polygyn 
polygyn (jwd'i-jin), ii. [< Polygyn-iu.] Inbot., 
a plant of the order Pnlygynia. 
polygynia 1 (pol-i-jin'i-a )', . [NL.] Same as 
In certain cantons of Media, according to Strabo, paly- 
ovaia was authorised by express law, which ordained every 
Inhabitant to maintain at [east seven wives. 
M'Lennan, Primitive Marriage (ed. 185), viil. 
Polygynia 2 (pol-i-jin'i-a), . pi. [NL., < Gr. JTO- 
?.i'f, many, + yvi-r/, female (in mod. bot. pistil).] 
One of the orders in the fifth, sixth, twelfth, 
and thirteenth classes of the Linnean system, 
comprehending those plants which have flow- 
ers with more than twelve styles or stigmas. 
polygynian (pol-i-jiu'i-an), a. [< polynyuiai + 
-an.] Same as ]>olygynous. 
polygynic (pol-i-j'in'ik), a. [< polygyit-ous + 
-ic.] Same as polygynous. 
polygynious (pol-i-j'iu'i-us), o. S&me&spolygy- 
notia. 
polygynist (po-lij'i-nist), M. [< polygyn-y + 
-ist.] One who or that which practises polygy- 
ny; an advocate of polygyny. 
polygyncdcial (pol'i-ji-ne'shal), o. [< Gr. 
jro/.i'f, many, + NL. ffynefcium + -al.] In bot., 
formed by the united pistils of many flowers: 
said of multiple fruits. 
POlygynons (po-lij'i-nus). . [=r P. polygyne; 
as polygyn + -ons.] 1. In bot., having many 
styles; belonging to the order Polygynia. 2. 
Polygamous, as a male; having more than one 
female as wife or mate. 
Few, perhaps, would stigmatize a legal palygynous con- 
nexion as impure, however they might disapprove of the 
law and of the state of society in which such a law was 
established. //. Sidywicli, Methods of Ethics, p. 337. 
polygyny tpo-lij'i-ni), . [< NL. polygynia, < Gr. 
*ifo/.vyvvia, the condition of having many wives, 
< iro).vyinK, iro/.vyin>aiot, having many wives, (. 
jro/ltif. many, + ywr/, woman, wife.] Marriage 
or cohabitation of one man with more than one 
woman at the same time; polygamy as prac- 
tised by the male. Polygyny is more frequent than 
polyandry, being the usual case of polygamy as practised 
by man and the lower animals. 
polygyral (pol-i-ji'ral), <l. [< Gr. voZiyvpof, 
with many windings, { jro/.if many, + )i'/x)f, a 
circle, ring: see gyre.] Having many whorls 
or gyres, as a univalve shell. /('. O. Biiiney. 
polyhaemia, . See polyhemia. 
polyhalite (pol-i-hal'it), . [< Gr. 7ro2i'f,many, 
4- a'/.f (a/--), salt, + -ifc 2 .] A mineral or salt 
occurring in masses of a fibrous structure, of a 
brick-red color, being tinged with iron. It is a 
hydrous sulphate of calcium, magnesium, and potassium. 
It is found at Ischl In Austria, and also at Berchtesgoden 
in Bavaria. 
polyhedra. . Plural of polyhedron. 
polyhedral (pol-i-he'dral), a. [< polyhedron 
+ -al.] Having many faces, as a solid body; 
of or pertaining to a polyhedron. Also polyhe- 
dric, iiolyliedrouH, polyedral, polycdroux Poly- 
hedral function, an algebraic function which remains 
unchanged when the variable undergoes any of those 
transformations which would carry a polyhedron, stereo- 
graphically projected upon the plane of an imaginary 
quantity. Into a congruent position. 
polyhedric (pol-i-he'drik), a. [= F. polye- 
drii/ue; as polijIicdr-oH + -ic.] Same as poly- 
hedral. 
polyhedrical (pol-i-he'dri-kal), . [< polyhe- 
dric + -al.] Same as polyhedric. [Hare.] 
polyhedrometric (pol-i-he-dro-met'rik), a. [< 
polyliedrometr-y + -ic.] Pertaining to polyhe- 
drometrv. 
polyhedrometry (pol'i-he-drora'et-ri), n. [< 
iMilylteilroit + Gr. fitrpia, < pcrpciv, measure.] 
