Defn: To tear up by the roots; to draw away. [Obs.] Wyatt.
ARACEOUSA*ra"ceous, a. Etym: [L. arum a genus of plants, fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to an order of plants, of which the genus Arum is the type.
ARACHNIDA*rach"nid, n.
Defn: An arachnidan. Huxley.
ARACHNIDAA*rach"ni*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the classes of Arthropoda. See Illustration in Appendix.
Note: They have four pairs of legs, no antennæ nor wings, a pair of mandibles, and one pair of maxillæ or palpi. The head is usually consolidated with the thorax. The respiration is either by trancheæ or by pulmonary sacs, or by both. The class includes three principal orders: Araneina, or spiders; Arthrogastra, including scorpions, etc.; and Acarina, or mites and ticks.
ARACHNIDANA*rach"ni*dan, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Arachnida.
ARACHNIDIAL Ar`ach*nid"i*al, a. (Zoöl.) (a) Of or pertaining to the Arachnida. (b) Pertaining to the arachnidium.
ARACHNIDIUMAr`ach*nid"i*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Arachnida.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The glandular organ in which the material for the web of spiders is secreted.
ARACHNITISAr`ach*ni"tis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the arachnoid membrane.
ARACHNOIDA*rach"noid, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Resembling a spider's web; cobweblike.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to a thin membrane of the brain and spinal cord, between the dura mater and pia mater.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Covered with, or composed of, soft, loose hairs or fibers, so as to resemble a cobweb; cobwebby.
ARACHNOIDA*rach"noid, n.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The arachnoid membrane.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Arachnoidea.
ARACHNOIDALAr`ach*noid"al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the arachnoid membrane; arachnoid.
ARACHNOIDEAAr`ach*noid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Arachnida.
ARACHNOLOGICALA*rach`no*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to arachnology.
ARACHNOLOGISTAr`ach*nol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who is versed in, or studies, arachnology.
ARACHNOLOGYAr`ach*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The department of zoölogy which treats of spiders and otherArachnida.
ARAEOMETERA`ræ*om"e*ter.
Defn: See Areometer.
ARAEOSTYLEA*ræ"o*style, a. & n. Etym: [L. araeostylos, Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: See Intercolumniation.
ARAEOSYSTYLEA*ræ`o*sys"tyle, a. & n. Etym: [Gr. Systyle.] (Arch.)
Defn: See Intercolumniation.
ARAGONESEAr`a*go*nese, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Aragon, in Spain, or to its inhabitants.— n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or natives of Aragon, in Spain.
ARAGONITEA*rag"o*nite, n. Etym: [From Aragon, in Spain.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral identical in composition with calcite or carbonate of lime, but differing from it in its crystalline form and some of its physical characters.
ARAGUATOA`ra*gua"to, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American monkey, the ursine howler (Mycetes ursinus).See Howler, n., 2.
ARAISEA*raise"", v. t.
Defn: To raise. [Obs.] Shak.
ARAKAr"ak, n.
Defn: Same as Arrack.
ARAMAEAN; ARAMEANAr`a*mæan, Ar`a*me"an, a. Etym: [L. Aramaeus, Gr. Aram, i. e.Highland, a name given to Syria and Mesopotamia.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Syrians and Chaldeans, or to their language; Aramaic. — n.
Defn: A native of Aram.
ARAMAICAr`a*ma"ic, a. Etym: [See Aramæan, a.]
Defn: Pertaining to Aram, or to the territory, inhabitants, language, or literature of Syria and Mesopotamia; Aramæan; — specifically applied to the northern branch of the Semitic family of languages, including Syriac and Chaldee. — n.
Defn: The Aramaic language.
ARAMAISMAr`a*ma"ism, n.
Defn: An idiom of the Aramaic.
ARANEIDA; ARANEOIDEAAr`a*ne"i*da, Ar`a*ne*oid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Araneina.
ARANEIDANAr`a*ne"i*dan, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Araneina or spiders.— n.
Defn: One of the Araneina; a spider.
ARANEIFORMAr`a*ne"i*form a. Etym: [L. aranea spider + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the form of a spider. Kirby.
ARANEINAA*ra`ne*i"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. aranea spider.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The order of Arachnida that includes the spiders.
Note: They have mandibles, modified a poison faIllustration inAppendix.
ARANEOSEA*ra"ne*ose`, a. Etym: [L. araneous.]
Defn: Of the aspect of a spider's web; arachnoid.
ARANEOUS A*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. araneosus, fr. aranea spider, spider's web.]
Defn: Cobweblike; extremely thin and delicate, like a cobweb; as, the araneous membrane of the eye. See Arachnoid. Derham.
ARANGOA*ran"go, n.; pl. Arangoes. Etym: [The native name.]
Defn: A bead of rough carnelian. Arangoes were formerly imported fromBombay for use in the African slave trade. McCulloch.
ARAPAIMAA`ra*pai"ma, n. Etym: [Prob. native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large fresh-water food fish of South America.
ARARAA*ra"ra, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The palm (or great black) cockatoo, of Australia (Microglossus aterrimus).
ARAROBAAr`a*ro"ba, n. [Tupi.]
1. Goa powder.
2. A fabaceous tree of Brazil (Centrolobium robustum) having handsomely striped wood; —called also zebrawood.
ARATIONA*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. aratio, fr. arare to plow.]
Defn: Plowing; tillage. [R.] Lands are said to be in a state of aration when they are under tillage. Brande.
ARATORYAr"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [LL. aratorius: cf. F. aratoire.]
Defn: Contributing to tillage.
ARAUCARIAAr`au*ca"ri*a, n. Etym: [Araucania, a territory south of Chili.](Bot.)
Defn: A genus of tall conifers of the pine family. The species are confined mostly to South America and Australia. The wood cells differ from those of other in having the dots in their lateral surfaces in two or three rows, and the dots of contiguous rows alternating. The seeds are edible.
ARAUCARIANAr`au*ca"ri*an, a.
Defn: Relating to, or of the nature of, the Araucaria. The earliest conifers in geological history were mostly Araucarian. Dana.
