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nii, good and evil spirits, supposed to be the children of fire, and to have the power of assuming various forms. [Written also jin, djinnee, etc.]

A monster capable of assuming a woman's form, who was said to devour human beings or suck their blood; a vampire; a sorceress; a with.

That deviation from strict fact, form, or rule, in which an artist or writer indulges, assuming that it will be permitted for the sake of the advantage or effect gained; as, poetic license; grammatical license, etc.

Capable of assuming a molten state; meltable; fusible. [Obs.]

Turning into many shapes; assuming many forms; protean.

Showing condescending favor; assuming the manner of airs of a superior toward another. -- Pat"ron*i`zing*ly, adv. Thackeray.

The capability of assuming different forms; the capability of widely varying in form.

Having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles; as, a polymorphous author. De Quincey.

Assuming, or having the power of assuming, many forms; as, a polyplastic element which does not preserve its original shape.

The act of presuming, or believing upon probable evidence; the act of assuming or taking for granted; belief upon incomplete proof.

Full of pretension; disposed to lay claim to more than is one's; presuming; assuming. -- Pre*ten"tious*ly, adv. -- Pre*ten"tious*ness, n.

Exceedingly variable; readily assuming different shapes or forms; as, an amoeba is a protean animalcule.

tain legal power or capacity by taking the oath, or complying with the forms required, on assuming an office.

Capable of assuming a desired position or condition with relation to other parts, under varying circumstances, without requiring to be adjusted by hand; -- said of a piece in machinery. Self-adjusting bearing (Shafting), a bearing which is supported in such a manner that it may tip to accomodate flexure or displacement…

self, or one's own rights or claims; hence, putting one's self forward in a confident or assuming manner.

The act of simulating, or assuming an appearance which is feigned, or not true; -- distinguished from dissimulation, which disguises or conceals what is true.

Hence, assuming superiority; proud. The great and flourishing condition of some of the topping sinners of the world. South.

One who studies another's part with a view to assuming it in an emergency.

Proud; arrogant; assuming; putting on airs of superiority. [Colloq.] T. Brown. -- Up"pish*ly, adv. [Colloq.] -- Up"pish*ness, n. [Colloq.]

Conceited; assuming; as, an upsetting fellow. [Scot.] Jamieson.