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To start, here's the entry from the Oxford English Dictionary:
The position or status of being a citizen, with its rights and privileges.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Diversity
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To start, here's the entry from the Oxford English Dictionary:
1. a. The condition or quality of being diverse, different, or varied; difference, unlikeness.
b. with a and pl. An instance of this condition or quality; a point of unlikeness; a difference, distinction; a different kind, a variety.
{dag}c. Divers manners or sorts: a variety. Obs.
2. Law. (See quot.)
{dag}3. Contrariety to what is agreeable, good, or right; perversity, evil, mischief. Obs.
4. diversity factor Electr. (see quot. 1943).
5. Radio. Applied attrib. to a system of reception in which, in order to reduce the effects of fading, a signal is received simultaneously by several channels, the signal or combination of signals of best quality being automatically selected.
To start, here's the entry from the Oxford English Dictionary:
1. a. The condition or quality of being diverse, different, or varied; difference, unlikeness.
b. with a and pl. An instance of this condition or quality; a point of unlikeness; a difference, distinction; a different kind, a variety.
{dag}c. Divers manners or sorts: a variety. Obs.
2. Law. (See quot.)
{dag}3. Contrariety to what is agreeable, good, or right; perversity, evil, mischief. Obs.
4. diversity factor Electr. (see quot. 1943).
5. Radio. Applied attrib. to a system of reception in which, in order to reduce the effects of fading, a signal is received simultaneously by several channels, the signal or combination of signals of best quality being automatically selected.
Freedom
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To start, here's the entry from the Oxford English Dictionary:
I. The state or fact of being free from servitude, constraint, inhibition, etc.; liberty.
1. a. Exemption or release from slavery or imprisonment; personal liberty.
letter of freedom (now hist.): a document emancipating a slave.
b. fig. Liberation from the bondage or dominating influence of sin, spiritual servitude, worldly ties, etc.
c. Exemption or release from the obligations of a contractual agreement; spec. release from a marriage, divorce.
{dag}2. Nobility or generosity of character, magnanimity. Cf. FREE adj. 3. Obs.
3. The state or fact of not being subject to despotic or autocratic control, or to a foreign power; civil liberty; independence.
4. a. The state of being able to act without hindrance or restraint; liberty of action. Freq. with to and infinitive.
academic freedom: see ACADEMIC adj. 2b.
b. spec. Liberty in respect of a particular sphere of life or action, as freedom of association, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, freedom of the press (cf. press freedom n. at PRESS n.1 Compounds 1a(b)), etc.
c. As a count noun: a particular type of freedom (sense 4a), esp. when regarded as a right; a civil liberty. Usu. in pl.
four freedoms: those propounded by Franklin D. Roosevelt (see quot. 19411).
5. The fact of not being controlled by or subject to fate; the power of self-determination attributed to the will.
In philosophical and theological contexts sometimes contrasted with necessity; cf. NECESSITY n. 2.
{dag}6. Readiness or willingness to act; keenness, enthusiasm. Cf. FREE adj. 15. Obs. (Sc. in later use).
7. The state of being free from a defect, encumbrance, disadvantage, etc.
8. a. Frankness, openness, familiarity (in conversation or social interaction); outspokenness; (occas.) an instance of this.
b. The overstepping of due or customary bounds in speech or behaviour; undue familiarity; an instance of this, a liberty (esp. in to take the freedom (to do something). Now rare.
9. Facility or ease in action or activity; absence of encumbrance or hindrance.
10. Boldness or vigour in conception or execution, esp. of a literary or other artistic work; the fact of not strictly observing conventions of style or form. Cf. FREE adj. 10b.
11. Sc. A piece of common land allotted by certain communities to freemen, or to other appropriately qualified members. Now hist. and rare.
12. degree of freedom.
a. Physics and Mech. Each of the independent modes or directions in which an object may undergo displacement, translation, or deformation.
b. Physical Chem. An independent capability of a system to vary without altering the number of phases and components present; each of the independently variable parameters which together determine the state of a system.
c. Statistics. A property of a statistical distribution or of a statistic, equal to the number of values that can be arbitrarily and independently assigned to the distribution, or the number of independent and unrestricted quantities contributing to the statistic.
II. Exemption, immunity, privilege.
13. a. Exemption from a service, obligation, charge, or duty; the state of being so exempted; an instance of this; an immunity, a privilege. Cf. FRANCHISE n. 2.
b. Immunity, exemption, or privilege possessed by a city, corporation, etc.; an instance of this.
c. {dag}A city or corporation possessing such immunity (obs.); the district over which the immunity extends; the liberties (see LIBERTY n.1 5c). Now rare.
