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ign origin; something not of native growth, as a plant, a word, a custom. Plants that are unknown to Italy, and such as the gardeners call exotics. Addison.

determined by the experimenter; an act or operation undertaken in order to discover some unknown principle or effect, or to test, establish, or illustrate some suggest or known truth; practical test; poof. A political experiment can not be made in a laboratory, not determinant in a few hours. J. Adams.…

s of discovery, especially of geographical discovery; examination; as, the exploration of unknown countries; (Med.)

Exponential equation, an equation which contains an exponential quantity, or in which the unknown quantity enters as an exponent. -- Exponential quantity (Math.), a quantity whose exponent is unknown or variable, as ax. -- Exponential series, a series derived from the development of exponential equations or quantitie…

To eliminate, as unknown quantities. [R.]

ight upon, accidentally; to gain the first sight or knowledge of, as of something new, or unknown; hence, to fall in with, as a person. Searching the window for a flint, I found This paper, thus sealed up. Shak. In woods and forests thou art found. Cowley.

le lesion or change of structure; the derangement of an organ arising from a cause, often unknown, external to itself opposed to organic disease, in which the organ itself is affected.

hatever is prepared for use or wear; manufactured stuff or material. Clad in a vesture of unknown gear. Spenser.

A musical instrument, of unknown character, supposed by some to have been used by the people of Gath, and thence obtained by David. It is mentioned in the title of Psalms viii., lxxxi., and lxxxiv. Dr. W. Smith.

ir P. Sidney. Jewels lose their glory if neglected. Shak. Your sex's glory 't is to shine unknown. Young.

ivinity. [Obs.] Adoring first the genius of the place, The nymphs and native godheads yet unknown. Dryden.

Unknown; undiscovered. [Obs.] Ignorant concealment. Shak. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed Shak.

Unknown. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys. -- n.

eaven to earth, from earth to heaven, And as imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing A local habitation and a name. Shak.

A woman who is unknown or in disguise.

One unknown or in disguise, or under an assumed character or name.

rms are wanting; or one in which the coefficient of some one or more of the powers of the unknown quantity is equal to 0.

are subsequently determined. -- Indeterminate equation (Math.), an equation in which the unknown quantities admit of an infinite number of values, or sets of values. A group of equations is indeterminate when it contains more unknown quantities than there are equations. -- Indeterminate inflorescence (Bot.), a mode o…

uisitive; the disposition to seek explanation and information; curiosity to learn what is unknown; esp., uncontrolled and impertinent curiosity. Mr. Boswell, whose inquisitiveness is seconded by great activity, scrambled in at a high window. Johnson. Curiosity in children nature has provided, to remove that ignorance t…

litical situation. Hence, that which serves to unlock, open, discover, or solve something unknown or difficult; as, the key to a riddle; the key to a problem. Those who are accustomed to reason have got the true key of books. Locke. Who keeps the keys of all the creeds. Tennyson.