ceno

{ a. [ Cf. F. cénobitique. ] Of or pertaining to a cenobite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being a cenobite; the belief or practice of a cenobite. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. koino`s common + ga`mos marriage. ] The state of a community which permits promiscuous sexual intercourse among its members, as in certain societies practicing communism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; new + E. genesis. ] (Biol.) The introduction during embryonic development of characters or structure not present in the earlier evolutionary history of the strain or species (as addition of the placenta in mammalian evolution); a modified evolution, in which nonprimitive characters make their appearance in consequence of a secondary adaptation of the embryo to the peculiar conditions of its environment; -- distinguished from palingenesis. [ Also spelled caenogenesis and formerly kenogenesis. ] [ WordNet 1.5 + 1913 Webster ]

adj. of or pertaining to cenogenesis. Opposite of palingenetic. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. kenota`fion; keno`s empty + ta`fos burial, tomb: cf. F. cénotaphe. ] An empty tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person who is buried elsewhere. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

A cenotaph in Westminster Abbey. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A cenotaph. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Lord Cobham honored him with a cenotaphy. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]