14. a. The right of participating in the privileges attached to membership of a guild, company, etc.; (also) the liberty or right to practise a trade.
b. The right of participating in the privileges attached to citizenship of a town or city (in later use chiefly as an honour conferred upon an eminent or distinguished person).
{dag}c. A fee or fine paid to acquire the freedom of a company, or the right to practise a trade; = freedom fine n. at Compounds 3. Obs.
15. In extended use: unrestricted use of or access to something; the free run of a place.
To start, here's the entry from the Oxford English Dictionary:
I. The state or fact of being free from servitude, constraint, inhibition, etc.; liberty.
1. a. Exemption or release from slavery or imprisonment; personal liberty.
letter of freedom (now hist.): a document emancipating a slave.
b. fig. Liberation from the bondage or dominating influence of sin, spiritual servitude, worldly ties, etc.
c. Exemption or release from the obligations of a contractual agreement; spec. release from a marriage, divorce.
{dag}2. Nobility or generosity of character, magnanimity. Cf. FREE adj. 3. Obs.
3. The state or fact of not being subject to despotic or autocratic control, or to a foreign power; civil liberty; independence.
4. a. The state of being able to act without hindrance or restraint; liberty of action. Freq. with to and infinitive.
academic freedom: see ACADEMIC adj. 2b.
b. spec. Liberty in respect of a particular sphere of life or action, as freedom of association, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, freedom of the press (cf. press freedom n. at PRESS n.1 Compounds 1a(b)), etc.
c. As a count noun: a particular type of freedom (sense 4a), esp. when regarded as a right; a civil liberty. Usu. in pl.
four freedoms: those propounded by Franklin D. Roosevelt (see quot. 19411).
5. The fact of not being controlled by or subject to fate; the power of self-determination attributed to the will.
In philosophical and theological contexts sometimes contrasted with necessity; cf. NECESSITY n. 2.
{dag}6. Readiness or willingness to act; keenness, enthusiasm. Cf. FREE adj. 15. Obs. (Sc. in later use).
7. The state of being free from a defect, encumbrance, disadvantage, etc.
8. a. Frankness, openness, familiarity (in conversation or social interaction); outspokenness; (occas.) an instance of this.
b. The overstepping of due or customary bounds in speech or behaviour; undue familiarity; an instance of this, a liberty (esp. in to take the freedom (to do something). Now rare.
9. Facility or ease in action or activity; absence of encumbrance or hindrance.
10. Boldness or vigour in conception or execution, esp. of a literary or other artistic work; the fact of not strictly observing conventions of style or form. Cf. FREE adj. 10b.
11. Sc. A piece of common land allotted by certain communities to freemen, or to other appropriately qualified members. Now hist. and rare.
12. degree of freedom.
a. Physics and Mech. Each of the independent modes or directions in which an object may undergo displacement, translation, or deformation.
b. Physical Chem. An independent capability of a system to vary without altering the number of phases and components present; each of the independently variable parameters which together determine the state of a system.
c. Statistics. A property of a statistical distribution or of a statistic, equal to the number of values that can be arbitrarily and independently assigned to the distribution, or the number of independent and unrestricted quantities contributing to the statistic.
II. Exemption, immunity, privilege.
13. a. Exemption from a service, obligation, charge, or duty; the state of being so exempted; an instance of this; an immunity, a privilege. Cf. FRANCHISE n. 2.
b. Immunity, exemption, or privilege possessed by a city, corporation, etc.; an instance of this.
c. {dag}A city or corporation possessing such immunity (obs.); the district over which the immunity extends; the liberties (see LIBERTY n.1 5c). Now rare.
14. a. The right of participating in the privileges attached to membership of a guild, company, etc.; (also) the liberty or right to practise a trade.
b. The right of participating in the privileges attached to citizenship of a town or city (in later use chiefly as an honour conferred upon an eminent or distinguished person).
{dag}c. A fee or fine paid to acquire the freedom of a company, or the right to practise a trade; = freedom fine n. at Compounds 3. Obs.
15. In extended use: unrestricted use of or access to something; the free run of a place.
Urban
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To start, here's the entry from the Oxford English Dictionary:
A. adj.
1. a. Pertaining to or characteristic of, occurring or taking place in, a city or town.
b. Constituting, forming, or including a city, town, or burgh, or part of such.
2. a. Exercising authority, control, supervision, etc., in or over a city or town.
