atom 
force. The atom is sometimes called the chemical unit, 
In distinction from the molecule or physical unit, the 
latter being the smallest particle of any kind of matter 
which can exhibit all the properties of that matter ; but 
uttnii K also sometimes used as synonymous with amevttle 
in this sense. 
Hence 2. Anything extremely small; a mi- 
nute quantity: as, he has not an atom of sense. 
3f. The smallest division of time, equal to 
about of a second. 4. Anything indivisible ; 
an individual. = Syn. Mnlmde, etc. See particle. 
atomt (at'om), v. t. [<atom,n.'] To reduce to 
atoms; atomize. 
Anil atom'd mists turn instantly to hail. 
Draifton, Elegies, i. 
atomatic (at-o-mat'ik), a. [< atom + -atic.~\ 
Same as atomic. 
atomic (a-tom'ik), a. [< atom + -ic; = F. ato- 
mique."] "1. Pertaining to atoms; consisting of 
atoms. 
The atomic constitution of bodies. 
Whetfell, Hist. Scientific Ideas. 
The gods, the gods ! 
If all be atoms, how then should the gods, 
Being atomic, not be dissoluble, 
Not follow the great law ? Tennyson, Lucretius. 
2. Extremely minute Atomic or molecular 
heats of bodies, the product of the specific heats of bodies 
into their atomic weights. These products are nearly the 
same for all elementary bodies, and in compounds of like 
atomic composition, though the products of the specific 
heats into the atomic weights may differ in different classes 
of compounds. Atomic < >r atomistic philosophy, a sys- 
tem of philosophy, founded by Leucippus and Democritus, 
which taught that the ultimate constituents of all things 
are indivisible particles or atoms, which differ from one 
another in form and position ; whether also in quality of 
material was disputed among the atomists. From the 
diverse combination and motions of these atoms all things, 
including the soul, were supposed to arise. The atomistic 
philosophy was perfected in its details by the Epicureans, 
particularly by Lucretius, and was the first complete sys- 
tem of materialism. It is the basis of the modern phys- 
ical atomic theory, but, apart from the numerous special 
modifications which the progress of modern science has 
rendered necessary, it differs from it essentially in this, 
that the ancient atomism was a philosophy of the uni- 
verse, while modern atomism is, primarily at least, merely 
a physical theory of the inner structure of matter, con- 
structedfor the convenienceof physical research. Atomic 
theory, or doctrine of definite proportions, in chem., 
the hypothesis that all chemical combinations take place 
between the ultimate particles or atoms of bodies, and 
that these unite either atom with atom or in proportions 
expressed by some simple multiple of the number of atoms. 
Atomic volume, in chem,, the space occupied by a 
quantity of an element in the solid state proportional to 
its atomic weight, and expressed by the quotient of the 
specific gravity divided by the atomic weight Atomic 
weight, in chem., the number expressing the relative 
weight of one atom of an element compared with the weight 
of some unit, usually that of the hydrogen atom, which is 
the lightest at present known. The atomic weights of 
the other elements, therefore, express how many times 
the atoms of these elements are heavier than the atom of 
hydrogen. 
atomical (a-tom'i-kal), a. Same as atomic. 
atomically (a-tom'i-kal-i), adv. In an atomic 
manner; from an atomic point of view; re- 
garded as an atom, or as made up of atoms. 
atomician (at-o-mish'an), n. [< atomic + -ian."] 
An adherent of the atomic philosophy or the- 
ory. See atomic. 
atomicismt (a-tom'i-gizm), . [< atomic + -ism.'] 
Atomism. 
atomicity (at-o-mis'i-ti), n. [< atomic + -ity.] 
In chem., same as equivalency and quantivalency. 
The number of bonds possessed by an element, or its 
atomicity, is apparently, at least, not a fixed and inva- 
riable quantity. E. Frankland, Exper. in Chem., p. 9. 
atomisation, etc. See atomization, etc. 
atomism (at'om-izm), TO. [< atom + -ism; = F. 
atomisms = Sp. Pg. It. atomismo.] 1. The 
metaphysical or the physical theory of atoms ; 
atomic philosophy or atomic theory. See atomic. 
Atomism also is inconceivable ; for this supposes atoms, 
minima, extended but indivisible. 
Sir If. Hamilton, Metaphys., II. 528, App. 
The result of atomism in any form, dealing with any 
subject, is that the principle of uniformity is hunted down 
into the elements of things: it is resolved into the uni- 
formity of these elements or atoms, and of the relations 
of those which are next to each other. 
W. tf. Clifford, Lectures, II. 139. 
2. The state of existing as an atom or a unit, or 
of being composed of atoms or units ; individ- 
ualism. 
atomist (at'om-ist), . and a. [< atom + -ist ; 
= F. atomisie = Sp. Pg. It. atomista.~\ I. n. 
One who holds to or expounds the atomic phi- 
losophy or the atomic theory. 
