Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter Z - Page 1
Z () Z, the twenty-sixth and last letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. It is taken from the Latin letter Z, which came from the Greek alphabet, this having it from a Semitic source. The ultimate origin is probably Egyptian. Etymologically, it is most closely related to s, y, and j; as in glass, glaze; E. yoke, Gr. /, L. yugum; E. zealous, jealous. See Guide to Pronunciation, // 273, 274.
Za (n.) An old solfeggio name for B flat; the seventh harmonic, as heard in the or aeolian string; -- so called by Tartini. It was long considered a false, but is the true note of the chord of the flat seventh.
Zabaism (n.) Alt. of Zabism.
Zabism (n.) See Sabianism.
Zabian (a. & n.) See Sabian.
Zaccaeus (n.) 撒該（古希臘語：Ζακχαῖος，希伯來語： זכי，意為純潔 [1]），又譯匝凱，新約聖經人物，是耶利哥城的海關監督、稅吏長（路加福音19:1-10）。由於香樹脂的生產和出口集中在耶利哥，獲利甚多，擔任此職位相當重要，而且富有[2][3]。由於他身量不高，為了能看見耶穌，就在耶穌到達之前，在他經過耶利哥前往耶路撒冷的路上，爬上一棵桑樹。當耶穌經過那裡，抬頭看見在樹上的撒該，稱呼他的名字，讓他下來，告訴撒該打算到他家住宿。群眾對於耶穌成為可憎的稅吏的客人感到震驚。
路加隨後記載了這帶來了發生在撒該身上異乎尋常的舉動，撒該表示悔改，並發誓為他的罪進行4倍的賠償，並且引進了下文十個奴僕的比喻（路加福音19:11-27）。
撒該（匝凱）至今仍有後人，世世代代皆為東正教徒。
傳統：耶利哥撒該的桑樹；在耶利哥有一個巨大的、壯觀的方塔，根據傳統稱為撒該之家。
Zacchaeus (sometimes spelled or Zaccheus, Ancient Greek: Ζακχαῖος, Zakkhaîos; Hebrew: זכי, "pure", "innocent" [1]), was a chief tax-collector at Jericho, mentioned only in the Gospel of Luke. [2] A descendant of Abraham, he was an example of Jesus's personal, earthly mission to bring salvation to the lost. [3] Tax collectors were despised as traitors (working for the Roman Empire, not for their Jewish community), and as being corrupt.
Because the lucrative production and export of balsam was centered in Jericho, his position would have carried both importance and wealth. [4] [5] In the account, he arrived before the crowd who were later to meet with Jesus, who was passing through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem. He was short in stature and so was unable to see Jesus through the crowd (Luke 19:3). Zacchaeus then ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree along Jesus's path. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up at the sycamore tree (actually a sycamore-fig ficus sycomorus [6]), addressed Zacchaeus by name, and told him to come down, for he intended to visit his house. The crowd was shocked that Jesus, a religious teacher/ prophet, would sully himself by being a guest of a sinner.
Later traditions：At Er-riha (Jericho) there is a large, venerable looking square tower, which by tradition is named the House of Zacchaeus.
Clement of Alexandria refers once to Zacchaeus in a way which could be read as suggesting that some identified him with apostle Matthew or Matthias [7]. Luke told us that Matthias in the beginning was with Jesus since the baptism of John (Acts 1:21-23). John also told us that later many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him (John 6:60-66). The later Apostolic Constitutions identify "Zacchaeus the Publican" as the first bishop of Caesarea (7.46).
Medieval legend identified Zacchaeus with Saint Amadour, and held him to be the founder of the French sanctuary, Rocamadour.
Zacco (n.) (Arch.) See Zocco.
Zachun (n.) (Bot.) An oil pressed by the Arabs from the fruit of a small thorny tree ({Balanites Aegyptiaca), and sold to piligrims for a healing ointment. -- J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).
Zadar (n.) 扎達爾（克羅埃西亞語：Zadar）是克羅埃西亞的第五大城市，是扎達爾縣和北達爾馬提亞地區的行政中心。位於亞得里亞海沿岸，2006年人口72,718。
Is the oldest continuously inhabited Croatian city. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea, at the northwestern part of Ravni Kotari region. Zadar serves as the seat of Zadar County and the wider northern Dalmatian region. The city proper covers 25 km2 (9.7 sq mi) with a population of 75,082 in 2011, making it the fifth-largest city in the nation.
