Altazimuth, alt-az′i-muth,n.an instrument devised by Sir G. B. Airy for determining the apparent places of the heavenly bodies on the celestial sphere. [A contr. for 'altitudeandazimuthinstrument.']
Alter, awl′tėr,v.t.to make different: to change: (U.S.) to castrate.—v.i.to become different: to vary.—ns.Alterabil′ity,Al′terableness.—adj.Al′terable, that may be altered.—adv.Al′terably.—adj.Al′terant, altering: having the power of producing changes.—n.Alterā′tion, change.—adj.Al′terative, having power to alter.—n.a medicine that makes a change in the vital functions.—n.Alter′ity(Coleridge), the state of being other or different. [L.alter, another—al(root ofalius, other), and the old comp. suffix-ter= Eng.-ther.]
Altercate, al′tėr-kāt,v.i.to dispute or wrangle.—n.Altercā′tion, contention: controversy.—adj.Altercā′tive. [L.altercāri,-catus, to bandy words from one to the other (alter).]
Alter ego, al′tėrē′go,n.second self, counterpart, double. [L.alter, other;ego, I.]
Alternate, al′tėr-nāt, oral-tėr′nāt,v.t.to cause to follow by turns or one after the other.—v.i.to happen by turns: to follow every other or second time—alsoAl′ternise.—adjs.Al′tern(Milton), alternate, acting by turns;Alter′nant(geol.), in alternate layers;Alter′nate, one after the other: by turns.—adv.Alter′nately.—ns.Alter′nateness,Alter′nacy(rare);Alternā′tion, the act of alternating: interchange: reading or singing antiphonally.—adj.Alter′native, offering a choice of two things.—n.a choice between two things.—adv.Alter′natively. [L.alter, other.]
Althæa, al-thē′a,n.a genus of plants including the marsh mallow and the hollyhock. [Gr.]
Although,awl-thō′,conj.admitting all that: notwithstanding that. [SeeThough.]
Altimeter, al-tim′e-tėr,n.an instrument for measuring heights.—adj.Altimet′rical.—n.Altim′etry. [L.altus, high, andMeter.]
Altissimo, al-tis′si-mo,adj.(mus.) in phrase 'in altissimo,' in the second octave above the treble stave beginning with G. [It.altissimo, superl. ofalto, high.]
Altitude, alt′i-tude,n.height: a point or position at a height above the sea: high rank or eminence.—n.pl.Alt′itudes, passion, excitement.—adj.Altitū′dinal.—n.Altitudinā′rian, one given to flightiness in doctrine or belief. [L.altitudo—altus, high.]
Alto, alt′o,n.(mus.) properly the same as counter-tenor, the male voice of the highest pitch (now principallyfalsetto), and not the lowest female voice, which is properlycontralto, though in printed music the second part in a quartet is always calledalto. [It.—L.altus, high.]
Altogether,awl-too-geth′ėr,adv.all together: wholly: completely: without exception.
Alto-relievo,Alto-rilievo,alt′o-re-lē′vo,n.high relief: figures projected by at least half their thickness from the background on which they are sculptured. [It.alto, high. SeeRelief.]
Altruism, al′trōō-ism,n.the principle of living and acting for the interest of others.—adj.Altruist′ic.—adv.Altruist′ically. [Fr.altruisme, formed by Comte from It.altrui—L.alter, another.]
Alum, al′um,n.a mineral salt, the double sulphate of alumina and potash, used as a mordant in dyeing and for many purposes.—adj.Al′umish, having the character or taste of alum.—ns.Al′um-shale, or-slate, a slate consisting mainly of clay, iron pyrites, and coaly matter, from which alum is obtained. [L.alumen.]
Alumina, al-ū′min-a,Alumine,al′ū-min,n.one of the earths, the characteristic ingredient of common clay—the oxide of aluminium.—adj.Alū′minous, containing alum or alumina. [L.alumen, alum.]
Aluminium, al-ū-min′i-um,n.the metallic base of alumina; a metal somewhat resembling silver, and remarkable for its lightness, now made from Bauxite.—Aluminium bronze, an alloy lighter than gold, but like it in colour. [First calledAluminumby the discoverer, Sir H. Davy (1778-1829).]
Alumnus, al-um′nus,n.one educated at a college is called analumnusof it:—pl.Alum′ni.—n.Alum′niate, the period of pupilage. [L.,—alĕre, to nourish.]
Alunite, al′un-īt,n.a mineral consisting of common alum together with normal hydrate of aluminium.—AlsoAlum-stone,Alumin′ilite.
Alure, al-lūr′,n.(obs.) a place to walk in, a gallery, a covered passage. [O. Fr.aleure,aller, to go.]
Alveary, al′ve-ar-i,n.a beehive: (anat.) the hollow of the external ear.—adj.Al′veolate, pitted like a honeycomb. [L.alvearium, beehive—alveus, a hollow vessel.]
Alveolar, al′ve-o-lar,adj.(anat.) of or belonging to the sockets of the teeth, as the alveolar arch, the part of the upper jaw in which the teeth are placed—alsoAl′veolary.—n.Al′veole, the hollow or socket of a tooth—more commonAlvē′olus.
Alvine, al′vin,adj.of or from the belly. [From L.alvus, belly.]
Always, awl′wāz,Alway,awl′wā,adv.through all ways: continually: for ever. [Gen. case ofAlway.]
Am, am, the 1st pers. sing, of the verb To be. [A.S.eom; Gr.ei-mi; Lat.s-u-m(as-(u)-mi); Goth.-im; Sans.as-mi.]
Amadou, am′a-dōō,n.a soft spongy substance, growing as a fungus on forest trees, used as a styptic and as tinder. [Fr.amadouer, to allure (as in the phrase 'tocoaxa fire'); prob. of Scand. origin; cf. Norsemata, to feed.]
Amain, a-mān′,adv.with main force or strength: violently: at full speed: exceedingly. [Pfx.a-=on, andMain.]
Amalgam, a-mal′gam,n.a compound of mercury with another metal: any soft mixture: a combination of various elements: one of the ingredients in an alloy.—v.t.Amal′gamate, to mix mercury with another metal: to compound.—v.i.to unite in an amalgam: to blend.—n.Amalgamā′tion, the blending of different things: a homogeneous union of diverse elements.—adj.Amalgamā′tive. [L. and Gr.malagma, an emollient—Gr.malassein, to soften.]
Amandine, am′an-din,n.a kind of cold cream prepared from sweet almonds. [Fr.—amande, almond.]
Amanuensis, a-man-ū-en′sis,n.one who writes to dictation: a copyist: a secretary:—pl.Amanuen′sēs. [L.—ab, from, andmanus, the hand.]
Amaracus, a-mar′a-kus,n.(Tennyson) marjoram. [L.—Gr.]
