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of bodies by which their parts are capable of separation. Divisibility . . . is a primary attribute of matter. Sir W. Hamilton.

every beast of the earth. Gen. ix. 2. His scepter shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings. Shak.

sh rural folk who often find these objects of prehistoric make in the fields and formerly attributed them to fairies; -- called also elf bolt, elf dart, and elf shot. -- Elf child, a child supposed to be left by elves, in room of one they had stolen. See Changeling. -- Elf fire, the ignis fatuus. Brewer. -- Elf owl…

The philosophical theory which attributes the origin of all our knowledge to experience.

To attribute; to ascribe. [Obs.] The ancient proverb . . . entitles this work . . . peculiarly to God himself. Milton.

One of the embodiments of the divine attributes of the Eternal Being. Among the higher Æons are Mind, Reason, Power, Truth, and Life. Am. Cyc.

An adjective expressing some quality, attribute, or relation, that is properly or specially appropriate to a person or thing; as, a just man; a verdant lawn. A prince [Henry III.] to whom the epithet "worthless" seems best applicable. Hallam.

The exclamation attributed to Archimedes, who is said to have cried out "Eureka! eureka!" (I have found it! I have found it!), upon suddenly discovering a method of finding out how much the gold of King Hiero's crown had been alloyed. Hence, an expression of triumph concerning a discovery.

The meaning attributed to anything by one who explains it; definition; inerpretation; sense. Different explanations [of the Trinity]. Bp. Burnet.

Power; prerogative or attribute of office. [R.] This Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek. Shak.

cient or unprovided; -- used with of. If ever they fail of beauty, this failure is not be attributed to their size. Berke.

A nonsensical exclamation attributed to giants and ogres; hence, any expression calculated to impose upon the timid and ignorant. "Impudent fee-faw-fums." J. H. Newman.

course of certain diseases (esp. infectious diseases) to the process of fermentation, and attributes them to the organized ferments in the body. It does not differ materially from the accepted germ theory (which see).

(Med.) The theory which attributes contagious and infectious diseases, suppurative lesions, etc., to the agency of germs. The science of bacteriology was developed after this theory had been established.

To attribute; to assign; to adjudge. I don't wonder at people's giving him to me as a lover. Sheridan.

One who attributes the phenomena of the drift, in geology, to glaciers.

Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. These are thy glorious works, Parent of good ! Milton.

dyspnoea, to which some persons are subject in the spring and summer seasons. It has been attributed to the effluvium from hay, and to the pollen of certain plants. It is also called hay asthma, hay cold, and rose fever. -- Hay knife, a sharp instrument used in cutting hay out of a stack or mow. -- Hay press, a press…

An individual which has the attributes of both male and female, or which unites in itself the two sexes; an animal or plant having the parts of generation of both sexes, as when a flower contains both the stamens and pistil within the same calyx, or on the same receptacle. In some cases reproduction may take place with…

applied by Chevreul to an oily acid which was obtained from mutton suet, and to which he attributed the peculiar taste and smell of that substance. The substance has also been called hircin. Watts.