Zaerthe (n.) (Zool.) Same as Z[aum]rthe.
Zaumrthe (n.) (Zool.) A European bream ({Abramis vimba). [Written also zaerthe.]
Zaffer (n.) 不純的氧化鈷（用以製造藍色顏料）；鈷藍釉 A pigment obtained, usually by roasting cobalt glance with sand or quartz, as a dark earthy powder. It consists of crude cobalt oxide, or of an impure cobalt arseniate. It is used in porcelain painting, and in enameling pottery, to produce a blue color, and is often confounded with smalt, from which, however, it is distinct, as it contains no potash. The name is often loosely applied to mixtures of zaffer proper with silica, or oxides of iron, manganese, etc. [Written also zaffre, and formerly zaffree, zaffar, zaffir.]
Zaim (n.) A Turkish chief who supports a mounted militia bearing the same name. -- Smart.
Zaimet (n.) A district from which a Zaim draws his revenue. -- Smart.
Zain (n.) A horse of a dark color, neither gray nor white, and having no spots. -- Smart.
Zalambdodont (a.) (Zool.) Of or pertaining to a tribe ({Zalambdodonta) of Insectivora in which the molar teeth have but one V-shaped ridge.
Zalambdodont (n.) One of the Zalambdodonta. The tenrec, solenodon, and golden moles are examples.
Zamang (n.) (Bot.) An immense leguminous tree ({Pithecolobium Saman) of Venezuela. Its branches form a hemispherical mass, often one hundred and eighty feet across. The sweet pulpy pods are used commonly for feeding cattle. Also called rain tree. -- J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).
Zamang (n.) Large ornamental tropical American tree with bipinnate leaves and globose clusters of flowers with crimson stamens and seed pods that are eaten by cattle [syn: rain tree, saman, monkeypod, monkey pod, zaman, zamang, Albizia saman].
Zambos (n. pl. ) of Zambo.
Zambo (n.) The child of a mulatto and a negro; also, the child of an Indian and a negro; colloquially or humorously, a negro; a sambo.
Zamia (n.) (Bot.) A genus of cycadaceous plants, having the appearance of low palms, but with exogenous wood. See Coontie, and Illust. of Strobile.
Zamia (n.) Any of various cycads of the genus Zamia; among the smallest and most verdant cycads.
Zamindar (n.) A landowner; also, a
collector of land revenue; now, usually, a kind of feudatory recognized as an
actual proprietor so long as he pays to the government a certain fixed
revenue. [Written also zemindar.] [India]
Zamindary (n.) Alt. of Zamindari.
Zamindari (n.) The jurisdiction of a zamindar; the land possessed by a zamindar. [Written also zemindary, zemindari.]
Zamite (n.) (Paleon.) A fossil cycad of the genus Zamia.
Zamouse (n.) (Zool.) A West African buffalo ({Bubalus brachyceros) having short horns depressed at the base, and large ears fringed internally with three rows of long hairs. It is destitute of a dewlap. Called also short-horned buffalo, and bush cow.
Zampogna (n.) (Mus.) A sort of bagpipe formerly in use among Italian peasants. It is now almost obsolete. [Written also zampugna.]
Zander (n.) (Zool.) A European pike perch ({Stizostedion lucioperca) allied to the wall-eye; -- called also sandari, sander, sannat, schill, and zant.
Zandmole (n.) (Zool.) The sand mole.
Compare: Zantewood
Zantewood (n.) (Bot.) (a) A yellow dyewood; fustet; -- called also zante, and zante fustic. See Fustet, and the Note under Fustic.
Zantewood (n.) (Bot.) (b) Satinwood ({Chloroxylon Swietenia).
Zante (n.) (Bot.) See Zantewood.
Zante currant () A kind of seedless grape or raisin; -- so called from Zante, one of the Ionian Islands.
Zantewood (n.) (Bot.) A yellow dyewood; fustet; -- called also zante, and zante fustic. See Fustet, and the Note under Fustic.
Zantewood (n.) (Bot.) Satinwood ({Chloroxylon Swietenia).
Zantiot (n.) A native or inhabitant of Zante, one of the Ionian Islands.
Zany (a.) Comical in a clownish or buffoonish manner; whimsically comical.
Zanies (n. pl. ) of Zany.
