Abraxas.
Abraxas, a-braks′as,n.a mystic word, or an amulet, consisting of a gem engraved therewith on some part of it, often bearing a mystical figure of combined human and animal form, used as a charm. [Said to be coined by the Egyptian Gnostic Basilides in 2d century to express 365 in Greek letters; thusαβραξαςused as numerals = 1 + 2 + 100 + 1 + 60 + 1 + 200. But Mr C. W. King finds its origin in Heb.ha-b'rākāh, 'the blessing,' or 'sacred name,' used as the title of a Gnostic deity representing the 365 emanations of the Divine Plērōma or fullness.]
Abray, a-brā′,Abrayd,a-brād′,v.i.(Spens.) to start out of sleep: to awake.—v.t.andv.i.to arouse, startle.—The more correct form isabraid. [Made up of pfx.a-, andabrédan. A.S.breydan, to twist. SeeBraid.]
Abreast, a-brest′,adv.with fronts in a line: side by side: (naut.) opposite to. [Prep.a, on, andBreast.]
Abricock. SeeApricot.
Abridge, a-brij′,v.t.to make brief or short: to shorten: to epitomise: to curtail, as privileges or authority.—ns.Abridg′ment,Abridge′ment, contraction: shortening of time, labour or privileges: a compendium of a larger work: an epitome or synopsis: (law) the leaving out of certain portions Of a plaintiff's demand, the writ still holding good for the remainder. [O. Fr.abregier(Fr.abréger)—L.abbreviāre. SeeAbbreviate.]
Abroach, a-brōch′,adv.broached: in a condition to let the liquor run out: in a state to be diffused, afloat: astir. [Prep.a, andBroach.]
Abroad, a-brawd′,adv.on the broad or open space: out of doors: public: in another country. [Prep.a, andBroad.]
Abrogate, ab′ro-gāt,v.t.to repeal (a law): to set aside.—n.Abrogā′tion, act of repealing or setting aside.—adj.Ab′rogative. [L.ab, away,rogāre,-ātum, to ask or propose a law.]
Abrook, a-brook′,v.t.(Shak.) to brook, bear, or endure. [Pfx.a-, andBrook,v.]
Abrupt, ab-rupt′,adj.the opposite of gradual, as if broken off: sudden: unexpected: precipitous: (of style) passing from one thought to another without transitions: (of manners) short, rude.—n.an abrupt place.—n.Abrup′tion, a sudden breaking off: violent separation: (Shak.) interruption, pause.—adv.Abrupt′ly.—n.Abrupt′ness. [L.abruptus—ab, off,rumpĕre,ruptum, to break.]
Abscess, ab′ses,n.a collection of purulent matter within some tissue of the body. [L.abscessus—abs, away,cedĕre,cessum, to go, to retreat.]
Abscind, ab-sind′,v.t.to cut off.—n.Abscis′sion, act of cutting off, or state of being cut off: (rhet.) a figure of speech in which the words demanded by the sense are left unsaid, the speaker stopping short suddenly. [L.abscindo;ab, off,scindo, to cut.]
Absciss, ab′sis,Abscissa,ab-sis′sa,n.the straight line cut off or intercepted between the vertex of a curve and an ordinate, measured along the principal axis:—pl.Absciss′es,Absciss′æ,Absciss′as. [L.abscissus, cut off,pa.p.ofabscindĕre—ab, from,scindĕre, to cut.]
Abscond, abs-kond′,v.i.to hide, or quit the country, in order to escape a legal process. [L.abscondĕre,abs, from or away,condĕre, to hide.]
Absent, abs′ent,adj.being away: not present: inattentive—v.t.(abs-ent′)to keep one's self away.—ns.Abs′ence, the state of being away or not present: want: inattention;Absentee′, one who is absent on any occasion: one who makes a habit of living away from his estate or his office;Absentee′ism, the practice of absenting one's self from duty or station, esp. of a landowner living away from his estate.—adv.Ab′sently. [L.absent-, pr.p. ofabsum—ab, away from,sum,esse, to be.]
Absinth,Absinthe, ab′sinth,n.spirit combined with extract of wormwood.—adjs.Absinth′ian,Absinth′iated, impregnated with absinth. [Fr.—L.absinthium, wormwood—Gr.]
Absolute, ab′sol-ūt,adj.free from limits or conditions: complete: unlimited: free from mixture: considered without reference to other things: unconditioned, unalterable: unrestricted by constitutional checks (said of a government): (gram.) not immediately dependent: (phil.) existing in and by itself without necessary relation to any other being: capable of being conceived of as unconditioned. In the sense of being finished, perfect, it may be considered as opposed to the Infinite; but, in the sense of being freed from restriction or condition, it is evident the Infinite itself must be absolute. Opposite schools differ on the question whether the Absolute can be known under conditions of consciousness.—adv.Ab′solutely, separately: unconditionally: positively: completely.—ns.Ab′soluteness;Absolū′tion, release from punishment: acquittal: remission of sins declared officially by a priest, or the formula by which such is expressed;Ab′solutism, government where the ruler is without restriction;Ab′solutist, a supporter of absolute government.—adjs.Absol′utory,Absolv′atory.—The Absolute, that which is absolute, self-existent, uncaused. [L.absolutus, pa.p. ofabsolvĕre. SeeAbsolve.]
Absolve, ab-zolv′,v.t.to loose or set free: to pardon: to acquit: to discharge (withfrom).—ns.Absolv′er, one who gives absolution or acquits;Absolv′itor, a decision favourable to a defender.—v.t.Assoil′zie, in Scots law, to absolve the accused on the grounds that the evidence disproves or does not establish the charge. [L.ab, from,solvĕre,solutum, to loose. SeeSolve.]
Absonant, ab′so-nant,adj.discordant: absurd: unnatural (withtoorfrom)—opp. toConsonant. [L.ab, from,sonant-, pr.p. ofsonāre, to sound.]
Absorb, ab-sorb′,v.t.to suck in: to swallow up: to engage wholly.—n.Absorbabil′ity.—adj.Absorb′able, that may be absorbed.—p.adj.Absorbed′, swallowed up: entirely occupied.—advs.Absorb′edly,Absorb′ingly.—adj.Absorb′ent, imbibing: swallowing.—n.that which absorbs.—n.Absorp′tion, the act of absorbing: entire occupation of mind.—adj.Absorp′tive, having power to absorb.—n.Absorptiv′ity. [Fr.—L.ab, from,sorbēre,-sorptum, to suck in.]
Abstain, abs-tān′,v.i.to hold or refrain from.—ns.Abstain′er, specially one who does not take alcoholic drinks;Absten′tion, a refraining. [Fr.abstenir—L.abs, from,tenēre, to hold. SeeTenable.]
Abstemious, abs-tēm′i-us,adj.temperate: sparing in food, drink, or enjoyments.—adv.Abstem′iously.—n.Abstem′iousness. [L.abstemius—abs, from,temetum, strong wine.]
