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The doctrine or science of light, explaining its nature and phenomena; optics.

The philosophy of human life, or the doctrine of the constitution and diseases of man, and their remedies.

The doctrine of the generation of plants.

(b) To take precedence or priority. Addison. (c) To take effect; to prevail. "If your doctrine takes place." Berkeley. "But none of these excuses would take place." Spenser. -- To take the place of, to be substituted for.

The doctrines or philosophy by Plato or of his followers.

Of pertaining to the Plotinists or their doctrines.

The doctrine of, or a treatise on, air and other elastic fluids. See Pneumatics, 1.

One who writes in support of one opinion, doctrine, or system, in opposition to another; one skilled in polemics; a controversialist; a disputant. The sarcasms and invectives of the young polemic. Macaulay.

The doctrine that animals of the same species have sprung from more than one original pair.

The doctrine of polygons; an extension of some of the principles of trigonometry to the case of polygons.

The doctrine of, or belief in, a plurality of gods. In the Old Testament, the gradual development of polytheism from the primitive monotheism may be learned. Shaff-Herzog.

One who believes in, or maintains the doctrine of, a plurality of gods.

To adhere to, advocate, or inculcate, the doctrine of polytheism. Milman.

The religion of the Roman Catholic Church, comprehending doctrines and practices; -- generally used in an opprobrious sense.

The political doctrines advocated by the People's party.

The science or doctrine of doses; dosology.

One who believes in or supports the doctrine of predestination. Dr. H. More.

The system or doctrine of the predestinarians.

One who holds to the doctrine of predestination; a predestinarian. Cowley.

Existence of the soul before its union with the body; -- a doctrine held by certain philosophers. Addison.