Chapter 1179

Pol`y*me*nis"cous (?) , a. [See Poly- , and Meniscus .] (Zo\'94l.) Having numerous facets; -- said of the compound eyes of insects and crustaceans.

Polymer <Xpage=10>

Pol"y*mer (?) , n. [See Polymeric .] (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.]

Polymeric <Xpage=10>

Pol`y*mer"ic (?) , 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.

&hand; 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.

<-- 2. consisting of multiple units linked together by covalent bonds to form a larger molecule -->

Polymerism <Xpage=10>

Po*lym"er*ism (?) , n. (Chem.) (a) The state, quality, or relation of two or more polymeric substances. (b) The act or process of forming polymers.

Polymerization <Xpage=10>

Pol`y*mer`i*za"tion (?) , n. (Chem.) The act or process of changing to a polymeric form; the condition resulting from such change.

Polymerize <Xpage=10>

Pol"y*mer*ize (?) , 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.

Polymerize <Xpage=10>

Pol"y*mer*ize , 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.

Polymerous <Xpage=10>

Po*lym"er*ous (?) , a. 1. (Bot.) Having many parts or members in each set.

Gray.

2. (Chem.) Polymeric. [Obs.]

Polymnia <Xpage=10>

Po*lym"ni*a (?) , n. See Polyhymnia .

Polymnite <Xpage=10>

Pol"ym*nite (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ full of moss; <?/ much + <?/ moss.] (Min.) A stone marked with dendrites and black lines, and so disposed as to represent rivers, marshes, etc.

Polymorph <Xpage=10>

Pol"y*morph (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ multiform; <?/ many + <?/ form: cf. F. polymorphe .] (Crystallog.) A substance capable of crystallizing in several distinct forms; also, any one of these forms. Cf. Allomorph .

Polymorphic <Xpage=10>

Pol`y*mor"phic (?) , a. Polymorphous.

Polymorphism <Xpage=10>

Pol`y*mor"phism (?) , n. 1. (Crystallog.) Same as Pleomorphism .

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.

Polymorphosis <Xpage=10>

Pol`y*mor*pho"sis (?) , n. [NL. See Poly- , and Morphosis .] (Zo\'94l.) The assumption of several structural forms without a corresponding difference in function; -- said of sponges, etc.

Polymorphous <Xpage=10>

Pol`y*mor"phous (?) , a. 1. Having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles; as, a polymorphous author .

De Quincey.

2. (Biol.) Having, or occurring in, several distinct forms; -- opposed to monomorphic .

<page="1111"> Page 1111

Polymorphy <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*mor`phy (?) , n. Existence in many forms; polymorphism.

Poly-mountain <Xpage=1111>

Po`ly-moun"tain (?) , n. (Bot.) (a) Same as Poly , n. (b) The closely related Teucrium montanum , formerly called Polium montanum , a plant of Southern Europe. (c) The Bartsia alpina , a low purple-flowered herb of Europe.

Polymyod\'91 <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*my"o*d\'91 (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Polymyoid .] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Oscines .

Polymyodous <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*my"o*dous (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Polymyoid.

Polymyoid <Xpage=1111>

Po*lym"y*oid (?) , a. [ Poly- + Gr. <?/, <?/, muscle + -oid .] (Zo\'94l.) Having numerous vocal muscles; of or pertaining to the Polymyod\'91.

Polyneme <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*neme (?) , n. [ Poly- + Gr. <?/ thread.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of tropical food fishes of the family Polynemid\'91 . They have several slender filaments, often very long, below the pectoral fin. Some of them yield isinglass of good quality. Called also threadfish .

Polynemoid <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*ne"moid (?) , a. [ Polyneme + -oid .] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the polynemes, or the family Polynemid\'91 .

Polynesian <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*ne"sian (?) , a. Of or pertaining to Polynesia (the islands of the eastern and central Pacific), or to the Polynesians.

Polynesians <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*ne"sians (?) , n. pl. ; sing. Polynesian . (Ethnol.) The race of men native in Polynesia.

