[syn: measure, evaluate, valuate, assess, appraise, value]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
measure \meas"ure\ (m[e^]zh"[-u]r; 135), n. [OE. mesure, F.
mesure, L. mensura, fr. metiri, mensus, to measure; akin to
metrum poetical measure, Gr. me`tron, E. meter. Cf.
Immense, Mensuration, Mete to measure.]
1. A standard of dimension; a fixed unit of quantity or
extent; an extent or quantity in the fractions or
multiples of which anything is estimated and stated;
hence, a rule by which anything is adjusted or judged.
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2. An instrument by means of which size or quantity is
measured, as a graduated line, rod, vessel, or the like.
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False ells and measures be brought all clean adown.
--R. of
Gloucester.
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3. The dimensions or capacity of anything, reckoned according
to some standard; size or extent, determined and stated;
estimated extent; as, to take one's measure for a coat.
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The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and
broader than the sea. --Job xi. 9.
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4. The contents of a vessel by which quantity is measured; a
quantity determined by a standard; a stated or limited
quantity or amount.
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It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in
three measures of meal. --Luke xiii.
21.
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5. Extent or degree not excessive or beyong bounds;
moderation; due restraint; esp. in the phrases, in
measure; with measure; without or beyond measure.
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Hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth
without measure. --Is. v. 14.
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6. Determined extent, not to be exceeded; limit; allotted
share, as of action, influence, ability, or the like; due
proportion.
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Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of
my days. --Ps. xxxix.
4.
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7. The quantity determined by measuring, especially in buying
and selling; as, to give good or full measure.
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8. Undefined quantity; extent; degree.
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There is a great measure of discretion to be used in
the performance of confession. --Jer. Taylor.
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9. Regulated division of movement:
(a) (Dancing) A regulated movement corresponding to the
time in which the accompanying music is performed;
but, especially, a slow and stately dance, like the
minuet.
(b) (Mus.) (1) The group or grouping of beats, caused by
the regular recurrence of accented beats. (2) The
space between two bars. See Beat, Triple,
Quadruple, Sextuple, Compound time, under
Compound, a., and Figure.
(c) (Poetry) The manner of ordering and combining the
quantities, or long and short syllables; meter;
rhythm; hence, a foot; as, a poem in iambic measure.
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10. (Arith.) A number which is contained in a given number a
number of times without a remainder; as in the phrases,
the common measure, the greatest common measure, etc., of
two or more numbers; a denominator. See common
denominator under denominator.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
11. A step or definite part of a progressive course or
policy; a means to an end; an act designed for the
accomplishment of an object; as, political measures;
prudent measures; an inefficient measure.
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His majesty found what wrong measures he had taken
in the conferring that trust, and lamented his
error. --Clarendon.
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12. The act of measuring; measurement. --Shak.
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13. pl. (Geol.) Beds or strata; as, coal measures; lead
measures.
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linear measure, lineal measure, or long measure,
measure of length; the measure of lines or distances.
Liquid measure, the measure of liquids.
Square measure, the measure of superficial area of surfaces
in square units, as inches, feet, miles, etc.
To have hard measure, to have harsh treatment meted out to
one; to be harshly or oppressively dealt with.
To take measures, to make preparations; to provide means.
To take one's measure, to measure one, as for a garment;
hence, to form an opinion of one's disposition, character,
ability, etc.
To tread a measure, to dance in the style so called. See 9
(a) .
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Say to her, we have measured many miles
To tread a measure with her on this grass.
--Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Measure \Meas"ure\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Measured; p. pr. & vb.
n. Measuring.] [F. mesurer, L. mensurare. See Measure,
n.]
1. To ascertain by use of a measuring instrument; to compute
or ascertain the extent, quantity, dimensions, or capacity
of, by a certain rule or standard; to take the dimensions
of; hence, to estimate; to judge of; to value; to
appraise.
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Great are thy works, Jehovah, infinite
Thy power! what thought can measure thee? --Milton.
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2. To serve as the measure of; as, the thermometer measures
changes of temperature.
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3. To pass throught or over in journeying, as if laying off
and determining the distance.
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A true devoted pilgrim is not weary
To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps. --Shak.
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4. To adjust by a rule or standard.
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To secure a contented spirit, measure your desires
by your fortunes, not your fortunes by your desires.
--Jer. Taylor.
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5. To allot or distribute by measure; to set off or apart by
measure; -- often with out or off.
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With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to
you again. --Matt. vii.
