ALLNESSAll"ness, n.
Defn: Totality; completeness. [R.] The allness of God, including his absolute spirituality, supremacy, and eternity. R. Turnbull.
ALLNIGHTAll"night`, n.
Defn: Light, fuel, or food for the whole night. [Obs.] Bacon.
ALLOCATE Al"lo*cate, v. t. Etym: [LL. allocatus, p. p. of allocare, fr. L. ad + locare to place. See Allow.]
1. To distribute or assign; to allot. Burke.
2. To localize. [R.]
ALLOCATIONAl`lo*ca"tion, n. Etym: [LL. allocatio: cf. F. allocation.]
1. The act of putting one thing to another; a placing; disposition; arrangement. Hallam.
2. An allotment or apportionment; as, an allocation of shares in a company. The allocation of the particular portions of Palestine to its successive inhabitants. A. R. Stanley.
3. The admission of an item in an account, or an allowance made upon an account; — a term used in the English exchequer.
ALLOCATURAl`lo*ca"tur, n. Etym: [LL., it is allowed, fr. allocare to allow.](Law)
Defn: "Allowed." The word allocatur expresses the allowance of a proceeding, writ, order, etc., by a court, judge, or judicial officer.
ALLOCHROICAl`lo*chro"ic, a.
Defn: Changeable in color.
ALLOCHROITEAl*loch"ro*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Garnet.
ALLOCHROOUSAl*loch"ro*ous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Changing color.
ALLOCUTION Al`lo*cu"tion, n. Etym: [L. allocuto, fr. alloqui to speak to; ad + loqui to speak: cf. F. allocution.]
1. The act or manner of speaking to, or of addressing in words.
2. An address; a hortatory or authoritative address as of a pope to his clergy. Addison.
ALLODAl"lod, n.
Defn: See Allodium.
ALLODIALAl*lo"di*al, a. Etym: [LL. allodialis, fr. allodium: cf. F. allodial.See Allodium.] (Law)
Defn: Pertaining to allodium; freehold; free of rent or service; held independent of a lord paramount; — opposed to feudal; as, allodial lands; allodial system. Blackstone.
ALLODIALAl*lo"di*al, a.
Defn: Anything held allodially. W. Coxe.
ALLODIALISMAl*lo"di*al*ism, n.
Defn: The allodial system.
ALLODIALISTAl*lo"di*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who holds allodial land.
ALLODIALLYAl*lo"di*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By allodial tenure.
ALLODIARYAl*lo"di*a*ry, n.
Defn: One who holds an allodium.
ALLODIUMAl*lo"di*um, n. Etym: [LL. allodium, alodium, alodis, alaudis, ofGer. origin; cf. OHG. al all, and (AS. ead) possession, property. Itmeans, therefore, entirely one's property.] (Law)
Defn: Freehold estate; land which is the absolute property of the owner; real estate held in absolute independence, without being subject to any rent, service, or acknowledgment to a superior. It is thus opposed to feud. Blackstone. Bouvier.
ALLOGAMOUSAl*log"a*mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Characterized by allogamy.
ALLOGAMYAl*log"a*my n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Fertilization of the pistil of a plant by pollen from another of the same species; cross-fertilization.
ALLOGENEOUSAl`lo*ge"ne*ous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Different in nature or kind. [R.]
ALLOGRAPHAl"lo*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: A writing or signature made by some person other than any of the parties thereto; — opposed to autograph.
ALLOMERISMAl*lom"er*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Variability in chemical constitution without variation in crystalline form.
ALLOMEROUSAl*lom"er*ous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Characterized by allomerism.
ALLOMORPH Al"lo*morph, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.) (a) Any one of two or more distinct crystalline forms of the same substance; or the substance having such forms; — as, carbonate of lime occurs in the allomorphs calcite and aragonite. (b) A variety of pseudomorph which has undergone partial or complete change or substitution of material; — thus limonite is frequently an allomorph after pyrite. G. H. Williams.
ALLOMORPHICAl`lo*mor"phic, a. (Min.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to allomorphism.
ALLOMORPHISMAl`lo*mor"phism, n. (Min.)
Defn: The property which constitutes an allomorph; the change involved in becoming an allomorph.
ALLONGEAl*longe", n. Etym: [F. allonge, earlier alonge, a lengthening. SeeAllonge, v., and cf. Lunge.]
1. (Fencing)
Defn: A thrust or pass; a lunge.
2. A slip of paper attached to a bill of exchange for receiving indorsements, when the back of the bill itself is already full; a rider. [A French usage] Abbott.
ALLONGE Al*longe", v. i. Etym: [F. allonger; à (L. ad) + long (L. longus) long.]
Defn: To thrust with a sword; to lunge.
ALLONYMAl"lo*nym, n. Etym: [F. allonyme, fr. Gr.
1. The name of another person assumed by the author of a work.
2. A work published under the name of some one other than the author.
ALLONYMOUSAl*lon"y*mous, a.
Defn: Published under the name of some one other than the author.
ALLOOAl*loo", v. t. or i. Etym: [See Halloo.]
Defn: To incite dogs by a call; to halloo. [Obs.]
ALLOPATHAl"lo*path, n. Etym: [Cf. F. allopathe.]
Defn: An allopathist. Ed. Rev.
ALLOPATHICAl`lo*path"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. allopathique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to allopathy.
ALLOPATHICALLYAl`lo*path"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner conformable to allopathy; by allopathic methods.
ALLOPATHISTAl*lop"a*thist, n.
Defn: One who practices allopathy; one who professes allopathy.
ALLOPATHYAl*lop"a*thy, n. Etym: [Gr. allopathie, F. allopathie. See Pathos.]
Defn: That system of medical practice which aims to combat disease by the use of remedies which produce effects different from those produced by the special disease treated; — a term invented by Hahnemann to designate the ordinary practice, as opposed to homeopathy.
ALLOPHYLIC; ALLOPHYLIANAl`lo*phyl"ic, Al`lo*phyl"i*an, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to a race or a language neither Aryan nor Semitic.J. Prichard.
ALLOQUYAl"lo*quy, n. Etym: [L. alloquim, fr. alloqui.]
Defn: A speaking to another; an address. [Obs.]
ALLOTAl*lot", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Allotting.]Etym: [OF. aloter, F. allotir; a (L. ad) + lot lot. See Lot.]
