Chapter XIV: Front Matter (14)

Defn: A usage, among diplomats, of rotation in precedence among representatives of equal rank, sometimes determined by lot and at other times in regular order. The practice obtains in the signing of treaties and conventions between nations.

ALTERNATE Al*ter"nate, a. Etym: [L. alternatus, p. p. of alternate, fr. alternus. See Altern, Alter.]

1. Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal. And bid alternate passions fall and rise. Pope.

2. Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second; as, the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. ; read every alternate line.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence. Gray. Alternate alligation. See Alligation. -- Alternate angles (Geom.), the internal and angles made by two lines with a third, on opposite sides of it. It the parallels AB, CD, are cut by the line EF, the angles AGH, GHD, as also the angles BGH and GHC, are called alternate angles. -- Alternate generation. (Biol.) See under Generation.

ALTERNATE Al*ter"nate, n.

1. That which alternates with something else; vicissitude. [R.] Grateful alternates of substantial. Prior.

2. A substitute; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.

3. (Math.)

Defn: A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.

ALTERNATE Al"ter*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alternated; p. pr. & vb. n. Alternating.] Etym: [L. alternatus, p. p. of alternare. See Altern.]

Defn: To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly. The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil. Grew.

ALTERNATE Al"ter*nate, v. i.

1. To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; -- followed by with; as, the flood and ebb tides alternate with each other. Rage, shame, and grief alternate in his breast. J. Philips. Different species alternating with each other. Kirwan.

2. To vary by turns; as, the land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.

ALTERNATELY Al*ter"nate*ly, adv.

1. In reciprocal succession; succeeding by turns; in alternate order.

2. (Math.)

Defn: By alternation; when, in a proportion, the antecedent term is compared with antecedent, and consequent.

ALTERNATENESS Al*ter"nate*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being alternate, or of following by turns.

ALTERNATING CURRENT Al"ter*nat`ing cur"rent. (Elec.)

Defn: A current which periodically changes or reverses its direction of flow.

ALTERNATION Al`ter*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. alternatio: cf. F. alternation.]

1. The reciprocal succession of things in time or place; the act of following and being followed by turns; alternate succession, performance, or occurrence; as, the alternation of day and night, cold and heat, summer and winter, hope and fear.

2. (Math.)

Defn: Permutation.

3. The response of the congregation speaking alternately with the minister. Mason. Alternation of generation. See under Generation.

ALTERNATIVE Al*ter"na*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alternatif.]

1. Offering a choice of two things.

2. Disjunctive; as, an alternative conjunction.

3. Alternate; reciprocal. [Obs.] Holland.

ALTERNATIVE Al*ter"na*tive, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alternative, LL. alternativa.]

1. An offer of two things, one of which may be chosen, but not both; a choice between two things, so that if one is taken, the other must be left. There is something else than the mere alternative of absolute destruction or unreformed existence. Burke.

2. Either of two things or propositions offered to one's choice. Thus when two things offer a choice of one only, the two things are called alternatives. Having to choose between two alternatives, safety and war, you obstinately prefer the worse. Jowett (Thucyd. ).

3. The course of action or the thing offered in place of another. If this demand is refused the alternative is war. Lewis. With no alternative but death. Longfellow.

4. A choice between more than two things; one of several things offered to choose among. My decided preference is for the fourth and last of thalternatives. Gladstone.

ALTERNATIVELY Al*ter"na*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of alternatives, or that admits the choice of one out of two things.

ALTERNATIVENESS Al*ter"na*tive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being alternative, or of offering a choice between two.

ALTERNATOR Al"ter*na`tor, n. (Elec.)

Defn: An electric generator or dynamo for producing alternating currents.

ALTERNITY Al*ter"ni*ty, n. Etym: [LL. alternitas.]

Defn: Succession by turns; alternation. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

ALTHAEA; ALTHEA Al*thæ"a, Al*the"a, n. Etym: [althaea, Gr. (Bot.) (a) A genus of plants of the Mallow family. It includes the officinal marsh mallow, and the garden hollyhocks. (b) An ornamental shrub (Hibiscus Syriacus) of the Mallow family.

ALTHEINE Al*the"ine, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Asparagine.

ALTHING Al"thing, n. [Icel. (modern) alping, earlier alpingi; allr all + ping assembly. See All, and Thing.]

Defn: The national assembly or parliament of Iceland. See Thing, n., 8.

ALTHO Al*tho", conj.

Defn: Although. [Reformed spelling] Alt"horn`, n. Etym: [Alt + horn.] (Mus.)

Defn: An instrument of the saxhorn family, used exclusively in military music, often replacing the French horn. Grove.

ALTHORN Alt"horn`, n. [Alt + horn.] (Mus.)

Defn: An instrument of the saxhorn family, used exclusively in military music, often replacing the French horn. Grove.

ALTHOUGH Al*though", conj. Etym: [All + though; OE. al thagh.]

Defn: Grant all this; be it that; supposing that; notwithstanding; though. Although all shall be offended, yet will no I. Mark xiv. 29.

Syn. -- Although, Though. Although, which originally was perhaps more emphatic than though, is now interchangeable with it in the sense given above. Euphonic consideration determines the choice.

ALTILOQUENCE Al*til"o*quence, n.

Defn: Lofty speech; pompous language. [R.] Bailey.

ALTILOQUENT Al*til"o*quent, a. Etym: [L. altus (adv. alte) high + loquens, p. pr. of loqui to speak.]

Defn: High-sounding; pompous in speech. [R.] Bailey.

ALTIMETER Al*tim"e*ter, n. Etym: [LL. altimeter; altus high + metrum, Gr. altimètre.]

Defn: An instrument for taking altitudes, as a quadrant, sextant, etc. Knight.

ALTIMETRY Al*tim"e*try, n. Etym: [Cf. F. altimétrie.]

Defn: The art of measuring altitudes, or heights.

ALTINCAR Al*tin"car, n.

Defn: See Tincal.

ALTISCOPE Al"ti*scope, n. Etym: [L. altus high + Gr.

Defn: An arrangement of lenses and mirrors which enables a person to see an object in spite of intervening objects.

ALTISONANT Al*tis"o*nant, a. Etym: [L. altus high + sonans, p. pr. of sonare to sound.]

Defn: High-sounding; lofty or pompous. Skelton.

ALTISONOUS Al*tis"o*nous, a. Etym: [L. altisonus.]

Defn: Altisonant.

ALTISSIMO Al*tis"si*mo, n. Etym: [It.; superl. of alto.] (Mus.)

Defn: The part or notes situated above F in alt.

ALTITUDE Al"ti*tude, n. Etym: [L. altitudo, fr. altus high. Cf. Altar, Haughty, Enhance.]

1. Space extended upward; height; the perpendicular elevation of an object above its foundation, above the ground, or above a given level, or of one object above another; as, the altitude of a mountain, or of a bird above the top of a tree.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: The elevation of a point, or star, or other celestial object, above the horizon, measured by the arc of a vertical circle intercepted between such point and the horizon. It is either true or apparent; true when measured from the rational or real horizon, apparent when from the sensible or apparent horizon.

3. (Geom.)

Defn: The perpendicular distance from the base of a figure to the summit, or to the side parallel to the base; as, the altitude of a triangle, pyramid, parallelogram, frustum, etc.

4. Height of degree; highest point or degree. He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue. Shak.

5. Height of rank or excellence; superiority. Swift.

6. pl.

