Dictionary: X – XYS'TER

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1

X,

the twenty-fourth letter of the English Alphabet, is borrowed from the Greek. In the middle and at the end of words, it has the sound of ks, as in wax, lax, luxury. At the beginning of a word, it has precisely the sound of z. It is used as an initial, in a few words borrowed from the Greek. As a numeral, X stands for ten. It represents one V, which stands for five, placed on the top of another. When laid horizontally, thus ><, it stands for a thousand, and with a dash over it, thus X̅, it stands for ten thousand. As an abbreviation, X. stands for Christ, as in Xn. Christian; Xm. Christmas.

XAN'THIC, a. [Gr. ξανθος, yellow.]

Tending toward a yellow color.

XAN'THIC-AC'ID, n.

An acid composed of sulphur, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

XAN'THIC-OX'YD, n.

A yellow substance composing a urinary calculus.

XAN'THID, n.

A term applied to a supposed basic compound of xanthogen with a metal.

XAN'THO-GEN, n. [Gr. ξανθος, yellow, and γενναω, to generate, from the yellow color of its compounds.]

A supposed acidifying and basifying compound principle, considered to be analogous to cyanogen, and believed to consist of sulphur and carbon, which, with certain metals, forms xanthids, and with hydrogen forms xanthohydric acid, analogous to cyanohydric acid. The above views, however, in regard to these compounds, are not considered as well established.

XE'BEC, n.

A small, three masted vessel, used in the Mediterranean sea. With a fair wind, in good weather, it carries two large square sails; when close hauled, it carries large lateen sails. – Mar. Dict.

XE-NOD'O-CHY, n. [Gr. ξενοδοχια.]

Reception of strangers; hospitality. – Cockeram.

XE-RO-COL-LYR'I-UM, n. [Gr. ξηρος, dry, and κολλυριον.]

A dry collyrium or eye-salve. – Coxe.

XE-ROM'Y-RUM, n. [Gr. ξηρος, dry, and μυρον, ointment.]

A dry ointment. – Coxe.

XE-ROPH'A-GY, n. [Gr. ξηρος, dry, and φαγω, to eat.]

The eating of dry meats, a sort of fast among the primitive Christians.

XE-ROPH'THAL-MY, n. [Gr. ξηρος, dry, and οφθαλμια.]

A dry, red soreness or itching of the eyes, without swelling or a discharge of humors.

XIPH'IAS, n. [Gr. from ξιφος, a sword.]

  1. The sword-fish. In natural history, the name of a genus of fishes, to which the Xiphias Gladius, or common sword-fish belongs.
  2. A comet shaped like a sword.

XIPH'OID, a. [Gr. ξιφος, a sword, and ειδος, likeness, i.e. sword-like.]

The xiphoid or ensiform cartilage, is a small cartilage placed at the bottom of the breast bone. – Cyc. Coxe.

XY-LOG'RA-PHY, n. [Gr. ξυλον, wood, and γραφω, to engrave.]

Wood-engraving; the act or art of cutting figures in wood, in representation of natural objects.

XY-LOPH'A-GOUS, a. [Gr. ξυλον, wood, and φαγω, to eat.]

Eating or feeding on wood.

XY-LO-PY-ROG'RA-PHY, n. [Gr. ξυλον, wood, πυροω, to burn, and γραφη, engraving.]

The art or practice of engraving on charred wood.

XYS'TER, n. [Gr. ξυςτρον, from ξυω, to scrape.]

A surgeon's instrument for scraping bones.