1. To distribute by lot.
2. To distribute, or parcel out in parts or portions; or to distribute to each individual concerned; to assign as a share or lot; to set apart as one's share; to bestow on; to grant; to appoint; as, let every man be contented with that which Providence allots him. Ten years I will allot to the attainment of knowledge. Johnson.
ALLOTHEISMAl"lo*the*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The worship of strange gods. Jer. Taylor.
ALLOTMENTAl*lot"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. alotement, F. allotement.]
1. The act of allotting; assignment.
2. That which is allotted; a share, part, or portion granted or distributed; that which is assigned by lot, or by the act of God; anything set apart for a special use or to a distinct party. The alloments of God and nature. L'Estrange. A vineyard and an allotment for olives and herbs. Broome.
3. (law)
Defn: The allowance of a specific amount of scrip or of a particular thing to a particular person. Cottage allotment, an allotment of a small portion of land to a country laborer for garden cultivation. [Eng.]
ALLOTRIOPHAGYAl`lo*tri*oph"a*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. allotriophagie.] (Med.)
Defn: A depraved appetite; a desire for improper food.
ALLOTROPHIC Al`lo*troph"ic, a. [Gr. other + trophic.] (a) (Physiol.) Changed or modified in nutritive power by the process of digestion. (b) (Plant Physiol.) Dependent upon other organisms for nutrition; heterotrophic; — said of plants unable to perform photosynthesis, as all saprophytes; — opposed to autotrophic.
ALLOTROPIC; ALLOTROPICALAl`lo*trop"ic, Al`lo*trop"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. allotropique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to allotropism. — Al`lo*trop"ic*al*ly, adv. Allotropic state, the several conditions which occur in a case of allotropism.
ALLOTROPICITYAl*lot`ro*pic"i*ty, n.
Defn: Allotropic property or nature.
ALLOTROPISM; ALLOTROPYAl*lot"ro*pism, Al*lot"ro*py, n. Etym: [Gr. allotropie.] (Chem.)
Defn: The property of existing in two or more conditions which are distinct in their physical or chemical relations.
Note: Thus, carbon occurs crystallized in octahedrons and other related forms, in a state of extreme hardness, in the diamond; it occurs in hexagonal forms, and of little hardness, in black lead; and again occurs in a third form, with entire softness, in lampblack and charcoal. In some cases, one of these is peculiarly an active state, and the other a passive one. Thus, ozone is an active state of oxygen, and is distinct from ordinary oxygen, which is the element in its passive state.
ALLOTROPIZEAl*lot"ro*pize, v. t.
Defn: To change in physical properties but not in substance. [R.]
ALLOTTABLEAl*lot"ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being allotted.
ALLOTTEEAl*lot`tee", n.
Defn: One to whom anything is allotted; one to whom an allotment is made.
ALLOTTERAl*lot"ter, n.
Defn: One who allots.
ALLOTTERYAl*lot"ter*y, n.
Defn: Allotment. [Obs.] Shak.
ALLOW Al*low", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Allowing.] Etym: [OE. alouen, OF. alouer, aloer, aluer, F. allouer, fr. LL. allocare to admit as proved, to place, use; confused with OF. aloer, fr. L. allaudare to extol; ad + laudare to praise. See Local, and cf. Allocate, Laud.]
1. To praise; to approve of; hence, to sanction. [Obs. or Archaic] Ye allow the deeds of your fathers. Luke xi. 48. We commend his pains, condemn his pride, allow his life, approve his learning. Fuller.
2. To like; to be suited or pleased with. [Obs.] How allow you the model of these clothes Massinger.
3. To sanction; to invest; to intrust. [Obs.] Thou shalt be . . . allowed with absolute power. Shak.
4. To grant, give, admit, accord, afford, or yield; to let one have; as, to allow a servant his liberty; to allow a free passage; to allow one day for rest. He was allowed about three hundred pounds a year. Macaulay.
5. To own or acknowledge; to accept as true; to concede; to accede to an opinion; as, to allow a right; to allow a claim; to allow the truth of a proposition. I allow, with Mrs. Grundy and most moralists, that Miss Newcome's conduct . . . was highly reprehensible. Thackeray.
6. To grant (something) as a deduction or an addition; esp. to abate or deduct; as, to allow a sum for leakage.
7. To grant license to; to permit; to consent to; as, to allow a son to be absent.
Syn. — To allot; assign; bestow; concede; admit; permit; suffer; tolerate. See Permit.
ALLOWAl*low", v. i.
Defn: To admit; to concede; to make allowance or abatement.Allowing still for the different ways of making it. Addison.To allow of, to permit; to admit. Shak.
ALLOWABLEAl*low"a*ble, a. Etym: [F. allouable.]
1. Praiseworthy; laudable. [Obs.] Hacket.
2. Proper to be, or capable of being, allowed; permissible; admissible; not forbidden; not unlawful or improper; as, a certain degree of freedom is allowable among friends.
ALLOWABLENESSAl*low"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being allowable; permissibleness; lawfulness; exemption from prohibition or impropriety. South.
ALLOWABLYAl*low"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an allowable manner.
ALLOWANCEAl*low"ance, n. Etym: [OF. alouance.]
1. Approval; approbation. [Obs.] Crabbe.
2. The act of allowing, granting, conceding, or admitting; authorization; permission; sanction; tolerance. Without the king's will or the state's allowance. Shak.
3. Acknowledgment. The censure of the which one must in your allowance o'erweigh a whole theater of others. Shak.
4. License; indulgence. [Obs.] Locke.
5. That which is allowed; a share or portion allotted or granted; a sum granted as a reimbursement, a bounty, or as appropriate for any purpose; a stated quantity, as of food or drink; hence, a limited quantity of meat and drink, when provisions fall short. I can give the boy a handsome allowance. Thackeray.
6. Abatement; deduction; the taking into account of mitigating circumstances; as, to make allowance for the inexperience of youth. After making the largest allowance for fraud. Macaulay.
7. (com.)
Defn: A customary deduction from the gross weight of goods, different in different countries, such as tare and tret.
ALLOWANCE Al*low"ance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allowancing.] Etym: [See Allowance, n.]
Defn: To put upon a fixed allowance (esp. of provisions and drink); to supply in a fixed and limited quantity; as, the captain was obliged to allowance his crew; our provisions were allowanced.
ALLOWEDLYAl*low"ed*ly adv.
