Part 91

Syn. -- Adherence, Adhesion. These words, which were once freely interchanged, are now almost entirely separated. Adherence is no longer used to denote physical union, but is applied, to mental states or habits; as, a strict adherence to one's duty; close adherence to the argument, etc. Adhesion is now confined chiefly to the physical sense, except in the phrase "To give in one's adhesion to a cause or a party."

Ad*her"en*cy (&?;), n. 1. The state or quality of being adherent; adherence. [R.]

2. That which adheres. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Ad*her"ent (&?;), a. [L. adhaerens, -entis, p. pr.: cf. F. adhérent.] 1. Sticking; clinging; adhering. Pope.

2. Attached as an attribute or circumstance.

3. (Bot.) Congenitally united with an organ of another kind, as calyx with ovary, or stamens with petals.

Ad*her"ent, n. 1. One who adheres; one who adheres; one who follows a leader, party, or profession; a follower, or partisan; a believer in a particular faith or church.

2. That which adheres; an appendage. [R.] Milton.

Syn. -- Follower; partisan; upholder; disciple; supporter; dependent; ally; backer.

Ad*her"ent*ly, adv. In an adherent manner.

Ad*her"er (&?;), n. One who adheres; an adherent.

Ad*he"sion (&?;), n. [L. adhaesio, fr. adhaerere: cf. F. adhésion.] 1. The action of sticking; the state of being attached; intimate union; as, the adhesion of glue, or of parts united by growth, cement, or the like.

2. Adherence; steady or firm attachment; fidelity; as, adhesion to error, to a policy.

His adhesion to the Tories was bounded by his approbation of their foreign policy. De Quincey.

3. Agreement to adhere; concurrence; assent.

To that treaty Spain and England gave in their adhesion. Macaulay.

4. (Physics) The molecular attraction exerted between bodies in contact. See Cohesion.

5. (Med.) Union of surface, normally separate, by the formation of new tissue resulting from an inflammatory process.

6. (Bot.) The union of parts which are separate in other plants, or in younger states of the same plant.

Syn. -- Adherence; union. See Adherence.

Ad*he"sive (&?;), a. [Cf. F. adhésif.] 1. Sticky; tenacious, as glutinous substances.

2. Apt or tending to adhere; clinging. Thomson.

Adhesive attraction. (Physics) See Attraction. -- Adhesive inflammation (Surg.), that kind of inflammation which terminates in the reunion of divided parts without suppuration. -- Adhesive plaster, a sticking; a plaster containing resin, wax, litharge, and olive oil.

Ad*he"sive*ly, adv. In an adhesive manner.

Ad*he"sive*ness, n. 1. The quality of sticking or adhering; stickiness; tenacity of union.

2. (Phren.) Propensity to form and maintain attachments to persons, and to promote social intercourse.

Ad*hib"it (&?;), v. t. [L. adhibitus, p. p. of adhibere to hold to; ad + habere to have.] 1. To admit, as a person or thing; to take in. Muirhead.

2. To use or apply; to administer. Camden.