Symphytism
(Sym"phy*tism) n. [Gr. grown together.] Coalescence; a growing into one with another
word. [R.]
Some of the phrasal adverbs have assumed the form of single words, by that symphytism which naturally
attaches these light elements to each other.
Earle. Sympiesometer
(Sym`pi*e*som"e*ter) n. [Gr. compression (fr. to press together; sy`n with + to press,
squeeze) + -meter.] A sensitive kind of barometer, in which the pressure of the atmosphere, acting
upon a liquid, as oil, in the lower portion of the instrument, compresses an elastic gas in the upper part.
The column of oil of a lower part BC of a glass tube compresses hydrogen gas in the upper part AB,
and is thus measured on the scale pq by the position of a surface of the oil in the tube. The scale pq
is adjustable, and its index must be set to the division on the scale rs corresponding to the temperature
indicated by the termometer t, in order to correct for the effects of temperature on the gas. It is sensitive,
and convenient for use at sea, but inferior in accuracy to the mercurial barometer.
Symplectic
(Sym*plec"tic) a. [Gr. plaiting together, fr. to plait together.] (Anat.) Plaiting or joining together; —
said of a bone next above the quadrate in the mandibular suspensorium of many fishes, which unites
together the other bones of the suspensorium. — n. The symplectic bone.
Symploce
(||Sym"plo*ce) n. [L., fr. Gr. an interweaving, fr. to twine together; + to twine.] (Rhet.) The
repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning and another at the end of successive clauses; as, Justice
came down from heaven to view the earth; Justice returned to heaven, and left the earth.
Sympode
(Sym"pode) n. (Bot.) A sympodium.
Sympodial
(Sym*po"di*al) a. (Bot.) Composed of superposed branches in such a way as to imitate a
simple axis; as, a sympodial stem.
Sympodium
(||Sym*po"di*um) n.; pl. Sympodia [NL., fr. Gr. sy`n with + dim. of foot.] (Bot.) An axis
or stem produced by dichotomous branching in which one of the branches is regularly developed at the
expense of the other, as in the grapevine.
Symposiac
(Sym*po"si*ac) a. [L. symposiacus, Gr. .] Of or pertaining to compotations and merrymaking; happening
where company is drinking together; as, symposiac meetings.
Symposiac disputations amongst my acquaintance.
Arbuthnot. Symposiac
(Sym*po"si*ac), n. A conference or conversation of philosophers at a banquet; hence, any
similar gathering.
Symposiarch
(Sym*po"si*arch) n. [Gr. a symposium + to be first, to rule.] (Gr. Antiq.) The master of
a feast.
Symposiast
(Sym*po"si*ast) n. One engaged with others at a banquet or merrymaking. Sydney Smith.
Symposion
(||Sym*po"si*on) n. [NL.] A drinking together; a symposium. "Our symposion last night."
Sir W. Scott.
Symposium
(Sym*po"si*um) n.; pl. Symposia [L., fr. Gr. sympo`sion a drinking party, feast; sy`n with
+ po`sis a drinking. See Syn-, and cf. Potable.]
1. A drinking together; a merry feast. T. Warton.
2. A collection of short essays by different authors on a common topic; — so called from the appellation
given to the philosophical dialogue by the Greeks.