Polynia <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyn"i*a (?) , n. [Russ. poluineia a warm place in water, i. e., a place which does not freeze.] The open sea supposed to surround the north pole.

Kane.

Polynomial <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*no"mi*al (?) , n. [ Poly- + -nomial , as in monomial , binomial : cf. F. polyn\'93me .] (Alg.) An expression composed of two or more terms, connected by the signs plus or minus ; as, a 2 - 2ab + b 2 .

Polynomial <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*no"mi*al , a. 1. Containing many names or terms; multinominal; as, the polynomial theorem .

2. Consisting of two or more words; having names consisting of two or more words; as, a polynomial name; polynomial nomenclature.

Polynuclear <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*nu"cle*ar (?) , a. [ Poly- + nuclear .] (Biol.) Containing many nuclei.

Polynucleolar <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*nu*cle"o*lar (?) , a. [ Poly- + nucleolar .] (Biol.) Having more than one nucleolus.

Polyommatous <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*om"ma*tous (?) , a. [ Poly- + Gr. <?/, <?/, the eye.] Having many eyes.

Polyonomous <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*on"o*mous (?) , a. [ Poly- + Gr. <?/, <?/, name: cf. Gr. <?/.] Having many names or titles; polyonymous.

Sir W. Jones.

Polyonomy <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*on"o*my (?) , n. [Cf. Gr. <?/ a multitude of names.] The use of a variety of names for the same object.

G. S. Faber.

Polyonym <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*o*nym (?) , n. 1. An object which has a variety of names.

2. A polynomial name or term.

Polyonymous <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*on"y*mous , a. Polyonomous.

Polyoptron, Polyoptrum <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*op"tron (?) , Pol`y*op"trum (?) , n. [NL., from Gr. <?/ many + <?/ seen.] (Opt.) A glass through which objects appear multiplied, but diminished in size. [R.]

Polyorama <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*o*ra"ma (?) , n. [ Poly- + Gr. <?/ a sight, view.] A view of many objects; also, a sort of panorama with dissolving views.

Polyp <Xpage=1111>

Pol"yp (?) , n. [L. polypus , Gr. <?/, <?/, literally, many-footed; <?/ many + <?/, <?/, foot: cf. F. polype . See Poly- and Foot , and cf. Polypode , Polypody , Poulp .] (Zo\'94l.) (a) One of the feeding or nutritive zooids of a hydroid or coral. (b) One of the Anthozoa. (c) pl. Same as Anthozoa . See Anthozoa , Madreporaria , Hydroid . [Written also polype .]

Fresh-water polyp , the hydra. -- Polyp stem (Zo\'94l.) , that portion of the stem of a siphonophore which bears the polypites, or feeding zooids.

Polyparous <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyp"a*rous (?) , a. [ Poly- + L. parere to produce.] Producing or bearing a great number; bringing forth many.

Polypary <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*pa*ry (?) , n. ; pl. Polyparies (#) . [See Polyp .] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Polypidom .

Polype <Xpage=1111>

Pol"ype (?) , n. [F.] (Zo\'94l.) See Polyp .

Polypean <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*pe"an (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to a polyp, or polyps.

Polyperythrin <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*pe*ryth"rin (?) , n. [ Polyp + Gr. <?/ red.] (Physiol. Chem.) A coloring matter found in many simple Anthozoa and some hydroids.

Polypetalous <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*pet"al*ous (?) , a. [ Poly- + petal .] (Bot.) Consisting of, or having, several or many separate petals; as, a polypetalous corolla, flower, or plant .

Martyn.

Polyphagous <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyph"a*gous (?) , a. [L. polyphagus , Gr. <?/; <?/ much, many + <?/ to eat: cf. F. polyphage .] Eating, or subsisting on, many kinds of food; as, polyphagous animals .

Polyphagy <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyph""a*gy (?) , n. The practice or faculty of subsisting on many kinds of food.

