-- Alcoholic fermentation, the fermentation which saccharine bodies
undergo when brought in contact with the yeast plant or Torula. The
sugar is converted, either directly or indirectly, into alcohol and
carbonic acid, the rate of action being dependent on the rapidity with
which the TorulÊ develop. - - Ammoniacal fermentation, the conversion
of the urea of the urine into ammonium carbonate, through the growth of
the special urea ferment.
CON2H4 + 2H2O = (NH4)2CO3 Urea. Water. Ammonium carbonate.
Whenever urine is exposed to the air in open vessels for several days
it undergoes this alkaline fermentation. -- Butyric fermentation, the
decomposition of various forms of organic matter, through the agency of
a peculiar worm-shaped vibrio, with formation of more or less butyric
acid. It is one of the many forms of fermentation that collectively
constitute putrefaction. See Lactic fermentation. -- Fermentation by an
unorganized ferment or enzyme. Fermentations of this class are purely
chemical reactions, in which the ferment acts as a simple catalytic
agent. Of this nature are the decomposition or inversion of cane sugar
into levulose and dextrose by boiling with dilute acids, the conversion
of starch into dextrin and sugar by similar treatment, the conversion
of starch into like products by the action of diastase of malt or
ptyalin of saliva, the conversion of albuminous food into peptones and
other like products by the action of pepsin-hydrochloric acid of the
gastric juice or by the ferment of the pancreatic juice. --
Fermentation theory of disease (Biol. & Med.), the theory that most if
not all, infectious or zymotic disease are caused by the introduction
into the organism of the living germs of ferments, or ferments already
developed (organized ferments), by which processes of fermentation are
set up injurious to health. See Germ theory. -- Glycerin fermentation,
the fermentation which occurs on mixing a dilute solution of glycerin
with a peculiar species of schizomycetes and some carbonate of lime,
and other matter favorable to the growth of the plant, the glycerin
being changed into butyric acid, caproic acid, butyl, and ethyl
alcohol. With another form of bacterium (Bacillus subtilis) ethyl
alcohol and butyric acid are mainly formed. -- Lactic fermentation, the
transformation of milk sugar or other saccharine body into lactic acid,
as in the souring of milk, through the agency of a special bacterium
(Bacterium lactis of Lister). In this change the milk sugar, before
assuming the form of lactic acid, presumably passes through the stage
of glucose.
C12H22O11.H2O = 4C3H6O3 Hydrated milk sugar. Lactic acid.
In the lactic fermentation of dextrose or glucose, the lactic acid
which is formed is very prone to undergo butyric fermentation after the
manner indicated in the following equation: 2C3H6O3 (lactic acid) =
C4H8O2 (butyric acid) + 2CO2 (carbonic acid) + 2H2 (hydrogen gas). --
Putrefactive fermentation. See Putrefaction.
Fer*ment"a*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. fermentatif.] Causing, or having power
to cause, fermentation; produced by fermentation; fermenting; as, a
fermentative process.
-- Fer*ment"a*tive*ly, adv. -- Fer*ment"a*tive*ness, n.
Fer"mer*ere (?), n. [OF. enfermerier, fr. enfermerie infirmary. See
Infirmary.] The officer in a religious house who had the care of the
infirmary. [Obs.]
Fer"mil*let (?), n. [OF., dim. of fermeil, fermail, clasp, prob. fr.
OF. & F. fermer to make fast, fr. ferme fast. See Firm.] A buckle or
clasp. [Obs.] Donne.
Fern (?), adv. Long ago. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Fern, a. [AS. fyrn.] Ancient; old. [Obs.] "Pilgrimages to . . . ferne
halwes." [saints]. Chaucer.
Fern (frn), n. [AS. fearn; akin to D. varen, G. farn, farnkraut; cf.
Skr. parn.a wing, feather, leaf, sort of plant, or Lith. papartis
fern.] (Bot.) An order of cryptogamous plants, the Filices, which have
their fructification on the back of the fronds or leaves. They are
usually found in humid soil, sometimes grow epiphytically on trees, and
in tropical climates often attain a gigantic size.
The plants are asexual, and bear clustered sporangia, containing minute
spores, which germinate and form prothalli, on which are borne the true
organs of reproduction. The brake or bracken, the maidenhair, and the
polypody are all well known ferns.
Christmas fern. See under Christmas. -- Climbing fern (Bot.), a
delicate North American fern (Lygodium palmatum), which climbs several
feet high over bushes, etc., and is much sought for purposes of
decoration. -- Fern owl. (Zoˆl.) (a) The European goatsucker. (b) The
short-eared owl. [Prov. Eng.] -- Fern shaw, a fern thicket. [Eng.] R.
Browning.
Fern"er*y (?), n. A place for rearing ferns.
Fern"ti*cle (?), n. A freckle on the skin, resembling the seed of fern.
[Prov. Eng.]
Fern"y (?), a. Abounding in ferns.
Fe*ro"cious (?), a. [L. ferox, -ocis, fierce: cf. F. fÈroce. See
Ferocity.] Fierce; savage; wild; indicating cruelty; ravenous;
rapacious; as, ferocious look or features; a ferocious lion.
The humbled power of a ferocious enemy.
Lowth.
Syn. -- Ferocious, Fierce, Savage, Barbarous. When these words are
applied to human feelings or conduct, ferocious describes the
disposition; fierce, the haste and violence of an act; barbarous, the
coarseness and brutality by which it was marked; savage, the cruel and
unfeeling spirit which it showed. A man is ferocious in his temper,
fierce in his actions, barbarous in the manner of carrying out his
purposes, savage in the spirit and feelings expressed in his words or
deeds.
-- Fe*ro"cious*ly, adv. -- Fe*ro"cious*ness, n.
It [Christianity] has adapted the ferociousness of war.
Blair.
Fe*roc"i*ty (?), n. [L. ferocitas, fr. ferox, -ocis, fierce, kin to
ferus wild: cf. F. ferocitÈ. See Fierce.] Savage wildness or
fierceness; fury; cruelty; as, ferocity of countenance.
The pride and ferocity of a Highland chief.
Macaulay.
||Fer*o"her (?), n. (ArchÊol.) A symbol of the solar deity, found on
||monuments exhumed in Babylon, Nineveh, etc.
Fe"rous (?), a. [L. ferus. See Fierce.] Wild; savage. [R.] Arthur
Wilson.
-fer*ous (?). [L. -fer. fr. ferre to bear. See Bear to support.] A
suffix signifying bearing, producing, yielding; as, auriferous,
yielding gold; chyliferous, producing chyle.
Fer*ran"dine (? or ?), n. [F.; cf. OF. ferrant iron-gray, from L.
ferrum iron.] A stuff made of silk and wool.