ASIDEA*side", n.
Defn: Something spoken aside; as, a remark made by a stageplayer which the other players are not supposed to hear.
ASILUSA*si"lus, n. Etym: [L., a gadfly.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large and voracious two-winged flies, including the bee killer and robber fly.
ASINEGO; ASSINEGOAs`i*ne"go, As`si*ne"go, n. Etym: [Sp. asnico, dim. of asno an ass.]
Defn: A stupid fellow. [Obs.] Shak.
ASININEAs"i*nine, a. Etym: [L. asininus, fr. asinus ass. See Ass.]
Defn: Of or belonging to, or having the qualities of, the ass, as stupidity and obstinacy. "Asinine nature." B. Jonson. "Asinine feast." Milton.
ASININITYAs`i*nin"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being asinine; stupidity combined with obstinacy.
ASIPHONATEA*si"phon*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Destitute of a siphon or breathing tube; — said of many bivalve shells. — n.
Defn: An asiphonate mollusk.
ASIPHONEA; ASIPHONATA; ASIPHONIDAAs`i*pho"ne*a, A*si`pho*na"ta, As`i*phon"i*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr.Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of bivalve mollusks destitute of siphons, as the oyster; the asiphonate mollusks.
ASITIAA*si"ti*a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Want of appetite; loathing of food.
ASK Ask, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asked; p. pr. & vb. n. Asking.] Etym: [OE. asken, ashen, axien, AS. ascian, acsian; akin to OS. escon, OHG. eiscon, Sw. aska, Dan. æske, D. eischen, G. heischen, Lith. jëskóti, OSlav. iskati to seek, Skr. ish to desire. *5.]
1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; - - often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed. Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God. Judg. xviii. 5. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John xv. 7.
2. To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask Ask me never so much dowry. Gen. xxxiv. 12. To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke xii. 48. An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity. Addison.
3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question toor about; to question.He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. John ix. 21.He asked the way to Chester. Shak.
4. To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment.
5. To publish in church for marriage; — said of both the banns and the persons. Fuller.
Syn. — To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat; beseech; implore; crave; require; demand; claim; exhibit; inquire; interrogate. See Beg.
ASKAsk, v. i.
1. To request or petition; — usually folllowed by for; as, to ask for bread. Ask, and it shall be given you. Matt. vii. 7.
2. To make inquiry, or seek by request; — sometimes followed by after. Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name Gen. xxxii. 29.
ASKAsk, n. Etym: [See 2d Asker.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A water newt. [Scot. & North of Eng.]
ASKANCE; ASKANT A*skance", A*skant", adv. Etym: [Cf. D. schuin, schuins, sideways, schuiven to shove, schuinte slope. Cf. Asquint.]
Defn: Sideways; obliquely; with a side glance; with disdain, envy, orsuspicion.They dart away; they wheel askance. Beattie.My palfrey eyed them askance. Landor.Both . . . were viewed askance by authority. Gladstone.
ASKANCEA*skance", v. t.
Defn: To turn aside. [Poet.] O, how are they wrapped in with infamies That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes! Shak.
ASKERAsk"er, n.
Defn: One who asks; a petitioner; an inquirer. Shak.
ASKERAsk"er, n. Etym: [A corruption of AS. a lizard, newt.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An ask; a water newt. [Local Eng.]
ASKEWA*skew", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + skew.]
Defn: Awry; askance; asquint; oblique or obliquely; — sometimes indicating scorn, or contempt, or entry. Spenser.
ASKINGAsk"ing, n.
1. The act of inquiring or requesting; a petition; solicitation. Longfellow.
2. The publishing of banns.
ASLAKEA*slake", v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. aslacian, slacian, to slacken. Cf.Slake.]
Defn: To mitigate; to moderate; to appease; to abate; to diminish.[Archaic] Chaucer.
ASLANTA*slant", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + slant.]
Defn: Toward one side; in a slanting direction; obliquely.[The shaft] drove through his neck aslant. Dryden.
ASLANTA*slant", prep.
Defn: In a slanting direction over; athwart.There is a willow grows aslant a brook. Shak.
ASLEEPA*sleep", a. & adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + sleep.]
1. In a state of sleep; in sleep; dormant. Fast asleep the giant lay supine. Dryden. By whispering winds soon lulled asleep. Milton.
2. In the sleep of the grave; dead. Concerning them which are asleep . . . sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thess. iv. 13.
3. Numbed, and, usually, tingling. Udall. Leaning long upon any part maketh it numb, and, as we call it, asleep. Bacon.
ASLOPEA*slope", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + slope.]
Defn: Slopingly; aslant; declining from an upright direction; sloping. "Set them not upright, but aslope." Bacon.
ASLUGA*slug", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + slug to move slowly.]
Defn: Sluggishly. [Obs.] Fotherby.
ASMEARA*smear", a. Etym: [Pref. a- + smear.]
Defn: Smeared over. Dickens.
ASMONEANAs`mo*ne"an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the patriotic Jewish family to which the Maccabees belonged; Maccabean; as, the Asmonean dynasty. [Written also Asmonæan.]
ASMONEANAs`mo*ne"an, n.
Defn: One of the Asmonean family. The Asmoneans were leaders and rulers of the Jews from 168 to 35 b. c.
ASOAKA*soak", a. Etym: [Pref. a- + soak.]
Defn: Soaking.
ASOMATOUSA*so"ma*tous, a. Etym: [L. asomatus, Gr.
Defn: Without a material body; incorporeal. Todd.
ASONANTAs"o*nant, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + sonant.]
Defn: Not sounding or sounded. [R.] C. C. Felton.
ASPAsp, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Aspen. "Trembling poplar or asp." Martyn.
ASPAsp, n. Etym: [L. aspis, fr. Gr. aspe, F. aspic.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small, hooded, poisonous serpent of Egypt and adjacent countries, whose bite is often fatal. It is the Naja haje. The name is also applied to other poisonous serpents, esp. to Vipera aspis of southern Europe. See Haje.
ASPALATHUS As*pal"a*thus, n. Etym: [L. aspalathus, Gr. (Bot.) (a) A thorny shrub yielding a fragrant oil. Ecclus. xxiv. 15. (b) A genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosæ. The species are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope.
