Chapter XI: Front Matter (11)

Defn: An artificial or affected manner; show of pride or vanity; haughtiness; as, it is said of a person, he puts on airs. Thackeray.

14. (Paint.) (a) The representation or reproduction of the effect of the atmospheric medium through which every object in nature is viewed. New Am. Cyc. (b) Carriage; attitude; action; movement; as, the head of that portrait has a good air. Fairholt.

15. (Man.)

Defn: The artificial motion or carriage of a horse.

Note: Air is much used adjectively or as the first part of a compound term. In most cases it might be written indifferently, as a separate limiting word, or as the first element of the compound term, with or without the hyphen; as, air bladder, air-bladder, or airbladder; air cell, air-cell, or aircell; air-pump, or airpump. Air balloon. See Balloon. -- Air bath. (a) An apparatus for the application of air to the body. (b) An arrangement for drying substances in air of any desired temperature. -- Air castle. See Castle in the air, under Castle. -- Air compressor, a machine for compressing air to be used as a motive power. -- Air crossing, a passage for air in a mine. -- Air cushion, an air-tight cushion which can be inflated; also, a device for arresting motion without shock by confined air. -- Air fountain, a contrivance for producing a jet of water by the force of compressed air. -- Air furnace, a furnace which depends on a natural draft and not on blast. -- Air line, a straight line; a bee line. Hence Air-line, adj.; as, air-line road. -- Air lock (Hydr. Engin.), an intermediate chamber between the outer air and the compressed-air chamber of a pneumatic caisson. Knight. -- Air port (Nav.), a scuttle or porthole in a ship to admit air. -- Air spring, a spring in which the elasticity of air is utilized. -- Air thermometer, a form of thermometer in which the contraction and expansion of air is made to measure changes of temperature. -- Air threads, gossamer. -- Air trap, a contrivance for shutting off foul air or gas from drains, sewers, etc.; a stench trap. -- Air trunk, a pipe or shaft for conducting foul or heated air from a room. -- Air valve, a valve to regulate the admission or egress of air; esp. a valve which opens inwardly in a steam boiler and allows air to enter. -- Air way, a passage for a current of air; as the air way of an air pump; an air way in a mine. -- In the air. (a) Prevalent without traceable origin or authority, as rumors. (b) Not in a fixed or stable position; unsettled. (c) (Mil.) Unsupported and liable to be turned or taken in flank; as, the army had its wing in the air. -- To take air, to be divulged; to be made public. -- To take the air, to go abroad; to walk or ride out.

AIR Air, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aired; p. pr. & vb. n. Airing.] Etym: [See Air, n., and cf. A.]

1. To expose to the air for the purpose of cooling, refreshing, or purifying; to ventilate; as, to air a room. It were good wisdom . . . that the jail were aired. Bacon. Were you but riding forth to air yourself. Shak.

2. To expose for the sake of public notice; to display ostentatiously; as, to air one's opinion. Airing a snowy hand and signet gem. Tennyson.

3. To expose to heat, for the purpose of expelling dampness, or of warming; as, to air linen; to air liquors.

AIR BED Air" bed`.

Defn: A sack or matters inflated with air, and used as a bed.

AIR BLADDER Air" blad`der.

1. (Anat.)

Defn: An air sac, sometimes double or variously lobed, in the visceral cavity of many fishes. It originates in the same way as the lungs of air-breathing vertebrates, and in the adult may retain a tubular connection with the pharynx or esophagus.

2. A sac or bladder full of air in an animal or plant; also an air hole in a casting.

AIR BRAKE Air" brake`. (Mach.)

Defn: A railway brake operated by condensed air. Knight.

AIR BRUSH Air brush.

Defn: A kind of atomizer for applying liquid coloring matter in a spray by compressed air.

AIR-BUILT Air"-built`, a.

Defn: Erected in the air; having no solid foundation; chimerical; as, an air-built castle.

AIR CELL Air" cell`.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A cavity in the cellular tissue of plants, containing air only.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: A receptacle of air in various parts of the system; as, a cell or minute cavity in the walls of the air tubes of the lungs; the air sac of birds; a dilatation of the air vessels in insects.

AIR CHAMBER Air" cham`ber.

1. A chamber or cavity filled with air, in an animal or plant.

2. A cavity containing air to act as a spring for equalizing the flow of a liquid in a pump or other hydraulic machine.

AIR COCK Air" cock`.

Defn: A faucet to allow escape of air.

AIR COOLING Air cooling.

Defn: In gasoline-engine motor vehicles, the cooling of the cylinder by increasing its radiating surface by means of ribs or radiators, and placing it so that it is exposed to a current of air. Cf. Water cooling. -- Air"-cooled`, a.

AIRCRAFT Air"craft`, n. sing. & pl.

Defn: Any device, as a balloon, aëroplane, etc., for floating in, or flying through, the air.

AIR-DRAWN Air"-drawn", a.

Defn: Drawn in air; imaginary. This is the air-drawn dagger. Shak.

AIR DRILL Air" drill`.

Defn: A drill driven by the elastic pressure of condensed air; a pneumatic drill. Knight.

AIR ENGINE Air" engine`.

Defn: An engine driven by heated or by compressed air. Knight.

AIRER Air"er, n.

1. One who exposes to the air.

2. A frame on which clothes are aired or dried.

AIR GAP Air gap. (Physics)

Defn: An air-filled gap in a magnetic or electric circuit; specif., in a dynamo or motor, the space between the field-magnet poles and the armature; clearance.

AIR GAS Air" gas`.

Defn: See under Gas.

AIR GUN Air" gun`.

Defn: A kind of gun in which the elastic force of condensed air is used to discharge the ball. The air is powerfully compressed into a reservoir attached to the gun, by a condensing pump, and is controlled by a valve actuated by the trigger.

AIR HOLE Air" hole`.

1. A hole to admit or discharge air; specifically, a spot in the ice not frozen over.

2. (Founding)

Defn: A fault in a casting, produced by a bubble of air; a blowhole.

AIRILY Air"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In an airy manner; lightly; gaily; jauntily; fippantly.

AIRINESS Air"i*ness, n.

1. The state or quality of being airy; openness or exposure to the air; as, the airiness of a country seat.

2. Lightness of spirits; gayety; levity; as, the airiness of young persons.

AIRING Air"ing, n.

1. A walk or a ride in the open air; a short excursion for health's sake.

2. An exposure to air, or to a fire, for warming, drying, etc.; as, the airing of linen, or of a room.

AIR JACKET Air" jack`et.

Defn: A jacket having air-tight cells, or cavities which can be filled with air, to render persons buoyant in swimming.

AIRLESS Air"less, a.

Defn: Not open to a free current of air; wanting fresh air, or communication with the open air.

AIR LEVEL Air" lev`el.

Defn: Spirit level. See Level.

AIRLIKE Air"like`, a.

Defn: Resembling air.

AIR LINE Air line.

Defn: A path through the air made easy for aërial navigation by steady winds.

AIRLING Air"ling, n.

Defn: A thoughtless, gay person. [Obs.] "Slight airlings." B. Jonson.

AIRMAN Air"man, n.

Defn: A man who ascends or flies in an aircraft; a flying machine pilot.

AIRMANSHIP Air"man*ship, n.

Defn: Art, skill, or ability in the practice of aërial navigation.

