A A (named a in the English, and most commonly ä in other languages). (continued 9)
Reading edition
Defn: A colorless liquid prepared from herring brine and containing amines, used as a local antiseptic.
AMIOID Am"i*oid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Amioidei. — n.
Defn: One of the Amioidei.
AMIOIDEI Am`i*oi"de*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Amia + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of ganoid fishes of which Amis is type. See Bowfin and Ganoidei.
AMIR A*mir", n.
Defn: Same as Ameer.
AMISH Am"ish, n. pl. [Written also Omish.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The Amish Mennonites.
AMISH Am"ish, a. [Written also Omish.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the followers of Jacob Amman, a strict Mennonite of the 17th century, who even proscribed the use of buttons and shaving as "worldly conformity". There are several branches of Amish Mennonites in the United States.
AMISS A*miss", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + miss.]
Defn: Astray; faultily; improperly; wrongly; ill. What error drives our eyes and ears amiss Shak. Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss. James iv. 3. To take (an act, thing) amiss, to impute a wrong motive to (an act or thing); to take offense at' to take unkindly; as, you must not take these questions amiss.
AMISS A*miss", a.
Defn: Wrong; faulty; out of order; improper; as, it may not be amiss to ask advice.
Note: [Used only in the predicate.] Dryden. His wisdom and virtue can not always rectify that which is amiss in himself or his circumstances. Wollaston.
AMISS A*miss", n.
Defn: A fault, wrong, or mistake. [Obs.] Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss. Shak.
AMISSIBILITY A*mis`si*bil"i*ty, Etym: [Cf. F. amissibilité. See Amit.]
Defn: The quality of being amissible; possibility of being lost. [R.] Notions of popular rights and the amissibility of sovereign power for misconduct were alternately broached by the two great religious parties of Europe. Hallam.
AMISSIBLE A*mis"si*ble, a. Etym: [L. amissibilis: cf. F. amissible.]
Defn: Liable to be lost. [R.]
AMISSION A*mis"sion, n. Etym: [L. amissio: cf. F. amission.]
Defn: Deprivation; loss. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
AMIT A*mit", v. t. Etym: [L. amittere, amissum, to lose; a (ab) + mittere to send. See Missile.]
Defn: To lose. [Obs.] A lodestone fired doth presently amit its proper virtue. Sir T. Browne.
AMITOSIS Am`i*to"sis, n. [NL. See A-not, and Mitosis.] (Biol.)
Defn: Cell division in which there is first a simple cleavage of the nucleus without change in its structure (such as the formation of chromosomes), followed by the division of the cytoplasm; direct cell division; — opposed to mitosis. It is not the usual mode of division, and is believed by many to occur chiefly in highly specialized cells which are incapable of long-continued multiplication, in transitory structures, and in those in early stages of degeneration.
AMITOTIC Am`i*tot"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to amitosis; karyostenotic; — opposed to mitotic.
AMITY Am"i*ty, n.; pl. Amities. Etym: [F. amitié, OF. amistié, amisté, fr. an assumed LL. amisitas, fr. L. amicus friendly, from amare to love. See Amiable.]
Defn: Friendship, in a general sense, between individuals, societies, or nations; friendly relations; good understanding; as, a treaty of amity and commerce; the amity of the Whigs and Tories. To live on terms of amity with vice. Cowper.
Syn. — Harmony; friendliness; friendship; affection; good will; peace.
AMMA Am"ma, n. Etym: [LL. amma, prob. of interjectional or imitative origin: cf. Sp. ama, G. amme, nurse, Basque ama mother, Heb. , Ar. immun, ummun.]
Defn: An abbes or spiritual mother.
AMMETER Am"me*ter, n. (Physics)
Defn: A contraction of amperometer or ampèremeter.
AMMIRAL Am"mi*ral, n.
Defn: An obsolete form of admiral. "The mast of some great ammiral." Milton.
AMMITE Am"mite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Geol.)
Defn: Oölite or roestone; — written also hammite. [Obs.]
AMMODYTE Am"mo*dyte, n. Etym: [L. ammodytes, Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) One of a genus of fishes; the sand eel. (b) A kind of viper in southern Europe. [Obs.]
AMMONAL Am"mo*nal`, n. [Ammonium + aluminium.]
Defn: An explosive consisting of a mixture of powdered aluminium and nitrate of ammonium.
AMMONIA Am*mo"ni*a, n. Etym: [From sal ammoniac, which was first obtaining near the temple of Jupiter Ammon, by burning camel's dung. See Ammoniac.] (Chem.)
Defn: A gaseous compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, NH3, with a pungent smell and taste: — often called volatile alkali, and spirits of hartshorn.
AMMONIAC; AMMONIACAL Am*mo"ni*ac, Am`mo*ni"a*cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to ammonia, or possessing its properties; as, an ammoniac salt; ammoniacal gas. Ammoniacal engine, an engine in which the vapor of ammonia is used as the motive force. — Sal ammoniac Etym: [L. sal ammoniacus], the salt usually called chloride of ammonium, and formerly muriate of ammonia.
AMMONIAC; GUM AMMONIAC Am*mo"ni*ac ([or] Gum` am*mo"ni*ac , n. Etym: [L. Ammoniacum, Gr. Ammon; cf. F. ammoniac. See Ammonite.] (Med.)
Defn: The concrete juice (gum resin) of an umbelliferous plant, the Dorema ammoniacum. It is brought chiefly from Persia in the form of yellowish tears, which occur singly, or are aggregated into masses. It has a peculiar smell, and a nauseous, sweet taste, followed by a bitter one. It is inflammable, partially soluble in water and in spirit of wine, and is used in medicine as an expectorant and resolvent, and for the formation of certain plasters.
AMMONIACAL FERMENTATION Am`mo*ni"a*cal fer`men*ta"tion.
Defn: Any fermentation process by which ammonia is formed, as that by which urea is converted into ammonium carbonate when urine is exposed to the air.
AMMONIATED Am*mo"ni*a`ted, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined or impregnated with ammonia.
AMMONIC Am*mo"nic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to ammonia.
AMMONITE Am"mon*ite, n. Etym: [L. cornu Ammonis born of Ammon; L. Ammon, Gr. Amun.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil cephalopod shell related to the nautilus. There are many genera and species, and all are extinct, the typical forms having existed only in the Mesozoic age, when they were exceedingly numerous. They differ from the nautili in having the margins of the septa very much lobed or plaited, and the siphuncle dorsal. Also called serpent stone, snake stone, and cornu Ammonis.
AMMONITIFEROUS Am`mon*i*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Ammonite + -ferous.]
Defn: Containing fossil ammonites.
AMMONITOIDEA Am*mon`i*toid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Ammonite + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive group of fossil cephalopods often very abundant in Mesozoic rocks. See Ammonite.
AMMONIUM Am*mo"ni*um, n. Etym: [See Ammonia.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound radical, NH4, having the chemical relations of a strongly basic element like the alkali metals.
AMMUNITION Am`mu*ni"tion, n. Etym: [F. amunition, for munition, prob. caused by taking la munition as l'amunition. See Munition.]
1. Military stores, or provisions of all kinds for attack or defense. [Obs.]
2. Articles used in charging firearms and ordnance of all kinds; as powder, balls, shot, shells, percussion caps, rockets, etc.
3. Any stock of missiles, literal or figurative. Ammunition bread, shoes, etc., such as are contracted for by government, and supplied to the soldiers. [Eng.]
AMMUNITION Am`mu*ni"tion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ammunitioned; p pr. & vb. n. Ammunitioning.]
Defn: To provide with ammunition.
AMNESIA Am*ne"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Forgetfulness; also, a defect of speech, from cerebral disease, in which the patient substitutes wrong words or names in the place of those he wishes to employ. Quian.
AMNESIC Am*ne"sic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to amnesia. "Amnesic or coördinate defects." Quian.
AMNESTIC Am*nes"tic, a.
Defn: Causing loss of memory.
AMNESTY Am"nes*ty, n. Etym: [L. amnestia, Gr. amnistie, earlier amnestie. See Mean, v.]
1. Forgetfulness; cessation of remembrance of wrong; oblivion.
2. An act of the sovereign power granting oblivion, or a general pardon, for a past offense, as to subjects concerned in an insurrection.
AMNESTY Am"nes*ty, v. t. [imp. p. p. Amnestied; p. pr. & vb. n. Amnestying.]
Defn: To grant amnesty to.
AMNICOLIST Am*nic"o*list, n. Etym: [L. amnicola, amnis a river + colere to dwell.]
Defn: One who lives near a river. [Obs.] Bailey.
AMNIGENOUS Am*nig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. amnigena; amnis a river + root gen of gignere to beget.]
Defn: Born or bred in, of, or near a river. [Obs.] Bailey.
AMNION Am"ni*on, n. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A thin membrane surrounding the embryos of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
AMNIOS Am"ni*os, n.
Defn: Same as Amnion.
AMNIOTA Am`ni*o"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Amnion.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: That group of vertebrates which develops in its embryonic life the envelope called the amnion. It comprises the reptiles, the birds, and the mammals.
AMNIOTIC Am`ni*ot"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. amniotique.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the amnion; characterized by an amnion; as, the amniotic fluid; the amniotic sac. Amniotic acid. (Chem.) [R.] See Allantoin.
AMOEBA A*moe"ba, n; pl. L. Amoebæ; E. Amoebas. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rhizopod. common in fresh water, capable of undergoing many changes of form at will. See Rhizopoda.
AMOEBAEUM Am`oe*bæ"um, n. Etym: [L. amoebaeus, Gr. amoebaeum carmen, Gr.
Defn: A poem in which persons are represented at speaking alternately; as the third and seventh eclogues of Virgil.
AMOEBEA Am`oe*be"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: That division of the Rhizopoda which includes the amoeba and similar forms.
AMOEBEAN Am`oe*be"an, a.
Defn: Alternately answering.
AMOEBIAN A*moe"bi*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Amoebea.
AMOEBIFORM; AMOEBOID A*moe"bi*form, A*moe"boid, a. Etym: [Amoeba + -form or -oid.] (Biol.)
Defn: Resembling an amoeba; amoeba-shaped; changing in shape like an amoeba. Amoeboid movement, movement produced, as in the amoeba, by successive processes of prolongation and retraction.
AMOEBOUS A*moe"bous, a.
Defn: Like an amoeba in structure.
AMOLE A*mo"le, n. [Mex.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any detergent plant, or the part of it used as a detergent, as the roots of Agave Americana, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, etc. [Sp. Amer. & Mex.]
AMOLITION Am`o*li"tion, n. Etym: [L. amolitio, fr. amoliri to remove; a (ab) + moliri to put in motion.]
Defn: Removal; a putting away. [Obs.] Bp. Ward (1673).
AMOMUM A*mo"mum, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of aromatic plants. It includes species which bear cardamoms, and grains of paradise.
AMONESTE A*mon"este, v. t.
Defn: To admonish. [Obs.]
AMONG; AMONGST A*mong", A*mongst", prep. Etym: [OE. amongist, amonges, amonge, among, AS. onmang, ongemang, gemang, in a crowd or mixture. For the ending -st see Amidst. See Mingle.]
1. Mixed or mingled; surrounded by. They heard, And from his presence hid themselves among The thickest trees. Milton.
2. Conjoined, or associated with, or making part of the number of; in the number or class of. Blessed art thou among women. Luke i. 28.
3. Expressing a relation of dispersion, distribution, etc.; also, a relation of reciprocal action. What news among the merchants Shak. Human sacrifices were practiced among them. Hume. Divide that gold amongst you. Marlowe. Whether they quarreled among themselves, or with their neighbors. Addison.
Syn. — Amidst; between. See Amidst, Between.
AMONTILLADO A*mon`til*la"do, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A dry kind of cherry, of a light color. Simmonds.
AMORET Am"o*ret, n. Etym: [OF. amorette, F. amourette, dim. of amour.]
1. An amorous girl or woman; a wanton. [Obs.] J. Warton.
2. A love knot, love token, or love song. (pl.) Love glances or love tricks. [Obs.]
3. A petty love affair or amour. [Obs.]
AMORETTE Am"o*rette", n.
Defn: An amoret. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
AMORIST Am"o*rist, n. Etym: [L. armor love. See Amorous.]
Defn: A lover; a gallant. [R.] Milton. It was the custom for an amorist to impress the name of his mistress in the dust, or upon the damp earth, with letters fixed upon his shoe. Southey.
A-MORNINGS A-morn"ings, adv. Etym: [See Amorwe. The -s is a genitival ending. See -wards.]
Defn: In the morning; every morning. [Obs.] And have such pleasant walks into the woods A-mornings. J. Fletcher.
AMOROSA Am`o*ro"sa, n. Etym: [It. amoroso, fem. amorosa.]
Defn: A wanton woman; a courtesan. Sir T. Herbert.
AMOROSITY Am`o*ros"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being amorous; lovingness. [R.] Galt.