Abstersion, abs-ter′shun,n.act of cleansing or washing away impurities.—v.t.Absterge′, to cleanse, purge.—adjs.Abster′gent, serving to cleanse;Abster′sive, having the quality of cleansing: purgative. [L.abstergēre,-tersum, to wipe away.]
Abstinent, abs′tin-ent,adj.abstaining from: temperate.—n.Abs′tinence, an abstaining or refraining, especially from some indulgence (withfrom)—alsoAbs′tinency.—adv.Abs′tinently. [SeeAbstain.]
Abstract, abs-trakt′,v.t.to draw away: to separate: to purloin.—adj.Abstract′ed, drawn off (withfrom): removed: absent in mind.—adv.Abstract′edly.—ns.Abstract′edness;Abstrac′tion, act of abstracting: state of being abstracted: absence of mind: the operation of the mind by which certain qualities or attributes of an object are considered apart from the rest: a purloining.—adj.Abstract′ive, having the power of abstracting.—n.anything abstractive: an abstract.—adv.Abs′tractly.—n.Abs′tractness. [L.abs, away from,trahĕre,tractum, to draw. SeeTrace.]
Abstract, abs′trakt,adj.general, as opposed to particular or individual (the opposite ofabstractisconcrete—a red colour is an abstract notion, a red rose is a concrete notion; an abstract noun is the name of a quality apart from the thing, as redness).—n.summary: abridgment: essence. [L.abstractus, as if a quality common to a number of things were drawn away from the things and considered by itself.]
Abstruse, abs-trōōs′,adj.hidden: remote from apprehension: difficult to be understood.—adv.Abstruse′ly.—ns.Abstruse′ness;Abstrus′ity(Sir T. Browne). [L.abstrusus, thrust away (from observation)—trudĕre,trusum, to thrust.]
Absurd, ab-surd′,adj.obviously unreasonable or false: ridiculous.—ns.Absurd′ity,Absurd′ness, the quality of being absurd: anything absurd.—adv.Absurd′ly. [L.absurdus—ab, from,surdus, harsh-sounding, deaf.]
Abundance, ab-und′ans,n.ample sufficiency: great plenty.—adj.Abund′ant, plentiful.—adv.Abund′antly. [SeeAbound.]
Abuse, ab-ūz′,v.t.to use wrongly: to pervert: to revile: to violate.—ns.Abuse(ab-ūs′), ill use: misapplication: reproach: vituperation;Abū′sion(Spens.), abuse: deception: reproach.—adj.Abus′ive, containing or practising abuse: full of abuses: vituperative.—adv.Abus′ively.—n.Abus′iveness. [L.ab, away (from what is right),uti,usus, to use.]
Abut, a-but′,v.i.to end: to border (on):—pr.p.abut′ting;pa.p.abut′ted.—ns.Abut′ment, that which abuts: (archit.) what a limb of an arch ends or rests on;Abut′tal, an abutment: (pl.) the boundaries.—p.adj.Abut′ting, facing each other: front to front. [Fr.abouter, lit. to join end to end (à, to,bout, end). SeeButt, the end.]
Aby,Abye, a-bī,v.t.orv.i.(arch.) to pay the penalty: to suffer for: to give satisfaction.—Abyoccurs in Spens. with sense of 'abide.' [Pfx.a-, and A.S.bycgan. SeeBuy.]
Abysm, a-bizm′,n.a form ofAbyss.—adj.Abys′mal, bottomless: unending.—adv.Abysm′ally. [O. Fr.abisme, from Lat.abyssimus, superl. ofabyssus, bottomless.]
Abyss, a-bis′,n.a bottomless gulf: a deep mass of water.—adj.Abyss′al. [Gr.abyssos, bottomless—a, without,byssos, bottom.]
Acacia, a-kā′shi-a,n.a genus of thorny leguminous plants with pinnate leaves. [L.—Gr.akakia—akē, a sharp point.]
Academe, ak-a-dēm′,n.(obs.) an academy.
Academic, ak-ad-em′ik,n.a Platonic philosopher: a student in a college. [SeeAcademy.]
Academy, ak-ad′em-i,n.(orig.) the school of Plato: a higher school: a society for the promotion of science or art.—adjs.Academ′ic,-al, of an academy: theoretical as opposed to practical.—adv.Academ′ically.—n.pl.Academ′icals, the articles of dress worn by members of an academy or college.—ns.Academic′ian,Acad′emist, a member of an academy, or, specially, of the French Academy, or the Royal Academy in London. [Gr.Akadēmia, the name of the garden near Athens where Plato taught.]
Acadian, a-kā′di-an,adj.of or native to Nova Scotia, Acadia being the name given to the country by the first French settlers in 1604.
Acajou, ak′a-jōō,n.the gum or resin of a kind of red mahogany. [Origin doubtful. SeeCashew.]
Acalepha, ak-a-lē′fa,n.a class of Radiate marine animals, consisting of soft gelatinous substance. The name was first applied to the Jelly-fish tribe, but later was made to include the trueMedusæor jelly-fishes, and others.—Other forms areAcalephandAcalephan. [Gr.akalēphē, a nettle.]
Acanthopterygian, ak-an-thop-tėr-ij′i-an,adj.having spiny fins. [Gr.akantha, thorn,pteryx,pterygos, a wing, a fin.]
Acanthus (archit.).
Acanthus, a-kan′thus,n.a prickly plant, called bear's breech or brank-ursine: (archit.) an ornament resembling its leaves used in the capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders, &c.—alsoAcan′tha.—adjs.Acan′thine,Acanthā′ceous. [L.—Gr.akanthos—akē, a point,anthos, a flower.]
Acarpous, a-kar′pus,adj.(bot.) without, or not producing, fruit. [Gr.a, neg., andkarpos, fruit.]
Acarus, ak′ar-us,n.a genus of minute insects, of the class Arachnides, embracing the mites and ticks:—pl.Ac′arī. [L.; Gr.akares, minute, too small to cut—a, neg.,keirein, to cut short.]
Acatalectic, a-kat-a-lek′tik,adj.having the complete number of syllables as a verse: without defect.—n.an acatalectic verse. [L.—Gr.a, not, andCatalectic.]
Acatalepsy, a-kat-a-lep′si,n.incomprehensibility, a term of the sceptic school of Carneades, who thought nothing could be known to certainty by man.—adj.Acatalep′tic. [Gr.akatalēpsia—a, neg.,kata, thoroughly,lēpsis, a seizing—lambanein, to take hold.]
Acater, a-kāt′ėr,n.(obs.) a caterer.—n.pl.Acates′, provisions: food. [O. Fr.acateor,achatour(Fr.acheteur)—Low L.accaptātōr-em,accaptare, to acquire—L.ad-, to, andcaptāre, to seize. SeeCates.]
