Polarization Po`lar·i·za"tion noun [ Confer French polarisation .]

1. The act of polarizing; the state of being polarized, or of having polarity.

2. (Opt.) A peculiar affection or condition of the rays of light or heat, in consequence of which they exhibit different properties in different directions.

» If a beam of light, which has been reflected from a plate of unsilvered glass at an angle of about 56°, be received upon a second plate of glass similar to the former, and at the same angle of incidence, the light will be readily reflected when the two planes of incidence are parallel to each other, but will not be reflected when the two planes of incidence are perpendicular to each other. The light has, therefore, acquired new properties by reflection from the first plate of glass, and is called polarized light , while the modification which the light has experienced by this reflection is called polarization . The plane in which the beam of light is reflected from the first mirror is called the plane of polarization . The angle of polarization is the angle at which a beam of light must be reflected, in order that the polarization may be the most complete. The term polarization was derived from the theory of emission, and it was conceived that each luminous molecule has two poles analogous to the poles of a magnet; but this view is not now held. According to the undulatory theory, ordinary light is produced by vibrations transverse or perpendicular to the direction of the ray, and distributed as to show no distinction as to any particular direction. But when, by any means, these, vibrations are made to take place in one plane, the light is said to be plane polarized . If only a portion of the vibrations lie in one plane the ray is said to be partially polarized . Light may be polarized by several methods other than by reflection, as by refraction through most crystalline media, or by being transmitted obliquely through several plates of glass with parallel faces. If a beam of polarized light be transmitted through a crystal of quartz in the direction of its axis, the plane of polarization will be changed by an angle proportional to the thickness of the crystal. This phenomenon is called rotatory polarization . A beam of light reflected from a metallic surface, or from glass surfaces under certain peculiar conditions, acquires properties still more complex, its vibrations being no longer rectilinear, but circular, or elliptical. This phenomenon is called circular or elliptical polarization .

3. (Electricity) An effect produced upon the plates of a voltaic battery, or the electrodes in an electrolytic cell, by the deposition upon them of the gases liberated by the action of the current. It is chiefly due to the hydrogen, and results in an increase of the resistance, and the setting up of an opposing electro- motive force, both of which tend materially to weaken the current of the battery, or that passing through the cell.

Polarize Po"lar·ize transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Polarized ; present participle & verbal noun Polarizing .] [ Confer French polariser .] To communicate polarity to.

Polarizer Po"lar·i`zer noun (Physics) That which polarizes; especially, the part of a polariscope which receives and polarizes the light. It is usually a reflecting plate, or a plate of some crystal, as tourmaline, or a doubly refracting crystal.

Polary Po"lar·y adjective Tending to a pole; having a direction toward a pole. [ R.] Sir T. Browne.

Polatouche Po`la`touche" noun [ French] (Zoology) A flying squirrel ( Sciuropterus volans ) native of Northern Europe and Siberia; -- called also minene .

Polder Pol"der noun [ D.] A tract of low land reclaimed from the sea by of high embankments. [ Holland & Belgium]

Poldway Pold"way` noun [ Confer Poledavy .] A kind of coarse bagging, -- used for coal sacks. Weale.

Pole Pole noun [ Confer German Pole a Pole, Polen Poland.] A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Polander.

Pole Pole noun [ As. pāl , Latin palus , akin to pangere to make fast. Confer Pale a stake, Pact .] 1. A long, slender piece of wood; a tall, slender piece of timber; the stem of a small tree whose branches have been removed; as, specifically: (a) A carriage pole, a wooden bar extending from the front axle of a carriage between the wheel horses, by which the carriage is guided and held back. (b) A flag pole, a pole on which a flag is supported. (c) A Maypole. See Maypole . (d) A barber's pole, a pole painted in stripes, used as a sign by barbers and hairdressers. (e) A pole on which climbing beans, hops, or other vines, are trained.

2. A measuring stick; also, a measure of length equal to 5... yards, or a square measure equal to 30... square yards; a rod; a perch. Bacon.

