tendinous (ten´dэ nэs) •adj. 1 of or like a tendon 2 consisting of tendons [Fr tendineux < ML tendinosus]
tendon (ten´dэn) •n. any of the inelastic cords of tough, fibrous connective tissue in which muscle fibers end and by which muscles are attached to bones or other parts; sinew [ML tendo, altered (infl. by L tendere, to stretch) < Gr tenōn, sinew < teinein, to stretch: see THIN]
tendril (ten´drэl) •n. 1 a threadlike part of a climbing plant, often in a spiral form, supporting it by clinging to or coiling around an object 2 a wispy or curly strand of hair, often clinging to the face or neck [earlier tendrell, prob. altered < ME tendron, young tender shoot < OFr tendrum, ult. < L tener, TENDER¹]
Tenebrae (ten´э brei', -bri:') •n.pl. a Holy Week night service (Wednesday through Friday), formerly widely observed in the Western Church, consisting of group recitation of Matins and Lauds of the following day in commemoration of Christ's death and burial [L, pl., shadows, darkness: see TEMERITY]
tenebrific (ten'э brif´ik) •adj. making dark; obscuring [< L tenebrae (see TENEBRAE) + -FIC]
tenebrous (ten´э brэs) •adj. dark; gloomy Also te·neb·ri·ous (tэ neb´ri: эs) [ME tenebrus < OFr < L tenebrosus < tenebrae: see TEMERITY]
Tenedos (ten´э däs') ancient name of BOZCAADA
tenement (ten´э mэnt) •n. 1 Law land, buildings, offices, franchises, etc. held of another by tenure 2 a dwelling house 3 a room or set of rooms tenanted as a separate dwelling; apartment; flat 4 TENEMENT HOUSE 5 [Old Poet.] a dwelling place; abode ten'e·men´tal or ten'e·men´ta·ry •adj. [ME < OFr, a holding < ML tenementum < L tenere, to hold: see TENANT]
tenement house a building divided into tenements, or apartments, now specif. one in the slums that is run-down, overcrowded, etc.
Tenerife (ten'эr i:´fei, -i:f´; Sp te'ne ři:´fe) largest island of the Canary Islands: 795 sq. mi. (2,059 sq. km)
tenesmus (ti nez´mэs, -nes´-) •n. Med. a feeling of urgent need to defecate or urinate, with a straining but unsuccessful effort to do so [ML < L tenesmos < Gr teinesmos < teinein, to stretch: see THIN]
tenet (ten´it) •n. a principle, doctrine, or belief held as a truth, as by some group SYN. DOCTRINE [L, he holds < tenere: see TENANT]
tenfold (ten´fould') •adj. 1 having ten parts 2 having ten times as much or as many •adv. ten times as much or as many [TEN + -FOLD]
ten-gallon hat (ten´gæl´эn) a wide-brimmed felt hat with a high, round crown, orig. worn by American cowboys
Tengri Nor (teŋ'ri: nör´, teŋ'gri:) NAM CO
tenia (ti:´ni: э) alt. sp. of TAENIA
Teniers (ten´yэrz; Fl tэ nirs´) 1 David 1582-1649; Fl. painter: called the Elder 2 David 1610-90; Fl. painter: son of Teniers the Elder: called the Younger
Tenn Tennessee
Tennessee (ten'э si:´) 1 EC State of the U.S.: admitted, 1796; 42,244 sq. mi. (109,412 sq. km); pop. 4,877,000; cap. Nashville: abbrev. TN or Tenn 2 river flowing from NE Tenn. through N Ala. & W Tenn. into the Ohio River: 652 mi. (1,005 km) Ten'nes·se´an •adj., n. [< Tanasi, Cherokee village name]
Tennessee Valley Authority a Federal corporation organized in 1933 to provide cheap electric power, flood control, irrigation, etc. by developing the entire basin of the Tennessee River, esp. by building dams and reservoirs
Tennessee walking horse any of a breed of saddle or light utility horse with an easy, ambling gait
Tenniel (ten´yэl), Sir John 1820-1914; Eng. illustrator & caricaturist
tennis (ten´is) •n. 1 a game (officially called lawn tennis), usually played outdoors, in which two players or two pairs of players using rackets hit a fabric-covered, hollow rubber ball back and forth over a net stretched across a marked, level, rectangular area (tennis court) 2 a similar but more complex old indoor game (court tennis) in which the ball is bounced against the walls of a specially constructed court as well as hit over a net [ME tenetz, prob. < Anglo-Fr tenetz, receive, hold (imper. for OFr tenez) < OFr tenir, to hold (see TENANT): a cry by the server before play]
tennis elbow painful inflammation of the elbow, esp. of its tendons, caused by strain in rotating the forearm, as in using a tennis racket
tennis shoe SNEAKER (sense 2)
Tennyson (ten´i sэn), Alfred 1st Baron Tennyson 1809-92; Eng. poet: poet laureate (1850-92): called Alfred, Lord Tennyson Ten'ny·so´ni·an (-sou´ni: эn) •adj.
teno- (ten´ou, -э) combining form tendon {tenotomy} [< Gr tenōn, TENDON]
tenon (ten´эn) •n. a projecting part cut on the end of a piece of wood, etc. for insertion into a corresponding hole (mortise) in another piece to make a joint: see MORTISE, illus. •vt., vi. 1 to make a tenon (on) 2 to joint by mortise and tenon [ME < MFr < tenir, to hold: see TENANT]
tenor (ten´эr) •n. 1 general course or tendency {the even tenor of my life} 2 general meaning; drift; purport 3 in a metaphor, that term or concept that is described in a figurative way by the vehicle: see VEHICLE (sense 3) 4 [Obs.] general character or nature 5 the exact wording or an exact copy of a legal document 6 a) the range of a voice between baritone and countertenor, usually from about an octave below middle C to an octave above [ME < MFr tenour < It tenore < L tenor, a holding: the tenor voice held the melody (canto fermo)] b) a voice or singer with such a range c) an instrument with a similar range within its family, as a tenor saxophone d) a part for such a voice or instrument7 in four-part harmony, the second lowest part 8 in a set of bells for ringing changes, the bell with the lowest tone •adj. of, for, or having the range of a tenor SYN. TENDENCY [OFr < L tenere, to hold: see TENANT]
tenor clef the C clef on the fourth line, used in notation for the tenor trombone, the upper range of the cello, etc.
tenorite (ten´э rait') •n. an oxide of copper occurring in tiny black scales in volcanic regions or copper veins [It, after M. Tenore (1780-1861), It botanist + -ite, -ITE¹]
tenorrhaphy (tэ nör´э fi:) pl. -phies •n. Surgery the joining of a divided tendon by sutures [TENO- + Gr rrhaphia, a suturing < rhaphē, seam]
tenotomy (tэ nät´э mi:) pl. -mies •n. Surgery the cutting or dividing of a tendon [TENO- + -TOMY]
tenpenny (ten´pen'i:, -pэ ni:) •adj. 1 worth ten (esp. Brit.) pennies 2 designating a nail three inches long
tenpins (ten´pinz') •n.pl. 1 [with sing. v.] the game of bowling in which ten pins are used 2 the pins
tenpounder (ten´paun'dэr) •n. any of a family (Elopidae, order Elopiformes) of marine or freshwater bony fishes, including the ladyfish and machete
tenrec (ten´rek') •n. any of a family (Tenrecidae) of small, burrowing insectivores of Madagascar and the Comoro Islands [Fr tanrac, tenrec < Malagasy tràndraka, tàndeke]
tense¹ (tens) tens´er, tens´est •adj. 1 stretched tight; strained; taut 2 feeling, showing, or causing mental strain; anxious 3 Phonet. articulated with the jaw and tongue muscles relatively rigid: said of certain vowels, as (i:) and (û): opposed to LAX •vt., vi. tensed, tens´ing to make or become tense SYN. TIGHT tense´ly •adv. tense´ness •n. [L tensus, pp. of tendere, to stretch < IE *tend- < base *ten-, to stretch > THIN]
tense² (tens) •n. 1 a characteristic of verbs that indicates the time of the action or state of being that a verb expresses; also, an analytic category based on this characteristic 2 any of the forms a verb takes to indicate this characteristic 3 a set of such forms for a given time reference {the present tense of be} Tenses in English are usually listed as present, past, future, present perfect, past perfect (pluperfect), and future perfect, in accordance with Latin models, and English tenses other than the simple present and simple past are formed by the use of an auxiliary verb with a participle or an infinitive [ME < OFr tens < L tempus, time: see TEMPER]
tensible (ten´si bэl) •adj. TENSILE (sense 2) ten'si·bil´i·ty •n. [ML tensibilis < L tensus: see TENSE¹]
tensile (ten´sil; also, -sail') •adj. 1 of, undergoing, or exerting tension 2 capable of being stretched ten·sil´i·ty (-sil´э ti:) •n. [ModL tensilis < L tensus: see TENSE¹]
tensile strength resistance to lengthwise stress, measured (in force per unit of cross-sectional area) by the greatest load pulling in the direction of length that a given substance can bear without tearing apart
tensimeter (ten sim´эt эr) •n. an instrument that measures the difference in vapor pressure of two liquids [TENSI(ON) + -METER]
tensiometer (ten'si: äm´эt эr) •n. any instrument for measuring tautness or tension, as of a stretched wire or fabric or of the surface of a fluid [< fol. + -METER]
tension (ten´shэn) •n. 1 a tensing or being tensed 2 mental or nervous strain, often accompanied by muscular tautness 3 a state of strained relations; uneasiness due to mutual hostility 4 a device for regulating tension or tautness, as of thread in a sewing machine 5 VOLTAGE 6 loosely, the expansive force, or pressure, of a gas or vapor 7 a) stress on a material produced by the pull of forces tending to cause extension b) a force or combination of forces exerting such a pull against the resistance of the material 8 a balancing of forces or elements in opposition •vt. to subject to tension ten´sion·al •adj. [< MFr or L: MFr < L tensio < tensus: see TENSE¹]
tensity (ten´sэ ti:) •n. a tense state or quality
tensive (-siv) •adj. relating to or causing tension [Fr tensif]
tensor (ten´sэr, -sör') •n. 1 any muscle that stretches, or tenses, some part of the body 2 Math. an abstract object representing a generalization of the vector concept and having a specified system of components that undergo certain types of transformation under changes of the coordinate system [ModL < L tensus: see TENSE¹]
ten-speed (-spi:d') •n. a bicycle equipped with a derailleur of ten speeds, or gear arrangements
ten-strike (ten´straik') •n. 1 Bowling STRIKE 2 [Colloq.] any entirely successful action
tent caterpillar any of various caterpillars (esp. genus Malacosoma, family Lasiocampidae) that usually live in colonies in large, tentlike webs spun among the branches of trees, which they defoliate
tent show a show, as a circus, given in a tent
tent stitch an embroidery stitch that forms a series of parallel slanting lines [< ? TENT¹]
tent¹ (tent) •n. 1 a portable shelter consisting of canvas, skins, etc. stretched over poles and attached to stakes 2 anything suggestive of a tent, as an oxygen tent •adj. of or like a tent •vi. to live in a tent; encamp •vt. 1 to lodge in tents 2 to cover with or as if with a tent [ME < OFr tente < L tenta, fem. pp. of tentus, alt. pp. of tendere, to stretch: see THIN]
tent² (tent) •n. Med. a plug of gauze, lint, etc. placed into an opening or wound to dilate it or keep it open •vt. to insert such a plug in [ME tente < OFr, a probe < tenter, to try, test < L tentare, var. of temptare: see TEMPT]
tentacle (ten´tэ kэl) •n. 1 any of a variety of long, slender, flexible growths, as about the head or mouth of some invertebrate animals, used variously for grasping, feeling, moving, etc. 2 Bot. any of various sensitive hairs on the leaves of some plants, as those used in capturing insects ten´ta·cled •adj. ten·tac·u·lar (ten tæk´yu: lэr) •adj. [ModL tentaculum < L tentare, to touch: see TENT2]
tentative (ten´tэ tiv) •adj. 1 made, done, proposed, etc. experimentally or provisionally; not definite or final {tentative plans, a tentative explanation} 2 indicating timidity, hesitancy, or uncertainty {a tentative caress} ten´ta·tive·ly •adv. ten´ta·tive·ness •n. [LL tentativus < pp. of L tentare, to touch, try: see TENT²]
tented (tent´id) •adj. 1 covered by or sheltered in a tent or tents 2 shaped like a tent
tenter (ten´tэr) •n. 1 a frame on which cloth is stretched after having been milled, so as to dry evenly without shrinking: in full tenter frame 2 [Obs.] a tenterhook •vt. to stretch (cloth) on a tenter or tenters [ME tenteren] [ME tentoure, altered (infl. by tent, TENT¹) < MFr tendëure < tendre, to stretch: see TEND²]
tenterhook (ten´tэr huk') •n. any of the hooked nails that hold cloth stretched on a tenter on tenterhooks in suspense; filled with anxiety
