gesneraceous (jesnerashius)

[NL. gesneraceus; Gesneria (jes-nē'ri-ä), n. [NL., named after Conrad von Gesner: see Gesnerian.] In zool.: (a) A genus of pyralid moths: same as Scopa ria. Hübner, 1816. (b) A genus of dipterous insects, of the family Muscid a. Robineau-Des roidy, 1830. Gesnerian (ges-nē'ri-an), a. [ When a smooth stone surface was to be painted, a thin coat of whitening or fine ge o was laid as a ground. Encyc. Brit., XVII. 46. Hence, by extension - (b) Any preparation applied to a surface to fit it to receive painting. [A shield] is formed of wood faced with canvas, on which is laid a ge o to receive the painting and gilding. J. Hewitt, Ancient Armour, III. 497. Ge o duro [It.: ge o, plaster; duro, hard], a fine prepared hard plaster used for works of sculpture; hence, a bas-relief composed of this material, generally colored as if in imitation of terra-cotta, and mounted in a frame wholly or in part of carved wood. These bas-reliefs are not uncommon in Italy; among them are works of some of the great masters of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The fine ge o duro of this relief,... which is in some respects superior to the marble, perhaps represents the master's original conception. C. C. Perkins, Italian Sculpture, p. 123, note. gest1t, n. A Middle English form of guest1 . The Porter eke to her did lout with humble gestes . Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 26. gesticulated, ppr. gesticulating. [ It. gest i col are = Pg. Sp. gesticular = F. gesticuler ), make mimic gestures, They [the Spaniards] talk louder, and argue with more vehemence than even the French or Italians, and gesticu late with equal, if not superior, eagerne . H. Swinburne, Travels through Spain, xlii. II. trans. To expre or represent by gestures; imitate; enact. [Rare.] To act the crimes these whippers reprehend, Or what their servile apes gesticulate . B. Jonson, Poetaster, To the Reader. The whole day pa ed in shouting and gesticulating our peaceful intentions to the crowd a embled on the heights on the opposite side of the river. Sir S. W. Baker , Heart of Africa, p. 227. Spenser , F. Q., III. ii. 24. gesticulation (jes-tik-ū-la's hon), n. [= F. ges ticulation = Sp. gesticulacion = Pg. gesticulação = It. gesticulazione , gest i col azione , gesticu latio ( n- ), gesticulari , gesticulate: see gesticulate.] 1. The act or practice of gesticulating or making gestures: as, his gesticulation is awkward. A slender tender Boy Where grace and beautie for the prize doo play:... Grace in each part and in each gest , alike. Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Trophies. gest4t, n. [A var. of gist1 .] 1. A stage, rest, or stop in traveling: same as gist1 . IMG:content-2256.png:[blocks in formation] 2. A list of the several stages of a journey; an itinerary; specifically, a roll or journal of the Gesticulation, which is an emotional manifestation, must be distinguished from pantomime, which is part of intellectual language. Pop. Sci. Mo., XXV. 176. 2. A gesture; an expre ive motion of the head, body, or limbs. At which [a strange and sudden music], they fell into a magical dance, full of præposter ous change and gesticula tions. B. Jonson, Masque of Queens. Indeed, that standing is not so simple a busine as we al progre in England. Many such gests are extant in the heralds' office. drunken man, who has lost the government of the centre of gravity. Paley, Nat. Theol., xi.