Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Element
El′e-ment
,Noun.
[F.
élément
, L. elementum
.] 1.
One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based.
2.
One of the ultimate, undecomposable constituents of any kind of matter. Specifically:
(Chem.)
A substance which cannot be decomposed into different kinds of matter by any means at present employed; as, the
. elements
of water are oxygen and hydrogenThe Elements
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Name |Sym-| Atomic Weight |
|bol | O=16 | H=1 | C=12.000
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Aluminum | Al | 27.1 | 26.9 |
Antimony (Stibium) | Sb | 120 | 119.1 |
Argon | A | 39.9 | 39.6 |
Arsenic | As | 75 | 74.4 |
Astatine | At |
Barium | Ba | 137.4 | 136.4 |
Beryllium | Be |
Bismuth | Bi | 208.5 | 206.9 |
Boron | B | 11 | 10.9 |
Bromine | Br | 79.96 | 79.36|
Cadmium | Cd | 112.4 | 111.6 |
Cesium (Caesium) | Cs | 133 | 132 |
Calcium | Ca | 40 | 39.7 |
Carbon | C | 12 | 11.91| 12.000
Cerium | Ce | 140 | 139 |
Chlorine | Cl | 35.45 | 35.18|
Chromium | Cr | 52.1 | 51.7 |
Cobalt | Co |
Columbium (see
Beryllium
)Copper | Cu |
(
Cuprum
)Erbium | Er |
Europium | Eu |
Einsteinium | Es |
Fermium | Fe |
Fluorine | F |
Gadolinium | Gd |
Gallium | Ga |
Germanium | Ge |
Glucinum (now
Beryllium
)Gold (Aurum) | Au |
Helium | He |
Hydrogen | H |
Indium | In |
Iodine | I |
Iridium | Ir |
Iron | Fe |
(Ferrum)
Krypton | Kr |
Lanthanum | La |
Lead | Pb |
(Plumbum)
Lithium | Li |
Magnesium | Mg |
Manganese | Mn |
Mercury | Hg |
(
Hydrargyrum
)Molybdenum | Mo |
Neodymium | Nd |
Neon | Ne |
Nickel | Ni |
Niobium | Nb |
(see Columbium)
Nitrogen | N |
Osmium | Os |
Oxygen | O |
Palladium | Pd |
Phosphorus | P |
Platinum | Pt |
Potassium | K |
(Kalium)
Praseodymium | Pr |
Rhodium | Rh |
Rubidium | Rb |
Ruthenium | Ru |
Samarium | Sa |
Scandium | Sc |
Selenium | Se |
Silicon | Si |
Silver | Ag |
(Argentum)
Sodium | Na |
(Natrium)
Strontium | Sr |
Sulphur | S |
Tantalum | Ta |
Tellurium | Te |
Thallium | Tl |
Thorium | Th |
Thulium | Tu |
Tin | Sn |
(Stannum)
Titanium | Ti |
Tungsten | W |
(Wolframium)
Uranium | U |
Vanadium | V |
Wolfranium (see
Tungsten
)Xenon | X |
Ytterbium | Yb |
Yttrium | Y |
Zinc | Zn |
Zirconium | Zr |
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Several other elements have been announced, as holmium, vesbium, austrium, etc., but their properties, and in some cases their existence, have not yet been definitely established.
3.
One of the ultimate parts which are variously combined in anything;
as, letters are the
; hence, also, a simple portion of that which is complex, as a shaft, lever, wheel, or any simple part in a machine; one of the essential ingredients of any mixture; a constituent part; elements
of written languageas, quartz, feldspar, and mica are the
. elements
of graniteThe simplicity which is so large an
element
in a noble nature was laughed to scorn. Jowett (Thucyd.).
4.
(a)
One out of several parts combined in a system of aggregation, when each is of the nature of the whole;
as, a single cell is an
. element
of the honeycomb(b)
(Anat.)
One of the smallest natural divisions of the organism, as a blood corpuscle, a muscular fiber.
5.
(Biol.)