AMOROSO Am`o*ro"so, n. Etym: [It. amoroso, LL. amorosus.]
Defn: A lover; a man enamored.
AMOROSO Am`o*ro"so, adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: In a soft, tender, amatory style.
AMOROUS Am"o*rous, a. Etym: [OF. amoros, F. amoreux, LL. amorosus, fr. L. amor love, fr. amare to love.]
1. Inclined to love; having a propensity to love, or to sexual enjoyment; loving; fond; affectionate; as, an amorous disposition.
2. Affected with love; in love; enamored; — usually with of; formerly with on. Thy roses amorous of the moon. Keats. High nature amorous of the good. Tennyson. Sure my brother is amorous on Hero. Shak.
3. Of or relating to, or produced by, love. "Amorous delight." Milton. "Amorous airs." Waller.
Syn. — Loving; fond; tender; passionate; affectionate; devoted; ardent.
AMOROUSLY Am"o*rous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an amorous manner; fondly.
AMOROUSNESS Am"o*rous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being amorous, or inclined to sexual love; lovingness.
AMORPHA A*mor"pha, n.; pl. Amorphas. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of leguminous shrubs, having long clusters of purple flowers; false or bastard indigo. Longfellow.
AMORPHISM A*mor"phism, n. Etym: [See Amorphous.]
Defn: A state of being amorphous; esp. a state of being without crystallization even in the minutest particles, as in glass, opal, etc.
Note: There are stony substances which, when fused, may cool as glass or as stone; the glass state is spoken of as a state of amorphism.
AMORPHOUS A*mor"phous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Having no determinate form; of irregular; shapeless. Kirwan.
2. Without crystallization in the ultimate texture of a solid substance; uncrystallized.
3. Of no particular kind or character; anomalous. Scientific treatises . . . are not seldom rude and amorphous in style. Hare. — A*mor"phous*ly, adv. — A*mor"phous*ness, n.
AMORPHOZOA A*mor`pho*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Animals without a mouth or regular internal organs, as the sponges.
AMORPHOZOIC A*mor`pho*zo"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Amorphozoa.
AMORPHY A*mor"phy, n. Etym: [Gr. amorphie. See Amorphous.]
Defn: Shapelessness. [Obs.] Swift.
AMORT A*mort", a. Etym: [Pref. a- + F. mort death, dead; all amort is for alamort.]
Defn: As if dead; lifeless; spiritless; dejected; depressed. Shak.
AMORTISE; AMORTISATION; AMORTISABLE; AMORTISEMENT A*mor"tise, v., A*mor`ti*sa"tion, n., A*mor"tis*a*ble, a., A*mor"tise*ment, n.
Defn: Same as Amortize, Amortization, etc.
AMORTIZABLE A*mor"tiz*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. amortissable.]
Defn: Capable of being cleared off, as a debt.
AMORTIZATION A*mor`ti*za"tion, n. Etym: [LL. amortisatio, admortizatio. See Amortize, and cf. Admortization.]
1. (Law)
Defn: The act or right of alienating lands to a corporation, which was considered formerly as transferring them to dead hands, or in mortmain.
2. The extinction of a debt, usually by means of a sinking fund; also, the money thus paid. Simmonds.
AMORTIZE A*mor"tize, v. t. Etym: [OE. amortisen, LL. amortisare, admortizare, F. amortir to sell in mortmain, to extinguish; L. ad + mors death. See Mortmain].
1. To make as if dead; to destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Law)
Defn: To alienate in mortmain, that is, to convey to a corporation. See Mortmain.
3. To clear off or extinguish, as a debt, usually by means of a sinking fund.
AMORTIZEMENT A*mor"tize*ment, n. Etym: [F. amortissement.]
Defn: Same as Amortization.
AMORWE A*mor"we, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- on + OE. morwe. See Morrow.]
1. In the morning. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. On the following morning. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AMOTION A*mo"tion, n. Etym: [L. amotio. See Amove.]
1. Removal; ousting; especially, the removal of a corporate officer from his office.
2. Deprivation of possession.
AMOTUS A*mo"tus, a. Etym: [L., withdrawn (from it (Zoöl.)
Defn: Elevated, — as a toe, when raised so high that the tip does not touch the ground.
AMOUNT A*mount", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Amounted; p. pr. & vb. n. Amounting.] Etym: [OF. amonter to increase, advance, ascend, fr. amont (equiv. to L. ad montem to the mountain) upward, F. amont up the river. See Mount, n.]
1. To go up; to ascend. [Obs.] So up he rose, and thence amounted straight. Spenser.
2. To rise or reach by an accumulation of particular sums or quantities; to come (to) in the aggregate or whole; — with to or unto.
3. To rise, reach, or extend in effect, substance, or influence; to be equivalent; to come practically (to); as, the testimony amounts to very little.
AMOUNT A*mount", v. t.
Defn: To signify; to amount to. [Obs.]
AMOUNT A*mount", n.
1. The sum total of two or more sums or quantities; the aggregate; the whole quantity; a totality; as, the amount of 7 and 9 is 16; the amount of a bill; the amount of this year's revenue.
2. The effect, substance, value, significance, or result; the sum; as, the amount of the testimony is this. The whole amount of that enormous fame. Pope.
AMOUR A*mour", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. amor love.]
1. Love; affection. [Obs.]
2. Love making; a love affair; usually, an unlawful connection in love; a love intrigue; an illicit love affair. In amours with, in love with. [Obs.]
AMOUR PROPRE A"mour` pro"pre. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Self-love; self-esteem.
AMOVABILITY A*mov`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Liability to be removed or dismissed from office. [R.] T. Jefferson.
AMOVABLE A*mov"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. amovible.]
Defn: Removable.
AMOVE A*move", v. t. Etym: [L. amovere; a- (ab) + movere to move: cf. OF. amover.]
1. To remove, as a person or thing, from a position. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
2. (Law)
Defn: To dismiss from an office or station.
AMOVE A*move", v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. amovir, L. admovere to move to, to excite; ad + movere.]
Defn: To move or be moved; to excite. [Obs.] Spenser.
AMPELITE Am"pe*lite, n. Etym: [L. ampelitis, Gr. (Min.)
Defn: An earth abounding in pyrites, used by the ancients to kill insects, etc., on vines; — applied by Brongniart to a carbonaceous alum schist.
AMPELOPSIS Am`pe*lop"sis (am`pe*lop"sis), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'a`mpelos vine + 'o`psis appearance.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus formerly including the Virginia creeper.
AMPERAGE Am*per"age, n. (Elec.)
Defn: The strength of a current of electricity carried by a conductor or generated by a machine, measured in ampères.
AMPERE; AMPERE Am`père", Am*pere", n. Etym: [From the name of a French electrician.] (Elec.)
Defn: The unit of electric current; — defined by the International Electrical Congress in 1893 and by U. S. Statute as, one tenth of the unit of current of the C. G. S. system of electro-magnetic units, or the practical equivalent of the unvarying current which, when passed through a standard solution of nitrate of silver in water, deposits silver at the rate of 0.001118 grams per second. Called also the international ampère.
AMPERE FOOT Am`père" foot. (Elec.)
Defn: A unit, employed in calculating fall of pressure in distributing mains, equivalent to a current of one ampère flowing through one foot of conductor.
AMPERE HOUR; AMPERE MINUTE; AMPERE SECOND Ampère hour. (Elec.)
Defn: The quantity of electricity delivered in one hour by a current whose average strength is one ampère. It is used as a unit of quantity, and is equal to 3600 coulombs. The terms Ampère minute and Ampère second are sometimes similarly used.
AMPEREMETER; AMPEROMETER Am`père"me`ter, Am`pe*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Ampère + meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the strength of an electrical current in ampères.
AMPERE TURN Ampère turn. (Elec.)
Defn: A unit equal to the product of one complete convolution (of a coiled conductor) into one ampère of current; thus, a conductor having five convolutions and carrying a current of half an ampère is said to have 2½ ampère turns. The magnetizing effect of a coil is proportional to the number of its ampère turns.
AMPERSAND Am"per*sand, n. Etym: [A corruption of and, per se and, i. e., & by itself makes and.]
Defn: A word used to describe the character Halliwell.
AMPHI- Am*phi-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A prefix in words of Greek origin, signifying both, of both kinds, on both sides, about, around.
AMPHIARTHRODIAL Am`phi*ar*thro"di*al, a. Etym: [Pref. amphi- + arthrodial.]
Defn: Characterized by amphiarthrosis.
AMPHIARTHROSIS Am`phi*ar*thro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A form of articulation in which the bones are connected by intervening substance admitting slight motion; symphysis.
AMPHIASTER Am"phi*as`ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The achromatic figure, formed in mitotic cell-division, consisting of two asters connected by a spindle-shaped bundle of rodlike fibers diverging from each aster, and called the spindle.
AMPHIBIA Am*phib"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [See Amphibium.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the classes of vertebrates.
Note: The Amphibia are distinguished by having usually no scales, by having eggs and embryos similar to those of fishes, and by undergoing a complete metamorphosis, the young having gills. There are three living orders: (1) The tailless, as the frogs (Anura); (2) The tailed (Urodela), as the salamanders, and the siren group (Sirenoidea), which retain the gills of the young state (hence called Perennibranchiata) through the adult state, among which are the siren, proteus, etc.; (3) The Coecilians, or serpentlike Amphibia (Ophiomorpha or Gymnophiona), with minute scales and without limbs. The extinct Labyrinthodonts also belonged to this class. The term is sometimes loosely applied to both reptiles and amphibians collectively.
AMPHIBIAL Am*phib"i*al (-al), a. & n.
Defn: Amphibian. [R.]
AMPHIBIAN Am*phib"i*an (-an), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Amphibia; as, amphibian reptiles.
AMPHIBIAN Am*phib"i*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Amphibia.
AMPHIBIOLOGICAL Am*phib`i*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to amphibiology.
AMPHIBIOLOGY Am*phib`i*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. amphibiologie.]
Defn: A treatise on amphibious animals; the department of natural history which treats of the Amphibia.
AMPHIBIOTICA Am*phib`i*ot"i*ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of insects having aquatic larvæ.
AMPHIBIOUS Am*phib"i*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. i. e., both on land in water;
1. Having the ability to live both on land and in water, as frogs, crocodiles, beavers, and some plants.
2. Pertaining to, adapted for, or connected with, both land and water. The amphibious character of the Greeks was already determined: they were to be lords of land and sea. Hare.
3. Of a mixed nature; partaking of two natures. Not in free and common socage, but in this amphibious subordinate class of villein socage. Blackstone.
AMPHIBIOUSLY Am*phib"i*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Like an amphibious being.
AMPHIBIUM Am*phib"i*um, n.; pl. L. Amphibia; E. Amphibiums. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Amphibious.]
Defn: An amphibian.
AMPHIBLASTIC Am`phi*blas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Segmenting unequally; — said of telolecithal ova with complete segmentation.
AMPHIBOLE Am"phi*bole, n. Etym: [Gr. amphibole. Haüy so named the genus from the great variety of color and composition assumed by the mineral.] (Min.)
Defn: A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in color and in composition. It occurs in monoclinic crystals; also massive, generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The color varies from white to gray, green, brown, and black. It is a silicate of magnesium and calcium, with usually aluminium and iron. Some common varieties are tremolite, actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende (the last name being also used as a general term for the whole species). Amphibole is a constituent of many crystalline rocks, as syenite, diorite, most varieties of trachyte, etc. See Hornblende.
AMPHIBOLIC Am`phi*bol"ic, a.
1. Of or pertaining to amphiboly; ambiguous; equivocal.
2. Of or resembling the mineral amphibole.
AMPHIBOLOGICAL Am*phib`o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of doubtful meaning; ambiguous. "Amphibological expressions." Jer. Taylor. — Am*phib`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
AMPHIBOLOGY Am`phi*bol"o*gy, n.; pl. Amphibologies. Etym: [L. amphibologia, for amphibolia, fr. Gr. logia as if fr. Gr. amphibologie. See Amphiboly.]
Defn: A phrase, discourse, or proposition, susceptible of two interpretations; and hence, of uncertain meaning. It differs from equivocation, which arises from the twofold sense of a single term.
AMPHIBOLOUS Am*phib"o*lous, a. Etym: [L. amphibolus, Gr. Amphibole.]
1. Ambiguous; doubtful. [Obs.] Never was there such an amphibolous quarrel — both parties declaring themselves for the king. Howell.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Capable of two meanings. An amphibolous sentence is one that is capable of two meanings, not from the double sense of any of the words, but from its admitting of a double construction; e. g., "The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose." Whately.
AMPHIBOLY Am*phib"o*ly, n.; pl. Amphibolies. Etym: [L. amphibolia, Gr. amphibolie. See Amphibolous.]
Defn: Ambiguous discourse; amphibology. If it oracle contrary to our interest or humor, we will create an amphiboly, a double meaning where there is none. Whitlock.
