^ ti 
Eeryptia 
Hieroglyphic. 
1. The twenty-sixth charac- 
ter in the English alphabet, 
and the last, as in that of the 
later Romans. InthePhenician 
system, from which ours comes 
through the Latin and Greek, it 
was the seventh sign. The com- 
parison of ancient forms, inchid- 
ing the Egyptian as perhaps the 
original (compare A\ is as follows : 
^ IZ 
Pheiii- Early 
cian. Greek ami Latin. 
The same character has a corresponding: phice as zeia in 
the Greek series, and went over in that phice to the Ital- 
ian alphabets; but, about the third century B. c, it was 
dropped out by the Romans as not needed, and the newly 
devised G (see G) was put in its place. Then finally, some 
two centuries later, it was taken back (together with or 
soon after Y : see Y) to express in borrowed Greek words 
the peculiar double sound (rfs or srf) which it had won in 
Greek usage, and so appeared anew in its old company, 
but with greatly altered position. It was not used in the 
oldest English, but came gradually in out of the I'rench 
in the fifteenth century and later. With us, as in Krench, 
it has lost its value of a compound consonant, and expresses 
the sonant or voiced sibilant sound corresponding to s as 
surd or breathed sibilant. The proper z-sound is also, and 
even much oftener, written by », as in roses, and in a few 
words (as possess, dissolve) by double s, and yet more rarely 
(for example, sacrifice) by c. The sound is a common one 
in our English pronunciation — not much less than 3 per 
cent, (the surd s being 4J per cent.). As initial, the char- 
acter z is written mostly in words of Greek origin, but 
as ttnal (almost always with silent e added) it is found in 
many Germanic words, as freeze, ijraze. It occurs some- 
times double, as in buzz, b\azard. The corresponding 
sonant to our other sibilant (written in this work with zh, 
after the example of sh) is spelled with either s or z. as in 
pleasure, azure. It is the rarestof our consonantsounds, 
counting for only afiftieth of 1 per cent, of our utterance. 
In certain Scotch words and names, as capercailzie, Dal- 
ziel, z is written for the ;/-sound. In the United iStates 
the character is generally called zee; in England, general- 
ly zed (from zela) ; izzard (which see) is an old name for it. 
2. As a symbol, in math. : («) [/. c ] In alge- 
bra, the third variable or unknown quantity. 
(6) [?. c] In analytical geometry, one of the 
system of point-coordinates in space, (c) In 
mechanics, the component of a force in the di- 
rection of the axis of j. 
zat (zii), 11. [An arbitrary syllable.] In solmi- 
zafion, a syllable once used for B*?. 
za-. [< Gr. sfi-, inseparable prefix, intensive 
and augmentative.] An intensive or augmen- 
tative prefix sometimes used in forming modern 
scientific words to emphasize the character or 
quality noted by the element to which it is pre- 
fixed (like E. very, a. ), as in zalamhdodont, hav- 
ing teeth with a very V-shaped ridge, Xalo2)lius, 
Zamelodia, Zapu.i, etc. 
Zabaism, Zabism (za'bii-izm, za'bizm), n. 
Same as Sahaism. 
zabra (za'brii), 11. [Sp. and Pg.] A small ves- 
sel used on the coasts of Spain. 
Portugal furnished and set foorth . . . ten Galeons, two 
Zabraes, 1300. Mariners. Uakluyfs Voyaijes, I. 692. 
Of the tenders and zadros seventeen were lost and eigh- 
teen returned. Motley, Hist. Netherlands, II. 507. 
Zabridae (zab'ri-de), «. pi. [NL. (Hope, 1838), 
< ZahriiK + -iila>..'\ A family of caraboid bee- 
tles, named from the genus Znhrii.i. 
