*theo*

n. pl. Apotheoses [ L., fr. Gr. 'apoqe`wsis, fr. 'apoqewy^n to deify; 'apo` from + qewy^n to deify, qeo`s a god. ] 1. The act of elevating a mortal to the rank of, and placing him among, “the gods;” deification. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Glorification; exaltation. “The apotheosis of chivalry.” Prescott. “The noisy apotheosis of liberty and machinery.” F. Harrison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To exalt to the dignity of a deity; to declare to be a god; to deify; to glorify. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + theology. ] Theology founded on observation or knowledge of the celestial bodies. Derham. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Opposed to theology; atheistic. Bp. Montagu. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. a- not + theology. ] Antagonism to theology. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; without God. See Atheist. ] 1. Atheistic; impious. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Without God, neither accepting nor denying him. [ 1913 Webster ]

I should say science was atheous, and therefore could not be atheistic. Bp. of Carlisle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Astronomy, Cosmology) The theory that the known universe originated in an explosive event (the big bang) in which all of the matter and energy of the universe was contained in a single point and began to rapidly expand and evolve, starting as high-energy particles and radiation, and, as it cooled over time, evolving into ordinary subatomic particles, atoms, and then stars and galaxies. According to this theory, the four-dimensional space-time continuum which we perceive as our universe continues to expand to the present time, but it is unknown whether the expansion will continue indefinitely or eventually stop or even reverse, possibly leading to a contraction to a single point sometimes referred to as the “big crunch”. The competing “Steady-state Theory” gradually lost favor in the 1980's and 1990's. See also big bang. [ PJC ]

n. (Math., Engineering) That branch of Mathematics and Engineering which deals with the design, identification and analysis of systems with a view towards controlling them, i. e., to make them perform specific tasks or make them behave in a desired way. [ GG ]

. (Philol.) The theory which maintains that the primitive elements of language are reflex expressions induced by sensory impressions; that is, as stated by Max Müller, the creative faculty gave to each general conception as it thrilled for the first time through the brain a phonetic expression; -- jocosely so called from the analogy of the sound of a bell induced by the stroke of the clapper. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. A political theory current in the 1960's, according to which the conversion of one country in South Asia to communism will start a sequential process causing all Asian countries to convert to Communism. The apparent assumption was that an Asian country politically aligned with the West was as politically unstable as a domino standing on edge. It was used by some as a justification for American involvement in the Vietnam war, 1964-1972. [ PJC ]

a. [ NL. etheostoma name of a genus + -oid. ] (Zoöl.) Pertaining to, or like, the genus Etheostoma. -- n. Any fish of the genus Etheostoma and related genera, allied to the perches; -- also called darter. The etheostomoids are small and often bright-colored fishes inhabiting the fresh waters of North America. About seventy species are known, including the rare snail darter (Percina tanasi), 3 inches long, found only in the Tennessee River and classified as a threatened species. See Darter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A branch of mathematics that deals with strategies for maximizing gains or minimizing losses in competitive situations having defined constraints and involving random factors. Game theory is used for modelling and analysis of various decision-making situations such as military strategy or business policy. The theoretical models study the interactions among opposing entities called "players," where different kinds of situation can arise, for which the probabilities of occurence are known. Also known is the set of decisions each player can take. When a player takes a decision he makes a gain or incurs a loss. Based on the available knowledge each player tries to adopt a "strategy" so as to maximize his gains. The entire procedure constitutes a game.
Syn. -- theory of games. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. 1. (Biol.) The theory that living organisms can be produced only by the development of living germs. Cf. Biogenesis, Abiogenesis. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Med.) The theory which attributes contagious and infectious diseases, suppurative lesions, etc., to the agency of germs, i.e. pathogenic microorganisms. The science of bacteriology was developed after this theory had been established. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. (Theoretical physics) Any of a class of physics theories that attempts to explain the electroweak forces, stong force, and gravitation within a single mathematical conceptual scheme. In the 1990's string theory and superstring theory were prominent examples. Abbreviated GUT, plural GUTs. [ PJC ]

n. (Math., Telecommunications) The science which studies the capacity of systems to contain, store, and transmit information{ 2 and 4 }, and the factors such as noise and channel capacity that may affect the rate or accuracy of information transmission and reception. [ PJC ]