Defn: By allowance; admittedly. Shenstone.
ALLOWERAl*low"er, n.
1. An approver or abettor. [Obs.]
2. One who allows or permits.
ALLOXAN Al*lox"an, n. Etym: [Allantoin + oxalic, as containing the elements of allantion and oxalic acid.] (Chem.)
Defn: An oxidation product of uric acid. It is of a pale reddish color, readily soluble in water or alcohol.
ALLOXANATEAl*lox"a*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A combination of alloxanic acid and a base or base or positive radical.
ALLOXANICAl`lox*an"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to alloxan; — applied to an acid obtained by the action of soluble alkalies on alloxan.
ALLOXANTINAl`lox*an"tin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A substance produced by acting upon uric with warm and very dilute nitric acid.
ALLOY Al*loy", n. Etym: [OE. alai, OF. alei, F. aloyer, to alloy, alier to ally. See Alloy, v. t.]
1. Any combination or compound of metals fused together; a mixture of metals; for example, brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc. But when mercury is one of the metals, the compound is called an amalgam.
2. The quality, or comparative purity, of gold or silver; fineness.
3. A baser metal mixed with a finer. Fine silver is silver without the mixture of any baser metal. Alloy is baser metal mixed with it. Locke.
4. Admixture of anything which lessens the value or detracts from; as, no happiness is without alloy. "Pure English without Latin alloy." F. Harrison.
ALLOYAl*loy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alloyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Alloying.]Etym: [F. aloyer, OF. alier, allier, later allayer, fr. L. aligare.See Alloy, n., Ally, v.t., and cf. Allay.]
1. To reduce the purity of by mixing with a less valuable substance; as, to alloy gold with silver or copper, or silver with copper.
2. To mix, as metals, so as to form a compound.
3. To abate, impair, or debase by mixture; to allay; as, to alloy pleasure with misfortunes.
ALLOYAl*loy", v. t.
Defn: To form a metallic compound.Gold and iron alloy with ease. Ure.
ALLOYAGEAl*loy"age, n. Etym: [F. aloyage.]
Defn: The act or art of alloying metals; also, the combination or alloy.
ALLOY STEELAl"loy steel.
Defn: Any steel containing a notable quantity of some other metal alloyed with the iron, usually chromium, nickel, manganese, tungsten, or vanadium.
ALL-POSSESSEDAll`-pos*sessed", a.
Defn: Controlled by an evil spirit or by evil passions; wild.[Colloq.]
ALL SAINTS; ALL SAINTS'All" Saints`, All" Saints',
Defn: The first day of November, called, also, Allhallows or Hallowmas; a feast day kept in honor of all the saints; also, the season of this festival.
ALL SOULS' DAYAll" Souls' Day`.
Defn: The second day of November; a feast day of the Roman Catholic church, on which supplications are made for the souls of the faithful dead.
ALLSPICEAll"spice`, n.
Defn: The berry of the pimento (Eugenia pimenta), a tree of the West Indies; a spice of a mildly pungent taste, and agreeably aromatic; Jamaica pepper; pimento. It has been supposed to combine the flavor of cinnamon, nutmegs, and cloves; and hence the name. The name is also given to other aromatic shrubs; as, the Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus); wild allspice (Lindera benzoin), called also spicebush, spicewood, and feverbush.
ALLTHINGAll`thing`, adv. Etym: [For in all (= every) thing.]
Defn: Altogether. [Obs.] Shak.
ALLUDEAl*lude", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Alluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Alluding.]Etym: [L. alludere to play with, to allude; ad + ludere to play.]
Defn: To refer to something indirectly or by suggestion; to have reference to a subject not specifically and plainly mentioned; — followed by to; as, the story alludes to a recent transaction. These speeches . . . do seem to allude unto such ministerial garments as were then in use. Hooker.
Syn. — To refer; point; indicate; hint; suggest; intimate; signify; insinuate; advert. See Refer.
ALLUDEAl*lude", v. t.
Defn: To compare allusively; to refer (something) as applicable.[Obs.] Wither.
ALLUMETTEAl`lu`mette, n. Etym: [F., from allumer to light.]
Defn: A match for lighting candles, lamps, etc.
ALLUMINORAl*lu"mi*nor, n. Etym: [OF. alumineor, fr. L. ad + liminare. SeeLuminate.]
Defn: An illuminator of manuscripts and books; a limner. [Obs.]Cowell.
ALLURANCEAl*lur"ance, n.
Defn: Allurement. [R.]
ALLUREAl*lure", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Alluring.]Etym: [OF. aleurrer, alurer, fr. a (L. ad) + leurre lure. See Lure.]
Defn: To attempt to draw; to tempt by a lure or bait, that is, by the offer of some good, real or apparent; to invite by something flattering or acceptable; to entice; to attract. With promised joys allured them on. Falconer. The golden sun in splendor likest Heaven Allured his eye. Milton.
Syn. — To attract; entice; tempt; decoy; seduce. — To Allure, Entice, Decoy, Seduce. These words agree in the idea of acting upon the mind by some strong controlling influence, and differ according to the image under which is presented. They are all used in a bad sense, except allure, which has sometimes (though rarely) a good one. We are allured by the prospect or offer (usually deceptive) of some future good. We are commonly enticed into evil by appeals to our passions. We are decoyed into danger by false appearances or representations. We are seduced when drawn aside from the path of rectitude. What allures draws by gentle means; what entices leads us by promises and persuasions; what decoys betrays us, as it were, into a snare or net; what seduces deceives us by artful appeals to the passions.
ALLUREAl*lure", n.
Defn: Allurement. [R.] Hayward.
ALLUREAl`lure", n. Etym: [F.; aller to go.]
Defn: Gait; bearing.The swing, the gait, the pose, the allure of these men. Harper's Mag.
ALLUREMENTAl*lure"ment, n.
1. The act alluring; temptation; enticement. Though Adam by his wife's allurement fell. Milton.
2. That which allures; any real or apparent good held forth, or operating, as a motive to action; as, the allurements of pleasure, or of honor.
ALLURERAl*lur"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, allures.
ALLURINGAl*lur"ing, a.
Defn: That allures; attracting; charming; tempting.— Al*lur"ing*ly, adv.— Al*lur"ing*ness, n.
ALLUSION Al*lu"sion, n. Etym: [L. allusio, fr. alludere to allude: cf. F. allusion.]