The system of theorems concerning the num- 
bers of faces, edges, and summits of polyhe- 
dra, the numbers of edges belonging to the 
different faces and summits, and other allied 
matters. The name is ill formed to express 
this idea. 
polyhedron (pol-i-he'dron), M.; pi. polyhedra, 
piilyhedroii.i (-drii, -dronz). [Also jMilycdmn ; 
= F. polyedre = Sp. pulihedro = Pg. polyedro 
= It. poliedro, < Gr. irtMitpov, ncut. of vdf.ixtpos, 
with many bases, < iro/.i'-r, many, + Won, seat, 
base.] 1. In geom., a solid bounded by plane 
faces. 2. In opticx, a multiplying glass or lens 
consisting of several plane surfaces disposed in 
a convex form, through each of which an ob- 
ject is seen; a polyscope. 3. Inh/.,in Ili/ilfi,- 
dictyon or water-net, one of the special angu- 
lar cells with horn-like processes formed l>y 
the swarm-cells produced in the zygospore, 
within each of which a new coenobium is de- 
<;, !!.. conjugate polyhedra, two poly. 
lu-dni each having a sum IN it Tor rvciy furc .if I lie uttirr 
Doubly reversible polyhedron, a polyhedron which ex 
4604 
hlbita, In the faces touching the base, a series repeated 
twice. So In a trebly reofrMle polyhedron, etc., the series is 
repeated thrice, etc. Generator of a polyhedron. See 
generator. Regular polyhedron, a polyhedron that ban 
all Its summits alike in allrespects and composed of plane 
angles of the same magnitude : sometimes understood as 
excluding the stellated polyhedra. See cut under oeta- 
hedron. Semi-regular polyhedron, a polyhedron all 
the summits of which are alike, while the plane angles 
which compose the summits are not all alike. Stellated 
polyhedron, a polyhedron that Inwraps Its center more 
than once. 
polyhedrons (pol-i-he'drus), a. [= P. poly- 
edre = Sp. poliedro = Pg. polyedro = It. polie- 
dro, < Gr. jro/.iieiJpof, with many bases: seejwly- 
hedron.] Same as polyhedral. 
polyhemia, polyhaemia (pol-i-he'mi-ft), . 
[NL., < Gr. ffoAwj////o, fullness of blood, < m>).vc, 
much, + ai/ia, blood.] Excess of blood ; plethora. 
Also polyemia, polymnia. 
polyhistbr (pol-i-his'tor), w. [< L. nolyhistor 
(as a title of the grammarian Cornelius Alex- 
ander), < Gr. iro/.viarup, very learned, < jro^if, 
much, + larup, tarup, knowing: see histot-y.] 
A person of great learning; one who is versed 
in various departments of study. 
I hane much read of admirable things of them [storks) 
in . K.lian us the polyhutor. Coryat, Crudities, 1. 88, sig. E. 
Polyhymnia (pol-i-him'ni-ft), n. [L., also Po- 
lymnia (>P. Polymiiic), < Gr. flo).i<nvia, one of the 
Muses, < wofat, many, + v/tvof, a hymn.] In Gr. 
imli:/.. the Muse of the sublime hymn, and of 
the faculty of learning and remembering: ac 
cording to some poets, inventor of the lyre, 
and considered during the final centuries of the 
Roman empire as the patroness of mimes and 
pantomimes. In art she is usually represent- 
ed as in a meditative attitude, voluminously 
draped, and without any attribute. 
polylemma (pol-i-lem'a), w. [< Gr. TTo/U'f, many, 
+ s.qfifia, a proposition, assumption: see dilem- 
ma.] A dilemma with several alternatives: op- 
posed to dilemma in the narrow sense. 
polylepidous (pol-i-lep'i-dus), r. [< Gr. m/.if, 
many, + Af;n'f (?.f;r5-), a scale.] In bot., hav- 
ing many scales. 
polylithic (pol-i-lith'ik), a. [< Gr. iroM-Mdhf, 
of many stones, < iro?.i'?, many, + ?,/ft>f, stone.] 
