X

X

X, the twenty fourth letter of the English Alphabet, is borrowed from the Greek. In the middle and at the end of words, it has the sound of ks, as in wax, lax, luxury. At the beginning of a word, it has precisely the sound of z. It is used as an initial, in a few words borrowed from the Greek.

As a numeral, x stands for ten. It represents one V, which stands for five, placed on the top of another. When laid horizontally it stands for a thousand, and with a dash over it, it stands for ten thousand. As an abbreviation, x Stands for Christ, and in Xn. Christian; Xm. Christmas.

Xanthid

XANTHID, XANTHIDE, noun A compound of xanthogene and a metal.

Xanthide

XANTHID, XANTHIDE noun A compound of xanthogene and a metal.

Xanthogene

XANTHOGENE, noun [Gr., yellow, to generate.] The base of a new acid, produced by the mixture of a solution of pure potassa with bisulphuret of carbon. This acid contains sulphur, carbon, and hydrogen. It is named from the yellow color of its compounds.

Xebec

XEBEC, noun A small three masted vessel, used in the Mediterranean sea. With a fair wind, in good weather, it carries two large square sails; when close hauled, it carried large lateen sails.

Xerocollyrium

XEROCOLLYRIUM, noun [Gr., dry.] A dry collyrium or eye-salve.

Xeromyrum

XEROMYRUM, noun [Gr., dry; ointment.] A dry ointment.

Xerophagy

XEROPHAGY, noun [Gr., dry; to eat.] The eating of dry meats, a sort of fast among the primitive Christians.

Xerophthalmy

XEROPHTHALMY, noun [Gr., dry.] A dry red soreness or itching of the eyes, without swelling or a discharge of humors.

Xiphias

XIPHIAS, noun [Gr., a sword.]

1. The sword-fish.

2. A comet shaped like a sword.

Xiphoid

XIPHOID, adjective [supra.] The xiphoid or ensiform cartilage, is a small cartilage placed at the bottom of the breast bone.

Xylography

XYLOGRAPHY, noun [Gr., wood; to engrave.] Wood-engraving; the act or art of cutting figures in wood, in representation of natural objects.

Xyster

XYSTER, noun [Gr., to scrape.] A surgeons instrument for scraping bones.