polymerization 
In the quenched globule we may possibly encounter a lobed, or entire 
polymerization of the molecular structure of the annealed ole-base with 
globule. Amer. Jour. Sci., 3d ser., \X\Il. 182. l&tfcup. 
polymerize (po-lim'e-riz), '' t. and t.; pret. polymnite (pol_'im-nit), . 
and pp. /n>li//iii-i-i-fil,"i>pr. polymeri:iny. [< po- 
h/iner-OHs 4 -ize.] To combine or cause to com- 
bine so as to form polymerides. Also spelled 
polynia 
i leaves, generally appendaged at the pet!- Polymyodit (pol'i-mi-6'di), M. pi. [ 
a cup-like membrane, whence their name xo/.\c, many, 4 pi'C, muscle, 4 i^'i, song.] Ill 
[ML., < Or. 
' To 
Prof. Armstrong found hydrocarbons 
readily polymerised by sulphuric acid. 
[For "polymniite, < 
full of moss (< m>Ai'f, much, 4 
/iviov, moss), 4 -VA] A stone marked with 
dendrites and black lines, and so disposed as 
to represent rivers, marshes, and ponds, 
which are P0lym.n>h (pol'i-m6rf), n. [< Gr. '/.i<s, many, 
4 fiofxpij, form.] 1. In chem., a substance which 
Johannes MUller's system of classification 
(1847), a tribe of birds of an order lusessores, 
including Hinging birds whose lower larynx is 
provided with the full number (live pairs) of 
gong-muscles : thus distinguished from the 
tribes Tracheophtnia and I'icurii of the same 
author. The term is nearly equivalent to Os- 
ciiies or Acromyodi of later authors. 
Polym- 
[NL., 
merosomatous, 
cation,, 
nonymous with Latrellle's Pedipalpi, 
the scorpions and their allies, as the Theli/- unusual degree. 
nhonidie and Phninidx: so called from the uii- Polymorphi (pol-i-m&r'fi), w. pi. [NL., pi. of 
merous flexible segments of the body, and con- polyinorplnis: see polynwrpkous.] Onej>f the 
trasted with J)imerosomata, Monomerosomata, 
and Podosomata. 
polymerosomatOUS (pol-i-mer-o-som'a-tus), a. 
[<NL. polymerosomatHS, < Gr. iro/.if, many, 4 
ftepof, part, 4 cupa, body.] Having the body 
segmented into many joints, as a scorpion; of 
or pertaining to the Polymerosoniata. 
cles. 
polymerous (po-lim'e-rus), 
< Gr. wAvptpfc, consisting v j ,, "> , , ,_,_- ,__,,. _?._-,j., _ n^ 
form, 
Polymorphi- 
01 pertaining to polvmerisra. -I"i'*' 
itameric (pol-i-met-"a-mer'ik), a. [< Gr. Polymorpblnmae (pol-i-mor-n-m'ne), n. pi. 
E. metamere: see metameric.] [NL., < _Pnlymori>lniui 4 -nia-.J Asubfamilyof 
?ro/, 
many parts 
ous 
2. Of or 
m)7.iif, many, 4 
Of or pertaining to several metameres; lying 
upon or extending over more than two meta- 
meres, as a muscle innervated by different spi- 
nal nerves. Nature, XXXIX. 151. 
syrinx: opposed 
word is nearly synonymous with acrumyodian, but is of 
less exact signification. The group of birds It denotes It 
that of the Otcina or tinging birds. 
six "main divisions" of" Urdcoitida, a family of polymy08itis(pol-i-nu-o-si'tis), i. [NL., < Gr. 
hymenopterous parasites, including those sub- iroAif, many, 4 ftif (fti>k), muscle, 4 -itis: see 
families in which the clypeus fits closely to the tiiyositu.] Inflammation of a number of mus- 
mandibles and the second submarginal cell of 
the fore wings is large, quadrangular, or want- 
ing. It includes 12 subfamilies and many gen- . _ w 
era. q. v.] A fish of the genus 
[< polymor- Polynemidffl (pol-i-nem'i-de), H. pi. [NL., < 
I'lilynemu.i 4 -idee.] A family of acanthopte- 
rvgian fishes, typified by the genus Polyneimix. 
liiey have a subfuslforni shape, with a blunt snout, sub- 
abdominal ventrals with a spine and five rays, two doivals 
See Polymixia. 
. 
