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or enemy; also, one of the same nation, party, kin, etc., whose friendly feelings may be assumed. The word is some times used as a term of friendly address. Friend, how camest thou in hither Matt. xxii. 12.

een the fixed support and the pulley. -- Funicular polygon (Mech.), the polygonal figure assumed by a cord fastened at its extremities, and sustaining weights at different points.

eriod of time at which one rank follows another, or father is succeeded by child, usually assumed to be one third of a century; an age. This is the book of the generations of Adam. Gen. v. 1. Ye shall remain there [in Babylon] many years, and for a long season, namely, seven generations. Baruch vi. 3. All generations a…

Granted; assumed; supposed to be known; set forth as a known quantity, relation, or premise.

To form grains, or to assume a granular ferm, as the result of crystallization; to granulate.

ately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect; as, a half dream; half knowledge. Assumed from thence a half consent. Tennyson. Half ape (Zoöl.), a lemur. -- Half back. (Football) See under 2d Back. -- Half bent, the first notch, for the sear point to enter, in the tumbler of a gunlock; the halfcock notch. -…

nstant, the mean value being 6.4. -- Dynamical theory of heat, that theory of heat which assumes it to be, not a peculiar kind of matter, but a peculiar motion of the ultimate particles of matter. Heat engine, any apparatus by which a heated substance, as a heated fluid, is made to perform work by giving motion to mec…

A woman of an heroic spirit. The heroine assumed the woman's place. Dryden.

less; giddy; flighty; also, haughty; patronizing; as, to be in hoity-toity spirits, or to assume hoity-toity airs; used also as an exclamation, denoting surprise or disapprobation, with some degree of contempt. Hoity-toity! What have I to do with dreams Congreve.

the definitions, axioms, and postulates of Euclid respecting parallel straight lines are assumed to hold true.

orizontal plane (Descriptive Geometry), a plane parallel to the horizon, upon which it is assumed that objects are projected. See Projection. It is upon the horizontal plane that the ground plan of the buildings is supposed to be drawn. -- Horizontal projection, a projection made on a plane parallel to the horizon. -…

w a conclusion or inference for proof of the point in question; something not proved, but assumed for the purpose of argument, or to account for a fact or an occurrence; as, the hypothesis that head winds detain an overdue steamer. An hypothesis being a mere supposition, there are no other limits to hypotheses than tho…

Characterized by, or of the nature of, an hypothesis; conditional; assumed without proof, for the purpose of reasoning and deducing proof, or of accounting for some fact or phenomenon. Causes hypothetical at least, if not real, for the various phenomena of the existence of which our experience informs us. Sir W. Hamilt…

To become corporeal; to assume the qualities of a material body. See Embody. The soul grows clotted by contagion, Imbodies, and imbrutes. Milton.

nce it carried wiht it some special privileges. After the downfall of the Republic it was assumed by Augustus and his successors, and came to have the meaning now attached to the word emperor.

To assume, or to represent, the person or character of; to personate; as, he impersonated Macbeth. Benedict impersonated his age. Milman.

One who imposes upon others; a person who assumes a character or title not his own, for the purpose of deception; a pretender. "The fraudulent impostor foul." Milton.

The act or conduct of an impostor; deception practiced under a false or assumed character; fraud or imposition; cheating. From new legends And fill the world with follies and impostures. Johnson.

To appropriate to one's self; to assume. [Obs.] To impropriate the thanks to himself. Bacon.

Without being known; in disguise; in an assumed character, or under an assumed title; -- said esp. of great personages who sometimes adopt a disguise or an assumed character in order to avoid notice. 'T was long ago Since gods come down incognito. Prior. The prince royal of Persia came thither incognito. Tatler.…