Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Volume 2.djvu/1047

 ZEN

[ 390]

ZIN

Z,

z

The laft Letter in the Alphabet, and one of the double Confonants, both among the La- 9 tins and Greeks. See Letter and Conso- nant.

Its Pronunciation is much more foft and obtufe than the X, which makes guintilian call it Molliffimum, mASua-

viflimum — Neverthelefs, the Sound was not always the

fame as it is now j which is but, as it were, half that of an S.

It had fomething alfo in it of the D ; but only what founded very fmoothly : Thus, Mezentius was pronounced as if it had been Medjentius, lie. See D.

The Z had alfo an affinity with the G : Thus, Cafella ; Z, fays he, a Greets venit, licet etiam i^fip-imo GGrnci vtebanttir. See G.

Z was alfo a Numeral Letter, fignifying 2000 5 accor- ding to the Verfe :

Ultima Z teams finem bis milk tenebit.

When a Dafh was added a-top, Z> it fignified two thou- fand times two thoufand.

ZAIM, a Portion of Land, allotted for the Subfiftence of a Horfe-man in the Itirkijb Militia ; call'dalfo timar. See Timar and Timariot.

ZA1RAGIA, or Zajrag ub, a kind of Divination, in ufe among the Arabs. See Divination.

It is pcrform'd by means of divers Wheels, or Circles placed Concentric to one another, and noted with feveral Letters, which are brought to anfwer to each other by moving the Circles according to certain Rules.

'Tis alfo call'd Zaraidh, by reafon the Circles of this Machine, which are Mutaraziat, Lefiak, &c. correfpond to the Orbs of the Planets, and the Atmofpheres of each Element.

ZEAL, Zelus, {da®-, the Exercife of a warm, vehe- ment, animated Affection, or Paffion for any thing. See Passion, Inclination, iic.

Some will have Zeal to be properly a mix'd, or compound Senfation, where one Aff cSion is rais'd or inflam'd by ano- ther On thefe Principles, it may be defined an Af- fection arifing from Love and Indignation, which cannot bear a thing to be given to another that a Perfon defires for

himfelf, or one whom he loves and favours Others

make it confift in an eager Study or Defire to keep any thing inviolate; or a Fervour of Mind arifing from an Indig- nation again!! thofe who abufe or do evil to a Perfon be- loved.

The Greek Philofophers make three Species of Zeal

The firfl, of Envy : The fecond, of Emulation, or Imi- tation : The third, of Piety, or Devotion ; which makes what the Divines call Religious Zeal. See Emulation, ££c.

jfofejibtis fpeaks much ot a Party or Faction call'd the Zealous, or Zealots ; which arofe among the Jews during the War with Pefpafian and 1'inis. Lib. XIV. c. 6. Antiq. & Lib. IV. c. 12. de Bella Judaico.

ZEDOARIA, Zedoary, a Medicinal Root belonging to a Plant growing in the Eaft-Indies, whofe Leaves are like thofe of Ginger, only longer and broader. See Root.

Zedoary is of an Aih-colour, has an Aromatic, bitterilh Taile; and comes into the Oafs of Cephalics; But it is alfo reckon'd by manyamongft the Alextpharmics, whereupon it cumes to have a Place in the Capitals ; and is even faid to prevent Infections by holding it only in the Mouth. See Alexipiiarmic, &c.

On account of its agreeable Bitter, it alfo is prefcribed among Stomachics ; and for its fpicy Warmth is commen- ded in Cholics, and Hytlerical Affections, for promoting the Meftfes, He. See Aromatics.

ZENITH, in Afironomy, the Vertical Point ; or aPoint in the Heavens directly over our Head. See Vertex and Vertical.

Or the Zenith is a Point, asZ (Tab.AsTRONOMY,Bg. 52) in the Surface of the Sphere, from which a right Line drawn through the Spectator's Head, paffes through the Centreof the Earth. See Vertex and Vertical.

Hence, there are as many Zeniths as there are different Places on the Earth where the Heavens may be feen ; and upon the changing our Place, we alfo change our Zenith.

