*lysis*

n. [ Amylum + Gr. ly`sis a loosing. ] (Chem.) The conversion of starch into soluble products, as dextrins and sugar, esp. by the action of enzymes. -- Am`y*lo*lyt"ic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

n.; pl. Analyses [ Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to unloose, to dissolve, to resolve into its elements; &unr_; up + &unr_; to loose. See Loose. ] 1. A resolution of anything, whether an object of the senses or of the intellect, into its constituent or original elements; an examination of the component parts of a subject, each separately, as the words which compose a sentence, the tones of a tune, or the simple propositions which enter into an argument. It is opposed to synthesis. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) The separation of a compound substance, by chemical processes, into its constituents, with a view to ascertain either (a) what elements it contains, or (b) how much of each element is present. The former is called qualitative, and the latter quantitative analysis. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Logic) The tracing of things to their source, and the resolving of knowledge into its original principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Math.) The resolving of problems by reducing the conditions that are in them to equations. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (a) A syllabus, or table of the principal heads of a discourse, disposed in their natural order. (b) A brief, methodical illustration of the principles of a science. In this sense it is nearly synonymous with synopsis. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Nat. Hist.) The process of ascertaining the name of a species, or its place in a system of classification, by means of an analytical table or key. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ultimate,
Proximate,
Qualitative,
Quantitative, and
Volumetric analysis. (Chem.) See under Ultimate, Proximate, Qualitative, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Statistics) a statistical technique by which the results of an observation or experiment are analyzed to determine the relative contributions of the different possible causative factors or variables to the outcome. Abbreviated ANOVA. [ PJC ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; vapor + &unr_; a loosing, &unr_; to loose. ] (Chem.) The act or process of separating mingled gases of unequal diffusibility by transmission through porous substances. See also gaseous diffusion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Auto- + catalysis. ] (Chem.) Self-catalysis; catalysis of a substance by one of its own products, as of silver oxide by the silver formed by reduction of a small portion of it. -- Au`to*cat`a*lyt"ic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

n. 1. lysis of cells or tissues due to enzymatic activity from within the cell, as contrasted with externally induced lysis. Autolysis occurs to tissues of higher animals when they are detached from the organism. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ NL.; fr. Gr. bakth`rion, ba`ktron, a staff + &unr_; a loosing. ] 1. Chemical decomposition brought about by bacteria without the addition of oxygen. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. The destruction or dissolution of bacterial cells. -- Bac*te`ri*o*lyt"ic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

‖n. [ Gr. bi`os life + &unr_; a dissolving. ] (Biol.) The destruction of life. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Catalyse. ety>[ ML., fr. Gr. &unr_; dissolution, fr. &unr_; to destroy, dissolve; kata` down, wholly + &unr_; to loose. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Dissolution; degeneration; decay. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Sad catalysis and declension of piety. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) (a) A process by which a chemical reaction is accelerated in the presence of certain agents which were formerly believed to exert an influence by mere contact. It is now believed that such reactions are attended with the formation of an intermediate compound or compounds, so that by alternate composition and decomposition the agent is apparenty left unchanged; as, the catalysis of making ether from alcohol by means of sulphuric acid; or catalysis in the action of enzymes (as diastase, or ptyalin) on starch. (b) The catalytic force. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ Chemical + Gr. &unr_; a loosing. ] A term sometimes applied to the decomposition of organic substance into more simple bodies, by the use of chemical agents alone. Thudichum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the science which studies methods to discovering the secret meaning of encrypted messages for which one does not possess the secret decoding information (called the key). [ PJC ]

2. the methods and procedures used to discover the secret meaning hidden in encrypted messages. [ PJC ]

‖n.; pl. Dialyses [ L., separation, fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to part asunder, dissolve; dia` through + &unr_; to loose. ] 1. (Gram.) Diæresis. See Diæresis, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Rhet.) Same as Asyndeton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) (a) Debility. (b) A solution of continuity; division; separation of parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Chem.) The separation of different substances in solution, as crystalloids and colloids, by means of their unequal diffusion, especially through natural or artificial membranes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Electro- + Gr. &unr_; a loosing, dissolving, fr. &unr_; to loose, dissolve. ] (Physics & Chem.) The act or process of chemical decomposition, by the action of electricity; as, the electrolysis of silver or nickel for plating; the electrolysis of water. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art of judging of a person's character, disposition, and aptitude from his handwriting; also called graphology. As a discipline, the modern form was developed by Milton Newman Bunker in the period after 1915. Though its practitioners consider it a science, many commentators believe that its methodology is not scientific, and some consider it a pseudoscience, as is astrology. Some information about graphoanalysis and its methods can be found at the web site maintained by the International Graphoanalysis Society. [ PJC ]