Zany (n.) A merry-andrew; a buffoon.
Then write that I may follow, and so be Thy echo, thy debtor, thy foil, thy zany. -- Donne.
Preacher at once, and zany of thy age. -- Pope.
Zany (v. t.) To mimic. [Obs.]
Your part is acted; give me leave at distance To zany it. -- Massinger.
Zany (a.) Ludicrous, foolish; "gave me a cockamamie reason for not going"; "wore a goofy hat"; "a silly idea"; "some wacky plan for selling more books" [syn: cockamamie, cockamamy, goofy, sappy, silly, wacky, whacky, zany].
Zany (a.) Like a clown; "a buffoonish walk"; "a clownish face"; "a zany sense of humor" [syn: buffoonish, clownish, clownlike, zany].
Zany (n.) A buffoon in one of the old comedies; imitates others for ludicrous effect.
Zany (n.) A man who is a stupid incompetent fool [syn: fathead, goof, goofball, bozo, jackass, goose, cuckoo, twat, zany].
Zany, (n.) A popular character in old Italian plays, who imitated with ludicrous incompetence the _buffone_, or clown, and was therefore the ape of an ape; for the clown himself imitated the serious characters of the play. The zany was progenitor to the specialist in humor, as we to-day have the unhappiness to know him. In the zany we see an example of creation; in the humorist, of transmission. Another excellent specimen of the modern zany is the curate, who apes the rector, who apes the bishop, who apes the archbishop, who apes the devil.
Zanyism (n.) State or character of a zany; buffoonery. -- Coleridge. -- H. Morley.
Zaphara (n.) Zaffer.
Zaphrentis (n.) [NL.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of cyathophylloid corals common in the Paleozoic formations. It is cup-shaped with numerous septa, and with a deep pit in one side of the cup.
Compare: Sapodilla
Sapodilla (n.) (Bot.) A tall, evergeen, tropical American tree ({Achras Sapota); also, its edible fruit, the sapodilla plum. [Written also sapadillo, sappadillo, sappodilla, and zapotilla.]
Sapodilla plum (Bot.), The fruit of Achras Sapota. It is about the size of an ordinary quince, having a rough, brittle, dull brown rind, the flesh being of a dirty yellowish white color, very soft, and deliciously sweet. Called also naseberry. It is eatable only when it begins to be spotted, and is much used in desserts.
Zapotilla (n.) (Bot.) See Sapodilla.
Zaptiah (n.) A Turkish policeman. [Written also zaptieh.] Zarathuster
Zarathustrian (a.) Alt. of Zarathustric.
Zarathustric (a.) Of or pertaining to Zarathustra, or Zoroaster; Zoroastrian. -- Tylor.
Zarathustrism (n.) See Zoroastrianism.
Zaratite (n.) (Min.) A hydrous carbonate of nickel occurring as an emerald-green incrustation on chromite; -- called also emerald nickel.
Zareba (n.) (Mil.) An improvised stockade; especially, one made of thorn bushes, etc. [Written also zareeba, and zeriba.] [Egypt] "Ah," he moralizes, "what wonderful instinct on the part of this little creature to surround itself with a zareba like the troops after Osman Digma." -- R. Jefferies.
Zarnich (n.) (Min.) Native sulphide of arsenic, including sandarach, or realgar, and orpiment.
Zaerthe (n.) (Zool.) Same as Z[aum]rthe.
Zaerthe (n.) A European bream ({Abramis vimba). [Written also zaerthe.]
Zati (n.) (Zool.) A species of macaque ({Macacus pileatus) native of India and Ceylon. It has a crown of long erect hair, and tuft of radiating hairs on the back of the head. Called also capped macaque.
Zauschneria (n.) (Bot.) A genus of flowering plants. Zauschneria Californica is a suffrutescent perennial, with showy red flowers much resembling those of the garden fuchsia.
Zaventem (n.) 札范登（荷蘭語：Zaventem）是位於比利時佛羅明 -- 布拉奔省部的一座城市，人口28,651人（2006年）。
Is a Belgian municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant. It is located in the Dijleland area, one of the three large recreational areas which together form the Groene Gordel ("Green Belt") around the Brussels-Capital Region. The municipality comprises the subdivisions or deelgemeenten of Nossegem, Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, Sterrebeek and Zaventem proper. On 1 January 2006 Zaventem had a total population of 28,651. The total area is 27.62 square kilometres (10.66 square miles), which gives a population density of 1,037 inhabitants per km². The official language is Dutch as it is within the Flemish Region. Zaventem is the home of Brussels Airport, together with neighbouring town of Diegem.
