Search the Dictionary

rizontal plane upon which the object which is to be delineated, or whose place is to be determined, is supposed to stand. -- Perspective plane. See Perspective. -- Plane at infinity (Geom.), a plane in which points infinitely distant are conceived as situated. -- Plane iron, the cutting chisel of a joiner's plane.…

love for which Plato was a warm advocate. -- Platonic year (Astron.), a period of time determined by the revolution of the equinoxes, or the space of time in which the stars and constellations return to their former places in respect to the equinoxes; -- called also great year. This revolution, which is caused by the…

o maintain by arguments or reasons presented to a tribunal or person having uthority to determine; to argue at the bar; as, to plead a cause before a court or jury. Every man should plead his own matter. Sir T. More.

ons of growth of a number of Protean species, each of which may exhibit, according to undetermined conditions, all or some of the forms characteristic of the different genera and species.

An adjustable staff formerly attached to the plow beam to determine the depth of the furrow. Piers Plowman.

Of or pertaining to a pluviometer; determined by a pluviometer.

A property of the conic sections by virtue of which a given point determines a corresponding right line and a given right line determines a corresponding point. See Polar, n.

Firm; determined; fixed. "A most posed . . . and grave behavior." [Obs.] Urquhart.

on, or of other forces acting in space, a function of the rectangular coordinates which determine the position of a point, such that its differential coefficients with respect to the coördinates are equal to the components of the force at the point considered; -- also called potential function, or force function. It is…

To calculate or determine beforehand; to prearrange. Masson.

To design or purpose beforehand; to predetermine. Mitford.

To predetermine or foreordain; to appoint or ordain beforehand by an unchangeable purpose or decree; to preëlect. Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. Rom. viii. 29.

Capable of being determined beforehand. Coleridge.

Determined beforehand; as, the predeterminate counsel of God.

To determine beforehand, especially to disadvantage; to prejudge. Our dearest friend Prejudicates the business. Shak.

To ordain or appoint beforehand: to predetermine: to foreordain. Milton.

To resolve beforehand; to predetermine. Sir E. Dering.

Any proceeding designed to ascertain truth, to determine character, qualification, etc.; examination; trial; as, to engage a person on probation. Hence, specifically: (a) The novitiate which a person must pass in a convent, to probe his or her virtue and ability to bear the severities of the rule. (b) The trial of a mi…

ed land. See Land of promise, under Land. -- To promise one's self. (a) To resolve; to determine; to vow. (b) To be assured; to have strong confidence. I dare promise myself you will attest the truth of all I have advanced. Rambler.

An organism whose nature is so difficult to determine that it might be referred to either the animal or the vegetable kingdom.