Unabridged Dictionary - Letter X
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X
Xanthose
Xan"those (?), n. (Chem.) An orange-yellow substance found in pigment
spots of certain crabs.
Xanthosis
Xan*tho"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. xanqo`s yellow.] (Med.) The yellow
discoloration often observed in cancerous tumors.
Xanthospermous
Xan`tho*sper"mous (?), a. [Xantho- + Gr. (Bot.) Having yellow seeds.
Xanthous
Xan"thous (?), a. [Gr. Yellow; specifically (Ethnol.), of or
pertaining to those races of man which have yellowish, red, auburn, or
brown hair.
Xanthoxylene
Xan*thox"y*lene (?), n. [See Xanthoxylum.] (Chem.) A liquid
hydrocarbon of the terpene series extracted from the seeds of a
Japanese prickly ash (Xanthoxylum pipertium) as an aromatic oil.
Xanthoxylum
Xan*thox"y*lum (?), n. [NL., from Gr. xanqo`s yellow + xy`lon wood.]
(Bot.) A genus of prickly shrubs or small trees, the bark and rots of
which are of a deep yellow color; prickly ash.
NOTE: &hand; The commonest species in the Northern United States is
Xanthoxylum Americanum. See Prickly ash, under Prickly.
Xebec
Xe"bec (?), n. [Sp. jabegue, formerly spelt xabeque, or Pg. xabeco;
both from Turk. sumbeki a kind of Asiatic ship; cf. Per. sumbuk, Ar.
sumb a small ship.] (Naut.) A small three-masted vessel, with
projecting bow stern and convex decks, used in the Mediterranean for
transporting merchandise, etc. It carries large square sails, or both.
Xebecs were formerly armed and used by corsairs.
Xeme
Xeme (z&emac;m), n. (Zo\'94l.) An Arctic fork-tailed gull (Xema
Sabinii).
Xenelasia
Xen`e*la"si*a (?), n. [NL., from Gr. (Gr. Antiq.) A Spartan
institution which prohibited strangers from residing in Sparta without
permission, its object probably being to preserve the national
simplicity of manners.
Xenium
Xe"ni*um (?), n.; pl. Xenia (#). [L., from Gr. (Class. Antiq.) A
present given to a guest or stranger, or to a foreign ambassador.
Xenodochium
Xen`o*do*chi"um (?), n. [LL., fr. L. xenodochium a building for the
reception of strangers, Gr. (a) (Class. Antiq.) A house for the
reception of strangers. (b) In the Middle Ages, a room in a monastery
for the reception and entertainment of strangers and pilgrims, and for
the relief of paupers. [Called also Xenodocheion.]
Xenodochy
Xe*nod"o*chy (?), n. [Gr. Reception of strangers; hospitality. [R.]
Xenogamy
Xe*nog"a*my (?), n. [Gr. xe`nos strange, foreign + (Bot.) Cross
fertilization.
Xenogenesis
Xen`o*gen"e*sis (?), n. [Gr. xe`nos a stranger + E. genesis.] (Biol.)
(a) Same as Heterogenesis. (b) The fancied production of an organism
of one kind by an organism of another. Huxley.
Xenogenetic
Xen`o*ge*net"ic (?), a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to xenogenesis; as,
the xenogenetic origin of microzymes. Huxley.
Xenomania
Xen`o*ma"ni*a (?), n. [Gr. xe`nos strange + E. mania.] A mania for, or
an inordinate attachment to, foreign customs, institutions, manners,
fashions, etc. [R.] Saintsbury.
Xenomi
Xen"o*mi (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. xe`nos strange.] (Zo\'94l.) A
suborder of soft-rayed fresh-water fishes of which the blackfish of
Alaska (Dallia pectoralis) is the type.
Xenopterygii
Xe*nop`te*ryg"i*i (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. xe`nos strange +
(Zo\'94l.) A suborder of fishes including Gobiesox and allied genera.
These fishes have soft-rayed fins, and a ventral sucker supported in
front by the pectoral fins. They are destitute of scales.
Xenotime
Xen"o*time (?), n. [Gr. xe`nos guest, stranger + xenotim.] (Min.) A
native phosphate of yttrium occurring in yellowish-brown tetragonal
crystals.
Xenurine
Xe*nu"rine (?), n. [Gr. xe`nos strange + (Zo\'94l.) A cabassou.
Xenyl
Xen"yl (?), n. [Gr. xe`nos strange + -yl.] (Chem.) The radical
characteristic of xenylic compounds.
