Refraction \Re*frac"tion\ (r?*fr?k"sh?n), n. [F. r['e]fraction.]
1. The act of refracting, or the state of being refracted.
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2. The change in the direction of ray of light, heat, or the
like, when it enters obliquely a medium of a different
density from that through which it has previously moved.
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Refraction out of the rarer medium into the denser,
is made towards the perpendicular. --Sir I.
Newton.
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3. (Astron.)
(a) The change in the direction of a ray of light, and,
consequently, in the apparent position of a heavenly
body from which it emanates, arising from its passage
through the earth's atmosphere; -- hence distinguished
as atmospheric refraction, or astronomical refraction.
(b) The correction which is to be deducted from the
apparent altitude of a heavenly body on account of
atmospheric refraction, in order to obtain the true
altitude.
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Angle of refraction (Opt.), the angle which a refracted ray
makes with the perpendicular to the surface separating the
two media traversed by the ray.
Conical refraction (Opt.), the refraction of a ray of light
into an infinite number of rays, forming a hollow cone.
This occurs when a ray of light is passed through crystals
of some substances, under certain circumstances. Conical
refraction is of two kinds; external conical refraction,
in which the ray issues from the crystal in the form of a
cone, the vertex of which is at the point of emergence;
and internal conical refraction, in which the ray is
changed into the form of a cone on entering the crystal,
from which it issues in the form of a hollow cylinder.
This singular phenomenon was first discovered by Sir W. R.
Hamilton by mathematical reasoning alone, unaided by
experiment.
Differential refraction (Astron.), the change of the
apparent place of one object relative to a second object
near it, due to refraction; also, the correction required
to be made to the observed relative places of the two
bodies.
Double refraction (Opt.), the refraction of light in two
directions, which produces two distinct images. The power
of double refraction is possessed by all crystals except
those of the isometric system. A uniaxial crystal is said
to be optically positive (like quartz), or optically
negative (like calcite), or to have positive, or negative,
double refraction, according as the optic axis is the axis
of least or greatest elasticity for light; a biaxial
crystal is similarly designated when the same relation
holds for the acute bisectrix.
Index of refraction. See under Index.
Refraction circle (Opt.), an instrument provided with a
graduated circle for the measurement of refraction.
Refraction of latitude, longitude, declination, right
ascension, etc., the change in the apparent latitude,
longitude, etc., of a heavenly body, due to the effect of
atmospheric refraction.
Terrestrial refraction, the change in the apparent altitude
of a distant point on or near the earth's surface, as the
top of a mountain, arising from the passage of light from
it to the eye through atmospheric strata of varying
density.
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Right \Right\ (r[imac]t), a. [OE. right, riht, AS. riht; akin to
D. regt, OS. & OHG. reht, G. recht, Dan. ret, Sw. r[aum]tt,
Icel. rettr, Goth. ra['i]hts, L. rectus, p. p. of regere to
guide, rule; cf. Skr. [.r]ju straight, right. [root]115. Cf.
Adroit,Alert, Correct, Dress, Regular, Rector,
Recto, Rectum, Regent, Region, Realm, Rich,
Royal, Rule.]
1. Straight; direct; not crooked; as, a right line. "Right as
any line." --Chaucer
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2. Upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not
oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone.
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3. Conformed to the constitution of man and the will of God,
or to justice and equity; not deviating from the true and
just; according with truth and duty; just; true.
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That which is conformable to the Supreme Rule is
absolutely right, and is called right simply without
relation to a special end. --Whately.
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2. Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right
man in the right place; the right way from London to
Oxford.
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5. Characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not
spurious. "His right wife." --Chaucer.
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In this battle, . . . the Britons never more plainly
manifested themselves to be right barbarians.
--Milton.
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6. According with truth; passing a true judgment; conforming
to fact or intent; not mistaken or wrong; not erroneous;
correct; as, this is the right faith.
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You are right, Justice, and you weigh this well.
--Shak.
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If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the
inference is . . . right, "Let us eat and drink, for
to-morrow we die." --Locke.
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7. Most favorable or convenient; fortunate.
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The lady has been disappointed on the right side.
--Spectator.
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8. Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which
the muscular action is usually stronger than on the other
side; -- opposed to left when used in reference to a part
of the body; as, the right side, hand, arm. Also applied
to the corresponding side of the lower animals.
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Became the sovereign's favorite, his right hand.
--Longfellow.
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Note: In designating the banks of a river, right and left are
used always with reference to the position of one who
is facing in the direction of the current's flow.
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9. Well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well
regulated; correctly done.
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10. Designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side
of a piece of cloth.
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At right angles, so as to form a right angle or right
angles, as when one line crosses another perpendicularly.
Right and left, in both or all directions. [Colloq.]
Right and left coupling (Pipe fitting), a coupling the
opposite ends of which are tapped for a right-handed screw
and a left-handed screw, respectivelly.
Right angle.
(a) The angle formed by one line meeting another
perpendicularly, as the angles ABD, DBC.
(b) (Spherics) A spherical angle included between the
axes of two great circles whose planes are
perpendicular to each other.
Right ascension. See under Ascension.
Right Center (Politics), those members belonging to the
Center in a legislative assembly who have sympathies with
the Right on political questions. See Center, n., 5.
Right cone, Right cylinder, Right prism, Right
pyramid (Geom.), a cone, cylinder, prism, or pyramid, the
axis of which is perpendicular to the base.
Right line. See under Line.
Right sailing (Naut.), sailing on one of the four cardinal
points, so as to alter a ship's latitude or its longitude,
but not both. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.
Right sphere (Astron. & Geol.), a sphere in such a position
that the equator cuts the horizon at right angles; in
spherical projections, that position of the sphere in
which the primitive plane coincides with the plane of the
equator.
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Note: Right is used elliptically for it is right, what you
say is right, true.
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"Right," cries his lordship. --Pope.
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Syn: Straight; direct; perpendicular; upright; lawful;
rightful; true; correct; just; equitable; proper;
suitable; becoming.
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Ascension \As*cen"sion\, n. [F. ascension, L. ascensio, fr.
ascendere. See Ascend.]
1. The act of ascending; a rising; ascent.
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2. Specifically: The visible ascent of our Savior on the
fortieth day after his resurrection. (--Acts i. 9.) Also,
Ascension Day.
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3. An ascending or arising, as in distillation; also that
which arises, as from distillation.
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Vaporous ascensions from the stomach. --Sir T.
Browne.
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Ascension Day, the Thursday but one before Whitsuntide, the
day on which commemorated our Savior's ascension into
heaven after his resurrection; -- called also Holy
Thursday.
Right ascension (Astron.), that degree of the equinoctial,
counted from the beginning of Aries, which rises with a
star, or other celestial body, in a right sphere; or the
arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of
Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the
meridian with the star; -- expressed either in degrees or
in time.
Oblique ascension (Astron.), an arc of the equator,
intercepted between the first point of Aries and that
point of the equator which rises together with a star, in
an oblique sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted
between the first point of Aries and that point of the
equator that comes to the horizon with a star. It is
little used in modern astronomy.
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