Words whose 8th letter is M

Ablastemic (a.) Non-germinal.

Accustom (v. t.) To make familiar by use; to habituate, familiarize, or inure; -- with to.

Achenium (n.) A small, dry, indehiscent fruit, containing a single seed, as in the buttercup; -- called a naked seed by the earlier botanists.

Actinium (n.) A supposed metal, said by Phipson to be contained in commercial zinc; -- so called because certain of its compounds are darkened by exposure to light.

Ageratum (n.) A genus of plants, one species of which (A. Mexicanum) has lavender-blue flowers in dense clusters.

Altruism (n.) Regard for others, both natural and moral; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness; -- opposed to egoism or selfishness.

Amphigamous (a.) Having a structure entirely cellular, and no distinct sexual organs; -- a term applied by De Candolle to the lowest order of plants.

Anticlimax (n.) A sentence in which the ideas fall, or become less important and striking, at the close; -- the opposite of climax. It produces a ridiculous effect.

Appointment (n.) An allowance to a person, esp. to a public officer; a perquisite; -- properly only in the plural.

Archaism (a.) An ancient, antiquated, or old-fashioned, word, expression, or idiom; a word or form of speech no longer in common use.

Archchamberlain (n.) A chief chamberlain; -- an officer of the old German empire, whose office was similar to that of the great chamberlain in England.

Ascidium (n.) A pitcher-shaped, or flask-shaped, organ or appendage of a plant, as the leaves of the pitcher plant, or the little bladderlike traps of the bladderwort (Utricularia).

Asterism (n.) An optical property of some crystals which exhibit a star-shaped by reflected light, as star sapphire, or by transmitted light, as some mica.

Astronomy (n.) A treatise on, or text-book of, the science.

Auriform (a.) Having the form of the human ear; ear-shaped.

Backgammon (n.) A game of chance and skill, played by two persons on a "board" marked off into twenty-four spaces called "points". Each player has fifteen pieces, or "men", the movements of which from point to point are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called tables.

Boviform (a.) Resembling an ox in form; ox-shaped.

Bushhammer (n.) A hammer with a head formed of a bundle of square bars, with pyramidal points, arranged in rows, or a solid head with a face cut into a number of rows of such points; -- used for dressing stone.

Catadromous (a.) Having the lowest inferior segment of a pinna nearer the rachis than the lowest superior one; -- said of a mode of branching in ferns, and opposed to anadromous.

Catadromous (a.) Living in fresh water, and going to the sea to spawn; -- opposed to anadromous, and said of the eel.

Chartism (n.) The principles of a political party in England (1838-48), which contended for universal suffrage, the vote by ballot, annual parliaments, equal electoral districts, and other radical reforms, as set forth in a document called the People's Charter.

Cockscomb (n.) A plant (Celosia cristata), of many varieties, cultivated for its broad, fantastic spikes of brilliant flowers; -- sometimes called garden cockscomb. Also the Pedicularis, or lousewort, the Rhinanthus Crista-galli, and the Onobrychis Crista-galli.

Coenogamy (n.) The state of a community which permits promiscuous sexual intercourse among its members; -- as in certain primitive tribes or communistic societies.

Compartment (n.) One of the sections into which the hold of a ship is divided by water-tight bulkheads.

Concertmeister (n.) The head violinist or leader of the strings in an orchestra; the sub-leader of the orchestra; concert master.

Confinement (n.) Restraint within doors by sickness, esp. that caused by childbirth; lying-in.

Coniform (a.) Cone-shaped; conical.

Corundum (n.) The earth alumina, as found native in a crystalCostotome (n.) An instrument (chisel or shears) to cut the ribs and open the thoracic cavity, in post-mortem examinations and dissections.

Countryman (n.) One born in the same country with another; a compatriot; -- used with a possessive pronoun.

Cuniform (a.) Wedge-shaped; as, a cuneiform bone; -- especially applied to the wedge-shaped or arrowheaded characters of ancient Persian and Assyrian inscriptions. See Arrowheaded.

Cuniform (a.) Pertaining to, or versed in, the ancient wedge-shaped characters, or the inscriptions in them.

Cuniform (n.) The wedge-shaped characters used in ancient Persian and Assyrian inscriptions.

Cuniform (n.) One of the carpal bones usually articulating with the ulna; -- called also pyramidal and ulnare.