AMPHIBRACH Am"phi*brach, n. Etym: [L. (Anc. Pros.)
Defn: A foot of three syllables, the middle one long, the first and last short (as, h. In modern prosody the accented syllable takes the place of the long and the unaccented of the short; as, pro-phet''ic.
AMPHICARPIC; AMPHICARPOUS Am`phi*car"pic, Am`phi*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Producing fruit of two kinds, either as to form or time of ripening.
AMPHICHROIC Am`phi*chro"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Exhibiting or producing two colors, as substances which in the color test may change red litmus to blue and blue litmus to red.
AMPHICOELIAN; AMPHICOELOUS Am`phi*coe"li*an, Am`phi*coe"lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having both ends concave; biconcave; — said of vertebræ.
AMPHICOME Am"phi*come, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A kind of figured stone, rugged and beset with eminences, anciently used in divination. [Obs.] Encyc. Brit.
AMPHICTYONIC Am*phic`ty*on"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Amphictyons or their League or Council; as, an Amphictyonic town or state; the Amphictyonic body. W. Smith.
AMPHICTYONS Am*phic"ty*ons, n. pl. Etym: [L. Amphictyones, Gr. (Grecian Hist.)
Defn: Deputies from the confederated states of ancient Greece to a congress or council. They considered both political and religious matters.
AMPHICTYONY Am*phic"ty*o*ny, n.; pl. Amphictyonies. Etym: [Gr. (Grecian Hist.)
Defn: A league of states of ancient Greece; esp. the celebrated confederation known as the Amphictyonic Council. Its object was to maintain the common interests of Greece.
AMPHID Am"phid, n. Etym: [Gr. amphide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of the class formed by the combination of an acid and a base, or by the union of two oxides, two sulphides, selenides, or tellurides, as distinguished from a haloid compound. [R.] Berzelius.
AMPHIDISC Am"phi*disc, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar small siliceous spicule having a denticulated wheel at each end; — found in freshwater sponges.
AMPHIDROMICAL Am`phi*drom"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to an Attic festival at the naming of a child; — so called because the friends of the parents carried the child around the hearth and then named it.
AMPHIGAMOUS Am*phig"a*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a structure entirely cellular, and no distinct sexual organs; — a term applied by De Candolle to the lowest order of plants.
AMPHIGEAN Am`phi*ge"an, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Extending over all the zones, from the tropics to the polar zones inclusive.
AMPHIGEN Am"phi*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen: cf. F. amphigène.] (Chem.)
Defn: An element that in combination produces amphid salt; — applied by Berzelius to oxygen, sulphur, selenium, and tellurium. [R.]
AMPHIGENE Am"phi*gene, n. (Min.)
Defn: Leucite.
AMPHIGENESIS Am`phi*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Sexual generation; amphigony.
AMPHIGENOUS Am*phig"e*nous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Increasing in size by growth on all sides, as the lichens.
AMPHIGONIC Am`phi*gon"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to amphigony; sexual; as, amphigonic propagation. [R.]
AMPHIGONOUS Am*phig"o*nous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to both parents. [R.]
AMPHIGONY Am*phig"o*ny, n.
Defn: Sexual propagation. [R.]
AMPHIGORIC Am`phi*gor"ic, a. Etym: [See Amphigory.]
Defn: Nonsensical; absurd; pertaining to an amphigory.
AMPHIGORY Am"phi*go*ry, n. Etym: [F. amphigouri, of uncertain derivation; perh. fr. Gr.
Defn: A nonsense verse; a rigmarole, with apparent meaning, which on further attention proves to be meaningless. [Written also amphigouri.]
AMPHILOGISM; AMPHILOGY Am*phil"o*gism, Am*phil"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: Ambiguity of speech; equivocation. [R.]
AMPHIMACER Am*phim"a*cer, n. Etym: [L. amphimacru, Gr. (Anc. Pros.)
Defn: A foot of three syllables, the middle one short and the others long, as in cast. Andrews.
AMPHINEURA Am`phi*neu"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Mollusca remarkable for the bilateral symmetry of the organs and the arrangement of the nerves.
AMPHIOXUS Am`phi*ox"us, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fishlike creature (Amphioxus lanceolatus), two or three inches long, found in temperature seas; — also called the lancelet. Its body is pointed at both ends. It is the lowest and most generalized of the vertebrates, having neither brain, skull, vertebræ, nor red blood. It forms the type of the group Acrania, Leptocardia, etc.
AMPHIPNEUST Am*phip"neust, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a tribe of Amphibia, which have both lungs and gills at the same time, as the proteus and siren.
AMPHIPOD Am"phi*pod, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Amphipoda.
AMPHIPOD; AMPHIPODAN Am"phi*pod, Am*phip"o*dan, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Amphipoda.
AMPHIPODA Am*phip"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., FR. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A numerous group of fourteen — footed Crustacea, inhabiting both fresh and salt water. The body is usually compressed laterally, and the anterior pairs or legs are directed downward and forward, but the posterior legs are usually turned upward and backward. The beach flea is an example. See Tetradecapoda and Arthrostraca.
AMPHIPODOUS Am*phip"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Amphipoda.
AMPHIPROSTYLE Am*phip"ro*style, a. Etym: [L. amphiprostylos, Gr. amphiprostyle. See Prostyle.] (Arch.)
Defn: Doubly prostyle; having columns at each end, but not at the sides. — n.
Defn: An amphiprostyle temple or edifice.
AMPHIRHINA Am`phi*rhi"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name applied to the elasmobranch fishes, because the nasal sac is double.
AMPHISBAENA Am`phis*bæ"na, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. A fabled serpent with a head at each end, moving either way. Milton.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of harmless lizards, serpentlike in form, without legs, and with both ends so much alike that they appear to have a head at each, and ability to move either way. See Illustration in Appendix.
Note: The Gordius aquaticus, or hairworm, has been called an amphisbæna; but it belongs among the worms.
AMPHISBAENOID Am`phis*bæ"noid, a. Etym: [NL., fr. L. amphisbaena + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the lizards of the genus Amphisbæna.
AMPHISCII; AMPHISCIANS Am*phis"ci*i, Am*phis"cians, n. pl. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The inhabitants of the tropic, whose shadows in one part of the year are cast to the north, and in the other to the south, according as the sun is south or north of their zenith.
AMPHISTOMOUS Am*phis"to*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a sucker at each extremity, as certain entozoa, by means of which they adhere.
AMPHISTYLIC Am`phi*sty"lic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having the mandibular arch articulated with the hyoid arch and the cranium, as in the cestraciont sharks; — said of a skull.
AMPHITHEATER; AMPHITHEATRE Am`phi*the"a*ter, Am`phi*the"a*tre,, n. Etym: [L. amphitheatrum, fr. Gr. amphithé\'83tre. See Theater.]
1. An oval or circular building with rising tiers of seats about an open space called the arena.
Note: The Romans first constructed amphitheaters for combats of gladiators and wild beasts.
2. Anything resembling an amphitheater in form; as, a level surrounded by rising slopes or hills, or a rising gallery in a theater.
AMPHITHEATRAL Am`phi*the"a*tral, a. Etym: [L. amphitheatralis: cf. F. amphithé\'83tral.]
Defn: Amphitheatrical; resembling an amphitheater.
AMPHITHEATRIC; AMPHITHEATRICAL Am`phi*the*at"ric, Am`phi*the*at"ric*al, a. Etym: [L. amphitheatricus.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, exhibited in, or resembling, an amphitheater.
AMPHITHEATRICALLY Am`phi*the*at"ric*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the form or manner of an amphitheater.
AMPHITROCHA Am*phit"ro*cha, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of annelid larva having both a dorsal and a ventral circle of special cilia.
AMPHITROPAL; AMPHITROPOUS Am*phit"ro*pal, Am*phit"ro*pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the ovule inverted, but with the attachment near the middle of one side; half anatropous.
AMPHIUMA Am`phi*u"ma, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of amphibians, inhabiting the Southern United States, having a serpentlike form, but with four minute limbs and two persistent gill openings; the Congo snake.
AMPHOPEPTONE Am`pho*pep"tone, n. Etym: [Gr. peptone.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A product of gastric digestion, a mixture of hemipeptone and antipeptone.
AMPHORA Am"pho*ra, n.; pl. Amophoræ. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Ampul.]
Defn: Among the ancients, a two-handled vessel, tapering at the bottom, used for holding wine, oil, etc.
AMPHORAL Am"pho*ral, a. Etym: [L. amphoralis.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, an amphora.
AMPHORIC Am*phor"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Produced by, or indicating, a cavity in the lungs, not filled, and giving a sound like that produced by blowing into an empty decanter; as, amphoric respiration or resonance.
AMPHOTERIC Am`pho*ter"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Partly one and partly the other; neither acid nor alkaline; neutral. [R.] Smart.
AMPLE Am"ple, a. Etym: [F. ample, L. amplus, prob. for ambiplus full on both sides, the last syllable akin to L. plenus full. See Full, and cf. Double.]
Defn: Large; great in size, extent, capacity, or bulk; spacious; roomy; widely extended. All the people in that ample house Did to that image bow their humble knees. Spenser.
2. Fully sufficient; abundant; liberal; copious; as, an ample fortune; ample justice.
3. Not contracted of brief; not concise; extended; diffusive; as, an ample narrative. Johnson.
Syn. — Full; spacious; extensive; wide; capacious; abundant; plentiful; plenteous; copious; bountiful; rich; liberal; munificent. — Ample, Copious, Abundant, Plenteous. These words agree in representing a thing as large, but under different relations, according to the image which is used. Ample implies largeness, producing a sufficiency or fullness of supply for every want; as, ample stores or resources, ample provision. Copious carries with it the idea of flow, or of collection at a single point; as, a copious supply of materials. "Copious matter of my song." Milton. Abundant and plenteous refer to largeness of quantity; as, abundant stores; plenteous harvests.
AMPLECTANT Am*plec"tant, a. Etym: [L. amplecti to embrace.] (Bot.)
Defn: Clasping a support; as, amplectant tendrils. Gray.
AMPLENESS Am"ple*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being ample; largeness; fullness; completeness.
AMPLEXATION Am`plex*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. amplexari to embrace.]
Defn: An embrace. [Obs.] An humble amplexation of those sacred feet. Bp. Hall.
AMPLEXICAUL Am*plex"i*caul, a. Etym: [L. amplexus, p. p. of amplecti to encircle, to embrace + caulis stem: cf. F. amplexicaule.] (Bot.)
Defn: Clasping or embracing a stem, as the base of some leaves. Gray.
AMPLIATE Am"pli*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. ampliatus, p. p. of ampliare to make wider, fr. amplus. See Ample.]
Defn: To enlarge. [R.] To maintain and ampliate the external possessions of your empire. Udall.
AMPLIATE Am"pli*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the outer edge prominent; said of the wings of insects.
AMPLIATION Am`pli*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. ampliatio: cf. F. ampliation.]
1. Enlargement; amplification. [R.]
2. (Civil Law)
Defn: A postponement of the decision of a cause, for further consideration or re-argument.
AMPLIATIVE Am"pli*a*tive, a. (Logic)
Defn: Enlarging a conception by adding to that which is already known or received. "All bodies possess power of attraction" is an ampliative judgment; because we can think of bodies without thinking of attraction as one of their immediate primary attribute. Abp. W. Thomson.
AMPLIFICATE Am*plif"i*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. amplificatus, p. p. of amplificare.]
Defn: To amplify. [Obs.] Bailey.
AMPLIFICATION Am`pli*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. amplificatio.]
1. The act of amplifying or enlarging in dimensions; enlargement; extension.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: The enlarging of a simple statement by particularity of description, the use of epithets, etc., for rhetorical effect; diffuse narrative or description, or a dilating upon all the particulars of a subject. Exaggeration is a species of amplification. Brande & C. I shall summarily, without any amplification at all, show in what manner defects have been supplied. Sir J. Davies.
3. The matter by which a statement is amplified; as, the subject was presented without amplifications.
AMPLIFICATIVE Am*plif"i*ca*tive, a.
Defn: Amplificatory.
AMPLIFICATORY Am*plif"i*ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to amplify or enlarge; amplificative. Morell.
AMPLIFIER Am"pli*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who or that which amplifies.
AMPLIFY Am"pli*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amplified; p. pr. & vb. n. Amplifying.] Etym: [F. amplifier, L. amplificare. See Ample, -fy.]
1. To render larger, more extended, or more intense, and the like; — used especially of telescopes, microscopes, etc.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: To enlarge by addition or discussion; to treat copiously by adding particulars, illustrations, etc.; to expand; to make much of. Troilus and Cressida was written by a Lombard author, but much amplified by our English translator. Dryden.
AMPLIFY Am"pli*fy, v. i.
1. To become larger. [Obs.] Strait was the way at first, withouten light, But further in did further amplify. Fairfax.
2. To speak largely or copiously; to be diffuse in argument or description; to dilate; to expatiate; — often with on or upon. Watts. He must often enlarge and amplify upon the subject he handles. South.
