n. [ Cf. LL. antepositio. See Position. ] (Gram.) The placing of a before another, which, by ordinary rules, ought to follow it. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. appositio, fr. apponere: cf. F. apposition. See Apposite. ] 1. The act of adding; application; accretion. [ 1913 Webster ]

It grows . . . by the apposition of new matter. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The putting of things in juxtaposition, or side by side; also, the condition of being so placed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Gram.) The state of two nouns or pronouns, put in the same case, without a connecting word between them; as, I admire Cicero, the orator. Here, the second noun explains or characterizes the first. [ 1913 Webster ]

Growth by apposition (Physiol.), a mode of growth characteristic of non vascular tissues, in which nutritive matter from the blood is transformed on the surface of an organ into solid unorganized substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to apposition; put in apposition syntactically. Ellicott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. circumpositio, fr. circumponere, - positium, to place around. ] The act of placing in a circle, or round about, or the state of being so placed. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. composition, fr. L. compositio. See Composite. ] 1. The act or art of composing, or forming a whole or integral, by placing together and uniting different things, parts, or ingredients. In specific uses: (a) The invention or combination of the parts of any literary work or discourse, or of a work of art; as, the composition of a poem or a piece of music. “The constant habit of elaborate composition.” Macaulay. (b) (Fine Arts) The art or practice of so combining the different parts of a work of art as to produce a harmonious whole; also, a work of art considered as such. See 4, below. (c) The act of writing for practice in a language, as English, Latin, German, etc. (d) (Print.) The setting up of type and arranging it for printing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being put together or composed; conjunction; combination; adjustment. [ 1913 Webster ]

View them in composition with other things. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

The elementary composition of bodies. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A mass or body formed by combining two or more substances; as, a chemical composition. [ 1913 Webster ]

A composition that looks . . . like marble. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially one showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used of an elementary essay or translation done as an educational exercise. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Consistency; accord; congruity. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no composition in these news
That gives them credit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or conditions of settlement; agreement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thus we are agreed:
I crave our composition may be written. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Law) The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cleared by composition with their creditors. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Synthesis as opposed to analysis. [ 1913 Webster ]

The investigation of difficult things by the method of analysis ought ever to precede the method of composition. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Composition cloth, a kind of cloth covered with a preparation making it waterproof. --
Composition deed, an agreement for composition between a debtor and several creditors. --
Composition plane (Crystallog.), the plane by which the two individuals of a twin crystal are united in their reserved positions. --
Composition of forces (Mech.), the finding of a single force (called the resultant) which shall be equal in effect to two or more given forces (called the components) when acting in given directions. Herbert. --
Composition metal, an alloy resembling brass, which is sometimes used instead of copper for sheathing vessels; -- also called Muntz metal and yellow metal. --
Composition of proportion (Math.), an arrangement of four proportionals so that the sum of the first and second is to the second as the sum of the third and fourth to the fourth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. contra- + position: cf. f. conterposition. ] 1. A placing over against; opposite position. [ Obs. ] F. Potter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Logic) A so-called immediate inference which consists in denying the original subject of the contradictory predicate; e. g.: Every S is P; therefore, no Not-P is S. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. de- (in sense 3 intensive) + composition: cf. F. décomposition. Cf. Decomposition. ] 1. The act or process of resolving the constituent parts of a compound body or substance into its elementary parts; separation into constituent part; analysis; the decay or dissolution consequent on the removal or alteration of some of the ingredients of a compound; disintegration; as, the decomposition of wood, rocks, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being reduced into original elements. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Repeated composition; a combination of compounds. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Decomposition of forces. Same as Resolution of forces, under Resolution. --
Decomposition of light, the division of light into the prismatic colors. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. causing organic decay. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. depositio, fr. deponere: cf. F. déposition. See Deposit. ] 1. The act of depositing or deposing; the act of laying down or thrown down; precipitation. [ 1913 Webster ]

The deposition of rough sand and rolled pebbles. H. Miller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of bringing before the mind; presentation. [ 1913 Webster ]

The influence of princes upon the dispositions of their courts needs not the deposition of their examples, since it hath the authority of a known principle. W. Montagu. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of setting aside a sovereign or a public officer; deprivation of authority and dignity; displacement; removal. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A deposition differs from an abdication, an abdication being voluntary, and a deposition compulsory. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which is deposited; matter laid or thrown down; sediment; alluvial matter; as, banks are sometimes depositions of alluvial matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An opinion, example, or statement, laid down or asserted; a declaration. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) The act of laying down one's testimony in writing; also, testimony laid or taken down in writing, under oath or affirmation, before some competent officer, and in reply to interrogatories and cross-interrogatories.

