# Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Z Zyxomma

fāte, fär; mē, hėr; mīne; mōte; mūte; mōōn; then.
the twenty-sixth and last letter in our alphabet, is derived through the Greek zeta, from zayin, the seventh Semitic letter—its sound a voiced sibilant, either a voiced s as in 'zeal,' or a voiced sh as in 'azure.'—The cedilla (ç) is a 'little zed,' as is implied by the Italian name zediglia, from zeticula.
Zabian, zā′bi-an, adj. and n. the same as Sabian.—ns. Zā′baism, Zā′bism, the doctrines esp. of the Pseudo-Zabians, or Syrian Zabians (in Haurân, Edessa, Bagdad), remnants of the ancient Syrian but Hellenised heathens, from about the 9th to the 12th century. Under the name Zabians used to be grouped several peoples distinct in origin and by no means alike in religion. The medieval Arabic and Jewish writers called nearly all those heathens or Sabæans who were neither Jews or Christians, nor Mohammedans or Magians. Now the name Sabæans denotes strictly the ancient inhabitants of southern Arabia, who were but little modified by Babylonian influences; the Zabians of the Koran were originally non-Christian Gnostics—the ancestors of the still existing Mandæans (q.v.) or Joannes' Christians.
Zabra, zä′bra, n. a small vessel on the Spanish coast. [Sp.]
Zabrus, zā′brus, n. a large genus of caraboid beetles. [Gr. zabros, gluttonous.]
Zadkiel, zad′ki-el, n. the name assumed by Richard James Morrison (1794-1874), the compiler of a popular astrological almanac, a retired commander in the royal navy, a Hebraist, mathematician, astronomer, and a real believer in his pseudo-science.
Zaffre, Zaffer, zaf′ėr, n. the impure oxide obtained by partially roasting cobalt ore previously mixed with two or three times its weight of fine sand. [Fr. zafre, of Ar. origin.]
Zalophus, zal′ō-fus, n. a genus of otaries or eared seals. [Gr. za-, intens., lophos, a crest.]
Zambomba, tham-bom′ba, n. a simple Spanish musical instrument made by stretching a piece of parchment over a wide-mouthed jar and inserting a stick in it which is rubbed with the fingers.
Zamia, zā′mi-a, n. a genus of palm-like trees or low shrubs of the order Cycadaceæ—some species yield an edible starchy pith. [L. zamia, a dead fir-cone—Gr. zēmia, damage.]
Zamindar=Zemindar (q.v.).
Zamouse, za-moos′, n. the short-horned buffalo of West Africa.
Zampogna, tsam-pō′nya, n. the Italian bagpipe. [It.]
Zander, zan′dėr, n. the European pike-perch.—Also San′der and Zant. [Ger.]
Zanella, zā-nel′a, n. a mixed twilled fabric for covering umbrellas.
Zanje, than′hē, n. an irrigating canal.—n. Zanjē′ro, one who superintends the distribution of such water. [Sp. Amer.]
Zante, zan′te, n. the same as Zan′te-wood, the wood of the smoke-tree, from Zante, one of the principal Ionian Islands: satin-wood.—n. Zan′tiote, a native of Zante.—Zante currant, the small seedless fruit of a Zante grape.
Zany, zā′ni, n. a merry-andrew: a buffoon.—v.t. to play the zany to.—n. Zā′nyism, condition or habits of a buffoon. [Fr. zani—It. zani, a corr. of Giovanni, John. Cf. the similar use of the names John and Jack.]
Zaporogian, zā-pō-rō′ji-an, adj. pertaining to those Little Russian or Ukraine Cossacks who dwelt near the Porogi or falls of the Dnieper.—n. one of the foregoing.
Zapotilla, zap-ō-til′a, n. the same as Sapodilla.
Zaptieh, zap′ti-ā, n. a Turkish policeman.—Also Zab′tieh.
Zarape, za-rä′pe, n. the same as Serape.
Zarathustrian, zar-a-thōōs′tri-an, adj. and n.=Zoroastrian.—Zarathus′trianism, Zarathus′trism=Zoroastrianism; Zarathus′tric=Zoroastric.
Zaratite, zar′a-tīt, n. a hydrous carbonate of nickel, found usually as an incrustation on chromite. [From Zarate, a Spaniard.]
Zareba, zā-rē′ba, n. in the Soudan, a stockade, thorn-hedge, &c. against wild animals or enemies, a fortified camp generally.—Also Zaree′ba, Zere′ba, Zeri′ba.
Zarf, zärf, n. an ornamental holder for a hot coffee-cup.—Also Zurf. [Ar. zarf, a vessel.]
Zarnich, zär′nik, n. a native sulphide of arsenic, orpiment, realgar.—Also Zar′nec. [Ar. zernikh—Gr. arsenikon, arsenic.]
Zarzuela, thär-thōō-ā′la, n. a kind of operetta or vaudeville—named from the royal residence of La Zarzuela in Spain.
Zastruga, zas-trōō′ga, n. one of a series of long parallel snow-ridges on the open wind-swept plains of Russia. [Russian.]
Zati, zä′ti, n. the capped macaque of India and Ceylon.
Zax, zaks, n. a slaters' hammer.—Also Sax (q.v.).
Zea, zē′a, n. a cereal having monœcious flowers. The only species is Z. mays, the well-known maize or Indian corn. [Gr.]
