Chapter 1066

Walton.

Opening <Xpage=1004>

O"pen*ing , n. 1. The act or process of opening; a beginning; commencement; first appearance; as, the opening of a speech .

The opening of your glory was like that of light. Dryden.

2. A place which is open; a breach; an aperture; a gap; cleft, or hole.

We saw him at the opening of his tent. Shak.

3. Hence: A vacant place; an opportunity; as, an opening for business . [Colloq.]

Dickens.

4. A thinly wooded space, without undergrowth, in the midst of a forest; as, oak openings . [U.S.]

Cooper.

Openly <Xpage=1004>

O"pen*ly , adv. [AS. openlice .] 1. In an open manner; publicly; not in private; without secrecy.

How grossly and openly do many of us contradict the precepts of the gospel by our ungodliness! Tillotson.

2. Without reserve or disguise; plainly; evidently.

My love . . . shall show itself more openly . Shak.

Open-mouthed <Xpage=1004>

O"pen-mouthed` (?) , a. Having the mouth open; gaping; hence, greedy; clamorous.

L'Estrange.

Openness <Xpage=1004>

O"pen*ness , n. The quality or state of being open.

Openwork <Xpage=1004>

O"pen*work` (?) , n. 1. Anything so constructed or manufactured (in needlework, carpentry, metal work, etc.) as to show openings through its substance; work that is perforated or pierced.

2. (Mining) A quarry; an open cut.

Raymond.

<page="1005"> Page 1005

Opera <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*a (?) , n. [It., fr. opera work, composition, opposed to an improvisation, fr. L. opera pains work, fr. opus , operis , work, labor: cf. F. op\'82ra . See Operate .] 1. A drama, either tragic or comic, of which music forms an essential part; a drama wholly or mostly sung, consisting of recitative, arials, choruses, duets, trios, etc., with orchestral accompaniment, preludes, and interludes, together with appropriate costumes, scenery, and action; a lyric drama.

2. The score of a musical drama, either written or in print; a play set to music.

3. The house where operas are exhibited.

Op\'82ra bouffe [F. op\'82ra opera + bouffe comic, It. buffo ] , Opera buffa [It.] , light, farcical, burlesque opera. -- Opera box , a partially inclosed portion of the auditorium of an opera house for the use of a small private party. -- Op\'82ra comique [F.] , comic or humorous opera. -- Opera flannel , a light flannel, highly finished. Knight . -- Opera girl (Bot.) , an East Indian plant ( Mantisia saltatoria ) of the Ginger family, sometimes seen in hothouses. It has curious flowers which have some resemblance to a ballet dancer, whence the popular name. Called also dancing girls . -- Opera glass , a short telescope with concave eye lenses of low power, usually made double, that is, with a tube and set of glasses for each eye; a lorgnette; -- so called because adapted for use at the opera, theater, etc. -- Opera hat , a gentleman's folding hat. -- Opera house , specifically, a theater devoted to the performance of operas. -- Opera seria [It.] , serious or tragic opera; grand opera.

Operable <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*a*ble (?) , a. Practicable. [Obs.]

Operameter <Xpage=1005>

Op`er*am"e*ter (?) , n. [L. opus , operis , pl. opera work + -meter .] An instrument or machine for measuring work done, especially for ascertaining the number of rotations made by a machine or wheel in manufacturing cloth; a counter.

Ure.

Operance, Operancy <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*ance (?) , Op"er*an*cy (?) , n. The act of operating or working; operation. [R.]

Operand <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*and (?) , n. [From neuter of L. operandus , gerundive of operari . See Operate .] (Math.) The symbol, quantity, or thing upon which a mathematical operation is performed; -- called also faciend .

Operant <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*ant (?) , a. [L. operans , p.pr. of operari . See Operate .] Operative. [R.] Shak. -- n. An operative person or thing. [R.]

Coleridge.

Operate <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*ate (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Operated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Operating .] [L. operatus , p.p. of operari to work, fr. opus , operis , work, labor; akin to Skr. apas , and also to G. \'81ben to exercise, OHG. uoben , Icel. <?/fa . Cf. Inure , Maneuver , Ure .] 1. To perform a work or labor; to exert power or strengh, physical or mechanical; to act.