ASPARAGINEAs*par"a*gine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. asparagine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, nitrogenous, crystallizable substance, C4H8N2O3+H2O, found in many plants, and first obtained from asparagus. It is believed to aid in the disposition of nitrogenous matter throughout the plant; — called also altheine.
ASPARAGINOUSAs`pa*rag"i*nous, a.
Defn: Pertaining or allied to, or resembling, asparagus; having shoots which are eaten like asparagus; as, asparaginous vegetables.
ASPARAGUSAs*par"a*gus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. prong, sprout, Pers. asparag,Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowedfrom the Persian. Cf. Sparrowgrass.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceæ, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens.
2. The young and tender shoots of A. officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of food.
Note: This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people. Asparagus beetle (Zoöl.), a small beetle (Crioceris asparagi) injurious to asparagus.
ASPARTICAs*par"tic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived, asparagine; as, aspartic acid.
ASPECT As"pect, n. Etym: [L. aspectus, fr. aspicere, aspectum, to look at; ad + spicere, specere, to look, akin to E. spy.]
1. The act of looking; vision; gaze; glance. [R.] "The basilisk killeth by aspect." Bacon. His aspect was bent on the ground. Sir W. Scott.
2. Look, or particular appearance of the face; countenance; mien; air. "Serious in aspect." Dryden. [Craggs] with aspect open shall erect his head. Pope.
3. Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view. "The aspect of affairs." Macaulay. The true aspect of a world lying in its rubbish. T. Burnet.
4. Position or situation with regard to seeing; that position which enables one to look in a particular direction; position in relation to the points of the compass; as, a house has a southern aspect, that is, a position which faces the south.
5. Prospect; outlook. [Obs.] This town affords a good aspect toward the hill from whence we descended. Evelyn.
6. (Astrol.)
Defn: The situation of planets or stars with respect to one another, or the angle formed by the rays of light proceeding from them and meeting at the eye; the joint look of planets or stars upon each other or upon the earth. Milton.
Note: The aspects which two planets can assume are five; sextile,
7. (Astrol.)
Defn: The influence of the stars for good or evil; as, an ill aspect.Shak.The astrologers call the evil influences of the stars evil aspects.Bacon. Aspect of a plane (Geom.), the direction of the plane.
ASPECTAs*pect", v. t. Etym: [L. aspectare, v. intens. of aspicere. SeeAspect, n.]
Defn: To behold; to look at. [Obs.]
ASPECTABLEAs*pect"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. aspectabilis.]
Defn: Capable of being; visible. "The aspectable world." Ray."Aspectable stars." Mrs. Browning.
ASPECTANTAs*pect"ant, a. (Her.)
Defn: Facing each other.
ASPECTEDAs*pect"ed, a.
Defn: Having an aspect. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
ASPECTIONAs*pec"tion, n. Etym: [L. aspectio, fr. aspicere to look at.]
Defn: The act of viewing; a look. [Obs.]
ASPECT RATIOAspect ratio. (Aëronautics)
Defn: The ratio of the long to the short side of an aëroplane, aërocurve, or wing.
ASPEN; ASPAsp"en, Asp, n. Etym: [AS. æsp, æps; akin to OHG. aspa, Icel. ösp,Dan. æsp, Sw. asp, D. esp, G. espe, äspe, aspe; cf. Lettish apsa,Lith. apuszis.] (Bot.)
Defn: One of several species of poplar bearing this name, especially the Populus tremula, so called from the trembling of its leaves, which move with the slightest impulse of the air.
ASPENAsp"en, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the aspen, or resembling it; made of aspenwood.Nor aspen leaves confess the gentlest breeze. Gay.
ASPERAs"per, a. Etym: [OE. aspre, OF. aspre, F. âpre, fr. L. asper rough.]
Defn: Rough; rugged; harsh; bitter; stern; fierce. [Archaic] "An asper sound." Bacon.
ASPERAs"per, n. Etym: [L. spiritus asper rough breathing.] (Greek Gram.)
Defn: The rough breathing; a mark placed over an initial vowel sound or over h before it; thus hws, pronounced h, hrj'twr, pronounced hra\'b6t.
ASPERAs"per, n. Etym: [F. aspre or It. aspro, fr. MGr.
Defn: A Turkish money of account (formerly a coin), of little value; the 120th part of a piaster.
ASPERATEAs"per*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asperated; p. pr. & vb. n.Asperating.] Etym: [L. asperatus, p. p. of asperare, fr. asperrough.]
Defn: To make rough or uneven.The asperated part of its surface. Boyle.
ASPERATIONAs`per*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of asperating; a making or becoming rough. Bailey.
ASPERGES As*per"ges, n. Etym: [L., Thou shalt sprinkle.] (R. C. Ch.) (a) The service or ceremony of sprinkling with holy water. (b) The brush or instrument used in sprinkling holy water; an aspergill.
ASPERGILL; ASPERGILLUM As"per*gill, As`per*gil"lum, n. Etym: [LL. aspergillum, fr. L. aspergere. See Asperse, v. t.]
1. The brush used in the Roman Catholic church for sprinkling holy water on the people. [Also written aspergillus.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Wateringpot shell.
ASPERGILLIFORMAs`per*gil"li*form, a. Etym: [Aspergillum + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Resembling the aspergillum in form; as, an aspergilliform stigma. Gray.
ASPERIFOLIATE; ASPERIFOLIOUS As`per*i*fo"li*ate, As`per*i*fo"li*ous, a. Etym: [L. asper rough + folium leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having rough leaves.
Note: By some applied to the natural order now called Boraginaceæ or borageworts.
ASPERITY As*per"i*ty, n.; pl. Asperities. Etym: [L. asperitas, fr. asper rough: cf. F. aspérité.]
1. Roughness of surface; unevenness; — opposed to smoothness. "The asperities of dry bodies." Boyle.
2. Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates upon the ear; raucity.
3. Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness.
4. Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity; crabbedness; harshness; — opposed to mildness. "Asperity of character." Landor. It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received. Johnson.
5. Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty. The acclivities and asperities of duty. Barrow.