II. a. Same as atomistic. 
The more closely we follow the atomist doctrine to its 
starting-point, and spread before us the necessary outfit 
for its journey of deduction, the larger do its demands 
appear. J. Martineau, Materialism. 
atomistic (at-o-mis'tik), a. [< atomist + -ic.'] 
1. Pertaining to atomism or the atomists. 
366 
It is the object of the mechanical atomistic philosophy 
to confound synthesis with synartesis. 
Coleridge, Friend, I. 121. 
2. Consisting of atoms Atomistic philosophy. 
See atomic philosophy, under atomic. 
atomistical (at-o-mis'ti-kal), . Same as ato- 
mistic. 
atomistically (at-o-mis'ti-kal-i), adv. In an at- 
omistic manner ; as composed of distinct atoms. 
atomization (at'om-i-za'shon), n. [< atomize 
+ -ation.] The process of atomizing or the 
state of being atomized; specifically, in med., 
the reduction of liquids to the form of spray for 
inhalation or for application to the throat or 
nasal passages, and for other purposes. Also 
spelled atomisation. 
atomize (at'om-Iz), v. ; pret. and pp. atomized, 
ppr. atomizing. [< atom + -ize.] I.t intrans. 
To speculate respecting atoms. Cudworth. 
II. trans. To reduce to atoms ; reduce to very 
small particles, as a liquid ; spray. 
Also spelled atomise. 
atomizer (at'om-i-zer), n. One who or that 
which atomizes or reduces to atoms or very 
small particles; specifically, an apparatus de- 
signed to reduce a liquid to spray for disinfect- 
ing, cooling, perfuming, medicinal, and other 
purposes. Also spelled atomiser. 
atoinology (at-o-mol'o-ji), n. [< Gr. a-ro^oc, 
atom, + -/j>yla, < Uyett, speak: see -ology.] The 
metaphysical doctrine of atoms. See atomic. 
atomy 1 (at'om-i), n. ; pi. atomies (-iz). [Early 
mod. E. also atomic, attomye, < atomic, prop. 
atomi, pi. of atomus, prop, the L. form then in 
current use along with atom, the form atomy 
being regarded appar. as a dim. Cf. atomy 2 .] 
1. An atom; a mote. 
Should he or hell 
Affront me in the passage of my fate, 
I'd crush them into atomics. 
Ford, Love's Sacrifice, iii. 3. 
From the outer day, 
Betwixt the close-set ivies came a broad 
And solid beam of isolated light, 
Crowded with driving atomies. 
Tennyson, Lover's Tale, ii. 
2. A tiny being; a pygmy. 
Drawn with a team of little atomies. 
Shak., R. and J., i. 4. 
Epicurus makes them [souls] swarms of atomies, 
Which do by chance into our bodies flee. 
Sir J. Davies, Immortal, of Soul. 
atomy 2 (at'om-i), n. ; pi. atomies (-iz). [For- 
merly also atamy and natomy, for anatomy, 
mistakenly divided an atomy."] 1. An anat- 
omy; a skeleton. 2. A very lean person; a 
walking skeleton. 
Thou atomy, thou. Shak. (ed. Leopold), 2 Hen. IV., v. 4. 
atonable (a-tp'na-bl), a. [< atone + -able.] 
Capable of being atoned for ; reconcilable. 
atonet, prep. phr. as adv. [ME., also attone, 
earlier atoon, atom, at one, at on, lit. at one, 
agreed. In mod. use written as two words, at 
one: see at and one. In at-one, as in al-one 
and on-ly, one preserves its proper pronuncia- 
tion (on), the usual pronunciation (wun) being 
a modern (16th century) corruption, which has 
not affected the compounds.] 1. At one; rec- 
onciled. 
Make the wel at on with him . . . and dred the of the 
dome. Early Eng. Psalter, p. 152. 
A tun he was with the king. King Horn. 
If gentil men, or othere of his contree, 
Were wrothe, she wolde bringen hem atoon. 
Chaucer, Clerk's Tale, 1. 381. 
2. Together; at once. 
All his sences seemd berefte attone. 
Spenser, F. Q., II. i. 42. 
atone (a-ton'), v. ; pret. and pp. atoned, ppr. 
atoning. [< atone, adv., q. v.] I. intrans. If. 
To be at one; agree; be in accordance; accord. 
He and Aufidius can no more atone, 
Than violentest contrariety. Shak., Cor., iv. 6. 
2. To make reparation, amends, or satisfac- 
tion, as for an offense or a crime, or for an 
offender: with for. 
The murderer fell, and blood atoned for blood. Pope. 
The ministry not atoning fur their fonner conduct by 
any wise or popular measure. Juni\t. 
So It sometimes happens that a single bright and gen- 
erous act serves to atone for the abuse of years. 
J. F. Clarke, Self-Culture, p. 81. 
3. To make up, as for errors or deficiencies; 
be a set-off or palliative. 
Or where the pictures for the page atone, 
And Quarles is sav'd by beauties not his own. 
