n. The quality of being assimilable. [ R. ] Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be assimilated; that may be likened, or appropriated and incorporated. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assimilated p. pr. & vb. n. Assimilating ] [ L. assimilatus, p. p. of assimilare; ad + similare to make like, similis like. See Similar, Assemble, Assimilate. ] 1. To bring to a likeness or to conformity; to cause a resemblance between. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

To assimilate our law to the law of Scotland. John Bright. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fast falls a fleecy; the downy flakes
Assimilate all objects. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To liken; to compa&unr_;e. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To appropriate and transform or incorporate into the substance of the assimilating body; to absorb or appropriate, as nourishment; as, food is assimilated and converted into organic tissue. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hence also animals and vegetables may assimilate their nourishment. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

His mind had no power to assimilate the lessons. Merivale. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To become similar or like something else. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To change and appropriate nourishment so as to make it a part of the substance of the assimilating body. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aliment easily assimilated or turned into blood. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be converted into the substance of the assimilating body; to become incorporated; as, some kinds of food assimilate more readily than others. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am a foreign material, and cannot assimilate with the church of England. J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. tending to or characterized by or causing assimilation (being absorbed into or incorporated).
Syn. -- assimilative, assimilatory. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. assimilatio: cf. F. assimilation. ] 1. The act or process of assimilating or bringing to a resemblance, likeness, or identity; also, the state of being so assimilated; as, the assimilation of one sound to another. [ 1913 Webster ]

To aspire to an assimilation with God. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

The assimilation of gases and vapors. Sir J. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physiol.) The conversion of nutriment into the fluid or solid substance of the body, by the processes of digestion and absorption, whether in plants or animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not conversing the body, not repairing it by assimilation, but preserving it by ventilation. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term assimilation has been limited by some to the final process by which the nutritive matter of the blood is converted into the substance of the tissues and organs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. LL. assimilativus, F. assimilatif. ] Tending to, or characterized by, assimilation; that assimilates or causes assimilation; as, an assimilative process or substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to assimilate, or produce assimilation; as, assimilatory organs. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. [ Cf. F. consimilitude. See Similitude. ] Common resemblance. [ Obs. ] Aubrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Physiol.) To subject to disassimilation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physics) The decomposition of complex substances, within the organism, into simpler ones suitable only for excretion, with evolution of energy, -- a normal nutritional process the reverse of assimilation; downward metabolism; -- now more commonly called catabolism. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

The breaking down of already existing chemical compounds into simpler ones, sometimes called disassimilation. Martin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol.) Having power to disassimilate; of the nature of disassimilation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Disassimilative processes constitute a marked feature in the life of animal cells. McKendrick. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. dis- + similar: cf. F. dissimilaire. ] Not similar; unlike; heterogeneous; as, the tempers of men are as dissimilar as their features. [ 1913 Webster ]

This part very dissimilar to any other. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Want of resemblance; unlikeness; dissimilitude; variety; as, the dissimilarity of human faces and forms. Sir W. Jones. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a dissimilar manner; in a varied style. [ 1913 Webster ]

With verdant shrubs dissimilarly gay. C. Smart. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To render dissimilar. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of making dissimilar. H. Sweet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. dissimile, neut. of dissimilis unlike. ] (Rhet.) Comparison or illustration by contraries. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. dissimilitudo, fr. dissimilis: cf. F. dissimilitude. ] 1. Want of resemblance; unlikeness; dissimilarity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dissimilitude between the Divinity and images. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Rhet.) A comparison by contrast; a dissimile. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Facsimiles [ L. fac simile make like; or an abbreviation of factum simile made like; facere to make + similes like. See Fact, and Simile. ] 1. A copy of anything made, either so as to be deceptive or so as to give every part and detail of the original; an exact copy or likeness. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Telecommunications) A method for reproducing documents, drawing, or other planar image at a remote location by converting the document into coded electronic signals at one point, transmitting data via telephone line or radio signals to the remote point, and converting the signals back into a likeness of the original image. The device used at each end to convert the image to and from electronic signals was originally called Facsimile telegraph, then telefax machine, and now more commonly fax machine. The same process, using the same data transmission protocols, is now performed not only by devices dedicated exclusively to the telefax process, but also by computers and combined copying/scanning/telefax machines. Also called telefax or fax. [ PJC ]

