gentry (jentri)

[ Often tyme the gentrie of the body benimeth the gen terye of the soule. Chaucer , Parson's Tale. Where gentry , title, wisdom Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no Of general ignorance. Shak., Cor., iii. 1, I will forthwith his antique gentry read; And, for I love him, will his herald be. Sir J. Davies, Dancing. The gouernours neyther inheriting their offices, nor leauing eyther place or name of gentrie to their families. Purchas , Pilgrimage, p. 440. 2t. Family; gens. We have raised Sejanus from obscure and almost unknown gentry. B. Jonson, Sejanus, v. 10. 3t. Gentle breeding or manners; courtesy; civility. If I did not see in her sweet face Gentry and noblene , ne'er trust me more. B. Jonson , Case is Altered, ii. 3. 41. A gentle or noble quality or action; a gentlemanly characteristic. What say we eke of hem that deliten hem in swearing, and hold it a genterie or manly dede to swere gret othes? Chaucer, Parson's Tale. This Jason for his gentris was ioyfull till all, Wele lou it with the lordes & the londe hole. Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), 1. 131. 5. The cla of well-born and well-bred people; people of good position; in England, the cla of people of means or leisure below the rank of the nobility, sometimes called the upper middle cla . That we do incite The gentry to this busine . Shak ., Cymbeline, iii. 7. Families amongst the gentry , or what on the continent would be called the lower nobility, that remembered with love the solemn ritual and services of the Romish Church. De Quincey, Secret Societies, i. More than one of the points to be noted are common to the nobility and the higher gentry or knightly body. Stubbs , Const. Hist., § 469. IMG:content-2216.png:[blocks in formation] who po e ed a gentle extraction, the "generosi," "men of family, of worship, and coat armour," are comprised both the knight, whether banneret or bachelor, and the squire. Stubbs, Const. Hist., § 477. 6. Persons of a particular cla : usually ap- plied in ironical civility to persons of an infe- rior sort. IMG:content-2217.png:[blocks in formation] His large obeisance puts to shame The proudest genuflecting dame Whose Easter bonnet low descends With all the grace devotion lends. But this coxcombically mingling Of rhymes, unrhyming, inter jingling, For numbers genuinely British Is quite too finical and skittish. genuinene (jen'u-in-nes), n. The state of be--geny. [L. or NL. -genia , from Copernicus his hypothesis will. To shew how day and night, winter and summer, arise out the fitne e and genuinene e of the hypothesis it self. Dr. H. More, Philos. Poems, notes, p. 414. It is not e ential to the genuinene of colours to be durable. Boyle . genu pectoral (jen-u-pek'tō-ral), a . [L. genu , =E. knee , + pectus ( pector- ), breast.] In pathol ., pertaining to the knees and the breast: as, in the genu pectoral position (that is, with the knees drawn up toward the breast). genus (jē'nus), n.; pl. genera (jen'e-rä), rarely genuses (jē'nus-ez). [In earlier use in the form gender (see gender , n . ); genus ( gener- ), birth, origin, a race, sort, kind (= Gr. γένος (γενε-, orig. *γενεσ-), descent, origin, a race, stock, etc., sex, gender, a generation, etc., = E. kin , q. v.), gen in L. gignere , OL. genere , beget, produce, Gr. γίγνεσθαι, 2d aor. γενέσθαι , mid. and pa ., be born, become, be, Skt. ✔ jan , beget. The words derived from the L. and Gr. ✓ gen , γεν , are very numerous: from L. are ge- nus, gender, n., gender, v., engender, general , gener- ate , generic, generous, congener , etc., genius , ge- gentile, gentle, genteel, gent, genty, jaunty, etc., nial , congenial , ingenious , engine , gin, etc., gens, genital, genitive, genuine , ingenuous , indigenous , progeny, progenitor , etc.; from Gr. are geneal ogy, genesis , biogenesis , etc., genetic , hetero gene- geobotanical (jēō-bo-tan'i-kal), a. Relating plants; phytogeographical. Nature , XXXVII. 