Used by Howell in place of his usual urbane.
b. Residing, dwelling, or having property in a city or town.
3. Special collocations: urban blight, the gradual unfolding or existence of slum areas, waste land, ghettos, etc., within a city or town (cf. BLIGHT n. 4b); Urban District (Hist.): see DISTRICT n. 3b; Urban District Council, the local council of an Urban District; abbrev. U.D.C.; urban guerrilla, a guerrilla operating in cities or towns and involved in kidnapping, etc.; also attrib.; urban guerrilla warfare, irregular kidnapping, bombing, etc., by urban guerrillas; urban renewal (orig. U.S.), the clearance and redevelopment of slum areas, waste land, ghettos, etc., within a city or town; also attrib. and fig.; urban-rural adj., of or pertaining to both town and country; urban sprawl, the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas; urban village, a small self-contained district or community within a city or town (= VILLAGE n. 1e); so urban villager, an inhabitant of an urban village.
B. n.
1. One who belongs to or lives in a town or city.
2. = urban district council (see sense A. 3 above). rare.
Hence {sm}urbanism, urban character; town-planning; town-life; urbanization. [Cf. F. urbanisme.]
DRAFT ADDITIONS DECEMBER 2007
urban, adj. and n.
* Designating a type of music (esp. street music) that originates from a city, and typically reflects or is characteristic of urban life. In later use (chiefly U.S. and Brit.): spec. = urban contemporary adj. and n. at Additions.
* urban contemporary adj. and n. orig. Broadcasting (chiefly U.S.) (a) adj. of, relating to, or designating a variety of subgenres of popular dance music, chiefly associated with black musicians, including R&B, hip-hop, drum and bass, house, techno, and soul music and freq. reflecting inner-city social themes and attitudes; (b) n. this type of music.
* urban folklore n. orig. and chiefly U.S. the folklore of contemporary industrialized societies; urban legends collectively.
* urban jungle n. orig. U.S. a bewilderingly complex, dangerous, or fast-paced urban area; an urban area characterized by ruthless competition, struggle, or exploitation.
* urban legend n. orig. U.S. a sensational but apocryphal story which through repetition in varying versions has acquired the status of folklore, esp. one lent plausibility by its contemporary setting, or by the purported involvement of someone known to the teller.
* urban myth n. orig. U.S. = urban legend n. at Additions.
* urban sportswear n. a style of casual clothing associated with urban culture and often regarded as stylish and contemporary; (now freq.) spec. such a style originally associated with U.S. hip-hop culture and typically featuring baggy T-shirts with prominent logos, hooded tops, training shoes, and clothing associated with sports teams.
* urban regeneration n. the process of improving derelict or dilapidated districts of a city, typically through slum clearance and redevelopment.
To start, here's the entry from the Oxford English Dictionary:
A. adj.
1. a. Pertaining to or characteristic of, occurring or taking place in, a city or town.
b. Constituting, forming, or including a city, town, or burgh, or part of such.
2. a. Exercising authority, control, supervision, etc., in or over a city or town.
Used by Howell in place of his usual urbane.
b. Residing, dwelling, or having property in a city or town.
3. Special collocations: urban blight, the gradual unfolding or existence of slum areas, waste land, ghettos, etc., within a city or town (cf. BLIGHT n. 4b); Urban District (Hist.): see DISTRICT n. 3b; Urban District Council, the local council of an Urban District; abbrev. U.D.C.; urban guerrilla, a guerrilla operating in cities or towns and involved in kidnapping, etc.; also attrib.; urban guerrilla warfare, irregular kidnapping, bombing, etc., by urban guerrillas; urban renewal (orig. U.S.), the clearance and redevelopment of slum areas, waste land, ghettos, etc., within a city or town; also attrib. and fig.; urban-rural adj., of or pertaining to both town and country; urban sprawl, the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas; urban village, a small self-contained district or community within a city or town (= VILLAGE n. 1e); so urban villager, an inhabitant of an urban village.
B. n.
1. One who belongs to or lives in a town or city.
2. = urban district council (see sense A. 3 above). rare.
Hence {sm}urbanism, urban character; town-planning; town-life; urbanization. [Cf. F. urbanisme.]
DRAFT ADDITIONS DECEMBER 2007
urban, adj. and n.
* Designating a type of music (esp. street music) that originates from a city, and typically reflects or is characteristic of urban life. In later use (chiefly U.S. and Brit.): spec. = urban contemporary adj. and n. at Additions.
