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An established principle in some art or science, which, though not a necessary truth, is universally received; as, the axioms of political economy.

ch.), the axis of a twisted column drawn spirally in order to trace the circumvolutions without. -- Axis of abscissas and Axis of ordinates. See Abscissa.

To utter in an indistinct or incoherent way; to repeat,as words, in a childish way without understanding. These [words] he used to babble in all companies. Arbuthnot.

or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail. Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this, Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss. Donne.

Firmness; moral principle; steadfastness. Shelley's thought never had any backbone. Shairp. To the backbone, through and through; thoroughly; entirely. "Staunch to the backbone." Lord Lytton.

rough which one part of connected machinery, as a wheel, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected parts, resulting from looseness in fitting or from wear; also, the jarring or reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion.

Without a back.

On the back, or with the back downward. Thou wilt fall backward. Shak.

Chemical decomposition brought about by bacteria without the addition of oxygen.

Having legs of unequal length, as the badger was thought to have. Shak.

string of beads. The phenomenon (first fully described by Francis Baily, 1774 -- 1844) is thought to be an effect of irradiation, and of inequalities of the moon's edge.

A vessel for holding hot water in which another vessel may be heated without scorching its contents; -- used for warming or preparing food or pharmaceutical preparations.

Nakedly; without reserve; inelegantly.

To leave heaped up; to heap up in piles. [Obs.] Ten thousand bold Scots, two and twenty knights, Balk'd in their own blood did Sir Walter see. Shak.

e, so that when his four feet are in the air, he shows only the shoes of his hind feet, without jerking out.

in playing at bandy. Like tennis balls bandied and struck upon us . . . by rackets from without. Cudworth.

Any cause of ruin, or lasting injury; harm; woe. Money, thou bane of bliss, and source of woe. Herbert.

The territory without the walls, but within the legal limits, of a town or city. Brande & C.

ional trunks, until it may be the tree covers some acres of ground and is able to shelter thousands of men.

Lit., May you live ten thousand years; -- used in salutation of the emperor and as a battle cry. [Japan]