Chapter XXVII: Appendix: Vermiformis (6)

ASPECTION As*pec"tion, n. Etym: [L. aspectio, fr. aspicere to look at.]

Defn: The act of viewing; a look. [Obs.]

ASPECT RATIO Aspect ratio. (Aëronautics)

Defn: The ratio of the long to the short side of an aëroplane, aërocurve, or wing.

ASPEN; ASP Asp"en, Asp, n. Etym: [AS. æsp, æps; akin to OHG. aspa, Icel. ösp, Dan. æsp, Sw. asp, D. esp, G. espe, äspe, aspe; cf. Lettish apsa, Lith. apuszis.] (Bot.)

Defn: One of several species of poplar bearing this name, especially the Populus tremula, so called from the trembling of its leaves, which move with the slightest impulse of the air.

ASPEN Asp"en, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the aspen, or resembling it; made of aspen wood. Nor aspen leaves confess the gentlest breeze. Gay.

ASPER As"per, a. Etym: [OE. aspre, OF. aspre, F. âpre, fr. L. asper rough.]

Defn: Rough; rugged; harsh; bitter; stern; fierce. [Archaic] "An asper sound." Bacon.

ASPER As"per, n. Etym: [L. spiritus asper rough breathing.] (Greek Gram.)

Defn: The rough breathing; a mark placed over an initial vowel sound or over h before it; thus hws, pronounced h, hrj'twr, pronounced hra\'b6t.

ASPER As"per, n. Etym: [F. aspre or It. aspro, fr. MGr.

Defn: A Turkish money of account (formerly a coin), of little value; the 120th part of a piaster.

ASPERATE As"per*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asperated; p. pr. & vb. n. Asperating.] Etym: [L. asperatus, p. p. of asperare, fr. asper rough.]

Defn: To make rough or uneven. The asperated part of its surface. Boyle.

ASPERATION As`per*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act of asperating; a making or becoming rough. Bailey.

ASPERGES As*per"ges, n. Etym: [L., Thou shalt sprinkle.] (R. C. Ch.) (a) The service or ceremony of sprinkling with holy water. (b) The brush or instrument used in sprinkling holy water; an aspergill.

ASPERGILL; ASPERGILLUM As"per*gill, As`per*gil"lum, n. Etym: [LL. aspergillum, fr. L. aspergere. See Asperse, v. t.]

1. The brush used in the Roman Catholic church for sprinkling holy water on the people. [Also written aspergillus.]

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Wateringpot shell.

ASPERGILLIFORM As`per*gil"li*form, a. Etym: [Aspergillum + -form.] (Bot.)

Defn: Resembling the aspergillum in form; as, an aspergilliform stigma. Gray.

ASPERIFOLIATE; ASPERIFOLIOUS As`per*i*fo"li*ate, As`per*i*fo"li*ous, a. Etym: [L. asper rough + folium leaf.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having rough leaves.

Note: By some applied to the natural order now called Boraginaceæ or borageworts.

ASPERITY As*per"i*ty, n.; pl. Asperities. Etym: [L. asperitas, fr. asper rough: cf. F. aspérité.]

1. Roughness of surface; unevenness; -- opposed to smoothness. "The asperities of dry bodies." Boyle.

2. Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates upon the ear; raucity.

3. Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness.

4. Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity; crabbedness; harshness; -- opposed to mildness. "Asperity of character." Landor. It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received. Johnson.

5. Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty. The acclivities and asperities of duty. Barrow.

Syn. -- Acrimony; moroseness; crabbedness; harshness; sourness; tartness. See Acrimony.

ASPERMATOUS A*sper"ma*tous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Aspermous.

ASPERMOUS A*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Destitute of seeds; aspermatous.

ASPERNE A*sperne", v. t. Etym: [L. aspernari; a (ab) + spernari.]

Defn: To spurn; to despise. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

ASPEROUS As"per*ous, a. Etym: [See Asper, a.]

Defn: Rough; uneven. Boyle.

ASPERSE As*perse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aspersed; p. pr. & vb. n. Aspersing.] Etym: [L. aspersus, p. p. of aspergere to scatter, sprinkle; ad + spargere to strew. See Sparse.]

1. To sprinkle, as water or dust, upon anybody or anything, or to besprinkle any one with a liquid or with dust. Heywood.

2. To bespatter with foul reports or false and injurious charges; to tarnish in point of reputation or good name; to slander or calumniate; as, to asperse a poet or his writings; to asperse a man's character. With blackest crimes aspersed. Cowper.

Syn. -- To slander; defame; detract from; calumniate; vilify. -- To Asperse, Defame, Slander, Calumniate. These words have in common the idea of falsely assailing the character of another. To asperse is figuratively to cast upon a character hitherto unsullied the imputation of blemishes or faults which render it offensive or loathsome. To defame is to detract from a man's honor and reputation by charges calculated to load him with infamy. Slander (etymologically the same as scandal) and calumniate, from the Latin, have in common the sense of circulating reports to a man's injury from unworthy or malicious motives. Men asperse their neighbors by malignant insinuations; they defame by advancing charges to blacken or sully their fair fame; they slander or calumniate by spreading injurious reports which are false, or by magnifying slight faults into serious errors or crimes.

ASPERSED As*persed", a.

1. (Her.)

Defn: Having an indefinite number of small charges scattered or strewed over the surface. Cussans.

2. Bespattered; slandered; calumniated. Motley.

ASPERSER As*pers"er, n.

Defn: One who asperses; especially, one who vilifies another.

ASPERSION As*per"sion, n. Etym: [L. aspersio, fr. aspergere: cf. F. aspersion.]

1. A sprinkling, as with water or dust, in a literal sense. Behold an immersion, not and aspersion. Jer. Taylor.

2. The spreading of calumniations reports or charges which tarnish reputation, like the bespattering of a body with foul water; calumny. Every candid critic would be ashamed to cast wholesale aspersions on the entire body of professional teachers. Grote. Who would by base aspersions blot thy virtue. Dryden.

ASPERSIVE As*pers"ive, a.

Defn: Tending to asperse; defamatory; slanderous. -- As*pers"ive*ly, adv.

ASPERSOIR As`per`soir", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: An aspergill.

ASPERSORIUM As`per*so"ri*um, n.; pl. Aspplwsoria. Etym: [LL. See Asperse.]