ARBALEST; ARBALISTAr"ba*lest, Ar"ba*list, n. Etym: [OF. arbaleste, LL. arbalista, forL. arcuballista; arcus bow + ballista a military engine. SeeBallista.] (Antiq.)
Defn: A crossbow, consisting of a steel bow set in a shaft of wood, furnished with a string and a trigger, and a mechanical device for bending the bow. It served to throw arrows, darts, bullets, etc. [Written also arbalet and arblast.] Fosbroke.
ARBALESTER; ARBALISTER Ar"ba*lest`er, Ar"ba*list`er, n. Etym: [OF. arblastere, OF. arbalestier. See Arbalest.]
Defn: A crossbowman. [Obs.] Speed.
ARBITER Ar"bi*ter, n. Etym: [L. arbiter; ar- (for ad) + the root of betere to go; hence properly, one who comes up to look on.]
1. A person appointed, or chosen, by parties to determine a controversy between them.
Note: In modern usage, arbitrator is the technical word.
2. Any person who has the power of judging and determining, or ordaining, without control; one whose power of deciding and governing is not limited. For Jove is arbiter of both to man. Cowper.
Syn. — Arbitrator; umpire; director; referee; controller; ruler; governor.
ARBITERAr"bi*ter, v. t.
Defn: To act as arbiter between. [Obs.]
ARBITRABLEAr"bi*tra*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. arbitrable, fr. L. arbitrari. SeeArbitrate, v. t.]
Defn: Capable of being decided by arbitration; determinable.[Archaic] Bp. Hall.
ARBITRAGE Ar"bi*trage, n. Etym: [F., fr. arbiter to give judgment, L. arbitrari.]
1. Judgment by an arbiter; authoritative determination. [Archaic]
2. (Com)
Defn: A traffic in bills of exchange (see Arbitration of Exchange); also, a traffic in stocks which bear differing values at the same time in different markets.
ARBITRALAr"bi*tral, a. Etym: [L. arbitralis.]
Defn: Of or relating to an arbiter or an arbitration. [R.]
ARBITRAMENTAr*bit"ra*ment, n. Etym: [LL. arbitramentum.]
1. Determination; decision; arbitration. The arbitrament of time. Everett. Gladly at this moment would MacIvor have put their quarrel to personal arbitrament. Sir W. Scott.
2. The award of arbitrators. Cowell.
ARBITRARILYAr"bi*tra*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In an arbitrary manner; by will only; despotically; absolutely.
ARBITRARINESSAr"bi*tra*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being arbitrary; despoticalness; tyranny. Bp.Hall.
ARBITRARIOUSAr`bi*tra"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. arbitrarius. See Arbitrary.]
Defn: Arbitrary; despotic. [Obs.] — Ar`bi*tra"*ri*ous*ly, adv.[Obs.]
ARBITRARY Ar"bi*tra*ry, a. Etym: [L. arbitrarius, fr. arbiter: cf. F. arbitraire. See Arbiter.]
1. Depending on will or discretion; not governed by any fixed rules; as, an arbitrary decision; an arbitrary punishment. It was wholly arbitrary in them to do so. Jer. Taylor. Rank pretends to fix the value of every one, and is the most arbitrary of all things. Landor.
2. Exercised according to one's own will or caprice, and therefore conveying a notion of a tendency to abuse the possession of power. Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused licentiousness. Washington.
3. Despotic; absolute in power; bound by no law; harsh and unforbearing; tyrannical; as, an arbitrary prince or government. Dryden. Arbitrary constant, Arbitrary function (Math.), a quantity of function that is introduced into the solution of a problem, and to which any value or form may at will be given, so that the solution may be made to meet special requirements. — Arbitrary quantity (Math.), one to which any value can be assigned at pleasure.
ARBITRATE Ar"bi*trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arbitrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Arbitrating.] Etym: [L. arbitratus, p. p. of arbitrari to be a hearer or beholder of something, to make a decision, to give judgment, fr. arbiter. See Arbiter.]
1. To hear and decide, as arbitrators; as, to choose to arbitrate a disputed case.
2. To decide, or determine generally. South. There shall your swords and lances arbitrate The swelling difference of your settled hate. Shak.
ARBITRATEAr"bi*trate, v. i.
1. To decide; to determine. Shak.
2. To act as arbitrator or judge; as, to arbitrate upon several reports;; to arbitrate in disputes among heighbors; to arbitrate between parties to a suit.
ARBITRATION Ar`bi*tra"tion, n. Etym: [F. arbitration, L. arbitratio, fr. arbitrari.]
Defn: The hearing and determination of a cause between parties in controversy, by a person or persons chosen by the parties.
Note: This may be done by one person; but it is usual to choose two or three called arbitrators; or for each party to choose one, and these to name a third, who is called the umpire. Their determination is called the award. Bouvier Arbitration bond, a bond which obliges one to abide by the award of an arbitration. — Arbitration of Exchange, the operation of converting the currency of one country into that of another, or determining the rate of exchange between such countries or currencies. An arbitrated rate is one determined by such arbitration through the medium of one or more intervening currencies.
ARBITRATORAr"bi*tra`tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. arbitrari: cf. F. arbitrateur.]
1. A person, or one of two or more persons, chosen by parties who have a controversy, to determine their differences. See Arbitration.
2. One who has the power of deciding or prescribing without control; a ruler; a governor. Though Heaven be shut, And Heaven's high Arbitrators sit secure. Milton. Masters of their own terms and arbitrators of a peace. Addison.
Syn.— Judge; umpire; referee; arbiter. See Judge.
ARBITRATRIXAr"bi*tra`trix, n. Etym: [L., fem. of arbitrator.]
Defn: A female who arbitrates or judges.
ARBITRESSAr"bi*tress, n. Etym: [From Arbiter.]
Defn: A female arbiter; an arbitratrix. Milton.
ARBLASTAr"blast, n.
Defn: A crossbow. See Arbalest.
ARBOR Ar"bor, n. Etym: [OE. herber, herbere, properly a garden of herbs, F. herbier, fr. L. herbarium. See Herb, and cf. Herbarium.]
Defn: A kind of latticework formed of, or covered with, vines, branches of trees, or other plants, for shade; a bower. Sir P. Sidney.
