ORISMOLOGY. 303 
Rute III]. 
The termination culus in Latin words added to a com- 
parative implies the state of the object comparatively. 
As, Convexiusculus, rather convex than not; Majuscu- 
lus, rather large than not. ‘This is usually denoted in 
English by the termination zsh, or the adverb rather ; 
as, largzsh, rather large, &c. 
Rute IV. 
The participle present used instead of the adjective 
implies a tendency to the quality expressed by it. As, 
Cinerascens, cinerascent, tending to cinereous, &c. 
Rute V. 
The preposition ob prefixed to a term reverses it. 
As, Obconical, Obcordate, a conical or heart-shaped 
body, of which the narrowest part is the base. 
Rue VI. 
In compound terms the Jast member indicates the 
preponderating character. For instance, when it is said 
of a body that it is nz¢r0-ceneous, it means that the zeneous 
tint prevails: but if, vice versd, it is termed e@neo-nigrous, 
the black tint is predominant. N.B. In Sculpture the 
terms punctato-striate, or punctato-suleate, signify that 
strize or furrows are drawn with puncta in them. 
| Exception 1. 
Some compound terms only indicate the union of two 
characters in one subject. As, when we say of wings that 
they are cruciato-incumbent, we mean both that they 
cross each other and are incumbent upon the body. 
Lxception 2. 
Compound terms are sometimes employed very con- 
