*axi*

a. [ Pref. ad- + maxillary. ] (Anat.) Near to the maxilla or jawbone. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Aëro-; Taxis. ] (Bacteriology) The positive or negative stimulus exerted by oxygen on aërobic and anaërobic bacteria. -- A`ër*o*tac"tic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

n. sn>1. [ Gr. 'ana` back, way from + fy`laxis security, protection. ] 1. (Med.) Hypersensitivity (to a foreign antigen) resulting from prior contact with the same or a related substance. [ WordNet 1.5 + AS ]

2. (Med.) An immediate but transient systemic reaction to an antigenic substance to which a person has become hypersensitized; it is characterized by the contraction of smooth muscle and capillary dilation. [ Stedman ] [ PJC + AS ]

The cascade of events is triggered by binding of the foreign antigen to immunoglobulin E and release of mediators such as histamine, bradykinin, serotonin, and slow-reacting substance from mast cells. It involves more than one organ system. The most commonly involved organs are skin, cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Anaphylaxis is manifested by a range of signs and symptoms including pruritus, urticaria, itching, dyspnea, abdominal pain and cardiovascular collapse (shock). A severe form of the reaction is called anaphylactic shock. [ Stedman ] [ PJC + AS ]

3. (Med) Anaphylactic shock. [ AS ]

n. 1. inability to make purposeful movements, but without paralysis or loss of sensory function. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adj. 1. having uncoordinated muscular movements, symptomatic of a CNS disorder.
Syn. -- apractic. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. tending to soothe or calm or tranquilize
Syn. -- calming, sedative, soothing, tranquilizing [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. drug that reduces nervous tension and gives peace of mind.
Syn. -- ataractic [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ ‖ } n. [ NL. ataraxia, Gr. 'ataraxi`a; 'a priv. + tarakto`s disturbed, tara`ssein to disturb. ] Perfect peace of mind, or calmness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. ataxique. See Ataxia. ] (Med.) Characterized by ataxy, that is, (a) by great irregularity of functions or symptoms, or (b) by a lack of coordinating power in movements. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ataxic fever, malignant typhus fever. Pinel. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ NL. ataxia, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; out of order; 'a priv. + &unr_; ordered, arranged, &unr_; to put in order: cf. F. ataxie. ] 1. Disorder; irregularity. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) (a) Irregularity in disease, or in the functions. (b) The state of disorder that characterizes nervous fevers and the nervous condition. [ archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) Loss of coordination in the voluntary muscles, especially the limbs; an inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements; it results in unsteady movements and a staggering gait. See also locomotor ataxia, an ataxia which occurs when attempting to perform coordinated muscular movements.
Syn. -- ataxy [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

Locomotor ataxia. See Locomotor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to an axis; of the nature of, or resembling, an axis; around an axis. [ 1913 Webster ]

To take on an axial, and not an equatorial, direction. Nichol. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) Belonging to the axis of the body; as, the axial skeleton; or to the axis of any appendage or organ; as, the axial bones. [ 1913 Webster ]