1. A figurative or symbolical reference. [Obs.]
2. A reference to something supposed to be known, but not explicitly mentioned; a covert indication; indirect reference; a hint.
ALLUSIVEAl*lu"sive, a.
1. Figurative; symbolical.
2. Having reference to something not fully expressed; containing an allusion.
ALLUSIVELYAl*lu"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: Figuratively [Obs.]; by way of allusion; by implication, suggestion, or insinuation.
ALLUSIVENESSAl*lu"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being allusive.
ALLUSORYAl*lu"so*ry, a.
Defn: Allusive. [R.] Warburton.
ALLUVIALAl*lu"vi*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alluvial. See Alluvion.]
Defn: Pertaining to, contained in, or composed of, alluvium; relating to the deposits made by flowing water; washed away from one place and deposited in another; as, alluvial soil, mud, accumulations, deposits.
ALLUVION Al*lu"vi*on, n. Etym: [F. alluvion, L. alluvio, fr. alluere to wash against; ad + luere, equiv. to lavare, to wash. See Lave.]
1. Wash or flow of water against the shore or bank.
2. An overflowing; an inundation; a flood. Lyell.
3. Matter deposited by an inundation or the action of flowing water; alluvium. The golden alluvions are there [in California and Australia] spread over a far wider space: they are found not only on the banks of rivers, and in their beds, but are scattered over the surface of vast plains. R. Cobden.
4. (Law)
Defn: An accession of land gradually washed to the shore or bank by the flowing of water. See Accretion.
ALLUVIOUSAl*lu"vi*ous, n. Etym: [L. alluvius. See Alluvion.]
Defn: Alluvial. [R.] Johnson.
ALLUVIUM Al*lu"vi*um, n.; pl. E. Alluviums, L. Alluvia. Etym: [L., neut. of alluvius. See Alluvious.] (Geol.)
Defn: Deposits of earth, sand, gravel, and other transported matter, made by rivers, floods, or other causes, upon land not permanently submerged beneath the waters of lakes or seas. Lyell.
ALLWHEREAll"where`, adv.
Defn: Everywhere. [Archaic]
ALLWORKAll"work`, n.
Defn: Domestic or other work of all kinds; as, a maid of allwork, that is, a general servant.
ALLYAl*ly", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allied; p. pr. & vb. n. Allying.] Etym:[OE. alien, OF. alier, F. alier, fr. L. alligare to bind to; ad +ligare to bind. Cf. Alligate, Alloy, Allay, Ligament.]
1. To unite, or form a connection between, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or confederacy; — often followed by to or with. O chief! in blood, and now in arms allied. Pope.
2. To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love. These three did love each other dearly well, And with so firm affection were allied. Spenser. The virtue nearest to our vice allied. Pope.
Note: Ally is generally used in the passive form or reflexively.
ALLYAl*ly", n.; pl. Allies. Etym: [See Ally, v.]
1. A relative; a kinsman. [Obs.] Shak.
2. One united to another by treaty or league; — usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate. The English soldiers and their French allies. Macaulay.
3. Anything associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary. Science, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally. Buckle.
4. Anything akin to another by structure, etc.
ALLYAl"ly, n.
Defn: See Alley, a marble or taw.
ALLYLAl"lyl, n. Etym: [L. allium garlic + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: An organic radical, C3H5, existing especially in oils of garlic and mustard.
ALLYLENEAl"ly*lene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A gaseous hydrocarbon, C3H4, homologous with acetylene; propine. CH3.C.CH
ALMA; ALMAHAl"ma, Al"mah, n.
Defn: Same as Alme.
ALMACANTAR Al`ma*can"tar, n. (Astron.) (a) Same as Almucantar. (b) A recently invented instrument for observing the heavenly bodies as they cross a given almacantar circle. See Almucantar.
ALMADIA; ALMADIE Al`ma*di"a, Al"ma*die, n. Etym: [F. almadie (cf. Sp. & Pg. almadia), fr. Ar. alma'diyah a raft, float.] (Naut.) (a) A bark canoe used by the Africans. (b) A boat used at Calicut, in India, about eighty feet long, and six or seven broad.
ALMAGEST Al"ma*gest, n. Etym: [F. almageste, LL. almageste, Ar. al-majisti, fr. Gr.
Defn: The celebrated work of Ptolemy of Alexandria, which contains nearly all that is known of the astronomical observations and theories of the ancients. The name was extended to other similar works.
ALMAGRA Al*ma"gra, n. Etym: [Sp. almagra, almagre, fr. Ar. al-maghrah red clay or earth.]
Defn: A fine, deep red ocher, somewhat purplish, found in Spain. It is the sil atticum of the ancients. Under the name of Indian red it is used for polishing glass and silver.
ALMAIN; ALMAYNE; ALMANAl"main, Al"mayne, Al"man, n. Etym: [OF. Aleman, F. Allemand, fr. L.Alemanni, ancient Ger. tribes.] [Obs.]
1. A German. Also adj.,
Defn: German. Shak.
2. The German language. J. Foxe.
3. A kind of dance. See Allemande. Almain rivets, Almayne rivets, or Alman rivets, a sort of light armor from Germany, characterized by overlapping plates, arranged to slide on rivets, and thus afford great flexibility.
ALMA MATERAl"ma Ma"ter. Etym: [L., fostering mother.]
Defn: A college or seminary where one is educated.
ALMANAC Al"ma*nac, n. Etym: [LL. almanac, almanach: cf. F. almanach, Sp. almanaque, It. almanacco, all of uncertain origin.]
Defn: A book or table, containing a calendar of days, and months, to which astronomical data and various statistics are often added, such as the times of the rising and setting of the sun and moon, eclipses, hours of full tide, stated festivals of churches, terms of courts, etc. Nautical almanac, an almanac, or year book, containing astronomical calculations (lunar, stellar, etc.), and other information useful to mariners.
ALMANDINE Al"man*dine, n. Etym: [LL. almandina, alamandina, for L. alabandina a precious stone, named after Alabanda, a town in Caria, where it was first and chiefly found: cf. F. almandine.] (Min.)
Defn: The common red variety of garnet.
ALME; ALMEH Al"me, Al"meh, n. Etym: [Ar. 'almah (fem.) learned, fr. 'alama to know: cf. F. almée.]
Defn: An Egyptian dancing girl; an Alma.The Almehs lift their arms in dance. Bayard Taylor.
