from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Analysis \A*nal"y*sis\, n.; pl. {Analyses}. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to
unloose, to dissolve, to resolve into its elements; ? up + ?
to loose. See {Loose}.]
1. A resolution of anything, whether an object of the senses
or of the intellect, into its constituent or original
elements; an examination of the component parts of a
subject, each separately, as the words which compose a
sentence, the tones of a tune, or the simple propositions
which enter into an argument. It is opposed to
{synthesis}.
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2. (Chem.) The separation of a compound substance, by
chemical processes, into its constituents, with a view to
ascertain either (a) what elements it contains, or (b) how
much of each element is present. The former is called
{qualitative}, and the latter {quantitative analysis}.
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3. (Logic) The tracing of things to their source, and the
resolving of knowledge into its original principles.
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4. (Math.) The resolving of problems by reducing the
conditions that are in them to equations.
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5.
(a) A syllabus, or table of the principal heads of a
discourse, disposed in their natural order.
(b) A brief, methodical illustration of the principles of
a science. In this sense it is nearly synonymous with
synopsis.
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6. (Nat. Hist.) The process of ascertaining the name of a
species, or its place in a system of classification, by
means of an analytical table or key.
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{Ultimate}, {Proximate}, {Qualitative}, {Quantitative}, and
{Volumetric analysis}. (Chem.) See under {Ultimate},
{Proximate}, {Qualitative}, etc.
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