Acaulescent, a-kaw-les′ent,adj.without a stalk: (bot.) having no stem above ground, or only a very short one.—AlsoAcau′lous. [a, neg., L.caulis, a stalk, formed on pattern ofArborescent.]
Accable, ak-kā′bl,v.t.(obs.) to crush, to encumber. [Fr.accabler, to crush.]
Accadian, a-kā′di-an,adj.of or belonging to Accad, an ancient city mentioned in Gen. x. 10: the language preserved in the earliest form of cuneiform writing.
Accede, ak-sēd′,v.i.to come to, or arrive at, a place or condition: to join one's self, hence to agree or assent (withto).—ns.Acced′er;Acced′ing. [L.accedĕre,accessum, to go near to—ad, to,cedĕre, to go. SeeCede.]
Accelerate, ak-sel′ėr-āt,v.t.to increase the speed of: to hasten the progress of.—n.Accelerā′tion, the act of hastening: increase of speed.—adj.Accel′erative, quickening.—n.Accel′erator, one who or that which accelerates: a light van to take mails between a post-office and a railway station.—adj.Accel′eratory. [L.accelerāre,-ātum—ad, to,celer, swift. SeeCelerity.]
Accend, ak-send′,v.i.(obs.) to kindle.—ns.Accendibil′ity,Accen′sion.—adjs.Accend′ible,Accend′ing.
Accent, ak′sent,n.modulation of the voice: stress on a syllable or word: a mark used to direct this stress: any mode of utterance peculiar to a country, a province, or an individual: (poet.) a significant word, or words generally: (pl.) speech, language.—v.t.Accent′, to express or note the accent.—adj.Accent′ual, relating to accent.—n.Accentual′ity.—adv.Accent′ually.—v.t.Accent′uate, to mark or pronounce with accent: to make prominent.—n.Accentuā′tion, the act of marking or of pronouncing accents. [Fr.—L.accentus, a tone or note—ad, to,canĕre, to sing.]
Accentor, ak-sent′or,n.the so-called 'hedge-sparrow' (q.v.).
Accept, ak-sept′,v.t.to receive: to agree to: to promise to pay: (B.) to receive with favour.—adj.Acceptable(ak-sept′a-bl,orak′sept-a-bl),to be accepted: pleasing: agreeable.—ns.Accept′ableness,Acceptabil′ity, quality of being acceptable.—adv.Accept′ably.—ns.Accept′ance, a favourable reception: an agreeing to terms: an accepted bill;Accept′ancy, willingness to receive;Accept′ant, one who accepts—alsoadj.;Acceptā′tion, a kind reception: the received meaning of a word;Accept′er,Accept′or, one who accepts. [L.acceptāre—accipĕre,acceptum—ad, to,capĕre, to take.]
Acceptilation, ak-sept-il-ā′shun,n.(RomanandScots law) the remission of a debt through an acquittance by the creditor testifying to the receipt of money which never has been paid—a kind of legal fiction for a free remission: (theol.) the doctrine that the satisfaction rendered by Christ was not in itself really a true or full equivalent, but was merely accepted by God, through his gracious good-will, as sufficient—laid down by Duns Scotus, and maintained by the Arminians. [L.acceptilatio.]
Access, ak′ses, orak-ses′,n.liberty to come to, approach: increase.—n.Accessibil′ity.—adj.Access′ible, that may be approached.—adv.Access′ibly. [SeeAccede.]
Accessary, ak-ses′ar-i, orak′ses-ar-i. Same asAccessory.Accessaryis now the usual spelling of both the adjective and the noun in their legal sense.
Accession, ak-sesh′un,n.a coming to: increase.—A deed of accession(Scots law), a deed by which the creditors of a bankrupt approve of a trust settlement executed by the debtor for the general behoof, and consent to the arrangement proposed.
Accessory, ak′ses-sor-i,adj.additional: contributing to: aiding: (law) participating in a crime, as in reset of theft, and the like.—n.anything additional: one who aids or gives countenance to a crime.—adj.Accessōr′ial, relating to an accessory.—adv.Ac′cessorily, in the manner of an accessory: by subordinate means.
Accidence, ak′sid-ens,n.the part of grammar treating of the inflections of words (because these changes are 'accidentals' of words and not 'essentials').
Accident, ak′sid-ent,n.that which happens: an unforeseen or unexpected event: chance: an unessential quality or property.—adj.Accident′al, happening by chance: not essential.—n.anything not essential.—ns.Accident′alism,Accidental′ity.—adv.Accident′ally.—The chapter of accidents, the unforeseen course of events. [L.accidĕre, to happen—ad, to,cadĕre, to fall.]
Accite, ak-sīt′,v.t.(Shak.) to cite or call, to summon:—pr.p.accīt′ing;pa.p.accīt′ed. [L.accīre,-citum—ad, to,ciēre,citum, to call.]
Acclamation, ak-klam-ā′shun,n.a shout of applause—(poet.)Acclaim′.—v.t.Acclaim′, to declare by acclamation.—adj.Acclam′atory, expressing acclamation. [L.acclamāre—ad, to,clamāre,-ātum, to shout. SeeClaim.]
Acclimatise, ak-klīm′at-īz,v.t.to inure to a foreign climate—alsoAcclim′ate.—n.Acclimatisā′tion, the act of acclimatising: the state of being acclimatised—alsoAcclimā′tion,Acclimatā′tion, the former anomalous, the second used in French. [Fr.acclimater, fromàandclimat. SeeClimate.]
Acclimature, ak-klī′ma-tūr,n.Same asAcclimatisation.
Acclivity, ak-kliv′i-ti,n.a slope upwards—opp. toDeclivity, a slope downwards.—adj.Acclī′vous, rising as an acclivity—alsoAccliv′itous. [L.ad, to,clivus, a slope.]
Accloy, ak-kloi′,v.t.(obs.) to cloy or choke: to fill to satiety: to encumber. [SeeCloy.]
Accoast, ak-kōst′,v.t.(Spens.) to fly near the earth. [SeeAccost.]
Accoil, ak-koil′,v.i.(Spens.) to gather together. [Through Fr.—L.ad, to,colligĕere, to collect. SeeCoil.]
Accolade, ak-ol-ād′,n.a ceremony used in conferring knighthood, formerly an embrace, a kiss, now a slap on the shoulders with the flat of a sword. [Fr.—L.ad, to,collum, neck.]
Accommodate, ak-kom′mod-āt,v.t.to adapt: to make suitable: to adjust: to harmonise or force into consistency (to): to furnish or supply (with): to provide entertainment for.—p.adj.Accom′modating, affording accommodation: obliging: pliable: easily corrupted.—n.Accommodā′tion, convenience: fitness: adjustment: obligingness: an arrangement or compromise: (theol.) an adaptation or method of interpretation which explains the special form in which the revelation is presented as unessential to its contents, or rather as often adopted by way of compromise with human ignorance or weakness: a loan of money.—adj.Accom′modative, furnishing accommodation: obliging.—ns.Accom′modativeness;Accom′modator.—Accommodation bill, a bill drawn, accepted, or endorsed by one or more persons as security for a sum advanced to another by a third party, as a banker;Accommodation ladder, a stairway at the outside of a ship's gangway to facilitate access to boats. [L.ad, to,commodus, fitting. SeeCommodious.]
