Part 470

Ge`o*deph"a*gous (j`*df"*gs), a. [Gr. ge`a, gh^, earth + 'adhfa`gos eating one's fill; gluttonous.] (Zoˆl.) Living in the earth; -- applied to the ground beetles.

{ Ge`o*des"ic (j`*ds"k), Ge`o*des"ic*al (-*kal), } a. [Cf. F. gÈodÈsique.] (Math.) Of or pertaining to geodesy; geodetic.

Ge`o*des"ic, n. A geodetic line or curve.

Ge*od"e*sist (?), n. One versed in geodesy.

Ge*od"e*sy (?), n. [Gr. &?;; ge`a, gh^, the earth + &?; to divide: cf. F. gÈodÈsie.] (Math.) That branch of applied mathematics which determines, by means of observations and measurements, the figures and areas of large portions of the earth's surface, or the general figure and dimenshions of the earth; or that branch of surveying in which the curvature of the earth is taken into account, as in the surveys of States, or of long lines of coast.

{ Ge`o*det"ic (?), Ge`o*det"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to geodesy; obtained or determined by the operations of geodesy; engaged in geodesy; geodesic; as, geodetic surveying; geodetic observers.

Geodetic line or curve, the shortest line that can be drawn between two points on the elipsoidal surface of the earth; a curve drawn on any given surface so that the osculating plane of the curve at every point shall contain the normal to the surface; the minimum line that can be drawn on any surface between any two points.

Ge`o*det"ic*al*ly, adv. In a geodetic manner; according to geodesy.

Ge`o*det"ics (?), n. Same as Geodesy.

Ge`o*dif"er*ous (?), a. [Geode + -ferous.] (Min.) Producing geodes; containing geodes.

Ge"o*duck (?), n. [American Indian name.] (Zoˆl.) A gigantic clam (Glycimeris generosa) of the Pacific coast of North America, highly valued as an article of food.

Ge`og*no"sis (?), n. [See Geognosy.] Knowledge of the earth. [R.] G. Eliot.

Ge"og*nost (?), n. [Cf. F. gÈognoste.] One versed in geognosy; a geologist. [R.]

{ Ge`og*nos"tic (?), Ge`og*nos"tic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. gÈognostique.] Of or pertaining to geognosy, or to a knowledge of the structure of the earth; geological. [R.]

Ge*og"no*sy (?), n. [Gr. ge`a, gh^, the earth + gnw^sis knowing, knowledge, fr. gignw`skein to know: cf. F. gÈognosie.] That part of geology which treats of the materials of the earth's structure, and its general exterior and interior constitution.

{ Ge`o*gon"ic (?), Ge`o*gon"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. gÈogonique.] Of or pertaining to geogony, or to the formation of the earth.

Ge*og"o*ny (?), n. [Gr. ge`a, gh^, the earth + &?; generation, birth, fr. the root of &?; to be born: cf. F. gÈogonie.] The branch of science which treats of the formation of the earth.

Ge*og"ra*pher (?), n. One versed in geography.

{ Ge`o*graph"ic (?), Ge`o*graph"ic*al (?), } a. [L. geographicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. gÈographique.] Of or pertaining to geography.

Geographical distribution. See under Distribution. -- Geographic latitude (of a place), the angle included between a line perpendicular or normal to the level surface of water at rest at the place, and the plane of the equator; differing slightly from the geocentric latitude by reason of the difference between the earth's figure and a true sphere. -- Geographical mile. See under Mile. -- Geographical variation, any variation of a species which is dependent on climate or other geographical conditions.

Ge`o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv. In a geographical manner or method; according to geography.

Ge*og"ra*phy (?), n.; pl. Geographies (#). [F. gÈographie, l. geographia, fr. Gr. &?;; ge`a, gh^, the earth + &?; description, fr. &?; to write, describe. See Graphic.] 1. The science which treats of the world and its inhabitants; a description of the earth, or a portion of the earth, including its structure, features, products, political divisions, and the people by whom it is inhabited.

2. A treatise on this science.

Astronomical, or Mathematical, geography treats of the earth as a planet, of its shape, its size, its lines of latitude and longitude, its zones, and the phenomena due to to the earth's diurnal and annual motions. -- Physical geography treats of the conformation of the earth's surface, of the distribution of land and water, of minerals, plants, animals, etc., and applies the principles of physics to the explanation of the diversities of climate, productions, etc. -- Political geography treats of the different countries into which earth is divided with regard to political and social and institutions and conditions.

Ge*ol"a*try (?), n. [Gr. ge`a, gh^, the earth + &?; worship.] The worship of the earth. G. W. Cox.

The Geological Series. The science of geology, as treating of the history of the globe, involves a description of the different strata which compose its crust, their order of succession, characteristic forms of animal and vegetable life, etc. The principal subdivisions of geological time, and the most important strata, with their relative positions, are indicated in the following diagram.

{ Ge*ol"o*ger (?), Ge`o*lo"gi*an (?), } n. A geologist.

{ Ge`o*log"ic (?), Ge`o*log"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. gÈologique.] Of or pertaining to geology, or the science of the earth.