plane-table 
azimuth, sometimes also having two horizon- 
tal motions of translation. An indispensable accom- 
paniment of the plane-table is the alidade, which Is a 
straight-edge carrying upon a standard a telescope with 
cross-wires (generally with a telemeter), which telescope is 
horizontally fixed relatively to the straight-edge, but has 
a i in >t inn in altitude. The alidade generally carries a deli- 
cate magnetic needle. A certain number of point* having 
been i-endctically determined and marked by signals, the 
plane-table is set up at any other point, and the paper upon 
which the map is to be drawn, having the trigonomet- 
ric points l;iiil down upon it, is placed upon the table. The 
latter is then brought into proper orientation, and the po- 
sition of the station determined graphically by the three- 
'uui'''"*!'!}'! ?.' ll! P 1 *" c ' tnble P reRe " ts ""me slight dim- planetoidal (plau-e-toi'dal), a. [< planetoid + 
selfiuipears'ofcoiisid^ ""'' ( " " r pertaining to the planetoids; re- 
w b.-n irregularly laid out towns are to be 'surveyed with lating to a planetoid. 
the last degree of accuracy. On the other hand, the plane- plane-tree (plan'tre), M. [< )>lan(3 + tree.] 
i .. 1 .1 . . la ,,* Iff *1 . , ... 1_ ___ I .__ . r . * 
1. A tree of the genus Platanus, especially /'. 
orientalis, the oriental plane-tree, or its variety 
aeerifolia, the maple-leafed plane-tree, ofteii 
regarded as a species. The oriental plane-tree and 
I :,_". I 
the group of very small planets revolving round 
the sun between the orbits of Marx and Jupiter, 
remarkable for the eccentricity of their orbits 
and the greatness of their angle of inclination 
to the ecliptic; a minor planet; an asteroid. 
The diameter of the largest is supposed not to exceed 450 
miles, while most of the others are believed to be very 
much smaller. Ceres was the first to lie detected, being 
observed for the first time by Piazzl, an Italian astronomer, 
on January 1st, 1801; since 1817 no year has passed with- 
out the discovery of new planetoids. The number now 
known exceeds 290 ; 10 were discovered in 1888, In 1S8H, 
and 5 in the first four months of 1890. 
table Is of little use in mere reconnaissance. But Iii most 
cases it is the chief instrument of the topographer, and is 
used in all topographical surveys except those of (ireat 
Britain. 
2. In mininij, an inclined table or surface of 
boards on which ore is dressed; a frame, or 
framing-table. 
Also plain-table. 
plane-table (plan'ta'bl), r. t. [< plane-table, n.] 
To survey with a plane-table. 
plane-tabler (plau'ta'bler), n. A topographic 
engineer using a plane-table. 
plane-tabling (plan'ta^bling), n. The em- 
ployment of a plane-table ; the act or process 
of making a map by means of a plane-table. 
planetarium (plan-e-ta'ri-um), w. ; pi. planeta- 
riumn, planetaria (-umz, -a). [= F. planetaire = 
Sp. Pg. It. planetaria, < NL. planetarium, prop, 
nout. of LL. 'planetarius, planetary: see pltine- 
tarij.] An astronomical machine which, by the 
movement of its parts, represents the motions 
and orbits of the planets. See orrery. 
planetary (plan'e-ta-ri), a. [= F. plauetairc 
= Sp. Pg. It. planetaria, < LL. 'planetarius, 
planetary (only as a noun, planetarius, an as- 
trologer), < planeta, a planet: see planet.] 1. 
Of or pertaining to a planet or the planets; 
consisting of planets: as, planetary motions; 
planetary inhabitants; the planetary system. 
2. Having the character attributed to a 
planet; erratic or wandering. 
I am credibly informed he [Richard Oreenham) 111 some 
sort repented his removal from his parish, and disliked 
his own erratical and planetary life. 
Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. vii. 68. 
3. In astral., under the dominion or influence 
of a planet; produced by or under the influ- 
ence of planets. 
Be as a planetary plague, when Jove 
Will o'er some high-viced city hang his poison 
In the sick air. Skat., T. of A., Iv. 3. 108. 
Born in the flamtary hour of Saturn. 
Addtgon, Spectator. 