Accompanable, ak-kum′pan-a-bl,adj.(obs.) sociable. [FromAccompany.]
Accompany, ak-kum′pan-i,v.t.to keep company with: to attend: to support a singer by singing or playing on any instrument an additional part (with, of music;on, of the instrument).—ns.Accom′panier;Accom′paniment, that which accompanies: (mus.) the assisting of a solo part by other parts, which may consist of a whole orchestra, or a single instrument, or even subservient vocal parts;Accom′panist, one who accompanies a singer on an instrument to sustain his voice. [Fr.accompagner. SeeCompany.]
Accomplice, ak-kom′plis,n.an associate, esp. in crime, in modern use (withofandwithbefore a person, andinorofbefore the crime). [L.ad, to,complex,-icis, joined.]
Accomplish, ak-kom′plish,v.t.to complete: to bring about: to effect: to fulfil: to equip.—adjs.Accom′plishable, that may be accomplished;Accom′plished, complete in acquirements, especiallygracefulacquirements: polished.—n.Accom′plishment, completion: ornamental acquirement. [Fr.acomplir—L.ad, to,complēre, to fill up. SeeComplete.]
Accompt, ak-komt′,n.an almost obsolete form ofAccount;Accompt′able, ofAccountable;Accompt′ant, ofAccountant.
Accorage. Same asAccourage.
Accord, ak-kord′,v.i.to agree: to be in correspondence (with).—v.t.to cause to agree: to reconcile: to grant (to, of a person).—n.agreement: harmony.—n.Accord′ance, agreement: conformity—alsoAccord′ancy.—adj.Accord′ant, agreeing: corresponding.—adv.Accord′antly.—p.adj.Accord′ing, in accordance: agreeing: harmonious.—adv.Accord′ingly, agreeably: suitably: in agreement (with what precedes).—According as, in proportion as, or agreeably as;According to, in accordance with, or agreeably to.—Of one's own accord, of one's own spontaneous motion. [O. Fr.acorder—L.ad, to,cor,cordis, the heart.]
Accordion, ak-kor′di-on,n.a portable musical instrument consisting of a hand-bellows, with keyboard on one side, the keys resting on free metal reeds so arranged that each sounds two notes, one in expanding, the other in contracting the bellows. [FromAccord.]
Accost, ak-kost′,v.t.to speak first to: to address.—ns.Accost′,Accost′ing(obs.), address: greeting.—adj.Accost′able, easy of access. [O. Fr.acoster—Low L.accostāre, to be side by side—L.ad, to,costa, a side.]
Accouchement, ak-kōōsh′mong,n.delivery in childbed. [Fr.accoucher. SeeCouch.]
Accoucheur, ak-kōō-shėr′,n.a man who assists women in child-birth: a medical practitioner with this speciality:—fem.Accoucheuse(ak-kōō-shėz′). [Fr.]
Account, ak-kownt′,v.t.to reckon: to judge, value.—v.i.(withfor) to give a reason: to give an account of money held in trust.—n.a counting: statement: value: sake: a reckoning as to money, as in phrases like, 'to render an account,' 'to settle an account,' 'to square accounts' with any one, &c.—adj.Account′able, liable to account, responsible (for, of the thing;to, of the person).—ns.Account′ableness,Accountabil′ity, liability to give account, responsibility to fulfil obligations.—adv.Account′ably.—ns.Account′ancy, the office or work of an accountant;Account′ant, one who keeps, or is skilled in, accounts;Account′antship, the employment of an accountant;Account′-book, a book in which accounts are kept.—Account current, or open account, a course of business dealings still going on between two persons, or a person and a bank.—For account of, on behalf of;For the account, for settlement on the regular fortnightly or monthly settling-day, instead of for cash (of sales on the Stock Exchange).—In account with, in business relations requiring the keeping of an account with some one.—OnorTo account, an instalment or interim payment.—To make account of, to set value upon;To take into account, to take into consideration;To take no account of, to overlook. [O. Fr.acconter—L.ad, to,computāre, to reckon. SeeCompute,Count.]
Accouple, ak-kup′l,v.t.(obs.) to couple or link together. [O. Fr.acopler—à, to,cople. SeeCouple.]
Accourage, ak-kur′āj,v.t.(Spens.) to encourage. [O. Fr.acorager—à(L.ad), andcorage(Fr.courage). SeeCourage.]
Accourt, ak-kōrt′,v.t.(Spens.). Same asCourt.
Accoutre, ak-kōō′tėr,v.t.to dress or equip (esp. a warrior):—pr.p.accou′tring;pa.p.accou′tred.—n.pl.Accou′trements, dress: military equipments—(Spens.)Accou′strements. [Fr.accoutrer, earlieraccoustrer—of doubtful origin, prob. conn. with O. Fr.coustre,coutre, a sacristan who had charge of sacred vestments—Low L.custor—L.custos, a keeper.]
Accoy, ak-koi′,v.t.(obs.) to still or quieten: to soothe: to subdue. [O. Fr.acoyer—à, to, andcoi, quiet—L.quiet-um. SeeCoy.]
Accredit, ak-kred′it,v.t.to give credit, countenance, authority, or honour to: to furnish with credentials (withto,at): to vouch for anything belonging to some one—to ascribe or attribute it to him (with).—v.t.Accred′itate(obs.).—n.Accreditā′tion, fact of being accredited.—Thepa.p.Accred′ited, asadj., recognised. [Fr.accréditer—à, to,crédit, credit. SeeCredit.]
Accrescent, ak-kres′ent,adj.growing: ever-increasing.—ns.Accres′cence, gradual growth or increase;Accrē′tion, the process of growing continuously: the growing together of parts externally, or continuous coherence: that which has grown in such a way, any extraneous addition.—adj.Accrē′tive. [L.ad, in addition,crescĕre, to grow.]
Accrew, ak-krōō′ (Spens.). Same asAccrue.
Accrue, ak-krōō′,v.i.to spring or grow as a natural result (withfrom): to fall to any one by way of advantage (withunto,to). [O. Fr.acrewe, what grows up in a wood to the profit of the owner;acreistre—L.accrescĕre.]
Accubation, ak-ku-bā′shun,n.a lying or reclining on a couch. [L.ad, to, andcubare, to lie down.]
Accumbent, ak-kumb′ent,adj.lying down or reclining on a couch. [L.ad, to,cumbĕre, to lie.]
