Chem.) Any one of two or more substances related to each other by polymerism; specifically, a substance produced from another substance by chemical polymerization. [Formerly also written polymere.]
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Polymeric (?), a. [Poly- + Gr. � part.] (Chem.) Having the same percentage composition (that is, having the same elements united in the same proportion by weight), but different molecular weights; -- often used with with; thus, cyanic acid (CNOH), fulminic acid (C2N2O2H2), and cyanuric acid (C3N3O3H3), are polymeric with each other.
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☞ The figures expressing the number of atoms of each element in a number of polymeric substances are respectively multiples and factors of each other, or have some simple common divisor. The relation may be merely a numerical one, as in the example given above, or a chemical one, as in the case of aldehyde, paraldehyde, and metaldehyde.
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Polymerism (?), n. (Chem.) (a) The state, quality, or relation of two or more polymeric substances. (b) The act or process of forming polymers.
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Polymerization (?), n. (Chem.) The act or process of changing to a polymeric form; the condition resulting from such change.
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Polymerize (?), v. t. (Chem.) To cause polymerization of; to produce polymers from; to increase the molecular weight of, without changing the atomic proportions; thus, certain acids polymerize aldehyde.
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Polymerize, v. i. (Chem.) To change into another substance having the same atomic proportions, but a higher molecular weight; to undergo polymerization; thus, aldehyde polymerizes in forming paraldehyde.
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Polymerous (?), a. 1. (Bot.) Having many parts or members in each set. Gray.
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2. (Chem.) Polymeric. [Obs.]
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Polymnia (?), n. See .
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Polymnite (?), n. [Gr. � full of moss; polys much + � moss.] (Min.) A stone marked with dendrites and black lines, and so disposed as to represent rivers, marshes, etc.
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Polymorph (?), n. [Gr. � multiform; polys many + morfh form: cf. F. polymorphe.] (Crystallog.) A substance capable of crystallizing in several distinct forms; also, any one of these forms. Cf. .
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Polymorphic (?), a. Polymorphous.
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Polymorphism (?), n. 1. (Crystallog.) Same as .
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2. (Biol.) (a) The capability of assuming different forms; the capability of widely varying in form. (b) Existence in many forms; the coexistence, in the same locality, of two or more distinct forms independent of sex, not connected by intermediate gradations, but produced from common parents.
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Polymorphosis (?), n. [NL. See , and .] (Zoöl.) The assumption of several structural forms without a corresponding difference in function; -- said of sponges, etc.
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Polymorphous (?), a. 1. Having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles; as, a polymorphous author. De Quincey.
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2. (Biol.) Having, or occurring in, several distinct forms; -- opposed to monomorphic.
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