Defn: See Inulin.
ALARA"lar, a. Etym: [L. alarius, fr. ala wing: cf. F. alaire.]
1. Pertaining to, or having, wings.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Axillary; in the fork or axil. Gray.
ALARM A*larm", n. Etym: [F. alarme, It. all' arme to arms ! fr. L. arma, pl., arms. See Arms, and cf. Alarum.]
1. A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. Arming to answer in a night alarm. Shak.
2. Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warming sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger. Sound an alarm in my holy mountain. Joel ii. 1.
3. A sudden attack; disturbance; broil. [R.] "These home alarms." Shak. Thy palace fill with insults and alarms. Pope.
4. Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise. Alarm and resentment spread throughout the camp. Macaulay.
5. A mechanical contrivance for awaking persons from sleep, or rousing their attention; an alarum. Alarm bell, a bell that gives notice on danger. — Alarm clock or watch, a clock or watch which can be so set as to ring or strike loudly at a prearranged hour, to wake from sleep, or excite attention. — Alarm gauge, a contrivance attached to a steam boiler for showing when the pressure of steam is too high, or the water in the boiler too low. — Alarm post, a place to which troops are to repair in case of an alarm.
Syn. — Fright; affright; terror; trepidation; apprehension; consternation; dismay; agitation; disquiet; disquietude. — Alarm, Fright, Terror, Consternation. These words express different degrees of fear at the approach of danger. Fright is fear suddenly excited, producing confusion of the senses, and hence it is unreflecting. Alarm is the hurried agitation of feeling which springs from a sense of immediate and extreme exposure. Terror is agitating and excessive fear, which usually benumbs the faculties. Consternation is overwhelming fear, and carries a notion of powerlessness and amazement. Alarm agitates the feelings; terror disorders the understanding and affects the will; fright seizes on and confuses the sense; consternation takes possession of the soul, and subdues its faculties. See Apprehension.
ALARMA*larm", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alarmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Alarming.]Etym: [Alarm, n. Cf. F. alarmer.]
1. To call to arms for defense; to give notice to (any one) of approaching danger; to rouse to vigilance and action; to put on the alert.
2. To keep in excitement; to disturb.
3. To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear. Alarmed by rumors of military preparation. Macaulay.
ALARMABLEA*larm"a*ble, a.
Defn: Easily alarmed or disturbed.
ALARMEDA*larmed", a.
Defn: Aroused to vigilance; excited by fear of approaching danger; agitated; disturbed; as, an alarmed neighborhood; an alarmed modesty. The white pavilions rose and fell On the alarmed air. Longfellow.
ALARMEDLYA*larm"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In an alarmed manner.
ALARMINGA*larm"ing, a.
Defn: Exciting, or calculated to excite, alarm; causing apprehension of danger; as, an alarming crisis or report. — A*larm"ing*ly, adv.
ALARMISTA*larm"ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alarmiste.]
Defn: One prone to sound or excite alarms, especially, needless alarms. Macaulay.
ALARUMA*lar"um, n. Etym: [OE. alarom, the same word as alarm, n.]
Defn: See Alarm. [Now Poetic]
Note: The variant form alarum is now commonly restricted to an alarm signal or the mechanism to sound an alarm (as in an alarm clock.)
ALARYAl"a*ry, a. Etym: [L. alarius, fr. ala wing.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to wings; also, wing-shaped.The alary system of insects. Wollaston.
ALASA*las", interj. Etym: [OE. alas, allas, OF. alas, F. hélas; a interj.(L. ah.) + las wretched (that I am), L. lassus weary, akin to E.late. See Late.]
Defn: An exclamation expressive of sorrow, pity, or apprehension of evil; — in old writers, sometimes followed by day or white; alas the day, like alack a day, or alas the white.
ALATEA*late", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + late.]
Defn: Lately; of late. [Archaic]There hath been alate such tales spread abroad. Latimer.
ALATE; ALATEDA"late, A"la*ted, a. Etym: [L. alatus, from ala wing.]
Defn: Winged; having wings, or side appendages like wings.
ALATERN; ALATERNUSAl"a*tern, Al`a*ter"nus, n. Etym: [L. ala wing + terni three each.](Bot.)
Defn: An ornamental evergreen shrub (Rhamnus alaternus) belonging to the buckthorns.
ALATIONA*la"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. alatus winged.]
Defn: The state of being winged.
ALAUNTA*launt", n.
Defn: See Alan. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALBAlb, n. Etym: [OE. albe, LL. alba, fr. L. albus white. Cf. Album andAube.]
Defn: A vestment of white linen, reaching to the feet, an enveloping the person; — in the Roman Catholic church, worn by those in holy orders when officiating at mass. It was formerly worn, at least by clerics, in daily life.
ALBACOREAl"ba*core, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Albicore.
ALBANAl"ban, n. Etym: [L. albus white.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline resinous substance extracted from gutta- percha by the action of alcohol or ether.
ALBANIANAl*ba"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Albania, a province of Turkey.— n.
Defn: A native of Albania.
ALBATA Al*ba"ta, n. Etym: [L. albatus, p. p. of albare to make white, fr. albus white.]
Defn: A white metallic alloy; which is made into spoons, forks, teapots, etc. British plate or German silver. See German silver, under German.
ALBATROSS Al"ba*tross, n. Etym: [Corrupt. fr. Pg. alcatraz cormorant, albatross, or Sp. alcatraz a pelican: cf. Pg. alcatruz, Sp. arcaduz, a bucket, fr. Ar. al-qadus the bucket, fr. Gr. ka`dos, a water vessel. So an Arabic term for pelican is water-carrier, as a bird carrying water in its pouch.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long- continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere.
ALBE; ALBEEAl`be", Al`bee", conj. Etym: [See Albeit.]
Defn: Although; albeit. [Obs.]Albe Clarissa were their chiefest founderess. Spenser.
ALBEDOAl*be"do, n. Etym: [L., fr. albus white.]
Defn: Whiteness. Specifically: (Astron.) The ratio which the light reflected from an unpolished surface bears to the total light falling upon that surface.
ALBEITAl`be"it, conj. Etym: [OE. al be although it be, where al is our all.Cf. Although.]
Defn: Even though; although; notwithstanding. Chaucer.Albeit so masked, Madam, I love the truth. Tennyson.
