comptness

[Eng. compt; -ne .] Neatne , sprucene . (Sherwood.) comptoir (oir as war), s . [Fr.] 1. A counter. 2. A counting-house. comp-tom-e-ter, s. [OE. compt =an account, computation, or reckoning, and Gr. metron measure. A calculating machine that is operated by a key-board in the manner of a typewriter. It consists of a box entirely enclosing the mechanism, with the operating keys projecting from the box in typewriter fashion. Along the front edge of the box are openings in which numbers appear, and above these openings are pointers. The keys are seventy two in number, and each has two figures painted on it. One is a large black figure and the other a small red one. The black ones indicate the keys that are to be struck in addition and multiplication, and the red ones those to be struck in division and subtraction. The succe ful operation of the machine depends upon the practice of the operator in the same manner that efficiency on the typewriter depends upon the amount of practice that the operator has had. No proficiency in mathematics is required on the part of the operator; anyone skilled in handling the keys can rattle away on the comp to meter as confidently as if he were writing letters on a typewriter, and all the time be adding up large sums or dividing millions by you sands without any of the laborious thinking usually required of the mathematician, the bookkeeper and the accountant. comp-ton-i-a, s. [Named after Henry Compton, Bishop of London, who introduced many plants to notice of botanists. Bot.: A genus of plants, order Myricacese (Gale worts). Benzoic and tannic acid, with a resinous matter, occur in the aromatic bark of Compt on i a asp len i folia . It is astringent and tonic, and is used as a domestic remedy in cases of diarrhea.