A condenser composed of two lenses which concentrates and controls the light which passes through an examined specimen before that light enters the objective of a microscope, used to obtain high levels of magnification.

An abbot who is exempt from diocesan control, and acts with papal authority.

(physics) An instrument used to measure the refractive index of a liquid, by utilizing the critical angle for total reflection.

(usually capitalized) Soil that has a well-differentiated profile, with the three types or horizons of soil.

plural of abbot primate

(music) At pleasure; ad libitum.

Initialism of vicar apostolic. / Initialism of vice admiral. / Initialism of visual acuity.

(epigraphy, obsolete) Acting in place of; from Latin vices agens.

Alternative form of ab initio

(law) From inconvenience or hardship.