ALBERTITEAl"bert*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A bituminous mineral resembling asphaltum, found in the county of A.
ALBERT WAREAl"bert ware.
Defn: A soft ornamental terra-cotta pottery, sold in the biscuit state for decorating.
ALBERTYPEAl"ber*type, n. Etym: [From the name of the inventor, Albert, ofMunich.]
Defn: A picture printed from a kind of gelatine plate produced by means of a photographic negative.
ALBESCENCEAl*bes"cence, n.
Defn: The act of becoming white; whitishness.
ALBESCENT Al*bes"cent, a. Etym: [L. albescens, p. pr. of albescere to grow white, fr. albus white.]
Defn: Becoming white or whitish; moderately white.
ALBICANT Al"bi*cant, a. Etym: [L. albicans, p. pr. of albicare, albicatum, to be white, fr. albus white.]
Defn: Growing or becoming white.
ALBICATIONAl`bi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The process of becoming white, or developing white patches, or streaks.
ALBICORE Al"bi*core, n. Etym: [F. albicore (cf. Sp. albacora, Pg. albacor, albacora, albecora), fr. Ar. bakr, bekr, a young camel, young cow, heifer, and the article al: cf. Pg. bacoro a little pig.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name applied to several large fishes of the Mackerel family, esp. Orcynus alalonga. One species (Orcynus thynnus), common in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, is called in New England the horse mackerel; the tunny. [Written also albacore.]
ALBIFICATION Al`bi*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. albification: L. albus white + ficare (only in comp.), facere, to make.]
Defn: The act or process of making white. [Obs.]
ALBIGENSES; ALBIGEOIS Al`bi*gen"ses, Al`bi`geois", n. pl. Etym: [From Albi and Albigeois, a town and its district in the south of France, in which the sect abounded.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A sect of reformers opposed to the church of Rome in the 12th centuries.
Note: The Albigenses were a branch of the Catharists (the pure). They were exterminated by crusades and the Inquisition. They were distinct from the Waldenses.
ALBIGENSIANAl`bi*gen"sian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Albigenses.
ALBINESSAl*bi"ness, n.
Defn: A female albino. Holmes.
ALBINISMAl"bi*nism, n.
Defn: The state or condition of being an albino: abinoism; leucopathy.
ALBINISTICAl`bi*nis"tic, a.
Defn: Affected with albinism.
ALBINO Al*bi"no, n.; pl. Albinos. Etym: [Sp. or Pg. albino, orig. whitish, fr. albo white, L. albus.]
Defn: A person, whether negro, Indian, or white, in whom by some defect of organization the substance which gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes is deficient or in a morbid state. An albino has a skin of a milky hue, with hair of the same color, and eyes with deep red pupil and pink or blue iris. The term is also used of the lower animals, as white mice, elephants, etc.; and of plants in a whitish condition from the absence of chlorophyll. Amer. Cyc.
Note: The term was originally applied by the Portuguese to negroes met with on the coast of Africa, who were mottled with white spots.
ALBINOISMAl*bi"no*ism, n.
Defn: The state or condition of being an albino; albinism.
ALBINOTICAl`bi*not"ic, a.
Defn: Affected with albinism.
ALBION Al"bi*on, n. Etym: [Prob. from the same root as Gael. alp a height or hill. "It may have been bestowed on the land lying behind the white cliffs visible from the coast of Gaul. Albany, the old name of Scotland, means probably the "hilly land." I. Taylor.]
Defn: An ancient name of England, still retained in poetry.In that nook-shotten isle of Albion. Shak.
ALBITEAl"bite, n. Etym: [L. albus white.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of the feldspar family, triclinic in crystallization, and in composition a silicate of alumina and soda. It is a common constituent of granite and of various igneous rocks. See Feldspar.
ALBOLITHAl"bo*lith, n. Etym: [L. albus white + -lith.]
Defn: A kind of plastic cement, or artificial stone, consisting chiefly of magnesia and silica; — called also albolite.
ALBORAKAl"bo*rak, n. Etym: [Ar. al-buraq, fr. baraqa to flash, shine.]
Defn: The imaginary milk-white animal on which Mohammed was said to have been carried up to heaven; a white mule.
ALB SUNDAYAlb Sunday. (Eccl.)
Defn: The first Sunday after Easter Sunday, properly Albless Sunday, because in the early church those who had been baptized on Easter eve laid aside on the following Saturday their white albs which had been put on after baptism.
ALBUGINEOUSAl`bu*gin"e*ous, a. Etym: [See Albugo.]
Defn: Of the nature of, or resembling, the white of the eye, or of an egg; albuminous; — a term applied to textures, humors, etc., which are perfectly white.
ALBUGOAl*bu"go, n.; pl. Albugines. Etym: [L., whiteness, fr. albus white.](Med.)
Defn: Same as Leucoma.
ALBUMAl"bum, n. Etym: [L., neut. of albus white: cf. F. album. Cf. Alb.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A white tablet on which anything was inscribed, as a list of names, etc.
2. A register for visitors' names; a visitors' book.
3. A blank book, in which to insert autographs sketches, memorial writing of friends, photographs, etc.
ALBUMENAl*bu"men, n. Etym: [L., fr. albus white.]
1. The white of an egg.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Nourishing matter stored up within the integuments of the seed in many plants, but not incorporated in the embryo. It is the floury part in corn, wheat, and like grains, the oily part in poppy seeds, the fleshy part in the cocoanut, etc.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Albumin.
ALBUMENIZEAl*bu"men*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Albumenized; p. pr. & vb. n.Albumenizing.]
Defn: To cover or saturate with albumen; to coat or treat with an albuminous solution; as, to albuminize paper.
ALBUM GRAECUMAl"bum Græ"cum. Etym: [L., Greek white.]
Defn: Dung of dogs or hyenas, which becomes white by exposure to air.It is used in dressing leather, and was formerly used in medicine.
ALBUMINAl*bu"min, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A thick, viscous nitrogenous substance, which is the chief and characteristic constituent of white of eggs and of the serum of blood, and is found in other animal substances, both fluid and solid, also in many plants. It is soluble in water is coagulated by heat ad by certain chemical reagents. Acid albumin, a modification of albumin produced by the action of dilute acids. It is not coagulated by heat. — Alkali albumin, albumin as modified by the action of alkaline substances; — called also albuminate.