Syn.— Acrimony; moroseness; crabbedness; harshness; sourness; tartness.See Acrimony.
ASPERMATOUSA*sper"ma*tous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Aspermous.
ASPERMOUSA*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of seeds; aspermatous.
ASPERNEA*sperne", v. t. Etym: [L. aspernari; a (ab) + spernari.]
Defn: To spurn; to despise. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
ASPEROUSAs"per*ous, a. Etym: [See Asper, a.]
Defn: Rough; uneven. Boyle.
ASPERSEAs*perse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aspersed; p. pr. & vb. n. Aspersing.]Etym: [L. aspersus, p. p. of aspergere to scatter, sprinkle; ad +spargere to strew. See Sparse.]
1. To sprinkle, as water or dust, upon anybody or anything, or to besprinkle any one with a liquid or with dust. Heywood.
2. To bespatter with foul reports or false and injurious charges; to tarnish in point of reputation or good name; to slander or calumniate; as, to asperse a poet or his writings; to asperse a man's character. With blackest crimes aspersed. Cowper.
Syn. — To slander; defame; detract from; calumniate; vilify. — To Asperse, Defame, Slander, Calumniate. These words have in common the idea of falsely assailing the character of another. To asperse is figuratively to cast upon a character hitherto unsullied the imputation of blemishes or faults which render it offensive or loathsome. To defame is to detract from a man's honor and reputation by charges calculated to load him with infamy. Slander (etymologically the same as scandal) and calumniate, from the Latin, have in common the sense of circulating reports to a man's injury from unworthy or malicious motives. Men asperse their neighbors by malignant insinuations; they defame by advancing charges to blacken or sully their fair fame; they slander or calumniate by spreading injurious reports which are false, or by magnifying slight faults into serious errors or crimes.
ASPERSEDAs*persed", a.
1. (Her.)
Defn: Having an indefinite number of small charges scattered or strewed over the surface. Cussans.
2. Bespattered; slandered; calumniated. Motley.
ASPERSERAs*pers"er, n.
Defn: One who asperses; especially, one who vilifies another.
ASPERSIONAs*per"sion, n. Etym: [L. aspersio, fr. aspergere: cf. F. aspersion.]
1. A sprinkling, as with water or dust, in a literal sense. Behold an immersion, not and aspersion. Jer. Taylor.
2. The spreading of calumniations reports or charges which tarnish reputation, like the bespattering of a body with foul water; calumny. Every candid critic would be ashamed to cast wholesale aspersions on the entire body of professional teachers. Grote. Who would by base aspersions blot thy virtue. Dryden.
ASPERSIVEAs*pers"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to asperse; defamatory; slanderous.— As*pers"ive*ly, adv.
ASPERSOIRAs`per`soir", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: An aspergill.
ASPERSORIUMAs`per*so"ri*um, n.; pl. Aspplwsoria. Etym: [LL. See Asperse.]
1. The stoup, basin, or other vessel for holy water in Roman Catholic churches.
2. A brush for sprinkling holy water; an aspergill.
ASPHALT; ASPHALTUMAs"phalt, As*phal"tum, n. Etym: [Gr. asphalte.]
1. Mineral pitch, Jews' pitch, or compact native bitumen. It is brittle, of a black or brown color and high luster on a surface of fracture; it melts and burns when heated, leaving no residue. It occurs on the surface and shores of the Dead Sea, which is therefore called Asphaltites, or the Asphaltic Lake. It is found also in many parts of Asia, Europe, and America. See Bitumen.
2. A composition of bitumen, pitch, lime, and gravel, used for forming pavements, and as a water-proof cement for bridges, roofs, etc.; asphaltic cement. Artificial asphalt is prepared from coal tar, lime, sand, etc. Asphalt stone, Asphalt rock, a limestone found impregnated with asphalt.
ASPHALTAs"phalt, v. t.
Defn: To cover with asphalt; as, to asphalt a roof; asphalted streets.
ASPHALTEAs`phalte", n. Etym: [F. See Asphalt.]
Defn: Asphaltic mastic or cement. See Asphalt, 2.
ASPHALTICAs*phal"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing, asphalt; bituminous. "Asphaltic pool." "Asphaltic slime." Milton.
ASPHALTITEAs*phal"tite, a.
Defn: Asphaltic.
ASPHALTITEAs*phal"tite, a.
Defn: Asphaltic. Bryant.
ASPHALTUSAs*phal"tus, n.
Defn: See Asphalt.
ASPHODELAs"pho*del, n. Etym: [L. asphodelus, Gr. Daffodil.] (Bot.)
Defn: A general name for a plant of the genus Asphodelus. The asphodels are hardy perennial plants, several species of which are cultivated for the beauty of their flowers.
Note: The name is also popularly given to species of other genera.The asphodel of the early English and French poets was the daffodil.The asphodel of the Greek poets is supposed to be the Narcissuspoeticus. Dr. Prior.Pansies, and violets, and asphodel. Milton.
ASPHYCTICAs*phyc"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to asphyxia.
ASPHYXIA; ASPHYXYAs*phyx"i*a, As*phyx"y, n. Etym: [NL. asphyxia, fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Apparent death, or suspended animation; the condition which results from interruption of respiration, as in suffocation or drowning, or the inhalation of irrespirable gases.
ASPHYXIALAs*phyx"i*al, a.
Defn: Of or relating to asphyxia; as, asphyxial phenomena.
ASPHYXIATEAs*phyx"i*ate, v. t.
Defn: To bring to a state of asphyxia; to suffocate.
Note: [Used commonly in the past pple.]
ASPHYXIATED; ASPHYXIEDAs*phyx"i*a`ted, As*phyx"ied, p. p.
Defn: In a state of asphyxia; suffocated.
ASPHYXIATIONAs*phyx`i*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of causing asphyxia; a state of asphyxia.
ASPICAs"pic, n. Etym: [F. See Asp.]
1. The venomous asp. [Chiefly poetic] Shak. Tennyson.
2. A piece of ordnance carrying a 12 pound shot. [Obs.]
ASPIC As"pic, n. Etym: [F., a corrupt. of spic (OF. espi, F. épi), L. spica (spicum, spicus), ear, spike. See Spike.]