Defn: Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs. [Colloq.] Richardson. The man of law began to get into his altitude. Sir W. Scott. Meridian altitude, an arc of the meridian intercepted between the south point on the horizon and any point on the meridian. See Meridian, 3.

ALTITUDINAL Al`ti*tu"di*nal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to height; as, altitudinal measurements.

ALTITUDINARIAN Al`ti*tu`di*na"ri*an, a.

Defn: Lofty in doctrine, aims, etc. [R.] Coleridge.

ALTIVOLANT Al*tiv"o*lant, a. Etym: [L. altivolans. See Volant.]

Defn: Flying high. [Obs.] Blount.

ALTO Al"to, n.; pl. Altos. Etym: [It. alto high, fr. L. altus. Cf. Alt.]

1. (Mus.)

Defn: Formerly the part sung by the highest male, or counter-tenor, voices; now the part sung by the lowest female, or contralto, voices, between in tenor and soprano. In instrumental music it now signifies the tenor.

2. An alto singer. Alto clef (Mus.) the counter-tenor clef, or the C clef, placed so that the two strokes include the middle line of the staff. Moore.

ALTO-CUMULUS Al`to-cu"mu*lus, n. [L. altus high + L. & E. cumulus.] (Meteor.)

Defn: A fleecy cloud formation consisting of large whitish or grayish globular cloudlets with shaded portions, often grouped in flocks or rows.

ALTOGETHER Al`to*geth"er, adv. Etym: [OE. altogedere; al all + togedere together. See Together.]

1. All together; conjointly. [Obs.] Altogether they wenChaucer.

2. Without exception; wholly; completely. Every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Ps. xxxix. 5.

ALTOMETER Al*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. altus high + -meter.]

Defn: A theodolite. Knight.

ALTO-RELIEVO Al"to-re*lie"vo, n.

Defn: Alto-rilievo.

ALTO-RILIEVO Al"to-ri*lie*vo, n.; pl. Alto-rilievos. Etym: [It.] (Sculp.)

Defn: High relief; sculptured work in which the figures project more than half their thickness; as, this figure is an alto-rilievo or in alto-rilievo.

Note: When the figure stands only half out, it is called mezzo- rilievo, demi-rilievo, or medium relief; when its projection is less than one half, basso-rilievo, bas-relief, or low relief.

ALTO-STRATUS Al`to-stra"tus, n. [L. altus high + L. & E. stratus.] (Meteor.)

Defn: A cloud formation similar to cirro-stratus, but heavier and at a lower level.

ALTRICAL Al"tri*cal, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like the articles.

ALTRICES Al*tri"ces, n. pl. Etym: [L., nourishes, pl. of altrix.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Nursers, -- a term applied to those birds whose young are hatched in a very immature and helpless condition, so as to require the care of their parents for some time; -- opposed to præcoces.

ALTRUISM Al"tru*ism, n. Etym: [F. altruisme (a word of Comte's), It. altrui of or to others, fr. L. alter another.]

Defn: Regard for others, both natural and moral; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness; -- opposed to egoism or selfishness. [Recent] J. S. Mill.

ALTRUIST Al"tru*ist, n.

Defn: One imbued with altruism; -- opposed to egoist.

ALTRUISTIC Al`tru*is"tic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. altruiste, a. See Altruism..]

Defn: Regardful of others; beneficent; unselfish; -- opposed to Ant: egoistic or Ant: selfish. Bain. -- Al`tru*is"tic*al*ly, adv.

ALUDEL Al"u*del, n. Etym: [F. & Sp. aludel, fr. Ar. aluthal.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of the pear-shaped pots open at both ends, and so formed as to be fitted together, the neck of one into the bottom of another in succession; -- used in the process of sublimation. Ure.

ALULA Al"u*la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. ala a wing.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A false or bastard wing. See under Bastard.

ALULAR Al"u*lar, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to the alula.

ALUM Al"um, n. Etym: [OE. alum, alom, OF. alum, F. alun, fr. L. alumen alum.] (Chem.)

Defn: A double sulphate formed of aluminium and some other element (esp. an alkali metal) or of aluminium. It has twenty-four molecules of water of crystallization.

Note: Common alum is the double sulphate of aluminium and potassium. It is white, transparent, very astringent, and crystallizes easily in octahedrons. The term is extended so as to include other double sulphates similar to alum in formula.

ALUM Al"um, v. t.

Defn: To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum. Ure.

ALUMEN A*lu"men, n. Etym: [L.] (Chem.)

Defn: Alum.

ALUMINA A*lu"mi*na, n. Etym: [L. alumen, aluminis. See Alum.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of the earths, consisting of two parts of aluminium and three of oxygen, Al2O3.

Note: It is the oxide of the metal aluminium, the base of aluminous salts, a constituent of a large part of the earthy siliceous minerals, as the feldspars, micas, scapolites, etc., and the characterizing ingredient of common clay, in which it exists as an impure silicate with water, resulting from the decomposition of other aluminous minerals. In its natural state, it is the mineral corundum.

ALUMINATE A*lu`mi*nate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A compound formed from the hydrate of aluminium by the substitution of a metal for the hydrogen.

ALUMINATED A*lu"mi*na`ted. a.

Defn: Combined with alumina.

ALUMINE Al"u*mine, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Alumina. Davy.

ALUMINIC Al`u*min"ic, a.

Defn: Of or containing aluminium; as, aluminic phosphate.

ALUMINIFEROUS A*lu`mi*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. alumen alum + -ferous: cf. F. aluminifère.]

Defn: Containing alum.

ALUMINIFORM A*lu"mi*ni*form, a. Etym: [L. alumen + -form.]

Defn: pertaining the form of alumina.

ALUMINIUM Al`u*min"i*um, n. Etym: [L. alumen. See Alum.] (Chem.)

Defn: The metallic base of alumina. This metal is white, but with a bluish tinge, and is remarkable for its resistance to oxidation, and for its lightness, pertaining a specific gravity of about 2.6. Atomic weight 27.08. Symbol Al. Aluminium bronze or gold, a pale gold- colored alloy of aluminium and copper, used for journal bearings, etc.

ALUMINIZE A*lu"mi*nize, v. t.

Defn: To treat impregnate with alum; to alum.

ALUMINOGRAPHY A*lu`mi*nog"ra*phy, n. [Alumin-ium + -graphy.]

Defn: Art or process of producing, and printing from, aluminium plates, after the manner of ordinary lithography. -- A*lu`mi*no*graph"ic (#), a.

ALUMINOUS A*lu"mi*nous, a. Etym: [L. aluminosus, fr. alumen alum: cf. F. alumineux.]

Defn: Pertaining to or containing alum, or alumina; as, aluminous minerals, aluminous solution.

ALUMINUM A*lu"mi*num, n.

Defn: See Aluminium.

ALUMISH Al"um*ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat like alum.

ALUMNA A*lum"na, n. fem.; pl. Alumnæ . Etym: [L. See Alumnus.]

Defn: A female pupil; especially, a graduate of a school or college.

ALUMNUS A*lum"nus, n.; pl. Alumni. Etym: [L., fr. alere to nourish.]

Defn: A pupil; especially, a graduate of a college or other seminary of learning.

ALUM ROOT Al"um root`. (Bot.)

Defn: A North American herb (Heuchera Americana) of the Saxifrage family, whose root has astringent properties.

ALUM SCHIST; ALUM SHALE Al"um schist", Al"um shale", (Min.)

Defn: A variety of shale or clay slate, containing iron pyrites, the decomposition of which leads to the formation of alum, which often effloresces on the rock.

ALUM STONE Al"um stone`. (Min.)