2. To produce an appropriate physical effect; to issue in the result designed by nature; especially (Med.) , to take appropriate effect on the human system.

3. To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power or influence.

The virtues of private persons operate but on a few. Atterbury.

A plain, convincing reason operates on the mind both of a learned and ignorant hearer as long as they live. Swift.

4. (Surg.) To perform some manual act upon a human body in a methodical manner, and usually with instruments, with a view to restore soundness or health, as in amputation, lithotomy, etc.

5. To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to speculative profits. [Brokers' Cant]

Operate <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*ate , v. t. 1. To produce, as an effect; to cause.

The same cause would operate a diminution of the value of stock. A. Hamilton.

2. To put into, or to continue in, operation or activity; to work; as, to operate a machine .

Operatic, Operatical <Xpage=1005>

Op`er**at"ic (?) , Op`er*at"ic*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to the opera or to operas; characteristic of, or resembling, the opera.

Operation <Xpage=1005>

Op`er*a"tion (?) , n. [L. operatio : cf. F. op\'82ration .] 1. The act or process of operating; agency; the exertion of power, physical, mechanical, or moral.

The pain and sickness caused by manna are the effects of its operation on the stomach. Locke.

Speculative painting, without the assistance of manual operation , can never attain to perfection. Dryden.

2. The method of working; mode of action.

3. That which is operated or accomplished; an effect brought about in accordance with a definite plan; as, military or naval operations .

4. Effect produced; influence. [Obs.]

The bards . . . had great operation on the vulgar. Fuller.

5. (Math.) Something to be done; some transformation to be made upon quantities, the transformation being indicated either by rules or symbols.

6. (Surg.) Any methodical action of the hand, or of the hand with instruments, on the human body, to produce a curative or remedial effect, as in amputation, etc.

Calculus of operations . See under Calculus .

Operative <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*a*tive (?) , a. [Cf.L. operativus , F. op\'82ratif .] 1. Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects; as, an operative motive .

It holds in all operative principles. South.

2. Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious; as, an operative dose, rule, or penalty .

3. (Surg.) Based upon, or consisting of, an operation or operations; as, operative surgery .

Operative <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*a*tive , n. A skilled worker; an artisan; esp., one who operates a machine in a mill or manufactory.

Operatively <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*a*tive*ly , adv. In an operative manner.

Operator <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*a`tor (?) , n. [L.] 1. One who, or that which, operates or produces an effect.

2. (Surg.) One who performs some act upon the human body by means of the hand, or with instruments.

3. A dealer in stocks or any commodity for speculative purposes; a speculator. [Brokers' Cant]

4. (Math.) The symbol that expresses the operation to be performed; -- called also facient .

Operatory <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*a*to*ry (?) , n. A laboratory. [Obs.]

Opercle <Xpage=1005>

O"per*cle (?) , n. [Cf.F. opercule . See Operculum .] 1. (Anat.) Any one of the bony plates which support the gill covers of fishes; an opercular bone.

2. (Zo\'94l.) An operculum.

Opercula <Xpage=1005>

O*per"cu*la (?) , n. pl. See Operculum .

Oparcular <Xpage=1005>

O*par"cu*lar (?) , a. Of, pertaining to, or like, an operculum.

Opercular <Xpage=1005>

O*per"cu*lar , n. (Anat.) The principal opercular bone or operculum of fishes.

Operculate, Operculated <Xpage=1005>

O*per"cu*late (?) , O*per"cu*la`ted (?) , a. [L. operculatus , p.p. of operculare to furnish with a lid, fr. operculum lid.] 1. (Bot.) Closed by a lid or cover, as the capsules of the mosses.

2. (Zo\'94l.) Having an operculum, or an apparatus for protecting the gills; -- said of shells and of fishes.

Operculiferous <Xpage=1005>

O*per`cu*lif"er*ous (?) , a. [ Operculum + -ferous .] (Zo\'94l.) Bearing an operculum.

Operculiform <Xpage=1005>

O*per"cu*li*form (?) , a. [L. operculum a cover + -form : cf. F. operculiforme .] Having the form of a lid or cover.