Pope, Dunciad, i. 139. 
H.t trans. 1. To bring into concord ; recon- 
cile, as parties at variance. 
atonement 
I would do much 
To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio. 
Shak., Othello, iv. 1. 
I am just at that hour 
Upon some late conceived discontents 
To atone me to my father. 
Webster, Cure for a Cuckold, i. >. 
Tigers and lions, boars and raging bulls, 
Hath he aton'd with leopards and wolves. 
Ford, Fame's Memorial. 
2. To put in accordance ; harmonize. 
To atone your fears 
With my more noble meaning. 
Shak., T. of A., v. 5. 
3. To unite in forming. 
The Four Elements, who joined 
With the Four known Complexions, have aton'd 
A noble league, and severally put on 
Material bodies. 
Dekker and Ford, The Sun's Darling, v. 1. 
4. To conciliate ; appease. 
So heaven, atoned, shall dying Greece restore. 
Pope, Iliad, i. 89. 
5. To expiate; answer or make satisfaction for. 
Soon should yon boasters cease their haughty strife, 
Or each atone his guilty love with life. Pope. 
[Although atone as a transitive verb is essentially obsolete, 
it is used occasionally by modern writers in several of the 
senses above given.] 
atone-makert, . [< atone, adr., + maker."] 
One who makes reconciliation or atonement; 
a reconciler; a mediator. 
One God, one mediatour, that is to say, aduocate, inter- 
cessor, or an atowmaker, between God and man. 
Tyndale, Works, p. 158. 
atonement (a-ton'ment), n. [< alone, v., + 
-mt'iit; but tne noun'is found earlier than the 
verb, arising perhaps from the phrase at one- 
mcnt: see onement.] If. Reconciliation after 
enmity or controversy; settlement, as of a dif- 
ference; concord. 
Hauying more regarde to their old variaunce than their 
newe altonement. Sir T. More, Descrip. of Kich. III. 
If we do now make our atonement well, 
Our peace will, like a broken limb united, 
Grow stronger for the breaking. 
Shak., 2 Hen. IV., IT. 1. 
2. Satisfaction or reparation made for wrong 
or injury, either by giving some equivalent or 
by doing or suffering something which is re- 
ceived in lieu of an equivalent. 
O when did a morning shine 
So rich in atonement as this 
For my dark-dawning youth? 
Tennyson, Maud, xix. 2. 
3. In tiieol., the reconciliation of God and man 
by means of the life, sufferings, and death of 
Christ. 
For God was in Christ, and made agrement bitwene the 
worlde and hym sylfe, and imputed not their synnes vnto 
them ; and hath committed to vs the preachynge of the 
atonement. Tyndale, 2 Cor. v. 19. 
When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by 
the death of his Son ; ... we also joy in God through our 
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the 
atonement. Rom. v. 10, 11. 
This doctrine assumes that sin has made a spiritual sepa- 
ration between God and the human soul. Different sys- 
tems of theology explain differently the method of recon- 
ciliation, and therefore use the word atonement with dif- 
ferent meanings. The early fathers generally stated the 
doctrine in the terms of Scripture, and it was not until the 
time of the Reformation that the differences in philosoph- 
ical statement were clearly marked. The modem state- 
ments may be grouped under four general heads, as fol- 
lows : (a) A reparation or satisfaction for sin made by the 
sufferings of Christ as a substitute for the sinner, and in 
lieu of the punishment to which the sinner was justly 
amenable. Such satisfaction is regarded as necessary 
either (1) to satisfy the justice of God, and so make for- 
iveness possible, or (2) to satisfy the law of God, pro- 
uce the public impression which punishment would have 
produced, and so make forgiveness safe. The former is 
known as the satisfaction, the latter as the governmental 
theory. 
The word atonement, in its original sense, always de- 
notes some amends, or satisfaction, for the neglect of 
some duty, or the commission of some fault ; a satisfac- 
tion with which, when supposed to be complete, the per- 
son injured ought reasonably to be contented, and to 
demand of the offender nothing more on account of his 
transgression. Dwight, Theology, Iv. 
Taking the term atonement in its technical signification 
to denote the satisfaction of divine justice for the sin of 
man, by the substituted penal sufferings of the Son of 
God, we shall find a slower scientific unfolding of this 
great cardinal doctrine than of any other of the principal 
truths of Christianity. 
Shedd, Hist. Christian Doctrine, v. 1. 
(&) The entrance of God into humanity, that he may 
thereby drive out sin and make the human race at one 
with himself. 
Supposing the Father's will to be a will to all good ; 
the Son of God, being one with him, and Lord of man, 
to obey and fulfil in pur flesh that will by entering into 
the lowest condition into which man had fallen through 
their sin ; this Man to be, for this reason, an object of 
continual complacency to his Father, and that compla- 
cency to be fully drawn out by the death of the cross : 
his death to be a sacrifice, the only complete sacrifice 
ever offered, the entire surrender of the whole spirit and 