The Zenith is alfo call'd the Pole. ef the Horizon, be- caufe 00 Degrees di tlant from each Point thereof. SeeHo-

RIZON,

It is alfo the Pole of all the Almicantars, or Parallels of the Horizon, whereby the Altitude of the Stars is eftima- ted. See Almicantar.

Through the Zenith paffeth the Vertical-Circles, or Azi- muth. See Vertical Circle.

The Point diametrically oppofite to the Zenith, is call'd the Nadir ; which is the Point directly under our Feet. See Nadir.

The Nadir is theZenith to our Antipodes 5 as our Zenith is the Nadir to them. See Antipodes.

Zzmrn-dijlance, is the Complement of the Sun, or Stats Meridian Altitude ; or what the Meridian Altitude wants of 90 Degrees. See Complement and Altitude.

ZENSUS, in Arithmetic, a Name which fome Authors give to a fquare Number ; or the fecond Power. See Sc|u are Number and Power.

The higher Powers they call Zenfizenfus, Zenficubus, Zen- Jizenzenfus, Zenfurdefilidus, Sic. See Power.

ZEPHYRUS, or Zephyr, the Weft-wind ; or a Wind blowing from that Cardinal Point of the Horizon oppofite to the Eaft. See West, Wind, and Cardinal 'Point.

It is alfo call'd Favonius, and Occidens ; and by many confounded with Africus.

The Word is Greek {sW3- The Poets perfonify it.

ZETETICE, Zetetic Method, in Mathematics, the Method made ufe of to investigate or find the Solution of a Problem. See Resolution, Investigation, Sic.

The Word is form'd from rhe Greek farm, I feek.

The antient Tyrrhenians were fometimes call'd Zete- tici, q. d. Seekers. See Pyrrhonians.

ZEST, the woody, thick Skin, quartering the Kernel of a W alnut.

The Word is alfo ufed for a Chip of Orange orLemmon- Peel ; fuch as is ufually fqueezed into Ale, Wine, Sic. to give it a Flavour.

Hence, toZefi an Orange or Lemmon, among Confectio- ners, is to cut the Peel from Top to Bottom into fraall Slips, as thin as poflible.

ZETA, or Zetecula, a little withdrawing Chamber with Pipes running along the Walls to receive from be- low either the cool Air or the Heat of warm Water. See Caleduct, Sic.

The Word is form'd either of rv ffi, ro be warm ; or of ts C,h, vivere, to live.

ZEUGMA, a Figure in Grammar, whereby an Adjective or Verb which agrees with a nearer Word, is alfo, by way of Supplement, referr'd to another more remote. See Figure.

Thus, ¥ere?ice Utinam ant hie furdus, aut h<sc

mutafatlafit So Virgil Hie illius Arma hie curras

fu.it. In which Cafes, the Words faffaflt agreeing prima- rily with h<ec Tiiuta, are alfo made to agree or extend to hit furdus : And the Verb fuit is not only refer'd to hie cur- rus, which it properly refpects, but further to hie illius arma.

The Latins, it may be here obferved, take a liberty in Conflruct ion, which fome of the nicer Critics among the Moderns, particularly the French, will not allow in the modern Tongues. See Con struct ion.

The word Zeugma is Greek, Ifiyt**, which literally de- notes a joining together.

ZIBETHUM, £*mmr, in Natural Hiflory, Civet ; a Perfume like Musk, contain'd in a kernelly Bladder in the Groin of a Civet-Car. See Civet.

ZINDIKITES, a Seel among the Mahometans, denomi- nated from their Leader Zindik, whom Grotius makes ro be one of the Magi, and a Follower ofzoroafier. See Magi.

The Zindikites believe no Providence nor Refurreclion — They own no other God but the four Elements; and in this fenfe afferr, that a Man being a Mixture of tbofe fimple Bodies, returns to God when he dies.

ZINK, orZAiM, a kind of Mineral, or Semi-metal, which fome confound with 'Bifrmith, and others with Spel- ter. See Bismuth, Spelter, Sic.

Others call it Female-Antimony. See Antimony.

Zi7zk is a kind of Mineral-Lead, very hard, white, and brillant; and which, tho' not ductile enough to denomi-

nat*