Zeal, zēl, n. boiling or passionate ardour for anything: enthusiasm.—n. Zeal′ant (Bacon), a zealot or enthusiast.—adj. Zeal′less, wanting zeal.—ns. Zealot (zel′ot), one full of zeal: an enthusiast: a fanatic: one of a fanatical Jewish party whose restless opposition to the Roman domination finally brought about the ruin of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.; Zealotism (zel′-), the character of a zealot; Zealotry (zel′-).—adj. Zealous (zel′-), full of zeal: warmly engaged or ardent in anything.—adv. Zealously (zel′-).—n. Zealousness (zel′-). [O. Fr. zele—L. zelus—Gr. zēlos, zeein, to boil. Cf. Yeast.]
Zebec, Zebeck=Xebec (q.v.).
Zebra, zē′bra, n. a generic name given to the group of striped Equidæ—all of which are peculiar to the African continent—and thus including the Dauw or Burchell's Zebra, the Quagga, and the true or Mountain Zebra.—n. Zē′bra-wood, the hard and beautifully striped wood of a Guiana tree.—adj. Zē′brine, like the zebra. [Of African origin.]
Zebu, zē′bū, n. the humped domestic ox of India (or Brahminy bull), a kind of ox very nearly allied to the common ox, diffused over India, China, the east coast of Africa, &c. [Fr. zébu, the whimsical name taken by Buffon from the exhibitors of such a beast at a French fair as if African.]
Zebub, zē′bub, n. an Abyssinian fly hurtful to cattle, similar to the tsetse. [Ar. zubāb, a fly.]
Zecchino, tsek-kē′nō, n. a Venetian gold coin, the same as the sequin (q.v.).
Zechstein, zek′stīn, n. a deposit of calcareous rock which covers the Kupfer-schiefer. [Ger.,—zeche, a mine, stein, a stone.]
Zed, zed, n. the letter Z, also called zee and izzard: a bar of metal of form similar to the letter Z.
Zedoary, zed′ō-ā-ri, n. certain species of curcuma, natives of India, China, &c., whose root-stocks (rhizomes) are aromatic, bitter, pungent, and tonic, and used for similar purposes with ginger—a powerful sudorific. [Ar. Jedwar.]
Zein, zē′in, n. a proteid found in Indian corn. [Zea.]
Zeitgeist, tsīt′gīst, n. the spirit of the age. [Ger.]
Zel, zel, n. a form of Oriental cymbal. [Pers. zil.]
Zelotypia, zel-ō-tip′i-a, n. morbid zeal in the prosecution of any project or cause. [Gr. zēlotypia, jealousy, zēlos, zeal, typtein, to strike.]
Zemindar, zem-in-dar′, n. under the Mogul emperors of India, the farmer of revenue from land held in common by the cultivators, as responsible for the revenue—now the actual native proprietor paying revenue direct, and not to any intermediate superior—also Zamindar′.—n. Zem′indary, the jurisdiction of a zemindar, the system of land-tenure and taxation under such—also Zam′indari, Zem′indari, &c. [Pers. zemīndār, a landholder.]
Zemstvo, zems′tvō, n. in Russia, a district and provincial assembly to which the administration of the economic affairs of the district and the province was committed in 1866, but whose rights were much curtailed in 1890. [Russ.]
Zenana, ze-nä′na, n. the apartments in which Indian women are secluded, corresponding to the harem in Arabic-speaking Moslem lands.—Zenana mission, a mission to Hindu women, necessarily conducted by women. [Pers. zanāna—zan, a woman.]
Zend, zend, n. the ancient East-Iranian and purely Aryan language, in which the Zend-Avesta was long orally preserved and at last written—closely related to the Vedic Sanskrit.—Zend-Avesta, the ancient sacred writings of the Parsees, including works of widely differing character and age, collected into their present canon under Shah-puhar II. (Shah-pur II.; 309-338 A.D.). [A word meaning 'commentary' (zend=zand, from Sans. jñâ, to know).]
Zendik, zen′dik, n. an unbeliever in revealed religion in the East, one who practises magic. [Ar. zendīq.]
Zenith, zen′ith, n. that point of the heavens which is exactly overhead—i.e. in line with the spectator's position and the centre of the earth (it is thus the upper pole of the spectator's horizon, as the nadir is the under pole): greatest height, summit of ambition, &c.—adj. Zen′ithal.—ns. Zen′ith-dis′tance, the angular distance of a heavenly body from the zenith; Zen′ith-sec′tor, an instrument for measuring zenith-distances. [Fr., through Sp. zenit, from Ar. samt, short for samt-ur-ras, lit. 'way of the head.']
Zeolite, zē′ō-līt, n. the common name of a large group of minerals often called the Zeolitic family—they are all soluble in acids, and most of them gelatinise in acids in consequence of silica being set free.—adjs. Zeolit′ic; Zeolit′iform. [Gr. zeein, to boil, lithos, a stone.]
Zephyr, zef′ir, n. the west wind: a soft, gentle breeze: thin light worsted or woollen yarn, also a close-fitting jersey or undergarment made of such: anything very light and fine of its kind.—Zephyr cloth, a thin, finely spun woollen cloth for women's gowns. [Gr. zephyros—zophos, darkness, the dark quarter, the west.]
Zerda, zer′da, n. a small African fox, a fennec.
Zereba=Zareba (q.v.).
Zero, zē′ro, n. cipher: nothing: the point from which the reckoning begins on scales, such as those of the barometer, &c. [Fr.,—Ar. sifr. Doublet cipher.]
Zerumbet, zē-rum′bet, n. an East Indian drug, the cassumunar—sometimes for the round zedoary.
Zest, zest, n. something that gives a relish: relish. [Fr. zeste, skin of an orange or lemon used to give a flavour—L. schistus—Gr. schistos, cleft, divided—schizein, to cleave.]
Zeta, zē′ta, n. a small closet or parlour, the sexton's room over the porch of a church. [Gr. diaita, a dwelling.]