Syn. -- Deposition, Affidavit. Affidavit is the wider term. It denotes any authorized ex parte written statement of a person, sworn to or affirmed before some competent magistrate. It is made without cross-examination, and requires no notice to an opposing party. It is generally signed by the party making it, and may be drawn up by himself or any other person. A deposition is the written testimony of a witness, taken down in due form of law, and sworn to or affirmed by the deponent. It must be taken before some authorized magistrate, and upon a prescribed or reasonable notice to the opposing party, that may attend and cross-examine. It is generally written down from the mouth of the witness by the magistrate, or some person for him, and in his presence. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Inconsistency; discordance. [ Obs. ] Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. disposition, dispositio, fr. disponere to dispose; dis- + ponere to place. See Position, and cf. Dispone. ] 1. The act of disposing, arranging, ordering, regulating, or transferring; application; disposal; as, the disposition of a man's property by will. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who have received the law by the disposition of angels. Acts vii. 53. [ 1913 Webster ]

The disposition of the work, to put all things in a beautiful order and harmony, that the whole may be of a piece. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state or the manner of being disposed or arranged; distribution; arrangement; order; as, the disposition of the trees in an orchard; the disposition of the several parts of an edifice. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Tendency to any action or state resulting from natural constitution; nature; quality; as, a disposition in plants to grow in a direction upward; a disposition in bodies to putrefaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Conscious inclination; propension or propensity. [ 1913 Webster ]

How stands your disposition to be married? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Natural or prevailing spirit, or temperament of mind, especially as shown in intercourse with one's fellow-men; temper of mind. “A man of turbulent disposition.” Hallam. “He is of a very melancholy disposition.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

His disposition led him to do things agreeable to his quality and condition wherein God had placed him. Strype. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Mood; humor. [ 1913 Webster ]

As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
To put an antic disposition on. Shak.

Syn. -- Disposal; adjustment; regulation; arrangement; distribution; order; method; adaptation; inclination; propensity; bestowment; alienation; character; temper; mood. -- Disposition, Character, Temper. Disposition is the natural humor of a person, the predominating quality of his character, the constitutional habit of his mind. Character is this disposition influenced by motive, training, and will. Temper is a quality of the fiber of character, and is displayed chiefly when the emotions, especially the passions, are aroused. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to disposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having (such) a disposition; -- used in compounds; as, well-dispositioned. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. expositio, fr. exponere, expositum: cf. F. exposition. See Expound. ] 1. The act of exposing or laying open; a setting out or displaying to public view. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of expounding or of laying open the sense or meaning of an author, or a passage; explanation; interpretation; the sense put upon a passage; a law, or the like, by an interpreter; hence, a work containing explanations or interpretations; a commentary. [ 1913 Webster ]

You know the law; your exposition
Hath been most sound. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Situation or position with reference to direction of view or accessibility to influence of sun, wind, etc.; exposure; as, an easterly exposition; an exposition to the sun. [ Obs. ] Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A public exhibition or show, as of industrial and artistic productions; as, the Paris Exposition of 1878. [ A Gallicism ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. def>A worldwide system of electronic navigation in which a vessel, aircraft or missile determines its latitude and longitude by measuring the transmission time from several orbiting satellites. GPS is more precise than any other navigation system available, yielding position accurate within 10 meters 95% of the time.
Syn. -- GPS.
[ RH ]

The precision of the GPS is dependent upon the very high timing accuracy of atomic clocks. Although the military originally intentionally degraded the signal and thus the accuracy for civilian users, GPS was nevertheless more precise than any other navigation system available. In 2000, President Clinton issued an executive order discontinuing the degrading of the signal for civilians. [ RH ]

On June 26, 1993 . . . the U.S. Air Force launched the 24th Navstar satellite into orbit, completing a network of 24 satellites known as the Global Positioning System, or GPS. With a GPS receiver that costs less than a few hundred dollars you can instantly learn your location on the planet -- your latitude, longitude, and even altitude -- to within a few hundred feet.
This incredible new technology was made possible by a combination of scientific and engineering advances, particularly development of the world's most accurate timepieces: atomic clocks that are precise to within a billionth of a second. https://web.archive.org/web/20011125121826/http://www4.nationalacademies.org/beyond/beyonddiscovery.nsf/web/gps?OpenDocument [ PJC ]