Xenylic
Xe*nyl"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, designating,
certain amido compounds obtained by reducing certain nitro derivatives
of diphenyl.
Xeraphim
Xer"a*phim (?), n. [Pg. xarafin, xerafin, fr. Ar. ashraf\'c6 noble,
the name of a gold coin.] An old money of account in Bombay, equal to
three fifths of a rupee.
Xeres
Xer"es (?), n. Sherry. See Sherry.
Xerif
Xer"if (?), n. A shereef.
Xeriff
Xer"iff (?), n. [See Shereef.] A gold coin formerly current in Egypt
and Turkey, of the value of about 9s. 6d., or about $2.30; -- also, in
Morocco, a ducat.
Xeroderma
Xe`ro*der"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.) (a) Ichthyosis. (b) A skin
disease characterized by the presence of numerous small pigmented
spots resembling freckles, with which are subsequently mingled spots
of atrophied skin.
Xeronate
Xe"ro*nate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of xeronic acid.
Xeronic
Xe*ron"ic (?), a. [Gr. conic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating,
an acid, C8H12O4, related to fumaric acid, and obtained from
citraconic acid as an oily substance having a bittersweet taste; -- so
called from its tendency to form its anhydride.
Xerophagy
Xe*roph"a*gy (?), n. [L. xerophagia, Gr. Among the primitive
Christians, the living on a diet of dry food in Lent and on other
fasts.
Xerophilous
Xe*roph"i*lous (?), a. [Gr. (Bot.) Drought-loving; able withstand the
absence or lack of moisture.
Plants which are peculiarly adapted to dry climates are termed by
De Candolle xerophilous. Goodale.
Xerophthalmia
Xe`roph*thal"mi*a (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. Ophthalmia.] (Med.) An abnormal
dryness of the eyeball produced usually by long-continued inflammation
and subsequent atrophy of the conjunctiva.
Xerophthalmy
Xe`roph*thal"my (?), n. (Med.) Xerophthalmia.
Xiphias
Xiph"i*as (?), n. [L., a swordfish, a sword-shaped comet, fr. Gr.
1. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of fishes comprising the common swordfish.
2. (Anat.) (a) The constellation Dorado. (b) A comet shaped like a
sword
Xiphidium
Xi*phid"i*um (?), n. [NL., from Gr. xi`fos sword.] (Bot.) A genus of
plants of the order H\'91modrace\'91, having two-ranked, sword-shaped
leaves.
Xiphioid
Xiph"i*oid (?), a. [Xiphius + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) Of, pertaining to, or
resembling, a cetacean of the genus Xiphius or family Xiphiid\'91.
Xiphiplastron
Xiph"i*plas"tron (?), n.; pl. Xiphiplastra (#). [NL., fr. Gr. xi`fos a
sword + plastron.] (Anat.) The posterior, or fourth, lateral plate in
the plastron of turtles; -- called also xiphisternum.
Xiphisternum
Xiph"i*ster"num (?), n.; pl. Xiphisterna (#). [NL., fr. Gr. xi`fos a
sword + sternum.] (Anat.) (a) The posterior segment, or extremity, of
the sternum; -- sometimes called metasternum, ensiform cartilage,
ensiform process, or xiphoid process. (b) The xiphiplastron. --
Xiph"i*ster"nal (#) a.
Xiphius
Xiph"i*us (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. xi`fos a sword.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of
cetaceans having a long, pointed, bony beak, usually two tusklike
teeth in the lower jaw, but no teeth in the upper jaw.
Xiphodon
Xiph"o*don (?), n. [Gr. xi`fos a sword + (Paleon.) An extinct genus of
artiodactylous mammals found in the European Tertiary formations. It
had slender legs, didactylous feet, and small canine teeth.
Xiphoid
Xiph"oid (?; 277), a. [Gr. xi`fos a sword + xiphoide.] (Anat.) (a)
Like a sword; ensiform. (b) Of or pertaining to the xiphoid process;
xiphoidian.
Xiphoidian
Xiph*oid"i*an (?), a. (Anat.) Xiphoid.
Xiphophyllous
Xi*phoph"yl*lous (?), a. [Gr. xi`fos sword + (Bot.) Having
sword-shaped leaves.
Xiphosura
Xiph`o*su"ra (?), n. pl. See Xiphura.
Xiphura
Xi*phu"ra (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. xi`fos sword + (Zo\'94l.) Same as
Limuloidea. Called also Xiphosura. X ray. See under Ray.
Xylamide
Xy*lam"ide (?), n. [Xylic + amide.] (Chem.) An acid amide derivative
of xylic acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance.
