Chapter XXVI: Appendix: Vermiformis (5)

2. One of the subdivisions of the Brachiopoda, including those that have the shells united by a hinge.

3. A subdivision of the Crinoidea.

ARTICULATE Ar*tic"u*late, a. Etym: [L. articulatus. See Articulata.]

1. Expressed in articles or in separate items or particulars. [Archaic] Bacon.

2. Jointed; formed with joints; consisting of segments united by joints; as, articulate animals or plants.

3. Distinctly uttered; spoken so as to be intelligible; characterized by division into words and syllables; as, articulate speech, sounds, words. Total changes of party and articulate opinion. Carlyle.

ARTICULATE Ar*tic"u*late, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An animal of the subkingdom Articulata.

ARTICULATE Ar*tic"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Articulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Articulating].

1. To utter articulate sounds; to utter the elementary sounds of a language; to enunciate; to speak distinctly.

2. To treat or make terms. [Obs.] Shak.

3. To join or be connected by articulation.

ARTICULATE Ar*tic"u*late, v. t.

1. To joint; to unite by means of a joint; to put together with joints or at the joints.

2. To draw up or write in separate articles; to particularize; to specify. [Obs.]

3. To form, as the elementary sounds; to utter in distinct syllables or words; to enunciate; as, to articulate letters or language. "To articulate a word." Ray.

4. To express distinctly; to give utterance to. Luther articulated himself upon a process that hand already begun in the Christian church. Bibliotheca Sacra. To . . . articulate the dumb, deep want of the people. Carlyle.

ARTICULATED Ar*tic"u*la`ted, a.

1. United by, or provided with, articulations; jointed; as, an articulated skeleton.

2. Produced, as a letter, syllable, or word, by the organs of speech; pronounced.

ARTICULATELY Ar*tic"u*late*ly, adv.

1. After the manner, or in the form, of a joint.

2. Article by article; in distinct particulars; in detail; definitely. Paley. I had articulately set down in writing our points. Fuller.

3. With distinct utterance of the separate sounds.

ARTICULATENESS Ar*tic"u*late*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being articulate.

ARTICULATION Ar*tic`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. articulation, fr. L. articulatio.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: A joint or juncture between bones in the skeleton.

Note: Articulations may be immovable, when the bones are directly united (synarthrosis), or slightly movable, when they are united intervening substance (amphiarthrosis), or they may be more or less freely movable, when the articular surfaces are covered with synovial membranes, as in complete joints (diarthrosis). The last (diarthrosis) includes hinge joints, admitting motion in one plane only (ginglymus), ball and socket joints (enarthrosis), pivot and rotation joints, etc.

2. (Bot.) (a) The connection of the parts of a plant by joints, as in pods. (b) One of the nodes or joints, as in cane and maize. (c) One of the parts intercepted between the joints; also, a subdivision into parts at regular or irregular intervals as a result of serial intermission in growth, as in the cane, grasses, etc. Lindley.

3. The act of putting together with a joint or joints; any meeting of parts in a joint.

4. The state of being jointed; connection of parts. [R.] That definiteness and articulation of imagery. Coleridge.

5. The utterance of the elementary sounds of a language by the appropriate movements of the organs, as in pronunciation; as, a distinct articulation.

6. A sound made by the vocal organs; an articulate utterance or an elementary sound, esp. a consonant.

ARTICULATIVE Ar*tic"u*la*tive, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to articulation. Bush.

ARTICULATOR Ar*tic"u*la`tor, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, articulates; as: (a) One who enunciates distinctly. (b) One who prepares and mounts skeletons. (c) An instrument to cure stammering.

ARTICULUS Ar*tic"u*lus n.; pl. Articuli. Etym: [L. See Article.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A joint of the cirri of the Crinoidea; a joint or segment of an arthropod appendage.

ARTIFACT Ar"ti*fact, n. [L. ars, artis, art + facere, factum, to make.]

1. (Archæol.)

Defn: A product of human workmanship; -- applied esp. to the simpler products of aboriginal art as distinguished from natural objects.

2. (Biol.) A structure or appearance in protoplasm due to death or the use of reagents and not present during life.

ARTIFICE Ar"ti*fice, n. Etym: [L. artificium, fr. artifex artificer; ars, artis, art + facere to make: cf. F. artifice.]

1. A handicraft; a trade; art of making. [Obs.]

2. Workmanship; a skillfully contrived work. The material universe.. in the artifice of God, the artifice of the best Mechanist. Cudworth.

3. Artful or skillful contrivance. His [Congreve's] plots were constructed without much artifice. Craik.

4. Crafty device; an artful, ingenious, or elaborate trick.

Note: [Now the usual meaning.] Those who were conscious of guilt employed numerous artifices for the purpose of averting inquiry. Macaulay.

ARTIFICER Ar*tif"i*cer, n. Etym: [Cf. F. artificier, fr. LL. artificiarius.]

1. An artistic worker; a mechanic or manufacturer; one whose occupation requires skill or knowledge of a particular kind, as a silversmith.

2. One who makes or contrives; a deviser, inventor, or framer. "Artificer of fraud." Milton. The great Artificer of all that moves. Cowper.

3. A cunning or artful fellow. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

4. (Mil.)

Defn: A military mechanic, as a blacksmith, carpenter, etc.; also, one who prepares the shells, fuses, grenades, etc., in a military laboratory.

Syn. -- Artisan; artist. See Artisan.

ARTIFICIAL Ar`ti*fi"cial, a. Etym: [L. artificialis, fr. artificium: cf. F. artificiel. See Artifice.]

1. Made or contrived by art; produced or modified by human skill and labor, in opposition to natural; as, artificial heat or light, gems, salts, minerals, fountains, flowers. Artificial strife Lives in these touches, livelier than life. Shak.

2. Feigned; fictitious; assumed; affected; not genuine. "Artificial tears." Shak.

3. Artful; cunning; crafty. [Obs.] Shak.

4. Cultivated; not indigenous; not of spontaneous growth; as, artificial grasses. Gibbon. Artificial arguments (Rhet.), arguments invented by the speaker, in distinction from laws, authorities, and the like, which are called inartificial arguments or proofs. Johnson. -- Artificial classification (Science), an arrangement based on superficial characters, and not expressing the true natural relations species; as, "the artificial system" in botany, which is the same as the Linnæan system. -- Artificial horizon. See under Horizon. Artificial light, any light other than that which proceeds from the heavenly bodies. -- Artificial lines, lines on a sector or scale, so contrived as to represent the logarithmic sines and tangents, which, by the help of the line of numbers, solve, with tolerable exactness, questions in trigonometry, navigation, etc. -- Artificial numbers, logarithms. -- Artificial person (Law). See under Person. -- Artificial sines, tangents, etc., the same as logarithms of the natural, tangents, etc. Hutton.

