Pl. (rare) -atus, -atuses. [a. L. apparātus, n. of state f. apparā-re, adparā-re to make ready for, f. ad to + parā-re to make ready. Cf. the anglicized APPARATE.]
† 1. The work of preparing; preparation, preparatory arrangement, array. Obs.
1638. Penit. Conf., ii. (1657), 10. An apparatus and necessary introduction thereunto.
1684. T. Burnet, Th. Earth, III. 16. How easie had it been for him, without this apparatus, to have told them [etc.].
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., v. 112. The apprehension of but a vein to be opend is worse to some, than the apparatus to an execution is to others.
2. The things collectively in which this preparation consists, and by which its processes are maintained; equipments, material, mechanism, machinery; material appendages or arrangements.
a. 1628. F. Greville, Sidney (1652), 15. Where humor takes away this pomp and apparatus from King, Crown, and Scepter.
1767. Fordyce, Serm. Yng. Wom., II. viii. 16. The gaudy apparatus of female vanity.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, ii. Wks. VIII. 221. The greatest skill conducting the greatest military apparatus has been employed.
1818. Bentham, Ch. of Eng., Introd. 50. Which of the two apparatus would your Graces … recommend?
1832. Ht. Martineau, Irel., iii. 56. Workhouses, or any part of the apparatus of a legal charity.
3. esp. a. The mechanical requisites employed in scientific experiments or investigations.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The furniture or apparatus of an air-pump, microscope, &c.
1758. [R. Dossie], Elaboratory laid open, 34. The apparatus for levigating testaceous, and other hard bodies.
1871. Napheys, Prev. & Cure Dis., II. iii. 673. The many apparatuses designed to apply electricity.
b. The organs or means by which natural processes are carried on.
1718. J. Chamberlayne, Relig. Philos., I. vii. § 4. 82. That by all this Apparatus … the Voice might be thereby formed.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. i. 30. The whole apparatus of vision.
1833. Chalmers, Const. Man (1835), I. iii. 146. That defensive apparatus wherewith the embryo seed of plants is guarded.
c. Materials for the critical study of a document.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Glossaries, comments, &c. are also frequently called Apparatus’s.
1794. Godwin, Cal. Williams, 305. The apparatus of my etymological enquiries.
1879. Q. Rev., April, 334. A thorough examination of it [the Old Testament] by our modern critical apparatus of research really makes it appear more precious.
† d. ‘Sometimes also used in chirurgery for the bandages, medicaments, and dressings of a part; or the several matters applied for the cure of a wound, ulcer, or the like.’ Chambers, Cycl., 1727–51.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., VIII. 278. I use all the Apparatus of Medicines to suppress [Hæmorrhage from Hæmorrhoids].
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., There is no judging of the quality of a hurt, till after taking of the first apparatus, or apparel.