Amaranth,-us, am′ar-anth, -us,n.a genus of plants with richly-coloured flowers, that last long without withering, as Love-lies-bleeding, early employed as an emblem of immortality.—adj.Amaranth′ine, pertaining to amaranth: unfading. [Through Fr. and L. from Gr.amarantos, unfading—a, neg., and rootmar, to waste away; allied to L.mori, to die.]
Amaryllis, am-a-ril′is,n.a genus of bulbous-rooted plants, including the narcissus, jonquil, &c. [Amaryllis, the name of a country girl in Theocritus and Virgil.]
Amass, a-mas′,v.t.to gather in large quantity: to accumulate.—adjs.Amass′able.—pa.p.Amassed′.—n.Amass′ment. [Fr.amasser—L.ad, to, andmassa, a mass.]
Amasthenic, am-as-then′ik,adj.uniting all the chemical rays of light into one focus, applied to a lens perfect for photographic purposes. [Gr.hama, together,sthenos, force.]
Amate, a-māt′,v.t.to accompany: (Spens.) to match. [Pfx.a-, andMate.]
Amate, a-māt′,v.t.(arch.) to subdue, to daunt, to stupefy. [O. Fr.amatir, to subdue.]
Amateur, am′at-ūr, oram-at-ār′,n.one who cultivates a particular study or art for the love of it, and not professionally: in general terms, one who plays a game for pleasure, as distinguished from a professional who plays for money—nearly every game has its special definition to meet its own requirements.—adjs.Amateur;Amateur′ish, imperfect and defective, as the work of an amateur rather than a professional hand.—adv.Amateur′ishly.—ns.Amateur′ishness;Amateur′ism,Amateur′ship. [Fr.—L.amator, a lover,amāre, to love.]
Amative, am′at-iv,adj.relating to love: amorous.—n.Am′ativeness, propensity to love or to sexuality. [From L.amāre, -ātum, to love.]
Amatory, am′at-or-i,adj.relating to or causing love: affectionate.—adjs.Am′atory,Amatō′rial,Amatō′rian(obs.).—adv.Amatō′rially.
Amaurosis, am-aw-rō′sis,n.total blindness when no change can be seen in the eye sufficient to account for it;Amblyopiabeing partial loss of sight under similar circumstances. The old name wasGutta serena—the 'drop serene' ofParadise Lost, iii. 25.—adj.Amaurō′tic. [Gr.amaurōsis,amauros, dark.]
Amaze, a-māz′,v.t.to confound with surprise or wonder.—n.astonishment: perplexity (much less common thanAmaze′ment).—adv.Amaz′edly, with amazement or wonder.—n.Amaze′ment,Amaz′edness(rare), surprise mingled with wonder: astonishment.—p.adj.Amaze′ing, causing amazement, astonishment: astonishing.—adv.Amaz′ingly. [Pfx.a-, andMaze.]
Amazon, am′az-on,n.one of a fabled nation of female warriors: a masculine woman: a virago.—adj.Amazō′nian, of or like an Amazon: of masculine manners: warlike. [Popular Gr. ety. froma, neg.,mazos, a breast—they being fabled to cut off the right breast that they might draw the bow to its head (of course all this is idle); some have suggested an original in the Circassianmaza, the moon.]
Ambage, am′bāj,n.roundabout phrases: circuitous paths, windings: dark and mysterious courses:—pl.Am′bages.—adj.Ambā′gious, circumlocutory: circuitous.—adv.Ambā′giously.—n.Ambā′giousness—adj.Ambā′gitory(rare).
Ambassador, am-bas′a-dur,n.a diplomatic minister of the highest order sent by one sovereign power to another:—fem.Ambass′adress.—adj.Ambassadō′rial.—n.Ambass′adorship.—n.Ambass′age—now usuallyEmbassage, the position, or the business, of an ambassador: a number of men despatched on an embassy or mission.—Ambassador Extraordinary, an ambassador sent on a special occasion, as distinguished from the ordinary or resident ambassador. [It.ambasciadore—L.ambactus, derived by Grimm from Goth.andbahts, a servant, whence Ger.amt, office; by Zeuss and others traced to a Celtic source, and identified with W.amaeth, a husbandman.]
Ambe, am′bē,n.an old mechanical contrivance, ascribed to Hippocrates, for reducing dislocations of the shoulder. [Gr.ambē, Ionic forambōn, a ridge.]
Amber, am′bėr,n.a yellowish fossil resin, used in making ornaments.—adjs.Am′bered(obs.), flavoured with amber or ambergris;Amb′ery. [Fr.—Ar.‛anbar, ambergris.]
Ambergris, am′bėr-grēs,n.a fragrant substance of an ash-gray colour, found floating on the sea or on the seacoast of warm countries, and in the intestines of the spermaceti whale. [Fr.ambre gris, gray amber.]
Amberite, am′be-rīt,n.a smokeless powder.
Ambidexter, am-bi-deks′tėr,adj.andn.able to use both hands with equal facility: double-dealing, or a double-dealer.—n.Ambi′dexter′ity, superior cleverness or adaptability.—adj.Ambidex′trous. [L.ambo, both,dexter, right hand.]
Ambient, am′bi-ent,adj.going round: surrounding: investing.—n.an encompassing sphere: the air or sky. [L.ambi, about,iens,ientis, pr.p. ofeo,īre, to go.]
Ambiguous, am-big′ū-us,adj.of doubtful signification: indistinct: wavering or uncertain: equivocal.—n.Ambigū′ity, uncertainty or dubiousness of meaning—alsoAmbig′uousness.—adv.Ambig′uously. [L.ambiguus—ambigĕre, to go about—ambi, about,agĕre, to drive.]
Ambit, am′bit,n.a circuit: a space surrounding a house or town: extent of meaning of words, &c.
Ambition, am-bish′un,n.the desire of power, honour, fame, excellence.—n.Ambi′tionist(Carlyle), an ambitious man.—adj.Ambi′tious, full of ambition (withof, formerlyfor): strongly desirous of anything—esp. power: aspiring: indicating ambition: showy or pretentious.—adv.Ambi′tiously.—n.Ambi′tiousness. [Fr.—L.ambition-em, the going about—that is, the canvassing for votes practised by candidates for office in Rome—ambi, about, andīre,itum, to go.]
Amble, am′bl,v.i.to move as a horse by lifting together both legs on one side alternately with those on the other side: to move at an easy pace affectedly.—n.a pace of a horse between a trot and a walk.—n.Am′bler, a horse that ambles: one who ambles in walking or dancing.—n.andadj.Am′bling. [Fr.ambler—L.ambulā-re, to walk about.]
Amblygon, am′bli-gon,adj.obtuse-angled. [Gr.amblus, obtuse,gonia, angle.]