Defn: A subsulphate of alumina and potash; alunite.

ALUNITE Al"u*nite, n. (Min.)

Defn: Alum stone.

ALUNOGEN A*lu"no*gen, n. Etym: [F. alun alum + -gen.] (Min.)

Defn: A white fibrous mineral frequently found on the walls of mines and quarries, chiefly hydrous sulphate of alumina; -- also called feather alum, and hair salt.

ALURE Al"ure, n. Etym: [OF. alure, aleure, walk, gait, fr. aler (F. aller) to go.]

Defn: A walk or passage; -- applied to passages of various kinds. The sides of every street were covered with fresh alures of marble. T. Warton.

ALUTACEOUS Al"u*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. alutacius, fr. aluta soft leather.]

1. Leathery.

2. Of a pale brown color; leather-yellow. Brande.

ALUTATION Al`u*ta"tion, n. Etym: [See Alutaceous.]

Defn: The tanning or dressing of leather. [Obs.] Blount.

ALVEARY Al"ve*a*ry, n.; pl. Alvearies. Etym: [L. alvearium, alveare, beehive, fr. alveus a hollow vessel, beehive, from alvus belly, beehive.]

1. A beehive, or something resembling a beehive. Barret.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: The hollow of the external ear. Quincy.

ALVEATED Al"ve*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. alveatus hollowed out.]

Defn: Formed or vaulted like a beehive.

ALVEOLAR Al"ve*o*lar, a. Etym: [L. alveolus a small hollow or cavity: cf. F. alvéolaire.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, alveoli or little cells, sacs, or sockets. Alveolar processes, the processes of the maxillary bones, containing the sockets of the teeth.

ALVEOLARY Al"ve*o*la*ry, a.

Defn: Alveolar. [R.]

ALVEOLATE Al"ve*o*late, a. Etym: [L. alveolatus, fr. alveolus.] (Bot.)

Defn: Deeply pitted, like a honeycomb.

ALVEOLE Al"ve*ole, n.

Defn: Same as Alveolus.

ALVEOLIFORM Al*ve"o*li*form, a. Etym: [L. alvelous + -form.]

Defn: Having the form of alveoli, or little sockets, cells, or cavities.

ALVEOLUS Al*ve"o*lus, n.; pl. Alveoli. Etym: [L., a small hollow or cavity, dim. of alveus: cf. F. alvéole. See Alveary.]

1. A cell in a honeycomb.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small cavity in a coral, shell, or fossil

3. (Anat.)

Defn: A small depression, sac, or vesicle, as the socket of a tooth, the air cells of the lungs, the ultimate saccules of glands, etc.

ALVEUS Al"ve*us, n.; pl. Alvei. Etym: [L.]

Defn: The channel of a river. Weate.

ALVINE Al"vine, a. Etym: [L. alvus belly: cf. F. alvin.]

Defn: Of, from, in, or pertaining to, the belly or the intestines; as, alvine discharges; alvine concretions.

ALWAY Al"way, adv.

Defn: Always. [Archaic or Poetic] I would not live alway. Job vii. 16.

ALWAYS Al"ways, adv. Etym: [All + way. The s is an adverbial (orig. a genitive) ending.]

1. At all times; ever; perpetually; throughout all time; continually; as, God is always the same. Even in Heaven his [Mammon's] looks and thoughts. Milton.

2. Constancy during a certain period, or regularly at stated intervals; invariably; uniformly; -- opposed to sometimes or occasionally. He always rides a black galloway. Bulwer.

ALYSSUM A*lys"sum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of cruciferous plants; madwort. The sweet alyssum (A. maritimum), cultivated for bouquets, bears small, white, sweet- scented flowers.

AM Am. Etym: [AS. am, eom, akin to Gothic im, Icel. em, Olr. am, Lith. esmi, L. sum., Gr. ahmi, Skr. asmi, fr. a root as to be. Are, and cf. Be, Was.]

Defn: The first person singular of the verb be, in the indicative mode, present tense. See Be. God said unto Moses, I am that am. Exod. iii. 14.

AMABILITY Am`a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. amabilitas.]

Defn: Lovableness. Jer. Taylor.

Note: The New English Dictionary (Murray) says this word is "usefully distinct from Amiability."

AMACRATIC Am`a*crat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Photog.)

Defn: Amasthenic. Sir J. Herschel.

AMADAVAT Am`a*da*vat", n. Etym: [Indian name. From Ahmedabad, a city from which it was imported to Europe.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The strawberry finch, a small Indian song bird (Estrelda amandava), commonly caged and kept for fighting. The female is olive brown; the male, in summer, mostly crimson; -- called also red waxbill. [Written also amaduvad and avadavat.]

AMADOU Am"a*dou, n. Etym: [F. amadou tinder, prop. lure, bait, fr. amadouer to allure, caress, perh. fr. Icel. mata to feed, which is akin to E. meat.]

Defn: A spongy, combustible substance, prepared from fungus (Boletus and Polyporus) which grows on old trees; German tinder; punk. It has been employed as a styptic by surgeons, but its common use is as tinder, for which purpose it is prepared by soaking it in a strong solution of niter. Ure.

AMAIN A*main", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + main. See 2d Main, n.]

1. With might; with full force; vigorously; violently; exceedingly. They on the hill, which were not yet come to blows, perceiving the fewness of their enemies, came down amain. Milton. That striping giant, ill-bred and scoffing, shouts amain. T. Parker.

2. At full speed; in great haste; also, at once. "They fled amain." Holinshed.

AMAIN A*main", v. t. Etym: [F. amener. See Amenable.] (Naut.)

Defn: To lower, as a sail, a yard, etc.

AMAIN A*main", v. i. (Naut.)

Defn: To lower the topsail, in token of surrender; to yield.

AMALGAM A*mal"gam, n. Etym: [F. amalgame, prob. fr. L. malagma, Gr.

1. An alloy of mercury with another metal or metals; as, an amalgam of tin, bismuth, etc.

Note: Medalists apply the term to soft alloys generally.

2. A mixture or compound of different things.

3. (Min.)

Defn: A native compound of mercury and silver.

AMALGAM A*mal"gam, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. amalgamer]

Defn: To amalgamate. Boyle. B. Jonson.

AMALGAMA A*mal"ga*ma, n.

Defn: Same as Amalgam. They divided this their amalgama into a number of incoherent republics. Burke.

AMALGAMATE A*mal"ga*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amalgamated; p. pr. & vb. n. Amalgamating.]

1. To compound or mix, as quicksilver, with another metal; to unite, combine, or alloy with mercury.

2. To mix, so as to make a uniform compound; to unite or combine; as, to amalgamate two races; to amalgamate one race with another. Ingratitude is indeed their four cardinal virtues compacted and amalgamated into one. Burke.

AMALGAMATE A*mal"ga*mate, v. i.

1. To unite in an amalgam; to blend with another metal, as quicksilver.

2. To coalesce, as a result of growth; to combine into a uniform whole; to blend; as, two organs or parts amalgamate.

AMALGAMATE; AMALGAMATED A*mal"ga*mate, A*mal"ga*ma`ted, a.

Defn: Coalesced; united; combined.

AMALGAMATION A*mal`ga*ma"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. amalgamation.]

1. The act or operation of compounding mercury with another metal; -- applied particularly to the process of separating gold and silver from their ores by mixing them with mercury. Ure.

2. The mixing or blending of different elements, races, societies, etc.; also, the result of such combination or blending; a homogeneous union. Macaulay.

AMALGAMATIVE A*mal"ga*ma*tive, a.