ALBUMINATEAl*bu"mi*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A substance produced by the action of an alkali upon albumin, and resembling casein in its properties; also, a compound formed by the union of albumin with another substance.
ALBUMINIFEROUSAl*bu`mi*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. albumen + -ferous.]
Defn: Supplying albumen.
ALBUMINIMETER Al*bu`mi*nim"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. albumen, albuminis + -meter: cf. F. albuminimètre.]
Defn: An instrument for ascertaining the quantity of albumen in a liquid.
ALBUMININAl*bu"mi*nin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The substance of the cells which inclose the white of birds' eggs.
ALBUMINIPAROUS Al*bu`mi*nip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. albumen + parere to bear, bring forth.]
Defn: Producing albumin.
ALBUMINOIDAl*bu"mi*noid, a. Etym: [L. albumen + -oid.] (Chem.)
Defn: Resembling albumin.— n.
Defn: One of a class of organic principles (called also proteids) which form the main part of organized tissues. Brunton.
ALBUMINOIDALAl*bu`mi*noid"al, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of the nature of an albuminoid.
ALBUMINOSEAl*bu"mi*nose`, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A diffusible substance formed from albumin by the action of natural or artificial gastric juice. See Peptone.
ALBUMINOSISAl*bu`mi*no"sis, n. [NL., fr. E. albumin.] (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition due to excessive increase of albuminous elements in the blood.
ALBUMINOUS; ALBUMINOSEAl*bu"mi*nous, Al*bu"mi*nose`, a. Etym: [Cf. F. albumineux.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, albumen; having the properties of, or resembling, albumen or albumin. — Al*bu"mi*nous*ness, n.
ALBUMINURIAAl*bu`mi*nu"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. albumen + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition in which albumin is present in the urine.
ALBUMOSEAl"bu*mose`, n. Etym: [From albumin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound or class of compounds formed from albumin by dilute acids or by an acid solution of pepsin. Used also in combination, as antialbumose, hemialbumose.
ALBURNAl"burn, n. Etym: [L. alburnus, fr. L. albus white. Cf. Auburn.](Zoöl.)
Defn: The bleak, a small European fish having scales of a peculiarly silvery color which are used in making artificial pearls.
ALBURNOUSAl*bur"nous, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to alburnum; of the alburnum; as, alburnous substances.
ALBURNUMAl*bur"num, n. Etym: [L., fr. albus white.] (Bot.)
Defn: The white and softer part of wood, between the inner bark and the hard wood or duramen; sapwood.
ALBYNAl"byn, n. Etym: [See Albion.]
Defn: Scotland; esp. the Highlands of Scotland. T. Cambell.
ALCADEAl*cade", n.
Defn: Same as Alcaid.
ALCAHESTAl"ca*hest, n.
Defn: Same as Alkahest.
ALCAICAl*ca"ic, a. Etym: [L. Alcaïcus, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to Alcæus, a lyric poet of Mitylene, about 6000 b. c. — n. A kind of verse, so called from Alcæus. One variety consists of five feet, a spondee or iambic, an iambic, a long syllable, and two dactyls.
ALCAID; ALCAYDE Al*caid", Al*cayde", n. Etym: [Sp. alcaide, fr. Ar. al-qa\'c6d governor, fr. qada to lead, govern.]
1. A commander of a castle or fortress among the Spaniards, Portuguese, and Moors.
2. The warden, or keeper of a jail.
ALCALDE Al*cal"de, n. Etym: [Sp. alcalde, fr. Ar. al-qadi judge, fr. qada to decide, judge. Hence, the cadi of the Turks. Cf. Cadi.]
Defn: A magistrate or judge in Spain and in Spanish America, etc.Prescott.
Note: Sometimes confounded with Alcaid.
ALCALDIAAl`cal*di"a, n. [Sp. Alcaldía.]
Defn: The jurisdiction or office of an alcalde; also, the building or chamber in which he conducts the business of his office.
ALCALIMETERAl`ca*lim"e*ter, n.
Defn: See Alkalimeter.
ALCANNA Al*can"na, n. Etym: [Sp. alcana, alhe, fr. Ar. al-hinna. See Henna, and cf. Alkanet.] (Bot.)
Defn: An oriental shrub (Lawsonia inermis) from which henna is obtained.
ALCARRAZA Al`car*ra"za, n.; pl. Alcarrazas. Etym: [Sp., from Ar. al-kurraz earthen vessel.]
Defn: A vessel of porous earthenware, used for cooling liquids by evaporation from the exterior surface.
ALCAYDEAl*cayde", n.
Defn: Same as Alcaid.
ALCAZARAl*ca"zar, n. Etym: [ fr. Ar. al the + qacr (in pl.) a castle.]
Defn: A fortress; also, a royal palace. Prescott.
ALCEDOAl*ce"do, n. Etym: [L., equiv. to Gr. Halcyon.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of perching birds, including the European kingfisher(Alcedo ispida). See Halcyon.
ALCHEMIC; ALCHEMICALAl*chem"ic, Al*chem"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alchimique.]
Defn: Of or relating to alchemy.
ALCHEMICALLYAl*chem"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of alchemy.
ALCHEMISTAl"che*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. alquemiste, F. alchimiste.]
Defn: One who practices alchemy.You are alchemist; make gold. Shak.
ALCHEMISTIC; ALCHEMISTICALAl`che*mis"tic, Al`che*mis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to or practicing alchemy.Metaphysical and alchemistical legislators. Burke.
ALCHEMISTRYAl"che*mis*try, n.
Defn: Alchemy. [Obs.]
ALCHEMIZEAl"che*mize, v. t.
Defn: To change by alchemy; to transmute. Lovelace.
ALCHEMY Al"che*my, n. Etym: [OF. alkemie, arquemie, F. alchimie, Ar. al- kimia, fr. late Gr. alquimia, It. alchimia. Gr. fundere to pour, Goth. guitan, AS. geótan, to pour, and so to E. fuse. See Fuse, and cf. Chemistry.]
1. An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It led the way to modern chemistry.
2. A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various utensils; hence, a trumpet. [Obs.] Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy. Milton.
3. Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious. Kissing with golden face the meadows green, Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy. Shak.