tenth (tenθ) •adj. 1 preceded by nine others in a series; 10th 2 designating any of the ten equal parts of something •n. 1 the one following the ninth 2 any of the ten equal parts of something; ¹/10 3 a tenth of a gallon •adv. in the tenth place, rank, group, etc. tenth´ly •adv. [Early ME tenthe, replacing OE teogotha, teotha: see TEN & -TH²]
tenuis (ten´yu: is) pl. -u·es' (-yu: i:z') •n. Phonet. an unaspirated voiceless stop [ML < L, THIN: used as transl. of Gr psilos, bare, unaspirated (so applied by Aristotle)]
tenuity (tэ nu:´э ti:, -nyu:´-) pl. -ties •n. the quality or state of being tenuous; specif., a) thinness; slenderness; fineness b) lack of substance; rarity, as of air c) faintness, as of light or voice d) meagerness; slightness [MFr tenuité < L tenuitas]
tenuous (ten´yu: эs, -yэ wэs) •adj. 1 slender or fine, as a fiber 2 rare, as air at high altitudes; not dense 3 not substantial; slight; flimsy {tenuous evidence} ten´u·ous·ly •adv. ten´u·ous·ness •n. [< L tenuis, THIN + -OUS]
tenure (ten´yэr, -yur) •n. 1 the act or right of holding property, an office, a position, etc. 2 the length of time, or the conditions under which, something is held 3 the status of holding one's position on a permanent basis, granted to teachers, civil service personnel, etc. on the fulfillment of specified requirements ten´ured •adj. ten·u·ri·al (ten yur´i: эl) •adj. [ME < MFr < tenir, to hold: see TENANT]
tenuto (tei nu:´tou) •adj., adv. Musical Direction held for the full value; sustained: usually indicated by a short line over the note or chord •n. pl. -ti (-ti:) a tenuto note or chord [It, pp. of tenere, to hold < L tenere: see THIN]
teocalli (ti:'ou kæl´i:; Sp te'ô kä´yi:) pl. -cal´lis (-i:z; Sp, -yi:s) •n. an ancient Mexican or Central American temple of the Aztecs, usually a building on a truncated pyramid [Nahuatl teo:kalli, temple < teo:λ, god + kalli, house]
teosinte (ti:'ou sin´ti:) •n. a tall, cornlike fodder grass (Zea mexicana) native to Mexico and Central America, having a tassel and small, hard ears: presumed to be the wild ancestor of maize [AmSp < Nahuatl teosinλi, teosenλi, lit., divine maize < teoλ, god + sinλi, senλi, maize]
tepee (ti:´pi:) •n. 1 a cone-shaped tent of animal skins or bark used by North American Indian peoples of the plains and Great Lakes regions 2 a similarly shaped Indian dwelling of other materials, such as canvas [Dakota thípi, dwelling < thí-, to dwell + -pi, suffix indicating pl., indefinite, or abstract form]
tepefy (tep´э fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt., vi. to make or become tepid tep'e·fac´tion (-fæk´ shэn) •n. [L tepefacere < tepere (see TEPID) + facere, to make, DO¹]
tephra (tef´rэ) •n.pl. [with sing. or pl. v.] clastic volcanic materials, as dust, ashes, pumice, etc., ejected during an eruption and carried through the air before deposition [< Gr: see TEPHRITE]
tephrite (tef´rait') •n. a volcanic rock resembling basalt and consisting essentially of plagioclase, nepheline, etc. teph·rit´ic (-rit´ik) •adj. [< Gr tephra, ashes < IE base *dhegwh-, to burn (> FEVER) + -ITE¹]
Tepic (tei pi:k´) city in Nayarit state, W Mexico: pop. 177,000
tepid (tep´id) •adj. 1 barely or moderately warm; lukewarm: said of liquids 2 lacking warmth of feeling or enthusiasm te·pid·i·ty (tэ pid´э ti:) or tep´id·ness •n. tep´id·ly •adv. [ME teped < L tepidus < tepere, to be slightly warm < IE base *tep-, to be warm > Sans tapati, (it) burns]
tepoy (ti:´poi') •n. alt. sp. of TEAPOY
tequila (tэ ki:´lэ) •n. 1 a strong alcoholic liquor of Mexico, distilled esp. from a mash made from the core of certain agaves 2 a Mexican agave (Agave tequilana) that is a source of tequila and mescal [AmSp < Nahuatl Tuiquila, region in Mexico (orig. name of a tribe), where orig. produced]
ter 1 terrace 2 territory
ter- (ter, tør) combining form three, three times
Ter Borch (tøř böřkh´), Ge·rard (gei´řäřt) 1617-81; Du. painter: also written Ter·borch´
tera- (ter´э) combining form one trillion; the factor 10¹² {terahertz} [< Gr teras, monster: see TERATO-]
terai (tэ rai´) •n. a soft, broad-brimmed, double-crowned hat of felt, worn for protection against the sun [after Terai, region in NW India, where first worn by travelers]
teraphim (ter´э fim') sing. ter´aph (-эf) •n.pl. small images or other things representing household gods, used among ancient Semitic peoples [ME theraphym < LL(Ec) theraphim < Gr(Ec) theraphin < Heb terafim]
teratism (ter´э tiz'эm) •n. a malformed fetus [< fol. + -ISM]
terato- (ter´э tou', -tэ) combining form monster, monstrosity {teratology} Also, before a vowel, terat- [< Gr teras (gen. teratos), a wonder, monster < IE base *kwer-, to cast a spell upon, orig. prob. to form, make > Sans karōti, (he) makes]
teratogen (ter´э tou jэn, -jen') •n. an agent, as a chemical, disease, etc., that causes malformation of a fetus ter'a·to·gen´ic (-jen´ik) •adj. [prec. + -GEN]
teratoid (ter´э toid') •adj. Biol. resembling a monster; malformed or abnormal [TERAT(O)- + -OID]
teratology (ter'э täl´э ji:) •n. the scientific study of biological monstrosities and malformations ter'a·to'log´i·cal (-tou läj´i kэl) •adj. [TERATO- + -LOGY]
teratoma (ter'э tou´mэ) •n. a tumor containing various kinds of embryonic tissue, as of hair and teeth [TERAT(O)- + -OMA]
terbia (tør´bi: э) •n. terbium oxide, Tb2O3, a white powder soluble in dilute acids [ModL < fol.]
terbium (tør´bi: эm) •n. a silver-gray, soft, ductile chemical element of the rare-earth metals, found in gadolinite and other minerals: symbol, Tb; at. wt., 158.925; at. no., 65; sp. gr., 8.23; melt. pt., 1,356°C; boil. pt., 3,123°C [ModL: so named (1843) by Mosander, its discoverer, after Ytterby: see ERBIUM]
terbium metals a series of closely related rare-earth metals, including terbium, gadolinium, europium, and, sometimes, dysprosium
terce (tørs) •n. [often T-] Eccles. the third of the seven canonical hours; mid-morning prayer [see TIERCE]
Terceira (tэr sei´rэ) island of the central Azores: 153 sq. mi. (396 sq. km)
tercel (tør´sэl) •n. var. of TIERCEL
tercentenary (tэr sen´tэ ner'i:, tør'sen ten´эr i:) pl. -nar·ies TRICENTENNIAL Also ter'cen·ten´ni·al (-ten´i: эl) •adj., n. [L ter, three times (akin to tres, THREE) + CENTENARY]
tercet (tør´sit, tэr set´) •n. a group of three lines that rhyme with one another or are connected by rhyme with an adjacent triplet or triplets [Fr < It terzetto, dim. of terzo < L tertius, THIRD]
terebene (ter´э bi:n') •n. a mixture of terpenes obtained by the action of sulfuric acid on spirits of turpentine, used as an expectorant, deodorant, and inhalant [Fr térébène < térébinthe, TEREBINTH + -ène, -ENE]
terebic acid (tэ reb´ik, -ri:´bik) a white, crystalline acid, C7H10O4, a product of the oxidation of spirits of turpentine [< fol. + -IC]
terebinth (ter´э binθ') •n. a small European tree (Pistacia terebinthus) of the cashew family, whose cut bark yields a turpentine [ME terebint < MFr therebint(he) < L terebinthus < Gr terebinthos, earlier terminthos]
terebinthine (ter'э bin´θin, -θi:n', -θain') •adj. 1 of the terebinth tree 2 of or like turpentine
teredo (tэ ri:´dou) pl. -dos or -di·nes' (-di ni:z') •n. any of a genus (Teredo) of long shipworms that feed on wood [ME < L < Gr terēdōn, borer, akin to teirein, to rub: see THROW]
Terence (ter´эns) 1 a masculine name: dim. Terry 2 (L. name Publius Terentius Afer) c. 195-c. 159 B.C.; Rom. writer of comedies [L Terentius, name of a Roman gens]
terephthalic acid (ter'ef θæl´ik-) a white crystalline powder, C6H4(COOH)2, produced by the oxidation of certain xylene hydrocarbons and used in making plastics, polyester fiber, etc. [TERE(BENE) + PHTHALIC ACID]
Teresa (tэ ri:´sэ, -zэ; Sp te ře´sä) 1 a feminine name: see THERESA 2 Mother (born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) 1910- ; Rom. Catholic missionary in India, born in Yugoslavia 3 Saint (1515-82): Sp. Carmelite nun: her day is Oct. 12: called Teresa of Á·vi·la (ä´vi: lä'; E æv´i lэ)
Tereshkova (te'resh kö´vэ), Va·len·ti·na (Vladimirovna) (vä'len ti:´nэ) 1937- ; Soviet cosmonaut: 1st woman in space (1963)
terete (te ri:t´, ter´i:t') •adj. Biol. of or having a circular shape when cross-sectioned or a cylindrical shape that tapers at each end [L teres (gen. teretis), round, smooth, orig., rubbed < terere, to rub: see THROW]
Tereus (ti:´ri: эs) Gr. Myth. a king of Thrace: see PHILOMELA [L < Gr Tēreus]
Terezina (teř'э zi:´nэ) city in NE Brazil, on the Parnaíba River: capital of Piauí state: pop. 339,000
tergiversate (tør´ji vэr seit') -sat'ed, -sat'ing •vi. 1 to desert a cause, party, etc.; become a renegade; apostatize 2 to use evasions or subterfuge; equivocate ter'gi·ver·sa´tion •n. ter´gi·ver·sa'tor •n. [< L tergiversatus, pp. of tergiversari, to turn one's back, decline, shift < tergum, the back (see TERGUM) + versari, to turn: see VERSE]
tergum (tør´gэm) pl. -ga (-gэ) •n. the longitudinal, dorsal surface of a body segment of most arthropods [L, the back, prob. akin to Gr terphos, back skin, shell, hide < IE base *(s)ter-, stiff > START]
teriyaki (ter'i: yä´ki:) •n. a Japanese dish consisting of meat or fish marinated or dipped in spiced soy sauce and broiled, grilled, or barbecued [Jpn < teri, nominal form of teru, to shine + yaki, nominal form of yaku, to broil: so called because the sauce makes the meat or fish shiny]
term abbrev. 1 terminal 2 termination term (tørm) •n. 1 orig., a point of time designating the beginning or end of a period 2 a set date, as for payment, termination of tenancy, etc. 3 a set period of time; duration; specif., a) a division of a school year, as a semester or quarter, during which a course of studies is given Æ b) the stipulated duration of an appointment to a particular office {elected to a four-year term} c) the normal elapsed period for birth after conception; also, delivery at the end of this period; parturition 4 [pl.] conditions of a contract, agreement, sale, etc. 5 [pl.] mutual relationship between or among persons; footing {on speaking terms} 6 a word or phrase having a limiting and definite meaning in some science, art, etc. {tergum is a zoological term} 7 any word or phrase used in a definite or precise sense; expression {a colloquial term} 8 [pl.] words that express ideas in a specified form {to speak in derogatory terms} 9 a) [Now Rare] a limit; boundary; extremity b) [pl.] [Obs.] conditions; circumstances 10 Archit. a boundary post, esp. one consisting of a pedestal topped by a bust, as of the god Terminus 11 Law a) the time a court is in session b) the length of time for which an estate is granted c) the estate itself d) time allowed a debtor to pay 12 Logic a) either of two concepts that have a stated relation, as the subject and predicate of a proposition b) any of the three elements which function variously as subjects and predicates in a syllogism 13 Math. a) either of the two quantities of a fraction or a ratio b) each of the quantities in a series or sequence c) each of the quantities connected by plus or minus signs in an algebraic expression •vt. to call by a term; name bring to terms to reduce to submission; force to agree come to terms to arrive at an agreement or accommodation in terms of 1 by means of 2 with reference to [ME terme < OFr < L terminus, a limit, boundary, end < IE *termn, a boundary stake < base *ter-, to cross over, go beyond > TRANS-, Gr terma, goal]
term insurance life insurance which expires at the end of a specified period of time
term paper a long paper or report assigned to be written by a student in a course during a school or college term
Termagant (tør´mэ gэnt) an imaginary deity supposed by medieval Christians to be worshiped by Muslims and represented in morality plays as a boisterous, overbearing figure •n. [t-] a boisterous, quarrelsome, scolding woman; shrew •adj. [t-] of the nature of a termagant; quarrelsome; scolding ter´ma·gan·cy •n. ter´ma·gant·ly •adv. [ME Tervagant < OFr, name of an imaginary Muslim deity prob. introduced by the Crusaders]
termer (tør´mэr) •n. a person serving a specified term, esp. in prison: usually in hyphenated compounds {third-termer}
terminable (tør´mi nэ bэl) •adj. 1 that can be terminated 2 that terminates after a specified time, as a contract ter'mi·na·bil´i·ty or ter´mi·na·ble·ness •n. ter´mi·na·bly •adv.