Facsimile telegraph, a telegraphic apparatus reproducing messages in autograph; a fax machine. [ 1913 Webster+ PJC ]

v. t. To make a facsimile of. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of verisimilitude or likelihood; improbability. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Mal- + assimilation. ] (Physiol.) (a) Imperfect digestion of the several leading constituents of the food. (b) An imperfect elaboration by the tissues of the materials brought to them by the blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. pessimus worst, superl. of pejor worse: cf. F. pessimisme. Cf. Impair. ] 1. (Metaph.) The opinion or doctrine that everything in nature is ordered for or tends to the worst, or that the world is wholly evil; -- opposed to optimism. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A disposition to take the least hopeful view of a situation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. pessimus worst: cf. F. pessimiste. ] 1. (Metaph.) One who advocates the doctrine of pessimism; -- opposed to optimist. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who looks on the dark side of things. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. (Metaph.) Of or pertaining to pessimism; characterized by pessimism; gloomy; foreboding. “Giving utterance to pessimistic doubt.” Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pessimistic. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To hold or advocate the doctrine of pessimism. London Sat. Rev. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Pro-. and Simia. ] (Zool.) Same as Lemuroidea. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To assimilate again. -- Re`as*sim`i*la"tion n. [1913 Webster]

‖n. [ L., an ape; cf. simus flatnosed, snub-nosed, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;. ] (Zool.) A Linnaean genus of Quadrumana which included the types of numerous modern genera. By modern writers it is usually restricted to the genus which includes the orang-outang. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Simian; apelike. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. simia an ape. ] (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the family Simiadae, which, in its widest sense, includes all the Old World apes and monkeys; also, apelike. -- n. Any Old World monkey or ape. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. similaire, fr. L. similis like, similar. See Same, a., and cf. Simulate. ] 1. Exactly corresponding; resembling in all respects; precisely like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Nearly corresponding; resembling in many respects; somewhat like; having a general likeness. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Homogenous; uniform. [ R. ] Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Similar figures (Geom.), figures which differ from each other only in magnitude, being made up of the same number of like parts similarly situated. --
Similar rectilineal figures, such as have their several angles respectively equal, each to each, and their sides about the equal angles proportional. --
Similar solids, such as are contained by the same number of similar planes, similarly situated, and having like inclination to one another. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which is similar to, or resembles, something else, as in quality, form, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. -ties [ Cf. F. similarité. ] The quality or state of being similar; likeness; resemblance; as, a similarity of features. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hardly is there a similarity detected between two or three facts, than men hasten to extend it to all. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a similar manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Similar. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Rhyming cadences of similarly words. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Implying or indicating likeness or resemblance. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

In similative or instrumental relation to a pa. pple. [ past participle ], as almond-leaved, -scented, etc. New English Dict. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Similes [ L., from similis. See Similar. ] (Rhet.) A word or phrase by which anything is likened, in one or more of its aspects, to something else; a similitude; a poetical or imaginative comparison. [ 1913 Webster ]

A good swift simile, but something currish. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., in like manner. ] (Law) The technical name of the form by which either party, in pleading, accepts the issue tendered by his opponent; -- called sometimes a joinder in issue. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. similitude, L. similitudo, from similis similar. See Similar. ] 1. The quality or state of being similar or like; resemblance; likeness; similarity; as, similitude of substance. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let us make now man in our image, man
In our similitude. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

If fate some future bard shall join
In sad similitude of griefs to mine. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of likening, or that which likens, one thing to another; fanciful or imaginative comparison; a simile. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tasso, in his similitudes, never departed from the woods; that is, all his comparisons were taken from the country. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is like or similar; a representation, semblance, or copy; a facsimile. [ 1913 Webster ]

Man should wed his similitude. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Involving or expressing similitude. [ Obs. ] Coke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To liken; to compare; as, to similize a person, thing, or act. Lowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. similus similar + F. or gold, L. aurum. Cf. Semilor. ] An alloy of copper and zinc, resembling brass, but of a golden color. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

a.[ L. simia an ape. ] (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Simiæ; monkeylike. [ 1913 Webster ]

That strange simious, schoolboy passion of giving pain to others. Sydney Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Scimiter. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. verisimilis; verus true + similis like, similar. See Very, and Similar. ] Having the appearance of truth; probable; likely. “How verisimilar it looks.” Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. verisimilitudo: cf. OF. verisimilitude. See Verisimilar. ] The quality or state of being verisimilar; the appearance of truth; probability; likelihood. [ 1913 Webster ]

Verisimilitude and opinion are an easy purchase; but true knowledge is dear and difficult. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

All that gives verisimilitude to a narrative. Sir. W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Verisimilitude. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The verisimility or probable truth. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]