ALCHYMIC; ALCHYMIST; ALCHYMISTIC; ALCHYMYAl*chym"ic, a., Al"chy*mist, n., Al`chy*mis"tic, a., Al"chy*my, n.
Defn: See Alchemic, Alchemist, Alchemistic, Alchemy.
ALCOAl"co, n.
Defn: A small South American dog, domesticated by the aborigines.
ALCOATE; ALCOHATEAl"co*ate, Al"co*hate, n.
Defn: Shortened forms of Alcoholate.
ALCOHOL Al"co*hol, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcool, formerly written alcohol, Sp. alcohol alcohol, antimony, galena, OSp. alcofol; all fr. Ar. al-kohl a powder of antimony or galena, to paint the eyebrows with. The name was afterwards applied, on account of the fineness of this powder, to highly rectified spirits, a signification unknown in Arabia. The Sp. word has bot meanings. Cf. Alquifou.]
1. An impalpable powder. [Obs.]
2. The fluid essence or pure spirit obtained by distillation. [Obs.] Boyle.
3. Pure spirit of wine; pure or highly rectified spirit (called also ethyl alcohol); the spirituous or intoxicating element of fermented or distilled liquors, or more loosely a liquid containing it in considerable quantity. It is extracted by simple distillation from various vegetable juices and infusions of a saccharine nature, which have undergone vinous fermentation.
Note: As used in the U. S. "Pharmacopoeia, alcohol contains 91 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 9 per cent of water; and diluted alcohol (proof spirit) contains 45.5 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 54.5 per cent of water.
4. (Organic Chem.)
Defn: A class of compounds analogous to vinic alcohol in constitution. Chemically speaking, they are hydroxides of certain organic radicals; as, the radical ethyl forms common or ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH); methyl forms methyl alcohol (CH3.OH) or wood spirit; amyl forms amyl alcohol (C5H11.OH) or fusel oil, etc.
ALCOHOLATEAl"co*hol*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcolaie.] (Chem.)
Defn: A crystallizable compound of a salt with alcohol, in which the latter plays a part analogous to that of water of crystallization. Graham.
ALCOHOLATUREAl`co*hol"a*ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcoolature.] (Med.)
Defn: An alcoholic tincture prepared with fresh plants. New Eng.Dict.
ALCOHOLICAl`co*hol"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alcolique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to alcohol, or partaking of its qualities; derived from, or caused by, alcohol; containing alcohol; as, alcoholic mixtures; alcoholic gastritis; alcoholic odor.
ALCOHOLICAl`co*hol"ic, n.
1. A person given to the use of alcoholic liquors.
2. pl.
Defn: Alcoholic liquors.
ALCOHOLISMAl"co*hol*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcoolisme.] (Med.)
Defn: A diseased condition of the system, brought about by the continued use of alcoholic liquors.
ALCOHOLIZATIONAl`co*hol`i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcoolisation.]
1. The act of reducing a substance to a fine or impalpable powder. [Obs.] Johnson.
2. The act rectifying spirit.
3. Saturation with alcohol; putting the animal system under the influence of alcoholic liquor.
ALCOHOLIZEAl"co*hol*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alcoholized; p. pr. & vb. n.Alcoholizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. alcooliser.]
1. To reduce to a fine powder. [Obs.] Johnson.
2. To convert into alcohol; to rectify; also, to saturate with alcohol.
ALCOHOLOMETER; ALCOHOLMETERAl`co*hol*om"e*ter, Al`co*hol"me*ter, n. Etym: [Alcohol + -meter.](Chem.)
Defn: An instrument for determining the strength of spirits, with a scale graduated so as to indicate the percentage of pure alcohol, either by weight or volume. It is usually a form of hydrometer with a special scale.
ALCOHOLOMETRIC; ALCOHOLOMETRICAL; ALCOHOLMETRICALAl`co*hol`o*met"ric, Al`co*hol`o*met"ric*al, Al`co*hol*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Relating to the alcoholometer or alcoholometry.The alcoholometrical strength of spirituous liquors. Ure.
ALCOHOLOMETRYAl`co*hol"om"e*try, n.
Defn: The process or method of ascertaining the proportion of pure alcohol which spirituous liquors contain.
ALCOHOMETER; ALCOHOMETRICAl`co*hom"e*ter, n., Al`co*ho*met"ric, a.
Defn: Same as Alcoholometer, Alcoholometric.
ALCOOMETRY; ALCOOEMETRYAl`co*öm"e*try, n.
Defn: See Alcoholometry.
Note: The chemists say alcomètre, alcoomètrie, doubtless by the suppression of a syllable in order to avoid a disagreeable sequence of sounds. (Cf. Idolatry.) Littré.
ALCORAN Al"co*ran, n. Etym: [alcoran, fr. Ar. al-qoran, orig. the reading, the book, fr. qaraa to read. Cf. Koran.]
Defn: The Mohammedan Scriptures; the Koran (now the usual form).[Spelt also Alcoran.]
ALCORANICAl`co*ran"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Koran.
ALCORANISTAl`co*ran"ist, n.
Defn: One who adheres to the letter of the Koran, rejecting all traditions.
ALCORNOQUEAl`cor*no"que, n. [Sp., cork tree.]
Defn: The bark of several trees, esp. of Bowdichia virgilioides ofBrazil, used as a remedy for consumption; of Byrsonima crassifolia,used in tanning; of Alchornea latifolia, used medicinally; or ofQuercus ilex, the cork tree.
ALCOVE Al"cove, n. Etym: [F. alcôve, Sp. or Pg. alcoba, from Ar. al-quobbah arch, vault, tent.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A recessed portion of a room, or a small room opening into a larger one; especially, a recess to contain a bed; a lateral recess in a library.
2. A small ornamental building with seats, or an arched seat, in a pleasure ground; a garden bower. Cowper.
3. Any natural recess analogous to an alcove or recess in an apartment. The youthful wanderers found a wild alcove. Falconer.
ALCYONAl"cy*on, n.
Defn: See Halcyon.
ALCYONACEAAl`cy*o*na"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of soft-bodied Alcyonaria, of which Alcyonium is the type. See Illust. under Alcyonaria.
ALCYONARIAAl`cy*o*na"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the orders of Anthozoa. It includes the Alcyonacea,Pennatulacea, and Gorgonacea.
