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"Fluxions. ^Maximis.
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deration of abftract Modes :, of which our Mind has clear and adequate Ideas: But when the Enquiry is into Sub- iiances, as in Phyfics, we cannot make ufe of the Method of Compofuion, their Kinds, and intimate EiTences being un- known to us.
This Method has not been by any fo juftly and accurately obferved, as by the Mathematicians, whole Principles are perfectly known : Its Laws therefore will be befi drawn from their Practice. Now, as they defigned to propofe nothing that could be contradicled ; they pitch'd on thele three Rules : i. To offer nothing but what was couch'd in Words or Terms perfectly undcrftood ; for which reafon they always define the Words they make ufe of. 2. To build only on evident and clear Principles, fuch as could not be contradicled by any who underftood them ; for which reafon they firft of all propound their Maxims or Axioms, which they demand to be granted them, as being felf-evident, and needing no Proof. 3. To prove demonftratively all their Conferences ; for which reafon they ufe nothing in their Arguments or Proofs, but Defi- nitions that have been laid down „ Axioms that have been granted, and Propositions that have been already proved ; which become Principles to things that follow them.
The Word Method comes from the Greek v\§q£@-, which fignifies the fame thing: The Schools have a long time difputed, whether Logic be an Art, a Science, or a Method. See Logic.
Ga-Jendus diflributes Method into three Kinds brBranches, •viz. Meihodus Inventwt'ts, Method of Intention , ordifcovering a Truth unknown. SeelNVENTiON.
Methodusjttdicii, of Judghig, or determining of a Truth, or Proportion propofed. See Judgment.
And Methodus Demonflrationis, or of Demonfir ation ; that is, of exhibiting it to another. See Demonstration.
Method, Methodus, is peculiarly ufed in Mathematics for divers particular ProcefTes. In this fenfe we fay
Method of Fluxions.
Method deMaximis & Mim mis, &c.
Method of tangents.
Differential Method, &c.
Exponential Method, &c.
METHOD1CA Medicina, See Medicine and Physic'
METHODISTS, Methodic i, an Appellation given to thofe Phyficians who adhere to the Doctrine of Galen, and the Schools ; and who cure with Bleedings, Purges, &c. duly apply'd according to Symptoms, Circumftances, £5?c. in oppofitionto Emperics and Chymijis, who ufe violent Me- dicines, and pretended Secrets or Noftrums. SeeEMPE- R.IC, Chymist, &c.
METOCHE, in the antient Architecture, a Term ufed by Vitruv'ms to fignify the Space or Interval between the Dentils. S ee Denticle.
Baldus obferves, that in an antient MS. Copy of that Au- thor, the Word Metatome is found for Metoche. Hence Da-viler takes occafion to fufpeel that the common Text of Vitrtwitis is corrupted ; and concludes, that it fliould not be Metoche, but Metatome, q. d, Scftion.
■METONIC Cycle, in Chronology, the Lunar Cycle, or Period of 19 Years; thus call 'd from its Inventor Meton, an antient Athenian. See Cycle and Period.
When the Afctonic 'Cycle is compleated, the Lunations, or the New and Full Moons return on the fame Day of the Month ; fo that on whatever days the New and Full Moons happens this Year, 19 Years hence they will fall precifely on the very fame Day of the Month, as Meton and the Primitive Fathers thought. See Lunation.
For this reafon, at the Time of the Council of Nice, when the manner of fettling the Time for obferving Eafier was eftablifhed , the Numbers of the Metonic Cycle were inferred in the Calendar in Letters of Gold, on account of their great Ufe ; and the Year of the Cycle for that Year was call'd the Golden Number of that Year. See Golden Number.
This is fometimes alfo call'd the Lunar Cycle, or Teriod. See, Lunar Cycle.
METONYMY, a Figure in Rhetoric, call'd alfo Hy- pallagc and Tranfnominaiio, It confifts in a tranfmutation or change of Names, or putting of one Name for another. See Figure.
The Metonymy is the moft extenfive of all the Tropes. See Trope.
There are four principal Kinds of Metonymies : The firft, when we put the Inventor for the thing invented; asBacchus for Wine, Ceres for Bread. 1 he fecond, when we put the Containing for the thing contained ; as a Glafs for the Wine within ir. The third, when the Effect is put for the Caufc ; as the Captain for his Soldiers, Greece for the Greeks, the Author for his Works- The fourth, when the Sign is put for the thing fignified 3 as the Gown for the Prieft- hond, £-?<r.
The Word comes from the Greek pt7&, trans, and Ivoyjt, Nomen.