n. [ F., fr. L. impositio the application of a name to a thing. See Impone. ] 1. The act of imposing, laying on, affixing, enjoining, inflicting, obtruding, and the like. “From imposition of strict laws.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Made more solemn by the imposition of hands. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is imposed, levied, or enjoined; charge; burden; injunction; tax. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eng. Univ.) An extra exercise enjoined on students as a punishment. T. Warton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An excessive, arbitrary, or unlawful exaction; hence, a trick or deception put on laid on others; cheating; fraud; delusion; imposture. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reputation is an idle and most false imposition. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Eccl.) The act of laying on the hands as a religious ceremoy, in ordination, confirmation, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Print.) The act or process of imosing pages or columns of type. See Impose, v. t., 4.

Syn. -- Deceit; fraud; imposture. See Deception. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. indisposition. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The state of being indisposed; disinclination; as, the indisposition of two substances to combine. [ 1913 Webster ]

A general indisposition towards believing. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A slight disorder or illness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rather as an indisposition in health than as any set sickness. Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Infra + position. ] A situation or position beneath. Kane. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. interpositio a putting between, insertion, fr. interponere, interpositum: cf. F. interposition. See Interpone, Position. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of interposing, or the state of being interposed; a being, placing, or coming between; mediation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The thing interposed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. juxta near + positio position: cf. F. juxtaposition. See Just, v. i., and Position. ] A placing or being placed in nearness or contiguity, or side by side; as, a juxtaposition of words. [ 1913 Webster ]

Parts that are united by a a mere juxtaposition. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Juxtaposition is a very unsafe criterion of continuity. Hare. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Mal- + position. ] A wrong position. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Erroneous disposal or application. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Wrong exposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A failure to deposit or throw down. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. oppositio. See Opposite. ] 1. The act of opposing; an attempt to check, restrain, or defeat; resistance. [ 1913 Webster ]

The counterpoise of so great an opposition. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Virtue which breaks through all opposition. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being placed over against; situation so as to front something else. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Repugnance; contrariety of sentiment, interest, or purpose; antipathy. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which opposes; an obstacle; specifically, the aggregate of persons or things opposing; hence, in politics and parliamentary practice, the party opposed to the party in power. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Astron.) The situation of a heavenly body with respect to another when in the part of the heavens directly opposite to it; especially, the position of a planet or satellite when its longitude differs from that of the sun 180°; -- signified by the symbol &unr_;; as, &unr_; &jupiter_; &sun_;, opposition of Jupiter to the sun. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Logic) The relation between two propositions when, having the same subject and predicate, they differ in quantity, or in quality, or in both; or between two propositions which have the same matter but a different form. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who belongs to the opposition party. Praed. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. The depositing of eggs, esp. by insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. position, L. positio, fr. ponere, positum, to put, place; prob. for posino, fr. an old preposition used only in comp. (akin to Gr. &unr_;) + sinere to leave, let, permit, place. See Site, and cf. Composite, Compound, v., Depone, Deposit, Expound, Impostor, Opposite, Propound, Pose, v., Posit, Post, n. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which anything is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, an inclined, or an upright position. [ 1913 Webster ]

We have different prospects of the same thing, according to our different positions to it. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The spot where a person or thing is placed or takes a place; site; place; station; situation; as, the position of man in creation; the fleet changed its position. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence: The ground which any one takes in an argument or controversy; the point of view from which any one proceeds to a discussion; also, a principle laid down as the basis of reasoning; a proposition; a thesis; as, to define one's position; to appear in a false position. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let not the proof of any position depend on the positions that follow, but always on those which go before. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Relative place or standing; social or official rank; as, a person of position; hence, office; post; as, to lose one's position. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Arith.) A method of solving a problem by one or two suppositions; -- called also the rule of trial and error. [ 1913 Webster ]

