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A brief, methodical illustration of the principles of a science. In this sense it is nearly synonymous with synopsis.

Having the ovule inverted at an early period in its development, so that the chalaza is as the apparent apex; -- opposed to orthotropous. Gray.

An earlier type; a progenitor; as, this fossil animal is regarded as the ancestor of the horse.

Known for a long time, or from early times; -- opposed to recent or new; as, the ancient continent. A friend, perhaps, or an ancient acquaintance. Barrow.

A silicate of aluminium, occurring usually in thick rhombic prisms, nearly square, of a grayish or pale reddish tint. It was first discovered in Andalusia, Spain.

A very large and important genus of grasses, found in nearly all parts of the world. It includes the lemon grass of Ceylon and the beard grass, or broom sedge, of the United States. The principal subgenus is Sorghum, including A. sorghum and A. halepensis, from which have been derived the Chinese sugar cane, the Johns…

e heat generated in the body of a living animal, by means of which the animal is kept at nearly a uniform temperature. -- Animal spirits. See under Spirit. -- Animal kingdom, the whole class of beings endowed with animal life. It embraces several subkingdoms, and under these there are Classes, Orders, Families, Gener…

An animal, invisible, or nearly so, to the naked eye. See Infusoria.

imation. Suspended animation, temporary suspension of the vital functions, as in persons nearly drowned.

Returning with the year, at a stated time; annual; yearly; as, an anniversary feast. Anniversary day (R. C. Ch.). See Anniversary, n., 2. -- Anniversary week, that week in the year in which the annual meetings of religious and benevolent societies are held in Boston and New York. [Eastern U. S.]

A year old; in Yearly growths.

Of or pertaining to a year; returning every year; coming or happening once in the year; yearly. The annual overflowing of the river [Nile]. Ray.

Yearly; year by year.

A sum of money, payable yearly, to continue for a given number of years, for life, or forever; an annual allowance.

A class of articulate animals, nearly equivalent to Annelida, including the marine annelids, earthworms, Gephyrea, Gymnotoma, leeches, etc. See Annelida.

A division of the Invertebrata, nearly equivalent to the Articulata. It includes the Arthoropoda and Anarthropoda. By some zoölogists it is applied to the former only.

A small wild ox of Celebes (Anoa depressicornis), allied to the buffalo, but having long nearly straight horns.

distinguished from the ordinary mosquitoes of the genus Culex by the long slender palpi, nearly equaling the beak in length, while those of the female Culex are very short. They also assume different positions when resting, Culex usually holding the body parallel to the surface on which it rests and keeping the head an…

The earlier events of one's life; previous principles, conduct, course, history. J. H. Newman. If the troops . . . prove worthy of their antecedents, the victory is surely ours. Gen. G. McClellan.

To date before the true time; to assign to an earlier date; thus, to antedate a deed or a bond is to give it a date anterior to the true time of its execution.