Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Volume 1.djvu/948

 GYN

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GYP

GYNiECONOMUS, the Name of a Magiftrate of A- thens, who had the Cenfure and Infpeaion of the Wo- men. ' " {

There were ten Gynaconomi : Their Bufinels was to in- form themfelves of the Lives and Manners of the Ladies of that City, and to punilh fuch as misbehaved themfelves, or tranfgreffed tlte common Bounds of Modefty and De- cency, r 11 1 r

They had a Lift hanging out, of the Names of all thole whom they had cenfured, 'or condemned to any Mulft, For- feiture, Penance, or other Penalty.

The Word is compounded of the Greek Tyrii, TvvaiKoz, a Woman ; and yopo;, Law.

GYNJECOCRACT, Gynjecocratia, a State where Women have, or may have, the fupreme Command.

In this Senfe, England and Spain are Gyniecccracics : The French value themfelves, and think they are greatly happy that their Monarchy is not Gytictrcocratic. See Sali c, Lais.

The Word is form'd of rwi),ytmux${, a Woman, and «gj!. To?, Authority, Power, Government.

GYNGLIMUS, in Anatomy, &c. See Ginglymus.

GYPSUM, in natural Hiftory, a Stone found in Quar-

ries, which being burnt, and diluted, or wrought up with Water, fcrves to make the fine Plafter of 'Paris. See Plaster.

GYPSE, Gipse, or Gypsum, is alfo ufed for a conrfer fort of Talk 5 or a fliining rranfparent Stone chiefly found in the Quarries of Montmttrtre near %>aris, among other Plafter Stones.

Some confound this with the former, on account of the Conformity of its Name with the Latin Gypfum 5 but un- happily enough ; as the Gyffe is not fit for the making of Plafter.

This Stone being calcined in a Kiln, beaten in a Mortar and fifted, and mix'd up with Gum, or fize Water and Co- lours, ferves to counterfeit Marble, which it does to that Perfection, that both the Eye and Touch may be deceived. See Marble.

The Method of preparing it, will be fliewn under the Article Mosaic Work.

GYROMANCY, or Gyromantia, a kind of Divina- tion, performed by walking round, or in a Circle. See Di- vination.

The Word is compounded of the Greek yie)i- a Circle^ and [AAVT&a, Divination.

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