* urban contemporary adj. and n. orig. Broadcasting (chiefly U.S.) (a) adj. of, relating to, or designating a variety of subgenres of popular dance music, chiefly associated with black musicians, including R&B, hip-hop, drum and bass, house, techno, and soul music and freq. reflecting inner-city social themes and attitudes; (b) n. this type of music.
* urban folklore n. orig. and chiefly U.S. the folklore of contemporary industrialized societies; urban legends collectively.
* urban jungle n. orig. U.S. a bewilderingly complex, dangerous, or fast-paced urban area; an urban area characterized by ruthless competition, struggle, or exploitation.
* urban legend n. orig. U.S. a sensational but apocryphal story which through repetition in varying versions has acquired the status of folklore, esp. one lent plausibility by its contemporary setting, or by the purported involvement of someone known to the teller.
* urban myth n. orig. U.S. = urban legend n. at Additions.
* urban sportswear n. a style of casual clothing associated with urban culture and often regarded as stylish and contemporary; (now freq.) spec. such a style originally associated with U.S. hip-hop culture and typically featuring baggy T-shirts with prominent logos, hooded tops, training shoes, and clothing associated with sports teams.
* urban regeneration n. the process of improving derelict or dilapidated districts of a city, typically through slum clearance and redevelopment.
Power
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Power has several entries in the Oxford English Dictionary. Here is one:
I. As a quality or property.
1. a. Ability to act or affect something strongly; physical or mental strength; might; vigour, energy; effectiveness.
b. Political or national strength.
2. a. Control or authority over others; dominion, rule; government, command, sway. Freq. with {dag}of, {dag}on, over.
b. Authority given or committed. Also: liberty or permission to act. Now chiefly merged in other senses, as senses 3a, 5a, etc.
c. Capacity to direct or influence the behaviour of others; personal or social influence.
d. Political ascendancy or influence in the government of a country or state.
e. With distinguishing word: a movement to promote the interests or enhance the status or influence of a specified group.
black, flower, pupil power, etc.: see the first element.
3. a. More generally: ability, capacity. Also fig.
b. As a count noun: a particular mental or physical faculty, capacity, or ability. Freq. in pl., sometimes with singular sense.
4. a. Capacity in an inanimate thing for producing a certain effect; efficacy; an active property or principle, spec. the active property of a stone, herb, etc. Also occas. {dag}concr.
{dag}b. spec. with reference to language: (a) Grammar the force, function, or meaning of a conjunction; (b) Phonetics the sound expressed by a character or symbol (cf. POTESTAS n. 4); (c) the meaning expressed by a word or phrase in a particular context. Obs. Cf. FORCE n.1 9.
{dag}c. Mining. The thickness or depth of a vein. Obs.
5. a. Legal ability, capacity or authority to act; delegated authority; authorization, commission; legal authority vested in a person or persons in a particular capacity.
b. Law (orig. Sc.). A document, or clause in a document, giving a person legal authority to act for another, esp. in a particular capacity. Now chiefly in power of attorney n. at sense 5c(b), power of agency n. at sense 5c(a).
c. Law.
(a) power of agency n. a document or clause conferring the authority to act as an agent on another's behalf in a particular context; (also) the authority so conferred.
(b) power of attorney n. a document or clause appointing a person to act as another's representative in legal or business matters; (also) the authority so conferred. Also in extended use. Cf. ATTORNEY n.2 2.
{dag}6. The limits within which administrative power is exercised; = JURISDICTION n. 3. Obs. rare.
II. As a person, body, or thing.
7. {dag}a. An armed force, an army; (in pl.) troops, forces (cf. FORCE n.1 4a). In early use also as a mass noun: armed force. Obs.
b. Law. power of the county (also {dag}shire)n. = POSSE COMITATUS n. Now hist.
8. a. A powerful or influential person, body, or thing; spec. (in early use) {dag}a person in authority, a ruler, a governor (obs.). Freq. with in.
b. the powers that be and variants [after Romans 13:1]: the authorities; the people exercising political or social control.
c. A state, nation, city, etc., with regard to its international authority or influence.
9. a. A powerful celestial or spiritual being; a god, a divinity, esp. a pagan god. Freq. in asseverative or exclamatory phrases, as by (all) the powers!merciful powers!
b. spec. In medieval angelology: a member of one of the orders of angels (the sixth in the ninefold celestial hierarchy of Pseudo-Dionysius). Usu. in pl. Cf. POTESTATE n. 2b.
