Osmose Os"mose noun [ Greek ..., equiv. to ... impulse, from ... to push.]
(Chemical Physics) (a) The tendency in fluids to mix, or become equably diffused, when in contact. It was first observed between fluids of differing densities, and as taking place through a membrane or an intervening porous structure. The more rapid flow from the thinner to the thicker fluid was then called endosmose , and the opposite, slower current, exosmose . Both are, however, results of the same force. Osmose may be regarded as a form of molecular attraction, allied to that of adhesion. (b) The action produced by this tendency. Electric osmose , or
Electric endosmose (Electricity) ,
the transportation of a liquid through a porous septum by the action of an electric current.
Osmosis Os·mo"sis noun [ New Latin ]
Osmose.
Osmotic Os·mot"ic adjective Pertaining to, or having the property of, osmose; as, osmotic force.
Osmund Os"mund noun (Botany) A fern of the genus Osmunda , or flowering fern. The most remarkable species is the osmund royal , or royal fern ( Osmunda regalis ), which grows in wet or boggy places, and has large bipinnate fronds, often with a panicle of capsules at the top. The rootstock contains much starch, and has been used in stiffening linen.
Osnaburg Os"na·burg noun A species of coarse linen, originally made in Osnaburg , Germany.
Oso-berry O"so-ber`ry noun (Botany) The small, blueblack, drupelike fruit of the Nuttallia cerasiformis , a shrub of Oregon and California, belonging to the Cherry tribe of Rosaceĉ .
Osphradium Os·phra"di·um noun ;
plural Osphradia . [ New Latin , from Greek ... strong scent, from ... to smell.]
(Zoology) The olfactory organ of some Mollusca. It is connected with the organ of respiration.
Osprey, Ospray Os"prey, Os"pray noun [ Through Old French from Latin
ossifraga (orig., the bone breaker); probably influenced by
oripelargus (mountain stork, a kind of eagle, Greek ...); confer Old French
orpres , and French
orfraie . See
Ossifrage .]
(Zoology) The fishhawk.
Oss Oss intransitive verb [ See
Osse ,
noun ]
To prophesy; to presage. [ R. & Obsolete]
R. Edgeworth.
Osse Osse noun [ Greek ....]
A prophetic or ominous utterance. [ R. & Obsolete]
Holland.
Ossean Os"se·an noun (Zoology) A fish having a bony skeleton; a teleost.
Ossein Os"se·in noun [ Latin
os bone.]
(Physiol. Chem.) The organic basis of bone tissue; the residue after removal of the mineral matters from bone by dilute acid; in embryonic tissue, the substance in which the mineral salts are deposited to form bone; -- called also ostein . Chemically it is the same as collagen .
Osselet Os"se·let noun [ French]
1. A little bone. 2. (Zoology) The internal bone, or shell, of a cuttlefish.
Osseous Os"se·ous adjective [ Latin
osseus , from
os ,
ossis bone; akin to Greek ..., Sanskrit
asthi . Confer
Oyster .]
Composed of bone; resembling bone; capable of forming bone; bony; ossific.
Osseter Os"se·ter noun [ Russ,
osetr' sturgeon.]
(Zoology) A species of sturgeon.
Ossianic Os`si·an"ic adjective Of or pertaining to, or characteristic of, Ossian , a legendary Erse or Celtic bard. The compositions might be fairly classed as Ossianic .
G. Eliot.
Ossicle Os"si·cle noun [ Latin
ossiculum , dim. of
os ,
ossis , a bone.]
1. A little bone; as, the auditory ossicles in the tympanum of the ear. 2. (Zoology) One of numerous small calcareous structures forming the skeleton of certain echinoderms, as the starfishes.
Ossiculated Os·sic"u·la`ted adjective Having small bones.
Ossiculum Os·sic"u·lum noun ;
plural Ossicula . [ Latin , a little bone.]
(Zoology) Same as Ossicle .
Ossiferous Os·sif"er·ous adjective [ Latin
os ,
ossis , a bone +
-ferous : confer French
ossifère .]
Containing or yielding bone.
Ossific Os·sif"ic adjective [ Latin
os ,
ossis , bone +
facere to make: confer French
ossifique . See
Fact .]
Capable of producing bone; having the power to change cartilage or other tissue into bone.
Ossification Os`si·fi·ca"tion noun [ Confer French
ossification . See
Ossify .]
1. (Physiol.) The formation of bone; the process, in the growth of an animal, by which inorganic material (mainly lime salts) is deposited in cartilage or membrane, forming bony tissue; ostosis. » Besides the
natural ossification of growing tissue, there is the so-called
accidental ossification which sometimes follows certain abnormal conditions, as in the ossification of an artery.
2. The state of being changed into a bony substance; also, a mass or point of ossified tissue.
Ossified Os"si·fied adjective Changed to bone or something resembling bone; hardened by deposits of mineral matter of any kind; -- said of tissues.
Ossifrage Os"si·frage noun [ Latin
ossifraga ,
ossifragus , osprey, from
ossifragus bone breaking;
os ,
ossis , a bone +
frangere ,
fractum , to break. See
Osseous ,
Break , and confer
Osprey ,
Ossifragous .]