ALMENDRONAl`men*dron", n. Etym: [Sp., fr. almendra almond.]
Defn: The lofty Brazil-nut tree.
ALMERYAl"mer*y, n.
Defn: See Ambry. [Obs.]
ALMESSEAlm"esse, n.
Defn: See Alms. [Obs.]
ALMIGHTFUL; ALMIGHTIFULAl*might"ful, Al*might"i*ful, a.
Defn: All-powerful; almighty. [Obs.] Udall.
ALMIGHTILYAl*might"i*ly, adv.
Defn: With almighty power.
ALMIGHTINESSAl*might"i*ness, n.
Defn: Omnipotence; infinite or boundless power; unlimited might. Jer.Taylor.
ALMIGHTY Al*might"y, a. Etym: [AS. ealmihtig, ælmihtig; eal (OE. al) ail + mihtig mighty.]
1. Unlimited in might; omnipotent; all-powerful; irresistible. I am the Almighty God. Gen. xvii. 1.
2. Great; extreme; terrible. [Slang] Poor Aroar can not live, and can not die, — so that he is in an almighty fix. De Quincey. The Almighty, the omnipotent God. Rev. i. 8.
ALMNERAlm"ner, n.
Defn: An almoner. [Obs.] Spenser.
ALMOND Alm"ond, n. Etym: [OE. almande, almaunde, alemaunde, F. amande, L. amygdala, fr. Gr. almendra. Cf. Amygdalate.]
1. The fruit of the almond tree.
Note: The different kinds, as bitter, sweet, thin-shelled, thick- shelled almonds, and Jordan almonds, are the products of different varieties of the one species, Amygdalus communis, a native of the Mediterranean region and western Asia.
2. The tree bears the fruit; almond tree.
3. Anything shaped like an almond. Specifically: (Anat.)
Defn: One of the tonsils. Almond oil, fixed oil expressed from sweetor bitter almonds.— Oil of bitter almonds, a poisonous volatile oil obtained frombitter almonds by maceration and distillation; benzoic aldehyde.— Imitation oil of bitter almonds, nitrobenzene.— Almond tree (Bot.), the tree bearing the almond.— Almond willow (Bot.), a willow which has leaves that are of alight green on both sides; almond-leaved willow (Salix amygdalina).Shenstone.
ALMOND FURNACEAl"mond fur`nace. Etym: [Prob. a corruption of Almain furnace, i. e.,German furnace. See Almain.]
Defn: A kind of furnace used in refining, to separate the metal from cinders and other foreign matter. Chambers.
ALMONDINEAl"mon*dine, n.
Defn: See Almandine
ALMONERAl"mon*er, n. Etym: [OE. aumener, aulmener, OF. almosnier, aumosnier,F. aumônier, fr. OF. almosne, alms, L. eleemosyna. See Alms.]
Defn: One who distributes alms, esp. the doles and alms of religious houses, almshouses, etc.; also, one who dispenses alms for another, as the almoner of a prince, bishop, etc.
ALMONERSHIPAl"mon*er*ship, n.
Defn: The office of an almoner.
ALMONRY Al"mon*ry, n.; pl. Almonries. Etym: [OF. aumosnerie, F. aumônerie, fr. OF. aumosnier. See Almoner.]
Defn: The place where an almoner resides, or where alms are distributed.
ALMOSEAl"mose, n.
Defn: Alms. [Obs.] Cheke.
ALMOST Al"most, adv. Etym: [AS. ealmæst, ælmæst, quite the most, almost all; eal (OE. al) all + m most.]
Defn: Nearly; well nigh; all but; for the greatest part.Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Acts xxvi. 28.Almost never, scarcely ever.— Almost nothing, scarcely anything.
ALMRYAlm"ry, n.
Defn: See Almonry. [Obs.]
ALMS Alms, n. sing. & pl. Etym: [OE. almes, almesse, AS. ælmysse, fr. L. eleemosyna, Gr. Almonry, Eleemosynary.]
Defn: Anything given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money,food, or clothing; a gift of charity.A devout man . . . which gave much alms to the people. Acts x. 2.Alms are but the vehicles of prayer. Dryden.Tenure by free alms. See Frankalmoign. Blackstone.
Note: This word alms is singular in its form (almesse), and is sometimes so used; as, "asked an alms." Acts iii. 3."Received an alms." Shak. It is now, however, commonly a collective or plural noun. It is much used in composition, as almsgiver, almsgiving, alms bag, alms chest, etc.
ALMSDEEDAlms"deed`, n.
Defn: An act of charity. Acts ix. 36.
ALMSFOLKAlms"folk`, n.
Defn: Persons supported by alms; almsmen. [Archaic] Holinshed.
ALMSGIVERAlms"giv`er, n.
Defn: A giver of alms.
ALMSGIVINGAlms"giv`ing, n.
Defn: The giving of alms.
ALMSHOUSEAlms"house`, n.
Defn: A house appropriated for the use of the poor; a poorhouse.
ALMSMANAlms"man, n.; fem. Almswoman.
1. A recipient of alms. Shak.
2. A giver of alms. [R.] Halliwell.
ALMUCANTAR Al`mu*can"tar, n. Etym: [F. almucantarat, almicantarat, ultimately fr. Ar. al-muqantarat, pl., fr. qantara to bend, arch.] (Astron.)
Defn: A small circle of the sphere parallel to the horizon; a circle or parallel of altitude. Two stars which have the same almucantar have the same altitude. See Almacantar. [Archaic] Almucanter staff, an ancient instrument, having an arc of fifteen degrees, formerly used at sea to take observations of the sun's amplitude at the time of its rising or setting, to find the variation of the compass.
ALMUCEAl"muce, n.
Defn: Same as Amice, a hood or cape.
ALMUDE Al*mude", n. Etym: [Pg. almude, or Sp. almud, a measure of grain or dry fruit, fr. Ar. al-mudd a dry measure.]
Defn: A measure for liquids in several countries. In Portugal theLisbon almude is about 4.4, and the Oporto almude about 6.6, gallonsU. S. measure. In Turkey the "almud" is about 1.4 gallons.
ALMUG; ALGUM Al"mug, Al"gum, n. Etym: [Heb., perh. borrowed fr. Skr. valguka sandalwood.] (Script.)
Defn: A tree or wood of the Bible (2 Chron. ii. 8; 1 K. x. 11).
