*herm*

n. [ See Athermanous. ] Inability to transmit radiant heat; impermeability to heat. Tyndall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'a priv. + qermai`nein to heat, qe`rma heat: cf. F. athermane. ] (Chem.) Not transmitting heat; -- opposed to diathermanous. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Athermanous. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; weight + thermograph. ] An instrument for recording both pressure and temperature, as of the atmosphere. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. See Burgomaster. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Kermes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of deciphering. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; thoroughly warm; dia` through + &unr_; warm, hot. Cf. Diathermous. ] Freely permeable by radiant heat.

{ } n. [ See Diathermanous. ] The property of transmitting radiant heat; the quality of being diathermous. Melloni. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The doctrine or the phenomena of the transmission of radiant heat. Nichol. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; to warm through; dia` through + &unr_; to warm, &unr_; warm. ] Having the property of transmitting radiant heat; diathermal; -- opposed to athermanous. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Affording a free passage to heat; as, diathermic substances. Melloni. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; warm + -meter. See Diathermal. ] (Physics) An instrument for examining the thermal resistance or heat-conducting power of liquids. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Same as Diathermal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That branch of electrical science which treats of the effect of an electric current upon the temperature of a conductor, or a part of a circuit composed of two different metals. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. endo- + thermic. ] (Chem.) Designating, or pert. to, a reaction which occurs with absorption of heat; formed by such a reaction; as, an endothermic substance; -- opposed to exothermic. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Pref. exo- + thermic. ] (Chem.) Characterized by, or formed with, evolution of heat; as, an exothermic reaction; -- opposed to endothermic. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. [ Obs. ] See Furthermore. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Most remote; farthest. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Fishermen 1. One whose occupation is to catch fish. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) A ship or vessel employed in the business of taking fish, as in the cod fishery. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. or conj. Moreover; besides; in addition to what has been said. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Most remote; furthest. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. ge`a, gh^, the earth + E. thermometer. ] (Physics) A thermometer specially constructed for measuring temperetures at a depth below the surface of the ground. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. (Zool.) Same as Hematotherma. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Warm-blooded; homoiothermal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. a"i^ma blood + &unr_; warm.] (Zool.) A warm-blooded animal. [R.] [1913 Webster]

a. (Zool.) Warm-blooded; hematothermal. [ R ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., from Gr. a"i^ma, a"i`matos, blood + thermo`s warm. ] (Zool.) The warm-blooded vertebrates, comprising the mammals and birds; -- the antithesis to hematocrya. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Warm-blooded. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Hermae [ L. ] See Hermes, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Hermaphrodism. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. hermaphrodisme. ] (Biol.) See Hermaphroditism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. hermaphroditus, Gr. &unr_;, so called from the mythical story that Hermaphroditus, son of Hermes and Aphrodite, when bathing, became joined in one body with Salmacis, the nymph of a fountain in Caria: cf. F. hermaphrodite. ] (Biol.) An individual which has the attributes of both male and female, or which unites in itself the two sexes; an animal or plant having the parts of generation of both sexes, as when a flower contains both the stamens and pistil within the same calyx, or on the same receptacle. In some cases reproduction may take place without the union of the distinct individuals. In the animal kingdom true hermaphrodites are found only among the invertebrates. See Illust. in Appendix, under Helminths. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Including, or being of, both sexes; as, an hermaphrodite animal or flower. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hermaphrodite brig. (Naut.) See under Brig. Totten.

{ } a. 1. (Biol.) Partaking of the characteristics of both sexes; having male and female reproductive organs in the same plant or animal; characterized by hermaphroditism. Opposite of dioecious. [ wns=1 ]-- Her*maph`ro*dit"ic*al*ly, adv.
Syn. -- monoecious, monecious, hermaphrodite. [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

2. Specifically: (Botany) having pistils and stamens in the same flower. Opposite of diclinous. [wns=2]
Syn. -- monoclinous. [WordNet 1.5]

n. (Biol.) The union of the two sexes in the same individual, or the combination of some of their characteristics or organs in one individual.