ARTIFICIALITY Ar`ti*fi`ci*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or appearance of being artificial; that which is artificial.

ARTIFICIALIZE Ar`ti*fi"cial*ize, v. t.

Defn: To render artificial.

ARTIFICIALLY Ar`ti*fi"cial*ly, adv.

1. In an artificial manner; by art, or skill and contrivance, not by nature.

2. Ingeniously; skillfully. [Obs.] The spider's web, finely and artificially wrought. Tillotson.

3. Craftily; artfully. [Obs.] Sharp dissembled so artificially. Bp. Burnet.

ARTIFICIALNESS Ar`ti*fi"cial*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being artificial.

ARTIFICIOUS Ar`ti*fi"cious, a. Etym: [L. artificiosus.]

Defn: Artificial. [Obs.] Johnson.

ARTILIZE Art"i*lize, v. t.

Defn: To make resemble. [Obs.] If I was a philosopher, says Montaigne, I would naturalize art instead of artilizing nature. Bolingbroke.

ARTILLERIST Ar*til"ler*ist, n.

Defn: A person skilled in artillery or gunnery; a gunner; an artilleryman.

ARTILLERY Ar*til"ler*y, n. Etym: [OE. artilrie, OF. artillerie, arteillerie, fr. LL. artillaria, artilleria, machines and apparatus of all kinds used in war, vans laden with arms of any kind which follow camps; F. artillerie great guns, ordnance; OF. artillier to work artifice, to fortify, to arm, prob. from L. ars, artis, skill in joining something, art. See Art.]

1. Munitions of war; implements for warfare, as slings, bows, and arrows. [Obs.] And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad. 1 Sam. xx. 40.

2. Cannon; great guns; ordnance, including guns, mortars, howitzers, etc., with their equipment of carriages, balls, bombs, and shot of all kinds.

Note: The word is sometimes used in a more extended sense, including the powder, cartridges, matches, utensils, machines of all kinds, and horses, that belong to a train of artillery.

3. The men and officers of that branch of the army to which the care and management of artillery are confided.

4. The science of artillery or gunnery. Campbell. Artillery park, or Park of artillery. (a) A collective body of siege or field artillery, including the guns, and the carriages, ammunition, appurtenances, equipments, and persons necessary for working them. (b) The place where the artillery is encamped or collected. -- Artillery train, or Train of artillery, a number of pieces of ordnance mounted on carriages, with all their furniture, ready for marching.

ARTILLERYMAN Ar*til"ler*y*man, n.

Defn: A man who manages, or assists in managing, a large gun in firing.

ARTILLERY WHEEL Ar*til"ler*y wheel.

Defn: A kind of heavily built dished wheel with a long axle box, used on gun carriages, usually having 14 spokes and 7 felloes; hence, a wheel of similar construction for use on automobiles, etc.

ARTIODACTYLA Ar`ti*o*dac"ty*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the divisions of the ungulate animals. The functional toes of the hind foot are even in number, and the third digit of each foot (corresponding to the middle finger in man) is asymmetrical and paired with the fourth digit, as in the hog, the sheep, and the ox; - - opposed to Perissodactyla.

ARTIODACTYLE Ar`ti*o*dac"tyle, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Artiodactyla.

ARTIODACTYLOUS Ar`ti*o*dac"ty*lous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Even-toed.

ARTISAN Ar"ti*san, n. Etym: [F. artisan, fr. L. artitus skilled in arts, fr. ars, artis, art: cf. It. artigiano. See Art, n.]

1. One who professes and practices some liberal art; an artist. [Obs.]

2. One trained to manual dexterity in some mechanic art or trade; and handicraftsman; a mechanic. This is willingly submitted to by the artisan, who can . . . compensate his additional toil and fatigue. Hume.

Syn. -- Artificer; artist. -- Artisan, Artist, Artificer. An artist is one who is skilled in some one of the fine arts; an artisan is one who exercises any mechanical employment. A portrait painter is an artist; a sign painter is an artisan, although he may have the taste and skill of an artist. The occupation of the former requires a fine taste and delicate manipulation; that of the latter demands only an ordinary degree of contrivance and imitative power. An artificer is one who requires power of contrivance and adaptation in the exercise of his profession. The word suggest neither the idea of mechanical conformity to rule which attaches to the term artisan, nor the ideas of refinement and of peculiar skill which belong to the term artist.

ARTIST Art"ist, n. Etym: [F. artiste, LL. artista, fr. L. ars. See Art, n., and cf. Artiste.]

1. One who practices some mechanic art or craft; an artisan. [Obs.] How to build ships, and dreadful ordnance cast, Instruct the articles and reward their. Waller.

2. One who professes and practices an art in which science and taste preside over the manual execution.

Note: The term is particularly applied to painters, sculptors, musicians, engravers, and architects. Elmes.

3. One who shows trained skill or rare taste in any manual art or occupation. Pope.

4. An artful person; a schemer. [Obs.]

Syn. -- Artisan. See Artisan.

ARTISTE Ar*tiste", n. Etym: [F. See Artist.]

Defn: One peculiarly dexterous and tasteful in almost any employment, as an opera dancer, a hairdresser, a cook.

Note: This term should not be confounded with the English word artist.

ARTISTIC; ARTISTICAL Ar*tis"tic, Ar*tis"tic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. artistique, fr. artiste.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to art or to artists; made in the manner of an artist; conformable to art; characterized by art; showing taste or skill. -- Ar*tis"tic*al*ly, adv.

ARTISTRY Art"ist*ry, n.

1. Works of art collectively.

2. Artistic effect or quality. Southey.

3. Artistic pursuits; artistic ability. The Academy.

ARTLESS Art"less, a.

1. Wanting art, knowledge, or skill; ignorant; unskillful. Artless of stars and of the moving sand. Dryden.

2. Contrived without skill or art; inartistic. [R.] Artless and massy pillars. T. Warton.

3. Free from guile, art, craft, or stratagem; characterized by simplicity and sincerity; sincere; guileless; ingenuous; honest; as, an artless mind; an artless tale. They were plain, artless men, without the least appearance of enthusiasm or credulity about them. Porteus. O, how unlike the complex works of man, Heaven's easy, artless, unencumbered plan! Cowper.

Syn. -- Simple; unaffected; sincere; undesigning; guileless; unsophisticated; open; frank; candid.

ARTLESSLY Art"less*ly, adv.

Defn: In an artless manner; without art, skill, or guile; unaffectedly. Pope.

ARTLESSNESS Art"less*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being artless, or void of art or guile; simplicity; sincerity.

ARTLY Art"ly, adv.

Defn: With art or skill. [Obs.]

