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idbrain of most mammals; the optic lobes. The anterior pair are called the nates, and the posterior the testes.

Agreeable to reason; not absurd, preposterous, extravagant, foolish, fanciful, or the like; wise; judicious; as, rational conduct; a rational man.

recommended Virgil and Horace to Augustus, whose praises . . . have made him precious to posterity. Dryden.

n causing pain) owing to the presence of sensory fibers from the corresponding sensory or posterior roots.

The examination or study of the soft palate, posterior nares, etc., by means of a laryngoscopic mirror introduced into the pharynx.

The excursion was esteemed but a sally of youth. Sir H. Wotton. Sally port. (a) (Fort.) A postern gate, or a passage underground, from the inner to the outer works, to afford free egress for troops in a sortie. (b) (Naval) A large port on each quarter of a fireship, for the escape of the men into boats when the train i…

Having broad scutella on the front, and small scales on the posterior side, of the tarsus; -- said of certain birds.

ce. See Single, v. i. Single-foot is an irregular pace, rather rare, distinguished by the posterior extremities moving in the order of a fast walk, and the anterior extremities in that of a slow trot. Stillman (The Horse in Motion.)

A tribe of bivalve mollusks in which the posterior mantle border is prolonged into two tubes or siphons. Called also Siphoniata. See Siphon, 2 (a), and Quahaug.

f a court; hence, to cite; to summon; to bring into court. [Scot.] Some, however, have preposterously sisted nature as the first or generative principle. Sir W. Hamilton.

f India. The snout was prolonged in the form of a proboscis. The male had four horns, the posterior pair being large and branched. It was allied to the antelopes, but very much larger than any exsisting species.

ft crab (Zoöl.), any crab which has recently shed its shell. -- Soft dorsal (Zoöl.), the posterior part of the dorsal fin of fishes when supported by soft rays. -- Soft grass. (Bot.) See Velvet grass. -- Soft money, paper money, as distinguished from coin, or hard money. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Soft mute. (Phonetics) See…

A special organ of the nautilus, due to a modification of the posterior tentacles.

The thickened posterior border of the corpus callosum; -- so called in allusion to its shape.

A composing stick. See under Composing. It is usually a frame of metal, but for posters, handbills, etc., one made of wood is used.

ior wings rudimentary, and in the form of short and slender twisted appendages, while the posterior ones are large and membranous. They are parasitic in the larval state on bees, wasps, and the like; -- called also Rhipiptera. See Illust. under Rhipipter.

rds in proper places make the true definition of style. Swift. It is style alone by which posterity will judge of a great work. I. Disraeli.

Situated under, or posterior to, the occiput; as, the suboccipital, or first cervical, nerve.

Situated under, or posterior to, the pubic bones.

sun and shield. Ps. lxxiv. 11. I will never consent to put out the sun of sovereignity to posterity. Eikon Basilike. Sun and planet wheels (Mach.), an ingenious contrivance for converting reciprocating motion, as that of the working beam of a steam engine, into rotatory motion. It consists of a toothed wheel (called th…