n. [ Gr. 'a priv. + bi`os life + ge`nesis, origin, birth. ] (Biol.) The supposed origination of living organisms from lifeless matter; such genesis as does not involve the action of living parents; spontaneous generation; -- called also abiogeny, and opposed to biogenesis. [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall call the . . . doctrine that living matter may be produced by not living matter, the hypothesis of abiogenesis. Huxley, 1870. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to abiogenesis. Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

‖n. [ Gr. &unr_; unmarried ('a priv. + &unr_; marriage) + &unr_; reproduction. ] (Biol.) Reproduction without the union of parents of distinct sexes: asexual reproduction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biol.) Reproducing or produced without sexual union. -- Ag`a*mo*ge*net"ic*al*ly adv. [1913 Webster]

All known agamogenetic processes end in a complete return to the primitive stock. Huxley. [1913 Webster]

a. [ See Agensis. ] (Physiol.) Characterized by sterility; infecund. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Gr. 'a priv. + &unr_; birth. ] (Physiol.) Any imperfect development of the body, or any anomaly of organization. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. aggenerare to beget in addition. See Generate. ] The act of producing in addition. [ Obs. ] T. Stanley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] Different in nature or kind. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Alpes Alps + -gen. ] Growing in Alpine regions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Min.) Leucite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'amfi` + &unr_; generation. ] (Biol.) Sexual generation; amphigony. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Amylum + genesis. ] The formation of starch. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ , n. } [ Gr. 'analgh`s painless. ] A crystalline compound used as an antipyretic and analgesic, employed chiefly in rheumatism and neuralgia. It is a complex derivative of quinoline. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. 1 the evolution or genesis of the human race.
Syn. -- anthropogeny. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. 1 of or pertaining to anthropogenesis; caused by mankind or by humans.
Syn. -- anthropogenic [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; (pl. Attorney-generals or Attorneys-general). (Law) The chief law officer of the state, empowered to act in all litigation in which the law-executing power is a party, and to advise this supreme executive whenever required. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Self-produced; autogenous. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Auto- + genesis. ] (Biol.) Spontaneous generation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Biol.) 1. Relating to autogenesis; self-generated. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Phys. Geog.) Pertaining to, controlled by, or designating, a system of self-determined drainage. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Phys. Geog.) A system of natural drainage developed by the constituent streams through headwater erosion. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Phys. Geog.) A system of land forms produced by the free action of rain and streams on rocks of uniform texture. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. (Biol.) Pertaining to biogenesis. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Gr. bi`os life + &unr_;, &unr_;, birth. ] (Biol.) (a) A doctrine that the genesis or production of living organisms can take place only through the agency of living germs or parents; -- called also biogeny; -- opposed to abiogenesis. (b) Life development generally. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. the production of a chemical compound by a living organism.
Syn. -- biosynthesis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. blasto`s sprout + E. genesis. ] (Biol.) Multiplication or increase by gemmation or budding. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ F. brigadier, fr. brigade. ] (Mil.) An officer in rank next above a colonel, and below a major general. He commands a brigade, and is sometimes called, by a shortening of his title, simple a brigadier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Sternness; severity. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A Sara for goodness, a great Bellona for budgeness. Stanyhurst. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; new + E. genesis. ] (Biol.) The introduction during embryonic development of characters or structure not present in the earlier evolutionary history of the strain or species (as addition of the placenta in mammalian evolution); a modified evolution, in which nonprimitive characters make their appearance in consequence of a secondary adaptation of the embryo to the peculiar conditions of its environment; -- distinguished from palingenesis. [ Also spelled caenogenesis and formerly kenogenesis. ] [ WordNet 1.5 + 1913 Webster ]

adj. of or pertaining to cenogenesis. Opposite of palingenetic. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. cho`ndros cartilage + genesis. ] (Physiol.) The development of cartilage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From L. congener. See Congenerous. ] A thing of the same genus, species, or kind; a thing allied in nature, character, or action. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cherry tree has been often grafted on the laurel, to which it is a congener. P. Miller. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our elk is more polygamous in his habits than any other deer except his congener, the red deer of Europe. Caton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Similarity of origin; affinity. [ Obs. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , a. Belonging to the same genus; allied in origin, nature, or action; of or pertaining to a congener. R. Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. congener; con- + genus, generis, birth, kind, race. See Genus, and cf. Congener. ] Allied in origin or cause; congeneric; as, congenerous diseases. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne.