ARTOCARPEOUS; ARTOCARPOUS Ar`to*car"pe*ous, Ar`to*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the breadfruit, or to the genus Artocarpus.

ARTOTYPE Ar"to*type, n. Etym: [Art + type.]

Defn: A kind of autotype.

ARTOTYRITE Ar`to*ty"rite, n. Etym: [LL. Artotyritae, pl., fr. Gr. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a sect in the primitive church, who celebrated the Lord's Supper with bread and cheese, alleging that the first oblations of men not only of the fruit of the earth, but of their flocks. [Gen. iv. 3, 4.]

ARTOW Ar"tow.

Defn: A contraction of art thou. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ARTSMAN Arts"man, n.

Defn: A man skilled in an art or in arts. [Obs.] Bacon.

ART UNION Art` un"ion.

Defn: An association for promoting art (esp. the arts of design), and giving encouragement to artists.

ARUM A"rum, n. Etym: [L. arum, aros, Gr.

Defn: A genus of plants found in central Europe and about the Mediterranean, having flowers on a spadix inclosed in a spathe. The cuckoopint of the English is an example. Our common arums the lords and ladies of village children. Lubbock.

Note: The American "Jack in the pulpit" is now separated from the genus Arum.

ARUNDELIAN Ar`un*del"ian, a.

Defn: Pertaining to an Earl of Arundel; as, Arundel or Arundelian marbles, marbles from ancient Greece, bought by the Earl of Arundel in 1624.

ARUNDIFEROUS Ar`un*dif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. arundifer; arundo reed + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Producing reeds or canes.

ARUNDINACEOUS A*run`di*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. arundinaceus, fr. arundo reed.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a reed; resembling the reed or cane.

ARUNDINEOUS Ar`un*din"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. arundineus, fr. arundo reed.]

Defn: Abounding with reeds; reedy.

ARUSPEX A*rus"pex, n.; pl. Aruspices. Etym: [L. aruspex or haruspex.]

Defn: One of the class of diviners among the Etruscans and Romans, who foretold events by the inspection of the entrails of victims offered on the altars of the gods.

ARUSPICE A*rus"pice, n. Etym: [L. aruspex: cf. F. aruspice. Cf. Aruspex, Haruspice.]

Defn: A soothsayer of ancient Rome. Same as Aruspex. [Written also haruspice.]

ARUSPICY A*rus"pi*cy, n. Etym: [L. aruspicium, haruspicium.]

Defn: Prognostication by inspection of the entrails of victims slain sacrifice.

ARVAL Ar"val, n. Etym: [W. arwyl funeral; ar over + wylo to weep, or cf. arföl; Icel. arfr inheritance + Sw. öl ale. Cf. Bridal.]

Defn: A funeral feast. [North of Eng.] Grose.

ARVICOLE Ar"vi*cole, n. Etym: [L. arvum field + colere to inhabit.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A mouse of the genus Arvicola; the meadow mouse. There are many species.

ARYAN Ar"yan, n. Etym: [Skr. arya excellent, honorable; akin to the name of the country Iran, and perh. to Erin, Ireland, and the early name of this people, at least in Asia.]

1. One of a primitive people supposed to have lived in prehistoric times, in Central Asia, east of the Caspian Sea, and north of the Hindoo

2. The language of the original Aryans. [Written also Arian.]

ARYAN Ar"yan, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the people called Aryans; Indo-European; Indo-Germanic; as, the Aryan stock, the Aryan languages.

ARYANIZE Ar"yan*ize, v. t.

Defn: To make Aryan (a language, or in language). K. Johnston.

ARYTENOID A*ryt"e*noid, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Ladle-shaped; -- applied to two small cartilages of the larynx, and also to the glands, muscles, etc., connected with them. The cartilages are attached to the cricoid cartilage and connected with the vocal cords.

AS As, adv. & conj. Etym: [OE. as, als, alse, also, al swa, AS. eal swa, lit. all so; hence, quite so, quite as: cf. G. als as, than, also so, then. See Also.]

1. Denoting equality or likeness in kind, degree, or manner; like; similar to; in the same manner with or in which; in accordance with; in proportion to; to the extent or degree in which or to which; equally; no less than; as, ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil; you will reap as you sow; do as you are bidden. His spiritual attendants adjured him, as he loved his soul, to emancipate his brethren. Macaulay.

Note: As is often preceded by one of the antecedent or correlative words such, same, so, or as, in expressing an equality or comparison; as, give us such things as you please, and so long as you please, or as long as you please; he is not so brave as Cato; she is as amiable as she is handsome; come as quickly as possible. "Bees appear fortunately to prefer the same colors as we do." Lubbock. As, in a preceding part of a sentence, has such or so to answer correlatively to it; as with the people, so with the priest.

2. In the idea, character, or condition of, -- limiting the view to certain attributes or relations; as, virtue considered as virtue; this actor will appear as Hamlet. The beggar is greater as a man, than is the man merely as a king. Dewey.

3. While; during or at the same time that; when; as, he trembled as he spoke. As I return I will fetch off these justices. Shak.

4. Because; since; it being the case that. As the population of Scotland had been generally trained to arms . . . they were not indifferently prepared. Sir W. Scott. [See Synonym under Because.]

5. Expressing concession. (Often approaching though in meaning). We wish, however, to avail ourselves of the interest, transient as it may be, which this work has excited. Macaulay.

6. That, introducing or expressing a result or consequence, after the correlatives so and such. [Obs.] I can place thee in such abject state, as help shall never find thee. Rowe. So as, so that. [Obs.] The relations are so uncertain as they require a great deal of examination. Bacon.

7. As if; as though. [Obs. or Poetic] He lies, as he his bliss did know. Waller.

8. For instance; by way of example; thus; -- used to introduce illustrative phrases, sentences, or citations.

9. Than. [Obs. & R.] The king was not more forward to bestow favors on them as they free to deal affronts to others their superiors. Fuller.

10. Expressing a wish. [Obs.] "As have," i. e., may he have. Chaucer. As . . . as. See So . . . as, under So. -- As far as, to the extent or degree. "As far as can be ascertained." Macaulay. -- As far forth as, as far as. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- As for, or As to, in regard to; with respect to. -- As good as, not less than; not falling short of. -- As good as one's word, faithful to a promise. -- As if, or As though, of the same kind, or in the same condition or manner, that it would be if. -- As it were (as if it were), a qualifying phrase used to apologize for or to relieve some expression which might be regarded as inappropriate or incongruous; in a manner. -- As now, just now. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- As swythe, as quickly as possible. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- As well, also; too; besides. Addison. -- As well as, equally with, no less than. "I have understanding as well as you." Job xii. 3. -- As yet, until now; up to or at the present time; still; now.

AS As, n. Etym: [See Ace.]