2.
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That portion of eternity which is called time,
measured out by the sun. --Addison.
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To measure swords with one, to try another's skill in the
use of the sword; hence, figuratively, to match one's
abilities against an antagonist's.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Measure \Meas"ure\, v. i.
1. To make a measurement or measurements.
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2. To result, or turn out, on measuring; as, the grain
measures well; the pieces measure unequally.
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3. To be of a certain size or quantity, or to have a certain
length, breadth, or thickness, or a certain capacity
according to a standard measure; as, cloth measures three
fourths of a yard; a tree measures three feet in diameter.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
measure
n 1: any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal; "the
situation called for strong measures"; "the police took
steps to reduce crime" [syn: measure, step]
2: how much there is or how many there are of something that you
can quantify [syn: measure, quantity, amount]
3: a statute in draft before it becomes law; "they held a public
hearing on the bill" [syn: bill, measure]
4: the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena
according to a rule; "the measurements were carefully done";
"his mental measurings proved remarkably accurate" [syn:
measurement, measuring, measure, mensuration]
5: a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other
things can be evaluated; "the schools comply with federal
standards"; "they set the measure for all subsequent work"
[syn: standard, criterion, measure, touchstone]
6: (prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse [syn:
meter, metre, measure, beat, cadence]
7: musical notation for a repeating pattern of musical beats;
"the orchestra omitted the last twelve bars of the song"
[syn: measure, bar]
8: measuring instrument having a sequence of marks at regular
intervals; used as a reference in making measurements [syn:
measuring stick, measure, measuring rod]
9: a container of some standard capacity that is used to obtain
fixed amounts of a substance
v 1: determine the measurements of something or somebody, take
measurements of; "Measure the length of the wall" [syn:
measure, mensurate, measure out]
2: express as a number or measure or quantity; "Can you quantify
your results?" [syn: quantify, measure]
3: have certain dimensions; "This table surfaces measures
20inches by 36 inches"
4: evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, ability, extent, or
significance of; "I will have the family jewels appraised by
a professional"; "access all the factors when taking a risk"
[syn: measure, evaluate, valuate, assess, appraise,
value]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
864 Moby Thesaurus words for "measure":
A, Alexandrine, Spenserian stanza, Stabreim, a, accent,
accent mark, accentuation, accommodate, accommodation,
accomplished fact, accomplishment, accord, achievement, acreage,
act, acta, action, ad hoc measure, adapt, add, additionally,
adjust, adjust to, adventure, air, algebraize, alliterative meter,
allocate, allot, allotment, allowance, amount, amphibrach,
amphimacer, amplitude, anacrusis, analogize, anapest,
angstrom unit, answer, antispast, antistrophe, apportion,
apportionment, appraisal, appraise, appraisement, appreciate,
approach, approximation, area, aria, arsis, artifice, as a bonus,
ascertain, assay, assess, assessment, assign, assimilate, assize,
assizement, astronomical unit, attain, attune, avenue, bacchius,
badge, balance, banner, bar, barometer, barrel, bass passage,
batch, be equal to, be up to, beat, beauty, benchmark, besides,
big end, bigger half, bigness, bill, bit, bite, block, blow, body,
book, bound, bourdon, breadth, bridge, bring into analogy,
bring into comparison, budget, bulk, bunch, burden, bushel, bylaw,
ca, cadence, cadency, caesura, calculate, calculation, caliber,
calibrate, caliper, call, call off, call over, call the roll,
canon, canto, cantus, capacity, cast, catalexis, census, centare,
centimeter, chain, character, characteristic, check,
check a parameter, chloriamb, chloriambus, chorus, chunk, cipher,
class, clutch, coda, colon, commission, compare,
compare and contrast, compare with, compass, computation, compute,
concinnity, confront, constraint, content, contingent, continuum,
contrast, contrivance, control, coordinate, cord, cordage,
correction, count, countermove, counterpoint, counterpose, coup,
