in a general sense, an appellation given to whatever is composed or made up of different things; thus we say, a compound word, compound sound, compound taste, &c.—Compound differs from complex, and stands opposed to simple. See Complex and Simple.

Compound Flower. See Compositus Flore.

Compound Interest, called also interest upon interest, is that which is reckoned not only upon the principal, but upon the interest itself forborne; which hereby becomes a sort of secondary principal. See Interest.

Compound Motion, that motion which is effected by several conspiring powers. Powers are said to Conspire if the direction of the one be not quite opposite to that of the other; as when the radius of a circle is conceived to revolve about a centre, and at the same time a point to move straight along it.

**Compound Numbers,** those which may be divided by some other number besides unity, without leaving any remainder; such are 18, 20, &c., the first being measured by the numbers 2, 6, or 9; and the second by the numbers 2, 4, 5, 10.

**Compound Quantities.** See Algebra, no. 4.

**Compound Ratio,** is that which the product of the antecedents of two or more ratios has to the product of their consequents. Thus, 6 to 72 is in a ratio compounded of 2 to 6, and of 3 to 12.

**Compound,** (substantive), the result or effect of a composition of different things; or a mass formed by the union of many ingredients.

**Compress,** in surgery, a bolster of soft linen cloth, folded in several doubles, frequently applied to cover a plaster, in order not only to preserve the part from the external air, but also the better to retain the dressings or medicines.

**Compression,** the act of pressing or squeezing some matter together, so as to let its parts nearer to each other, and make it possess less space. Compression properly differs from condensation, in that the latter is performed by the action of cold, the former by some external violence.

**Compromise,** a treaty or contract, whereby two contending parties establish one or more arbitrators to judge of, and terminate their difference in an amicable manner.

**Compton (Henry),** bishop of London, was the youngest son of Spencer Earl of Northampton, and born in 1632. After the restoration of Charles II, he became cornet of a regiment of horse; but soon after quitting the army for the church, he was made bishop of Oxford in 1674; and about a year after translated to the see of London. He was entrusted with the education of the two princesses Mary and Anne, whom he also afterwards married to the princes of Orange and Denmark: and their firmness in the Protestant religion was in a great measure owing to their tutor, to whom, when popery began to prevail at court, it was imputed as an unpardonable crime. He was suspended from his ecclesiastical function by James II, but was restored by him again on the prince of Orange's invasion. He and the bishop of Bristol made the majority for filling the vacant throne with a king; he performed the ceremony of the coronation; was appointed one of the commissioners for raising the lottery; and laboured with much zeal to reconcile dissenters to the church. His spirit of moderation made him unpopular with the clergy, and in all probability checked his further promotion. He died in 1713; but, living in busy times, did not leave many writings behind him.

**Compunction,** in theology, an inward grief of mind for having offended God.

**Compurgator,** one that, by oath, justifies another person's innocence. Compurgators were introduced as evidences in the jurisprudence of the middle ages. Their number varied according to the importance of the subject in dispute, or the nature of the crime with which a person was charged.

**Computation,** in a general sense, the manner of estimating time, weights, measure, moneys, or quantities of any kind.

**Comus,** in Pagan mythology, the god of nocturnal revels and festivals. He was represented as a young man crowned with roses or myrtle, holding in one hand a golden cup, and in the other a dish of fruit.

**Conant (Dr John),** a learned English divine, born in 1608. He took his degrees at Exeter College Oxford; was, by the parliament, constituted one of the assembly of divines, though he seldom, if ever, sat with them; and in 1657 was admitted vice-chancellor of the university. On the restoration he was one of the commissioners, and assisted at the conferences in the Savoy; but was deprived by the act of uniformity: after eight years he was confirmed, and was made arch-deacon of Norwich, and prebendary of Worcester. In 1686 he lost his sight; and died in 1693, leaving a number of admired sermons, afterwards published in five volumes.

**Conarion,** or **Conoides,** a name for the pineal gland. See Anatomy, no. 397.

**Conatus,** a term frequently used in philosophy and mathematics, defined by some to be a quantity of motion, not capable of being expressed by any time, or length; as the conatus recedendi ab axe motus, is the endeavour which a body, moved circularly, makes to recede, or fly off from the centre or axis of its motion.

**Concale Bay,** is on the coast of France in Brittany, where the English forces landed in June 1758, in order to go to St Maloës; which they did, and burnt all the ships in that harbour, which were above 100, of all sorts. Concale is the town which gives name to the bay, and is famous for oysters. It is 18 miles east of St Maloës, and 197 west of Paris. W. Long. 1. 47. N. Lat. 48. 47.

**Concarneau,** a town of France, in Bretagne, with a harbour and a castle. E. Long. 3. 45. N. Lat. 47. 55.

**Concatenation,** a term chiefly used in speaking of the mutual dependence of second causes upon each other.

**Concave,** an appellation used in speaking of the inner surface of hollow bodies, but more especially of spherical ones.

**Concave Glares,** such as are ground hollow, and are usually of a spherical figure, though they may be of any other, as parabolical, &c. All objects seen through concave glares, appear erect and diminished.

**Concentration,** in general, signifies the bringing things nearer a centre. Hence the particles of salt, in sea-water, are said to be concentrated; that is, brought nearer each other, by evaporating the watery part.

**Concentric,** in mathematics, something that has the same common centre with another: it stands in opposition to **eccentric.**

**Conception,** among physicians, &c., denotes the first formation of an embryo in the womb of its parent, who, from that time, becomes pregnant. See Generation. Conception Immaculate of the holy virgin, is a feast established in honour of the holy virgin, particularly with regard to her having been conceived and born immaculate, i.e., without original sin, held in the Roman church on the 8th of December. The immaculate conception is the great head of controversy between the Scotists and Thomists; the former maintaining, and the latter impugning it. In the three Spanish military orders, of St. James of the Sword, Calatrava, and Alcantara, the knights take a vow at their admission to defend the immaculate conception. This resolution was first taken in 1652. Peter d'Alva has published 48 huge volumes in folio on the mysteries of the conception.