Zetetic, zē-tet′ik, adj. proceeding by inquiry.—n. a seeker, the name taken by some of the Pyrrhonists. [Gr. zētētikos—zētein, to seek.]
Zeuglodon, zūg′lō-don, n. a fossil whale-like mammal, so named by Owen from the yoke-like double-rooted formation of its cheek teeth.—adj. and n. Zeug′lodont.—n.pl. Zeuglodon′tia, a suborder of Cetacea, represented by the zeuglodonts. [Gr. zeuglē, the strap or loop of the yoke, odous, -ontos, a tooth.]
Zeugma, zūg′ma, n. (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, whether grammatically corresponding or not.—adj. Zeugmat′ic. [Gr.,—zeugnunai, to yoke.]
Zeus, zūs, n. the greatest of the national deities of Greece, son of Cronos (Saturn) and Rhea, brother of Poseidon (Neptune), Hades (Pluto), Hestia (Vesta), Demeter (Ceres), and Hera (Juno). His consort was Hera; his supreme seat, Mount Olympus in Thessaly. [Gr.]
Zeuxite, zūks′īt, n. a ferriferous tourmaline. [Gr.,—zeuxis, joining—zeugnunai, to yoke.]
Ziamet, zi-ä′met, n. a large military fief under the Turkish feudal system. [Turk.]
Zibeline, zib′e-lin, adj. pertaining to the sable.—n. the fur of the sable. [Sable.]
Zibet, zib′et, n. an Asiatic or Indian civet. [Civet.]
Ziganka, zi-gan′ka, n. a Russian country-dance, the music for such, usually quick, with a drone bass. [Russ.]
Zigzag, zig′zag, n. a short, sharp turning.—adj. having short, sharp turns, bent from side to side.—v.t. to form with short turns:—pr.p. zig′zagging; pa.p. zig′zagged.—adv. with frequent sharp turns—also Zig′zaggy.—n. Zigzag′gery, angular crookedness.—adj. Zig′zaggy, zigzag. [Fr. zig-zag—Ger. zick-zack, zacke, a sharp point.]
Zillah, zil′a, n. the technical name for the administrative districts into which British India is divided, each of which has in the older provinces a Collector (or Collector and Magistrate combined), a Sessions Judge, &c., and in the newer provinces, such as the Punjab and British Burma, a Deputy Commissioner. [Properly Ar. (in Indian pronunciation) zila, 'a rib,' thence 'a side,' 'a district.']
Zimb, zimb, n. an Abyssinian dipterous insect, like the tsetse, hurtful to cattle. [Ar. zimb, a fly.]
Zimbi, zim′bi, n. a money-cowry. [East Ind.]
Ziment-water, zi-ment′-wa′tėr, n. water found in copper-mines.
Zimocca, zi-mok′a, n. a fine quality of bath-sponge.
Zinc, zingk, n. a bluish-white metal, breaking with a crystalline fracture—when chemically pure it is malleable and ductile at ordinary temperature, but ordinary zinc is so only at temperatures above 212° Fahr.—v.t. to cover with zinc.—ns. Zinc′-am′yl, a colourless transparent liquid, composed of zinc and amyl; Zinc′-blende, sphalerite, native sulphide of zinc; Zinc′-bloom, hydrozincite; Zinc-col′ic, a colic caused by the slow poison of zinc-oxide; Zinc′-ē′thyl, a colourless volatile liquid, composed of zinc and the radical ethyl.—adjs. Zincif′erous, Zinkif′erous, containing or producing zinc.—ns. Zinc′ite, a native oxide of zinc, brittle, translucent, deep red; Zinckificā′tion, Zinkificā′tion, the process of coating or impregnating an object with zinc.—vs.t. Zinck′ify, Zink′ify, to cover or impregnate with zinc.—adjs. Zinck′y, Zink′y, pertaining to zinc: looking like zinc.—n. Zinc′-meth′yl, a mobile stinking liquid, spontaneously inflammable, resembling zinc-ethyl.—adj. Zinc′oid, like zinc.—ns. Zincol′ysis, a mode of decomposition caused by an electric current; Zinc′olyte, a body decomposable by electricity; Zinc′otype, a zincograph.—adj. Zinc′ous, pertaining to zinc.—ns. Zinc′-white, zinc oxide used as a pigment; Zinc′-work′er. [Ger. zink, prob. allied to zinn, tin.]
Zincali, zin′ka-li, n. a name in Spain for the Gipsies, akin to Zingaro (q.v.).
Zinckenite, zing′ken-īt, n. a grayish mineral consisting of the sulphides of antimony and lead. [Named from the German metallurgist Zincken (1790-1862).]
Zinco, zing′kō, n. a familiar abbreviation for zincograph.—v.i. to produce a plate for printing by the zincographic process.
Zincode, zing′kōd, n. the negative pole of a voltaic battery: the anode of an electrolytic cell.
Zincography, zing-kog′ra-fi, n. a process of etching on zinc (or copper) by which black and white pictures of all kinds can be reproduced as surface-blocks for printing by the ordinary letterpress process—in the etching the whites, and not the black lines as in the ordinary etching, are eaten away.—ns. Zinc′ograph, a plate or picture produced by zincography; Zincog′rapher, one who makes zincographic plates.—adjs. Zincograph′ic, -al. [Zinc, Gr. graphein, to write.]
Zingaro, zing′ga-rō, n. a name in Italy for the Gipsies;—pl. Zing′ari, Zing′ane.—Also Zing′ano. [Cf. the Ger. Zigeuner, Czech Cingán or Cigán, Magyar Cigány.]