Angle of position (Astron.), the angle which any line (as that joining two stars) makes with another fixed line, specifically with a circle of declination. --
Double position (Arith.), the method of solving problems by proceeding with each of two assumed numbers, according to the conditions of the problem, and by comparing the difference of the results with those of the numbers, deducing the correction to be applied to one of them to obtain the true result. --
Guns of position (Mil.), heavy fieldpieces, not designed for quick movements. --
Position finder (Mil.), a range finder. See under Range. --
Position micrometer, a micrometer applied to the tube of an astronomical telescope for measuring angles of position in the field of view. --
Single position (Arith.), the method of solving problems, in which the result obtained by operating with an assumed number is to the true result as the number assumed is to the number required. --
Strategic position (Mil.), a position taken up by an army or a large detachment of troops for the purpose of checking or observing an opposing force. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Situation; station; place; condition; attitude; posture; proposition; assertion; thesis. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To indicate the position of; to place. [ R. ] Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to position. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ascribing unto plants positional operations. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. postposition. See Postpone. ] 1. The act of placing after, or the state of being placed after. “The postposition of the nominative case to the verb.” Mede. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A word or particle placed after, or at the end of, another word; -- distinguished from preposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to postposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. pre- + disposition: cf. F. prédisposition. ] 1. The act of predisposing, or the state of being predisposed; previous inclination, tendency, or propensity; predilection; -- applied to the mind; as, a predisposition to anger.
Syn. -- inclination; tendency; predilection; propensity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Previous fitness or adaptation to any change, impression, or purpose; susceptibility; -- applied to material things; as, the predisposition of the body to disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praepositio, fr. praeponere to place before; prae before + ponere to put, place: cf. F. préposition. See Position, and cf. Provost. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Gram.) A word employed to connect a noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word; a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word; -- so called because usually placed before the word with which it is phrased; as, a bridge of iron; he comes from town; it is good for food; he escaped by running. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A proposition; an exposition; a discourse. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He made a long preposition and oration. Fabyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. prépositionnel. ] Of or pertaining to a preposition; of the nature of a preposition. Early. -- Prep`o*si"tion*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Pref. pre- + supposition: cf. F. présupposition. ] 1. The act of presupposing; an antecedent implication; presumption. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is presupposed; a previous supposition or surmise. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. propositio: cf. F. proposition. See Propound. ] 1. The act of setting or placing before; the act of offering. “Oblations for the altar of proposition.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is proposed; that which is offered, as for consideration, acceptance, or adoption; a proposal; as, the enemy made propositions of peace; his proposition was not accepted. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A statement of religious doctrine; an article of faith; creed; as, the propositions of Wyclif and Huss. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some persons . . . change their propositions according as their temporal necessities or advantages do turn. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Gram. & Logic) A complete sentence, or part of a sentence consisting of a subject and predicate united by a copula; a thought expressed or propounded in language; a from of speech in which a predicate is affirmed or denied of a subject; as, snow is white. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Math.) A statement in terms of a truth to be demonstrated, or of an operation to be performed. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is called a theorem when it is something to be proved, and a problem when it is something to be done. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Rhet.) That which is offered or affirmed as the subject of the discourse; anything stated or affirmed for discussion or illustration. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Poetry) The part of a poem in which the author states the subject or matter of it. [ 1913 Webster ]

Leaves of proposition (Jewish Antiq.), the showbread. Wyclif (Luke vi. 4). [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Proposal; offer; statement; declaration. -- Proposition, Proposal. These words are both from the Latin verb proponere, to set forth, and as here compared they mark different forms or stages of a negotiation. A proposition is something presented for discussion or consideration; as, propositions of peace. A proposal is some definite thing offered by one party to be accepted or rejected by the other. If the proposition is favorably received, it is usually followed by proposals which complete the arrangement. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or in the nature of, a proposition; considered as a proposition; as, a propositional sense. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. recomposition. ] The act of recomposing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. repositio. ] The act of repositing; a laying up. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. sepositio. ] The act of setting aside, or of giving up. [ Obs. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. superposition. See Super-, and Position. ] The act of superposing, or the state of being superposed; as, the superposition of rocks; the superposition of one plane figure on another, in geometry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. supposition, L. suppositio a placing under, a substitution, fr. supponere, suppositium, to put under, to substitute. The word has the meaning corresponding to suppose. See Sub-, and Position. ] 1. The act of supposing, laying down, imagining, or considering as true or existing, what is known not to be true, or what is not proved. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is supposed; hypothesis; conjecture; surmise; opinion or belief without sufficient evidence. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is only an infallibility upon supposition that if a thing be true, it is imposible to be false. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

He means are in supposition. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resting on supposition; hypothetical; conjectural; supposed. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. transposition, from L. transponere, transpositum, to set over, remove, transfer; trans across, over + ponere to place. See Position. ] The act of transposing, or the state of being transposed. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) (Alg.) The bringing of any term of an equation from one side over to the other without destroying the equation. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) (Gram.) A change of the natural order of words in a sentence; as, the Latin and Greek languages admit transposition, without inconvenience, to a much greater extent than the English. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) (Mus.) A change of a composition into another key. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to transposition; involving transposition. Pegge. [ 1913 Webster ]