ALCYONESAl*cy"o*nes, n. pl. Etym: [L., pl. of Alcyon.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The kingfishers.
ALCYONICAl`cy*on"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Alcyonaria.
ALCYONIUMAl`cy*o"ni*um, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fleshy Alcyonaria, its polyps somewhat resembling flowers with eight fringed rays. The term was also formerly used for certain species of sponges.
ALCYONOIDAl"cy*o*noid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Alcyonaria.— n.
Defn: A zoöphyte of the order Alcyonaria.
ALDAYAl"day, adv.
Defn: Continually. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALDEBARAN Al*deb"a*ran, n. Etym: [Ar. al-debaran, fr. dabar to follow; so called because this star follows upon the Pleiades.] (Astron.)
Defn: A red star of the first magnitude, situated in the eye ofTaurus; the Bull's Eye. It is the bright star in the group called theHyades.Now when Aldebaran was mounted high Above the shiny Cassiopeia'schair. Spenser.
ALDEHYDE Al"de*hyde, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. alcohol dehydrogenatum, alcohol deprived of its hydrogen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, mobile, and very volatile liquid obtained from alcohol by certain of oxidation.
Note: The aldehydes are intermediate between the alcohols and acids, and differ from the alcohols in having two less hydrogen atoms in the molecule, as common aldehyde (called also acetic aldehyde or ethyl aldehyde), C2H4O; methyl aldehyde, CH2O. Aldehyde ammonia (Chem.), a compound formed by the union of aldehyde with ammonia.
ALDEHYDICAl`de*hy"dic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to aldehyde; as, aldehydic acid. Miller.
ALDERAl"der, n. Etym: [OE. aldir, aller, fr. AS. alr, aler, alor, akin toD. els, G. erle, Icel. erlir, erli, Swed. al, Dan. elle, el, L.alnus, and E. elm.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus Alnus. The wood is used by turners, etc.; the bark by dyers and tanners. In the U. S. the species of alder are usually shrubs or small trees. Black alder. (a) A European shrub (Rhamnus frangula); Alder buckthorn. (b) An American species of holly (Ilex verticillata), bearing red berries.
ALDER; ALLER Al"der, Al"ler, a. Etym: [From ealra, alra, gen. pl. of AS. eal. The d is excrescent.]
Defn: Of all; — used in composition; as, alderbest, best of all, alderwisest, wisest of all. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALDER FLYAl"der fly.
1. Any of numerous neuropterous insects of the genus Sialis or allied genera. They have aquatic larvæ, which are used for bait.
2. (Angling) An artificial fly with brown mottled wings, body of peacock harl, and black legs.
ALDER-LIEFESTAl`der-lief"est, a. Etym: [For allerliefest dearest of all. SeeLief.]
Defn: Most beloved. [Obs.] Shak.
ALDERMAN Al"der*man, n.; pl. Aldplwmen. Etym: [AS. aldormon, ealdorman; ealdor an elder + man. See Elder, n.]
1. A senior or superior; a person of rank or dignity. [Obs.]
Note: The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to princes, dukes, earls, senators, and presiding magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom or authority. Thus Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called Alderman of all England; and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective districts.
3. One of a board or body of municipal officers next in order to the mayor and having a legislative function. They may, in some cases, individually exercise some magisterial and administrative functions.
ALDERMANCYAl"der*man*cy, n.
Defn: The office of an alderman.
ALDERMANICAl"der*man"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to, becoming to, or like, an alderman; characteristic of an alderman.
ALDERMANITYAl`der*man"i*ty, n.
1. Aldermen collectively; the body of aldermen.
2. The state of being an alderman. [Jocular]
ALDERMANLIKEAl`der*man*like`, a.
Defn: Like or suited to an alderman.
ALDERMANLYAl"der*man*ly, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, an alderman.
ALDERMANLYAl"der*man*ly, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, an alderman. "An aldermanly discretion." Swift.
ALDERMANRYAl"der*man*ry, n.
1. The district or ward of an alderman.
2. The office or rank of an alderman. [R.] B. Jonson.
ALDERMANSHIPAl"der*man*ship, n.
Defn: The condition, position, or office of an alderman. Fabyan.
ALDERNAl"dern, a.
Defn: Made of alder.
ALDERNEYAl"der*ney, n.
Defn: One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the ChannelIslands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often calledJersey cattle. See Jersey, 3.
ALDINEAl"dine, a. (Bibliog.)
Defn: An epithet applied to editions (chiefly of the classics) which proceeded from the press of Aldus Manitius, and his family, of Venice, for the most part in the 16th century and known by the sign of the anchor and the dolphin. The term has also been applied to certain elegant editions of English works.
ALDOLAl"dol, n. [Aldehyde + -ol as in alcohol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless liquid, C4H8O2, obtained by condensation of two molecules of acetaldehyde: CH3CHO + CH3CHO = H3CH(OH)CH2CO; also, any of various derivatives of this. The same reaction has been applied, under the name of aldol condensation, to the production of many compounds.
ALE Ale, n. Etym: [AS. ealu, akin to Icel., Sw., and Dan. öl, Lith. alus a kind of beer, OSlav. ol beer. Cf. Ir. ol drink, drinking.]
1. An intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops.
Note: The word ale, in England and the United States, usually designates a heavier kind of fermented liquor, and the word beer a lighter kind. The word beer is also in common use as the generic name for all malt liquors.
2. A festival in English country places, so called from the liquor drunk. "At wakes and ales." B. Jonson."On ember eves and holy ales." Shak.
ALEAKA*leak", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + leak.]
Defn: In a leaking condition.
ALEATORYA"le*a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. aleatorius, fr. alea chance, die.] (Law)
Defn: Depending on some uncertain contingency; as, an aleatory contract. Bouvier.
ALEBENCHAle"bench`, n.
Defn: A bench in or before an alehouse. Bunyan.
ALEBERRY Ale"ber`ry, n. Etym: [OE. alebery, alebrey; ale + bre broth, fr. AS. briw pottage.]
Defn: A beverage, formerly made by boiling ale with spice, sugar, andsops of bread.Their aleberries, caudles, possets. Beau. & Fl.
ALECITHALA*lec"i*thal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Applied to those ova which segment uniformly, and which have little or no food yelk embedded in their protoplasm. Balfour.
