Z.
Z (zē; in England commonly, and in America
sometimes, z&ebreve;d; formerly, also,
&ibreve;z"z&ebreve;rd) Z, the twenty-sixth and last letter of the
English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. It is taken from the Latin
letter Z, which came from the Greek alphabet, this having it from a
Semitic source. The ultimate origin is probably Egyptian.
Etymologically, it is most closely related to s, y, and
j; as in glass, glaze; E. yoke, Gr. &?;,
L. yugum; E. zealous, jealous. See Guide to
Pronunciation, §§ 273, 274.
Za (?), n. (Min.) An old
solfeggio name for B flat; the seventh harmonic, as heard in the or
æolian string; -- so called by Tartini. It was long considered a
false, but is the true note of the chord of the flat seventh.
H. W. Poole.
{ Za"ba*ism (?), Za"bism (?) },
n. See Sabianism.
Za"bi*an (?), a. & n. See
Sabian.
Zac"co (?), n. (Arch.) See
Zocco.
||Za*chun" (?), n. (Bot.) An
oil pressed by the Arabs from the fruit of a small thorny tree
(Balanites Ægyptiaca), and sold to piligrims for a
healing ointment. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).
||Zaer"the (?), n. (Zoöl.)
Same as Zärthe.
Zaf"fer (?), n. [F. zafre,
safre; cf. Sp. zafra, safra, It. saffera,
G. zaffer; all probably of Arabic origin. Cf. Zaphara.]
A pigment obtained, usually by roasting cobalt glance with sand
or quartz, as a dark earthy powder. It consists of crude cobalt oxide,
or of an impure cobalt arseniate. It is used in porcelain painting,
and in enameling pottery, to produce a blue color, and is often
confounded with smalt, from which, however, it is distinct, as it
contains no potash. The name is often loosely applied to mixtures of
zaffer proper with silica, or oxides of iron, manganese, etc.
[Written also zaffre, and formerly zaffree,
zaffar, zaffir.]
||Zaim (?; 277), n. [Turk. & Ar.
za'īm.] A Turkish chief who supports a mounted
militia bearing the same name. Smart.
||Zaim"et (?; 277), n. [Turk. & Ar.
za'īmet.] A district from which a Zaim draws his
revenue. Smart.
Zain (?), n. A horse of a dark
color, neither gray nor white, and having no spots.
Smart.
Za*lamb"do*dont (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to a tribe
(Zalambdodonta) of Insectivora in which the molar teeth have
but one V-shaped ridge.
Za*lamb"do*dont, n. One of the
Zalambdodonta. The tenrec, solenodon, and golden moles are
examples.
||Za*mang" (?), n. (Bot.) An
immense leguminous tree (Pithecolobium Saman) of Venezuela. Its
branches form a hemispherical mass, often one hundred and eighty feet
across. The sweet pulpy pods are used commonly for feeding cattle.
Also called rain tree. J. Smith (Dict. Econ.
Plants).
Zam"bo (?), n.; pl.
Zambos (#). [See Sambo.] The child of a
mulatto and a negro; also, the child of an Indian and a negro;
colloquially or humorously, a negro; a sambo.
||Za"mi*a (?), n. [L. zamia a
kind of fir cone, from Gr. &?;, &?;, hurt, damage. See Plin. xvi.
44.] (Bot.) A genus of cycadaceous plants, having the
appearance of low palms, but with exogenous wood. See Coontie,
and Illust. of Strobile.
Zam`in*dar" (?), n. [Hind.
zemīndār, zamīndār, a
landholder, Per. zamīndār; zamīn land
dār holding.] A landowner; also, a collector of land
revenue; now, usually, a kind of feudatory recognized as an actual
proprietor so long as he pays to the government a certain fixed
revenue. [Written also zemindar.] [India]
{ Zam"in*da*ry (?), Zam"in*da*ri (?) },
n. The jurisdiction of a zamindar; the land
possessed by a zamindar. [Written also zemindary,
zemindari.]
Za"mite (?), n. (Paleon.) A
fossil cycad of the genus Zamia.
Za*mouse" (?), n. [From a native name.]
(Zoöl.) A West African buffalo (Bubalus
brachyceros) having short horns depressed at the base, and large
ears fringed internally with three rows of long hairs. It is destitute
of a dewlap. Called also short-horned buffalo, and bush
cow.
||Zam*po"gna (?), n. [It.] (Mus.)
A sort of bagpipe formerly in use among Italian peasants. It is
now almost obsolete. [Written also zampugna.]
Zan"der (?), n. [Cf. D. zand
sand.] (Zoöl.) A European pike perch (Stizostedion
lucioperca) allied to the wall-eye; -- called also sandari,
sander, sannat, schill, and
zant.
Zand"mole` (?), n. [Cf. D. zand
sand. See Sand, and Mole the animal.]
(Zoöl.) The sand mole.
Zan"te (?), n. (Bot.) See
Zantewood.
Zan"te cur"rant (?). A kind of seedless grape or
raisin; -- so called from Zante, one of the Ionian
Islands.
Zan"te*wood` (?), n. (Bot.)
(a) A yellow dyewood; fustet; -- called also
zante, and zante fustic. See Fustet, and the
Note under Fustic. (b) Satinwood
(Chloroxylon Swietenia).
Zan"ti*ot (?), n. A native or
inhabitant of Zante, one of the Ionian Islands.
Za"ny (?), n.; pl.
Zanies (#). [It. zanni a buffoon, merry-
andrew, orig. same as Giovanni John, i. e., merry John,
L. Ioannes, Gr. &?;, Heb. Yōkhānān,
prop., the Lord graciously gave: cf. F. zani, fr. the Italian.
Cf. Jenneting.] A merry-andrew; a buffoon.
Then write that I may follow, and so be
Thy echo, thy debtor, thy foil, thy zany.
Donne.
Preacher at once, and zany of thy
age.
Pope.
Za"ny (?), v. t. To mimic.
[Obs.]
Your part is acted; give me leave at distance
To zany it.
Massinger.
Za"ny*ism (?), n. State or
character of a zany; buffoonery. Coleridge. H.
Morley.
Zaph"a*ra (?), n. Zaffer.
||Za*phren"tis (?), n. [NL.]
(Paleon.) An extinct genus of cyathophylloid corals common
in the Paleozoic formations. It is cup-shaped with numerous septa, and
with a deep pit in one side of the cup.
Zap`o*til"la (?), n. (Bot.)
See Sapodilla.
Zap"ti*ah (?), n. A Turkish
policeman. [Written also zaptieh.]
{ Zar`a*thus"tri*an (?), Zar`a*thus"tric (?) },
a. Of or pertaining to Zarathustra, or
Zoroaster; Zoroastrian. Tylor.
Zar`a*thus"trism (?), n. See
Zoroastrianism.
Zar"a*tite (?), n. (Min.) [Named
after Gen. Zarata of Spain.] A hydrous carbonate of nickel
occurring as an emerald-green incrustation on chromite; -- called also
emerald nickel.
||Za*re"ba (?), n. (Mil.) An
improvised stockade; especially, one made of thorn bushes, etc.
[Written also zareeba, and zeriba.] [Egypt]
"Ah," he moralizes, "what wonderful instinct on the
part of this little creature to surround itself with a zareba
like the troops after Osman Digma."
R.
Jefferies.
Zar"nich (?), n. [F., fr. Ar. az-
zernīkh, fr. Gr. &?;. See Arsenic.] (Min.)
Native sulphide of arsenic, including sandarach, or realgar, and
orpiment.
||Zär"the (?), n.
(Zoöl.) A European bream (Abramis
vimba). [Written also zaerthe.]
||Za"ti (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A species of macaque (Macacus pileatus) native of India
and Ceylon. It has a crown of long erect hair, and tuft of radiating
hairs on the back of the head. Called also capped
macaque.
||Zau*schne"ri*a (?), n. [NL., named for
M. Zauschner, a Bohemian botanist.] (Bot.) A genus
of flowering plants. Zauschneria Californica is a
suffrutescent perennial, with showy red flowers much resembling those
of the garden fuchsia.
Zax (zăks), n. A tool for
trimming and puncturing roofing slates. [Written also
sax.]
||Za"yat (?; 277), n. A public
shed, or portico, for travelers, worshipers, etc. [Burmah]
||Ze"a (zē"&adot;), n. [L., a kind
of grain, fr. Gr. ze`a, zeia`; cf. Skr.
yava barley.] (Bot.) A genus of large grasses of
which the Indian corn (Zea Mays) is the only species known. Its
origin is not yet ascertained. See Maize.
Zeal (zēl), n. [F.
zèle; cf. Pg. & It. zelo, Sp. zelo,
celo; from L. zelus, Gr. &?;, probably akin to &?; to
boil. Cf. Yeast, Jealous.]
