is an example. MNEMONICS, the art of assisting | obtained from common sea-salt) the memory by artificial rules. MO'LARS, the grinder teeth. MOLAS'SES, the fluid residuum of sugar after it has been refined. MOLLUS'CA,that class of animals whose bodies are soft, and are neither furnished with skeletons nor with articulated coverings; though some of them, as the snail, have shells attached to their system. MON'OLOGUE, a scenic speech uttered by one person. MONOMA'NIA, madness upon one point or ruling idea. MOR'PHIA, the narcotic principle of opium. MORTGAGE, (L.) a security for money borrowed. MORT'MAIN, (L.) land which is unalienable. MOSA'Ic, a species of inlaid work, in which various coloured substances, cut into squares, are arranged in cement, so as to imi tate the effect of painting. MU'RIATES, (Ch.) a name given to salts, formed by the combination of any base with muriatic acid, of which muriate of soda (easily MU'CILAGE, a solution of gum or of any tenacious fluid. Mu'cus, a viscous animal fluid, secreted in the body to moisten the mucous membrane. MURIATIC ACID, (spirit of salt) a strong acid. Its constituents are chlorine and hydrogen. MUSCLES, bundles of fibres, constituting the flesh of animals, by the contractions and dilations of which the bones are moved, and the organic functions of life performed. There are in man 201 muscles, or pairs of muscles. MUSSEL, a shell fish. MUSEUM, a repository of curio sities. MYRRH, the resinous gum of a tree growing in the East. MYTHOLOGY, the fabulous history of the gods of Greece and Rome. N. NAI'ADES (Bo.) plants that ininhabit ponds and rivulets: also the name for fresh water shells. sailing from east to west, while the bark was sailing from north to south.— The phenomenon called suspension, or looming, was observed on the river Tigris, in the plain of Bagdad. The surface of the river was beautifully illuminated by the moon, and its waters appeared raised to an extraordinary height above the level of the desert. As the dawn advanced, the phantom river sank entirely from sight.-The most remarkable instance of the Fata Morgana is at Reggio, in Italy. In certain conditions of the atmosphere, a person standing on an eminence in the city, with his back to the sun and his face to the sea, sees upon the water what appears to him to be numberless series of pilasters, arches, castles, columns, towers, splendid palaces, villages, plains with herds and flocks, men on foot and on horseback, all passing rapidly in succession on the surface of the sea. In other states of the atmosphere, the same objects are seen in the air, though less vividly, and if the weather be hazy, the objects are fringed with the colours of the rainbow.-It often happens that the phenomenon of the vertical mirage is combined with that of suspension, so as to shew in the air both a direct and an inverted image of the object, the latter being undermost.-All these phenomena depend on the different density of the lower strata of the air, occasioned either by heat or moisture. NAPHTHA, a mineral oil or fluid bitumen; it is obtained chiefly from coals. NARCOTIC, a property of medicine which allays pain by producing a stupifying effect on the nervous system. NAUTILUS, a genus of marine animals having a shell of a spiral form; one species is furnished with two arms united by a membrane, which it extends as a sail, while with two other arms it rows or steers. Another species inhabits a beautiful shell, divided into thirty or forty chambers. NAVE, (Ar.) the central division of a cathedral church, extending from the west end to the choir. NAVIGATION, the art of sailing, or conducting a vessel on the ocean. NEB'ULE, certain bright spots in the heavens, now understood to be clusters of stars.* NECROPOLIS, literally, "the city of the dead," a name bestowed on cemeteries. NECTARY, that part of the corolla of flowers in which the honey-dew is accumulated. NEOPHYTE, a new convert or proselyte. [the utmost extreme. NE PLUS ULTRA, no further, NEU'TRAL SALTS, (Ch.) those salts in which the antagonist effects of both acid and alkali coun. teract each other. NERVES, white medullary cords, which pass in pairs from the brain and the spinal marrow, as instruments respectively of sensation and volition. They spread over the body like fine net work. NICK'EL, a metal, in its natural state associated with cobalt. It is of a white colour, and very difficult to melt; with copper and zinc it forms the alloy called German Silver. NI'TRATES, those salts which are formed of nitric acid (aqua fortis) and various bases. NI'TRE, the usual name given to the nitrate of potass, or salt-petre. NITROGEN, or AZOTE', a gas which, when separated from oxygen, is fatal to animal life. It is disengaged from all animal and many vegetable substances, and will extinguish flame. NI'TROUS, (Ch.) partaking of nitre. The termination ous serves to designate the smaller proportion of oxygen, and ic the greater; as, sulphurous and sulphuric acid. NOM'ADE, living a wandering life, like the pastoral tribes. NO'MENCLATURE, a dictionary giving the technical language peculiar to an art or science, such as a chemical or mineralogical nomenclature. NON CONDUCTORS, in Electricity, are those substances through which the electric fluid passes with difficulty, such as glass, resin, sulphur, silk, hair, wool, &c., but they become electric by friction. * NEBULA.