Chapter 585

&hand; Ferments are of two kinds: ( a ) Formed or organized ferments. ( b ) Unorganized or structureless ferments. The latter are also called soluble &or; chemical ferments , and enzymes . Ferments of the first class are as a rule simple microscopic vegetable organisms, and the fermentations which they engender are due to their growth and development; as, the acetic ferment , the butyric ferment , etc. See Fermentation . Ferments of the second class, on the other hand, are chemical substances, as a rule soluble in glycerin and precipitated by alcohol. In action they are catalytic and, mainly, hydrolytic. Good examples are pepsin of the dastric juice, ptyalin of the salvia, and disease of malt. <-- by 1960 the term "ferment" to mean "enzyme" fell out of use. Enzymes are now known to be globular protein s, capable of catalyzing a wide variety of chemical reactions, not merely hydrolytic. The full set of enzymes causing production of ethyl alcohol from sugar has been identified and individually purified and studied. See enzyme -->

2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation.

Subdue and cool the ferment of desire. Rogers.

the nation is in a ferment . Walpole. <-- in a ferment in a state of agitation, applied to human groups. -->

3. A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a fluid; fermentation. [R.]

Down to the lowest lees the ferment ran. Thomson.

ferment oils , volatile oils produced by the fermentation of plants, and not originally contained in them. These were the quintessences of the alchenists.

Ure.

Ferment <Xpage=552>

Fer*ment" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fermented ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fermenting .] [L. fermentare , fermentatum : cf. F. fermenter . See Ferment , n. ] To cause ferment of fermentation in; to set in motion; to excite internal emotion in; to heat.

Ye vigorous swains! while youth ferments your blood. Pope.

Ferment <Xpage=552>

Fer*ment" , v. i. 1. To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited into sensible internal motion, as the constituent oarticles of an animal or vegetable fluid; to work; to effervesce.

2. To be agitated or excited by violent emotions.

But finding no redress, ferment an rage. Milton.

The intellect of the age was a fermenting intellect. De Quincey.

Fermentability <Xpage=552>

Fer*ment`a*bil"i*ty (?) , n. Capability of fermentation.

Fermentable <Xpage=552>

Fer*ment"a*ble (?) , a. [Cf. F. fermentable .] Capable of fermentation; as, cider and other vegetable liquors are fermentable .

Fermental <Xpage=552>

Fer*ment"al (?) , a. Fermentative. [Obs.]

<page="553"> Page 553

Fermentation <Xpage=553>

Fer`men*ta"tion (?) , n. [Cf. F. fermentation .] 1. The process of undergoing an effervescent change, as by the action of yeast; in a wider sense (Physiol. Chem.) , the transformation of an organic substance into new compounds by the action of a ferment, either formed or unorganized. It differs in kind according to the nature of the ferment which causes it. <-- in industrial microbiology -- = the production of chemical substances by use of microorganisms -->

2. A state of agitation or excitement, as of the intellect or the feelings.

It puts the soul to fermentation and activity. Jer. Taylor.

A univesal fermentation of human thought and faith. C. Kingsley.

Acetous, &or; Acetic , fermentation , a form of oxidation in which alcohol is converted into vinegar or acetic acid by the agency of a specific fungus or ferment ( Mycoderma aceti ). The process involves two distinct reactions, in which the oxygen of the air is essential. An intermediate product, aldehyde, is formed in the first process.

1. C2H6O + O = H2O + C2H4O Alcohol. Water. Aldehyde.

2. C2H4O + O = C2H4O2 Aldehyde. Acetic acid.

-- Alcoholic fermentation , the fermentation which saccharine bodies undergo when brought in contact with the yeast plant or Torula. The sugar is converted, either directly or indirectly, into alcohol and carbonic acid, the rate of action being dependent on the rapidity with which the Torul\'91 develop. -- Ammoniacal fermentation , the conversion of the urea of the urine into ammonium carbonate, through the growth of the special urea ferment.

CON2H4 + 2H2O = (NH4)2CO3 Urea. Water. Ammonium carbonate.