ALECONNER Ale"con`ner, n. Etym: [/Ale + con, OE. cunnen to test, AS. cunnian to test. See Con.]
Defn: Orig., an officer appointed to look to the goodness of ale and beer; also, one of the officers chosen by the liverymen of London to inspect the measures used in public houses. But the office is a sinecure. [Also called aletaster.] [Eng.]
ALECOSTAle"cost`, n. Etym: [Ale + L. costus an aromatic plant: cf.Costmary.] (Bot.)
Defn: The plant costmary, which was formerly much used for flavoring ale.
ALECTORIDESAl`ec*tor"i*des, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of birds including the common fowl and the pheasants.
ALECTOROMACHYA*lec`to*rom"a*chy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Cockfighting.
ALECTOROMANCYA*lec"to*ro*man`cy, n.
Defn: See Alectryomancy.
ALECTRYOMACHYA*lec`try*oma*chy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Cockfighting.
ALECTRYOMANCYA*lec"try*o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by means of a cock and grains of corn placed on the letters of the alphabet, the letters being put together in the order in which the grains were eaten. Amer. Cyc.
ALEEA*lee", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + lee.] (Naut.)
Defn: On or toward the lee, or the side away from the wind; the opposite of aweather. The helm of a ship is alee when pressed close to the lee side. Hard alee, or Luff alee, an order to put the helm to the lee side.
ALEGARAl"e*gar, n. Etym: [Ale + eager sour, F. aigre. Cf. Vinegar.]
Defn: Sour ale; vinegar made of ale. Cecil.
ALEGERAl"e*ger, a. Etym: [F. allègre, earlier alègre, fr. L. alacer.]
Defn: Gay; cheerful; sprightly. [Obs.] Bacon.
ALEGGEA*legge", v. t. Etym: [OE. aleggen, alegen, OF. alegier, F. alléger,fr. LL. alleviare, for L. allevare to lighten; ad + levis light. Cf.Alleviate, Allay, Allege.]
Defn: To allay or alleviate; to lighten. [Obs.]That shall alegge this bitter blast. Spenser.
ALEHOOF Ale"hoof`, n. Etym: [AS. h ground ivy; the first part is perh. a corruption: cf. OE. heyhowe hedgehove,
ground ivy, "in old MSS. heyhowe, heyoue, haihoue, halehoue." [Prior].
Defn: Ground ivy (Nepeta Glechoma).
ALEHOUSEAle"house`, n.
Defn: A house where ale is retailed; hence, a tippling house.Macaulay.
ALE-KNIGHTAle"-knight`, n.
Defn: A pot companion. [Obs.]
ALEMAl"em, n. [Turk. 'alem, fr. Ar. 'alam.] (Mil.)
Defn: The imperial standard of the Turkish Empire.
ALEMANNICAl`e*man"nic, a.
Defn: Belonging to the Alemanni, a confederacy of warlike German tribes.
ALEMANNICAl`e*man"nic, n.
Defn: The language of the Alemanni.The Swabian dialect . . . is known as the Alemannic. Amer. Cyc.
ALEMBIC A*lem"bic, n. Etym: [F. alambic (cf. Sp. alambique), Ar. al-anbiq, fr. Gr. alembic proper. Cf. Limbec.]
Defn: An apparatus formerly used in distillation, usually made ofglass or metal. It has mostly given place to the retort and wormstill.Used also metaphorically. The alembic of a great poet's imagination.Brimley.
ALEMBROTHA*lem"broth, n. Etym: [Origin uncertain.]
Defn: The salt of wisdom of the alchemists, a double salt composed of the chlorides of ammonium and mercury. It was formerly used as a stimulant. Brande & C.
ALENCON LACEA`len`con" lace".
Defn: See under Lace.
ALENGTHA*length", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + length.]
Defn: At full length; lenghtwise. Chaucer.
ALEPIDOTEA*lep"i*dote, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Not having scales.— n.
Defn: A fish without scales.
ALEPOLEAle"pole`, n.
Defn: A pole set up as the sign of an alehouse. [Obs.]
ALEPPO BOIL; ALEPPO BUTTON; ALEPPO EVILA*lep"po boil, button, or evil. (Med.)
Defn: A chronic skin affection terminating in an ulcer, most commonly of the face. It is endemic along the Mediterranean, and is probably due to a specific bacillus. Called also Aleppo ulcer, Biskara boil, Delhi boil, Oriental sore, etc.
ALEPPO GRASSAleppo grass. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the cultivated forms of Andropogon Halepensis (syn.Sorghum Halepense). See Andropogon, below.
ALERT A*lert", a. Etym: [F. alerte, earlier à l'erte on the watch, fr. It. all' erta on the watch, prop. (standing) on a height, where one can look around; erta a declivity, steep, erto steep, p. p. of ergere, erigere, to erect, raise, L. erigere. See Erect.]
1. Watchful; vigilant; active in vigilance.
2. Brisk; nimble; moving with celerity. An alert young fellow. Addison.
Syn.— Active; agile; lively; quick; prompt.
ALERTA*lert", n. (Mil.)
Defn: An alarm from a real or threatened attack; a sudden attack; also, a bugle sound to give warning. "We have had an alert." Farrow. On the alert, on the lookout or watch against attack or danger; ready to act.
ALERTLYA*lert"ly, adv.
Defn: In an alert manner; nimbly.
ALERTNESSA*lert"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being alert or on the alert; briskness; nimbleness; activity.
ALE SILVERAle" sil`ver.
Defn: A duty payable to the lord mayor of London by the sellers of ale within the city.
ALESTAKEAle"stake, n.
Defn: A stake or pole projecting from, or set up before, an alehouse, as a sign; an alepole. At the end was commonly suspended a garland, a bunch of leaves, or a "bush." [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALETASTERAle"tast`er, n.
Defn: See Aleconner. [Eng.]
ALETHIOLOGYA*le`thi*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of the nature of truth and evidence.Sir W. Hamilton.
ALETHOSCOPEA*leth"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An instrument for viewing pictures by means of a lens, so as to present them in their natural proportions and relations.
ALEUROMANCYA*leu"ro*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy: cf. F. aleuromancie.]
Defn: Divination by means of flour. Encyc. Brit.
ALEUROMETERAl`eu*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for determining the expansive properties, or quality, of gluten in flour. Knight.