Consisting of many stones ; built up of several 
blocks, as a shaft or column : opposed to mono- 
lithic. 
polylogyt (po-lil'o-ji), ii. [= It. polilogia, < Gr. 
iraAuXoyia, loquacity, talkativeness, < nof^7.oy<x;, 
much-talking, talkative, < Tro/.iV, much, + /U'yov, 
speak: see -oltiyy.] Talkativeness; garrulity. 
Many words (battology or pulyloyy} are signs of a foul. 
Oranger, On Ecclesiastes (1821), p. 1 15. (Latham.) 
polyloquentt (po-lil'o-kwent), a. [< Gr. xo).i ?, 
much, + L. lo<jueii(t-)s, ppr. of loqui, speak.] 
Talking much; talkative. 
polymagnet (pol'l-mag-net), n. [< Gr. n-oAi'f, 
many, + E. magnet.] An instrument consist- 
ing of two or more electromagnets so arranged 
that the resultant field of force may be varied 
i n many ways. Such an apparatus devised by Tyndall, 
to be used in exhibiting diamagnetic and other similar 
phenomena, consists of two electromagnets standing ver- 
tically, with adjustable pole-pieces of soft Iron, and be- 
tween them a helix of copper wire. The diamagnetic sub- 
stance for example, a bar of bismuth Is supported hori- 
zontally in the direction passing through the axis of the 
helix. 
polymastia(pol-i-mas'ti-|i),. [NL.,<Gr.n-o^if, 
many, + fiaaror, breast.] The presence of su- 
pernumerary breasts or nipples. 
Polymastiga (pol-i-mas'ti-ga), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. jroXrr, many, + //aorij (fiaari^-), a whip.] 
Infusorians with six, ten, or many nagella, of 
whatever other character. The genera Included by 
Dleslng (!-<'..') under this head were Chluratttr, Spoiulylo- 
muruin, I'hacelomoaat, and Lophomonai. 
polymastigate (pol-i-mas'ti-gat), . [< Gr. 
r/t'f, inany,+ /taarif (ftaari)-), a whip,+ -ate*.] 
Having more than four flagella, as an iufuso- 
rian; pluriflagellate. 
pplymastigOUS ( iwl-i-mas'ti-gus), a. [< Gr. n-o- 
?.rf, many, + fiaoTt$ (/taart)-), a whip, + -OH*.] 
Same as i>i>li/matitigate. 
Polymastodon (pol-i-mas'to-don), n. [NL., < 
Gr. ffoP.rf, many, + fiaardf, teat, + Wore (bSmrr-) 
= E. tooth: see Mastodon.] 1. Agenusof Amer- 
ican Mesozoic mammals from the Piierco beds, 
having numerous tiiliereles on the molars, typ- 
ical of the family l'ti/i/in<i.itodoHtidie. 2. [I. c.] 
A member of this genus. 
polymastodont (pol-i-mas'to-dont), . and . 
[< Gr. n-o/if, many, + /laarijf, breast, + 
(iiWr-) = K. tooth.] I. . Having many molar 
tubercles; of orpertainingto the. /'/// muaWcu- 
tidir. 
II. n. A polymastodou. 
polymerization 
Polymastodontidae (pol-i-mas-to-don'ti-de), it. 
pi. [NL., < Poly in astodon(t-) + -/(/;. | A fam- 
ily of extinct North American Eocene marsupial 
mammals, represented by the genus Polymasto- 
don. They had molars with numerous tubercle* aiTHiMl 
In three Imperfect or two longitudinal rows. They were 
of small size. 
polymath (pol'i-math), . [= F. polymathe = 
Sp. poliinato, < Gr. wo/.t>//a(%, having learned 
mucli, knowing much, < iro/i'y, much, + uav&a- 
vciv, iwOeiv, learn.] A person of various learn- 
ing. Also ]M>lytuathist. 
polymathic (pol-i-math'ik), o. [= F. polyma- 
thique= Pg. polymathico; &spolymatli-y + -ic.] 
Pertaining to or characterized by polymathy. 
polymathist (po-lim'a-thist), n. [< polyuuith-y 
+ -wf.] Same as polymath. 