Zax (n.) A tool for trimming and puncturing roofing slates. [Written also sax.]
Zayat (n.) A public shed, or portico, for travelers, worshipers, etc. [Burmah]
Zea (n.) (Bot.) A genus of large grasses of which the Indian corn ({Zea Mays) is the only species known. Its origin is not yet ascertained. See Maize.
Compare: Zein
Zein (n.) (Chem.) A nitrogenous substance of the nature of gluten, obtained from the seeds of Indian corn ({Zea) as a soft, yellowish, amorphous substance. [Formerly written zeine.]
Zeal (v. i.) To be zealous. [Obs. & R.] -- Bacon.
Zeal (n.) Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; eagerness in favor of a person or cause; ardent and active interest; engagedness; enthusiasm; fervor. "Ambition varnished o'er with zeal." -- Milton. "Zeal, the blind conductor of the will." -- Dryden. "Zeal's never-dying fire." -- Keble.
I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. -- Rom. x. 2.
A zeal for liberty is sometimes an eagerness to subvert with little care what shall be established. -- Johnson.
Zeal (n.) A zealot. [Obs.] -- B. Jonson.
Zeal (n.) A feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause); "they were imbued with a revolutionary ardor"; "he felt a kind of religious zeal" [syn: ardor, ardour, elan, zeal].
Zeal (n.) Excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end; "he had an absolute zeal for litigation".
Zeal (n.) Prompt willingness; "readiness to continue discussions"; "they showed no eagerness to spread the gospel"; "they disliked his zeal in demonstrating his superiority"; "he tried to explain his forwardness in battle" [syn: readiness, eagerness, zeal, forwardness].
Zeal, () An earnest temper; may be enlightened (Num. 25:11-13; 2 Cor. 7:11; 9:2), or ignorant and misdirected (Rom. 10:2; Phil. 3:6). As a Christian grace, it must be grounded on right principles and directed to right ends (Gal. 4:18). It is sometimes ascribed to God (2 Kings 19:31; Isa. 9:7; 37:32; Ezek. 5:13).
Zeal, (n.) A certain nervous disorder afflicting the young and inexperienced. A passion that goeth before a sprawl.
When Zeal sought Gratitude for his reward He went away exclaiming: "O my Lord!" "What do you want?" the Lord asked, bending down. "An ointment for my cracked and bleeding crown." Jum Coople
Zealant (n.) One who is zealous; a zealot; an enthusiast. [Obs.]
To certain zealants, all speech of pacification is odious. -- Bacon.
Zealed (a.) Full of zeal; characterized by zeal. [Obs.] "Zealed religion." -- Beau. & Fl.
Zealful (a.) Full of zeal. [R.] -- Sylvester.
Zealless (a.) Wanting zeal. -- Hammond.
Zealot (n.) One who is zealous; one who engages warmly in any cause, and pursues his object with earnestness and ardor; especially, one who is overzealous, or carried away by his zeal; one absorbed in devotion to anything; an enthusiast; a fanatical partisan.
Zealots for the one [tradition] were in hostile array against zealots for the other. -- Sir J. Stephen.
In Ayrshire, Clydesdale, Nithisdale, Annandale, every parish was visited by these turbulent zealots. -- Macaulay.
Zealot (n.) A member of an ancient Jewish sect in Judea in the first century who fought to the death against the Romans and who killed or persecuted Jews who collaborated with the Romans.
Zealot (n.) A fervent and even militant proponent of something [syn: partisan, zealot, drumbeater] [ant: nonpartisan, nonpartizan].
Zealotical (a.) Like, or suitable to, a zealot; ardently zealous. [R.] -- Strype.
Zealotism (n.) The character or conduct of a zealot; zealotry.
Zealotist (n.) A zealot. [Obs.] -- Howell.
Zealotry (n.) The character and behavior of a zealot; excess of zeal; fanatical devotion to a cause.
Enthusiasm, visionariness, seems the tendency of the German; zeal, zealotry, of the English; fanaticism, of the French. -- Coleridge.
Zealotry (n.) Excessive intolerance of opposing views [syn: fanaticism, fanatism, zealotry].
