phalansterian ism (falansteʻrianizm)

[ phalansterian + -ism.] That feature of the communistic system of Fourier which consisted in the reorganization of society into phalanxes, every one to contain about 1,800 persons who should hold their property in common. See Fourierism. phalansterism (fa-lan's te-rizm), n. [ Fourier. See Fourierism . phalanx (fa'langks or fal'angks), n.; pl. phalan ges (fa-lan'jez) or (except in anatomy) phalanxes (fa'langk-sez or fal'angk-sez). [= F. phalange = Pg. phalange = Sp. It. falange, Anon they move In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood Of flutes and soft recorders. Milton , P. L., L. 551. 2. Any body of troops or men formed in close array, or any combination of people distinguished for firmne and solidity of union.-3. In Fourier's plan for the reorganization of society, a group of persons, numbering about 1,800, living together and holding their property in common. See Fourierism.-4. In an at. and zool.: (a) A row or series of bones in the fingers or toes. Hence-( b ) One of the bones of the fingers or toes; a internode, succeeding the metacarpal or metatarsal bones, collectively constituting the skeleton of the third and distal segment of the hand or foot: so called from their regular disposition in several rows. The normal number of the phalanges of each digit is three. This is only exceptionally increased, as in the flippers of some cetaceans and extinct reptiles; but it is frequently reduced, as in most of the digits of birds, and in the inner digits of mammals which have five fingers and toes. In man the phalanges of the fingers and toes are each fourteen, three to every digit excepting the thumb and great toe, which have two apiece. The original implication of the term seems to have been any one of the cro -rows of small bones between the succe ive knuckles of the fingers or toes, or the longitudinal series of small bones of any one finger or toe. But usage transfers the sense of phalanx to any one of these bones, two or more of which are phalanges. See cuts under Artiodactyl a, carpus, Catarrh in a, foot, hand, Ichthyosauri a, and Ornithoscelida. (c) One of the fiddle-shaped cells of the lamina reticular is of the Cortian organ. Also called Deiters's phalanges.-5. In zool., a group or series of animals, of indeterminate cla ificatory value; one of several groups which may be interposed above genera and below cla es or orders. A phalanx frequently Peri odactyl a, pinion, Plesiosaur us, solidungulate, tarsus, corresponds in value to a subfamily, but has no recognized fixed place in cla ification. Sometimes synonymous with cohort or agmen. - Basilar phalanx, a phalanx of the proximal row. - Middle phalanx, a phalanx of the middle row. - Ungual phalanx, the terminal phalanx, on which is the nail. Man, or his Targuet, took away all the use of Arms and Limbs. Montaigne, E ays (tr. by Cotton, 1693), L. 493. Phalarideæ (fal-a-rid'ē-ē), n. pl. [NL. (Kunth, 1833), let with a single terminal flower, jointed to a pedicel, and generally with two rudimentary lateral flowers attached below the joint. See Phalaris, Alopecurus, and Hi erochloë.