Accumulate, ak-kūm′ūl-āt,v.t.to heap or pile up: to amass: to take degrees by accumulation, to take a higher degree at the same time with a lower, or at a shorter interval than usual.—v.i.to increase greatly: to go on increasing.—n.Accumulā′tion, a heaping up: a heap, mass, or pile.—adj.Accum′ulative, heaping up.—n.Accum′ulator, a thing or person that accumulates, esp. an apparatus for storing electricity. [L.—ad, to,cumulus, a heap.]
Accurate, ak′kūr-āt,adj.done with care: exact.—n.Ac′curacy, correctness: exactness.—adv.Ac′curately.—n.Ac′curateness. [L.accuratus, performed with care (of things)—ad, to,cura, care.]
Accurse, ak-kurs′,v.t.to curse: to devote to misery or destruction.—adj.Accurs′ed, subjected to a curse: doomed: worthy of a curse: extremely wicked. [Pfx.à-, and A.S.cursian, to curse.]
Accusative, ak-kūz′a-tiv,adj.accusing.—n.(gram.) the case which expresses the direct object of transitive verbs (in English, the objective)—primarily expressing destination or the goal of motion.—adj.Accus′atival. [Fr.accusatif—L.accusativus, 'of the nature of accusation,' a translation of the Gr.(ptōsis) aitiatikē, (the case) 'of accusing,' but also 'of or pertaining to what is caused or effected' (aitiaton, effect,aitia, cause); hence, properly, the case of the effect.]
Accuse, ak-kūz′,v.t.to bring a charge against: to blame (withofbefore the thing charged, sometimesfor).—adj.Accus′able, that may be accused.—ns.Accus′al, accusation;Accusā′tion, the act of accusing: the charge brought against any one.—adjs.Accusatō′rial, of an accuser;Accus′atory, containing accusation.—n.Accuse(Shak.), accusation.—p.adj.Accused′, charged with a crime: usually as an., the person accused.—ns.Accuse′ment(Spens.), a charge;Accus′er, one who accuses or brings a charge against another. [O. Fr.acuser—L.accusāre—ad, to,causa, cause.]
Accustom, ak-kus′tum,v.t.to make familiar by custom: to habituate (withto).—adj.Accus′tomary.—p.adj.Accus′tomed, usual: frequent: habituated.—n.Accus′tomedness. [O. Fr.acostumer(Fr.accoutumer)—à, to,costume,coustume—L.consuetudinem. SeeCustom.]
Ace, ās,n.the one at dice, also at cards, dominoes, &c.: a single point, an atom. [Fr.—L.as, unity—as, Tarentine Doric form of Gr.heis, one.]
Aceldama, a-sel′da-ma,n.a field of blood—the name given to the field outside Jerusalem bought with the blood-money of Jesus. [Gr.—Aramaic.]
Acephalan, a-sef′a-lan,n.(zool.) one of the Acephala, a class of molluscs, which present no traces of a head.—adj.Aceph′alous, without a head. [Gr.a, neg.,kephalē, the head.]
Acerbity, as-ėr′bi-ti,n.bitterness: sourness: harshness: severity.—adj.Acerb′. [Fr.,—L.acerbitat-em—L.acerbus, harsh to the taste—acer, sharp.]
Aceric, a-ser′ik,adj.obtained from the maple. [From L.acer, a maple-tree.]
Acetabulum, as-ē-tab′ū-lum,n.(anat.) the cavity which receives the head of the thigh-bone: also a glandular substance found in the placenta of some animals:—pl.Acetab′ula. [L., a cup-shaped vessel.]
Acetic, as-et′ik,adj.of the nature of vinegar: sour—alsoAcē′tous,Acetose′.—n.Aces′cence, a tendency to sourness.—adj.Aces′cent.—n.Ac′etate, salt of acetic acid which is the sour principle in vinegar. [L.acetum, vinegar—ac-ēre, to be sour.]
Acetify, as-et′i-fī,v.t.orv.i.to turn into vinegar.—n.Acetificā′tion. [L.acetum, vinegar, andfacĕre, to make.]
Acetopathy, as-et-op′a-thi,n.the treating of ailments by the external application of dilute acetic acid. [L.acētum, acid, and Gr.pathos, feeling.]
Acetylene, a-set′i-lēn,n.a powerful illuminant gas (C2H2) produced commercially from carbide of calcium by means of water.
Achæan. SeeAchean.
Acharnement, ä-shärn′ment (sometimes nasalised as in French),n.thirst for blood, ferocity. [Fr.acharner, refl.sacharner, to thirst for blood.]
Achates, a-kāts′,n.pl.(Spens.). Same asCates.
Achates, ä-kā′tes,n.trusty comrade, from the 'fidus Achates' of Virgil'sÆneid—the constant companion of Æneas in his wanderings after the fall of Troy.
Ache, āk,n.a continued pain.—v.i.to be in continued pain:—pr.p.āch′ing;pa.p.āched.—n.Ach′ing, continued pain or distress. [The verb is properlyake, the nounache, as inspeakandspeech. The A.S. nounæceis from the verbac-an, to ache.]
Achenium, a-kē′ni-um,n.(bot.) a small hard one-seeded fruit, which does not open when ripe, as in the buttercup.—AlsoAchene′. [From Gr.a, neg., andchainein, to gape.]
Acheron, ak′kėr-on,n.death, hell—from the name of that river in the infernal regions of classical mythology.—adj.Acheron′tic, deadly.
Achieve, a-chēv′,v.t.to bring to a head or end: to perform: to accomplish: to carry out successfully: to gain, win.—adj.Achiev′able, that may be achieved.—n.Achieve′ment, a performance: an exploit: an escutcheon or armorial shield granted in memory of some achievement, applied especially to the escutcheon over the tomb of a dead person, generally called ahatchment. [Fr.achever, fromà chief (venir)—Low L.ad caput venire, to come to a head. SeeChief.]
Achillean, ak-il-lē′an,adj.like Achilles, the great Greek hero in the Trojan war, brave, swift of foot, unrelenting in wrath.—Achilles tendon, the attachment of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles of the calf of the leg to the heel-bone, so named from the infant Achilles's mother, Thetis, having held him by the heel when she dipped him into the Styx to make him invulnerable.
Achitophel, ä-hit′ō-fel,n.an able but unprincipled counsellor, from the name of David's sage counsellor who treacherously abetted the rebellion of Absalom. Dryden in his famous satire applied the name to Shaftesbury.—AlsoAhith′ophel.
Achromatic, a-krōm-at′ik,adj.transmitting light without colour, of a lens or telescope.—adv.Achromat′ically.—n.Achrom′atism, the state of being achromatic.—v.t.Achrom′atize, to render achromatic. [Gr.a, neg., andchrōma,chromatos, colour.]
Acicular, as-ik′ū-lar,adj.needle-shaped; slender and sharp-pointed.—AlsoAcic′ulate,Acic′ulated. [L.acicula, dim. ofacus, a needle.]
