Ax"il*lar (&?;), a. Axillary.
{ Ax"il*la*ries (&?;), Ax"il*lars (&?;), } n. pl. (Zoöl.) Feathers connecting the under surface of the wing and the body, and concealed by the closed wing.
Ax"il*la*ry (&?;), a. [See Axil.] 1. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the axilla or armpit; as, axillary gland, artery, nerve.
2. (Bot.) Situated in, or rising from, an axil; of or pertaining to an axil. "Axillary buds." Gray.
Ax"i*nite (&?;), n. [Named in allusion to the form of the crystals, fr. Gr. &?; an ax.] (Min.) A borosilicate of alumina, iron, and lime, commonly found in glassy, brown crystals with acute edges.
Ax*in"o*man`cy (&?;), n. [L. axinomantia, Gr. &?; ax + -mancy.] A species of divination, by means of an ax or hatchet.
Ax"i*om (&?;), n. [L. axioma, Gr. &?; that which is thought worthy, that which is assumed, a basis of demonstration, a principle, fr. &?; to think worthy, fr. &?; worthy, weighing as much as; cf. &?; to lead, drive, also to weigh so much: cf F. axiome. See Agent, a.] 1. (Logic & Math.) A self-evident and necessary truth, or a proposition whose truth is so evident as first sight that no reasoning or demonstration can make it plainer; a proposition which it is necessary to take for granted; as, "The whole is greater than a part;" "A thing can not, at the same time, be and not be."
2. An established principle in some art or science, which, though not a necessary truth, is universally received; as, the axioms of political economy.
Syn. -- Axiom, Maxim, Aphorism, Adage. An axiom is a self-evident truth which is taken for granted as the basis of reasoning. A maxim is a guiding principle sanctioned by experience, and relating especially to the practical concerns of life. An aphorism is a short sentence pithily expressing some valuable and general truth or sentiment. An adage is a saying of long-established authority and of universal application.
{ Ax`i*o*mat"ic (&?;), Ax`i*o*mat"ic*al, } a. [Gr. &?;.] Of or pertaining to an axiom; having the nature of an axiom; self-evident; characterized by axioms. "Axiomatical truth." Johnson.
The stores of axiomatic wisdom.
I. Taylor.
Ax`i*o*mat"ic*al*ly, adv. By the use of axioms; in the form of an axiom.
||Ax"is (&?;), n. [L.] (Zoöl.) The spotted deer (Cervus axis or Axis maculata) of India, where it is called hog deer and parrah (Moorish name).
Ax"is (&?;), n.; pl. Axes (&?;). [L. axis axis, axle. See Axle.] A straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body, on which it revolves, or may be supposed to revolve; a line passing through a body or system around which the parts are symmetrically arranged.
2. (Math.) A straight line with respect to which the different parts of a magnitude are symmetrically arranged; as, the axis of a cylinder, i. e., the axis of a cone, that is, the straight line joining the vertex and the center of the base; the axis of a circle, any straight line passing through the center.
3. (Bot.) The stem; the central part, or longitudinal support, on which organs or parts are arranged; the central line of any body. Gray.
4. (Anat.) (a) The second vertebra of the neck, or vertebra dentata. (b) Also used of the body only of the vertebra, which is prolonged anteriorly within the foramen of the first vertebra or atlas, so as to form the odontoid process or peg which serves as a pivot for the atlas and head to turn upon.
5. (Crystallog.) One of several imaginary lines, assumed in describing the position of the planes by which a crystal is bounded.