1. The stoup, basin, or other vessel for holy water in Roman Catholic churches.

2. A brush for sprinkling holy water; an aspergill.

ASPHALT; ASPHALTUM As"phalt, As*phal"tum, n. Etym: [Gr. asphalte.]

1. Mineral pitch, Jews' pitch, or compact native bitumen. It is brittle, of a black or brown color and high luster on a surface of fracture; it melts and burns when heated, leaving no residue. It occurs on the surface and shores of the Dead Sea, which is therefore called Asphaltites, or the Asphaltic Lake. It is found also in many parts of Asia, Europe, and America. See Bitumen.

2. A composition of bitumen, pitch, lime, and gravel, used for forming pavements, and as a water-proof cement for bridges, roofs, etc.; asphaltic cement. Artificial asphalt is prepared from coal tar, lime, sand, etc. Asphalt stone, Asphalt rock, a limestone found impregnated with asphalt.

ASPHALT As"phalt, v. t.

Defn: To cover with asphalt; as, to asphalt a roof; asphalted streets.

ASPHALTE As`phalte", n. Etym: [F. See Asphalt.]

Defn: Asphaltic mastic or cement. See Asphalt, 2.

ASPHALTIC As*phal"tic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing, asphalt; bituminous. "Asphaltic pool." "Asphaltic slime." Milton.

ASPHALTITE As*phal"tite, a.

Defn: Asphaltic.

ASPHALTITE As*phal"tite, a.

Defn: Asphaltic. Bryant.

ASPHALTUS As*phal"tus, n.

Defn: See Asphalt.

ASPHODEL As"pho*del, n. Etym: [L. asphodelus, Gr. Daffodil.] (Bot.)

Defn: A general name for a plant of the genus Asphodelus. The asphodels are hardy perennial plants, several species of which are cultivated for the beauty of their flowers.

Note: The name is also popularly given to species of other genera. The asphodel of the early English and French poets was the daffodil. The asphodel of the Greek poets is supposed to be the Narcissus poeticus. Dr. Prior. Pansies, and violets, and asphodel. Milton.

ASPHYCTIC As*phyc"tic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to asphyxia.

ASPHYXIA; ASPHYXY As*phyx"i*a, As*phyx"y, n. Etym: [NL. asphyxia, fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Apparent death, or suspended animation; the condition which results from interruption of respiration, as in suffocation or drowning, or the inhalation of irrespirable gases.

ASPHYXIAL As*phyx"i*al, a.

Defn: Of or relating to asphyxia; as, asphyxial phenomena.

ASPHYXIATE As*phyx"i*ate, v. t.

Defn: To bring to a state of asphyxia; to suffocate.

Note: [Used commonly in the past pple.]

ASPHYXIATED; ASPHYXIED As*phyx"i*a`ted, As*phyx"ied, p. p.

Defn: In a state of asphyxia; suffocated.

ASPHYXIATION As*phyx`i*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act of causing asphyxia; a state of asphyxia.

ASPIC As"pic, n. Etym: [F. See Asp.]

1. The venomous asp. [Chiefly poetic] Shak. Tennyson.

2. A piece of ordnance carrying a 12 pound shot. [Obs.]

ASPIC As"pic, n. Etym: [F., a corrupt. of spic (OF. espi, F. épi), L. spica (spicum, spicus), ear, spike. See Spike.]

Defn: A European species of lavender (Lavandula spica), which produces a volatile oil. See Spike.

ASPIC As"pic, n. Etym: [F., prob. fr. aspic an asp.]

Defn: A savory meat jelly containing portions of fowl, game, fish, hard boiled eggs, etc. Thackeray.

ASPIDOBRANCHIA As`pi*do*bran"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of Gastropoda, with limpetlike shells, including the abalone shells and keyhole limpets.

ASPIRANT As*pir"ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. aspirant, p. pr. of aspirer. See Aspire.]

Defn: Aspiring.

ASPIRANT As*pir"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. aspirant.]

Defn: One who aspires; one who eagerly seeks some high position or object of attainment. In consequence of the resignations . . . the way to greatness was left clear to a new set of aspirants. Macaulay.

ASPIRATE As"pi*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aspirated; p. pr. & vb. n. Aspirating.] Etym: [L. aspiratus, p. p. of aspirare to breathe toward or upon, to add the breathing h; ad + spirare to breathe, blow. Cf. Aspire.]

Defn: To pronounce with a breathing, an aspirate, or an h sound; as, we aspirate the words horse and house; to aspirate a vowel or a liquid consonant.

ASPIRATE As"pi*rate, n.

1. A sound consisting of, or characterized by, a breath like the sound of h; the breathing h or a character representing such a sound; an aspirated sound.

2. A mark of aspiration used in Greek; the asper, or rough breathing. Bentley.

3. An elementary sound produced by the breath alone; a surd, or nonvocal consonant; as, f, th in thin, etc.

ASPIRATE; ASPIRATED As"pi*rate, As"pi*ra"ted, a. Etym: [L. aspiratus, p. p.]

Defn: Pronounced with the h sound or with audible breath. But yet they are not aspirate, i. e., with such an aspiration as h. Holder.

ASPIRATION As`pi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. aspiratio, fr. aspirare: cf. F. aspiration.]

1. The act of aspirating; the pronunciation of a letter with a full or strong emission of breath; an aspirated sound. If aspiration be defined to be an impetus of breathing. Wilkins.

2. The act of breathing; a breath; an inspiration.

3. The act of aspiring of a ardently desiring; strong wish; high desire. "Aspirations after virtue." Johnson. Vague aspiration after military renown. Prescott.

ASPIRATOR As"pi*ra`tor, n.

1. (Chem.)

Defn: An apparatus for passing air or gases through or over certain liquids or solids, or for exhausting a closed vessel, by means of suction.

2. (Med.)

Defn: An instrument for the evacuation of the fluid contents of tumors or collections of blood.

ASPIRATORY As*pir"a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to breathing; suited to the inhaling of air

ASPIRE As*pire", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aspired; p. pr. & vb. n. Aspiring.] Etym: [F. aspirer, L. aspirare. See Aspirate, v. t.]

1. To desire with eagerness; to seek to attain something high or great; to pant; to long; -- followed by to or after, and rarely by at; as, to aspire to a crown; to aspire after immorality. Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell; Aspiring to be angels, men rebel. Pope.

2. To rise; to ascend; to tower; to soar. My own breath still foments the fire, Which flames as high as fancy can aspire. Waller.

