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Bot.), a European plant of the Orchis family (Herminium Minorchis); -- so called from its peculiar scent. -- Musk ox (Zoöl.), an Arctic hollow-horned ruminant (Ovibos moschatus), now existing only in America, but found fossil in Europe and Asia. It is covered with a thick coat of fine yellowish wool, and with long dar…

The fruit of a cucubritaceous plant (Cicumis Melo), having a peculiar aromatic flavor, and cultivated in many varieties, the principal sorts being the cantaloupe, of oval form and yellowish flesh, and the smaller nutmeg melon with greenish flesh. See Illust. of Melon.

A disease producing a peculiar cretinoid appearance of the face, slow speech, and dullness of intellect, and due to failure of the functions of the thyroid gland. -- Myx`o*dem"a*tous (#), a., Myx`o*dem"ic (#), a.

A class of peculiar organisms, the slime molds, formerly regarded as animals (Mycetozoa), but now generally thought to be plants and often separated as a distinct phylum (Myxophyta). They are found on damp earth and decaying vegetable matter, and consist of naked masses of protoplasm, often of considerable size, which…

A peculiar hydrocarbon occuring as an ingredient of Caucasian petroleum.

one compound acid, and not yet united with another, -- a hypothetical condition implying peculiarly active chemical properties; as, hydrogen in the nascent state is a strong reducer.

An idiom, trait, or character peculiar to any nation.

national; to make a nation of; to endow with the character and habits of a nation, or the peculiar sentiments and attachment of citizens of a nation.

as distinct from others; native character; inherent or essential qualities or attributes; peculiar constitution or quality of being. Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, Their nature also to thy nature join, And be thyself man among men on earth. Milton.

A peculiar kind of fructification on certain red algæ, consisting of an external mass of filaments at length separating into tetraspores.

One of a peculiar kind of cups, or calicles, found upon hydroids of the family Plumularidæ. They contain nematocysts. See Plumularia.

To render inert or imperceptible the peculiar affinities of, as a chemical substance; to destroy the effect of; as, to neutralize an acid with a base.

One who, or that which, neutralizes; that which destroys, disguises, or renders inert the peculiar properties of a body.

-- Newtonian telescope (Astron.), a reflecting telescope, in which rays from the large speculum are received by a plane mirror placed diagonally in the axis, and near the open end of the tube, and thrown at right angles toward one side of the tube, where the image is formed and viewed through the eyeplace. -- Newton…

Peculiary strong and good; -- said of ale or liquor. [Old Cant] 'T will make a cup of wine taste nippitate. Chapman.

A Norman idiom; a custom or expression peculiar to the Normans. M. Arnold.

Existing in idea only; visionary; whimsical. Discourses of speculative and notional things. Evelyn.

A peculiar larva of certain trematodes which produces cercariæ by asexual reproduction. See Cercaria, and Redia.

That which nourishes; nutriment. Fixed like a plant, on his peculiar spot, To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot. Pope.

Anything offered or presented in worship or sacred service; an offering; a sacrifice. A peculiar ... oblation given to God. Jer. Taylor. A pin was the usual oblation. Sir. W. Scott.