ARBORAr"bor, n. [Written also arbour.] Etym: [L., a tree, a beam.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A tree, as distinguished from a shrub.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. arbre.] (Mech.) (a) An axle or spindle of a wheel or opinion. (b) A mandrel in lathe turning. Knight. Arbor Day, a day appointed for planting trees and shrubs. [U.S.]
ARBORARYAr"bo*ra*ry, a. Etym: [L. arborarius, fr. arbor tree.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to trees; arboreal.
ARBORATORAr"bo*ra`tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. arbor tree.]
Defn: One who plants or who prunes trees. [Obs.] Evelyn.
ARBOR DIANAEAr"bor Di*a"næ. Etym: [L., the tree of Diana, or silver.] (Chem.)
Defn: A precipitation of silver, in a beautiful arborescent form.
ARBOREALAr*bo"re*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a tree, or to trees; of nature of trees. Cowley.
2. Attached to, found in or upon, or frequenting, woods or trees; as, arboreal animals. Woodpeckers are eminently arboreal. Darwin.
ARBOREDAr"bored, a.
Defn: Furnished with an arbor; lined with trees. "An arboreal walk."Pollok.
ARBOREOUSAr*bo"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. arboreous, fr. arbor tree.]
1. Having the form, constitution, or habits, of a proper tree, in distinction from a shrub. Loudon.
2. Pertaining to, or growing on, trees; as, arboreous moss. Quincy.
ARBORESCENCEAr`bo*res"cence, n.
Defn: The state of being arborescent; the resemblance to a tree in minerals, or crystallizations, or groups of crystals in that form; as, the arborescence produced by precipitating silver.
ARBORESCENT Ar`bo*res"cent, a. Etym: [L. arborescens, p. pr. of arborescere to become a tree, fr. arbor tree.]
Defn: Resembling a tree; becoming woody in stalk; dendritic; having crystallizations disposed like the branches and twigs of a tree. "Arborescent hollyhocks." Evelyn.
ARBORETAr"bo*ret, n. Etym: [OF. arboret, dim. of arbre tree, L. arbor]
Defn: A small tree or shrub. [Obs.] Spenser.Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers Imbordered on each bank.Milton.
ARBORETUMAr`bo*re"tum, n.; pl. Arboreta. Etym: [L., a place grown with trees.]
Defn: A place in which a collection of rare trees and shrubs is cultivated for scientific or educational purposes.
ARBORICALAr*bor"ic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to trees. [Obs.]
ARBORICOLEAr*bor"i*cole, a. Etym: [L. arbor + colere to inhabit.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Tree-inhabiting; — said of certain birds.
ARBORICULTURALAr`bor*i*cul"tur*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to arboriculture. Loudon.
ARBORICULTUREAr`bor*i*cul"ture, n. Etym: [L. arbor tree + cultura. See Culture.]
Defn: The cultivation of trees and shrubs, chiefly for timber or for ornamental purposes.
ARBORICULTURISTAr`bor*i*cul"tur*ist, n.
Defn: One who cultivates trees.
ARBORIFORMAr*bor"i*form, a.
Defn: Treelike in shape.
ARBORISTAr"bor*ist, n. Etym: [F. arboriste, fr. L. arbor tree.]
Defn: One who makes trees his study, or who is versed in the knowledge of trees. Howell.
ARBORIZATIONAr`bor*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. arborisation, fr. L. arbor tree.]
Defn: The appearance or figure of a tree or plant, as in minerals or fossils; a dendrite.
ARBORIZEDAr"bor*ized, a.
Defn: Having a treelike appearance. "An arborized or moss agate."Wright.
ARBOROUSAr"bor*ous, a.
Defn: Formed by trees. [Obs.]From under shady, arborous roof. Milton.
ARBOR VINEAr"bor vine`.
Defn: A species of bindweed.
ARBOR VITAEAr"bor vi"tæ. Etym: [L., tree of life.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An evergreen tree of the cypress tribe, genus Thuja. TheAmerican species is the T. occidentalis.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The treelike disposition of the gray and white nerve tissues in the cerebellum, as seen in a vertical section.
ARBUSCLE Ar"bus*cle, n. Etym: [L. arbuscula small tree, shrub, dim. of arbor tree.]
Defn: A dwarf tree, one in size between a shrub and a tree; a treelike shrub. Bradley.
ARBUSCULARAr*bus"cu*lar, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a dwarf tree; shrublike. Da Costa.
ARBUSTIVE Ar*bus"tive, a. Etym: [L. arbustivus, fr. arbustum place where trees are planted.]
Defn: Containing copses of trees or shrubs; covered with shrubs.Bartram.
ARBUTUS; ARBUTEAr"bu*tus, Ar"bute, n. Etym: [L. arbutus, akin to arbor tree.]
Defn: The strawberry tree, a genus of evergreen shrubs, of the Heath family. It has a berry externally resembling the strawberry; the arbute tree. Trailing arbutus (Bot.), a creeping or trailing plant of the Heath family (Epigæa repens), having white or usually rose- colored flowers with a delicate fragrance, growing in small axillary clusters, and appearing early in the spring; in New England known as mayflower; — called also ground laurel. Gray.
ARCArc, n. Etym: [F. arc, L. arcus bow, arc. See Arch, n.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A portion of a curved line; as, the arc of a circle or of an ellipse.
2. A curvature in the shape of a circular arc or an arch; as, the colored arc (the rainbow); the arc of Hadley's quadrant.
3. An arch. [Obs.] Statues and trophies, and triumphal arcs. Milton.
4. The apparent arc described, above or below the horizon, by the sun or other celestial body. The diurnal arc is described during the daytime, the nocturnal arc during the night. Electric arc, Voltaic arc. See under Voltaic.
ARCADE Ar*cade", n. Etym: [F. arcade, Sp. arcada, LL. arcata, fr. L. arcus bow, arch.]
1. (Arch.) (a) A series of arches with the columns or piers which support them, the spandrels above, and other necessary appurtenances; sometimes open, serving as an entrance or to give light; sometimes closed at the back (as in the cut) and forming a decorative feature. (b) A long, arched building or gallery.