Defn: An ace. [Obs.] Chaucer. Ambes-as, double aces.

AS As, n.; pl. Asses. Etym: [L. as. See Ace.]

1. A Roman weight, answering to the libra or pound, equal to nearly eleven ounces Troy weight. It was divided into twelve ounces.

2. A Roman copper coin, originally of a pound weight (12 oz.); but reduced, after the first Punic war, to two ounces; in the second Punic war, to one ounce; and afterwards to half an ounce.

ASA As"a, n. Etym: [NL. asa, of oriental origin; cf. Per. aza mastic, Ar. asa healing, isa remedy.]

Defn: An ancient name of a gum.

ASAFETIDA; ASAFOETIDA As`a*fet"i*da, As`a*foet"i*da, n. Etym: [Asa + L. foetidus fetid.]

Defn: The fetid gum resin or inspissated juice of a large umbelliferous plant (Ferula asafoetida) of Persia and the East India. It is used in medicine as an antispasmodic. [Written also assafoetida.]

ASAPHUS As"a*phus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of trilobites found in the Lower Silurian formation. See Illust. in Append.

ASARABACCA As`a*ra*bac"ca, n. Etym: [L. asarum + bacca a berry. See Asarone.] (Bot.)

Defn: An acrid herbaceous plant (Asarum Europæum), the leaves and roots of which are emetic and cathartic. It is principally used in cephalic snuffs.

ASARONE As"a*rone, n. Etym: [L. asarum hazelwort, wild spikenard, Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A crystallized substance, resembling camphor, obtained from the Asarum Europæum; -- called also camphor of asarum.

ASBESTIC As*bes"tic, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling asbestus; inconsumable; asbestine.

ASBESTIFORM As*bes"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. asbestus + -form.]

Defn: Having the form or structure of asbestus.

ASBESTINE As*bes"tine, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to asbestus, or partaking of its nature; incombustible; asbestic.

ASBESTOUS As*bes"tous, a.

Defn: Asbestic.

ASBESTUS; ASBESTOS As*bes"tus, As*bes"tos, n. Etym: [L. asbestos (NL. asbestus) a kind of mineral unaffected by fire, Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of amphibole or of pyroxene, occurring in long and delicate fibers, or in fibrous masses or seams, usually of a white, gray, or green-gray color. The name is also given to a similar variety of serpentine.

Note: The finer varieties have been wrought into gloves and cloth which are incombustible. The cloth was formerly used as a shroud for dead bodies, and has been recommended for firemen's clothes. Asbestus in also employed in the manufacture of iron safes, for fireproof roofing, and for lampwicks. Some varieties are called amianthus. Dana.

ASBOLIN As"bo*lin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A peculiar acrid and bitter oil, obtained from wood soot.

ASCARIASIS As`ca*ri"a*sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. an intestinal worm.] (Med.)

Defn: A disease, usually accompanied by colicky pains and diarrhea, caused by the presence of ascarids in the gastrointestinal canal.

ASCARID As"ca*rid, n.; pl. Ascarides or Ascarids. Etym: [NL. ascaris, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A parasitic nematoid worm, espec. the roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, often occurring in the human intestine and allied species found in domestic animals; also commonly applied to the pinworm (Oxyuris), often troublesome to children and aged persons.

ASCEND As*cend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ascended; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascending.] Etym: [L. ascendere; ad + scandere to climb, mount. See Scan.]

1. To move upward; to mount; to go up; to rise; -- opposed to Ant: descend. Higher yet that star ascends. Bowring. I ascend unto my father and your father. John xx. 17.

Note: Formerly used with up. The smoke of it ascended up to heaven. Addison.

2. To rise, in a figurative sense; to proceed from an inferior to a superior degree, from mean to noble objects, from particulars to generals, from modern to ancient times, from one note to another more acute, etc.; as, our inquiries ascend to the remotest antiquity; to ascend to our first progenitor.

Syn. -- To rise; mount; climb; scale; soar; tower.

ASCEND As*cend", v. t.

Defn: To go or move upward upon or along; to climb; to mount; to go up the top of; as, to ascend a hill, a ladder, a tree, a river, a throne.

ASCENDABLE As*cend"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being ascended.

ASCENDANCY; ASCENDANCE As*cend"an*cy, As*cend"ance, n.

Defn: Same as Ascendency.

ASCENDANT As*cend"ant, n. Etym: [F. ascendant, L. ascendens; p. pr. of ascendere.]

1. Ascent; height; elevation. [R.] Sciences that were then in their highest ascendant. Temple.

2. (Astrol.)

Defn: The horoscope, or that degree of the ecliptic which rises above the horizon at the moment of one's birth; supposed to have a commanding influence on a person's life and fortune.

Note: Hence the phrases To be in the ascendant, to have commanding power or influence, and Lord of the ascendant, one who has possession of such power or influence; as, to rule, for a while, lord of the ascendant. Burke.

3. Superiority, or commanding influence; ascendency; as, one man has the ascendant over another. Chievres had acquired over the mind of the young monarch the ascendant not only of a tutor, but of a parent. Robertson.

4. An ancestor, or one who precedes in genealogy or degrees of kindred; a relative in the ascending line; a progenitor; -- opposed to descendant. Ayliffe.

ASCENDANT; ASCENDENT As*cend"ant, As*cend"ent, a.

1. Rising toward the zenith; above the horizon. The constellation . . . about that time ascendant. Browne.

2. Rising; ascending. Ruskin.

3. Superior; surpassing; ruling. An ascendant spirit over him. South. The ascendant community obtained a surplus of wealth. J. S. Mill. Without some power of persuading or confuting, of defending himself against accusations, . . . no man could possibly hold an ascendent position. Grote.

ASCENDENCY As*cend"en*cy, n.

Defn: Governing or controlling influence; domination; power. An undisputed ascendency. Macaulay. Custom has an ascendency over the understanding. Watts.

Syn. -- Control; authority; influence; sway; dominion; prevalence; domination.

ASCENDIBLE As*cend"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. ascendibilis.]

Defn: Capable of being ascended; climbable.

ASCENDING As*cend"ing, a.

Defn: Rising; moving upward; as, an ascending kite. -- As*cend"ing*ly, adv. Ascending latitude (Astron.), the increasing latitude of a planet. Ferguson. -- Ascending line (Geneol.), the line of relationship traced backward or through one's ancestors. One's father and mother, grandfather and grandmother, etc., are in the line direct ascending. -- Ascending node having, that node of the moon or a planet wherein it passes the ecliptic to proceed northward. It is also called the northern node. Herschel. -- Ascending series. (Math.) (a) A series arranged according to the ascending powers of a quantity. (b) A series in which each term is greater than the preceding. -- Ascending signs, signs east of the meridian.