Zabrus (za'bnis), >i. [NL. (Clairville, 1806), 
< Gr. CaSpor, gluttonous.] An extensive genus 
of caraboid beetles. They are of medium or large 
size, black with metallic reflections, and remark,able in 
that many of them are rather phytophagous than carnivo- 
rous, particularly in the larval state. Z. ijihbus of Europe 
is a noted enemy to cereal crops, its larva feeding on the 
stems just above the ground, and the beetledevouring the 
grain. Over 60 species are known, each occupying a nar- 
rowly restricted region in the Mediterranean fauna ex- 
cept Z. ffihbus, which extends into northern Europe. 
zac (zak), ti. Same as :i:l)iKl(r. 
zacatilla (za-ka-te'lyU), II. See cnchinail, 1. 
zaffer, zaflfre (zaf er)V". [AlsorrfpVo-. zaflir, :/if- 
firii, znpliara. and miphi-rit ; < F. z'iifrc. xdf'n: xiil- 
fre = Sp. Z'ifre = It. zojfern : of Ar. origin ; c'f. 
isaffron.'] The residuum of cobalt-producing 
ores after the sulphur, arsenic, and other vol- 
atile matters have been more or less com- 
pletely expelled by roasting. As the result of this 
process a grayish oxid of cobalt is left behind, which is 
mingled with various impurities, and usually with some 
sand. Zaffer is used in the manufacture of smalt, and in 
various other ways, as in furnishing the beautiful color 
known as cobalt blue, which is still of importance, al- 
though much less so since the discovery of a method of 
making artificial ultramarine. 
zaffer-blue (zat'er-blo), n. Same as cobalt blue 
(which see, under blue). 
Zaglossus (za-glos'us), II. [Nli. (Gill, 1877), < 
Gr. fa- intensive + y'Aunna, tongue.] The prop- 
er name of that genus of prickly ant-eaters 
wliich is better known by its synonym Acati- 
tlinglossKS (which see). 
Zaitha (za'tha), n. [NL. (Amyot and Ser- 
ville, 1843), < Heb. zaith.'\ A genus of -water- 
bugs, of the family Belostomatidse, peculiar to 
America. They somewhat resemble the species of Be- 
lostovia, but have a prolonged tapering head and long ros- 
trum. Z. fiumiiiea is a very common and wide-spread 
insect, of a yellowish color, found in the mud or among 
the weeds of ponds and streams from Maine to Texas. 
zalambdodont (za-lam'do-dont), a. [< Gr. 
Ca- intensive + '/.dfi,3fia, the letter /, -I- odofcf 
(oiiovT-), = E. tooth.'] Having short molar teeth 
with one V-shaped ridge ; specifically, noting 
the Zalamhdodonta : as, a zalambdodont denti- 
tion; a zalambdodont mammal: opposed to di- 
lambdodont. 
The insectivores with zalambdodont dentition are the 
most primitive, or at least are generally so considered. 
Stand. Nat. Hist., V. 136. 
Zalambdodonta (za-lam-do-don'ta), H. pi. 
[NL. : see zalambdodont.'] A group or series 
of insectivorous mammals; a division of the 
suborder Bestiee, or Insectivora vera, having 
short molars whose crowns present one V- 
shaped transverse ridge, a formation charac- 
teristic of the insectivores of tropical regions, 
which are thus contrasted with temperate and 
northerly forms (Vilambdodonta). The Madagas- 
car tenrecs, the African golden moles, and the West In- 
dian solenodons are examples. See cuts under agmtta, 
Chrysocfdfrris, sokinah, and tenrec. 
Zalophus (zal'o-fus), 11. [NL. (Gill, 1867), < 
Gr. Xa- intensive + '/xxjm^, crest.] A genus of 
otaries, or eared seals: so named from the high 
parietal crest or ridge of the skull. The common 
Californian Sea-lion (^Zalophus cati/ornt'anus). 
sea-lion of California is Z. californiamts (formerly Z. gil- 
lespiei), and another inhabits' Australia and New Zea- 
land. 
zamang (za-mang'), ii. [S. Amer.] Same as 
ruiii-trcc. 
zambo, ». See sambo. 
zambomba (Sp. pron. tham-bom'bU), n. [Sp.] 
A rude Spanish musical instrument, consisting 
of an earthen ,iar the top of which is covered 
with parchment, through whi<'h a stick is in- 
serted. It is sounded by rubbing the stick with the fin- 
ger, so as to set the air within the jar into sympathetic 
viliTiition. 