This use (see ORDER n. 1) is founded on a traditional interpretation of certain passages in the Pauline epistles (esp. Colossians 1:16) which scholars now believe to be making oblique reference to ‘the political, social, economic, and religious structures of power, Jewish and pagan, of the old world order which Paul believed to be obsolescent’ (G. B. Caird Lang. & Imagery of Bible (1980) xiii. 242).
10. A large number, quantity, or amount; an abundance of, a great deal of; a lot of. Now chiefly Eng. regional, Irish English, and U.S. regional, except in a power of good (colloq.).
{dag}11. In biblical translations and allusions: a woman's head-covering. Obs.
[Translating ancient Greek {elenis}{xi}{omicron}{upsilon}{sigma}{giacu}{alpha} (in the phrase {elenis}{xi}{omicron}{upsilon}{sigma}{giacu}{alpha}{nu} {elenisacu}{chi}{epsilon}{iota}{nu} {elenis}{pi}{gigrave} {tau}{ghfrown}{fsigma} {kappa}{epsilon}{phi}{alpha}{lambda}{ghfrown}{fsigma}), classical Latin potest{amac}s power (in the Vulgate in the phrase potestatem habere supra caput), used in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 11:10) to mean (perhaps) a veil as a symbol of female majesty or dignity.]
The first Wycliffite version reads a veyle on hir heed; the second reads an hilyng on hir heed. The Revised Version(1881) reads ‘a sign of authority on (margin authority over) her head’.
III. Scientific uses.
12. {dag}a. Geom. The square constructed on a given line as side. Obs.
{dag}b. Geom. in power [originally translating ancient Greek {delta}{upsilon}{nu}{gaacu}{mu}{epsilon}{iota} (Euclid)]: with regard to the squares of magnitudes of lines being compared, as distinguished from the magnitudes themselves. commensurable (also incommensurable) in power: (of two magnitudes) having commensurable (or incommensurable) squares. equal in power (also of equal power): (of a magnitude) having a square equal to the sum of the squares of two or more other magnitudes. Obs.
c. Math. A quantity obtained by multiplying a given quantity by itself one or more times, the number of times the given quantity appears as a factor of the resulting product being indicated as the exponent of that quantity (thus 23 represents 2 × 2 × 2); (in later use) also generalized to fractional and negative exponents (see note below). Also: an exponent. Freq. with a preceding ordinal number (as (to) the third power) or a following cardinal number (as (to) the power five, (to) the power of five). Also fig. (cf. to the nth (degree, power) at NTH adj. 2).
The first power of a given quantity is the quantity itself; the second power is the square, or product of the quantity multiplied by itself once; the third power is the cube, or product of the square multiplied by the given quantity.
Powers in which the exponent is negative, or not an integer, are defined so that the equations (xy)z = xyz, xyxz = xy+z are satisfied; any power in which the exponent is zero is defined as equal to unity. E.g. 4{half} is the square root of 4, i.e. 2, since 4 = 41 = (4{half})2 = 22; 3-2 = , since 1 = 30 = 32 × 3-2 = 9 × .
d. Math. power of a point n. (with regard to a circle or sphere) the square of the distance from a given point to the point of contact of a tangent drawn from it so as to touch the circle or sphere; (equivalently) the product of the distances from the given point to the two points at which a chord drawn from it cuts the circle or sphere.
13. Mech. In full mechanical power, {dag}mathematical power, {dag}mechanic power, {dag}power mechanic. Any of several simple contrivances by which force may be applied in a convenient way, commonly reckoned as the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, wedge, inclined plane, and screw; = MACHINE n. 7. Now hist.
14. Optics.
a. The capacity of a lens or combination of lenses for increasing the apparent size of an object; = magnifying power n. at MAGNIFYING n. Compounds. Also: a magnifying lens.
b. = refractive power n. at REFRACTIVE adj. Special uses; spec. the reciprocal of the focal length of a lens.
15. a. Any form or source of energy or force available for application to work, or applied to produce motion, heat, or pressure; spec. (a) mechanical force applied to overcome a resisting force such as weight or friction; (b) mechanical or electrical energy as distinguished from manual effort.
atomic, nuclear, solar power: see the first element. See also MOTIVE POWER n.
In quot. 17281: the force of gravity.
b. A supply of energy, esp. a public supply of electricity (often viewed as a commodity); (also) electricity as used for purposes other than lighting; heat, motion, etc., obtained using an electricity supply.
16. a. Capacity for exerting mechanical force or doing work; (Physics) the rate at which work is done or energy is produced; the rate at which energy is converted from one form into another. Also fig.