-On a clear evening, there is a luminous band which stretches across the sky from horizon to horizon; it is known as the "Milky Way." This remarkable belt has always maintained the same relative situation among the stars, and when examined through powerful telescopes, is found (wonderful to narrate) to consist entirely of stars, scattered by millions, like glittering dust, on the dark ground of the expansive firmament. There are clusters of stars which are not apparent to the naked eye, but require telescopes to resolve them into clusters, and even with their aid are only visible as faint cloudy patches of light. There are some NONES, the seventh days of the months of March, May, July, and October, and the fifth of the other months. NON EST INVENTUS, not to be found. NON SE'QUITER, it does not follow. NON'SUIT, (L.) the dropping a suit on the discovery of an error or defect when the matter is ready for the verdict of a jury. NON PLUS, inability to do or say more pertinently. NOR'KOY, or north roy, in Heraldry, one of the two provincial Kings at Arms, whose jurisdiction lies on the north side of the Trent; that of Clarencieux is on the south. NOSOL'OGY, a methodical arrangement or classification of diseases. NOS'TRUM, a medicine secretly compounded. NO'TARY, a person whose business it is to note and protest bills of exchange, and to attest written documents. NU'CLEUS, the kernel of a nut: any originating centre around which other things accumulate. NUMISMATICS, the science which treats of coins and medals, more especially of ancient ones. NUNCU PATIVE, a term applied to testamentary acts expressed verbally, and not put into writing. NUTATION, a motion of the earth's axis, inclining it to the ecliptic twice a year. 0. OAK'UM, old ropes untwisted and reduced to hemp. OA'sis, the name of a fertile spot in the midst of a sandy desert. OB'ELISK, a high solid pillar of stone, having four sides, and lessening towards the top. It is of Eastern origin, and was probably erected in honour of the sun, and used as a means of determining the sun's altitude, and regulating the time of worship. O'BIT, a funeral ceremony, or office for the dead. [dead. OBITUARY, an account of the OB'LATE, flattened, or shortened; in geometry, the term is applied to such a figure as that of the earth, in which the diameter at the poles is less than at the equator. [ties. OB'SEQUIES, funeral solemniOBSERVATORY, а building fitted up for astronomical observations. OCCIPITAL, placed in the hinder part of the skull. OCCULTA'TION, the obscuration of any celestial body, by the interposition of the moon or other planet, between it and our eye. O'CHRE, a species of earth, combined with iron, and of various colours; it is of great value to painters. OCTAGON, a figure of eight sides and angles. OCTA'VO, a sheet of eight leaves nebulous appearances which remain unchanged, even when viewed through the best telescopes yet constructed; and science is constrained to pause at their magnitude and distance. The knowledge of these facts should enlarge our ideas of the universe. And how great should be our admiration of the Divine power, when we consider the magnitude of those stars which are perceptible to the naked eye; and remember that He who created all things, preserves them with wisdom, aud rules them with merciful goodness. or sixteen pages, or books so divided into sheets. OCTEN'NIAL, lasting or occurring every eight years. OCTOGEN'ARY, of eighty years of age. OC'ULIST, one who professes to cure disorders of the eye. ODE, a lyrical poem, conveying an outburst of vivid feeling. OFFERTORY, the act of offering; the place where alms are offered in a church. [water. OFF'ING, the open sea; deep OLEAG'ENOUS, oily, unctuous. OLFACTORY NERVES, the pair of nerves which proceed from the brain to the nose, having the sense of smelling. OL'IGARCHY, a form of government where power is in the hands of a few. OLIVE-TREE, an evergreen common in the south of France, Spain, and Italy, and esteemed for its fruit, which contains a great quantity of oil, OLYMPIAD, a Grecian period of four years, at the commencement of which games were held for five days at Olympia, from the year 776 B.C. to 440 A.D. OM'EGA, the last letter of the Greek alphabet. OMNIPOTENCE, the Almighty unlimited power of God. His infinite duration and continual presence is omnipresence; and his inconceivable knowledge and skill, is omniscience. O'NUS PROBANDI, the burden