2. An arched or covered passageway or avenue.
ARCADEDAr*cad"ed, a.
Defn: Furnished with an arcade.
ARCADIAAr*ca"di*a, n. Etym: [L. Arcadia, Gr.
1. A mountainous and picturesque district of Greece, in the heart of the Peloponnesus, whose people were distinguished for contentment and rural happiness.
2. Fig.: Any region or scene of simple pleasure and untroubled quiet. Where the cow is, there is Arcadia. J. Burroughs.
ARCADIAN; ARCADICAr*ca"di*an, Ar*ca"dic, a. Etym: [L. Arcadius, Arcadicus, fr.Arcadia: cf. F. Arcadien, Arcadique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Arcadia; pastoral; ideally rural; as,Arcadian simplicity or scenery.
ARCANEAr*cane", a. Etym: [L. arcanus.]
Defn: Hidden; secret. [Obs.] "The arcane part of divine wisdom."Berkeley.
ARCANUM Ar*ca"num, n.; pl. Arcana. Etym: [L., fr. arcanus closed, secret, fr. arca chest, box, fr. arcere to inclose. See Ark.]
1. A secret; a mystery; — generally used in the plural. Inquiries into the arcana of the Godhead. Warburton.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A secret remedy; an elixir. Dunglison.
ARCBOUTANTArc`*bou`tant", n. Etym: [F.] (Arch.)
Defn: A flying buttress. Gwilt.
ARCHArch, n. Etym: [F. arche, fr. LL. arca, for arcus. See Arc.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: Any part of a curved line.
2. (Arch.) (a) Usually a curved member made up of separate wedge-shaped solids, with the joints between them disposed in the direction of the radii of the curve; used to support the wall or other weight above an opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round (i. e., semicircular), or pointed. (b) A flat arch is a member constructed of stones cut into wedges or other shapes so as to support each other without rising in a curve.
Note: Scientifically considered, the arch is a means of spanning an opening by resolving vertical pressure into horizontal or diagonal thrust.
3. Any place covered by an arch; an archway; as, to pass into the arch of a bridge.
4. Any curvature in the form of an arch; as, the arch of the aorta. "Colors of the showery arch." Milton. Triumphal arch, a monumental structure resembling an arched gateway, with one or more passages, erected to commemorate a triumph.
ARCHArch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arched; p. pr. & vb. n. Arching.]
1. To cover with an arch or arches.
2. To form or bend into the shape of an arch. The horse arched his neck. Charlesworth.
ARCHArch, v. i.
Defn: To form into an arch; to curve.
ARCH-Arch- (ärch-, except in archangel and one or two other words). Etym:[L. arch-, Gr. Arch-.]
Defn: A prefix signifying chief, as in archbuilder, archfiend.
ARCHArch, a. Etym: [See Arch-, pref.]
1. Chief; eminent; greatest; principal. The most arch act of piteous massacre. Shak.
2. Cunning or sly; sportively mischievous; roguish; as, an arch look, word, lad. [He] spoke his request with so arch a leer. Tatler.
ARCHArch, n. Etym: [See Arch-, pref.]
Defn: A chief. [Obs.]My worthy arch and patron comes to-night. Shak.
ARCH *arch. Etym: [Gr. Arch, a.]
Defn: A suffix meaning a ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler).
-ARCH -arch. [Gr. 'archo`s chief, commander, 'a`rchein to rule. See Arch, a.]
Defn: A suffix meaning a ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler).
ARCHAEANAr*chæ"an, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Ancient; pertaining to the earliest period in geological history.
ARCHAEANAr*chæ"an, n. (Geol.)
Defn: The earliest period in geological period, extending up to the Lower Silurian. It includes an Azoic age, previous to the appearance of life, and an Eozoic age, including the earliest forms of life.
Note: This is equivalent to the formerly accepted term Azoic, and to the Eozoic of Dawson.
ARCHAEOGRAPHYAr`chæ*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: A description of, or a treatise on, antiquity or antiquities.
ARCHAEOLITHICAr`chæ*o*lith"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Archæol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the earliest Stone age; — applied to a prehistoric period preceding the Paleolithic age.
ARCHAEOLOGIANAr`chæ*o*lo"gi*an, n.
Defn: An archæologist.
ARCHAEOLOGIC; ARCHAEOLOGICALAr`chæ*o*log"ic, Ar`chæ*o*log"ic*al,
Defn: Relating to archæology, or antiquities; as, archæologicalresearches.— Ar`*chæ*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
ARCHAEOLOGISTAr`chæ*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in archæology; an antiquary. Wright.
ARCHAEOLOGYAr`chæ*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The science or study of antiquities, esp. prehistoric antiquities, such as the remains of buildings or monuments of an early epoch, inscriptions, implements, and other relics, written manuscripts, etc.
ARCHAEOPTERYXAr`chæ*op"te*ryx, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil bird, of the Jurassic period, remarkable for having a long tapering tail of many vertebræ with feathers along each side, and jaws armed with teeth, with other reptilian characteristics.
ARCHAEOSTOMATOUSAr`chæ*o*stom"a*tous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Applied to a gastrula when the blastorope does not entirely up.
ARCHAEOZOICAr`chæ*o*zo"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or belonging to the earliest forms of animal life.
ARCHAICAr*cha"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or characterized by antiquity or archaism; antiquated; obsolescent.
ARCHAICALAr*cha"ic*al, a.
Defn: Archaic. [R.] — Ar*cha"ic*al*ly, adv.
ARCHAISMAr"cha*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. archaïsme. See Arch, a.]
1. An ancient, antiquated, or old-fashioned, word, expression, or idiom; a word or form of speech no longer in common use.
2. Antiquity of style or use; obsoleteness. A select vocabulary corresponding (in point of archaism and remoteness from ordinary use) to our Scriptural vocabulary. De Quincey.
ARCHAISTAr"cha*ist, n.
1. Am antiquary.
2. One who uses archaisms.
ARCHAISTICAr`cha*is"tic, a.
Defn: Like, or imitative of, anything archaic; pertaining to an archaism.
