orchestra 
assigned fur tin- oi-fht-stra-playei'8 is usually the front 
part of the main floor. I i ihe. optn-hoUM :it llayrcuth 
tllr uivhrslra i- a |il:li Inn II liel,i\v tin- level iif lilt- lloor, Bo 
that tho players are invisible to tin- ainlit-nr.- 
2. In moil, iinif.il', a comp.iny of performers 
on such instruments us an- used in eoncerti-d 
music; a band. (In the rnitcd States In, nil usually 
ifgnlftes a military baud; but in England ii,,<l is intcr- 
rhan^i-ahl'- uitll u/vArxf/vi. ) Tilt- historic development of 
the orchestra as now known did not betrin until about 1600, 
when tin' Ind -prudent val f instrumental music was 
first generally accepted. I p to that time, though many 
in -M inm-iits hail IM-I n knovvn and used, both alone and us 
supports for vocal music, tiny had not IM-I-II systematical- 
ly combined, nor had concerted music been written for 
them. The pnici-Hstif experiment, seh-i-tion, and improve 
nii-nt in construction and mutual adaptation went on 
steadily until nearly 1800, when tilt! orchestra first arrived 
at its present proportions. The instruments now used 
rnnsist n!' four main groups: (a) the strinys, including 
vi.ilins (first and second), violas, violoncellos, and bass 
vi-i|s, these together constituting the largest and dei-iileil- 
ly the most important ^loup, \vhieh is often used entire- 
ly alone, and is thru called the string orchestra; (6) the 
,<,,it iriint, including tlutes, oboes. <-larini N. English 
IIMIMS. hasset-honis, bassoons, etc., these all being used 
both to enrich the effect of the strings,and in alternation 
with them to nltord contrasts in tone-quality; (c) the 
brass irind, including Krcuch horns, trumpets, comets, 
tnmibnin-s, ophiclcides, etc., these being also used both 
in conjunction and In contrast with the other groups, 
though their decidedly greater sonority makes their In- 
troduction necessarily more rare: and ((/) the prrctt&rit>en. 
including tympani, snare and bass drums, cymbals, bells 
and triangles, harps, etc., and also sometimes the piano- 
forte, though the tatter is seldom ranked as a true orches- 
tral instrument. The proportions of the several groups 
are varied sonn-what both bycoinpaMnud by conductors. 
\full urclii'titrH is one in whk-h all these groups are pres- 
ent in fairly complete form ; a small orchestra is one in 
which some important instruments are lacking. All the 
above instruments, except the harp, are essentially mono- 
phonic, and the peculiar artistic importance of the orches- 
tra is based upon the fact that every element in the total 
effect is produced by a solo instrument In the hands of a 
separate performer. The orchestra is extensively em- 
ployed both in accompanying vocitl music of every kind 
and in purely instrumental works. Its unlimited capaci- 
ties for varied effect have led to the production of an ex- 
tensive musical literature, in which are some of the most 
famous specimens of musical art. The orchestra is an in- 
dispensable factor in all extended works like operas and 
oratotios. The maintenance of orchestras was originally 
undertaken by individual princes in the several European 
states ; but they are now either attached to opera-houses 
or supported by the proceeds of popular concerts. 
3. In the early New England churches, the 
choir-gallery at the end opposite the pulpit: 
so called because in it were stationed the in- 
strumentalists by whom the singing was ac- 
companied. 
orchestral (6r'kes-tral), a. [= P. orchestral; 
as or.elientra + -al.] "Pertaining to an orches- 
tra; suitable for or performed by an orchestra : 
as, orchestral music Orchestral flute, oboe, etc., 
in organ-buildiny, a flute, oboe, or other stop whose tones 
Imitate those of the instruments with exceptional accu- 
racy. 
orchestrate (or'kes-trat), r.; pret. and pp. or- 
<-ln xtrated, ppr. orchestrating. [< orchestra + 
-ate 2 .] To compose or arrange music for an 
orchestra; score or instrumentate. 
