▪ I. comˈposant1, a. and n. Math. ? Obs.
[a. F. composant in same sense.]
Entering into composition with other forces; a component, constituent.
| 1828 Hutton Course Math. II. 142 The name resultant is given to a force which is equivalent to two or more forces acting at once upon a point, or upon a body; these separate forces being named constituents or composants. |
▪ II. ˈcomposant2, comozant
Also 8 comazant.
A corruption of corposant [Pg. corpo santo ‘holy body’, from its resemblance to an aureole or nimbus], the electrical phenomenon known also as St. Elmo's Fire.
| 1749 Waddell in Phil. Trans. XLVI. 111 A very hard Storm of Wind, attended with Thunder and Lightning..and sundry very large Comazants (as we call them) overhead..some of which settled on the spintles at the Topmast heads, which burnt like very large Torches. 1751 Franklin Lett. Wks. 1840 V. 224. 1753 Phil. Trans. XLVIII. 213 We have heard all our lives of St. Helmo's fire..and of the comazants of our mariners. 1881 W. C. Russell Ocean Free Lance I. v. 208 There's the first composant I have seen this cruise. 1889 Daily News 30 Nov. 5/2 St. Elmo's fire, a form of electrical discharge which is more familiar to sailors under the name of comozants. |