ALEURONATA*leu"ro*nat, n. [See Aleurone.]
Defn: Flour made of aleurone, used as a substitute for ordinary flour in preparing bread for diabetic persons.
ALEURONEA*leu"rone, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: An albuminoid substance which occurs in minute grains ("protein granules") in maturing seeds and tubers; — supposed to be a modification of protoplasm.
ALEURONICAl`eu*ron"ic, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the nature of aleurone. D. C. Eaton.
ALEUTIAN; ALEUTIC A*leu"tian, A*leu"tic, a. Etym: [Said to be from the Russ. aleut a bold rock.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a chain of islands between Alaska andKamtchatka; also, designating these islands.
ALEVIN Al"e*vin, n. Etym: [F. alevin, OF. alever to rear, fr. L. ad + levare to raise.]
Defn: Young fish; fry.
ALEWA*lew", n.
Defn: Halloo. [Obs.] Spenser.
ALEWIFEAle"wife`, n.; pl. Alewives.
Defn: A woman who keeps an alehouse. Gay.
ALEWIFEAle"wife`, n.; pl. Alewives. Etym: [This word is properly aloof, theIndian name of a fish. See Winthrop on the culture of maize inAmerica, "Phil Trans." No. 142, p. 1065, and Baddam's "Memoirs," vol.ii. p. 131.]Etym: (Zoöl.)
Defn: A North American fish (Clupea vernalis) of the Herring family. It is called also ellwife, ellwhop, branch herring. The name is locally applied to other related species.
ALEXANDERS; ALISANDERS Al`ex*an"ders, Al`i*san"ders, n. Etym: [OE. alisaundre, OF. alissandere, fr. Alexander or Alexandria.] (Bot)
Defn: A name given to two species of the genus Smyrnium, formerly cultivated and used as celery now is; — called also horse parsely.
ALEXANDRIANAl`ex*an"dri*an, a.
1. Of or pertaining to Alexandria in Egypt; as, the Alexandrian library.
2. Applied to a kind of heroic verse. See Alexandrine, n.
ALEXANDRINEAl`ex*an"drine, a.
Defn: Belonging to Alexandria; Alexandrian. Bancroft.
ALEXANDRINEAl`ex*an"drine, n. Etym: [F. alexandrin.]
Defn: A kind of verse consisting in English of twelve syllables. The needless Alexandrine ends the song, That, like a wounded snake, drags its slow length along. Pope.
ALEXIA A*lex"i*a, n. [NL.; a- not + Gr. speech, fr. to speak, confused with L. legere to read.] (Med.) (a) As used by some, inability to read aloud, due to brain disease. (b) More commonly, inability, due to brain disease, to understand written or printed symbols although they can be seen, as in case of word blindness.
ALEXIPHARMAC; ALEXIPHARMACALA*lex`i*phar"mac, A*lex`i*phar"ma*cal, a. & n. Etym: [SeeAlexipharmic.]
Defn: Alexipharmic. [Obs.]
ALEXIPHARMICA*lex`i*phar"mic, n. (Med.)
Defn: An antidote against poison or infection; a counterpoison.
ALEXIPHARMIC; ALEXIPHARMICALA*lex`i*phar"mic, A*lex`i*phar"mic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. alexipharmaque.](Med.)
Defn: Expelling or counteracting poison; antidotal.
ALEXIPYRETICA*lex`i*py*ret"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Serving to drive off fever; antifebrile.— n.
Defn: A febrifuge.
ALEXITERICA*lex`i*ter"ic, n. Etym: [Gr. alexitère, LL. alexiterium.] (Med.)
Defn: A preservative against contagious and infectious diseases, and the effects of poison in general. Brande & C.
ALEXITERIC; ALEXITERICALA*lex`i*ter"ic, A*lex`i*ter"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. alexitère.] (med.)
Defn: Resisting poison; obviating the effects of venom; alexipharmic.
ALFA ; ALFA GRASSAl"fa or Al"fa grass", n.
Defn: A plant (Macrochloa tenacissima) of North Africa; also, its fiber, used in paper making.
ALFALFAAl*fal"fa, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Bot.)
Defn: The lucern (Medicago sativa); — so called in California,Texas, etc.
ALFENIDEAl"fe*nide, n. (Metal.)
Defn: An alloy of nickel and silver electroplated with silver.
ALFERESAl*fe"res, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. Ar. al-fars knight.]
Defn: An ensign; a standard bearer. [Obs.] J. Fletcher.
ALFET Al"fet, n. Etym: [LL. alfetum, fr. AS. alfæt a pot to boil in; al burning + fæt vat.]
Defn: A caldron of boiling water into which an accused person plunged his forearm as a test of innocence or guilt.
ALFILARIAAl*fil`a*ri"a, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The pin grass (Erodium cicutarium), a weed in California.
ALFILERIA; ALFILERILLAAl*fil`e*ri"a, Al*fil`e*ril"la, n. [Mex. Sp., fr. Sp. alfiler pin.]
Defn: Same as Alfilaria.
ALFIONEAl`fi*o"ne, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An edible marine fish of California (Rhacochilus toxotes).
ALFORJAAl*for"ja, n. [Also alfarga, alforge.] [Sp.]
Defn: A saddlebag. [Sp. Amer.]
ALFRESCOAl*fres"co, adv. & a. Etym: [It. al fresco in or on the fresh.]
Defn: In the open-air. Smollett.
ALGAAl"ga, n.; pl. Algæ. Etym: [L., seaweed.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of seaweed; pl. the class of cellular cryptogamic plants which includes the black, red, and green seaweeds, as kelp, dulse, sea lettuce, also marine and fresh water confervæ, etc.
ALGALAl"gal, a., (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, algæ.
ALGAROBA Al`ga*ro"ba, n. Etym: [Sp. algarroba, fr. Ar. al-kharr. Cf. Carob.] (Bot.) (a) The Carob, a leguminous tree of the Mediterranean region; also, its edible beans or pods, called St. John's bread. (b) The Honey mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), a small tree found from California to Buenos Ayres; also, its sweet, pulpy pods. A valuable gum, resembling gum arabic, is collected from the tree in Texas and Mexico.
ALGAROT; ALGAROTH Al"ga*rot, Al"ga*roth, n. Etym: [F. algaroth, fr. the name of the inventor, Algarotti.] (Med.)