orchestration (6r-kes-tra'shon), n. [< orchea- 
trtitu +-IOH.] In music, the act, process, science, 
or result of composing or arranging music for 
an orchestra; instrumentation. As a branch of 
musical study it includes the structure, technique, and 
tone-qualities of all orchestral instruments, their artistic 
combination and contrast, and the method by which in- 
tended effects are indicated In notation. It is properly 
the chief division of instrumentation, though the latter is 
often made equivalent to it. 
orchestret, H. An obsolete form of on'lnstnt. 
orchestric (6r-kes'trik), a. [= P. orcliestriquc 
= Pg. orchestrico; as orchestra + -ic.] Relating 
to an orchestra ; orchestral. 
orchestrion (6r-kes'tri-on), H. [< orchestra + 
-ion as in im-iirilioii.'] A mechanical musical 
instrument, essentially similar to a barrel-or- 
gan, but having many different stops, etc.. 
which allow the imitation of a large variety 
of orchestral instruments and the production 
of quite complicated musical works. Many 
different names have been applied to different 
varieties of the instrument. 
orchialgia (or-ki-al'ji-a), n. [NL., < Or. opx'f, 
a testicle, + d?.}oc, pain.] Pain, especially 
neuralgia, in a testicle. 
orchic (dr'kik), a. [< NL. orch-is + -fc.] Of or 
pertaining to the testes. 
orchid (or'kid), H. [< orchid, L. orchis (stem 
erroneously assumed tobeorrJnVf-): see Orchis-.] 
Any plant of the natural order Orchidetr; an 
nrchidai'eous plant. Almond-scented orchid. See 
(MMkftaMik Spectral-flowered orchid. See Ha 
deraHia. - Soread-eagle orchid, see Oncidium. Vlo- 
let-scented orchid, see odontmilosmm. 
Orchidaceae (6r-ki-da'se-e), n. pi. [NL. (Lind- 
ley, 1835),< Orchis 2 (see orchid) + -amr.] Same 
as Orchidece. 
4141 
orchidaceous (or-ki-da'shius), </. Ivrtaining 
In tin- oivhids; belonging to tin- natural oi-di r 
OrcMdoa << . 
Orchideas (or-kidV-e., n. /</. |NI,. (l/iimims, 
17-~>1 ), < Dri'liix- (see uri'liiil) + -fir.] The orchis 
family, an order of monocotyledon mis plants, of 
the series Mirfnx/irrii/in; distinguished liy tin- 
one or two sessile antliers united to the pi.-t il. 
It Includes about 5,000 species, belonging to ::|.i genera, 
classed in 5 tribes and 27 tmbti i ire (irirnnial 
ilerbs, si. me terrestrial, found both in Tin- tiu|iirs anil in 
colder regions, ,-\ rn ti. i:.s N. 1 at., others rpiphvti-s ni trop- 
ieal i-limates, reaching north toHorida. Their flowem are 
Flowering Plant ut Showy on h. 
(OrfAis Jfifctatt/fsl. 
Orchid ( 
Kcnerally beautiful and fragrant, often grotesque or imitat- 
ing animal forms, and have three sepals, two similar pet- 
als, and a third petal, the lip, enlarged, and commonly of 
singular shape or color. Their pollen is coherent in a waxy 
or granular mass, usually transferred to the stigma only by 
insectrvisits, insuring cross-fertilization. They grow from 
short or creeping rootstocks, tubers, or thickened fibers, 
the epiphytic species commonly with a few lower joints of 
the stem thickened and persisting, forming a pseudo-bulb. 
They bear undivided, often fleshy, parallel-veined leaves, 
and one-celled capsules with a multitude of minute seeds. 
Any plant of the order is called an orchid. 
orchideal (6r-kid'e-al), n. [< orchid + *-<//.] 
In hot., same as orchidaceous. 
orchidean (6r-kid'e-an), a. [< orchid + -e-an.] 