Note: Most writers at the present day follow Celsius, who takes it to be the red sandalwood of China and the Indian Archipelago. W. Smith.
ALNAGEAl"nage, n., Etym: [OF. alnage, aulnage, F. aunage, fr. OF. alne ell,of Ger. origin: cf. OHG. elina, Goth. aleina, cubit. See Ell.] (O.Eng. Law)
Defn: Measurement (of cloth) by the ell; also, a duty for such measurement.
ALNAGERAl"na*ger, n. Etym: [See Alnage.]
Defn: A measure by the ell; formerly a sworn officer in England, whose duty was to inspect act measure woolen cloth, and fix upon it a seal.
ALOEAl"oe, n.; pl. Aloes. Etym: [L. aloë, Gr. aloe, F. aloès.]
1. pl.
Defn: The wood of the agalloch. [Obs.] Wyclif.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of succulent plants, some classed as trees, others as shrubs, but the greater number having the habit and appearance of evergreen herbaceous plants; from some of which are prepared articles for medicine and the arts. They are natives of warm countries.
3. pl. (Med.)
Defn: The inspissated juice of several species of aloe, used as a purgative. [Plural in form but syntactically singular.] American aloe, Century aloe, the agave. See Agave.
ALOES WOODAl"oes wood`.
Defn: See Agalloch.
ALOETICAl`o*et"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. aloétique.]
Defn: Consisting chiefly of aloes; of the nature of aloes.
ALOETICAl`o*et"ic, n.
Defn: A medicine containing chiefly aloes.
ALOFTA*loft", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + loft, which properly meant air. SeeLoft.]
1. On high; in the air; high above the ground. "He steers his flight aloft." Milton.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: In the top; at the mast head, or on the higher yards or rigging; overhead; hence (Fig. and Colloq.), in or to heaven.
ALOFTA*loft", prep.
Defn: Above; on top of. [Obs.]Fresh waters run aloft the sea. Holland.
ALOGIANA*lo"gi*an, n. Etym: [LL. Alogiani, Alogii, fr. Gr. (Eccl.)
Defn: One of an ancient sect who rejected St. John's Gospel and theApocalypse, which speak of Christ as the Logos. Shipley.
ALOGYAl"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. alogia, Gr.
Defn: Unreasonableness; absurdity. [Obs.]
ALOINAl"o*in, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A bitter purgative principle in aloes.
ALOMANCYAl"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy: cf. F. alomancie, halomancie.]
Defn: Divination by means of salt. [Spelt also halomancy.] Morin.
ALONE A*lone", a. Etym: [All + one. OE. al one all allone, AS. an one, alone. See All, One, Lone.]
1. Quite by one's self; apart from, or exclusive of, others; single; solitary; — applied to a person or thing. Alone on a wide, wide sea. Coleridge. It is not good that the man should be alone. Gen. ii. 18.
2. Of or by itself; by themselves; without any thing more or any one else; without a sharer; only. Man shall not live by bread alone. Luke iv. 4. The citizens alone should be at the expense. Franklin.
3. Sole; only; exclusive. [R.] God, by whose alone power and conversation we all live, and move, and have our being. Bentley.
4. Hence; Unique; rare; matchless. Shak.
Note: The adjective alone commonly follows its noun. To let or leave alone, to abstain from interfering with or molesting; to suffer to remain in its present state.
ALONEA*lone", adv.
Defn: Solely; simply; exclusively.
ALONELYA*lone"ly, adv.
Defn: Only; merely; singly. [Obs.] This said spirit was not given alonely unto him, but unto all his heirs and posterity. Latimer.
ALONELYA*lone"ly, a.
Defn: Exclusive. [Obs.] Fabyan.
ALONENESSA*lone"ness, n.
Defn: A state of being alone, or without company; solitariness. [R.]Bp. Montagu.
ALONGA*long", adv. Etym: [OE. along, anlong, AS. andlang, along; pref.and- (akin to OFris. ond-, OHG. ant-, Ger. ent-, Goth. and-, anda-,L. ante, Gr. anti, over against) + lang long. See Long.]
1. By the length; in a line with the length; lengthwise. Some laid along . . . on spokes of wheels are hung. Dryden.
2. In a line, or with a progressive motion; onward; forward.We will go along by the king's highway. Numb. xxi. 22.He struck with his o'ertaking wings, And chased us south along.Coleridge.
3. In company; together. He to England shall along with you. Shak. All along, all trough the course of; during the whole time; throughout. "I have all along declared this to be a neutral paper." Addison. — To get along, to get on; to make progress, as in business. "She 'll get along in heaven better than you or I." Mrs. Stowe.
ALONGA*long", prep.
Defn: By the length of, as distinguished from across. "Along thelowly lands." Dryden.The kine . . . went along the highway. 1 Sam. vi. 12.
ALONGA*long". Etym: [AS. gelang owing to.]
Defn: (Now heard only in the prep. phrase along of.) Along of, Along on, often shortened to Long of, prep. phr., owing to; on account of. [Obs. or Low. Eng.] "On me is not along thin evil fare." Chaucer. "And all this is long of you." Shak. "This increase of price is all along of the foreigners." London Punch.
ALONGSHOREA*long"shore`, adv.
Defn: Along the shore or coast.
ALONGSHOREMANA*long"shore`man, n.
Defn: See Longshoreman.
ALONGSIDEA*long"side`, adv.
Defn: Along or by the side; side by side with; — often with of; as, bring the boat alongside; alongside of him; alongside of the tree.
ALONGST A*longst", prep. & adv. Etym: [Formed fr. along, like amongst fr. among.]
Defn: Along. [Obs.]
ALOOFA*loof", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Alewife.
ALOOF A*loof", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + loof, fr. D. loef luff, and so meaning, as a nautical word, to the windward. See Loof, Luff.]
1. At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance; apart; away. Our palace stood aloof from streets. Dryden.
2. Without sympathy; unfavorably. To make the Bible as from the hand of God, and then to look at it aloof and with caution, is the worst of all impieties. I. Taylor.
ALOOFA*loof", prep.
Defn: Away from; clear from. [Obs.] Rivetus . . . would fain work himself aloof these rocks and quicksands. Milton.
ALOOFNESSA*loof"ness, n.
Defn: State of being aloof. Rogers (1642).The . . . aloofness of his dim forest life. Thoreau.