Amblyopia, am-bli-ō′pi-a,n.dullness of sight (seeAmaurosis).—n.Amblyop′sis, the bony fish found in the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, the rudimentariness of whose eyes is due to darkness and consequent disuse. [Gr.—amblys, dull,ōps, eye.]
Amblystoma, am-blis′tō-ma,n.a genus of tailed amphibians in the gill-less or salamandroid sub-order—the adult form of axolotl. [Gr.amblys, blunt,stoma, mouth.]
Ambo, am′bō,n.a kind of reading-desk or pulpit, which in early Christian churches was placed in the choir. The ambo had two ascents—one from the east, and the other from the west. [Gr.ambōn, a rising.]
Ambrosia, am-brō′zhi-a,n.the fabled food of the gods, which gave immortal youth and beauty to those who ate it: the anointing oil of the gods: any finely-flavoured beverage: something delightfully sweet and pleasing.—adj.Ambrō′sial, fragrant: delicious: immortal: heavenly.—adv.Ambrō′sially.—adj.Ambrō′sian, relating to ambrosia: relating to St Ambrose, bishop of Milan in the 4th century. [L.—Gr.ambrosios=ambrotos, immortal—a, neg., andbrotos, mortal, formrotos, Sans.mrita, dead—mri(L.mori), to die.]
Ambry.
Ambry, am′bri,n.a niche in churches in which the sacred utensils were kept: a cupboard for victuals. [O. Fr.armarie, a repository for arms (Fr.armoire, a cupboard)—L.armarium, a chest for arms—arma, arms.]
Ambs-ace, āmz′-ās,n.double ace: the lowest possible throw at dice: ill-luck: worthlessness. [O. Fr.ambes as—L.ambas as. SeeAce.]
Ambulacrum, am-bū-lā′krum,n.a row of pores in the shell of an echinoderm, as a sea-urchin, through which the tube-feet protrude.—adj.Ambulā′cral. [L., a walk—ambulāre, to walk.]
Ambulance, am′būl-ans,n.a carriage which follows an army and serves as a movable hospital for the wounded—also used as anadj., as in ambulance wagon.—n.Ambulan′cier, a man attached to an ambulance.—adj.Am′bulant, walking: moving from place to place: (rare) unfixed.—v.t.andv.i.Am′bulate(rare), to walk.—p.adj.Am′bulating.—n.Ambulā′tion.—adj.Am′bulatory, having the power or faculty of walking: moving from place to place, not stationary: mutable.—n.any part of a building intended for walking in, as the aisles of a church, or the cloisters of a monastery: any kind of corridor. [Fr.—L.ambulans,-antis, pr.p. ofambulāre, to walk about.]
Ambuscade, am′busk-ād,n.a hiding to attack by surprise: a body of troops in concealment: the hidden place of ambush—used also as averb.—n.Ambuscā′do, a now archaic form ofAmbuscade(common in 17th century):—pl.Ambuscā′does. [Fr.embuscade. SeeAmbush.]
Ambush, am′boosh,n.andv.same meanings asAmbuscade.—n.Am′bushment(B.), ambush. [O. Fr.embusche(mod.embûche),embuscher, Low L.emboscāre—in-, in, andboscus, a bush.]
Ameer, orAmere, a-mēr′,n.a title of honour, also of an independent ruler in Mohammedan countries. [Ar.amīr. SeeAdmiral.]
Ameliorate, a-mēl′yor-āt,v.t.to make better: to improve.—v.i.to grow better.—n.Ameliorā′tion, the condition of being made better: improvement or the means of such.—adj.Amel′iorative. [L.ad, to, andmelior, better.]
Amen, ā′men′, orä′men′,interj.so let it be!—v.t.to say amen to anything, to ratify solemnly. [Gr.—Heb.āmēn, firm, true.]
Amenable, a-mēn′a-bl,adj.easy to be led or governed: liable or subject to.—ns.Amenabil′ity,Amen′ableness.—adv.Amen′ably. [Fr.amener, to lead—a= L.ad, andmener, to lead—Low L.mināre, to lead, to drive (as cattle)—L.mināri, to threaten.]
Amenage, am′e-nāj,v.t.(Spens.) to manage. [O. Fr.amenager. SeeManage.]
Amenance, am′e-nans,n.(Spens.) conduct, behaviour. [O. Fr.amenance, from root ofAmenable.]
Amend, a-mend′,v.t.to correct: to improve: to alter in detail, as a bill before parliament, often so fundamentally as to overthrow entirely the thing originally proposed.—v.i.to grow or become better.—adjs.Amend′able,Amend′atory, corrective.—n.Amend′ment, correction: improvement: an alteration proposed on a bill under consideration: a counter-proposal put before a public meeting: a counter-motion.—n.pl.Amends′, supply of a loss: compensation: reparation. [Fr.amenderforemender—L.emendāre, to remove a fault—e,ex, out of, andmenda, a fault.]
Amende, ä-mend′,n.a fine, penalty.—Amende honorable, a public confession and apology made for any offence. [Fr. SeeAmend.]
Amenity, am-en′i-ti,n.pleasantness, as regards situation, climate, manners, or disposition. [Fr.aménité—L.amœnitas—amœnus, pleasant, from root ofam-āre, to love.]
Amenorrhœa,Amenorrhea,a-men-ō-rē′a,n.absence of menstruation. [From Gr.a, priv.,mēn, month,roia, a flowing.]
Amentum, a-men′tum,Ament,am′ent,n.a scaly sort of spike, as of the willow: a catkin:—pl.Amen′ta.—adjs.Amentā′ceous,Amen′tal. [L.amentum, thong.]
Amerce, a-mėrs′,v.t.to punish by a fine: to deprive of anything, or inflict loss upon.—n.Amerce′ment, a penalty inflicted—alsoAmerc′iament. [O. Fr.amercier, to impose a fine—L.merces, wages, fine.]
American, a-mer′ik-an,adj.pertaining to America, esp. to the United States.—n.a native of America.—v.t.Amer′icanise, to render American.—n.Amer′icanism, a custom, characteristic, word, phrase, or idiom peculiar to Americans: condition of being an American citizen: devotion to American institutions. [FromAmerica, so called unfairly fromAmerigoVespucci, a navigator who explored a small part of South America seven years after the first voyage of Columbus.]
Amethyst, a′meth-ist,n.a bluish-violet variety of quartz of which drinking cups used to be made, which the ancients supposed prevented drunkenness.—adj.Amethyst′ine, [Gr.amethystos—a, neg.,methy-ein, to be drunken—methū, wine, cog. with Eng.mead, Sans.madhu, sweet.]