ASCENSION As*cen"sion, n. Etym: [F. ascension, L. ascensio, fr. ascendere. See Ascend.]

1. The act of ascending; a rising; ascent.

2. Specifically: The visible ascent of our Savior on the fortieth day after his resurrection. (Acts i. 9.) Also, Ascension Day.

3. An ascending or arising, as in distillation; also that which arises, as from distillation. Vaporous ascensions from the stomach. Sir T. Browne. Ascension Day, the Thursday but one before Whitsuntide, the day on which commemorated our Savior's ascension into heaven after his resurrection; -- called also Holy Thursday. -- Right ascension (Astron.), that degree of the equinoctial, counted from the beginning of Aries, which rises with a star, or other celestial body, in a right sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the meridian with the star; -- expressed either in degrees or in time. -- Oblique ascension (Astron.), an arc of the equator, intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator which rises together with a star, in an oblique sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the horizon with a star. It is little used in modern astronomy.

ASCENSIONAL As*cen"sion*al, a.

Defn: Relating to ascension; connected with ascent; ascensive; tending upward; as, the ascensional power of a balloon. Ascensional difference (Astron.), the difference between oblique and right ascension; -- used chiefly as expressing the difference between the time of the rising or setting of a body and six o'clock, or six hours from its meridian passage.

ASCENSIVE As*cen"sive, a. Etym: [See Ascend.]

1. Rising; tending to rise, or causing to rise. Owen.

2. (Gram.)

Defn: Augmentative; intensive. Ellicott.

ASCENT As*cent". Etym: [Formed like descent, as if from a F. ascente, fr. a verb ascendre, fr. L. ascendere. See Ascend, Descent.]

1. The act of rising; motion upward; rise; a mounting upward; as, he made a tedious ascent; the ascent of vapors from the earth. To him with swift ascent he up returned. Milton.

2. The way or means by which one ascends.

3. An eminence, hill, or high place. Addison.

4. The degree of elevation of an object, or the angle it makes with a horizontal line; inclination; rising grade; as, a road has an ascent of five degrees.

ASCERTAIN As`cer*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ascertained; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascertaining.] Etym: [OF. acertener; a (L. ad) + certain. See Certain.]

1. To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise. [Obs.] When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained. Jer. Taylor. Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects. Robertson.

2. To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine. [Archaic] The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth. Hooker. The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase and ascertain the condemnation. Jer. Taylor. The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers. Smollett. The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation. Gibbon.

3. To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal. He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent on England was practicable. Macaulay.

ASCERTAINABLE As`cer*tain"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be ascertained. -- As`cer*tain"a*ble*ness, n. -- As`cer*tain"a*bly, adv.

ASCERTAINER As`cer*tain"er, n.

Defn: One who ascertains.

ASCERTAINMENT As`cer*tain"ment, n.

Defn: The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; a finding out by investigation; discovery. The positive ascertainment of its limits. Burke.

ASCESSANCY; ASCESSANT As*ces"san*cy, n. As*ces"sant, a.

Defn: See Acescency, Acescent. [Obs.]

ASCETIC As*cet"ic a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Extremely rigid in self-denial and devotions; austere; severe. The stern ascetic rigor of the Temple discipline. Sir W. Scott.

ASCETIC As*cet"ic, n.

Defn: In the early church, one who devoted himself to a solitary and contemplative life, characterized by devotion, extreme self-denial, and self-mortification; a hermit; a recluse; hence, one who practices extreme rigor and self-denial in religious things. I am far from commending those ascetics that take up their quarters in deserts. Norris. Ascetic theology, the science which treats of the practice of the theological and moral virtues, and the counsels of perfection. Am. Cyc.

ASCETICISM As*cet"i*cism, n.

Defn: The condition, practice, or mode of life, of ascetics.

ASCHAM As"cham, n. Etym: [From Roger Ascham, who was a great lover of archery.]

Defn: A sort of cupboard, or case, to contain bows and other implements of archery.

ASCI As"ci, n. pl.

Defn: See Ascus.

ASCIAN As"cian, n.

Defn: One of the Ascii.

ASCIDIAN As*cid"i*an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Ascidioidea, or in a more general sense, one of the Tunicata. Also as an adj.

ASCIDIARIUM As*cid`i*a"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Ascidium.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The structure which unites together the ascidiozooids in a compound ascidian.

ASCIDIFORM As*cid"i*form, a. Etym: [Gr. -form.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Shaped like an ascidian.

ASCIDIOIDEA As*cid`i*oid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. ascidium + -oid. See Ascidium.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of Tunicata, often shaped like a two-necked bottle. The group includes, social, and compound species. The gill is a netlike structure within the oral aperture. The integument is usually leathery in texture. See Illustration in Appendix.

ASCIDIOZOOID As*cid`i*o*zo"oid, n. Etym: [Ascidium + zooid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the individual members of a compound ascidian. See Ascidioidea.

ASCIDIUM As*cid"i*um, n.; pl. Ascidia. Etym: [NL., fr. ascus. See Ascus.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A pitcher-shaped, or flask-shaped, organ or appendage of a plant, as the leaves of the pitcher plant, or the little bladderlike traps of the bladderwort (Utricularia).

2. pl. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of simple ascidians, which formerly included most of the known species. It is sometimes used as a name for the Ascidioidea, or for all the Tunicata.

ASCIGEROUS As*cig"er*ous, a. Etym: [Ascus + -gerous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having asci. Loudon.

ASCII; ASCIANS As"ci*i, As"cians, n. pl. Etym: [L. ascii, pl. of ascius, Gr.

Defn: Persons who, at certain times of the year, have no shadow at noon; -- applied to the inhabitants of the torrid zone, who have, twice a year, a vertical sun.

ASCITES As*ci"tes, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A collection of serous fluid in the cavity of the abdomen; dropsy of the peritoneum. Dunglison.

ASCITIC; ASCITICAL As*cit"ic, As*cit"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or affected by, ascites; dropsical.

ASCITITIOUS As`ci*ti"tious, a. Etym: [See Adscititious.]

Defn: Supplemental; not inherent or original; adscititious; additional; assumed. Homer has been reckoned an ascititious name. Pope.

ASCLEPIAD As*cle"pi*ad, n. (Gr. & L. Pros.)

Defn: A choriambic verse, first used by the Greek poet Asclepias, consisting of four feet, viz., a spondee, two choriambi, and an iambus.

ASCLEPIADACEOUS As*cle`pi*a*da"ceous, a. Etym: [See Asclepias.] (Bot.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, plants of the Milkweed family.

ASCLEPIAS As*cle"pi*as, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Asclepios or Aesculapius.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants including the milkweed, swallowwort, and some other species having medicinal properties. Asclepias butterfly (Zoöl.), a large, handsome, red and black butterfly (Danais Archippus), found in both hemispheres. It feeds on plants of the genus Asclepias.