Defn: Characterized by amalgamation.

AMALGAMATOR A*mal"ga*ma`tor, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, amalgamates. Specifically: A machine for separating precious metals from earthy particles by bringing them in contact with a body of mercury with which they form an amalgam.

AMALGAMIZE A*mal"ga*mize, v. t.

Defn: To amalgamate. [R.]

AMANDINE A*man"dine, n. Etym: [F. amande almond. See Almond.]

1. The vegetable casein of almonds.

2. A kind of cold cream prepared from almonds, for chapped hands, etc.

AMANITA Am`a*ni"ta, n. [NL. See Amanitine.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of poisonous fungi of the family Agaricaceæ, characterized by having a volva, an annulus, and white spores. The species resemble edible mushrooms, and are frequently mistaken for them. Amanita muscaria, syn. Agaricus muscarius, is the fly amanita, or fly agaric; and A. phalloides is the death cup.

AMANITINE A*man"i*tine, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The poisonous principle of some fungi.

AMANUENSIS A*man`u*en"sis, n.; pl. Amanuenses. Etym: [L., fr. a, ab + manus hand.]

Defn: A person whose employment is to write what another dictates, or to copy what another has written.

AMARACUS A*mar"a*cus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

Defn: A fragrant flower. Tennyson.

AMARANT Am"a*rant, n.

Defn: Amaranth, 1. [Obs.] Milton.

AMARANTACEOUS Am`a*ran*ta"ceous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which the amaranth is the type.

AMARANTH Am"a*ranth, n. Etym: [L. amarantus, Gr. mortal; -- so called because its flowers do not soon wither: cf. F. amarante. The spelling with th seems to be due to confusion with Gr.

1. An imaginary flower supposed never to fade. [Poetic]

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of ornamental annual plants (Amaranthus) of many species, with green, purplish, or crimson flowers.

2. A color inclining to purple.

AMARANTHINE Am`a*ran"thine, a.

1. Of or pertaining to amaranth. "Amaranthine bowers." Pope.

2. Unfading, as the poetic amaranth; undying. They only amaranthine flower on earth Is virtue. Cowper.

3. Of a purplish color. Buchanan.

AMARANTHUS; AMARANTUS Am`a*ran"thus, Am`a*ran"tus, n.

Defn: Same as Amaranth.

AMARINE Am"a*rine, n. Etym: [L. amarus bitter.] (Chem.)

Defn: A characteristic crystalline substance, obtained from oil of bitter almonds.

AMARITUDE A*mar"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. amaritudo, fr. amarus bitter: cf. OF. amaritude.]

Defn: Bitterness. [R.]

AMARYLLIDACEOUS; AMARYLLIDEOUS Am`a*ryl`li*da"ceous, Am`a*ryl*lid"e*ous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, an order of plants differing from the lily family chiefly in having the ovary below the

AMARYLLIS Am`a*ryl"lis, n. Etym: [L. Amaryllis, Gr.

1. A pastoral sweetheart. To sport with Amaryllis in the shade. Milton.

2. (bot.) (a) A family of plants much esteemed for their beauty, including the narcissus, jonquil, daffodil, agave, and others. (b) A genus of the same family, including the Belladonna lily.

AMASS A*mass", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amassed; p. pr. & vb. n. Amassing.] Etym: [F. ambusher, LL. amassare; L. ad + massa lump, mass. See Mass.]

Defn: To collect into a mass or heap; to gather a great quantity of; to accumulate; as, to amass a treasure or a fortune; to amass words or phrases. The life Homer has been written by amassing all the traditions and hints the writers could meet with. Pope.

Syn. -- To accumulate; heap up; pile.

AMASS A*mass", n. Etym: [OF. amasse, fr. ambusher.]

Defn: A mass; a heap. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

AMASSABLE A*mass"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being amassed.

AMASSER A*mass"er, n.

Defn: One who amasses.

AMASSETTE A`mas`sette", n. Etym: [F. See Amass.]

Defn: An instrument of horn used for collecting painters' colors on the stone in the process of grinding.

AMASSMENT A*mass"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. amassement.]

Defn: An amassing; a heap collected; a large quantity or number brought together; an accumulation. An amassment of imaginary conceptions. Glanvill.

AMASTHENIC Am`as*then"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Photog.)

Defn: Uniting the chemical rays of light into one focus, as a certain kind of lens; amacratic.

AMATE A*mate", v. t. Etym: [OF. amater, amatir.]

Defn: To dismay; to dishearten; to daunt. [Obs. or Archaic] The Silures, to amate the new general, rumored the overthrow greater than was true. Milton.

AMATE A*mate", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + mate.]

Defn: To be a mate to; to match. [Obs.] Spenser.

AMATEUR Am`a*teur", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. amator lover, fr. amare to love.]

Defn: A person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science as to music or painting; esp. one who cultivates any study or art, from taste or attachment, without pursuing it professionally.

AMATEURISH Am`a*teur"ish, a.

Defn: In the style of an amateur; superficial or defective like the work of an amateur. -- Am`a*teur"ish*ly, adv. -- Am`a*teur"ish*ness, n.

AMATEURISM Am"a*teur*ism, n.

Defn: The practice, habit, or work of an amateur.

AMATEURSHIP Am"a*teur`ship, n.

Defn: The quality or character of an amateur.

AMATIVE Am"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. amatus, p. p. of amare to love.]

Defn: Full of love; amatory.

AMATIVENESS Am"a*tive*ness, n. (Phren.)

Defn: The faculty supposed to influence sexual desire; propensity to love. Combe.

AMATORIAL Am`a*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [See Amatorious.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a lover or to love making; amatory; as, amatorial verses.

AMATORIALLY Am`a*to"ri*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In an amatorial manner.

AMATORIAN Am`a*to"ri*an, a.

Defn: Amatory. [R.] Johnson.

AMATORIOUS Am`a*to"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. amatorius, fr. amare to love.]

Defn: Amatory. [Obs.] "Amatorious poem." Milton.

AMATORY Am"a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, producing, or expressing, sexual love; as, amatory potions.

AMAUROSIS Am`au*ro"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A loss or decay of sight, from loss of power in the optic nerve, without any perceptible external change in the eye; -- called also gutta serena, the "drop serene" of Milton.

AMAUROTIC Am`au*rot"ic, a.

Defn: Affected with amaurosis; having the characteristics of amaurosis.

AMAZE A*maze", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amazed; p. pr. & vb. n. Amazing.] Etym: [Pref. a- + maze.]

1. To bewilder; to stupefy; to bring into a maze. [Obs.] A labyrinth to amaze his foes. Shak.

2. To confound, as by fear, wonder, extreme surprise; to overwhelm with wonder; to astound; to astonish greatly. "Amazing Europe with her wit." Goldsmith. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David Matt. xii. 23.

Syn. -- To astonish; astound; confound; bewilder; perplex; surprise. -- Amaze, Astonish. Amazement includes the notion of bewilderment of difficulty accompanied by surprise. It expresses a state in which one does not know what to do, or to say, or to think. Hence we are amazed at what we can not in the least account for. Astonishment also implies surprise. It expresses a state in which one is stunned by the vastness or greatness of something, or struck with some degree of horror, as when one is overpowered by the

AMAZE A*maze", v. i.

Defn: To be astounded. [Archaic] B. Taylor.

AMAZE A*maze", v. t.

Defn: Bewilderment, arising from fear, surprise, or wonder; amazement. [Chiefly poetic] The wild, bewildered Of one to stone converted by amaze. Byron.