couplet, course, course of action, cover, coverage, cretic,
criterion, cubic foot, cubic meter, cubit, cup, custos, cut,
cut the mustard, cut to, dactyl, dactylic hexameter, deal,
deal out, dealings, decaliter, decameter, decastere, deciliter,
decimeter, decrease, decree, deed, degree, dekameter, delimit,
delimitate, demarche, depth, descant, destiny, determination,
determine, development, device, diaeresis, dial, diameter,
diapason, dictate, dictation, differentia, dimension, dimensions,
dimeter, dipody, direct, direction, dispense, disperse, distance,
distich, distribute, divide, dividend, division, dkl, do, dochmiac,
dodge, doing, doings, dole, dole out, dope out, dose, dot,
draw a comparison, draw a parallel, drop, dry pint, earmark, edict,
effort, elegiac, elegiac couplet, elegiac pentameter, ell, em,
emphasis, emptiness, empty space, en, enactment, end, endeavor,
enlarge, enterprise, enumerate, envoi, epitrite, epode, equal,
equal share, equalize, equilibrium, estimate, estimation, euphony,
evaluate, evaluation, expanse, expansion, expedient, exploit,
exposition, expression mark, extension, extent, extract roots,
extreme, fait accompli, fate, fathom, feat, feminine caesura,
fermata, field, fifth, figure, figure in, figure out, figure up,
find out, finger, fit, fix, folderol, foliate, foot, footstep,
force, forearming, forehandedness, foresight, foresightedness,
forethought, forethoughtfulness, form, form an estimate, formality,
formula, formulary, fur, furlong, furthermore, gage,
galactic space, gallon, gauge, gauger, gauging, gear to, gest,
gill, gimmick, girth, give an appreciation, give out, go, go over,
gob, grade, graduate, graduated scale, greatness, group, guess, ha,
half, hallmark, halver, hand, hand out, handiwork, harmonic close,
harmonize, harmony, heap, hectare, height, helping, heptameter,
heptapody, heptastich, heroic couplet, hexameter, hexapody,
hexastich, hogshead, hold, homologate, homologize, hunk, iamb,
iambic, iambic pentameter, ictus, idiosyncrasy, image,
improvisation, in addition, inch, increase, index, indicant,
indicator, infinite space, infinity, insignia, institution,
instrument, instrumentation, insurance, interest, interlude,
intermezzo, interstellar space, interval, into the bargain,
introductory phrase, ionic, issue, jeroboam, jigger, jingle, job,
judge, jury-rig, jury-rigged expedient, jus, key signature, key to,
keynote, kiloliter, kilometer, large amount, largeness,
last expedient, last resort, last shift, law, lay, lay off, lead,
league, leap, legislation, length, lengthiness, level, lex,
ligature, light-year, liken, liken to, lilt, limit, limitation,
line, linear measures, link, litmus test, long time, longitude,
longness, lot, magnitude, magnum, make an estimation, make plumb,
make the grade, make uniform, makeshift, maneuver, mark, mark off,
mark out, masculine caesura, mass, match, matter, means,
measure against, measure out, measure up to, measuredness,
measurement, measurer, measures, measuring, meed, meet, melodia,
melodic line, melody, mensurate, mensuration, mess, metaphorize,
mete, mete out, meter, method, metric system, metrical accent,
metrical foot, metrical group, metrical pattern, metrical unit,
metrics, metron, metronomic mark, micron, mil, mile, mileage,
milliliter, minim, model, moderateness, moderation, modicum,
moiety, molossus, monostich, mora, moreover, motif, motion, move,
movement, multiply, musical phrase, musical sentence, myriameter,
nail, norm, notation, notch, note, nothingness, nuance, number,
numbers, numerate, octastich, octave, octet, operation, oppose,
order, orderedness, ordinance, ordonnance, ornament, ottava rima,
outer space, overall length, overpass, overt act, pace, pace off,
pack, paeon, page, paginate, palm, parallel, parameter, parcel,
parcel out, parsec, part, pas, pass out, pass over, pass through,
passage, patrol, pattern, pause, peck, peculiarity, peg,
pentameter, pentapody, pentastich, perambulate, percentage, perch,
peregrinate, pererrate, performance, period, perpetuity, phrase,
pica, picture, piece, pint, pis aller, pitch, place against, plan,
plane, plateau, plumb, ply, point, pole, poll, pony, portion,
poundage, precaution, precautions, precautiousness, presa,
prescript, prescription, preventive measure, prize, probe,
procedure, proceeding, proceleusmatic, process, production,
project, property, proportion, proportions, proposal, proposition,
prosodic pattern, prosody, protection, providence, provision,
put in tune, pyrrhic, quantification, quantify, quantitative meter,
quantity, quantization, quantize, quantum, quart, quatrain, quota,
radius, rake-off, range, range over, rank, rate, rating, ratio,