Defn: A European species of lavender (Lavandula spica), which produces a volatile oil. See Spike.
ASPICAs"pic, n. Etym: [F., prob. fr. aspic an asp.]
Defn: A savory meat jelly containing portions of fowl, game, fish, hard boiled eggs, etc. Thackeray.
ASPIDOBRANCHIAAs`pi*do*bran"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Gastropoda, with limpetlike shells, including the abalone shells and keyhole limpets.
ASPIRANTAs*pir"ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. aspirant, p. pr. of aspirer. SeeAspire.]
Defn: Aspiring.
ASPIRANTAs*pir"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. aspirant.]
Defn: One who aspires; one who eagerly seeks some high position orobject of attainment.In consequence of the resignations . . . the way to greatness wasleft clear to a new set of aspirants. Macaulay.
ASPIRATEAs"pi*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aspirated; p. pr. & vb. n.Aspirating.] Etym: [L. aspiratus, p. p. of aspirare to breathe towardor upon, to add the breathing h; ad + spirare to breathe, blow. Cf.Aspire.]
Defn: To pronounce with a breathing, an aspirate, or an h sound; as, we aspirate the words horse and house; to aspirate a vowel or a liquid consonant.
ASPIRATEAs"pi*rate, n.
1. A sound consisting of, or characterized by, a breath like the sound of h; the breathing h or a character representing such a sound; an aspirated sound.
2. A mark of aspiration used in Greek; the asper, or rough breathing. Bentley.
3. An elementary sound produced by the breath alone; a surd, or nonvocal consonant; as, f, th in thin, etc.
ASPIRATE; ASPIRATEDAs"pi*rate, As"pi*ra"ted, a. Etym: [L. aspiratus, p. p.]
Defn: Pronounced with the h sound or with audible breath.But yet they are not aspirate, i. e., with such an aspiration as h.Holder.
ASPIRATION As`pi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. aspiratio, fr. aspirare: cf. F. aspiration.]
1. The act of aspirating; the pronunciation of a letter with a full or strong emission of breath; an aspirated sound. If aspiration be defined to be an impetus of breathing. Wilkins.
2. The act of breathing; a breath; an inspiration.
3. The act of aspiring of a ardently desiring; strong wish; high desire. "Aspirations after virtue." Johnson. Vague aspiration after military renown. Prescott.
ASPIRATORAs"pi*ra`tor, n.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus for passing air or gases through or over certain liquids or solids, or for exhausting a closed vessel, by means of suction.
2. (Med.)
Defn: An instrument for the evacuation of the fluid contents of tumors or collections of blood.
ASPIRATORYAs*pir"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to breathing; suited to the inhaling of air
ASPIREAs*pire", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aspired; p. pr. & vb. n. Aspiring.]Etym: [F. aspirer, L. aspirare. See Aspirate, v. t.]
1. To desire with eagerness; to seek to attain something high or great; to pant; to long; — followed by to or after, and rarely by at; as, to aspire to a crown; to aspire after immorality. Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell; Aspiring to be angels, men rebel. Pope.
2. To rise; to ascend; to tower; to soar. My own breath still foments the fire, Which flames as high as fancy can aspire. Waller.
ASPIREAs*pire", v. t.
Defn: To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to. [Obs.]That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds. Shak.
ASPIREAs*pire", n.
Defn: Aspiration. [Obs.] Chapman.
ASPIREMENTAs*pire"ment, n.
Defn: Aspiration. [Obs.]
ASPIRERAs*pir"er, n.
Defn: One who aspires.
ASPIRINAs"pi*rin, n. (Pharm.)
Defn: A white crystalline compound of acetyl and salicylic acid used as a drug for the salicylic acid liberated from it in the intestines.
ASPIRINGAs*pir"ing, a.
Defn: That aspires; as, an Aspiring mind.— As*pir"ing*ly, adv.— As*pir"ing*ness, n.
ASPISHAsp"ish, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, an asp.
ASPORTATION As`por*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. asportatio, fr. asportare to carry away; abs = ab + portare to bear, carry.] (Law)
Defn: The felonious removal of goods from the place where they were deposited.
Note: It is adjudged to be larceny, though the goods are not carried from the house or apartment. Blackstone.
ASPRAWLA*sprawl", adv. & a.
Defn: Sprawling.
ASQUATA*squat", adv. & a.
Defn: Squatting.
ASQUINTA*squint", adv. Etym: [Cf. Askant, Squint.]
Defn: With the eye directed to one side; not in the straight line of vision; obliquely; awry, so as to see distortedly; as, to look asquint.
ASSAss, n. Etym: [OE. asse, AS. assa; akin to Icel. asni, W. asen, asyn,L. asinus, dim. aselus, Gr. esol, OHG. esil, G. esel, Goth. asilus,Dan. æsel, Lith. asilas, Bohem. osel, Pol. osiel. The word is prob.of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. ath she ass. Cf. Ease.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A quadruped of the genus Equus (E. asinus), smaller than the horse, and having a peculiarly harsh bray and long ears. The tame or domestic ass is patient, slow, and sure-footed, and has become the type of obstinacy and stupidity. There are several species of wild asses which are swift-footed.
2. A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt. Shak. Asses' Bridge. Etym: [L. pons asinorum.] The fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid, "The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal to one another." [Sportive] "A schoolboy, stammering out his Asses' Bridge." F. Harrison. — To make an ass of one's self, to do or say something very foolish or absurd.
ASSAFOETIDAAs`sa*foet"i*da, n.
Defn: Same as Asafetida.
ASSAGAI; ASSEGAIAs"sa*gai, As"se*gai, n. Etym: [Pg. azagaia, Sp. azagaya, fr. aBerber word. Cf. Lancegay.]
Defn: A spear used by tribes in South Africa as a missile and for stabbing, a kind of light javelin.
ASSAIAs*sa"i. Etym: [It., fr. L. ad + satis enough. See Assets.] (Mus.)
Defn: A direction equivalent to very; as, adagio assai, very slow.
ASSAILAs*sail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assailing.]Etym: [OE. assailen, asailen, OF. asaillir, assailler, F. assaillir;(L. ad) + saillir to burst out, project, fr. L. salire to leap,spring; cf. L. assilire to leap or spring upon. See Sally.]