-- Con*gen"er*ous*ness, n. [Obs.] Hallywell. [1913 Webster]

n. (Chem.) A highly volatile liquid, condensed by cold and pressure from the first products of the distillation of petroleum; -- used for producing low temperatures. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. ky`tos hollow vessel + E. genesis. ] (Biol.) Development of cells in animal and vegetable organisms. See Gemmation, Budding, Karyokinesis; also Cell development, under Cell. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to cytogenesis or cell development. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } v. i. [ See Degenerate. ] To degenerate. [ Obs. ] “Degendering to hate.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

He degenereth into beastliness. Joye. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Degenerate, a. ] 1. The act of becoming degenerate; a growing worse. [ 1913 Webster ]

Willful degeneracy from goodness. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of having become degenerate; decline in good qualities; deterioration; meanness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Degeneracy of spirit in a state of slavery. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

To recover mankind out of their universal corruption and degeneracy. S. Clarke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. degeneratus, p. p. of degenerare to degenerate, cause to degenerate, fr. degener base, degenerate, that departs from its race or kind; de- + genus race, kind. See Kin relationship. ] Having become worse than one's kind, or one's former state; having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base; low. [ 1913 Webster ]

Faint-hearted and degenerate king. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A degenerate and degraded state. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Degenerate from their ancient blood. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

These degenerate days. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

I had planted thee a noble vine . . . : how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? Jer. ii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Degenerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Degenerating. ] 1. To be or grow worse than one's kind, or than one was originally; hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to decline in good qualities; to deteriorate. [ 1913 Webster ]

When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into insolence and impiety. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of its kind; to become of a lower type. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a person who has declined from a high standard, especially a sexual deviate; -- usually used disparagingly or opprobriously of persons whose sexual behavior does not conform to the norms of accepted morals. [ PJC ]

2. a person or thing that has fallen from a higher to a lower state, or reverted to an earlier type or stage of development or culture. RHUD [ PJC ]

adv. In a degenerate manner; unworthily. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Degeneracy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. dégénération. ] 1. The act or state of growing worse, or the state of having become worse; decline; degradation; debasement; degeneracy; deterioration. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our degeneration and apostasy. Bates. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physiol.) That condition of a tissue or an organ in which its vitality has become either diminished or perverted; a substitution of a lower for a higher form of structure; as, fatty degeneration of the liver. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Biol.) A gradual deterioration, from natural causes, of any class of animals or plants or any particular organ or organs; hereditary degradation of type. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The thing degenerated. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Cockle, aracus, . . . and other degenerations. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Amyloid degeneration,
Caseous degeneration, etc. See under Amyloid, Caseous, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biol.) A believer in the theory of degeneration, or hereditary degradation of type; as, the degenerationists hold that savagery is the result of degeneration from a superior state. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Undergoing or producing degeneration; tending to degenerate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. degener. See Degenerate. ] Degenerate; base. [ Obs. ] “Degenerous passions.” Dryden. “Degenerous practices.” South. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Basely. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &unr_; race, offspring. ] (Zool.) A division of Trematoda in which alternate generations occur, the immediate young not resembling their parents. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. di- + genesis. ] (Biol.) The faculty of multiplying in two ways; -- by ova fecundated by spermatic fluid, and asexually, as by buds. See Parthenogenesis. [ 1913 Webster ]