ARCHAIZEAr"cha*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Archaized; p. pr. & vb. n.Archaizing.] Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To make appear archaic or antique. Mahaffy.
ARCHANGELArch`an"gel, n. Etym: [L. archangelus, Gr. archangel, F. archange.See Arch-, pref., and Angel.]
1. A chief angel; one high in the celestial hierarchy. Milton.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A term applied to several different species of plants (Angelica archangelica, Lamium album, etc.).
ARCHANGELICArch`an*gel"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. archangélique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to archangels; of the nature of, or resembling, an archangel. Milton.
ARCHBISHOP Arch`bish"op, n. Etym: [AS. arcebisceop, arcebiscop, L. archiepiscopus, fr. Gr. Bishop.]
Defn: A chief bishop; a church dignitary of the first class (often called a metropolitan or primate) who superintends the conduct of the suffragan bishops in his province, and also exercises episcopal authority in his own diocese.
ARCHBISHOPRICArch`bish"op*ric, n. Etym: [AS. arcebiscoprice. See -ric.]
Defn: The jurisdiction or office of an archbishop; the see or province over which archbishop exercises archiepiscopal authority.
ARCH BRICKArch" brick`.
Defn: A wedge-shaped brick used in the building of an arch.
ARCHBUTLERArch`but"ler, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + butler.]
Defn: A chief butler; — an officer of the German empire.
ARCHCHAMBERLAINArch`cham"ber*lain, n. Etym: [Cf. G. erzkämmerer. See Arch-, pref.]
Defn: A chief chamberlain; — an officer of the old German empire, whose office was similar to that of the great chamberlain in England.
ARCHCHANCELLORArch`chan"cel*lor, n. Etym: [Cf. Ger. erzkanzler. See Arch-, pref.]
Defn: A chief chancellor; — an officer in the old German empire, who presided over the secretaries of the court.
ARCHCHEMICArch`chem"ic, a.
Defn: Of supreme chemical powers. [R.] "The archchemic sun." Milton.
ARCHDEACON Arch`dea"con, n. Etym: [AS. arcediacon, archidiacon, L. archidiaconus, fr. Gr. Arch-, pref., and Deacon.]
Defn: In England, an ecclesiastical dignitary, next in rank below a bishop, whom he assists, and by whom he is appointed, though with independent authority. Blackstone.
ARCHDEACONRYArch`dea"con*ry, n.
Defn: The district, office, or residence of an archdeacon. SeeBenefice.Every diocese is divided into archdeaconries. Blackstone.
ARCHDEACONSHIPArch`dea"con*ship, n.
Defn: The office of an archdeacon.
ARCHDIOCESEArch`di"o*cese, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + diocese.]
Defn: The diocese of an archbishop.
ARCHDUCALArch`du"cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an archduke or archduchy.
ARCHDUCHESSArch`duch"ess, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + duchess.]
Defn: The consort of an archduke; also, a princess of the imperial family of Austria. See Archduke.
ARCHDUCHYArch`duch"y, n.
Defn: The territory of an archduke or archduchess. Ash.
ARCHDUKEArch`duke", n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + duke.]
Defn: A prince of the imperial family of Austria.
Note: Formerly this title was assumed by the rulers of Lorraine, Brabant, Austria, etc. It is now appropriated to the descendants of the imperial family of Austria through the make line, all such male descendants being styled archduke, and all such female descendants archduchesses.
ARCHDUKEDOMArch`duke"dom, n.
Defn: An archduchy.
ARCHEBIOSISAr`che*bi*o"sis, n. Etym: [Pref. arche- + Gr.
Defn: To origination of living matter from non-living. SeeAbiogenesis. Bastian.
ARCHEDArched, a.
Defn: Made with an arch or curve; covered with an arch; as, an arched door.
ARCHEGONIALAr`che*go"ni*al, a.
Defn: Relating to the archegonium.
ARCHEGONIUMAr`che*go"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The pistillidium or female organ in the higher cryptogamic plants, corresponding to the pistil in flowering plants.
ARCHEGONYAr*cheg"o*ny, n. Etym: [See Archegonium.] (Biol.)
Defn: Spontaneous generation; abiogenesis.
ARCHELOGYAr*chel"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science of, or a treatise on, first principles. Fleming.
ARCHENCEPHALAAr`chen*ceph"a*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. pref. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division that includes man alone. R. Owen.
ARCHENEMYArch`en"e*my, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + enemy.]
Defn: A principal enemy. Specifically, Satan, the grand adversary of mankind. Milton.
ARCHENTERICArch`en*ter"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to the archenteron; as, archenteric invagination.
ARCHENTERONArch`en"ter*on, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The primitive enteron or undifferentiated digestive sac of a gastrula or other embryo. See Illust. under Invagination.
ARCHEOLOGY; ARCHEOLOGICALAr`che*ol"o*gy, n., Ar`che*o*log`ic*al, a.
Defn: Same as Archæology, etc.
ARCHER Arch"er, n. Etym: [archier, F. archer, LL. arcarius, fr. L. arcus bow. See Arc, Arch, n.]
Defn: A bowman, one skilled in the use of the bow and arrow.
ARCHERESSArch"er*ess, n.
Defn: A female archer. Markham.
ARCHER FISHArch"er fish`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fish (Toxotes jaculator), of the East Indies; — so called from its ejecting drops of water from its mouth at its prey. The name is also applied to Chætodon rostratus.
ARCHERSHIPArch"er*ship, n.
Defn: The art or skill of an archer.
ARCHERYArch"er*y, n. Etym: [OE. archerie.]
1. The use of the bow and arrows in battle, hunting, etc.; the art, practice, or skill of shooting with a bow and arrows.
2. Archers, or bowmen, collectively. Let all our archery fall off In wings of shot a-both sides of the van. Webster (1607).
ARCHESArch"es,
Defn: pl. of Arch, n. Court of arches, or Arches Court (Eng. Law), the court of appeal of the Archbishop of Canterbury, whereof the judge, who sits as deputy to the archbishop, is called the Dean of the Arches, because he anciently held his court in the church of St. Mary-le-Bow (de arcubus). It is now held in Westminster. Mozley & W.