Amiable, ām′i-a-bl,adj.lovable: worthy of love: of sweet disposition.—ns.Amiabil′ity,Am′iableness, quality of being amiable, or of exciting love.—adv.Am′iably. [O. Fr.amiable, friendly—L.amicabilis, fromamicus, a friend; there is a confusion in meaning with O. Fr.amable(mod. Fr.aimable), lovable—L.amabilis—am-āre, to love.]
Amiantus, a-mi-ant′us,n.the finest fibrous variety of asbestos—it can be made into cloth which when stained is readily cleansed by fire.—AlsoAmianth′us. [Gr.amiantos, unpollutable—a, neg.,andmiain-ein, to soil.]
Amicable, am′ik-a-bl,adj.friendly.—ns.Amicabil′ity,Am′icableness.—adv.Am′icably. [L.amicabilis—amicus, a friend,am-āre, to love.]
Amice, am′is,n.a flowing cloak formerly worn by priests and pilgrims: a strip of fine linen, with a piece of embroidered cloth sewn upon it, worn formerly on the head, now upon the shoulders, by Roman Catholic priests in the service of the Mass. [O. Fr.amit—L.amictus,amic-ĕre, to wrap about—amb, about, andjac-ĕre, to throw.]
Amice, am′is,n.a furred hood with long ends hanging down in front, originally a cap or covering for the head, afterwards a hood, or cape with a hood, later a mere college hood. [O. Fr.aumuce, of doubtful origin; but at any rate cog. with Ger.mutse,mütze, Scot.mutch.]
Amid, a-mid′,Amidst,a-midst′,prep.in the middle or midst: among.—adv.Amid′most(W. Morris), in the very middle of.—adv.andn.Amid′ships, half-way between the stem and stern of a ship, [a, on, andMid.]
Amide, am′īd,n.one of the compound ammonias derived from one or more molecules of common ammonia, by exchanging one or more of the three hydrogen atoms for acid radicals of equivalent acidity.
Amine, am′īn,n.one of the compound ammonias, in which one or more of the three hydrogen atoms in ammonia are exchanged for alcohol or other positive radicals, or for a metal.
Amildar, am′il-dar,n.a factor or manager in India: a collector of revenue amongst the Mahrattas. [Hind.‛amaldār—Ar.‛amal, work.]
Amir, a-mēr′. Same asAmeer.
Amiss, a-mis′,adj.in error: wrong.—adv.in a faulty manner.—n.Amiss′ibility.—adjs.Amiss′ible;Amiss′ing, wanting, lost. [a, on, andMiss, failure.]
Amity, am′i-ti,n.friendship: good-will. [Fr.amitié—ami—L.amicitia, friendship,amicus, a friend. SeeAmicable.]
Ammiral, an old spelling ofAdmiral.
Ammonia, am-mōn′i-a,n.a pungent gas yielded by smelling-salts, burning feathers, &c.: a solution of ammonia in water (properlyliquid ammonia): a name of a large series of compounds, analogous to ammonia, includingamines,amides, andalkalamides.—adjs.Ammon′iac,Ammonī′acal, pertaining to, or having the properties of, ammonia.—ns.Ammon′iac,Ammonī′acum, a whitish gum resin of bitter taste and heavy smell, the inspissated juice of a Persian umbelliferous plant—used in medicine for its stimulant and expectorant qualities;Ammon′iaphone, an instrument invented about 1880, said to improve the quality of the singing and speaking voice, being an apparatus for inhaling peroxide of hydrogen and free ammonia.—adj.Ammōn′iated, containing ammonia.—n.Ammon′ium, the hypothetical base of ammonia. [Fromsal-ammoniac, or smelling-salts, first obtained by heating camel's dung in Libya, near the temple of Jupiter Ammon.]
Ammonite, am′mon-īt,n.the fossil shell of an extinct genus of molluscs, so called because they resemble the horns on the statue of Jupiter Ammon, worshipped as a ram.
Ammunition, am-mūn-ish′un,n.anything used for munition or defence: military stores, formerly of all kinds (as still in the word used adjectively, as in ammunition wagon, &c.), now esp. powder, balls, bombs, &c.—v.t.to supply with ammunition. [O. Fr.amunition. SeeMunition.]
Amnesia, am-nē′si-a,n.loss of memory. [Gr.amnesia]
Amnesty, am′nest-i,n.a general pardon of political offenders: an act of oblivion.—v.t.to give amnesty to. [Gr.a-mnestos, not remembered.]
Amnion, am′ni-on,n.the innermost membrane enveloping the embryo of reptiles, birds, and mammals. [Gr.—amnos, a lamb.]
Amœba, a-mēb′a,n.a name given to a number of the simplest animals or Protozoa, which consist of unit masses of living matter. They flow out in all directions in blunt processes (pseudopodia, 'false feet'), and have thus an endlessly varying form, hence the name:—pl.Amœb′æ.—adjs.Amœb′iform,Amœb′oid. [Gr.amoibē, change.]
Amœbæan, am-e-bē′an,adj.answering alternately, responsive, as in some of Virgil's eclogues. [L.—Gr.amoibaios,amoibē, change, alternation.]
Amomum, a-mō′mum,n.a genus of herbaceous tropical plants (nat. ord.Scitamineæ), allied to the ginger-plant, several species yielding the cardamoms and grains of paradise of commerce. [Gr.amōmon.]
Among, a-mung′,Amongst,a-mungst′,prep.of the number of: amidst. [A.S.on-gemang—mengan, to mingle.]
Amontillado, a-mon-til-yä′do,n.a dry or little sweet kind of sherry of a light colour and body. [Sp.]
Amoret, am′or-et,n.(obs.) a sweetheart. [O. Fr.amorette—L.amor-em.]
Amoretto, am-or-et′to,n.a lover: a cupid:—pl.Amoret′ti. [It.]
Amornings, a-morn′ingz,adv.(obs.) of mornings. [OfandMorning.]
Amoroso, am-or-ro′so,adj.(mus.) tender: descriptive of love.—n.one in love, a gallant:—pl.Amorō′si.—n.Amorō′sity(rare), fondness.
Amorous, am′or-us,adj.easily inspired with love: fondly in love (withof): relating to love.—n.Am′orist, a lover: a gallant.—adv.Am′orously.—n.Am′orousness. [O. Fr.amorous(Fr.amoureux)—L.amoros-um,amor, love.]
Amorpha, a-mor′fa,n.a genus of North American shrubs of the bean family, the false indigoes or lead-plants—alsobastardorwild indigo.
Amorphism, a-mor′fizm,n.a state of being amorphous or without crystallisation even in the minutest particles.—adj.Amor′phous, without regular shape, shapeless, uncrystallised. [Gr.a, neg.,morphē, form.]
Amort, a-mort′,adj.(obs.orarch.merely) spiritless, dejected.—n.Amortisā′tion.—v.t.Amort′īse, to alienate in mortmain: to convey to a corporation:—pr.p.amort′īsing;pa.p.amort′īsed. [Fr.à, to,mort, death. SeeMortal.]