Zingel, zing′el, n. a fish of the perch family, found in the Danube. [Ger.]
Zingiberaceæ, zin′ji-be-rā′sē-ē, n.pl. a natural order of about 470 species of perennial tropical herbs, with horizontal thickened root-stock and cone-like inflorescence—the typical genus Zin′giber.—adjs. Zingiberā′ceous, Zinziberā′ceous. [L. zingiber—Gr. zingiberis, ginger.]
Zinke, tsing′ke, n. an old wind instrument like a cornet, of wood or horn, with seven finger-holes. [Ger.]
Zion, zī′on, n. Jerusalem: the Israelitish theocracy: the Christian Church: heaven.—adv. Zī′onward, heavenward. [Gr. Ziōn—Heb. tsīyōn, a hill.]
Zip, zip, n. the ping or sound of a bullet striking anything or whizzing through the air. [Imit.]
Ziphiinæ, zif-i-ī′nē, n.pl. a subfamily of Physteridæ, the ziphioid or ziphiiform cetaceans—the typical genus Ziph′ius.—n.pl. Ziphiī′dæ, the ziphiinæ rated as a family apart from Physteridæ, and divided into Ziphiinæ and Anarnacinæ.—adjs. Ziphiī′form; Ziph′ioid. [Gr. xiphios, the sword-fish—xiphos, a sword.]
Zirconium, zir-kō′ni-um, n. the metallic constituent of the earth Zircō′nia, which is found in association with silica in the minerals Zir′con and hyacinth, and is obtained only in Ceylon, one district of the Ural, and southern Norway.—n. Zir′conite, a variety of zircon. [Ar. zarkūn, vermilion—Pers. zargūn, gold-coloured.]
Zither, zīth′ėr, n. the cithern, the modern representative of the ancient cithara, a popular and common instrument in Tyrol—a flat stringed instrument, having a wooden frame and flat sounding-board with from twenty-nine to forty-two strings, placed on a table or on the knees, the strings played by the right hand, the thumb being armed with a metallic plectrum.—Also Zith′ern. [Ger.]
Zizania, zī-zā′ni-a, n. a genus of tall aquatic grasses, of tribe Oryzeæ—wild, water, or Indian rice. [Gr. zizanion, darnel.]
Zizel, ziz′el, n. a European ground squirrel, type of a genus mainly American.—Also Suslik.
Zizyphus, ziz′i-fus, n. a genus of shrubs or trees of the buckthorn family, mostly native to tropical Asia and America—the jujube-tree. [L.,—Gr. zizyphos.]
Zoantharia, zō-an-thā′ri-a, n.pl. a division of Actinozoa, including the sea-anemones, &c.—adj. and n. Zoanthā′rian.
Zoanthropy, zō-an′thrō-pi, n. a form of mental delusion in which a man believes himself to be a beast—the devout divine, Simon Browne (1680-1732), under this belief devoted himself to the making of a dictionary—'I am doing nothing,' he says, 'that requires a reasonable soul: I am making a dictionary.'—adj. Zōanthrop′ic. [Gr. zōon, an animal, anthrōpos, a man.]
Zoanthus, zō-an′thus, n. the typical genus of Zoanthidæ, a family of hexacoralline actinozoans. [Gr. zōon, an animal, anthos, a flower.]
Zoarium, zō-ā′ri-um, n. the colony of the polypides of a polyzoan. [Gr. zōarion, dim. of zōon, an animal.]
Zobo, zō′bō, n. a name used in the semi-Tibetan tracts of the Himalaya for hybrids between the yak bull and the ordinary hill cow, much used in transport and agriculture.—Also Zhō′bo, Dsō′mo. [Tibetan.]
Zocco, zok′ō, n. a socle.—Also Zocc′olo. [It.,—L. soccus, a sock.]
Zodiac, zō′di-ak, n. an imaginary belt in the heavens, having as its mesial line the ecliptic or apparent path of the sun, and containing the twelve constellations, called signs of the zodiac. The constellations, with the appropriate symbols of the corresponding signs, are as follows: Aries (Ram), ; Taurus (Bull), ; Gemini (Twins), ; Cancer (Crab), ; Leo (Lion), ; Virgo (Virgin), ; Libra (Balance), ; Scorpio (Scorpion), ; Sagittarius (Archer), ; Capricornus (Goat), ; Aquarius (Water-bearer), ; Pisces (Fishes), .—adj. Zodī′acal.—Zodiacal light, a singular appearance seen after sunset or before sunrise, at all seasons of the year in low latitudes, but rarely in Great Britain, except in March, April, and May in the evenings, and six months later in the mornings. [Fr. zodiaque—L. zodiacus—Gr. zōdiakos, belonging to animals—zōdion, dim. of zōon, an animal, zaein, to live.]
Zoëa, zō-ē′a, n. a larval stage of certain decapod crustaceans—also called the copepod stage preceding the megalopa stage—also Zoœ′a:—pl. Zoë′æ.—adjs. Zoë′al, Zoœ′al; Zō′ëform. [Gr. zōon, an animal.]
Zoëtic, zō-et′ik, adj. vital. [Gr. zōē, life.]
Zoetrope, zō′e-trōp, n. a scientific toy by which several pictures of objects or persons in various positions are combined into one visual impression, so as to give the appearance of movement or life—the Thaumatrope and Praxinoscope are variations.—adj. Zoetrop′ic. [Gr. zōē, life, tropos, a turning—trepein, to turn.]
Zoiatria, zō-i-at′ri-a, n. veterinary surgery. [Gr. zōon, an animal, iatreia, healing.]