Delirium (n.) A state in which the thoughts, expressions, and actions are wild, irregular, and incoherent; mental aberration; a roving or wandering of the mind, -- usually dependent on a fever or some other disease, and so distinguished from mania, or madness.

Dephlegmate (v. t.) To deprive of superabundant water, as by evaporation or distillation; to clear of aqueous matter; to rectify; -- used of spirits and acids.

Dephlegmation (n.) The operation of separating water from spirits and acids, by evaporation or repeated distillation; -- called also concentration, especially when acids are the subject of it.

Derotremata (n. pl.) The tribe of aquatic Amphibia which includes Amphiuma, Menopoma, etc. They have permanent gill openings, but no external gills; -- called also Cryptobranchiata.

Diathermanous (a.) Having the property of transmitting radiant heat; diathermal; -- opposed to athermanous.

Diathermometer (n.) An instrument for examining the thermal resistance or heat-conducting power of liquids.

Didrachma (n.) A two-drachma piece; an ancient Greek silver coin, worth nearly forty cents.

Didymium (n.) A rare metallic substance usually associated with the metal cerium; -- hence its name. It was formerly supposed to be an element, but has since been found to consist of two simpler elementary substances, neodymium and praseodymium. See Neodymium, and Praseodymium.

Disassimilation (n.) The decomposition of complex substances, within the organism, into simpler ones suitable only for excretion, with evolution of energy, -- a normal nutritional process the reverse of assimilation; downward metabolism.

Disspermous (a.) Containing only two seeds; two-seeded.

Drawloom (n.) A kind of loom used in weaving figured patterns; -- called also drawboy.

Dream (n.) A visionary scheme; a wild conceit; an idle fancy; a vagary; a revery; -- in this sense, applied to an imaginary or anticipated state of happiness; as, a dream of bliss; the dream of his youth.

Duodecimo (n.) A book consisting of sheets each of which is folded into twelve leaves; hence, indicating, more or less definitely, a size of a book; -- usually written 12mo or 12?.

Electromotor (n.) An apparatus or machine for producing motion and mechanical effects by the action of electricity; an electro-magnetic engine.

Electrum (n.) German-silver plate. See German silver, under German.

Enantiomorphous (a.) Similar, but not superposable, i. e., related to each other as a right-handed to a left-handed glove; -- said of certain hemihedral crystals.

Ensiform (a.) Having the form of a sword blade; sword-shaped; as, an ensiform leaf.

Euphuism (n.) An affectation of excessive elegance and refinement of language; high-flown diction.

Exanthema (n.) An efflorescence or discoloration of the skin; an eruption or breaking out, as in measles, smallpox, scarlatina, and the like diseases; -- sometimes limited to eruptions attended with fever.

Fan palm () Any palm tree having fan-shaped or radiate leaves; as the Chamaerops humilis of Southern Europe; the species of Sabal and Thrinax in the West Indies, Florida, etc.; and especially the great talipot tree (Corypha umbraculifera) of Ceylon and Malaya. The leaves of the latter are often eighteen feet long and fourteen wide, and are used for umbrellas, tents, and roofs. When cut up, they are used for books and manuscripts.

Fireworm (n.) The larva of a small tortricid moth which eats the leaves of the cranberry, so that the vines look as if burned; -- called also cranberry worm.

Flittermouse (n.) A bat; -- called also flickermouse, flindermouse, and flintymouse.

Frankalmoigne (a.) A tenure by which a religious corporation holds lands given to them and their successors forever, usually on condition of praying for the soul of the donor and his heirs; -- called also tenure by free alms.

Franking (n.) A method of forming a joint at the intersection of window-sash bars, by cutting away only enough wood to show a miter.

Geranium (n.) A genus of plants having a beaklike tours or receptacle, around which the seed capsules are arranged, and membranous projections, or stipules, at the joints. Most of the species have showy flowers and a pungent odor. Called sometimes crane's-bill.

Gnatworm (n.) The aquatic larva of a gnat; -- called also, colloquially, wiggler.

Guaiacum (n.) The heart wood or the resin of the Guaiacum offinale or lignum-vitae, a large tree of the West Indies and Central America. It is much used in medicine.

Habendum (n.) That part of a deed which follows the part called the premises, and determines the extent of the interest or estate granted; -- so called because it begins with the word Habendum.

Hamiform (n.) Hook-shaped.

Harmotome (n.) A hydrous silicate of alumina and baryta, occurring usually in white cruciform crystals; cross-stone.