Those Polymathittt that stand poring all Day In a Cor- 
ner upon a Moth-eaten Author. llowrU, Letters, ill. 8. 
polymathy (po-lim'a-thi), M. [= F.jtolymathie 
= Sp. polimaiia = Pg. polymathia, < Gr. KO).V- 
fiaSia, much learning, < ira>.v/ui(tyc, having learned 
much : see polymath.] The knowledge of many 
arts and sciences; acquaintance with many 
branches of learning, or with various subjects. 
That high and excellent learning which men, for the 
large extent of It, call jxiltttnathy. 
llarllib, tr. of Comenius's Reformation of Schools (1642), 
[p. M. (LotAam.) 
polymatype (pol'i-ma-tip), . [Irreg. < Gr. TTO- 
?./> many, + ri'irof, type.] A now disused sys- 
tem of type-making by which 150 or 200 types 
were cast at one operation twice a minute. 
polymazia (ppl-i-ma'zi-ii), H. [NL., < Gr. irtd.if, 
many, + /ta^of, breast.] Polvmastia. 
polymechanyt (jx>l-i-inek'a-m), w. [< Gr. TroXtv 
/itixavia, the Laving many resources, inventive- 
ness, < iro/.v/ir/xavof, having many resources, in- 
ventive, < 7ro/f?, many, + /uixavii, contrivance, 
means: see maeliiuc, mechanic.] Practical in- 
vention. 
In actual experiments and polyintchany, nothing too 
profound ; asuperflcial slightncss may seem flne for sheets, 
but prooveth good for nothing. 
'/'. lltififu, Four Letters, IT. 
polymelia (pol-i-me'li-a), . [NL.] Same as 
polyntely. 
polymelian (pol-i-me'li-an), a. [< polymel-y + 
-/</.] In tvi'atol., having supeniumerary mem- 
bers. 
polymelius (iiol-i-me'li-us), w.: pi. polymelii 
(-1). [NL., < Gr. To/OjUf/r/f, witli many limbs: 
see polymely.] In teratot., a monster with su- 
pernumerary members. 
polymely (pol ' i -me -li), n. [< NL. polymelia, 
< Gr. tro/.vfu).t/f, with many limbs or members, < 
TTO/UY, many, + pi*.os, a limb.] In teratol., mon- 
strosity by redundancy of parts, or the appear- 
ance of supernumerary members, as extra digits 
and the like. 
polymer (pol'i-mer), w. [< polymer-oiis.] In 
client., a compound which is polymeric with 
some other compound; a polymeride. 
We speak of "polymeric" bodies when the several for- 
mula: are Intel-multiples of the same primitive group (e.g., 
ethylene, 2 x < II-, and butylene, 4 x ('!!.. are twMIMn 
to one another). Encyc. BnL, XVIII. 287. 
polymelia (pol-i-me'ri-it), H. [NL., < Gr. iro).b{, 
many, + pipof, a part.] ' In teratol., the posses- 
sion of many parts. 
polymeric (pol-i-mer'ik), a. [< polymer-oiis + 
-ic.] In client., pertaining to or characterized 
by polymerism : as, butyric acid (C^HgOg) and 
aldehyde (C 2 H 4 p) are jtolyiuerie. 
polymeride (po-lim'e-nd or -rid), . [< polym- 
er-oux + -ide^.] In diem., a compound that 
exhibits the properties of polymerism with 
reference to some other compound. 
polymerism (po-liin'e-rizm), . [= F. polyme- 
risnie; as polymer-ous + -ism.] 1. In rhem.. 
that property of certain compounds by virtue 
of which they differ in their molecular weights 
and in their chemical properties, though formed 
from the same elements, combined in the same 
proportion. Thus, the molecular weights of butyric 
acid (C 4 H <>_>) and aldehyde (C 2 H 4 O) are 88 and 44 limn 
tlvel) and their chemical properties are wholly unlike, Imt 
both contain the same elements i arln,n. li\.ii"K- n, and 
oxygen combined in the same proportion. See i*nnrr 
mrtainfrinn. 
2. Multiplicilyof purls: presence of many parts 
in one whole. 
polymerization (pol-i-mer-i-za'shon). n. [<;n>- 
li/nifi -i;t- + -ilium.] Tlic :i|iparent fusi< ...... 
union of two or more moleeules of a compound. 
forming a more complex molecule \vitli n higher 
atomic weight and somewhat ilill'erent physical 
and chemical properties. Also spelled )>nlii- 
merisutiiiii. 