1. Passionate ardor in the pursuit of
anything; eagerness in favor of a person or cause; ardent and active
interest; engagedness; enthusiasm; fervor. "Ambition varnished
o'er with zeal." Milton. "Zeal, the blind
conductor of the will." Dryden. "Zeal's never-dying
fire." Keble.
I bear them record that they have a zeal of God,
but not according to knowledge.
Rom. x. 2.
A zeal for liberty is sometimes an eagerness to
subvert with little care what shall be established.
Johnson.
2. A zealot. [Obs.] B.
Jonson.
Zeal, v. i. To be zealous.
[Obs. & R.] Bacon.
Zeal"ant (?), n. One who is
zealous; a zealot; an enthusiast. [Obs.]
To certain zealants, all speech of pacification
is odious.
Bacon.
Zealed (?), a. Full of zeal;
characterized by zeal. [Obs.] "Zealed religion."
Beau. & Fl.
Zeal"ful (?), a. Full of
zeal. [R.] Sylvester.
Zeal"less (?), a. Wanting
zeal. Hammond.
Zeal"ot (?), n. [F.
zélote, L. zelotes, Gr. &?;. See Zeal.]
One who is zealous; one who engages warmly in any cause, and
pursues his object with earnestness and ardor; especially, one who is
overzealous, or carried away by his zeal; one absorbed in devotion to
anything; an enthusiast; a fanatical partisan.
Zealots for the one [tradition] were in hostile
array against zealots for the other.
Sir J.
Stephen.
In Ayrshire, Clydesdale, Nithisdale, Annandale, every
parish was visited by these turbulent zealots.
Macaulay.
Zea*lot"ic*al (?), a. Like, or
suitable to, a zealot; ardently zealous. [R.]
Strype.
Zeal"ot*ism (?), n. The character
or conduct of a zealot; zealotry.
Zeal"ot*ist, n. A zealot.
[Obs.] Howell.
Zeal"ot*ry (?), n. The character
and behavior of a zealot; excess of zeal; fanatical devotion to a
cause.
Enthusiasm, visionariness, seems the tendency of the
German; zeal, zealotry, of the English; fanaticism, of the
French.
Coleridge.
Zeal"ous (?; 277), a. [LL.
zelosus. See Zeal.]
1. Filled with, or characterized by, zeal;
warmly engaged, or ardent, in behalf of an object.
He may be zealous in the salvation of
souls.
Law.
2. Filled with religious zeal. [Obs.]
Shak.
-- Zeal"ous*ly, adv. --
Zeal"ous*ness, n.
Ze"bec (?), n. (Naut.) See
Xebec.
Ze"bra (?), n. [Pg. zebra; cf.
Sp. cebra; probably from a native African name.]
(Zoöl.) Either one of two species of South African
wild horses remarkable for having the body white or yellowish white,
and conspicuously marked with dark brown or brackish bands.
&fist; The true or mountain zebra (Equus, or Asinus, zebra)
is nearly white, and the bands which cover the body and legs are
glossy black. Its tail has a tuft of black hair at the tip. It
inhabits the mountains of Central and Southern Africa, and is noted
for its wariness and wildness, as well as for its swiftness. The
second species (Equus, or Asinus, Burchellii), known as
Burchell's zebra, and dauw, inhabits the grassy plains
of South Africa, and differs from the preceding in not having dark
bands on the legs, while those on the body are more irregular. It has
a long tail, covered with long white flowing hair.
Zebra caterpillar, the larva of an American
noctuid moth (Mamestra picta). It is light yellow, with a broad
black stripe on the back and one on each side; the lateral stripes are
crossed with withe lines. It feeds on cabbages, beets, clover, and
other cultivated plants. -- Zebra opossum,
the zebra wolf. See under Wolf. -- Zebra
parrakeet, an Australian grass parrakeet, often kept as
a cage bird. Its upper parts are mostly pale greenish yellow,
transversely barred with brownish black crescents; the under parts,
rump, and upper tail coverts, are bright green; two central tail
feathers and the cheek patches are blue. Called also canary
parrot, scallop parrot, shell parrot, and
undulated parrot. -- Zebra poison
(Bot.), a poisonous tree (Euphorbia arborea) of the
Spurge family, found in South Africa. Its milky juice is so poisonous
that zebras have been killed by drinking water in which its branches
had been placed, and it is also used as an arrow poison. J.
Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants). -- Zebra shark.
Same as Tiger shark, under Tiger. --
Zebra spider, a hunting spider. --
Zebra swallowtail, a very large North American
swallow-tailed butterfly (Iphiclides ajax), in which the wings
are yellow, barred with black; -- called also ajax. --
Zebra wolf. See under Wolf.
Ze"bra*wood` (?), n. (a)
A kind of cabinet wood having beautiful black, brown, and whitish
stripes, the timber of a tropical American tree (Connarus
Guianensis). (b) The wood of a small
West Indian myrtaceous tree (Eugenia fragrans).
(c) The wood of an East Indian tree of the genus
Guettarda.
Ze"brine (?), a. (Zoöl.)
Pertaining to, or resembling, the zebra.
Ze"bu (?), n. [&?;. zébu;
of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.) A bovine mammal (Ros
Indicus) extensively domesticated in India, China, the East
Indies, and East Africa. It usually has short horns, large pendulous
ears, slender legs, a large dewlap, and a large, prominent hump over
the shoulders; but these characters vary in different domestic breeds,
which range in size from that of the common ox to that of a large
mastiff.
&fist; Some of the varieties are used as beasts of burden, and some
fore for riding, while others are raised for their milk and flesh. The
Brahmin bull, regarded as sacred by the Hindoos, also belongs to this
species. The male is called also Indian bull, Indian ox,
Madras ox, and sacred bull.
Ze"bub (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A large noxious fly of Abyssinia, which like the tsetse fly, is
destructive to cattle.
Ze"chin (?; 277), n. See
Sequin.
||Zech"stein` (?), n. [Gr., fr.
zeche a mine + stein a stone.] (Geol.) The
upper division of the Permian (Dyas) of Europe. The prevailing rock is
a magnesian limestone.
Zed (?), n. [F., probably through It.
zeta, fr. L. zeta. See Zeta.] The letter
Z; -- called also zee, and formerly izzard.
"Zed, thou unnecessary letter!" Shak.
Zed"o*a*ry (?), n. [F.
zédoaire, LL. zedoaria; cf. It. zedoaria,
zettovario, Pg. zedoaria, Sp. zedoaria,
cedoaria; all fr. Ar. & Per. zedw&?;r.] (Med.)
A medicinal substance obtained in the East Indies, having a
fragrant smell, and a warm, bitter, aromatic taste. It is used in
medicine as a stimulant.
&fist; It is the rhizome of different species of Curcuma,
esp. C. zedoaria, and comes in short, firm pieces, externally
of a wrinkled gray, ash-colored appearance, but within of a brownish
red color. There are two kinds, round zedoary, and long zedoary.
||Zee"koe (?), n. [D., sea cow, lake
cow.] (Zoöl.) A hippopotamus.
||Zeh"ner (?), n. [G.] An Austrian
silver coin equal to ten kreutzers, or about five cents.
Ze"in (?), n. [Cf. F.
zéïne. See Zea.] (Chem.) A
nitrogenous substance of the nature of gluten, obtained from the seeds
of Indian corn (Zea) as a soft, yellowish, amorphous
substance. [Formerly written zeine.]
Zem`in*dar" (?), n. Same as
Zamindar.
{ Zem"in*da*ry (?), ||Zem"in*da*ri (?) },
n. Same as Zamindary.
Zem"ni (?), n. (Zoöl.)
The blind mole rat (Spalax typhlus), native of Eastern
Europe and Asia. Its eyes and ears are rudimentary, and its fur is
soft and brownish, more or less tinged with gray. It constructs
extensive burrows.
||Ze*na"na (?), n. [Hind.
zenāna, zanāna, fr. Per.
zanāna, fr. zan woman; akin to E. queen.]
The part of a dwelling appropriated to women. [India]
Zend (?), n. [See Zend-Avesta.]
Properly, the translation and exposition in the Huzvâresh,
or literary Pehlevi, language, of the Avesta, the Zoroastrian sacred
writings; as commonly used, the language (an ancient Persian dialect)
in which the Avesta is written.
||Zend`-A*ves"ta (?), n. [Properly, the
Avesta, or sacred text, and its zend, or interpretation,
in a more modern and intelligible language. W. D. Whitney.]
The sacred writings of the ancient Persian religion, attributed
to Zoroaster, but chiefly of a later date.
||Zen"dik (?), n. [Ar.
zandīk.] An atheist or unbeliever; -- name given in
the East to those charged with disbelief of any revealed religion, or
accused of magical heresies.
Ze"nick (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A South African burrowing mammal (Suricata tetradactyla),
allied to the civets. It is grayish brown, with yellowish transverse
stripes on the back. Called also suricat.
Ze"nik (?), n. (Zoöl.)
See Zenick.