AMAZEDLY A*maz"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: In amazement; with confusion or astonishment. Shak.

AMAZEDNESS A*maz"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being amazed, or confounded with fear, surprise, or wonder. Bp. Hall.

AMAZEFUL A*maze"ful, a.

Defn: Full of amazement. [R.]

AMAZEMENT A*maze"ment, n.

1. The condition of being amazed; bewilderment [Obs.]; overwhelming wonder, as from surprise, sudden fear, horror, or admiration. His words impression left Of much amazement. Milton.

2. Frenzy; madness. [Obs.] Webster (1661).

AMAZING A*maz"ing, a.

Defn: Causing amazement; very wonderful; as, amazing grace. -- A*maz"ing*ly, adv.

AMAZON Am"a*zon, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

1. One of a fabulous race of female warriors in Scythia; hence, a female warrior.

2. A tall, strong, masculine woman; a virago.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A name numerous species of South American parrots of the genus Chrysotis Amazon ant (Zoöl.), a species of ant (Polyergus rufescens), of Europe and America. They seize by conquest the larvæ and nymphs other species and make slaves of them in their own nests.

AMAZONIAN Am`a*zo"ni*an, a.

1. Pertaining to or resembling an Amazon; of masculine manners; warlike. Shak.

2. Of or pertaining to the river Amazon in South America, or to its valley.

AMAZONITE; AMAZON STONE Am"a*zon*ite, Am"a*zon stone`, n. Etym: [Named from the river Amazon.] (Min.)

Defn: A variety of feldspar, having a verdigris-green color.

AMB-; AMBI- Amb-, Am*bi-. Etym: [L. prefix ambi-, amb-, akin to Gr. abhi, AS. embe, emb, OHG. umbi, umpi, G. um, and also L. ambo both. Cf. Amphi-, Both, By.]

Defn: A prefix meaning about, around; -- used in words derived from the Latin.

AMBAGES Am*ba"ges, n. pl. Etym: [L. (usually in pl.); pref. ambi-, amb- + agere to drive: cf. F. ambage.]

Defn: A circuit; a winding. Hence: Circuitous way or proceeding; quibble; circumlocution; indirect mode of speech. After many ambages, perspicuously define what this melancholy is. Burton.

AMBAGINOUS Am*bag"i*nous, a.

Defn: Ambagious. [R.]

AMBAGIOUS Am*ba"gious, a. Etym: [L. ambagiosus.]

Defn: Circumlocutory; circuitous. [R.]

AMBAGITORY Am*bag"i*to*ry, a.

Defn: Ambagious. [R.]

AMBARY; AMBARY HEMP Am*ba"ry, n., or Ambary hemp. [Hind. ambara, ambari.]

Defn: A valuable East Indian fiber plant (Hibiscus cannabinus), or its fiber, which is used throughout India for making ropes, cordage, and a coarse canvas and sackcloth; --called also brown Indian hemp.

AMBASSADE; EMBASSADE Am"bas*sade, Em"bas*sade, n. Etym: [F. ambassade. See Embassy.]

1. The mission of an ambassador. [Obs.] Carew.

2. An embassy. [Obs.] Strype.

AMBASSADOR; EMBASSADOR Am*bas"sa*dor, Em*bas"sa*dor, n. Etym: [See Embassador.]

1. A minister of the highest rank sent a foreign court to represent there his sovereign or country.

Note: Ambassador are either ordinary [or resident] or extraordinary, that is, sent upon some special or unusual occasion or errand. Abbott.

2. An official messenger and representative.

AMBASSADORIAL Am*bas`sa*do"ri*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to an ambassador. H. Walpole.

AMBASSADORSHIP Am*bas`sa*dor*ship, n.

Defn: The state, office, or functions of an ambassador.

AMBASSADRESS Am*bas"sa*dress, n.

Defn: A female ambassador; also, the wife of an ambassador. Prescott.

AMBASSAGE Am"bas*sage, n.

Defn: Same as Embassage. [Obs. or R.] Luke xiv. 32.

AMBASSY Am"bas*sy, n.

Defn: See Embassy, the usual spelling. Helps.

AMBER Am"ber, n. Etym: [OE. aumbre, F. ambre, Sp. ámbar, and with the Ar. article, alámbar, fr. Ar. 'anbar ambergris.]

1. (Min.)

Defn: A yellowish translucent resin resembling copal, found as a fossil in alluvial soils, with beds of lignite, or on the seashore in many places. It takes a fine polish, and is used for pipe mouthpieces, beads, etc., and as a basis for a fine varnish. By friction, it becomes strongly electric.

2. Amber color, or anything amber-colored; a clear light yellow; as, the amber of the sky.

3. Ambergris. [Obs.] You that smell of amber at my charge. Beau. & Fl.

4. The balsam, liquidambar. Black amber, and old and popular name for jet.

AMBER Am"ber, a.

1. Consisting of amber; made of amber. "Amber bracelets." Shak.

2. Resembling amber, especially in color; amber-colored. "The amber morn." Tennyson.

AMBER Am"ber, v. t. [p. p. & p. a. Ambered .]

1. To scent or flavor with ambergris; as, ambered wine.

2. To preserve in amber; as, an ambered fly.

AMBER FISH Am"ber fish. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish of the southern Atlantic coast (Seriola Carolinensis.)

AMBERGREASE Am"ber*grease, n.

Defn: See Ambergris.

AMBERGRIS Am"ber*gris, n. Etym: [F. ambre gris, i. e., gray amber; F. gris gray, which is of German origin: cf. OS. grîs, G. greis, gray-haired. See Amber.]

Defn: A substance of the consistence of wax, found floating in the Indian Ocean and other parts of the tropics, and also as a morbid secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), which is believed to be in all cases its true origin. In color it is white, ash-gray, yellow, or black, and often variegated like marble. The floating masses are sometimes from sixty to two hundred and twenty-five pounds in weight. It is wholly volatilized as a white vapor at 212º Fahrenheit, and is highly valued in perfumery. Dana.

AMBER ROOM Am"ber room

Defn: A room formerly in the Czar's Summer Palace in Russia, which was richly decorated with walls and fixtures made from amber. The amber was removed by occupying German troops during the Second World War and has, as of 1997, never been recovered. The room is being recreated from old photographs by Russian artisans. PJC

AMBER SEED Am"ber seed`.

Defn: Seed of the Hibiscus abelmoschus, somewhat resembling millet, brought from Egypt and the West Indies, and having a flavor like that of musk; musk seed. Chambers.

AMBER TREE Am"ber tree`.

Defn: A species of Anthospermum, a shrub with evergreen leaves, which, when bruised, emit a fragrant odor.

AMBES-AS Ambes"-as, n.

Defn: Ambs-ace. [Obs.] Chaucer.

AMBIDEXTER Am"bi*dex"ter, a. Etym: [LL., fr. L. ambo both + dexter right, dextra (sc. manus) the right hand.]

Defn: Using both hands with equal ease. Smollett.

AMBIDEXTER Am`bi*dex"ter, n.

1. A person who uses both hands with equal facility.

2. Hence; A double-dealer; one equally ready to act on either side in party disputes. The rest are hypocrites, ambidexters, so many turning pictures -- a lion on one side, a lamb on the other. Burton.

3. (Law)

Defn: A juror who takes money from both parties for giving his verdict. Cowell.

AMBIDEXTERITY Am"bi*dex*ter"i*ty, n.