Zealous (a.) 熱衷的，熱誠的，熱心的，熱情的 Filled with, or characterized by, zeal; warmly engaged, or ardent, in behalf of an object.
He may be zealous in the salvation of souls. -- Law.
Zealous (a.) Filled with religious zeal. [Obs.] -- Shak. -- Zeal"ous*ly, adv. -- Zeal"ous*ness, n.
Zealous (a.) Marked by active interest and enthusiasm; "an avid sports fan" [syn: {avid}, {zealous}].
Zebec (n.) (Naut.) See Xebec.
Zebra (n.) (Zool.) Any member of three species of African wild horses remarkable for having the body white or yellowish white, and conspicuously marked with dark brown or brackish bands.
Note: The true or mountain zebra ({Equus zebra syn. Asinus zebra) is nearly white, and the bands which cover the body and legs are glossy black. Its tail has a tuft of black hair at the tip. It inhabits the mountains of Central and Southern Africa, and is noted for its wariness and wildness, as well as for its swiftness.
The second species ({Equus Burchellii syn. Asinus Burchellii or Equus quagga), known as Burchell's zebra, plains zebra, and dauw, is the most abundant, inhabiting the grassy plains of tropical and southern Africa, and differing from the preceding in not having dark bands on the legs, while those on the body are more irregular. It has a long tail, covered with long white flowing hair. Grevy's zebra ({Equus grevyi) is distinct from the others in being placed in the subgenus Dolichohippus, whereas the plains and mountain zebras are placed in the subgenus Hippotigris.
Zebra caterpillar, The larva of an American noctuid moth ({Mamestra picta). It is light yellow, with a broad black stripe on the back and one on each side; the lateral stripes are crossed with withe lines. It feeds on cabbages, beets, clover, and other cultivated plants.
Zebra opossum, The zebra wolf. See under Wolf.
Zebra parrakeet, An Australian grass parrakeet, often kept as a cage bird. Its upper parts are mostly pale greenish yellow, transversely barred with brownish black crescents; the under parts, rump, and upper tail coverts, are bright green; two central tail feathers and the cheek patches are blue. Called also canary parrot, scallop parrot, shell parrot, and undulated parrot.
Zebra+poison+(Bot.),+A+poisonous+tree+({Euphorbia+arborea">Zebra poison (Bot.), a poisonous tree ({Euphorbia arborea) of the Spurge family, found in South Africa. Its milky juice is so poisonous that zebras have been killed by drinking water in which its branches had been placed, and it is also used as an arrow poison. -- J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).
Zebra shark. Same as Tiger shark, under Tiger.
Zebra spider, A hunting spider.
Zebra swallowtail, A very large North American swallow-tailed butterfly ({Iphiclides ajax), in which the wings are yellow, barred with black; -- called also ajax.
Zebra wolf. See under Wolf.
Zebra (n.) Any of several fleet black-and-white striped African equines.
ZEBRA, () A data management package in the CERN Program Library.
Zebra (n.) Either one of two species of South African wild horses remarkable for having the body white or yellowish white, and conspicuously marked with dark brown or brackish bands.
Note: The true or mountain zebra (equus, or asinus, zebra) is nearly white, and the bands which cover the body and legs are glossy black. its tail has a tuft of black hair at the tip. it inhabits the mountains of central and southern africa, and is noted for its wariness and wildness, as well as for its swiftness. the second species (equus, or asinus, burchellii), known as burchell's zebra, and dauw, inhabits the grassy plains of south africa, and differs from the preceding in not having dark bands on the legs, while those on the body are more irregular. it has a long tail, covered with long white flowing hair.
Zebrawood (n.) A kind of cabinet wood having beautiful black, brown, and whitish stripes, the timber of a tropical American tree ({Connarus Guianensis).
Zebrawood (n.) The wood of a small West Indian myrtaceous tree ({Eugenia fragrans).
Zebrawood (n.) The wood of an East Indian tree of the genus Guettarda.
Compare: Araroba
Araroba (n.) Goa powder.
Araroba (n.) A fabaceous tree of Brazil ({Centrolobium robustum) having handsomely striped wood; -- called also zebrawood.
Zebrawood (n.) Handsomely striped or mottled wood of the zebrawood tree; used especially for cabinetwork.
Zebrawood (n.) Any of various trees or shrubs having mottled or striped wood [syn: zebrawood, zebrawood tree].
