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Webster 1913 Edition
Saltation
Sal-ta′tion
,Noun.
[L.
saltatio
: cf. F. saltation
.] 1.
A leaping or jumping.
Continued his
saltation
without pause. Sir W. Scott.
2.
Beating or palpitation;
as, the
. saltation
of the great artery3.
(Biol.)
An abrupt and marked variation in the condition or appearance of a species; a sudden modification which may give rise to new races.
We greatly suspect that nature does make considerable jumps in the way of variation now and then, and that these
saltations
give rise to some of the gaps which appear to exist in the series of known forms. Huxley.
Webster 1828 Edition
Saltation
SALTA'TION
,Noun.
1.
A leaping or jumping.2.
Beating or palpitation; as the saltation of the great artery.