King James Bible Dictionary

Some kind of wind instrument, probably a kind of Pan's pipes (Genesis 4:21; Job 21:12; Psalms 150:4), which consisted of seven or eight reeds of unequal length.

See Music, Instruments of
Music, Instruments of

(Genesis 4:21; Job 21:12; 30:31; Psalms 150:4) The Hebrew word thus rendered probably denotes a pipe or perforated wind-instrument. In (Genesis 4:21) it appears to be a general term for all wind-instruments. In (Job 21:12) are enumerated three kinds of musical instruments which are possible under the general terms of the timbrel harp and oryan. Some identify it with the pandean pipe or syrinx an instrument of unquestionably ancient origin, and common in the East. [Music]

OR'GAN, noun [Latin organum; Gr.]

1. A natural instrument of action or operation, or by which some process is carried on. Thus the arteries and veins of animal bodies are organs of circulation; the lungs are organs of respiration; the nerves are organs of perception and sensation; the muscles are organs of motion; the ears are organs of hearing; the tongue is the organ of speech.

2. The instrument or means of conveyance or communication. A secretary of state is the organ of communication between the government and a foreign power.

3. The largest and most harmonious of wind instruments of music, consisting of pipes which are filled with wind, and stops touched by the fingers. It is blown by a bellows.

OR'GAN-BUILDER, noun An artist whose occupation is to construct organs.

ORGAN'IC,

ORGAN'ICAL, adjective [Latin organicus.]

1. Pertaining to an organ or to organs; consisting of organs or containing them; as the organic structure of the human body or of plants.

2. Produced by the organs; as organic pleasure.

3. Instrumental; acting as instruments of nature or art to a certain end; as organic arts.

Organic bodies, are such as possess organs, on the action of which depend their growth and perfection; as animals and plants.

ORGAN'ICALLY, adverb

1. With organs; with organical structure or disposition of parts. The bodies of animals and plants are organically framed.

2. By means of organs.

ORGAN'ICALNESS, noun The state of being organical.

OR'GANISM, noun Organical structure; as the organism of bodies.

OR'GANIST, noun

1. One who plays on the organ.

2. One who sung in parts; an old musical use of the word.

ORGANIZA'TION, noun

1. The act or process of forming organs or instruments of action.

2. The act of forming or arranging the parts of a compound or complex body in a suitable manner for use or service; the act of distributing into suitable divisions and appointing the proper officers, as an army or a government.

The first organization of the general government.

3. Structure; form; suitable disposition of parts which are to act together in a compound body.

OR'GANIZE, verb transitive

1. To form with suitable organs; to construct so that one part may cooperate with another.

Those nobler faculties of the soul organized matter could never produce.

2. To sing in parts; as, to organize the hallelujah.

3. To distribute into suitable parts and appoint proper officers, that the whole may act as one body; as, to organize an army. So we say, to organize the house of representatives, which is done by the appointment of officers and verification of the powers of the several members. So we say, a club, a party or a faction is organized, when it takes a systemized form.

This original and supreme will organizes the government.

OR'GANIZED, participle passive Formed with organs; constructed organically; systemized; reduced to a form in which all the parts may act together to one end. Animals and plants are organized bodies. Minerals are not organized bodies.

OR'GANIZING, participle present tense Constructing with suitable organs; reducing to system in order to produce united action to one end.

OR'GAN-LOFT, noun The loft where an organ stands.

ORGANOGRAPH'IC,

ORGANOGRAPH'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to organography.

ORGANOG'RAPHY, noun [Gr.]

In botany, a description of the organs of plants, or of the names and kinds of their organs.

OR'GAN-PIPE, noun The pipe of a musical organ.

OR'GAN-STOP, noun The stop of an organ, or any collection of pipes under one general name.

ORGANY. [See origan.]

ORGAN'ZINE, noun Silk twisted into threads; thrown silk.