terminal (tør´mэ nэl) •adj. 1 of, at, or forming the end, extremity, or terminus of something {terminal feathers} 2 occurring at the end of a series; concluding; closing; final {a terminal payment} 3 designating, of, or having a fatal disease in its final stages {terminal cancer, to be diagnosed as terminal} 4 having to do with a term or established period of time; occurring regularly in each term 5 of, at, or forming the end of a transportation line 6 Bot. growing at the end of a stem or branch {a terminal leaflet} •n. 1 a terminating part; end; extremity; limit 2 a connective device or point in or attached to an electric circuit or conductor Æ 3 a) either end of a transportation line, as for an airplane, bus, or railroad, including servicing facilities, etc. b) a station or city located there c) a station at any important point or junction of a transportation line 4 a device, usually with a typewriter keyboard and a video screen, for putting information into, or getting it from, a computer, as over communication lines 5 Archit. an ornamental carving at the end of a structural element ter´mi·nal·ly •adv. [L terminalis]
terminal juncture Linguis. any of several kinds of pause, differing in duration and sometimes very brief, occurring after various types of utterance endings {rising, falling, or sustained terminal juncture}
terminal leave the final leave granted to a member of the armed forces immediately before discharge, equal in duration to accumulated unused leave
terminal velocity Physics the unchanging velocity reached by a falling body when the frictional resistance of the enveloping medium is equal to the force of gravity
terminate (tør´mэ neit') -nat'ed, -nat'ing •vt. 1 to bring to an end in space or time; form the end or conclusion of; limit, bound, finish, or conclude 2 to put an end to; stop; cease Æ 3 to dismiss from employment; fire •vi. 1 to come to an end in space or time; stop; end 2 to have its end (in something) {a road terminating in woods} SYN. CLOSE² ter´mi·na'tive •adj. [< L terminatus, pp. of terminare, to end, limit < terminus: see TERM]
termination (tør'mэ nei´shэn) •n. 1 a terminating or being terminated 2 the end of something in space or time; limit, bound, conclusion, or finish 3 Linguis. the end of a word; final sound, morpheme, or syllable; specif., an inflectional ending 4 a thing's outcome or result {friendly termination of a dispute} ter'mi·na´tion·al •adj. [L terminatio]
terminator (tør´mэ neit'эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that terminates 2 the line dividing the illuminated and dark parts of the disk of the moon or a planet [LL(Ec)]
terminology (tør'mэ näl´э ji:) pl. -gies •n. 1 the terms or system of terms used in a specific science, art, etc.; nomenclature {lexicographer's terminology} 2 the systematic study of terms ter'mi·no·log´i·cal (-nou läj´i kэl) •adj. ter'mi·no·log´i·cal·ly •adv. [Ger terminologie < ML terminus, a term < L (see TERM) + Ger -logie, -LOGY]
terminus (tør´mэ nэs) pl. -ni' (-nai') or -nus·es •n. 1 a boundary or limit 2 a boundary stone or marker 3 an end; final point; extremity or goal 4 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] either end of a transportation line, or a station or town located there; terminal [T-] Rom. Myth. the deity presiding over boundaries and landmarks [L: see TERM]
terminus a quo (ei kwou´) a starting point; point of origin; beginning [L, end from which]
terminus ad quem (tør´mi nэs æd kwem´) a destination; conclusion; end [L, end toward which]
termite (tør´mait') •n. any of an order (Isoptera) of pale-colored social insects having a soft body and living in colonies composed of winged forms that mate and wingless workers and soldiers that are usually sterile or immature: they are very destructive to wooden structures and are found in the temperate zones and esp. in the tropics [< LL termes (gen. termitis) < L tarmes, wood-boring worm < base of terere, to rub, bore: see THROW]
termless (tørm´lis) •adj. 1 limitless 2 unconditional
termor (tør´mэr) •n. Law a person holding an estate for a certain period of years or for life [ME < Anglo-Fr termer < terme: see TERM & -ER]
tern (tørn) •n. any of several shorebirds (family Laridae) with webbed feet, a deeply forked tail, a straight bill, and a slender body; sea swallow [< ON therna, via E Anglian dial.; akin to OE stearna]
ternary (tør´nэ ri:) •adj. 1 made up of three parts or things; threefold; triple 2 third in order or rank 3 Chem. of or containing three different atoms, elements, radicals, etc. 4 Math. a) having three as a base b) involving three variables 5 Metallurgy of an alloy of three elements •n. pl. -ries [Rare] a group or set of three [ME < L ternarius < terni, three each < tres, THREE]
ternate (tør´neit') •adj. 1 consisting of three 2 arranged in threes 3 Bot. a) having three leaflets b) growing in groups or whorls of three, as some leaves [ModL ternatus < L terni (see TERNARY) + -atus, -ATE¹]
terneplate (tørn´pleit') •n. steel plate coated with an alloy of lead and a small amount of tin [Fr terne, dull (< OHG tarni, hidden) + PLATE]
Terni (ter´ni:) commune in central Italy, northeast of Rome: pop. 112,000
ternion (tør´ni: эn, -än') •n. [Now Rare] a set of three; triad [L ternio, triad < terni: see TERNARY]
terpene (tør´pi:n') •n. 1 any of a series of isomeric, unsaturated hydrocarbons of the general formula C10H16, found in resins, essential oils, etc.: they are used in perfumes, medicines, etc. 2 any of various derivatives of the terpene hydrocarbons [Ger terpen < terp(entin), turpentine + -en, -ENE]
terpin hydrate (tør´pin-) a colorless crystalline powder, C10H20O2·H2O, used chiefly, in the form of an elixir, as an expectorant or cough syrup [< terpine: see TERPINEOL]
terpineol (tэr pin´i: öl', -oul') •n. any of three isomeric alcohols, C10H17OH, with a lilac odor, found in certain volatile oils and used in perfumes [< terpine, C10H18(OH)2 (< prec. + -INE³) + -OL¹]
Terpsichore (tэrp sik´э ri:') Gr. Myth. the Muse of the dance [Gr Terpsichorē < terpsichoros, delighting in the dance < terpein, to delight in + choros, a dance]
terpsichorean (tørp'si kэ ri:´эn, tørp'si kör´i: эn) •adj. 1 [T-] of Terpsichore 2 having to do with dancing •n. a dancer: now only in facetious use
terr 1 terrace 2 territory
terra (ter´э) •n. (the) earth [L < IE *tersa < base *ters-: see THIRST]
terra alba (ter'э æl´bэ) any of several white mineral substances, as a) finely ground gypsum, used in making paints, paper, etc. b) pulverized kaolin, used in ceramics c) MAGNESIA (sense 1) [L, lit., white earth]
terra cotta (ter'э kät´э) 1 a hard, brown-red, usually unglazed earthenware used for pottery, sculpture, etc. 2 its brown-red color ter´ra-cot´ta •adj. [It, lit., baked earth < L: see TERRA & COOK]
terra firma (ter'э før´mэ) firm earth; solid ground [L]
terra incognita (ter'э in käg´ni tэ) pl. ter·rae in·cog·ni·tae (ter'i: in käg´ni ti:') 1 an unknown land; unexplored territory 2 an unknown or unexplored field of knowledge [L]
terrace (ter´эs) •n. 1 a) a raised, flat mound of earth with sloping sides b) any of a series of flat platforms of earth with sloping sides, rising one above the other, as on a hillside c) a geologic formation of this nature 2 an unroofed, paved area, immediately adjacent to a house, etc. and usually overlooking a lawn or garden 3 a) a gallery, portico, or colonnade b) a usually spacious veranda; piazza 4 a small, usually roofed balcony, as outside an apartment 5 a flat roof, esp. of a house of Spanish or Oriental architecture 6 a) a line of houses, esp. of row houses, on ground raised from the street b) a street in front of such houses (often used in street names) Æ 7 a parklike strip in the middle of a boulevard, etc. •vt. -raced, -rac·ing to form into, lay out in, or surround with a terrace or terraces [OFr, walled platform, orig., mound of earth < It terrazzo < terra < L, TERRA]
terrain (ter rein´, tэ rein´; ter´ein') •n. 1 ground or a tract of ground, esp. with regard to its natural or topographical features or fitness for some use 2 Geol. TERRANE (sense 1) [Fr < L terrenum < terrenus, of earth, earthen < terra, TERRA]
Terramycin (ter'э mai´sin) trademark for OXYTETRACYCLINE [< L terra, TERRA + MYC- + -IN¹]
terrane (ter rein´, tэ rein´; ter´ein') •n. Geol. 1 a) a geologic formation or series of related formations b) a region where a specific rock or group of rocks predominates 2 TERRAIN (sense 1) [Fr terrain: see TERRAIN]
terrapin (ter´э pin) •n. 1 any of a family (Emydidae) of North American, terrestrial, freshwater or tidewater turtles, esp. the diamondback 2 its edible flesh [< dim. of earlier torope, tortoise < Virginia Algonquian]
terraqueous (ter ei´kwi: эs) •adj. consisting of land and water [< L terra, TERRA + AQUEOUS]
terrarium (tэ rer´i: эm) pl. -i·ums or -i·a (-э) •n. 1 an enclosure in which to keep small land animals 2 a glass container enclosing a garden of small plants [ModL < L terra, TERRA + -arium, as in aquarium]
terrazzo (tэ rät´sou, te-; tэ ræz´ou) •n. flooring of small chips of marble set in cement and polished [It, lit., TERRACE]
Terre Haute (ter'э hout´) city in W Ind., on the Wabash: pop. 57,000 [Fr, lit., high land]
terrene (ter ri:n´, tэ ri:n´, ter´i:n') •adj. 1 of earth; earthy 2 worldly; mundane •n. 1 the earth 2 a land or territory [ME < L terrenus: see TERRAIN]
terreplein (ter´plein') •n. a level platform behind a parapet, rampart, etc., where guns are mounted [Fr < It terrepieno < terrapienare, to fill with earth, terrace < terra (see TERRACE) + pienare, to fill < L plenus, full: see PLENTY]
terrestrial (tэ res´tri: эl) •adj. 1 of this world; worldly; earthly; mundane 2 of, constituting, or representing the earth {a terrestrial globe} 3 consisting of land as distinguished from water 4 living on land rather than in water, in the air, in trees, etc. 5 growing on land or in the soil 6 of the four small, rocky inner planets of the solar system, specif. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars: cf. JOVIAN (sense 3) •n. an inhabitant of the earth SYN. EARTHLY ter·res´tri·al·ly •adv. [ME terrestrialle < L terrestris < terra, TERRA]
terret (ter´it) •n. 1 a ring for attaching a chain or leash, as on a dog collar 2 any of the rings on a harness, through which the reins pass: see HARNESS, illus. [ME teret < OFr toret, dim. of tour, a turn < torn < torner, turner, TURN]
terre-verte (ter´vert') •n. any of several green earths or clays containing iron silicates used as a green pigment by artists [Fr < terre (< L terra, TERRA) + verte, green (see VERT)]
terrible (ter´э bэl) •adj. 1 causing terror; fearful; frightful; dreadful 2 extreme; intense; severe 3 [Colloq.] very bad, unpleasant; disagreeable, etc.: a general term of disapproval ter´ri·ble·ness •n. [OFr < L terribilis < terrere, to frighten: see TERROR]
terribly (ter´э bli:) •adv. 1 in a terrible manner 2 extremely; very {a terribly funny man}
terricolous (ter rik´э lэs, tэ rik´-) •adj. Biol. living in or on the ground [< L terricola, earth dweller < terra, TERRA + colere, to dwell, till (see CULT) + -OUS]
terrier (ter´i: эr) •n. any member of several breeds of generally small and typically aggressive dog, orig. bred to rout vermin and small game animals from their lairs [ME terrere < MFr (chien) terrier, hunting (dog) < terrier, hillock, burrow < ML terrarius, of earth < L terra, TERRA]
terrific (tэ rif´ik) •adj. 1 causing great fear or dismay; terrifying; dreadful; appalling 2 [Colloq.] a) unusually great, intense, severe, etc. b) unusually fine, admirable, enjoyable, etc. (a general term of approval) ter·rif´i·cal·ly •adv. [L terrificus < base of terrere, to frighten: see TERROR & -FIC]
terrify (ter´э fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. to fill with terror; frighten greatly; alarm SYN. FRIGHTEN ter´ri·fy'ing·ly •adv. [L terrificare < terrificus, TERRIFIC]
terrigenous (ter rij´э nэs, tэ rij´-) •adj. 1 earthborn 2 designating or of sea-bottom sediment derived from the erosion of land [L terrigenus < terra, TERRA + gignere, to be born: see GENUS]
terrine (ter i:n´) •n. 1 an earthenware dish or casserole in which a pâté or any of various similar meat or vegetable mixtures is cooked and served 2 the food so prepared [Fr: see TUREEN]
territorial (ter'э tör´i: эl) •adj. 1 of territory or land 2 of, belonging to, or limited to a specific territory, district, or jurisdictional area {territorial waters} Æ 3 [T-] of a Territory or Territories 4 [often T-] organized in regional groups for home defense {the Territorial Army of Great Britain} 5 Ethology characterized by or displaying territoriality •n. 1 a member of a territorial force 2 [T-] a member of the British Territorial Army ter'ri·to´ri·al·ly •adv. [LL territorialis]
territorialism (-iz'эm) •n. any territorial system ter'ri·to´ri·al·ist •n.
territoriality (ter'э tör'i: æl´э ti:) •n. 1 the state or quality of being territorial 2 Ethology the behavior pattern exhibited by an animal in defending its territory
territorialize (ter'э tör´i: эl aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. 1 to add territory to 2 to establish as a territory 3 to make territorial ter'ri·to'ri·al·i·za´tion •n.
territory (ter´э tör'i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 the land and waters under the jurisdiction of a nation, state, ruler, etc. 2 a part of a country or empire that does not have the full status of a principal division; specif., Æ a) [T-] a part of the U.S. having its own legislature but without the status of a State and under the administration of an appointed governor b) [T-] a similar region, as in Canada or Australia, without the status of a province or State: see also TRUST TERRITORY 3 any large tract of land; region; district Æ 4 an assigned area, as of a traveling salesman or franchised dealer 5 a sphere or province of action, existence, thought, etc. 6 Ethology the particular area occupied by an animal or group of animals; esp., the specific area appropriated by an animal or pair of animals, usually for breeding, nesting, and foraging purposes, and forcibly defended against by any intruders 7 Football, Hockey, etc. that half of the playing area defended by a specified team [ME < L territorium < terra, TERRA]
terror (ter´эr) •n. 1 intense fear 2 a) a person or thing causing intense fear b) the quality of causing such fear; terribleness 3 a program of terrorism or a party, group, etc. resorting to terrorism 4 [Colloq.] a very annoying or unmanageable person, esp. a child; nuisance; pest SYN. FEAR [ME terrour < MFr terreur < L terror < terrere, to frighten < IE *ters-, to tremble (> Gr trein, to tremble, flee) < base *ter-, to wriggle]
terrorism (ter´эr iz'эm) •n. 1 the act of terrorizing; use of force or threats to demoralize, intimidate, and subjugate, esp. such use as a political weapon or policy 2 the demoralization and intimidation produced in this way ter´ror·ist •n., adj. ter'ror·is´tic •adj. [Fr terrorisme]
terrorize (ter´эr aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. 1 to fill with terror; terrify 2 to coerce, make submit, etc. by filling with terror, as by the use or threat of violence SYN. FRIGHTEN ter'ror·i·za´tion •n.