Planetary aberration. See aberration. Planetary 
days, the days of the week as shared among the planets 
known to the ancients, each having its day. Planetary 
nebula. See nebula. Planetary years, the periods of 
time in which the several planets make tneir respective 
Its variety are found wild from Persia to Italy, and are 
common iu European parks as ornamental trees. The 
wood is valued for cabinet-work and turnery. (Also called 
Branch of the American Plane-ttee (Tin tanas otfirbntalix) with 
Fruit a, a single nutlet, showing the bristles at its Iwie. 
chinar-trce.) The American plane-trees are better known, 
where native, as ftycainnre or button tcood. The ordinary 
species is P. occidentalis. the largest tree of the Atlantic 
forests, often from 90 to 120 feet high, found chiefly on 
bottom-lands. It is not seldom planted for shade and or 
nament, and its reddish brown wood is used In various 
ways. Other names are buttnnball and iratrr-beech. The 
plane-tree of California is /'. racemum, a somewhat smaller 
tree with very white hark. Plane-trees suffer from a dis- 
ease caused by the attack of a parasitic fungus, Glaeo- 
rporium ncrvisequum. The entire foliage appears in early 
summer as if scorched and withered, but later In the sea- 
son fresh leaves are developed. The trees rarely die from 
the effects of the fungus. See Platanua. 
2. The sycamore maple, Acer I'xeudo-nlatanus: 
so called from the similarity of its leaves to 
those of the plane. Other maples are also 
sometimes known as plane-trees. [Local, Eng. 
and Scotch.] 
Affected 
by the supposed influence of planets; blasted. 
Like planet-stricken men of yore. 
He trembles, smitten to the core 
By strong compunctions and remorse. 
Wordneorth, Peter Bell, iii. 
:an'et-struk), a. Same as 
revolutions round the sun. , 
planeted (plan'et-ed), a. [< planet + -erf2.] Be- planet-stricken (plan et-stnk'n), a 
longing to planets. [Rare.] 
Toll me, ye stars, ye planets ; tell me, all 
Yestarr'd suitl planeted inhabitants what is it? 
What are these sons of wonder? 
Young, Night Thoughts, ix. 
planet-gearing (plan'et-ger'ing), . Any sys- 
tem of gearing in which planet-wheels are in- 
troduced; a mechanical device for converting 
power into speed. It has been employed for driving " 'itei.T. Adatiu, Works, I. 479. 
In other* i'iThines l ' e * Pe *'"* m Wer8 ' &ad '" *" element Since I saw you I have been planet-itrvck. SwMing. 
planetic (pla'-'net'ik), a. [In form < 1,1,. plancti- planetule (plan'et-ul), n. [< planet + -tile.] A 
ens, wandering, < Gr. xfavT/rtKos, wandering, lite planet. 
wandering, < irZavaoOai, planet-wheel (plan'et-hwel), u. 1. The ex- 
In sense directly depen- tenor wheel of the suu-aud-planet motion 
(see sun). 2. In the 
plural, an epicyclic 
train of mechanism for 
producing a variable 
angular motion, such 
as that of the radius 
vector of a planet in 
its orbit. The common 
contrivance for this purpose 
consists of two elliptical 
wheels connected by teeth 
irregular, < 
wander: see planet. 
dent on planet.'] Of or pertaining to a planet ; 
resembling a planet in any way. 
planetical (pla-net'i-kal), a. [< planetic + -al] 
Same as planetic. 
According to the planetical relations. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., v. 22. 
Some planetical exhalation, or a descending star. 
J. Spencer Prodigies, p. 39. 
planetingt (plau'et-ing), . [< planet + -im/ 1 .] 
The music of the planets or spheres. 
Tempering all 
The jarring spheres, and giving to the world 
Again his first and tuneful phuutttuff. 
B. Jonson, Sad Shepherd, iii. 1 
Planet wheels 
While the driving-wheel 
moves uniformly, the radius 
vector of the other has the 
planetistt (plM et-lSt). n. [= F. planfttste = required motion. 