AMPLITUDE Am"pli*tude, n. Etym: [L. amplitudo, fr. amplus: cf. F. amplitude. See Ample.]
1. State of being ample; extent of surface or space; largeness of dimensions; size. The cathedral of Lincoln . . . is a magnificent structure, proportionable to the amplitude of the diocese. Fuller.
2. Largeness, in a figurative sense; breadth; abundance; fullness. (a) Of extent of capacity or intellectual powers. "Amplitude of mind." Milton. "Amplitude of comprehension." Macaulay. (b) Of extent of means or resources. "Amplitude of reward." Bacon.
3. (Astron.) (a) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the center of the sun, or a star, at its rising or setting. At the rising, the amplitude is eastern or ortive: at the setting, it is western, occiduous, or occasive. It is also northern or southern, when north or south of the equator. (b) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the foot of the vertical circle passing through any star or object.
4. (Gun.)
Defn: The horizontal line which measures the distance to which a projectile is thrown; the range.
5. (Physics)
Defn: The extent of a movement measured from the starting point or position of equilibrium; — applied especially to vibratory movements.
6. (math.)
Defn: An angle upon which the value of some function depends; — a term used more especially in connection with elliptic functions. Magnetic amplitude, the angular distance of a heavenly body, when on the horizon, from the magnetic east or west point as indicated by the compass. The difference between the magnetic and the true or astronomical amplitude (see 3 above) is the "variation of the compass."
AMPLY Am"ply, adv.
Defn: In an ample manner.
AMPUL Am"pul, n. Etym: [AS. ampella, ampolla, L. ampulla: cf. OF. ampolle, F. ampoule.]
Defn: Same as Ampulla, 2.
AMPULLA Am*pul"la, n.; pl. Ampullæ. Etym: [L. ]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A narrow-necked vessel having two handles and bellying out like a jug.
2. (Eccl.) (a) A cruet for the wine and water at Mass. (b) The vase in which the holy oil for chrism, unction, or coronation is kept. Shipley.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: Any membranous bag shaped like a leathern bottle, as the dilated end of a vessel or duct; especially the dilations of the semicircular canals of the ear.
AMPULLACEOUS Am`pul*la"ceous, a. Etym: [L. ampullaceus, fr. ampulla.]
Defn: Like a bottle or inflated bladder; bottle-shaped; swelling. Kirby. Ampullaceous sac (Zoöl.), one of the peculiar cavities in the tissues of sponges, containing the zooidal cells.
AMPULLAR; AMPULLARY Am"pul*lar, Am`pul*la*ry, a.
Defn: Resembling an ampulla.
AMPULLATE; AMPULLATED Am"pul*late, Am"pul*la`ted a.
Defn: Having an ampulla; flask-shaped; bellied.
AMPULLIFORM Am*pul"li*form, a. Etym: [Ampulla + -form.]
Defn: Flask-shaped; dilated.
AMPUTATE Am"pu*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amputated; p. pr. & vb. n. Amputating.] Etym: [L. amputatus, p. p. of amputare: amb- + putare to prune, putus clean, akin to E. pure. See Putative.]
1. To prune or lop off, as branches or tendrils.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: To cut off (a limb or projecting part (of the body). Wiseman.
AMPUTATION Am`pu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. amputatio: cf. F. amputation.]
Defn: The act amputating; esp. the operation of cutting of a limb or projecting part of the body.
AMPUTATOR Am"pu*ta"tor, n.
Defn: One who amputates.
AMPYX Am"pyx, n. Etym: [Gr. (Greek Antiq.)
Defn: A woman's headband (sometimes of metal), for binding the front hair.
AMRITA Am*ri"ta, n. Etym: [Skr. amrita.] (Hind. Myth.)
Defn: Immorality; also, the nectar conferring immortality. — a. Ambrosial; immortal.
AMSEL; AMZEL Am"sel, Am"zel, n. Etym: [Ger. See Ousel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European ring ousel (Turdus torquatus).
AMT Amt, n.; pl. Amter (#), E. Amts (#). [Dan. & Norw., fr. G.]
Defn: An administrative territorial division in Denmark and Norway.
Each of the provinces [of Denmark] is divided into several amts, answering . . . to the English hundreds. Encyc. Brit.
AMUCK A*muck", a. & adv. Etym: [Malay amoq furious.]
Defn: In a frenzied and reckless. To run amuck, to rush out in a state of frenzy, as the Malays sometimes do under the influence of "bhang," and attack every one that comes in the way; to assail recklessly and indiscriminately. Satire's my weapon, but I'm too discreet To run amuck, and tilt at all I meet. Pope.
AMULET Am"u*let, n. Etym: [L. amuletum: cf. F. amulette.]
Defn: An ornament, gem, or scroll, or a package containing a relic, etc., worn as a charm or preservative against evils or mischief, such as diseases and witchcraft, and generally inscribed with mystic forms or characters.
Note: [Also used figuratively.]
AMULETIC Am`u*let"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an amulet; operating as a charm.
AMURCOUS A*mur"cous, a. Etym: [LL. amurcous, L. amurca the dregs of olives, Gr.
Defn: Full off dregs; foul. [R.] Knowles.
AMUSABLE A*mus"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. amusable.]
Defn: Capable of being amused.
AMUSE A*muse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amused; p. pr. & vb. n. Amusing.] Etym: [F. amuser to make stay, to detain, to amuse, ad) + OF. muser. See Muse, v.]
1. To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder. [Obs.] Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in receiving their gold. Holland. Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house. Fuller.
2. To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing or mirthful emotions; to divert. A group children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake. Gilpin.
3. To keep in extraction; to beguile; to delude. He amused his followers with idle promises. Johnson.
Syn. — To entertain; gratify; please; divert; beguile; deceive; occupy. — To Amuse, Divert, Entertain. We are amused by that which occupies us lightly and pleasantly. We are entertained by that which brings our minds into agreeable contact with others, as conversation, or a book. We are diverted by that which turns off our thoughts to something of livelier interest, especially of a sportive nature, as a humorous story, or a laughable incident. Whatever amuses serves to kill time, to lull the faculties, and to banish reflection. Whatever entertains usually a wakens the understanding or gratifies the fancy. Whatever diverts is lively in its nature, and sometimes tumultuous in its effects. Crabb.
AMUSE A*muse", v. i.
Defn: To muse; to mediate. [Obs.]
AMUSED A*mused", a.
1. Diverted.
2. Expressing amusement; as, an amused look.
AMUSEMENT A*muse"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. amusement.]
1. Deep thought; muse. [Obs.] Here I . . . fell into a strong and deep amusement, revolving in my mind, with great perplexity, the amazing change of our affairs. Fleetwood.
2. The state of being amused; pleasurable excitement; that which amuses; diversion. His favorite amusements were architecture and gardening. Macaulay.
Syn. — Diversion; entertainment; recreation; relaxation; pastime; sport.
AMUSER A*mus"er, n.
Defn: One who amuses.
AMUSETTE Am`u*sette", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A light field cannon, or stocked gun mounted on a swivel.
AMUSING A*mus"ing, a.
Defn: Giving amusement; diverting; as, an amusing story. — A*mus"ing*ly, adv.
AMUSIVE A*mu"sive, a.
Defn: Having power to amuse or entertain the mind; fitted to excite mirth. [R.] — A*mu"sive*ly, adv. — A*mu"sive*ness, n.
AMVIS Am"vis, n. [Ammonium (nitrate) + L. vis strength, force.]
Defn: An explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate, a derivative of nitrobenzene, chlorated napthalene, and wood meal.
AMY A*my", n. Etym: [F. ami, fr. L. amicus.]
Defn: A friend. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AMYELOUS A*my"e*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Wanting the spinal cord.
AMYGDALA A*myg"da*la (a*mig"da*la), n.; pl. -læ (-le). [L., an almond, fr. Gr. 'amygda`lh. See Almond.]
1. An almond.
2. (Anat.) (a) One of the tonsils of the pharynx. (b) One of the rounded prominences of the lower surface of the lateral hemispheres of the cerebellum, each side of the vallecula.
AMYGDALACEOUS A*myg`da*la"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Akin to, or derived from, the almond.
AMYGDALATE A*myg"da*late, a. Etym: [L. amygdala, amygdalum, almond, Gr. Almond.]
Defn: Pertaining to, resembling, or made of, almonds.
AMYGDALATE A*myg"da*late, n.
1. (Med.)
Defn: An emulsion made of almonds; milk of almonds. Bailey. Coxe.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt amygdalic acid.
AMYGDALIC Am`yg*dal"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to almonds; derived from amygdalin; as, amygdalic acid.
AMYGDALIFEROUS A*myg`da*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. amygdalum almond + -ferous.]
Defn: Almond-bearing.
AMYGDALIN A*myg"da*lin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside extracted from bitter almonds as a white, crystalline substance.
AMYGDALINE A*myg"da*line, a. Etym: [L. amygdalinus.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, almonds.
AMYGDALOID A*myg"da*loid, n. Etym: [Gr. -oid: cf. F. amygdaloïde.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of trap or basaltic rock, containing small cavities, occupied, wholly or in part, by nodules or geodes of different minerals, esp. agates, quartz, calcite, and the zeolites. When the imbedded minerals are detached or removed by decomposition, it is porous, like lava.
AMYGDALOID; AMYGDALOIDAL A*myg"da*loid, A*myg`da*loid"al, a.
1. Almond-shaped.
2. Pertaining to, or having the nature of, the rock amygdaloid.
AMYL Am"yl, n. Etym: [L. amylum starch + -yl. Cf. Amidin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hydrocarbon radical, C5H11, of the paraffine series found in amyl alcohol or fusel oil, etc.
AMYLACEOUS Am`y*la"ceous, a. Etym: [L. amylum starch, Gr. Amidin.]
Defn: Pertaining to starch; of the nature of starch; starchy.
AMYL ALCOHOL Am"yl al"co*hol. (Org. Chem.)
Defn: Any of eight isomeric liquid compounds, C5H11OH; ordinarily, a mixture of two of these forming a colorless liquid with a peculiar cough-exciting odor and burning taste, the chief constituent of fusel oil. It is used as a source of amyl compounds, such as amyl acetate, amyl nitrite, etc.
AMYLATE Am"y*late, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of the radical amyl with oxygen and a positive atom or radical.
AMYLENE Am"y*lene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of a group of metameric hydrocarbons, C5H10, of the ethylene series. The colorless, volatile, mobile liquid commonly called amylene is a mixture of different members of the group.
AMYLIC A*myl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, amyl; as, amylic ether. Amylic alcohol (Chem.), one of the series of alcohols, a transparent, colorless liquid, having a peculiar odor. It is the hydroxide of amyl. — Amylic fermentation (Chem.), a process of fermentation in starch or sugar in which amylic alcohol is produced. Gregory.
AMYL NITRITE Amyl nitrite.
Defn: A yellowish oily volatile liquid, C5H11NO2, used in medicine as a heart stimulant and a vasodilator. The inhalation of its vapor instantly produces flushing of the face.
AMYLOBACTER Am`y*lo*bac"ter, n. Etym: [L. amylum starch + NL. bacterium. See Bacterium.] (Biol.)
Defn: A microörganism (Bacillus amylobacter) which develops in vegetable tissue during putrefaction. Sternberg.
AMYLOGEN A*myl"o*gen, n. [Amylum + -gen.] (Chem.)
Defn: That part of the starch granule or granulose which is soluble in water.
AMYLOGENESIS Am`y*lo*gen"e*sis, n. [Amylum + genesis.]
Defn: The formation of starch.
AMYLOGENIC Am`y*lo*gen"ic, a.
1. Of or pert. to amylogen.
2. Forming starch; — applied specif. to leucoplasts.
AMYLOID Am"y*loid, n.
1. A non-nitrogenous starchy food; a starchlike substance.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The substance deposited in the organs in amyloid degeneration.
AMYLOID; AMYLOIDAL Am"y*loid, Am`y*loid"al, a. Etym: [L. amylum starch + -oid.]
Defn: Resembling or containing amyl; starchlike. Amyloid degeneration (Med.), a diseased condition of various organs of the body, produced by the deposit of an albuminous substance, giving a blue color with iodine and sulphuric acid; — called also waxy or lardaceous degeneration.
AMYLOLYSIS Am`y*lol"y*sis, n. [Amylum + Gr. a loosing.] (Chem.)
Defn: The conversion of starch into soluble products, as dextrins and sugar, esp. by the action of enzymes. — Am`y*lo*lyt"ic (#), a.
AMYLOLYTIC Am`y*lo*ly"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Effecting the conversion of starch into soluble dextrin and sugar; as, an amylolytic ferment. Foster.
AMYLOMETER Am`y*lom"e*ter, n. [Amylum + -meter.]
Defn: Instrument for determining the amount of starch in a substance.
AMYLOPLASTIC Am`y*lo*plas"tic, a. [Amylum + -plastic.]
