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Capable of being perceived by the understanding only, not by the senses. Intellective abstractions of logic and metaphysics. Milton.

ructed; dominion, territory ruled over; subjection, state of being subject; dejection; abstraction.

isted or opposed; superior to opposition; resistless; overpowering; as, an irresistible attraction. An irresistible law of our nature impels us to seek happiness. J. M. Mason.

ng influence of its nerve fibers, the response being indicated by a change of form, or contraction; contractility.

ts nerve is affected by some external body; esp., the act of exciting muscle fibers to contraction, by artificial stimulation; as, the irritation of a motor nerve by electricity; also, the condition of a muscle and nerve, under such stimulation.

A contraction of is it.

A cleft or division. Jag bolt, a bolt with a nicked or barbed shank which resists retraction, as when leaded into stone.

by a blow or sudden strain upon the patellar tendon of the knee, which causes a sudden contraction of the quadriceps muscle; one of the so-called tendon reflexes. -- Knee joint. See in the Vocabulary. -- Knee timber, timber with knees or angles in it. -- Knee tribute, or Knee worship, tribute paid by kneeling; worsh…

by a blow or sudden strain upon the patellar tendon of the knee, which causes a sudden contraction of the quadriceps muscle.

Modified, as a vowel, by contraction of the lip opening, as oo (food), o (old), etc., and as eu and u in French, and ö, ü in German. See Guide to Pronunciation,

The modification of an articulation by contraction of the lip opening.

To modify by contraction of the lip opening.

A spasmodic state of the glottis, giving rise to contraction or closure of the opening.

ting without manifesting itself. (b) (Physiol.) One of the phases in a simple muscular contraction, in which invisible preparatory changes are taking place in the nerve and muscle. (c) (Biol.) One of those periods or resting stages in the development of the ovum, in which development is arrested prior to renewed activi…

xpulsion of air from the lungs. See Laugh, v. i. The act of laughter, which is a sweet contraction of the muscles of the face, and a pleasant agitation of the vocal organs, is not merely, or totally within the jurisdiction of ourselves. Sir T. Browne. Archly the maiden smiled, and with eyes overrunning with laughter. L…

That which loosens; -- esp., a muscle which by its contraction loosens some part.

affinity, or a unit of valence between atoms; -- applied to a unit of chemical force or attraction.

The tendency or disposition to represent objects faithfully, without abstraction, conventionalities, or idealization.

onfined to a particular part or organ, and not directly affecting the system. -- Local attraction (Magnetism), an attraction near a compass, causing its needle to deviate from its proper direction, especially on shipboard. -- Local battery (Teleg.), the battery which actuates the recording instruments of a telegraphi…

A contraction of the muscles of the jaw by which its motion is suspended; a variety of tetanus.