ALOPECIA; ALOPECYAl`o*pe"ci*a, A*lop"e*cy, n. Etym: [L. alopecia, Gr. (med.)
Defn: Loss of the hair; baldness.
ALOPECISTA*lop"e*cist, n.
Defn: A practitioner who tries to prevent or cure baldness.
ALOSEA*lose", v. t. Etym: [OE. aloser.]
Defn: To praise. [Obs.]
ALOSEA"lose, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. alosa or alausa.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European shad (Clupea alosa); — called also allice shad or allis shad. The name is sometimes applied to the American shad (Clupea sapidissima). See Shad.
ALOUATTEAl`ou*atte", n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the several species of howling monkeys of South America.See Howler, 2.
ALOUDA*loud", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + loud.]
Defn: With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly.Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice. Isa. lviii. 1.
ALOWA*low", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + low.]
Defn: Below; in a lower part. "Aloft, and then alow." Dryden.
ALPAlp, n. Etym: [L. Alpes the Alps, said to be of Celtic origin; cf.Gael. alp a high mountain, Ir. ailp any huge mass or lump: cf. F.Alpes.]
1. A very high mountain. Specifically, in the plural, the highest chain of mountains in Europe, containing the lofty mountains of Switzerland, etc. Nor breath of vernal air from snowy alp. Milton. Hills peep o'er hills, and alps on alps arise. Pope.
2. Fig.: Something lofty, or massive, or very hard to be surmounted.
Note: The plural form Alps is sometimes used as a singular. "The Alps doth spit." Shak.
ALPAlp, n.
Defn: A bullfinch. Rom. of R.
ALPACA Al*pac"a, n. Etym: [Sp. alpaca, fr. the original Peruvian name of the animal. Cf. Paco.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal of Peru (Lama paco), having long, fine, wooly hair, supposed by some to be a domesticated variety of the llama.
2. Wool of the alpaca.
3. A thin kind of cloth made of the wooly hair of the alpaca, often mixed with silk or with cotton.
ALPENAl"pen, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Alps. [R.] "The Alpen snow." J.Fletcher.
ALPENGLOWAl"pen*glow`, n.
Defn: A reddish glow seen near sunset or sunrise on the summits of mountains; specif., a reillumination sometimes observed after the summits have passed into shadow, supposed to be due to a curving downward (refraction) of the light rays from the west resulting from the cooling of the air.
ALPENHORN; ALPHORN{ Al"pen*horn`, Alp"horn` }, n. [G. Alpenhorn.]
Defn: A curved wooden horn about three feet long, with a cupped mouthpiece and a bell, used by the Swiss to sound the ranz des vaches and other melodies. Its notes are open harmonics of the tube.
ALPENSTOCKAl"pen*stock`, n. Etym: [G.; Alp, gen. pl. Alpen + stock stick.]
Defn: A long staff, pointed with iron, used in climbing the Alps.Cheever.
ALPESTRINEAl*pes"trine, a. Etym: [L. Alpestris.]
Defn: Pertaining to the Alps, or other high mountains; as, Alpestrine diseases, etc.
ALPHA Al"pha, n. Etym: [L. alpha, Gr. 'a`lfa, from Heb. aleph, name of the first letter in the alphabet, also meaning ox.]
Defn: The first letter in the Greek alphabet, answering to A, and hence used to denote the beginning. In am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Rev. xxii. 13.
Note: Formerly used also denote the chief; as, Plato was the alpha of the wits.
Note: In cataloguing stars, the brightest star of a constellation in designated by Alpha (a); as, a Lyræ.
ALPHABET Al"pha*bet, n. Etym: [L. alphabetum, fr. Gr. aleph and beth: cf. F. alphabet.]
1. The letters of a language arranged in the customary order; the series of letters or signs which form the elements of written language.
2. The simplest rudiments; elements. The very alphabet of our law. Macaulay. Deaf and dumb alphabet. See Dactylology.
ALPHABETAl"pha*bet, v. t.
Defn: To designate by the letters of the alphabet; to arrange alphabetically. [R.]
ALPHABETARIANAl`pha*bet*a"ri*an, n.
Defn: A learner of the alphabet; an abecedarian. Abp. Sancroft.
ALPHABETIC; ALPHABETICALAl`pha*bet"ic, Al`pha*bet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alphabétique.]
1. Pertaining to, furnished with, expressed by, or in the order of, the letters of the alphabet; as, alphabetic characters, writing, languages, arrangement.
2. Literal. [Obs.] "Alphabetical servility." Milton.
ALPHABETICALLYAl`pha*bet"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an alphabetic manner; in the customary order of the letters.
ALPHABETICSAl`pha*bet"ics, n.
Defn: The science of representing spoken sounds by letters.
ALPHABETISMAl"pha*bet*ism, n.
Defn: The expression of spoken sounds by an alphabet. Encyc. Brit.
ALPHABETIZEAl"pha*bet*ize, v. t.
1. To arrange alphabetically; as, to alphabetize a list of words.
2. To furnish with an alphabet.
ALPHA PAPERAl"pha pa"per. (Photog.)
Defn: A sensitized paper for obtaining positives by artificial light.It is coated with gelatin containing silver bromide and chloride.[Eng.]
ALPHA RAYSAlpha rays. (Physics & Chem.)
Defn: Rays of relatively low penetrating power emitted by radium and other radioactive substances, and shown to consist of positively charged particles (perhaps particles of helium) having enormous velocities but small masses. They are slightly deflected by a strong magnetic or electric field.
AL-PHITOMANCYAl-phit"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. mancy: cf. F. alphitomancie.]
Defn: Divination by means of barley meal. Knowles.
ALPHOLAl"phol, n. [Alpha- + -ol as in alcohol.] (Pharm.)
Defn: A crystalline derivative of salicylic acid, used as an antiseptic and antirheumatic.
ALPHONSINEAl*phon"sine, a.
Defn: Of or relating to Alphonso X., the Wise, King of Castile (1252- 1284). Alphonsine tables, astronomical tables prepared under the patronage of Alphonso the Wise. Whewell.
ALPIGENEAl"pi*gene, a. Etym: [L. Alpes Alps + -gen.]
Defn: Growing in Alpine regions.
ALPINEAl"pine, a. Etym: [L. Alpinus, fr. Alpes the Alps: cf. F. Alpin.]