Amount, a-mownt′,v.i.to mount or rise to: to result in: to come in meaning or substance to (withto).—n.the whole sum: the effect or result. [O. Fr.amonter, to ascend—L.ad, to,mont,mons, a mountain.]
Amour, am-ōōr′,n.a love intrigue, or illicit affection: a love affair (humorously only, for the old innocent sense is now obsolete).—n.Amourette′, a petty love affair: the love-grass, or quaking-grass: a cupid.—Amour propre, self-esteem ready to take offence at slights. [Fr.—L.amor, love.]
Amove, a-mōōv′,v.t.(Spens.) to stir up: to affect:—pr.p.amov′ing;pa.p.amoved′. [L.admovēre—ad, to, andmov-ēre, to move.]
Amove, a-mōōv′,v.t.to remove, esp. from a place (obsolete except in law). [O. Fr.amover—L.amovēre,ab, from,mov-ēre, to move.]
Ampère, am-pehr′,n.in electricity, unit of current. [FromAmpère, a French electrician who died in 1836.]
Ampersand, am′pėrs-and,n.a name formerly in use for the character&(also calledshort and), commonly placed at the end of the alphabet in primers.—AlsoAm′perzand,Am′pussy-and, and simplyAm′passy. [A corr. ofand per se and—that is,&standing by itself meansand.]
Amphibalus, am-fib′a-lus,n.an ecclesiastical vestment like the chasuble. [L.—Gr., fromamphi, around,ball-ein, to cast.]
Amphibia, am-fib′i-a,Amphibials,Amphibians,n.pl.animals capable of living both under water and on land.—n.Amphib′ian.—adj.Amphib′ious. [L.—Gr., fromamphi, both,bios, life.]
Amphibole, am-fib′ol-ē,n.the name of a group of minerals which are essentially silicates of lime and magnesia, but these bases are often partly replaced by alumina, and oxides of iron and manganese—tremolite, nephrite (jade), and hornblende. [Gr.]
Amphibology, am-fib-ol′o-ji,n.the use of ambiguous phrases or such as can be construed in two senses. A good example is Shakespeare's 'The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose' (2Henry VI., I. iv. 33)—alsoAmphib′oly.—adjs.Amphib′olous,Amphibol′ic. [Gr., fromamphi, on both sides,ball-ein, to throw.]
Amphibrach, am′fi-brak,n.in prosody, a foot of three syllables—a short, a long, and a short, asămārĕ. The name is sometimes applied in English to such a word asamusement, where an accented syllable falls between two unaccented. [L.—Gr., made up of Gr.amphi, on each side,brachys, short.]
Amphictyonic, am-fik-ti-on′ik,adj.The Amphictyonic Council was an old Greek assembly composed of deputies (Amphictyons) from twelve of the leading states.—n.Amphic′tyony, an association of such states. [Gr.amphiktyones, 'those dwelling around.']
Amphimacer, am-fim′a-sėr,n.in prosody, a foot of three syllables, the middle one short, and the first and last long, ascārĭtās. Sometimes applied to such Eng. words asrunaway. [Gr., 'long at both ends;'amphi, on both sides,makros, long.]
Amphioxus, am-fī-oks′us,n.the lancelet, one of the lowest backboned animals, found on the sandy coasts of warm and temperate seas. The body is about two inches long and pointed at both ends. [Gr.amphi, on both sides, andoxys, sharp.]
Amphipods, am′fi-pods,n.an order of small sessile-eyed crustaceans—a familiar example is the sand-hopper. [Gr.amphi, both ways,pous,podos, a foot.]
Amphisbæna, am-fis-bē′na,n.a family of lizard-snakes, chiefly found in tropical America, which have their tails so rounded as to give them the appearance of having a head at both ends.—adj.Amphisbē′nic. [Gr.amphisbaina—amphi,amphis, both ways, andbain-ein, to go.]
Amphiscians, am-fish′i-anz,n.pl.the inhabitants of the torrid zone, whose shadows are thrown both ways—that is, to the north one part of the year, and to the south the other part, according as the sun is north or south of the equator. [Gr.amphiskios—amphi, both ways,skia, a shadow.]
Amphistomous, am-fis′tō-mus,adj.having a mouth-like orifice at either end, as some parasitic worms. [Gr.,amphistomos, double mouthed.]
Amphitheatre, am-fi-thē′a-tėr,n.an oval or circular edifice having rows of seats one above another, around an open space, called the arena, in which public spectacles are exhibited: anything like an amphitheatre in form.—adjs.Amphitheat′rical,Amphitheat′ral.—adv.Amphitheat′rically. [Gr.amphi, round about,theatron, a place for seeing—theaomai, to see.]
Amphitryon, am-fit′ri-on,n.a host or entertainer. [FromAmphitryonin Molière's comedy, who gives a great dinner. Amphitryon in Gr. mythology was husband of Alcmene, who was deceived by Zeus in her husband's semblance, and so became the mother of Hercules.]
Amphora.
Amphora, am′fō-ra,n.a two-handled vessel or jar used by the Greeks and Romans for holding liquids.—adj.Am′phoric(med.), like the sound produced by speaking into an amphora or any large vessel with a small mouth. [Gr.amphoreus,amphiphoreus—amphi, on both sides,pher-ein, to bear.]
Ample, am′pl,adj.spacious: large enough: abundant: liberal: copious, or of great length.—ns.Am′pleness;Ampliā′tion, enlarging, an enlargement.—adj.Ampliā′tive(rare).—adv.Am′ply. [Fr.—L.amplus, large.]
Amplexicaul, am-pleks′i-kawl,adj.(bot.) nearly surrounding the stem—said of sessile leaves. [Modern L.amplexicaulis—L.amplexus, embrace, andcaulis, stem.]
Amplify, am′pli-fī,v.t.to make more copious in expression: to add to.—n.Amplificā′tion, enlargement.—adj.Amplificā′tory.—n.Am′plifier, one who amplifies: a lens which enlarges the field of vision. [L.amplus, large, andfac-ĕre, to make.]
Amplitude, am′pli-tūd,n.largeness: abundance: width: splendour: wide range of mind: the distance from the east point of a horizon at which a heavenly body rises, or from the west point at which it sets. [Fr.—L.amplitudo.]
Ampul, am′pul,n.a small earthenware or glass vessel of an oblong globular form, used for containing consecrated oil or wine and water for the eucharistic service—now more commonlyAmpul′la. [O. Fr.ampole—L.ampulla.]
Ampulla.
