%stasis%

n. inhibition of the growth of bacteria, without outright killing of the organism. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to set; kata` down + &unr_; to place. ] 1. (Rhet.) That part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) The state, or condition of anything; constitution; habit of body. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biology) The inhibition or cessation of cell growth or division. [ PJC ]

‖n. [ NL. See Diastase. ] (Surg.) A forcible separation of bones without fracture. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The ability and tendency of certain systems to maintain a relatively constant internal state in spite of changes in external conditions; this ability is achieved by the presence of feedback mechanisms which can adjust the state of the system to compensate for changes in the state caused by the external environment. It is exemplified in homeothermal biological systems, such as animals which maintain relatively constant blood temperature and composition in spite of variations in external temperature or the composition of the food ingested. [ PJC ]

n.; pl. Hypostases [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_; subsistence, substance, fr. &unr_; to stand under; &unr_; under + &unr_; to stand, middle voice of &unr_; to cause to stand. See Hypo-, and Stand. ] 1. That which forms the basis of anything; underlying principle; a concept or mental entity conceived or treated as an existing being or thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Theol.) Substance; subsistence; essence; person; personality; -- used by the early theologians to denote any one of the three subdivisions of the Godhead, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Council of Alexandria (a. d. 362) defined hypostasis as synonymous with person. Schaff-Herzog. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Principle; an element; -- used by the alchemists in speaking of salt, sulphur, and mercury, which they considered as the three principles of all material bodies. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) That which is deposited at the bottom of a fluid; sediment. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. mh`n month + 'ista`nai to stop. ] (Med.) Stoppage of the menses. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Metastases [ L., transition, fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to place in another way; &unr_; after + &unr_; to place. ] 1. (Theol.) A spiritual change, as during baptism. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) A change in the location of a disease, as from one part to another. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Especially: The migration of cancerous or malignant cells from the site of their origin to other parts of the body. Such cells may migrate to multiple new locations, making therapy more difficult and often leading to death. [ PJC ]

4. (Physiol.) The act or process by which matter is taken up by cells or tissues and is transformed into other matter; in plants, the act or process by which are produced all of those chemical changes in the constituents of the plant which are not accompanied by a production of organic matter; metabolism. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. sta`sis a standing still. ] (Physiol.) A slackening or arrest of the blood current in the vessels, due not to a lessening of the heart's beat, but presumably to some abnormal resistance of the capillary walls. It is one of the phenomena observed in the capillaries in inflammation. [ 1913 Webster ]