dichotomy

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_;: cf. F. dichotomie. See Dichotomous. ] 1. A cutting in two; a division. [ 1913 Webster ]

A general breach or dichotomy with their church. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Division or distribution of genera into two species; division into two subordinate parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) That phase of the moon in which it appears bisected, or shows only half its disk, as at the quadratures. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Biol.) Successive division and subdivision, as of a stem of a plant or a vein of the body, into two parts as it proceeds from its origin; successive bifurcation. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The place where a stem or vein is forked. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Logic) Division into two; especially, the division of a class into two subclasses opposed to each other by contradiction, as the division of the term man into white and not white. [ 1913 Webster ]