Axial line (Magnetism), the line taken by the magnetic force in passing from one pole of a horseshoe magnet to the other. Faraday. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In relation to, or in a line with, an axis; in the axial (magnetic) line. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. axilla. Cf. Axle. ] (Bot.) The angle or point of divergence between the upper side of a branch, leaf, or petiole, and the stem or branch from which it springs. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Situated in the axis of anything; as an embryo which lies in the axis of a seed. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Axillae [ L. ] (Anat.) The armpit, or the cavity beneath the junction of the arm and shoulder. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) An axil. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Axillary. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. pl. (Zool.) Feathers connecting the under surface of the wing and the body, and concealed by the closed wing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Axil. ] 1. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the axilla or armpit; as, axillary gland, artery, nerve. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Situated in, or rising from, an axil; of or pertaining to an axil. “Axillary buds.” Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Named in allusion to the form of the crystals, fr. Gr. &unr_; an ax. ] (Min.) A borosilicate of alumina, iron, and lime, commonly found in glassy, brown crystals with acute edges. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. axinomantia, Gr. &unr_; ax + -mancy. ] A species of divination, by means of an ax or hatchet. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. of or pertaining to axiology. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the study of values and value judgments. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. axioma, Gr. &unr_; that which is thought worthy, that which is assumed, a basis of demonstration, a principle, fr. &unr_; to think worthy, fr. &unr_; worthy, weighing as much as; cf. &unr_; to lead, drive, also to weigh so much: cf F. axiome. See Agent, a. ] 1. (Logic & Math.) A self-evident and necessary truth, or a proposition whose truth is so evident as first sight that no reasoning or demonstration can make it plainer; a proposition which it is necessary to take for granted; as, “The whole is greater than a part;” “A thing can not, at the same time, be and not be.” [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An established principle in some art or science, which, though not a necessary truth, is universally received; as, the axioms of political economy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Axiom, Maxim, Aphorism, Adage. An axiom is a self-evident truth which is taken for granted as the basis of reasoning. A maxim is a guiding principle sanctioned by experience, and relating especially to the practical concerns of life. An aphorism is a short sentence pithily expressing some valuable and general truth or sentiment. An adage is a saying of long-established authority and of universal application. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] Of or pertaining to an axiom; having the nature of an axiom; self-evident; characterized by axioms. “Axiomatical truth.” Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The stores of axiomatic wisdom. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By the use of axioms; in the form of an axiom. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. ] (Zool.) The spotted deer (Cervus axis or Axis maculata) of India, where it is called hog deer and parrah (Moorish name). [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Axes [ L. axis axis, axle. See Axle. ] A straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body, on which it revolves, or may be supposed to revolve; a line passing through a body or system around which the parts are symmetrically arranged. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) A straight line with respect to which the different parts of a magnitude are symmetrically arranged; as, the axis of a cylinder, i. e., the axis of a cone, that is, the straight line joining the vertex and the center of the base; the axis of a circle, any straight line passing through the center. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bot.) The stem; the central part, or longitudinal support, on which organs or parts are arranged; the central line of any body. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Anat.) (a) The second vertebra of the neck, or vertebra dentata. (b) Also used of the body only of the vertebra, which is prolonged anteriorly within the foramen of the first vertebra or atlas, so as to form the odontoid process or peg which serves as a pivot for the atlas and head to turn upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Crystallog.) One of several imaginary lines, assumed in describing the position of the planes by which a crystal is bounded. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Fine Arts) The primary or secondary central line of any design. [ 1913 Webster ]

Anticlinal axis (Geol.), a line or ridge from which the strata slope downward on the two opposite sides. --
Synclinal axis, a line from which the strata slope upward in opposite directions, so as to form a valley. --
Axis cylinder (Anat.), the neuraxis or essential, central substance of a nerve fiber; -- called also axis band, axial fiber, and cylinder axis. --
Axis in peritrochio, the wheel and axle, one of the mechanical powers. --
Axis of a curve (Geom.), a straight line which bisects a system of parallel chords of a curve; called a principal axis, when cutting them at right angles, in which case it divides the curve into two symmetrical portions, as in the parabola, which has one such axis, the ellipse, which has two, or the circle, which has an infinite number. The two axes of the ellipse are the major axis and the minor axis, and the two axes of the hyperbola are the transverse axis and the conjugate axis. --
Axis of a lens, the straight line passing through its center and perpendicular to its surfaces. --
Axis of a microscope or
Axis of a telescope, the straight line with which coincide the axes of the several lenses which compose it. --
Axes of coördinates in a plane, two straight lines intersecting each other, to which points are referred for the purpose of determining their relative position: they are either rectangular or oblique. --
Axes of coördinates in space, the three straight lines in which the coördinate planes intersect each other. --
Axis of a balance, that line about which it turns. --
Axis of oscillation, of a pendulum, a right line passing through the center about which it vibrates, and perpendicular to the plane of vibration. --
Axis of polarization, the central line around which the prismatic rings or curves are arranged. Brewster. --
Axis of revolution (Descriptive Geom.), a straight line about which some line or plane is revolved, so that the several points of the line or plane shall describe circles with their centers in the fixed line, and their planes perpendicular to it, the line describing a surface of revolution, and the plane a solid of revolution. --
Axis of symmetry (Geom.), any line in a plane figure which divides the figure into two such parts that one part, when folded over along the axis, shall coincide with the other part. --
Axis of the
equator, ecliptic, horizon (or other circle considered with reference to the sphere on which it lies), the diameter of the sphere which is perpendicular to the plane of the circle. Hutton. --
Axis of the Ionic capital (Arch.), a line passing perpendicularly through the middle of the eye of the volute. --
Neutral axis (Mech.), the line of demarcation between the horizontal elastic forces of tension and compression, exerted by the fibers in any cross section of a girder. --
Optic axis of a crystal, the direction in which a ray of transmitted light suffers no double refraction. All crystals, not of the isometric system, are either uniaxial or biaxial. --
Optic axis,
Visual axis (Opt.), the straight line passing through the center of the pupil, and perpendicular to the surface of the eye. --
Radical axis of two circles (Geom.), the straight line perpendicular to the line joining their centers and such that the tangents from any point of it to the two circles shall be equal to each other. --
Spiral axis (Arch.), the axis of a twisted column drawn spirally in order to trace the circumvolutions without. --
Axis of abscissas and
Axis of ordinates. See Abscissa. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Pref. bi- + axal, axial. ] (Opt.) Having two axes; as, biaxial polarization; biaxial crystals. Brewster. -- Bi*ax"i*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