ASPIRE As*pire", v. t.

Defn: To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to. [Obs.] That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds. Shak.

ASPIRE As*pire", n.

Defn: Aspiration. [Obs.] Chapman.

ASPIREMENT As*pire"ment, n.

Defn: Aspiration. [Obs.]

ASPIRER As*pir"er, n.

Defn: One who aspires.

ASPIRIN As"pi*rin, n. (Pharm.)

Defn: A white crystalline compound of acetyl and salicylic acid used as a drug for the salicylic acid liberated from it in the intestines.

ASPIRING As*pir"ing, a.

Defn: That aspires; as, an Aspiring mind. -- As*pir"ing*ly, adv. -- As*pir"ing*ness, n.

ASPISH Asp"ish, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or like, an asp.

ASPORTATION As`por*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. asportatio, fr. asportare to carry away; abs = ab + portare to bear, carry.] (Law)

Defn: The felonious removal of goods from the place where they were deposited.

Note: It is adjudged to be larceny, though the goods are not carried from the house or apartment. Blackstone.

ASPRAWL A*sprawl", adv. & a.

Defn: Sprawling.

ASQUAT A*squat", adv. & a.

Defn: Squatting.

ASQUINT A*squint", adv. Etym: [Cf. Askant, Squint.]

Defn: With the eye directed to one side; not in the straight line of vision; obliquely; awry, so as to see distortedly; as, to look asquint.

ASS Ass, n. Etym: [OE. asse, AS. assa; akin to Icel. asni, W. asen, asyn, L. asinus, dim. aselus, Gr. esol, OHG. esil, G. esel, Goth. asilus, Dan. æsel, Lith. asilas, Bohem. osel, Pol. osiel. The word is prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. ath she ass. Cf. Ease.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A quadruped of the genus Equus (E. asinus), smaller than the horse, and having a peculiarly harsh bray and long ears. The tame or domestic ass is patient, slow, and sure-footed, and has become the type of obstinacy and stupidity. There are several species of wild asses which are swift-footed.

2. A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt. Shak. Asses' Bridge. Etym: [L. pons asinorum.] The fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid, "The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal to one another." [Sportive] "A schoolboy, stammering out his Asses' Bridge." F. Harrison. -- To make an ass of one's self, to do or say something very foolish or absurd.

ASSAFOETIDA As`sa*foet"i*da, n.

Defn: Same as Asafetida.

ASSAGAI; ASSEGAI As"sa*gai, As"se*gai, n. Etym: [Pg. azagaia, Sp. azagaya, fr. a Berber word. Cf. Lancegay.]

Defn: A spear used by tribes in South Africa as a missile and for stabbing, a kind of light javelin.

ASSAI As*sa"i. Etym: [It., fr. L. ad + satis enough. See Assets.] (Mus.)

Defn: A direction equivalent to very; as, adagio assai, very slow.

ASSAIL As*sail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assailing.] Etym: [OE. assailen, asailen, OF. asaillir, assailler, F. assaillir; (L. ad) + saillir to burst out, project, fr. L. salire to leap, spring; cf. L. assilire to leap or spring upon. See Sally.]

1. To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery. No rude noise mine ears assailing. Cowper. No storm can now assail The charm he wears within. Keble.

2. To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like. The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail. Pope.

3. To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; as, to assail one with appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like. The papal authority . . . assailed. Hallam. They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony. Macaulay.

Syn. -- To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See Attack.

ASSAILABLE As*sail"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being assailed.

ASSAILANT As*sail"ant, a. Etym: [F. assaillant, p. pr. of assaillir.]

Defn: Assailing; attacking. Milton.

ASSAILANT As*sail"ant, n. Etym: [F. assaillant.]

Defn: One who, or that which, assails, attacks, or assaults; an assailer. An assailant of the church. Macaulay.

ASSAILER As*sail"er, n.

Defn: One who assails.

ASSAILMENT As*sail"ment, n.

Defn: The act or power of assailing; attack; assault. [R.] His most frequent assailment was the headache. Johnson.

ASSAMAR As"sa*mar, n. Etym: [L. assare to roast + amarus, bitter.] (Chem.)

Defn: The peculiar bitter substance, soft or liquid, and of a yellow color, produced when meat, bread, gum, sugar, starch, and the like, are roasted till they turn brown.

ASSAMESE As`sam*ese", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Assam, a province of British India, or to its inhabitants. -- n. sing. & pl.

Defn: A native or natives of Assam.

ASSAPAN; ASSAPANIC As`sa*pan", As`sa*pan"ic, n. Etym: [Prob. Indian name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The American flying squirrel (Pteromys volucella).

ASSART As*sart", n. Etym: [OF. essart the grubbing up of trees, fr. essarter to grub up or clear ground of bushes, shrubs, trees, etc., fr. LL. exartum, exartare, for exsaritare; L. ex + sarire, sarrire, saritum, to hoe, weed.]

1. (Old Law)

Defn: The act or offense of grubbing up trees and bushes, and thus destroying the tickets or coverts of a forest. Spelman. Cowell.

2. A piece of land cleared of trees and bushes, and fitted for cultivation; a clearing. Ash. Assart land, forest land cleared of woods and brush.

ASSART As*sart", v. t.

Defn: To grub up, as trees; to commit an assart upon; as, to assart land or trees. Ashmole.

ASSASSIN As*sas"sin, n. Etym: [F. (cf. It. assassino), fr. Ar. one who has drunk of the hashish. Under its influence the Assassins of the East, followers of the Shaikh al-Jabal (Old Man of the Mountain), were said to commit the murders required by their chief.]

Defn: One who kills, or attempts to kill, by surprise or secret assault; one who treacherously murders any one unprepared for defense.

ASSASSIN As*sas"sin, v. t.

Defn: To assassinate. [Obs.] Stillingfleet.

ASSASSINATE As*sas"sin*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assassinated; p. pr. & vb. n. Assassinating.] Etym: [LL. assassinatus, p. p. of assassinare.]

1. To kill by surprise or secret assault; to murder by treacherous violence. Help, neighbors, my house is broken open by force, and I am ravished, and like to be assassinated. Dryden.

2. To assail with murderous intent; hence, by extended meaning, to maltreat exceedingly. [Archaic] Your rhymes assassinate our fame. Dryden. Such usage as your honorable lords Afford me, assassinated and betrayed. Milton.

Syn. -- To kill; murder; slay. See Kill.