1. The quality of being ambidexas, ambidexterity of argumentation. Sterne. Ignorant I was of the human frame, and of its latent powers, as regarded speed, force, and ambidexterity. De Quincey.

2. Double-dealing. (Law)

Defn: A juror's taking of money from the both parties for a verdict.

AMBIDEXTRAL Am`bi*dex"tral, a.

Defn: Pertaining equally to the right-hand side and the left-hand side. Earle.

AMBIDEXTROUS Am`bi*dex"trous, a.

1. Pertaining the faculty of using both hands with equal ease. Sir T. Browne.

2. Practicing or siding with both parties. All false, shuffling, and ambidextrous dealings. L'Estrange.

AMBIDEXTROUSLY Am"bi*dex"trous*ly, adv.

Defn: In an ambidextrous manner; cunningly.

AMBIDEXTROUSNESS Am`bi*dex"trous*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being ambidextrous; ambidexterity.

AMBIENT Am"bi*ent, a. Etym: [L. ambiens, p. pr. of ambire to go around; amb- + ire to go.]

Defn: Encompassing on all sides; circumfused; investing. "Ambient air." Milton. "Ambient clouds." Pope.

AMBIENT Am"bi*ent, n.

Defn: Something that surrounds or invests; as, air . . . being a perpetual ambient. Sir H. Wotton.

AMBIGENOUS Am*big"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. ambo both + genus kind.]

Defn: Of two kinds. (Bot.)

Defn: Partaking of two natures, as the perianth of some endogenous plants, where the outer surface is calycine, and the inner petaloid.

AMBIGU Am"bi*gu, n. Etym: [F., fr. ambigu doubtful, L. ambiquus. See Ambiguous.]

Defn: An entertainment at which a medley of dishes is set on at the same time.

AMBIGUITY Am`bi*gu"i*ty, n.; pl. Ambiguities. Etym: [L. ambiguitas, fr. ambiguus: cf. F. ambiguité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty, particularly as to the signification of language, arising from its admitting of more than one meaning; an equivocal word or expression. No shadow of ambiguity can rest upon the course to be pursued. I. Taylor. The words are of single signification, without any ambiguity. South.

AMBIGUOUS Am*big"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. ambiguus, fr. ambigere to wander about, waver; amb- + agere to drive.]

Defn: Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to signification; capable of being understood in either of two or more possible senses; equivocal; as, an ambiguous course; an ambiguous expression. What have been thy answers What but dark, Ambiguous, and with double sense deluding Milton.

Syn. -- Doubtful; dubious; uncertain; unsettled; indistinct; indeterminate; indefinite. See Equivocal.

AMBIGUOUSLY Am*big"u*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In an ambiguous manner; with doubtful meaning.

AMBIGUOUSNESS Am*big"u*ous*ness, n.

Defn: Ambiguity.

AMBILEVOUS Am`bi*le"vous, a. Etym: [L. ambo both + laevus left.]

Defn: Left-handed on both sides; clumsy; -- opposed to ambidexter. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

AMBILOQUY Am*bil"o*quy, n.

Defn: Doubtful or ambiguous language. [Obs.] Bailey.

AMBIPAROUS Am*bip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. ambo both + parere to bring forth.] (Bot.)

Defn: Characterized by containing the rudiments of both flowers and leaves; -- applied to a bud.

AMBIT Am"bit, n. Etym: [L. ambitus circuit, fr. ambire to go around. See Ambient.]

Defn: Circuit or compass. His great parts did not live within a small ambit. Milward.

AMBITION Am*bi"tion, n. Etym: [F. ambition, L. ambitio a going around, especially of candidates for office is Rome, to solicit votes (hence, desire for office or honorambire to go around. See Ambient, Issue.]

1. The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire; canvassing. [Obs.] [I] used no ambition to commend my deeds. Milton.

2. An eager, and sometimes an inordinate, desire for preferment, honor, superiority, power, or the attainment of something. Cromwell, I charge thee, fling a way ambition: By that sin fell the angels. Shak. The pitiful ambition of possessing five or six thousand more acres. Burke.

AMBITION Am*bi"tion, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. ambitionner.]

Defn: To seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet. [R.] Pausanias, ambitioning the sovereignty of Greece, bargains with Xerxes for his daughter in marriage. Trumbull.

AMBITIONIST Am*bi"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One excessively ambitious. [R.]

AMBITIONLESS Am*bi"tion*less, a.

Defn: Devoid of ambition. Pollok.

AMBITIOUS Am*bi"tious, a. Etym: [L. ambitiosus: cf. F. ambitieux. See Ambition.]

1. Possessing, or controlled by, ambition; greatly or inordinately desirous of power, honor, office, superiority, or distinction. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man. Shak.

2. Strongly desirous; -- followed by of or the infinitive; as, ambitious to be or to do something. I was not ambitious of seeing this ceremony. Evelyn. Studious of song, and yet ambitious not to sing in vain. Cowper.

3. Springing from, characterized by, or indicating, ambition; showy; aspiring; as, an ambitious style. A giant statue . . . Pushed by a wild and artless race, From off wide, ambitious base. Collins.

AMBITIOUSLY Am*bi"tious*ly, adv.

Defn: In an ambitious manner.

AMBITIOUSNESS Am*bi"tious*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being ambitious; ambition; pretentiousness.

AMBITUS Am"bi*tus, n. Etym: [L. See Ambit, Ambition.]

1. The exterior edge or border of a thing, as the border of a leaf, or the outline of a bivalve shell.

2. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A canvassing for votes.

AMBLE Am"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ambled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ambling.] Etym: [F. ambler to amble, fr. L. ambulare to walk, in LL., to amble, perh. fr. amb-, ambi-, and a root meaning to go: cf. Gr. base. Cf. Ambulate.]

1. To go at the easy gait called an amble; -- applied to the horse or to its rider.

2. To move somewhat like an ambling horse; to go easily or without hard shocks. The skipping king, he ambled up and down. Shak. Sir, your wit ambles well; it goes easily. Shak.

AMBLE Am"ble, n.

1. A peculiar gait of a horse, in which both legs on the same side are moved at the same time, alternating with the legs on the other side. "A fine easy amble." B. Jonson.

2. A movement like the amble of a horse.

AMBLER Am"bler, n.

Defn: A horse or a person that ambles.

AMBLINGLY Am"bling*ly, adv.

Defn: With an ambling gait.

AMBLOTIC Am*blot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Tending to cause abortion.

AMBLYGON Am"bly*gon, n. Etym: [Gr. amblygone.] (Geom.)

Defn: An obtuse-angled figure, esp. and obtuse-angled triangle. [Obs.]

AMBLYGONAL Am*blyg"o*nal, a.

Defn: Obtuse-angled. [Obs.] Hutton.

AMBLYOPIA; AMBLYOPY Am`bly*o"pi*a, Am"bly*o`py, n. Etym: [Gr. amblyopie.] (Med.)

Defn: Weakness of sight, without and opacity of the cornea, or of the interior of the eye; the first degree of amaurosis.

AMBLYOPIC Am"bly*op"ic, a. (Med.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to amblyopy. Quain.

AMBLYPODA Am*blyp"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A group of large, extinct, herbivorous mammals, common in the Tertiary formation of the United States.

AMBO Am"bo, n.; pl. Ambos. Etym: [LL. ambo, Gr. ambon.]

Defn: A large pulpit or reading desk, in the early Christian churches. Gwilt.

AMBON Am"bon, n.

Defn: Same as Ambo.

AMBOYNA BUTTON Am*boy"na but"ton. (Med.)

