atropa

[In Sp. & Ital. atropa; from Gr. "Άτροπος ( Atropos ), one of the three Fates, infernal godde es, supposed to determine the life of man by spinning a thread. The genus Atropa is so called from its deadly effect.] Nightshade, or Dwale. A genus of plants belonging to the order Solanaceæ, or Nightshades. It contains but one British species, A. belladonna, or Deadly Nightshade. It is three or more feet high, has its ovate IMG:content-0867.png:[merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small] to at'-roph-ied. a . [In Fr. atrophie , pa. par. of atrophier; Gr. ἄτροφος ( atrophos ) = not well fed; ἀτροφέω ( atropheō ) = to have no food, and therefore to waste away: a, priv., and τροφέω ( trop heō ), or τρέφω ( trepho ) =. nourish. Or from à, priv., and τροφή ( trop he ) = food, nourishment.] Unfed, not supported by their proper nourishment: hence wasting or wasted away. (It is used of muscles, nerves, . "The muscles were in so atrophied a condition that the experiment failed."-Todd and Bowman: Physiol. Anat . , 1. 379. "When the eye is destroyed the optic nerve often becomes atrophied."-Darwin: Descent of Man, vol. L. pt. i., ch. iv. at-ro-pho us, a. [ATROPHY, s.] Characterised by atrophy. ăť-rô-phỹ, s. [In Fr. atrophie; Sp. & Ital. atrofia; Gr. ἀτροφία ( atrophia ).] [ATROPHIED.] Ord. Lang. & Med. A continual wasting of the body or its organs through disease or old age. "Pining atrophy, Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence." Milton : P. L., bk. xl. "All the organs, even the bones, tend to atrophy in advancing life."- Todd & Bowman: Physiol. Anat., vol. ii., p. 270.