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to interpret: cf. F. herméneutique. ] Unfolding the signification; of or pertaining to interpretation; exegetical; explanatory; as, hermeneutic theology, or the art of expounding the Scriptures; a hermeneutic phrase. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. According to the principles of interpretation; as, a verse of Scripture was examined hermeneutically. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; (sc. &unr_;). ] The science of interpretation and explanation; exegesis; esp., that branch of theology which defines the laws whereby the meaning of the Scriptures is to be ascertained. Schaff-Herzog Encyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. (Myth.) See Mercury. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Hermes Trismegistus [ Gr. 'Ermh^s trisme`gistos, lit., Hermes thrice greatest ] was a late name of Hermes, especially as identified with the Egyptian god Thoth. He was the fabled inventor of astrology and alchemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Archaeology) Originally, a boundary stone dedicated to Hermes as the god of boundaries, and therefore bearing in some cases a head, or head and shoulders, placed upon a quadrangular pillar whose height is that of the body belonging to the head, sometimes having feet or other parts of the body sculptured upon it. These figures, though often representing Hermes, were used for other divinities, and even, in later times, for portraits of human beings. Called also herma. See Terminal statue, under Terminal.

{ } a. [ F. hermétique. See Note under Hermes, 1. ] 1. Of, pertaining to, or taught by, Hermes Trismegistus; as, hermetic philosophy. Hence: Alchemical; chemic. “Delusions of the hermetic art.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

The alchemists, as the people were called who tried to make gold, considered themselves followers of Hermes, and often called themselves Hermetic philosophers. A. B. Buckley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to the system which explains the causes of diseases and the operations of medicine on the principles of the hermetic philosophy, and which made much use, as a remedy, of an alkali and an acid; as, hermetic medicine. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Made perfectly close or air-tight by fusion, so that no gas or spirit can enter or escape; as, an hermetic seal. See Note under Hermetically. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hermetic art, alchemy. --
Hermetic books. (a) Books of the Egyptians, which treat of astrology. (b) Books which treat of universal principles, of the nature and orders of celestial beings, of medicine, and other topics. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In an hermetical manner; chemically. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. By fusion, so as to form an air-tight closure. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A vessel or tube is hermetically sealed when it is closed completely against the passage of air or other fluid by fusing the extremity; -- sometimes less properly applied to any air-tight closure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. ermite, eremite, heremit, heremite, F. hermite, ermite, L. eremita, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; lonely, solitary. Cf. Eremite. ] 1. A person who retires from society and lives in solitude; a recluse; an anchoret; especially, one who so lives from religious motives. [ 1913 Webster ]

He had been Duke of Savoy, and after a very glorious reign, took on him the habit of a hermit, and retired into this solitary spot. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A beadsman; one bound to pray for another. [ Obs. ] “We rest your hermits.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Cookery) A spiced molasses cookie, often containing chopped raisins and nuts. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Hermit crab (Zool.), a marine decapod crustacean of the family Paguridae. The species are numerous, and belong to many genera. Called also soldier crab. The hermit crabs usually occupy the dead shells of various univalve mollusks. See Illust. of Commensal. --
Hermit thrush (Zool.), an American thrush (Turdus Pallasii), with retiring habits, but having a sweet song. --
Hermit warbler (Zool.), a California wood warbler (Dendroica occidentalis), having the head yellow, the throat black, and the back gray, with black streaks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. hermitage, ermitage, F. hermitage, ermitage. See Hermit. ] 1. The habitation of a hermit; a secluded residence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some forlorn and naked hermitage,
Remote from all the pleasures of the world. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ F. Vin de l'Hermitage. ] A celebrated French wine, both white and red, of the Department of Drôme. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. LL. hermitorium, eremitorium. ] A cell annexed to an abbey, for the use of a hermit. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A female hermit. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or suited for, a hermit. Coventry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. hermodactylus, lit., Hermes' finger; fr. Gr. &unr_; Hermes + &unr_; finger. ] (med.) A heart-shaped bulbous root, about the size of a finger, brought from Turkey, formerly used as a cathartic. [ 1913 Webster ]