Same as orchidaceous. Darwin, Fertil. of Or- 
chids by Insects, p. 226. 
orchidectomy (dr-ki-dek'to-mi), n. [< Or. 6p- 
Xtf, a testicle, + fuTOftf/, a cutting out.] Castra- 
tion. 
orchideous (6r-kid'e-us), a. [< orchid + -C-OM.V.] 
Same as orchidaceous. Darwin, Fertil. of Or- 
chids by Insects, p. 280. 
orchiditis (6r-ki-dl'tis), n. [NL., < Gr. 
(assumed stem *op%td-), a testicle, + -i'W*.] 
Same as orchitis. 
orchidocele (6r'kid-o-sel), u. [< Gr. ipx'f (as- 
sumed stem *opxio-), a testicle, 4- at/fa/, tumor.] 
Orchidoncus. 
orchidologist (or-ki-dol'o-jist), n. [< orchidol- 
<>(/-!/ + -i*t.~\ One versed in orchids. 
orchidology (6r-ki-dol 'o-ji), n. [< Gr. 6px'f, the 
orchis (see orchid), + -Xo} i'a, < /t/yv, speak : see 
-ology.] The special branch of botany or of hor- 
ticulture which relates to orchids. 
orchidoncus (6r-ki-dong'kus), n. [NL., < Gr. 
6pX'f (assumed stem *opxto-), a testicle, + 4y/<of, 
tumor.] Tumor of the testis. 
orchil (Sr'kil), H. [Formerly also orchel, orchal, 
iii-<'linll,<. ME. orchcll,< OF. orchel, orcheil, orseil, 
F. orseillc, etc. : see archil.} Same as archil. 
orchilla-weed (6r-kil'fi-wed), n. Same as ar- 
cliil. 2. 
orchiodynia (6rki-9-din'i-a), n. [NL., < Gr. 
&/>X'c, a testicle, + oiivti, pain.] Pain in a tes- 
ticle. 
orchis 1 (or'kis), n. ; pi. arches (-kez). [NL.,< Gr. 
opxf, a testicle.] In anat.. the testis, testicle, 
or its equivalent. 
orchis 2 (or'kis), . [= F. orchis, < L. orchis, < 
Gr. ipx'S (bpX'-t PX e -)> a plant, the orchis, so 
called from the shape of the roots, < tpx'C, a 
testicle.] 1. A plant of the genus Orchis; also, 
one of numerous plants in other genera of the 
orchis family, Orchideir. 
Bring orchis, bring the foxglove spire, 
The little speedwell's darling blue. 
Tennytou, In Memoriam, IxxxliL 
ordain 
2. [<'<i]'.~\ [NL. (LinnaniH. 1737).] A genus of 
plants, type of the order lii-i-hiili-a; belonging to 
the tribe itjihri/di-n- and the subtribe x< ,/i/iiea;, 
characterized by its spurred lip, and by the two 
pollen-glands being 
inclosed in a com 
mon pouch. It In- 
cludes about 80 species, 
mainly of the nt th t> m 
Derate regions of the Old 
World, with two in tin 
I niti-d States. Theyare 
terrestrial plants with 
a few long -sheathing 
broadly elliptical leaves, 
and flowers of middle 
size in a spike terminat- 
ing the erect and im- 
branched stem. The com- 
mon American species il 
0. spectafnlis, the Hh<>"> 
orchis, of rich woods 
northward, having two 
obovateglossy leaves, and 
a few pretty racemed 
flowers, pink purple with 
white lip. Forsome emu- 
mon British species, see 
Cain-aiul AM. cullion, 
2, dead-wrn'K-Jtngers, 1 . 
long-purples, 1, footstanes, 
joht)ny-cnctc*, and hniui- 
orchis. Blrd'B-nest or- 
chis. Nee Sfnttia.- 
Crane-fly orchis, see Tipularia. Fen-orchii. s,e 
Liparix. Fringed orchis, one of several American spe 
cies of llttbenaria with cut-fringed lip. iiiclm'.ing white, 
yellow, greenish, and purple-flowered >pi < let. See cut 
under tlabenaria. Frog-orchis, //nfo'imnVi ciridis. 
