Apis

[Lat.] ( Zool.) A bee; a member of the fam Apida, q. v. ( Myth .) A bull to which divine honors were paid by the Egyptians, chiefly at Memphis, where he had a temple. According to the belief of the people, a cow became pregnant of him by a beam of light from heaven, coming particularly from the moon. It was nece ary that he should be black, with a triangle of white on the forehead, a white spot, in the form of a crescent, on the right side, and a sort of knot, like a beetle. under his tongue. continued till the priests had found a succe or to him. As it was extremely difficult to find one with all the above distinctions, fraud was often practised by the priests. Ap'ish, a . [From ape .] Having the qualities of an ape; imitative.-Silly; trifling; insignificant. - Foppish; affected. "Because I cannot flatter, and look fair, Duck with French nods and apish courtesy."- Shaks. Ap'ishly, adv. In an apish manner; foppishly; conceitedly.