Search the Dictionary

c. Single, double, and triple knots were tied in the smaller cords, representing definite numbers. It was chiefly used for arithmetical purposes, and to register important facts and events. [Written also quipo.] Tylor. The mysterious science of the quipus . . . supplied the Peruvians with the means of communicating the…

Such a number of the officers or members of any body as is competent by law or constitution to transact business; as, a quorum of the House of Representatives; a constitutional quorum was not present.

The number resulting from the division of one number by another, and showing how often a less number is contained in a greater; thus, the quotient of twelve divided by four is three.

The relation of an object to number. Krauth-Fleming.

The voluntary failure of the members of a race or people to have a number of children sufficient to keep the birth rate equal to the death rate.

A number or quantity which is arbitrarily made the fundamental number of any system; a base. Thus, 10 is the radix, or base, of the common system of logarithms, and also of the decimal system of numeration.

reduce a noncommissioned officer to the ranks. -- To fill the ranks, to supply the whole number, or a competent number. -- To take rank of, to have precedence over, or to have the right of taking a higher place than.pull rank, to insist on one's own prerogative or plan of action, by right of a higher rank than that o…

Hence, fixed relation of number, quantity, or degree; rate; proportion; as, the ratio of representation in Congress. Compound ratio, Duplicate ratio, Inverse ratio, etc. See under Compound, Duplicate, etc. -- Ratio of a geometrical progression, the constant quantity by which each term is multiplied to produce the succ…

One of a number of lines or parts diverging from a common point or center, like the radii of a circle; as, a star of six rays.

To cut down to a less number of decks, and thus to an inferior rate or glass, as a ship; hence, to prune or abridge by cutting off or retrenching parts; as, to razee a book, or an article.

To count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate. The priest shall reckon to him the money according to the years that remain. Lev. xxvii. 18. I reckoned above two hundred and fifty on the outside of the church. Addison.

To compose again; to form anew; to put together again or repeatedly. The far greater number of the objects presented to our observation can only be decomposed, but not actually recomposed. Sir W. Hamilton.

cilable adversaries; an act reconciable with previous acts. The different accounts of the numbers of ships are reconcilable. Arbuthnot. -- Rec"on*ci`la*ble*ness, n. -- Rec"on*ci`la*bly, adv.

A writing by which same act or event, or a number of acts or events, is recorded; a register; as, a record of the acts of the Hebrew kings; a record of the variations of temperature during a certain time; a family record.

he contract, and increases the penalties for failing. The score or penalty depends on the number of tricks over or under the contract, according to a defined schedule, and depending on the vulnerability of the side attempting the contract.

To change, as numbers, from one denomination into another without altering their value, or from one denomination into others of the same value; as, to reduce pounds, shillings, and pence to pence, or to reduce pence to pounds; to reduce days and hours to minutes, or minutes to days and hours.

actured part to its former place. Reduction ascending (Arith.), the operation of changing numbers of a lower into others of a higher denomination, as cents to dollars. -- Reduction descending (Arith.), the operation of changing numbers of a higher into others of a lower denomination, as dollars to cents.…

the ray. -- Conical refraction (Opt.), the refraction of a ray of light into an infinite number of rays, forming a hollow cone. This occurs when a ray of light is passed through crystals of some substances, under certain circumstances. Conical refraction is of two kinds; external conical refraction, in which the ray i…

ody of men, either horse, foot, or artillery, commanded by a colonel, and consisting of a number of companies, usually ten.

A machine for registering automatically the number of persons passing through a gateway, fares taken, etc.; a telltale.