Operculigenous <Xpage=1005>

O*per`cu*lig`e*nous (?) , a. [ Operculum + -genous .] (Zo\'94l.) Producing an operculum; -- said of the foot, or part of the foot, of certain mollusks.

Operculum <Xpage=1005>

O*per"cu*lum (?) , n. ; pl. L. Opercula (#) , E. Operculums (#) . [L., a cover or lid, fr. operire to cover.] 1. (Bot.) (a) The lid of a pitcherform leaf. (b) The lid of the urnlike capsule of mosses.

2. (Anat.) (a) Any lidlike or operculiform process or part; as, the opercula of a dental follicle . (b) The fold of integument, usually supported by bony plates, which protects the gills of most fishes and some amphibians; the gill cover; the gill lid. (c) The principal opercular bone in the upper and posterior part of the gill cover.

3. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The lid closing the aperture of various species of shells, as the common whelk. See Illust . of Gastropoda . (b) Any lid-shaped structure closing the aperture of a tube or shell.

Operetta <Xpage=1005>

Op`er*et"ta (?) , n. [It., dim. of opera .] (Mus.) A short, light, musical drama.

Operose <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*ose` (?) . a. [L. operosus , fr. opera pains, labor, opus , operis , work, labor.] Wrought with labor; requiring labor; hence, tedious; wearisome. " Operose proceeding." Burke . "A very operose calculation." De Quincey . -- Op"er*ose`ly , adv. -- Op"er*ose`ness , n.

Operosity <Xpage=1005>

Op`er*os"i*ty (?) , n. [L. operositas .] Laboriousness. [R.]

Bp. Hall.

Operous <Xpage=1005>

Op"er*ous (?) , a. Operose. [Obs.] Holder . -- Op"er*ous*ly , adv. [Obs.]

Opertaneous <Xpage=1005>

Op`er*ta"ne*ous (?) , a. [L. opertaneus ; operire to hide.] Concealed; private. [R.]

Opetide <Xpage=1005>

Ope"tide` (?) , n. [ Ope + tide .] Open time; -- applied to different things : (a) The early spring, or the time when flowers begin opening. [Archaic] Nares . (b) The time between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday wherein marriages were formerly solemnized publicly in churches. [Eng.] (c) The time after harvest when the common fields are open to all kinds of stock. [Prov.Eng.] Halliwell . [Written also opentide .]

Ophelic <Xpage=1005>

O*phel"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a substance (called ophelic acid ) extracted from a plant ( Ophelia ) of the Gentian family as a bitter yellowish sirup, used in India as a febrifuge and tonic.

Ophicleide <Xpage=1005>

Oph"i*cleide (?) , n. [F. ophicl\'82ide , fr. Gr. <?/ a serpent + <?/, gen. <?/, a key. So named because it was in effect the serpent, an old musical instrument, with keys added.] (Mus.) A large brass wind instrument, formerly used in the orchestra and in military bands, having a loud tone, deep pitch, and a compass of three octaves; -- now generally supplanted by bass and contrabass tubas.

Moore (Encyc. of Music).

Ophidia <Xpage=1005>

O*phid"i*a (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/, dim. of <?/ a snake.] (Zo\'94l.) The order of reptiles which includes the serpents.

&hand; The most important divisions are: the Solenoglypha , having erectile perforated fangs, as the rattlesnake; the Proteroglypha , or elapine serpents, having permanently erect fang, as the cobra; the Asinea , or colubrine serpents, which are destitute of fangs; and the Opoterodonta , or Epanodonta , blindworms, in which the mouth is not dilatable.

Ophidian <Xpage=1005>

O*phid"i*an (?) , n. [Cf. F. ophidien .] (Zo\'94l.) One of the Ophidia; a snake or serpent.

Ophidian <Xpage=1005>

O*phid"i*an , a. [Cf. F. ophidien .] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Ophidia; belonging to serpents.

Ophidioid <Xpage=1005>

O*phid"i*oid (?) , a. [ Ophidion + -oid .] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Ophidiid\'91 , a family of fishes which includes many slender species. -- n. One of the Ophidiid\'91 .

