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Z
Z, the twenty-sixth and last letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. It is taken from the Latin letter Z, which came from the Greek alphabet, this having it from a Semitic source. The ultimate origin is probably Egyptian. Etymologically, it is most closely related to , , and ; as in gla, glae; E. oke, Gr., L. ugum; E. ealous, ealous. See , 273, 274.
Za
An old solfeggio name for B flat; the seventh harmonic, as heard in the or olian string; -- so called by Tartini. It was long considered a false, but is the true note of the chord of the flat seventh.
Zabian
See .
Zacco
See .
Zaerthe
Same as .
Zaffer
A pigment obtained, usually by roasting cobalt glance with sand or quartz, as a dark earthy powder. It consists of crude cobalt oxide, or of an impure cobalt arseniate. It is used in porcelain painting, and in enameling pottery, to produce a blue color, and is often confounded with smalt, from which, however, it is distinct, as it contains no potash. The name is often loosely applied to mixtures of zaffer proper with silica, or oxides of iron, manganese, etc.
Zalambdodont
Of or pertaining to a tribe () of Insectivora in which the molar teeth have but one V-shaped ridge.
Zalambdodont
One of the . The tenrec, solenodon, and golden moles are examples.
Zamang
An immense leguminous tree () of Venezuela. Its branches form a hemispherical mass, often one hundred and eighty feet across. The sweet pulpy pods are used commonly for feeding cattle. Also called .
Zambo
The child of a mulatto and a negro; also, the child of an Indian and a negro; colloquially or humorously, a negro; a sambo.
Zany
A merry-andrew; a buffoon.
Zany
To mimic.
zap
to shoot, destroy, or inactivate; .
Zapatera
A cured olive which has spoiled or is on the verge of decomposition; loosely, an olive defective because of bruises, wormholes, or the like.
Zaphrentis
An extinct genus of cyathophylloid corals common in the Paleozoic formations. It is cup-shaped with numerous septa, and with a deep pit in one side of the cup.
Zapotilla
See .
Zareba
An improvised stockade; especially, one made of thorn bushes, etc.
Zarnich
Native sulphide of arsenic, including sandarach, or realgar, and orpiment.
Zauschneria
A genus of flowering plants. is a suffrutescent perennial, with showy red flowers much resembling those of the garden fuchsia.
Zea
A genus of large grasses of which the Indian corn () is the only species known. Its origin is not yet ascertained. See .
Zealed
Full of zeal; characterized by zeal.
Zealotist
A zealot.
Zealotry
The character and behavior of a zealot; excess of zeal; fanatical devotion to a cause.
Zebra
Any member of three species of African wild horses remarkable for having the body white or yellowish white, and conspicuously marked with dark brown or brackish bands.
Zebub
A large noxious fly of Abyssinia, which like the tsetse fly, is destructive to cattle.
Zed
The letter ; -- called also , and formerly .
Zeekoe
A hippopotamus.
Zein
A nitrogenous substance of the nature of gluten, obtained from the seeds of Indian corn () as a soft, yellowish, amorphous substance.
Zeitgeist
The spirit of the time; the general intellectual and moral state or temper characteristic of any period of time.
Zend
Properly, the translation and exposition in the Huzvacirc;resh, or literary Pehlevi, language, of the Avesta, the Zoroastrian sacred writings; as commonly used, the language (an ancient Persian dialect) in which the Avesta is written.
Zend-Avesta
The sacred writings of the ancient Persian religion, attributed to Zoroaster, but chiefly of a later date.
Zendik
An atheist or unbeliever; -- name given in the East to those charged with disbelief of any revealed religion, or accused of magical heresies.
Zeolitic
Of or pertaining to a zeolite; consisting of, or resembling, a zeolite.
Zeppelin
A dirigible balloon of the rigid type, consisting of a cylindrical trussed and covered frame supported by internal gas cells, and provided with means of propulsion and control. It was first successfully used by .
Zequin
See .
Zerda
The fennec.
Zeriba
Same as .
Zeuglodon
A genus of extinct Eocene whales, remains of which have been found in the Gulf States. The species had very long and slender bodies and broad serrated teeth. See .
Zeugobranchiata
Same as .
Zeuzerian
Any one of a group of bombycid moths of which the genus is the type. Some of these moths are of large size. The goat moth is an example.
Zeylanite
See .
Zif
The second month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding to our May.
Zigzag
Having short, sharp turns; running this way and that in an onward course.
Zigzag
To move in a zigzag manner; also, to have a zigzag shape.
Zigzaggery
The quality or state of being zigzag; crookedness.
Zillah
A district or local division, as of a province.
Zimb
A large, venomous, two-winged fly, native of Abyssinia. It is allied to the tsetse fly, and, like the latter, is destructive to cattle.
Zinc
An abundant element of the magnesium-cadmium group, extracted principally from the minerals zinc blende, smithsonite, calamine, and franklinite, as an easily fusible bluish white metal, which is malleable, especially when heated. It is not easily oxidized in moist air, and hence is used for sheeting, coating galvanized iron, etc. It is used in making brass, britannia, and other alloys, and is also largely consumed in electric batteries. Symbol Zn. Atomic number 30. Atomic weight 65.38.
