atomy

¹ American  

[at-uh-mee] / ˈæt ə mi /

noun

plural

atomies

1. an atom; mote.

2. a small creature; pygmy.

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atomy ² American  

[at-uh-mee] / ˈæt ə mi /

noun

plural

atomies

1. a skeleton.

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atomy ¹ British  

/ ˈætəmɪ /

noun

1. an atom or minute particle

2. a minute creature

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atomy ² British  

/ ˈætəmɪ /

noun

1. an obsolete word for skeleton

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Etymology

Origin of atomy¹

1585–95; singular use of Latin atomī, plural of atomus atom

Origin of atomy²

1590–1600; variant of anatomy (taken as an atomy )

Example Sentences

The Wait felt so strange that he took the furry atomy without protest, and popped it into his mouth without any feelings that it was going to be nasty.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Here,—as I coil the stems between two leaves,— It is as if, dwindling to atomy size, I cried the secret between two universes .

From The House of Dust; a symphony by Aiken, Conrad

Well, I am sure!" said Annie, throwing her arms around poor mother: "who could have thought that little atomy had such an outrageous spirit!

From Lorna Doone A Romance of Exmoor by Blackmore, R. D. (Richard Doddridge)

Often she would turn her back upon that wizened atomy of quirks and false ideals, and let her bosom pant to think to-night!—to-night!—to-night!

From Doom Castle by Munro, Neil

But there was a man called Brygandyne—Bob Brygandyne—Clerk of the King’s Ships, a little, smooth, bustling atomy, as clever as a woman to get work done for nothin’—a won’erful smooth-tongued pleader.

From Rewards and Fairies by Kipling, Rudyard