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s, or influences which contribute to produce a result; a constituent. The materal and dynamical factors of nutrition. H. Spencer.

Unorganized or structureless ferments. The latter are also called soluble or chemical ferments, and enzymes. Ferments of the first class are as a rule simple microscopic vegetable organisms, and the fermentations which they engender are due to their growth and development; as, the acetic ferment, the butyric ferment, e…

The act of uniting chemically with a solid substance or in a solid form; reduction to a non-volatile condition; -- said of gaseous elements.

The small distortion of an astronomical instrument caused by the weight of its parts; the amount to be added or substracted from the observed readings of the instrument to correct them for this distortion. The flexure of a curve (Math.), the bending of a curve towards or from a straight line.

logen group of which it is the first member. It always occurs combined, is very active chemically, and possesses such an avidity for most elements, and silicon especially, that it can neither be prepared nor kept in glass vessels. If set free it immediately attacks the containing material, so that it was not isolated u…

-- said of a steam boiler when the water is unduly agitated and frothy, as because of chemical action.

ted, but restricted to the variety of laminated structure found in crystalline schist, as mica schist, etc.; schistose.

to plates or slabs, which is due to the cleavage structure of one of the constituents, as mica or hornblende. It may sometimes include slaty structure or cleavage, though the latter is usually independent of any mineral constituent, and transverse to the bedding, it having been produced by pressure.…

and neighboring bones of a fetal or young skull; -- so called because it exhibits a rhythmical pulsation.

, or tends to change, any physical relation between them, whether mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, magnetic, or of any other kind; as, the force of gravity; cohesive force; centrifugal force. Animal force (Physiol.), muscular force or energy. -- Catabiotic force Etym: [Gr. (Biol.), the influence exerted by l…

A colorless, volatile liquid, H2CO, resembling acetic or ethyl aldehyde, and chemically intermediate between methyl alcohol and formic acid.

The dress prescribed for any body of men, academical, municipal, or sacerdotal. [Obs.] The doctors attending her in their formalities as far as Shotover. Fuller.

tain ores which can be reduced by crushing and amalgamation, without roasting or other chemical treatment. Raymond.

e. See Ice machine, under Ice. -- Freezing mixture, a mixture (of salt and snow or of chemical salts) for producing intense cold. -- Freezing point, that degree of a thermometer at which a fluid begins to freeze; -- applied particularly to water, whose freezing point is at 32º Fahr., and at 0º Centigrade.…

One not inimical or hostile; one not a foe or enemy; also, one of the same nation, party, kin, etc., whose friendly feelings may be assumed. The word is some times used as a term of friendly address. Friend, how camest thou in hither Matt. xxii. 12.

Appropriate to, or implying, friendship; befitting friends; amicable. In friendly relations with his moderate opponents. Macaulay.

Economical in the use or appropriation of resources; not wasteful or lavish; wise in the expenditure or application of force, materials, time, etc.; characterized by frugality; sparing; economical; saving; as, a frugal housekeeper; frugal of time. I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportio…

To smoke; to throw off fumes, as in combustion or chemical action; to rise up, as vapor. Where the golden altar fumed. Milton. Silenus lay, Whose constant cups lay fuming to his brain. Roscommon.

Droll; comical; amusing; laughable. Funny bone. See crazy bone, under Crazy.

A tube, filled with combustible matter, for exploding a shell, etc. See Fuse, n. Chemical fuze, a fuze in which substances separated until required for action are then brought into contact, and uniting chemically, produce explosion. -- Concussion fuze, a fuze ignited by the striking of the projectile. -- Electric fuz…