Pole bean (Botany) , any kind of bean which is customarily trained on poles, as the scarlet runner or the Lima bean. -- Pole flounder (Zoology) , a large deep-water flounder ( Glyptocephalus cynoglossus ), native of the northern coasts of Europe and America, and much esteemed as a food fish; -- called also craig flounder , and pole fluke . -- Pole lathe , a simple form of lathe, or a substitute for a lathe, in which the work is turned by means of a cord passing around it, one end being fastened to the treadle, and the other to an elastic pole above. -- Pole mast (Nautical) , a mast formed from a single piece or from a single tree. -- Pole of a lens (Opt.) , the point where the principal axis meets the surface. -- Pole plate (Architecture) , a horizontal timber resting on the tiebeams of a roof and receiving the ends of the rafters. It differs from the plate in not resting on the wall.

Pole Pole transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Poled ; present participle & verbal noun Poling .] 1. To furnish with poles for support; as, to pole beans or hops.

2. To convey on poles; as, to pole hay into a barn.

3. To impel by a pole or poles, as a boat.

4. To stir, as molten glass, with a pole.

Pole Pole noun [ Latin polus , Greek ... a pivot or hinge on which anything turns, an axis, a pole; akin to ... to move: confer French pôle .] 1. Either extremity of an axis of a sphere; especially, one of the extremities of the earth's axis; as, the north pole .

2. (Spherics) A point upon the surface of a sphere equally distant from every part of the circumference of a great circle; or the point in which a diameter of the sphere perpendicular to the plane of such circle meets the surface. Such a point is called the pole of that circle; as, the pole of the horizon; the pole of the ecliptic; the pole of a given meridian.

3. (Physics) One of the opposite or contrasted parts or directions in which a polar force is manifested; a point of maximum intensity of a force which has two such points, or which has polarity; as, the poles of a magnet; the north pole of a needle.

4. The firmament; the sky. [ Poetic]

Shoots against the dusky pole .

Milton.

5. (Geom.) See Polarity , and Polar , noun

Magnetic pole . See under Magnetic . -- Poles of the earth , or Terrestrial poles (Geology) , the two opposite points on the earth's surface through which its axis passes. -- Poles of the heavens , or Celestial poles , the two opposite points in the celestial sphere which coincide with the earth's axis produced, and about which the heavens appear to revolve.

Poleax, Poleaxe Pole"ax`, Pole"axe` noun [ Middle English pollax ; confer OD. pollexe . See Poll head, and Ax.] Anciently, a kind of battle-ax with a long handle; later, an ax or hatchet with a short handle, and a head variously patterned; -- used by soldiers, and also by sailors in boarding a vessel.

Polecat Pole"cat` noun [ Probably from French poule hen, and originally, a poultry cat, because it feeds on poultry. See Poultry .] (Zoology) (a) A small European carnivore of the Weasel family ( Putorius fœtidus ). Its scent glands secrete a substance of an exceedingly disagreeable odor. Called also fitchet , foulmart , and European ferret . (b) The zorilla. The name is also applied to other allied species.

Poledavy Pole"da`vy noun [ Etymology uncertain.] A sort of coarse canvas; poldway. [ Obsolete] Howell.

Poleless Pole"less adjective Without a pole; as, a poleless chariot.

Polemarch Pol"e·march noun [ Greek ...; ... war + ... leader, from ... to be first.] (Gr. Antiq.) In Athens, originally, the military commanderin-chief; but, afterward, a civil magistrate who had jurisdiction in respect of strangers and sojourners. In other Grecian cities, a high military and civil officer.

Polemic Po·lem"ic adjective [ Greek ... warlike, from ... war: confer French polémique .] 1. Of or pertaining to controversy; maintaining, or involving, controversy; controversial; disputative; as, a polemic discourse or essay; polemic theology.

2. Engaged in, or addicted to, polemics, or to controversy; disputations; as, a polemic writer. South.

Polemic Po·lem"ic noun 1. One who writes in support of one opinion, doctrine, or system, in opposition to another; one skilled in polemics; a controversialist; a disputant.

The sarcasms and invectives of the young polemic .

Macaulay.

2. A polemic argument or controversy.

Polemical Po·lem"ic·al adjective Polemic; controversial; disputatious. -- Po*lem"ic*al*ly , adverb

Polemical and impertinent disputations.

Jer. Taylor.

Polemicist Po·lem"i·cist noun A polemic. [ R.]