Zoic, zō′ik, adj. pertaining to animals: containing evidences of life in fossils—of rocks. [Gr. zōikos, of animals—zōon, an animal.]
Zoilism, zō′i-lizm, n. carping and unjust criticism.—adj. Zoil′ēan, characteristic of Zoilus, a Greek grammarian who flourished in the time of Philip of Macedon, and assailed Homer with such asperity that his name became proverbial for a captious and malignant critic.—n. Zō′ilist, a carping critic.
Zoisite, zoi′sīt, n. a mineral closely allied to epidote. [Baron von Zois.]
Zoism, zō′izm, n. the doctrine that life originates from a specific principle.—n. Zō′ist, one who maintains this theory. [Gr. zōē, life.]
Zolaism, zō′la-izm, n. the literary principles and practice of the industrious French novelist Emile Zola (1840-1902)—an attempt at a so-called realism claimed to be a proper scientific view of human nature and human life. In effect Zola's books are dull and dirty, and his realism is not reality.
Zöllner's lines, rows of parallel lines appearing to be not parallel through the optical effect of oblique intersecting lines.—Also Zöllner's pattern.
Zollverein, zol′ve-rīn, n. a union of the German states, under the leadership of Prussia, so as to enable them in their commercial relations with other countries to act as one state. [Ger.,—zoll, duty, verein, union.]
Zonda, zon′da, n. a dry, hot, and dusty wind blowing from the Andes in the vicinity of San Juan, Argentine Republic, during July and August.
Zone, zōn, n. a girdle, a belt, a stripe of different colour or substance round anything: one of the five great belts into which the surface of the earth is divided: any continuous tract with particular characteristics.—v.t. to encircle, as with a zone.—n. Zō′na, a term in anatomy, &c., for a belt: herpes zoster.—adjs. Zō′nal, like a zone, arranged in zones: pertaining to the somites of an articulate or annulose animal; Zō′nary, resembling a belt or girdle; Zō′nate, marked with zones, belted; Zoned, wearing a zone, having zones; Zone′less, wanting a zone or belt.—n. Zō′nic, a girdle.—adjs. Zonif′erous, zoned; Zō′noid, like a zone.—n. Zō′nula, a small zone.—adj. Zō′nular, like a zone or zonule.—ns. Zon′ule, Zon′ulet, a little girdle. [L. zona—Gr. zōnē, a girdle—zōnnynai, to gird; akin to join, yoke.]
Zonotrichia, zō-nō-trik′i-a, n. a genus of American finches, the crown-sparrows. [Gr. zōnē, a girdle, thrix, trichos, hair.]
Zonurus, zō-nū′rus, n. the typical genus of Zonuridæ, a South African family of lizards. [Gr. zōnē, a belt, oura, a tail.]
Zoo, zōō, n. the Zoological Gardens in London: any similar collection of animals.
Zooblast, zō′ō-blast, n. an animal cell. [Gr. zōon, an animal, blastos, a germ.]
Zoochemistry, zō-ō-kem′is-tri, n. the chemistry of the constituents of the animal body.—adj. Zoochem′ical. [Gr. zōon, an animal, chemistry.]
Zoodynamics, zō-ō-dī-nam′iks, n. the science that treats of the vital powers of animals, animal physiology. [Gr. zōon, an animal, dynamics.]
Zoœcium, zō-ē′si-um, n. one of the cells forming the investment of polyzoans:—pl. Zoœ′cia. [Gr. zōon, an animal, oikia, a house.]
Zoogamous, zō-og′a-mus, adj. pertaining to zoogamy.—n. Zoög′amy, sexual reproduction. [Gr. zōon, an animal, gamos, marriage.]
Zoogeny, zō-oj′e-ni, n. the doctrine or the process of the origination of living beings—also Zoög′ony.—adj. Zoogen′ic. [Gr. zōon, an animal, geneia, production.]
Zoogeography, zō-ō-jē-og′ra-fi, n. the science of the distribution of animals on the surface of the globe, faunal geography.—n. Zoogeog′rapher, a student of faunal geography.—adjs. Zoogeograph′ic, -al. [Gr. zōon, an animal, geography.]
Zooglœa, zō-ō-glē′a, n. the term applied to the resting, motionless stage of the Bacteria, in which they are embedded in gelatinous material.—adjs. Zooglœ′ic; Zooglœ′oid. [Gr. zōon, an animal, gloios, a sticky substance.]
Zoograft, zō′ō-graft, n. a piece of tissue taken from the living body of an animal to supply a part wanting in the human body, by being grafted on it. [Gr. zōon, an animal, graft.]
Zoography, zō-og′ra-fi, n. descriptive zoology.—n. Zoög′rapher.—adjs. Zoograph′ic, -al.—n. Zoög′raphist. [Gr. zōon, an animal, graphein, to write.]
Zoogyroscope, zō-ō-jī′rō-skōp, n. a development of the zoetrope by means of which an appearance of an object in motion is thrown on a screen. [Gr. zōon, an animal, gyroscope.]
Zooid, zō′oid, adj. having the nature of an animal, having organic life and motion.—n. a term applied to each of the individuals which make up a compound organism. [Gr. zōon, an animal, eidos, form.]
Zooks, zōōks, interj. a minced oath—same as Gadzooks.
Zoolatry, zō-ol′a-tri, n. the worship of animals.—ns. Zoöl′ater, one who worships animals; Zoolā′tria, zoolatry.—adj. Zoöl′atrous. [Gr. zōon, an animal, latreia, worship.]
Zoolite, zō′ō-līt, n. a fossil animal—also Zō′olith.—adjs. Zoolith′ic, Zoolit′ic. [Gr. zōon, an animal, lithos, a stone.]