ASSASSINATE As*sas"sin*ate, n. Etym: [F. assassinat.]

1. An assassination, murder, or murderous assault. [Obs.] If I had made an assassinate upon your father. B. Jonson.

2. An assassin. [Obs.] Dryden.

ASSASSINATION As*sas`si*na"tion, n.

Defn: The act of assassinating; a killing by treacherous violence.

ASSASSINATOR As*sas"si*na`tor, n.

Defn: An assassin.

ASSASSINOUS As*sas"sin*ous, a.

Defn: Murderous. Milton.

ASSASTION As*sas"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. assatio, fr. L. assare to roast.]

Defn: Roasting. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

ASSAULT As*sault", n. Etym: [OE. asaut, assaut, OF. assaut, asalt, F. assaut, LL. assaltus; L. ad + saltus a leaping, a springing, salire to leap. See Assail.]

1. A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town. The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault. Prescott. Unshaken bears the assault Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest. Wordsworth.

2. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government. Clarendon.

3. (Law)

Defn: An apparently violent attempt, or willful offer with force or violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or offer to beat another, accompanied by a degree of violence, but without touching his person, as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery. Blackstone. Wharton. Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the battery. Mozley & W.

Syn. -- Attack; invasion; incursion; descent; onset; onslaught; charge; storm.

ASSAULT As*sault", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaulting.] Etym: [From Assault, n.: cf. OF. assaulter, LL. assaltare.]

1. To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces. Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound. Milton.

2. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to assail; as, to assault a reputation or an administration. Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn, . . . Assault his ears. Dryden.

Note: In the latter sense, assail is more common.

Syn. -- To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See Attack.

ASSAULTABLE As*sault"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being assaulted.

ASSAULTER As*sault"er, n.

Defn: One who assaults, or violently attacks; an assailant. E. Hall.

ASSAY As*say", n. Etym: [OF. asai, essai, trial, F. essa. See Essay, n.]

1. Trial; attempt; essay. [Obs.] Chaucer. I am withal persuaded that it may prove much more easy in the assay than it now seems at distance. Milton.

2. Examination and determination; test; as, an assay of bread or wine. [Obs.] This can not be, by no assay of reason. Shak.

3. Trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state of being tried. [Obs.] Through many hard assays which did betide. Spenser.

4. Tested purity or value. [Obs.] With gold and pearl of rich assay. Spenser.

5. (Metallurgy)

Defn: The act or process of ascertaining the proportion of a particular metal in an ore or alloy; especially, the determination of the proportion of gold or silver in bullion or coin.

6. The alloy or metal to be assayed. Ure. Assay and essay are radically the same word; but modern usage has appropriated assay chiefly to experiments in metallurgy, and essay to intellectual and bodily efforts. See Essay.]

Note: Assay is used adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, assay balance, assay furnace. Assay master, an officer who assays or tests gold or silver coin or bullion. -- Assay ton, a weight of 29.1662/3 grams.

ASSAY As*say", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaying.] Etym: [OF. asaier, essaier, F. essayer, fr. essai. See Assay, n., Essay, v.]

1. To try; to attempt; to apply. [Obs. or Archaic] To-night let us assay our plot. Shak. Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed. Milton.

2. To affect. [Obs.] When the heart is ill assayed. Spenser.

3. To try tasting, as food or drink. [Obs.]

4. To subject, as an ore, alloy, or other metallic compound, to chemical or metallurgical examination, in order to determine the amount of a particular metal contained in it, or to ascertain its composition.

ASSAY As*say", v. i.

Defn: To attempt, try, or endeavor. [Archaic. In this sense essay is now commonly used.] She thrice assayed to speak. Dryden.

ASSAYABLE As*say"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be assayed.

ASSAYER As*say"er, n.

Defn: One who assays. Specifically: One who examines metallic ores or compounds, for the purpose of determining the amount of any particular metal in the same, especially of gold or silver.

ASSAYING As*say"ing, n.

Defn: The act or process of testing, esp. of analyzing or examining metals and ores, to determine the proportion of pure metal.

ASSAY POUND As"say pound.

Defn: A small standard weight used in assaying bullion, etc., sometimes equaling 0.5 gram, but varying with the assayer.

ASSAY TON Assay ton.

Defn: A weight of 29.166 + grams used in assaying, for convenience. Since it bears the same relation to the milligram that a ton of 2000 avoirdupois pounds does to the troy ounce, the weight in milligrams of precious metal obtained from an assay ton of ore gives directly the number of ounces to the ton.

ASSE Asse, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small foxlike animal (Vulpes cama) of South Africa, valued for its fur.

ASSECURATION As`se*cu*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. assecuratio, fr. assecurare.]

Defn: Assurance; certainty. [Obs.]

ASSECURE As`se*cure", v. t. Etym: [LL. assecurare.]

Defn: To make sure or safe; to assure. [Obs.] Hooker.

ASSECUTION As`se*cu"tion, n. Etym: [F. assécution, fr. L. assequi to obtain; ad + sequi to follow.]

Defn: An obtaining or acquiring. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

ASSEGAI As"se*gai, n.

Defn: Same as Assagai.

ASSEMBLAGE As*sem"blage, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assemblage. See Assemble.]

1. The act of assembling, or the state o In sweet assemblage every blooming grace. Fenton.

2. A collection of individuals, or of individuals, or of particular things; as, a political assemblage; an assemblage of ideas.

Syn. -- Company; group; collection; concourse; gathering; meeting; convention. Assemblage, Assembly. An assembly consists only of persons; an assemblage may be composed of things as well as persons, as, an assemblage of incoherent objects. Nor is every assemblage of persons an assembly; since the latter term denotes a body who have met, and are acting, in concert for some common end, such as to hear, to deliberate, to unite in music, dancing, etc. An assemblage of skaters on a lake, or of horse jockeys at a race course, is not an assembly, but might be turned into one by collecting into a body with a view to discuss and decide as to some object of common interest.

ASSEMBLANCE As*sem"blance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. assemblance.]

1. Resemblance; likeness; appearance. [Obs.] Care I for the . . . stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man Shak.

2. An assembling; assemblage. [Obs.] To weete [know] the cause of their assemblance. Spenser.

ASSEMBLE As*sem"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assembled; p. pr. & vb. n. Assembling.] Etym: [F. assembler, fr. LL. assimulare to bring together to collect; L. ad + simul together; akin to similis like, Gr. same. Cf. Assimilate, Same.]