ASCOCARP As"co*carp, n. [Gr. 'asko`s a bladder + karpo`s fruit.] (Bot.)

Defn: In ascomycetous fungi, the spherical, discoid, or cup-shaped body within which the asci are collected, and which constitutes the mature fructification. The different forms are known in mycology under distinct names. Called also spore fruit.

ASCOCOCCUS As`co*coc"cus, n.; pl. Ascococci. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: A form of micrococcus, found in putrid meat infusions, occurring in peculiar masses, each of which is inclosed in a hyaline capsule and contains a large number of spherical micrococci.

ASCOMYCETES As`co*my*ce"tes, n. pl. [NL.; ascus + Gr. , , fungus.] (Bot.)

Defn: A large class of higher fungi distinguished by septate hyphæ, and by having their spores formed in asci, or spore sacs. It comprises many orders, among which are the yeasts, molds, mildews, truffles, morels, etc. -- As`co*my*ce"tous (#), a.

ASCOSPORE As"co*spore, n. Etym: [Ascus + spore.] (Bot.)

Defn: One of the spores contained in the asci of lichens and fungi. [See Illust. of Ascus.]

ASCRIBABLE As*crib"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being ascribed; attributable.

ASCRIBE As*cribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ascribed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascribing.] Etym: [L. ascribere, adscribere, to ascribe; ad + scribere to write: cf. OF. ascrire. See Scribe.]

1. To attribute, impute, or refer, as to a cause; as, his death was ascribed to a poison; to ascribe an effect to the right cause; to ascribe such a book to such an author. The finest [speech] that is ascribed to Satan in the whole poem. Addison.

2. To attribute, as a quality, or an appurtenance; to consider or allege to belong.

Syn. -- To Ascribe, Attribute, Impute. Attribute denotes, 1. To refer some quality or attribute to a being; as, to attribute power to God. 2. To refer something to its cause or source; as, to attribute a backward spring to icebergs off the coast. Ascribe is used equally in both these senses, but involves a different image. To impute usually denotes to ascribe something doubtful or wrong, and hence, in general literature, has commonly a bad sense; as, to impute unworthy motives. The theological sense of impute is not here taken into view. More than good-will to me attribute naught. Spenser. Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit. Pope. And fairly quit him of the imputed blame. Spenser.

ASCRIPT As"cript, a.

Defn: See Adscript. [Obs.]

ASCRIPTION As*crip"tion, n. Etym: [L. ascriptio, fr. ascribere. See Ascribe.]

Defn: The act of ascribing, imputing, or affirming to belong; also, that which is ascribed.

ASCRIPTITIOUS As`crip*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. ascriptitius, fr. ascribere.]

1. Ascribed.

2. Added; additional. [Obs.] An ascriptitious and supernumerary God. Farindon.

ASCUS As"cus, n.; pl. Asci. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A small membranous bladder or tube in which are inclosed the seedlike reproductive particles or sporules of lichens and certain fungi.

A-SEA A-sea, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + sea.]

Defn: On the sea; at sea; toward the sea.

ASEMIA A*se"mi*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. priv. + sign.] (Med.)

Defn: Loss of power to express, or to understand, symbols or signs of thought.

ASEPSIS A*sep"sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. priv. + sepsis.]

Defn: State of being aseptic; the methods or processes of asepticizing.

ASEPTIC A*sep"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + septic.]

Defn: Not liable to putrefaction; nonputrescent. -- n.

Defn: An aseptic substance.

ASEXUAL A*sex"u*al, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + sexual.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having no distinct; without sexual action; as, asexual reproduction. See Fission and Gemmation.

ASEXUALIZATION A*sex`u*al*i*za"tion, n. [Asexual + -ize + -ation.]

Defn: The act or process of sterilizing an animal or human being, as by vasectomy.

ASEXUALLY A*sex"u*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In an asexual manner; without sexual agency.

ASH Ash, n. Etym: [OE. asch, esh, AS. æsc; akin to OHG. asc, Sw. & Dan. ask, Icel. askr, D. esch, G. esche.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of trees of the Olive family, having opposite pinnate leaves, many of the species furnishing valuable timber, as the European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and the white ash (F. Americana). Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum Americanum) and Poison ash (Rhus venenata) are shrubs of different families, somewhat resembling the true ashes in their foliage. -- Mountain ash. See Roman tree, and under Mountain.

2. The tough, elastic wood of the ash tree.

Note: Ash is used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound term; as, ash bud, ash wood, ash tree, etc.

ASH Ash, n.,

Defn: sing. of Ashes.

Note: Ash is rarely used in the singular except in connection with chemical or geological products; as, soda ash, coal which yields a red ash, etc., or as a qualifying or combining word; as, ash bin, ash heap, ash hole, ash pan, ash pit, ash-grey, ash-colored, pearlash, potash. Bone ash, burnt powered; bone earth. -- Volcanic ash. See under Ashes.

ASH Ash, v. t.

Defn: To strew or sprinkle with ashes. Howell.

ASHAME A*shame, v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + shame: cf. AS. ascamian to shame (where a- is the same as Goth. us-, G. er-, and orig. meant out), gescamian, gesceamian, to shame.]

Defn: To shame. [R.] Barrow.

ASHAMED A*shamed", a. Etym: [Orig. a p. p. of ashame, v. t.]

Defn: Affected by shame; abashed or confused by guilt, or a conviction or consciousness of some wrong action or impropriety. "I am ashamed to beg." Wyclif. All that forsake thee shall be ashamed. Jer. xvii. 13. I began to be ashamed of sitting idle. Johnson. Enough to make us ashamed of our species. Macaulay. An ashamed person can hardly endure to meet the gaze of those present. Darwin.

Note: Ashamed seldom precedes the noun or pronoun it qualifies. By a Hebraism, it is sometimes used in the Bible to mean disappointed, or defeated.

ASHAMEDLY A*sham"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: Bashfully. [R.]

ASHANTEE Ash`an*tee", n.; pl. Ashantees.

Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Ashantee in Western Africa.

ASHANTEE Ash`an*tee", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Ashantee.

ASH-COLORED Ash"-col`ored, a.

Defn: Of the color of ashes; a whitish gray or brownish gray.

ASHEN Ash"en, a. Etym: [See Ash, the tree.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the ash tree. "Ashen poles." Dryden.

ASHEN Ash"en, a.

Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, ashes; of a color between brown and gray, or white and gray. The ashen hue of age. Sir W. Scott.

ASHEN Ash"en, n.,

Defn: obs. pl. for Ashes. Chaucer.

ASHERY Ash"er*y, n.

