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inally, the study of nature in general; in modern usage, that branch of physical science, commonly called physics, which treats of the phenomena and laws of matter and considers those effects only which are unaccompanied by any change of a chemical nature; -- contrasted with mental and moral philosophy. -- Natural sca…

-- Neutral vowel, the vowel element having an obscure and indefinite quality, such as is commonly taken by the vowel in many unaccented syllables. It is regarded by some as identical with the û in up, and is called also the natural vowel, as unformed by art and effort. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 17.…

One of a class of water spirits, commonly described as of a mischievous disposition. The treacherous nixes who entice men to a watery death. Tylor.

ton. The influence of reason in producing our passions is nothing near so extensive as is commonly believed. Burke. Nothing off (Naut.), an order to the steersman to keep the vessel close to the wind.

ality or condition of being notorious; the state of being generally or publicly known; -- commonly used in an unfavorable sense; as, the notoriety of a crime. They were not subjects in their own nature so exposed to public notoriety. Addison.

e rowlock, to prevent noise in rowing. -- To put in one's oar, to give aid or advice; -- commonly used of a person who obtrudes aid or counsel not invited. -- To ship the oars, to place them in the rowlocks. -- To toss the oars, To peak the oars, to lift them from the rowlocks and hold them perpendicularly, the hand…

ething standing before; object, lit., to throw against; obovate, reversely, ovate. Ob- is commonly assimilated before c, f, g, and p, to oc-, of-, og-, and op-.

nating in a pyramid called pyramidion. It is ordinarily monolithic. Egyptian obelisks are commonly covered with hieroglyphic writing from top to bottom.

Lamaists) translated "O, the Jewel in the Lotus, Amen," and referring to Amitabha, who is commonly represented as standing or sitting within a lotus.

A reflexive form of the indefinite pronoun one. Commonly writen as two words, one's self. One's self (or more properly oneself), is quite a modern form. In Elizabethan English we find a man's self=one's self. Morris.

The old name of the aromatic resinous juice of the Balsamodendron opobalsamum, now commonly called balm of Gilead. See under Balm.

Any person reputed uncommonly wise; one whose decisions are regarded as of great authority; as, a literary oracle. "Oracles of mode." Tennyson. The country rectors . . . thought him an oracle on points of learning. Macaulay.

e of the genus Citrus (C. Aurantium). It is usually round, and consists of pulpy carpels, commonly ten in number, inclosed in a leathery rind, which is easily separable, and is reddish yellow when ripe.

According to established rules or settled method; as a rule; commonly; usually; in most cases; as, a winter more than ordinarily severe. Those who ordinarily pride themselves not a little upon their penetration. I. Taylor.

A morsel left at a meal; a fragment; refuse; -- commonly used in the plural. Milton. Let him have time a beggar's orts to crave. Shak.

Unhusked rice; -- commonly so called in the East Indies. Paddy bird. (Zoöl.) See Java sparrow, under Java.

a person of high degree, especially at courts, as a position of honor and education; now commonly, in England, a youth employed for doin errands, waiting on the door, and similar service in households; in the United States, a boy emploed to wait upon the members of a legislative body. He had two pages of honor -- on e…

ffort; care or trouble taken; -- plural in form, but used with a singular or plural verb, commonly the former. And all my pains is sorted to no proof. Shak. The pains they had taken was very great. Clarendon. The labored earth your pains have sowed and tilled. Dryden.

An inclosed carriage or litter, commonly about eight feet long, four feet wide, and four feet high, borne on the shoulders of men by means of two projecting poles, -- used in India, China, etc., for the conveyance of a single person from place to place. [Written also palankeen.]

A bread basket; also, a wicker basket (used commonly in pairs) for carrying fruit or other things on a horse or an ass Hudibras.