Whenever urine is exposed to the air in open vessels for several days it undergoes this alkaline fermentation. -- Butyric fermentation , the decomposition of various forms of organic matter, through the agency of a peculiar worm-shaped vibrio, with formation of more or less butyric acid. It is one of the many forms of fermentation that collectively constitute putrefaction. See Lactic fermentation . -- Fermentation by an unorganized ferment &or; enzyme . Fermentations of this class are purely chemical reactions, in which the ferment acts as a simple catalytic agent. Of this nature are the decomposition or inversion of cane sugar into levulose and dextrose by boiling with dilute acids, the conversion of starch into dextrin and sugar by similar treatment, the conversion of starch into like products by the action of diastase of malt or ptyalin of saliva, the conversion of albuminous food into peptones and other like products by the action of pepsin-hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice or by the ferment of the pancreatic juice. -- Fermentation theory of disease (Biol. & Med.) , the theory that most if not all, infectious or zymotic disease are caused by the introduction into the organism of the living germs of ferments, or ferments already developed (organized ferments), by which processes of fermentation are set up injurious to health. See Germ theory . -- Glycerin fermentation , the fermentation which occurs on mixing a dilute solution of glycerin with a peculiar species of schizomycetes and some carbonate of lime, and other matter favorable to the growth of the plant, the glycerin being changed into butyric acid, caproic acid, butyl, and ethyl alcohol. With another form of bacterium ( Bacillus subtilis ) ethyl alcohol and butyric acid are mainly formed. -- Lactic fermentation , the transformation of milk sugar or other saccharine body into lactic acid, as in the souring of milk, through the agency of a special bacterium ( Bacterium lactis of Lister). In this change the milk sugar, before assuming the form of lactic acid, presumably passes through the stage of glucose.

C12H22O11.H2O = 4C3H6O3 Hydrated milk sugar. Lactic acid.

In the lactic fermentation of dextrose or glucose, the lactic acid which is formed is very prone to undergo butyric fermentation after the manner indicated in the following equation: 2C3H6O3 (lactic acid) = C4H8O2 (butyric acid) + 2CO2 (carbonic acid) + 2H2 (hydrogen gas). -- Putrefactive fermentation . See Putrefaction .

Fermentative <Xpage=553>

Fer*ment"a*tive (?) , a. [Cf. F. fermentatif .] Causing, or having power to cause, fermentation; produced by fermentation; fermenting; as, a fermentative process .

-- Fer*ment"a*tive*ly , adv. -- Fer*ment"a*tive*ness , n.

Fermerere <Xpage=553>

Fer"mer*ere (?) , n. [OF. enfermerier , fr. enfermerie infirmary. See Infirmary .] The officer in a religious house who had the care of the infirmary. [Obs.]

Fermillet <Xpage=553>

Fer"mil*let (?) , n. [OF., dim. of fermeil , fermail , clasp, prob. fr. OF. & F. fermer to make fast, fr. ferme fast. See Firm .] A buckle or clasp. [Obs.]

Donne.

Fern <Xpage=553>

Fern (?) , adv. Long ago. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Fern <Xpage=553>

Fern , a. [AS. fyrn .] Ancient; old. [Obs.] "Pilgrimages to . . . ferne halwes." [saints].

Chaucer.

Fern <Xpage=553>

Fern (?) , n. [AS. fearn ; akin to D. varen , G. farn , farn kraut; cf. Skr. par\'c9a wing, feather, leaf, sort of plant, or Lith. papartis fern.] (Bot.) An order of cryptogamous plants, the Filices , which have their fructification on the back of the fronds or leaves. They are usually found in humid soil, sometimes grow epiphytically on trees, and in tropical climates often attain a gigantic size.

&hand; The plants are asexual, and bear clustered sporangia, containing minute spores, which germinate and form prothalli, on which are borne the true organs of reproduction. The brake or bracken, the maidenhair, and the polypody are all well known ferns.

Christmas fern . See under Christmas . -- Climbing fern (Bot.) , a delicate North American fern ( Lygodium palmatum ), which climbs several feet high over bushes, etc., and is much sought for purposes of decoration. -- Fern owl . (Zo\'94l.) (a) The European goatsucker. (b) The short-eared owl. [Prov. Eng.] -- Fern shaw , a fern thicket. [Eng.] R. Browning.

Fernery <Xpage=553>

Fern"er*y (?) , n. A place for rearing ferns.

Fernticle <Xpage=553>

Fern"ti*cle (?) , n. A freckle on the skin, resembling the seed of fern. [Prov. Eng.]

Ferny <Xpage=553>

Fern"y (?) , a. Abounding in ferns.

Ferocious <Xpage=553>

Fe*ro"cious (?) , a. [L. ferox , -ocis , fierce: cf. F. f\'82roce . See Ferocity .] Fierce; savage; wild; indicating cruelty; ravenous; rapacious; as, ferocious look or features; a ferocious lion.

The humbled power of a ferocious enemy. Lowth.

Syn. -- Ferocious , Fierce , Savage , Barbarous . When these words are applied to human feelings or conduct, ferocious describes the disposition; fierce , the haste and violence of an act; barbarous , the coarseness and brutality by which it was marked; savage , the cruel and unfeeling spirit which it showed. A man is ferocious in his temper, fierce in his actions, barbarous in the manner of carrying out his purposes, savage in the spirit and feelings expressed in his words or deeds.