Ze"nith (?; 277), n. [OE. senyth,
OF. cenith, F. zénith, Sp. zenit,
cenit, abbrev. fr. Ar. samt-urras way of the head,
vertical place; samt way, path + al the + ras
head. Cf. Azimuth.]
1. That point in the visible celestial
hemisphere which is vertical to the spectator; the point of the
heavens directly overhead; -- opposed to nadir.
From morn
To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,
A summer's day; and with the setting sun
Dropped from the zenith, like a falling star.
Milton.
2. hence, figuratively, the point of
culmination; the greatest height; the height of success or
prosperity.
I find my zenith doth depend upon
A most auspicious star.
Shak.
This dead of midnight is the noon of thought,
And wisdom mounts her zenith with the stars.
Mrs. Barbauld.
It was during those civil troubles . . . this aspiring
family reached the zenith.
Macaulay.
Zenith distance. (Astron.) See under
Distance. -- Zenith sector.
(Astron.) See Sector, 3. -- Zenith
telescope (Geodesy), a telescope specially
designed for determining the latitude by means of any two stars which
pass the meridian about the same time, and at nearly equal distances
from the zenith, but on opposite sides of it. It turns both on a
vertical and a horizontal axis, is provided with a graduated vertical
semicircle, and a level for setting it to a given zenith distance, and
with a micrometer for measuring the difference of the zenith distances
of the two stars.
Ze"nith*al (?), a. Of or pertaining
to the zenith. "The deep zenithal blue."
Tyndall.
Ze"o*lite (?), n. [Gr. &?; to boil +
-lite: cf. F. zéolithe.] (Min.) A
term now used to designate any one of a family of minerals, hydrous
silicates of alumina, with lime, soda, potash, or rarely baryta. Here
are included natrolite, stilbite, analcime, chabazite, thomsonite,
heulandite, and others. These species occur of secondary origin in the
cavities of amygdaloid, basalt, and lava, also, less frequently, in
granite and gneiss. So called because many of these species intumesce
before the blowpipe.
Needle zeolite, needlestone;
natrolite.
Ze`o*lit"ic (?), a. Of or
pertaining to a zeolite; consisting of, or resembling, a
zeolite.
Ze`o*lit"i*form (?), a. Having the
form of a zeolite.
Zeph"yr (?), n. [L. zephyrus, Gr.
&?;, akin to &?; darkness, the dark side, west: cf. F.
zéphyr.] The west wind; poetically, any soft,
gentle breeze. "Soft the zephyr blows."
Gray.
As gentle
As zephyrs blowing below the violet.
Shak.
Zephyr cloth, a thin kind of cassimere made
in Belgium; also, a waterproof fabric of wool. -- Zephyr
shawl, a kind of thin, light, embroidered shawl made of
worsted and cotton. -- Zephyr yarn, or
worsted, a fine, soft kind of yarn or worsted, -
- used for knitting and embroidery.
||Zeph"y*rus (?), n. [L. See
Zephyr.] The west wind, or zephyr; -- usually personified,
and made the most mild and gentle of all the sylvan deities.
Mild as when Zephyrus on Flora
breathes.
Milton.
Ze"quin (?), n. See
Sequin.
||Zer"da (?), n. [Of African origin.]
(Zoöl.) The fennec.
||Ze*ri"ba (?), n. (Mil.)
Same as Zareba.
Ze"ro (?), n.; pl.
Zeros (#) or Zeroes. [F.
zéro, from Ar. çafrun,
çifrun, empty, a cipher. Cf. Cipher.]
1. (Arith.) A cipher; nothing;
naught.
2. The point from which the graduation of a
scale, as of a thermometer, commences.
&fist; Zero in the Centigrade, or Celsius thermometer, and
in the Réaumur thermometer, is at the point at which water
congeals. The zero of the Fahrenheit thermometer is fixed at the point
at which the mercury stands when immersed in a mixture of snow and
common salt. In Wedgwood's pyrometer, the zero corresponds with
1077° on the Fahrenheit scale. See Illust. of
Thermometer.
3. Fig.: The lowest point; the point of
exhaustion; as, his patience had nearly reached zero.
Absolute zero. See under
Absolute. -- Zero method
(Physics), a method of comparing, or measuring, forces,
electric currents, etc., by so opposing them that the pointer of an
indicating apparatus, or the needle of a galvanometer, remains at, or
is brought to, zero, as contrasted with methods in which the
deflection is observed directly; -- called also null
method. -- Zero point, the point
indicating zero, or the commencement of a scale or reckoning.
Zest (?), n. [F. zeste, probably
fr. L. schistos split, cleft, divided, Gr. &?;, from &?; to
split, cleave. Cf. Schism.]
1. A piece of orange or lemon peel, or the
aromatic oil which may be squeezed from such peel, used to give flavor
to liquor, etc.
2. Hence, something that gives or enhances a
pleasant taste, or the taste itself; an appetizer; also, keen
enjoyment; relish; gusto.
Almighty Vanity! to thee they owe
Their zest of pleasure, and their balm of woe.
Young.
Liberality of disposition and conduct gives the highest
zest and relish to social intercourse.
Gogan.
3. The woody, thick skin inclosing the kernel
of a walnut. [Obs.]
Zest, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Zested; p. pr. & vb. n.
Zesting.]
1. To cut into thin slips, as the peel of an
orange, lemon, etc.; to squeeze, as peel, over the surface of
anything.
2. To give a relish or flavor to; to heighten
the taste or relish of; as, to zest wine.
Gibber.
||Ze"ta (?), n. [L., from Gr. &?;. Cf.
Zed.] A Greek letter [ζ] corresponding to our
z.
Ze*tet"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to
seek: cf. F. zététique.] Seeking; proceeding
by inquiry.
Zetetic method (Math.), the method
used for finding the value of unknown quantities by direct search, in
investigation, or in the solution of problems. [R.]
Hutton.
Ze*tet"ic, n. A seeker; -- a name
adopted by some of the Pyrrhonists.
Ze*tet"ics (?), n. [See Zetetic,
a.] (Math.) A branch of algebra which
relates to the direct search for unknown quantities. [R.]
Zeu"glo*don (?), n. [Gr. &?; the strap
or loop of a yoke + &?;, &?;, tooth.] (Paleon.) A genus of
extinct Eocene whales, remains of which have been found in the Gulf
States. The species had very long and slender bodies and broad
serrated teeth. See Phocodontia.
Zeu"glo*dont (?), (Zoöl.) Any species of
Zeuglodonta.
||Zeu`glo*don"ta (?), n. pl. [NL.]
(Zoöl.) Same as Phocodontia.
Zeug"ma (?), n. [L., from Gr. &?;, fr.
&?; to yoke, join. See Yoke.] (Gram.) A figure by
which an adjective or verb, which agrees with a nearer word, is, by
way of supplement, referred also to another more remote; as, "hic
illius arma, hic currus fuit;" where fuit, which
agrees directly with currus, is referred also to
arma.
Zeug*mat"ic (?), a. Of or
pertaining to zeugma; characterized by zeugma.
||Zeu`go*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL.,
fr. Gr. &?; to yoke + &?; a gill.] (Zoöl.) Same as
Zygobranchia.
Zeus (?), n. (Gr. Myth.) The
chief deity of the Greeks, and ruler of the upper world (cf.
Hades). He was identified with Jupiter.
Zeu*ze"ri*an (?), n. (Zoöl.)
Any one of a group of bombycid moths of which the genus
Zeuzera is the type. Some of these moths are of large size. The
goat moth is an example.
Zey"lan*ite (?), n. (Min.)
See Ceylanite.
{ Zib"et, Zib"eth } (?), n.
[Cf. It. zibetto. See Civet.] (Zoöl.)
A carnivorous mammal (Viverra zibetha) closely allied to
the civet, from which it differs in having the spots on the body less
distinct, the throat whiter, and the black rings on the tail more
numerous.
&fist; It inhabits India, Southern China, and the East Indies. It
yields a perfume similar to that of the civet. It is often
domesticated by the natives, and then serves the same purposes as the
domestic cat. Called also Asiatic, or Indian, civet.
Zie"ga (?), n. Curd produced from
milk by adding acetic acid, after rennet has ceased to cause
coagulation. Brande & C.
Zie`tri*si"kite (?), n. (Min.)
A mineral wax, vert similar to ozocerite. It is found at
Zietrisika, Moldavia, whence its name.
||Zif (?), n. [Heb. ziv.]
The second month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding
to our May.
{ Zig"ger, Zig"hyr } (?), v.
i. (Mining) Same as Sicker. [Prov.
Eng.] Raymond.
Zig"zag` (?), n. [F. zigzag, G.
zickzack, from zacke, zacken, a dentil, tooth.
Cf. Tack a small nail.]
1. Something that has short turns or
angles.
The fanatics going straight forward and openly, the
politicians by the surer mode of zigzag.
Burke.
2. (Arch.) A molding running in a
zigzag line; a chevron, or series of chevrons. See Illust. of
Chevron, 3.