ARCHETYPALAr"che*ty`pal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an archetype; consisting a model (real or ideal) or pattern; original. "One archetypal mind." Gudworth.
Note: Among Platonists, the archetypal world is the world as it existed as an idea of God before the creation.
ARCHETYPALLYAr"che*ty`pal*ly, adv.
Defn: With reference to the archetype; originally. "Parts archetypally distinct." Dana.
ARCHETYPE Ar"che*type, n. Etym: [L. archetypum, Gr. archétype. See Arch-, pref.]
1. The original pattern or model of a work; or the model from which a thing is made or formed. The House of Commons, the archetype of all the representative assemblies which now meet. Macaulay. Types and shadows of that glorious archetype that was to come into the world. South.
2. (Coinage)
Defn: The standard weight or coin by which others are adjusted.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: The plan or fundamental structure on which a natural group of animals or plants or their systems of organs are assumed to have been constructed; as, the vertebrate archetype.
ARCHETYPICALAr`che*typ"ic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to an archetype; archetypal.
ARCHEUSAr*che"us, n. Etym: [LL. arch, Gr. Archi-, pref.]
Defn: The vital principle or force which (according to theParacelsians) presides over the growth and continuation of livingbeings; the anima mundi or plastic power of the old philosophers.[Obs.] Johnson.
ARCHI-Ar"chi-. Etym: [L., archi-, Gr. arce-, erce-, OHG. erzi-.]
Defn: A prefix signifying chief, arch; as, architect, archiepiscopal. In Biol. and Anat. it usually means primitive, original, ancestral; as, archipterygium, the primitive fin or wing.
ARCHIANNELIDAAr`chi*an*nel"i*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL.; pref. archi- + annelida.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Annelida remarkable for having no external segments or distinct ventral nerve ganglions.
ARCHIATERAr"chi*a`ter, n. Etym: [L. archiatrus, Gr.
Defn: Chief physician; — a term applied, on the continent of Europe, to the first or body physician of princes and to the first physician of some cities. P. Cyc.
ARCHIBALD WHEELAr"chi*bald wheel.
Defn: A metal-hubbed wheel of great strength and elasticity, esp. adapted for artillery carriages and motor cars.
ARCHIBLASTULAAr`chi*blas"tu*la, n. Etym: [Pref. archi + blastula.] (Biol.)
Defn: A hollow blastula, supposed to be the primitive form; a c
ARCHICALAr"chi*cal, a. Etym: [Gr. Arch-, pref.]
Defn: Chief; primary; primordial. [Obs.] Cudworth.
ARCHIDIACONALAr`chi*di*ac"o*nal, a. Etym: [L. archidiaconus, Gr. archdeacon.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an archdeacon.This offense is liable to be censured in an archidiaconal visitation.Johnson.
ARCHIEPISCOPACYAr`chi*e*pis"co*pa*cy, n. Etym: [Pref. archi- + episcopacy.]
1. That form of episcopacy in which the chief power is in the hands of archbishops.
2. The state or dignity of an archbishop.
ARCHIEPISCOPALAr`chi*e*pis"co*pal, a. Etym: [Pref. archi- + episcopal.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an archbishop; as, Canterbury is an archiepiscopal see.
ARCHIEPISCOPALITYAr`chi*e*pis`co*pal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The station or dignity of an archbishop; archiepiscopacy.Fuller.
ARCHIEPISCOPATEAr`chi*e*pis"co*pate, n. Etym: [Pref. archi- + episcopate.]
Defn: The office of an archbishop; an archbishopric.
ARCHIEREYAr*chi"e*rey, n. Etym: [Russ. archieréi, fr. Gr. arch-) + * priest.]
Defn: The higher order of clergy in Russia, including metropolitans, archbishops, and bishops. Pinkerton.
ARCHILAr"chil, n. Etym: [OF. orchel, orcheil, It. orcella, oricello, orOSp. orchillo. Cf. Orchil.]
1. A violet dye obtained from several species of lichen (Roccella tinctoria, etc.), which grow on maritime rocks in the Canary and Cape Verd Islands, etc. Tomlinson.
2. The plant from which the dye is obtained. [Written also orchal and orchil.]
ARCHILOCHIANAr`chi*lo"chi*an, a. Etym: [L. Archilochius.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the satiric Greek poet Archilochus; as,Archilochian meter.
ARCHIMAGE; ARCHIMAGUSAr"chi*mage, Ar`chi*ma"gus, n. Etym: [NL.; pref. archi- + L. magus,Gr.
1. The high priest of the Persian Magi, or worshipers of fire.
2. A great magician, wizard, or enchanter. Spenser.
ARCHIMANDRITE Ar`chi*man"drite, n. Etym: [L. archimandrita, LGr. arch-) + (Gr. Church) (a) A chief of a monastery, corresponding to abbot in the Roman Catholic church. (b) A superintendent of several monasteries, corresponding to superior abbot, or father provincial, in the Roman Catholic church.
ARCHIMEDEANAr`chi*me*de"an, a. Etym: [L. Archimedeus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Archimedes, a celebrated Greek philosopher; constructed on the principle of Archimedes' screw; as, Archimedean drill, propeller, etc. Archimedean screw, or Archimedes' screw, an instrument, said to have been invented by Archimedes, for raising water, formed by winding a flexible tube round a cylinder in the form of a screw. When the screw is placed in an inclined position, and the lower end immersed in water, by causing the screw to revolve, the water is raised to the upper end. Francis.
ARCHIMEDESAr`chi*me"des, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct genus of Bryzoa characteristic of the subcarboniferous rocks. Its form is that of a screw.
ARCHINGArch"ing, n.
1. The arched part of a structure.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Hogging; — opposed to sagging.
ARCHIPELAGICAr`chi*pe*lag"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an archipelago.
ARCHIPELAGO Ar`chi*pel"a*go, n.; pl. -goes or -gos. Etym: [It. arcipelago, properly, chief sea; Gr. pref Plague.]
1. The Grecian Archipelago, or Ægean Sea, separating Greece from Asia Minor. It is studded with a vast number of small islands.
2. Hence: Any sea or broad sheet of water interspersed with many islands or with a group of islands.
ARCHIPTERYGIUMAr*chip`te*ryg"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. pref. arch-) + (Anat.)