ration, reach, reading, readout, reckon, reconcile, reconnoiter,
rectify, reduce, refrain, regulate, regulation, relate, remove,
representation, representative, res gestae, resolution, resort,
resource, response, restraint, rhyme, rhyme royal, rhythm,
rhythmic pattern, right, ritornello, rod, rood, room, round,
rubric, rule, ruling, run a comparison, run over, rung, safeguard,
scale, scanning, scansion, scope, score, scour, scour the country,
scout, seal, section, segment, segno, septet, sestet, set,
set in contrast, set in opposition, set off against,
set over against, set right, sextet, shade, shadow, shake-up,
share, share out, shift, sigil, sign, signal, signature,
similarize, similize, size, size up, slice, slur, small amount,
small share, solo, solo part, solution, song, soprano part, sort,
sound, space, span, spatial extension, sphere, spondee, spread,
spread about, sprung rhythm, square inch, stair, stake, stamp,
standard, standing order, stanza, statement, statute, stave, step,
steps, steps and measures, stint, stock, stopgap, stowage, strain,
stratagem, strength, stress, stretch, stride, stroke,
stroke of policy, strophe, stunt, substance, subtract, sum,
superficial extension, sure sign, surface, survey, surveying,
sweep, sweetness, swell, swing, syllabic meter, syllable, symbol,
symmetry, symptom, sync, synchronize, system, syzygy, tablespoon,
tactic, tactics, tailor, take a reading, take account of, tally,
teaspoon, technique, telemetering, telemetry, tell, telltale sign,
tempo mark, temporary expedient, tercet, terza rima, test,
tetrameter, tetrapody, tetraseme, tetrastich, theme, thesis, thing,
thing done, tie, time, time signature, to boot, tonnage,
touchstone, tour de force, township, track, tract, trait,
transaction, transit, travel over, travel through, traverse, tread,
treble, triangulate, triangulation, tribrach, trick, trim to,
trimeter, triplet, tripody, triseme, tristich, trochee, true,
true up, trump, tune, turn, tutti, tutti passage, type,
undertaking, valuate, valuation, value, variation, vers libre,
verse, versification, view together, vinculum, void, volume,
voyage, warble, wavelength, way, weigh, weigh against, weight,
whole, width, work, work out, working hypothesis,
working proposition, works, yard, yardage, yardstick
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):
measure
To ascertain or appraise by comparing to a
standard; to apply a metric.
(1996-12-27)
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:
Measure
Several words are so rendered in the Authorized Version. (1.)
Those which are indefinite. (a) Hok, Isa. 5:14, elsewhere
"statute." (b) Mad, Job 11:9; Jer. 13:25, elsewhere "garment."
(c) Middah, the word most frequently thus translated, Ex. 26:2,
8, etc. (d) Mesurah, Lev. 19:35; 1 Chr. 23:29. (e) Mishpat, Jer.
30:11, elsewhere "judgment." (f) Mithkoneth and token, Ezek.
45:11. (g) In New Testament metron, the usual Greek word thus
rendered (Matt. 7:2; 23:32; Mark 4:24).
(2.) Those which are definite. (a) 'Eyphah, Deut. 25:14, 15,
usually "ephah." (b) Ammah, Jer. 51:13, usually "cubit." (c)
Kor, 1 Kings 4:22, elsewhere "cor;" Greek koros, Luke 16:7. (d)
Seah, Gen. 18:6; 1 Sam. 25:18, a seah; Greek saton, Matt. 13:33;
Luke 13:21. (e) Shalish, "a great measure," Isa. 40:12;
literally a third, i.e., of an ephah. (f) In New Testament
batos, Luke 16:6, the Hebrew "bath;" and choinix, Rev. 6:6, the
choenix, equal in dry commodities to one-eighth of a modius.
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):
MEASURE. That which is used as a rule to determine a quantity. A certain
quantity of something, taken for a unit, and which expresses a relation with
other quantities of the same thing.
2. The constitution of the United States gives power to congress to
"fix the standard of weights and measures." Art. 1, B. 8. Hitherto this has
remained as a dormant power, though frequently brought before the attention
of congress.
3. The states, it seems, possess the power to legislate on this
subject, or, at least, the existing standards at the adoption of the
constitution remain in full force. 3 Sto. Const. 21; Rawle on the Const.
102.
4. By a resolution of congress, of the 14th of June, 1836, the
secretary of the treasury is directed to cause a complete set of all weights
and measures adopted as standards, and now either made or in the progress of
manufacture, for the use of the several custom-houses and for other
purposes, to be delivered to the governor of each state in the Union, or to
such person as he may appoint, for the use of the states respectively, to
the end that an uniform standard of weights and measures may be established
throughout the United States.