E.g. the power at any instant of a force acting on a moving body is equal to the product of the force and the velocity of the body in the direction of the force; the power of a d.c. electrical circuit is equal to the product of the potential difference across the circuit and the current flowing through it.
b. U.S. slang. Engines or machines collectively. Also: an individual machine.
17. Math. The property of a set that is the same for any two sets whose elements can be placed in a one-to-one correspondence (in the case of a finite set, equal to the number of elements it contains); = POTENCY n. 6, CARDINALITY n. 2.
18. Statistics. The probability of a statistical test rejecting a null hypothesis that is false, i.e. of giving the correct result.
Power has several entries in the Oxford English Dictionary. Here is one:
I. As a quality or property.
1. a. Ability to act or affect something strongly; physical or mental strength; might; vigour, energy; effectiveness.
b. Political or national strength.
2. a. Control or authority over others; dominion, rule; government, command, sway. Freq. with {dag}of, {dag}on, over.
b. Authority given or committed. Also: liberty or permission to act. Now chiefly merged in other senses, as senses 3a, 5a, etc.
c. Capacity to direct or influence the behaviour of others; personal or social influence.
d. Political ascendancy or influence in the government of a country or state.
e. With distinguishing word: a movement to promote the interests or enhance the status or influence of a specified group.
black, flower, pupil power, etc.: see the first element.
3. a. More generally: ability, capacity. Also fig.
b. As a count noun: a particular mental or physical faculty, capacity, or ability. Freq. in pl., sometimes with singular sense.
4. a. Capacity in an inanimate thing for producing a certain effect; efficacy; an active property or principle, spec. the active property of a stone, herb, etc. Also occas. {dag}concr.
{dag}b. spec. with reference to language: (a) Grammar the force, function, or meaning of a conjunction; (b) Phonetics the sound expressed by a character or symbol (cf. POTESTAS n. 4); (c) the meaning expressed by a word or phrase in a particular context. Obs. Cf. FORCE n.1 9.
{dag}c. Mining. The thickness or depth of a vein. Obs.
5. a. Legal ability, capacity or authority to act; delegated authority; authorization, commission; legal authority vested in a person or persons in a particular capacity.
b. Law (orig. Sc.). A document, or clause in a document, giving a person legal authority to act for another, esp. in a particular capacity. Now chiefly in power of attorney n. at sense 5c(b), power of agency n. at sense 5c(a).
c. Law.
(a) power of agency n. a document or clause conferring the authority to act as an agent on another's behalf in a particular context; (also) the authority so conferred.
(b) power of attorney n. a document or clause appointing a person to act as another's representative in legal or business matters; (also) the authority so conferred. Also in extended use. Cf. ATTORNEY n.2 2.
{dag}6. The limits within which administrative power is exercised; = JURISDICTION n. 3. Obs. rare.
II. As a person, body, or thing.
7. {dag}a. An armed force, an army; (in pl.) troops, forces (cf. FORCE n.1 4a). In early use also as a mass noun: armed force. Obs.
b. Law. power of the county (also {dag}shire)n. = POSSE COMITATUS n. Now hist.
8. a. A powerful or influential person, body, or thing; spec. (in early use) {dag}a person in authority, a ruler, a governor (obs.). Freq. with in.
b. the powers that be and variants [after Romans 13:1]: the authorities; the people exercising political or social control.
c. A state, nation, city, etc., with regard to its international authority or influence.
9. a. A powerful celestial or spiritual being; a god, a divinity, esp. a pagan god. Freq. in asseverative or exclamatory phrases, as by (all) the powers!merciful powers!
b. spec. In medieval angelology: a member of one of the orders of angels (the sixth in the ninefold celestial hierarchy of Pseudo-Dionysius). Usu. in pl. Cf. POTESTATE n. 2b.
This use (see ORDER n. 1) is founded on a traditional interpretation of certain passages in the Pauline epistles (esp. Colossians 1:16) which scholars now believe to be making oblique reference to ‘the political, social, economic, and religious structures of power, Jewish and pagan, of the old world order which Paul believed to be obsolescent’ (G. B. Caird Lang. & Imagery of Bible (1980) xiii. 242).
10. A large number, quantity, or amount; an abundance of, a great deal of; a lot of. Now chiefly Eng. regional, Irish English, and U.S. regional, except in a power of good (colloq.).
{dag}11. In biblical translations and allusions: a woman's head-covering. Obs.