[=F. poltj mere; pplymorjJni(Mpol-i-E 
polvmeter (po-lim'e-ter), . [< Gr. TO?. i '{ , many, polymorphism (i 
* . " / * -I __ * L tll/1 I'lj/Jl v>tl)X> QC i,, 
Lagemdx, typified by the genus Atymomftfea, 
h \.*1T - 
' 
or 
bteeria 
separated by a considerable Interval, anal with one or two 
spines, forked caudal, and pectorals with an entire upper 
part and several free elongated filiform rays Iwlow. Nu- 
merous species occur In tropical seas, some of much im 
nortance. an the mango flsh of India, P. paradisrtu. 
(pol-i-nem'i-form), . [< 
fitrpov, 
iivj-iiiii c~vic* /j it i^ vj< i niff.i ^j ILIUU T , c if 1 r' 
measure.] 1. An instrument for morphixme ; &s fiolymnrph-ou* 
measuring angles. 2. An apparatus for test- property of being polymorphous or capable of 
veen the rails of a rail way existing in different forms; specifically, in crys- 
ing the distance between 
line, and detecting inequalities of elevation. 
E. H. Knight. 
polymetochia (pol'i-me-to'ki-ft), . [NL.,<Gr. 
iro/i'i 1 , many, 4 fieTo,\>/, a participle.] Use of 
many participles or participial clauses in com- 
position: opposed to olii/oinetochiti. 
polymicroscope (pol-i-mi'kro-skop), H. [< Gr. 
iroArf, many, 4 E. microscope."] A microscope 
arranged on the principle of the revolving stere- 
oscope. The objects to be examined are mounted on 
plates fastened to a bund, and may be presented in suc- 
cession to the focus of the instrument. 
polymignite (pol-i-mig'uit), . [Irreg. < Gr. 
ffo/i'f, much, 4^ fuyvuvot, mix, 4 -itc'*.] A rare 
mineral which occurs in small prismatic crys- 
tals of a black color and submetallic luster. It 
is found at Krcderlksvaern in Norway, and has received 
its name from the variety of Its constituents consisting 
longing or 
uemiform. 
'me. 
ronovins, 
thread: see 
nematoid.] The 'typical 'genus of the family 
, with the lower pectoral rays sepH- 
of titanic and niobic acids, zirconia, thoria, lime, yttria, 
and oxlds of iron, cerium, and manganese. 
polymitet, a. rtSE.yoUmite,\ OF.pottmite, ML. 
polymitiis, poliinitim, < Gr. n-oJ, i'/irof , consisting 
of many threads, woven of many (different) polymorphous (pol-i-mor'fus), a 
threads, < Tro/U'f, many, 4 u/ro?, thread.] Many- 
colored. 
Of gouge Josephe the cote potimite, 
Wroujte by the power of alle the Trinlte. 
Lydgate, MS, Soc. Antlq. 1S4, f. 13. (HalKwtU.) 
Polymixia (pol-i-mik'si-a), . [NL. (Lowe, 
1836), < Gr. n-o/.vu/fia, promiscuous mingling, < 
" ' The 
II. . A polynemiform fish: a polyne 
Polynemus(pol-i-ne'mus), . [NL. (Groin 
tal., the property of crystallizing in two or more Jg? < (l T . mi >i:;, manv, + 
fundamental forms: thus, carbon crystallizes 
in isometric forms in the diamond, and in hex- 
agonal forms in graphite. When the substance as- 
sumes two forms it is said to lie dimnrphie, or to present 
the phenomenon of dimorphism ; when three, it is said to 
be triinorphic. 
2. In :<>iil., difference of form, structure, or 
type ; existence in, or exhibition by, a group of 
animals, as a species, genus, family, or order, 
of different types of structure; heterogeneous- 
ness. 
A considerable number of what have been classed as 
varieties are really cases of polymurphisin. 
A. It. Wallace, Nat. Select, p. 145. 
New complications of structure among the Mydrome- 
dussB are summed up under the head of polymorphism. 
The differentiation of liydriform and medusiform persons 
is a case of dimorphism ; a further distribution of func- 
tions, with corresponding modification of form, gives us 
polymorphum. Eticyc. Brit., XII. 554. 
3. In hot., the comprisal of numerous definite 
or indefinite subtypes under a given type. 
lOlymorphous (pol-i-mor'fus), a. [= F. itolu- 
ntorphe = Pg. polymorpho = lt.polimorfo, < NL. 
polymorplins,<Qr. m>/.i'/iop<fioc, multiform, mani- 
fold, < TroXi'f, many, 4 /to^, form.] 1. Having 
or exhibiting many forms; characterized by r 
polymorphism; not isomorphous or monomor- Polynesian (pol-i-ne'sian), a. and n. [= F. 
= PK. 
many, 
mixing, mingling.] 
typical genus of the family Piilyinixiidee: so 
called as formerly supposed to indicate a mix- 
ture or combination of several diverse forms. 
