WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : A*nat"o*my
Part of Speech : n.; pl. Anatomies.
Etymology : [F. anatomie, L. anatomia, Gr.
Definition : 1. The art of dissecting, or artificially separating the different parts of any organized body, to discover their situation, structure, and economy; dissection.

2. The science which treats of the structure of organic bodies; anatomical structure or organization. Let the muscles be well inserted and bound together, according to the knowledge of them which is given us by anatomy. Dryden.

Note: "Animal anatomy" is sometimes called zomy; "vegetable anatomy," phytotomy; "human anatomy," anthropotomy. Comparative anatomy compares the structure of different kinds and classes of animals.

3. A treatise or book on anatomy.

4. The act of dividing anything, corporeal or intellectual, for the purpose of examining its parts; analysis; as, the anatomy of a discourse.

5. A skeleton; anything anatomized or dissected, or which has the appearance of being so. The anatomy of a little child, representing all parts thereof, is accounted a greater rarity than the skeleton of a man in full stature. Fuller. They brought one Pinch, a hungry, lean-faced villain, A mere anatomy. Shak.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913