570. oxygen , etc., go no calyx , gonophore , etc., cosmog- ous, homogeneous, endogen, exogen, hydrogen, to geographical botany, or the distribution of ony, geogony, theogony, etc., and many other words in -gen, -genic, -genous , -geny, -gony, etc.] A kind; a sort; a cla . Technically - (a) In logic , that which can be predicated of things differing in spe- cies; a cla having other cla es under it. IMG:content-2218.png:[blocks in formation] (6) In zool . and bot . , a cla ificatory group ranking next above the species, containing a group of species (some- times a single species) po e ing certain structural char- acters different from those of any others. The value as- signed to a genus is wholly arbitrary that is, it is en- tirely a matter of opinion or current usage what charac- ters shall be considered generic and thus constitute a ge- nus; and genera are constantly modified and shifted by specialists, the tendency being mostly to restriction of gen- era, with the consequent multiplication of their number, and the coinage of new generic names. A genus has no natural, much le nece ary, definition, its meaning be- ing at best a matter of expert opinion; and the same is true of the species, family, order, cla , etc. A genus of the animal kingdom in the time of Linnæus and other early naturalists was a group of species approximately order. Probably upward of 100,000 generic names of as equivalent to a modern family, sometimes even to an many supposed genera have been coined or used in zoöl- ogy; those in current use at present are estimated at about 60,000, or an average of about (rather more than) one ge- nus for every five species in the animal kingdom. In botany the genera are le restricted and average a much larger number of species, the 9,000 phanerogamic gen- era, for example, including 100,000 species. The tenable name of any genus is that which has priority of public a tion, if it has been properly published and characterized, and is not the same as the prior name of some other genus. The names of the genus and the species together form the scientific name of an animal or a plant. In writing the technical name any animal plant, the generic term letter: as, Musca domestic a , the house-fly, where Musca is the genus, and domestic a differentiates the species. Genera are often subdivided into le er groups called subgenera, (See subgenus .) A group of genera constitutes a family or subfamily. The name of a genus as such has properly no plural. If a genus name, as for example Ada , is plural ized, as Adæ , it means, not two or more genera named Ada , but either ( a ) all the species of Ada , or ( b ) some su- per generic group of which Ada is the type. The former usage is loose, or somewhat cant; the latter is frequent and regular in zoology. A genus name is always supposed to be Latin (though its derivation is in the great majority of cases from the Greek), and its plural, if used, is in Latin form; but when it is also Anglicized an English plural is used: as, the chinchillas , the animals of the genus Chin- (c) In old music , a formula or method of dividing the tet- in which whole steps or "tones" were used; the chro rachord. Three genera were distinguished: the diatonic, matic, in which only half-steps or semitones were used; and Geocarcinidæ (jēō-kär-sin'i-dē), n . pl . [NL., Gecarcinus ) + -ida.] Same as Gecarcinida . Geocarcinus (jē-ō-kärsi-nus), n. geocentrically (je-o-sen'tri-kal-i), adv . In a geocentric manner. Geocichla (je-o-sik'la), n. [NL. (Kuhl, 1828 or earlier), γῆ , the earth, ground, + κίχλη, a thrush.] A large genus of turdoid or cichlo- morphic pa erine birds, belonging to the sub- family Turdinæ ; the ground-thrushes, of which there are about 40 species, of markedly terres- trial habits, and having a peculiar pattern of coloration on the wings. These thrushes are chiefly Asiatic (including the islands of the oriental region z00- logically related to Asia), but several are African, and a few Australian. None occur in Europe regularly. See ground- thrush, 2. [ Geocichla + geocichline (je-o-sik'lin), a . -ine2.] Resembling a ground-thrush; charac- teristic of or peculiar to the genus Geocichla : as, a geocichline thrush; "wing geocichline or psophocichline," Seebohm , Cat. Birds, British Museum, p. 146. Geo coccyx (jē-ō-kok's iks), n. [NL., Gr. γῆ , the earth, + κόκκυξ, a cuckoo: see coccyx .] A ge- nus of birds, of the family Cuculidæ or cuck- oos, and subfamily Saurotherine . They are char- acterized by having the head