A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary (4th edition)/Dictionary/Z
☞ (559). Fte (73), fr (77), fll (83), ft (81); m (93), mt (95); pne (105), pn (107); n (162), mve (164), nr (167), nt (163); tbe (171), tb (172), bll (173); l (299); pnd (313); thin (466), this (469).
Z
For the true Name of this Letter, see Principles, No. 483.
Zany, z′n. s.
One employed to raise laughter by his gestures, actions, and speeches; a merry-andrew, a buffoon.
Zeal, zle. s.
Passionate ardour for any person or cause.
Zealot, zl′t, or z′lt. (235)
One passionately ardent in any cause. Generally used in dispraise.
☞ There are few words better confirmed by authority in their departure from the sound of their simple than this and the following word. Dr. Ash and Bailey are the only lexicographers who (if we may judge by the position of the accent) give the long sound to this word, as in zeal, and even these give the short sound to zealous. Dr. Kenrick gives both sounds to both words, but prefers the short sound by placing it first: but Mr. Elphinston, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Scott, W. Johnston, Mr. Nares, Mr. Smith, Mr. Perry, Barclay, and Entick, give both these words the short sound. As the word zealous may either come from the Latin zelus, (or rather zelosus,) or be a formative of our own from zeal, as villanous, libellous, etc. from villain, libel, etc. analogy might very allowably be pleaded for the long sound of the diphthong; and if custom were less decided, I should certainly give my vote for it; but as propriety of pronunciation may be called a compound ratio of usage and analogy, the short sound must in this case be called the proper one.—See Knowledge, and Principles, No. 515.
Zealous, zl′s, or z′ls. a.
Ardently passionate in any cause.
Zealously, zl′s-l, or z′ls-l. ad.
With passionate ardour.
Zealousness, zl′s-ns, or z′ls-ns. s.
The quality of being zealous.
Zechin, tsh-kn′. s.
A gold coin worth about nine shillings sterling.
Zed, zd, or z′zrd. s.
The name of the letter z. The last of the English alphabet.
☞ For the proper name of this letter, see Principles, No. 483.
Zenith, z′nth. s.
The point overhead opposite the nadir.
☞ I never once called in doubt the pronunciation of this word, till I was told that mathematicians generally made the first syllable short. Upon consulting our orthöepists, I find all who have the word, and who give the quantity of the vowels, make the e long, except Entick. Thus Sheridan, Kenrick, Scott, Buchanan, W. Johnston, and Perry, pronounce it long; and if this majority were not so great and so respectable, the analogy of words of this form ought to decide. See Principles, No. 544. See Clef and Construe.
Zephyr, zf′fr. (543) Zephyrus, zf′fr-s. s.
The west wind, and poetically any calm soft wind.
Zest, zst. s.
The peel of an orange squeezed into wine; a relish, a taste added.
To Zest, zst. v. a.
To heighten by an additional relish.
Zetetick. z-tt′k. a. (509)
Proceeding by inquiry.
Zeugma, zg′m. s. (92)
A figure in grammar, when a verb agreeing with divers nouns, or an adjective with divers substantives, is referred to one expressly, and to the other by supplement, as, Lust overcame shame, Boldness fear, and Madness reason.
Zigzag, zg′zg. s.
Any thing composed of short turns.—Ash.
☞This is a word of ludicrous formation, but, like others of the same kind, very expressive, and frequently used by the best authors. Pope has very happily exemplified the use of it in his Dunciad, where he says:
"Round him much embryo, much abortion lay,
Much future ode and abdicated play;
Nonsense precipitate like running lead,
That slipp'd through cracks and zig-zags of the head."Dunciad, book i. v. 121.
Zigzag, zg′zg. a.
Having many short turnings; turning this way and that.
Zinc, zngk. s. (408)
A semi-metal of a brilliant white colour approaching to blue. Mason.
Zodiack, z′d-k , or z′j-k. (293) (294) (376)
The track of the sun through the twelve signs, a great circle of the sphere, containing the twelve signs.
Zone, zne. s.
A girdle, a division of the earth.
Zoographer, z-g′gr-fr. s.
One who describes the nature, properties, and forms of animals.
Zoography, z-g′gr-f. s. (518)
A description of the forms, natures, and properties of animals.
Zoology, z-l′l-j. s. (518)
A treatise concerning living creatures.
Zoophyte, z′-fte. s. (156)
Certain vegetables or substances which partake of the nature both of vegetables and animals.
Zoophorick, z--fr′k. a. (509)
In Architecture, having the figure of some animal.
Zoophorous, z-f′-rs. s. (557)
The member between the architrave and the cornice, so called because it had sometimes the figures of animals carved on it.
Zootomist, z-t′t-mst. s.
A dissector of the bodies of brute beasts.
Zootomy, z-t′t-m. s. (518)
Dissection of the bodies of beasts.