GRAVITATION

n. Gra2v-i2t-a's hu3n. From gravitas, weight. Fr., g., attraction universelle. Ger., G., all gem eine Schwere (oder Schwerkraft). It., grav it azione. 1. The force by virtue of which every particle of matter attracts every other particle of matter with an intensity directly proportionate to the ma of the attracting particles and inversely proportional to the square of the distance of the body attracted! It is sometimes called the ma -force, because it operates between ma es and not between molecules. Weight is one of the forms in which g. is manifested. [B.] See WEIGHT. 2. Movement in accordance with gravity (e. g., the sinking downward of a collection of pus). Terrestrial g. The force of g. as limited to the action of the earth; the force by virtue of which all bodies tend to fall toward the earth. [B.] Universal g. See G. [s. 239]