Zinco-
A combining form from ; in chemistry, designating as an element of certain double compounds. Also used adjectively.
Zincograph
A zinc plate prepared for printing by zincography; also, a print from such a plate.
Zinco-polar
Electrically polarized like the surface of the zinc presented to the acid in a battery, which has zincous affinity.
Zincous
Of, pertaining to, or containing, zinc; zincic; .
Zingaro
A gypsy.
Zingiberaceous
Of or pertaining to ginger, or to a tribe () of endogenous plants of the order . See .
Zinky
See .
Zinnwaldite
A kind of mica containing lithium, often associated with tin ore.
Zionism
Among the Jews, a theory, plan, or movement for colonizing their own race in Palestine, the land of Zion, or, if that is impracticable, elsewhere, either for religious or nationalizing purposes; -- called also .
Zip
To make, or move with, such a sound.
Zirco-
A combining form (also used adjectively) designating as an element of certain double compounds; zircono-; as in fluoric acid, sodium fluoride.
Zircona
Zirconia.
Zirconate
A salt of zirconic acid.
Zirconium
A rare element of the carbon-silicon group, intermediate between the metals and nonmetals, obtained from the mineral zircon as a dark sooty powder, or as a gray metallic crystalline substance. Symbol Zr. Atomic weight, 90.4.
zit
a .
Zizania
A genus of grasses including Indian rice. See , under .
Zizith
The tassels of twisted cords or threads on the corners of the upper garment worn by strict Jews. The Hebrew for this word is translated in both the Authorized and Revised Versions () by the word fringes.
Zoanthacea
A suborder of Actinaria, including and allied genera, which are permanently attached by their bases.
Zoanthodeme
The zooids of a compound anthozoan, collectively.
Zoanthus
A genus of Actinaria, including numerous species, found mostly in tropical seas. The zooids or polyps resemble small, elongated actinias united together at their bases by fleshy stolons, and thus forming extensive groups. The tentacles are small and bright colored.
Zocle
Same as .
Zoetrope
An optical toy, in which figures made to revolve on the inside of a cylinder, and viewed through slits in its circumference, appear like a single figure passing through a series of natural motions as if animated or mechanically moved.
Zoic
Of or pertaining to animals, or animal life.
Zokor
An Asiatic burrowing rodent () resembling the mole rat. It is native of the Altai Mountains.
Zllner's lines
Parallel lines that are made to appear convergent or divergent by means of oblique intersections.
Zollverein
Literally, a customs union; specifically, applied to the several customs unions successively formed under the leadership of Prussia among certain German states for establishing liberty of commerce among themselves and common tariff on imports, exports, and transit.
Zone
To girdle; to encircle.
Zoned
Wearing a zone, or girdle.
Zonure
Any one of several of South African lizards of the genus , common in rocky situations.
Zo-
A combining form from Gr. an , as in genic, logy, etc.
Zocytium
The common support, often branched, of certain species of social Infusoria.
Zogeography
The study or description of the geographical distribution of animals.
Zographer
One who describes animals, their forms and habits.
Zography
A description of animals, their forms and habits.
Zological
Of or pertaining to zology, or the science of animals.
Zologically
In a zological manner; according to the principles of zology.
Zomorphism
The transformation of men into beasts.
Zonule
Same as .
Zopathology
Animal pathology.
Zophytological
Of or pertaining to zophytology; .
Zopraxiscope
An instrument similar to, or the same as, the, the phenakistoscope, by means of which pictures projected upon a screen are made to exhibit the natural movements of animals, and the like.
Zotomical
Of or pertaining to zotomy.
Zoroastrism
Same as .
Zoster
Shingles.
Zulu
Any member of the tribe of Zulus; a Zulu-Kaffir. See .
Zulus
The most important tribe belonging to the Kaffir race. They inhabit a region on the southeast coast of Africa, but formerly occupied a much more extensive country. They are noted for their warlike disposition, courage, and military skill.
Zuntilde;ian
Of or pertaining to the Zuntilde;is, or designating their linguistic stock.
Zuntilde;is
A tribe of Pueblo Indians occupying a village in New Mexico, on the River.
Zygapophysis
One of the articular processes of a vertebra, of which there are usually four, two anterior and two posterior. See under .
Zygobranchiate
Of or pertaining to the Zygobranchia.
Zygodactyl
The zygodactylous birds. In a restricted sense applied to a division of birds which includes the barbets, toucans, honey guides, and other related birds.
Zygomatic
Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the zygoma.
Zygosis
The process of the merging of two gametes. Same as .
Zymase
A soluble ferment, or enzyme. See .
Zymic
Pertaining to, or produced by, fermentation; -- formerly, by confusion, used to designate lactic acid.
Zymology
A treatise on the fermentation of liquors, or the doctrine of fermentation.
Zymome
A glutinous substance, insoluble in alcohol, resembling legumin; -- now called , , or .
Zymophyte
A bacteroid ferment.
Zythem
See .