Hegelism (n.) The system of logic and philosophy set forth by Hegel, a German writer (1770-1831).

Hercogamous (a.) Not capable of self-fertilization; -- said of hermaphrodite flowers in which some structural obstacle forbids autogamy.

Hippocampus (n.) A fabulous monster, with the head and fore quarters of a horse joined to the tail of a dolphin or other fish (Hippocampus brevirostris), -- seen in Pompeian paintings, attached to the chariot of Neptune.

Hippocampus (n.) A genus of lophobranch fishes of several species in which the head and neck have some resemblance to those of a horse; -- called also sea horse.

Holostomatous (a.) Having an entire aperture; -- said of many univalve shells.

Homodromous (a.) Running in the same direction; -- said of stems twining round a support, or of the spiral succession of leaves on stems and their branches.

Homodromous (a.) Moving in the same direction; -- said of a lever or pulley in which the resistance and the actuating force are both on the same side of the fulcrum or axis.

Honeycomb (n.) Any substance, as a easting of iron, a piece of worm-eaten wood, or of triple, etc., perforated with cells like a honeycomb.

Hyalonema (n.) A genus of hexactinelHymenium (n.) The spore-bearing surface of certain fungi, as that on the gills of a mushroom.

Hyopastron (n.) The second lateral plate in the plastron of turtles; -- called also hyosternum.

Hypidiomorphic (a.) Partly idiomorphic; -- said of rock a portion only of whose constituents have a distinct crystalIchthyomorphous (a.) Fish-shaped; as, the ichthyomorphic idols of ancient Assyria.

Identism (n.) The doctrine taught by Schelling, that matter and mind, and subject and object, are identical in the Absolute; -- called also the system / doctrine of identity.

Ideogram (n.) A symbol used for convenience, or for abbreviation; as, 1, 2, 3, +, -, /, $, /, etc.

Illicium (n.) A genus of Asiatic and American magnoliaceous trees, having star-shaped fruit; star anise. The fruit of Illicium anisatum is used as a spice in India, and its oil is largely used in Europe for flavoring cordials, being almost identical with true oil of anise.

Illuminati (v. t.) Members of a sect which sprung up in Spain about the year 1575. Their principal doctrine was, that, by means of prayer, they had attained to so perfect a state as to have no need of o Irredeemable (a.) Not redeemable; that can not be redeemed; not payable in gold or silver, as a bond; -- used especially of such government notes, issued as currency, as are not convertible into coin at the pleasure of the holder.

Journeyman (n.) Formerly, a man hired to work by the day; now, commonly, one who has mastered a handicraft or trade; -- distinguished from apprentice and from master workman.

Lav/sium (n.) A supposed new metallic element. It is said to have been discovered in pyrites, and some other minerals, and to be of a silver-white color, and malleable.

Lipogram (n.) A writing composed of words not having a certain letter or letters; -- as in the Odyssey of Tryphiodorus there was no A in the first book, no B in the second, and so on.

Liquidambar (n.) A genus consisting of two species of tall trees having star-shaped leaves, and woody burlike fruit. Liquidambar styraciflua is the North American sweet qum, and L. Orientalis is found in Asia Minor.

Lygodium (n.) A genus of ferns with twining or climbing fronds, bearing stalked and variously-lobed divisions in pairs.

Magnetomotor (n.) A voltaic series of two or more large plates, producing a great quantity of electricity of low tension, and hence adapted to the exhibition of electro-magnetic phenomena.

Marjoram (n.) A genus of mintlike plants (Origanum) comprising about twenty-five species. The sweet marjoram (O. Majorana) is pecularly aromatic and fragrant, and much used in cookery. The wild marjoram of Europe and America is O. vulgare, far less fragrant than the other.

Megaderm (n.) Any one of several species of Old World blood-sucking bats of the genus Megaderma.

Melanism (n.) An undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages; -- the opposite of albinism.

Melastoma (n.) A genus of evergreen tropical shrubs; -- so called from the black berries of some species, which stain the mouth.

Metronymic (a.) Derived from the name of one's mother, or other female ancestor; as, a metronymic name or appellation. -- A metronymic appellation.

Microseme (a.) Having the orbital index relatively small; having the orbits broad transversely; -- opposed to megaseme.