METOPE, orMETOPA, in Architecture, the Inter- val, or fquare Space between the Triglyohs, in the Frieze of the Doric Order. SeeTRiGLYPH and Frieze.
The Antients ufed to adorn thefe Parts with carved Works, or Paintings, reprefenting the Heads of Oxen, VefTels, Bafons, and other Utenfils of the Heathen Sa- crifices.
As there is found fome difficulty in difpofing the Tri- glyphs and Metopes in that juft Symmetry which the Doric Order requires; fome Architects make it a Rule, never to ufe this Order but in Temples.
Semi Metope is aSpace fomewhat lefs than half a Me- tope, in rhe Corner of the Doric Frieze.
The Word Metope, in the original Greek, fignifies the diftance between one Aperture or Hole and another, or between one Triglyph and another ; the Triglyphs being fuppofed to be Solives or Joifts that fill the Apertures : from fJA-m inter, between, and e<o-,i foramen.
METOPOSCOPY, the Art of difcovering the Tempe- rament, Inclinations, and Manners of Perfonsby Infpedhng the Lines in their Faces.
Metopofcopy is no more than a Branch of Phyfiognomy ; the latter taking its Conjectures from all parts of the Body: But both the Body, and the Branch are extremely preca- rious, not to fay vain. See Physiognomy.
Ciro Spontom, who has wrote on the Subject of Metopof- copy, obferves, that there are feven principal Laws confi- der'd in the Forehead ; each of which has its peculiar Pla- net. The firft is the Law of Saturn. The fecond of Ju- piter, &c.
The Word comes from the Greek ij.vto<&w, Vultus, Face, and o~yA7! r js/j.cu, injpicio, I view.
METRE, or Meeter, a Term in Poetry ; form'd of the Greek [A1&>v, Menfura, and fignifying Vcrfe, or Meafure. See VERSEand Measure.
Metrical Verfes are thofe confifting of a determinate Num- ber of long and fhort Syllables ; as thofe of the Greek and Latin. See Quantity.
Capellus obferves, that the Genius of the Hebrew Lan- guage is incompatible with Metrical Poetry. See He- brew.
METRICS, among the Antients, was that part of their Mufic employ'd about the Quantities of Syllables ; or which confider'd them as long, or fhort. SccQuantity and Music.
METROCOMIA, a Term in the antient Church Hi- flory, fignifying a Town that had other Towns under its Jurifdi£tion.
What a Metropolis was among Cities, that a Metrocomia was among Country-Towns. The antient Metrocomies had each its Chorepifcopits, or^Rural-Dean, and here was his See or Residence. See Metropolis and Chorepiscopus.
The Word comes from the Greek px]*?, Mother, and k&jUh, Town, Village.
METROPOLIS, the Capital of a Country, or Province; or the principal City, and, as it were, the Mother of all the reft. See City.
The Name is alfo apply'd to Archiepif-opal Churches ; and fometimes to the principal Church of a City. See Church.
Father Monet gives a compleatLift of all the Metropola. See Metropolitan.
The Word comes from the Greek ^»7ne, Mater, Mother ; and isoki<;, Urhs, City ; as who fhould fay, the Mother- City, &c
METROPOLITAN, is indifferently applied to an Arch- bifhop, and to his Cathedral Church. See Archbishop and Cathedral.
The Roman Empire having been divided into thirteen Dioccfes, and 120 Provinces ; each Diocefe and each Pro- vince had its Metropolis, or Capital City, where the Pro- conful, or the "Vicar of the Empire had his Refidence-.. See Diocese and Proconsul.
By this Civil Divifion, the Ecclefiaftical was afterwards adjufted ; and the Bifhop of the Capital City, had the direction of Affairs, and the Pre-eminence over all rhe Bifhops of the Province. His Refidence in the Metro- polis, gave him the Title of Metropolitan. This ereclion of Metropolitans is refer'd to the end of the third Century, and was confirmed by the Council of Nice.
Archbifhop Ujler and de Marca, however, maintain it to be anEftabliflimentof the Apoftles ; butinvain: For'tisnext to'certain, that the Ecclefiaftical Government wasregulated on the foot of the Civil, and that it was hence the Name and Authority of Metropolitans was given to the Bifhops of the Capital Cities of the Empire, or the Provinces that com- pofed it. This is fo true, that in the Conteft between the Bifhop ofslrles, and the Bifhop of Yienne, each of whom laid claim to the Metyipolitanfeipofxhe. Province of Vi- enne ; the Council of Turin appuinted, that which e'erof them could prove his City to be the Civil Metropolis,fbould enjoy the Title, and^Rights of Ecclefiaftical Metropolitan.
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