Ampulla, am-pul′la,n.a small two-handled flask or bottle for holding liquids or unguents: a vessel for holding consecrated oil or chrism, esp. at the coronation of kings: a kind of cruet of transparent glass for holding the wine and water used at the altar: (biol.) the dilated end of any canal or duct in an animal body, also the spongiole of a root in plants.—adjs.Ampullā′ceous,Am′pullar,Am′pullary,Am′pullate.—n.Ampullos′ity, turgidity of language, bombast. [L.; made up ofamb, on both sides, andolla, a jar; or an irregular dim. ofamphora, a flagon.]
Amputate, am′pūt-āt,v.t.to cut off, as a limb of an animal.—n.Amputā′tion. [L.amb, round about,putāre, to cut.]
Amrita, am-rē′ta,n.the drink of the gods in Hindu mythology. [Sans.]
Amuck, a-muk′,adv.madly: in murderous frenzy—hardly ever used save in the phrase 'to runamuck.' [Malay,amoq, intoxicated or excited to madness.]
Amulet, am′ū-let,n.a gem, scroll, or other object carried about the person, as a charm against sickness, harm, or witchcraft. [Fr.—L.amulētum, a word of unknown origin; curiously like the mod. Ar.himalat, lit. 'a carrier,' applied to a shoulder-belt, by which a small Koran is hung on the breast.]
Amuse, a-mūz′,v.t.to occupy pleasantly: to divert: to beguile with expectation: (obs.) occupy the attention with: (arch.) to beguile.—adj.Amus′able, capable of being amused.—n.Amuse′ment, that which amuses: pastime.—adj.Amus′ing, affording amusement: entertaining.—adv.Amus′ingly.—n.Amus′ingness.—adj.Amus′ive(rare), having the power to amuse or entertain.—n.Amus′iveness. [Fr.amuser.]
Amusette, am-ū-zėt′,n.a light field-gun invented by Marshal Saxe. [Fr.]
Amutter, a-mut′ėr,adv.in a muttering state.
Amygdalate, a-mig′da-lāt,adj.pertaining to, like, or made of almonds.—adj.Amygdalā′ceous, akin to the almond. [L.amygdala—Gr.amygdalē, an almond.]
Amygdalin,Amygdaline,a-mig′da-lin,n.a crystalline principle existing in the kernel of bitter almonds.
Amygdaloid, a-mig′da-loid,n.a variety of basaltic rock containing almond-shaped nodules of other minerals, as quartz, felspar.—adj.Amygdaloi′dal. [Gr.amygdalē, andeidos, form.]
Amyl, am′il,n.the fifth in the series of the alcohol radicals, a natural product of the distillation of coal. As thus found, two molecules are united together, usually calleddiamyl, being a colourless liquid with an agreeable smell and burning taste.—n.Am′ylene. [Gr.amylon, starchy, fine meal.]
Amylaceous, am-i-lā′shus,adj.pertaining to or resembling starch. [L.amylum, starch—Gr.amylon.]
Amyloid, am′i-loid,n.a half-gelatinous substance like starch, found in some seeds.—adj.Amyloid′al. [Gr.amylon, the finest flour, starch; lit. 'unground'—a, neg.,mylē, a mill, andeidos, form.]
An, an,adj.one: the indefinite article, used before words beginning with the sound of a vowel. [A.S.ān. SeeOne.]
An, an,conj.if. [A form ofAnd.]
Ana, ā′na, a suffix to names of persons or places, denoting a collection of memorable sayings, items of gossip, or miscellaneous facts, asJohnsoniana,Tunbrigiana, &c.: applied also to the literature of some special subject, asBoxiana,Burnsiana,Shakespeariana.—n.pl.specially a collection of the table-talk of some one. [The neut. pl. termination of L. adjectives in-anus= pertaining to.]
Anabaptist, an-a-bapt′ist,n.one who holds that baptism ought to be administered only to adults (by immersion), and therefore that those baptised in infancy ought to be baptised again.—The name is disclaimed by recent opponents of infant baptism both in England and the Continent.—v.i.Anabap′tise.—n.Anabapt′ism.—adj.Anabaptist′ic. [Gr.ana, again,baptiz-ein, to dip in water, to baptise.]
Anabasis, an-ab′a-sis,n.a military advance into the interior of a country—specially the title of the famous story of the unfortunate expedition of Cyrus the Younger against his brother Artaxerxes, and of the retreat of his 10,000 Greek allies under the conduct of Xenophon. [Gr.; made up ofana, up, andbain-ein, to go.]
Anableps, an′a-bleps,n.a genus of bony fishes with open air-bladders, and projecting eyes divided into an upper and lower portion, so that each eye has two pupils. [Gr.anablepsis, 'a looking up.']
Anabolism, an-ab′ol-izm,n.the constructive processes within the protoplasm, by which food or other material, at a relatively low level, passes through an ascending series of ever more complex and unstable combinations, till it is finally worked up into living matter. [Gr.anabolē, 'rising up.']
Anacanthous, an-a-kan′thus,adj.without spine. [Gr.an-, without,akantha, spine.]
Anacard, an′a-kard,n.the cashew-nut, the fruit of theAnacardium occidentale. [Gr., made up ofana, according to, andkardia, heart, from the shape of the fruit.]
Anacatharsis, an-a-kath-ar′sis,n.vomiting or expectoration.—n.Anacathar′tic, a medicine with this effect—expectorants, emetics, sternutatorics, &c. [Gr.; made up ofana, up, andkathair-ein, to cleanse.]
Anacharis, an-ak′ar-is,n.a North American weed found in ponds and slow streams, which was first found in Britain in 1842, and is now very troublesome in the Trent, Derwent, and other rivers. [Made up of Gr.ana, up, andcharis, grace.]
Anachorism, a-nak′ō-rizm,n.(rare) something incongruous with the spirit of the country. [Coined on the analogy ofanachronism, from Gr.ana, back, andchōrion, country, with suff.ism.]
Anachronism, an-a′kron-izm,n.an error in regard to time, whereby a thing is assigned to an earlier or to a later age than it belongs to: anything out of keeping with the time.—v.t.Ana′chronise.—n.Ana′chronist.—adjs.Anachronist′ic,Ana′chronous.—adv.Ana′chronously. [Gr.ana, backwards,chronos, time.]
Anaclastic, an-a-klas′tik,adj.pertaining to refraction: bending back. [Gr.ana, back,klaein, break off.]
Anacoluthon, an-a-ko-lū′thon,n.want of sequence in the construction of a sentence, when the latter part does not grammatically correspond with the former: a sentence exhibiting anAnacoluthia, or the passing from one construction to another before the former is completed. [Gr.anakolouthos—a,an, neg., andakolouthos, following.]
Anaconda, an-a-kon′da,n.a large South American water-snake of the Python family, closely related to the boa-constrictor. [Singhalese (?).]