Defn: To collect into one place or body; to bring or call together; to convene; to congregate. Thither he assembled all his train. Milton. All the men of Israel assembled themselves. 1 Kings viii. 2.

ASSEMBLE As*sem"ble, v. i.

Defn: To meet or come together, as a number of individuals; to convene; to congregate. Dryden. The Parliament assembled in November. W. Massey.

ASSEMBLE As*sem"ble, v. i.

Defn: To liken; to compare. [Obs.] Bribes may be assembled to pitch. Latimer.

ASSEMBLER As*sem"bler, n.

Defn: One who assembles a number of individuals; also, one of a number assembled.

ASSEMBLY As*sem"bly, n.; pl. Assemblies. Etym: [F. assemblée, fr. assembler. See Assemble.]

1. A company of persons collected together in one place, and usually for some common purpose, esp. for deliberation and legislation, for worship, or for social entertainment.

2. A collection of inanimate objects. [Obs.] Howell.

3. (Mil.)

Defn: A beat of the drum or sound of the bugle as a signal to troops to assemble.

Note: In some of the United States, the legislature, or the popular branch of it, is called the Assembly, or the General Assembly. In the Presbyterian Church, the General Assembly is the highest ecclesiastical tribunal, composed of ministers and ruling elders delegated from each presbytery; as, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, or of Scotland. Assembly room, a room in which persons assemble, especially for dancing. -- Unlawful assembly (Law), a meeting of three or more persons on a common plan, in such a way as to cause a reasonable apprehension that they will disturb the peace tumultuously. -- Westminster Assembly, a convocation, consisting chiefly of divines, which, by act of Parliament, assembled July 1, 1643, and remained in session some years. It framed the "Confession of Faith," the "Larger Catechism," and the "Shorter Catechism," which are still received as authority by Presbyterians, and are substantially accepted by Congregationalists.

Syn. -- See Assemblage.

ASSEMBLYMAN As*sem"bly*man, n.; pl. Assemblymen.

Defn: A member of an assembly, especially of the lower branch of a state legislature.

ASSENT As*sent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assented; p. pr. & vb. n. Assenting.] Etym: [F. assentir, L. assentire, assentiri; ad + sentire to feel, think. See Sense.]

Defn: To admit a thing as true; to express one's agreement, acquiescence, concurrence, or concession. Who informed the governor . . . And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. Acts xxiv. 9. The princess assented to all that was suggested. Macaulay.

Syn. -- To yield; agree; acquiesce; concede; concur.

ASSENT As*sent", n. Etym: [OE. assent, fr. assentir. See Assent, v.]

Defn: The act of assenting; the act of the mind in admitting or agreeing to anything; concurrence with approval; consent; agreement; acquiescence. Faith is the assent to any proposition, on the credit of the proposer. Locke. The assent, if not the approbation, of the prince. Prescott. Too many people read this ribaldry with assent and admiration. Macaulay. Royal assent, in England, the assent of the sovereign to a bill which has passed both houses of Parliament, after which it becomes law.

Syn. -- Concurrence; acquiescence; approval; accord. -- Assent, Consent. Assent is an act of the understanding, consent of the will or feelings. We assent to the views of others when our minds come to the same conclusion with theirs as to what is true, right, or admissible. We consent when there is such a concurrence of our will with their desires and wishes that we decide to comply with their requests. The king of England gives his assent, not his consent, to acts of Parliament, because, in theory at least, he is not governed by personal feelings or choice, but by a deliberate, judgment as to the common good. We also use assent in cases where a proposal is made which involves but little interest or feeling. A lady may assent to a gentleman's opening the window; but if he offers himself in marriage, he must wait for her consent.

ASSENTATION As`sen*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. assentatio. See Assent, v.]

Defn: Insincere, flattering, or obsequious assent; hypocritical or pretended concurrence. Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade as much as indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust. Ld. Chesterfield.

ASSENTATOR As`sen*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. assentari to assent constantly.]

Defn: An obsequious; a flatterer. [R.]

ASSENTATORY As*sent"a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Flattering; obsequious. [Obs.] -- As*sent"a*to*ri*ly, adv. [Obs.]

ASSENTER As*sent"er, n.

Defn: One who assents.

ASSENTIENT As*sen"tient, a.

Defn: Assenting.

ASSENTING As*sent"ing, a.

Defn: Giving or implying assent. -- As*sent"ing*ly, adv.

ASSENTIVE As*sent"ive, a.

Defn: Giving assent; of the nature of assent; complying. -- As*sent"ive*ness, n.

ASSENTMENT As*sent"ment, n.

Defn: Assent; agreement. [Obs.]

ASSERT As*sert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Asserting.] Etym: [L. assertus, p. p. of asserere to join or fasten to one's self, claim, maintain; ad + serere to join or bind together. See Series.]

1. To affirm; to declare with assurance, or plainly and strongly; to state positively; to aver; to asseverate. Nothing is more shameful . . . than to assert anything to be done without a cause. Ray.

2. To maintain; to defend. [Obs. or Archaic] That . . . I may assert Eternal Providence, And justify the ways of God to men. Milton. I will assert it from the scandal. Jer. Taylor.

3. To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures; to vindicate a claim or title to; as, to assert our rights and liberties. To assert one's self, to claim or vindicate one's rights or position; to demand recognition.

Syn. -- To affirm; aver; asseverate; maintain; protest; pronounce; declare; vindicate. -- To Assert, Affirm, Maintain, Vindicate. To assert is to fasten to one's self, and hence to claim. It is, therefore, adversative in its nature. We assert our rights and privileges, or the cause of tree institutions, as against opposition or denial. To affirm is to declare as true. We assert boldly; we affirm positively. To maintain is to uphold, and insist upon with earnestness, whatever we have once asserted; as, to maintain one's cause, to maintain an argument, to maintain the ground we have taken. To vindicate is to use language and measures of the strongest kind, in defense of ourselves and those for whom we act. We maintain our assertions by adducing proofs, facts, or arguments; we are ready to vindicate our rights or interests by the utmost exertion of our powers.

ASSERTER As*sert"er, n.

Defn: One who asserts; one who avers pr maintains; an assertor. The inflexible asserter of the rights of the church. Milman.

ASSERTION As*ser"tion, n. Etym: [L. assertio, fr. asserere.]