(Zoology) (a) The lammergeir. (b) The young of the sea eagle or bald eagle. [ Obsolete]
Ossifragous Os·sif"ra·gous adjective [ Latin
ossifragus . See
Ossifrage .]
Serving to break bones; bone-breaking.
Ossify Os"si·fy transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Ossified ;
present participle & verbal noun Ossifying .] [ Latin
os ,
ossis , bone +
- fy : confer French
ossifier . See
Osseous .]
1. (Physiol.) To form into bone; to change from a soft animal substance into bone, as by the deposition of lime salts. 2. Fig.: To harden; as, to ossify the heart. Ruskin.
Ossify Os"si·fy intransitive verb (Physiol.) To become bone; to change from a soft tissue to a hard bony tissue.
Ossifying Os"si·fy`ing adjective (Physiol.) Changing into bone; becoming bone; as, the ossifying process.
Ossivorous Os·siv"o·rous adjective [ Latin
os ,
ossis , bone +
vorare to devour: confer French
ossivore .]
Feeding on bones; eating bones; as, ossivorous quadrupeds. Derham.
Osspringer Os"spring·er noun The osprey. [ R.]
Ossuarium Os`su·a"ri·um noun [ Latin ]
A charnel house; an ossuary. Walpole.
Ossuary Os"su·a·ry noun ;
plural -ries . [ Latin
ossuarium , from
ossuarius of or bones, from
os ,
ossis , bone: confer French
ossuaire .]
A place where the bones of the dead are deposited; a charnel house. [ Obsolete]
Sir T. Browne.
Osteal Os"te·al adjective [ Greek ... a bone.]
Osseous.
Ostein Os"te·in noun [ Greek ... bone.]
Ossein.
Osteitis Os`te·i"tis noun [ New Latin See
Osteo- , and
-itis .]
(Medicine) Inflammation of bone.
Osteler Os"tel·er noun Same as Hosteler . Wyclif.
Ostend Os·tend" transitive verb [ Latin
ostendere to show.]
To exhibit; to manifest. [ Obsolete]
Mercy to mean offenders we'll ostend .
J. Webster.
Ostensibility Os·ten`si·bil"i·ty noun The quality or state of being ostensible.
Ostensible Os·ten"si·ble adjective [ From Latin
ostensus , past participle of
ostendere to show, prop., to stretch out before; from prefix
obs- (old form of
ob- ) +
tendere to stretch. See
Tend .]
1. Capable of being shown; proper or intended to be shown. [ R.]
Walpole. 2. Shown; exhibited; declared; avowed; professed; apparent; -- often used as opposed to real or actual ; as, an ostensible reason, motive, or aim. D. Ramsay.
Ostensibly Os·ten"si·bly adverb In an ostensible manner; avowedly; professedly; apparently. Walsh. Ostensibly , we were intended to prevent filibustering into Texas, but really as a menace to Mexico.
U. S. Grant.
Ostension Os·ten"sion noun [ Latin
ostensio a showing: confer French
ostension . See
Ostend .]
(Eccl.) The showing of the sacrament on the altar in order that it may receive the adoration of the communicants.
Ostensive Os·ten"sive adjective Showing; exhibiting. Ostensive demonstration (Math.) ,
a direct or positive demonstration, as opposed to the apagogical or indirect method.
Ostensively Os·ten"sive·ly adverb In an ostensive manner.
Ostensorium, Ostensory Os`ten·so"ri·um, Os·ten"so·ry noun ;
plural Latin
-soria , English
-sories . [ New Latin
ostensorium : confer French
ostensoir . See
Ostensible .]
(R. C. Ch.) Same as Monstrance .
Ostent Os"tent noun [ Latin
ostentus ,
ostentum , from
ostendere (past participle
ostensus and
ostentus ) to show. See
Ostensible .]
1. Appearance; air; mien. Shak. 2. Manifestation; token; portent. Dryden. We asked of God that some ostent might clear
Our cloudy business, who gave us sign.
Chapman.
Ostentate Os"ten·tate transitive verb [ Latin
ostentatus , past participle of
ostentare , v. intens. from
ostendere . See
Ostent .]
To make an ambitious display of; to show or exhibit boastingly. [ R.]
Jer. Taylor.
Ostentation Os`ten·ta"tion noun [ Latin
ostentatio : confer French
ostentation .]
1. The act of ostentating or of making an ambitious display; unnecessary show; pretentious parade; -- usually in a detractive sense. "Much
ostentation vain of fleshly arm."
Milton. He knew that good and bountiful minds were sometimes inclined to ostentation .
Atterbury. 2. A show or spectacle. [ Obsolete]
Shak. Syn. -- Parade; pageantry; show; pomp; pompousness; vaunting; boasting. See
Parade .
Ostentatious Os`ten·ta"tious adjective Fond of, or evincing, ostentation; unduly conspicuous; pretentious; boastful. Far from being ostentatious of the good you do.
Dryden. The ostentatious professions of many years.
Macaulay. --
Os`ten*ta"tious*ly ,
adverb --
Os`ten*ta"tious*ness ,
noun
Ostentator Os"ten·ta`tor noun [ Latin ]
One fond of display; a boaster. Sherwood.
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