Temperature is the condition of a substance in relation to sensible heat.
Note.—When the temperature of a substance is higher than that of my body, it feels warm, because, on touching it, more heat passes from the substance to my body, than what passes from my body to the substance. On the contrary, when the temperature of a substance is lower than that of my body, it feels cold, because, on touching the substance, my body parts with more heat than it receives.
Warm, moderately heated.
Warmth, the sensation caused by heat.
Hot, highly heated.
Tepid, moderately warm; as, a tepid bath.
Temperate, free from the extremes of heat and cold; as a temperate climate.
Ferveo, to boil with heat (L.) Hence,
Fervor, heat; as, the fervor of a summer's day. Fig., great warmth of the kindly affections; as, the fervor of love.
Fervent, hot. (Applied both literally and figuratively.) The elements shall melt with fervent heat. He was animated by a fervent zeal.
Fervid, very warm; as, a fervid radiance; a fervid imagination.
Fervid on the glittering flood,
Now the noontide radiance glows.—Cunningham.
Sultry, excessively hot and close. (Spoken of the state of the atmosphere.)
To Swelter is to be overcome and faint with heat.
Torreo, to roast. (L.) Hence,
Torrid, parched with excessive heat; as, a torrid clime.
Caleo, to be hot. (L.) Hence,
Caloric, the element of heat.
Calorific, causing heat.
Note.—Those particular rays of solar light which produce heat are called calorific rays. (L., facio, to cause.)
ΘΕΡΜΟΣ [THERMOS], warm. (Gr.) Hence,
Thermal, 1. Pertaining to, or producing heat; as, thermal rays. 2. Warm or hot; as, a thermal spring.
Thermometer, an instrument for measuring heat. (Gr., μετρεω [metreo], to measure.)
Isothermal, having equal degrees of heat. (Gr., ισος [isos], equal.)
Note.—Isothermal lines on the earth's surface pass through places of equal mean temperature.
Fire is the element of heat.
A Bonfire is a fire made as an expression of public joy. (Fr., bon, good.)
A Balefire is a signal fire.
Sweet Teviot, on thy silver tide
The gloomy balefires blaze no more.—Scott.
Ignis, fire. (L.) Hence,
Igneous, 1. Fiery. Sparks emitted from burning substances are igneous particles. 2. Originating in the action of fire.
Note.—Lavas are called igneous rocks from the circumstance of their having been once liquid from heat.
Ignite, to set on fire. A lucifer match may be ignited by friction.
ΠΥΡ [Pyr], fire. (Gr.) Hence,
Pyrometer, an instrument for measuring the intensity of the heat of furnaces. (Gr., μετρω [metreo], to measure.
Pyrotechnics, the art of preparing fire-works for public amusement. (Gr., τεχνη [techne], art.)
Pyroligneous, produced by the action of fire on wood. (L., lignum, wood. )
Note.—Pyroligneous acid is produced by the distillation of wood.
To Burn is to change essentially the nature of a substance by subjecting it to the action of fire.
Comburo [combustum], to burn. (L.) Hence,
Combustion, the particular kind of burning which such substances as wood, coal, and oil undergo when subjected to action of fire.
Combustible, any substance that may be burned after the manner of wood, etc.
A Flame consists of burning vapor.
To Inflame is, 1. To cause to burn with a flame. 2. To cause heat and redness in any part of an animal body. 3. And fig., to excite the pas-