Zebrine (a.) (Zool.) Pertaining to, or resembling, the zebra.
Zebu (n.) (Zool.) A bovine mammal ({Ros Indicus) extensively domesticated in India, China, the East Indies, and East Africa. It usually has short horns, large pendulous ears, slender legs, a large dewlap, and a large, prominent hump over the shoulders; but these characters vary in different domestic breeds, which range in size from that of the common ox to that of a large mastiff.
Note: Some of the varieties are used as beasts of burden, and some fore for riding, while others are raised for their milk and flesh. The Brahmin bull, regarded as sacred by the Hindoos, also belongs to this species. The male is called also Indian bull, Indian ox, Madras ox, and sacred bull.
Zebu (n.) Domesticated ox having a humped back and long horns and a large dewlap; used chiefly as a draft animal in India and east Asia.
Zebub (n.) (Zool.) A large noxious fly of Abyssinia, which like the tsetse fly, is destructive to cattle.
Zechin (n.) See Sequin.
Zechstein (n.) (Geol.) The upper division of the Permian (Dyas) of Europe. The prevailing rock is a magnesian limestone.
Zed (n.) The letter Z; -- called also zee, and formerly izzard.
"Zed, thou unnecessary letter!" -- Shak.
Zed (n.) The 26th letter of the Roman alphabet; "the British call Z zed and the Scots call it ezed but Americans call it zee"; "he doesn't know A from izzard" [syn: Z, z, zee, zed, ezed, izzard].
Zed, () 1978. Software Portability Group, U Waterloo. Eh, with types added. Similar to C. Implementation language for the Thoth realtime operating system. Added a few simple types for greater efficiency on byte-addressed machines. String constants in case statements. Enforces the naming convention: MANIFESTS, Externals and locals. "Porting the Zed Compiler", G.B. Bonkowski et al, SIGPLAN Notices 14(8):92-97 (Aug 1979).
Zedoary (n.) (Med.) A medicinal substance obtained in the East Indies, having a fragrant smell, and a warm, bitter, aromatic taste. It is used in medicine as a stimulant.
Note: It is the rhizome of different species of Curcuma, esp. Curcuma zedoaria, and comes in short, firm pieces, externally of a wrinkled gray, ash-colored appearance, but within of a brownish red color. There are two kinds, round zedoary, and long zedoary.
Hippopotamus (n.; pl. E. Hippopotamuses) (Zool.) A large, amphibious, herbivorous mammal ({Hippopotamus amphibius), common in the rivers of tropical Africa. It is allied to the hogs, and has a very thick, naked skin, a thick and square head, a very large muzzle, small eyes and ears, thick and heavy body, and short legs. It is supposed to be the behemoth of the Bible. Called also zeekoe, and river horse. A smaller species ({Hippopotamus Liberiencis}) inhabits Western Africa.
Zeekoe (n.) (Zool.) A hippopotamus.
Zehner (n.) [G.] An Austrian silver coin equal to ten kreutzers, or about five cents.
Zein (n.) (Chem.) A nitrogenous substance of the nature of gluten, obtained from the seeds of Indian corn ({Zea) as a soft, yellowish, amorphous substance. [Formerly written zeine.]
Zeitgeist (n.) [Often capitalized] The spirit of the time; the general intellectual and moral state or temper characteristic of any period of time.
Zeitgeist (n.) The spirit of the time; the spirit characteristic of an age or generation.
Zamindar (n.) A landowner; also, a collector of land revenue; now, usually, a kind of feudatory recognized as an actual proprietor so long as he pays to the government a certain fixed revenue. [Written also zemindar.] [India]
Zemindar (n.) Same as Zamindar. Zemindary
Zemindary (n.) Alt. of Zemindari
Zamindary, Zamindari (n.) The jurisdiction of a zamindar; the land possessed by a zamindar. [Written also zemindary, zemindari.]
Zemindari (n.) Same as Zamindary.
Zemni (n.) (Zool.) The blind mole rat ({Spalax typhlus), native of Eastern Europe and Asia. Its eyes and ears are rudimentary, and its fur is soft and brownish, more or less tinged with gray. It constructs extensive burrows.
Zenana (n.) The part of a dwelling appropriated to women. [India]
Zend (n.) Properly, the translation and exposition in the Huzv[^a]resh, or literary Pehlevi, language, of the Avesta, the Zoroastrian sacred writings; as commonly used, the language (an ancient Persian dialect) in which the Avesta is written.
