Zea (zea)

[NL. (Linnæus, 1737; used earζέα, ζειά, a sort of lier by Brunfels, 153 Brunfels, 1530), grain used as fodder for horses.] A genus of gra es, type of the tribe Maydeæ. It is charac terized by monœcio us flowers, the male forming a terminal panicle, the female a large axillary se ile spike wrapped in numerous leaf-like bracts or husks, and consisting of pistillate flowers densely aggregated in many rows upon a thick unjointed rachis. The only species, Z. Mays, the well-known Indian corn or maize, long cultivated throughout many warm and temperate regions, is supposed to be a native of America, but is not now known in a wild state. It is a tall plant with unbranched robust stems, large light-green leaves, a handsome long-stalked terminal panicle (known as the ta el ), and very thick fertile spikes from the husks of which project long green slender styles known as the silk. The fruit is a hard roundish caryopsis (known as the kernel ) partly inclosed by the chaffy remains of the four glumes and broad palet - the kernels and their rachis (the cob ) forming the spike or ear of corn. The seeds furnish an invaluable food to man and to domestic animals; the stalks and leaves are used for fodder, and the husks are much used for filling mattre es and horse-collars, and for making door-mats; a coarse textile fabric, also, and paper of excellent quality, have been experimentally made from them. The cob, and sometimes the whole ear, is used as fuel. The chief value lies of course in the kernel. See maize, cut in preceding column, and cut under husk. Compare cornl. zeal (zel), n. [Early mod. E. zele; They have a zeal of [ for , R. V.] God, but not according to knowledge. Rom. x. 2. Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal . Shak., Rich. II., i. 1. 47. Controversial zeal soon turns its thoughts on force. Burke , Rev. in France. Macaulay , Warren Hastings.. His fervent zeal for the interests of the state. IMG:content-2734.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-2735.png:[ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small] These dayes of Ours may shine In Zeal - full Knowledge of the Truth divine. Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Decay. zealle (zēl'les), a . [ zeal + -le .] Lack- ing ing zeal. Bp . Hall . zealot (zel'ot), n. [OF. zelote , zelotes , ζῆλος , zeal: see zeal . ] 1. One who is zealous or full of zeal; one carried away by exce of zeal; an immoderate parti- zan: generally in a disparaging sense. He was one of those furious zealots who blow the bellows of faction until the whole furnace of politics is redhot with sparks and cinders. Irving, Knickerbocker, p. 299. Like all neutrals, he is liable to attack from the zealots of both parties. Whipple , E . and Rev., I. 62. 2. [ cap .] One of a fanatical sect or party (the Zelote) among the Jews of Palestine under Roman dominion, who on account of their exce es in behalf of the Mosaic law were also called Sicarii or A a ins . The Zealots gained the ascendancy in a civil war, and withstood the Romans so fiercely as to bring about the total destruction of Jerusalem, A. D. 70. Zealots are also mentioned (perhaps by confusion) as a sect of the E enes, similarly characterized by fanatical zeal for their ascetic practices. That desperate Faction of the Zealots , who, like so many Firebrands scattered up and down among them [the Jews], soon put the whole Nation into Flames. Stilling fleet , Sermons, I. viii. zealot i cal (zē-lot'i-kal), a . [ zealot + -ic - al . ] Having the character of a zealot; belonging to a body of zealots. One, Leviston, a zealot i cal Scotsman, a tailor, came with a gray suit of apparel [for a disguise) under his cloak. Court and Times of Charles I. , II. 80.