terror-stricken (-strik´эn) •adj. overcome with terror
terry (ter´i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 uncut loops forming the pile of some fabrics 2 cloth having a pile of such loops; esp., cotton cloth used for toweling: also terry cloth [prob. < Fr tiré, pp. of tirer, to draw < VL *tirare] Terry (ter´i:) 1 a masculine name: see TERENCE 2 a feminine name: var. Terri: see THERESA 3 Dame Ellen (Alice or Alicia) 1848-1928; Eng. actress
terse (tørs) ters´er, ters´est •adj. free of superfluous words; concise in a polished, smooth way; succinct SYN. CONCISE terse´ly •adv. terse´ness •n. [L tersus, wiped off, clean, pp. of tergere, to wipe < IE *terg- < base *ter-, to rub, turn: see THROW]
tertial (tør´shэl) •adj. designating or of the flight feathers, forming the third row, on the basal part of a bird's wing •n. a tertial feather [< L tertius, THIRD + -AL]
tertian (tør´shэn) •adj. occurring every other day so that it happens on the first and third days: usually applied to fever or a disease causing it, esp. any of certain forms of malaria •n. a tertian fever or disease [ME tercian < L (febris) tertiana, tertian (fever) < tertius, THIRD]
tertiary (tør´shi: er'i:, -shэ ri:) •adj. 1 of the third rank, order, formation, stage, etc.; third 2 Chem. a) third in order or type; involving the substitution of three atoms or radicals b) characterized by or designating a carbon atom or group attached to three other carbon atoms or groups in a chain or ring 3 [T-] Geol. designating or of the first period preceding the Quaternary in the Cenozoic Era, comprising the Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene Epochs 4 Linguis. a) designating, of, or being the third strongest of the four phonemic degrees of stress b) a mark used to indicate this 5 R.C.Ch. of the Third Order: see THIRD ORDER 6 Zool. TERTIAL •n. pl. -ar'ies 1 R.C.Ch. a member of the Third Order 2 Zool. TERTIAL the Tertiary the Tertiary Period or its rocks: see GEOLOGY, chart [L tertiarius < tertius, THIRD]
tertium quid (tør´shi: эm kwid´) something of uncertain or unclassifiable nature, related to, but distinct from, two, usually opposite, things [L, lit., third something]
Tertullian (tэr tûl´i: эn, -tûl´yen) (L. name Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus) c. A.D. 160-c. 230; Rom. church father, born in Carthage
tervalent (tэr vei´lэnt, tør´vei'-, tør´vei´-) •adj. TRIVALENT: see -VALENT [L ter, thrice (akin to tres, THREE) + -VALENT]
Terylene (ter´i li:n') trademark for a synthetic, polyester, textile fiber, used in making suits, shirts, rainwear, etc. [arbitrary blend of ter(ephthalate) + (polyeth)ylene, components in its production]
terza rima (tert'sэ ri:´mэ) a verse form of Italian origin, made up of tercets, the second line of each tercet rhyming with the first and third lines of the next one (aba, bcb, cdc, etc.) [It, lit., third rhyme < L tertia, THIRD + Fr rime: see RHYME]
tesla (tes´lэ) •n. the international unit of magnetic flux density, equal to one weber per square meter: abbrev. T [after fol.] Tesla (tes´lэ), Ni·ko·la (nik´э lэ) 1856-1943; U.S. inventor, born in Croatia
tessellate (for v. tes´э leit'; for adj., -lit, -leit') -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vt. to lay out, inlay, or pave in a mosaic pattern of small, square blocks •adj. arranged in a mosaic pattern; tessellated tes'sel·la´tion (-lei´shэn) •n. [< L tessellatus < tessella, little square stone, dim. of tessera, a square: see TESSERA]
tessera (tes´эr э) pl. -ser·ae' (-i:') •n. 1 in ancient Rome, a small tablet of wood, ivory, etc. used as a token, ticket, label, etc. 2 any of the small pieces used in mosaic work [L, square piece, cube < Gr (Ionic) tesseres (for tessares), four: see TETRA-]
Tessin (Fr tei sæñ´; Ger te si:n´) Fr. & Ger. name of TICINO
tessitura (tes'i tur´э; It tes'si: tu:´řä) pl. -ras •n. Music the register that encompasses most of the notes of a specific composition or part, esp. for the voice; also, a voice in relation to such a register [It, lit., texture < L textura, TEXTURE]
Test Testament
test ban an agreement between or among nuclear powers to forgo tests of nuclear weapons, esp. in the atmosphere
test case Law 1 a case that, after its determination, is likely to be used as a precedent Æ 2 a case entered into with the intention of testing the constitutionality of a particular law
test paper 1 a paper on which a test has been written 2 paper, as litmus paper, prepared with a reagent for making chemical tests
test pilot a pilot who tests new or newly designed airplanes in flight, to determine their fitness for use
test tube a tube of thin, transparent glass closed at one end, used in chemical experiments, etc.
test¹ (test) •n. 1 orig., CUPEL (sense 1) 2 an examination, experiment, or trial, as to prove the value or ascertain the nature of something 3 a) a method, process, or means used in making such an examination or trial b) a standard or criterion by which the qualities of a thing are tried c) an oath or declaration required as proof of one's orthodoxy, loyalty, etc. 4 an event, set of circumstances, etc. that proves or tries a person's qualities {the delay was a test of our patience} 5 a set of questions, problems, or exercises for determining a person's knowledge, abilities, aptitude, or qualifications; examination 6 Chem. a) a trial or reaction for identifying a substance or ingredient b) the reagent used in the procedure c) a positive indication obtained by it •vt. 1 to refine (metal), as in a cupel 2 to subject to a test; try 3 Chem. to examine by means of a reagent or reagents •vi. 1 to give or undergo a diagnostic test or a test of quality, function, etc.: usually with for [to test for blood sugar] 2 to be rated as the result of a test {to test high in comprehension} SYN. TRIAL test´a·ble •adj. [ME, a cupel < OFr, a pot, cupel < L testum, earthen vessel < testa, piece of burned clay, shell < IE base *tekth-, to weave, join > Sans tašta, cup, Gr tektōn, carpenter: mod. meaning from use of the cupel in examining metals]
test² (test) •n. the hard outer covering of certain invertebrate animals, as the shell of clams [L testa: see TEST1]
testa (tes´tэ) pl. -tae (-ti:) •n. Bot. the hard outer covering or integument of a seed [ModL < L: see TEST¹]
testaceous (tes tei´shэs) •adj. 1 of, like, or from shells 2 having a hard shell 3 Biol. of the color of unglazed earthenware; light reddish-brown [L testaceus, consisting of brick, tile, or shell < testa: see TEST¹]
testacy (tes´tэ si:) •n. Law the state of being testate
testament (tes´ tэ mэnt) •n. 1 orig., a covenant, esp. one between God and man 2 [T-] a) either of the two parts of the Christian Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament b) [Colloq.] a copy of the New Testament 3 a) a statement, act, etc. testifying to the fact, validity, or worth of something; testimonial {a testament to liberty} b) an affirmation of beliefs or convictions; profession {a freethinker's testament} 4 Law a will: now rare except in the phrase last will and testament tes'ta·men´ta·ry (-men´tэ ri:) or tes'ta·men´tal •adj. [OFr < LL(Ec) testamentum, Testament (in N.T., transl. of Gr diathēkē, covenant) < L, a will < testari, to testify, make a will < testis, a witness: see TESTIFY]
testate (tes´teit') •adj. having made and left a legally valid will •n. a person who has died testate [LME < L testatus, pp. of testari: see TESTAMENT]
testator (tes´teit'эr, tes teit´-) •n. a person who has made a will, esp. one who has died leaving a valid will tes·ta´trix (-tei´triks), pl. -tri·ces' (-tri si:z'), •n.fem. [ME testatour < L testator < pp. of testari: see TESTAMENT]
testee (tes ti:´) •n. a person who has been or is being tested [TEST¹ + -EE¹]
tester¹ (tes´tэr) •n. a person or thing that tests
tester² (tes´tэr) •n. a canopy, as over a bed [ME testere < OFr testiere, headpiece, crown of a hat < teste, the head < L testa: see TEST¹]
tester³ (tes´tэr) •n. TESTON (sense b) [altered < MFr testart < teston, TESTON + -art, -ARD]
testes (tes´ti:z') •n. pl. of TESTIS
testicle (tes´ti kэl) •n. either of two oval sex glands in the male that are suspended in the scrotum and secrete spermatozoa; testis tes·tic´u·lar (-tik´yu: lэr) •adj. [L testiculus, dim. of testis, testicle, lit., witness: see TESTIFY]
testiculate (tes tik´yu lit, -leit') •adj. Bot. 1 shaped like a testicle 2 having two testicle-shaped tubers, as certain orchids [< L testiculus (see TESTICLE) + -ATE¹]
testify (tes´tэ fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vi. 1 to make a serious declaration to substantiate a fact; bear witness or give evidence, esp. under oath in court 2 to be evidence or an indication {a look testifying to his impatience} •vt. 1 to bear witness to; affirm; declare, esp. under oath in court 2 to be evidence of; indicate 3 [Archaic] to profess or proclaim publicly tes'ti·fi·ca´tion •n. tes´ti·fi'er •n. [ME testifien < L testificari < testis, a witness (prob. < *tri-sto-, standing as a third < tri-, TRI- + base of stare, STAND) + facere, to make, DO¹]
testimonial (tes'tэ mou´ni: эl) •n. 1 a statement testifying to a person's qualifications, character, etc. or to the merits of some product, service, etc.; letter or statement of recommendation 2 something given or done as an expression of gratitude or appreciation [OFr < LL testimonialis < testimonium: see TESTIMONY]
testimony (tes´tэ mou'ni:) pl. -nies •n. 1 a declaration or statement made under oath or affirmation by a witness in a court, often in response to questioning, to establish a fact 2 any affirmation or declaration 3 any form of evidence, indication, etc.; proof {the smile that was testimony of disbelief} 4 public avowal, as of faith or of a religious experience 5 Bible a) the tablet bearing the Mosaic law; Decalogue: Ex. 25:16 b) [pl.] the precepts of God SYN. PROOF [ME < L testimonium < testis, a witness: see TESTIFY]
testis (tes´tis) pl. -tes' (-ti:z') •n. TESTICLE [L]
teston (tes´tэn) •n. any of several old European coins with the image of a head on one side; specif., a) a silver French coin of the 16th century b) an English coin with the head of Henry VIII Also tes·toon´ (-tu:n´) [Fr < It testone < testa, the head < L testa: see TEST¹]
testosterone (tes täs´tэr oun') •n. a male, steroid sex hormone, C19H28O2, produced as a white, crystalline substance by isolation from animal testes, or synthesized: used in medicine [TEST(IS) + -O- + STER(OL) + -ONE]
test-tube (test´tu:b', -tyu:b') •adj. 1 made in or as in a test tube; experimental 2 produced by artificial insemination {a test-tube baby}
testudinal (tes tu:d´ªn эl, -tyu:d´-) •adj. of or like a tortoise or its shell; testudinate Also tes·tu'di·nar´i·ous (-er´i: эs) [< L testudineus < testudo (see TESTUDO) + -AL]
testudinate (tes tu:d´ªn it, -tyu:d´ªn-; -eit') •adj. 1 arched or vaulted like a tortoise shell 2 having a protective bony shell, as the turtle •n. a turtle [LL testudinatus: see TESTUDO]
testudo (tes tu:´dou, -tyu:´-) pl. -di·nes' (-di ni:z') •n. 1 a movable shelter or screen with a strong arched roof, used as a protection by ancient Roman soldiers 2 a protective covering over a group of ancient Roman soldiers, formed by overlapping their shields above their heads [L, tortoise, tortoise shell, hence protective covering, shed < testa, shell: see TEST²]
testy (tes´ti:) -ti·er, -ti·est •adj. irritable; touchy; peevish tes´ti·ly •adv. tes´ti·ness •n. [ME testif < Anglo-Fr < OFr teste, the head < L testa: see TEST¹]
Tet (tet) •n. Vietnamese Lunar New Year's festival, celebrated in late January or early February [Vietnamese têt]
tetanic (te tæn´ik, tэ-) •adj. of, like, characterized by, or producing tetanus •n. any drug, as strychnine, capable of producing tetanic spasms of the muscles [L tetanicus < Gr tetanikos < tetanos, a spasm: see TETANUS]
tetanize (tet´ªn aiz') -nized', -niz'ing •vt. to produce tetanic spasms in (a muscle)
tetanus (tet´ªn эs) •n. 1 an acute infectious disease, often fatal, caused by the specific toxin of a bacillus (Clostridium tetani) which usually enters the body through wounds: it is characterized by spasmodic contractions and rigidity of some or all of the voluntary muscles, esp. of the jaw, face, and neck; lockjaw 2 Physiol. the state of continuous contraction of a muscle, esp. when caused experimentally by a series of rapidly repeated stimuli [L < Gr tetanos, spasm (of muscles), lit., stretched < base of teinein: see THIN]
tetany (tet´ªn i:) •n. an abnormal condition characterized by tetanic spasms of voluntary muscles, esp. in the extremities [ModL tetania: see TETANUS]
tetarto- (ti tär´tou, -tэ) combining form 1 one fourth part of {tetartohedral} 2 the fourth of a set, as the fourth cusp on an upper molar {tetartocone} [< Gr tetartos, fourth, akin to tetra: see TETRA-]
tetartohedral (ti tär'tou hi:´drэl) •adj. having one fourth of the planes needed for crystallographic symmetry of the system [prec. + -HEDRAL]
tetched (techt) •adj. [Dial.] touched; slightly demented: also used humorously [LME techyd, prob. altered (infl. by teche, a quality, mark: see TETCHY) < touchede, pp. of touchen, TOUCH]
tetchy (tech´i:) tetch´i·er, tetch´i·est •adj. touchy; irritable; peevish tetch´i·ly •adv. tetch´i·ness •n. [< LME teche, touchy, prob. < ME, a mark, quality < OFr, spot, mark < VL *tecca < Frank *tekka < *tēkan; akin to OE tacn, TOKEN]
tête-à-tête (teit´э teit´, tet´э tet´; Fr te tå tet´) •n. 1 a private or intimate conversation between two people Æ 2 a usually S-shaped seat on which two people can sit so as to face each other •adj. for or of two people in private •adv. together privately {to speak tête-à-tête} [Fr, lit., head-to-head]
tête-bêche (tet´besh´) •adj. designating a pair of postage stamps printed, purposely or in error, so that one is inverted in relation to the other [Fr < tête, head + bêche, contr. < béchevet, the head of one at the feet of the other (in bed)]
teth or tet (tet) name of the ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet (ט) •n. [Heb tēth]
tether (teð´эr) •n. 1 a rope or chain fastened to an animal so as to keep it within certain bounds 2 the limit of one's abilities, resources, etc. •vt. to fasten or confine with a tether at the end of one's tether at the end of one's endurance, resources, etc. [ME < ON tjōthr, akin to OHG zeotar, wagon shaft]
tetherball (teð´эr böl') •n. 1 a game played by two people who, using the hand or a paddle, hit from opposite directions at a ball hanging by a length of a cord from a pole: the object of the game is to make the cord coil completely around the pole 2 the ball so used
Tethys (ti:´θis) 1 Gr. Myth. a daughter of Uranus and wife of Oceanus, by whom she is the mother of the Oceanides 2 a satellite of Saturn having long trenchlike valleys and sharing its orbit with other satellites 3 a hypothetical ancient sea and geosyncline that separated Laurasia from Gondwana [L < Gr Tēthys]
Teton (ti:´tän') •n. 1 pl. -tons' or -ton' a member of a North American Indian people of the western plains region 2 the Dakota dialect of this people [Dakota thíthunwan]
tetra (te´trэ) •n. any of a number of brightly colored, tropical American, characin fishes, often kept in aquariums [contr. < ModL Tetragonopterus, old genus designation < tetragonum, TETRAGON + -pterus, -PTEROUS]
tetra- (te´trэ) combining form four {tetrachord} Also, before a vowel, tetr- [Gr tetra- < base of tettares, tessares, four < IE base *kwetwer- > FOUR]
tetrabasic (te'trэ bei´sik) •adj. designating or of an acid having four replaceable hydrogen atoms per molecule [prec. + BASIC]
tetrabranchiate (te'trэ bræŋ´ki: it, -eit') •adj. having two pairs of gills: said of nautiloid cephalopods: opposed to DIBRANCHIATE [ModL tetrabranchiatus: see TETRA-, BRANCHIAE, & -ATE¹]
tetrachloride (te'trэ klör´aid') •n. any chemical compound with four chlorine atoms to the molecule
tetrachord (te´trэ körd') •n. Music a series of four tones contained in the interval of a perfect fourth tet'ra·chor´dal •adj. [Gr tetrachordon, musical instrument < tetrachordos, four-stringed: see TETRA- & CHORD²]
tetracid (te træs´id) •n. 1 a base that can react with four molecules of a monobasic acid to form a salt 2 an alcohol having four OH groups per molecule [TETR(A)- + ACID]
tetracycline (te'trэ sai´klin, -klain') •n. a yellow, odorless, crystalline powder, C22H24N2O8, prepared synthetically or obtained from certain streptomyces: it is a broad-spectrum antibiotic [< TETRA- + CYCL(IC) + -INE³]
tetrad (te´træd') •n. 1 a group or set of four 2 Bot. a group of four cells formed by division within a spore mother cell during meiosis 3 Chem. an atom, radical, or element that is tetravalent 4 Genetics a group of four similar chromatids formed by the longitudinal division of a pair of homologous chromosomes during meiotic prophase [Gr tetras (gen. tetrados), four: see TETRA-]
tetradymite (te træd´i mait', tэ-) •n. a pale, steel-gray mineral, Bi2Te2S, consisting chiefly of tellurium and bismuth [Ger tetradymit < Gr tetradymos, fourfold (because it occurs in compound twin crystals) + Ger -it, -ITE¹]
tetraethyl lead (te´trэ eθ´эl) a heavy, colorless, poisonous compound of lead, Pb(C2H5)4, added to gasoline to increase power and prevent engine knock
tetragon (te´trэ gän') •n. a plane figure with four angles and four sides; quadrangle [LL tetragonum < Gr tetragōnon: see TETRA- & -GON]
tetragonal (te træg´э nэl) •adj. 1 of, or having the form of, a tetragon; quadrangular 2 designating or of a system of crystallization in which the three axes intersect at right angles and the two horizontal axes are equal
tetragram (te´trэ græm') •n. a word of four letters [T-] TETRAGRAMMATON [Gr tetragrammon: see TETRA- & -GRAM]
Tetragrammaton (te'trэ græm´э tän') the four consonants of the ancient Hebrew name for God (variously transliterated JHVH, IHVH, JHWH, YHVH, YHWH) considered too sacred to be spoken aloud: the word Adonai (Lord) is substituted for this name in utterance, and the vowels of Adonai or Elohim (God) are inserted in Hebrew texts, so that the modern reconstructions are Yahweh, Jehovah, etc. [ME < Gr tetragrammaton < tetra-, four + gramma, a letter: see GRAM¹]
tetrahedral (te'trэ hi:´drэl) •adj. of, or having the form of, a tetrahedron tet'ra·he´dral·ly •adv.