{ n. Formerly also }. [ Chemical + Gr. &unr_; arrangement, fr. &unr_; to arrange. ] (Biol.) The sensitiveness exhibited by small free-swimming organisms, as bacteria, zoospores of algæ, etc., to chemical substances held in solution. They may be attracted (positive chemotaxis) or repelled (negative chemotaxis). -- Chem`o*tac"tic a. -- Chem`o*tac"tic*al*ly, adv. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adj. having a common axis.
Syn. -- coaxal. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. p. pr. of coax; as, the boys' coaxing voices. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Pleasingly persuasive or intended to persuade; as, bending in coaxing postures over the guns.
Syn. -- ingratiatory. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In a coaxing manner; by coaxing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biology) The movement of cells toward or away from other cells, as a result of some stimulation, such as chemical signals transmitted and received by the cells. [ PJC ]

a. [ Pref. ep- + axial. ] (Anat.) Above, or on the dorsal side of, the axis of the skeleton; episkeletal. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. 'epi` upon + &unr_; to drop. ] (Med.) Bleeding at the nose. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ a. (Bot.) Growing outside of the axils; as, an extra-axillary bud. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Fraxinus. ] (Chem.) A colorless crystalline substance (C16H18O10) found in the bark of the ash (Fraxinus), and along with esculin in the bark of the horse-chestnut. It is structurally a derivative of a coumarin glucoside. It shows a delicate blue-green fluorescence in alkaline solutions; -- called also paviin and fraxoside. MI-11br/ Syn. -- 8-(β-D-Glucopyranosyloxy)-7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one; also, 7, 8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-coumarin-8-β-D-glucoside; fraxetin-8-glucoside. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

‖prop. n. [ L., the ash tree. ] (Bot.) A genus of deciduous forest trees, found in the north temperate zone, and including the true ash trees. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Fraxinus excelsior is the European ash; Fraxinus Americana, the white ash; Fraxinus sambucifolia, the black ash or water ash. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. ] Same as Homotaxis.

{ } a. (Biol.) Relating to homotaxis. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; the same + &unr_; arrangement. ] (Biol.) Similarly in arrangement of parts; -- the opposite of heterotaxy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Hypo- + axial. ] (Anat.) Beneath the axis of the skeleton; subvertebral; hyposkeletal. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Infra + axillary. ] (Bot.) Situated below the axil, as a bud. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Infra + maxillary. ] (Anat.) (a) Under the lower jaw; submaxillary; as, the inframaxillary nerve. (b) Of or pertaining to the lower iaw. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Situated within or between the axils of leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Interaxes (Arch.) The space between two axes. See Axis, 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

The doors, windows, niches, and the like, are then placed centrally in the interaxes. Gwilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Intermaxillæ (Anat.) See Premaxilla. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) (a) Between the maxillary bones. (b) Of or pertaining to the intermaxillæ. -- n. An intermaxilla. [ 1913 Webster ]