1. A depository for ashes.

2. A place where potash is made.

ASHES Ash"es, n. pl. Etym: [OE. asche, aske, AS. asce, æsce, axe; akin to OHG. asca, G. asche, D. asch, Icel. & Sw. aska, Dan. aske, Goth. azgo.]

1. The earthy or mineral particles of combustible substances remaining after combustion, as of wood or coal.

2. Specifically: The remains of the human body when burnt, or when "returned to dust" by natural decay. Their martyred blood and ashes sow. Milton. The coffins were broken open. The ashes were scattered to the winds. Macaulay.

3. The color of ashes; deathlike paleness. The lip of ashes, and the cheek of flame. Byron. In dust and ashes, In sackcloth and ashes, with humble expression of grief or repentance; -- from the method of mourning in Eastern lands. -- Volcanic ashes, or Volcanic ash, the loose, earthy matter, or small fragments of stone or lava, ejected by volcanoes.

ASH-FIRE Ash"-fire, n.

Defn: A low fire used in chemical operations.

ASH-FURNACE; ASH-OVEN Ash"-fur`nace, Ash"-ov`en, n.

Defn: A furnace or oven for fritting materials for glass making.

ASHINE A*shine", a.

Defn: Shining; radiant.

ASHLAR; ASHLER Ash"lar, Ash"ler, n. Etym: [OE. ascheler, achiler, OF. aiseler, fr. aiselle, dim. of ais plank, fr. L. axis, assis, plank, axle. See Axle.]

1. (Masonry) (a) Hewn or squared stone; also, masonry made of squared or hewn stone. Rough ashlar, a block of freestone as brought from the quarry. When hammer-dressed it is known as common ashlar. Knight.

(b) In the United States especially, a thin facing of squared and dressed stone upon a wall of rubble or brick. Knight.

ASHLARING; ASHLERING Ash"lar*ing, Ash"ler*ing, n.

1. The act of bedding ashlar in mortar.

2. Ashlar when in thin slabs and made to serve merely as a case to the body of the wall. Brande & C.

3. (Carp.)

Defn: The short upright pieces between the floor beams and rafters in garrets. See Ashlar, 2.

ASHORE A*shore", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + shore.]

Defn: On shore or on land; on the land adjacent to water; to the shore; to the land; aground (when applied to a ship); -- sometimes opposed to aboard or afloat. Here shall I die ashore. Shak. I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Shak.

ASHTORETH Ash"to*reth, n.; pl. Ashtaroth.

Defn: The principal female divinity of the Phoenicians, as Baal was the principal male divinity. W. Smith.

ASH WEDNESDAY Ash` Wednes"day.

Defn: The first day of Lent; -- so called from a custom in the Roman Catholic church of putting ashes, on that day, upon the foreheads of penitents.

ASHWEED Ash"weed`, n. (Bot.) Etym: [A corruption of ache-weed; F. ache. So named from the likeness of its leaves to those of ache (celery).]

Defn: Goutweed.

ASHY Ash"y, a.

1. Pertaining to, or composed of, ashes; filled, or strewed with, ashes.

2. Ash-colored; whitish gray; deadly pale. Shak. Ashy pale, pale as ashes. Shak.

ASIAN A"sian, a. Etym: [L. Asianus, Gr. Asia.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Asia; Asiatic. "Asian princes." Jer. Taylor. -- n.

Defn: An Asiatic.

ASIARCH A"si*arch, n. Etym: [L. Asiarcha, Gr.

Defn: One of the chiefs or pontiffs of the Roman province of Asia, who had the superintendence of the public games and religious rites. Milner.

ASIATIC A`si*at"ic, a. Etym: [L. Asiaticus, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Asia or to its inhabitants. -- n.

Defn: A native, or one of the people, of Asia.

ASIATICISM A`si*at"i*cism, n.

Defn: Something peculiar to Asia or the Asiatics.

ASIDE A*side", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + side.]

1. On, or to, one side; out of a straight line, course, or direction; at a little distance from the rest; out of the way; apart. Thou shalt set aside that which is full. 2 Kings iv. 4. But soft! but soft! aside: here comes the king. Shak. The flames were blown aside. Dryden.

2. Out of one's thoughts; off; away; as, to put aside gloomy thoughts. "Lay aside every weight." Heb. xii. 1.

3. So as to be heard by others; privately. Then lords and ladies spake aside. Sir W. Scott. To set aside (Law), to annul or defeat the effect or operation of, by a subsequent decision of the same or of a superior tribunal; to declare of no authority; as, to set aside a verdict or a judgment.

ASIDE A*side", n.

Defn: Something spoken aside; as, a remark made by a stageplayer which the other players are not supposed to hear.

ASILUS A*si"lus, n. Etym: [L., a gadfly.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of large and voracious two-winged flies, including the bee killer and robber fly.

ASINEGO; ASSINEGO As`i*ne"go, As`si*ne"go, n. Etym: [Sp. asnico, dim. of asno an ass.]

Defn: A stupid fellow. [Obs.] Shak.

ASININE As"i*nine, a. Etym: [L. asininus, fr. asinus ass. See Ass.]

Defn: Of or belonging to, or having the qualities of, the ass, as stupidity and obstinacy. "Asinine nature." B. Jonson. "Asinine feast." Milton.

ASININITY As`i*nin"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being asinine; stupidity combined with obstinacy.

ASIPHONATE A*si"phon*ate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Destitute of a siphon or breathing tube; -- said of many bivalve shells. -- n.

Defn: An asiphonate mollusk.

ASIPHONEA; ASIPHONATA; ASIPHONIDA As`i*pho"ne*a, A*si`pho*na"ta, As`i*phon"i*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of bivalve mollusks destitute of siphons, as the oyster; the asiphonate mollusks.

ASITIA A*si"ti*a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Want of appetite; loathing of food.

ASK Ask, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asked; p. pr. & vb. n. Asking.] Etym: [OE. asken, ashen, axien, AS. ascian, acsian; akin to OS. escon, OHG. eiscon, Sw. aska, Dan. æske, D. eischen, G. heischen, Lith. jëskóti, OSlav. iskati to seek, Skr. ish to desire. *5.]

1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; - - often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed. Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God. Judg. xviii. 5. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John xv. 7.

2. To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask Ask me never so much dowry. Gen. xxxiv. 12. To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke xii. 48. An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity. Addison.

3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about; to question. He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. John ix. 21. He asked the way to Chester. Shak.

4. To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment.

5. To publish in church for marriage; -- said of both the banns and the persons. Fuller.

Syn. -- To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat; beseech; implore; crave; require; demand; claim; exhibit; inquire; interrogate. See Beg.

ASK Ask, v. i.

