or plants, signifies to perish through intense cold.
Frigeo, to freeze. (L.) Hence,
Frigid, very cold; as, the frigid zone.
Gelu, frost. (L.) Hence,
Gelid, as cold as ice. (Applied to water.)
Congeal, to change into ice.
Congelation, the act of changing into ice.
Bleak, exposed by situation to cold winds.
6. The Attributes of Cold.
When we say that the cold air, or cold wind is sharp, cutting, keen, or piercing, these are figurative forms of expression, in which there is an allusion to cutting and piercing instruments. The figure is founded on the similarity of the sensation caused by cold wind to the sensation caused by the application of the keen edge of a razor, or the sharp point of a needle to the skin.
When we speak of cold as being intense, the literal allusion is to the idea of a strained bow-string. (L., intendo [internum], to strain.)
OF SOUND.
1. General Terms.
Sound is the sensation produced by the vibrations of the air, or of any other medium with which the organ of hearing happens to be in contact.
Note.—When a bell or other elastic body is struck with a hammer, a quivering motion called vibration, can be felt with the fingers. The quivering motion of the bell communicates a similar motion to the layer of air which is in contact with it; and the first layer communicates the motion to a second; the second, to a third, etc.; and thus the aerial vibrations spread in successive waves, which travel at the rate of 1142 feet per second. Now, if a living creature possessing organs of hearing, should happen to be within the range of these atmospheric waves, the auditory (hearing) apparatus of the creature would be mechanically affected, and thus would the sensation of sound be produced.
Noise is, 1. Any kind of sound which we are at a loss to designate by a name descriptive of its precise character. 2. Any kind of sound that is either excessive, out of place, or offensive to the listener.
Sono, to emit sound. (L.) Hence,
Sonorous, emitting a free, full, and clear sound.
Resound, to send back sound, (re, back.)
Consonant, lit, sounding together. Hence, fig., harmonizing with; as, consonant to reason, (con, together.)
Consonant, a letter that can be distinctly sounded only in combination with a vowel.
Consonance, in Music, the agreement of two sounds simultaneously produced, the one grave and the other acute.—Brande.
Dissonant, lit., sounding apart. Hence, discordant (dis, asunder.)
Dissonance, a discord in music.
ΦΩΝΗ [Phóne] sound. (Gr. ) Hence,
Phonetic, representing sounds: as, phonetic characters.
Phonetics, the science of sounds, especially those of the human voice.—Brande.
Phonology.—1. A treatise on sounds. 2. The doctrine or science of sounds as uttered by the human voice in speech. (Gr. λογος ['?logos'?], a discourse.)
Phonography, a description of the laws of the human voice, or of sounds uttered by the organs of speech. (Gr. γραφω [grapho], to describe.)
Euphony, agreeableness of sound in the pronunciation of letters and syllables. (ευ [eu], agreeable.)
Euphonious, agreeable in sound.
Cacophony, disagreeableness of sound in the pronunciation of syllables and words. (Gr. κακος [cacos], ill.)
2. Of the Qualities of Sounds.
A Loud sound is one that strikes the ear with great force.
Acute or Sharp sounds are such as are produced by quick vibrations of the sonorous body. The tones of the treble string of a violin are acute. (L. acutus pointed, because such sounds have a piercing effect on the ear.)
Grave sounds are produced by a