1. The act of asserting, or that which is asserted; positive declaration or averment; affirmation; statement asserted; position advanced. There is a difference between assertion and demonstration. Macaulay.

2. Maintenance; vindication; as, the assertion of one's rights or prerogatives.

ASSERTIVE As*sert"ive, a.

Defn: Positive; affirming confidently; affirmative; peremptory. In a confident and assertive form. Glanvill. As*sert"ive*ly, adv. -- As*sert"ive*ness, n.

ASSERTOR As*sert"or, n. Etym: [L., fr. asserere.]

Defn: One who asserts or avers; one who maintains or vindicates a claim or a right; an affirmer, supporter, or vindicator; a defender; an asserter. The assertors of liberty said not a word. Macaulay. Faithful assertor of thy country's cause. Prior.

ASSERTORIAL As`ser*to"ri*al, a.

Defn: Asserting that a thing is; -- opposed to problematical and apodeictical.

ASSERTORY As*sert"o*ry, a. Etym: [L. assertorius, fr. asserere.]

Defn: Affirming; maintaining. Arguments . . . assertory, not probatory. Jer. Taylor. An assertory, not a promissory, declaration. Bentham. A proposition is assertory, when it enounces what is known as actual. Sir W. Hamilton.

ASSESS As*sess", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assessing.] Etym: [OF. assesser to regulate, settle, LL. assessare to value for taxation, fr. L. assidere, supine as if assessum, to sit by, esp. of judges in a court, in LL. to assess, tax. Cf. Assize, v., Cess.]

1. To value; to make a valuation or official estimate of for the purpose of taxation.

2. To apportion a sum to be paid by (a person, a community, or an estate), in the nature of a tax, fine, etc.; to impose a tax upon (a person, an estate, or an income) according to a rate or apportionment.

3. To determine and impose a tax or fine upon (a person, community, estate, or income); to tax; as, the club assessed each member twenty- five cents.

4. To fix or determine the rate or amount of. This sum is assessed and raised upon individuals by commissioners in the act. Blackstone.

ASSESSABLE As*sess"a*ble, a.

Defn: Liable to be assessed or taxed; as, assessable property.

ASSESSEE As`sess*ee", n.

Defn: One who is assessed.

ASSESSION As*ses"sion, n. Etym: [L. assessio, fr. assid to sit by or near; ad + sed to sit. See Sit.]

Defn: A sitting beside or near.

ASSESSMENT As*sess"ment, n. Etym: [LL. assessamentum.]

1. The act of assessing; the act of determining an amount to be paid; as, an assessment of damages, or of taxes; an assessment of the members of a club.

2. A valuation of property or profits of business, for the purpose of taxation; such valuation and an adjudging of the proper sum to be levied on the property; as, an assessment of property or an assessment on property.

Note: An assessment is a valuation made by authorized persons according to their discretion, as opposed to a sum certain or determined by law. It is a valuation of the property of those who are to pay the tax, for the purpose of fixing the proportion which each man shall pay. Blackstone. Burrill.

3. The specific sum levied or assessed.

4. An apportionment of a subscription for stock into successive installments; also, one of these installments (in England termed a "call"). [U. S.]

ASSESSOR As*sess"or, n. Etym: [L., one who sits beside, the assistant of a judge, fr. assid. See Assession. LL., one who arranges of determines the taxes, fr. assid. See Assess, v., and cf. Cessor.]

1. One appointed or elected to assist a judge or magistrate with his special knowledge of the subject to be decided; as legal assessors, nautical assessors. Mozley & W.

2. One who sits by another, as next in dignity, or as an assistant and adviser; an associate in office. Whence to his Son, The assessor of his throne, he thus began. Milton. With his ignorance, his inclinations, and his fancy, as his assessors in judgment. I. Taylor.

3. One appointed to assess persons or property for the purpose of taxation. Bouvier.

ASSESSORIAL As`ses*so"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. assessorial, fr. L. assessor.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to an assessor, or to a court of assessors. Coxe.

ASSESSORSHIP As*sess"or*ship, n.

Defn: The office or function of an assessor.

ASSET As"set, n.

Defn: Any article or separable part of one's assets.

ASSETS As"sets, n. pl. Etym: [OF. asez enough, F. assez, fr. L. ad + satis, akin to Gr. saps full. Cf. Assai, Satisfy.]

1. (Law) (a) Property of a deceased person, subject by law to the payment of his debts and legacies; -- called assets because sufficient to render the executor or administrator liable to the creditors and legatees, so far as such goods or estate may extend. Story. Blackstone. (b) Effects of an insolvent debtor or bankrupt, applicable to the payment of debts.

2. The entire property of all sorts, belonging to a person, a corporation, or an estate; as, the assets of a merchant or a trading association; -- opposed to liabilities.

Note: In balancing accounts the assets are put on the Cr. side and the debts on the Dr. side.

ASSEVER As*sev"er, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. asseverer, fr. L. asseverare.]

Defn: See Asseverate. [Archaic]

ASSEVERATE As*sev"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asseverated; p. pr. & vb. n. Asseverating.] Etym: [L. asseveratus, p. p. of asseverare to assert seriously or earnestly; ad + severus. See Severe.]

Defn: To affirm or aver positively, or with solemnity.

Syn. -- To affirm; aver; protest; declare. See Affirm.

ASSEVERATION As*sev`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. asseveratio.]

Defn: The act of asseverating, or that which is asseverated; positive affirmation or assertion; solemn declaration. Another abuse of the tongue I might add, -- vehement asseverations upon slight and trivial occasions. Ray.

ASSEVERATIVE As*sev"er*a*tive, a.

Defn: Characterized by asseveration; asserting positively.

ASSEVERATORY As*sev"er*a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Asseverative.

ASSIBILATE As*sib"i*late, v. t. Etym: [L. assibilatus, p. p. of assibilare to hiss out; ad + sibilare to hiss.]

Defn: To make sibilant; to change to a sibilant. J. Peile.

ASSIBILATION As*sib`i*la"tion, n.

Defn: Change of a non-sibilant letter to a sibilant, as of -tion to - shun, duke to ditch.

ASSIDEAN As`si*de"an, n. Etym: [Heb. khasad to be pious.]

Defn: One of a body of devoted Jews who opposed the Hellenistic Jews, and supported the Asmoneans.

ASSIDENT As"si*dent, a. Etym: [L. assidens, p. pr. of assid to sit by: cf. F. assident. See Assession.] (Med.)