1. To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery. No rude noise mine ears assailing. Cowper. No storm can now assail The charm he wears within. Keble.
2. To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like. The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail. Pope.
3. To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; as, to assail one with appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like. The papal authority . . . assailed. Hallam. They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony. Macaulay.
Syn.— To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See Attack.
ASSAILABLEAs*sail"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being assailed.
ASSAILANTAs*sail"ant, a. Etym: [F. assaillant, p. pr. of assaillir.]
Defn: Assailing; attacking. Milton.
ASSAILANTAs*sail"ant, n. Etym: [F. assaillant.]
Defn: One who, or that which, assails, attacks, or assaults; anassailer.An assailant of the church. Macaulay.
ASSAILERAs*sail"er, n.
Defn: One who assails.
ASSAILMENTAs*sail"ment, n.
Defn: The act or power of assailing; attack; assault. [R.]His most frequent assailment was the headache. Johnson.
ASSAMARAs"sa*mar, n. Etym: [L. assare to roast + amarus, bitter.] (Chem.)
Defn: The peculiar bitter substance, soft or liquid, and of a yellow color, produced when meat, bread, gum, sugar, starch, and the like, are roasted till they turn brown.
ASSAMESEAs`sam*ese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Assam, a province of British India, or to its inhabitants. — n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or natives of Assam.
ASSAPAN; ASSAPANICAs`sa*pan", As`sa*pan"ic, n. Etym: [Prob. Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American flying squirrel (Pteromys volucella).
ASSART As*sart", n. Etym: [OF. essart the grubbing up of trees, fr. essarter to grub up or clear ground of bushes, shrubs, trees, etc., fr. LL. exartum, exartare, for exsaritare; L. ex + sarire, sarrire, saritum, to hoe, weed.]
1. (Old Law)
Defn: The act or offense of grubbing up trees and bushes, and thus destroying the tickets or coverts of a forest. Spelman. Cowell.
2. A piece of land cleared of trees and bushes, and fitted for cultivation; a clearing. Ash. Assart land, forest land cleared of woods and brush.
ASSARTAs*sart", v. t.
Defn: To grub up, as trees; to commit an assart upon; as, to assart land or trees. Ashmole.
ASSASSIN As*sas"sin, n. Etym: [F. (cf. It. assassino), fr. Ar. one who has drunk of the hashish. Under its influence the Assassins of the East, followers of the Shaikh al-Jabal (Old Man of the Mountain), were said to commit the murders required by their chief.]
Defn: One who kills, or attempts to kill, by surprise or secret assault; one who treacherously murders any one unprepared for defense.
ASSASSINAs*sas"sin, v. t.
Defn: To assassinate. [Obs.] Stillingfleet.
ASSASSINATEAs*sas"sin*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assassinated; p. pr. & vb. n.Assassinating.] Etym: [LL. assassinatus, p. p. of assassinare.]
1. To kill by surprise or secret assault; to murder by treacherous violence. Help, neighbors, my house is broken open by force, and I am ravished, and like to be assassinated. Dryden.
2. To assail with murderous intent; hence, by extended meaning, to maltreat exceedingly. [Archaic] Your rhymes assassinate our fame. Dryden. Such usage as your honorable lords Afford me, assassinated and betrayed. Milton.
Syn.— To kill; murder; slay. See Kill.
ASSASSINATEAs*sas"sin*ate, n. Etym: [F. assassinat.]
1. An assassination, murder, or murderous assault. [Obs.] If I had made an assassinate upon your father. B. Jonson.
2. An assassin. [Obs.] Dryden.
ASSASSINATIONAs*sas`si*na"tion, n.
Defn: The act of assassinating; a killing by treacherous violence.
ASSASSINATORAs*sas"si*na`tor, n.
Defn: An assassin.
ASSASSINOUSAs*sas"sin*ous, a.
Defn: Murderous. Milton.
ASSASTIONAs*sas"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. assatio, fr. L. assare to roast.]
Defn: Roasting. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ASSAULTAs*sault", n. Etym: [OE. asaut, assaut, OF. assaut, asalt, F. assaut,LL. assaltus; L. ad + saltus a leaping, a springing, salire to leap.See Assail.]
1. A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town. The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault. Prescott. Unshaken bears the assault Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest. Wordsworth.
2. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government. Clarendon.
3. (Law)
Defn: An apparently violent attempt, or willful offer with force or violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or offer to beat another, accompanied by a degree of violence, but without touching his person, as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery. Blackstone. Wharton. Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the battery. Mozley & W.
Syn. — Attack; invasion; incursion; descent; onset; onslaught; charge; storm.
ASSAULTAs*sault", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assaulted; p. pr. & vb. n.Assaulting.] Etym: [From Assault, n.: cf. OF. assaulter, LL.assaltare.]
1. To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces. Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound. Milton.
2. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to assail; as, to assault a reputation or an administration. Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn, . . . Assault his ears. Dryden.
Note: In the latter sense, assail is more common.
Syn.— To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See Attack.
ASSAULTABLEAs*sault"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being assaulted.
ASSAULTERAs*sault"er, n.
Defn: One who assaults, or violently attacks; an assailant. E. Hall.
ASSAYAs*say", n. Etym: [OF. asai, essai, trial, F. essa. See Essay, n.]
1. Trial; attempt; essay. [Obs.] Chaucer. I am withal persuaded that it may prove much more easy in the assay than it now seems at distance. Milton.
2. Examination and determination; test; as, an assay of bread or wine. [Obs.] This can not be, by no assay of reason. Shak.
3. Trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state of being tried. [Obs.] Through many hard assays which did betide. Spenser.
4. Tested purity or value. [Obs.] With gold and pearl of rich assay. Spenser.
5. (Metallurgy)
Defn: The act or process of ascertaining the proportion of a particular metal in an ore or alloy; especially, the determination of the proportion of gold or silver in bullion or coin.
6. The alloy or metal to be assayed. Ure. Assay and essay are radically the same word; but modern usage has appropriated assay chiefly to experiments in metallurgy, and essay to intellectual and bodily efforts. See Essay.]