Zamelodia (zam-e-16'di-a), H. [NL. (Coues. 
1880). < Gr. fn- intensive + fisAufia, a singing, 
melody: see melody.] A genus of American 
song-grosbeaks. Two species occurring in the I'nited 
70-28 
States are the rose-breasted and the black-headed, Z. ludo- 
vicianaarnlZ.melanocephala. (See cut under ro«g-&rea«ted.) 
The latter inhabits the western United States from the 
plains to the Pacific, where the former is not found, and 
extends into Mexico. The adult male has the crown and 
sides of the head, the back, the wings, and the tail black, 
the wings and tail much varied with white, and the neck 
all around and the under parts rich orange-brown, inclin- 
ing to pure yellow on the belly and the lining of the wings. 
The bill and feet are grayish-blue. The length is about 8J 
inches, the extent 12j. The female differs much from the 
male, but has the same rich yellow under wing-coverts. 
Also called Habia. 
Zamia (za'mi-a), n. [NL. (Linnfflus, 1767), < 
L. zamia. assumed to mean ' a fir-cone.'] 1. A 
genus of gymnospermoug plants, of the order 
Cycadacese. tj-pe of the tribe Zamiex. It is char- 
acterized by a naked trunk partly or wholly above the 
Female Tlant ot Zamia intiffrif^lia (tlie waved line indicates the 
surface of'^the groundj- 
a, scale with one seed ; b, the yonng female flower. 
soil, pinnate leaves, and naked truncate strobile-scales, 
both the male and female cones being oblong and cylin- 
drical and their scales similar. There are about 30 spe- 
cies, natives of tropical and subtropical North America. 
They produce a simple, lobed or branching caudex, some- 
times a low trunk, often covered with scars, 'J he stems 
increase in height by the yearly development of a crown 
of stiff fern-like leaves with fli-m rigid segments which 
are entire or serrate, parallel-nerved, and jointed at the 
broad base. Z. integri/olia (Z. pumila), with a short 
globular or oblong, chiefly subterranean stem, occurs in 
low grounds in southern Florida, and is the only cycad 
found within the I'nited States ; it yields a starch known 
as Florida arrowroot ; the plant is called co&ntie (which 
see). Z. fur.furacea and the preceding are known as wild 
sago in Jamaica. From these and other dwarf species an 
excellent arrowroot is made in the Bahamas asid elsewhere 
in the West Indies. Many species cultivated under glass 
as zamia are now classed as Encephalartos, and Z. spiralis 
as Macrozamia. 
2. [/. c] A plant of this genus. 
Zamieae (za-mi'e-e), n.pl. [NL. (Miquel, 1842), 
< Zamia + -ese.] A tribe of gymnospermous 
plants, of the order Cycadacese. it is characterized 
by a deciduous fertile strobile with peltate uniovulate 
scales : and by leaf-segments straight in the bud, not cir- 
cinate as in Cycas and in ferns. It includes 68 species, 
of 9 genera, or all the plants of the order except the genus 
Ciicas. They are singular plants, usually with a thick 
woody trunk and pinnate leaves ; the principal genera are 
Zamia (the type), Macrozamia, Ceratozamia, Dioon, and 
Stamjeria. They are chiefly tropical, and occur mostly 
in North America, South Africa, and Australia. 
zamindar (zam'in-dar), n. Same as zemindar. 
zamindari (zam'in-da-ri), «. Same as zemin- 
dary. 12. 
Zamiostrobus (za-mi-os'tro-bus), «. [NL., < 
L. zamia, assumed to mean 'a fir-cone,' + Gr. 
(TTpo,tef, a top, cone : see strobile.] The generic 
name given by Endlicher to certain fossil cones 
wliich resemble the fruit of the living genus 
Zamia. They have been found in the Lower 
Lias, the Coralline limestone, the Wealden, and 
the Miocene. 
Zamites (zam-i'tez), «. [NL.. < L. zamia, as- 
sumed to mean "a fir-cone.'] The name given 
by Brongniart to certain fossil plants belonging 