Compare: Avestan
Avestan (a.) Of or pertaining to the Avesta or the language of the Avesta. -- n. The language of the Avesta (an ancient Iranian language); -- less properly called Zend.
Syn: Zend
Zend (n.) An ancient Iranian language [syn: Avestan, Zend].
Zend-Avesta (n.) The sacred writings of the ancient Persian religion, attributed to Zoroaster, but chiefly of a later date.
Zend-Avesta (n.) A collection of Zoroastrian texts gathered during the 4th or 6th centuries [syn: Avesta, Zend-Avesta].
Zendik (n.) An atheist or unbeliever; -- name given in the East to those charged with disbelief of any revealed religion, or accused of magical heresies.
Compare: Suricat, Suricate
Suricat, Suricate (n.) (Zool.) A South African mongooselike viverrine ({Suricata suricatta or Suricata tetradactyla) having a lemurlike face and only four toes; called also mierkat, yellow mongoose and zenick. [Also spelled surikate.]
Note: The animal called zenick seems also to be related to or identical to the mierkat, but no reference can be found on the internet.
Syn: meerkat.
Zenick (n.) (Zool.) A South African burrowing mammal ({Suricata tetradactyla), allied to the civets. It is grayish brown, with yellowish transverse stripes on the back. Called also suricat.
Note: This term is not found on the internet. It probably refers to the meerkat, also called suricate.
Zenik (n.) (Zool.) See Zenick.
Zenith (n.) That point in the visible celestial hemisphere which is vertical to the spectator; the point of the heavens directly overhead; -- opposed to nadir.
From morn To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, A summer's day; and with the setting sun Dropped from the zenith, like a falling star. -- Milton.
Zenith (n.) Hence, figuratively, the point of culmination; the greatest height; the height of success or prosperity.
I find my zenith doth depend upon A most auspicious star. -- Shak.
This dead of midnight is the noon of thought, And wisdom mounts her zenith with the stars. -- Mrs. Barbauld.
It was during those civil troubles . . . this aspiring family reached the zenith. -- Macaulay.
Zenith distance. (Astron.) See under Distance.
Zenith sector. (Astron.) See Sector, 3.
Zenith telescope (Geodesy), A telescope specially designed for determining the latitude by means of any two stars which pass the meridian about the same time, and at nearly equal distances from the zenith, but on opposite sides of it. It turns both on a vertical and a horizontal axis, is provided with a graduated vertical semicircle, and a level for setting it to a given zenith distance, and with a micrometer for measuring the difference of the zenith distances of the two stars.
Zenith (n.) The point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected [ant: nadir].
Zenithal (a.) Of or pertaining to the zenith. "The deep zenithal blue." -- Tyndall.
Zenithal (a.) Relating to or located at or near the zenith
Zeolite (n.) (Min.) A term now used to designate any one of a family of minerals, hydrous silicates of alumina, with lime, soda, potash, or rarely baryta. Here are included natrolite, stilbite, analcime, chabazite, thomsonite, heulandite, and others. These species occur of secondary origin in the cavities of amygdaloid, basalt, and lava, also, less frequently, in granite and gneiss. So called because many of these species intumesce before the blowpipe.
Needle zeolite, Needlestone; natrolite.
Zeolite (n.) Any of a family of glassy minerals analogous to feldspar containing hydrated aluminum silicates of calcium or sodium or potassium; formed in cavities in lava flows and in plutonic rocks.
Zeolitic (a.) Of or pertaining to a zeolite; consisting of, or resembling, a zeolite.
Zeolitiform (a.) Having the form of a zeolite.
Zephyr (n.) The west wind; poetically, any soft, gentle breeze.
Zephyrus (n.) The west wind, or zephyr; -- usually personified, and made the most mild and gentle of all the sylvan deities.
Mild as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes. -- Milton.
Compare: Sequin
Sequin (n.) An old gold coin of Italy and Turkey. It was first struck at Venice about the end of the 13th century, and afterward in the other Italian cities, and by the Levant trade was introduced into Turkey. It is worth about 9s. 3d. sterling, or about $2.25. The different kinds vary somewhat in value. [Written also chequin, and zequin.]
Zequin (n.) See Sequin.
Zerda (n.) (Zool.) The fennec.