Midshipman (n.) Formerly, a kind of naval cadet, in a ship of war, whose business was to carry orders, messages, reports, etc., between the officers of the quarter-deck and those of the forecastle, and render other services as required.

Muckworm (n.) A larva or grub that lives in muck or manure; -- applied to the larvae of the tumbledung and allied beetles.

Multanimous (a.) Many-minded; many-sided.

Multiaxial (a.) Having more than one axis; developing in more than a single Mushroom (n.) An edible fungus (Agaricus campestris), having a white stalk which bears a convex or oven flattish expanded portion called the pileus. This is whitish and silky or somewhat scaly above, and bears on the under side radiating gills which are at first flesh-colored, but gradually become brown. The plant grows in rich pastures and is proverbial for rapidity of growth and shortness of duration. It has a pleasant smell, and is largely used as food. It is also cultivated from spawn.

Mushroom (a.) Resembling mushrooms in rapidity of growth and shortness of duration; short-lived; ephemerial; as, mushroom cities.

Mutandum (n.) A thing which is to be changed; something which must be altered; -- used chiefly in the plural.

Mycelium (n.) The white threads or filamentous growth from which a mushroom or fungus is developed; the so-called mushroom spawn.

Myochrome (n.) A colored albuminous substance in the serum from red-colored muscles. It is identical with hemoglobin.

Myzostomata (n. pl.) An order of curious parasitic worms found on crinoids. The body is short and disklike, with four pairs of suckers and five pairs of hook-bearing parapodia on the under side.

Napiform (a.) Turnip-shaped; large and round in the upper part, and very slender below.

Nighttime (n.) The time from dusk to dawn; -- opposed to daytime.

Notandum (n.) A thing to be noted or observed; a notable fact; -- chiefly used in the plural.

Nuciform (a.) Shaped like a nut; nut-shaped.

Anaseismic (a.) Moving up and down; -- said of earthquake shocks.

Anastigmatic (a.) Not astigmatic; -- said esp. of a lens system which consists of a converging lens and a diverging lens of equal and opposite astigmatism but different focal lengths, and sensibly free from astigmatism.

Apochromatic (a.) Free from chromatic and spherical aberration; -- said esp. of a lens in which rays of three or more colors are brought to the same focus, the degree of achromatism thus obtained being more complete than where two rays only are thus focused, as in the ordinary achromatic objective.

Argentamine () Alt. of -min

Biodynamics (n.) The branch of biology which treats of the active vital phenomena of organisms; -- opposed to biostatics.

Europium (n.) A metallic element of the rare-earth group, discovered spectroscopically by Demarcay in 1896. Symbol, Eu; at. wt., 152.0.

Exothermic (a.) Characterized by, or formed with, evolution of heat; as, an exothermic reaction; -- opposed to endothermic.

Futurism (n.) A movement or phase of post-impressionism (which see, below).

Geusdism (n.) The Marxian socialism and programme of reform through revolution as advocated by the French political leader Jules Basile Guesde (pron. g/d) (1845- ).

Gipsy, moth () A tussock moth (Ocneria dispar) native of the Old World, but accidentally introduced into eastern Massachusetts about 1869, where its caterpillars have done great damage to fruit, shade, and forest trees of many kinds. The male gypsy moth is yellowish brown, the female white, and larger than the male. In both sexes the wings are marked by dark lines and a dark lunule. The caterpillars, when full-grown, have a grayish mottled appearance, with blue tubercles on the anterior and re> Hexagram (n.) In Chinese literature, one of the sixty-four figures formed of six parallel lines (continuous or broken), forming the basis of the Yih King, or "Book of Changes."

Ibsenism (n.) The dramatic practice or purpose characteristic of the writings of Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906), Norwegian poet and dramatist, whose best-known plays deal with conventional hypocrisies, the story in each play thus developing a definite moral problem.

Idealism (n.) The practice or habit of giving or attributing ideal form or character to things; treatment of things in art or literature according to ideal standards or patterns; -- opposed to realism.

Marinism (n.) A bombastic literary style marked by the use of metaphors and antitheses characteristic of the Italian poet Giambattista Marini (1569-1625).

Rigorism (n.) Strictness in ethical principles; -- usually applied to ascetic ethics, and opposed to ethical latitudinarianism.

Rocaille (n.) The rococo system of scroll ornament, based in part on the forms of shells and water-worn rocks.

Windjammer (n.) A sailing vessel or one of its crew; -- orig. so called contemptuously by sailors on steam vessels.

