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magnetismmore about magnetism

magnetism

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Magnetism  \Mag"net*ism\,  n.  [Cf.  F.  magn['e]tisme.] 
  The  property,  quality,  or  state,  of  being  magnetic;  the 
  manifestation  of  the  force  in  nature  which  is  seen  in  a 
  magnet. 
 
  2.  The  science  which  treats  of  magnetic  phenomena. 
 
  3.  Power  of  attraction;  power  to  excite  the  feelings  and  to 
  gain  the  affections.  ``By  the  magnetism  of  interest  our 
  affections  are  irresistibly  attracted.''  --Glanvill. 
 
  {Animal  magnetism},  a  force,  more  or  less  analogous  to 
  magnetism,  which  it  has  been  alleged,  is  produced  in 
  animal  tissues,  and  passes  from  one  body  to  another  with 
  or  without  actual  contact  The  existence  of  such  a  force, 
  and  its  potentiality  for  the  cure  of  disease,  were 
  asserted  by  Mesmer  in  1775.  His  theories  and  methods  were 
  afterwards  called  mesmerism,  a  name  which  has  been 
  popularly  applied  to  theories  and  claims  not  put  forward 
  by  Mesmer  himself.  See  {Mesmerism},  {Biology},  {Od}, 
  {Hypnotism}. 
 
  {Terrestrial  magnetism},  the  magnetic  force  exerted  by  the 
  earth,  and  recognized  by  its  effect  upon  magnetized 
  needles  and  bars. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  magnetism 
  n  1:  attraction  for  iron;  associated  with  electric  currents  as 
  well  as  magnets;  characterized  by  fields  of  force  [syn: 
  {magnetic  attraction},  {magnetic  force}] 
  2:  the  branch  of  science  that  studies  magnetism  [syn:  {magnetics}] 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  MAGNETISM,  n.  Something  acting  upon  a  magnet. 
  The  two  definitions  immediately  foregoing  are  condensed  from  the 
  works  of  one  thousand  eminent  scientists,  who  have  illuminated  the 
  subject  with  a  great  white  light,  to  the  inexpressible  advancement  of 
  human  knowledge.




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