Search the Dictionary

er from the sun, its orbit lying between that of Mercury and that of the Earth, at a mean distance from the sun of about 67,000,000 miles. Its diameter is 7,700 miles, and its sidereal period 224.7 days. As the morning star, it was called by the ancients Lucifer; as the evening star, Hesperus.

The reciprocal of the focal distance of a lens, used as measure of the divergence or convergence of a pencil of rays. [R.] Humphrey Lloyd.

ed to the natural or intellectual eye; scene; prospect; as, the view from a window. 'T is distance lends enchantment to the view. Campbell.

ry; a creation of fancy. Locke. Arc of vision (Astron.), the arc which measures the least distance from the sun at which, when the sun is below the horizon, a star or planet emerging from his rays becomes visible. -- Beatific vision (Theol.), the immediate sight of God in heaven. -- Direct vision (Opt.), vision when…

Manner of walking; gait; step; as, we often know a person at a distance by his walk.

dapted to retain moisture to aid in respiration, and are thus able to travel considerable distances over the land at night, whence the name. They construct a curious nest for their young. Called also langya. -- Walking gentleman (Theater), an actor who usually fills subordinate parts which require a gentlemanly appear…

lass inclosure for keeping ferns, mosses, etc., or for transporting growing plants from a distance; as, a Wardian case of plants; -- so named from the inventor, Nathaniel B. Ward, an Englishman.

of propagation, occupied by a complete wave or undulation, as of light, sound, etc.; the distance from a point or phase in a wave to the nearest point at which the same phase occurs. -- Wave line (Shipbuilding), a line of a vessel's hull, shaped in accordance with the wave-line system. -- Wave-line system, Wave-line…

lton. The season and ways were very improper for his majesty's forces to march so great a distance. Evelyn.

An instrument for measuring the distance which one has traveled on the road; an odometer, pedometer, or perambulator. The waywiser to a coach, exactly measuring the miles, and showing them by an index. Evelyn.

A little; a bit, as of space, time, or distance. [Obs. or Scot.]

The distance, reckoned toward the west, between the two meridians passing through the extremities of a course, or portion of a ship's path; the departure of a course which lies to the west of north.

he walls to another part, so that whispers or feeble sounds are audible at a much greater distance than under ordinary circumstances.

Having considerable distance or extent between the sides; spacious across; much extended in a direction at right angles to that of length; not narrow; broad; as, wide cloth; a wide table; a wide highway; a wide bed; a wide hall or entry. The chambers and the stables weren wyde. Chaucer. Wide is the gate . . . that lead…

Spread to a great distance; widely extended; extending far and wide; as, widespread wings; a widespread movement.

A measure of distance, varying from four to ten miles, but usually about five. [India] [Written also yojana.]

At a distance, but within view; yonder. [Poetic] Read thy lot in yon celestial sign. Milton. Though fast yon shower be fleeting. Keble.

At a distance, but within view. Yonder are two apple women scolding. Arbuthnot.

To mimic. [Obs.] Your part is acted; give me leave at distance To zany it. Massinger.

ring those civil troubles . . . this aspiring family reached the zenith. Macaulay. Zenith distance. (Astron.) See under Distance. -- Zenith sector. (Astron.) See Sector, 3. -- Zenith telescope (Geodesy), a telescope specially designed for determining the latitude by means of any two stars which pass the meridian abou…