Defn: A chronic contagious affection of the skin, prevalent in the tropics.

AMBOYNA PINE Amboyna pine. (Bot.)

Defn: The resiniferous tree Agathis Dammara, of the Moluccas.

AMBOYNA WOOD Am*boy"na wood.

Defn: A beautiful mottled and curled wood, used in cabinetwork. It is obtained from the Pterocarpus Indicus of Amboyna, Borneo, etc.

AMBREATE Am"bre*ate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt formed by the combination of ambreic acid with a base or positive radical.

AMBREIC Am*bre"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to ambrein; -- said of a certain acid produced by digesting ambrein in nitric acid.

AMBREIN Am"bre*in, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ambréine. See Amber.] (Chem.)

Defn: A fragrant substance which is the chief constituent of ambergris.

AMBRITE Am"brite, n. Etym: [From amber.]

Defn: A fossil resin occurring in large masses in New Zealand.

AMBROSE Am"brose, n.

Defn: A sweet-scented herb; ambrosia. See Ambrosia, 3. Turner.

AMBROSIA Am*bro"sia, n. Etym: [L. ambrosia, Gr. mrita, L. mortuus, dead, and to E. mortal.]

1. (Myth.) (a) The fabled food of the gods (as nectar was their drink), which conferred immortality upon those who partook of it. (b) An unguent of the gods. His dewy locks distilled ambrosia. Milton.

2. A perfumed unguent, salve, or draught; something very pleasing to the taste or smell. Spenser.

3. Formerly, a kind of fragrant plant; now (Bot.), a genus of plants, including some coarse and worthless weeds, called ragweed, hogweed, etc.

AMBROSIA BEETLE Ambrosia beetle. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A bark beetle that feeds on ambrosia.

AMBROSIAC Am"bro"si*ac, a. Etym: [L. ambrosiacus: cf. F. ambrosiaque.]

Defn: Having the qualities of ambrosia; delicious. [R.]"Ambrosiac odors." B. Jonson.

AMBROSIAL Am*bro"sial, a. Etym: [L. ambrosius, Gr.

1. Consisting of, or partaking of the nature of, ambrosia; delighting the taste or smell; delicious. "Ambrosial food." "Ambrosial fragrance." Milton.

2. Divinely excellent or beautiful. "Shakes his ambrosial curls." Pope.

AMBROSIALLY Am*bro"sial*ly, adv.

Defn: After the manner of ambrosia; delightfully. "Smelt ambrosially." Tennyson.

AMBROSIAN Am*bro"sian, a.

Defn: Ambrosial. [R.] . Jonson.

AMBROSIAN Am*bro"sian, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to St. Ambrose; as, the Ambrosian office, or ritual, a formula of worship in the church of Milan, instituted by St. Ambrose. Ambrosian chant, the mode of signing or chanting introduced by St. Ambrose in the 4th century.

AMBROSIN Am"bro*sin, n. Etym: [LL. Ambrosinus nummus.]

Defn: An early coin struck by the dukes of Milan, and bearing the figure of St. Ambrose on horseback.

AMBROTYPE Am"bro*type, n. Etym: [Gr. -type.] (Photog.)

Defn: A picture taken on a place of prepared glass, in which the lights are represented in silver, and the shades are produced by a dark background visible through the unsilvered portions of the glass.

AMBRY Am"bry, n.; pl. Ambries. Etym: [OE. aumbry, almery, OF. almarie, armarie, aumaire, F. armoire, LL. armarium chest, cupboard, orig. a repository for arms, fr. L. arama arms. The word has been confused with almonry. See Armory.]

1. In churches, a kind of closet, niche, cupboard, or locker for utensils, vestments, etc.

2. A store closet, as a pantry, cupboard, etc.

3. Almonry. [Improperly so used]

AMBS-ACE Ambs"-ace, n. Etym: [OF. ambesas; ambes both (fr. L. ambo) + as ace. See Ace.]

Defn: Double aces, the lowest throw of all at dice. Hence: Bad luck; anything of no account or value.

AMBULACRAL Am`bu*la"cral, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to ambulacra; avenuelike; as, the ambulacral ossicles, plates, spines, and suckers of echinoderms.

AMBULACRIFORM Am`bu*la"cri*form, a. Etym: [Ambulacrum + -form] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the form of ambulacra.

AMBULACRUM Am`bu*la"crum, n.; pl. Ambulacra. Etym: [L., an alley or covered way.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the radical zones of echinoderms, along which run the principal nerves, blood vessels, and water tubes. These zones usually bear rows of locomotive suckers or tentacles, which protrude from regular pores. In star fishes they occupy the grooves along the under side of the rays. (b) One of the suckers on the feet of mites.

AMBULANCE Am"bu*lance, n. Etym: [F. ambulance, hôpital ambulant, fr. L. ambulare to walk. See Amble.] (Mil.) (a) A field hospital, so organized as to follow an army in its movements, and intended to succor the wounded as soon as possible. Often used adjectively; as, an ambulance wagon; ambulance stretcher; ambulance corps. (b) An ambulance wagon or cart for conveying the wounded from the field, or to a hospital.

AMBULANT Am"bu*lant, a. Etym: [L. ambulans, p. pr. of ambulare to walk: cf. F. ambulant.]

Defn: Walking; moving from place to place. Gayton.

AMBULATE Am"bu*late, v. i. Etym: [L. ambulare to walk. See Amble.]

Defn: To walk; to move about. [R.] Southey.

AMBULATION Am`bu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. ambulatio.]

Defn: The act of walking. Sir T. Browne.

AMBULATIVE Am"bu*la*tive, a.

Defn: Walking. [R.]

AMBULATOR Am"bu*la`tor, n.

1. One who walks about; a walker.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) A beetle of the genus Lamia. (b) A genus of birds, or one of this genus.

3. An instrument for measuring distances; -- called also perambulator. Knight.

AMBULATORIAL Am`bu*la*to"ri*al, a.

Defn: Ambulatory; fitted for walking. Verrill.

AMBULATORY Am"bu*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. ambulatorius.]

1. Of or pertaining to walking; having the faculty of walking; formed or fitted for walking; as, an ambulatory animal.

2. Accustomed to move from place to place; not stationary; movable; as, an ambulatory court, which exercises its jurisdiction in different places. The priesthood . . . before was very ambulatory, and dispersed into all families. Jer. Taylor.

3. Pertaining to a walk. [R.] The princess of whom his majesty had an ambulatory view in his travels. Sir H. Wotton.

4. (Law)

Defn: Not yet fixed legally, or settled past alteration; alterable; as, the dispositions of a will are ambulatory until the death of the testator.

AMBULATORY Am"bu*la*to*ry, n.; pl. Ambulatories. Etym: [Cf. LL. ambulatorium.] (Arch.)

Defn: A place to walk in, whether in the open air, as the gallery of a cloister, or within a building.

AMBURRY Am"bur*ry, n.

Defn: Same as Anbury.

AMBUSCADE Am`bus*cade", n. Etym: [F. embuscade, fr. It. imboscata, or Sp. emboscada, fr. emboscar to ambush, fr. LL. imboscare. See Ambush, v. t.]

1. A lying in a wood, concealed, for the purpose of attacking an enemy by surprise. Hence: A lying in wait, and concealed in any situation, for a like purpose; a snare laid for an enemy; an ambush.

2. A place in which troops lie hid, to attack an enemy unexpectedly. [R.] Dryden.

3. (Mil.)

Defn: The body of troops lying in ambush.

AMBUSCADE Am`bus*cade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ambuscaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Ambuscading.]

