| apothanasia | Postponement of death; prolongation of life, as opposed to euthanasia. Origin: G. Apo, away, + thanatos, death (05 Mar 2000) |
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| apothecaries' weight | An obsolescent system of weights based upon the weight of a grain of wheat. Has been used for centuries in weighing medicines and precious metals (Troy measure). Some drugs which have been available for long periods are still often designated as grains (e.g., 5 grains of aspirin, 1/2 grain of codeine, 1/100 grain nitroglycerin). This weight system has been largely superseded by the metric system (based on grams). One grain is the equivalent of 64.8 milligrams. One scruple contains 20 grains; one dram contains 60 grains; one apothecary ounce contains 8 drams (480 grains); one apothecary pound contains 12 ounces (5760 grains). (05 Mar 2000) |
| apothecary | One who prepares and sells drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes. In England an apothecary is one of a privileged class of practitioners a kind of sub-physician. The surgeon apothecary is the ordinary family medical attendant. One who sells drugs and makes up prescriptions is now commonly called in England a druggist or a pharmaceutical chemist. Apothecaries' weight, the system of weights by which medical prescriptions were formerly compounded. The pound and ounce are the same as in Troy weight; they differ only in the manner of subdivision. The ounce is divided into 8 drams, 24 scruples, 480 grains. See Troy weight. Origin: OE. Apotecarie, fr. LL. Apothecarius, fr. L. Apotheca storehouse, Gr. Apo, fr. To put away; from + to put: cf. F. Apothicaire, OF. Apotecaire. (06 Mar 1998) |
| apothecium | Origin: NL. <botany> The ascigerous fructification of lichens, forming masses of various shapes. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| apothegm | See Apothegm. A short, pithy, and instructive saying; a terse remark, conveying some important truth; a sententious precept or maxim. Origin: Apothegm is now the prevalent spelling in the United States. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| apothem | 1. <mathematics> The perpendicular from the center to one of the sides of a regular polygon. 2. A deposit formed in a liquid extract of a vegetable substance by exposure to the air. Origin: Gr. + that which is placed, to place. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |