Bŏd'y1, n.
n. [A-S. bodig, stature, trunk, body, O. H. Ger. botah, potah, body.]
Sense 1. The frame of an animal; the material organized substance of an animal, whether living or dead, as distinguished from the spirit, or vital principle. “Frail and weary body.” Everett.
Absent in body, but present in spirit. 1 Cor. v. 3.
For of the soul the body form doth take, For soul is form, and doth the body make. Spenser.
Sense 2. The main, central, or principal part, as of an animal, tree, army, country, &c., in distinction from parts subordinate or less important, as the extremities, branches, wings, &c.
Who set the body and the limbs Of this great sport together? Shak.
The van of the king’s army was led by the general; ... in the body was the king and the prince. Clarendon.
Rivers that run up into the body of Italy. Addison.
Sense 3. A person; a human being. “A dry, shrewd kind of a body.” Irving.
Sense 4. A mass of individuals spoken of collectively, usually as united by some common tie, or as organized for some purpose; a corporation; as, a legislative body; a clerical body. “That reverend body.” Swift.
If neglection Should make me vile, the common body, By you relieved, would force me to my duty. Shak.
A numerous body led unresistingly to the slaughter. Prescott.
Sense 5. A united mass; a number of things or particulars taken together; a general collection; a system; as, a great body of facts; a body of laws or of divinity.
Sense 6. Any mass or portion of matter; any substance distinct from others; as, a metallic body; a moving body; an æeriform body.
By collision of two bodies, grind The air attrite to fire. Milton.
Sense 7. (Geom.) Any solid figure, or figure of three dimensions.
The path of a moving point is a line; that of a geometrical body is another body. Weisbach, Trans.
Sense 8. (Paint.) Consistency; thickness. Colors bear a body when they are capable of being ground so fine, and of being mixed so entirely with oil, as to seem only a very thick oil of the same color.
Sense 9. Strength, or characteristic quality; as, wine of a good body.