Defn: Starch-forming; amylogenic.
AMYLOPSIN Am`y*lop"sin, n. [Amylum + Gr. appearance.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: The diastase of the pancreatic juice.
AMYLOSE Am`y*lose", n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of the starch group (C6H10O5)n of the carbohydrates; as, starch, arabin, dextrin, cellulose, etc.
AMYOUS Am"y*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Wanting in muscle; without flesh.
AMYSS Am"yss, n.
Defn: Same as Amice, a hood or cape.
AN An. Etym: [AS. an one, the same word as the numeral. See One, and cf. A.]
Defn: This word is properly an adjective, but is commonly called the indefinite article. It is used before nouns of the singular number only, and signifies one, or any, but somewhat less emphatically. In such expressions as "twice an hour," "once an age," a shilling an ounce (see 2d A, 2), it has a distributive force, and is equivalent to each, every.
Note: An is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound; as, an enemy, an hour. It in also often used before h sounded, when the accent of the word falls on the second syllable; as, an historian, an hyena, an heroic deed. Many writers use a before h in such positions. Anciently an was used before consonants as well as vowels.
AN An, conj. Etym: [Shortened fr. and, OE. an., and, sometimes and if, in introducing conditional clauses, like Icel. enda if, the same word as and. Prob. and was originally pleonastic before the conditional clause.]
Defn: If; — a word used by old English authors. Shak. Nay, an thou dalliest, then I am thy foe. B. Jonson. An if, and if; if.
ANA- An"a-. Etym: [/Gr. in comp., on, up, upwards.]
Defn: A prefix in words from the Greek, denoting up, upward, throughout, backward, back, again, anew.
ANA A"na, adv. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Of each; an equal quantity; as, wine and honey, ana (or, contracted, aa), ., that is, of wine and honey, each, two ounces. An apothecary with a . . . long bill of anas. Dryden.
ANA *a"na. Etym: [The neut. pl. ending of Latin adjectives in -anus.]
Defn: A suffix to names of persons or places, used to denote a collection of notable sayings, literary gossip, anecdotes, etc. Thus, Scaligerana is a book containing the sayings of Scaliger, Johnsoniana of Johnson, etc.
Note: Used also as a substantive; as, the French anas. It has been said that the table-talk of Selden is worth all the ana of the Continent. Hallam.
-ANA -a"na. [The neut. pl. ending of Latin adjectives in -anus.]
Defn: A suffix to names of persons or places, used to denote a collection of notable sayings, literary gossip, anecdotes, etc. Thus, Scaligerana is a book containing the sayings of Scaliger, Johnsoniana of Johnson, etc.
Used also as a substantive; as, the French anas.
It has been said that the table-talk of Selden is worth all the ana of the Continent. Hallam.
ANABAPTISM An`a*bap"tism, n. Etym: [L. anabaptismus, Gr. anabaptisme. See Anabaptize.]
Defn: The doctrine of the Anabaptists.
ANABAPTIST An`a*bap"tist, n. Etym: [LL. anabaptista, fr. Gr. as if : cf. F. anabaptiste.]
Defn: A name sometimes applied to a member of any sect holding that rebaptism is necessary for those baptized in infancy.
Note: In church history, the name Anabaptists usually designates a sect of fanatics who greatly disturbed the peace of Germany, the Netherlands, etc., in the Reformation period. In more modern times the name has been applied to those who do not regard infant baptism as real and valid baptism.
ANABAPTISTIC; ANABAPTISTICAL An`a*bap*tis"tic, An`a*bap*tis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Relating or attributed to the Anabaptists, or their doctrines. Milton. Bp. Bull.
ANABAPTISTRY An`a*bap"tist*ry, n.
Defn: The doctrine, system, or practice, of Anabaptists. [R.] Thus died this imaginary king; and Anabaptistry was suppressed in Munster. Pagitt.
ANABAPTIZE An`a*bap*tize", v. t. Etym: [Gr. Baptize.]
Defn: To rebaptize; to rechristen; also, to rename. [R.] Whitlock.
ANABAS An"a*bas, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fishes, remarkable for their power of living long out of water, and of making their way on land for considerable distances, and for climbing trees; the climbing fishes.
ANABASIS A*nab"a*sis, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. A journey or expedition up from the coast, like that of the younger Cyrus into Central Asia, described by Xenophon in his work called "The Anabasis." The anabasis of Napoleon. De Quincey.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The first period, or increase, of a disease; augmentation. [Obs.]
ANABATIC An`a*bat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to anabasis; as, an anabatic fever. [Obs.]
ANABOLIC An`a*bol"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to anabolism; an anabolic changes, or processes, more or less constructive in their nature.
ANABOLISM A*nab"o*lism, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The constructive metabolism of the body, as distinguished from katabolism.
ANABRANCH An"a*branch, n. [Anastomosing + branch.]
Defn: A branch of a river that reënters, or anastomoses with, the main stream; also, less properly, a branch which loses itself in sandy soil. [Australia]
Such branches of a river as after separation reunite, I would term anastomosing branches; or, if a word might be coined, anabranches, and the islands they form branch islands. Col. Jackson.
ANACAMPTIC An`a*camp"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Reflecting of reflected; as, an anacamptic sound (and echo).
Note: The word was formerly applied to that part of optics which treats of reflection; the same as what is now called catoptric. See Catoptrics.
ANACAMPTICALLY An`a*camp"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By reflection; as, echoes are sound produced anacamptically. Hutton.
ANACAMPTICS An`a*camp"tics, n.
1. The science of reflected light, now called catoptrics.
2. The science of reflected sounds.
ANACANTHINI; ANACANTHS An`a*can"thi*ni, An"a*canths, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of teleostean fishes destitute of spiny fin-rays, as the cod.
ANACANTHOUS An`a*can"thous, a.
Defn: Spineless, as certain fishes.
ANACARDIACEOUS An`a*car"di*a"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, a family, or order, of plants of which the cashew tree is the type, and the species of sumac are well known examples.
ANACARDIC An`a*car"dic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the cashew nut; as, anacardic acid.
ANACARDIUM An`a*car"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants including the cashew tree. See Cashew.
ANACATHARTIC An`a*ca*thar"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. i. e., by vomiting; Cathartic.] (Med.)
Defn: Producing vomiting or expectoration. — n.
Defn: An anacatharic medicine; an expectorant or an emetic.
ANACHARIS An*ach"a*ris, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A fresh-water weed of the frog's-bit family (Hydrocharidaceæ), native to America. Transferred to England it became an obstruction to navigation. Called also waterweed and water thyme.
ANACHORET; ANACHORETICAL An*ach"o*ret, n. An*ach`o*ret"ic*al, a.
Defn: See Anchoret, Anchoretic. [Obs.]
ANACHORISM An*ach"o*rism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An error in regard to the place of an event or a thing; a referring something to a wrong place. [R.]
ANACHRONIC; ANACHRONICAL An`a*chron"ic, An`a*chron"ic*al, a.
Defn: Characterized by, or involving, anachronism; anachronistic.
ANACHRONISM An*ach"ro*nism, n. Etym: [Gr. anachronisme.]
Defn: A misplacing or error in the order of time; an error in chronology by which events are misplaced in regard to each other, esp. one by which an event is placed too early; falsification of chronological relation.
ANACHRONISTIC An*ach`ro*nis"tic, a.
Defn: Erroneous in date; containing an anachronism. T. Warton.
ANACHRONIZE An*ach"ro*nize, v. t. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To refer to, or put into, a wrong time. [R.] Lowell.
ANACHRONOUS An*ach"ro*nous, a.
Defn: Containing an anachronism; anachronistic. — An*ach"ro*nous*ly, adv.
ANACLASTIC An`a*clas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Opt.)
Defn: Produced by the refraction of light, as seen through water; as, anaclastic curves.
2. Springing back, as the bottom of an anaclastic glass. Anaclastic glass, a glass or phial, shaped like an inverted funnel, and with a very thin convex bottom. By sucking out a little air, the bottom springs into a concave form with a smart crack; and by breathing or blowing gently into the orifice, the bottom, with a like noise, springs into its former convex form.
ANACLASTICS An`a*clas"tics, n. (Opt.)
Defn: That part of optics which treats of the refraction of light; — commonly called dioptrics. Encyc. Brit.
ANACOENOSIS An`a*coe*no"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which a speaker appeals to his hearers or opponents for their opinion on the point in debate. Walker.
ANACOLUTHIC An`a*co*lu"thic, a.
Defn: Lacking grammatical sequence. — An`a*co*lu"thic*al*ly, adv.
ANACOLUTHON An`a*co*lu"thon, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: A want of grammatical sequence or coherence in a sentence; an instance of a change of construction in a sentence so that the latter part does not syntactically correspond with the first part.
ANACONDA An`a*con"da, n. Etym: [Of Ceylonese origin] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large South American snake of the Boa family (Eunectes murinus), which lives near rivers, and preys on birds and small mammals. The name is also applied to a similar large serpent (Python tigris) of Ceylon.
ANACREONTIC A*nac`re*on"tic, a. Etym: [L. Anacreonticus.]
Defn: Pertaining to, after the manner of, or in the meter of, the Greek poet Anacreon; amatory and convivial. De Quincey.
ANACREONTIC A*nac`re*on"tic, n.
Defn: A poem after the manner of Anacreon; a sprightly little poem in praise of love and wine.
ANACROTIC An`a*crot"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to anachronism.
ANACROTISM A*nac"ro*tism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A secondary notch in the pulse curve, obtained in a sphygmographic tracing.
ANACRUSIS An`a*cru"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: A prefix of one or two unaccented syllables to a verse properly beginning with an accented syllable.
ANADEM An"a*dem, n. Etym: [L. anadema, Gr.
Defn: A garland or fillet; a chaplet or wreath. Drayton. Tennyson.
ANADIPLOSIS An`a*di*plo"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A repetition of the last word or any prominent word in a sentence or clause, at the beginning of the next, with an adjunct idea; as, "He retained his virtues amidst all his misfortunes — misfortunes which no prudence could foresee or prevent."
ANADROM An"a*drom, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anadrome.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish that leaves the sea and ascends rivers.
ANADROMOUS A*nad"ro*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Ascending rivers from the sea, at certain seasons, for breeding, as the salmon, shad, etc.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Tending upwards; — said of terns in which the lowest secondary segments are on the upper side of the branch of the central stem. D. C. Eaton.
ANAEMIA A*næ"mi*a, a. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition in which the blood is deficient in quality or in quantity.
ANAEMIC A*næm"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anæmia.
ANAEROBIA; ANAEROBES An*a`ër*o"bi*a, An*a"ër*obes, n. pl. [NL. anaerobia; an-not + aëro- + Gr. life.] (Bacteriol.)
Defn: Anaërobic bacteria. They are called facultative anaërobia when able to live either in the presence or absence of free oxygen; obligate, or obligatory, anaërobia when they thrive only in its absence.
ANAEROBIC An*a`ë*rob"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to, or like, anaërobies; araërobiotic.
ANAEROBIES An*a"ër*o*bies, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Microörganisms which do not require oxygen, but are killed by it. Sternberg.
ANAEROBIOTIC An*a`ër*o*bi*ot"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Related to, or of the nature of, anaërobies.
ANAESTHESIA An`æs*the"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. anesthésie. See Æsthetics.] (Med.)
Defn: Entire or partial loss or absence of feeling or sensation; a state of general or local insensibility produced by disease or by the inhalation or application of an anæsthetic.
ANAESTHESIS An`æs*the"sis, n.
Defn: See Anæsthesia.
ANAESTHETIC An`æs*thet"ic, a. (Med.) (a) Capable of rendering insensible; as, anæsthetic agents. (b) Characterized by, or connected with, insensibility; as, an anæsthetic effect or operation.
ANAESTHETIC An`æs*thet"ic, n. (Med.)
Defn: That which produces insensibility to pain, as chloroform, ether, etc.
ANAESTHETIZATION An*æs`the*ti*za"tion, n.
Defn: The process of anæsthetizing; also, the condition of the nervous system induced by anæsthetics.
ANAESTHETIZE An*æs"the*tize, v. t. (Med.)
Defn: To render insensible by an anæsthetic. Encyc. Brit.
ANAGLYPH An"a*glyph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Any sculptured, chased, or embossed ornament worked in low relief, as a cameo.
ANAGLYPHIC An`a*glyph"ic, n.
Defn: Work chased or embossed relief.
ANAGLYPHIC; ANAGLYPHICAL An`a*glyph"ic, An`a*glyph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the art of chasing or embossing in relief; anaglyptic; — opposed to diaglyptic or sunk work.
ANAGLYPTIC An`a*glyp"tic, a. Etym: [L. anaglypticus, Gr. Anaglyph.]
Defn: Relating to the art of carving, enchasing, or embossing in low relief.
ANAGLYPTICS An`a*glyp"tics, n.
Defn: The art of carving in low relief, embossing, etc.