Xylanthrax
Xy*lan"thrax (?), n. [Gr. xy`lon wood + Wood coal, or charcoal; -- so
called in distinction from mineral coal.
Xylate
Xy"late (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of xylic acid.
Xylem
Xy"lem (?), n. [Gr. xy`lon wood.] (Bot.) That portion of a
fibrovascular bundle which has developed, or will develop, into wood
cells; -- distinguished from phlo\'89m.
Xylene
Xy"lene (?), n. [Gr. xy`lon wood.] (Chem.) Any of a group of three
metameric hydrocarbons of the aromatic series, found in coal and wood
tar, and so named because found in crude wood spirit. They are
colorless, oily, inflammable liquids, C6H4.(CH3)2, being dimethyl
benzenes, and are called respectively orthoxylene, metaxylene, and
paraxylene. Called also xylol.
NOTE: &hand; Ea ch of these xylenes is the nucleus and prototype of
a distinct series of compounds.
Xylenol
Xy"le*nol (?), n. [Xylene + -ol.] (Chem.) Any one of six metameric
phenol derivatives of xylene, obtained as crystalline substances,
(CH3)2.C6H3.OH.
Xyletic
Xy*let"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a complex
acid related to mesitylenic acid, obtained as a white crystalline
substance by the action of sodium and carbon dioxide on crude xylenol.
Xylic
Xy"lic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or related to,
xylene; specifically, designating any one of several metameric acids
produced by the partial oxidation of mesitylene and pseudo-cumene.
Xylidic
Xy*lid"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, either one of
two distinct acids which are derived from xylic acid and related
compounds, and are metameric with uvitic acid.
Xylidine
Xy"li*dine (?), n. (Chem.) Any one of six metameric hydrocarbons,
(CH3)2.C6H3.NH2, resembling aniline, and related to xylene. They are
liquids, or easily fusible crystalline substances, of which three are
derived from metaxylene, two from orthoxylene, and one from
paraxylene. They are called the amido xylenes.
NOTE: &hand; The xylidine of commerce, used in making certain dyes,
consists chiefly of the derivatives of paraxylene and metaxylene.
Xylindein
Xy*lin"de*in (?), n. (Chem.) A green or blue pigment produced by
Peziza in certain kinds of decayed wood, as the beech, oak, birch,
etc., and extracted as an amorphous powder resembling indigo.
Xylite
Xy"lite (?), n. [Gr. xy`lon wood.] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon found
in crude wood spirits.
Xylitone
Xy"li*tone (?), n. (Chem.) A yellow oil having a geraniumlike odor,
produced as a side product in making phorone; -- called also xylite
oil.
Xylo-
Xy"lo- (?). A combining form from Gr. xy`lon wood; as in xylogen,
xylograph.
Xylobalsamum
Xy`lo*bal"sa*mum (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. xy`lon wood + xylobalsamum
balsam wood, Gr. (Med.) The dried twigs of a Syrian tree
(Balsamodendron Gileadense). U. S. Disp.
Xylocarpous
Xy`lo*car"pous (?), a. [Xylo- + Gr. (Bot.) Bearing fruit which becomes
hard or woody.
Xylocopa
Xy*loc"o*pa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. xy`lon wood + (Zo\'94l.) A genus of
hymenopterous insects including the carpenter. See Carpenter bee,
under Carpenter. -- Xy*loc"o*pine (#), a.
Xylogen
Xy"lo*gen (?), n. [Xylo- + -gen.] (a) (Bot.) Nascent wood; wood cells
in a forming state. (b) Lignin.
Xylograph
Xy"lo*graph (?), n. [Xylo- + -graph.] An engraving on wood, or the
impression from such an engraving; a print by xylography.
Xylographer
Xy*log"ra*pher (?), n. One who practices xylography.
Xylographic, Xylographical
Xy`lo*graph"ic (?), Xy`lo*graph"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. xylographique.]
Of or pertaining to xylography, or wood engraving.
Xylography
Xy*log"ra*phy (?), n. [Xylo- + -graphy: cf. F. xylographie.]
1. The art of engraving on wood.
2. The art of making prints from the natural grain of wood. Knight.
3. A method pf printing in colors upon wood for purposes of house
decoration. Ure.
Xyloid
Xy"loid (?), a. [Xylo- + -oid.] Resembling wood; having the nature of
wood.
Xyloidin
Xy*loid"in (?), n. [Xylo- + -oid.] (Chem.) A substance resembling
pyroxylin, obtained by the action of nitric acid on starch; -- called
also nitramidin.
