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to take up a molecule of water. Thus, diastase of malt, ptyalin of saliva, and boiling dilute sulphuric acid all convert starch by hydration into dextrin and sugar. Nearly all of the digestive ferments are hydrolytic in their action.

A liquor consisting of honey diluted in water, and after fermentation called mead.

nch of the science of geodesy which has to do with the measurement of heights, either absolutely with reference to the sea level, or relatively.

ught by Schelling, that matter and mind, and subject and object, are identical in the Absolute; -- called also the system or doctrine of identity.

Not limited; interminable. Bp. Hall. -- Il*lim"it*ed*ness, n. The absoluteness and illimitedness of his commission was generally much spoken of. Clarendon.

Absolute seignory or possession; the act of investing with such possession. [R.] Cotgrave.

f Gnostic heretics who asserted their sinlessness. God is infallible, impeccable, and absolutely perfect. P. Skelton.

Expressive of command; containing positive command; authoritatively or absolutely directive; commanding; authoritative; as, imperative orders. The suit of kings are imperative. Bp. Hall.

er; a leader; an emperor; -- originally an appellation of honor by which Roman soldiers saluted their general after an important victory. Subsequently the title was conferred as a recognition of great military achievements by the senate, whence it carried wiht it some special privileges. After the downfall of the Repub…

Supreme power; absolute dominion; empire.

ter or air. This gulf impassable, impervious. Milton. The minds of these zealots were absolutely impervious. Macaulay.

To defile; to pollute. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

of ability or competency for the performance of certain civil acts; to disqualify. It absolutely incapacitated them from holding rank, office, function, or property. Milman.

formerly supposed to be a property of liquids. The incompressibility of water is not absolute. Rees.

Not conditioned; not limited; absolute. [Obs.] Boyle.

d the power of skill or medicine to remedy; as, an incurable disease. A scirrh is not absolutely incurable. Arbuthnot.

Undetermined; prone to indecision; irresolute; unsettled; wavering; vacillating; hesitating; as, an indecisive state of mind; an indecisive character.

Not defective; perfect; complete. "Absolute, indefective obedience." South.

Not dispensable; impossible to be omitted, remitted, or spared; absolutely necessary or requisite.

The state or quality of being indispensable, or absolutely necessary. S. Clarke.