Part 4

_Star._ A heavenly body. More usually, those that appear to be fixed dots of light, including the sun but not the planets or meteors, are included in the term. One of the “fixed” stars. The stars are either named or numbered in various catalogues.

_State._ Condition, especially the being in solid, liquid, or gaseous form. An organized political community.

_Statics._ The study of bodies at rest and forces in equilibrium; a branch of mechanics. According to Einstein, no body is ever at rest.

_Statistics._ The systematic collection of numerical facts. The study which deals with collection of this sort and with the interpretation of statistics in the first sense.

_Stigma._ The part of the style or ovary-surface that receives pollen. A small speck or mark.

_Stipule._ A small appendage to a leaf.

_Stratum._ In geology, a layer or set of layers of rock or earth. In biology, a layer of tissue.

_Strontium._ A metallic element. Symbol: Sr.

_Style._ A narrowed extension of the ovary which supports the stigma.

_Subalpine._ Living or growing just below the alpine zone.

_Sublimation._ The direct change from the solid to the gaseous state.

_Sulphur._ A solid non-metallic element. Symbol: S. It occurs native and in many compounds.

_Superstition._ Irrational fear of or credulity about the unknown. To the ignorant person, almost everything is unknown. Particular forms of superstition are transmitted from generation to generation and from group to group. Superstitions which masquerade as science are not unknown.

_Symbol._ A letter, word, or other thing which represents an object or quantity or idea. The symbol is frequently an abbreviation. In chemistry, it is the Latin name of the element which is abbreviated to form the symbol.

_Synclinal._ Dipping toward a common line or point.

_Synthetic._ Produced outside the living organism. Artificial. Making more complex.

_Tantalum._ A metallic element. Symbol: Ta.

_Tellurium._ A rare non-metallic element. Symbol: Te.

_Temperature._ Degree, not total amount, of heat.

_Tendon._ A cord or band of tissue connecting a muscle with another part.

_Terbium._ A metallic element. Symbol: Tb.

_Tertiary._ Relating to the third in a series, as of organic compounds. Relating to the geological period before the Quaternary.

_Thallium._ A metallic element. Symbol: Tl.

_Thallophyte._ One of a phylum (Thallophyta) of simple plants including fungi and lichens.

_Thallus._ A simple plant body without root, stem, or leaves.

_Theology._ The “science” of religion, especially Christian religion, and of God, according to lexicographers and other writers. Newman argues very well that if there is a miracle-working God whom we can understand by studying the Bible and the traditions of the Catholic Church, then theology is an essential branch of science. I do not see how any man who grants his premises can fail to agree with him.

_Theory._ A generalization which has not been absolutely proved. Sometimes one that stands between a hypothesis and a law, not so certain as the latter, more certain than the former. However, phrases continue, often when their meaning has changed, and it seems that “Theory of Evolution” may be used when the Fundamentalists have already accepted it. Also scientific principles in general. Sound theory and proper practice are not enemies.

_Thermo-._ In compounds, heat, temperature. As, thermodynamics: the science of the relation between heat and mechanical work.

_Thorax._ The part of the trunk between the neck and the tail or the abdomen.

_Tin._ A metallic element. Symbol: Sn. Most objects which we say, in ordinary language, are made of tin, are made of tin plate.

_Tincture._ The alcoholic solution of a drug.

_Titanium._ A metallic element. Symbol: Ti.

_Triassic._ Relating to the geological division between the Permian and the Jurassic.

_Typhoon._ A violent hurricane.

_Ulotrichi._ The wooly-haired races of mankind.

_Ultra-violet rays._ Invisible rays of the spectrum beyond the violet rays.

_Ungulate._ One of a group (Ungulata) of mammals having horns and hoofs.

_Uranium._ A metallic element. Symbol: U. Uranium is radioactive.

_Vacuum._ A space which does not contain matter. A vacuum, in a laboratory, is a space which has been exhausted of matter to a great extent; for scientists have not been able to produce a perfect vacuum.

_Value._ The amount of other commodities for which a thing can be exchanged in the open market.

_Valve._ The membranous part of an organ which permits the flow of a liquid in one direction only.

_Vanadium._ A metallic element. Symbol: V.

_Vapor._ A gas, especially one which exists at ordinary temperatures in liquid or solid form.

_Velocity._ Rate of motion.

_Vertebrate._ Having a spinal column, belonging to the class of Vertebrata.

_Vitalism._ The theory that there is a special force in living beings, distinct from the ordinary physical and chemical forces. Few scientists are vitalists, although many preachers are, and a number of philosophers as well.

_Vitamines._ Organic substances found in various foods and apparently necessary to human life. Their exact chemical constitution remains unknown.

_Volt._ The unit of electromotive force. The pressure which produces a current of one ampere when applied to a conductor with a resistance of one ohm.

_Volume._ The space a body occupies.

_Wave._ A disturbance of the particles of a fluid medium as in the transmission of sound, heat, and light.

_Weight._ The force with which the earth attracts a body. See Mass.

_Work._ The expenditure of force in overcoming force or producing a molecular change. Futile efforts do not constitute work.

_Xenon._ A gaseous element. Symbol: X.

_X-Ray._ See Röntgen ray.

_Xylogy._ The study of the structure of wood.

_Yttrium._ A metallic element. Symbol: Y or Yt.

_Zinc._ A metallic element. Symbol: Zn.

_Zirconium._ A metallic element. Symbol: Zr.

_Zoöchemistry._ The study of the constituents of animal bodies.

_Zoölogy._ The science of animals.

_Zygote._ A cell formed by the joining of a male and a female cell, capable of developing into a new individual.

_Zymosis._ Fermentation.

_Zymurgy._ The chemistry of fermentation processes.

Transcriber’s Notes:

Italics are shown thus: _sloping_.

Variations in spelling and hyphenation are retained.

Perceived typographical errors have been changed.