Defn: Usually attending a disease, but not always; as, assident signs, or symptoms.

ASSIDUATE As*sid"u*ate, a. Etym: [L. assiduatus, p. p. of assiduare to use assiduously.]

Defn: Unremitting; assiduous. [Obs.] "Assiduate labor." Fabyan.

ASSIDUITY As`si*du"i*ty, n.; pl. Assiduities. Etym: [L. assiduitas: cf. F. assiduite. See Assiduous.]

1. Constant or close application or attention, particularly to some business or enterprise; diligence. I have, with much pains and assiduity, qualified myself for a nomenclator. Addison.

2. Studied and persevering attention to a person; -- usually in the plural.

ASSIDUOUS As*sid"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. assiduus, fr. assid to sit near or close; ad + sed to sit. See Sit.]

1. Constant in application or attention; devoted; attentive; unremitting. She grows more assiduous in her attendance. Addison.

2. Performed with constant diligence or attention; unremitting; persistent; as, assiduous labor. To weary him with my assiduous cries. Milton.

Syn. -- Diligent; attentive; sedulous; unwearied; unintermitted; persevering; laborious; indefatigable. As*sid"u*ous*ly, adv. -- As*sid"u*ous*ness, n.

ASSIEGE As*siege", v. t. Etym: [OE. asegen, OF. asegier, F. assiéger, fr. LL. assediare, assidiare, to besiege. See Siege.]

Defn: To besiege. [Obs.] "Assieged castles." Spenser.

ASSIEGE As*siege", n.

Defn: A siege. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ASSIENTIST As`si*en"tist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assientiste, Sp. asentista.]

Defn: A shareholder of the Assiento company; one of the parties to the Assiento contract. Bancroft.

ASSIENTO As`si*en"to, n. Etym: [Sp. asiento seat, contract or agreement, fr. asentar to place on a chair, to adjust, to make an agreement; a (L. ad) + sentar, a participial verb; as if there were a L. sedentare to cause to sit, fr. sedens, sedentis, p. pr. of sed to sit.]

Defn: A contract or convention between Spain and other powers for furnishing negro slaves for the Spanish dominions in America, esp. the contract made with Great Britain in 1713.

ASSIGN As*sign", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assigned; p. pr. & vb. n. Assigning.] Etym: [OE. assignen, asignen, F. assigner, fr. L. assignare; ad + signare to mark, mark out, designate, signum mark, sign. See Sign.]

1. To appoint; to allot; to apportion; to make over. In the order I assign to them. Loudon. The man who could feel thus was worthy of a better station than that in which his lot had been assigned. Southey. He assigned to his men their several posts. Prescott.

2. To fix, specify, select, or designate; to point out authoritatively or exactly; as, to assign a limit; to assign counsel for a prisoner; to assign a day for trial. All as the dwarf the way to her assigned. Spenser. It is not easy to assign a period more eventful. De Quincey.

3. (Law)

Defn: To transfer, or make over to another, esp. to transfer to, and vest in, certain persons, called assignees, for the benefit of creditors. To assign dower, to set out by metes and bounds the widow's share or portion in an estate. Kent.

ASSIGN As*sign", n. Etym: [From Assign, v.]

Defn: A thing pertaining or belonging to something else; an appurtenance. [Obs.] Six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdles, hangers, and so. Shak.

ASSIGN As*sign", n. Etym: [See Assignee.] (Law)

Defn: A person to whom property or an interest is transferred; as, a deed to a man and his heirs and assigns.

ASSIGNABILITY As*sign`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being assignable.

ASSIGNABLE As*sign"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being assigned, allotted, specified, or designated; as, an assignable note or bill; an assignable reason; an assignable quantity.

ASSIGNAT As`si`gnat", n. Etym: [F. assignat, fr. L. assignatus, p. p. of assignare.]

Defn: One of the notes, bills, or bonds, issued as currency by the revolutionary government of France (1790-1796), and based on the security of the lands of the church and of nobles which had been appropriated by the state.

ASSIGNATION As`sig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. assignatio, fr. assignare: cf. F. assignation.]

1. The act of assigning or allotting; apportionment. This order being taken in the senate, as touching the appointment and assignation of those provinces. Holland.

2. An appointment of time and place for meeting or interview; -- used chiefly of love interviews, and now commonly in a bad sense. While nymphs take treats, or assignations give. Pope.

3. A making over by transfer of title; assignment. House of assignation, a house in which appointments for sexual intercourse are fulfilled.

ASSIGNEE As`sign*ee", n. Etym: [F. assigné, p. p. of assigner. See Assign, v., and cf. Assign an assignee.] (Law) (a) A person to whom an assignment is made; a person appointed or deputed by another to do some act, perform some business, or enjoy some right, privilege, or property; as, an assignee of a bankrupt. See Assignment (c). An assignee may be by special appointment or deed, or be created by jaw; as an executor. Cowell. Blount. (b) pl.

Defn: In England, the persons appointed, under a commission of bankruptcy, to manage the estate of a bankrupt for the benefit of his creditors.

ASSIGNER As*sign"er, n.

Defn: One who assigns, appoints, allots, or apportions.

ASSIGNMENT As*sign"ment, n. Etym: [LL. assignamentum: cf. OF. assenement.]

1. An allotting or an appointment to a particular person or use; or for a particular time, as of a cause or causes in court.

2. (Law) (a) A transfer of title or interest by writing, as of lease, bond, note, or bill of exchange; a transfer of the whole of some particular estate or interest in lands. (b) The writing by which an interest is transferred. (c) The transfer of the property of a bankrupt to certain persons called assignees, in whom it is vested for the benefit of creditors. Assignment of dower, the setting out by metes and bounds of the widow's thirds or portion in the deceased husband's estate, and allotting it to her.

Note: Assignment is also used in law as convertible with specification; assignment of error in proceedings for review being specification of error; and assignment of perjury or fraud in indictment being specifications of perjury or fraud.

ASSIGNOR As`sign*or", n. Etym: [L. assignator. Cf. Assigner.] (Law)

Defn: An assigner; a person who assigns or transfers an interest; as, the assignor of a debt or other chose in action.

ASSIMILABILITY As*sim`i*la*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being assimilable. [R.] Coleridge.

ASSIMILABLE As*sim"i*la*ble, a.

Defn: That may be assimilated; that may be likened, or appropriated and incorporated.