[Translating ancient Greek {elenis}{xi}{omicron}{upsilon}{sigma}{giacu}{alpha} (in the phrase {elenis}{xi}{omicron}{upsilon}{sigma}{giacu}{alpha}{nu} {elenisacu}{chi}{epsilon}{iota}{nu} {elenis}{pi}{gigrave} {tau}{ghfrown}{fsigma} {kappa}{epsilon}{phi}{alpha}{lambda}{ghfrown}{fsigma}), classical Latin potest{amac}s power (in the Vulgate in the phrase potestatem habere supra caput), used in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 11:10) to mean (perhaps) a veil as a symbol of female majesty or dignity.]
The first Wycliffite version reads a veyle on hir heed; the second reads an hilyng on hir heed. The Revised Version(1881) reads ‘a sign of authority on (margin authority over) her head’.
III. Scientific uses.
12. {dag}a. Geom. The square constructed on a given line as side. Obs.
{dag}b. Geom. in power [originally translating ancient Greek {delta}{upsilon}{nu}{gaacu}{mu}{epsilon}{iota} (Euclid)]: with regard to the squares of magnitudes of lines being compared, as distinguished from the magnitudes themselves. commensurable (also incommensurable) in power: (of two magnitudes) having commensurable (or incommensurable) squares. equal in power (also of equal power): (of a magnitude) having a square equal to the sum of the squares of two or more other magnitudes. Obs.
c. Math. A quantity obtained by multiplying a given quantity by itself one or more times, the number of times the given quantity appears as a factor of the resulting product being indicated as the exponent of that quantity (thus 23 represents 2 × 2 × 2); (in later use) also generalized to fractional and negative exponents (see note below). Also: an exponent. Freq. with a preceding ordinal number (as (to) the third power) or a following cardinal number (as (to) the power five, (to) the power of five). Also fig. (cf. to the nth (degree, power) at NTH adj. 2).
The first power of a given quantity is the quantity itself; the second power is the square, or product of the quantity multiplied by itself once; the third power is the cube, or product of the square multiplied by the given quantity.
Powers in which the exponent is negative, or not an integer, are defined so that the equations (xy)z = xyz, xyxz = xy+z are satisfied; any power in which the exponent is zero is defined as equal to unity. E.g. 4{half} is the square root of 4, i.e. 2, since 4 = 41 = (4{half})2 = 22; 3-2 = , since 1 = 30 = 32 × 3-2 = 9 × .
d. Math. power of a point n. (with regard to a circle or sphere) the square of the distance from a given point to the point of contact of a tangent drawn from it so as to touch the circle or sphere; (equivalently) the product of the distances from the given point to the two points at which a chord drawn from it cuts the circle or sphere.
13. Mech. In full mechanical power, {dag}mathematical power, {dag}mechanic power, {dag}power mechanic. Any of several simple contrivances by which force may be applied in a convenient way, commonly reckoned as the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, wedge, inclined plane, and screw; = MACHINE n. 7. Now hist.
14. Optics.
a. The capacity of a lens or combination of lenses for increasing the apparent size of an object; = magnifying power n. at MAGNIFYING n. Compounds. Also: a magnifying lens.
b. = refractive power n. at REFRACTIVE adj. Special uses; spec. the reciprocal of the focal length of a lens.
15. a. Any form or source of energy or force available for application to work, or applied to produce motion, heat, or pressure; spec. (a) mechanical force applied to overcome a resisting force such as weight or friction; (b) mechanical or electrical energy as distinguished from manual effort.
atomic, nuclear, solar power: see the first element. See also MOTIVE POWER n.
In quot. 17281: the force of gravity.
b. A supply of energy, esp. a public supply of electricity (often viewed as a commodity); (also) electricity as used for purposes other than lighting; heat, motion, etc., obtained using an electricity supply.
16. a. Capacity for exerting mechanical force or doing work; (Physics) the rate at which work is done or energy is produced; the rate at which energy is converted from one form into another. Also fig.
E.g. the power at any instant of a force acting on a moving body is equal to the product of the force and the velocity of the body in the direction of the force; the power of a d.c. electrical circuit is equal to the product of the potential difference across the circuit and the current flowing through it.
b. U.S. slang. Engines or machines collectively. Also: an individual machine.
17. Math. The property of a set that is the same for any two sets whose elements can be placed in a one-to-one correspondence (in the case of a finite set, equal to the number of elements it contains); = POTENCY n. 6, CARDINALITY n. 2.
18. Statistics. The probability of a statistical test rejecting a null hypothesis that is false, i.e. of giving the correct result.
