curvative

[Mod. Lat. curvativus, from Lat. curvatus, and suff. -ivus.] Bot .: Having the margins slightly curved either backward or forward without any sensible twisting. ( De Candolle , in Lindley .) viz., by the one characterizing the species. All circles, for instance, are of the same species; they vary greatly in the length of their radii, but the motion of the describing point in all cases is regulated by the same law. There are two kinds of curve lines (1) algebraical or geometrical curves, and (2) transcendental or mechanical curves. By means of coordinates every algebraical function can be connected with a curve. Among the curves which have received names are the circle, the ellipse, the parabola, and the hyperbola; these are the curves specially treated of under conic sections. Rarer ones are the ci oid, the conchoid, the cycloid, various spirals, . In the higher algebra the word curve is used in so extended a meaning that it includes even a straight line, which looks like a contradiction in terms. 2. Engin .: A bend in road, canal, or railway; especially in the track of the latter. 3. Draughtsmanship: A draughtsman's instrument having one or a variety of curves of various characters other than arcs, which may be struck by a compa . Some are constructed for specific purposes, such as shipwright's curves, rad iı-curves, . 4. Geol.: A flexure or bending of strata. It is of two kinds, an anticlinal and a synclinal curve [(2), (4)]. When strata appear vertical, they often constitute part of a great curve. These curves may have arisen, as an old experiment by Sir James Hale showed, by lateral compre ion applied horizontally at the two ends of the strata at the time when they were horizontal. (1) Algebraic curves : Geom. & Alg .: Curves in which the relation between the absci a and the ordinate is expre ed by an algebraic equation called the equation of the curve. They are of various orders. In those of the first order the equation rises only to the second degree or dimension, in those of the second order it rises to the third degree or dimension, and so on in an ascending series. boil, boy; pout, jowl; cat, çell, chorus, chin, bench; go, gem; thin, this; cur-vět', *cor-vet, s . [Ital. corvetta =a curvet, a leap; corvet tare to curvet, or leap; O. Ital. cou are to bow, bend, curve; Lat. curvo.] I. Ordinary Language : 1. Lit.: In the same sense as II. 2. Fig.: A frolic, a prank. II. Manége : A particular leap of a horse, when he raises both his fore legs at once, equally advanced; and, as his fore legs are falling, he raises his hind legs, so that all four legs are off the ground at once. "Which should sustain the bound and high curvet Of Mars' fiery steed." Shakesp.: All's Well , ii. 3. cur-vět, v . i . & t. [CURVET, 8.] IMG:content-1626.png:[graphic] IMG:content-1627.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-1628.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-1629.png:[blocks in formation] "Irons to curvifie your flaxen locks." Jordan: Death Di ected (1649). curv-i-lin-ě-ad, s . [Lat, curv ( us )=curved, bent, and line a a line.] A drafting instrument used in describing irregular curves. The various shapes of its marginal outline enable it to be fitted into position, so as to project or transcribe the curve required. M. Desalier, of Paris, invented a machine for generating the curves and marking out the patterns. It is capable of making 1,200 varie ties of curves. †cur-vi-lin-e-al, a . [Lat. curv ( us )=bent, and lineal is consisting of lines; lineal.] The same as CURVILINEAR (q. v.).