3. (Fort.) See Boyau.
Zig"zag` (?), a. Having short,
sharp turns; running this way and that in an onward course.
Zig"zag`, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Zigzagged (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Zigzagging.] To form with short turns.
Zig"zag`, v. i. To move in a zigzag
manner; also, to have a zigzag shape. R. Browning.
Zig"zag`ger*y (?), n. The quality
or state of being zigzag; crookedness. [R.]
The . . . zigzaggery of my father's
approaches.
Sterne.
Zig"zag`gy, a. Having sharp
turns. Barham.
Zil"la (?), n. (Bot.) A low,
thorny, suffrutescent, crucifeous plant (Zilla myagroides)
found in the deserts of Egypt. Its leaves are boiled in water, and
eaten, by the Arabs.
||Zil"lah (?), n. [Ar. zila.]
A district or local division, as of a province.
[India]
||Zimb (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A large, venomous, two-winged fly, native of Abyssinia. It is
allied to the tsetse fly, and, like the latter, is destructive to
cattle.
Zim"ent-wa`ter (?), n. [G. cement-
wasser. See Cement.] A kind of water found in copper
mines; water impregnated with copper.
Zinc (z&ibreve;&nsm;k), n. [G.
zink, probably akin to zinn tin: cf. F. zinc,
from the German. Cf. Tin.] (Chem.) An abundant
element of the magnesium-cadmium group, extracted principally from the
minerals zinc blende, smithsonite, calamine, and franklinite, as an
easily fusible bluish white metal, which is malleable, especially when
heated. It is not easily oxidized in moist air, and hence is used for
sheeting, coating galvanized iron, etc. It is used in making brass,
britannia, and other alloys, and is also largely consumed in electric
batteries. Symbol Zn. Atomic weight 64.9. [Formerly written also
zink.]
Butter of zinc (Old Chem.), zinc
chloride, ZnCl2, a deliquescent white waxy or oily
substance. -- Oxide of zinc. (Chem.)
See Zinc oxide, below. -- Zinc amine
(Chem.), a white amorphous substance,
Zn(NH2)2, obtained by the action of ammonia on
zinc ethyl; -- called also zinc amide. -- Zinc
amyle (Chem.), a colorless, transparent liquid,
composed of zinc and amyle, which, when exposed to the atmosphere,
emits fumes, and absorbs oxygen with rapidity. -- Zinc
blende [cf. G. zinkblende] (Min.), a
native zinc sulphide. See Blende, n.
(a). -- Zinc bloom [cf. G.
zinkblumen flowers of zinc, oxide of zinc] (Min.),
hydrous carbonate of zinc, usually occurring in white earthy
incrustations; -- called also hydrozincite. --
Zinc ethyl (Chem.), a colorless,
transparent, poisonous liquid, composed of zinc and ethyl, which takes
fire spontaneously on exposure to the atmosphere. -- Zinc
green, a green pigment consisting of zinc and cobalt
oxides; -- called also Rinmann's green. -- Zinc
methyl (Chem.), a colorless mobile liquid
Zn(CH3)2, produced by the action of methyl
iodide on a zinc sodium alloy. It has a disagreeable odor, and is
spontaneously inflammable in the air. It has been of great importance
in the synthesis of organic compounds, and is the type of a large
series of similar compounds, as zinc ethyl, zinc amyle,
etc. -- Zinc oxide (Chem.), the
oxide of zinc, ZnO, forming a light fluffy sublimate when zinc is
burned; -- called also flowers of zinc, philosopher's
wool, nihil album, etc. The impure oxide produced by
burning the metal, roasting its ores, or in melting brass, is called
also pompholyx, and tutty. -- Zinc
spinel (Min.), a mineral, related to spinel,
consisting essentially of the oxides of zinc and aluminium;
gahnite. -- Zinc vitriol (Chem.),
zinc sulphate. See White vitriol, under
Vitriol. -- Zinc white, a white
powder consisting of zinc oxide, used as a pigment.
Zinc, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Zincked or Zinced (&?;); p. pr. &
vb. n. Zincking or Zincing (&?;).] To
coat with zinc; to galvanize.
Zinc"ane (?), n. (Chem.)
Zinc chloride. [Obs.]
Zinc"ic (?), a. (Chem.)
Pertaining to, containing, or resembling, zinc;
zincous.
Zinc"ide (?), n. A binary compound
of zinc. [R.]
Zinc*if"er*ous (?), a. [Zinc +
-ferous.] Containing or affording zinc.
Zinc`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. The act
or process of applying zinc; the condition of being zincified, or
covered with zinc; galvanization.
Zinc"i*fy (?), v. t. [Zinc + -
fy.] (Metal.) To coat or impregnate with
zinc.
Zinc"ite (?), n. (Min.)
Native zinc oxide; a brittle, translucent mineral, of an orange-
red color; -- called also red zinc ore, and red oxide of
zinc.
{Zinck"ing, or Zinc"ing (?) },
n. (Metal.) The act or process of
applying zinc; galvanization.
Zinck"y (?), a. Pertaining to zinc,
or having its appearance. [Written also zinky.]
Zin"co- (?). A combining form from zinc; in
chemistry, designating zinc as an element of certain double
compounds. Also used adjectively.
Zinc"ode (?), n. [Zinc + -
ode, as in electrode.] (Elec.) The positive
electrode of an electrolytic cell; anode. [R.]
Miller.
Zin*cog"ra*pher (?), n. An engraver
on zinc.
{ Zin`co*graph"ic (?), Zin`co*graph"ic*al (?), }
a. Of or pertaining to zincography; as,
zincographic processes.
Zin*cog"ra*phy (?), n. [Zinco- +
-graphy.] The art or process of engraving or etching on
zinc, in which the design is left in relief in the style of a wood
cut, the rest of the ground being eaten away by acid.
Zinc"oid (?), a. [Zinc + -
oid.] Pertaining to, or resembling, zinc; -- said of the
electricity of the zincous plate in connection with a copper plate in
a voltaic circle; also, designating the positive pole.
[Obs.]
Zin`co-po"lar (?), a. [Zinco- +
polar.] (Elec.) Electrically polarized like the
surface of the zinc presented to the acid in a battery, which has
zincous affinity. [Obs.]
Zinc"ous (?), a. 1.
(Chem.) (a) Of, pertaining to, or
containing, zinc; zincic; as, zincous salts.
(b) Hence, formerly, basic, basylous, as opposed
to chlorous.
2. (Physics) Of or pertaining to the
positive pole of a galvanic battery; electro-positive.
||Zin"ga*ro (?), n.; pl.
Zingari (#). [It.] A gypsy.
Zing"el (z&ibreve;ng"el), n.
(Zoöl.) A small, edible, freshwater European perch
(Aspro zingel), having a round, elongated body and prominent
snout.
Zin`gi*ber*a"ceous
(z&ibreve;n`j&ibreve;*b&etilde;r*ā"shŭs),
a. [L. zingiber ginger. See Ginger.]
(Bot.) Of or pertaining to ginger, or to a tribe
(Zingibereæ) of endogenous plants of the order
Scitamineæ. See Scitamineous.
Zink (z&ibreve;&nsm;k), n.
(Chem.) See Zinc. [Obs.]
Zink"en*ite (-en*īt), n.
[From Zinken, director at one time of the Hanoverian mines.]
(Min.) A steel-gray metallic mineral, a sulphide of
antimony and lead.
Zink"y (?), a. See
Zincky. Kirwan.
||Zin"ni*a (?), n. [NL. So called after
Professor Zinn, of Göttingen.] (Bot.) Any
plant of the composite genus Zinnia, Mexican herbs with
opposite leaves and large gay-colored blossoms. Zinnia elegans
is the commonest species in cultivation.
Zinn"wald*ite (?), n. [So called after
Zinnwald, in Bohemia, where it occurs.] (Min.) A
kind of mica containing lithium, often associated with tin
ore.
Zin"sang (?), n. (Zoöl.)
The delundung.
Zin`zi*ber*a"ceous (?), a. (Bot.)
Same as Zingiberaceous.
Zi"on (?), n. [Heb.
tsīy&?;n, originally, a hill.]
1. (Jewish Antiq.) A hill in Jerusalem,
which, after the capture of that city by the Israelites, became the
royal residence of David and his successors.
2. Hence, the theocracy, or church of
God.
3. The heavenly Jerusalem; heaven.
Ziph"i*oid (?), n. (Zoöl.)
See Xiphioid.
Zir"co- (?). (Chem.) A combining form (also
used adjectively) designating zirconium as an element of
certain double compounds; zircono-; as in zircofluoric acid,
sodium zircofluoride.
Zir`co*flu"or*ide (?), n. (Chem.)
A double fluoride of zirconium and hydrogen, or some other
positive element or radical; as, zircofluoride of
sodium.
Zir"con (?), n. [F., the same word as
jargon. See Jargon a variety of zircon.] (Min.)
