Also 7 adhæsion. [a. Fr. adhésion, ad. L. adhæsiōn-em, n. of action, f. adhæs- ppl. stem of adhærē-re to ADHERE.]
1. The action of sticking (to anything) by physical attraction, viscosity of surface, or firm grasping. Also a particular instance of such clinging. In Path. The unnatural union of surfaces consequent upon inflammation.
1645. Howell, Lett., v. 11. To the nutrition of the body, there are two Essentiall conditions requir’d … concoction and agglutination or adhæsion.
1661. Boyle, Spring & Weight of Air, I. iv. (1682), 10. I could not find the Adhesion of the Finger to the Tube to be near so strong as our author related.
1794. Sullivan, View of Nat., I. 120. The strong adhesion of two leaden balls which touch by polished surfaces.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Observ., 224. A very slight adhesion had taken place between the sigmoid flexure of the colon and … the peritoneum.
1860. Tyndall, Glaciers, II. § 23. 352. A new adhesion occurs which holds the pieces together.
1875. F. Buckland, Log-book, 125. One of the most remarkable adhesions of oysters that ever came under my notice.
b. fig.
a. 1641. Bp. Montagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 122. He was … separated from us in inseparable adhesion to perfection.
1779. J. Moore, View of Soc., II. xcvi. 436. There are, however, so many repelling points in the American and French characters, that I cannot imagine the adhesion between them could be of long duration.
2. The action of attaching oneself, or of remaining attached, to a person, party or tenet, as a partizan, supporter or follower. To give in one’s adhesion: to declare oneself an adherent, join as a supporter.
1624. Bp. Montagu, New Gagg, 164. For faith is an adhesion unto God.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. vi. 20. The mortallest enemy unto knowledge … hath been a peremptory adhesion unto authority.
1732. Lediard, Sethos, II. VIII. 166. [It] carries with it the condition of a sincere adhæsion to my interest.
1846. Prescott, Ferd. & Isab., I. iv. 197. The Pimentels … now openly testified their adhesion to her [Isabella’s] niece.
1851. Hussey, Papal Power, iii. 136. John … and the Synod under him, sent in their adhesion to Rome.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea (1876), I. xiii. 209. Austria had never ceased to declare her adhesion to her accustomed policy.
3. Psych. Intimate and involuntary association of ideas and action.
1855. Bain, Senses & Intell., II. i. 322 (L.). There grows up in course of time an adhesion between the tension of the rotator muscles and the several movements of walking, and at last they coalesce in one complete whole. Ibid., 325. It is within the cerebral hemispheres that the adhesion takes place.
4. Bot. Union of organs by confluence of normally unlike parts, such as the distinct floral whorls; in opposition to cohesion, the coalescence of like parts, such as the margins of organs in the same whorl.
1857. Henfrey, Bot., 94. No case is known of adhesion of the three inner circles, with a free calyx.
1872. Oliver, Elem. Bot., I. iv. 27. Union of corolla to stamens, or ovary to calyx, or of stamens to corolla or to pistil, is due to adhesion—parts of different whorls or series being concerned.
5. Any substance or circumstance that adheres; an attendant, appendage or accessory. rare.
1743. trans. Heister’s Surg., 300. Having freed the disordered Artery from its Adhesions.
1827. Carlyle, Misc., I. 14. Casting off all foreign, especially all noxious adhesions.
1839–47. Todd, Cycl. Anat. & Phys., III. 748/1. The adhesions which are formed by the consolidation of coagulable lymph.