There are three species, P. uoMift of Madeira, P. lowei of 
Cuba, and P. japonica. Also Polt/myxia. 
Polymixiid (pol'i-mik-si'i-de), . J>1. [NL., 
< fiili/mijcia + -idle.] A family of acanthop- 
terygian fishes, typified by the genus Polymiria, 
having an oblong compressed body, blunt head 
with a pair of barbels on the chin, long dorsal 
fin with three or four spines, and ventrals with 
a spine and six or seven rays. It contains three 
species, inhabiting rather deep water of both 
the Atlantic and the Pacific. 
Polymnia 1 (po-lim'ni-ii), . Seefoli/liymnia, 
Polymnia 2 '"~ 1! '" ! K ^ * 
17o3), ' "' 
Muses 
photis. 
I ... find it difficult to fonn any judgment of any au- 
thor so "many-sided " (to borrow a German expression) 
polymorphotu as Herder. De Qvineey, Herder. 
2. Specifically, in roof. : (a) Undergoing a series 
of marked chauges during development, as 
most insects. (6) Varying much in appear- 
ance, form, or structure in the same species or 
group. 3. In bot., same as 2 (6). 4. In music, 
noting a contrapuntal composition, as a canon 
or a fugue, in which the themes are or may be 
treated in various ways, as by augmentation, 
diminution, inversion, etc. 
Also polymorphic. 
polymorphy (pol'i-m6r-fi), . [= F. polymor- 
phic; < LGr. xoMfioppia, manifolduess, < Gr. 
jro/lfyiop^oc, manifold : see polymorphous.] Same 
as polymorphism. 
fltttHa. 
rated as numerous long slender filaments 
(whence the name). P. plebeian is a very com- 
mon Indian species. 
ol-i-ne'sian), a. a 
pofynesien = Pg. polynexiano ; < NL. Polyneniu 
(see def.), < Gr. 7ro/rf, many, 4 vijaiif, island.] 
I. a. 1. [/. c.] Full of islands, as an archipel- 
ago. 2. Specifically, of or pertaining to Poly- 
nesia. Polynesian region, Polynesia, or the Pacific 
islands, zoogeographically considered. It is sometime* 
regarded as a division of a very comprehensive Australian 
region and is then known more precisely as (he Polynttian 
submjiun. It consists of all the Pacific Islands excepting 
those that pertain roologically to the Papuan or Austro- 
malayan group and to New Zealand. Wallace, who de- 
fined this region, divides it into Polynesia proper and the 
Hawaiian Islands, the former being then considered under 
the four subdivisions of the Ladrone and Caroline Islands. 
New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, the FIJI, Tonga, and 
Samoa Islanda, and the Society and Marquesas Islands. 
II. w. A native or an inhabitant of Polynesia, 
a division of Oceania east of Australia and 
Malaysia, or, in the more modern and restrict- 
ed sense, a division of Oceania east of Micro- 
jlymnia 2 (p'o-lim'ui-a), n. [NL. (Linnaeus, poly-mountain (po-li-moun'tan), H. See poly, nesia and Melanesia. 
753), < Gr. lio'S.rfivta, Polyhymnia, one of the Polymyaria (pol"i-ml-a'ri-ji).'n.j>/. [NL., < Gr. polyneuritis (pol"i-nu-ri'tis), . [? 
iuses: see I'oli/liywni/i.] A genus of compo- - >,, j mil ny, + /tv(, muscle, 4- -aria.] One of m>/.i<f, many, 4- vn/Mv', nerve, 4 -itis. 
single row or lacking altogether, and smooth, thick, am 
nearly cylindrical oliovoid achenes, without awns. The 
12 species are natives of America, and are found from Cana- 
da to Buenos Ay res. They are perennial herbs, shrubs, or 
trees, ofte:i vis'.-iil. with yellow dowers, and large angled. 
See .\feroniyoria, ffolomyrtria. 
polymyarian (pol*i-mi-a'ri-an), a. and n 
a. Of or pertaining to the I'tili/iiii/iirut. 
II. " A polymyarian worm. 
[NL.. < Gr. 
Cf. HI II- 
\cmatoidr(i. ritis.] Neuritis affecting a number of nerves; 
which the multiple neuritis. 
many polynia (po-lin'i-ft), . [Buss, poliiiuiya, an 
open place in the midst of ice.] An open 
or unfrozen place in the midst of the ice of a 
river or lake or in the ocean: a word used in 
Knglish only by navigators in iirrti<- sr;i*. By 
mime writers it was formerly used with the meaning of an 
