Part 3665

<note>Several other elements have been announced, as holmium, vesbium, austrium, etc., but their properties, and in some cases their existence, have not yet been definitely established.</note>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>One of the ultimate parts which are variously combined in anything; <as>as, letters are the <ex>elements</ex> of written language</as>; hence, also, a simple portion of that which is complex, as a shaft, lever, wheel, or any simple part in a machine; one of the essential ingredients of any mixture; a constituent part; <as>as, quartz, feldspar, and mica are the <ex>elements</ex> of granite</as>.</def>

<blockquote>The simplicity which is so large an <b>element</b> in a noble nature was laughed to scorn. <i>Jowett (Thucyd.).</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>One out of several parts combined in a system of aggregation, when each is of the nature of the whole; <as>as, a single cell is an <ex>element</ex> of the honeycomb</as></def>. <sd>(b)</sd> <fld>(Anat.)</fld> <def>One of the smallest natural divisions of the organism, as a blood corpuscle, a muscular fiber.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Biol.)</fld> <def>One of the simplest essential parts, more commonly called <i>cells</i>, of which animal and vegetable organisms, or their tissues and organs, are composed.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Math.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>An infinitesimal part of anything of the same nature as the entire magnitude considered; <as>as, in a solid an <ex>element</ex> may be infinitesimal portion between any two planes that are separated and indefinitely small distance</as></def>. In the calculus, <i>element</i> is sometimes used as synonymous with <i>differential</i>. <sd>(b)</sd> <def>Sometimes a curve, or surface, or volume is considered as described by a moving point, or curve, or surface, the latter being at any instant called an <i>element</i> of the former</def>. <sd>(c)</sd> <def>One of the terms in an algebraic expression.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>One of the necessary data or values upon which a system of calculations depends, or general conclusions are based; <as>as, the <ex>elements</ex> of a planet's orbit</as>.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>The simplest or fundamental principles of any system in philosophy, science, or art; rudiments; <as>as, the <ex>elements</ex> of geometry, or of music</as>.</def>

<p><b>9.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>Any outline or sketch, regarded as containing the fundamental ideas or features of the thing in question; <as>as, the <ex>elemental</ex> of a plan</as>.</def>

<p><b>10.</b> <def>One of the simple substances, as supposed by the ancient philosophers; one of the imaginary principles of matter</def>. <note><sd>(a)</sd> The four <i>elements</i> were, air, earth, water, and fire; whence it is said, water is the proper <i>element</i> of fishes; air is the <i>element</i> of birds. Hence, the state or sphere natural to anything or suited for its existence.</def>

<blockquote>Of <b>elements</b> The grosser feeds the purer: Earth the Sea; Earth and the Sea feed Air; the Air those Fires Ethereal. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Does not our life consist of the four <b>elements</b>? <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And the complexion of the <b>element</b> [<it>i. e.</it>,the sky or air] In favor's like the work we have in hand, Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>About twelve ounces [of food], with mere <b>element</b> for drink. <i>Cheyne.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>They show that they are out of their <b>element</b>. <i>T. Baker.</i></blockquote>

Esp., the conditions and movements of the air. "The <i>elements</i> be kind to thee." <sd>(b)</sd> The <i>elements</i> of the alchemists were salt, sulphur, and mercury.

<i>Brande & C.</i></note>

<p><b>11.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>The whole material composing the world.</def>

<blockquote>The <b>elements</b> shall melt with fervent heat. <i>2 Peter iii. 10.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>12.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <fld>(Eccl.)</fld> <def>The bread and wine used in the eucharist or Lord's supper.</def>

<cs><col>Magnetic element</col>, <cd>one of the hypothetical elementary portions of which a magnet is regarded as made up.</cd></cs>

<h1>Element</h1> <Xpage=479>

<hw>El"e*ment</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To compound of elements or first principles.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> " being <i>elemented</i> too."

<i>Donne.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To constitute; to make up with elements.</def>

<blockquote>His very soul was <b>elemented</b> of nothing but sadness. <i>Walton.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Elemental</h1> <Xpage=479>

<hw>El`e*men"tal</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Pertaining to the elements, first principles, and primary ingredients, or to the four supposed elements of the material world; <as>as, <ex>elemental</ex> air</as>.</def> "<i>Elemental</i> strife."