Zoology, zō-ol′ō-ji, n. the science of animal life included along with Botany within the science of Biology. The various departments of zoological study are the Morphological, Physiological, Historical, and the Ætiological.—adj. Zoolog′ical.—adv. Zoolog′ically.—n. Zool′ogist, one versed in zoology.—Zoological gardens, a place where wild animals are kept for public exhibition. [Gr. zōon, an animal, logia—legein, to speak.]
Zoomagnetism, zō-ō-mag′ne-tizm, n. animal magnetism.—adj. Zoomagnet′ic. [Gr. zōon, an animal, magnetism.]
Zoomancy, zō′ō-man-si, n. divination by observation of animals.—adj. Zooman′tic. [Gr. zōon, an animal, manteia, divination.]
Zoometry, zō-om′e-tri, n. comparative measurement of the parts of animals.—adj. Zoomet′ric. [Gr. zōon, an animal, metron, a measure.]
Zoomorphic, zō-ō-mor′fik, adj. pertaining to zoomorphism: representing animals in art.—n. Zoomor′phism, the representation or the conception of a god or a man in an animal form, the attributing of human or of divine qualities to beings of animal form—also Zoomor′phy. [Gr. zōon, an animal, morphē, form.]
Zoon, zō′on, n. a morphological individual, the total product of a fertilised ovum:—pl. Zō′a, Zō′ons.—adjs. Zō′onal, like a zoon; Zoön′ic, relating to animals.—n. Zō′onite, one of the segments of an articulated animal.—adj. Zoonit′ic. [Gr.]
Zoonomy, zō-on′ō-mi, n. animal physiology—also Zoonō′mia.—adj. Zoonom′ic.—n. Zoön′omist. [Gr. zōon, an animal, nomos, law.]
Zoonosis, zō-on′ō-sis, n. a disease communicated to man from the lower animals, as hydrophobia, &c.:—pl. Zoön′osēs. [Gr. zōon, an animal, nosos, disease.]
Zoopathology, zō-ō-pa-thol′ō-ji, n. the study of disease in animals. [Gr. zōon, an animal, pathology.]
Zoopathy, zō-op′a-thi, n. animal pathology. [Gr. zōon, an animal, pathos, suffering.]
Zoophaga, zō-of′a-ga, n.pl. the carnivorous animals collectively.—n. Zoöph′agan, a carnivorous animal.—adj. Zoöph′agous. [Gr. zōophagos, flesh-eating, zōon, an animal, phagein, to eat.]
Zoophilist, zō-of′il-ist, n. a lover of animals.—n. Zoöph′ily, love of animals. [Gr. zōon, an animal, philos, dear.]
Zoophorus, zō-of′ō-rus, n. a continuous frieze sculptured in relief with figures of men and animals.—adj. Zoophor′ic. [Gr. zōon, an animal, pherein, to bear.]
Zoophysics, zō-ō-fiz′iks, n. the study of the structure of animal bodies, comparative anatomy. [Gr. zōon, an animal, physics.]
Zoophyte, zō′ō-fīt, n. a term employed by Cuvier in his earlier attempts at classification to designate numerous simple animals, sedentary in habit, often with a superficial resemblance to plants—now restricted to hydroid colonies.—adjs. Zoophyt′ic, -al; Zoöph′ytoid; Zoophytolog′ical.—ns. Zoophytol′ogist; Zoophytol′ogy; Zoöph′yton:—pl. Zoöph′yta. [Gr. zōon, an animal, phyton, a plant.]
Zooplastic, zō-ō-plas′tik, adj. pertaining to the operation of transplanting living tissue from one of the lower animals to man. [Gr. zōon, an animal, plassein, to form.]
Zoopraxinoscope, zō-ō-prak′si-nō-skōp, n. a mechanical toy by means of which images of animals are made to go through motions on a screen. [Gr. zōon, an animal, praxis, doing, skopein, to view.]
Zoopsychology, zō-ō-sī-kol′ō-ji, n. the psychology of the lower animals. [Gr. zōon, an animal, psychology.]
Zooscopy, zō′ō-skō-pi, n. a form of mental delusion in which one sees imaginary animals, esp. snakes.—adj. Zooscop′ic. [Gr. zōon, an animal, skopein, to view.]
Zoosperm, zō′ō-sperm, n. the sperm-cell, or male seed-cell—also Zoosper′mium.—adj. Zoospermat′ic. [Gr. zōon, an animal, sperma, seed.]
Zoospore, zō′ō-spōr, n. a spore capable of moving about.—adjs. Zoospor′ic; Zoosporif′erous. [Gr. zōon, an animal, spora, a seed.]
Zootaxy, zō′ō-tak-si, n. the science of the classification of animals, systematic zoology. [Gr. zōon, an animal, taxis, arrangement.]
Zootechny, zō′ō-tek-ni, n. the science of the breeding and domestication of animals.—Also Zootech′nics. [Gr. zōon, an animal, technē, art.]
Zoothapsis, zō-ō-thap′sis, n. premature burial. [Gr. zoo-, living, thaptein, to bury.]
Zoothecium, zō-ō-thē′si-um, n. the tubular sheath of certain infusorians.—adj. Zoothē′cial. [Gr. zōon, an animal, thēkion, a casket.]
Zootheism, zō′ō-thē-izm, n. the attribution of divine qualities to an animal.—adj. Zootheis′tic. [Gr. zōon, an animal, theism.]
Zootherapy, zō-ō-ther′a-pi, n. veterinary therapeutics. [Gr. zōon, an animal, therapeia, service.]
