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, a Gnostic of the second century, who adopted the Oriental notion of the two conflicting principles, and imagined that between them there existed a third power, neither wholly good nor evil, the Creator of the world and of man, and the God of the Jewish dispensation. Brande & C.

The principles or practices of a martinet; rigid adherence to discipline, etc.

e who sacrifices his life, his station, or what is of great value to him, for the sake of principle, or to sustain a cause. Then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell, Thou fall'st a blessed martyr ! Shak.

of considerable size; as, a mass of ore, metal, sand, or water. If it were not for these principles, the bodies of the earth, planets, comets, sun, and all things in them, would grow cold and freeze, and become inactive masses. Sir I. Newton. A deep mass of continual sea is slower stirred To rage. Savile.…

The act or process of putting a mast or masts into a vessel; also, the scientific principles which determine the position of masts, and the mechanical methods of placing them. Masting house (Naut.), a large building, with suitable mechanism overhanging the water, used for stepping and unstepping the masts of vessels.…

To regard as matter; to consider or explain by the laws or principles which are appropriate to matter.

An established principle or proposition; a condensed proposition of important practical truth; an axiom of practical wisdom; an adage; a proverb; an aphorism. 'T is their maxim, Love is love's reward. Dryden.

of force and matter, as distinguished from mental, vital, chemical, etc.; as, mechanical principles; a mechanical theory; mechanical deposits.

In a medical manner; with reference to healing, or to the principles of the healing art.

A principle governing the inheritance of many characters in animals and plants, discovered by Gregor J. Mendel (Austrian Augustinian abbot, 1822-84) in breeding experiments with peas. He showed that the height, color, and other characters depend on the presence of determinating factors behaving as units. In any given g…

According to rules or principles of metaphysics; as, metaphysical reasoning.

hich are necessarily implied as true of every kind of being; phylosophy in general; first principles, or the science of first principles.

The art and principles of method.

According to the principles of, or with reference to, mineralogy.

One not restrained by Christian principles; an unscrupulous villain; a while wretch. Addison.

Limited as to the degree in which a quality, principle, or faculty appears; as, an infusion of moderate strength; a man of moderate abilities.

To make conformable to the principles, or customs and rites, of Mohammedanism. [Written also Mahometanize.]

The principles of, or preference for, monarchy.

The acrid principle of Monesia, sometimes used as a medicine.

e devil himself. Shak. To point a moral, or adorn a tale. Johnson. We protest against the principle that the world of pure comedy is one into which no moral enters. Macaulay.