GLOSSARY. 



153 



rate in which one quantity exceeds 

 or is less than another. 



Rat'ional(Lat. raftio, reason). Having 

 the faculty of reason ; in algebra 

 and arithmetic, applied to definite 

 quantities, or to those of which an 

 exact root can be found ; in che- 

 mistry, applied to formulae which 

 aim at describing the exact com- 

 position of one equivalent or com- 

 bining portion of a substance, by 

 stating the absolute number of 

 equivalents of each of its elements 

 necessary to its formation. 



Re- or Red-. (Lat. back). A prepo- 

 sition used in compound words, sig- 

 nifying return or repetition 



Reac't (Lat. re; ag'o, I act). To 

 return an impulse or impression. 



Reac'tion (Lat. re /ag'o, I act). The 

 resistance made by a body to the 

 action or impulse of another body. 



Rea'gent (Lat. re ; ag'o, I act). In 

 chemistry, a substance used to 

 detect the presence of other bodies. 



Recep'tacle (Lat. recip'io, I receive). 

 That which receives or contains ; 

 in botany, the shortened axis of a 

 flower-stem, bearing numerous 

 flowers. 



Recipient (Lat. recip'io, I receive). 

 That which receives or takes. 



Reciprocal (Lat. recip'rocus, moving 

 backwards and forwards). Acting 

 alternately ; interchangeable ; in 

 arithmetic, applied to the quotient 

 of one or unity divided by any 

 quantity, thus the reciprocal of 4 

 is \ ; and to quantities which 

 when multiplied together produce 

 unity ; applied also to a form of 

 proportion in which the first term 

 has to the second the same ratio as 

 the fourth to the third, or as the 

 reciprocal of the third has to the 

 reciprocal of the fourth. 



Recip'rocally (Lat. recij)'rocus, mov- 

 ing backwards and forwards). In- 

 terchangeably ; applied to quan- 

 tities which are so related, that 

 when one increases the other dimi- 

 nishes. 



Reciprocating Motion. A form of 

 action illustrated in the suspension 

 of a rigid bar on an axis, so that 



the parts on each side of the axis 

 take alternately the position of 

 those on the other. 



Rec'linate (Lat. re, back ; clino, I 

 lean). In botany, applied to 

 leaves which are folded longitudi- 

 nally from apex to base in the bud. 



Reclina tion (Lat. re : clino, I lean). 

 A leaning; in surgery, an opera- 

 tion for the cure of cataract, in 

 which the crystalline lens is moved 

 downwards from its place, and laid 

 horizontally. 



Rec'ondite (Lat. recon'do, I hide). 

 Hidden. 



Rec'tangle (Lat. rectus, right ; ari- 

 gulus, an angle). A four-sided 

 figure, having all its angles right 

 angles. 



Rectan'gular (Lat. rectus, right ; 

 an'gulus, an angle). Having right 



Rectification (Lat. rectus, right ; 

 fadio, I make). A correcting or 

 making right ; in chemistry, the 

 purification of any substance by 

 repeated distillation ; in geometry, 

 the determination of a straight 

 line, the length of which is equal 

 to a portion of a curve. 



Rec'tify (Lat. rectus, right ; facfio, 

 I make). To make right ; in che- 

 mistry, to purify a substance by 

 repeated distillation ; in astronomy, 

 to rectify the globe is to bring the 

 sun's place in the ecliptic to the 

 brass meridian, or to adjust it for 

 the solution of a problem. 



Rectilin'ear (Lat. rectus, straight ; 

 lin'ea, a line). Contained in or 

 consisting of straight lines. 



Rectiros'tral (Lat. rectus, straight ; 

 rostrum, a beak). Having a 

 sti'aight beak. 



Rectise'rial (Lat. rectus, straight, 

 se'ries, a row). Disposed in a rec- 

 tilinear or straight series. 



Rectum (Lat. straight). The last 

 part of the large intestines. 



Rectus (Lat. straight). A name 

 given to several muscles of the 

 body, on account of their direction. 



Recum'bent (Lat. re, back ; cumbo, 

 I lie down). Leaning or lying on 

 anything. 



