n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; a god + &unr_; food, fr. &unr_; to eat: cf. F. théobrome. ] (Bot.) A genus of small trees. See Cacao. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid extracted from cacao butter (from the Theobroma Cacao), peanut oil (from Arachis hypogaea), etc., as a white waxy crystalline substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) An alkaloidal ureide, C7H8N4O2, homologous with and resembling caffeine, produced artificially, and also extracted from cacao and chocolate (from Theobroma Cacao) as a bitter white crystalline substance; -- called also dimethyl xanthine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; God + &unr_; anointed, fr. &unr_; to anoint. ] Anointed by God. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; God + &unr_; to be strong, to rule, fr. &unr_; strength: cf. F. théocratie. See Theism, and cf. Democracy. ] 1. Government of a state by the immediate direction or administration of God; hence, the exercise of political authority by priests as representing the Deity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state thus governed, as the Hebrew commonwealth before it became a kingdom. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; union of the soul with God; &unr_; God + &unr_; a mixing, akin to &unr_; to mix. ] 1. A mixture of the worship of different gods, as of Jehovah and idols. [ 1913 Webster ]

This syncretistic theocracy by no means excludes in him [ Solomon ] the proper service of idols. J. Murphy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Philos.) An intimate union of the soul with God in contemplation, -- an ideal of the Neoplatonists and of some Oriental mystics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who lives under a theocratic form of government; one who in civil affairs conforms to divine law. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. théocratique. ] Of or pertaining to a theocracy; administred by the immediate direction of God; as, the theocratical state of the Israelites. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. theodicaea, fr. Gr. &unr_; God + &unr_; right, justice: cf. F. théodicée. ] 1. A vindication of the justice of God in ordaining or permitting natural and moral evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That department of philosophy which treats of the being, perfections, and government of God, and the immortality of the soul. Krauth-Fleming. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Probably a corruption of the alidade. See Alidade. ] An instrument used, especially in trigonometrical surveying, for the accurate measurement of horizontal angles, and also usually of vertical angles. It is variously constructed. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The theodolite consists principally of a telescope, with cross wires in the focus of its object glass, clamped in Y's attached to a frame that is mounted so as to turn both on vertical and horizontal axes, the former carrying a vernier plate on a horizontal graduated plate or circle for azimuthal angles, and the latter a vertical graduated arc or semicircle for altitudes. The whole is furnished with levels and adjusting screws and mounted on a tripod. [ 1913 Webster ]