Hylozoic

Belonging to hylozoism. -n. One who holds all matter to be animated. Hylozo'ism, n. [Gr. hule, matter, and zoe, life.] ( Phy. ) In the strict sense of the word, the doctrine that matter lives. Some writers have confined this name to the tenet of the anima mundi, or soul of the world; others, to the theory of a peculiar life residing in the whole of nature, approaching, therefore, in this sense, to pantheism. This life is either merely organic or actually sentient; the latter notion has been also called hylopathism. Hyʼmen, n. [Gr., Lat., & Fr.] ( Myth.) The Greek god of marriage, was son of Bacchus and Venus, or, according to another version, of Apollo and one of the Muses The people of Athens instituted festivals in his honor, and solemnly invoked him at their nuptials, as the Latins did their Thala ius. H. was generally represented as crowned with flowers, holding a burning torch in one hand, and in the other a vest of a purple color. It was supposed that he always attended at nuptials; for, otherwise, matrimonial connections were fatal, and ended in dreadful calamities; hence people ran about on these occasions, calling aloud, Hymen! Hymen! (Anat.) The semilunar, parabolic, or circular membrane situated at the outer orifice of the vagina in IMG:content-0669.jpg:[blocks in formation] -a. Belonging or relating to marriage. order or division of the alliance Fungales , distinguished by having spores generally quaternate on distinct sporophores, hymeneum naked. Hymenoptera, ( hi - men - op'te-ra,) n. [Gr. hymen, a membrane; pteron , a wing.] ( Entom . ) One of the orders into which insects are divided. They are characterized by po e ing four membranous wings, of which the anterior pair are the larger, and they cro horizontally over the body when in a state of repose. Of all the orders into which insects are separated, the H contains the largest number remarkable for development of instinctive powers and social qualities. The females are provided with an ovipositor, consisting chiefly of three elongated slender proce es, of which two serve as a sheath to the third. This ovipositor, in many species, is so organized that with it they are not only able to perforate the substance in which they deposit their eggs, but in many cases it serves as a weapon of de fence, and is the part which, in bees and wasps, is called the sting. With this weapon, which is barbed at the apex, they are able to kill their enemies, or render them torpid or powerle . The antennse are generally filiform setaceous. The mesa thorax and the metathorax are well developed; the pro to thorax is narrow. Hymenopterous insects are remarkable for the great development of the aerial trachese, which in many spe cies are placed in their abdomen, in pouches, and are very large in comparison with the size of the insects. They undergo what is termed incomplete metamorphosis; and in the greater number the larvæ are soft, whitish colored, and destitute of feet. In the imago, or perfect state, most hymenopterous insects live upon flowers, or at least often frequent them; some for the purpose of gathering honey, and others to find a safe retreat from whence they can attack their prey. The best-known families of the H. are the bees , the wasps , and the ants . Hymenop'teral, Hymenop'terous, a. Pertaining to the HYMENOPTERA, q. v Hymenop'teran, n (Zool.) One of the HYMENOPTERA, q. v. Hymettus. (Anc. Geog.) A mountain-range in Attica, situated to the S.E of Athens, and famous among the ancients for its honey and marble. It is composed of two summits, the N., or greater H. , 3,506 feet above sea, now called Telo - Vuni ; and the S., or le er H. , denominated Anhydrus ("the Waterle ") by the ancients, and now called Mavro -Vuni. Hymn, ( him ,) n. [Lat. hymn us; Gr. hymnos; probably from the same root as hydeo , to celebrate; allied to aeido, to sing.] An ode in praise of the Deity, or some divine personage. -v. a. To praise in song; to worship by singing hymns; to sing; to celebrate in song. -vn. To sing in praise or adoration. Hym'nal, n. A hymn. Hym'nic, a. Relating to hymns. Hym'ning, n. The singing of hymns. Hymnogʻrapher, Hymnologist, n. A writer of hymns.