Polemics Po·lem"ics noun [ Confer French polémique .] The art or practice of disputation or controversy, especially on religious subjects; that branch of theological science which pertains to the history or conduct of ecclesiastical controversy.

Polemist Pol"e·mist noun A polemic. [ R.]

Polemoniaceous Pol`e·mo`ni·a"ceous adjective (Botany) Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants ( Polemoniaceæ ), which includes Polemonium , Phlox , Gilia , and a few other genera.

Polemonium Pol`e·mo"ni·um noun [ New Latin , from Greek ... a kind of plant.] (Botany) A genus of gamopetalous perennial herbs, including the Jacob's ladder and the Greek valerian.

Polemoscope Po·lem"o·scope noun [ Greek ... war + -scope : confer French polémoscope .] An opera glass or field glass with an oblique mirror arranged for seeing objects do not lie directly before the eye; -- called also diagonal, or side, opera glass .

Polemy Pol"e·my noun [ See Polemic .] Warfare; war; hence, contention; opposition. [ Obsolete]

Polenta Po·len"ta noun [ Italian , from Latin polenta peeled barley.] Pudding made of Indian meal; also, porridge made of chestnut meal. [ Italy]

Poler Pol"er noun One who poles.

Poler Pol"er noun An extortioner. See Poller . [ Obsolete] Bacon.

Polestar Pole"star` noun 1. Polaris, or the north star. See North star , under North .

2. A guide or director.

Polewards Pole"wards adverb Toward a pole of the earth. "The regions further polewards ." Whewell.

Polewig Pole"wig noun [ Confer Polliwig .] (Zoology) The European spotted goby (Gobius minutus) ; -- called also pollybait . [ Prov. Eng.]

Poley Po"ley noun (Botany) See Poly .

Poley Po"ley adjective Without horns; polled. [ Prov. Eng.] "That poley heifer." H. Kingsley.

Polianite Po"li·a·nite noun [ Greek ... to become gray.] (Min.) Manganese dioxide, occurring in tetragonal crystals nearly as hard as quartz.

Policate Pol"i·cate adjective (Zoology) Same as Pollicate .

Police Po·lice" noun [ French, from Latin politia the condition of a state, government, administration, Greek ..., from ... to be a citizen, to govern or administer a state, from ... citizen, from ... city; akin to Sanskrit pur , puri . Confer Policy polity, Polity .] 1. A judicial and executive system, for the government of a city, town, or district, for the preservation of rights, order, cleanliness, health, etc., and for the enforcement of the laws and prevention of crime; the administration of the laws and regulations of a city, incorporated town, or borough.

2. That which concerns the order of the community; the internal regulation of a state.

3. The organized body of civil officers in a city, town, or district, whose particular duties are the preservation of good order, the prevention and detection of crime, and the enforcement of the laws.

4. (Mil.) Military police, the body of soldiers detailed to preserve civil order and attend to sanitary arrangements in a camp or garrison.

5. The cleaning of a camp or garrison, or the state ... a camp as to cleanliness.

Police commissioner , a civil officer, usually one of a board, commissioned to regulate and control the appointment, duties, and discipline of the police. -- Police constable , or Police officer , a policeman. -- Police court , a minor court to try persons brought before it by the police. -- Police inspector , an officer of police ranking next below a superintendent. -- Police jury , a body of officers who collectively exercise jurisdiction in certain cases of police, as levying taxes, etc.; -- so called in Louisiana. Bouvier. -- Police justice , or Police magistrate , a judge of a police court. -- Police offenses (Law) , minor offenses against the order of the community, of which a police court may have final jurisdiction. -- Police station , the headquarters of the police, or of a section of them; the place where the police assemble for orders, and to which they take arrested persons.

Police Po·lice" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Policed ; present participle & verbal noun Policing .] 1. To keep in order by police.

2. (Mil.) To make clean; as, to police a camp.

Police power Police power (Law) The inherent power of a government to regulate its police affairs. The term police power is not definitely fixed in meaning. In the earlier cases in the United States it was used as including the whole power of internal government, or the powers of government inherent in every sovereignty to the extent of its dominions (11 Peters ( U. S. ) 102). The later cases have excepted from its domain the development and administration of private law. Modern political science defines the power as a branch of internal administration in the exercise of which the executive should move within the lines of general principles prescribed by the constitution or the legislature, and in the exercise of which the most local governmental organizations should participate as far as possible ( Burgess ). Under this limitation the police power, as affecting persons, is the power of the state to protect the public against the abuse of individual liberty, that is, to restrain the individual in the exercise of his rights when such exercise becomes a danger to the community. The tendency of judicial and popular usage is towards this narrower definition.