Defn: A term used for the Powder of Algaroth, a white powder which is a compound of trichloride and trioxide of antimony. It was formerly used in medicine as an emetic, purgative, and diaphoretic.
ALGAROVILLAAl`ga*ro*vil"la, n.
Defn: The agglutinated seeds and husks of the legumes of a South American tree (Inga Marthæ). It is valuable for tanning leather, and as a dye.
ALGATE; ALGATES Al"gate, Al"gates, adv. Etym: [All + gate way. The s is an adverbial ending. See Gate.]
1. Always; wholly; everywhere. [Obs.] Ulna now he algates must forego. Spenser.
Note: Still used in the north of England in the sense of "everywhere."
2. By any or means; at all events. [Obs.] Fairfax.
3. Notwithstanding; yet. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALGAZELAl"ga*zel`, n. Etym: [Ar. al the + ghazal.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The true gazelle.
ALGEBRA Al"ge*bra, n. Etym: [LL. algebra, fr. Ar. al-jebr reduction of parts to a whole, or fractions to whole numbers, fr. jabara to bind together, consolidate; al-jebr w'almuqabalah reduction and comparison (by equations): cf. F. algèbre, It. & Sp. algebra.]
1. (Math.)
Defn: That branch of mathematics which treats of the relations and properties of quantity by means of letters and other symbols. It is applicable to those relations that are true of every kind of magnitude.
2. A treatise on this science.
ALGEBRAIC; ALGEBRAICALAl`ge*bra"ic, Al`ge*bra"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to algebra; containing an operation of algebra, or deduced from such operation; as, algebraic characters; algebraical writings. Algebraic curve, a curve such that the equation which expresses the relation between the coördinates of its points involves only the ordinary operations of algebra; — opposed to a transcendental curve.
ALGEBRAICALLYAl`ge*bra"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By algebraic process.
ALGEBRAISTAl"ge*bra`ist, n.
Defn: One versed in algebra.
ALGEBRAIZEAl"ge*bra*ize, v. t.
Defn: To perform by algebra; to reduce to algebraic form.
ALGERIANAl*ge"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Algeria.— n.
Defn: A native of Algeria.
ALGERINEAl`ge*rine", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Algiers or Algeria.
ALGERINEAl`ge*rine", n.
Defn: A native or one of the people of Algiers or Algeria. Also, a pirate.
ALGID Al"gid, a. Etym: [L. algidus cold, fr. algere to be cold: cf. F. algide.]
Defn: Cold; chilly. Bailey. Algid cholera (Med.), Asiatic cholera.
ALGIDITYAl*gid"i*ty, n.
Defn: Chilliness; coldness; especially (Med.),
Defn: coldness and collapse.
ALGIDNESSAl"gid*ness, n.
Defn: Algidity. [Obs.]
ALGIFICAl*gif"ic, a. Etym: [L. algificus, fr. algus cold + facere to make.]
Defn: Producing cold.
ALGINAl"gin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A nitrogenous substance resembling gelatin, obtained from certain algæ.
ALGOIDAl"goid, a. Etym: [L. alga + -oid.]
Defn: Of the nature of, or resembling, an alga.
ALGOL Al"gol, n. Etym: [Ar. al-gh destruction, calamity, fr. ghala to take suddenly, destroy.] (Astron.)
Defn: A fixed star, in Medusa's head, in the constellation Perseus, remarkable for its periodic variation in brightness.
ALGOLOGICALAl`go*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to algology; as, algological specimens.
ALGOLOGISTAl*gol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One learned about algæ; a student of algology.
ALGOLOGYAl*gol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. alga seaweed + -logy.] (Bot.)
Defn: The study or science of algæ or seaweeds.
ALGOMETERAl*gom"e*ter, n. [Gr. pain + -meter.] (Psychol.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring sensations of pain due to pressure. It has a piston rod with a blunted tip which is pressed against the skin. — Al*gom"e*try (#), n. — Al`go*met"ric (#), *met"ric*al (#), a. —Al`go*met"ric*al*ly, adv.
ALGONKIANAl*gon"ki*an, a.
1. Var. of Algonquian.
2. (Geol.) Pertaining to or designating a period or era recognized by the United States Geological Survey and some other authorities, between the Archæan and the Paleozoic, from both of which it is generally separated in the record by unconformities. Algonkian rocks are both sedimentary and igneous. Although fossils are rare, life certainly existed in this period. — n.
Defn: The Algonkian period or era, or system or group of systems.
ALGONQUIANAl*gon"qui*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to or designating the most extensive of the linguistic families of North American Indians, their territory formerly including practically all of Canada east of the 115th meridian and south of Hudson's Bay and the part of the United States east of the Mississippi and north of Tennessee and Virginia, with the exception of the territory occupied by the northern Iroquoian tribes. There are nearly 100,000 Indians of the Algonquian tribes, of which the strongest are the Ojibwas (Chippewas), Ottawas, Crees, Algonquins, Micmacs, and Blackfeet. — n.
Defn: An Algonquian Indian.
ALGONQUIN; ALGONKINAl*gon"quin, Al*gon"kin, n.
Defn: One of a widely spread family of Indians, including many distinct tribes, which formerly occupied most of the northern and eastern part of North America. The name was originally applied to a group of Indian tribes north of the River St. Lawrence.
ALGORAl"gor, n. Etym: [L.] (Med.)
Defn: Cold; chilliness.
ALGORISM; ALGORITHM Al"go*rism, Al"go*rithm, n. Etym: [OE. algorism, algrim, augrim, OF. algorisme, F. algorithme (cf. Sp. algoritmo, OSp. alguarismo, LL. algorismus), fr. the Ar. al-Khowarezmi of Khowarezm, the modern Khiwa, surname of Abu Ja'far Mohammed ben Musa, author of a work on arithmetic early in the 9th century, which was translated into Latin, such books bearing the name algorismus. The spelling with th is due to a supposed connection with Gr.
1. The art of calculating by nine figures and zero.
2. The art of calculating with any species of notation; as, the algorithms of fractions, proportions, surds, etc.
ALGOUSAl"gous, a. Etym: [L. algosus, fr. alga seaweed.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the algæ, or seaweeds; abounding with, or like, seaweed.