Part 254

Phy*lo*ge*net"ic (?), a. Relating to phylogenesis, or the race history of a type of organism. -- Phy*lo*ge*net"ic*al*ly (#), adv.

||Phy"lon (?), n.; pl. Phyla (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; race, tribe.] ||(Biol.) A tribe.

||Phy"lum (?), n.; pl. Phyla (#). [NL. See Phylon.] (Zoˆl.) One of the ||larger divisions of the animal kingdom; a branch; a grand division.

||Phy"ma (?), n.; pl. Phymata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to ||produce.] (Med.) A tubercle on any external part of the body.

||Phy"sa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a bellows.] (Zoˆl.) A genus of ||fresh-water Pulmonifera, having reversed spiral shells. See Pond ||snail, under Pond.

||Phy*sa"li*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a bladder, fr. &?; a bellows.] ||(Zoˆl.) A genus of large oceanic Siphonophora which includes the ||Portuguese man-of- war.

It has a large air sac, or float, with a sail-like crest on its upper side. Numerous zooids of different kinds are attached to the under side of the float. Some of the zooids have very long tentacles; some have a mouth and digest food; others produce gonophores. The American species (Physalia arethusa) is brilliantly colored, the float being pink or purple, and bright blue; the zooids blue. It is noted for its virulent stinging powers, as well as for its beautiful colors, graceful motions, and its ability to sail to windward.

||Phy*sa"li*Ê (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) An order of Siphonophora which ||includes Physalia.

||Phys`e*ma"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; a blowing.] (Zoˆl.) A ||group of simple marine organisms, usually classed as the lowest of ||the sponges. They have inflated hollow bodies.

Phy*se"ter (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to blow: cf. F. physÈtËre.] 1. (Zoˆl.) The genus that includes the sperm whale.

2. A filtering machine operated by air pressure.

Phys`i*an"thro*py (?), n. [Gr. fy`sis nature + &?; man.] The philosophy of human life, or the doctrine of the constitution and diseases of man, and their remedies.

Phys"ic (?), n. [OE. phisike, fisike, OF. phisique, F. physique knowledge of nature, physics, L. physica, physice, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. fysiko`s natural, from fy`sis nature, fr. &?; to produce, grow, akin to E. be. See Be, and cf. Physics, Physique.] 1. The art of healing diseases; the science of medicine; the theory or practice of medicine. "A doctor of physik." Chaucer.

2. A specific internal application for the cure or relief of sickness; a remedy for disease; a medicine.

3. Specifically, a medicine that purges; a cathartic.

4. A physician. [R.] Shak.

Physic nut (Bot.), a small tropical American euphorbiaceous tree (Jatropha Curcas), and its seeds, which are well flavored, but contain a drastic oil which renders them dangerous if eaten in large quantities.

Phys"ic (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Physiced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Physicking (?).] 1. To treat with physic or medicine; to administer medicine to, esp. a cathartic; to operate on as a cathartic; to purge.

2. To work on as a remedy; to heal; to cure.

The labor we delight in physics pain.

Shak.

A mind diseased no remedy can physic.

Byron.

Phys"ic*al (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to nature (as including all created existences); in accordance with the laws of nature; also, of or relating to natural or material things, or to the bodily structure, as opposed to things mental, moral, spiritual, or imaginary; material; natural; as, armies and navies are the physical force of a nation; the body is the physical part of man.

Labor, in the physical world, is . . . employed in putting objects in motion.

J. S. Mill.

A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere physical force.

Macaulay.