AIROL Air"ol, n. (Pharm.)

Defn: A grayish green antiseptic powder, consisting of a basic iodide and gallate of bismuth, sometimes used in place of iodoform. [A Trademark]

AIROMETER Air*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Air + -meter.]

Defn: A hollow cylinder to contain air. It is closed above and open below, and has its open end plunged into water.

AIR PIPE Air" pipe`.

Defn: A pipe for the passage of air; esp. a ventilating pipe.

AIR PLANT Air" plant`. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant deriving its sustenance from the air alone; an aërophyte.

Note: The "Florida moss" (Tillandsia), many tropical orchids, and most mosses and lichens are air plants. Those which are lodged upon trees, but not parasitic on them, are epiphytes.

AIR POISE Air" poise`. Etym: [See Poise.]

Defn: A

AIR PUMP Air" pump`.

1. (Physics)

Defn: A kind of pump for exhausting air from a vessel or closed space; also, a pump to condense air of force in into a closed space.

2. (Steam Engines)

Defn: A pump used to exhaust from a condenser the condensed steam, the water used for condensing, and any commingled air.

AIR SAC Air" sac`. (Anat.)

Defn: One of the spaces in different parts. of the bodies of birds, which are filled with air and connected with the air passages of the lungs; an air cell.

AIR SHAFT Air" shaft`.

Defn: A passage, usually vertical, for admitting fresh air into a mine or a tunnel.

AIRSICK Air`sick`, a.

Defn: Affected with aërial sickness. -- Air"sick`ness, n.

AIR-SLACKED Air"-slacked`, a.

Defn: Slacked, or pulverized, by exposure to the air; as, air-slacked lime.

AIR STOVE Air" stove`.

Defn: A stove for heating a current of air which is directed against its surface by means of pipes, and then distributed through a building.

AIR-TIGHT Air"-tight`, a.

Defn: So tight as to be impermeable to air; as, an air-tight cylinder.

AIR-TIGHT Air"-tight`, n.

Defn: A stove the draft of which can be almost entirely shut off. [Colloq. U. S.]

AIR VESSEL Air" ves`sel.

Defn: A vessel, cell, duct, or tube containing or conducting air; as the air vessels of insects, birds, plants, etc.; the air vessel of a pump, engine, etc. For the latter, see Air chamber. The air vessels of insects are called tracheæ, of plants spiral vessels.

AIRWARD; AIRWARDS Air"ward, Air"wards, adv.

Defn: Toward the air; upward. [R.] Keats.

AIRWOMAN Air"wom`an, n.

Defn: A woman who ascends or flies in an aircraft.

AIRY Air"y, a.

1. Consisting of air; as, an airy substance; the airy parts of bodies.

2. Relating or belonging to air; high in air; aërial; as, an airy flight. "The airy region." Milton.

3. Open to a free current of air; exposed to the air; breezy; as, an airy situation.

4. Resembling air; thin; unsubstantial; not material; airlike. "An airy spirit." Shak.

5. Relating to the spirit or soul; delicate; graceful; as, airy music.

6. Without reality; having no solid foundation; empty; trifling; visionary. "Airy fame." Shak. Empty sound, and airy notions. Roscommon.

7. Light of heart; vivacious; sprightly; flippant; superficial. "Merry and airy." Jer. Taylor.

8. Having an affected manner; being in the habit of putting on airs; affectedly grand. [Colloq.]

9. (Paint.)

Defn: Having the light and aërial tints true to nature. Elmes.

AISLE Aisle, n. Etym: [OF. ele, F. aile, wing, wing of a building, L. ala, contr. fr. axilla.] (Arch.) (a) A lateral division of a building, separated from the middle part, called the nave, by a row of columns or piers, which support the roof or an upper wall containing windows, called the clearstory wall. (b) Improperly used also for the have; -- as in the phrases, a church with three aisles, the middle aisle. (c) Also (perhaps from confusion with alley), a passage into which the pews of a church open.

AISLED Aisled, a.

Defn: Furnished with an aisle or aisles.

AISLESS Ais"less, a.

Defn: Without an aisle.

AIT Ait, n. Etym: [AS. ieg, ig, island. See Eyot.]

Defn: An islet, or little isle, in a river or lake; an eyot. The ait where the osiers grew. R. Hodges (1649). Among green aits and meadows. Dickens.

AIT Ait, n.

Defn: Oat. [Scot.] Burns.

AITCH Aitch, n.

Defn: The letter h or H.

AITCHBONE Aitch"bone`, n. Etym: [For nachebone. For loss of n, cf. Adder. See Natch.]

Defn: The bone of the rump; also, the cut of beef surrounding this bone. [Spelt also edgebone.]

AITIOLOGY Ai`ti*ol"o*gy, n.

Defn: See Ætiology.

AJAR A*jar", adv. Etym: [OE. on char ajar, on the turn; AS. cerr, cyrr, turn, akin to G. kehren to turn, and to D. akerre. See Char.]

Defn: Slightly turned or opened; as, the door was standing ajar.

AJAR A*jar", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + jar.]

Defn: In a state of discord; out of harmony; as, he is ajar with the world.

AJAVA Aj"a*va, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Ajouan.

AJOG A*jog", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + jog.]

Defn: On the jog.

AJOUAN; AJOWAN Aj"ou*an Aj"ow*an, n. [Written also ajwain.] [Prob. native name.] (Bot.)

Defn: The fruit of Ammi Copticum, syn. Carum Ajowan, used both as a medicine and as a condiment. An oil containing thymol is extracted from it. Called also Javanee seed, Javanese seed, and ajava.

AJUTAGE Aj"u*tage, n. Etym: [F. ajutage, for ajoutage, fr. ajouter to add, LL. adjuxtare, fr. L. ad + juxta near to, nigh. Cf. Adjutage, Adjustage, Adjust.]

Defn: A tube through which is water is discharged; an efflux tube; as, the ajutage of a fountain.

AKE Ake, n. & v.

Defn: See Ache.

AKENE A*kene", n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Achene.

AKETON Ak"e*ton, n. [Obs.]

Defn: See Acton.

AKIMBO A*kim"bo, a. Etym: [Etymology unknown. Cf. Kimbo.]

Defn: With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward. "With one arm akimbo." Irving.

AKIN A*kin", a. Etym: [Pref. a- (for of) + kin.]

1. Of the same kin; related by blood; -- used of persons; as, the two families are near akin.

2. Allied by nature; partaking of the same properties; of the same kind. "A joy akin to rapture." Cowper. The literary character of the work is akin to its moral character. Jeffrey.

Note: This adjective is used only after the noun.

AKINESIA Ak`i*ne"si*a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Paralysis of the motor nerves; loss of movement. Foster.

AKINESIC Ak`i*ne"sic, a. (med.)

Defn: Pertaining to akinesia.

AKNEE A*knee", adv.

Defn: On the knee. [R.] Southey.

AKNOW Ak*now".

Defn: Earlier form of Acknow. [Obs.] To be aknow, to acknowledge; to confess. [Obs.]

AL Al, a.

Defn: All. [Obs.] Chaucer.

AL- Al-. A prefix. (a) Etym: [AS. eal.]

Defn: All; wholly; completely; as, almighty,almost. (b) Etym: [L. ad.]