Ophidion <Xpage=1005>

O*phid"i*on (?) , n. ; pl. Ophidia (#) . [L., fr. Gr. <?/ little snake, fr. <?/ a serpent.] (Zo\'94l.) The typical genus of ophidioid fishes. [Written also Ophidium .] See Illust . under Ophidioid .

Ophidious <Xpage=1005>

O*phid"i*ous (?) , a. Ophidian.

Ophiolatry <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*ol"a*try (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ serpent + <?/ worship.] The worship of serpents.

Ophiologic, Ophiological <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*o*log"ic (?) , O`phi*o*log"ic*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to ophiology.

Ophiologist <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*ol"o*gist (?) , n. One versed in the natural history of serpents.

Ophiology <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*ol"o*gy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a serpent + -logy : cf.F. ophioloqie .] That part of natural history which treats of the ophidians, or serpents.

Ophiomancy <Xpage=1005>

O"phi*o*man`cy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a serpent + -mancy : cf. F. ophiomantie .] Divination by serpents, as by their manner of eating, or by their coils.

Ophiomorpha <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*o*mor"pha (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Ophiomorphous .] (Zo\'94l.) An order of tailless amphibians having a slender, wormlike body with regular annulations, and usually with minute scales imbedded in the skin. The limbs are rudimentary or wanting. It includes the c\'91cilians. Called also Gymnophiona and Ophidobatrachia .

Ophiomorphite <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*o*mor"phite (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a serpent + <?/ form.] (Paleon.) An ammonite.

Ophiomorphous <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*o*mor"phous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ a serpent + -morphous .] Having the form of a serpent.

Ophiophagous <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*oph"a*gous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ a serpent + <?/ to eat: cf. F. ophiophage .] (Zo\'94l.) Feeding on serpents; -- said of certain birds and reptiles.

Ophiophagus <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*oph"a*gus , n. [NL. See Ophiophagous .] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of venomous East Indian snakes, which feed on other snakes. Ophiophagus elaps is said to be the largest and most deadly of poisonous snakes.

Ophite <Xpage=1005>

O"phite (?) , a. [Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ a serpent.] Of or pertaining to a serpent. [Obs.]

Ophite <Xpage=1005>

O"phite , n. [L. ophites , Gr. <?/ (sc. <?/), a kind of marble spotted like a serpent: cf. F. ophite .] (Min.) A greenish spotted porphyry, being a diabase whose pyroxene has been altered to uralite; -- first found in the Pyreness. So called from the colored spots which give it a mottled appearance. -- O*phi"ic (#) , a.

Ophite <Xpage=1005>

O"phite , n. [L. Ophitae , pl. See Ophite , a. ] (Eccl.Hist.) A mamber of a Gnostic serpent-worshiping sect of the second century.

Ophiuchus <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*u"chus (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/, lit., holding a serpent; <?/ a serpent + <?/ to hold.] (Astron.) A constellation in the Northern Hemisphere, delineated as a man holding a serpent in his hands; -- called also Serpentarius .

Ophiura <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*u"ra (?) , n. [NL., from Gr. <?/ snake + <?/ a tail.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of ophiurioid starfishes.

Ophiuran <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*u"ran (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Ophiurioidea. -- n. One of the Ophiurioidea.

Ophiurid <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*u"rid (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Ophiurioid .

Ophiurida <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*u"ri*da (?) , n. pl. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Ophiurioidea .

Ophiurioid <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*u"ri*oid (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Ophiurioidea. -- n. One of the Ophiurioidea. [Written also ophiuroid .]

Ophiurioidea, Ophiuroidea <Xpage=1005>

O`phi*u`ri*oi"de*a (?) , O`phi*u*roi"de*a (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ serpent + <?/ tail + <?/ form.] (Zo\'94l.) A class of star-shaped echinoderms having a disklike body, with slender, articulated arms, which are not grooved beneath and are often very fragile; -- called also Ophiuroida and Ophiuridea . See Illust . under Brittle star .

Ophryon <Xpage=1005>

Oph"ry*on (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/, <?/, the brow.] (Anat.) The supraorbital point.

Ophthalmia <Xpage=1005>