Acid, as′id,adj.sharp: sour.—n.a sour substance: (chem.) one of a class of substances, usually sour, which turn vegetable blues to red, and combine with alkalies, metallic oxides, &c. to form salts.—adj.Acid′ifiable, capable of being converted into an acid.—ns.Acidificā′tion;Acid′ity, the quality of being acid or sour—alsoAc′idness.—v.t.Acid′ulate, to make slightly acid. [L.ac-ēre, to be sour—rootak, sharp.]
Acidify, as-id′i-fī,v.t.to make acid: to convert into an acid:—pr.p.acid′ifying;pa.p.acid′ified. [L.acidus, sour, andfacĕre, to make.]
Acidimeter, as-id-im′e-tėr,n.an instrument for measuring the strength of acids.—n.Acidim′etry, the act of such measurement. [AcidandMeter.]
Acidulous, as-id′ū-lus,adj.slightly sour: subacid: containing carbonic acid, as mineral waters: (fig.) caustic, sharp. [L.acidulus, dim. ofacidus, sour. SeeAcid.]
Acierage, ā′sē-ėr-āj,n.the covering of an engraved copper-plate with a film of iron to ensure durability. [Fr.acier, steel—L.acies, a sharp point, and-age.]
Aciform, as′i-form,adj.needle-shaped. [L.acus, a needle, andForm, fromforma, shape.]
Aciniform, a-sin′i-form,adj.in clusters like grapes, or having the form of grapes. [L.acinus, a grape.]
Acknow, ak-nō′,v.t.(obs.) to know, to recognise.—adj.Acknown(Shak.), known or acquainted. [A.S.on, in, on,cnâwan, toKnow.]
Acknowledge, ak-nol′ej,v.t.to own a knowledge of: to own as true: to confess: to admit or give intimation of the receipt of.—adj.Acknow′ledgeable.—adv.Acknow′ledgeably.—n.Acknowledgment, recognition: admission: confession: thanks: a receipt. [From thev.Acknow, with suffix-ledge.]
Aclinic, ak-lin′ik,adj.without inclination, applied to the magnetic equator, which cuts the terrestrial equator, inasmuch as on that line the magnetic needle has no dip, but lies horizontal. [Gr.aklinēs—a, neg.,klin-ein, to bend.]
Acme, ak′mē,n.the top or highest point: the culmination or perfection in the career of anything: crisis, as of a disease.—Acme skates, the name given to a kind of skates, formed of steel, fixed to the boot by a mechanical device, permitting them to be quickly fixed on or taken off. [Gr.akmē—akē, a point.]
Acne, ak′nē,n.a common skin disease, an inflammation of the sebaceous follicles of the skin, often occurring on the nose. [A corr. of Gr.akmē, a point.]
Acock, a-kok′,adv.in a cocked manner: defiantly.—A cock-bill(naut.), having the ends pointing upward, as of an anchor hanging by its ring at the cat-head, in a position for dropping; or of the yards when topped up by one lift to an angle with the deck—the symbol of mourning. [Prep.a, andCock.]
Acœmeti, a-sem′ē-tī,n.pl.a congregation of monks founded in 460 near Constantinople, who by alternating choirs kept divine service going on day and night without intermission in their monastery. [Gr.akoimetoi, sleepless,a, neg., andkoimaein, to put to sleep.]
Acold, a-kōld′,adj.(arch.) cold. [A.S.acóled, pa.p. ofacólian; pfx.a-, intens., andcólian, toCool.]
Acolyte, ak′o-līt,Acolyth,ak′o-lith,n.an inferior church officer: an attendant or assistant: (R. C. Church) one ordained to the fourth of the minor orders, next to the sub-deacon. [Gr.akolouthos, an attendant.]
Aconite, ak′o-nīt,n.the plant wolf's-bane or monk's-hood: poison.—adj.Aconit′ic.—n.Acon′itine, the essential principle of aconite. [L.aconitum—Gr.akoniton.]
Acop, a-kop′,adv.(obs.) on the top or head: on high. [Prep.a, and A.S.cop,copp, summit.]
Acorn, ā′korn,n.the seed or fruit of the oak.—adj.A′corned.—n.A′corn-shell, a name for the Balănus (L., acorn), a genus of Cirripedes in the class Crustacea. [A.S.æcern, prob. fromæcer, field, hence meaning 'the fruit of the unenclosed land.' The modern form is due to confusion withoak(A.S.ác) andcorn.]
Acosmism, a-koz′mizm,n.refusal to believe in the existence of an eternal world. [Gr.,a, neg., andkosmos, the world.]
Acotyledon, a-kot-i-lē′dun,n.a plant without distinct cotyledons or seed-lobes.—adj.Acotylē′donous. [Gr.a, neg., andkotylēdōn. SeeCotyledon.]
Acoustic, a-kowst′ik,adj.pertaining to the sense of hearing or to the theory of sounds: used in hearing, auditory.—n.Acoust′ics, the science of sound. [Fr.—Gr.akoustikos—akouein, to hear.]
Acoy.Same asAccoy.
Acquaint, ak-kwānt′,v.t.to make or let one to know: to inform a person of a thing (with): to inform (with personal object only).—ns.Acquaint′ance, familiar knowledge: a person whom we know;Acquaint′anceship, familiar knowledge.—p.adj.Acquaint′ed(with), personally known: having personal knowledge of. [O. Fr.acointer—Low L.accognitāre—L.ad, to,cognitus, known.]
Acquest, ak-kwest′,n.an acquisition or thing acquired. [O. Fr.—L.acquisitus,acquirĕre. SeeAcquire.]
Acquiesce, ak-kwi-es′,v.i.to rest satisfied or without making opposition: to assent (within).—n.Acquies′cence, quiet assent or submission.—adj.Acquies′cent, resting satisfied: easy: submissive.—advs.Acquies′cently,Acquies′cingly. [L.acquiescĕre—ad, andquies, rest.]
Acquire, ak-kwīr′,v.t.to gain: to attain to.—n.Acquirabil′ity.—adj.Acquir′able, that may be acquired.—ns.Acquire′ment, something learned or got by effort, rather than a gift of nature;Acquisi′tion, the act of acquiring: that which is acquired.—adj.Acquis′itive, desirous to acquire.—n.Acquis′itiveness, propensity to acquire—one of the phrenologists' so-called faculties, with its special organ. [O. Fr.aquerre—L.acquirĕre,-quisitum—ad, to, andquærĕre, to seek.]
Acquist, ak-kwist′,n.(Milton) a form ofAcquest.
Acquit, ak-kwit′,v.t.to free: to release: to settle, as a debt: to behave or conduct (one's self): to declare innocent (withofbefore the thing of which acquitted):—pr.p.acquit′ting;pa.p.acquit′ted.—ns.Acquit′tal, a judicial discharge from an accusation;Acquit′tance, a discharge from an obligation or debt: a receipt in evidence of such a discharge.—v.t.(Shak.), to acquit, clear. [O. Fr.acquiter—L.ad, to,quietāre, to give rest. SeeQuit.]