Defn: To; at; on; -- in OF. shortened to a-. See Ad-. (c) The Arabic definite article answering to the English the; as, Alkoran, the Koran or the Book; alchemy, the chemistry.

AL Al. conj.

Defn: Although; if. [Obs.] See All, conj.

ALA A"la, n.; pl. Alæ. Etym: [L., a wing.] (Biol.)

Defn: A winglike organ, or part.

ALABAMA PERIOD Al`a*ba"ma pe"ri*od. (Geol.)

Defn: A period in the American eocene, the lowest in the tertiary age except the lignitic.

ALABASTER Al"a*bas"ter, n. Etym: [L. alabaster, Gr. Alabastron, the name of a town in Egypt, near which it was common: cf. OF. alabastre, F. albâtre.]

1. (Min.) (a) A compact variety or sulphate of lime, or gypsum, of fine texture, and usually white and translucent, but sometimes yellow, red, or gray. It is carved into vases, mantel ornaments, etc. (b) A hard, compact variety of carbonate of lime, somewhat translucent, or of banded shades of color; stalagmite. The name is used in this sense by Pliny. It is sometimes distinguished as oriental alabaster.

2. A box or vessel for holding odoriferous ointments, etc.; -- so called from the stone of which it was originally made. Fosbroke.

ALABASTRIAN Al`a*bas"tri*an, a.

Defn: Alabastrine.

ALABASTRINE Al`a*bas"trine, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or like, alabaster; as alabastrine limbs.

ALABASTRUM Al`a*bas"trum, n.; pl. Alabastra. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)

Defn: A flower bud. Gray.

ALACK A*lack", interj. Etym: [Prob. from ah! lack! OE. lak loss, failure, misfortune. See Lack.]

Defn: An exclamation expressive of sorrow. [Archaic. or Poet.] Shak.

ALACKADAY A*lack"a*day`, interj. Etym: [For alack the day. Cf. Lackaday.]

Defn: An exclamation expressing sorrow.

Note: Shakespeare has "alack the day" and "alack the heavy day." Compare "woe worth the day."

ALACRIFY A*lac"ri*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. alacer, alacris, lively + -fly.]

Defn: To rouse to action; to inspirit.

ALACRIOUS A*lac"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. alacer, alacris.]

Defn: Brisk; joyously active; lively. 'T were well if we were a little more alacrious. Hammond.

ALACRIOUSLY A*lac"ri*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: With alacrity; briskly.

ALACRIOUSNESS A*lac"ri*ous*ness, n.

Defn: Alacrity. [Obs.] Hammond.

ALACRITY A*lac"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. alacritas, fr. alacer lively, eager, prob. akin to Gr. aljan zeal.]

Defn: A cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptitude; joyous activity; briskness; sprightliness; as, the soldiers advanced with alacrity to meet the enemy. I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind that I was wont to have. Shak.

ALADINIST A*lad"in*ist, n. Etym: [From Aladin, for Ala Eddin, i. e., height of religion, a learned divine under Mohammed II. and Bajazet II.]

Defn: One of a sect of freethinkers among the Mohammedans.

ALALIA A*la"li*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. priv. + a talking; cf. speechless.] (Med.)

Defn: Inability to utter articulate sounds, due either to paralysis of the larynx or to that form of aphasia, called motor, or ataxis, aphasia, due to loss of control of the muscles of speech.

ALALONGA; ALILONGHI Al`a*lon"ga, or Al`i*lon"ghi, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The tunny. See Albicore.

ALAMIRE A`la*mi"re, n. Etym: [Compounded of a la mi re, names of notes in the musical scale.]

Defn: The lowest note but one in Guido Aretino's scale of music.

ALAMODALITY Al`a*mo*dal"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being à la mode; conformity to the mode or fashion; fashionableness. [R.] Southey.

ALAMODE Al"a*mode`, adv. & a. Etym: [F. à la mode after the fashion.]

Defn: According to the fashion or prevailing mode. "Alamode beef shops." Macaulay.

ALAMODE Al"a*mode`, n.

Defn: A thin, black silk for hoods, scarfs, etc.; -- often called simply mode. Buchanan.

ALAMORT Al`a*mort", a. Etym: [F. à la mort to the death. Cf. Amort.]

Defn: To the death; mortally.

ALAN A*lan", n. Etym: [OF. alan, alant; cf. Sp. alano.]

Defn: A wolfhound. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ALAND A*land", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + land.]

Defn: On land; to the land; ashore. "Cast aland." Sir P. Sidney.

ALANINE Al"a*nine, n. Etym: [Aldehyde + the ending -ine. The -n- is a euphonic insertion.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline base, C3H7NO2, derived from aldehyde ammonia.

ALANTIN A*lan"tin, n. Etym: [G. alant elecampane, the Inula helenium of Linnæus.] (Chem.)

Defn: See Inulin.

ALAR A"lar, a. Etym: [L. alarius, fr. ala wing: cf. F. alaire.]

1. Pertaining to, or having, wings.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Axillary; in the fork or axil. Gray.

ALARM A*larm", n. Etym: [F. alarme, It. all' arme to arms ! fr. L. arma, pl., arms. See Arms, and cf. Alarum.]

1. A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. Arming to answer in a night alarm. Shak.

2. Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warming sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger. Sound an alarm in my holy mountain. Joel ii. 1.

3. A sudden attack; disturbance; broil. [R.] "These home alarms." Shak. Thy palace fill with insults and alarms. Pope.

4. Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise. Alarm and resentment spread throughout the camp. Macaulay.

5. A mechanical contrivance for awaking persons from sleep, or rousing their attention; an alarum. Alarm bell, a bell that gives notice on danger. -- Alarm clock or watch, a clock or watch which can be so set as to ring or strike loudly at a prearranged hour, to wake from sleep, or excite attention. -- Alarm gauge, a contrivance attached to a steam boiler for showing when the pressure of steam is too high, or the water in the boiler too low. -- Alarm post, a place to which troops are to repair in case of an alarm.

Syn. -- Fright; affright; terror; trepidation; apprehension; consternation; dismay; agitation; disquiet; disquietude. -- Alarm, Fright, Terror, Consternation. These words express different degrees of fear at the approach of danger. Fright is fear suddenly excited, producing confusion of the senses, and hence it is unreflecting. Alarm is the hurried agitation of feeling which springs from a sense of immediate and extreme exposure. Terror is agitating and excessive fear, which usually benumbs the faculties. Consternation is overwhelming fear, and carries a notion of powerlessness and amazement. Alarm agitates the feelings; terror disorders the understanding and affects the will; fright seizes on and confuses the sense; consternation takes possession of the soul, and subdues its faculties. See Apprehension.

ALARM A*larm", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alarmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Alarming.] Etym: [Alarm, n. Cf. F. alarmer.]

1. To call to arms for defense; to give notice to (any one) of approaching danger; to rouse to vigilance and action; to put on the alert.

2. To keep in excitement; to disturb.

3. To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear. Alarmed by rumors of military preparation. Macaulay.

ALARMABLE A*larm"a*ble, a.

Defn: Easily alarmed or disturbed.

ALARMED A*larmed", a.

Defn: Aroused to vigilance; excited by fear of approaching danger; agitated; disturbed; as, an alarmed neighborhood; an alarmed modesty. The white pavilions rose and fell On the alarmed air. Longfellow.

ALARMEDLY A*larm"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: In an alarmed manner.