Anacreontic, an-a-kre-ont′ik,adj.after the manner of the Greek poet Anacreon: free, convivial, erotic.—n.a poem in this vein.—adv.Anacreont′ically.
Anacrusis, an-a-krōō′sis,n.(pros.) an upward beat at the beginning of a verse, consisting of one or two unaccented syllables introductory to the just rhythm. [Gr. fromana, up,krou-ein, to strike.]
Anadem, an′a-dem,n.a band or fillet bound round the head: a wreath or chaplet of flowers. [Gr.anadēma—ana, up, andde-ein, to bind.]
Anadromous, an-ad′rō-mus,adj.ascending rivers to spawn. [Gr.ana, up,dromos, running.]
Anæmia, an-ēm′i-a,n.a term employed to denote those conditions in which there is a deficiency of blood or of its red corpuscles: lack or poverty of blood marked by paleness and languor.—adj.Anæm′ic. [Gr.; made up ofan, neg.,haima, blood.]
Anaerobia, an-ā-ėr-ō′bi-a,n.pl.(biol.) bacteria which flourish without free oxygen.—adj.Anaerō′bic.
Anæsthetic, an-ēs-thet′ik,adj.producing insensibility to external impressions.—n.a substance, as chloroform or cocaine, that produces insensibility, whether general or local.—ns.Anæsthē′sia,Anæsthē′sis, loss of feeling, insensibility.—adv.Anæsthet′ically.—v.t.Anæs′thetise. [Gr.a,an, neg.,aisthēsis, sensation—aisthanomai, to feel.]
Anaglyph, an′a-glif,n.an ornament carved in low relief.—adj.Anaglypt′ic. [Gr.;ana, up,glyph-ein, to carve.]
Anaglyptography, an-a-glip-tog′ra-fi,n.the art of engraving so as to give the subject the appearance of being raised from the surface of the paper as if embossed—used in representing coins, &c. [Gr.anaglyptos, embossed, andgraphia, writing.]
Anagogy, an′a-goj-i,n.the mystical interpretation or hidden sense of words.—adjs.Anagog′ic,Anagog′ical.—adv.Anagog′ically. [Gr.anagōgē, elevation,an-ag-ein, to lift up.]
Anagram, an′a-gram,n.a word or sentence formed by rewriting (in a different order) the letters of another word or sentence: as, 'live' = 'evil,' 'Quid est veritas? = 'Est vir qui adest,' and 'Florence Nightingale' = 'Flit on, cheering angel.'—Many pseudonyms are merely anagrams, as 'Voltaire' = 'Arouet l. i.'—that is, 'Arouet le jeune (the younger).'—adjs.Anagrammat′ic,Anagrammat′ical.—adv.Anagrammat′ically.—v.t.Anagram′matīse, to transpose, so as to form an anagram.—ns.Anagram′matism, the practice of making anagrams;Anagram′matist, a maker of anagrams. [Gr.ana, again,graph-ein, to write.]
Anagraph, an′a-graf,n.a catalogue or inventory: a description. [Gr.anagraphē—ana, up, out,graph-ein, to write.]
Anal, ān′al,adj.pertaining to or near the anus.
Analects, an′a-lekts,n.pl.collections of literary fragments—alsoAnalec′ta.—adj.Analec′tic. [Gr.analektos—analegein, to collect—ana, up,legein, to gather.]
Analeptic, an-a-lep′tik,adj.restorative: comforting. [Gr.analēptikos, restorative—analēpsis, recovery—ana, up, andlambanō,lēpsomai, to take.]
Analgesia, an-al-jē′zi-a,n.painlessness, insensibility to pain. [Gr.an-, priv., andalgein, to feel pain.]
Analogy, an-al′o-ji,n.an agreement or correspondence in certain respects between things otherwise different—a resemblance of relations, as in the phrase, 'Knowledge is to the mind what light is to the eye:' relation in general: likeness: (geom.) proportion or the equality of ratios: (gram.) the correspondence of a word or phrase with the genius of a language, as learned from the manner in which its words and phrases are ordinarily formed: similarity of derivative or inflectional processes.—adjs.Analog′ical,Anal′ogic.—adv.Analog′ically.—v.t.Anal′ogise, to explain or consider by analogy:—pr.p.anal′ogīsing;pa.p.anal′ogīsed.—ns.Anal′ogism(obs.), investigation by analogy: argument from cause to effect;Anal′ogist, one who adheres to analogy;Anal′ogon= analogue.—adj.Anal′ogous, having analogy: bearing some correspondence with or resemblance to: similar in certain circumstances or relations (withto).—adv.Anal′ogously.—ns.Anal′ogousness;An′alogue, a word or body bearing analogy to, or resembling, another: (biol.) a term used to denote physiological, independent of morphological resemblance.—Organs areanalogousto one another, or areanalogues, when they perform the same function, though they may be altogether different in structure; as the wings of a bird and the wings of an insect. Again, organs arehomologous, orhomologues, when they are constructed on the same plan, undergo a similar development, and bear the same relative position, and this independent of either form or function. Thus the arms of a man and the wings of a bird are homologues of one another, while the wing of a bird and the wing of a bat are both analogous and homologous. [Gr.ana, according to, andlogos, ratio.]
Analphabete, an-al′fa-bēt,n.andadj.one who does not know his alphabet, an illiterate.—adj.Analphabet′ic. [Gr.an, neg., andAlphabet.]
Analysis, an-al′is-is,n.a resolving or separating a thing into its elements or component parts—the tracing of things to their source, and so discovering the general principles underlying individual phenomena. Its converse issynthesis, the explanation of certain phenomena by means of principles which are for this purpose assumed as established. Analysis as the resolution of our experience into its original elements, is an artificial separation; while synthesis is an artificial reconstruction: (gram.) the arrangement into its logical and grammatical elements of a sentence or part of a sentence:—pl.Anal′yses.—adj.Analys′able.—n.Analysā′tion.—v.t.An′alyse, to resolve a whole into its elements: to separate into component parts.—n.An′alyst, one skilled in analysis, esp. chemical analysis.—adjs.Analyt′ic,-al, pertaining to analysis: resolving into first principles.—adv.Analyt′ically.—n.pl.Analyt′ics, the name given by Aristotle to his treatises on logic.—Analytical geometry, geometry treated by means of ordinary algebra, with a reference, direct or indirect, to a system of co-ordinates;Analytic method(logic) proceeds regressively or inductively to the recognition of general principles, as opposed to theSyntheticmethod, which advances from principles to particulars. [Gr.analysis,analy-ein, to unloose,ana, up,ly-ein, to loose.]
Anamnesis, an-am-nēs′is,n.the recalling of things past to memory: the recollection of the Platonic pre-existence: the history of his illness given by the patient to his physician. [Gr.]