1. Of or pertaining to the Alps, or to any lofty mountain; as, Alpine snows; Alpine plants.
2. Like the Alps; lofty. "Gazing up an Alpine height." Tennyson.
ALPINISTAl"pin*ist, n.
Defn: A climber of the Alps.
ALPIST; ALPIAAl"pist, Al"pi*a, n. Etym: [F.: cf. Sp. & Pg. alpiste.]
Defn: The seed of canary grass (Phalaris Canariensis), used for feeding cage birds.
ALQUIFOU Al"qui*fou, n. Etym: [Equiv. to arquifoux, F. alquifoux, Sp. alquifól, fr. the same Arabic word as alcohol. See Alcohol.]
Defn: A lead ore found in Cornwall, England, and used by potters to give a green glaze to their wares; potter's ore.
ALREADYAl*read"y, adv. Etym: [All (OE. al) + ready.]
Defn: Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously. "Joseph was in Egypt already." Exod. i. 5. I say unto you, that Elias is come already. Matt. xvii. 12.
Note: It has reference to past time, but may be used for a future past; as, when you shall arrive, the business will be already completed, or will have been already completed.
ALSAls, adv.
1. Also. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. As. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALSATIANAl*sa"tian, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Alsatia.
ALSATIANAl*sa"tian, n.
Defn: An inhabitant of Alsatia or Alsace in Germany, or of Alsatia orWhite Friars (a resort of debtors and criminals) in London.
AL SEGNOAl` se"gno. Etym: [It., to the mark or sign.](Mus.)
Defn: A direction for the performer to return and recommence from the sign
ALSIKEAl"sike, n. Etym: [From Alsike, in Sweden.]
Defn: A species of clover with pinkish or white flowers; Trifolium hybridum.
ALSO Al"so, adv. & conj. Etym: [All + so. OE. al so, AS. ealswa, alsw, ælswæ; eal, al, æl, all + swa so. See All, So, As.]
1. In like manner; likewise. [Obs.]
2. In addition; besides; as well; further; too. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matt. vi. 20.
3. Even as; as; so. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Syn. — Also, Likewise, Too. These words are used by way of transition, in leaving one thought and passing to another. Also is the widest term. It denotes that what follows is all so, or entirely like that which preceded, or may be affirmed with the same truth; as, "If you were there, I was there also;" "If our situation has some discomforts, it has also many sources of enjoyment." Too is simply less formal and pointed than also; it marks the transition with a lighter touch; as, "I was there too;" "a courtier yet a patriot too." Pope. Likewise denotes literally "in like manner," and hence has been thought by some to be more specific than also. "It implies," says Whately, "some connection or agreement between the words it unites. We may say, ` He is a poet, and likewise a musician; ' but we should not say, ` He is a prince, and likewise a musician,' because there is no natural connection between these qualities." This distinction, however, is often disregarded.
ALTAlt, a. & n. Etym: [See Alto.] (Mus.)
Defn: The higher part of the scale. See Alto. To be in alt, to be in an exalted state of mind.
ALTAIAN; ALTAICAl*ta"ian, Al*ta"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. altaïque.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Altai, a mountain chain in CentralAsia.
ALTAR Al"tar, n. Etym: [OE. alter, auter, autier, fr. L. altare, pl. altaria, altar, prob. fr. altus high: cf. OF. alter, autier, F. autel. Cf. Altitude.]
1. A raised structure (as a square or oblong erection of stone or wood) on which sacrifices are offered or incense burned to a deity. Noah builded an altar unto the Lord. Gen. viii. 20.
2. In the Christian church, a construction of stone, wood, or other material for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist; the communion table.
Note: Altar is much used adjectively, or as the first part of acompound; as, altar bread or altar-bread. Altar cloth or Altar-cloth,the cover for an altar in a Christian church, usually richlyembroidered.— Altar cushion, a cushion laid upon the altar in a Christianchurch to support the service book.— Altar frontal. See Frontal.— Altar rail, the railing in front of the altar or communion table.— Altar screen, a wall or partition built behind an altar toprotect it from approach in the rear.— Altar tomb, a tomb resembling an altar in shape, etc.— Family altar, place of family devotions.— To lead (as a bride) to the altar, to marry; — said of a woman.
ALTARAGEAl"tar*age, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. auterage, autelage.]
1. The offerings made upon the altar, or to a church.
2. The profit which accrues to the priest, by reason of the altar, from the small tithes. Shipley.
ALTARIST Al"tar*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. altarista, F. altariste.] (Old Law) (a) A chaplain. (b) A vicar of a church.
ALTARPIECEAl"tar*piece`, n.
Defn: The painting or piece of sculpture above and behind the altar; reredos.
ALTARWISEAl"tar*wise`, adv.
Defn: In the proper position of an altar, that is, at the east of a church with its ends towards the north and south. Shipley.
ALTAZIMUTHAlt*az"i*muth, n. Etym: [Alltude + azimuth.] (Astron.)
Defn: An instrument for taking azimuths and altitudes simultaneously.
ALTERAl"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Altered; p. pr. & vb. n. Altering.] Etym:[F. altérer, LL. alterare, fr. L. alter other, alius other. Cf. Else,Other.]
1. To make otherwise; to change in some respect, either partially or wholly; to vary; to modify. "To alter the king's course." "To alter the condition of a man." "No power in Venice can alter a decree." Shak. It gilds all objects, but it alters none. Pope. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Ps. lxxxix. 34.
2. To agitate; to affect mentally. [Obs.] Milton.
3. To geld. [Colloq.]
Syn. — Change, Alter. Change is generic and the stronger term. It may express a loss of identity, or the substitution of one thing in place of another; alter commonly expresses a partial change, or a change in form or details without destroying identity.
ALTERAl"ter, v. i.
Defn: To become, in some respects, different; to vary; to change; as, the weather alters almost daily; rocks or minerals alter by exposure. "The law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not." Dan. vi. 8.
ALTERABILITYAl`ter*a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. altérabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being alterable; alterableness.
ALTERABLEAl"ter*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. altérable.]
Defn: Capable of being altered. Our condition in this world is mutable and uncertain, alterable by a thousand accidents. Rogers.
ALTERABLENESSAl"ter*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being alterable; variableness; alterability.
ALTERABLYAl"ter*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an alterable manner.
ALTERANTAl"ter*ant, a. Etym: [LL. alterans, p. pr.: cf. F. altérant.]