crested, the plumage coarse, variegated, and lustrous on the upper parts, the wings short and vaulted, the tail very long, of ten graduated tapering feathers, and the feet zygodactylous and large and strong, in adaptation to the terrestrial habits of the species. G. california nus is the typical species. It is a common bird of the southwestern United States, where it is variously known as the chaparral - cock , road - runner, snake- killer , paisano , and ground - cuckoo . Another species, G. affinis , occurs in Mexico. See cut under chaparral cock . IMG:content-2219.jpg:[blocks in formation] by means of direct observation and measure- ment. The operations of topography and hydrography are now considered as extraneous to geodesy, but leveling of the most precise kind is included, as well as the obser- vation of the tides. Also geodetics . Of these feats, farther applied, is sprung the feat of ge- odesie , or land-measuring, more cunningly to measure and surveigh land, woods, and waters, afar off. geodete (jē'ō-dēt), n. [ geodesy , with accom. term. as in exegete .] Same as geodesist . Dangerous ascents and solitary life on the top of high mountains, with no other society than that of the few as- sistants who accompany him, are common occurrences for the geodete . Pop. Sci. Mo., XXX. 244. geodetic (jē-ō-detik), a. [ geodesy , with ac- com. term. as in genetic .] 1. Pertaining to extension of theorems of plane geometry to figures drawn on curved surfaces. Also geodesic , geodesical , geodetical . division, among them the common bedbug. It is a group of varying and indefinite extent. Also called Geocores geodetically (je-ō-det'i-kal-i), adv . In a geo- geodetical (je-o-det'i-kal), a . Same as geodetic . detic manner; in accordance with the princi- ples of geodesy. geodetics (je-o-det'iks), n. [Pl. of geodetic : see -ics .] Same as geodesy . Geodia (jē-ō'di-a), n . [NL., γεώδης , earth- like: see geode .] A genus of silicious sponges, giving name to a family Geodiida , of the group Tetract in ell inæ or the order Tetractinellida , hav- ing remarkably large and stout internal spicules. The genus first appears in the Jura ic period. These fo il sponges have some resemblance to geodes, whence the name. geodiferous (je-o-dif'e-rus), a. [ geode + L. ferre = E. bear1 .] Containing or abounding in geodes. geodiid (jē-od'i-id), n. A sponge of the family Geodiidæ (je-o-di'i-dē), n. pl . [NL., Geodia + -ida.] A family of tetraxonid or tetract i- nellid chorist i dan sponges, typified by the ge- nus Geodia , having small chambers and outlets and a cortex of globate spicules. Also Geodidæ. geodized (jē'ō-dīzd), a. [ geode + -ize + -ed2 .] Converted into a geode; having a hollow in- terior, the walls of the cavity being lined with crystals. IMG:content-2220.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-2221.jpg:[blocks in formation] Geoemyda (je-o-em'i-da), n. the earth, + ἐμύς, ἐμύς (ἐμυδ-, water tortoise: see Emyda .] tles, typical of a subfamily Geo emyd in a. J. Е. Gray, 1834. Also Geoemys . Geo emyd in a (jē-ō-em-i-di'nä), n. pl . [NL., Geoemyda + indled subfamily of Emydida or Clemmyida , typified by the genus Geoemyda . It was proposed for a species having the head covered with thick and hard skin, the fore legs covered in front with thick, hard, and unequal shields, and the toes very short. It includes terrestrial turtles of Asia and America. Those of America belong to the genera Chelopus (or Geo- geogeny (je-oj'e-ni), n . [ γῆ , the earth, + -γένεια, « ν γεν , produce: see- geny .] That branch of geology which relates to the theory of the earth's formation, and especially to the earlier stages of its development, and to its relations as a member of the solar system. Nearly identical in meaning with cosmogony as used by some writers. The word is not in general use among geologists. Also, more correctly, geogony . Geoglo um (je-o-glos'um), n. [NL., γῆ , the earth, + γλῶσσα, the tongue.) Earth- tongue, a genus of ascomycetous fungi found in bogs and meadows, all the species growing upon the earth. There are 7 British and a larger number of American species. geognosis (jē-og-no's is), n . [NL.: see geognosy .] Same as geognosy . IMG:content-2222.jpg:[graphic] clemmys) and