tetrahedrite (te'trэ hi:´drait') •n. a gray to blackish mineral occurring in tetrahedral crystals, essentially a sulfide of copper and antimony, Cu3(Sb,As)S3: in many forms the copper is partly replaced by iron, lead, silver, etc. and the antimony by arsenic: it is an important ore of copper and, sometimes, silver [Ger tetraëdrit < LGr tetraedros (see TETRAHEDRON) + -it, -ITE¹]
tetrahedron (te'trэ hi:´drэn) pl. -drons or -dra (-drэ) •n. a solid figure with four triangular faces: see POLYHEDRON, illus. [ModL < neut. of LGr tetraedros, four-sided: see TETRA- & -HEDRON]
tetrahydrocannabinol (te'trэ hai' drou kэ næb´i nöl') •n. the hallucinatory chemical, C21H30O2, that is the principal and most active ingredient in marijuana; THC [TETRA- + HYDRO- + CANNABIN + -OL¹]
tetralogy (te træl´э ji:, tэ-) pl. -gies •n. 1 a series of four dramas, three tragic and one satiric, performed together at the ancient Athenian festival of Dionysus 2 any series of four related plays, novels, etc. [Gr tetralogia: see TETRA- & -LOGY]
tetramerous (te træm´эr эs, tэ-) •adj. Biol. made up of four parts or divisions; in multiples of four [TETRA- + -MEROUS]
tetrameter (te træm´эt эr, tэ-) •n. 1 a line of verse containing four metrical feet or measures 2 verse consisting of tetrameters •adj. having four metrical feet or measures [LL tetrametrus < Gr tetrametros: see TETRA- & METER¹]
tetrapetalous (te'trэ pet´ªl эs) •adj. four-petaled
tetraploid (te´trэ ploid') •adj. Biol. having four times the haploid number of chromosomes •n. a tetraploid cell or organism tet´ra·ploi'dy •n. [TETRA- + -PLOID]
tetrapod (te´trэ päd') •n. any vertebrate having four legs or limbs, including the mammals, birds, and reptiles [TETRA- + -POD]
tetrapterous (te træp´tэr эs, tэ-) •adj. Zool. having four wings [Gr tetrapteros: see TETRA- & -PTEROUS]
tetrarch (te´trärk', ti:´-) •n. 1 in the ancient Roman Empire, the ruler of part (orig. a fourth part) of a province 2 a subordinate prince, governor, etc. te·trar´chic •adj. [ME tetrarche < LL(Ec) tetrarcha < L tetrarches < Gr tetrarchēs: see TETRA- & -ARCH]
tetrarchy (te´trär'ki:, ti:´-) pl. -chies •n. 1 the rule or territory of a tetrarch 2 government by four persons Also te·trar·chate (te´trär keit', -trär'-; ti:´-; -kit) [L tetrarchia < Gr]
tetrasporangium (te'trэ spou ræn´ji: эm) pl. -gi·a (-э) •n. Bot. a sporangium containing four haploid spores
tetraspore (te´trэ spour', -spör') •n. Bot. any of the asexual algal spores produced in groups of four by meiosis in a tetrasporangium
tetrastich (te´trэ stik') •n. a poem or stanza of four lines [L tetrastichon < Gr: see TETRA- & STICH]
tetrastichous (te træs´ti kэs, tэ-) •adj. Bot. in four vertical rows, as the flowers on some spikes [Gr tetrastichos, in four rows: see TETRA- & STICH]
tetrasyllable (te´trэ sil'э bэl) •n. a word of four syllables tet'ra·syl·lab´ic (-si læb´ik) •adj.
tetratomic (te'trэ täm´ik, -træ-) •adj. 1 designating or of a molecule consisting of four atoms 2 having four replaceable atoms or groups
tetravalent (te'trэ vei´lэnt; te´trэ vei'-, te´trэ vei´-) •adj. 1 having four valences 2 having a valence of four See -VALENT
tetrazzini (tet'rэ zi:´ni:) •adj. [also T-] diced and combined with noodles, mushrooms, and cream sauce, then topped with grated Parmesan cheese and browned in the oven {turkey tetrazzini} [after L. Tetrazzini (1871-1940), Ital soprano]
tetrode (te´troud') •n. an electron tube having four electrodes (a cathode, control grid, anode, and, usually, a screen grid): used to generate, amplify, modulate, or demodulate electrical signals [TETR(A)- + -ODE¹]
tetrodotoxin (te'trэ dou'täks´in) •n. an extremely poisonous neurotoxin, C11H17N3O8, found in the puffer fishes and a genus (Taricha) of newts, that blocks the conduction of nerve signals [< ModL Tetrodon, a genus of fishes (short for tetraodon < tetra-, TETRA- + Gr odōn, TOOTH) + TOXIN]
tetroxide (te träk´said') •n. any oxide with four atoms of oxygen in each molecule
tetryl (te´tril) •n. a yellow powder, C7H5N5O8, used as a primer and as an explosive, esp. in detonators [tetr(anitrometh)yl(aniline)]
tetter (tet´эr) •n. any of various skin diseases, as eczema, characterized by itching [ME tetere < OE teter, akin to Sans dadru, skin disease < IE *dedru-, redupl. of base *der-, to skin > TEAR¹]
Tetuán (te'tu: än´, -twän´) seaport in NE Morocco, on the Mediterranean: former cap. of Spanish Morocco: pop. 364,000
Tetzel (tet´sэl), Jo·hann (you´hän') c. 1465-1519; Ger. Dominican monk & inquisitor: opposed by Luther
Teucrian (tu:´kri: эn, tyu:´-) •adj., n. TROJAN [< L Teucer < Gr Teukros, first king of Troy]
Teut 1 Teuton 2 Teutonic
Teutoburg Forest (tu:t´э børg', tyu:t´-) region of low, forested mountains, mostly in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: highest point, c. 1,500 ft. (450 m): Ger. name Teu·to·bur·ger Wald (toi'tô buř'gэř vält´)
Teuton (tu:´tэn, tyu:´-; tu:t´ªn, tyu:t´ªn) •n. 1 a member of the Teutones 2 a member of any Teutonic people; esp., a German
Teutones (-i:z') •n.pl. an ancient people, variously considered as Teutonic or Celtic, that lived north of the Elbe in Jutland [L < IE *teutonos, ruler < *teutā, people, crowd: see DEUTSCHLAND]
Teutonic (tu: tän´ik, tyu:-) •adj. 1 of the ancient Teutons 2 of the Germans; German 3 designating or of a group of north European peoples including the German, Scandinavian, Dutch, English, etc. 4 Linguis. old term for GERMANIC Teu·ton´i·cal·ly •adv.
Teutonic Order a military and religious order of German knights (Teutonic Knights) organized in 1191 for service in the Crusades and later active in the military conquests by Germany of Baltic and Slavic lands
Teutonism (tu:´tэn iz'эm, tyu:´-; tu:t´ªn-, tyu:t´ªn-) •n. 1 belief in the supposed racial superiority of the Teutons, esp. of the Germans 2 Teutonic culture 3 a Germanism Also Teu·ton·i·cism (tu: tän´э sizªm, tyu:-) Teu´ton·ist •n.
Teutonize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt., vi. to make or become Teutonic or German Teu'ton·i·za´tion •n.
