Pl. vortices. [a. L. vortex (var. of vertex VERTEX) an eddy of water, wind or flame, a whirlpool, whirlwind, f. vort-, vertĕre to turn. Cf. F. vortex (Anat.), Pg. vortices pl., It. vortice.]
1. a. In older theories of the universe (esp. that of Descartes), a supposed rotatory movement of cosmic matter round a center or axis, regarded as accounting for the origin or phenomena of the terrestrial and other systems; a body of such matter rapidly carried round in a continuous whirl.
1653. H. More, Philos. Cabbala, App. i. (1713), 113. That there are infinite numbers of Atoms or Particles, different in magnitude and figure;… and that they are moved in the Vniverse after the manner of vortices.
1662. Glanvill, Lux Orient., xiv. 141. That great orb of fire … shall fly away out of this vortex, and become a wandring Comet. Ibid. (1665), Def. Van. Dogm., 69. The Cartesian Vortices will serve to account for the Phænomena, and teach a way of Theory not unserviceable to experiment.
1698. Keill, Exam. Th. Earth (1734), 283. It is no hard matter to prove, that the Vortices can never be the cause of the Cœlestial motions.
a. 1714. M. Henry, Expos. O. & N. Test., Eccles. i. 14 (1737), II. He saw … all within this vortex (to use the modern gibberish) which has the sun for its centre.
1785. Sir W. Herschel, Sci. Papers (1912), I. 223. These will vanish like the Cartesian vortices, that soon gave way when better theories were offered.
1833. Coleridge, Table-t., 29 June. Descartes’ vortices were not an hypothesis: they rested on no facts at all.
1869. Lecky, Europ. Mor., I. 389. The false theory of the vortices or the true theory of gravitation.
b. In fig. context or use.
1704. Swift, Batt. Bks., Misc. (1711), 251. Death, like a Star of superior Influence, drew him [Descartes] into his own.
a. 1721. Prior, Dial. Dead, Locke & Montaigne, ad fin. Those very Ideas changing, Lock may be led into a new Labyrinth, or sucked into another Vortex; and may write a Second Book in order to Disprove the first.
1790. Cath. Graham, Lett. Educ., 40. Our benevolence extends at last to the whole race of mankind, like so many different vortices; the center of them all is self love.
1809–10. Coleridge, Friend (1865), 140. I was a sharer in the general vortex, though my little world described the path of its revolution in an orbit of its own.
1855. Brimley, Ess. Poetry & Crit. (1858), 197. That mighty ocean of intermingling, interacting vortices [sc. Time].
1879. Geo. Eliot, Theo. Such, xvii. 304. The spiral vortices fundamentally concerned in the production of epic poems.
c. In modern scientific use: A rapid movement of particles of matter round an axis; a whirl of atoms, fluid or vapor.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Swedenborg, Wks. (Bohn), I. 316. Descartes, taught by Gilbert’s magnet, with its Vortex, spiral, and polarity.
1862. J. C. Maxwell, Sci. Papers (1890), I. 489. The theory of molecular vortices applied to statical electricity.
1872. Proctor, Ess. Astron., xix. 230. Friction between vortices of meteoric vapours and the Sun’s atmosphere must be the immediate cause of solar heat.
1882. Minchin, Unipl. Kinemat., 184. If there is not vortical motion throughout the whole area, but only local vortices, this integral will reduce to a simple sum of terms equal in number to the number of vortices.
2. An eddying or whirling mass of fire or flame.
1652. J. Hall, Height of Eloquence, p. lxv. The Pits and vortices of the Aetna, whose eructations throw whole stones from its depths.
1827–39. De Quincey, Murder, Wks. 1854, II. 62. Men, of course, read in this hurrying overhead of scintillating and blazing vortices, the annunciation of some gigantic calamity going on in Liverpool.
1869. J. Phillips, Vesuv., iii. 67. It continued to vomit forth from five different openings vortices of flame.
3. A whirl or swirling mass of water; a strong eddy or whirlpool.
1704. J. Pitts, Acc. Mohammetans, 77. In this place is much Danger without a fresh Gale of Wind, because it is a kind of Vortex, the Water whirling round, and is apt to swallow down a Ship.