A mineral occurring in tetragonal crystals, usually of a brown or
gray color. It consists of silica and zirconia. A red variety, used
as a gem, is called hyacinth. Colorless, pale-yellow or smoky-
brown varieties from Ceylon are called jargon.
Zircon syenite, a coarse-grained syenite
containing zircon crystals and often also elæolite. It is
largely developed in Southern Norway.
Zir"co*na (?), n. [NL.] (Chem.)
Zirconia.
Zir"con*ate (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of zirconic acid.
Zir*co"ni*a (?), n. [NL.] (Chem.)
The oxide of zirconium, obtained as a white powder, and
possessing both acid and basic properties. On account of its
infusibility, and brilliant luminosity when incandescent, it is used
as an ingredient of sticks for the Drummomd light.
Zir*con"ic (?), a. (Chem.)
Pertaining to, containing, or resembling, zirconium; as,
zirconic oxide; zirconic compounds.
Zirconic acid, an acid of zirconium analogous
to carbonic and silicic acids, known only in its salts.
Zir*co"ni*um (?), n. [NL.]
(Chem.) A rare element of the carbon-silicon group,
intermediate between the metals and nonmetals, obtained from the
mineral zircon as a dark sooty powder, or as a gray metallic
crystalline substance. Symbol Zr. Atomic weight, 90.4.
Zir"co*no (?). See Zirco-.
Zir"con*oid (?), n. [Zircon +
oid.] (Crystallog.) A double eight-sided pyramid, a
form common with tetragonal crystals; -- so called because this form
often occurs in crystals of zircon.
Zith"er (?), n. [G. zither. See
Cittern.] (Mus.) An instrument of music used in
Austria and Germany. It has from thirty to forty wires strung across a
shallow sounding-board, which lies horizontally on a table before the
performer, who uses both hands in playing on it. [Not to be confounded
with the old lute-shaped cittern, or cithern.]
Zit"tern (?), n. (Min.) See
Cittern.
||Zi*za"ni*a (?), n. [NL., from L.
zizanium darnel, cockle, Gr. &?;.] (Bot.) A genus
of grasses including Indian rice. See Indian rice, under
Rice.
Ziz"el (?), n. [G. ziesel.]
(Zoöl.) The suslik. [Written also
zisel.]
||Zo`an*tha"ce*a (?), n. pl. [NL., from
Gr. zw^,on an animal + &?; flower.] (Zoöl.)
A suborder of Actinaria, including Zoanthus and allied
genera, which are permanently attached by their bases.
||Zo`an*tha"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL.]
(Zoöl.) Same as Anthozoa.
Zo`an*tha"ri*an (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Zoantharia. --
n. One of the Anthozoa.
Zo*an"tho*deme (?), n. [See
Zoantharia, and Deme.] (Zoöl.) The
zooids of a compound anthozoan, collectively.
Zo*an"thoid (?), a. [See
Zoantharia, and -oid.] (Zoöl.) Of or
pertaining to the Zoanthacea.
Zo*an"thro*py (?), n. [Gr. &?; animal +
&?; man.] (Med.) A kind of monomania in which the patient
believes himself transformed into one of the lower animals.
||Zo*an"thus (?), n. [NL. See
Zoantharia.] (Zoöl.) A genus of Actinaria,
including numerous species, found mostly in tropical seas. The zooids
or polyps resemble small, elongated actinias united together at their
bases by fleshy stolons, and thus forming extensive groups. The
tentacles are small and bright colored.
||Zo"bo (?), n. [Native name.]
(Zoöl.) A kind of domestic cattle reared in Asia for
its flesh and milk. It is supposed to be a hybrid between the zebu and
the yak.
{ Zoc"co (?), Zoc"co*lo (?), }
n. [It. fr. L. socculus. See Socle,
and cf. Zacco.] (Arch.) Same as
Socle.
Zo"cle (?; 277), n. (Arch.)
Same as Socle.
Zo"di*ac (?), n. [F. zodiaque
(cf. It. zodiaco), fr. L. zodiacus, Gr. &?; (sc. &?;),
fr. &?;, dim. of zw^,on an animal, akin to &?; living, &?;
to live.]
1. (Astron.) (a) An
imaginary belt in the heavens, 16° or 18° broad, in the middle
of which is the ecliptic, or sun's path. It comprises the twelve
constellations, which one constituted, and from which were named, the
twelve signs of the zodiac. (b) A figure
representing the signs, symbols, and constellations of the
zodiac.
2. A girdle; a belt. [Poetic & R.]
By his side,
As in a glistering zodiac, hung the sword.
Milton.
Zo*di"a*cal (?), a. [Cf. F.
zodiacal.] (Astron.) Of or pertaining to the
zodiac; situated within the zodiac; as, the zodiacal
planets.
Zodiacal light, a luminous tract of the sky,
of an elongated, triangular figure, lying near the ecliptic, its base
being on the horizon, and its apex at varying altitudes. It is to be
seen only in the evening, after twilight, and in the morning before
dawn. It is supposed to be due to sunlight reflected from multitudes
of meteoroids revolving about the sun nearly in the plane of the
ecliptic.
||Zo"ë*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
life.] (Zoöl.) A peculiar larval stage of certain
decapod Crustacea, especially of crabs and certain Anomura.
[Written also zoæa.]
&fist; In this stage the anterior part of the body is relatively
large, and usually bears three or four long spines. The years are
conspicuous, and the antennæ and jaws are long, fringed organs
used in swimming. The thoracic legs are undeveloped or rudimentary,
the abdomen long, slender, and often without appendages. The
zoëa, after casting its shell, changes to a megalops.
Zo"e*trope (?), n. [Gr. &?; life + &?;
turning, from &?; to turn.] An optical toy, in which figures made
to revolve on the inside of a cylinder, and viewed through slits in
its circumference, appear like a single figure passing through a
series of natural motions as if animated or mechanically
moved.
||Zo"har (?), n. [Heb.
zōhar candor, splendor.] A Jewish cabalistic book
attributed by tradition to Rabbi Simon ben Yochi, who lived about the
end of the 1st century, a. d. Modern critics believe it to be
a compilation of the 13th century. Encyc. Brit.
Zo"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;.]
(Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to animals, or animal
life.
Zo"ide (?), n. (Biol.) See
Meride.
Zo*il"e*an (?), a. Having the
characteristic of Zoilus, a bitter, envious, unjust critic, who
lived about 270 years before Christ.
Zo"i*lism (?), n. Resemblance to
Zoilus in style or manner; carping criticism; detraction.
Bring candid eyes the perusal of men's works, and let
not Zoilism or detraction blast well-intended
labors.
Sir T. Browne.
Zois"ite (?), n. [After its discoverer,
Von Zois, an Austrian mineralogist.] (Min.) A
grayish or whitish mineral occurring in orthorhombic, prismatic
crystals, also in columnar masses. It is a silicate of alumina and
lime, and is allied to epidote.
||Zo"kor (?), n. (Zoöl.)
An Asiatic burrowing rodent (Siphneus aspalax) resembling
the mole rat. It is native of the Altai Mountains.
||Zoll"ve*rein` (?), n. [G., from
zoll duty + verein union.] Literally, a customs
union; specifically, applied to the several customs unions
successively formed under the leadership of Prussia among certain
German states for establishing liberty of commerce among themselves
and common tariff on imports, exports, and transit.
&fist; In 1834 a zollverein was established which included most of
the principal German states except Austria. This was terminated by the
events of 1866, and in 1867 a more closely organized union was formed,
the administration of which was ultimately merged in that of the new
German empire, with which it nearly corresponds territorially.
Zom"bo*ruk (?), n. (Mil.)
See Zumbooruk.
||Zo"na (?), n.; pl.
Zonæ (#). [L., a girdle. See Zone.]
A zone or band; a layer.
Zona pellucida. [NL.] (Biol.)
(a) The outer transparent layer, or envelope, of
the ovum. It is a more or less elastic membrane with radiating
striæ, and corresponds to the cell wall of an ordinary cell.
See Ovum, and Illust. of Microscope.
(b) The zona radiata. -- Zona
radiata [NL.] (Biol.), a radiately striated
membrane situated next the yolk of an ovum, or separated from it by a
very delicate membrane only.
Zon"al (?), a. [L. zonalis.]
Of or pertaining to a zone; having the form of a zone or
zones.
Zonal equation (Crystallog.), the
mathematical relation which belongs to all the planes of a zone, and
expresses their common position with reference to the axes. --
Zonal structure (Crystallog.), a
structure characterized by the arrangements of color, inclusions,
etc., of a crystal in parallel or concentric layers, which usually
follow the outline of the crystal, and mark the changes that have
taken place during its growth. -- Zonal
symmetry. (Biol.) See the Note under
Symmetry.
Zo"nar (?), n. [Mod. Gr. &?; a girdle,
fr. Gr. &?;, dim. of &?; a girdle. See Zone.] A belt or
girdle which the Christians and Jews of the Levant were obliged to
wear to distinguish them from Mohammedans. [Written also
zonnar.]
||Zo*na"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL.]