Policed Po·liced" adjective Regulated by laws for the maintenance of peace and order, enforced by organized administration. "A policed kingdom." Howell.

Policeman Po·lice"man noun ; plural Policemen A member of a body of police; a constable.

Policial Po·li"cial adjective Relating to the police. [ R.]

Policied Pol"i·cied adjective Policed. [ Obsolete] Bacon.

Policy Pol"i·cy noun ; plural Policies . [ Latin politia , Greek ...; confer French police , Of. police . See Police , noun ] 1. Civil polity. [ Obsolete]

2. The settled method by which the government and affairs of a nation are, or may be, administered; a system of public or official administration, as designed to promote the external or internal prosperity of a state.

3. The method by which any institution is administered; system of management; course.

4. Management or administration based on temporal or material interest, rather than on principles of equity or honor; hence, worldly wisdom; dexterity of management; cunning; stratagem.

5. Prudence or wisdom in the management of public and private affairs; wisdom; sagacity; wit.

The very policy of a hostess, finding his purse so far above his clothes, did detect him.

Fuller.

6. Motive; object; inducement. [ Obsolete]

What policy have you to bestow a benefit where it is counted an injury?

Sir P. Sidney.

Syn. -- See Polity .

Policy Pol"i·cy transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Policied ; present participle & verbal noun Policying .] To regulate by laws; to reduce to order. [ Obsolete] " Policying of cities." Bacon.

Policy Pol"i·cy noun [ French police ; confer Pr. polissia , Spanish pólizia , Italian pólizza ; of uncertain origin; confer Latin pollex thumb (as being used in pressing the seal), in Late Latin also, seal; or confer Late Latin politicum , poleticum , polecticum , Latin polyptychum , account book, register, from Greek ... having many folds or leaves; ... many + ... fold, leaf, from ... to fold; or confer Late Latin apodixa a receipt.] 1. A ticket or warrant for money in the public funds.

2. The writing or instrument in which a contract of insurance is embodied; an instrument in writing containing the terms and conditions on which one party engages to indemnify another against loss arising from certain hazards, perils, or risks to which his person or property may be exposed. See Insurance .

3. A method of gambling by betting as to what numbers will be drawn in a lottery; as, to play policy .

Interest policy , a policy that shows by its form that the assured has a real, substantial interest in the matter insured. -- Open policy , one in which the value of the goods or property insured is not mentioned. -- Policy book , a book to contain a record of insurance policies. -- Policy holder , one to whom an insurance policy has been granted. -- Policy shop , a gambling place where one may bet on the numbers which will be drawn in lotteries. -- Valued policy , one in which the value of the goods, property, or interest insured is specified. -- Wager policy , a policy that shows on the face of it that the contract it embodies is a pretended insurance, founded on an ideal risk, where the insured has no interest in anything insured.

Poling Pol"ing noun [ From Pole a stick.] 1. The act of supporting or of propelling by means of a pole or poles; as, the poling of beans; the poling of a boat.

2. (Gardening) The operation of dispersing worm casts over the walks with poles.

3. One of the poles or planks used in upholding the side earth in excavating a tunnel, ditch, etc.

Polish Pol"ish adjective [ From Pole a Polander.] Of or pertaining to Poland or its inhabitants. - - noun The language of the Poles.

Polish Pol"ish transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Polished ; present participle & verbal noun Polishing .] [ French polir , Latin polire . Confer Polite , -ish ] 1. To make smooth and glossy, usually by friction; to burnish; to overspread with luster; as, to polish glass, marble, metals, etc.

2. Hence, to refine; to wear off the rudeness, coarseness, or rusticity of; to make elegant and polite; as, to polish life or manners. Milton.

To polish off , to finish completely, as an adversary. [ Slang] W. H. Russell.

Polish Pol"ish intransitive verb To become smooth, as from friction; to receive a gloss; to take a smooth and glossy surface; as, steel polishes well. Bacon.

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