‖n. [ NL.; haemato- + Gr. ly`sis a loosing, dissolving, fr. ly`ein to loose, dissolve. ] (Physiol.) Dissolution of the red blood corpuscles with diminished coagulability of the blood; haemolysis. -- Haem`a*to*lyt"ic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. a"i^ma blood + ky`tos hollow vessel + ly`ein to loosen, dissolve.] (Physiol.) See Haemocytotrypsis. [1913 Webster]

‖n., /mhw>, a. (Physiol.) Same as Haematolysis, Haematolytic. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. The lysis of erythrocytes in the blood with the release of hemoglobin.
Syn. -- hemolysis, haemolysis, haematolysis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The lysis of erythrocytes with the release of hemoglobin; the breaking apart of red blood cells in the blood.
Syn. -- haemolysis, hematolysis, haematolysis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. "isto`s tissue + &unr_; to loosen, dissolve.] (Biol.) The decay and dissolution of the organic tissues and of the blood. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Hydro-, 1 + -lysis. ] (Chem.) A chemical process causing the splitting of a chemical bond by the addition of the elements of water. Where the bond which is split is not part of a ring structure, this process causes formation of two compounds from one compound plus water, as in the hydrolysis of the ester bonds of fats during saponification. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

. (Med.) An acute viral disease, affecting almost exclusively infants and young adults, characterized by inflammation of the anterior horns of the gray substance of the spinal cord. It is attended with febrile symptoms, motor paralysis, and muscular atrophy, often producing permanent deformities. Called also acute anterior poliomyelitis, poliomyelitis and polio. It is caused by any one of three polioviruses, and by the end of the twentieth century had been almost completely eradicated in developed countries by a widespread campaign of immunization. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. ly`sis. ] (Med.) The resolution or favorable termination of a disease, coming on gradually and not marked by abrupt change. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is usually contrasted with crisis, in which the improvement is sudden and marked; as, pneumonia ends by crisis, typhoid fever by lysis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + analysis. ] 1. Analysis of the structure of materials from careful observation of photomicrographs. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Chem.) Chemical analysis of very small quantities of substances, requiring special apparatus to handle and weigh small amounts of materials. [ PJC ]

‖n. [ NL. osteo- + Gr. ly`sis a loosing. ] Softening and absorption of bone. -- Os`te*o*lyt"ic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

n. [ L., fr. Gr. para`lysis, fr. paraly`ein to loosen, dissolve, or disable at the side; para` beside + ly`ein to loosen. See Para-, and Loose, and cf. Palsy. ] (Med.) Abolition of function, whether complete or partial; esp., the loss of the power of voluntary motion, with or without that of sensation, in any part of the body; palsy. See Hemiplegia, and Paraplegia. Also used figuratively; as, paralysis of the will. “Utter paralysis of memory.” G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mischievous practices arising out of the paralysis of the powers of ownership. Duke of Argyll (1887). [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Proteolytic. ] (Physiol. Chem.) The digestion or dissolving of proteid matter by proteolytic ferments. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Psycho- + analysis. ] same as psychoanalysis; -- an older term now obsolete. -- Psy*chan`a*lyt"ic a. -- Psy`cha*nal"y*sist n. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. A method or process of psychotherapeutic analysis and treatment pf psychoneuroses, based on the work of Dr. Sigmund Freud (1856- 1939) of Vienna. The method rests upon the theory that neurosis is characteristically due to repression of desires consciously rejected but subconsciously persistent; it consists in a close analysis of the patient's mental history, effort being made to bring unconsciuos and preconscious material to consciousness; the methods include analysis of transferance and resistance. In some variants, stress is laid upon the dream life, and of treatment by means of suggestion. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

2. The theory of human psychology which is the foundation for the psychoanalytic therapy, which explores the relation between conscious and unconscious mental processes in motivating human behavior and causing neuroses. [ PJC ]

3. An integrated set of theories of human personality development, motivation, and behavior based on a body of observations. [ Stedman ] [ PJC ]

4. One of several schools of psychotherapy, such as jungian psychoanalysis or freudian psychoanalysis. [ Stedman ] [ PJC ]

-- Psy`cho*an`a*lyt"ic, a.; Psych`o*an"al*ist n., etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Thermo- + Gr. ly`ein to loose. ] (Chem.) The resolution of a compound into parts by heat; dissociation by heat. [ 1913 Webster ]