5. Measures are either, 1. Of length. 2. Of surface. 3. Of solidity or
capacity. 4. Of force or gravity, or what is commonly called weight. (q.v.)
5. Of angles. 6. Of time. The measures now used in the United States, are
the same as those of England, and are as follows
1. MEASURES OF LENGTH.
12 inches = 1 foot
3 feet = 1 yard
5 1/2 yards = 1 rod or pole
40 poles = 1 furlong
8 furlongs = 1 mile
69 1/15 miles = 1 degree of a great circle of the earth
An inch is the smallest lineal measure to which a name is given, but
subdivisions are used for many purposes. Among mechanics, the inch is
commonly divided into eighths. By the officers of the revenue and by
scientific persons, it is divided into tenths, hundredths, &c. Formerly it
was made to consist of twelve parts called lines, but these have fallen into
disuse.
Particular measures of length.
1st. Used for measuring cloth of all kinds.
1 nail = 2 1/4 inches
1 quarter = 4 inches
1 yard = 4 quarters
1 ell = 5 quarters
2d. used for the height of horses.
1 hand = 4 inches
3d. Used in measuring depths.
1 fathom = 6 feet
4th. Used in land measure, to facilitate computation of the contents,
10 square chains being equal to an acre.
1 link = 7 92/100 inches
1 chain = 100 links
6.-2. MEASURES OF SURFACE.
144 square inches = 1 square foot
9 square feet = 1 square yard
30 1/4 square yards = 1 perch or rod
40 perches = 1 rood
4 roods or 160 perches = 1 acre
640 acres = 1 square mile
7.-3. MEASURES OF SOLIDITY AND CAPACITY.
1st. Measures of solidity.
1728 cubic inches = 1 cubic foot
27 cubic feet = 1 cubic yard.
2d. Measures of capacity for all liquids, and for all goods, not
liquid, except such as are comprised in the next division.
4 gills = 1 pint = 34 2/3 cubic inches nearly.
2 pints = 1 quart = 691/2 " "
4 quarts = 1 gallon = 277 1/4 " "
2 gallons = 1 peck = 554 1/2 " "
8 gallons= 1 bushel = 2218 1/2 " "
8 bushels = 1 quarter = 10 1/4 cubic feet "
5 quarters = 1 load = 51 1/2 " "
The last four denominations are used only for goods, not liquids. For
liquids, several denominations have heretofore been adopted, namely, for
beer, the firkin of 9 gallons, the kilderkin of 18, the barrel of 36, the
hogshead of 54; and the butt of 108 gallons. For wine or spirits there are
the anker, runlet, tierce, hogshead, puncheon, pipe, butt, and tun; these
are, however, rather the names of the casks, in which the commodities are
imported, than as express any definite number of gallons. It is the practice
to gauge all such vessels, and to charge them according to their actual
contents.
3d. Measures of capacity, for coal, lime, potatoes, fruit, and other
commodities, sold by heaped measure.
2 gallons = 1 peck = 704 cubic in. nearly.
8 gallons = 1 bushel = 28151/2 " "
3 bushels = 1 sack = 41 cubic feet "
12 sacks= 1 chaldron = 58 2/3 " "
8.-4. MEASURES OF WEIGHTS. See art. Weights.
9.-5., ANGULAR MEASURE; or, DIVISION OF THE CIRCLE.
60 seconds = 1 minute
60 minutes = 1 degree
30 degrees = 1 sign
90 degrees = 1 quadrant
360 degrees, or 12 signs = 1 circumference.
Formerly the subdivisions were carried on by sities; thus, the
second was divided into 60 thirds, the third into sixty fourths,
&c. At present, the second is more generally divided decimally into
tens, hundreds, &c. The degree is frequently so divided.
or 10.-6. MEASURE OF TIME.
60 seconds = 1 minute
60 minutes = 1 hour
24 hours = 1 day
7 days = 1 week
28 days, or 4 weeks = 1 lunar month
28, 29, 30, or 31 days = 1 calendar month
12 calendar months = 1 year
365 days = 1 common year
366 day = 1 leap year.
The second of time is subdivided like that of angular measure.
FRENCH MEASURES.
11. As the French system of weights and measures is the most scientific
plan known, and as the commercial connexions of the United States with
France are daily increasing, it has been thought proper here to give a short
account of that system.
