Wolffian, wōōl′fi-an, adj. pertaining to, or associated with, the name of the German embryologist K. F. Wolff (1733-94)—applied to the primordial renal organs in the embryo of the higher vertebrates, performing the function of kidneys till superseded by the true or permanent kidneys.
Wolfian, wōōl′fi-an, adj. pertaining to the philosophy of Johann Christian von Wolf (1679-1754). He systematised and popularised the philosophy of Leibnitz, and gave a strong impulse to that development of natural theology and rationalism which soon almost drove out revelation by rendering it unnecessary—also Wolff′ian.—n. Wolf′ianism.
Wolfian, wōōl′fi-an, adj. pertaining to, or associated with, the name of Friedrich August Wolf (1759-1824), the most gifted classical scholar and first critic of his age—applied esp. to his theory that the Odyssey and Iliad are composed of numerous ballads by different minstrels, strung together in a kind of unity by subsequent editors.
Wolfram, wol′fram, n. a native compound of tungstate of iron and manganese. [Ger.]
Wolverene, Wolverine, wool-ve-rēn′, n. a name given to the American glutton or carcajou, from its rapacity. [Extension of wolf.]
Woman, woom′an, n. the female of man, an adult female of the human race: the female sex, women collectively: a female attendant:—pl. Women (wim′en).—v.t. to cause to act like a woman, to unite to a woman (both Shak.): to call a person 'woman' abusively.—n. Wom′an-bod′y (Scot.), a woman, used disparagingly.—adjs. Wom′an-born, born of woman; Wom′an-built, built by women.—adv. Wom′anfully, like a woman.—adj. Wom′an-grown, grown to womanhood.—ns. Wom′an-hāt′er, a misogynist; Wom′anhood, the state, character, or qualities of a woman.—adj. Wom′anish, having the qualities of a woman: feminine.—adv. Wom′anishly.—ns. Wom′anishness; Wom′ankind, Wom′enkind, women taken together: the female sex.—adj. Wom′an-like, like a woman.—n. Wom′anliness.—adj. Wom′anly, like or becoming a woman: feminine.—adv. in the manner of a woman.—ns. Wom′an-post (Shak.), a female messenger; Wom′an-quell′er, a killer of women; Wom′an-suff′rage, the exercise of the electoral franchise by women.—adjs. Wom′an-tired (Shak.), hen-pecked; Wom′an-vest′ed, wearing women's clothes.—Woman of the town, a whore; Woman of the world, a woman of fashion.—Women's rights, the movement of women towards personal and proprietary independence.—Play the woman, to give way to weakness. [A.S. wimman, wífman, a compound of wíf, a woman, man, man.]
Womb, wōōm, n. the uterus, the organ in which the young of mammals are developed and kept till birth: (Shak.) the stomach: the place where anything is produced: any deep cavity.—v.t. (Shak.) to contain.—adj. Womb′y (Shak.), capacious. [A.S. wamb; Ger. wamme, paunch.]
Wombat, wom′bat, n. an Australian marsupial mammal of the opossum family. [Native name.]
Won, wun, v.i. to dwell: to abide: to be accustomed.—n. a dwelling: an abode.—n. Won′ing, dwelling. [A.S. wunian, Dut. wonen, Ger. wohnen, to dwell.]
Won, wun, pa.t. and pa.p. of win.