Homepage
Login
Profile
BookClubs
dmBox
Read Ebook: The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section X Y and Z by Project Gutenberg Webster Noah
Font size:
Background color:
Text color:
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page
Ebook has 4479 lines and 175740 words, and 90 pages
X . X, the twenty-fourth letter of the English alphabet, has three sounds; a compound nonvocal sound , as in wax; a compound vocal sound , as in example; and, at the beginning of a word, a simple vocal sound , as in xanthic. See Guide to Pronunciation, ?? 217, 270, 271.
The form and value of X are from the Latin X, which is from the Greek , which in some Greek alphabets had the value of ks, though in the one now in common use it represents an aspirated sound of k.
Xan"thate , n. A salt of xanthic; a xanthogenate.
Xan"thic , a.
Xanthic acid , a heavy, astringent, colorless oil, C2H5O.CS.SH, having a pungent odor. It is produced by leading carbon disulphide into a hot alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide. So called from the yellow color of many of its salts. Called also xanthogenic acid. -- Xanthic colors , those colors having some tinge of yellow; -- opposed to cyanic colors. See under Cyanic.
Xan"thide , n. A compound or derivative of xanthogen.
Xan"thin , n.
Xan"tho- . A combining form from Gr. xanqo`s yellow; as in xanthocobaltic salts. Used also adjectively in chemistry.
The Xanthochroi, or fair whites, . . . are the prevalent inhabitants of Northern Europe, and the type may be traced into North Africa, and eastward as far as Hindostan.
Tylor.
Xan"those , n. An orange-yellow substance found in pigment spots of certain crabs.
Xan"thous , a. Yellow; specifically , of or pertaining to those races of man which have yellowish, red, auburn, or brown hair.
The commonest species in the Northern United States is Xanthoxylum Americanum. See Prickly ash, under Prickly.
Xe"bec , n. A small three-masted vessel, with projecting bow stern and convex decks, used in the Mediterranean for transporting merchandise, etc. It carries large square sails, or both. Xebecs were formerly armed and used by corsairs.
Xeme , n. An Arctic fork-tailed gull .
Xen"yl , n. The radical characteristic of xenylic compounds.
Xer"es , n. Sherry. See Sherry.
Xer"if , n. A shereef.
Xer"iff , n. A gold coin formerly current in Egypt and Turkey, of the value of about 9s. 6d., or about .30; -- also, in Morocco, a ducat.
Plants which are peculiarly adapted to dry climates are termed by De Candolle xerophilous.
Goodale.
Xiph"oid , a. Like a sword; ensiform. Of or pertaining to the xiphoid process; xiphoidian.
X ray. See under Ray.
Xy"late , n. A salt of xylic acid.
Xy"lem , n. That portion of a fibrovascular bundle which has developed, or will develop, into wood cells; -- distinguished from phlo?m.
Xy"lene , n. Any of a group of three metameric hydrocarbons of the aromatic series, found in coal and wood tar, and so named because found in crude wood spirit. They are colorless, oily, inflammable liquids, C6H4.2, being dimethyl benzenes, and are called respectively orthoxylene, metaxylene, and paraxylene. Called also xylol.
Each of these xylenes is the nucleus and prototype of a distinct series of compounds.
Xy"lic , a. Pertaining to, derived from, or related to, xylene; specifically, designating any one of several metameric acids produced by the partial oxidation of mesitylene and pseudo-cumene.
The xylidine of commerce, used in making certain dyes, consists chiefly of the derivatives of paraxylene and metaxylene.
Xy"lite , n. A liquid hydrocarbon found in crude wood spirits.
Xy"lo- . A combining form from Gr. xy`lon wood; as in xylogen, xylograph.
a. Of or pertaining to xylography, or wood engraving.
Xy"loid , a. Resembling wood; having the nature of wood.
Xy"lol , n. Same as Xylene.
Xy"lyl , n. Any one of three metameric radicals which are characteristic respectively of the three xylenes.
||Xy"ris , n. A genus of endogenous herbs with grassy leaves and small yellow flowers in short, scaly- bracted spikes; yellow-eyed grass. There are about seventeen species in the Atlantic United States.
n. A long and open portico, for athletic exercises, as wrestling, running, etc., for use in winter or in stormy weather.
Xyst"arch , n. An office&?; having the superintendence of the xyst. Dr. W. Smith.
Xys"ter , n. An instrument for scraping bones.
Y . Y, the twenty-fifth letter of the English alphabet, at the beginning of a word or syllable, except when a prefix , is usually a fricative vocal consonant; as a prefix, and usually in the middle or at the end of a syllable, it is a vowel. See Guide to Pronunciation, ?? 145, 178-9, 272.
Y has been called the Pythagorean letter, because the Greek letter was taken represent the sacred triad, formed by the duad proceeding from the monad; and also because it represents the dividing of the paths of vice and virtue in the development of human life.
Y , n.; pl. Y's or Ys. Something shaped like the letter Y; a forked piece resembling in form the letter Y. Specifically: One of the forked holders for supporting the telescope of a leveling instrument, or the axis of a theodolite; a wye. A forked or bifurcated pipe fitting. A portion of track consisting of two diverging tracks connected by a cross track.
Y level , an instrument for measuring differences of level by means of a telescope resting in Y's. -- Y moth , a handsome European noctuid moth Plusia gamma) which has a bright, silvery mark, shaped like the letter Y, on each of the fore wings. Its larva, which is green with five dorsal white species, feeds on the cabbage, turnip, bean, etc. Called also gamma moth, and silver Y.
. A prefix of obscure meaning, originally used with verbs, adverbs, adjectives, nouns, and pronouns. In the Middle English period, it was little employed except with verbs, being chiefly used with past participles, though occasionally with the infinitive Ycleped, or yclept, is perhaps the only word not entirely obsolete which shows this use.
That no wight mighte it see neither yheere.
Chaucer.
Neither to ben yburied nor ybrent.
Chaucer.
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page