Polypharmacy <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*phar"ma*cy (?) , n. [ Poly- + Gr. <?/ the using of medicine, fr. <?/ medicine: cf. F. polypharmacie .] (Med.) (a) The act or practice of prescribing too many medicines. (b) A prescription made up of many medicines or ingredients.

Dunglison.

Polyphemus <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*phe"mus (?) , n. [L. Polyphemus the one-eyed Cyclops who was blinded by Ulysses.] (Zo\'94l.) A very large American moth ( Telea polyphemus ) belonging to the Silkworm family ( Bombycid\'91 ). Its larva, which is very large, bright green, with silvery tubercles, and with oblique white stripes on the sides, feeds on the oak, chestnut, willow, cherry, apple, and other trees. It produces a large amount of strong silk. Called also American silkworm .

Polyphone <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*phone (?) , n. A character or vocal sign representing more than one sound, as read , which is pronounced r\'c7d or r\'cbd .

Polyphonic <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*phon"ic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/ many + <?/ sound: cf. F. polyphone .] 1. Having a multiplicity of sounds.

2. Characterized by polyphony; as, Assyrian polyphonic characters .

3. (Mus.) Consisting of several tone series, or melodic parts, progressing simultaneously according to the laws of counterpoint; contrapuntal; as, a polyphonic composition ; -- opposed to homophonic , or monodic .

Polyphonism <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyph"o*nism (?) , n. Polyphony.

Polyphonist <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyph"o*nist (?) , n. 1. A proficient in the art of multiplying sounds; a ventriloquist.

2. (Mus.) A master of polyphony; a contrapuntist.

Polyphonous <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyph"o*nous (?) , a. Same as Polyphonic .

Polyphony <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyph"o*ny (?) , n. [Gr. <?/.] 1. Multiplicity of sounds, as in the reverberations of an echo.

2. Plurality of sounds and articulations expressed by the same vocal sign.

3. (Mus.) Composition in mutually related, equally important parts which share the melody among them; contrapuntal composition; -- opposed to homophony , in which the melody is given to one part only, the others filling out the harmony. See Counterpoint .

Polyphore <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*phore (?) , n. [ Poly- + Gr. <?/ to bear.] (Bot.) A receptacle which bears many ovaries.

Polyphyletic <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*phy*let"ic (?) , a. [ Poly- + Gr. <?/ clan.] (Biol.) Pertaining to, or characterized by, descent from more than one root form, or from many different root forms; polygenetic; -- opposed to monophyletic .

Polyphyllous <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyph"yl*lous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/ many + <?/ leaf.] (Bot.) Many-leaved; as, a polyphyllous calyx or perianth .

Polypi <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*pi (?) , n. pl. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) The Anthozoa.

Polypide <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*pide (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the ordinary zooids of the Bryozoa. [Spellt also polypid .]

Polypidom <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyp"i*dom (?) , n. [ Polypus + L. domus house.] (Zo\'94l.) A coral, or corallum; also, one of the coral-like structure made by bryozoans and hydroids.

Polypier <Xpage=1111>

Po`ly`pier" (?) , n. [F.] A polypidom.

Polypifera <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*pif"e*ra (?) , n. pl. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) The Anthozoa.

Polypiferous <Xpage=1111>

Pol*y*pif"er*ous (?) , a. [ Polypus + -ferous .] (Zo\'94l.) Bearing polyps, or polypites.

Polypiparous <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*pip"a*rous (?) , a. [ Polypus + L. parere to produce.] (Zo\'94l.) Producing polyps.

Polypite <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*pite (?) , n. 1. (Zo\'94l.) (a) One of the feeding zooids, or polyps, of a coral, hydroid, or siphonophore; a hydranth. See Illust . of Campanularian . (b) Sometimes, the manubrium of a hydroid medusa.

2. (Paleon.) A fossil coral.

Polyplacophora <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*pla*coph"o*ra (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Poly- , and Placophora .] (Zo\'94l.) See Placophora .