ALARMING A*larm"ing, a.

Defn: Exciting, or calculated to excite, alarm; causing apprehension of danger; as, an alarming crisis or report. -- A*larm"ing*ly, adv.

ALARMIST A*larm"ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alarmiste.]

Defn: One prone to sound or excite alarms, especially, needless alarms. Macaulay.

ALARUM A*lar"um, n. Etym: [OE. alarom, the same word as alarm, n.]

Defn: See Alarm. [Now Poetic]

Note: The variant form alarum is now commonly restricted to an alarm signal or the mechanism to sound an alarm (as in an alarm clock.)

ALARY Al"a*ry, a. Etym: [L. alarius, fr. ala wing.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to wings; also, wing-shaped. The alary system of insects. Wollaston.

ALAS A*las", interj. Etym: [OE. alas, allas, OF. alas, F. hélas; a interj. (L. ah.) + las wretched (that I am), L. lassus weary, akin to E. late. See Late.]

Defn: An exclamation expressive of sorrow, pity, or apprehension of evil; -- in old writers, sometimes followed by day or white; alas the day, like alack a day, or alas the white.

ALATE A*late", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + late.]

Defn: Lately; of late. [Archaic] There hath been alate such tales spread abroad. Latimer.

ALATE; ALATED A"late, A"la*ted, a. Etym: [L. alatus, from ala wing.]

Defn: Winged; having wings, or side appendages like wings.

ALATERN; ALATERNUS Al"a*tern, Al`a*ter"nus, n. Etym: [L. ala wing + terni three each.] (Bot.)

Defn: An ornamental evergreen shrub (Rhamnus alaternus) belonging to the buckthorns.

ALATION A*la"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. alatus winged.]

Defn: The state of being winged.

ALAUNT A*launt", n.

Defn: See Alan. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ALB Alb, n. Etym: [OE. albe, LL. alba, fr. L. albus white. Cf. Album and Aube.]

Defn: A vestment of white linen, reaching to the feet, an enveloping the person; -- in the Roman Catholic church, worn by those in holy orders when officiating at mass. It was formerly worn, at least by clerics, in daily life.

ALBACORE Al"ba*core, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Albicore.

ALBAN Al"ban, n. Etym: [L. albus white.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline resinous substance extracted from gutta- percha by the action of alcohol or ether.

ALBANIAN Al*ba"ni*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Albania, a province of Turkey. -- n.

Defn: A native of Albania.

ALBATA Al*ba"ta, n. Etym: [L. albatus, p. p. of albare to make white, fr. albus white.]

Defn: A white metallic alloy; which is made into spoons, forks, teapots, etc. British plate or German silver. See German silver, under German.

ALBATROSS Al"ba*tross, n. Etym: [Corrupt. fr. Pg. alcatraz cormorant, albatross, or Sp. alcatraz a pelican: cf. Pg. alcatruz, Sp. arcaduz, a bucket, fr. Ar. al-qadus the bucket, fr. Gr. ka`dos, a water vessel. So an Arabic term for pelican is water-carrier, as a bird carrying water in its pouch.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long- continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere.

ALBE; ALBEE Al`be", Al`bee", conj. Etym: [See Albeit.]

Defn: Although; albeit. [Obs.] Albe Clarissa were their chiefest founderess. Spenser.

ALBEDO Al*be"do, n. Etym: [L., fr. albus white.]

Defn: Whiteness. Specifically: (Astron.) The ratio which the light reflected from an unpolished surface bears to the total light falling upon that surface.

ALBEIT Al`be"it, conj. Etym: [OE. al be although it be, where al is our all. Cf. Although.]

Defn: Even though; although; notwithstanding. Chaucer. Albeit so masked, Madam, I love the truth. Tennyson.

ALBERTITE Al"bert*ite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A bituminous mineral resembling asphaltum, found in the county of A.

ALBERT WARE Al"bert ware.

Defn: A soft ornamental terra-cotta pottery, sold in the biscuit state for decorating.

ALBERTYPE Al"ber*type, n. Etym: [From the name of the inventor, Albert, of Munich.]

Defn: A picture printed from a kind of gelatine plate produced by means of a photographic negative.

ALBESCENCE Al*bes"cence, n.

Defn: The act of becoming white; whitishness.

ALBESCENT Al*bes"cent, a. Etym: [L. albescens, p. pr. of albescere to grow white, fr. albus white.]

Defn: Becoming white or whitish; moderately white.

ALBICANT Al"bi*cant, a. Etym: [L. albicans, p. pr. of albicare, albicatum, to be white, fr. albus white.]

Defn: Growing or becoming white.

ALBICATION Al`bi*ca"tion, n.

Defn: The process of becoming white, or developing white patches, or streaks.

ALBICORE Al"bi*core, n. Etym: [F. albicore (cf. Sp. albacora, Pg. albacor, albacora, albecora), fr. Ar. bakr, bekr, a young camel, young cow, heifer, and the article al: cf. Pg. bacoro a little pig.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A name applied to several large fishes of the Mackerel family, esp. Orcynus alalonga. One species (Orcynus thynnus), common in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, is called in New England the horse mackerel; the tunny. [Written also albacore.]

ALBIFICATION Al`bi*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. albification: L. albus white + ficare (only in comp.), facere, to make.]

Defn: The act or process of making white. [Obs.]

ALBIGENSES; ALBIGEOIS Al`bi*gen"ses, Al`bi`geois", n. pl. Etym: [From Albi and Albigeois, a town and its district in the south of France, in which the sect abounded.] (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: A sect of reformers opposed to the church of Rome in the 12th centuries.

Note: The Albigenses were a branch of the Catharists (the pure). They were exterminated by crusades and the Inquisition. They were distinct from the Waldenses.

ALBIGENSIAN Al`bi*gen"sian, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Albigenses.

ALBINESS Al*bi"ness, n.

Defn: A female albino. Holmes.

ALBINISM Al"bi*nism, n.

Defn: The state or condition of being an albino: abinoism; leucopathy.

ALBINISTIC Al`bi*nis"tic, a.

Defn: Affected with albinism.

ALBINO Al*bi"no, n.; pl. Albinos. Etym: [Sp. or Pg. albino, orig. whitish, fr. albo white, L. albus.]

Defn: A person, whether negro, Indian, or white, in whom by some defect of organization the substance which gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes is deficient or in a morbid state. An albino has a skin of a milky hue, with hair of the same color, and eyes with deep red pupil and pink or blue iris. The term is also used of the lower animals, as white mice, elephants, etc.; and of plants in a whitish condition from the absence of chlorophyll. Amer. Cyc.

Note: The term was originally applied by the Portuguese to negroes met with on the coast of Africa, who were mottled with white spots.

ALBINOISM Al*bi"no*ism, n.

Defn: The state or condition of being an albino; albinism.

ALBINOTIC Al`bi*not"ic, a.

Defn: Affected with albinism.

ALBION Al"bi*on, n. Etym: [Prob. from the same root as Gael. alp a height or hill. "It may have been bestowed on the land lying behind the white cliffs visible from the coast of Gaul. Albany, the old name of Scotland, means probably the "hilly land." I. Taylor.]

Defn: An ancient name of England, still retained in poetry. In that nook-shotten isle of Albion. Shak.

