1314

GLOSSARY^
that the first giA-en term is to the quantity sought as thnt quantity is to the other givew
term. lu arithmetic, it is the square root of the product of the two given terms. The
harmonical mean is a number such that, the first and third terms being given, the first
is to the third as the diiference of the first and second is to the difference of the second
and third.
Measure. (Lat. Mensura.) In geometry, strictly a magnitude or quantity taken as a
unit, by which other magnitudes or quantities are measured. It is defined by Euclid as
that whiL-h, by repetition, becomes equal to the quantity measured. Thus, in arithmetic,
the measure of
a number is some other number which divides it without a remainder,
though, perhaps, such a definition rather intimates the notion of aliquot jmrts. But that
meaning on which this article is submitted is the unit or standard by which extension is
to be measured. We have measures of length, of superficies, and of volume or capacitj'.
But the two latter are always deducible from the former
;
whence it is only necessary
to establish one unit, namely, a standard of length. The choice of such a standard,
definite and invariable, though beset with many and great difficulties, modern science
has accomplished. The rude measures of our ancestors, such as the/o^ the cubit, the
span, ihefathom, the harhycorn, the hair's breadth, are not now to be mentioned in matters
of science, much more precise standards having been found, and not susceptible of casual
variation. Nature affords two or three elements, which, with the aid of science, may be
made subservient to the acquisition of the knowledge required. The earth being a solid
of revolution, its form and magnitude may be assumed to remain the same in all ages.
It this be so, the distance between the pole and the equator may be taken as an
invariable quantity ; and any part, say a degree, which is a ninetieth part of it, will be
constant, and furnish an unalterable standard of measure. So, again, the force ofgravity
at the earth's surface being constant at any given place, and nearly the same at places
under the same parallel of latitude, and at the same height above the level of the sea, the
length of a pendulum making the same number of oscillations in a day is constant at the
same place, anil may be determined on any assumed scale. Thus we have two elements,
the length of a degree of the meridian, and the length ot a pendulum beating seconds,
which nature furnishes for the basis of a system of measures. Others have been
suggested, such as the height through which a heavy body falls in a second of time,
determined, like the length of the pendulum, by the force of gravity, or tlie perpendicidar
height through which a barometer must be raised till the mercurial column sinks a
determinate part; for instance, one- thirtieth of its own length; but these are not so
cap.able of accurately determining the standard as the terrestrial degree, or the length of
the pendulum.
In the English sj'stcm of linear measures, the unit has been for many years the yard,
wliich is subdivided into 3 feet, and each of those feet into 12 inches. Of the yard, the
multiples are, the pole or perch, the furlong, and the mile
;
5^
yards being 1 pole, 40 poles
being 1 furlong, and 8 furlongs 1 mile. The pole and furlong, however, are now much
disused, distance being usually measured in miles and yards. The English pace is
1|
yards = 5 feet. See Peuch and Milk
Under the word Foot will be found the length of that measure in the principal places
of Europe.
The following table exhibits the relations of the diffi>rent denominations mentioned:

Inches. Feet. Yards. Poles. Furlongs. Miles.

1 0083 0028 0-0050,5 0001262G 00000157828
12
1-
333 0-0(i060 OOOlololn 000018039
36
3- 1-
0-1818 0004.J45 00056818
198 16o O-.i
1-
002d 0003125
7020 660- 220- 40- 1-
0125
63300 5280- 1760- 320- 8- 1-
The measures of superficies are the square yard, foot, inch, &c., as under
:-
144 square inches are equal to
-
9 square feet -
2|
square yards
10'89 square paces
40 square poles
4 sqtuire roods
-
-
1 square foot.
-
1 square yard.
-
1 square pace.
-
J .square pole.
-
1 square rood.
-
1 square acre.
In which it will be seen that the multiples of the yard are the pole, rood, and acre.
Very large surfaces, as of countries, are expressed in square miles. See Mii.k.