Xylol
Xy"lol (?), n. [Xylo- + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.) Same as Xylene.
Xylonite
Xy"lon*ite (?), n. See Zylonite.
Xylophaga
Xy*loph"a*ga (?), n. [NL. See Xylophagous.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of
marine bivalves which bore holes in wood. They are allied to Pholas.
Xylophagan
Xy*loph"a*gan (?), n. [See Xylophagous.] (Zo\'94l.) (a) One of a tribe
of beetles whose larv\'91 bore or live in wood. (b) Any species of
Xylophaga. (c) Any one of the Xylophagides.
Xylophagides
Xy`lo*phag"i*des (?), n. pl. [See Xylophagous.] (Zo\'94l.) A tribe or
family of dipterous flies whose larv\'91 live in decayed wood. Some of
the tropical species are very large.
Xylophagous
Xy*loph"a*gous (?), a. [Gr. xy`lon wood + (Zo\'94l.) (a) Eating,
boring in, or destroying, wood; -- said especially of certain insect
larv\'91, crustaceans, and mollusks. (b) Of or pertaining to the genus
Xylophaga.
Xylophilan
Xy*loph"i*lan (?), n. [See Xylophilous.] (Zo\'94l.) One of a tribe of
beetles (Xylophili) whose larv\'91 live on decayed wood.
Xylophilous
Xy*loph"i*lous (?), a. [Xylo- + Gr. filei^n to love.] (Zo\'94l.) Of or
pertaining to the xylophilans.
Xylophone
Xy"lo*phone (?), n. [Xylo- + Gr. fwnh` sound.]
1. (Mus.) An instrument common among the Russians, Poles, and Tartars,
consisting of a series of strips of wood or glass graduated in length
to the musical scale, resting on belts of straw, and struck with two
small hammers. Called in Germany strohfiedel, or straw fiddle.
2. An instrument to determine the vibrative properties of different
kinds of wood. Knight.
Xyloplastic
Xy`lo*plas"tic (?), a. [Xylo- + -plastic.] (Technol.) Formed of wood
pulp by molds; relating to casts made of wood pulp in molds.
Xylopyrography
Xy`lo*py*rog"ra*phy (?). n. [Xylo- + Gr. -graphy.] The art or practice
of burning pictures on wood with a hot iron; -- called also poker
painting. See Poker picture, under Poker.<-- also, wood burning. -->
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Xyloquinone
Xy`lo*qui"none (?), n. [Xylene + quinone.] (Chem.) Any one of a group
of quinone compounds obtained respectively by the oxidation of certain
xylidine compounds. In general they are yellow crystalline substances.
Xylorcin
Xy*lor"cin (?), n. [Xylene + orcin.] (Chem.) A derivative of xylene
obtained as a white crystalline substance which on exposure in the air
becomes red; -- called also betaorcin.
Xylostein
Xy*los"te*in (?), n. [Xylo- + Gr. (Chem.) A glucoside found in the
poisonous berries of a species of honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum),
and extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance.
Xytotile
Xy"to*tile (?), n. Same as Parkesine.
Xylotrya
Xy*lo"try*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. xy`lon wood + (Zo\'94l.) A genus of
marine bivalves closely allied to Teredo, and equally destructive to
timber. One species (Xylotrya fimbriata) is very common on the
Atlantic coast of the United States.
Xylyl
Xy"lyl (?), n. [Xylo- + -yl.] (Chem.) Any one of three metameric
radicals which are characteristic respectively of the three xylenes.
Xylylene
Xy"lyl*ene (?), n. (Chem.) Any one of three metameric radicals,
CH2.C6H4.CH2, derived respectively from the three xylenes. Often used
adjectively; as, xylylene alcohol.
Xyridaceous
Xyr`i*da"ceous (?), a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to a natural order
(Xyride\'91) of endogenous plants, of which Xyris is the type.
Xyris
Xy"ris (?), n. [L., a kind of Iris, Gr. (Bot.) A genus of endogenous
herbs with grassy leaves and small yellow flowers in short,
scaly-bracted spikes; yellow-eyed grass. There are about seventeen
species in the Atlantic United States.
Xyst, Xystus
Xyst (?), Xys"tus (?), n. [L. xystus, Gr. (Anc. Arch.) A long and open
portico, for athletic exercises, as wrestling, running, etc., for use
in winter or in stormy weather.
Xystarch
Xyst"arch (?), n. [L. xystarches, Gr. (Gr. Antiq.) An office Dr. W.
Smith.
Xyster
Xys"ter (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Surg.) An instrument for scraping bo Y.