ANAGLYPTOGRAPH An`a*glyp"to*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: An instrument by which a correct engraving of any embossed object, such as a medal or cameo, can be executed. Brande & C.
ANAGLYPTOGRAPHIC An`a*glyp`to*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anaglyptography; as, analyptographic engraving.
ANAGLYPTOGRAPHY An`a*glyp*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: The art of copying works in relief, or of engraving as to give the subject an embossed or raised appearance; — used in representing coins, bas-reliefs, etc.
ANAGNORISIS An`ag*nor"i*sis, n. Etym: [Latinized fr. Gr.
Defn: The unfolding or dénouement. [R.] De Quincey.
ANAGOGE An`a*go"ge, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. An elevation of mind to things celestial.
2. The spiritual meaning or application; esp. the application of the types and allegories of the Old Testament to subjects of the New.
ANAGOGIC; ANAGOGICAL An`a*gog"ic, An`a*gog"ic*al, a.
Defn: Mystical; having a secondary spiritual meaning; as, the rest of the Sabbath, in an anagogical sense, signifies the repose of the saints in heaven; an anagogical explication. — An`a*gog"ic*al*ly, adv.
ANAGOGICS An`a*gog"ics, n. pl.
Defn: Mystical interpretations or studies, esp. of the Scriptures. L. Addison.
ANAGOGY An"a*go`gy, n.
Defn: Same as Anagoge.
ANAGRAM An"a*gram, n. Etym: [F. anagramme, LL. anagramma, fr. Gr. Graphic.]
Defn: Literally, the letters of a word read backwards, but in its usual wider sense, the change or one word or phrase into another by the transposition of its letters. Thus Galenus becomes angelus; William Noy (attorney-general to Charles I., and a laborious man) may be turned into I moyl in law.
ANAGRAM An"a*gram, v. t.
Defn: To anagrammatize. Some of these anagramed his name, Benlowes, into Benevolus. Warburton.
ANAGRAMMATIC; ANAGRAMMATICAL An`a*gram*mat"ic, An`a*gram*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. anagramtique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, containing, or making, anagram. — An`a*gram*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
ANAGRAMMATISM An`a*gram"ma*tism, n. Etym: [Gr. anagrammatisme.]
Defn: The act or practice of making anagrams. Camden.
ANAGRAMMATIST An`a*gram"ma*tist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anagrammatiste.]
Defn: A maker anagrams.
ANAGRAMMATIZE An`a*gram"ma*tize, v. t. Etym: [Gr. anagrammatiser.]
Defn: To transpose, as the letters of a word, so as to form an anagram. Cudworth.
ANAGRAPH An"a*graph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An inventory; a record. [Obs.] Knowles.
ANAKIM; ANAKS An"a*kim, A"naks, n. pl. Etym: [Heb.] (Bibl.)
Defn: A race of giants living in Palestine.
ANAL A"nal, a. Etym: [From Anus.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or situated near, the anus; as, the anal fin or glands.
ANALCIME A*nal"cime, n. Etym: [Gr. analcime.] (Min.)
Defn: A white or flesh-red mineral, of the zeolite, occurring in isometric crystals. By friction, it acquires a weak electricity; hence its name.
ANALCITE A*nal"cite, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Analcime.
ANALECTIC An`a*lec"tic, a.
Defn: Relating to analects; made up of selections; as, an analectic magazine.
ANALECTS; ANALECTA An"a*lects, An`a*lec"ta, n. pl. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A collection of literary fragments.
ANALEMMA An`a*lem"ma, n. Etym: [L. analemma a sun dial on a pedestal, showing the latitude and meridian of a place, Gr.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: An orthographic projection of the sphere on the plane of the meridian, the eye being supposed at an infinite distance, and in the east or west point of the horizon.
2. An instrument of wood or brass, on which this projection of the sphere is made, having a movable horizon or cursor; — formerly much used in solving some common astronomical problems.
3. A scale of the sun's declination for each day of the year, drawn across the torrid zone on an artificial terrestrial globe.
ANALEPSIS; ANALEPSY An"a*lep"sis, An"a*lep"sy, Etym: [Gr. Analemma.] (Med.) (a) Recovery of strength after sickness. (b) A species of epileptic attack, originating from gastric disorder.
ANALEPTIC An"a*lep"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. analeptique. See Analepsis.] (Med.)
Defn: Restorative; giving strength after disease. — n.
Defn: A restorative.
ANALGEN; ANALGENE An*al"gen, An*al"gene, n. [Gr. painless.]
Defn: A crystalline compound used as an antipyretic and analgesic, employed chiefly in rheumatism and neuralgia. It is a complex derivative of quinoline.
ANALGESIA An`al*ge"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Absence of sensibility to pain. Quain.
ANALLAGMATIC An`al*lag*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Math.)
Defn: Not changed in form by inversion. Anallagmatic curves, a class of curves of the fourth degree which have certain peculiar relations to circles; — sometimes called bicircular quartics. — Anallagmatic surfaces, a certain class of surfaces of the fourth degree.
ANALLANTOIC An`al*lan*to"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Without, or not developing, an allantois.
ANALLANTOIDEA An`al*lan*toid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. allantoidea.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Vertebrata in which no allantois is developed. It includes amphibians, fishes, and lower forms.
ANALOGAL A*nal"o*gal, a.
Defn: Analogous. [Obs.] Donne.
ANALOGIC An`a*log"ic, a. Etym: [See Analogous.]
Defn: Of or belonging to analogy. Geo. Eliot.
ANALOGICAL An`a*log"ic*al, a.
1. Founded on, or of the nature of, analogy; expressing or implying analogy. When a country which has sent out colonies is termed the mother country, the expression is analogical. J. S. Mill.
2. Having analogy; analogous. Sir M. Hale.
ANALOGICALLY An`a*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an analogical sense; in accordance with analogy; by way of similitude. A prince is analogically styled a pilot, being to the state as a pilot is to the vessel. Berkeley.
ANALOGICALNESS An`a*log"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being analogical.
ANALOGISM A*nal"o*gism, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. Logic
Defn: an argument from the cause to the effect; an a priori argument. Johnson.
2. Investigation of things by the analogy they bear to each other. Crabb.
ANALOGIST A*nal"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who reasons from analogy, or represent, by analogy. Cheyne.
ANALOGIZE A*nal"o*gize, v. i.
Defn: To employ, or reason by, analogy.
ANALOGON A*nal"o*gon, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Analogue.
ANALOGOUS A*nal"o*gous, a. Etym: [L. analogous, Gr. Logic.]
Defn: Having analogy; corresponding to something else; bearing some resemblance or proportion; — often followed by to. Analogous tendencies in arts and manners. De Quincey. Decay of public spirit, which may be considered analogous to natural death. J. H. Newman. nalogous pole (Pyroelect.), that pole of a crystal which becomes positively electrified when heated.
Syn. — Correspondent; similar; like. — A*nal"o gous*ly, adv. — A*nal"o*gous*ness, n.
ANALOGUE An"a*logue, n. Etym: [F.
1. That which is analogous to, or corresponds with, some other thing. The vexatious tyranny of the individual despot meets its analogue in the insolent tyranny of the many. I. Taylor.
2. (Philol.)
Defn: A word in one language corresponding with one in another; an analogous term; as, the Latin "pater" is the analogue of the English "father."
3. (Nat. Hist.) (a) An organ which is equivalent in its functions to a different organ in another species or group, or even in the same group; as, the gill of a fish is the analogue of a lung in a quadruped, although the two are not of like structural relations. (b) A species in one genus or group having its characters parallel, one by one, with those of another group. (c) A species or genus in one country closely related to a species of the same genus, or a genus of the same group, in another: such species are often called representative species, and such genera, representative genera. Dana.
ANALOGY A*nal"o*gy, n.; pl. Analogies. Etym: [L. analogia, Gr. analogie. See Analogous.]
1. A resemblance of relations; an agreement or likeness between things in some circumstances or effects, when the things are otherwise entirely different. Thus, learning enlightens the mind, because it is to the mind what light is to the eye, enabling it to discover things before hidden.
Note: Followed by between, to, or with; as, there is an analogy between these objects, or one thing has an analogy to or with another.
Note: Analogy is very commonly used to denote similarity or essential resemblance; but its specific meaning is a similarity of relations, and in this consists the difference between the argument from example and that from analogy. In the former, we argue from the mere similarity of two things; in the latter, from the similarity of their relations. Karslake.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A relation or correspondence in function, between organs or parts which are decidedly different.
3. (Geom.)
Defn: Proportion; equality of ratios.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: Conformity of words to the genius, structure, or general rules of a language; similarity of origin, inflection, or principle of pronunciation, and the like, as opposed to pl. analogies. Johnson.
ANALYSE; ANALYSER An"a*lyse, v., An"a*ly`ser, n., etc.
Defn: Same as Analyze, Analyzer, etc.
ANALYSIS A*nal"y*sis, n.; pl. Analyses. Etym: [Gr. Loose.]
1. A resolution of anything, whether an object of the senses or of the intellect, into its constituent or original elements; an examination of the component parts of a subject, each separately, as the words which compose a sentence, the tones of a tune, or the simple propositions which enter into an argument. It is opposed to synthesis.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: The separation of a compound substance, by chemical processes, into its constituents, with a view to ascertain either (a) what elements it contains, or (b) how much of each element is present. The former is called qualitative, and the latter quantitative analysis.
3. (Logic)
Defn: The tracing of things to their source, and the resolving of knowledge into its original principles.
4. (Math.)
Defn: The resolving of problems by reducing the conditions that are in them to equations.
5. (a) A syllabus, or table of the principal heads of a discourse, disposed in their natural order. (b) A brief, methodical illustration of the principles of a science. In this sense it is nearly synonymous with synopsis.
6. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: The process of ascertaining the name of a species, or its place in a system of classification, by means of an analytical table or key. Ultimate, Proximate, Qualitative, Quantitative, and Volumetric analysis. (Chem.) See under Ultimate, Proximate, Qualitative, etc.
ANALYST An"a*lyst, n. Etym: [F. analyste. See Analysis.]
Defn: One who analyzes; formerly, one skilled in algebraical geometry; now commonly, one skilled in chemical analysis.
ANALYTIC; ANALYTICAL An`a*lyt"ic, An`a*lyt"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. analytique. See Analysis.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to analysis; resolving into elements or constituent parts; as, an analytical experiment; analytic reasoning; — opposed to synthetic. Analytical or coördinate geometry. See under Geometry. — Analytic language, a noninflectional language or one not characterized by grammatical endings. — Analytical table (Nat. Hist.), a table in which the characteristics of the species or other groups are arranged so as to facilitate the determination of their names.
ANALYTICALLY An`a*lyt"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an analytical manner.
ANALYTICS An`a*lyt"ics, n.
Defn: The science of analysis.
ANALYZABLE An"a*ly`za*ble, a.
Defn: That may be analyzed.
ANALYZATION An`a*ly*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of analyzing, or separating into constituent parts; analysis.
ANALYZE An"a*lyze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Analyzed; p. pr. & vb. n. Analyzing.] Etym: [Cf. F. analyser. See Analysis.]
Defn: To subject to analysis; to resolve (anything complex) into its elements; to separate into the constituent parts, for the purpose of an examination of each separately; to examine in such a manner as to ascertain the elements or nature of the thing examined; as, to analyze a fossil substance; to analyze a sentence or a word; to analyze an action to ascertain its morality. No one, I presume, can analyze the sensations of pleasure or pain. Darwin.
ANALYZER An"a*ly`zer, n.
1. One who, or that which, analyzes.
2. (Opt.)
Defn: The part of a polariscope which receives the light after polarization, and exhibits its properties.
ANAMESE An`a*mese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Anam, to southeastern Asia. — n.
Defn: A native of Anam.
ANAMNESIS An`am*ne"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A recalling to mind; recollection.
ANAMNESTIC An`am*nes"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Aiding the memory; as, anamnestic remedies.
ANAMNIOTIC An*am`ni*ot"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Without, or not developing, an amnion.
ANAMORPHISM An`a*mor"phism, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. A distorted image.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A gradual progression from one type to another, generally ascending. Huxley.
ANAMORPHOSCOPE An`a*mor"pho*scope, n. [Anamorphosis + -scope.]
Defn: An instrument for restoring a picture or image distorted by anamorphosis to its normal proportions. It usually consists of a cylindrical mirror.
ANAMORPHOSIS An`a*mor"pho*sis, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Persp.)
Defn: A distorted or monstrous projection or representation of an image on a plane or curved surface, which, when viewed from a certain point, or as reflected from a curved mirror or through a polyhedron, appears regular and in proportion; a deformation of an image.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Anamorphism, 2.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A morbid or monstrous development, or change of form, or degeneration.
ANAMORPHOSY An`a*mor"pho*sy, n.
Defn: Same as Anamorphosis.
ANAN A*nan", interj. Etym: [See Anon.]