Sp. Olt. planetista, < LL. 'ptitni'tintn, < planeta, plangency (plan'jen- 
planet: seeplanet.] An observer of the planets, si), n. [< plangen(t) + 
Miiislii'ii. -fi/.] The state or qual- 
planetoid (plan'et-oid), n. [= F. pliinelniilr. < ityof being plangent; a noisy dashing or beat- 
Gr. irAmv/r//;-, a planet, + ciooV, form.] One of ing. [Rare.] 
the center of the other, or son. 
gear, by an arm which preserves 
a constant distance between their 
renters. Each revolution of the 
planet-gear, which is rigidly at- 
tached to the connecting-rod. 
yives two to the sun-gear, which 
is keyed to the fly-wheel sli.ift 
planimeter 
plangent (plan'jent), a. [< L. pl, 
Pl>r. of />/./,<(/</(, MMi see /ilniH-.] i. Beat- 
ing; dashing, as waves. [Hare.] 
Nor heeds the weltering of the plangent wave. 
SirU. Taylor, Ph. van Arteyefde (ed. 18M), I., I. 10. 
2. Resounding; clashing; noisy. 
The bell on the orthodox church called the member* of 
Mr. Perk's soeiety together for the business meeting with 
the same planytnt, lacerant note that summoned them to 
worship on Sundays. W. D. HowUt, Annie Kllburn, xv. 
The shadows and the generations, the shrill doctors and 
i\ie planynd wars, go by Into ultimate silence and i-mptl- 
It. /-. Sttoenion, An Apology for Idlers, 
plangort (plang'ggr) ; . [< L. plat/or, a strik- 
ing, beating, a beating the breast iu token of 
grief, < plaiigcre, beat: see plain^.] Plaint; 
lamentation. 
The lamentable plaHgnri of Thracian Orpheus for his 
dearest Gurydlce. 
Mere*, Eng. Literature (Arber's Eng. Garner, II. IXi). 
Plan! (pla'ni), . pi. [NL., pi. of L. plauux, 
flat: see plane 1 .] In Cuvier"s clasgiflcation. 
the second family of subbrachiate malacop- 
terygiati flshes; the flatfislies: same as Pleiiro- 
nectittte in a wide sense and the suborder He te- 
nisnmata. 
planicaudate (pla-ni-ka'dat), a. [< L. plainiK, 
flat. + eniida, tail,+ -ate 1 (see canitate).] Hav- 
ing a flattened tail: said of reptiles. 
planicipital (pla-ni-sip'i-tal), a. [< L. jilaiiun, 
flat, + caput (capit-, in comp. -cii>it-), head, + 
-al.] Having a flat head, as an insect. 
planidorsate (pla-ni-ddr'sat), a. [< L. plannx, 
flat, + domtm, back, + -afcl.] Having a flat 
back. 
plamform (pla'ni-form), a. [< L. plaints, flat, 
+ forma, form.] In anat., presenting a plane 
or flat surface: said of the articular surface of 
bones whose jointing is arthrodial. 
planigraph (plan'i-graf), . [< NL. planum, 
a plane, + Gr. ypaifxiv, write.] An instrument 
for reducing or enlarging drawings. It consists 
of two scales graduated in a definite ratio to eoeh other, at- 
tached end to end, and rotating about a pivot at their com- 
mon origin. Measurements taken on a copy at one side 
are marked by the operator at the corresponding grada 
tii His on the other arm of the Instrument. Interchange- 
able scales are provided for different degrees of enlarge- 
ment or reduction. 
planimeter (pla-nim'e-ter), . [= F. plani- 
iitctre; < NL. planum, a plane, + Gr. uirpov, 
measure.] An instrument formeasuring a plane 
area by carrying a tracer round its periphery, 
and noting the change of reading of a scale. 
Planimeters are of various constructions; but the most In- 
teresting Is the polar planimeter (see the first figure). This 

consists of an inner arm OJ, taming about a fixed center) ', 
and an outer arm JP, turning alxiut a joint J, and resting 
np"ii a point or tracer P, and upon a wheel W, having its 
axis coincident with or Just below the line JP, and pro- 
vided with a counting-apparatus, so that the turns and 
fractions of a turn it makes can be read off. In order to see 
that the instrument will accurately show the area, consid- 
er the second figure, where the tracer Is supposed to follow 
P^ so 
from 
the outline of an infinitesimal parallelogram, 
placed that when the tracer moves from PQ to P an 
P* to PI the wheel moves from W 2 to W 3 and from W 4 
to W,, both these paths of the wheel being In the direc- 
tion of its axis, so that it only turns in passing from W, 
to Wo and from W 3 to W 4 , during which motions the In- 
vS_v 