1. To post or conceal in ambush; to ambush.

2. To lie in wait for, or to attack from a covert or lurking place; to waylay.

AMBUSCADE Am`bus*cade", v. i.

Defn: To lie in ambush.

AMBUSCADO Am`bus*ca"do, n.

Defn: Ambuscade. [Obs.] Shak.

AMBUSCADOED Am`bus*ca"doed, p. p.

Defn: Posted in ambush; ambuscaded. [Obs.]

AMBUSH Am"bush, n. Etym: [F. embûche, fr. the verb. See Ambush, v. t.]

1. A disposition or arrangement of troops for attacking an enemy unexpectedly from a concealed station. Hence: Unseen peril; a device to entrap; a snare. Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege Or ambush from the deep. Milton.

2. A concealed station, where troops or enemies lie in wait to attack by surprise. Bold in close ambush, base in open field. Dryden.

3. The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; liers in wait. [Obs.] The ambush arose quickly out of their place. Josh. viii. 19. To lay an ambush, to post a force in ambush.

AMBUSH Am"bush, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ambushed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ambushing.] Etym: [OE. enbussen, enbushen, OF. embushier, embuissier, F. embûcher, embusquer, fr. LL. imboscare; in + LL. boscus, buscus, a wood; akin to G. bush, E. bush. See Ambuscade, Bu.]

1. To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy. By ambushed men behind their temple Dryden.

2. To attack by ambush; to waylay.

AMBUSH Am"bush, v. i.

Defn: To lie in wait, for the purpose of attacking by surprise; to lurk. Nor saw the snake that ambushed for his prey. Trumbull.

AMBUSHER Am"bush*er, n.

Defn: One lying in ambush.

AMBUSHMENT Am"bush*ment, n. Etym: [OF. embuschement. See Ambush, v. t.]

Defn: An ambush. [Obs.] 2 Chron. xiii. 13.

AMBUSTION Am*bus"tion, n. Etym: [L. ambustio.] (Med.)

Defn: A burn or scald. Blount.

AMEBEAN Am`e*be"an, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Am.

AMEER; AMIR A*meer", A*mir", n. Etym: [See Emir.]

1. Emir. [Obs.]

2. One of the Mohammedan nobility of Afghanistan and Scinde.

AMEL Am"el, n. Etym: [OE. amell, OF. esmail, F. émail, of German origin; cf. OHG. smelzi, G. schmelz. See Smelt, v. t.]

Defn: Enamel. [Obs.] Boyle.

AMEL Am"el, v. t. Etym: [OE. amellen, OF. esmailler, F. émailler, OF. esmail, F. émail.]

Defn: To enamel. [Obs.] Enlightened all with stars, And richly ameled. Chapman.

AMELCORN Am"el*corn`, n. Etym: [Ger. amelkorn: cf. MHG. amel, amer, spelt, and L. amylum starch, Gr.

Defn: A variety of wheat from which starch is produced; -- called also French rice.

AMELIORABLE A*mel"io*ra*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being ameliorated.

AMELIORATE A*mel"io*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ameliorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Ameliorating.] Etym: [L. ad + meliorare to make better: cf. F. améliorer. See Meliorate.]

Defn: To make better; to improve; to meliorate. In every human being there is a wish to ameliorate his own condition. Macaulay.

AMELIORATE A*mel"io*rate, v. i.

Defn: To grow better; to meliorate; as, wine ameliorates by age.

AMELIORATION A*mel`io*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. amélioration.]

Defn: The act of ameliorating, or the state of being ameliorated; making or becoming better; improvement; melioration. "Amelioration of human affairs." J. S. Mill.

AMELIORATIVE A*mel"io*ra*tive, a.

Defn: Tending to ameliorate; producing amelioration or improvement; as, ameliorative remedies, efforts.

AMELIORATOR A*mel"io*ra`tor, n.

Defn: One who ameliorates.

AMEN A`men", interj., adv., & n. Etym: [L. amen, Gr. am certainly, truly.]

Defn: An expression used at the end of prayers, and meaning, So be it. At the end of a creed, it is a solemn asseveration of belief. When it introduces a declaration, it is equivalent to truly, verily. It is used as a noun, to demote: (a) concurrence in belief, or in a statement; assent; (b) the final word or act; (c) Christ as being one who is true and faithful. And let all the people say, Amen. Ps. cvi. 48. Amen, amen, I say to thee, except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God. John ii. 3. Rhemish Trans. To say amen to, to approve warmly; to concur in heartily or emphatically; to ratify; as, I say Amen to all.

AMEN A`men", v. t.

Defn: To say Amen to; to sanction fully.

AMENABILITY A*me`na*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being amenable; amenableness. Coleridge.

AMENABLE A*me"na*ble, a. Etym: [F. amener to lead; ad) = mener to lead, fr. L. minare to drive animals (properly by threatening cries), in LL. to lead; L. minari, to threaten, minae threats. See Menace.]

1. (Old Law)

Defn: Easy to be led; governable, as a woman by her husband. [Obs.] Jacob.

2. Liable to be brought to account or punishment; answerable; responsible; accountable; as, amenable to law. Nor is man too diminutive . . . to be amenable to the divine government. I. Taylor.

3. Liable to punishment, a charge, a claim, etc.

4. Willing to yield or submit; responsive; tractable. Sterling . . . always was amenable enough to counsel. Carlyle.

AMENABLENESS A*me"na*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being amenable; liability to answer charges; answerableness.

AMENABLY A*me"na*bly, adv.

Defn: In an amenable manner.

AMENAGE Am"e*nage, v. t. Etym: [OF. amesnagier. See Manage.]

Defn: To manage. [Obs.] Spenser.

AMENANCE Am"e*nance, n. Etym: [OF. See Amenable.]

Defn: Behavior; bearing. [Obs.] Spenser.

AMEND A*mend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amended; p. pr. & vb. n. Amending.] Etym: [F. amender, L. emendare; e(ex) + mendum, menda, fault, akin to Skr. minda personal defect. Cf. Emend, Mend.]

Defn: To change or modify in any way for the better; as, (a) by simply removing what is erroneous, corrupt, superfluous, faulty, and the like; (b) by supplying deficiencies; (c) by substituting something else in the place of what is removed; to rectify. Mar not the thing that can not be amended. Shak. An instant emergency, granting no possibility for revision, or opening for amended thought. De Quincey. We shall cheer her sorrows, and amend her blood, by wedding her to a Norman. Sir W. Scott. To amend a bill, to make some change in the details or provisions of a bill or measure while on its passage, professedly for its improvement.

Syn. -- To Amend, Emend, Correct, Reform, Rectify. These words agree in the idea of bringing things into a more perfect state. We correct (literally, make straight) when we conform things to some standard or rule; as, to correct proof sheets. We amend by removing blemishes, faults, or errors, and thus rendering a thing more a nearly perfect; as, to amend our ways, to amend a text, the draft of a bill, etc. Emend is only another form of amend, and is applied chiefly to editions of books, etc. To reform is literally to form over again, or put into a new and better form; as, to reform one's life. To rectify is to make right; as, to rectify a mistake, to rectify abuses, inadvertencies, etc.

AMEND A*mend", v. i.

Defn: To grow better by rectifying something wrong in manners or morals; to improve. "My fortune . . . amends." Sir P. Sidney.

AMENDABLE A*mend"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being amended; as, an amendable writ or error. -- A*mend"a*ble*ness, n.

AMENDATORY A*mend"a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Supplying amendment; corrective; emendatory. Bancroft.