Defn: An expression equivalent to What did you say Sir Eh [Obs.] Shak.
ANANAS A*na"nas, n. Etym: [Sp. ananas, from the native American name.] (Bot.)
Defn: The pineapple (Ananassa sativa).
ANANDROUS An*an"drous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of stamen
ANANGULAR An*an"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Gr. angular.]
Defn: Containing no angle. [R.]
ANANTHEROUS An*an"ther*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. anther.] (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of anthers. Gray.
ANANTHOUS An*an"thous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of flowers; flowerless.
ANAPAEST; ANAPAESTIC An`a*pæst, An`a*pæs"tic.
Defn: Same as Anapest, Anapestic.
ANAPEST An"a*pest, n. Etym: [L. anapaestus, Gr. i.e., a dactyl reserved, or, as it were, struck back; fr.
1. (Pros.)
Defn: A metrical foot consisting of three syllables, the first two short, or unaccented, the last long, or accented; the reverse of the dactyl. In Latin d, and in English in-ter-vene, are examples of anapests.
2. A verse composed of such feet.
ANAPESTIC An`a*pes"tic, a. Etym: [L. anapaesticus, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to an anapest; consisting of an anapests; as, an anapestic meter, foot, verse. — n.
Defn: Anapestic measure or verse.
ANAPESTICAL An`a*pes"tic*al, a.
Defn: Anapestic.
ANAPHORA A*naph"o*ra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A repetition of a word or of words at the beginning of two or more successive clauses.
ANAPHRODISIA An*aph`ro*dis"i*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Absence of sexual appetite.
ANAPHRODISIAC An*aph`ro*dis"i*ac, a. & n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Antaphrodisiac. Dunglison.
ANAPHRODITIC An*aph`ro*dit"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Produced without concourse of sexes.
ANAPLASTIC An`a*plas"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anaplasty.
ANAPLASTY An`a*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Gr. anaplastie.] (Surg.)
Defn: The art of operation of restoring lost parts or the normal shape by the use of healthy tissue.
ANAPLEROTIC An`a*ple*rot"ic, a. Etym: [L. anapleroticus, fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Filling up; promoting granulation of wounds or ulcers. — n.
Defn: A remedy which promotes such granulation.
ANAPNOGRAPH A*nap"no*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: A form of spirometer.
ANAPNOIC An`ap*no"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Relating to respiration.
ANAPODEICTIC An*ap`o*deic"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. Apodeictic.]
Defn: Not apodeictic; undemonstrable. [R.]
ANAPOPHYSIS An`a*poph"y*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: An accessory process in many lumbar vertebræ.
ANAPTOTIC An`ap*tot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having lost, or tending to lose, inflections by phonetic decay; as, anaptotic languages.
ANAPTYCHUS An*ap"ty*chus, n.; pl. Anaptichi. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of a pair of shelly plates found in some cephalopods, as the ammonites.
ANARCH An"arch, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The author of anarchy; one who excites revolt. Milton. Imperial anarchs doubling human woes. Byron.
ANARCHAL A*nar"chal, a.
Defn: Lawless; anarchical. [R.] We are in the habit of calling those bodies of men anarchal which are in a state of effervescence. Landor.
ANARCHIC; ANARCHICAL A*nar"chic, A*nar"chic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. anarchique.]
Defn: Pertaining to anarchy; without rule or government; in political confusion; tending to produce anarchy; as, anarchic despotism; anarchical opinions.
ANARCHISM An"arch*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anarchisme.]
Defn: The doctrine or practice of anarchists.
ANARCHIST An"arch*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anarchiste.]
Defn: An anarch; one who advocates anarchy of aims at the overthrow of civil government.
ANARCHIZE An"arch*ize, v. t.
Defn: To reduce to anarchy.
ANARCHY An"arch*y, n. Etym: [Gr. anarchie. See Anarch.]
1. Absence of government; the state of society where there is no law or supreme power; a state of lawlessness; political confusion. Spread anarchy and terror all around. Cowper.
2. Hence, confusion or disorder, in general. There being then . . . an anarchy, as I may term it, in authors and their reFuller.
ANARTHROPODA An`ar*throp"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -poda. See Anarthrous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the divisions of Articulata in which there are no jointed legs, as the annelids; — opposed to Arthropoda.
ANARTHROPODOUS An`ar*throp"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having no jointed legs; pertaining to Anarthropoda.
ANARTHROUS An*ar"throus, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Gr. Gram.)
Defn: Used without the article; as, an anarthrous substantive.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Without joints, or having the joints indistinct, as some insects.
ANAS A"nas, n. Etym: [L., duck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of water fowls, of the order Anseres, including certain species of fresh-water ducks.
ANASARCA An`a*sar"ca, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Dropsy of the subcutaneous cellular tissue; an effusion of serum into the cellular substance, occasioning a soft, pale, inelastic swelling of the skin.
ANASARCOUS An`a*sar"cous, a.
Defn: Belonging, or affected by, anasarca, or dropsy; dropsical. Wiseman.
ANASEISMIC An`a*seis"mic, a. [Cf. Gr. a shaking up and down.]
Defn: Moving up and down; — said of earthquake shocks.
ANASTALTIC An`a*stal"tic, a. & n. Etym: [Gr. fitted for checking, fr. (Med.)
Defn: Styptic. [Obs.] Coxe.
ANASTATE An"a*state, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: One of a series of substances formed, in secreting cells, by constructive or anabolic processes, in the production of protoplasm; — opposed to katastate. Foster.
ANASTATIC An`a*stat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to a process or a style of printing from characters in relief on zinc plates.
Note: In this process the letterpress, engraving, or design of any kind is transferred to a zinc plate; the parts not covered with ink are eaten out, leaving a facsimile in relief to be printed from.
ANASTIGMATIC An*as`tig*mat"ic, a. [Pref. an-not + astigmatic.] (Optics)
Defn: Not astigmatic; —said esp. of a lens system which consists of a converging lens and a diverging lens of equal and opposite astigmatism but different focal lengths, and sensibly free from astigmatism.
ANASTOMOSE A*nas"to*mose, v. i. [imp. p. p. Anastomozed; p. pr. Anastomosing.] Etym: [Cf. F. anastomoser, fr. anastomose. See Anastomosis.] (Anat. & Bot.)
Defn: To inosculate; to intercommunicate by anastomosis, as the arteries and veins. The ribbing of the leaf, and the anastomosing network of its vessels. I. Taylor.
ANASTOMOSIS A*nas`to*mo"sis, n.; pl. Anastomoses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. anastomose.] (Anat. & Bot.)
Defn: The inosculation of vessels, or intercommunication between two or more vessels or nerves, as the cross communication between arteries or veins.
ANASTOMOTIC A*nas`to*mot"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anastomosis.
ANASTROPHE A*nas"tro*phe, n. Etym: [Gr. (Rhet. & Gram.)
Defn: An inversion of the natural order of words; as, echoed the hills, for, the hills echoed.
ANATHEMA A*nath"e*ma, n.; pl. Anathemas. Etym: [L. anath, fr. Gr. anath, fr. Gr. Thesis.]
1. A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, and accompanied by excommunication. Hence: Denunciation of anything as accursed. [They] denounce anathemas against unbelievers. Priestley.
2. An imprecation; a curse; a malediction. Finally she fled to London followed by the anathemas of both [families]. Thackeray.
3. Any person or thing anathematized, or cursed by ecclesiastical authority. The Jewish nation were an anathema destined to destruction. St. Paul . . . says he could wish, to save them from it, to become an anathema, and be destroyed himself. Locke. Anathema Maranatha Etym: (see 1 Cor. xvi. 22), an expression commonly considered as a highly intensified form of anathema. Maran atha is now considered as a separate sentence, meaning, "Our Lord cometh."
ANATHEMATIC; ANATHEMATICAL A*nath`e*mat"ic, A*nath`e*mat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or having the nature of, an anathema. — A*nath`e*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
ANATHEMATISM A*nath"e*ma*tism, n. Etym: [Gr. anathématisme.]
Defn: Anathematization. [Obs.] We find a law of Justinian forbidding anathematisms to be pronounced against the Jewish Hellenists. J. Taylor.
ANATHEMATIZATION A*nath`e*ma*ti*za"tion, n. Etym: [LL. anathematisatio.]
Defn: The act of anathematizing, or denouncing as accursed; imprecation. Barrow.
ANATHEMATIZE A*nath"e*ma*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anathematized; p. pr. & vb. n. Anathematizing.] Etym: [L. anathematizare, Gr. anathématiser.]
Defn: To pronounce an anathema against; to curse. Hence: To condemn publicly as something accursed. Milton.
ANATHEMATIZER A*nath"e*ma*ti`zer, n.
Defn: One who pronounces an anathema. Hammond.
ANATIFA A*nat"i*fa, n.; pl. Anatifæ. Etym: [NL., contr. fr. anatifera. See Anatiferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal of the barnacle tribe, of the genus Lepas, having a fleshy stem or peduncle; a goose barnacle. See Cirripedia.
Note: The term Anatifæ, in the plural, is often used for the whole group of pedunculated cirripeds.
ANATIFER A*nat"i*fer,, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Anatifa.
ANATIFEROUS An`a*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. anas, anatis, a duck + -ferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Producing ducks; — applied to Anatifæ, under the absurd notion of their turning into ducks or geese. See Barnacle.
ANATINE An"a*tine, a. Etym: [L. anatinus, fr. anas, anatis, a duck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the ducks; ducklike.
ANATOCISM A*nat"o*cism, n. Etym: [L. anatocismus, Gr. (Law)
Defn: Compound interest. [R.] Bouvier.
ANATOMIC; ANATOMICAL An`a*tom"ic, An`a*tom"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. anatomicus, Gr. anatomique. See Anatomy.]
Defn: Of or relating to anatomy or dissection; as, the anatomic art; anatomical observations. Hume.
ANATOMICALLY An`a*tom"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an anatomical manner; by means of dissection.
ANATOMISM A*nat"o*mism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anatomisme.]
1. The application of the principles of anatomy, as in art. The stretched and vivid anatomism of their [i. e., the French] great figure painters. The London Spectator.
2. The doctrine that the anatomical structure explains all the phenomena of the organism or of animal life.
ANATOMIST A*nat"o*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anatomiste.]
Defn: One who is skilled in the art of anatomy, or dissection.
ANATOMIZATION A*nat`o*mi*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of anatomizing.
ANATOMIZE A*nat"o*mize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anatomized; p. pr. & vb. n. Anatomizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. anatomiser.]
1. To dissect; to cut in pieces, as an animal vegetable body, for the purpose of displaying or examining the structure and use of the several parts.
2. To discriminate minutely or carefully; to analyze. If we anatomize all other reasonings of this nature, we shall find that they are founded on the relation of cause and effect. Hume.
ANATOMIZER A*nat"o*mi`zer, n.
Defn: A dissector.
ANATOMY A*nat"o*my, n.; pl. Anatomies. Etym: [F. anatomie, L. anatomia, Gr.
1. The art of dissecting, or artificially separating the different parts of any organized body, to discover their situation, structure, and economy; dissection.
2. The science which treats of the structure of organic bodies; anatomical structure or organization. Let the muscles be well inserted and bound together, according to the knowledge of them which is given us by anatomy. Dryden.
Note: "Animal anatomy" is sometimes called zomy; "vegetable anatomy," phytotomy; "human anatomy," anthropotomy. Comparative anatomy compares the structure of different kinds and classes of animals.
3. A treatise or book on anatomy.
4. The act of dividing anything, corporeal or intellectual, for the purpose of examining its parts; analysis; as, the anatomy of a discourse.
5. A skeleton; anything anatomized or dissected, or which has the appearance of being so. The anatomy of a little child, representing all parts thereof, is accounted a greater rarity than the skeleton of a man in full stature. Fuller. They brought one Pinch, a hungry, lean-faced villain, A mere anatomy. Shak.
ANATREPTIC An`a*trep"tic, a. Etym: [overturning, fr.
Defn: Overthrowing; defeating; — applied to Plato's refutative dialogues. Enfield.
ANATRON An"a*tron, n. Etym: [F. anatron, natron, Sp. anatron, natron, fr. Ar. al-natr. See Natron, Niter.] [Obs.]
1. Native carbonate of soda; natron.
2. Glass gall or sandiver.
3. Saltpeter. Coxe. Johnson.
ANATROPAL; ANATROPOUS A*nat"ro*pal, A*nat"ro*pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the ovule inverted at an early period in its development, so that the chalaza is as the apparent apex; — opposed to orthotropous. Gray.
ANATTO A*nat"to, n.
Defn: Same as Annotto.
ANBURY; AMBURY An"bur*y, Am"bur*y, n. Etym: [AS. ampre, ompre, a crooked swelling vein: cf. Prov. E. amper a tumor with inflammation. Cf. the first syllable in agnail, and berry a fruit.]
1. (Far.)
Defn: A soft tumor or bloody wart on horses or oxen.