Polyplastic <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*plas"tic (?) , a. [ Poly- + -plastic .] (Biol.) Assuming, or having the power of assuming, many forms; as, a polyplastic element which does not preserve its original shape .

Polypode <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*pode (?) , n. [Cf. F. polypode . See Polypody .] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Polypodium ; polypody. [Written also polypod .]

Polypode <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*pode , n. [Gr. <?/, <?/, the wood louse, milleped: cf. F. polypode . See Polyp .] (Zo\'94l.) An animal having many feet; a myriapod.

Polypodium <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*po`di*um (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/, dim. of <?/. See Polyp , and cf. 2d Polypode .] (Bot.) A genus of plants of the order Filices or ferns. The fructifications are in uncovered roundish points, called sori , scattered over the inferior surface of the frond or leaf. There are numerous species.

Polypody <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*po`dy (?) , n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Polypodium .

Polypoid <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*poid (?) , a. [ Polyp + -oid .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) Like a polyp; having the nature of a polyp, but lacking the tentacles or other parts.

2. (Med.) Resembling a polypus in appearance; having a character like that of a polypus.

Polypomedus\'91 <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*po*me*du"s\'91 (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Polyp , and Medusa .] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Hydrozoa .

Polyporous <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyp"o*rous (?; 277) , a. [ Poly- + porous .] Having many pores.

Wright.

Polyporus <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyp"o*rus (?) , n. ; pl. Polypori (#) . [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ many + <?/ a pore.] (Bot.) A genus of fungi having the under surface full of minute pores; also, any fungus of this genus.

&hand; Polyporus fomentarius was formerly dried and cut in slices for tinder, called amadou . P. betulinus is common in America, and forms very large thick white semicircular excrescences on birch trees. Several species of Polyporous are considered edible.

Polypous <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*pous (?) , a. [Cf. F. polypeux . See Polyp .] Of the nature of a polypus; having many feet or roots, like the polypus; affected with polypus.

Polypragmatic, Polypragmatical <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*prag*mat"ic (?) , Pol`y*prag*mat"ic*al (?) , a. [ Poly- + pragmatic , -ical .] Overbusy; officious. [R.]

Heywood.

Polypragmaty <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*prag"ma*ty (?) , n. [ Poly- + Gr. <?/ business.] The state of being overbusy. [R.]

Polyprotodonta <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*pro`to*don"ta (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ many + <?/ first + <?/, <?/, tooth.] (Zo\'94l.) A division of marsupials in which there are more fore incisor teeth in each jaw.

Polypteroidei <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyp`te*roi"de*i (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Polypterus , and -oid .] (Zo\'94l.) A suborder of existing ganoid fishes having numerous fins along the back. The bichir, or Polypterus, is the type. See Illust . under Crossopterygian .

Polypterus <Xpage=1111>

Po*lyp`te*rus (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ many + <?/ feather, wing.] (Zo\'94l.) An African genus of ganoid fishes including the bichir.

Polyptoton <Xpage=1111>

Pol`yp*to"ton (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/ having, or being in, many cases; <?/ many + <?/ case.] (Rhet.) A figure by which a word is repeated in different forms, cases, numbers, genders, etc., as in Tennyson's line, -- "My own heart's heart, and ownest own, farewell."

Polypus <Xpage=1111>

Pol"y*pus (?) , n. ; pl. E. Polypuses (#) , L. Polypi (#) . [L. See Polyp .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Polyp . <-- polyp is the normal term now -->

2. (Med.) A tumor, usually with a narrow base, somewhat resembling a pear, -- found in the nose, uterus, etc., and produced by hypertrophy of some portion of the mucous membrane.

Polyrhizous <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*rhi"zous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/ many + <?/ root.] (Bot.) Having numerous roots, or rootlets.

Polyschematist <Xpage=1111>

Pol`y*sche"ma*tist (?) , a. [ Poly- + Gr. <?/ form, manner.] Having, or existing in, many different forms or fashions; multiform.

Polyscope <Xpage=1111>