Anamorphosis, an-a-mor′fo-sis,n.a figure, appearing from one view-point irregular or deformed, but from another regular and in proportion: (bot.) a gradual transformation, or an abnormal development of any part.—adj.Anamor′phous. [Gr.;ana, back,morphōsis, a shaping—morphē, shape.]
Ananas, an-an′as,n.the pine-apple: the West Indian penguin.—AlsoAnan′a. [Peruvian.]
Anandrous, an-an′drus,adj.without stamens, or male organs, applied to female flowers. [Gr.an, neg., andanēr,andros, a man.]
Anantherous, an-an′thėr-us,adj.without anthers. [Gr.an, neg., andAnther.]
Ananthous, an-an′thus,adj.without flowers. [Gr.an, neg., andanthos, a flower.]
Anapæst,Anapest, an′a-pest,n.(in verse) a foot consisting of three syllables, two short and the third long, or (in Eng.) two unaccented and the third accented, ascolonnadé—a familiar example of a poem in this metre is Byron'sDestruction of Sennacherib.—adjs.Anapæs′tic,-al. [Gr.anapaistos, reversed, because it is the dactyl reversed.]
Anaphora, an′af-or-a,n.(rhet.) the repetition of the same word or phrase in several successive clauses, as in 1 Cor. i. 20. [Gr.;ana, back,pher-ein, to bear.]
Anaphrodisiac, an-af-rō-diz′i-ak,adj.andn.tending to diminish sexual desire, or a drug supposed to have that effect. [Fr.an, neg., and adj. fromAphrodite.]
Anaplasty, an′a-plas-ti,n.the reparation of superficial lesions by the use of adjacent healthy tissue, as by transplanting a portion of skin.—adj.An′aplastic. [Gr.; that may be formed anew,ana, again,plass-ein, to form.]
Anaplerosis, an′a-plē-rō′sis,n.the filling up of a deficiency, esp. in medicine: the filling up of parts that have been destroyed, as in wounds, cicatrices, &c.—adj.Anaplerot′ic. [Gr.; fromana, up, andplēro-ein, to fill up.]
Anaptotic, an-ap-tot′ik,adj.(philol.) again uninflected—a term sometimes applied to languages which have lost most of their inflections through phonetic decay. [Gr.ana, again,aptōtos, without case, indeclinable,aptōs,-ōtos, not falling,pipt-ein, to fall.]
Anarchy, an′ark-i,n.the want of government in a state: political confusion: conflict of opinion.—adjs.Anarch′al(rare);Anarch′ic,Anarch′ical.—v.t.Anarch′ise.—ns.An′archism, anarchy: the negation of government—the name adopted by a phase of revolutionary socialism associated with the names of Proudhon and Bakunin. Their ideal of society was of one without government of any kind, when every man should be a law unto himself;An′archist,An′arch, one who promotes anarchy. [Gr.a,an, neg.,archē, government.]
Anarthrous, an-är′thrus,adj.without the article, of Greek nouns: (entom.) having neither wings nor legs.—adv.Anar′thrously. [Gr.an, neg.,arthron, a joint, the article.]
Anastatic, an-a-stat′ik,adj.furnished with characters standing up, or raised in relief—esp. of the anastatic printing process, in which copies of drawings are printed from fac-similes produced in relief on zinc plates. [Gr.anastatikos—ana, up,statikos, causing to stand—histēmi, to make to stand.]
Anastomosis, an-as-to-mō′sis,n.the union or intercommunication of vessels with each other, as seen in the junction of the branches of the arteries.—v.i.Anas′tomose, to communicate in such a way.—adj.Anastomot′ic.
Anastrophe, an-as′tro-fi,n.an inversion of the natural order of words, as 'Loud roared the thunder,' for 'The thunder roared,' &c. [Gr.;ana, back, andstreph-ein, to turn.]
Anathema, an-ath′em-a,n.a solemn ecclesiastical curse or denunciation involving excommunication: any person or thing anathematised: generally, any imprecation or expression of execration.—n.Anathematisā′tion—v.t.Anath′ematise, to pronounce accursed.—Anathema maranātha, as in 1 Cor. xvi. 22;maranatha(Syr.māran ethā, 'our Lord hath come') is properly a mere solemn formula of confirmation, likeAmen, having no other connection with the antecedentanathema—it is so printed in the Revised Version.—It seems to have been used by the early Christians as a kind of watchword of mutual encouragement and hope. So the words in 1 Cor. xvi. 22 are nearly equivalent to the similar expressions in Phil. iv. 5; Rev. xxii. 20. [The classical Gr.anathēmameant a votive offering set up in a temple,ana, up,tithenai, to place; theanathĕmaof the Septuagint and New Testament meant something specially devoted to evil, as in Rom. ix. 3.]
Anatomy, an-a′tom-i,n.the art of dissecting any organised body: science of the structure of the body learned by dissection: a skeleton, a shrivelled and shrunken body, a mummy: (fig.) the lifeless form or shadow of anything: humorously for the body generally: the detailed analysis of anything, as in Burton's famous treatise,The Anatomy of Melancholy.—adjs.Anatom′ic,-al, relating to anatomy.—adv.Anatom′ically.—v.t.Anat′omise, to dissect a body: (fig.) to lay open minutely.—n.Anat′omist, one skilled in anatomy. [Gr.ana, up, asunder,temnein, to cut.]
Anatopism, an-at′op-izm,n.(rare—Coleridge) a faulty arrangement. [Gr.ana, up,topos, a place.]
Anatta, an-at′ta,n.the reddish pulp surrounding the seeds of theBixa orellana, a medium-sized tree growing in Guiana and elsewhere. It yields a dye which gives a bright orange tint to cloth, and is much used to add colour to butter and cheese.—AlsoAnat′to,Annat′to,Arnot′to. [Supposed to be a native Amer. word.]
Anbury, an′bėr-i,n.a disease in turnips, produced by one of the slime-fungi, and usually the result of improper cultivation. It is often confounded withFinger-and-toe(dactylorhiza), which is rather a degeneration of the plant than a disease, the bulb branching out into a number of taproots, while the skin remains unbroken. Anbury causes a scabbed and broken skin, and tubercular growths on the roots and at the base of the bulb. [Often explained as a disguised form of A.S.ampre, a crooked swelling vein; more probably, a variant ofanbury=angberry, A.S.ang-, pain, as inang-nail.]
Ancestor, an′ses-tur,n.one from whom a person has descended: a forefather:—fem.An′cestress.—adj.Ances′tral.—ns.An′cestor-wor′ship, the chief element in the religion of China and other countries—erroneously supposed by Herbert Spencer to be the foundation of all religion;An′cestry, a line of ancestors: lineage. [O. Fr.ancestre—L.antecessor—ante, before,cedĕre,cessum, to go.]