Note: Assay is used adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, assay balance, assay furnace. Assay master, an officer who assays or tests gold or silver coin or bullion. — Assay ton, a weight of 29.1662/3 grams.
ASSAYAs*say", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaying.]Etym: [OF. asaier, essaier, F. essayer, fr. essai. See Assay, n.,Essay, v.]
1. To try; to attempt; to apply. [Obs. or Archaic] To-night let us assay our plot. Shak. Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed. Milton.
2. To affect. [Obs.] When the heart is ill assayed. Spenser.
3. To try tasting, as food or drink. [Obs.]
4. To subject, as an ore, alloy, or other metallic compound, to chemical or metallurgical examination, in order to determine the amount of a particular metal contained in it, or to ascertain its composition.
ASSAYAs*say", v. i.
Defn: To attempt, try, or endeavor. [Archaic. In this sense essay isnow commonly used.]She thrice assayed to speak. Dryden.
ASSAYABLEAs*say"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be assayed.
ASSAYERAs*say"er, n.
Defn: One who assays. Specifically: One who examines metallic ores or compounds, for the purpose of determining the amount of any particular metal in the same, especially of gold or silver.
ASSAYINGAs*say"ing, n.
Defn: The act or process of testing, esp. of analyzing or examining metals and ores, to determine the proportion of pure metal.
ASSAY POUNDAs"say pound.
Defn: A small standard weight used in assaying bullion, etc., sometimes equaling 0.5 gram, but varying with the assayer.
ASSAY TONAssay ton.
Defn: A weight of 29.166 + grams used in assaying, for convenience. Since it bears the same relation to the milligram that a ton of 2000 avoirdupois pounds does to the troy ounce, the weight in milligrams of precious metal obtained from an assay ton of ore gives directly the number of ounces to the ton.
ASSEAsse, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small foxlike animal (Vulpes cama) of South Africa, valued for its fur.
ASSECURATIONAs`se*cu*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. assecuratio, fr. assecurare.]
Defn: Assurance; certainty. [Obs.]
ASSECUREAs`se*cure", v. t. Etym: [LL. assecurare.]
Defn: To make sure or safe; to assure. [Obs.] Hooker.
ASSECUTION As`se*cu"tion, n. Etym: [F. assécution, fr. L. assequi to obtain; ad + sequi to follow.]
Defn: An obtaining or acquiring. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
ASSEGAIAs"se*gai, n.
Defn: Same as Assagai.
ASSEMBLAGEAs*sem"blage, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assemblage. See Assemble.]
1. The act of assembling, or the state o In sweet assemblage every blooming grace. Fenton.
2. A collection of individuals, or of individuals, or of particular things; as, a political assemblage; an assemblage of ideas.
Syn. — Company; group; collection; concourse; gathering; meeting; convention. Assemblage, Assembly. An assembly consists only of persons; an assemblage may be composed of things as well as persons, as, an assemblage of incoherent objects. Nor is every assemblage of persons an assembly; since the latter term denotes a body who have met, and are acting, in concert for some common end, such as to hear, to deliberate, to unite in music, dancing, etc. An assemblage of skaters on a lake, or of horse jockeys at a race course, is not an assembly, but might be turned into one by collecting into a body with a view to discuss and decide as to some object of common interest.
ASSEMBLANCEAs*sem"blance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. assemblance.]
1. Resemblance; likeness; appearance. [Obs.] Care I for the . . . stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man Shak.
2. An assembling; assemblage. [Obs.] To weete [know] the cause of their assemblance. Spenser.
ASSEMBLEAs*sem"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assembled; p. pr. & vb. n.Assembling.] Etym: [F. assembler, fr. LL. assimulare to bringtogether to collect; L. ad + simul together; akin to similis like,Gr. same. Cf. Assimilate, Same.]
Defn: To collect into one place or body; to bring or call together;to convene; to congregate.Thither he assembled all his train. Milton.All the men of Israel assembled themselves. 1 Kings viii. 2.
ASSEMBLEAs*sem"ble, v. i.
Defn: To meet or come together, as a number of individuals; to convene; to congregate. Dryden. The Parliament assembled in November. W. Massey.
ASSEMBLEAs*sem"ble, v. i.
Defn: To liken; to compare. [Obs.]Bribes may be assembled to pitch. Latimer.
ASSEMBLERAs*sem"bler, n.
Defn: One who assembles a number of individuals; also, one of a number assembled.
ASSEMBLYAs*sem"bly, n.; pl. Assemblies. Etym: [F. assemblée, fr. assembler.See Assemble.]
1. A company of persons collected together in one place, and usually for some common purpose, esp. for deliberation and legislation, for worship, or for social entertainment.
2. A collection of inanimate objects. [Obs.] Howell.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: A beat of the drum or sound of the bugle as a signal to troops to assemble.
Note: In some of the United States, the legislature, or the popular branch of it, is called the Assembly, or the General Assembly. In the Presbyterian Church, the General Assembly is the highest ecclesiastical tribunal, composed of ministers and ruling elders delegated from each presbytery; as, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, or of Scotland. Assembly room, a room in which persons assemble, especially for dancing. — Unlawful assembly (Law), a meeting of three or more persons on a common plan, in such a way as to cause a reasonable apprehension that they will disturb the peace tumultuously. — Westminster Assembly, a convocation, consisting chiefly of divines, which, by act of Parliament, assembled July 1, 1643, and remained in session some years. It framed the "Confession of Faith," the "Larger Catechism," and the "Shorter Catechism," which are still received as authority by Presbyterians, and are substantially accepted by Congregationalists.
Syn.— See Assemblage.
ASSEMBLYMANAs*sem"bly*man, n.; pl. Assemblymen.
Defn: A member of an assembly, especially of the lower branch of a state legislature.
ASSENTAs*sent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assented; p. pr. & vb. n. Assenting.]Etym: [F. assentir, L. assentire, assentiri; ad + sentire to feel,think. See Sense.]
Defn: To admit a thing as true; to express one's agreement, acquiescence, concurrence, or concession. Who informed the governor . . . And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. Acts xxiv. 9. The princess assented to all that was suggested. Macaulay.
