Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Volume 1.djvu/893

 GEO

( H3 )

GER

Geometrical ProgreJJion is a Series of Quantities, in continued Geometrical Proportion, i.e. increafingor decreaf- ing in the tame Ratio. See Ratio.

Thus, e.gr. 1, 2, 4, 8, 1 6", 32, <?4, and izS -. And 729, 243, 81, 27, 9, 3, r, are Geometrical ProgreJJions. See Geometrical Progression.

Geometrical Locus, or 'Place, called alio limply Zo- cw, is a Line whereby an indeterminate Problem is con- ftructed. See Locus.

Geometrical ConJlrutTion of an Equation, is the con- triving and drawing of Lines and Figures, whereby to de- monftrate the Equation, Theorem, or Canon to be geome- trically true. See Construction of Equations.

Geometrical Ofculum, fee Evoluta, and Osculum. Geometrical Scale, fee Diagonal Scale. Geometrical 'Table, fee Plain Table. Geometrical 'Pace, is aMeafure coniifting of five Feet. See Pace, and Foot.

Geometrically Proportionals, are Quantities in conti- nual Proportion; or which proceed in the fame conftant Ra- tio ; as 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 192, &c. See Proportionals. They are thus called, in Contradiftinction to equidifrerent Quantities; which are called, tho' fomewhat improperly, A- ritbmetically Proportionals. See Arithmetically Propor- tional.

GEOPONIC, fomething relating to Agriculture. — Thus Cato, Varro, Columella, Palladius, and 'Pliny are fometimes called Geoponic Writers. See Georgic.

St. GEORGE, a Name whereby feveral Orders, both Military and Religious, are denominated. It has its Rife from a Saint, famous throughout all the Eaft ; and called by the Greeks Mzya.Kw.2.(\v?, q. d. Great Martyr.

On fome Medals of the Emperors 7"te> and Manuel Com- •menii, we have the Figure of St. George arm'd, holding a Sword, or Javelin in one Hand, and in the other, a Buck- ler, with this Infcription, an O, and therein a little A, and

P TE— rioc, making o Arios TEOPrios, O Holy George.

o He is generally represented on Horfeback, as being fuppofed to have frequently engaged in Combats in that manner.

He is adored throughout Armenia, Mufcovy, and all the Countries which adhere to theGreek Rite : From the Greek, bis Worfhip has long ago been received into the Latin Church ; and England and Portugal have both chofe him for their Patron Saint. See Patron.

otrGEORGE is particularly ufed for an Engiifli Order of Knights; more ufually now called the Order of the Garter. See Order of the Garter.

Oar King Ed-ward VI. out of a Spirit of Reformation, made fome Alterations in the Ceremonial, Laws, and Habit of the Order, that the Romifi Saint might have lefs Share therein. 'Twas he firft commanded that the Or- der mould no longer be called the Order of St. George, but that of the Garter.

Knights of St. George. There have been various Or- ders under this Denomination, moft of which are now ex- tinct ; particularly, one founded by the Emperor Frideric III. in the Year 1470, to guard the Frontiers of 'Bohemia and Hungary againft the Turks. — Another, called St. George of Jlfalma, founded by the Kings of Arragon.— Another in Auftria and Carinthia. — And another in the Republic of Genoa, ftill fubfifting, &c.

Religious of the Order of St. George. Of thefe there are divers Orders, and Congregations ; particularly Canons Regular of St. George in Alga, at Venice, eftabliili'd by two Noble Venetians, in the Year I4r4.— Another Congrega- tion of the fame Inttitute in Sicily, Sic.

GEORG1CK ; fomething that relates to the Culture or Tilling of the Ground. See Agriculture.

The Georgicks of Virgil, are the 4 Books compofed by that Poet on the Subjcft of Agriculture.

TheWord is borrowed from the Latin Georgian-, and that of the Greek yvMtyuls, of y", terra, Earth, and fyydfylMi, ofero, I work, labour ; of ifyor, opus, Work. — ■'

GEOSCOPY, a kind of Knowledge of the Nature, and Qualities of the Earth, or Soil, gain'd by viewing and con- fidering it, See Soil.^

Gcofcopy is only conjectural 3 but its Conjectures are very well grounded.

The Word is form'd of the Greek yv, Earth, and «S«», 1 fee,, view.

GERESOL, in Mufic, one of the Clefs. See Clef. GERFALCON, or Gyrfalcon, a Bird of Prey, of a Size between a Vultur and an Hawk 3 and of the greateft Strength next the Eagle. See Falcon, and Hawk.

