Part 476

Ge*roc"o*my (?), n. [F. gÈrocomie, fr. Gr. &?; an old man + &?; to take care of.] That part of medicine which treats of regimen for old people.

||Ge*ron"tes (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;.] (Gr. Antiq.) ||Magistrates in Sparta, who with the ephori and kings, constituted the ||supreme civil authority.

Ger`on*toc"ra*cy (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, an old man + &?; to rule.] Government by old men. [R.] Gladstone.

||Ger`o*pig"i*a (?), n. [Pg. geropiga.] A mixture composed of ||unfermented grape juice, brandy, sugar, etc., for adulteration of ||wines. [Written also jerupigia.]

-ger*ous (?). [L. -ger, fr. gerere to bear, carry. See Jest.] A suffix signifying bearing, producing; as, calcigerous; dentigerous.

Ger`ry*man"der (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gerrymandered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Gerrymandering.] To divide (a State) into districts for the choice of representatives, in an unnatural and unfair way, with a view to give a political party an advantage over its opponent. [Political Cant, U. S.]

This was done in Massachusetts at a time when Elbridge Gerry was governor, and was attributed to his influence, hence the name; though it is now known that he was opposed to the measure. Bartlett.

Ger"und (?), n. [L. gerundium, fr. gerere to bear, carry, perform. See Gest a deed, Jest.] (Lat. Gram.)

1. A kind of verbal noun, having only the four oblique cases of the singular number, and governing cases like a participle.

2. (AS. Gram.) A verbal noun ending in -e, preceded by to and usually denoting purpose or end; -- called also the dative infinitive; as, "Ic hÊbbe mete tÙ etanne" (I have meat to eat.) In Modern English the name has been applied to verbal or participal nouns in -ing denoting a transitive action; e. g., by throwing a stone.

Ge*run"di*al (?), a. Pertaining to, or resembling, a gerund; as, a gerundial use.

Ge*run"dive (?), a. [L. gerundivus.] Pertaining to, or partaking of, the nature of the gerund; gerundial. -- n. (Lat. Gram.) The future passive participle; as, amandus, i. e., to be loved.

Ge*run"dive*ly, adv. In the manner of a gerund; as, or in place of, a gerund.

Ger"y (?), a. [See Gerful.] Changeable; fickle. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ges"ling (?), n. A gosling. [Prov. Eng.]

Gesse (?), v. t. & i. To guess. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Gest (?), n. A guest. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Gest (?), n. [OF. geste exploit. See Jest.]

1. Something done or achieved; a deed or an action; an adventure. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. An action represented in sports, plays, or on the stage; show; ceremony. [Obs.] Mede.

3. A tale of achievements or adventures; a stock story. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.

4. Gesture; bearing; deportment. [Archaic]

Through his heroic grace and honorable gest.

Spenser.

Gest (?), n. [Cf. Gist a resting place.]

1. A stage in traveling; a stop for rest or lodging in a journey or progress; a rest. [Obs.] Kersey.

2. A roll recting the several stages arranged for a royal progress. Many of them are extant in the herald's office. [Obs.] Hanmer.

Ges"tant (?), a. [L. gestans, p. pr. of gestare.] Bearing within; laden; burdened; pregnant. [R.] "Clouds gestant with heat." Mrs. Browning.