Glyptemys . Geoffræa (je-of-re'ä), n. [NL., named in honor of E. F. Geoffroy , a French physician (1672- 1731). The name Geoffroy, Geoffroi, Godefroi , E. Geoffrey, Jeffrey, Godfrey, is of OHG. origin, G. Gottfried , and means 'God-peace': see God and frith .] A genus of leguminous trees of tropical America, of which there are four spe- cies. They have yellow fetid flowers, and bear a drupa- ceo us edible pod containing a single seed. The bastard Tonka bean of Brazil is obtained from a species of this Geodesmus (jē-ō-des'mus), n. [NL., γῆ , Geoffroya (je-of-roi'ya), n. [NL.] Same as the earth, + δεσμός , a band.] A genus of mo- Geoffræa. no go no porous dendrocœlous turbellarians, of the family Geoplanidæ , or land-planarians. Geo- geog. An abbreviation of geography . desmus bilineatus is found in potters' earth. Geogale (jē-og'ā-lē), n. envelop of air and water, its solid crust, and the probable condition of its interior. A. Geikie. (c) Local geology- that is, the description of the geological structure and character of special geographical regions or areas. Also geognosis. [The word is not in general use.]=Syn. Geol- ogy, Geognosy. See geology . geogonic, geogonical (je-o-gonik, -i-kal), a. Same as geogenic . geogony (jē-og'ō-ni), n . [ γῆ , the earth, + -γονία , generation, γεν , produce: see ge- nus .] Same as geogeny . geographer (je-og'ra-fér), n . [ geograph - y + -er1.] One who is versed in or treats of geog- raphy. The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: Dictionary geographical Geographical botany, distribution, horizon, mile, etc. See the nouns. - Geographical position of a place, its position as determined by latitude and longitude and its height above the sea-level. - Geographical zoology, zoögeography. geographically (je-o-graf'i-kal-i), adv. In a geographical manner; as regards geography. geographize (jē-og'ra-fiz), v. t.; pret. and pp. geo graph i zed, ppr. geo graph i zing. [ While Strabo was fully alive to the importance of the great rivers and mountain chains which (to use his own expre ive phrase) geographize a country, Ptolemy deals with this part of his subject in so carele a manner as to be often worse than usele . Encyc. Brit., XX. 96. geography (jē-og'ra-fi), n.; pl. geographies (-fiz). [= D. geografie = G. geographie = Dan. Sw. geografi = F. géographie = Sp. geografía = Pg. geo graph i a = It. geografia, L. geo graph i a, ent condition. Abbreviated geog. Strabo, in his werke of geographie - that is to saie, of the description of the earth - wryteth, etc. Udall , tr. of Apophthegms of Erasmus, p. 317. The study of geography is both profitable and delight. ful; but the writers thereof, though some of them exact enough in setting down longitudes and latitudes, yet in those other relations of manners, religion, government, and such like, accounted geographical, have for the most part mi ed their proportions. Milton, Hist. Moscovia, Pref. 2. A book containing a description of the earth or of a portion of it; particularly, a school-book for teaching the science of geography. - Botanical geography. Same as geographical botany (which see, under botany ). - Descriptive geography, that part of the science of geography which involves only a statement of facts. Analyzing, comparing, and reasoning upon these facts is the domain of physical geography, or phy siography. Medical geography, the description of the surface of the globe as regards the influence of situation on the health, vital functions, and diseases of its inhabitants. Dunglison. - Physical geography. See phys ical. Political and historical geography, the study of the division of the earth's surface among different tribes, peoples, and governments. Simple political geog raphy is the study of the present condition of things in that respect; historical geography investigates and records the changes in the governmental control of territory which have occurred from time to time. This branch of the science is, in fact, history from a geographical point of view, or that kind of history which, ligible, requires the aid of maps. - Sacred or Biblical geography, the geography of Palestine and other Oriental countries mentioned in the Bible, having for its object the elucidation of Scripture.