Defn: The primitive form of fin, like that of Ceratodus.
ARCHITECT Ar"chi*tect, n. Etym: [L. architectus, architecton, Gr. archi-) + architecte, It. architetto. See Technical.]
1. A person skilled in the art of building; one who understands architecture, or makes it his occupation to form plans and designs of buildings, and to superintend the artificers employed.
2. A contriver, designer, or maker. The architects of their own happiness. Milton. A French woman is a perfect architect in dress. Coldsmith.
ARCHITECTIVEAr`chi*tec"tive, a.
Defn: Used in building; proper for building. Derham.
ARCHITECTONIC; ARCHITECTONICAL Ar`chi*tec*ton"ic, Ar`chi*tec*ton"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. architectonicus, Gr. Architect.]
1. Pertaining to a master builder, or to architecture; evincing skill in designing or construction; constructive. "Architectonic wisdom." Boyle. These architectonic functions which we had hitherto thought belonged. J. C. Shairp.
2. Relating to the systemizing of knowledge.
ARCHITECTONICAr`chi*tec*ton"ic, n. Etym: [Cf. F. architectonique.]
1. The science of architecture.
2. The act of arranging knowledge into a system.
ARCHITECTONICSAr`chi*tec*ton"ics, n.
Defn: The science of architecture.
ARCHITECTORAr"chi*tec`tor, n.
Defn: An architect. [Obs.] North.
ARCHITECTRESSAr"chi*tec`tress, n.
Defn: A female architect.
ARCHITECTURALAr`chi*tec"tur*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the art of building; conformed to the rulesof architecture.— Ar`chi*tec"tur*al*ly, adv.
ARCHITECTURE Ar"chi*tec`ture, n. Etym: [L. architectura, fr. architectus: cf. F. architecture. See Architect.]
1. The art or science of building; especially, the art of building houses, churches, bridges, and other structures, for the purposes of civil life; — often called civil architecture. Many other architectures besides Gothic. Ruskin.
3. Construction, in a more general sense; frame or structure;workmanship.The architecture of grasses, plants, and trees. Tyndall.The formation of the first earth being a piece of divinearchitecture. Burnet.Military architecture, the art of fortifications.— Naval architecture, the art of building ships.
ARCHITEUTHISAr`chi*teu"this, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. pref. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of gigantic cephalopods, allied to the squids, found esp. in the North Atlantic and about New Zealand.
ARCHITRAVE Ar"chi*trave, n. Etym: [F. architrave, fr. It. architrave; pref. archi- + trave beam, L. trabs.] (Arch.) (a) The lower division of an entablature, or that part which rests immediately on the column, esp. in classical architecture. See Column. (b) The group of moldings, or other architectural member, above and on both sides of a door or other opening, especially if square in form.
ARCHITRAVEDAr"chi*traved, a.
Defn: Furnished with an architrave. Cowper.
ARCHIVALAr"chi*val, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or contained in, archives or records. Tooke.
ARCHIVE Ar"chive, n.; pl. Archives. Etym: [F. archives, pl., L. archivum, archium, fr. Gr. Archi-, pref.]
1. pl.
Defn: The place in which public records or historic documents arekept.Our words . . . . become records in God's court, and are laid up inhis archives as witnesses. Gov. of Tongue.
2. pl.
Defn: Public records or documents preserved as evidence of facts; as,the archives of a country or family. [Rarely used in sing.]Some rotten archive, rummaged out of some seldom explored press.Lamb.
Syn.— Registers; records; chronicles.
ARCHIVISTAr"chi*vist, n. Etym: [F. archiviste.]
Defn: A keeper of archives or records. [R.]
ARCHIVOLT Ar"chi*volt, n. Etym: [F. archivolte, fr. It. archivolto; pref. archi- + volto vault, arch. See Vault.] (Arch.) (a) The architectural member surrounding the curved opening of an arch, corresponding to the architrave in the case of a square opening. (b) More commonly, the molding or other ornaments with which the wall face of the voussoirs of an arch is charged.
ARCHLUTE; ARCHILUTEArch"lute, Arch"i*lute, n. Etym: [Cf. F. archiluth, It. arciliuto.](Mus.)
Defn: A large theorbo, or double-necked lute, formerly in use, having the bass strings doubled with an octave, and the higher strings with a unison.
ARCHLYArch"ly, adv.
Defn: In an arch manner; with attractive slyness or roguishness;slyly; waggishly.Archly the maiden smiled. Longfellow.
ARCHMARSHALArch`mar"shal, n. Etym: [G. erzmarschall. See Arch-, pref.]
Defn: The grand marshal of the old German empire, a dignity that to the Elector of Saxony.
ARCHNESSArch"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being arch; cleverness; sly humor free from malice; waggishness. Goldsmith.
ARCHONAr"chon, n. Etym: [L. archon, Gr. (Antiq.)
Defn: One of the chief magistrates in ancient Athens, especially, by preëminence, the first of the nine chief magistrates. — Ar*chon"tic, a.
ARCHONSHIPAr"chon*ship, n.
Defn: The office of an archon. Mitford.
ARCHONTATEAr"chon*tate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. archontat.]
Defn: An archon's term of office. Gibbon.
ARCHONTSAr"chonts, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. p. pr. See Archon.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The group including man alone.
ARCHOPLASMAr"cho*plasm, n. [See Archon; Plasma.] (Biol.)
Defn: The substance from which attraction spheres develop in mitotic cell division, and of which they consist.
ARCHPRELATEArch`prel"ate, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + prelate.]
Defn: An archbishop or other chief prelate.
ARCHPRESBYTERArch`pres"by*ter, n.
Defn: Same as Archpriest.
ARCHPRESBYTERYArch`pres"by*ter*y, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + presbutery.]
Defn: The absolute dominion of presbytery. Milton.
ARCHPRIESTArch`priest", n.
Defn: A chief priest; also, a kind of vicar, or a rural dean.
ARCHPRIMATEArch`pri"mate, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + primate.]
Defn: The chief primate. Milton.
ARCH STONEArch" stone`.