Zootocology, zō-ō-tō-kol′ō-ji, n. the biology of animals. [Gr. zōotokos, viviparous, legein, to speak.]
Zootomy, zō-ot′ō-mi, n. the dissection of animals: comparative anatomy.—adjs. Zootom′ic, -al.—adv. Zootom′ically.—n. Zoöt′omist, one who dissects the bodies of animals: an anatomist. [Gr. zōon, an animal, temnein, to cut.]
Zootrophic, zō-ō-trof′ik, adj. pertaining to the nourishment of animals. [Gr. zōon, an animal, trophos, food.]
Zoozoo, zōō′zōō, n. (prov.) the wood-pigeon. [Imit.]
Zopilote, zō-pi-lō′te, n. one of the smaller American vultures, the turkey-buzzard, an urubu.—Also Tzopilotl. [Mex.]
Zopissa, zō-pis′a, n. an old medicinal mixture of pitch and tar scraped from the sides of ships. [Gr. zōpissa.]
Zoppo, tsop′pō, adj. (mus.) alternately with and without syncopation. [It.]
Zorgite, zor′gīt, n. a metallic copper-lead selenide, found at Zorge, in the Harz Mountains.
Zoril, Zorille, zor′il, n. an African skunk-like carnivore: an American skunk.—n. Zoril′la, a genus of African skunk-like quadrupeds, representing the Zorillinæ, an African subfamily of Mustelidæ. [Fr. zorille—Sp. zorilla, dim. of zorra, a fox.]
Zoroastrianism, zor-ō-as′tri-an-izm, n. the ancient religion founded or reformed by Zoroaster—the Greek pronunciation of Zarathushtra—set forth in the Zend-Avesta (q.v.), and still held by the Guebres and Parsees in India.—n. and adj. Zoroas′trian.
Zorra, zor′a, n. a South American skunk.—Also Zorrino (zo-rē′nō). [Sp.]
Zorro, zor′ō, n. a South American fox-wolf. [Sp.]
Zoster, zos′tėr, n. an ancient Greek waist-belt for men: herpes zoster or shingles. [Gr. zōstēr, a girdle.]
Zotheca, zō-thē′ka, n. a small living-room, as distinguished from a sleeping-room: an alcove. [Gr. zōthēkē.]
Zouave, zwäv, n. one of a body of troop wearing a quasi-Moorish dress in the French army, which derives its name from the Zwawa, a tribe of Kabyles in the Algerian province of Constantine. These Kabyles had long been employed as mercenaries by the deys of Algiers; and after the conquest in 1830 the French took them into their service.
Zounds, zowndz, interj. an exclamation of anger and astonishment. [A corr. of God's wounds, referring to Christ's sufferings on the cross.]
Zucchetta, tsuk-ket′ta, n. the skull-cap of an ecclesiastic, covering the tonsure: a form of helmet worn in the 16th century. [It., dim. of zucca, a gourd.]
Zufolo, zōō′fō-lō, n. a small flute or flageolet used in training singing-birds.—Also Zuf′folo. [It.]
Zulu, zoo′loo, n. a branch of the great Bantu division of the human family, belonging to South Africa, conspicuous for physical and intellectual development.—adj. pertaining to the Zulus, their language, &c. [South African.]
Zumbooruk, zum′bōō-ruk, n. a small cannon mounted on a swivel, carried on the back of a camel.—Also Zum′booruck, Zom′boruk, Zam′boorak. [Hind. zambūrak—Turk. zambūrak—Ar. zambūr, a hornet.]
Zuñi, zōō′nyē, n. one of a tribe of Pueblo Indians living in large communal houses near the Zuñi river in New Mexico.—adj. and n. Zu′ñian.
Zupa, zū′pa, n. a confederation of village communities governed by a Zu′pan, in the early history of Servia, &c. [Servian.]
Zurf. See Zarf.
Zurlite, zurl′īt, n. a white or green Vesuvian mineral.
Zuz, zōōz, n. a coin or money of account in New Testament times.
Zwanziger, tswan′tsi-gėr, n. an old Austrian silver coin, equivalent to twenty kreutzers. [Ger.,—zwanzig, twenty.]
Zwieback, zvī′bak, n. biscuit rusk, or a sweet spiced bread toasted. [Ger.]
Zwinglian, zwing′- or tswing′gli-an, adj. pertaining to the Swiss reformer Huldreich Zwingli (1484-1531), or his doctrines, esp. his divergence from Luther in the doctrine of the Eucharist. Zwingli rejected every form of local or corporeal presence, whether by transubstantiation, impanation, or consubstantiation, assailing every form, however subtle, of the old Capernaitic (John vi. 51-53, 59) conception of a carnal presence and carnal appropriation.—n. a follower of Zwingli.
Zygadite, zig′a-dīt, n. a variety of albite found in thin twin crystals at Andreasberg, in the Harz Mountains. [Gr. zygadēn, jointly—zygon, a yoke.]
Zygæna, zī-jē′na, n. a genus of moths, typical of the family Zygænidæ: a genus of sharks, the hammer-heads, now Sphyrna.—adjs. Zygæ′nid, Zygæ′nine, Zygæ′noid. [Gr. zygaina, a shark.]
Zygal, zī′gal, n. pertaining to a zygon, formed like a letter . [Zygon.]
Zygantrum, zī-gan′trum, n. a fossa on the posterior face of the arches of each of the vertebræ of the Lacertilia, into which the zygosphene of the succeeding vertebra fits. [Gr. zygon, a yoke, antron, a cave.]
Zygapophysis, zī-ga-pof′i-sis, n. one of the yoke-pieces or articulations of the vertebræ: pl. Zygapoph′ysēs. [Gr. zygon, a yoke, apophysis, process.]