Syn.— To yield; agree; acquiesce; concede; concur.
ASSENTAs*sent", n. Etym: [OE. assent, fr. assentir. See Assent, v.]
Defn: The act of assenting; the act of the mind in admitting oragreeing to anything; concurrence with approval; consent; agreement;acquiescence.Faith is the assent to any proposition, on the credit of theproposer. Locke.The assent, if not the approbation, of the prince. Prescott.Too many people read this ribaldry with assent and admiration.Macaulay.Royal assent, in England, the assent of the sovereign to a bill whichhas passed both houses of Parliament, after which it becomes law.
Syn. — Concurrence; acquiescence; approval; accord. — Assent, Consent. Assent is an act of the understanding, consent of the will or feelings. We assent to the views of others when our minds come to the same conclusion with theirs as to what is true, right, or admissible. We consent when there is such a concurrence of our will with their desires and wishes that we decide to comply with their requests. The king of England gives his assent, not his consent, to acts of Parliament, because, in theory at least, he is not governed by personal feelings or choice, but by a deliberate, judgment as to the common good. We also use assent in cases where a proposal is made which involves but little interest or feeling. A lady may assent to a gentleman's opening the window; but if he offers himself in marriage, he must wait for her consent.
ASSENTATIONAs`sen*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. assentatio. See Assent, v.]
Defn: Insincere, flattering, or obsequious assent; hypocritical orpretended concurrence.Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade as much asindiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust. Ld.Chesterfield.
ASSENTATORAs`sen*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. assentari to assent constantly.]
Defn: An obsequious; a flatterer. [R.]
ASSENTATORYAs*sent"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Flattering; obsequious. [Obs.] — As*sent"a*to*ri*ly, adv.[Obs.]
ASSENTERAs*sent"er, n.
Defn: One who assents.
ASSENTIENTAs*sen"tient, a.
Defn: Assenting.
ASSENTINGAs*sent"ing, a.
Defn: Giving or implying assent.— As*sent"ing*ly, adv.
ASSENTIVEAs*sent"ive, a.
Defn: Giving assent; of the nature of assent; complying.— As*sent"ive*ness, n.
ASSENTMENTAs*sent"ment, n.
Defn: Assent; agreement. [Obs.]
ASSERTAs*sert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Asserting.]Etym: [L. assertus, p. p. of asserere to join or fasten to one'sself, claim, maintain; ad + serere to join or bind together. SeeSeries.]
1. To affirm; to declare with assurance, or plainly and strongly; to state positively; to aver; to asseverate. Nothing is more shameful . . . than to assert anything to be done without a cause. Ray.
2. To maintain; to defend. [Obs. or Archaic]That . . . I may assert Eternal Providence, And justify the ways ofGod to men. Milton.I will assert it from the scandal. Jer. Taylor.
3. To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures; to vindicate a claim or title to; as, to assert our rights and liberties. To assert one's self, to claim or vindicate one's rights or position; to demand recognition.
Syn. — To affirm; aver; asseverate; maintain; protest; pronounce; declare; vindicate. — To Assert, Affirm, Maintain, Vindicate. To assert is to fasten to one's self, and hence to claim. It is, therefore, adversative in its nature. We assert our rights and privileges, or the cause of tree institutions, as against opposition or denial. To affirm is to declare as true. We assert boldly; we affirm positively. To maintain is to uphold, and insist upon with earnestness, whatever we have once asserted; as, to maintain one's cause, to maintain an argument, to maintain the ground we have taken. To vindicate is to use language and measures of the strongest kind, in defense of ourselves and those for whom we act. We maintain our assertions by adducing proofs, facts, or arguments; we are ready to vindicate our rights or interests by the utmost exertion of our powers.
ASSERTERAs*sert"er, n.
Defn: One who asserts; one who avers pr maintains; an assertor.The inflexible asserter of the rights of the church. Milman.
ASSERTIONAs*ser"tion, n. Etym: [L. assertio, fr. asserere.]
1. The act of asserting, or that which is asserted; positive declaration or averment; affirmation; statement asserted; position advanced. There is a difference between assertion and demonstration. Macaulay.
2. Maintenance; vindication; as, the assertion of one's rights or prerogatives.
ASSERTIVEAs*sert"ive, a.
Defn: Positive; affirming confidently; affirmative; peremptory.In a confident and assertive form. Glanvill.As*sert"ive*ly, adv.— As*sert"ive*ness, n.
ASSERTORAs*sert"or, n. Etym: [L., fr. asserere.]
Defn: One who asserts or avers; one who maintains or vindicates aclaim or a right; an affirmer, supporter, or vindicator; a defender;an asserter.The assertors of liberty said not a word. Macaulay.Faithful assertor of thy country's cause. Prior.
ASSERTORIALAs`ser*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Asserting that a thing is; — opposed to problematical and apodeictical.
ASSERTORYAs*sert"o*ry, a. Etym: [L. assertorius, fr. asserere.]
Defn: Affirming; maintaining.Arguments . . . assertory, not probatory. Jer. Taylor.An assertory, not a promissory, declaration. Bentham.A proposition is assertory, when it enounces what is known as actual.Sir W. Hamilton.
ASSESS As*sess", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assessing.] Etym: [OF. assesser to regulate, settle, LL. assessare to value for taxation, fr. L. assidere, supine as if assessum, to sit by, esp. of judges in a court, in LL. to assess, tax. Cf. Assize, v., Cess.]
1. To value; to make a valuation or official estimate of for the purpose of taxation.
2. To apportion a sum to be paid by (a person, a community, or an estate), in the nature of a tax, fine, etc.; to impose a tax upon (a person, an estate, or an income) according to a rate or apportionment.
3. To determine and impose a tax or fine upon (a person, community, estate, or income); to tax; as, the club assessed each member twenty- five cents.
4. To fix or determine the rate or amount of. This sum is assessed and raised upon individuals by commissioners in the act. Blackstone.
ASSESSABLEAs*sess"a*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to be assessed or taxed; as, assessable property.
ASSESSEEAs`sess*ee", n.
Defn: One who is assessed.
ASSESSION As*ses"sion, n. Etym: [L. assessio, fr. assid to sit by or near; ad + sed to sit. See Sit.]
