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Z
Z, the twenty-sixth and last letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. It is taken from the Latin letter Z, which came from the Greek alphabet, this having it from a Semitic source. The ultimate origin is probably Egyptian. Etymologically, it is most closely related to , , and ; as in gla, glae; E. oke, Gr., L. ugum; E. ealous, ealous. See , 273, 274.
Zabian
See .
Zacco
See .
Zachun
An oil pressed by the Arabs from the fruit of a small thorny tree (), and sold to piligrims for a healing ointment.
Zaffer
A pigment obtained, usually by roasting cobalt glance with sand or quartz, as a dark earthy powder. It consists of crude cobalt oxide, or of an impure cobalt arseniate. It is used in porcelain painting, and in enameling pottery, to produce a blue color, and is often confounded with smalt, from which, however, it is distinct, as it contains no potash. The name is often loosely applied to mixtures of zaffer proper with silica, or oxides of iron, manganese, etc.
Zaim
A Turkish chief who supports a mounted militia bearing the same name.
Zalambdodont
One of the . The tenrec, solenodon, and golden moles are examples.
Zamang
An immense leguminous tree () of Venezuela. Its branches form a hemispherical mass, often one hundred and eighty feet across. The sweet pulpy pods are used commonly for feeding cattle. Also called .
Zandmole
The sand mole.
Zante
See .
Zante currant
A kind of seedless grape or raisin; -- so called from , one of the Ionian Islands.
Zany
A merry-andrew; a buffoon.
Zany
To mimic.
Zapas
See , above.
Zapatera
A cured olive which has spoiled or is on the verge of decomposition; loosely, an olive defective because of bruises, wormholes, or the like.
Zaptiah
A Turkish policeman.
Zrthe
A European bream ().
Zastrugi
Grooves or furrows formed in snow by the action of the wind, and running parallel with the direction of the wind. This formation results from the erosion of transverse waves previously formed.
Zayat
A public shed, or portico, for travelers, worshipers, etc.
Zealed
Full of zeal; characterized by zeal.
Zealotical
Like, or suitable to, a zealot; ardently zealous.
Zealotism
The character or conduct of a zealot; zealotry.
Zealotry
The character and behavior of a zealot; excess of zeal; fanatical devotion to a cause.
Zebec
See .
Zebra
Any member of three species of African wild horses remarkable for having the body white or yellowish white, and conspicuously marked with dark brown or brackish bands.
Zebrawood
A kind of cabinet wood having beautiful black, brown, and whitish stripes, the timber of a tropical American tree ().
Zechstein
The upper division of the Permian (Dyas) of Europe. The prevailing rock is a magnesian limestone.
Zed
The letter ; -- called also , and formerly .
Zemstvo
In Russia, an elective local district and provincial administrative assembly. Originally it was composed of representatives elected by the peasantry, the householders of the towns, and the landed proprietors. In the reign of Alexander III. the power of the noble landowners was increased, the peasants allowed only to elect candidates from whom the governor of the province nominated the deputy, and all acts of the zemstvo subjected to the approval of the governor. Theoretically the zemstvo has large powers relating to taxation, education, public health, etc., but practically these powers are in most cases limited to the adjustment of the state taxation.
Zenithal
Of or pertaining to the zenith.
Zerda
The fennec.
Zeriba
Same as .
Zeuglodont
Any species of Zeuglodonta.
Zeugobranchiata
Same as .
Ziega
Curd produced from milk by adding acetic acid, after rennet has ceased to cause coagulation.
Ziggurat
A temple tower of the Babylonians or Assyrians, consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure, built in successive stages, with outside staircases, and a shrine at the top; -- called also .
Zigzag
To form with short turns.
Zigzaggery
The quality or state of being zigzag; crookedness.
Zikkurat
A temple tower of the Babylonians or Assyrians, consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure, built in successive stages, with outside staircases, and a shrine at the top; -- called also .
Zincane
Zinc chloride.
Zincide
A binary compound of zinc.
Zinciferous
Containing or affording zinc.
Zincify
To coat or impregnate with zinc.
Zincky
Pertaining to zinc, or having its appearance.
Zinco-
A combining form from ; in chemistry, designating as an element of certain double compounds. Also used adjectively.
Zincograph
A zinc plate prepared for printing by zincography; also, a print from such a plate.
Zinco-polar
Electrically polarized like the surface of the zinc presented to the acid in a battery, which has zincous affinity.
Zincous
Of, pertaining to, or containing, zinc; zincic; .
Zingel
A small, edible, freshwater European perch (), having a round, elongated body and prominent snout.
Zink
See .
Zip
A hissing or sibilant sound such as that made by a flying bullet.
zip + 4
a full nine-digit . See .
zip-code
to affix a to (an address or a letter).
