anatomy

Synonyms

Antonyms

A*nat"o*my, n.; pl. Anatomies. Etym: [F. anatomie, L. anatomia, Gr. 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.