Tevere (te´ve ře) It. name of TIBER
Tewa (ti:´wэ, tei´-) •n. 1 pl. -was or -wa a member of any of seven North American Indian groups living in pueblo villages (six in New Mexico and one in Arizona) 2 the Tanoan language of the Tewas
Tewkesbury (tyu:ks´bэ ri:, -bri:; tu:ks´-; -ber'i:) town in N Gloucestershire, England, on the Severn: site of a battle (1471) in the Wars of the Roses, reestablishing Edward IV on the English throne: pop. 9,500
Tex Texas
Texarkana (teks'är kæn´э, -эr-) city on the Tex.-Ark. border, having a separate municipal government in each State: pop. (Tex.) 32,000, (Ark.) 23,000 [< TEX(AS), ARK(ANSAS), (LOUISI)ANA]
Texas (teks´эs) SW State of the U.S., on the Gulf of Mexico & the Mexican border: admitted, 1845; 267,339 sq. mi. (692,405 sq. km); pop. 16,987,000; cap. Austin: abbrev. TX or Tex Æ n. [t-] a structure on the hurricane deck of a steamboat, containing the officers' quarters, etc. and having the pilothouse on top or in front [name given to officers' quarters on Mississippi steamboats because they were the largest cabins] Tex´an •adj., n. [Sp Texas, earlier pronounced (tā·shäs), orig. an ethnic name < Caddo tayša, friends, allies]
Texas City city in SE Tex., on Galveston Bay: pop. 41,000 [promotional name]
Texas fever an infectious disease of cattle caused by various sporozoans (genus Babesia) that invade the red blood cells and are carried by various ticks (esp. genus Boophilus); babesiosis
Texas leaguer Baseball a fly ball that falls in fair territory between the infield and outfield [after the Texas (baseball) League]
Texas Ranger any member of a division (Texas Rangers) of the Texas State police
Texas tower an offshore platform erected on firm foundations or steel legs planted deeply in the sea bottom: used for supporting radar installations, navigation beacons, etc. [so named after such structures, orig. for oil drilling, off the coast of Texas]
Tex-Mex (teks´meks´) •adj. characterized by both Mexican and southwestern American (esp. Texan) elements, influences, etc. {Tex-Mex cooking}
text (tekst) •n. 1 the actual structure of words in a piece of writing; wording 2 a) the actual or original words used by an author, as distinguished from notes, commentary, paraphrase, translation, etc. b) the exact or original words of a speaker 3 any of the forms, versions, or editions in which a written work exists 4 the principal matter on a printed or written page, as distinguished from notes, headings, illustrations, etc. 5 the main body of a book, excluding front and back matter 6 the body, or substance, of an item of computer data, esp. nonnumerical data, as opposed to the accompanying information necessary for storage, retrieval, etc. 7 the words of a song, oratorio, etc. 8 a) a Biblical passage quoted as authority for a belief or as the topic of a sermon b) any passage, book, etc. used to support one's stand or as thematic material, etc. c) any topic or subject dealt with 9 TEXT HAND 10 any of several black-letter styles of type 11 short for TEXTBOOK 12 any of various versions or recensions of all or part of the Scriptures, taken to represent the authentic reading SYN. SUBJECT [ME < OFr texte < L textus, fabric, structure, text < pp. of texere, to weave: see TECHNIC]
text edition that edition of a book prepared for use in schools or colleges: cf. TRADE EDITION
text hand large handwriting: so called from its former use to distinguish the text of manuscripts from notes
textbook (tekst´buk') •n. a book giving instructions in the principles of a subject of study, specif. one used as the basis or partial basis of a course of study
textile (teks´tail', -til) •adj. 1 having to do with weaving or with woven fabrics 2 that has been or can be woven {textile material} •n. 1 a fabric made by weaving, knitting, etc.; cloth 2 raw material suitable for this, as cotton, wool, nylon, etc. [L textilis < textus: see TEXT]
textual (teks´chu: эl) •adj. 1 of, in, based on, or conforming to a text 2 literal; word-for-word tex´tu·al·ly •adv. [ME textuel < L textus: see TEXT]
textual criticism the scholarly study of the text of a written work, often, specif., in an effort to determine the original or most authoritative form of that work
textualism (-iz'эm) •n. 1 strict adherence to the text, esp. of the Scriptures 2 the art of textual criticism
textuary (teks´chu: er'i:) •adj. TEXTUAL
texture (teks´chэr) •n. 1 orig., a woven fabric 2 the character of a woven fabric as determined by the arrangement, size, quality, etc. of the fabric's threads {coarse texture, twilled texture} 3 the arrangement of the particles or constituent parts of any material, as wood, metal, etc., as it affects the appearance or feel of the surface; structure, composition, grain, etc. 4 a) the tactile surface quality of a work of art, resulting from the artist's technique b) the melodic and harmonic relationships of musical materials 5 basic structure {the texture of society} •vt. -tured, -tur·ing to cause to have a particular texture tex´tur·al •adj. tex´tur·al·ly •adv. [ME < L textura < texere, to weave: see TECHNIC]
texturized (teks´chэr aizd') •adj. that has been given a particular texture; specif., designating a synthetic fabric, as of polyester, whose filaments have been processed to give them added bulk and resilience
Teyde (teid´э), Pico de alt. sp. of Pico de TEIDE
tg type genus
TGIF Thank God It's Friday: used interjectionally to express relief at the end of the workweek
T-group (ti:´gru:p') •n. a group engaging in sensitivity training [t(raining) group]
Th 1 Bible Thessalonians 2 Chem. symbol for thorium 3 Thursday
-th¹ suffix forming nouns 1 the act of ~ing {growth} 2 the state or quality of being or having {wealth, depth} [ME -th, -the < OE -thu, -tho, -th, akin to Goth -itha (< IE *-ita > L -ta, Sans -tā): in words such as height, sleight, the -th has become -t]
-th² suffix forming ordinal numerals {fourth, ninth} Also, after a vowel, -eth [ME -the < OE -tha, -the, -otha, -othe < IE *-tos > Gr -tos, L -tus; in fifth, sixth, eleventh, twelfth, it replaced the orig. OE -ta, -te]
-th³ suffix -ETH² [ME < OE: see -ETH²]
Thackeray (θæk´эr i:), William Make·peace (meik´pi:s') 1811-63; Eng. novelist
Thaddeus or Thadeus (θæd´i: эs, θæ di:´эs) a masculine name: dim. Thad [ME < LL(Ec) Thaddaeus < Gr(Ec) Thaddaios]
Thai (tai) •n. 1 pl. Thais or Thai a native or inhabitant of Thailand 2 the official language of Thailand, belonging to the Tai group of Sino-Tibetan languages 3 alt. sp. of TAI •adj. designating or of Thailand or its people, language, or culture
Thailand (tai´lænd'; -lэnd) 1 country in SE Asia, on the Indochinese & Malay peninsulas: 198,456 sq. mi. (514,000 sq. km); pop. 50,100,000; cap. Bangkok: abbrev. Thai: see INDOCHINA, map 2 Gulf of arm of the South China Sea, between the Malay & Indochinese peninsulas
thalamencephalon (θæl'э men'sef´э län') pl. -la (-lэ) •n. DIENCEPHALON thal'a·men'ce·phal´ic (-sэ fæl´ik) •adj. [ModL: see THALAMUS & ENCEPHALON]
thalamus (θæl´э mэs) pl. -mi' (-mai') •n. 1 Anat. a mass of gray matter forming the lateral walls of the diencephalon and involved in the transmission and integration of certain sensations 2 Bot. RECEPTACLE (sense 3a) tha·lam·ic (θэ læm´ik) •adj. [ModL < L, an inner chamber < Gr thalamos]
thalassemia (θæl'э si:´mi: э) •n. an inherited chronic anemia, initially found among Mediterranean peoples, resulting from faulty hemoglobin production [ModL < Gr thalassa, sea + -EMIA]
thalassic (θэ læs´ik) •adj. 1 of the sea or ocean; marine 2 of bays, gulfs, etc. and inland seas, as distinguished from the ocean [Fr thalassique < Gr thalassa, sea]
thaler (tä´lэr) •n. alt. sp. of TALER
Thalia (θei´li: э, θeil´yэ; for 2, usually θэ lai´э) Gr. Myth. 1 the Muse of comedy and pastoral poetry 2 Bloom, one of the three Graces [L < Gr Thaleia < thallein, to flourish, bloom < IE base *dhal-, to blossom > Alb dal, (I) sprout]
thalidomide (θэ lid´э maid') •n. a crystalline solid, C13H10N2O4, formerly used as a sedative and hypnotic: found to be responsible for severe birth deformities when taken during pregnancy [< fol. + (IM)IDO- + (glutari)mide < GLUT(EN) + (TART)AR(IC) + IMIDE]
thallic (θæl´ik) •adj. designating or of a chemical compound containing trivalent thallium
thallium (θæl´i: эm) •n. a rare, poisonous, bluish-gray, soft, metallic chemical element, used in making photoelectric cells, rat poisons, etc.: symbol, Tl; at. wt., 204.37; at. no., 81; sp. gr., 11.85; melt. pt., 303.5°C; boil. pt., 1,457°C [ModL: so named by CROOKES, its discoverer < Gr thallos, young, green shoot (< thallein: see THALIA) because of its green spectral line]
thallophyte (θæl´э fait') •n. any of a subkingdom (Thallobionta) of nonvascular plants showing no clear distinction of roots, stem, or leaves and not producing flowers or seeds: it includes the fungi, lichens, and most algae thal'lo·phyt´ic (-fit´ik) •adj. [< Gr thallos, young shoot (see THALLIUM) + -PHYTE]
thallous (θæl´эs) •adj. designating or of a chemical compound containing monovalent thallium
thallus (θæl´эs) pl. thal´li' (-ai') or thal´lus·es (-iz) •n. the nonvascular plant body of a thallophyte, showing no clear distinction of roots, stem, or leaves thal´loid' (-oid') •adj. [ModL < Gr thallos, young shoot: see THALIA]
Thames (for 1 & 2 temz; for 3 θeimz, teimz, temz) 1 river in S England, flowing from Gloucestershire east through London into the North Sea: 210 mi. (338 km) 2 river in SE Ontario, Canada, flowing southwest into Lake St. Clair: 163 mi. (261 km) [after the English river] 3 estuary in SE Conn., flowing south into Long Island Sound: 15 mi. (24 km) [after the English river]
than (ðæn; unstressed, ðen, ðэn) conj. 1 introducing the second element in a comparison, following an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree {A is taller than B; arrived earlier than the others} 2 expressing exception, following an adjective or adverb {none other than Sam} 3 when: used esp. after inverted constructions introduced by scarcely, hardly, barely, etc. {scarcely had I seen her than she spoke to me} •prep. compared to: in than whom, than which {a writer than whom there is none finer} [ME than, thene, thonne < OE thenne, thanne, thonne, orig., then: for IE base see THAT]
thanato- (θæn´э tou, -tэ) combining form death {thanatophobia} Also, before a vowel, thanat- [< Gr thanatos, death < IE *dhwen-, dark, clouded < base *dheu-, to be smoky, stormy > DULL]
thanatology (θæn'э täl´э ji:) •n. the study of death, esp. of the medical, psychological, and social problems associated with dying than'a·tol´o·gist •n. [prec. + -LOGY]
thanatophobia (θæn'э tэ fou´bi: э) •n. an abnormally great fear of death [THANATO- + -PHOBIA]
thanatopsis (θæn'э täp´sis) •n. a view of or musing upon death [coined by BRYANT: see THANATO- & -OPSIS]
Thanatos (θæn´э täs') Gr. Myth. death personified: identified with the Roman Mors •n. DEATH INSTINCT [Gr: see THANATO-]
thane (θein) •n. 1 in early England, a member of a class of freemen who held land of the king or a lord in return for military services 2 in early Scotland, a person of rank, often a clan chief, who held land of the king than´age (-ij) •n. [ME thayne < OE thegen, akin to ON thegn < IE base *tek-, to engender, beget > Sans takman-, child: basic sense freeborn man]
thank (θæŋk) •vt. 1 to show or express appreciation or gratitude to, as by saying thank you 2 to hold responsible; blame: an ironic use {we have them to thank for our failure} thank you short for I thank you: the usual expression of appreciation today [ME thankien < OE thancian, akin to Ger danken < IE base *tong-, to think > THINK¹, L tongere, to know]
thankful (θæŋk´fэl) •adj. feeling or expressing thanks; grateful thank´ful·ly •adv. thank´ful·ness •n.
thankless (-lis) •adj. 1 not feeling or expressing thanks; ungrateful 2 not producing nor likely to produce thanks; unappreciated thank´less·ly •adv. thank´less·ness •n.
thanks (θæŋks) •n.pl. an expression of gratitude; grateful acknowledgment of something received by or done for one •interj. I thank you thanks to 1 thanks be given to 2 on account of; because of [pl. of ME thank < OE thanc, thanks: see THANK]
thanksgiving (θæŋks'giv´iŋ) •n. 1 a) the act of giving thanks b) an expression of this; esp., a formal, often public, expression of thanks to God in the form of a prayer, etc. Æ 2 [T-] a) an annual U.S. holiday observed on the fourth Thursday of November as a day of giving thanks and feasting: it commemorates the Pilgrims' celebration of the good harvest of 1621 b) a similar Canadian holiday on the second Monday of October: in full Thanksgiving Day
thankworthy (θæŋk´wør'ði:) •adj. worthy of thanks
thank-you (-yu:') •n. THANKS
Thant (θänt, tänt; θænt), U (u:) 1909-74; Burmese statesman & diplomat: secretary-general of the United Nations (1962-71)
Thapsus (θæp´sэs) ancient town in N Africa: its site is on the NE coast of Tunisia
Thar Desert (tär´, tør´) desert in NW India & E Pakistan
Thasos (θei´säs'; θä´sös') island of Greece in the N Aegean, a part of Macedonia: c. 170 sq. mi. (440 sq. km)
that (ðæt; unstressed, ðэt) pl. those pron. I. as a demonstrative 1 the person or thing mentioned or understood {that is John, that tastes good} 2 the thing farther away than another referred to as this {this is larger than that} 3 the more remote in thought of two contrasted things {of the two possibilities, this is more likely than that} 4 [pl.] certain people {those who know} II. as a relative pronoun, now often omitted, esp. in sense 1 1 who, whom, or which {the road (that) we took} 2 where; at which; on which {the place that I saw her} 3 when; in which; on which {the year that I was born} •adj. pl. those 1 designating the person or thing mentioned or understood {that woman is Mary; that pie tastes good} 2 designating the thing farther away than the one referred to as this {this house is larger than that one} 3 designating the more remote in thought of two contrasted things {of the two, this possibility is more likely than that one} 4 designating something or someone not described but well known or easily recognizable: sometimes with implications of disparagement {that certain feeling, there comes that smile!, that George!} conj. used: 1 to introduce a noun clause expressing a supposed or actual fact {that she's gone is obvious, the truth was that we never saw her} 2 to introduce an adverbial clause expressing purpose {they died that we might live} 3 to introduce an adverbial clause expressing result {you ran so fast that I couldn't catch up} 4 to introduce an adverbial clause expressing cause {I'm sorry that I caused you such annoyance} 5 to introduce an elliptical sentence expressing surprise, indignation, or desire {that you should say such a thing!, oh, that this day were over!} •adv. 1 to that extent; so [I can't see that far ahead]: also used colloquially before an adjective modified by a clause of result [I'm that tired I could drop] Æ 2 [Colloq.] very; so very: used in negative constructions {I didn't like the book that much} all that [Colloq.] 1 so very: used in negative constructions {they aren't all that rich} 2 everything of the same or related sort {sex and all that} Æ at that [Colloq.] 1 at that point; with no further discussion, etc.: also with that 2 all things considered; even so that is 1 to be specific 2 in other words that's that! that is settled! [ME < OE thæt, nom. & acc. neut. of the def. article (nom. masc. se, nom. fem. seo), akin to Ger neut. nom. & acc. das < IE demonstrative base *-to-, *-tā- > THERE, THITHER, L istud, that, talis, such]
thatch (θæch) •n. 1 a) a roof or roofing of straw, rushes, palm leaves, etc. b) material for such a roof 2 any of a number of palms whose leaves are used for thatch: also thatch palm 3 anything suggestive of thatch on a roof as a) the hair growing on the head b) a matted layer of partly decayed leaves, stems, etc. between growing vegetation and the soil •vt. to cover with or as with thatch [ME thecchen < OE thecc(e)an, akin to Ger decken, to cover < IE base *(s)teg-, to cover > Gr stegos, roof, L tegere, to cover] thatch´y, thatch´i·er, thatch´i·est, •adj. [altered (based on the v.) < older thack < ME thac < OE thæc, a thatch, roof: for base see the vt.]