Zirco-
A combining form (also used adjectively) designating as an element of certain double compounds; zircono-; as in fluoric acid, sodium fluoride.
Zircofluoride
A double fluoride of zirconium and hydrogen, or some other positive element or radical; .
Zircon
A mineral consisting predominantly of zirconium silicate () occurring in tetragonal crystals, usually of a brown or gray color. It consists of silica and zirconia. A red variety, used as a gem, is called . Colorless, pale-yellow or smoky-brown varieties from Ceylon are called .
Zirconia
The oxide of zirconium (), obtained as a white powder, and possessing both acid and basic properties. On account of its infusibility, and brilliant luminosity when incandescent, it is used as an ingredient of sticks for the Drummomd light.
Zittern
See .
Zizith
The tassels of twisted cords or threads on the corners of the upper garment worn by strict Jews. The Hebrew for this word is translated in both the Authorized and Revised Versions () by the word fringes.
Zoantharia
Same as .
Zoanthodeme
The zooids of a compound anthozoan, collectively.
Zodiacal
Of or pertaining to the zodiac; situated within the zodiac; .
Zohar
A Jewish cabalistic book attributed by tradition to Rabbi Simon ben Yochi, who lived about the end of the 1st century, Modern critics believe it to be a compilation of the 13th century.
Zoic
Of or pertaining to animals, or animal life.
Zoilean
Having the characteristic of , a bitter, envious, unjust critic, who lived about 270 years before Christ.
Zoisite
A grayish or whitish mineral occurring in orthorhombic, prismatic crystals, also in columnar masses. It is a silicate of alumina and lime, and is allied to epidote.
Zoism
Reverence for animal life or belief in animal powers and influences, as among savages.
Zokor
An Asiatic burrowing rodent () resembling the mole rat. It is native of the Altai Mountains.
Zone
A girdle; a cincture.
Zonular
Of or pertaining to a zone; zone-shaped.
Zonure
Any one of several of South African lizards of the genus , common in rocky situations.
Zo-
A combining form from Gr. an , as in genic, logy, etc.
Zochemical
Pertaining to zochemistry.
Zochemistry
Animal chemistry; particularly, the description of the chemical compounds entering into the composition of the animal body, in distinction from .
Zogenic
Of or pertaining to zogeny, animal production.
Zologically
In a zological manner; according to the principles of zology.
Zomorphism
The transformation of men into beasts.
Zon
An animal which is the sole product of a single egg; -- opposed to .
Zonomy
The laws of animal life, or the science which treats of the phenomena of animal life, their causes and relations.
Zonule
Same as .
Zopathology
Animal pathology.
Zophoric
Bearing or supporting the figure of an animal; .
Zophyta
An extensive artificial and heterogeneous group of animals, formerly adopted by many zologists. It included the clenterates, echinoderms, sponges, Bryozoa, Protozoa, etc.
Zopraxiscope
An instrument similar to, or the same as, the, the phenakistoscope, by means of which pictures projected upon a screen are made to exhibit the natural movements of animals, and the like.
Zotomist
One who dissects animals, or is skilled in zotomy.
Zotomy
The dissection or the anatomy of animals; -- distinguished from .
Zotrophic
Of or pertaining to the nourishment of animals.
Zorilla
Either one of two species of small African carnivores of the genus allied to the weasels and skunks.
Zoroastrian
A follower of Zoroaster; one who accepts Zoroastrianism.
Zosterops
A genus of birds that comprises the white-eyes. See .
Zumbooruk
A small cannon supported by a swiveled rest on the back of a camel, whence it is fired, -- used in the East.
Zunyite
A fluosilicate of alumina occurring in tetrahedral crystals at the mine in Colorado.
Zygapophysis
One of the articular processes of a vertebra, of which there are usually four, two anterior and two posterior. See under .
Zygenid
Any one of numerous species of moths of the family , most of which are bright colored. The wood nymph and the vine forester are examples. Also used adjectively.
Zygodactyl
The zygodactylous birds. In a restricted sense applied to a division of birds which includes the barbets, toucans, honey guides, and other related birds.
Zygoma
The jugal, malar, or cheek bone.
Zygomatic
Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the zygoma.
Zymic
Pertaining to, or produced by, fermentation; -- formerly, by confusion, used to designate lactic acid.
Zymogenic
Pertaining to, or formed by, a zymogene.
Zymologist
One who is skilled in zymology, or in the fermentation of liquors.
Zymology
A treatise on the fermentation of liquors, or the doctrine of fermentation.
Zymome
A glutinous substance, insoluble in alcohol, resembling legumin; -- now called , , or .
Zymoscope
An apparatus for determining the fermenting power of yeast by measuring the amount of carbonic acid evolved from a given quantity of sugar.
Zymose
Invertin.
Zymosis
A fermentation; hence, an analogous process by which an infectious disease is believed to be developed.