(Zoöl.) A division of Mammalia in which the placenta
is zonelike.
Zon"ate (?), a. (Bot.)
Divided by parallel planes; as, zonate tetraspores, found
in certain red algæ.
Zone (zōn), n. [F. zone, L.
zona, Gr. zw`nh; akin to zwnny`nai to
gird, Lith. jůsta a girdle, jůsti to gird,
Zend yāh.] 1. A girdle; a
cincture. [Poetic]
An embroidered zone surrounds her
waist.
Dryden.
Loose were her tresses seen, her zone
unbound.
Collins.
2. (Geog.) One of the five great
divisions of the earth, with respect to latitude and
temperature.
&fist; The zones are five: the torrid zone, extending
from tropic to tropic 46° 56&min;, or 23° 28&min; on each side
of the equator; two temperate or variable zones,
situated between the tropics and the polar circles; and two
frigid zones, situated between the polar circles and the
poles.
Commerce . . . defies every wind, outrides every
tempest, and invades.
Bancroft.
3. (Math.) The portion of the surface
of a sphere included between two parallel planes; the portion of a
surface of revolution included between two planes perpendicular to the
axis. Davies & Peck (Math. Dict.)
4. (Nat. Hist.) (a) A
band or stripe extending around a body. (b)
A band or area of growth encircling anything; as, a zone
of evergreens on a mountain; the zone of animal or vegetable
life in the ocean around an island or a continent; the Alpine
zone, that part of mountains which is above the limit of tree
growth.
5. (Crystallog.) A series of planes
having mutually parallel intersections.
6. Circuit; circumference. [R.]
Milton.
Abyssal zone. (Phys. Geog.) See under
Abyssal. -- Zone axis
(Crystallog.), a straight line passing through the center
of a crystal, to which all the planes of a given zone are
parallel.
Zone, v. t. To girdle; to
encircle. [R.] Keats.
Zoned (?), a. 1.
Wearing a zone, or girdle. Pope.
2. Having zones, or concentric bands;
striped.
3. (Bot.) Zonate.
Zone"less (?), a. Not having a
zone; ungirded.
The reeling goddess with the zoneless
waist.
Cowper.
In careless folds, loose fell her zoneless
vest.
Mason.
Zon"nar (?), n. See
Zonar.
Zon"u*lar (?), a. Of or pertaining
to a zone; zone-shaped. "The zonular type of a
placenta." Dana.
Zon"ule (?), n. A little zone, or
girdle.
Zon"u*let (?), n. A zonule.
Herrick.
Zon"ure (?), n. [Zone + Gr. &?;
tail.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several of South African
lizards of the genus Zonura, common in rocky
situations.
Zo"ö- (?). A combining form from Gr.
zwo^,n an animal, as in zoögenic,
zoölogy, etc.
Zo`ö*chem"ic*al (?), a.
Pertaining to zoöchemistry.
Zo`ö*chem"is*try (?), n.
[Zoö- + chemistry.] Animal chemistry;
particularly, the description of the chemical compounds entering into
the composition of the animal body, in distinction from
biochemistry.
Zo*öch"e*my (?), n. [Zoö-
+ Gr. &?; alchemy.] Animal chemistry;
zoöchemistry. Dunglison.
||Zo`ö*chlo*rel"la (?), n. [NL.,
dim. from Gr. zw^,on an animal + &?; green.]
(Zoöl.) One of the small green granulelike bodies
found in the interior of certain stentors, hydras, and other
invertebrates.
Zo"ö*cyst (?), n. [Zoö-
+ cyst.] (Biol.) A cyst formed by certain Protozoa
and unicellular plants which the contents divide into a large number
of granules, each of which becomes a germ.
||Zo`ö*cy"ti*um (?), n.; pl.
Zoöcytia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. zw^,on
an animal + &?; a hollow vessel.] (Zoöl.) The common
support, often branched, of certain species of social
Infusoria.
||Zo`ö*den"dri*um (?), n.;
pl. Zoödendria (#). [NL., fr. Gr.
zw^,on an animal + &?; a tree.] (Zoöl.)
The branched, and often treelike, support of the colonies of
certain Infusoria.
||Zo*œ"ci*um (?), n.; pl.
Zoœcia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. zw^,on an
animal + &?; house.] (Zoöl.) One of the cells or
tubes which inclose the feeling zooids of Bryozoa. See Illust.
of Sea Moss.
Zo`ö*e*ryth"rine (?), n.
[Zoö- + Gr. &?; red.] (Zoöl.) A peculiar
organic red coloring matter found in the feathers of various
birds.
Zo*ög"a*mous (?), a. [Zoö-
+ Gr. &?; marriage.] (Biol.) Of or pertaining
zoögamy.
Zo*ög"a*my (?), n. (Biol.)
The sexual reproduction of animals.
Zo`ö*gen"ic (?), a. [Zoö-
+ -gen + -ic: cf. Gr. &?; born of an animal.]
(Biol.) Of or pertaining to zoögeny, animal
production.
{ Zo*ög"e*ny (?), Zo*ög"o*ny (?), }
n. [Zoö- + root of Gr. &?; to be born,
&?; offspring.] The doctrine of the formation of living
beings.
Zo`ö*ge`o*graph"ic*al (?), a.
Of or pertaining to zoögraphy.
Zo`ö*ge*og"ra*phy (?), n.
[Zoö- + geography.] The study or description
of the geographical distribution of animals.
||Zo`ö*glœ"a (?), n. [NL.,
from Gr. zw^,on an animal + &?; any glutinous substance.]
(Biol.) A colony or mass of bacteria imbedded in a viscous
gelatinous substance. The zoöglœa is characteristic of a
transitory stage through which rapidly multiplying bacteria pass in
the course of their evolution. Also used adjectively.
Zo*ög"ra*pher (?), n. One who
describes animals, their forms and habits.
{ Zo`ö*graph"ic (?), Zo`ö*graph"ic*al
(?), } a. [Cf. F. zoographique.] Of or
pertaining to the description of animals.
Zo*ög"ra*phist (?), n. A
zoögrapher.
Zo*ög"ra*phy (?), n. [Zoö-
+ -graphy: cf. F. zoographie.] A description
of animals, their forms and habits.
Zo"oid (?), a. [Zoö- + -
oid.] (Biol.) Pertaining to, or resembling, an
animal.
Zo"oid, n. 1.
(Biol.) An organic body or cell having locomotion, as a
spermatic cell or spermatozooid.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) An
animal in one of its inferior stages of development, as one of the
intermediate forms in alternate generation. (b)
One of the individual animals in a composite group, as of
Anthozoa, Hydroidea, and Bryozoa; -- sometimes restricted to those
individuals in which the mouth and digestive organs are not
developed.
Zo*oid"al (?), a. Of or pertaining
to a zooid; as, a zooidal form.
Zo*öl"a*try (?), n. [Zoö-
+ Gr. &?; worship.] The worship of animals.
Zo*öl"o*ger (?), n. A
zoölogist. Boyle.
Zo`ö*log"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F.
zoologique.] Of or pertaining to zoölogy, or the
science of animals.
Zo`ö*log"ic*al*ly, adv. In a
zoölogical manner; according to the principles of
zoölogy.
Zo*öl"o*gist (?), n. [Cf. F.
zoologiste.] One who is well versed in
zoölogy.
Zo*öl"o*gy (?), n.; pl.
Zoölogies (#). [Zoö- + -
logy: cf. F. zoologie. See Zodiac.]
1. That part of biology which relates to the
animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution,
classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living
and extinct.
2. A treatise on this science.
Zo`ö*mel"a*nin (?), n.
[Zoö- + melanin.] (Physiol. Chem.) A
pigment giving the black color to the feathers of many
birds.
Zo`ö*mor"phic (?), a. [Zoö-
+ Gr. &?; form.] Of or pertaining to
zoömorphism.
Zo`ö*mor"phism (?), n.
1. The transformation of men into beasts.
[R.] Smart.
2. The quality of representing or using animal
forms; as, zoömorphism in ornament.
3. The representation of God, or of gods, in
the form, or with the attributes, of the lower animals.
To avoid the error of anthropomorphism, we fall into
the vastly greater, and more absurd, error of
zoömorphism.
Mivart.
||Zo"ön (?), n.; pl.
Zoa (#). [NL., fr. Gr. zw^,on an animal.]
(Zoöl.) (a) An animal which is the
sole product of a single egg; -- opposed to zooid. H.
Spencer. (b) Any one of the perfectly
developed individuals of a compound animal.
Zo*ön"ic (?), a. [Gr.
zw^,on an animal: cf. F. zoonique.] Of or
pertaining to animals; obtained from animal substances.
Zo"ö*nite (?), n.
(Zoöl.) (a) One of the segments of
the body of an articulate animal. (b) One
of the theoretic transverse divisions of any segmented
animal.