Culture
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Culture has many entries in the Oxford English Dictionary. Here is one:
I. The cultivation of land, and derived senses.
1. a. The action or practice of cultivating the soil; tillage; = CULTIVATION n. 1. Now chiefly with of.
{dag}b. concr. A piece of tilled land; a cultivated field. Obs.
{dag}c. Cultivated condition. Obs. rare.
2. a. The cultivating or rearing of a plant or crop; = CULTIVATION n. 2a; (also) an instance of this.
For compounds with modifying noun specifying the crop, as flax, grape-, olive culture, etc., or the method, as drill, drip, glass culture, etc.: see the first element.
b. The rearing or raising of certain animals, such as fish, oysters, bees, etc., or the production of natural animal products such as silk.
culture pearl = cultured pearl at CULTURED adj. 1d; cf. MIKIMOTO PEARL n.
bee-, cattle-, fish-culture, etc.: see the first element.
3. Biol.
a. The artificial propagation and growing of microorganisms, or of plant and animal cells, tissues, etc., in liquid or solid nutrient media in vitro. Freq. attrib. Cf. culture medium n., culture plate n. at Compounds 2.
b. The product of such culture; a growth or crop of artificially maintained microorganisms, cells, etc.
{dag}II. Worship (see the etymology).
4. Worship; reverential homage. Obs. rare.
III. Extended uses (from branch I.).
5. a. The cultivation or development of the mind, faculties, manners, etc.; improvement by education and training.
b. The training and improvement of the human body. Now rare.
c. The devoting of attention to or the study of a subject or pursuit; = CULTIVATION n. 3a.
6. Refinement of mind, taste, and manners; artistic and intellectual development. Hence: the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
In origin an elliptical use of sense 5a.
7. a. Chiefly as a count noun. The distinctive ideas, customs, social behaviour, products, or way of life of a particular society, people, or period. Hence: a society or group characterized by such customs, etc.
b. With modifying noun: a way of life or social environment characterized by or associated with the specified quality or thing; a group of people subscribing or belonging to this.
For more established compounds, as café culture, drug culture, youth culture, etc., see the first element.
c. The philosophy, practices, and attitudes of an institution, business, or other organization. Cf. corporate culture n. at CORPORATE adj. and adv. Additions.
Culture has many entries in the Oxford English Dictionary. Here is one:
I. The cultivation of land, and derived senses.
1. a. The action or practice of cultivating the soil; tillage; = CULTIVATION n. 1. Now chiefly with of.
{dag}b. concr. A piece of tilled land; a cultivated field. Obs.
{dag}c. Cultivated condition. Obs. rare.
2. a. The cultivating or rearing of a plant or crop; = CULTIVATION n. 2a; (also) an instance of this.
For compounds with modifying noun specifying the crop, as flax, grape-, olive culture, etc., or the method, as drill, drip, glass culture, etc.: see the first element.
b. The rearing or raising of certain animals, such as fish, oysters, bees, etc., or the production of natural animal products such as silk.
culture pearl = cultured pearl at CULTURED adj. 1d; cf. MIKIMOTO PEARL n.
bee-, cattle-, fish-culture, etc.: see the first element.
3. Biol.
a. The artificial propagation and growing of microorganisms, or of plant and animal cells, tissues, etc., in liquid or solid nutrient media in vitro. Freq. attrib. Cf. culture medium n., culture plate n. at Compounds 2.
b. The product of such culture; a growth or crop of artificially maintained microorganisms, cells, etc.
{dag}II. Worship (see the etymology).
4. Worship; reverential homage. Obs. rare.
III. Extended uses (from branch I.).
5. a. The cultivation or development of the mind, faculties, manners, etc.; improvement by education and training.
b. The training and improvement of the human body. Now rare.
c. The devoting of attention to or the study of a subject or pursuit; = CULTIVATION n. 3a.
6. Refinement of mind, taste, and manners; artistic and intellectual development. Hence: the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
In origin an elliptical use of sense 5a.
7. a. Chiefly as a count noun. The distinctive ideas, customs, social behaviour, products, or way of life of a particular society, people, or period. Hence: a society or group characterized by such customs, etc.
b. With modifying noun: a way of life or social environment characterized by or associated with the specified quality or thing; a group of people subscribing or belonging to this.
For more established compounds, as café culture, drug culture, youth culture, etc., see the first element.
c. The philosophy, practices, and attitudes of an institution, business, or other organization. Cf. corporate culture n. at CORPORATE adj. and adv. Additions.
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