ALBITE Al"bite, n. Etym: [L. albus white.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of the feldspar family, triclinic in crystallization, and in composition a silicate of alumina and soda. It is a common constituent of granite and of various igneous rocks. See Feldspar.

ALBOLITH Al"bo*lith, n. Etym: [L. albus white + -lith.]

Defn: A kind of plastic cement, or artificial stone, consisting chiefly of magnesia and silica; -- called also albolite.

ALBORAK Al"bo*rak, n. Etym: [Ar. al-buraq, fr. baraqa to flash, shine.]

Defn: The imaginary milk-white animal on which Mohammed was said to have been carried up to heaven; a white mule.

ALB SUNDAY Alb Sunday. (Eccl.)

Defn: The first Sunday after Easter Sunday, properly Albless Sunday, because in the early church those who had been baptized on Easter eve laid aside on the following Saturday their white albs which had been put on after baptism.

ALBUGINEOUS Al`bu*gin"e*ous, a. Etym: [See Albugo.]

Defn: Of the nature of, or resembling, the white of the eye, or of an egg; albuminous; -- a term applied to textures, humors, etc., which are perfectly white.

ALBUGO Al*bu"go, n.; pl. Albugines. Etym: [L., whiteness, fr. albus white.] (Med.)

Defn: Same as Leucoma.

ALBUM Al"bum, n. Etym: [L., neut. of albus white: cf. F. album. Cf. Alb.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A white tablet on which anything was inscribed, as a list of names, etc.

2. A register for visitors' names; a visitors' book.

3. A blank book, in which to insert autographs sketches, memorial writing of friends, photographs, etc.

ALBUMEN Al*bu"men, n. Etym: [L., fr. albus white.]

1. The white of an egg.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Nourishing matter stored up within the integuments of the seed in many plants, but not incorporated in the embryo. It is the floury part in corn, wheat, and like grains, the oily part in poppy seeds, the fleshy part in the cocoanut, etc.

3. (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Albumin.

ALBUMENIZE Al*bu"men*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Albumenized; p. pr. & vb. n. Albumenizing.]

Defn: To cover or saturate with albumen; to coat or treat with an albuminous solution; as, to albuminize paper.

ALBUM GRAECUM Al"bum Græ"cum. Etym: [L., Greek white.]

Defn: Dung of dogs or hyenas, which becomes white by exposure to air. It is used in dressing leather, and was formerly used in medicine.

ALBUMIN Al*bu"min, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A thick, viscous nitrogenous substance, which is the chief and characteristic constituent of white of eggs and of the serum of blood, and is found in other animal substances, both fluid and solid, also in many plants. It is soluble in water is coagulated by heat ad by certain chemical reagents. Acid albumin, a modification of albumin produced by the action of dilute acids. It is not coagulated by heat. -- Alkali albumin, albumin as modified by the action of alkaline substances; -- called also albuminate.

ALBUMINATE Al*bu"mi*nate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A substance produced by the action of an alkali upon albumin, and resembling casein in its properties; also, a compound formed by the union of albumin with another substance.

ALBUMINIFEROUS Al*bu`mi*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. albumen + -ferous.]

Defn: Supplying albumen.

ALBUMINIMETER Al*bu`mi*nim"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. albumen, albuminis + -meter: cf. F. albuminimètre.]

Defn: An instrument for ascertaining the quantity of albumen in a liquid.

ALBUMININ Al*bu"mi*nin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The substance of the cells which inclose the white of birds' eggs.

ALBUMINIPAROUS Al*bu`mi*nip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. albumen + parere to bear, bring forth.]

Defn: Producing albumin.

ALBUMINOID Al*bu"mi*noid, a. Etym: [L. albumen + -oid.] (Chem.)

Defn: Resembling albumin. -- n.

Defn: One of a class of organic principles (called also proteids) which form the main part of organized tissues. Brunton.

ALBUMINOIDAL Al*bu`mi*noid"al, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of the nature of an albuminoid.

ALBUMINOSE Al*bu"mi*nose`, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A diffusible substance formed from albumin by the action of natural or artificial gastric juice. See Peptone.

ALBUMINOSIS Al*bu`mi*no"sis, n. [NL., fr. E. albumin.] (Med.)

Defn: A morbid condition due to excessive increase of albuminous elements in the blood.

ALBUMINOUS; ALBUMINOSE Al*bu"mi*nous, Al*bu"mi*nose`, a. Etym: [Cf. F. albumineux.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, albumen; having the properties of, or resembling, albumen or albumin. -- Al*bu"mi*nous*ness, n.

ALBUMINURIA Al*bu`mi*nu"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. albumen + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A morbid condition in which albumin is present in the urine.

ALBUMOSE Al"bu*mose`, n. Etym: [From albumin.] (Chem.)

Defn: A compound or class of compounds formed from albumin by dilute acids or by an acid solution of pepsin. Used also in combination, as antialbumose, hemialbumose.

ALBURN Al"burn, n. Etym: [L. alburnus, fr. L. albus white. Cf. Auburn.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The bleak, a small European fish having scales of a peculiarly silvery color which are used in making artificial pearls.

ALBURNOUS Al*bur"nous, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to alburnum; of the alburnum; as, alburnous substances.

ALBURNUM Al*bur"num, n. Etym: [L., fr. albus white.] (Bot.)

Defn: The white and softer part of wood, between the inner bark and the hard wood or duramen; sapwood.

ALBYN Al"byn, n. Etym: [See Albion.]

Defn: Scotland; esp. the Highlands of Scotland. T. Cambell.

ALCADE Al*cade", n.

Defn: Same as Alcaid.

ALCAHEST Al"ca*hest, n.

Defn: Same as Alkahest.

ALCAIC Al*ca"ic, a. Etym: [L. Alcaïcus, Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to Alcæus, a lyric poet of Mitylene, about 6000 b. c. -- n. A kind of verse, so called from Alcæus. One variety consists of five feet, a spondee or iambic, an iambic, a long syllable, and two dactyls.

ALCAID; ALCAYDE Al*caid", Al*cayde", n. Etym: [Sp. alcaide, fr. Ar. al-qa\'c6d governor, fr. qada to lead, govern.]

1. A commander of a castle or fortress among the Spaniards, Portuguese, and Moors.

2. The warden, or keeper of a jail.

ALCALDE Al*cal"de, n. Etym: [Sp. alcalde, fr. Ar. al-qadi judge, fr. qada to decide, judge. Hence, the cadi of the Turks. Cf. Cadi.]

Defn: A magistrate or judge in Spain and in Spanish America, etc. Prescott.

Note: Sometimes confounded with Alcaid.

ALCALDIA Al`cal*di"a, n. [Sp. Alcaldía.]

Defn: The jurisdiction or office of an alcalde; also, the building or chamber in which he conducts the business of his office.

ALCALIMETER Al`ca*lim"e*ter, n.

Defn: See Alkalimeter.

ALCANNA Al*can"na, n. Etym: [Sp. alcana, alhe, fr. Ar. al-hinna. See Henna, and cf. Alkanet.] (Bot.)

Defn: An oriental shrub (Lawsonia inermis) from which henna is obtained.

ALCARRAZA Al`car*ra"za, n.; pl. Alcarrazas. Etym: [Sp., from Ar. al-kurraz earthen vessel.]

Defn: A vessel of porous earthenware, used for cooling liquids by evaporation from the exterior surface.