2. A disease of the roots of turnips, etc.; — called also fingers and toes.
ANCE *ance. Etym: [F. -ance, fr. L. -antia and also fr. -entia.]
Defn: A suffix signifying action; also, quality or state; as, assistance, resistance, appearance, elegance. See -ancy.
Note: All recently adopted words of this class take either -ance or - ence, according to the Latin spelling.
-ANCE -ance. [F. -ance, fr. L. -antia and also fr. -entia.]
Defn: A suffix signifying action; also, quality or state; as, assistance, resistance, appearance, elegance. See -ancy.
All recently adopted words of this class take either -ance or -ence, according to the Latin spelling.
ANCESTOR An"ces*tor, n. Etym: [OE. ancestre, auncestre, also ancessour; the first forms fr. OF. ancestre, F. ancêtre, fr. the L. nom. antessor one who goes before; the last form fr. OF. ancessor, fr. L. acc. antecessorem, fr. antecedere to go before; ante before + cedere to go. See Cede, and cf. Antecessor.]
1. One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a fore father.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: An earlier type; a progenitor; as, this fossil animal is regarded as the ancestor of the horse.
3. (Law)
Defn: One from whom an estate has descended; — the correlative of heir.
ANCESTORIAL An`ces*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Ancestral. Grote.
ANCESTORIALLY An`ces*to"ri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: With regard to ancestors.
ANCESTRAL An*ces"tral, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, derived from, or possessed by, an ancestor or ancestors; as, an ancestral estate. "Ancestral trees." Hemans.
ANCESTRESS An"ces*tress, n.
Defn: A female ancestor.
ANCESTRY An"ces*try, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. ancesserie. See Ancestor.]
1. Condition as to ancestors; ancestral lineage; hence, birth or honorable descent. Title and ancestry render a good man more illustrious, but an ill one more contemptible. Addison.
2. A series of ancestors or progenitors; lineage, or those who compose the line of natural descent.
ANCHOR An"chor, n. Etym: [OE. anker, AS. ancor, oncer, L. ancora, sometimes spelt anchora, fr. Gr. angle: cf. F. ancre. See Angle, n.]
1. A iron instrument which is attached to a ship by a cable (rope or chain), and which, being cast overboard, lays hold of the earth by a fluke or hook and thus retains the ship in a particular station.
Note: The common anchor consists of a straight bar called a shank, having at one end a transverse bar called a stock, above which is a ring for the cable, and at the other end the crown, from which branch out two or more arms with flukes, forming with the shank a suitable angle to enter the ground.
Note: Formerly the largest and strongest anchor was the sheet anchor (hence, Fig., best hope or last refuge), called also waist anchor. Now the bower and the sheet anchor are usually alike. Then came the best bower and the small bower (so called from being carried on the bows). The stream anchor is one fourth the weight of the bower anchor. Kedges or kedge anchors are light anchors used in warping.
2. Any instrument or contrivance serving a purpose like that of a ship's anchor, as an arrangement of timber to hold a dam fast; a contrivance to hold the end of a bridge cable, or other similar part; a contrivance used by founders to hold the core of a mold in place.
3. Fig.: That which gives stability or security; that on which we place dependence for safety. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul. Heb. vi. 19.
4. (Her.)
Defn: An emblem of hope.
5. (Arch.) (a) A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together. (b) Carved work, somewhat resembling an anchor or arrowhead; — a part of the ornaments of certain moldings. It is seen in the echinus, or egg-and-anchor (called also egg-and-dart, egg-and-tongue) ornament.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges; also, one of the calcareous spinules of certain Holothurians, as in species of Synapta. Anchor ice. See under Ice. — Anchor ring. (Math.) Same as Annulus, 2 (b). — Anchor stock (Naut.), the crossbar at the top of the shank at right angles to the arms. — The anchor comes home, when it drags over the bottom as the ship drifts. — Foul anchor, the anchor when it hooks, or is entangled with, another anchor, or with a cable or wreck, or when the slack cable entangled. — The anchor is acockbill, when it is suspended perpendicularly from the cathead, ready to be let go. — The anchor is apeak, when the cable is drawn in do tight as to bring to ship directly over it. — The anchor is atrip, or aweigh, when it is lifted out of the ground. — The anchor is awash, when it is hove up to the surface of the water. — At anchor, anchored. — To back an anchor, to increase the holding power by laying down a small anchor ahead of that by which the ship rides, with the cable fastened to the crown of the latter to prevent its coming home. — To cast anchor, to drop or let go an anchor to keep a ship at rest. — To cat the anchor, to hoist the anchor to the cathead and pass the ring-stopper. — To fish the anchor, to hoist the flukes to their resting place (called the bill-boards), and pass the shank painter. — To weigh anchor, to heave or raise the anchor so as to sail away.
ANCHOR An"chor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anchored; p. pr. & vb. n. Anchoring.] Etym: [Cf. F. ancrer.]
1. To place at anchor; to secure by an anchor; as, to anchor a ship.
2. To fix or fasten; to fix in a stable condition; as, to anchor the cables of a suspension bridge. Till that my nails were anchored in thine eyes. Shak.
ANCHOR An"chor, v. i.
1. To cast anchor; to come to anchor; as, our ship (or the captain) anchored in the stream.
2. To stop; to fix or rest. My invention . . . anchors on Isabel. Shak.
ANCHOR An"chor, n. Etym: [OE. anker, ancre, AS. ancra, fr. L. anachoreta. See Anchoret.]
Defn: An anchoret. [Obs.] Shak.
ANCHORABLE An"chor*a*ble, a.
Defn: Fit for anchorage.
ANCHORAGE An"chor*age, n.
1. The act of anchoring, or the condition of lying at anchor.
2. A place suitable for anchoring or where ships anchor; a hold for an anchor.
3. The set of anchors belonging to a ship.
4. Something which holds like an anchor; a hold; as, the anchorages of the Brooklyn Bridge.
5. Something on which one may depend for security; ground of trust.
6. A toll for anchoring; anchorage duties. Johnson.
ANCHORAGE An"cho*rage, n.
Defn: Abode of an anchoret.
ANCHORATE An"chor*ate, a.
Defn: Anchor-shaped.
ANCHORED An"chored, a.
1. Held by an anchor; at anchor; held safely; as, an anchored bark; also, shaped like an anchor; forked; as, an anchored tongue.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Having the extremities turned back, like the flukes of an anchor; as, an anchored cross. [Sometimes spelt ancred.]
ANCHOR ESCAPEMENT An"chor es*cape"ment. (Horol.) (a) The common recoil escapement. (b) A variety of the lever escapement with a wide impulse pin.
ANCHORESS An"cho*ress, n.
Defn: A female anchoret. And there, a saintly anchoress, she dwelt. Wordsworth.
ANCHORET; ANCHORITE An"cho*ret, An"cho*rite, n. Etym: [F. anachorète, L. anachoreta, fr. Gr. ha to leave. Cf. Anchor a hermit.]
Defn: One who renounces the world and secludes himself, usually for religious reasons; a hermit; a recluse. [Written by some authors anachoret.] Our Savior himself . . . did not choose an anchorite's or a monastic life, but a social and affable way of conversing with mortals. Boyle.
ANCHORETIC; ANCHORETICAL An`cho*ret"ic, An`cho*ret"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to an anchoret or hermit; after the manner of an anchoret.
ANCHORETISH An"cho*ret`ish, a.
Defn: Hermitlike.
ANCHORETISM An"cho*ret*ism, n.
Defn: The practice or mode of life of an anchoret.
ANCHOR-HOLD An"chor-hold`, n.
1. The hold or grip of an anchor, or that to which it holds.
2. Hence: Firm hold: security.
ANCHORITE An"cho*rite, n.
Defn: Same as Anchoret.
ANCHORITESS An"cho*ri`tess, n.
Defn: An anchoress. [R.]
ANCHORLESS An"chor*less, a.
Defn: Without an anchor or stay. Hence: Drifting; unsettled.
ANCHOR LIGHT Anchor light. (Naut.)
Defn: The lantern shown at night by a vessel at anchor. International rules of the road require vessels at anchor to carry from sunset to sunrise a single white light forward if under 150 feet in length, and if longer, two such lights, one near the stern and one forward.
ANCHOR SHOT Anchor shot. (Billiards)
Defn: A shot made with the object balls in an anchor space.
ANCHOR SPACE Anchor space. (Billiards)
Defn: In the balk-line game, any of eight spaces, 7 inches by 3½, lying along a cushion and bisected transversely by a balk line. Object balls in an anchor space are treated as in balk.
ANCHOR WATCH Anchor watch. (Naut.)
Defn: A detail of one or more men who keep watch on deck at night when a vessel is at anchor.
ANCHOVY An*cho"vy, n. Etym: [Sp. anchoa, anchova, or Pg. anchova, prob. of Iberian origin, and lit. a dried or pickled fish, fr. Bisc. antzua dry: cf. D. anchovis, F. anchois.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fish, about three inches in length, of the Herring family (Engraulis encrasicholus), caught in vast numbers in the Mediterranean, and pickled for exportation. The name is also applied to several allied species.
ANCHOVY PEAR An*cho"vy pear`. (Bot.)
Defn: A West Indian fruit like the mango in taste, sometimes pickled; also, the tree (Grias cauliflora) bearing this fruit.
ANCHUSIN An"chu*sin, n. Etym: [L. anchusa the plant alkanet, Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A resinoid coloring matter obtained from alkanet root.
ANCHYLOSE An"chy*lose, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Anchylosed; p. pr. & vb. n. Anchylosing.] Etym: [Cf. F. ankyloser.]
Defn: To affect or be affected with anchylosis; to unite or consolidate so as to make a stiff joint; to grow together into one. [Spelt also ankylose.] Owen.
ANCHYLOSIS; ANKYLOSIS An`chy*lo"sis, An`ky*lo"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. ankylose.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Stiffness or fixation of a joint; formation of a stiff joint. Dunglison.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The union of two or more separate bones to from a single bone; the close union of bones or other structures in various animals.
ANCHYLOTIC An`chy*lot"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anchylosis.
ANCIENT An"cient, a. Etym: [OE. auncien, F. ancien, LL. antianus, fr. L. ante before. See Ante-, pref.]
1. Old; that happened or existed in former times, usually at a great distance of time; belonging to times long past; specifically applied to the times before the fall of the Roman empire; — opposed to modern; as, ancient authors, literature, history; ancient days. Witness those ancient empires of the earth. Milton. Gildas Albanius . . . much ancienter than his namesake surnamed the Wise. Fuller.
2. Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle. "Our ancient bickerings." Shak. Remove not the ancient landmarks, which thy fathers have set. Prov. xxii. 28. An ancient man, strangely habited, asked for quarters. Scott.
3. Known for a long time, or from early times; — opposed to recent or new; as, the ancient continent. A friend, perhaps, or an ancient acquaintance. Barrow.
4. Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable. [Archaic] He wrought but some few hours of the day, and then would he seem very grave and ancient. Holland.
5. Experienced; versed. [Obs.] Though [he] was the youngest brother, yet he was the most ancient in the business of the realm. Berners.
6. Former; sometime. [Obs.] They mourned their ancient leader lost. Pope. Ancient demesne (Eng. Law), a tenure by which all manors belonging to the crown, in the reign of William the Conqueror, were held. The numbers, names, etc., of these were all entered in a book called Domesday Book. — Ancient lights (Law), windows and other openings which have been enjoined without molestation for more than twenty years. In England, and in some of the United States, they acquire a prescriptive right.
Syn. — Old; primitive; pristine; antique; antiquated; old-fashioned; obsolete. — Ancient, Antiquated, Obsolete, Antique, Antic, Old. — Ancient is opposed to modern, and has antiquity; as, an ancient family, ancient landmarks, ancient institutions, systems of thought, etc. Antiquated describes that which has gone out of use or fashion; as, antiquated furniture, antiquated laws, rules, etc. Obsolete is commonly used, instead of antiquated, in reference to language, customs, etc.; as, an obsolete word or phrase, an obsolete expression. Antique is applied, in present usage, either to that which has come down from the ancients; as, an antique cameo, bust, etc. ; or to that which is made to imitate some ancient work of art; as, an antique temple. In the days of Shakespeare, antique was often used for ancient; as, "an antique song," "an antique Roman;" and hence, from singularity often attached to what is ancient, it was used in the sense of grotesque; as, "an oak whose antique root peeps out; " and hence came our present word antic, denoting grotesque or ridiculous. We usually apply both ancient and old to things subject to gradual decay. We say, an old man, an ancient record; but never, the old stars, an old river or mountain. In general, however, ancient is opposed to modern, and old to new, fresh, or recent. When we speak of a thing that existed formerly, which has ceased to exist, we commonly use ancient; as, ancient republics, ancient heroes; and not old republics, old heroes. But when the thing which began or existed in former times is still in existence, we use either ancient or old; as, ancient statues or paintings, or old statues or paintings; ancient authors, or old authors, meaning books.