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A gaseous compound of carbon and hydrogen, in the proportion of two atoms of the former to two of the latter. It is a colorless gas, with a peculiar, unpleasant odor, and is produced for use as an illuminating gas in a number of ways, but chiefly by the action of water on calcium carbide. Its light is very brilliant. W…

wer, or the effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed. That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love. Wordsworth. Hence, in specific uses:

The state or quality of being adequate, proportionate, or sufficient; a sufficiency for a particular purpose; as, the adequacy of supply to the expenditure.

Equal to some requirement; proportionate, or correspondent; fully sufficient; as, powers adequate to a great work; an adequate definition. Ireland had no adequate champion. De Quincey.

To determine the proper share of, or the proper apportionment; as, to admeasure dower; to admeasure common of pasture. Blackstone.

According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting. [Archaic] He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk and currency, and not after their intrinsic value. Bacon. After all, when everything has been considered; upon the whole. -- After (with the same noun preceding and following), as, wave…

begins hostility or a quarrel; an assailant. The insolence of the aggressor is usually proportioned to the tameness of the sufferer. Ames.

The process or method of ascertaining the proportion of pure alcohol which spirituous liquors contain.

A recessed portion of a room, or a small room opening into a larger one; especially, a recess to contain a bed; a lateral recess in a library.

rument for viewing pictures by means of a lens, so as to present them in their natural proportions and relations.

The art of calculating with any species of notation; as, the algorithms of fractions, proportions, surds, etc.

The portion of a graduated instrument, as a quadrant or astrolabe, carrying the sights or telescope, and showing the degrees cut off on the arc of the instrument Whewell.

ng singly or in pairs in the germ cells of Mendelian hybrids, and exhibited in varying proportion among the organisms themselves. Allelomorphs which under certain circumstances are themselves compound are called hypallelomorphs. See Mendel's law. -- Al*le`lo*mor"phic (#), a.

An allotment or apportionment; as, an allocation of shares in a company. The allocation of the particular portions of Palestine to its successive inhabitants. A. R. Stanley.

To distribute, or parcel out in parts or portions; or to distribute to each individual concerned; to assign as a share or lot; to set apart as one's share; to bestow on; to grant; to appoint; as, let every man be contented with that which Providence allots him. Ten years I will allot to the attainment of knowledge. Joh…

That which is allotted; a share, part, or portion granted or distributed; that which is assigned by lot, or by the act of God; anything set apart for a special use or to a distinct party. The alloments of God and nature. L'Estrange. A vineyard and an allotment for olives and herbs. Broome.

That which is allowed; a share or portion allotted or granted; a sum granted as a reimbursement, a bounty, or as appropriate for any purpose; a stated quantity, as of food or drink; hence, a limited quantity of meat and drink, when provisions fall short. I can give the boy a handsome allowance. Thackeray.…

A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.

By alternation; when, in a proportion, the antecedent term is compared with antecedent, and consequent.

cy cloud formation consisting of large whitish or grayish globular cloudlets with shaded portions, often grouped in flocks or rows.