ALCAYDE Al*cayde", n.

Defn: Same as Alcaid.

ALCAZAR Al*ca"zar, n. Etym: [ fr. Ar. al the + qacr (in pl.) a castle.]

Defn: A fortress; also, a royal palace. Prescott.

ALCEDO Al*ce"do, n. Etym: [L., equiv. to Gr. Halcyon.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of perching birds, including the European kingfisher (Alcedo ispida). See Halcyon.

ALCHEMIC; ALCHEMICAL Al*chem"ic, Al*chem"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alchimique.]

Defn: Of or relating to alchemy.

ALCHEMICALLY Al*chem"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of alchemy.

ALCHEMIST Al"che*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. alquemiste, F. alchimiste.]

Defn: One who practices alchemy. You are alchemist; make gold. Shak.

ALCHEMISTIC; ALCHEMISTICAL Al`che*mis"tic, Al`che*mis"tic*al, a.

Defn: Relating to or practicing alchemy. Metaphysical and alchemistical legislators. Burke.

ALCHEMISTRY Al"che*mis*try, n.

Defn: Alchemy. [Obs.]

ALCHEMIZE Al"che*mize, v. t.

Defn: To change by alchemy; to transmute. Lovelace.

ALCHEMY Al"che*my, n. Etym: [OF. alkemie, arquemie, F. alchimie, Ar. al- kimia, fr. late Gr. alquimia, It. alchimia. Gr. fundere to pour, Goth. guitan, AS. geótan, to pour, and so to E. fuse. See Fuse, and cf. Chemistry.]

1. An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It led the way to modern chemistry.

2. A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various utensils; hence, a trumpet. [Obs.] Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy. Milton.

3. Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious. Kissing with golden face the meadows green, Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy. Shak.

ALCHYMIC; ALCHYMIST; ALCHYMISTIC; ALCHYMY Al*chym"ic, a., Al"chy*mist, n., Al`chy*mis"tic, a., Al"chy*my, n.

Defn: See Alchemic, Alchemist, Alchemistic, Alchemy.

ALCO Al"co, n.

Defn: A small South American dog, domesticated by the aborigines.

ALCOATE; ALCOHATE Al"co*ate, Al"co*hate, n.

Defn: Shortened forms of Alcoholate.

ALCOHOL Al"co*hol, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcool, formerly written alcohol, Sp. alcohol alcohol, antimony, galena, OSp. alcofol; all fr. Ar. al-kohl a powder of antimony or galena, to paint the eyebrows with. The name was afterwards applied, on account of the fineness of this powder, to highly rectified spirits, a signification unknown in Arabia. The Sp. word has bot meanings. Cf. Alquifou.]

1. An impalpable powder. [Obs.]

2. The fluid essence or pure spirit obtained by distillation. [Obs.] Boyle.

3. Pure spirit of wine; pure or highly rectified spirit (called also ethyl alcohol); the spirituous or intoxicating element of fermented or distilled liquors, or more loosely a liquid containing it in considerable quantity. It is extracted by simple distillation from various vegetable juices and infusions of a saccharine nature, which have undergone vinous fermentation.

Note: As used in the U. S. "Pharmacopoeia, alcohol contains 91 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 9 per cent of water; and diluted alcohol (proof spirit) contains 45.5 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 54.5 per cent of water.

4. (Organic Chem.)

Defn: A class of compounds analogous to vinic alcohol in constitution. Chemically speaking, they are hydroxides of certain organic radicals; as, the radical ethyl forms common or ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH); methyl forms methyl alcohol (CH3.OH) or wood spirit; amyl forms amyl alcohol (C5H11.OH) or fusel oil, etc.

ALCOHOLATE Al"co*hol*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcolaie.] (Chem.)

Defn: A crystallizable compound of a salt with alcohol, in which the latter plays a part analogous to that of water of crystallization. Graham.

ALCOHOLATURE Al`co*hol"a*ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcoolature.] (Med.)

Defn: An alcoholic tincture prepared with fresh plants. New Eng. Dict.

ALCOHOLIC Al`co*hol"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alcolique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to alcohol, or partaking of its qualities; derived from, or caused by, alcohol; containing alcohol; as, alcoholic mixtures; alcoholic gastritis; alcoholic odor.

ALCOHOLIC Al`co*hol"ic, n.

1. A person given to the use of alcoholic liquors.

2. pl.

Defn: Alcoholic liquors.

ALCOHOLISM Al"co*hol*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcoolisme.] (Med.)

Defn: A diseased condition of the system, brought about by the continued use of alcoholic liquors.

ALCOHOLIZATION Al`co*hol`i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcoolisation.]

1. The act of reducing a substance to a fine or impalpable powder. [Obs.] Johnson.

2. The act rectifying spirit.

3. Saturation with alcohol; putting the animal system under the influence of alcoholic liquor.

ALCOHOLIZE Al"co*hol*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alcoholized; p. pr. & vb. n. Alcoholizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. alcooliser.]

1. To reduce to a fine powder. [Obs.] Johnson.

2. To convert into alcohol; to rectify; also, to saturate with alcohol.

ALCOHOLOMETER; ALCOHOLMETER Al`co*hol*om"e*ter, Al`co*hol"me*ter, n. Etym: [Alcohol + -meter.] (Chem.)

Defn: An instrument for determining the strength of spirits, with a scale graduated so as to indicate the percentage of pure alcohol, either by weight or volume. It is usually a form of hydrometer with a special scale.

ALCOHOLOMETRIC; ALCOHOLOMETRICAL; ALCOHOLMETRICAL Al`co*hol`o*met"ric, Al`co*hol`o*met"ric*al, Al`co*hol*met"ric*al, a.

Defn: Relating to the alcoholometer or alcoholometry. The alcoholometrical strength of spirituous liquors. Ure.

ALCOHOLOMETRY Al`co*hol"om"e*try, n.

Defn: The process or method of ascertaining the proportion of pure alcohol which spirituous liquors contain.

ALCOHOMETER; ALCOHOMETRIC Al`co*hom"e*ter, n., Al`co*ho*met"ric, a.

Defn: Same as Alcoholometer, Alcoholometric.

ALCOOMETRY; ALCOOEMETRY Al`co*öm"e*try, n.

Defn: See Alcoholometry.

Note: The chemists say alcomètre, alcoomètrie, doubtless by the suppression of a syllable in order to avoid a disagreeable sequence of sounds. (Cf. Idolatry.) Littré.

ALCORAN Al"co*ran, n. Etym: [alcoran, fr. Ar. al-qoran, orig. the reading, the book, fr. qaraa to read. Cf. Koran.]

Defn: The Mohammedan Scriptures; the Koran (now the usual form). [Spelt also Alcoran.]

ALCORANIC Al`co*ran"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Koran.

ALCORANIST Al`co*ran"ist, n.

Defn: One who adheres to the letter of the Koran, rejecting all traditions.

ALCORNOQUE Al`cor*no"que, n. [Sp., cork tree.]

Defn: The bark of several trees, esp. of Bowdichia virgilioides of Brazil, used as a remedy for consumption; of Byrsonima crassifolia, used in tanning; of Alchornea latifolia, used medicinally; or of Quercus ilex, the cork tree.

ALCOVE Al"cove, n. Etym: [F. alcôve, Sp. or Pg. alcoba, from Ar. al-quobbah arch, vault, tent.]