(Jreenman orchis. Same as man-orchis. Medusa's- 
head orchis, Cirrhoprtalum Medwce, with thread like 
pendent sepals and petals. Musk-orchis. See fJermi- 
nium Reln-orchlB, any plant of the genus Uabenaria. 
(See also bee-orchis, boy-orchis, butter fly-orchis, fly-orchis, 
man-orchis, spider-orchis.) 
orchitic (6r-kit'ik), . [< orchitis + -'c.J Af- 
fected with orchitis. 
orchitis (6r-ki'tis), H. [NL., < Gr. &px tc > testi- 
cle, 4- -itis.~\ In pathol., inflammation of the 
testis. Also orchiditis. 
orchotomy (or-kot'o-mi), n. [Prop, "orchiotonti/, 
< Gr. iipx'f, testicle, + -ro/iia, < ri/tveiv, raueif, 
cut.] The operation of excising a testicle; 
castration. 
orcin (dr'sin), n. [< orc(hella) + -in'*.] A pe- 
culiar coloring matter, represented by the for- 
mula C 7 Hg(OHQ), obtained from the orchella- 
weed and other lichens. It crystallizes In colorless 
prisms, and its taste is sweet and nauseous. When dis- 
solved in ammonia it gradually acquires a deep blood-red 
color, and there is formed on exposure to air a new sub- 
stance called orcfin, which contains nitrogen as an es 
sential element, and may he a mixture of several dif- 
ferent compounds. On the addition of acetic acid orcein 
is precipitated as a brownish-red powder. Also called 
orcinol. 
orculiform (6r'ku-li-fdrm), a. [< L. orevla.a 
little tun or cask, dim. of orca, a tun (see orca*), 
+ forma, form.] In bot., cask-shaped: applied 
to the cells of certain alga?. [Rare.] 
orcynine (6r'si-nin), a. Belonging or related to 
the genus Orci/nus. 
OrcynUB (6r-si'nus), . [NL., < L. oreynuit, < 
Gr. ipKivof, a large sea-fist of the tunny kind.] 
A genus of scombroid fishes of great size and 
economic value ; the tunnies or horse-mackerel. 
The common tunny is Orcynus thynnus. See cut 
under attacorc. 
ordt (6rd), n. [Also ordc ; ME. ord, < AS. ord, a 
point as of a sword, apex, top, edge, line of bat- 
tle, beginning, origin, chief, = OS. ord, point, = 
OFries. ord, point, place, = I), oord, a place, re- 
gion, = MLG. ort=OHG. ort, a point, angle, 
edge, beginning, MHG. ort, a point, G. ort, a 
place, region, = Icel. oddr, a point of a weapon, 
= Sw. udd, a point, prick, = Dan. od, a point (> 
Icel. mid i. a point or land, = Sw. udde, a point, 
cape, = Dan. mlili . a point of laud, > E. odd, not 
even: see odd)."] 1. A point. 
Thi fruit is prlkked with speres ord. 
Holy Rood (E. E. T. S.X p. ISO. 
2. Beginning. 
fifl and ende he hath him told, 
Hu blauncheflur was tharinne Isold. 
King Horn (E. E. T. S.X p. 62. 
ord. An abbreviation of ordinal, ordinance, or- 
dinary, and order. 
ordain (6r-dan'), r. t. [< ME. ordanen, ordeinen, 
ordeynen, < OF. ordener, F. ordonner = Sp. Pg. 
ordenar = It. ordinare, < L. ordinare, order: see 
order, v., and ordinate, r.] If. To set or place 
in proper order ; arrange ; prepare ; make ready; 
hence, to construct or constitute with a view 
to a certain end. 
William went al bl-fore as wis man A nobul, 
it ordeyned anon his ost [host! in thre grete parties. 
William nf Palerne (E. E. T. S.X L S7W. 