Zo*ön"o*my (?), n. [Zoö-
+ Gr. &?; a law: cf. F. zoonomie.] The laws of animal
life, or the science which treats of the phenomena of animal life,
their causes and relations.
Zo"ö*nule (?), n. [Dim. fr. Gr.
zw^,on an animal.] (Zoöl.) Same as
Zoönite.
Zo`ö*pa*thol"o*gy (?), n.
[Zoö- + pathology.] Animal
pathology.
||Zo*öph"a*ga (?), n. pl. [NL., fr.
Gr. &?; animal + &?; to eat.] (Zoöl.) An artificial
group comprising various carnivorous and insectivorous
animals.
Zo*öph"a*gan (?), n.
(Zoöl.) A animal that feeds on animal food.
Zo*öph"a*gous (?), a. [Gr. &?;;
zw^,on an animal + &?; to eat.] Feeding on
animals.
&fist; This is a more general term than either sarcophagous
or carnivorous.
Zo*öph"i*list (?), n. [Zoö-
+ Gr. &?; to love.] A lover of animals.
Southey.
Zo*öph"i*ly (?), n. Love of
animals.
Zo"ö*phite (?), n. A
zoöphyte. [R.]
Zo`ö*phor"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;;
zw^,on an animal + &?; to bear; cf. F. zoophorique.]
Bearing or supporting the figure of an animal; as, a
zoöphoric column.
||Zo*öph"o*rous (?), n. [L., fr.
Gr. &?;. See Zoöphoric.] (Anc. Arch.) The
part between the architrave and cornice; the frieze; -- so called from
the figures of animals carved upon it.
||Zo*öph"y*ta (?), n. pl. [NL.,
from Gr. zw^,on an animal + fyto`n a plant.]
(Zoöl.) An extensive artificial and heterogeneous
group of animals, formerly adopted by many zoölogists. It
included the cœlenterates, echinoderms, sponges, Bryozoa,
Protozoa, etc.
&fist; Sometimes the name is restricted to the Cœlentera, or
to the Anthozoa.
Zo"ö*phyte (?), n. [F.
zoophyte, Gr. &?;; zw^,on an animal + &?; plant,
akin to &?; to be born, to be. See Zodiac, and Be,
v. i.] (Zoöl.) (a)
Any one of numerous species of invertebrate animals which more or
less resemble plants in appearance, or mode of growth, as the corals,
gorgonians, sea anemones, hydroids, bryozoans, sponges, etc.,
especially any of those that form compound colonies having a branched
or treelike form, as many corals and hydroids.
(b) Any one of the Zoöphyta.
{ Zo`ö*phyt"ic (?), Zo`ö*phyt"ic*al
(?), } a. [Cf. F. zoophytique.]
(Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to zoöphytes.
Zo*öph"y*toid (?), a.
[Zoöphyte + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Pertaining to, or resembling, a zoöphyte.
Zo`ö*phyt`o*log"ic*al (?), a. [Cf.
F. zoophytologique.] Of or pertaining to
zoöphytology; as, zoöphytological
observations.
Zo*öph`y*tol"o*gy (?; 277), n.
[Zoöphyte + -logy: cf. F. zoophytologie.]
The natural history zoöphytes.
Zo`ö*prax"i*scope (?), n.
[Zoö- + Gr. &?; a doing, an acting (from &?; to do) + -
scope.] An instrument similar to, or the same as, the, the
phenakistoscope, by means of which pictures projected upon a screen
are made to exhibit the natural movements of animals, and the
like.
Zo`ö*psy*chol"o*gy (?), n.
[Zoö- + psychology.] Animal
psychology.
Zo"ö*sperm (?), n. [Zoö-
+ sperm.] (Biol.) One of the spermatic
particles; spermatozoid.
||Zo`ö*spo*ran"gi*um (?), n.;
pl. -sporangia (#). [NL. See Zoö-
, and Sporangium.] (Bot.) A spore, or
conceptacle containing zoöspores.
Zo"ö*spore (?), n. [Zoö-
+ spore.]
1. (Bot.) A spore provided with one or
more slender cilia, by the vibration of which it swims in the water.
Zoöspores are produced by many green, and by some olive-brown,
algæ. In certain species they are divided into the larger
macrozoöspores and the smaller microzoöspores. Called also
sporozoid, and swarmspore.
2. (Zoöl.) See
Swarmspore.
Zo`ö*spor"ic (?), a. Of or
pertaining to zoöspores; of the nature of
zoöspores.
Zo*öt"ic (?), a. [Gr.
zw^,on an animal.] Containing the remains of organized
bodies; -- said of rock or soil.
Zo`ö*tom"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F.
zootomique.] Of or pertaining to zoötomy.
Zo*öt"o*mist (?), n. [Cf. F.
zootomiste.] One who dissects animals, or is skilled in
zoötomy.
Zo*öt"o*my (?), n. [Zoö-
+ Gr. &?; to cut: cf. F. zootomie.] The dissection or
the anatomy of animals; -- distinguished from
androtomy.
Zo`ö*troph"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;.
See Zoö-, and Trophic.] (Physiol.) Of
or pertaining to the nourishment of animals.
Zoo"zoo` (?), n. [Of imitative origin.]
(Zoöl.) The wood pigeon. [Prov. Eng.]
Zope (?), n. [G.] (Zoöl.)
A European fresh-water bream (Abramis ballerus).
Zo"pi*lote (?), n. [Sp.]
(Zoöl.) The urubu, or American black
vulture.
Zor"il (?), n. (Zoöl.)
Same as Zorilla.
Zo*ril"la (?), n. [Sp. zorilla,
zorillo, dim. of zorra, zorro, a fox: cf. F.
zorille.] (Zoöl.) Either one of two species of
small African carnivores of the genus Ictonyx allied to the
weasels and skunks. [Written also zoril, and
zorille.]
&fist; The best-known species (Ictonyx zorilla) has black
shiny fur with white bands and spots. It has anal glands which produce
a very offensive secretion, similar to that of the skunk. It feeds
upon birds and their eggs and upon small mammals, and is often very
destructive to poultry. It is sometimes tamed by the natives, and kept
to destroy rats and mice. Called also mariput, Cape
polecat, and African polecat. The name is sometimes
erroneously applied to the American skunk.
Zo`ro*as"tri*an (?), a. Of or
pertaining to Zoroaster, or his religious system.
Zo`ro*as"tri*an (?), n. A follower
of Zoroaster; one who accepts Zoroastrianism.
Zo`ro*as"tri*an*ism (?), n. The
religious system of Zoroaster, the legislator and prophet of the
ancient Persians, which was the national faith of Persia; mazdeism.
The system presupposes a good spirit (Ormuzd) and an opposing evil
spirit (Ahriman). Cf. Fire worship, under Fire, and
Parsee.
Zo`ro*as"trism (?), n. Same as
Zoroastrianism. Tylor.
||Zos"ter (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;
girdle, zoster. See Zone.] (Med.)
Shingles.
||Zos"te*ra (?), n. [NL.] (Bot.)
A genus of plants of the Naiadaceæ, or Pondweed
family. Zostera marina is commonly known as sea wrack,
and eelgrass.
||Zos"ter*ops (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
girdle + &?;, &?;, the eye.] (Zoöl.) A genus of birds
that comprises the white-eyes. See White-eye.
Zouave (?; 277), n. [F., fr. Ar.
Zouaoua a tribe of Kabyles living among the Jurjura mountains
in Algeria.] (Mil.) (a) One of an active
and hardy body of soldiers in the French service, originally Arabs,
but now composed of Frenchmen who wear the Arab dress.
(b) Hence, one of a body of soldiers who adopt
the dress and drill of the Zouaves, as was done by a number of
volunteer regiments in the army of the United States in the Civil War,
1861-65.
Zounds (?), interj. [Contracted from
God's wounds.] An exclamation formerly used as an oath,
and an expression of anger or wonder.
Zoutch (?; 277), v. t. (Cookery)
To stew, as flounders, eels, etc., with just enough or liquid to
cover them. Smart.
Zubr (z&oomac;br), n. [Polish
żubr.] (Zoöl.) The aurochs.
Zuche (z&oomac;ch), n. A stump of a
tree. Cowell.
Zu*chet"to (?), n. [It.
zucchetto.] (R. C. Ch.) A skullcap covering the
tonsure, worn under the berretta. The pope's is white; a cardinal's
red; a bishop's purple; a priest's black.
||Zu"fo*lo (?; 277), n. [It.]
(Mus.) A little flute or flageolet, especially that which
is used to teach birds. [Written also zuffolo.]
Zui"sin (?), n. (Zoöl.)
The American widgeon. [Local, U. S.]
Zu"lus (z&oomac;"l&oomac;z), n. pl.;
sing. Zulu (-l&oomac;). (Ethnol.)