Defn: A sitting beside or near.
ASSESSMENTAs*sess"ment, n. Etym: [LL. assessamentum.]
1. The act of assessing; the act of determining an amount to be paid; as, an assessment of damages, or of taxes; an assessment of the members of a club.
2. A valuation of property or profits of business, for the purpose of taxation; such valuation and an adjudging of the proper sum to be levied on the property; as, an assessment of property or an assessment on property.
Note: An assessment is a valuation made by authorized persons according to their discretion, as opposed to a sum certain or determined by law. It is a valuation of the property of those who are to pay the tax, for the purpose of fixing the proportion which each man shall pay. Blackstone. Burrill.
3. The specific sum levied or assessed.
4. An apportionment of a subscription for stock into successive installments; also, one of these installments (in England termed a "call"). [U. S.]
ASSESSOR As*sess"or, n. Etym: [L., one who sits beside, the assistant of a judge, fr. assid. See Assession. LL., one who arranges of determines the taxes, fr. assid. See Assess, v., and cf. Cessor.]
1. One appointed or elected to assist a judge or magistrate with his special knowledge of the subject to be decided; as legal assessors, nautical assessors. Mozley & W.
2. One who sits by another, as next in dignity, or as an assistant and adviser; an associate in office. Whence to his Son, The assessor of his throne, he thus began. Milton. With his ignorance, his inclinations, and his fancy, as his assessors in judgment. I. Taylor.
3. One appointed to assess persons or property for the purpose of taxation. Bouvier.
ASSESSORIALAs`ses*so"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. assessorial, fr. L. assessor.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an assessor, or to a court of assessors.Coxe.
ASSESSORSHIPAs*sess"or*ship, n.
Defn: The office or function of an assessor.
ASSETAs"set, n.
Defn: Any article or separable part of one's assets.
ASSETS As"sets, n. pl. Etym: [OF. asez enough, F. assez, fr. L. ad + satis, akin to Gr. saps full. Cf. Assai, Satisfy.]
1. (Law) (a) Property of a deceased person, subject by law to the payment of his debts and legacies; — called assets because sufficient to render the executor or administrator liable to the creditors and legatees, so far as such goods or estate may extend. Story. Blackstone. (b) Effects of an insolvent debtor or bankrupt, applicable to the payment of debts.
2. The entire property of all sorts, belonging to a person, a corporation, or an estate; as, the assets of a merchant or a trading association; — opposed to liabilities.
Note: In balancing accounts the assets are put on the Cr. side and the debts on the Dr. side.
ASSEVERAs*sev"er, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. asseverer, fr. L. asseverare.]
Defn: See Asseverate. [Archaic]
ASSEVERATEAs*sev"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asseverated; p. pr. & vb. n.Asseverating.] Etym: [L. asseveratus, p. p. of asseverare to assertseriously or earnestly; ad + severus. See Severe.]
Defn: To affirm or aver positively, or with solemnity.
Syn.— To affirm; aver; protest; declare. See Affirm.
ASSEVERATIONAs*sev`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. asseveratio.]
Defn: The act of asseverating, or that which is asseverated; positive affirmation or assertion; solemn declaration. Another abuse of the tongue I might add, — vehement asseverations upon slight and trivial occasions. Ray.
ASSEVERATIVEAs*sev"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Characterized by asseveration; asserting positively.
ASSEVERATORYAs*sev"er*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Asseverative.
ASSIBILATE As*sib"i*late, v. t. Etym: [L. assibilatus, p. p. of assibilare to hiss out; ad + sibilare to hiss.]
Defn: To make sibilant; to change to a sibilant. J. Peile.
ASSIBILATIONAs*sib`i*la"tion, n.
Defn: Change of a non-sibilant letter to a sibilant, as of -tion to - shun, duke to ditch.
ASSIDEANAs`si*de"an, n. Etym: [Heb. khasad to be pious.]
Defn: One of a body of devoted Jews who opposed the Hellenistic Jews, and supported the Asmoneans.
ASSIDENT As"si*dent, a. Etym: [L. assidens, p. pr. of assid to sit by: cf. F. assident. See Assession.] (Med.)
Defn: Usually attending a disease, but not always; as, assident signs, or symptoms.
ASSIDUATE As*sid"u*ate, a. Etym: [L. assiduatus, p. p. of assiduare to use assiduously.]
Defn: Unremitting; assiduous. [Obs.] "Assiduate labor." Fabyan.
ASSIDUITY As`si*du"i*ty, n.; pl. Assiduities. Etym: [L. assiduitas: cf. F. assiduite. See Assiduous.]
1. Constant or close application or attention, particularly to some business or enterprise; diligence. I have, with much pains and assiduity, qualified myself for a nomenclator. Addison.
2. Studied and persevering attention to a person; — usually in the plural.
ASSIDUOUS As*sid"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. assiduus, fr. assid to sit near or close; ad + sed to sit. See Sit.]
1. Constant in application or attention; devoted; attentive; unremitting. She grows more assiduous in her attendance. Addison.
2. Performed with constant diligence or attention; unremitting; persistent; as, assiduous labor. To weary him with my assiduous cries. Milton.
Syn.— Diligent; attentive; sedulous; unwearied; unintermitted;persevering; laborious; indefatigable. As*sid"u*ous*ly, adv.— As*sid"u*ous*ness, n.
ASSIEGE As*siege", v. t. Etym: [OE. asegen, OF. asegier, F. assiéger, fr. LL. assediare, assidiare, to besiege. See Siege.]
Defn: To besiege. [Obs.] "Assieged castles." Spenser.
ASSIEGEAs*siege", n.
Defn: A siege. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ASSIENTISTAs`si*en"tist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assientiste, Sp. asentista.]
Defn: A shareholder of the Assiento company; one of the parties to the Assiento contract. Bancroft.
ASSIENTO As`si*en"to, n. Etym: [Sp. asiento seat, contract or agreement, fr. asentar to place on a chair, to adjust, to make an agreement; a (L. ad) + sentar, a participial verb; as if there were a L. sedentare to cause to sit, fr. sedens, sedentis, p. pr. of sed to sit.]