Phenomenon
[fɪ'nɒmɪnən] or [fə'nɑmɪnən]
Definition
(noun.) any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning.
(noun.) a remarkable development.
Checker: Shelia--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) An appearance; anything visible; whatever, in matter or spirit, is apparent to, or is apprehended by, observation; as, the phenomena of heat, light, or electricity; phenomena of imagination or memory.
(n.) That which strikes one as strange, unusual, or unaccountable; an extraordinary or very remarkable person, thing, or occurrence; as, a musical phenomenon.
Inputed by Jenny
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [pl. Phenomena.] [1]. Appearance, what is seen (as distinguished from its essence or substance).[2]. Prodigy, wonder, marvel, miracle.
Checked by Douglas
Definition
n. an appearance: the appearance which anything makes to our consciousness as distinguished from what it is in itself: an observed result: a remarkable or unusual person thing or appearance:—pl. Phenom′ena.—adj. Phenom′enal pertaining to a phenomenon: of the nature of a phenomenon: so strange as to excite great wonder: out of the common.—v.t. Phenom′enalise to represent as a phenomenon.—ns. Phenom′enalism the philosophical doctrine that the phenomenal and the real are identical—that phenomena are the only realities—also Externalism; Phenom′enalist one who believes in phenomenalism; Phenomenal′ity the character of being phenomenal.—adv. Phenom′enally.—v.t. Phenom′enise to bring into the world of experience.—ns. Phenom′enism the doctrines of the phenomenists; Phenom′enist one who believes only what he observes or phenomena one who rejects necessary primary principles.—adj. Phenomenōlog′ical.—n. Phenomenol′ogy a description of phenomena.
Inputed by Delia
Examples
- This accounts for the phenomenon of the weaker of the two usually having a bundle of firewood thrust between its jaws in hot weather. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- We had the phenomenon of a full moon located just in the same spot in the heavens at the same hour every night. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- These, with an explanation of the phenomenon, he communicated in a letter to his friend, Sir John Pringle, which is among his philosophical pieces. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- He is, in sense and attachment, a phenomenon. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- I made suggestions of every kind to get around this phenomenon. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- From this phenomenon, the chemical action of acids upon metals and the production of an electric current were observed, and the voltaic pile was invented. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- This phenomenon is popularly described as the old moon in the new moon’s arms. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Before she could account for the phenomenon she found herself shaking hands with him. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- This marked a preconcerted moment--for the remote celestial phenomenon had been pressed into sublunary service as a lover's signal. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- What other factors are there to be taken into consideration to explain this phenomenon? Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Consequently the earth is not only spherical but also no t large; otherwise this phenomenon would not present itself on so limited a change of position on the part of the observer. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- It is a phenomenon, the corporal said. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- In whole-hearted play and work there is the same phenomenon. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- The term is also applied to the extraordinary phenomenon of the human body, which has been told of some people, whereby it is reduced to ashes without the application of fire. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Thou art a phenomenon of philosophy and an unfortunate man, he told himself and grinned again. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Its great interest for the history of thought lies in the fact that it is the result of seeking the constant in the variable, the unitary principle in the multiple phenomena of nature. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- But as men, personalities, they were just accidents, sporadic little unimportant phenomena. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- This is accomplished through the utilization of the phenomena of electromagnetism. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Scientific law appeared not merely as a formulation and explanation of observed phenomena but as a means for the discovery of new truths. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- The resultant compound i n turn dissolved water; hence the phenomena of evaporation. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- The underlying phenomena were similar, the difference consisting largely in the arrangement of the circuits and apparatus. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- They discussed the effect on business of the issue of paper money , various natural phenomena, and kept a sharp look-out for any encroachment on the rights of the people. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- But now we are all beginning to call these inductive phenomena 'etheric. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- In short, says Dalton, I was obliged to abandon the hypothesis of the chemical constitution of the atmosphere altogether as irrecon cilable to the phenomena. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- It studi es natural phenomena in relation to their material causes. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- Think of all this and ask yourself whether the world is more likely to be a believer in the unity of the idea, or in the multiplicity of phenomena. Plato. The Republic.
- Convection is responsible for winds and ocean currents, for land and sea breezes, and other daily phenomena. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- However this may be, the phenomena which it presents are both interesting and instructive. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- By him the atomic theory of the constitution of matter was made definite and applicable to all the phenomena known to chemistry. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- But whether it is true, we can judge only by seeing how far the hypothesis accords with and explains the general phenomena of nature. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
Typist: Miranda