Thatcher (θæch'эr), Margaret (Hilda) (born Margaret Hilda Roberts) 1925- ; Brit. politician: prime minister (1979-90)
thatching (θæch´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of a person who thatches 2 material for a thatch roof, etc.
thaumatology (θö'mэ täl´э ji:) •n. the study or lore of miracles [< Gr thauma (gen. thaumatos), miracle (see THEATER) + -LOGY]
thaumatrope (θö´mэ troup') •n. a device consisting of a card or disk with different designs on either side, which, when the card or disk is twirled, appear to blend into one: it demonstrates the persistence of vision [Gr thauma (see THAUMATOLOGY) + -TROPE]
thaumaturge (-tørj') •n. a person who supposedly works miracles Also thau´ma·turg'ist [Fr < ML thaumaturgus < Gr thaumaturgos, working wonders < thauma, miracle (see THEATER) + -ergos, working < ergon, WORK]
thaumaturgy (-tør'ji:) •n. the supposed working of miracles; magic thau'ma·tur´gic or thau'ma·tur´gi·cal •adj. [Gr thaumatourgia: see THAUMATURGE]
thaw (θö) •vi. 1 a) to become liquid or semiliquid; melt (said of ice, snow, etc.) b) to pass to an unfrozen state (said of frozen foods) 2 to rise in temperature above the freezing point, so that snow, etc. melts: said of weather conditions, with impersonal it [it will thaw tomorrow] 3 a) to get rid of the chill, stiffness, etc. resulting from extreme cold (often with out) b) to lose coldness or reserve of manner •vt. to cause to thaw •n. 1 the act of thawing 2 a spell of weather warm enough to allow thawing 3 a becoming less reserved in manner SYN. MELT [ME thawen < OE thawian, akin to Du dooien, Ger (ver)dauen, to digest < IE base *tā-, to melt, dissolve, flow > L tabere, to melt, vanish]
Thayer (θei´эr, θer), Syl·va·nus (sil vei´nэs) 1785-1872; U.S. army officer & educator: reorganized the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
ThB or Th.B. Bachelor of Theology [L Theologiae Baccalaureus]
THC tetrahydrocannabinol
ThD or Th.D. Doctor of Theology [L Theologiae Doctor]
the (ðэ; before vowels ði:, ði) •adj., definite article I. referring to a particular person, thing, or group (as opposed to a, an), as: 1 that (one) being spoken of or already mentioned {the story ended} 2 that (one) which is present, close, nearby, etc., as distinguished from all others viewed as remote {the day just started, the heat is oppressive} 3 that (one) designated or identified, as by a title {the President (of the U.S.), the Mississippi (River)} 4 that (one) considered outstanding, most fashionable, etc.: usually italicized in print {that's the restaurant in town} 5 that (one) belonging to a person previously mentioned or understood {take me by the hand, rub into the face} 6 that (one) considered as a unit of purchase, etc. {at five dollars the half ton} 7 one specified period of time, esp. a decade {the Dark Ages, the seventies} 8 [Colloq.] that (one) who has a specific family relationship to one {the wife, the kid sister} II. referring to that one of a number of persons or things which is identified by a modifier, as by: 1 an attributive adjective {the front door} 2 a relative clause {the man who answered} 3 a prepositional phrase {the hit of the week} 4 an infinitive phrase {the right to strike} 5 a participle {follow the directions given} III. referring to a person or thing considered generically or universally, as: 1 one taken as the representative of the entire genus or type {learn to use the typewriter, the cow is a domestic animal} 2 an adjective used as a noun {the good, the beautiful, the true} •adv. 1 that much; to that extent {the better to see you with} 2 by how much . . . by that much; to what extent . . . to that extent: used in a correlative construction expressing comparison {the sooner the better} [ME, indeclinable article < OE se (nom. masc. article) with th- < other case & gender forms (thone, thæs, thære, thæm, thy): for IE base see THAT; the meaning is controlled by the basic notion previously recognized, noticed, or encountered in distinction to A¹, AN¹]
thé dansant (tei däñ säñ´) pl. thés dan·sants (tei däñ säñ´) TEA DANCE [Fr]
theater of the absurd avant-garde, mid-20th-cent. drama made up of apparently absurd, incongruous, or pointless situations and dialogue, typically expressing the existential nature of self-isolation, anxiety, frustration, etc.
theater or theatre (θi:´э tэr) •n. 1 a place where plays, operas, films, etc. are presented; esp., a building or outdoor structure expressly designed for such presentations 2 any place resembling a theater, esp. a lecture hall, surgical clinic, etc., having the floor of the seating space raked 3 any place where events take place; scene of operations {journalists in the SE Asian theater} 4 a) the dramatic art or dramatic works; drama b) the theatrical world; people engaged in theatrical activity c) the legitimate theater, as distinguished from films, TV, etc. (often with the) 5 theatrical technique, production, etc. with reference to its effectiveness {a play that is good theater} [ME theatre < OFr < L theatrum < Gr theatron < base of theasthai, to see, view < IE base *dhāu-, to see > Gr thauma, miracle]
theatergoer or theatregoer (-gou'эr) •n. a person who attends the theater, esp. one who goes often
theater-in-the-round (θi:´э tэr in ðэ raund´) •n. ARENA THEATER
theatrical (θi: æ´tri kэl) •adj. 1 having to do with the theater, the drama, a play, actors, etc. 2 characteristic of the theater; dramatic; esp. (in disparagement), melodramatic, histrionic, showy, or affected Also the·at´ric the·at´ri·cal·ism' or the·at´ri·cal´i·ty (-kæl´э ti:) •n. the·at´ri·cal·ly •adv. [< LL theatricus (< Gr theatrikos) + -AL]
theatricalize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. 1 to make theatrical; give a dramatic, sometimes overly dramatic, quality to 2 to put into a theatrical setting the·at'ri·cal·i·za´tion (-i zei´shэn) •n.
theatricals (θi: æ´tri kэlz) •n.pl. performances of stage plays, esp. by amateurs
theatrics (θi: æ´triks) •n.pl. 1 [with sing. v.] the art of the theater 2 something done or said for theatrical effect; histrionic actions, manners, devices, etc.
thebaine (θi:´bэ i:n', θi bei´in) •n. a colorless, crystalline, poisonous alkaloid, C19H21NO3, obtained from opium and used in medicine [< L Thebae (< Gr Thēbai), Thebes + -INE³: after an opium from Thebes]
thebe (te´be) pl. the´be •n. a monetary unit of Botswana, equal to ¹/100 of a pula [native Bantu term, lit., shield]
Thebes (θi:bz) 1 ancient city in S Egypt, on the Nile, on the site of modern Luxor and Karnak 2 chief city of ancient Boeotia, EC Greece The·ban (θi:´bэn) •adj., n.
theca (θi:´kэ) pl. -cae (-si:) •n. 1 Bot. a spore case, sac, or capsule 2 Zool., Anat. any sheath or sac enclosing an organ or a whole organism, as the covering of an insect pupa the´cal •adj. [ModL < L < Gr thēkē, a case < IE *dhēkā < base *dhē-, to place, put > DO¹, L facere]
thecate (-kit, -keit') •adj. having a theca; sheathed
thee (ði:) pron. the objective case of THOU¹: also used in place of thou by the Friends (Quakers) with the verb in the third person singular {thee speaks harshly} [ME the < OE, dat. & acc. of thu, THOU¹]
theelin (θi:´lin) •n. old name for ESTRONE [< Gr thēlys, female (< IE *dhēlu- < base *dhē-: see FEMALE) + -IN¹]
theelol (θi:´löl', -loul') •n. old name for ESTRIOL [< Gr thēlys (see THEELIN) + -OL¹]
theft (θeft) •n. the act or an instance of stealing; larceny SYN.—theft is the general term and larceny the legal term for the unlawful or felonious taking away of another's property without his or her consent and with the intention of depriving the person of it; robbery in its strict legal sense implies the felonious taking of another's property from that person or in his or her immediate presence by the use of violence or intimidation; burglary in legal use implies a breaking into a house with intent to commit theft or other felony and is often restricted to such an act accomplished at night [ME thefte < OE thiefth: see THIEF & -TH¹]
thegn (θein) •n. alt. sp. of THANE [OE]
theine (θi:´i:n', -in) •n. CAFFEINE [ModL theina < thea: see THEOPHYLLINE]
their (ðэr; unstressed, ðэr) possessive pronominal adj. of, belonging to, made, or done by them: often used with a singular antecedent (as everybody, somebody, everyone) {did everybody finish their lunch?} [ME theyr < ON theirra, gen. pl. of the demonstrative pron. replacing ME here, OE hira: see THEY]
theirs (ðerz) pron. that or those belonging to them: the absolute form of THEIR, used without a following noun, often after of [a friend of theirs, that book is theirs, theirs are better]: often used with a singular antecedent (as everybody, somebody, everyone) [he'll bring his wife if everyone else will bring theirs] [ME theires < theyr (see THEIR) + -es by analogy with his, HIS]
theism (θi:´iz'эm) •n. 1 belief in a god or gods 2 belief in one God; monotheism: opposed to PANTHEISM, POLYTHEISM 3 belief in one God viewed as creator and ruler of the universe and known by revelation: distinguished from DEISM the´ist •n., adj. the·is´tic or the·is´ti·cal •adj. the·is´ti·cal·ly •adv. [THE(O)- + -ISM]
Thelma (θel´mэ) a feminine name [< ?, but often a var. of SELMA]
them (ðem; unstressed, ðэm) pron. objective case of THEY: also used as a predicate complement with a linking verb {that's them} [ME theim < ON, dat. of the demonstrative pron.: see THEY]
thematic (θi: mæt´ik) •adj. 1 of or constituting a theme or themes 2 Linguis. of or relating to the stem of a word or to a vowel ending a stem that precedes an inflectional ending 3 [Brit.] Philately of stamps collected according to a theme, or topic •n. [Brit.] any stamp of a thematic collection the·mat´i·cal·ly •adv.
Thematic Apperception Test Psychol. a test for the analysis of personality, in which stories made up by the person being tested about a series of standard pictures of ambiguous social situations are assumed to reveal elements of his or her psychological makeup
theme (θi:m) •n. 1 a) a topic or subject, as of a lecture, sermon, essay, etc. b) a recurring, unifying subject or idea; motif, often one used decoratively 2 a short essay, esp. one written as an assignment in a school course 3 a) a short melody used as the subject of a musical composition b) a musical phrase upon which variations are developed Æ 4 short for THEME SONG •vt. themed, them´ing to give a theme to; specif., to plan according to a central theme {a themed restaurant} SYN. SUBJECT [ME < OFr & L: OFr teme < L thema < Gr, what is laid down < base of tithenai, to put, place: see DO¹]
theme park an amusement park built around some central theme, as a land of fantasy, future world, or past age
theme song 1 a recurring song or melody in a film, musical, etc., often one intended to set the mood, that becomes popularly identified with the work 2 an identifying song or melody used by a dance band, singer, etc. or for a radio or television series; signature
Themis (θi:´mis) Gr. Myth. a goddess of law and justice, daughter of Uranus and Gaea: represented as holding aloft a scale for weighing opposing claims
Themistocles (θэ mis´tэ kli:z') c. 525-c. 460 B.C.; Athenian statesman & naval commander
themselves (ðem selvz´, ðэm-) pron. 1 used with the 3d pers. pl. pronoun: a) as an intensive {they went themselves} b) as a reflexive {they hurt themselves} 2 their real or normal selves {they are not themselves today} [Late (Northern) ME thaim selfe for ME hemselve(n) (see THEY) + -s, pl. suffix]
then (ðen) •adv. 1 at that time {he was young then} 2 soon afterward; next in time {he took his hat and then left} 3 next in order {first comes alpha and then beta} 4 in that case; therefore; accordingly: used with conjunctive force {if it rains, then there will be no picnic} 5 besides; moreover {he likes to walk, and then it's good exercise} 6 at another time or at other times: used as a correlative with now, sometimes, etc. {now it's warm, then freezing} •adj. of that time; being such at that time {the then director} •n. that time {by then, they were gone} but then but on the other hand; but at the same time then and there at that time and in that place; at once what then? what would happen in that case? [ME: see THAN]
thenar (θi:´när') •n. 1 the palm of the hand or, sometimes, the sole of the foot 2 the bulge at the base of the thumb •adj. of a thenar [ModL < Gr < IE base *dhen-, palm of the hand, level place > DEN]
thence (ðens; also θens) •adv. [Archaic] 1 from that place; therefrom 2 from that time; thenceforth 3 on that account; therefore [ME thens, thannes (with adv. gen. suffix -es) < OE thanan, thence: for IE base see THAT]
thenceforth (-förθ´) •adv. from that time onward; after that; thereafter Also thence'for´ward (-för´wэrd)
theo- (θi:´ou, -э) combining form God or a god {theocentric} Also, before a vowel, the- [< Gr theos, god < ? IE *dhewes-, to storm, breathe > L furere, to rage]
theobromine (θi:'ou brou´mi:n', -min) •n. a bitter, crystalline alkaloid, C7H8N4O2, extracted from the leaves and seeds of the cacao plant, used in medicine as a diuretic and nerve stimulant: it is closely related to caffeine and is also found in cola nuts and tea [< ModL Theobroma, a genus of trees of the sterculia family < Gr theos, god (see THEO-) + brōma, food + -INE³]
theocentric (θi:'ou sen´trik) •adj. centering on or directed toward God the'o·cen´tri·cal·ly •adv. the'o·cen·tric´i·ty (-tris´э ti:) •n. the'o·cen´trism' (-triz'эm) •n. [THEO- + CENTRIC]
theocracy (θi: äk´rэ si:) pl. -cies •n. 1 lit., the rule of a state by God or a god 2 government by a person or persons claiming to rule with divine authority 3 a country governed in this way the·o·crat (θi:´ou kræt') •n. the'o·crat´ic or the'o·crat´i·cal •adj. the'o·crat´i·cal·ly •adv. [Gr theokratia: see THEO- & -CRACY]
Theocritus (θi: ä´kri tэs) 3d cent. B.C.; Gr. poet
theodicy (θi: äd´э si:) pl. -cies •n. a system of natural theology aimed at seeking to vindicate divine justice in allowing evil to exist [Fr théodicée: coined by LEIBNIZ (1710) < Gr theos, god + dikē, justice]
theodolite (θi: äd´ ou lait') •n. a surveying instrument used to measure vertical and horizontal angles the·od'o·lit´ic (-ou lit´ik) •adj. [ModL theodelitus: prob. invented (c. 1571) by Leonard Digges, Eng mathematician]
Theodora (θi:'э dör´э) a feminine name: dim. Dora [Gr Theodōra: see THEODORE]
Theodore (θi:´э dör') a masculine name: dim. Ted, Teddy; fem. Theodora Also The´o·dor' [L Theodorus < Gr Theodōros < theos, god + dōron, gift]
Theodoric (θi: äd´э rik) c. A.D. 454-526; king of the Ostrogoths (474-526) [LL Theodoricus, altered (after Theodorus, Theodore) < Goth *Thiudoreiks < thiuda, folk, akin to OHG thioda (see DEUTSCHLAND) + reiks, ruler, leader: for IE base see REGAL]
Theodosius (θi:'ou dou´shi: эs, -shэs; thi:'э-) 1 a masculine name: fem. Theodosia 2 Theodosius I (Flavius Theodosius) c. A.D. 346-395; Rom. general: emperor of Rome (379-395): called the Great The'o·do´si·an •adj. [LL < Gr Theodosios < theos, god + dosis, gift: see THEO- & DOSE]
theogony (θi: äg´э ni:) pl. -nies •n. the origin or genealogy of the gods, as told in myths the'o·gon´ic (-э gän´ik) •adj. [Gr theogonia: see THEO- & -GONY]
theol 1 theologian 2 theological 3 theology
theologian (θi:'э lou´jэn, -ji: эn) •n. a student of or specialist in theology or a theology [MFr théologien]
theological (θi:'э läj´i kэl) •adj. of, having to do with, based on, or offering instruction in, theology or a theology Also the'o·log´ic the'o·log´i·cal·ly •adv.
