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A functionary of lower rank than a herald, but discharging similar duties; -- called also pursuivant at arms; an attendant of the heralds. Also used figuratively. The herald Hope, forerunning Fear, And Fear, the pursuivant of Hope. Longfellow.

obtaining the area bounded by a curve; hence, the definite integral of the product of any function of one variable into the differential of that variable.

A homogeneous algebraic function of two or more variables, in general containing only positive integral powers of the variables, and called quadric, cubic, quartic, etc., according as it is of the second, third, fourth, fifth, or a higher degree. These are further called binary, ternary, quaternary, etc., according as…

A term applied in England to several officers, having various functions, their duty originally being to bring certain matters to the attention of the proper persons at the proper time. "The remembrancer of the lord treasurer in the exchequer." Bacon.

serving for respiration; as, the respiratory organs; respiratory nerves; the respiratory function; respiratory changes. Respiratory foods. (Physiol.) See 2d Note under Food, n., 1. -- Respiratory tree (Zoöl.), the branched internal gill of certain holothurians.

That part of the eye of an invertebrate which corresponds in function with the retina of a vertebrate.

iptic orbit; a comet that has been seen at two of its approaches to the sun. -- Periodic function (Math.), a function whose values recur at fixed intervals as the variable uniformly increases. The trigonomertic functions, as sin x, tan x, etc., are periodic functions. Exponential functions are also periodic, having an…

A part, or character, performed by an actor in a drama; hence, a part of function taken or assumed by any one; as, he has now taken the rôle of philanthropist. Title rôle, the part, or character, which gives the title to a play, as the part of Hamlet in the play of that name.

That which resembles a root in position or function, esp. as a source of nourishment or support; that from which anything proceeds as if by growth or development; as, the root of a tooth, a nail, a cancer, and the like. Specifically:

To perform any act, function, or operation in turn, to hold office in turn; as, to rotate in office.

order of priests; relating to the priesthood; priesty; as, sacerdotal dignity; sacerdotal functions. The ascendency of the sacerdotal order was long the ascendency which naturally and properly belongs to intellectual superiority. Macaulay.

ting the oral ambulacral ring with the madreporic tubercle. It appears to be excretory in function. -- Sand cock (Zoöl.), the redshank. [Prov. Eng.] -- Sand collar. (Zoöl.) Same as Sand saucer, below. -- Sand crab. (Zoöl.) (a) The lady crab. (b) A land crab, or ocypodian. -- Sand crack (Far.), a crack extending down…

orld and its phenomena, the nature, constitution, and forces of matter, the qualities and function of living tissues, etc.; -- called also natural science, and physical science. Voltaire hardly left a single corner of the field entirely unexplored in science, poetry, history, philosophy. J. Morley.

r expressing the ratio line of this line to the radius of the circle. See Trigonometrical function, under Function.

A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir. Busby.

An assembly or council having the highest deliberative and legislative functions. Specifically: (a) (Anc. Rom.)

Duty performed in, or appropriate to, any office or charge; official function; hence, specifically, military or naval duty; performance of the duties of a soldier. When he cometh to experience of service abroad . . . ne maketh a worthy soldier. Spenser.

To restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel. The Rev. Thomas Hooker of Chelmsford, in Essex, was silenced for nonconformity. B. Trumbull.

riangle, the side opposite the given angle divided by the hypotenuse. See Trigonometrical function, under Function. -- Versed sine, that part of the diameter between the sine and the arc.

A natural and healthy, but temporary and periodical, suspension of the functions of the organs of sense, as well as of those of the voluntary and rational soul; that state of the animal in which there is a lessened acuteness of sensory perception, a confusion of ideas, and a loss of mental control, followed by a more o…