1759. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, II. ix. [A coach] splashing and plunging … with such a vortex of mud and water moving along with it, round its axis.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), I. 268. The noise of this dreadful vortex still farther contributes to encrease its terror.
1816. Tuckey, Narr. Exped. R. Zaire, iv. (1818), 143. In crossing the river we passed through several whirlpools…. These vortices are formed in an instant … and subside as quickly.
1839. T. Beale, Nat. Hist. Sperm Whale, 181. Leaving nothing but a white-and-green looking vortex in the disturbed blue ocean.
1864. C. Geikie, Life in Woods, xxiii. (1874), 366. The poor wretch was kept revolving, with each end of his support sunk in the vortex by turns.
b. Applied to a waterspout.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II. 37. Still round and round the fluid vortex flies, Scattering dun night and horror thro’ the skies.
c. ellipt. A vortex water-wheel (see 7).
1853. Ure, Dict. Arts, etc. (ed. 4), II. 914. The vortex admits of several modes of construction. Ibid., 915. A low pressure vortex constructed for another mill near Belfast.
4. A violent eddy or whirl of the air; a whirlwind or cyclone, or the central portion of this.
a. 1700. Ken, Edmund, Poet. Wks. 1721, II. 24. Now the North Wind the crazy Vessel sweeps, And in its rapid Vortex pris’ner keeps.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., Vortex, Whirlwind, in Meteorology, a sudden, rapid, violent Motion of the Air, in Gyres or Circles.
1838. Redfield, in Amer. Jrnl. Sci., XXXIII. 59. A direct circuit of rotation in the form of a vortex or active whirlwind.
1845. A. Thom, Nat. Storms, 48. The Margaret, on the opposite side of the vortex, still had the ‘hurricane strong’ from S.W. by W., with a heavy sea.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog. (Low), xix. 439. The vortex of a cyclone is often and aptly compared to a meteor.
1870. Tyndall, Fragm. Sci. (1879), I. vi. 198. We seemed crossing the vortex of a storm.
transf. 1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), II. II. 123. The vortex of this night Hath whirled him hither to my sight.
b. In fig. context or use.
1788. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 13 Feb. The whirlwind of his eloquence nearly drew me into its vortex.
1854. Emerson, Lett. & Soc. Aims, Poet. & Imag., Wks. (Bohn), III. 160. In their rhythm is no manufacture, but a vortex, or musical tornado.
1856. R. A. Vaughan, Mystics, I. 145. Bernard … began life by drawing after him into the convent all his kindred … with the irresistible vortex of his own religious fervour.
5. fig. A state or condition of human affairs or interests comparable to a whirl or eddy by reason of rush or excitement, rapid change, or absorbing effect.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), IV. lv. 273. The distant parts of the kingdom, being removed from that furious vortex of new principles and opinions which had transported the capital.
1793. Burke, Obs. Conduct Minority, Wks. 1842, I. 611. No man … may be justly suspected of secretly abetting this French Revolution, who must not be drawn into its vortex.
1806. A. Hunter, Culina (ed. 3), 243. Lecturers, who delight in being continually whirled round in the vortex of new opinions.
1838. W. Irving, in Life & Lett. (1866), III. 124. I value my peace of mind too highly to suffer myself to be drawn into the vortex of New York politics.
1860. Mill, Repr. Govt. (1865), 137/1. The appointments are kept out of the vortex of party and parliamentary jobbing.
1883. S. Waddington, A. H. Clough, 83. The vortex of religious excitement and discussion kept him idly moving in its ceaseless gyrations.
b. A constant round of excitement or pleasure.
[1766. Fordyce, Serm. Yng. Wm. (1767), I. vii. 268. That whirl of dissipation, which, like some mighty vortex, has swallowed up in a manner all conditions and characters.]
