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mooth; polished. [Obs.] Many stones, . . . although terse and smooth, have not this power attractive. Sir T. Browne.

lunar day, or the space of a little more than twenty- four hours. It is occasioned by the attraction of the sun and moon (the influence of the latter being three times that of the former), acting unequally on the waters in different parts of the earth, thus disturbing their equilibrium. A high tide upon one side of the…

ance (Physics.), an instrument for estimating very minute forces, as electric or magnetic attractions and repulsions, by the torsion of a very slender wire or fiber having at its lower extremity a horizontal bar or needle, upon which the forces act. -- Torsion scale, a scale for weighing in which the fulcra of the lev…

A torsion balance used for measuring electric attraction or repulsion.

Attraction; a drawing toward. [R.]

Serving to draw; pulling; attracting; as, tractive power.

To draw by persuasion, artifice, or the like; to attract by stratagem; to entice; to allure. [Obs.] If but a dozen French Were there in arms, they would be as a call To train ten thousand English to their side. Shak. O, train me not, sweet mermaid, with thy note. Shak. This feast, I'll gage my life, Is but a plot to tr…

Not such as to inspire liking; unattractive; disagreeable. [Obs.] "The unlikely eld of me." Chaucer.

braided cord, tape, or tube, usually made of soft spun cotton threads, which by capillary attraction draws up a steady supply of the oil in lamps, the melted tallow or wax in candles, or other material used for illumination, in small successive portions, to be burned. But true it is, that when the oil is spent The ligh…

Attracting; adapted to gain favor; charming; as, a winning address. "Each mild and winning note." Keble.

The characteristic of being winsome; attractiveness of manner. J. R. Green.

One who exercises more than common power of attraction; a charming or bewitching person; also, one given to mischief; -- said especially of a woman or child. [Colloq.]