n. 1. 1 a subclass of primitive reptilelike fossil birds of the Jurassic or early Cretaceous.
Syn. -- subclass Archaeornithes [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a antural family comprising the scrubbirds.
Syn. -- family Atrichornithidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr., Gr. e'y^ well + &unr_;, &unr_; a bird. ] (Zoöl.) The division of Aves which includes all the typical birds, or all living birds except the penguins and birds of ostrichlike form. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Obs. ] See Niding. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth + &unr_;, &unr_;, a bird. ] (Paleon.) A group of Mesozoic birds having the jaws armed with teeth, as in most other vertebrates. They have been divided into three orders: Odontolcae, Odontotormae, and Saururae. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'o`rnis, 'o`rniqos, a bird. ] Of or pertaining to birds; as, ornithic fossils. Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Ornitho- + Gr. 'i`chnos track. ] (Paleon.) The footmark of a bird occurring in strata of stone. Hitchcock. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Ornitho- + ichnology. ] (Paleon.) The branch of science which treats of ornithichnites. Hitchcock. [ 1913 Webster ]

. [ Cf. Ern. ] A combining form fr. Gr. 'o`rnis, 'o`rniqos, a bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. 'o`rnis + delfy`s the womb. ] Same as Monotremata. -- Or`ni*tho*del"phid a. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Ornitho- + -oid + Gr. 'i`chnos footstep, track. ] (Paleon.) A fossil track resembling that of a bird. Hitchcock. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Ornitho- + -lite. ] (Paleon.) (a) The fossil remains of a bird. (b) A stone of various colors bearing the figures of birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. ornithologique. ] Of or pertaining to ornithology; as, her ornithological interests. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. ornithologiste. ] One skilled in ornithology; a student of ornithology; one who describes birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Ornitho- + -logy: cf. F. ornithologie. ] 1. That branch of Zoology which treats of the natural history of birds and their classification. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A treatise or book on this science. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; 'o`rnis, 'o`rniqos, a bird + &unr_; divination: cf. F. ornithomancie. ] Divination by means of birds, their flight, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ornithomancy grew into an elaborate science. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. 'o`rnis, 'o`rniqos, a bird. ] An aviary; a poultry house. Weale. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. pl. [ NL., from Gr. 'o`rnis a bird + &unr_; an ancestor. ] (Zool.) An extinct order of birds. It includes only the Archaeopteryx. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. pl. [ NL. See Ornitho-, and -poda. ] (Paleon.) An order of herbivorous dinosaurs with birdlike characteristics in the skeleton, esp. in the pelvis and hind legs, which in some genera had only three functional toes, and supported the body in walking as in Iguanodon. See Illust. in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. The natural family of monotremes including the platypus (duckbill) (Ornithorhyncus anatinus).
Syn. -- family Ornithorhynchidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. [ NL., fr. Gr. 'o`rnis, 'o`rniqos, a bird + &unr_; snout, beak. ] (Zool.) A genus of monotremes including the platypus (Ornithorhyncus anatinus). See Duck mole, under Duck. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. pl. [ NL. See Ornitho-, and Sauria. ] (Paleon.) An order of extinct flying reptiles; -- called also Pterosauria. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. 'o`rnis, 'o`rniqos, a bird + &unr_; a leg. ] (Zool.) A group of extinct Reptilia, intermediate in structure (especially with regard to the pelvis) between reptiles and birds. -- Or`ni*tho*scel"i*dan a. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Ornitho- + -scopy: cf. Gr. &unr_; divination from birds. ] Observation of birds and their habits. [ R. ] De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to ornithotomy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who is skilled in ornithotomy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'o`rnis, 'o`rniqos, a bird + te`mnein to cut. ] The anatomy or dissection of birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The paleobiology of birds.
Syn. -- paleornithology. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Paleo- + ornithology. ] The branch of paleontology which treats of fossil birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ AS. snīðan to cut. See Snathe. ] Sharp; piercing; cutting; -- applied to the wind. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. senyth, OF. cenith, F. zénith, Sp. zenit, cenit, abbrev. fr. Ar. samt-urras way of the head, vertical place; samt way, path + al the + ras head. Cf. Azimuth. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. That point in the visible celestial hemisphere which is vertical to the spectator; the point of the heavens directly overhead; -- opposed to nadir. [ 1913 Webster ]

From morn
To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,
A summer's day; and with the setting sun
Dropped from the zenith, like a falling star. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. hence, figuratively, the point of culmination; the greatest height; the height of success or prosperity. [ 1913 Webster ]

I find my zenith doth depend upon
A most auspicious star. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

This dead of midnight is the noon of thought,
And wisdom mounts her zenith with the stars. Mrs. Barbauld. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was during those civil troubles . . . this aspiring family reached the zenith. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Zenith distance. (Astron.) See under Distance. --
Zenith sector. (Astron.) See Sector, 3. --
Zenith telescope (Geodesy), a telescope specially designed for determining the latitude by means of any two stars which pass the meridian about the same time, and at nearly equal distances from the zenith, but on opposite sides of it. It turns both on a vertical and a horizontal axis, is provided with a graduated vertical semicircle, and a level for setting it to a given zenith distance, and with a micrometer for measuring the difference of the zenith distances of the two stars. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the zenith. “The deep zenithal blue.” Tyndall. [ 1913 Webster ]