Part 959

Hy"men, n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;.] 1. (Class Myth.) A fabulous deity; according to some, the son of Apollo and Urania, according to others, of Bacchus and Venus. He was the god of marriage, and presided over nuptial solemnities.

Till Hymen brought his love-delighted hour, There dwelt no joy in Eden's rosy bower.

Campbell.

2. Marriage; union as if by marriage.

Hymen of element and race.

Emerson.

{ Hy`me*ne"al (?), Hy`me*ne"an (?), } a. [L. hymeneius, a., also Hymenaeus, n., Hymen, Gr. &?; the wedding song, also &?; Hymen: cf. F. hymÈnÈal, hymÈnÈen.] Of or pertaining to marriage; as, hymeneal rites. Pope.

{ Hy`me*ne"al, Hy`me*ne"an, } n. A marriage song. Milton.

||Hy*me"ni*um (?), n.; pl. L. Hymenia (#), E. Hymeniums (#). [NL., fr. ||Gr. &?; a membrane.] (Bot.) The spore-bearing surface of certain ||fungi, as that on the gills of a mushroom.

Hy`me*nog"e*ny (?), n. [Gr. &?; a membrane + root of &?; to be born.] The production of artificial membranes by contact of two fluids, as albumin and fat, by which the globules of the latter are surrounded by a thin film of the former.

||Hy`me*no*my*ce"tes (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a membrane + &?;, ||&?;, a mushroom.] (Bot.) One of the great divisions of fungi, ||containing those species in which the hymenium is completely exposed. ||M. J. Berkley.

Hy*men"o*phore (?), n. [Gr. &?; a membrane + &?; to bear.] (Bot.) That part of a fungus which is covered with the hymenium.

Hy`me*nop"ter (?), n. [Cf. F. hymÈnoptËre.] (Zoˆl.) One of the Hymenoptera.

||Hy`me*nop"te*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; membrane-winged; &?; ||skin, membrane + &?; wing.] (Zoˆl.) An extensive order of insects, ||including the bees, ants, ichneumons, sawflies, etc.

They have four membranous wings, with few reticulations, and usually with a thickened, dark spot on the front edge of the anterior wings. In most of the species, the tongue, or lingua, is converted into an organ for sucking honey, or other liquid food, and the mandibles are adapted for biting or cutting. In one large division (Aculeata), including the bees, wasps, and ants, the females and workers usually have a sting, which is only a modified ovipositor.

{ Hy`me*nop"ter*al (?), Hy`me*nop"ter*ous (?), } a. (Zoˆl.) Like, or characteristic of, the Hymenoptera; pertaining to the Hymenoptera.

Hy`me*nop"ter*an (?), n. (Zoˆl.) One of the Hymenoptera.

Hymn (hm), n. [OE. hympne, ympne, F. hymne, OF. also ymne, L. hymnus, Gr. &?;; perh. akin to &?; web, &?; to weave, and so to E. weave.] An ode or song of praise or adoration; especially, a religious ode, a sacred lyric; a song of praise or thanksgiving intended to be used in religious service; as, the Homeric hymns; Watts' hymns.

Admonishing one another in psalms and hymns.

Col. iii. 16.

Where angels first should practice hymns, and string Their tuneful harps.

Dryden.

Hymn book, a book containing a collection of hymns, as for use in churches; a hymnal.

Hymn (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hymned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hymning (?).] [Cf. L. hymnire, Gr. &?;.] To praise in song; to worship or extol by singing hymns; to sing.

To hymn the bright of the Lord.

Keble.

Their praise is hymned by loftier harps than mine.

Byron.