1792. A. Young, in Mme. D’Arblay’s Lett. (1842), V. 329. A person who is constantly moving in a vortex of pleasure, brilliancy, and wit.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T., Breakfast. I feel that I cannot be at ease in the vortex of dissipation.
1877. Mrs. Forrester, Mignon, I. 191. She and her husband lived in a vortex of gaiety.
c. A situation into which persons or things are steadily drawn, or from which they cannot escape. (Chiefly after sense 3.)
1779. J. Moore, View Soc. Fr., I. i. 8. I thought it most prudent to remove…, that no chance might remain of my being … whirled round again in the vortex of dissipation and gaming.
1833. Mrs. Browning, Prometh. Bound, Poet. Wks. (1904), 159/2. Let him hurl me anon, into Tartarus,… With Necessity’s vortices strangling me down.
1850. Kingsley, Alt. Locke, x. I looked with horror on the gulf of penury before me, into the vortex of which not only I, but my whole trade, seemed irresistibly sucked.
a. 1862. Buckle, Civiliz. (1869), III. v. 356. Generation after generation passes away, successively absorbed in one mighty vortex.
† 6. A design or figure representing or suggesting vortical movement. Obs.–1
1665. Hooke, Microgr., Time Table, The Figures of Hoar Frost, and the Vortices on windows.
7. attrib., chiefly in terms of physical science, as vortex-atom, -filament, -line, -matter, -motion, -ring; vortex turbine or (water-)wheel, a turbine in which the water enters tangentially at the circumference and is discharged at the center.
1867. Sir W. Thomson, in Phil. Mag., Ser. IV. XXXIV. 15 (heading), On *Vortex Atoms.
1876. P. G. Tait, Rec. Adv. Phys. Sci., i. 24. Sir W. Thomson’s splendid suggestion of Vortex-atoms … will enable us thoroughly to understand matter. Ibid. (1867), (tr. Helmholtz), in Phil. Mag., Ser. IV. XXXIII. 486. By *vortex-filaments … I denote portions of the fluid bounded by vortex-lines drawn through every point of the boundary of an infinitely small closed curve.
1878. W. K. Clifford, Dynamic, III. 203. The part of the body inside the tube is called a vortex-filament.
1867. Tait (tr. Helmholtz), in Phil. Mag., Ser. IV. XXXIII. 486. By *vortex-lines … I denote lines drawn through the fluid so as at every point to coincide with the instantaneous axis of rotation of the corresponding fluid element.
1878. W. K. Clifford, Dynamic, III. 200. A curve such that its tangent at every point is in the direction of the spin at that point is called a vortex-line.
a. 1721. Keill, Maupertuis’ Diss. (1734), 21. As each Planet describes equal Area’s in equal Times, it follows that the Beds of the *Vortex Matter have their Velocities in a reciprocal Proportion to their distances from the Center.
1867. Tait (tr. Helmholtz) in Phil. Mag., Ser. IV. XXXIII. 491. We may … call the motions which have no velocity-potential, generally, *vortex-motions. Ibid. (1876), Rec. Adv. Phys. Sci., xii. 290. The peculiar properties of vortex-motion were mathematically deduced … by Helmholtz. Ibid. (1867), (tr. Helmholtz), in Phil. Mag., Ser. IV. XXXIII. 510. These *vortex-rings travel on,… and are widened or contracted by other vortex-rings.
1878. W. K. Clifford, Dynamic, III. 205. Suppose that in a mass of fluid there is a single vortex ring of any form (i. e. a vortex-filament returning into itself).
1877. Iron, 27 Oct., 516. The turbine manufactured by them is termed the *‘Vortex.’
1884. Athenæum, 16 Aug., 212/1. A description of the vortex turbine or inward-flow water-wheel.
1853. Glynn, Treat. Power Water, 146. Several machines derive their power from the reaction of water-pressure: such as Dr. Barker’s mill,… the *Vortex-wheel, and others.
1860. Ure’s Dict. Arts, etc. (ed. 5), III. 928. The name of Vortex Wheel has been given to a modification of the turbine by Mr. James Thomson of Belfast.