Optimism (n.) A disposition to take the most hopeful view; -- opposed to pessimism.

Orthogamy (n.) Direct fertilization in plants, as when the pollen fertilizing the ovules comes from the stamens of the same blossom; -- opposed to heterogamy.

Osteotomy (n.) The operation of dividing a bone or of cutting a piece out of it, -- done to remedy deformity, etc.

Ostracism (n.) Banishment by popular vote, -- a means adopted at Athens to rid the city of a person whose talent and influence gave umbrage.

Panidiomorphic (a.) Having a completely idiomorphic structure; -- said of certain rocks.

Panspermy (n.) The doctrine that all organisms must come from living parents; biogenesis; -- the opposite of spontaneous generation.

Parvanimity (n.) The state or quality of having a little or ignoble mind; pettiness; meanness; -- opposed to magnanimity.

Perigeum (n.) That point in the orbit of the moon which is nearest to the earth; -- opposed to apogee. It is sometimes, but rarely, used of the nearest points of other orbits, as of a comet, a planet, etc. Called also epigee, epigeum.

Phormium (n.) A genus of liliaceous plants, consisting of one species (Phormium tenax). See Flax-plant.

Pichurim bean () The seed of a Brazilian lauraceous tree (Nectandra Puchury) of a taste and smell between those of nutmeg and of sassafras, -- sometimes used medicinally. Called also sassafras nut.

Pilidium (n.) The free-swimming, hat-shaped larva of certain nemertean worms. It has no resemblance to its parent, and the young worm develops in its interior.

Platinum (n.) A metallic element, intermediate in value between silver and gold, occurring native or alloyed with other metals, also as the platinum arsenide (sperrylite). It is heavy tin-white metal which is ductile and malleable, but very infusible, and characterized by its resistance to strong chemical reagents. It is used for crucibles, for stills for sulphuric acid, rarely for coin, and in the form of foil and wire for many purposes. Specific gravity 21.5. Atomic weight 194.3. Symbol Pt. > Podetium (n.) A stalk which bears the fructification in some lichens, as in the so-called reindeer moss.

Polystome (n.) An animal having many mouths; -- applied to Protozoa.

Pyriform (a.) Having the form of a pear; pear-shaped.

Quicklime (a.) Calcium oxide; unslacked lime; -- so called because when wet it develops great heat. See 4th Lime, 2.

Rhinopome (n.) Any old-world bat of the genus Rhinopoma. The rhinopomes have a long tail extending beyond the web, and inhabit caves and tombs.

Rigorism (n.) Rigidity in principle or practice; strictness; -- opposed to laxity.

Ringworm (n.) A contagious affection of the skin due to the presence of a vegetable parasite, and forming ring-shaped discolored patches covered with vesicles or powdery scales. It occurs either on the body, the face, or the scalp. Different varieties are distinguished as Tinea circinata, Tinea tonsurans, etc., but all are caused by the same parasite (a species of Trichophyton).

Robertsman (n.) A bold, stout robber, or night thief; -- said to be so called from Robin Hood.

Rotiform (a.) Wheel-shaped; as, rotiform appendages.

Sacchulmic (a.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained as a dark amorphous substance by the long-continued boiling of sucrose with very dilute sulphuric acid. It resembles humic acid.

Saxonism (n.) An idiom of the Saxon or Anglo-Saxon language.

Say (v. t.) To mention or suggest as an estimate, hypothesis, or approximation; hence, to suppose; -- in the imperative, followed sometimes by the subjunctive; as, he had, say fifty thousand dollars; the fox had run, say ten miles.

Selenium (n.) A nonmetallic element of the sulphur group, and analogous to sulphur in its compounds. It is found in small quantities with sulphur and some sulphur ores, and obtained in the free state as a dark reddish powder or crystalSemipalmated (a.) Having the anterior toes joined only part way down with a web; half-webbed; as, a semipalmate bird or foot. See Illust. k under Aves.

Shipworm (n.) Any long, slender, worm-shaped bivalve mollusk of Teredo and allied genera. The shipworms burrow in wood, and are destructive to wooden ships, piles of wharves, etc. See Teredo.

Speculum (n.) A mirror, or looking-glass; especially, a metal mirror, as in Greek and Roman archaeology.

Spekboom (n.) The purslane tree of South Africa, -- said to be the favorite food of elephants.