1. (Arch.)

Defn: A recessed portion of a room, or a small room opening into a larger one; especially, a recess to contain a bed; a lateral recess in a library.

2. A small ornamental building with seats, or an arched seat, in a pleasure ground; a garden bower. Cowper.

3. Any natural recess analogous to an alcove or recess in an apartment. The youthful wanderers found a wild alcove. Falconer.

ALCYON Al"cy*on, n.

Defn: See Halcyon.

ALCYONACEA Al`cy*o*na"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of soft-bodied Alcyonaria, of which Alcyonium is the type. See Illust. under Alcyonaria.

ALCYONARIA Al`cy*o*na"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the orders of Anthozoa. It includes the Alcyonacea, Pennatulacea, and Gorgonacea.

ALCYONES Al*cy"o*nes, n. pl. Etym: [L., pl. of Alcyon.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The kingfishers.

ALCYONIC Al`cy*on"ic, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Alcyonaria.

ALCYONIUM Al`cy*o"ni*um, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of fleshy Alcyonaria, its polyps somewhat resembling flowers with eight fringed rays. The term was also formerly used for certain species of sponges.

ALCYONOID Al"cy*o*noid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the Alcyonaria. -- n.

Defn: A zoöphyte of the order Alcyonaria.

ALDAY Al"day, adv.

Defn: Continually. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ALDEBARAN Al*deb"a*ran, n. Etym: [Ar. al-debaran, fr. dabar to follow; so called because this star follows upon the Pleiades.] (Astron.)

Defn: A red star of the first magnitude, situated in the eye of Taurus; the Bull's Eye. It is the bright star in the group called the Hyades. Now when Aldebaran was mounted high Above the shiny Cassiopeia's chair. Spenser.

ALDEHYDE Al"de*hyde, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. alcohol dehydrogenatum, alcohol deprived of its hydrogen.] (Chem.)

Defn: A colorless, mobile, and very volatile liquid obtained from alcohol by certain of oxidation.

Note: The aldehydes are intermediate between the alcohols and acids, and differ from the alcohols in having two less hydrogen atoms in the molecule, as common aldehyde (called also acetic aldehyde or ethyl aldehyde), C2H4O; methyl aldehyde, CH2O. Aldehyde ammonia (Chem.), a compound formed by the union of aldehyde with ammonia.

ALDEHYDIC Al`de*hy"dic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to aldehyde; as, aldehydic acid. Miller.

ALDER Al"der, n. Etym: [OE. aldir, aller, fr. AS. alr, aler, alor, akin to D. els, G. erle, Icel. erlir, erli, Swed. al, Dan. elle, el, L. alnus, and E. elm.] (Bot.)

Defn: A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus Alnus. The wood is used by turners, etc.; the bark by dyers and tanners. In the U. S. the species of alder are usually shrubs or small trees. Black alder. (a) A European shrub (Rhamnus frangula); Alder buckthorn. (b) An American species of holly (Ilex verticillata), bearing red berries.

ALDER; ALLER Al"der, Al"ler, a. Etym: [From ealra, alra, gen. pl. of AS. eal. The d is excrescent.]

Defn: Of all; -- used in composition; as, alderbest, best of all, alderwisest, wisest of all. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ALDER FLY Al"der fly.

1. Any of numerous neuropterous insects of the genus Sialis or allied genera. They have aquatic larvæ, which are used for bait.

2. (Angling) An artificial fly with brown mottled wings, body of peacock harl, and black legs.

ALDER-LIEFEST Al`der-lief"est, a. Etym: [For allerliefest dearest of all. See Lief.]

Defn: Most beloved. [Obs.] Shak.

ALDERMAN Al"der*man, n.; pl. Aldplwmen. Etym: [AS. aldormon, ealdorman; ealdor an elder + man. See Elder, n.]

1. A senior or superior; a person of rank or dignity. [Obs.]

Note: The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to princes, dukes, earls, senators, and presiding magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom or authority. Thus Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called Alderman of all England; and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective districts.

3. One of a board or body of municipal officers next in order to the mayor and having a legislative function. They may, in some cases, individually exercise some magisterial and administrative functions.

ALDERMANCY Al"der*man*cy, n.

Defn: The office of an alderman.

ALDERMANIC Al"der*man"ic, a.

Defn: Relating to, becoming to, or like, an alderman; characteristic of an alderman.

ALDERMANITY Al`der*man"i*ty, n.

1. Aldermen collectively; the body of aldermen.

2. The state of being an alderman. [Jocular]

ALDERMANLIKE Al`der*man*like`, a.

Defn: Like or suited to an alderman.

ALDERMANLY Al"der*man*ly, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or like, an alderman.

ALDERMANLY Al"der*man*ly, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or like, an alderman. "An aldermanly discretion." Swift.

ALDERMANRY Al"der*man*ry, n.

1. The district or ward of an alderman.

2. The office or rank of an alderman. [R.] B. Jonson.

ALDERMANSHIP Al"der*man*ship, n.

Defn: The condition, position, or office of an alderman. Fabyan.

ALDERN Al"dern, a.

Defn: Made of alder.

ALDERNEY Al"der*ney, n.

Defn: One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often called Jersey cattle. See Jersey, 3.

ALDINE Al"dine, a. (Bibliog.)

Defn: An epithet applied to editions (chiefly of the classics) which proceeded from the press of Aldus Manitius, and his family, of Venice, for the most part in the 16th century and known by the sign of the anchor and the dolphin. The term has also been applied to certain elegant editions of English works.

ALDOL Al"dol, n. [Aldehyde + -ol as in alcohol.] (Chem.)

Defn: A colorless liquid, C4H8O2, obtained by condensation of two molecules of acetaldehyde: CH3CHO + CH3CHO = H3CH(OH)CH2CO; also, any of various derivatives of this. The same reaction has been applied, under the name of aldol condensation, to the production of many compounds.

ALE Ale, n. Etym: [AS. ealu, akin to Icel., Sw., and Dan. öl, Lith. alus a kind of beer, OSlav. ol beer. Cf. Ir. ol drink, drinking.]

1. An intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops.

Note: The word ale, in England and the United States, usually designates a heavier kind of fermented liquor, and the word beer a lighter kind. The word beer is also in common use as the generic name for all malt liquors.

2. A festival in English country places, so called from the liquor drunk. "At wakes and ales." B. Jonson."On ember eves and holy ales." Shak.

ALEAK A*leak", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + leak.]

Defn: In a leaking condition.

ALEATORY A"le*a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. aleatorius, fr. alea chance, die.] (Law)

Defn: Depending on some uncertain contingency; as, an aleatory contract. Bouvier.

ALEBENCH Ale"bench`, n.

Defn: A bench in or before an alehouse. Bunyan.

ALEBERRY Ale"ber`ry, n. Etym: [OE. alebery, alebrey; ale + bre broth, fr. AS. briw pottage.]

Defn: A beverage, formerly made by boiling ale with spice, sugar, and sops of bread. Their aleberries, caudles, possets. Beau. & Fl.

ALECITHAL A*lec"i*thal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: Applied to those ova which segment uniformly, and which have little or no food yelk embedded in their protoplasm. Balfour.

ALECONNER Ale"con`ner, n. Etym: [/Ale + con, OE. cunnen to test, AS. cunnian to test. See Con.]

