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mint, and the like. The . . . word essence . . . scarcely underwent a more complete transformation when from being the abstract of the verb "to be," it came to denote something sufficiently concrete to be inclosed in a glass bottle. J. S. Mill.

The science of the formation of character, national and collective as well as individual. J. S. Mill.

The transformation of a portion of a fluid into vapor, in order to obtain the fixed matter contained in it in a state of greater consistence.

The formation of an involute by unwrapping a thread from a curve as an evolute. Hutton.

The act of exploding; detonation; a chemical action which causes the sudden formation of a great volume of expanded gas; as, the explosion of gunpowder, of fire damp,etc.

uperficies; compass; bulk; size; length; as, an extent of country or of line; extent of information or of charity. Life in its large extent is scare a span. Cotton.

e of, some part of the Latin service in the vernacular; -- common in English before the Reformation.

ion; specifically (Amer. Hist.), a friend of the Constitution of the United States at its formation and adoption; a member of the political party which favored the administration of president Washington.

fervescent change, as by the action of yeast; in a wider sense (Physiol. Chem.), the transformation of an organic substance into new compounds by the action of a ferment, either formed or unorganized. It differs in kind according to the nature of the ferment which causes it.

An increase in the ratio of transformation of an alternating current converter, accompanied by other changes in electrical conditions, occurring when the secondary of the converter is connected with a condenser of moderate capacity; -- so called because first observed in connection with the Ferranti cables in London.…

The formation of a fetus in the womb; pregnancy.

is shed, and is supposed to be the active agent in causing coagulation of the blood, with formation of fibrin.

fibroid tissue. -- Fibroid phthists, a form of pulmonary consumption associated with the formation of fibrous tissue in the lungs, and the gradual atrophy of the lungs, from the pressure due to the contraction of this tissue.

up coals of fire. -- Fire stink, the stench from decomposing iron pyrites, caused by the formation of sulphureted hydrogen. Raymond. -- Fire surface, the surfaces of a steam boiler which are exposed to the direct heat of the fuel and the products of combustion; heating surface. -- Fire swab, a swab saturated with wa…

ng a device or devices and used to indicate nationality, party, etc., or to give or ask information; -- commonly attached to a staff to be waved by the wind; a standard; a banner; an ensign; the colors; as, the national flag; a military or a naval flag.

A name given to the series of sandstones and schists overlying the true nummulitic formation in the Alps, and included in the Eocene Tertiary.

Notice or information of an event before it happens; forewarning. [R.] Rymer.

To warn beforehand; to give previous warning, admonition, information, or notice to; to caution in advance. We were forewarned of your coming. Shak.

lled essential or substantial form, and contradistinguished from matter; hence, active or formative nature; law of being or activity; subjectively viewed, an idea; objectively, a law.

atoms. It was from causes seemingly fortuitous . . . that all the mighty effects of the Reformation flowed. Robertson. So as to throw a glancing and fortuitous light upon the whole. Hazlitt.