theological virtues Theol. the three virtues (faith, hope, and charity) that have God as their immediate object
theologize (θi: äl´э jaiz') -gized', -giz'ing •vt. to put into theological terms; fit into a theology •vi. to speculate theologically the·ol´o·giz'er •n.
theology (θi: äl´э ji:) pl. -gies •n. 1 the study of religious doctrines and matters of divinity; specif., the study of God and the relations between God, mankind, and the universe 2 a specific formulation or systemization of religious doctrine or belief as set forth by a given religion or denomination or by one or more individuals [ME theologie < LL(Ec) theologia < Gr: see THEO- & -LOGY]
theomachy (θi: äm´э ki:) pl. -chies •n. 1 a battle against the gods 2 strife among the gods [Gr theomachia: see THEO- & -MACHY]
theomorphic (θi:'ou mör´fik) •adj. having the form, likeness, or aspect of God or a god the'o·mor´phism •n. [< Gr theomorphos (see THEO- & -MORPH) + -IC]
theonomous (θi: än´э mэs) •adj. controlled by God the·on´o·mous·ly •adv. the·on´o·my (-mi:) •n. [< THEO- + (AUTO)NOMOUS]
theophany (θi: äf´э ni:) pl. -nies •n. a manifestation of God or a deity [LL(Ec) theophania < Gr theophaneia: see THEO- & -PHANE]
Theophrastus (θi:'ou fræs´tэs, θi:´э-) c. 372-c. 287 B.C.; Gr. philosopher & natural scientist [L < Gr Theophrastos < theos (see THEO-) + phrazein, to speak, plan, observe, guard: hence, lit., ? divinely protected]
theophylline (θi:'ou fil´i:n', -in) •n. a colorless, crystalline alkaloid, C7H8N4O2·H2O, extracted from tea leaves or prepared synthetically: an isomer of theobromine [< ModL thea, tea (infl. by Gr, goddess, as being a divine herb, but < source of TEA) + -PHYLL + -INE³]
theorbo (θi: ör´bou) pl. -bos •n. a large 17th-cent. lute with a double neck and two sets of strings [Fr théorbe < It tiorba < ?]
theorem (θi:´э rэm, -rem') •n. 1 a proposition that is not self-evident but that can be proved from accepted premises and so is established as a law or principle 2 an expression of relations in an equation or formula 3 Math., Physics a proposition embodying something to be proved the'o·re·mat´ic (-rэ mæt´ik) •adj. [< Fr or L: Fr théorème < L theorema < Gr theōrēma < theōrein, to look at, view < theoros, spectator: for IE base see THEATER]
theoretical (θi:'э ret´i kэl) •adj. 1 of or constituting theory 2 limited to or based on theory; not practical or applied; hypothetical 3 tending to theorize; speculative Also the'o·ret´ic the'o·ret´i·cal·ly •adv. [< LL theoreticus < Gr theōrētikos < -AL]
theoretician (θi:'э rэ tish´эn) •n. a person who theorizes, esp. one who specializes in the theory of some art, science, etc. Also the´o·rist (-э rist)
theoretics (θi:'э ret´iks) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] the theoretical part of a field of knowledge
theorize (θi:´э raiz') -rized', -riz'ing •vi. to form a theory or theories; speculate the´o·riz'er •n. the'o·ri·za´tion •n.
theory (θi:´э ri:; θi:´ri:, θir´i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 orig., a mental viewing; contemplation 2 a speculative idea or plan as to how something might be done 3 a systematic statement of principles involved {the theory of equations in mathematics} 4 a formulation of apparent relationships or underlying principles of certain observed phenomena which has been verified to some degree 5 that branch of an art or science consisting in a knowledge of its principles and methods rather than in its practice; pure, as opposed to applied, science, etc. 6 popularly, a mere conjecture, or guess SYN.—theory, as compared here, implies considerable evidence in support of a formulated general principle explaining the operation of certain phenomena [the theory of evolution]; hypothesis implies an inadequacy of evidence in support of an explanation that is tentatively inferred, often as a basis for further experimentation [the nebular hypothesis]; law implies an exact formulation of the principle operating in a sequence of events in nature, observed to occur with unvarying uniformity under the same conditions [the law of the conservation of energy] [< Fr or LL: Fr théorie < LL theoria < Gr theōria, a looking at, contemplation, speculation, theory < theōrein: see THEOREM]
theory of games GAME THEORY
theosophy (θi: äs´э fi:) •n. [also T-] a religious or semireligious set of occult beliefs rejecting Judeo-Christian revelation and theology, often incorporating elements of Buddhism and Brahmanism, and held to be based on a special mystical insight or on superior speculation the'o·soph´ic (-э säf´ik) or the'o·soph´i·cal •adj. the'o·soph´i·cal·ly •adv. the·os´o·phist •n. [ML theosophia < LGr, knowledge of divine things < theosophos, wise in divine matters < Gr theos, god + sophos, wise: see THEO- & -SOPHY]
therapeutic (θer'э pyu:t´ik) •adj. 1 a) serving to cure or heal; curative b) serving to preserve health {therapeutic abortion} 2 of therapeutics Also ther'a·peu´ti·cal ther'a·peu´ti·cal·ly •adv. [ModL therapeuticus < Gr therapeutikos < therapeutēs, attendant, servant, one who treats medically < therapeuein, to nurse, treat medically]
therapeutics (θer'э pyu:t´iks) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] the branch of medicine that deals with the treatment and cure of diseases; therapy
therapist (θer´э pist) •n. a specialist in a certain form of therapy Also ther'a·peu´tist (-pyu:t´ist)
therapy (θer´э pi:) pl. -pies •n. the treatment of disease or of any physical or mental disorder by medical or physical means, usually excluding surgery: sometimes used in compounds [hydrotherapy] [ModL therapia < Gr therapeia < therapeuein, to nurse, cure]
Theravada (θer'э vä´dэ) •n. HINAYANA
there (ðer) •adv. 1 at or in that place: often used as an intensive [Mary there is a good player]: in dialectal or nonstandard use, often placed between a demonstrative pronoun and the noun it modifies [that there hog] 2 toward, to, or into that place; thither {go there} 3 at that point in action, speech, discussion, etc.; then {there I paused} 4 in that matter, respect, etc.; as to that {there you are wrong} 5 at the moment; right now {there goes the whistle} There is also used a) in interjectional phrases of approval, encouragement, etc. [there's a fine fellow!] b) with pronominal force in impersonal constructions in which the real subject follows the verb [there is very little time, there are three people here] •n. that place or point {we left there at six} •interj. an exclamation expressing: 1 defiance, dismay, satisfaction, etc. {there, that's done!} 2 sympathy, concern, etc. {there, there! don't worry} (not) all there [Colloq.] (not) in full possession of one's wits; (not) mentally sound [ME ther, there, where < OE ther, thær, there, where < IE *tor-, *ter-, there < *to-, *tā-, demonstrative base > THAT, THEN]
thereabouts (ðer´э bauts') •adv. 1 near that place 2 near that time or point in action, speech, etc. 3 near that number, amount, degree, etc. Also there´a·bout'
thereafter (ðer æf´tэr) •adv. 1 after that; from then on; subsequently 2 [Archaic] accordingly
thereagainst (ðer'э genst´) •adv. against or contrary to that; in opposition
thereat (ðer æt´) •adv. 1 at that place; there 2 at that time; when that occurred 3 for that reason
thereby (ðer bai´, ðer´bai') •adv. 1 by or through that; by that means 2 connected with that {thereby hangs a tale} 3 [Archaic] thereabouts
therefor (ðer för´) •adv. for this; for that; for it
therefore (ðer´för') •adv. as a result of this or that; for this or that reason; consequently; hence: often used with conjunctive force [ME ther fore: see THERE & FORE]
therefrom (ðer frûm´) •adv. from this; from that; from it; from there
therein (ðer in´) •adv. 1 in there; in or into that place or thing 2 in that matter, detail, etc.
thereinafter (ðer'in æf´tэr) •adv. in the following part of that document, speech, etc.
thereinto (ðer in´tu:, ðer'in tu:´) •adv. 1 into that place or thing 2 into that matter, condition, etc.
theremin (θer´э min) •n. an early electronic musical instrument whose tone and loudness are controlled by moving the hands through the air varying distances from two antennas [after Leo Theremin, its Russ inventor (c. 1920)]
thereof (ðer ûv´) •adv. 1 of that 2 concerning that 3 from that as a cause, reason, etc.; therefrom
thereon (-än´) •adv. 1 on that or it 2 THEREUPON
there's (ðerz) 1 there is 2 there has
Theresa (tэ ri:´sэ, -zэ) 1 a feminine name: dim. Terry, Tess; var. Teresa 2 see TERESA, Saint 3 see THÉRÈSE, Saint [< Fr Thérèse or Port Theresa < L Therasia < ?]
Thérèse (tei´řez´; E tэ ri:s´), Saint (1873-97); Fr. Carmelite nun: her day is Oct. 3: called Thérèse of Li·sieux (li: zyö´)
thereto (ðer tu:´) •adv. 1 to that place, thing, etc.: also there·un´to (-ûn´tu:; ðer'ûn tu:´) 2 [Archaic] besides
theretofore (ðer'tэ för´, ðer´tэ för') •adv. up to then; until that time; before that
thereunder (ðer ûn´dэr, ðer´ûn'dэr) •adv. 1 under that; under it 2 under the terms stated there
thereupon (ðer'э pän´, ðer´э pän') •adv. 1 immediately following that; at once 2 as a consequence of that 3 upon that; concerning that subject, etc.
therewith (ðer wið´, ðer´wið'; -wiθ´) •adv. 1 along with that 2 in addition to that 3 by that method or means 4 immediately thereafter; thereupon
therewithal (ðer'wiθ öl´) •adv. 1 with all that; in addition; besides 2 [Obs.] along with that; therewith
therianthropic (θir'i: æn θräp´ik) •adj. 1 conceived of as being partly human and partly animal in form 2 designating or of deities of this kind [< Gr thērion, beast (< thēr, beast: see FIERCE) + anthrōpos, man (see ANTHROPO-) + -IC]
theriomorphic (θir'i: ou mör´fik) •adj. conceived of as having the form of an animal: said of certain gods [< Gr thēriomorphos (see THERIANTHROPIC & -MORPH) + -IC]
therm (θørm) •n. 1 [Obs.] a) a great calorie b) a small calorie c) a unit of heat equal to 1,000 great calories 2 a unit of heat equal to 100,000 British thermal units [< Gr thermē, heat: see WARM]
Therma (θør´mэ) ancient name of SALONIKA
thermae (θør´mi:) •n.pl. hot or warm springs or baths; specif., the public baths or bathhouses of ancient Rome [L < Gr thermai, pl. of thermē, heat: see WARM]
thermal (θør´mэl) •adj. 1 having to do with heat, hot springs, etc. 2 warm or hot Æ 3 designating or of a loosely knitted material honeycombed with air spaces for insulation to help retain body heat {thermal underwear} •n. a rising column of warm air, caused by the uneven heating of the earth or sea by the sun ther´mal·ly •adv. [Fr < Gr thermē, heat: see WARM]
thermal barrier a limit to the speed of flight of vehicles in the atmosphere set by the effects of aerodynamic heating
thermal pollution the discharge of heated liquid or air into lakes, rivers, etc., as by an industry or nuclear power plant, causing such a rise in the water temperature as to affect the life cycles within the water and disrupt the ecological balance
thermal spring a spring whose water has a temperature greater than the mean annual temperature of its locality
thermanesthesia or thermanaesthesia (θørm'æn es θi:´zhэ, -zhi: э, -zi: э) •n. insensibility to heat and cold [ModL: see THERMO- & ANESTHESIA]
thermel (θør´mel') •n. a thermoelectric thermometer consisting of a single thermocouple or a series of thermocouples [< THERM(O)EL(ECTRIC)]
thermesthesia or thermaesthesia (θørm'es θi:´zhэ, -zhi: э, -zi: э) •n. sensibility to heat and cold [ModL: see THERMO- & ESTHESIA]
thermic (θør´mik) •adj. of or caused by heat ther´mi·cal·ly •adv. [< Gr thermē, heat (see WARM) + -IC]
Thermidor (teř mi: dôř´; E θør´mэ dör') •n. the eleventh month (July 19-Aug. 17) of the FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY CALENDAR [Fr < Gr thermē, heat (see WARM) + dōron, gift]
thermion (θørm´ai'эn, θør´mi:-) •n. Physics a negative or positive ion emitted by an incandescent material therm'i·on´ic (-än´ik) •adj. [THERM(O)- + ION]
thermionic current a current resulting from directed thermionic emission, as the flow of emitted electrons from a heated cathode to the plate
thermionic emission the phenomenon of electron or ion emission from the heated surface of a conductor
thermionic tube an electron tube having a cathode electrically heated in order to cause electron or ion emission Also [Brit., etc.] thermionic valve
thermionics (θørm'ai än´iks, θør'mi:-) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] the study and science of thermionic activity
thermistor (θэr mis´tэr, θør´mis'-) •n. a device constructed of solid semiconductor material, whose electrical resistance decreases with an increase in temperature: used to measure temperature differences in body cells, microwave or infrared power, etc. [THERM(O)- + (RES)ISTOR]
Thermit (θør´mit) trademark for a mixture of finely granulated aluminum with an oxide of iron or other metal, which produces great heat and is used in welding and in incendiary bombs •n. [t-] such a mixture [Ger < Gr thermē, heat (see WARM) + Ger -it, -ITE¹]
thermo- (θør´mou, -mэ) combining form 1 heat {thermodynamics} 2 thermoelectric {thermopile} Also, before a vowel, therm- [< Gr thermē, heat: see WARM]
thermobarometer (-bэ räm´эt эr) •n. HYPSOMETER (sense 1)
thermochemistry (-kem´is tri:) •n. the branch of chemistry that deals with the relationship of heat to chemical change ther'mo·chem´i·cal •adj.
thermocline (θør´mou klain', -mэ-) •n. a layer of water between the warmer, surface zone and the colder, deep-water zone in a thermally stratified body of water, in which the temperature decreases rapidly with depth [THERMO- + -cline, as in ANTICLINE]
thermocouple (-kûp'эl) •n. a pair of dissimilar conductors joined at two points to form a closed circuit so as to produce a thermoelectric current when the junctions are at different temperatures: used in temperature measurements Also called thermoelectric couple
thermodynamic (θør'mou dai næm´ik) •adj. 1 of or having to do with thermodynamics 2 caused or operated by heat converted into motive power ther'mo·dy·nam´i·cal·ly •adv.