GERMAN. A 'Brother German is a Brother both by

the Father's and Mother's fide ; in Contradiftinction to

Uterine Brothers, &c. who are only fo,by the Mother's fide.

See Brother.

So, likewife, Coujins German are tholb in the firft, or

neareft Degree ; being the Children of Brothers or SiiterS- Germaii. See Cousin, &c.

Among the Romans we have no Inftance of Marriage be- tween Coufins German, before the Time of the Emperoi Claudius 3 when, they were very frequent. See M a r.-

R I A G e.

Theodofius prohibited them under very fevere Penalties,' even Fine, and Proscription. See Consanguinity.

German Language, fee Teutonic, and Language;

German Empire, &c. fee Empire, &c.

GERMANICUS, an antient Title of Honour, given tc! feveral Emperors, on account of the Victories obtain'd by them over the Germans, or in Germany.

Gatiian bears this Title on Medals; and the Argument for its being on occafion of a Victory in Germany, is, that on the Reverfe we find the Words, VICTORIA GERMA- NICA. VICTORIA GER. VICTORIA. G. M. that is, Germanica maxima.

Claudius Gothicus bore the fame Title, Germanicus, and accordingly on the Reverfe of his Medals we find ViBoria Germanica-, as on others of his Medals we read, ViQoria Gcthica.

GERMEN, or Germ, or Gem, that Part of a Seed which germinates, i. e. fprouts or fhoots out the firft, for the Production of a new Plant. See Seed.

Botanifts call it the Plume, fee Plume; fee alfo Plant, and Seed; fee alfo Germination.

' GERMINATION, theAa of Germinating; that is, of a Plant's fprouting, or mooting in the Ground. See Plant, and Germen.

Some ufe the Word in a more cxtenfive Senfe ; fo as like-; wife to include the fhooting of Leaves, Bloflbms, Branches, Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds. See Seed, Leaf, Flower, Branch, ckc.

The Modern Philofophcrs have been very attentive to the Germinations of Plants, as well of the Formation of the Chick in the Egg. See Plant.

The Progrefs of Germination has been very accurately obferv'd by the Curious Malpighi, in the Seed of a Gourd, The Day after it was committed to the Ground, he found the Outer-coat or Integument a little tumid, and in its Tip there appear'd a final! Gap or Aperture, thro' which the Plume or Gem was feen.

The fecond Day, the outward Coat, or Secundine was much fofter, the inner torn and corrupted, the Plume, or Plantule_ fomewhat longer and more tumid, and the Beginning ot the Roots fhew'd themielves.

The third Day, the outer Secundine was become dully, and the Leaves of the Plantule inflated, and the Root or Radicle had made itfelf a Paffage thro' the Secundincs, near the former Aperture ; the Plume, or Stem, as alfo the Seed Leaves being now grown much bigger.

On the fixth Day, more of the Seed Leaves had broke thro' the Secundines, and were found thicker and harder ; the Root having now emitted a great Number of Fibres, and the Stem grown a Finger's Length.

The following Days, the Roots ftill ftiot further, other Roots arifing from them, and others from thele ; and the Stem, in its Progrefs, grew hollow, or fiftulous, and the Seed Leaves broader and greener.

About the twenty firft Day, the Plant feemed compleat; from which time the Seed Leaves began to droop, and at length died away. See Plant.

GERON, Gerontes, in Antiquity, a kind of Magi- / ftracy in antient Greece.

The Gerontes were at Sparta, what the Areojiagites were at Athens. See Areopagite.

The Gerontes were inftituted by Lycurgus : Their Num- ber, according to fome, was twenty eight; and according to othets, thirty two. They govern'd in Conjunction with the King, whofe Authority they were intended to ballance, and to watch over the Interefts of the People.

None were to be admitted into this Office under fixty Years of Age, and they held it for Life.

They were fucceeded by the Ephofi. See Ephori<

The Word is formed of the Greek yifor, which fignifies old Man.

Whence alfo the Words Gerontic, fomething belong- ing to an old Man ; and Geronticon, a famous Book a- mong the Modern Greeks, containing the Lives of the an- tient Monks. .

The Senate of Gerontes was called Gerufla, that is Ai- fembly or Council of old Men.

GERUND, in Grammar, a Tenfe, or Time of the In- finitive Mood ; like to the Participle, but indeclinable. See Mood, and Infinitive. r ,

The Gerund expreffes not only the Time, but alio the Manner of an Aftion ; as, He fell in running Poft.

It differs from the Participle, in that it cxprefles the 1 im: which the Participle does not. See Participle.

And from the Tenfe properly fo called, in'that it expref- fes the Manner which the Tenfe does not. See Tense.

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