Defn: Orig., an officer appointed to look to the goodness of ale and beer; also, one of the officers chosen by the liverymen of London to inspect the measures used in public houses. But the office is a sinecure. [Also called aletaster.] [Eng.]

ALECOST Ale"cost`, n. Etym: [Ale + L. costus an aromatic plant: cf. Costmary.] (Bot.)

Defn: The plant costmary, which was formerly much used for flavoring ale.

ALECTORIDES Al`ec*tor"i*des, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of birds including the common fowl and the pheasants.

ALECTOROMACHY A*lec`to*rom"a*chy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Cockfighting.

ALECTOROMANCY A*lec"to*ro*man`cy, n.

Defn: See Alectryomancy.

ALECTRYOMACHY A*lec`try*oma*chy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Cockfighting.

ALECTRYOMANCY A*lec"try*o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]

Defn: Divination by means of a cock and grains of corn placed on the letters of the alphabet, the letters being put together in the order in which the grains were eaten. Amer. Cyc.

ALEE A*lee", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + lee.] (Naut.)

Defn: On or toward the lee, or the side away from the wind; the opposite of aweather. The helm of a ship is alee when pressed close to the lee side. Hard alee, or Luff alee, an order to put the helm to the lee side.

ALEGAR Al"e*gar, n. Etym: [Ale + eager sour, F. aigre. Cf. Vinegar.]

Defn: Sour ale; vinegar made of ale. Cecil.

ALEGER Al"e*ger, a. Etym: [F. allègre, earlier alègre, fr. L. alacer.]

Defn: Gay; cheerful; sprightly. [Obs.] Bacon.

ALEGGE A*legge", v. t. Etym: [OE. aleggen, alegen, OF. alegier, F. alléger, fr. LL. alleviare, for L. allevare to lighten; ad + levis light. Cf. Alleviate, Allay, Allege.]

Defn: To allay or alleviate; to lighten. [Obs.] That shall alegge this bitter blast. Spenser.

ALEHOOF Ale"hoof`, n. Etym: [AS. h ground ivy; the first part is perh. a corruption: cf. OE. heyhowe hedgehove,

ground ivy, "in old MSS. heyhowe, heyoue, haihoue, halehoue." [Prior].

Defn: Ground ivy (Nepeta Glechoma).

ALEHOUSE Ale"house`, n.

Defn: A house where ale is retailed; hence, a tippling house. Macaulay.

ALE-KNIGHT Ale"-knight`, n.

Defn: A pot companion. [Obs.]

ALEM Al"em, n. [Turk. 'alem, fr. Ar. 'alam.] (Mil.)

Defn: The imperial standard of the Turkish Empire.

ALEMANNIC Al`e*man"nic, a.

Defn: Belonging to the Alemanni, a confederacy of warlike German tribes.

ALEMANNIC Al`e*man"nic, n.

Defn: The language of the Alemanni. The Swabian dialect . . . is known as the Alemannic. Amer. Cyc.

ALEMBIC A*lem"bic, n. Etym: [F. alambic (cf. Sp. alambique), Ar. al-anbiq, fr. Gr. alembic proper. Cf. Limbec.]

Defn: An apparatus formerly used in distillation, usually made of glass or metal. It has mostly given place to the retort and worm still. Used also metaphorically. The alembic of a great poet's imagination. Brimley.

ALEMBROTH A*lem"broth, n. Etym: [Origin uncertain.]

Defn: The salt of wisdom of the alchemists, a double salt composed of the chlorides of ammonium and mercury. It was formerly used as a stimulant. Brande & C.

ALENCON LACE A`len`con" lace".

Defn: See under Lace.

ALENGTH A*length", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + length.]

Defn: At full length; lenghtwise. Chaucer.

ALEPIDOTE A*lep"i*dote, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Not having scales. -- n.

Defn: A fish without scales.

ALEPOLE Ale"pole`, n.

Defn: A pole set up as the sign of an alehouse. [Obs.]

ALEPPO BOIL; ALEPPO BUTTON; ALEPPO EVIL A*lep"po boil, button, or evil. (Med.)

Defn: A chronic skin affection terminating in an ulcer, most commonly of the face. It is endemic along the Mediterranean, and is probably due to a specific bacillus. Called also Aleppo ulcer, Biskara boil, Delhi boil, Oriental sore, etc.

ALEPPO GRASS Aleppo grass. (Bot.)

Defn: One of the cultivated forms of Andropogon Halepensis (syn. Sorghum Halepense). See Andropogon, below.

ALERT A*lert", a. Etym: [F. alerte, earlier à l'erte on the watch, fr. It. all' erta on the watch, prop. (standing) on a height, where one can look around; erta a declivity, steep, erto steep, p. p. of ergere, erigere, to erect, raise, L. erigere. See Erect.]

1. Watchful; vigilant; active in vigilance.

2. Brisk; nimble; moving with celerity. An alert young fellow. Addison.

Syn. -- Active; agile; lively; quick; prompt.

ALERT A*lert", n. (Mil.)

Defn: An alarm from a real or threatened attack; a sudden attack; also, a bugle sound to give warning. "We have had an alert." Farrow. On the alert, on the lookout or watch against attack or danger; ready to act.

ALERTLY A*lert"ly, adv.

Defn: In an alert manner; nimbly.

ALERTNESS A*lert"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being alert or on the alert; briskness; nimbleness; activity.

ALE SILVER Ale" sil`ver.

Defn: A duty payable to the lord mayor of London by the sellers of ale within the city.

ALESTAKE Ale"stake, n.

Defn: A stake or pole projecting from, or set up before, an alehouse, as a sign; an alepole. At the end was commonly suspended a garland, a bunch of leaves, or a "bush." [Obs.] Chaucer.

ALETASTER Ale"tast`er, n.

Defn: See Aleconner. [Eng.]

ALETHIOLOGY A*le`thi*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: The science which treats of the nature of truth and evidence. Sir W. Hamilton.

ALETHOSCOPE A*leth"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: An instrument for viewing pictures by means of a lens, so as to present them in their natural proportions and relations.

ALEUROMANCY A*leu"ro*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy: cf. F. aleuromancie.]

Defn: Divination by means of flour. Encyc. Brit.

ALEUROMETER Al`eu*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for determining the expansive properties, or quality, of gluten in flour. Knight.

ALEURONAT A*leu"ro*nat, n. [See Aleurone.]

Defn: Flour made of aleurone, used as a substitute for ordinary flour in preparing bread for diabetic persons.

ALEURONE A*leu"rone, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: An albuminoid substance which occurs in minute grains ("protein granules") in maturing seeds and tubers; -- supposed to be a modification of protoplasm.

ALEURONIC Al`eu*ron"ic, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the nature of aleurone. D. C. Eaton.

ALEUTIAN; ALEUTIC A*leu"tian, A*leu"tic, a. Etym: [Said to be from the Russ. aleut a bold rock.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a chain of islands between Alaska and Kamtchatka; also, designating these islands.

ALEVIN Al"e*vin, n. Etym: [F. alevin, OF. alever to rear, fr. L. ad + levare to raise.]

Defn: Young fish; fry.

ALEW A*lew", n.

Defn: Halloo. [Obs.] Spenser.

ALEWIFE Ale"wife`, n.; pl. Alewives.

Defn: A woman who keeps an alehouse. Gay.