-- Fe*ro"cious*ly , adv. -- Fe*ro"cious*ness , n.

It [Christianity] has adapted the ferociousness of war. Blair.

Ferocity <Xpage=553>

Fe*roc"i*ty (?) , n. [L. ferocitas , fr. ferox , -ocis , fierce, kin to ferus wild: cf. F. ferocit\'82 . See Fierce .] Savage wildness or fierceness; fury; cruelty; as, ferocity of countenance .

The pride and ferocity of a Highland chief. Macaulay.

Feroher <Xpage=553>

Fer*o"her (?) , n. (Arch\'91ol.) A symbol of the solar deity, found on monuments exhumed in Babylon, Nineveh, etc.

Ferous <Xpage=553>

Fe"rous (?) , a. [L. ferus . See Fierce .] Wild; savage. [R.]

Arthur Wilson.

-ferous <Xpage=553>

-fer*ous (?) . [L. -fer . fr. ferre to bear. See Bear to support.] A suffix signifying bearing , producing , yielding ; as, auri ferous , yielding gold; chyli ferous , producing chyle.

Ferrandine <Xpage=553>

Fer*ran"dine (? &or; ?) , n. [F.; cf. OF. ferrant iron-gray, from L. ferrum iron.] A stuff made of silk and wool.

I did buy a colored silk ferrandine . Pepys.

Ferrara <Xpage=553>

Fer*ra"ra (?) , n. A sword bearing the mark of one of the Ferrara family of Italy. These swords were highly esteemed in England and Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Ferrarese <Xpage=553>

Fer`ra*rese" (?) , a. Pertaining to Ferrara, in Italy. -- n., sing. & pl. A citizen of Ferrara; collectively, the inhabitants of Ferrara.

Ferrary <Xpage=553>

Fer"ra*ry (?) , n. [L. ferraria iron works. See Ferreous .] The art of working in iron. [Obs.]

Chapman.

Ferrate <Xpage=553>

Fer"rate (?) , n. [L. ferrum iron.] (Chem.) A salt of ferric acid.

Ferre, Ferrer <Xpage=553>

Fer"re (?) , Fer"rer (?) , a. & adv. Obs. compar. of Fer .

Ferreous <Xpage=553>

Fer"re*ous (?) , a. [L. ferreus , fr. ferrum iron. Cf. Farrier , Ferrous .] Partaking of, made of, or pertaining to, iron; like iron. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Ferrest <Xpage=553>

Fer"rest (?) , a. & adv. Obs. superl. of Fer .

Chaucer.

Ferret <Xpage=553>

Fer"ret (?) , n. [F. furet , cf. LL. furo ; prob. fr. L. fur thief (cf. Furtive ); cf. Arm. fur wise, sly.] (Zo\'94l.) An animal of the Weasel family ( Mustela &or; Putorius furo ), about fourteen inches in length, of a pale yellow or white color, with red eyes. It is a native of Africa, but has been domesticated in Europe. Ferrets are used to drive rabbits and rats out of their holes.

Ferret <Xpage=553>

Fer"ret , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ferreted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ferreting .] [Cf. F. fureter . See Ferret , n. ] To drive or hunt out of a lurking place, as a ferret does the cony; to search out by patient and sagacious efforts; -- often used with out ; as, to ferret out a secret .

Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him. Shak.

Ferret <Xpage=553>

Fer"ret , n. [Ital. foretto , dim. of fiore flower; or F. fleuret . Cf. Floret .] A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; -- called also ferreting .

Ferret <Xpage=553>

Fer"ret , n. [F. feret , dim. or fer iron, L. ferrum .] (Glass Making) The iron used for trying the melted glass to see if is fit to work, and for shaping the rings at the mouths of bottles.

Ferreter <Xpage=553>

Fer"ret*er (?) , n. One who ferrets.

Johnson.

Ferret-eye <Xpage=553>

Fer"ret-eye` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The spur-winged goose; -- so called from the red circle around the eyes.

Ferretto <Xpage=553>

Fer*ret"to (?) , n. [It. ferretto di Spagna, dim. of ferro iron, fr. L. ferrum .] Copper sulphide, used to color glass.

Hebert.

Ferri- <Xpage=553>

Fer"ri- (<?/) . (Chem.) A combining form indicating ferric iron as an ingredient; as, ferri cyanide .

Ferriage <Xpage=553>

Fer"ri*age (?; 48) , n. [From Ferry .] The price or fare to be paid for passage at a ferry.