Splenium (n.) The thickened posterior border of the corpus callosum; -- so called in allusion to its shape.

Stilpnomelane (n.) A black or greenish black mineral occurring in foliated flates, also in velvety bronze-colored incrustations. It is a hydrous silicate of iron and alumina.

Strabismus (n.) An affection of one or both eyes, in which the optic axes can not be directed to the same object, -- a defect due either to undue contraction or to undue relaxation of one or more of the muscles which move the eyeball; squinting; cross-eye.

Superdominant (n.) The sixth tone of the scale; that next above the dominant; -- called also submediant.

Syndyasmian (a.) Pertaining to the state of pairing together sexually; -- said of animals during periods of procreation and while rearing their offspring.

Tantalum (n.) A rare nonmetallic element found in certain minerals, as tantalite, samarskite, and fergusonite, and isolated as a dark powder which becomes steel-gray by burnishing. Symbol Ta. Atomic weight 182.0. Formerly called also tantalium.

Tetradymite (n.) A telluride of bismuth. It is of a pale steel-gray color and metallic luster, and usually occurs in foliated masses. Called also telluric bismuth.

Thallium (n.) A rare metallic element of the aluminium group found in some minerals, as certain pyrites, and also in the lead-chamber deposit in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. It is isolated as a heavy, soft, bluish white metal, easily oxidized in moist air, but preserved by keeping under water. Symbol Tl. Atomic weight 203.7.

Theobromine (n.) An alkaloidal ureide, C7H8N4O2, homologous with and resembling caffeine, produced artificially, and also extracted from cacao and chocolate (from Theobroma Cacao) as a bitter white crystalTitanium (n.) An elementary substance found combined in the minerals manaccanite, rutile, sphene, etc., and isolated as an infusible iron-gray amorphous powder, having a metallic luster. It burns when heated in the air. Symbol Ti. Atomic weight 48.1.

Totipalmate (a.) Having all four toes united by a web; -- said of certain sea birds, as the pelican and the gannet. See Illust. under Aves.

Traducement (n.) The act of traducing; misrepresentation; ill-founded censure; defamation; calumny.

Trichromatic (a.) Having or existing in three different phases of color; having three distinct color varieties; -- said of certain birds and insects.

Trillium (n.) A genus of liliaceous plants; the three-leaved nightshade; -- so called because all the parts of the plant are in threes.

Trispermous (a.) Containing three seeds; three-seeded; as, a trispermous capsule.

Tympanum (n.) A drum-shaped wheel with spirally curved partitions by which water is raised to the axis when the wheel revolves with the lower part of the circumference submerged, -- used for raising water, as for irrigation.

Type (n.) A figure or representation of something to come; a token; a sign; a symbol; -- correlative to antitype.

Vanadium (n.) A rare element of the nitrogen-phosphorus group, found combined, in vanadates, in certain minerals, and reduced as an infusible, grayish-white metallic powder. It is intermediate between the metals and the non-metals, having both basic and acid properties. Symbol V (or Vd, rarely). Atomic weight 51.2.

Variorum (a.) Containing notes by different persons; -- applied to a publication; as, a variorum edition of a book.

Viburnum (n.) A genus of shrubs having opposite, petiolate leaves and cymose flowers, several species of which are cultivated as ornamental, as the laurestine and the guelder-rose.

Vinculum (n.) A straight, horizontal mark placed over two or more members of a compound quantity, which are to be subjected to the same operation, as in the expression x2 + y2 - x + y.

Vinegar (a.) Hence, anything sour; -- used also metaphorically.

Voltaism (n.) That form of electricity which is developed by the chemical action between metals and different liquids; voltaic electricity; also, the science which treats of this form of electricity; -- called also galvanism, from Galvani, on account of his experiments showing the remarkable influence of this agent on animals.

Wegotism (n.) Excessive use of the pronoun we; -- called also weism.

Whiterump (n.) The American black-tailed godwit.

Wireworm (n.) One of the larvae of various species of snapping beetles, or elaters; -- so called from their slenderness and the uncommon hardness of the integument. Wireworms are sometimes very destructive to the roots of plants. Called also wire grub.

Yellowammer (n.) See Yellow-hammer.

About the author

Mark McCracken Author: Mark McCracken is a corporate trainer and author living in Higashi Osaka, Japan. He is the author of thousands of online articles as well as the Business English textbook, "25 Business Skills in English".

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