Zygite, zī′gīt, n. a rower in the second tier of a Greek trireme. [Gr. zygitēs—zygon, yoke.]
Zygobranchiate, zī-gō-brang′ki-āt, adj. having paired gills or ctenidia, as certain molluscs: belonging to the Zygobranchiā′ta, an order or suborder of Gastropoda.—Also Zy′gobranch. [Gr. zygon, yoke, brangchia, gills.]
Zygocardiac, zī-gō-kär′di-ak, adj. yoke-like and cardiac, as an ossicle of the stomach of some Crustacea. [Gr. zygon, a yoke, kardia, the heart.]
Zygodactyl, zī-gō-dak′til, adj. having the toes arranged in pairs, two before and two behind, as certain birds—also Zygodactyl′ic, Zygodac′tylous.—n. Zygodac′tylism. [Gr. zygon, a yoke, daktylos, a finger.]
Zygodont, zī′gō-dont, adj. pertaining to molar teeth whose cusps are paired, possessing such molars. [Gr. zygon, yoke, odous, odontos, a tooth.]
Zygoma, zī-gō′ma, n. the arch formed by the malar bone and the zygomatic process of the temporal bone of the skull.—adj. Zygomat′ic.—Zygomatic fossa, the lower part of the fossa bridged over by the zygomatic arch; Zygomatic muscles, two muscles (major and minor) arising from the zygomatic arch. [Gr. zygōma—zygon, a yoke.]
Zygomorphous, zī-gō-mor′fus, adj. yoke-shaped—of flowers divisible into similar halves in one plane only—also Zygomor′phic.—ns. Zygomor′phism, Zygomor′phy. [Gr. zygon, a yoke, morphē, form.]
Zygomycetes, zī-gō-mī-sē′tēz, n.pl. a group of fungi marked by the production of zygospores—the commonest type Mucor mucedo, the common white mould of dead organic matter, as horse-dung.—adj. Zygomycē′tous. [Gr. zygon, a yoke, mykēs, mykētos, a mushroom.]
Zygon, zī′gon, n. a connecting bar: an -shaped fissure of the brain. [Gr., a yoke.]
Zygophyllaceæ, zī-gō-fil-ā′sē-ē, n.pl. a natural order containing about 100 species of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees, chiefly natives of subtropical countries—the bean-caper family—the typical genus Zygophyllum. [Gr. zygon, a yoke, phyllon, a leaf.]
Zygophyllum, zī-gō-fil′um, n. a genus of plants, natural order Zygophylleæ, of the bean-caper family.
Zygophyte, zī′gō-fīt, n. a plant in which reproduction takes place by means of zygospores. [Gr. zygon, a yoke, phyton, a plant.]
Zygopleural, zī-gō-plōō′ral, adj. bilaterally symmetrical. [Gr. zygon, a yoke, pleura, the side.]
Zygosis, zī-gō′sis, n. (bot.) conjugation, the coalescence of two distinct cells: the sexual intercourse of protoplasmic bodies.—n. Zy′goīte, an organism resulting from zygosis.—adj. Zy′gose, pertaining to zygosis. [Gr. zygōsis, a joining.]
Zygosphene, zī′gō-sfēn, n. a process on the anterior face of each of the vertebral arches in the Lacertilia, which articulates with the zygantrum of the preceding arch. [Gr. zygon, a yoke, sphēn, a wedge.]
Zygospore, zī′gō-spōr, n. a spore produced by the union of buds from two adjacent hyphaæ in the process of conjugation by which some fungi multiply—the same as Zy′gosperm and Zy′gote. [Gr. zygon, a yoke, spora, seed.]
Zylonite=Xylonite (q.v.).
Zymase, zī′mās, n. the same as Enzym. [See Zyme.]
Zyme, zīm, n. a ferment: a disease-germ—the supposed specific cause of a zymotic disease.—n. Zy′mase, enzym, any of the unorganised ferments.—adj. Zy′mic, relating to fermentation.—ns. Zy′mite, a priest using leavened bread in the Eucharist; Zy′mogen, a substance capable of developing by internal change into a ferment.—adjs. Zymogen′ic; Zy′moid, like a ferment; Zymolog′ic, -al, pertaining to zymology.—ns. Zymol′ogist, one skilled in zymology; Zymol′ogy, the science of fermentation; Zymol′ysis, Zymō′sis, fermentation of any kind; Zymom′eter, Zymosim′eter, an instrument for measuring the degree of fermentation; Zy′mophyte, a bacterioid ferment capable of liberating fatty acids from neutral fats.—adjs. Zymotech′nic, -al, producing and utilising fermentation.—n. Zymotech′nics, the art of managing fermentation.—adj. Zymot′ic, pertaining to fermentation.—adv. Zymot′ically.—Zymotic disease, a term for diseases caused by the multiplication of a living germ introduced from without into the body. [Gr. zymē, leaven, zymōsis, fermentation.]
Zymome, zī′mōm, n. an old name for the part of gluten insoluble in alcohol.
Zymurgy, zī′mėr-ji, n. that department of technological chemistry which treats of wine-making, brewing, distilling, and similar processes involving fermentation. [Gr. zymē, leaven, ergon, work.]
Zythepsary, zī-thep′sa-ri, n. (obs.) a brewery.
Zythum, zī′thum, n. a kind of beer made by the ancient Egyptians—much commended by Diodorus. [Gr. zythos.]
Zyxomma, zik-som′a, n. a genus of Indian dragon-flies, of family Libellulidæ, with large head and eyes and narrow face. [Gr. zeuxis, a joining, omma, eye.]