12. The fundamental, invariable, and standard measure, by which all
weights and measures are formed, is called the metre, a word derived from
the Greek, which signifies measure. It is a lineal measure, and is equal to
3 feet, 0 inches, 44/1000, Paris measure, or 3 feet, 3 inches, 370/1000
English. This unit is divided into ten parts; each tenth, into ten
hundredths; each hundredth, into ten thousandths, &c. These divisions, as
well as those of all other measures, are infinite. As the standard is to be
invariable, something has been sought, from which to make it, which is not
variable or subject to any change. The fundamental base of the metre is the
quarter of the terrestrial meridian, or the distance from the pole to the
equator, which has been divided into ten millions of equal parts, one of
which is the length of the metre. All the other measures are formed from the
metre, as follows:
2. MEASURE OF CAPACITY.
13. The litre. This is the decimetre; or one-tenth part of the cubic
metre; that is, if a vase is made of a cubic form, of a decimetre every way,
it would be of the capacity of a litre. This is divided by tenths, as the
metre. The measures which amount. to more than a single, litre, are counted
by tens hundreds, thousands, &c., of litres.
3. MEASURES OF WEIGHTS.
14. The gramme. This is the weight of a cubic centimetre of distilled
water, at the temperature of zero; that is, if a vase be made of a cubic
form, of a hundredth part of a metre every way, and it be filled with
distilled water, the weight of that water will be that of the gramme.
4. MEASURES OF SURFACES.
15. The arc, used in surveying. This is a square, the sides of which are
of the length of ten metres, or what is equal to one hundred square metres.
Its divisions are the same as in the preceding measures.
5. MEASURES OF SOLIDITY.
16. The stere, used in measuring firewood. It is a cubic metre. Its
subdivisions are similar to the preceding. The term is used only for
measuring firewood. For the measure of other things, the term cube metre, or
cubic metre is used, or the tenth, hundredth, &c., of such a cube.
6. MONEY.
17. The franc. It weighs five grammes. it is made of nine-tenths of
silver, and one-tenth of copper. Its tenth part is called a decime, and its
hundredth part a centime.
18. One measure being thus made the standard of all the rest, they must
be all equally invariable; but, in order to make this certainty perfectly
sure, the following precautions have been adopted. As the temperature was
found to have an influence on bodies, the term zero, or melting ice, has
been selected in making the models or standard of the metre. Distilled water
has been chosen to make the standard of the gramme, as being purer, and less
encumbered with foreign matter than common water. The temperature having
also an influence on a determinate volume of water, that with which the
experiments were made, was of the temperature of zero, or melting ice. The
air, more or less charged with humidity, causes the weight of bodies to
vary, the models which represent the weight of the gramme, have, therefore,
been taken in a vacuum.
19. It has already been stated, that the divisions of these measures are
all uniform, namely by tens, or decimal fractions, they may therefore be
written as such. Instead of writing,
1 metre and 1 tenth of a metre, we may write, 1 m. 1.
2 metre and 8 tenths, 2 m. 8.
10 metre and 4 hundredths, 10 m. 04.
7 litres, 1 tenth, and 2 hundredths, 7 lit. 12, &c.
20. Names have been given to, each of these divisions of the principal
unit but these names always indicate the value of the fraction, and the unit
from which it is derived. To the name of the unit have been prefixed the
particles deci, for tenth, centi, for hundredth, and milli, for thousandth.
They are thus expressed, a decimetre, a decilitre, a decigramme, a
decistere, a deciare, a centimetre, a centilitre, a centigramme, &c. The
facility with which the divisions of the unit are reduced to the same
expression, is very apparent; this cannot be done with any other kind of
measures.
21. As it may sometimes be necessary to express great quantities of
units, collections have been made of them in tens, hundreds, thousands, tens
of thousands, &c., to which names, derived from the Greek, have been given;
namely, deca, for tens hecto, for hundreds; kilo, for thousands and myria,
for tens of thousands; they are thus expressed; a decametre, a decalitre,
&c.; a hectometre, a hectogramme, &c.; a kilometre, a kilogramme, &c.
22. The following table will facilitate the reduction of these weights
and measures into our own.
The Metre, is 3.28 feet, or 39.871 in.
Are, is 1076.441 square feet.
Litre, is 61.028 cubic inch
Stere, is 35.317 cubic feet.
Gramme, is 15.4441 grains troy, or 5.6481 drams, averdupois.