The most important tribe belonging to the Kaffir race. They
inhabit a region on the southeast coast of Africa, but formerly
occupied a much more extensive country. They are noted for their
warlike disposition, courage, and military skill.
Zum*boo"ruk (?), n. [Turk. & Ar.
zambūrak, fr. Ar. zambūr a hornet.]
(Mil.) A small cannon supported by a swiveled rest on the
back of a camel, whence it is fired, -- used in the East.
Zu"mic (?), a., Zu`mo*log"ic*al
(&?;), a., Zu*mol"o*gy (&?;),
n., Zu*mom"e*ter (&?;),
n., etc. See Zymic, Zymological,
etc.
Zu"ñis (?), n. pl.; sing.
Zuñi (&?;). (Ethnol.) A tribe
of Pueblo Indians occupying a village in New Mexico, on the
Zuñi River.
Zun"yite (?), n. (Min.) A
fluosilicate of alumina occurring in tetrahedral crystals at the
Zuñi mine in Colorado.
||Zwan"zi*ger (tsvän"ts&esl;*g&etilde;r),
n. [G.] An Austrian silver coin equivalent to
20 kreutzers, or about 10 cents.
||Zy*gan"trum (?), n.; pl.
Zygantra (#). [Gr. zygo`n a yoke + &?; a
cave, hole.] (Anat.) See under
Zygosphene.
Zyg`a*poph"y*sis (?), n.; pl.
Zygapophyses (#). [Gr. zygo`n a yoke + E.
apophysis.] (Anat.) One of the articular processes
of a vertebra, of which there are usually four, two anterior and two
posterior. See under Vertebra. --
Zyg`ap*o*phys"i*al (#), a.
Zyg"e*nid (?), n. [Cf. Gr. &?;, probably
the hammer-headed shark.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous
species of moths of the family Zygænidæ, most of
which are bright colored. The wood nymph and the vine forester are
examples. Also used adjectively.
||Zyg`o*bran"chi*a (?), n. pl. [NL.,
from Gr. zygo`n a yoke + &?; a gill.] (Zoöl.)
A division of marine gastropods in which the gills are developed
on both sides of the body and the renal organs are also paired. The
abalone (Haliotis) and the keyhole limpet (Fissurella)
are examples.
Zyg`o*bran"chi*ate (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the
Zygobranchia.
{ Zyg`o*dac"tyl, Zyg`o*dac"tyle } (?),
n. [See Zygodactylic.] (Zoöl.)
Any zygodactylous bird.
||Zyg`o*dac"ty*læ (?), n. pl.
[NL.] (Zoöl.) The zygodactylous birds. In a
restricted sense applied to a division of birds which includes the
barbets, toucans, honey guides, and other related birds.
||Zyg`o*dac"ty*li (?), n. pl. [NL.]
(Zoöl.) Same as Scansores.
{ Zyg`o*dac"ty*lic (?), Zyg`o*dac"tyl*ous (?;
277), } a. [Gr. zygo`n a yoke, pair + &?;
finger, toe: cf. F. zygodactyle.] (Zoöl.)
Yoke-footed; having the toes disposed in pairs; -- applied to
birds which have two toes before and two behind, as the parrot,
cuckoo, woodpecker, etc.
||Zy*go"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;,
fr. &?; to yoke, zygo`n a yoke.] (Anat.)
(a) The jugal, malar, or cheek bone.
(b) The zygomatic process of the temporal
bone. (c) The whole zygomatic
arch.
Zyg`o*mat"ic (?; 277), a. [Cf. F.
zygomatique.] (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or in the
region of, the zygoma.
Zygomatic arch, the arch of bone beneath the
orbit, formed in most mammals by the union of the malar, or jugal,
with the zygomatic process of the temporal bone. In the lower
vertebrates other bones may help to form it, and there may be two
arches on each side of the skull, as in some reptiles. --
Zygomatic process, a process of the temporal or
squamosal bone helping to form the zygomatic arch.
{ Zyg`o*mor"phic (?), Zyg`o*mor"phous (?), }
a. [Gr. zygo`n a yoke + &?; form.]
(Biol.) Symmetrical bilaterally; -- said of organisms, or
parts of organisms, capable of division into two symmetrical halves
only in a single plane.
Zyg"o*phyte (?), n. [Gr.
zygo`n a yoke + fyto`n a plant.] (Bot.)
Any plant of a proposed class or grand division
(Zygophytes, Zygophyta, or Zygosporeæ), in
which reproduction consists in the union of two similar cells. Cf.
Oöphyte.
||Zy*go"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
balancing, fr. zygo`n yoke.] (Biol.) Same as
Conjugation.
Zyg"o*sperm (?), n. [Gr.
zygo`n a yoke + E. sperm.] (Bot.) A
spore formed by the union of the contents of two similar cells, either
of the same or of distinct individual plants. Zygosperms are found in
certain orders of algæ and fungi.
Zyg"o*sphene (?), n. [Gr.
zygo`n a yoke + &?; a wedge.] (Anat.) A median
process on the front part of the neural arch of the vertebræ of
most snakes and some lizards, which fits into a fossa, called the
zygantrum, on the back part of the arch in front.
Zyg"o*spore (?), n. [Gr.
zygo`n a yoke + E. spore.] (Bot.)
(a) Same as Zygosperm.
(b) A spore formed by the union of several
zoöspores; -- called also zygozoöspore.
Zy"lon*ite (?), n. [Gr. &?; wood.]
Celluloid.
Zym"ase (?), n. [From Zyme.]
(Physiol. Chem.) A soluble ferment, or enzyme. See
Enzyme.
Zyme (?), n. [Gr. &?; leaven.]
1. A ferment.
2. (Med.) The morbific principle of a
zymotic disease. Quain.
Zym"ic (?), a. (Old Chem.)
Pertaining to, or produced by, fermentation; -- formerly, by
confusion, used to designate lactic acid.
Zym"o*gen (?), n. [Zyme + -
gen.] (Physiol. Chem.) A mother substance, or
antecedent, of an enzyme or chemical ferment; -- applied to such
substances as, not being themselves actual ferments, may by internal
changes give rise to a ferment.
The pancreas contains but little ready-made ferment,
though there is present in it a body, zymogen, which gives
birth to the ferment.
Foster.
Zym"o*gene (?), n. [Zyme + root
of Gr. &?; to be born.] (Biol.) One of a physiological
group of globular bacteria which produces fermentations of diverse
nature; -- distinguished from pathogene.
Zym`o*gen"ic (?), a. (Biol.)
(a) Pertaining to, or formed by, a
zymogene. (b) Capable of producing a
definite zymogen or ferment.
Zymogenic organism (Biol.), a
microörganism, such as the yeast plant of the Bacterium
lactis, which sets up certain fermentative processes by which
definite chemical products are formed; -- distinguished from a
pathogenic organism. Cf. Micrococcus.
{ Zy`mo*log"ic (?), Zy`mo*log"ic*al (?), }
a. [Cf. F. zymologique.] Of or
pertaining to zymology.
Zy*mol"o*gist (?), n. One who is
skilled in zymology, or in the fermentation of liquors.
Zy*mol"o*gy (?), n. [Zyme + -
logy: cf. F. zymologie.] A treatise on the
fermentation of liquors, or the doctrine of fermentation.
[Written also zumology.]
Zy"mome (?), n. [Gr. &?; a fermented
mixture.] (Old Chem.) A glutinous substance, insoluble in
alcohol, resembling legumin; -- now called vegetable fibrin,
vegetable albumin, or gluten casein.
{ Zy*mom"e*ter (?), Zy`mo*sim"e*ter (?), }
n. [Gr. &?; ferment, or &?; fermentation + -
meter: cf. F. zymosimètre.] An instrument for
ascertaining the degree of fermentation occasioned by the mixture of
different liquids, and the degree of heat which they acquire in
fermentation.
Zym"o*phyte (?), n. [Zyme + Gr.
fyto`n a plant.] (Physiol. Chem.) A bacteroid
ferment.
Zy*mose" (?), n. (Chem.)
Invertin.
||Zy*mo"sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
fermentation, fr. &?; ferment.] (Med.) (a)
A fermentation; hence, an analogous process by which an
infectious disease is believed to be developed.
(b) A zymotic disease. [R.]
Zy*mot"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; causing to
ferment, fr. &?; to ferment, &?; ferment, leaven.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or caused by,
fermentation.
2. (Med.) Designating, or pertaining
to, a certain class of diseases. See Zymotic disease,
below.
Zymotic disease (Med.), any epidemic,
endemic, contagious, or sporadic affection which is produced by some
morbific principle or organism acting on the system like a
ferment.
Zy"them (?), n. See
Zythum.
Zy*thep"sa*ry (?), n. [Gr. &?; a kind of
beer + &?; to boil.] A brewery. [R.]
||Zy"thum (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; a
kind of beer; -- so called by the Egyptians.] A kind of ancient
malt beverage; a liquor made from malt and wheat. [Written also
zythem.]
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