One of the simplest essential parts, more commonly called cells, of which animal and vegetable organisms, or their tissues and organs, are composed.
6.
(Math.)
(a)
An infinitesimal part of anything of the same nature as the entire magnitude considered;
as, in a solid an
. In the calculus, element is sometimes used as synonymous with differential. element
may be the infinitesimal portion between any two planes that are separated an indefinitely small distance(b)
Sometimes a curve, or surface, or volume is considered as described by a moving point, or curve, or surface, the latter being at any instant called an element of the former.
(c)
One of the terms in an algebraic expression.
7.
One of the necessary data or values upon which a system of calculations depends, or general conclusions are based;
as, the
. elements
of a planet’s orbit8.
pl.
The simplest or fundamental principles of any system in philosophy, science, or art; rudiments;
as, the
. elements
of geometry, or of music9.
pl.
Any outline or sketch, regarded as containing the fundamental ideas or features of the thing in question;
as, the
. elements
of a plan10.
One of the simple substances, as supposed by the ancient philosophers; one of the imaginary principles of matter.
(a)
The four elements were, air, earth, water, and fire
; whence it is said, water is the proper element of fishes; air is the element of birds. Hence, the state or sphere natural to anything or suited for its existence.
Of
The grosser feeds the purer: Earth the Sea;
Earth and the Sea feed Air; the Air those Fires
Ethereal.
elements
The grosser feeds the purer: Earth the Sea;
Earth and the Sea feed Air; the Air those Fires
Ethereal.
Milton.
Does not our life consist of the four
elements
? Shakespeare
And the complexion of the
In favor's like the work we have in hand,
Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.
element
[i. e.,the sky or air]In favor's like the work we have in hand,
Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.
Shakespeare
About twelve ounces [of food], with mere
element
for drink. Cheyne.
Esp.,
the conditions and movements of the air.
“The elements be kind to thee.” (b)
The elements of the alchemists were salt, sulphur, and mercury.
Brande & C.
11.
pl.
The whole material composing the world.
The
elements
shall melt with fervent heat. 2 Peter iii. 10.
12.
pl.
(Eccl.)
The bread and wine used in the eucharist or Lord's supper.
Magnetic element
, one of the hypothetical elementary portions of which a magnet is regarded as made up.
El′e-ment
(ĕl′ē̍-mĕnt)
, Verb.
T.
1.
To compound of elements or first principles.
[Obs.]
“[Love] being elemented too.” Donne.
2.
To constitute; to make up with elements.
His very soul was
elemented
of nothing but sadness. Walton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Element
EL'EMENT
,Noun.
1.
The first or constituent principle or minutest part or any thing; as the elements of earth, water, salt, or wood; the elements of the world; the elements of animal or vegetable bodies. So letters are called the elements of language.2.
An ingredient; a constituent part of any composition.3.
In a chimical sense, an atom; the minutest particle of a substance; that which cannot be divided by chimical analysis, and therefore considered as a simple substance, as oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, &c. An element is strictly the last result of chimical analysis; that which cannot be decomposed by any means now employed.
An atom is the last result of mechanical division; that which cannot be any farther divided, without decomposition; hence there may be both elementary and compound atoms.
4.
In the plural, the first rules or principles of an art or science; rudiments; as the elements of geometry; the elements of music; the elements of painting; the elements of a theory.5.
In popular language, fire,air, earth and water, are called the four elements, as formerly it was supposed that these are simple bodies,of which the world is composed. Later discoveries prove air, earth and water to be compound bodies,and fire to be only the extrication of light and heat during combustion.6.
Element, in the singular, is sometimes used for the air.7.
The substance which forms the natural or most suitable habitation of an animal. Water is the proper element of fishes; air, of man. Hence,8.
The proper state or sphere of any thing; the state of things suited to one's temper or habits. Faction is the element of a demagogue.9.
The matter or substances which compose the world.The elements shall melt with fervent heat. 2 Pet.3.
10. The outline or sketch; as the elements of a plan.
11. Moving cause or principle; that which excites action.
Passions, the elements of life.