Ferric <Xpage=553>

Fer"ric (?) , a. [L. ferrum iron: cf. F. ferrique . See Ferrous .] Pertaining to, derived from, or containing iron. Specifically (Chem.) , denoting those compounds in which iron has a higher valence than in the ferrous compounds; as, ferric oxide; ferric acid.

Ferric acid (Chem.) , an acid, H2FeO4 , which is not known in the free state, but forms definite salts, analogous to the chromates and sulphates. -- Ferric oxide (Chem.) , sesquioxide of iron, Fe2O3 ; hematite. See Hematite .

Ferricyanat</ <Xpage=553>

Fer`ri*cy"a*nat<?/ (?) , n. [ Ferri- + cyanate .] (Chem.) A salt of ferricyanic acid; a ferricyanide.

Ferricyanic <Xpage=553>

Fer`ri*cy*an"ic (?) , a. [ Ferri- + cyanic .] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, a ferricyanide.

Ferricyanic acid (Chem.) , a brown crystalline substance, H6(CN)12Fe2 , obtained from potassium ferricyanide, and regarded as the type of the ferricyanides; -- called also hydro-ferricyanic acid , hydrogen ferricyanide , etc.

Ferricyanide <Xpage=553>

Fer`ri*cy"a*nide (?; 104) , n. [ Ferri- + cyanide .] (Chem.) One of a complex series of double cyanides of ferric iron and some other base.

Potassium ferricyanide (Chem.) , red prussiate of potash; a dark, red, crystalline salt, K6(CN)12Fe2 , consisting of the double cyanide of potassium and ferric iron. From it is derived the ferrous ferricyanate, Turnbull's blue .

Ferrier <Xpage=553>

Fer"ri*er (?) , n. A ferryman.

Calthrop.

Ferriferous <Xpage=553>

Fer*rif"er*ous (?) , a. [L. ferrum iron + -ferous : cf. F. ferrif\'8are .] Producing or yielding iron.

Ferriprussiate <Xpage=553>

Fer`ri*prus"si*ate (? &or; ?; see Prussiate , 277) , n. [ Ferri- + prussiate .] (Chem.) A ferricyanate; a ferricyanide. [R.]

Ferriprussic <Xpage=553>

Fer`ri*prus"sic (? &or; ?; see Prussik , 277) , a. [ Ferri- + prussic .] (Chem.) Ferricyanic. [R.]

Ferro- <Xpage=553>

Fer"ro- (<?/) . (Chem.) A prefix, or combining form, indicating ferrous iron as an ingredient; as, ferro cyanide .

Ferrocalcite <Xpage=553>

Fer`ro*cal"cite (?) , n. [ Ferro- + calcite .] Limestone containing a large percentage of iron carbonate, and hence turning brown on exposure.

Ferrocyanate <Xpage=553>

Fer`ro*cy"a*nate (?) , n. [ Ferro- + cyanate : cf. F. ferrocyanate .] (Chem.) A salt of ferrocyanic acid; a ferrocyanide.

Ferrocyanic <Xpage=553>

Fer`ro*cy*an"ic (?) , a. [ Ferro- + cyanic : cf. F. ferrocyanique .] (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, a ferrocyanide.

ferrocyanic acid (Chem.) , a white crystalline substance, H4(CN)6Fe , of strong acid properties, obtained from potassium ferrocyanide, and regarded as the type of the ferrocyanides; -- called also hydro-ferrocyanic acid , hydrogen ferrocyanide . etc.

Ferrocyanide <Xpage=553>

Fer`ro*cy"a*nide (? &or; ?; 104) , n. [ Ferro- + cyanide .] (Chem.) One of a series of complex double cyanides of ferrous iron and some other base.

Potassium ferrocyanide (Chem.) , yellow prussiate of potash; a tough, yellow, crystalline salt, K4(CN)6Fe , the starting point in the manufacture of almost all cyanogen compounds, and the basis of the ferric ferrocyanate, prussian blue . It is obtained by strongly heating together potash, scrap iron, and animal matter containing nitrogen, as horn, leather, blood, etc., in iron pots.

Ferroprussiate <Xpage=553>

Fer`ro*prus"si*ate (? &or; ? &or;; see Prussiate , 277) , n. ) [ Ferro- + prussiate .] (Chem.) A ferrocyanate; a ferocyanide. [R.]

Ferroprussic <Xpage=553>

Fer`ro*prus"sic (? &or; ?; see Prussic , 277) , a. [ Ferro- + prussic .] (Chem.) Ferrocyanic.

Ferroso- <Xpage=553>

Fer*ro"so- (<?/) . (Chem.) See Ferro- .

Ferrotype <Xpage=553>