of proving what has been alleged. OO'LITE, (Geo.) a species of limestone. OPA'CITY, want of transparency. OPHTHALMIA, inflammation of the outer covering of the eyeball and eyelids. O'PIUM, the concentrated juice of the white poppy, cultivated chiefly in India and Arabia. OPODEL'DOC, a solution of soap and camphor in spirits of wine, used as a liniment. [eye. OPTHALMIC, belonging to the OP'TICS, the science which treats of light and colours, and the construction of suitable instruments for assisting vision. OPTIMISM, the doctrine which holds all to be for the best in the existing system of things. ORATORIO, a kind of sacred drama, generally selected from the scriptures, and set to music. OR'ACLE, an object or place supposed to be the abode of supernatural wisdom.* OR'BIT, (AS.) the line described by the revolution of a planet round another body. ORES, (Mi.) metals in their mineral state, and usually combined with other substances. * ORACLE.-A knowledge of future events is an attribute of God alone, and all information concerning the future must be derived from his authority. Such, however, is the tendency of mankind to explore futurity, that artful persons have, in all ages and countries, put forth pretensions to this knowledge, and have derived wealth and influence from their unfounded presumptions. Among the ancients, the most celebrated Oracles were, those of Apollo, at Delphos, and of Jupiter Ammon, at Thebes. In these cities splendid buildings were erected, to command for their deities the respect and fear of the multitude. So extended was the belief in their foreknowledge, that Kings and States consulted them before undertaking important enterprises, and rich gifts were presented as a reward for the information imparted. The responses of the oracles were delivered in a variety of ways. At Delphos they were at first given in verse; but in process of ORGAN'IC, a term used to distinguish the animal and vegetable kingdoms from the mineral, being applied to every thing which possesses or has possessed organs. ORNITHOLOGY, the natural history of birds. OR'PIMENT, (Mi.) a compound of sulphur and arsenic. OR'RERY, a machine for representing on a small scale the motions of the heavenly bodies. ORTHOG'RAPHY, the art or tice of accurate spelling. whether for a negociation, or a dramatic entertainment. OVIP'AROUS, a term applied to such animals as produce the young from the egg. Viviparous are such as bring forth their young alive. OXAL'IC, an acid of a strongly poisonous character, most readily obtained by the action of nitric acid upon sugar. OX'IDES, combinations of oxygen with metallic and other bases. OX'YGEN, (Ch.) that gas in the prac-atmosphere which is needful to life and combustion; thus named because it communicates acidity to many of its combinations.* OSCILLATION, the act of moving backward and forward; a vibration. OSSIFICATION, (An.) the change of membraneous or cartiliganeous substances into bone. OSTEOLOGY, (An.) a description of the bones. OSTRACISM, a manner of passing sentence adopted by the Athenians, in which each citizen marked upon a shell either an acquittal or a condemnation. OVA'TION, a species of triumph or triumphant procession. O'VERTURE, a commencement, P. PAB'ULUM, (Bo.) the food of plants, chiefly carbon; also fuel. PAGO'DA, the Indian name for a temple of peculiar structure which contains an Idol. PAL'ATINE, possessing royal privileges; it is applied to certain English counties which have separate jurisdictions. PAL'ETTE, the board upon which a painter spreads his colours. time, the imperfect style of the versification, emanating from such an authority, excited the ridicule of the more intelligent people, and the oracle, to preserve its influence, wisely changed the manner of its answers into simple prose. At the oracle of Ammon, the priest pronounced the response from the hollow of an oak-tree. At Memphis, in Egypt, they drew either a good or bad omen, according as the ox-god, Apis, received or rejected what was presented to him. In some places, where the answers were given by lot, a kind of dice was adopted, on which certain characters or words were placed, whose explanation the applicants were to seek on tables made for the purpose. Indeed, there has been no folly too gross for the feebleminded and superstitious to practise, in order to obtain a knowledge of the future; and the history of the world unquestionably proves, that all pretensions to such knowledge are based on weakness or ignorance. * OXYGEN is one of the two gases which form water, and one of the two which compose atmospheric air. It is essential to animal life, being absorbed by inspiration into the blood, and is the great supporter of combustion. It forms compounds of all kinds-gaseous, fluid, and solid; it is found in the material world in unnumbered shapes, and is the most energetic, in its chemical agencies, of all the elements of matter. |