Acre, ā′kėr,n.a measure of land containing 4840 sq. yards. The Scotch acre contains 6150.4 sq. yards (48 Scotch—61 imperial acres): the Irish, 7840 sq. yards (50 Irish—81 imperial acres): (pl.) for lands, estates generally: (fig.) large quantities of anything.—n.A′creage, the number of acres in a piece of land.—adj.A′cred, possessing acres or land. [A.S.æcer; Ger.acker, L.ager, Gr.agros, Sans.ajras, a plain.]
Acrid, ak′rid,adj.biting to the taste: pungent: bitter.—ns.Acrid′ity,Ac′ridness, quality of being acrid: a sharp, bitter taste. [L.acer,acris, sharp—rootak, sharp.]
Acrimony, ak′ri-mun-i,n.bitterness of feeling or language.—adj.Acrimō′nious, sharp, bitter.—n.Acrimō′niousness, the state or quality of being acrimonious: severity. [L.acrimonia—acer, sharp.]
Acritochromacy, a-krit-o-krō′ma-si,n.inability to distinguish between colours: colour-blindness. [From Gr.akritos, undistinguishable (—a, neg., andkrinein, to separate), andchrōma,-atos, colour.]
Acritude, ak′ri-tūd,n.the quality of being acrid: a sharp bitter taste: bitterness of temper or language. [L.acritudo—acer, sharp.]
Acroamatic,-al, ak-ro-a-mat′ik, -al,adj.oral, esoteric, secret—applied to the lectures of Aristotle delivered to a select circle of students as opposed to his more popular lectures. [Gr.akroamatikos—akroasthai, to hear.]
Acrobat, ak′ro-bat,n.a rope-dancer: a tumbler: a vaulter.—adj.Acrobat′ic.—n.Acrobat′ism, the art of the acrobat. [Gr.akrobatos, walking on tiptoe;akros, point,batos—bainein, to go.]
Acrogen, ak′ro-jen,n.a plant that grows at the top chiefly, as a tree-fern.—adj.Acrog′enous. [Gr.akros, top,genēs, born.]
Acrolith, ak′ro-lith,n.a statue of the earlier Greek artists having the trunk made of wood and the extremities of stone. [Gr.akrolithos—akros, extreme, andlithos, stone.]
Acronycal, a-kron′ik-al,adj.midnight, applied to stars that rise at sunset and set at sunrise, or opposite to the sun.—adv.Acron′ycally. [Gr.akros, summit, middle (of time), andnyx,nyktos, night.]
Acropolis, a-kro′pol-is,n.a citadel, esp. that of Athens. [Gr.akropolis—akros, the highest,polis, a city.]
Acrospire, ak′ro-spīr,n.(bot.) the first leaf that appears when corn sprouts. [Gr.akros, summit, end,speira, anything twisted round.]
Across, a-kros′,prep.oradv.crosswise: from side to side. [Prep.a, andCross.]
Acrostic, a-krō′stik,n.a poem of which, if the first or the last letter of each line be taken in succession, they will spell a name or a sentence.—adj.Acrō′stical.—adv.Acrō′stically.—n.Acrō′sticism, method of acrostics. [Gr.akros, extreme, andstichos, a line.]
Act, akt,v.i.to exert force or influence: to produce an effect: to behave one's self: to feign.—v.t.to perform: to imitate or play the part of.—n.something done or doing: an exploit: the very process of doing something: a law or decision of a prince or legislative body: an instrument in writing for verification: (theol.) something done once for all, in opposition to a work: a distinct section of a play: in universities, a public disputation or lecture maintained by a candidate for a degree.—n.Act′ing, action: act of performing an assumed or a dramatic part: feigning.—adj.performing some duty temporarily, or for another.—n.Act′or, one who acts: a stage-player:—fem.Act′ress.—Act of God, a result of natural forces, unexpected and not preventable by human foresight.—In act to, on the very point of doing something.—To act on, to act in accordance with;To act up to, to come up in practice to some expected standard: to fulfil. [L.agĕre,actum; Gr.agein, to put in motion; Sans.aj, to drive.]
Acta, ak′ta,n.pl.proceedings in a court civil or ecclesiastical, or the minutes of such.—Acta Martyrum, the early accounts of the martyrs;Acta Sanctorum, a general name for collections of accounts of saints and martyrs, especially of the great collection of the Bollandists, begun in 1643, interrupted in 1794 at the fifty-third vol. (Oct. 6), but resumed in 1845.
Actinia, ak-tin′i-a,n.a genus of marine animals of the class Polypi, growing on rocks or shells, with numerous tentacles or rays like the petals of a flower, from which they are often called animal flowers or sea-anemones. [From Gr.aktis,aktinos, a ray.]
Actiniform, ak-tin′i-form,adj.having a radiated form. [Gr.aktis,aktinos, ray, andForm.]
Actinism, ak′tin-izm,n.the chemical force of the sun's rays, as distinct from light and heat.—adj.Ac′tinic. [Gr.aktis,aktinos, a ray.]
Actinolite, ak-tin′ō-līt,n.a green variety of hornblende. [Gr.aktis,aktīnos, a ray,lithos, a stone.]
Actinometer, ak-tin-om′e-tėr,n.an instrument for measuring the heat-intensity of the sun's rays or the actinic effect of light-rays. [Gr.aktis,aktinos, ray, andMeter.]
Actinomyces, ak-ti-no-mī′sez,n.the tiny ray-fungus.—n.Actinomycō′sis, an inflammatory disease in cattle, swine, and sometimes man, caused by that fungus. [Gr.aktis,aktinos, ray, andmyces, mushroom.]
Actinozoa, ak′tin-ō-zō′a,n.pl.one of the three classes of Cœlenterata, including sea-anemones, dead-men's fingers, corals, &c. [Gr.aktis,-inos, a ray;zōa, animals.]
Action, ak′shun,n.a state of acting: activity in the abstract: a deed: operation: gesture: a battle: a lawsuit, or proceedings in a court: the movement of events in a drama, novel, &c.—adj.Ac′tionable, liable to a lawsuit.—n.Ac′tion-tak′ing(Shak.), resenting an injury by a lawsuit instead of fighting it out like a man of honour.
Activate, ak′ti-vāt,v.t.(Bacon) to make active:—pr.p.ac′tivāting;pa.p.ac′tivāted.
Active, akt′iv,adj.that acts: busy: nimble: practical, as opposed to speculative: effective: (gram.) transitive.—adv.Act′ively.—ns.Activ′ity,Act′iveness.
Acton, ak′tun,n.a stuffed leather jacket which used to be worn under a coat of mail. [O. Fr.auqueton, through Sp. from Ar.al-qūtun.]
Actual, akt′ū-al,adj.real: existing in fact and now, as opp. to an imaginary or past state of things.—v.t.Act′ualise, to make actual: to realise in action.—n.Actual′ity.—adv.Act′ually.