n. [ NL., fr. Gr. lh`qh. ] (Med.) Sulphuric ether used as an anæsthetic agent. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To subject to the influence of letheon. [ R. or Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Malthus' theory that population increase would outpace increases in the means of subsistence; Malthusianism. See Malthusian. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. 'wqei^n to push + -scope. ] (Physics) An instrument for exhibiting the repulsive action produced by light or heat in an exhausted vessel; a modification of the radiometer. W. Crookes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One versed in pantheology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pan- + theology. ] A system of theology embracing all religions; a complete system of theology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. pantheon, pantheum, Gr. pa`nqeion (sc. 'iero`n), fr. pa`nqeios of all gods; pa^s, pa^n, all + qe`os a god: cf. F. panthéon. See Pan-, and Theism. ] 1. A temple dedicated to all the gods; especially, the building so called at Rome. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The collective gods of a people, or a work treating of them; as, a divinity of the Greek pantheon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An arrangement of two photographic cameras, the plates of which may be brought into exactly the same plane, used in surveying and map making. From the differences between two pictures taken at the same moment, measurements in all dimensions of the region may be obtained. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Physico- + theology. ] Theology or divinity illustrated or enforced by physics or natural philosophy. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Physiol. Chem.) A theory proposed by P. Ehrlich as a chemical explanation of immunity phenomena. In brief outline it is as follows: Animal cells and bacteria are complex aggregations of molecules, which are themselves complex. Complex molecules react with one another through certain of their side chains, but only when these side chains have a definite correspondence in structure (this accounts for the specific action of antitoxins). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Physics) A mathematical theory for describing the properties of fundamental particles, which represents the particles as one-dimensional string-like objects, which exist in the normal four dimensions of space-time plus additional dimensions, the total dimensions being ten, eleven, or twenty-six depending on the version of the theory. The properties of fundamental particles in string theory and their manner of interaction with each other depend upon the modes of vibration of the strings{ 17 }. The attractiveness of this theory rests in part on its ability to provide a unified treatment of gravity as well as the three other basic forces of nature, in a manner consistent with quantum mechanics. The great difficulty of doing the calculations required by the theory, however, has thus far (1999) made it impossible to calculate the observable properties, such as the mass, of known particles, such as the electron, proton, mesons, quarks, and neutron; thus there is as yet no experimental verification for the theory. The most popular version of the theory depends on a mathematical property called supersymmetry, and the theory derived form this principle is properly called superstring theory, a term which is often used interchangeably with string theory. See also string{ 17 }. [ PJC ]

n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; a god + &unr_; food, fr. &unr_; to eat: cf. F. théobrome. ] (Bot.) A genus of small trees. See Cacao. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid extracted from cacao butter (from the Theobroma Cacao), peanut oil (from Arachis hypogaea), etc., as a white waxy crystalline substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) An alkaloidal ureide, C7H8N4O2, homologous with and resembling caffeine, produced artificially, and also extracted from cacao and chocolate (from Theobroma Cacao) as a bitter white crystalline substance; -- called also dimethyl xanthine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; God + &unr_; anointed, fr. &unr_; to anoint. ] Anointed by God. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; God + &unr_; to be strong, to rule, fr. &unr_; strength: cf. F. théocratie. See Theism, and cf. Democracy. ] 1. Government of a state by the immediate direction or administration of God; hence, the exercise of political authority by priests as representing the Deity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state thus governed, as the Hebrew commonwealth before it became a kingdom. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; union of the soul with God; &unr_; God + &unr_; a mixing, akin to &unr_; to mix. ] 1. A mixture of the worship of different gods, as of Jehovah and idols. [ 1913 Webster ]

This syncretistic theocracy by no means excludes in him [ Solomon ] the proper service of idols. J. Murphy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Philos.) An intimate union of the soul with God in contemplation, -- an ideal of the Neoplatonists and of some Oriental mystics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who lives under a theocratic form of government; one who in civil affairs conforms to divine law. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. théocratique. ] Of or pertaining to a theocracy; administred by the immediate direction of God; as, the theocratical state of the Israelites. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. theodicaea, fr. Gr. &unr_; God + &unr_; right, justice: cf. F. théodicée. ] 1. A vindication of the justice of God in ordaining or permitting natural and moral evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That department of philosophy which treats of the being, perfections, and government of God, and the immortality of the soul. Krauth-Fleming. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Probably a corruption of the alidade. See Alidade. ] An instrument used, especially in trigonometrical surveying, for the accurate measurement of horizontal angles, and also usually of vertical angles. It is variously constructed. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The theodolite consists principally of a telescope, with cross wires in the focus of its object glass, clamped in Y's attached to a frame that is mounted so as to turn both on vertical and horizontal axes, the former carrying a vernier plate on a horizontal graduated plate or circle for azimuthal angles, and the latter a vertical graduated arc or semicircle for altitudes. The whole is furnished with levels and adjusting screws and mounted on a tripod. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to a theodolite; made by means of a theodolite; as, theodolitic observations. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or relating to theogony. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Theogony. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A writer on theogony. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. theogonia, Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; a god + the root of &unr_; to be born. See Theism, and Genus. ] The generation or genealogy of the gods; that branch of heathen theology which deals with the origin and descent of the deities; also, a poem treating of such genealogies; as, the Theogony of Hesiod. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Formed like poetaster: cf. F. théologastre. ] A pretender or quack in theology. [ R. ] Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A theologian. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. théologien, L. theologus, Gr. &unr_;. See Theology. ] A person well versed in theology; a professor of theology or divinity; a divine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Theological. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. theologicus, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. théologique. ] Of or pertaining to theology, or the science of God and of divine things; as, a theological treatise. -- The`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. Theology. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A theologian. [ 1913 Webster ]