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2. (Zoˆl.) Pairing with more than one female.

Most deer, cattle, and sheep are polygamous.

Darwin.

3. (Bot.) Belonging to the Polygamia; bearing both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant.

Po*lyg"a*my (?), n. [Gr. &?;; cf. F. polygamie.] 1. The having of a plurality of wives or husbands at the same time; usually, the marriage of a man to more than one woman, or the practice of having several wives, at the same time; -- opposed to monogamy; as, the nations of the East practiced polygamy. See the Note under Bigamy, and cf. Polyandry.

2. (Zoˆl.) The state or habit of having more than one mate.

3. (Bot.) The condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers.

Pol`y*gas"tri*an (pl`*gs"tr*an), n. (Zoˆl.) One of the Polygastrica. [Obs.]

Pol`y*gas"tric (-trk), a. [Poly- + gastric: cf. F. polygastrique.] 1. (Anat.) Having several bellies; -- applied to muscles which are made up of several bellies separated by short tendons.

2. (Zoˆl.) Pertaining to the Polygastrica. [Obs.]

Pol`y*gas"tric (pl`*gs"trk), n. (Zoˆl.) One of the Polygastrica.

||Pol`y*gas"tri*ca (-tr*k), n. pl. [NL. So called because they were ||supposed to have several stomachs, or digestive cavities.] (Zoˆl.) ||The Infusoria. [Obs.]

{ Pol`y*gen"e*sis (-jn"*ss), Po*lyg"e*ny (p*lj"*n), } n. [Poly- + genesis, or root of Gr. gi`gnesqai to be born.] (Biol.) The theory that living organisms originate in cells or embryos of different kinds, instead of coming from a single cell; -- opposed to monogenesis.

Pol`y*ge*net"ic (?), a. 1. Having many distinct sources; originating at various places or times.

2. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to polygenesis; polyphyletic.

Polygenetic mountain range (Geol.), one which is composite, or consists of two or more monogenetic ranges, each having had its own history of development. Dana.

Pol`y*gen"ic (-jn"k), a. (Biol.) Of or relating to polygeny; polygenetic.

Po*lyg"e*nism (p*lj"*nz'm), n. [Cf. F. polygÈnisme.] (Biol.) The doctrine that animals of the same species have sprung from more than one original pair.

Po*lyg"e*nist (-nst), n. (Biol.) One who maintains that animals of the same species have sprung from more than one original pair; -- opposed to monogenist.

Po*lyg"e*nous (?), a. [Poly- + -genous: cf. Gr. &?; of many families.] Consisting of, or containing, many kinds; as, a polygenous mountain. Kirwan.

Pol"y*glot (?), a. [Gr. poly`glwttos many-tongued; poly`s many + glw^tta, glw^ssa, tongue, language: cf. F. polyglotte.] 1. Containing, or made up, of, several languages; as, a polyglot lexicon, Bible.

2. Versed in, or speaking, many languages.

Pol"y*glot, n. 1. One who speaks several languages. [R.] "A polyglot, or good linguist." Howell.

2. A book containing several versions of the same text, or containing the same subject matter in several languages; esp., the Scriptures in several languages.

Enriched by the publication of polyglots.

Abp. Newcome.

Pol`y*glot"tous (?), a. [See Polyglot.] Speaking many languages; polyglot. [R.] "The polyglottous tribes of America." Max M¸ller.

Pol"y*gon (?), n. [Gr. poly`gwnos polygonal; poly`s many + gwni`a angle: cf. F. polygone.] (Geom.) A plane figure having many angles, and consequently many sides; esp., one whose perimeter consists of more than four sides; any figure having many angles.