Actuary, akt′ū-ar-i,n.a registrar or clerk: one who makes the calculations connected with an insurance office.—adj.Actua′rial. [L.actuarius (scriba), an amanuensis, a clerk.]
Actuate, akt′ū-āt,v.t.to put into or incite to action: to influence.—n.Actuā′tion. [L.actus, action. SeeAct.]
Aculeated, ak-ūl-e-āt′ed,p.adj.pointed: (fig.) pungent, incisive. [L.aculeatus,aculeus, dim. ofacus, needle.]
Acumen, ak-ū′men,n.sharpness: quickness of perception: penetration. [L. SeeAcute.]
Acuminate, a-kū′min-āt,adj.(bot.) having a long tapering point—alsoAcū′minated.—v.t.Acū′minate, to sharpen: (fig.) give point to.—n.Accuminā′tion. [L.acuminatum, pa.p. ofacumināre, to make pointed—acumen, a point. SeeAcumen.]
Acupressure, ak-ū-presh′ūr,n.a mode of arresting hemorrhage from cut arteries, by inserting a needle into the flesh so as to press across the mouth of the artery. [L.acus, a needle, andPressure.]
Acupuncture, ak-ū-pungkt′ūr,n.an operation for relieving pain by puncturing the flesh with needles. [L.acus, a needle, andPuncture.]
Acute, ak-ūt′,adj.sharp-pointed: keen: opp. of dull: shrewd: shrill: critical.—adv.Acute′ly.—n.Acute′ness.—Acute angle, an angle less than a right angle (seeAngle);Acute disease, one coming to a violent crisis, as opp. toChronic. [L.acutus, pa.p. ofacuĕre, to sharpen, from rootak, sharp.]
Adage, ad′āj,n.an old saying: a proverb. [Fr.—L.adagium, fromad, to, and root ofaio, I say.]
Adagio, a-dā′gī-o,adv.(mus.) slowly.—n.a slow movement: a piece in adagio time. [It.ad agio, at ease.]
Adam, ad′am,n.the first man: unregenerate human nature: a gaoler.—n.Ad′amite, one descended from Adam: one of a 2d-century heretical sect in Northern Africa, and in the 15th in Germany, whose members, claiming the primitive innocence of Eden, went about naked.—adjs.Adamit′ic,-al.—n.Ad′amitism.
Adamant, ad′a-mant,n.a very hard stone: the diamond.—adjs.Adamantē′an(Milton), hard as adamant;Adaman′tine, made of or like adamant: that cannot be broken or penetrated. [L. and Gr.adamas,-antos—a, neg., anddamaein, to break, to tame. SeeTame.]
Adamic, a-dam′ik,adj.relating to Adam.
Adam's-apple, ad′amz-ap′pl,n.the angular projection of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx in front of the throat, so called from an idea that part of the forbidden fruit stuck in Adam's throat.—Adam's aleorwine, water.
Adansonia, ad-an-sō′ni-a,n.the baobab, monkey-bread, or calabash-tree of West Africa. [So called fromAdanson, a French botanist (1727-1806).]
Adapt, ad-apt′,v.t.to make apt or fit: to accommodate (withtoorfor).—ns.Adaptabil′ity,Adapt′ableness.—adj.Adapt′able, that may be adapted.—n.Adaptā′tion, the act of making suitable: fitness: (biol.) the process of advantageous variation and progressive modification by which organisms are adjusted to the conditions of their life—the perfected result of adaptation being a life in harmony with the environment. [Fr.—L.adaptāre—ad, to, andaptāre, to fit.]
Adar, ā′dar,n.the twelfth month of the Jewish ecclesiastical, the sixth of the civil, year, corresponding to the later part of February and the first part of March. [Heb.adār.]
Adays, a-dāz′,adv.nowadays: at the present time. [Prep.a, and gen. sing. ofDay, A.S.ondæye.]
Add, ad,v.t.to put (one thing) to (another): to sum up (withto): to increase.—adjs.Add′able,Add′ible.—ns.Addibil′ity;Addit′ament(Charles Lamb), an addition;Addi′tion, the act of adding: the thing added: the rule in arithmetic for adding numbers together: title, honour.—adj.Addi′tional, that is added. [L.—addëre—ad, to,dãre, to put.]
Addax, ad′aks,n.a species of large antelope found in Africa, with long twisted horns. [African word.]
Addeem, ad-dēm′,v.t.to deem: to adjudge: to award. [Pfx.ad-, andDeem.]
Addendum, ad-den′dum,n.a thing to be added: an appendix:—pl.Adden′da. [L. SeeAdd.]
Adder, ad′ėr,n.the popular English name of the viper.—ns.Ad′der's-tongue, a genus of ferns the seeds of which grow on a spike resembling a serpent's tongue;Ad′der's-wort, a wort or plant, so called from its being supposed to cure the bite of serpents—also calledSnakeweed. [A.S.nædre; cf. Ger.atterfornatter.An addercame by mistake into use fora nadder; the reverse mistake isa newtforan ewtoreft.]
Addict, ad-dikt′,v.t.to give (one's self) up to (generally in a bad sense): (B.) to devote or dedicate one's self to.—adjs.Addict′,Addict′ed, given up to (withto).—ns.Addict′edness,Addic′tion. [L.addicĕre,addictum—ad, to,dicĕre, to declare.]
Addle, ad′dl,Addled,ad′dld,adj.diseased: putrid: barren, empty.—adjs.Ad′dle-head′ed,Ad′dle-pat′ed, having a head or pate with addled brains.—n.Ad′dlement. [M.E.adele—A.S.adela, mud; cf. Scot,eddle, liquid manure.]
Addoom, ad-dōōm′,v.t.(Spens.) to doom, to adjudge, to award. [Pfx.a-, andDoom.]
Addorsed, ad-dorst′,p.adj.(her.) turned back to back.
Address, ad-dres′,v.t.to direct (withto): to speak or write to: to court: to direct in writing: to arrange properly: (arch.) to don: (refl.) to turn one's skill or energies towards.—n.a formal communication in writing: a speech: manners: dexterity: direction of a letter:—pl.Address′es, attentions of a lover.—To address one's self to a task, to set about it. [Fr.adresser—Low L.addirectiāre—L.ad, to,directum, straight. SeeDress,Direct.]
Adduce, ad-dūs′,v.t.to bring forward: to cite or quote.—adj.Addūc′ent, drawing forward or together, as of the adductor muscles.—n.Addūc′er.—adj.Addūc′ible.—n.Adduc′tion, the act of adducing or bringing forward: the movement by which a part of the body is drawn forward by muscles.—adj.Adduc′tive, tending to bring forward. [L.adducĕre—ad, to, andduc˘ere, to bring.]
Adductor, ad-dukt′ur,n.a muscle which draws one part towards another. [SeeAbductor.]
Addulce, ad-duls′,v.t.(obs.) to make sweet. [O. Fr.adoulcir—L.ad, to,dulcis, sweet.]