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o the ascending powers of a quantity. (b) A series in which each term is greater than the preceding. -- Ascending signs, signs east of the meridian.

abit or sympathy; as, associate motions, such as occur sympathetically, in consequence of preceding motions. E. Darwin.

ayle, the physical doctrines of Newton, and the epistemological theories of Locke, in the preceding century. Its chief center was in France, where it gave rise to the skepticism of Voltaire , the naturalism of Rousseau, the sensationalism of Condillac, and the publication of the "Encyclopedia" by D'Alembert and Diderot…

n there was no animal life on the globe; as, the azoic. rocks. Azoic age (Geol.), the age preceding the existence of animal life, or anterior to the paleozoic tome. Azoic is also used as a noun, age being understood. See Archæan, and Eozoic.

Abbreviated, as the half title in a page preceding the full title page of a book. Bastard ashlar (Arch.), stones for ashlar work, roughly squared at the quarry. -- Bastard file, a file intermediate between the coarsest and the second cut. -- Bastard type (Print.), type having the face of a larger or a smaller size th…

In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house. His angel, who shall go Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire. Milton.

un by the guidance of electric signals that no train enters a section or block before the preceding train has left it.

ombined electric and pneumatic, signals that no train enters a section or block until the preceding train has left it, as in absolute blocking, or that a train may be allowed to follow another into a block as long as it proceeds with excessive caution, as in permissive blocking.

d the Lombard or Eclectic school, the object of which was to unite the excellences of the preceding schools.

Political operations preceding an election; a canvass. [Cant, U. S.]

Among theatrical performers, the last word of the preceding speaker, which reminds one that he is to speak next; cue.

Having a movable joint or finger closing againts a preceding joint or a projecting part of it, so that the whole may be ised for grasping, as the claw of a crab; pincherlike.

ath.), a proportion composed of two or more equal ratios, in which the consequent of each preceding ratio is the same with the antecedent of the folowing one; as, 4 : 8 : 8 : 16 :: 16 : 32.

Of, pertaining to, or designating, the period of time following the Jurassic and preceding the Eocene.

The three days preceding the Feast of the Ascension.

v. Decreasing series (Math.), a series in which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding term.

French Revolution] at first caught his enthusiastic mind. W. Irving. The delirium of the preceding session (of Parliament). Motley. Delirium tremens (. Etym: [L., trembling delirium] (Med.), a violent delirium induced by the excessive and prolonged use of intoxicating liquors. -- Traumatic delirium (Med.), a variety…

-- Descending series (Math.), a series in which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding one; also, a series arranged according to descending powers of a quantity.

The elision of a final m, with the preceding vowel, before a word beginning with a vowel.

Affixed; subjoined; -- said of a word or particle which leans back upon the preceding word so as to become a part of it, and to lose its own independent accent, generally varying also the accent of the preceding word.