Defn: A wedge-shaped stone used in an arch; a voussoir.
ARCHTRAITORArch`trai"tor, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + traitor.]
Defn: A chief or transcendent traitor. I. Watts.
ARCHTREASURERArch`treas"ur*er, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + treasurer.]
Defn: A chief treasurer. Specifically, the great treasurer of theGerman empire.
ARCHWAYArch"way, n.
Defn: A way or passage under an arch.
ARCHWIFEArch`wife", n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + wife.]
Defn: A big, masculine wife. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ARCHWISEArch"wise, adv.
Defn: Arch-shaped.
ARCHYArch"y, a.
Defn: Arched; as, archy brows.
ARCHY *ar"chy. Etym: [Gr. Arch-, pref.]
Defn: A suffix properly meaning a rule, ruling, as in monarchy, the rule of one only. Cf. -arch.
ARCIFORMAr"ci*form, a. Etym: [L. arcus bow + -form.]
Defn: Having the form of an arch; curved.
ARC LIGHTArc light. (Elec.)
Defn: The light of an arc lamp.
ARCOGRAPHArc"o*graph, n. Etym: [L. arcus (E. arc) + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for drawing a circular arc without the use of a central point; a cyclograph.
ARCTATION Arc*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. arctus shut in, narrow, p. p. of arcere to shut in: cf. F. arctation.] (Med.)
Defn: Constriction or contraction of some natural passage, as in constipation from inflammation.
ARCTIC Arc"tic, a. Etym: [OE. artik, OF. artique, F. arctique, L. arcticus, fr. Gr. ursus bear, Skr.
Defn: Pertaining to, or situated under, the northern constellation called the Bear; northern; frigid; as, the arctic pole, circle, region, ocean; an arctic expedition, night, temperature.
Note: The arctic circle is a lesser circle, parallel to the equator, 23º 28' from the north pole. This and the antarctic circle are called the polar circles, and between these and the poles lie the frigid zones. See Zone.
ARCTICArc"tic, n.
1. The arctic circle.
2. A warm waterproof overshoe. [U.S.]
ARCTISCAArc*tis"ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Arachnida. See Illust. in Appendix.
ARCTOGEALArc`to*ge"al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to arctic lands; as, the arctogeal fauna.
ARCTOIDEAArc*toid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of the Carnivora, that includes the bears, weasels, etc.
ARCTURUSArc*tu"rus, n. Etym: [L. Arcturus, Gr. Arctic.] (Anat.)
Defn: A fixed star of the first magnitude in the constellationBoötes.
Note: Arcturus has sometimes been incorrectly used as the name of the constellation, or even of Ursa Major. Canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons [Rev. Ver.: "the Bear with her train"]. Job xxxviii. 32.
ARCUALArc"u*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an arc. Arcual measure of an angle (Math.), that in which the unit angle has its measuring arc equal to the radius of the circle.
ARCUATE; ARCUATED Arc"u*ate, Arc"u*a`ted(#), a. Etym: [L. arcuatus, p. p. of arcuare to shape like a bow, fr. arcus. See Arc.]
Defn: Bent or curved in the form of a bow. "Arcuate stalks." Gray.
ARCUATELYArc"u*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: In the form of a bow.
ARCUATIONArc`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. arcuatio.]
1. The act of bending or curving; incurvation; the state of being bent; crookedness. Coxe.
2. (Hort.)
Defn: A mode of propagating trees by bending branches to the ground, and covering the small shoots with earth; layering. Chambers.
ARCUBALISTAr"cu*ba*list, n. Etym: [See Arbalist.]
Defn: A crossbow. Fosbroke.
ARCUBALISTERAr`cu*bal"ist*er, n. Etym: [L. arcuballistarius. Cf. Arbalister.]
Defn: A crossbowman; one who used the arcubalist. Camden.
ARCUBUSAr"cu*bus, n.
Defn: See Arquebus. [Obs.]
-ARD; -ART -ard, -art.
Defn: The termination of many English words; as, coward, reynard, drunkard, mostly from the French, in which language this ending is of German origin, being orig. the same word as English hard. It usually has the sense of one who has to a high or excessive degree the quality expressed by the root; as, braggart, sluggard.
ARDASSINE Ar*das"sine, n. Etym: [F. (cf. Sp. ardacina), fr. ardasse a kind of silk thread, fr. Ar. & Per. ardan a kind of raw silk.]
Defn: A very fine sort of Persian silk.
ARDENCYAr"den*cy, n.
1. Heat. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.
2. Warmth of passion or affection; ardor; vehemence; eagerness; as, the ardency of love or zeal.
ARDENT Ar"dent, a. Etym: [OE. ardaunt, F. ardant, p. pr. of arder to burn, fr. L. ardere.]
1. Hot or burning; causing a sensation of burning; fiery; as, ardent spirits, that is, distilled liquors; an ardent fever.
2. Having the appearance or quality of fire; fierce; glowing; shining; as, ardent eyes. Dryden.
3. Warm, applied to the passions and affections; passionate; fervent; zealous; vehement; as, ardent love, feelings, zeal, hope, temper. An ardent and impetuous race. Macaulay.
Syn. — Burning; hot; fiery; glowing; intense; fierce; vehement; eager; zealous; keen; fervid; fervent; passionate; affectionate.
ARDENTLYAr"dent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ardent manner; eagerly; with warmth; affectionately; passionately.
ARDENTNESSAr"dent*ness, n.
Defn: Ardency. [R.]
ARDOIS SYSTEMAr`dois" sys"tem. (Naut.)
Defn: A widely used system of electric night signals in which a series of double electric lamps (white and red) is arranged vertically on a mast, and operated from a keyboard below.
ARDORAr"dor, n. Etym: [L. ardor, fr. ardere to burn: cf. OF. ardor, ardur,F. ardeur.] [Spelt also ardour.]
1. Heat, in a literal sense; as, the ardor of the sun's rays.
2. Warmth or heat of passion or affection; eagerness; zeal; as, he pursues study with ardor; the fought with ardor; martial ardor.
3. pl.
Defn: Bright and effulgent spirits; seraphim. [Thus used by Milton.]