1. To request or petition; -- usually folllowed by for; as, to ask for bread. Ask, and it shall be given you. Matt. vii. 7.

2. To make inquiry, or seek by request; -- sometimes followed by after. Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name Gen. xxxii. 29.

ASK Ask, n. Etym: [See 2d Asker.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A water newt. [Scot. & North of Eng.]

ASKANCE; ASKANT A*skance", A*skant", adv. Etym: [Cf. D. schuin, schuins, sideways, schuiven to shove, schuinte slope. Cf. Asquint.]

Defn: Sideways; obliquely; with a side glance; with disdain, envy, or suspicion. They dart away; they wheel askance. Beattie. My palfrey eyed them askance. Landor. Both . . . were viewed askance by authority. Gladstone.

ASKANCE A*skance", v. t.

Defn: To turn aside. [Poet.] O, how are they wrapped in with infamies That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes! Shak.

ASKER Ask"er, n.

Defn: One who asks; a petitioner; an inquirer. Shak.

ASKER Ask"er, n. Etym: [A corruption of AS. a lizard, newt.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An ask; a water newt. [Local Eng.]

ASKEW A*skew", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + skew.]

Defn: Awry; askance; asquint; oblique or obliquely; -- sometimes indicating scorn, or contempt, or entry. Spenser.

ASKING Ask"ing, n.

1. The act of inquiring or requesting; a petition; solicitation. Longfellow.

2. The publishing of banns.

ASLAKE A*slake", v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. aslacian, slacian, to slacken. Cf. Slake.]

Defn: To mitigate; to moderate; to appease; to abate; to diminish. [Archaic] Chaucer.

ASLANT A*slant", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + slant.]

Defn: Toward one side; in a slanting direction; obliquely. [The shaft] drove through his neck aslant. Dryden.

ASLANT A*slant", prep.

Defn: In a slanting direction over; athwart. There is a willow grows aslant a brook. Shak.

ASLEEP A*sleep", a. & adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + sleep.]

1. In a state of sleep; in sleep; dormant. Fast asleep the giant lay supine. Dryden. By whispering winds soon lulled asleep. Milton.

2. In the sleep of the grave; dead. Concerning them which are asleep . . . sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thess. iv. 13.

3. Numbed, and, usually, tingling. Udall. Leaning long upon any part maketh it numb, and, as we call it, asleep. Bacon.

ASLOPE A*slope", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + slope.]

Defn: Slopingly; aslant; declining from an upright direction; sloping. "Set them not upright, but aslope." Bacon.

ASLUG A*slug", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + slug to move slowly.]

Defn: Sluggishly. [Obs.] Fotherby.

ASMEAR A*smear", a. Etym: [Pref. a- + smear.]

Defn: Smeared over. Dickens.

ASMONEAN As`mo*ne"an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the patriotic Jewish family to which the Maccabees belonged; Maccabean; as, the Asmonean dynasty. [Written also Asmonæan.]

ASMONEAN As`mo*ne"an, n.

Defn: One of the Asmonean family. The Asmoneans were leaders and rulers of the Jews from 168 to 35 b. c.

ASOAK A*soak", a. Etym: [Pref. a- + soak.]

Defn: Soaking.

ASOMATOUS A*so"ma*tous, a. Etym: [L. asomatus, Gr.

Defn: Without a material body; incorporeal. Todd.

ASONANT As"o*nant, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + sonant.]

Defn: Not sounding or sounded. [R.] C. C. Felton.

ASP Asp, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Aspen. "Trembling poplar or asp." Martyn.

ASP Asp, n. Etym: [L. aspis, fr. Gr. aspe, F. aspic.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small, hooded, poisonous serpent of Egypt and adjacent countries, whose bite is often fatal. It is the Naja haje. The name is also applied to other poisonous serpents, esp. to Vipera aspis of southern Europe. See Haje.

ASPALATHUS As*pal"a*thus, n. Etym: [L. aspalathus, Gr. (Bot.) (a) A thorny shrub yielding a fragrant oil. Ecclus. xxiv. 15. (b) A genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosæ. The species are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope.

ASPARAGINE As*par"a*gine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. asparagine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white, nitrogenous, crystallizable substance, C4H8N2O3+H2O, found in many plants, and first obtained from asparagus. It is believed to aid in the disposition of nitrogenous matter throughout the plant; -- called also altheine.

ASPARAGINOUS As`pa*rag"i*nous, a.

Defn: Pertaining or allied to, or resembling, asparagus; having shoots which are eaten like asparagus; as, asparaginous vegetables.

ASPARAGUS As*par"a*gus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. prong, sprout, Pers. asparag, Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. Sparrowgrass.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceæ, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens.

2. The young and tender shoots of A. officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of food.

Note: This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people. Asparagus beetle (Zoöl.), a small beetle (Crioceris asparagi) injurious to asparagus.

ASPARTIC As*par"tic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived, asparagine; as, aspartic acid.

ASPECT As"pect, n. Etym: [L. aspectus, fr. aspicere, aspectum, to look at; ad + spicere, specere, to look, akin to E. spy.]

1. The act of looking; vision; gaze; glance. [R.] "The basilisk killeth by aspect." Bacon. His aspect was bent on the ground. Sir W. Scott.

2. Look, or particular appearance of the face; countenance; mien; air. "Serious in aspect." Dryden. [Craggs] with aspect open shall erect his head. Pope.

3. Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view. "The aspect of affairs." Macaulay. The true aspect of a world lying in its rubbish. T. Burnet.

4. Position or situation with regard to seeing; that position which enables one to look in a particular direction; position in relation to the points of the compass; as, a house has a southern aspect, that is, a position which faces the south.

5. Prospect; outlook. [Obs.] This town affords a good aspect toward the hill from whence we descended. Evelyn.

6. (Astrol.)

Defn: The situation of planets or stars with respect to one another, or the angle formed by the rays of light proceeding from them and meeting at the eye; the joint look of planets or stars upon each other or upon the earth. Milton.

Note: The aspects which two planets can assume are five; sextile,

7. (Astrol.)

Defn: The influence of the stars for good or evil; as, an ill aspect. Shak. The astrologers call the evil influences of the stars evil aspects. Bacon. Aspect of a plane (Geom.), the direction of the plane.

ASPECT As*pect", v. t. Etym: [L. aspectare, v. intens. of aspicere. See Aspect, n.]

Defn: To behold; to look at. [Obs.]

ASPECTABLE As*pect"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. aspectabilis.]

Defn: Capable of being; visible. "The aspectable world." Ray. "Aspectable stars." Mrs. Browning.

ASPECTANT As*pect"ant, a. (Her.)

Defn: Facing each other.

ASPECTED As*pect"ed, a.

Defn: Having an aspect. [Obs.] B. Jonson.