ASSIMILATE As*sim"i*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assimilated; p. pr. & vb. n. Assimilating.] Etym: [L. assimilatus, p. p. of assimilare; ad + similare to make like, similis like. See Similar, Assemble, Assimilate.]

1. To bring to a likeness or to conformity; to cause a resemblance between. Sir M. Hale. To assimilate our law to the law of Scotland. John Bright. Fast falls a fleecy; the downy flakes Assimilate all objects. Cowper.

2. To liken; to compa [R.]

3. To appropriate and transform or incorporate into the substance of the assimilating body; to absorb or appropriate, as nourishment; as, food is assimilated and converted into organic tissue. Hence also animals and vegetables may assimilate their nourishment. Sir I. Newton. His mind had no power to assimilate the lessons. Merivale.

ASSIMILATE As*sim"i*late, v. i.

1. To become similar or like something else. [R.]

2. To change and appropriate nourishment so as to make it a part of the substance of the assimilating body. Aliment easily assimilated or turned into blood. Arbuthnot.

3. To be converted into the substance of the assimilating body; to become incorporated; as, some kinds of food assimilate more readily than others. I am a foreign material, and cannot assimilate with the church of England. J. H. Newman.

ASSIMILATION As*sim`i*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. assimilatio: cf. F. assimilation.]

1. The act or process of assimilating or bringing to a resemblance, likeness, or identity; also, the state of being so assimilated; as, the assimilation of one sound to another. To aspire to an assimilation with God. Dr. H. More. The assimilation of gases and vapors. Sir J. Herschel.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: The conversion of nutriment into the fluid or solid substance of the body, by the processes of digestion and absorption, whether in plants or animals. Not conversing the body, not repairing it by assimilation, but preserving it by ventilation. Sir T. Browne.

Note: The term assimilation has been limited by some to the final process by which the nutritive matter of the blood is converted into the substance of the tissues and organs.

ASSIMILATIVE As*sim"i*la*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. assimilativus, F. assimilatif.]

Defn: Tending to, or characterized by, assimilation; that assimilates or causes assimilation; as, an assimilative process or substance.

ASSIMILATORY As*sim"i*la*to*ry, a.

Defn: Tending to assimilate, or produce assimilation; as, assimilatory organs.

ASSIMULATE As*sim"u*late, v. t. Etym: [L. assimulatus, p. p. of assimulare, equiv. to assimilare. See Assimilate, v. t.]

1. To feign; to counterfeit; to simulate; to resemble. [Obs.] Blount.

2. To assimilate. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

ASSIMULATION As*sim`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. assimulatio, equiv. to assimilatio.]

Defn: Assimilation. [Obs.] Bacon.

ASSINEGO As`si*ne"go, n.

Defn: See Asinego.

ASSISH Ass"ish, a.

Defn: Resembling an ass; asinine; stupid or obstinate. Such . . . appear to be of the assich kind . . . Udall.

ASSIST As*sist", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assisting.] Etym: [L. assistere; ad + sistere to cause to stand, to stand, from stare to stand: cf. F. assister. See Stand.]

Defn: To give support to in some undertaking or effort, or in time of distress; to help; to aid; to succor. Assist me, knight. I am undone! Shak.

Syn. -- To help; aid; second; back; support; relieve; succor; befriend; sustain; favor. See Help.

ASSIST As*sist", v. i.

1. To lend aid; to help. With God not parted from him, as was feared, But favoring and assisting to the end. Milton.

2. To be present as a spectator; as, to assist at a public meeting. [A Gallicism] Gibbon. Prescott.

ASSISTANCE As*sist"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assistance.]

1. The act of assisting; help; aid; furtherance; succor; support. Without the assistance of a mortal hand. Shak.

2. An assistant or helper; a body of helpers. [Obs.] Wat Tyler [was] killed by valiant Walworth, the lord mayor of London, and his assistance, . . . John Cavendish. Fuller.

3. Persons present. [Obs. or a Gallicism]

ASSISTANT As*sist"ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. assistant, p. pr. of assister.]

1. Helping; lending aid or support; auxiliary. Genius and learning . . . are mutually and greatly assistant to each other. Beattie.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: Of the second grade in the staff of the army; as, an assistant surgeon. [U.S.]

Note: In the English army it designates the third grade in any particular branch of the staff. Farrow.

ASSISTANT As*sist"ant, n.

1. One who, or that which, assists; a helper; an auxiliary; a means of help. Four assistants who his labor share. Pope. Rhymes merely as assistants to memory. Mrs. Chapone.

2. An attendant; one who is present. Dryden.

ASSISTANTLY As*sist"ant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a manner to give aid. [R.]

ASSISTER As*sist"er, n.

Defn: An assistant; a helper.

ASSISTFUL As*sist"ful, a.

Defn: Helpful.

ASSISTIVE As*sist"ive, a.

Defn: Lending aid, helping.

ASSISTLESS As*sist"less, a.

Defn: Without aid or help. [R.] Pope.

ASSISTOR As*sist"or, n. (Law)

Defn: A assister.

ASSITHMENT As*sith"ment, n.

Defn: See Assythment. [Obs.]

ASSIZE As*size", n. Etym: [OE. assise, asise, OF. assise, F. assises, assembly of judges, the decree pronounced by them, tax, impost, fr. assis, assise, p. p. of asseoir, fr. L. assid to sit by; ad + sed to sit. See Sit, Size, and cf. Excise, Assess.]

1. An assembly of knights and other substantial men, with a bailiff or justice, in a certain place and at a certain time, for public business. [Obs.]

2. (Law) (a) A special kind of jury or inquest. (b) A kind of writ or real action. (c) A verdict or finding of a jury upon such writ. (d) A statute or ordinance in general. Specifically: (1) A statute regulating the weight, measure, and proportions of ingredients and the price of articles sold in the market; as, the assize of bread and other provisions; (2) A statute fixing the standard of weights and measures. (e) Anything fixed or reduced to a certainty in point of time, number, quantity, quality, weight, measure, etc.; as, rent of assize. Glanvill. Spelman. Cowell. Blackstone. Tomlins. Burrill.

Note: [This term is not now used in England in the sense of a writ or real action, and seldom of a jury of any kind, but in Scotch practice it is still technically applied to the jury in criminal cases. Stephen. Burrill. Erskine.] (f) A court, the sitting or session of a court, for the trial of processes, whether civil or criminal, by a judge and jury. Blackstone. Wharton. Encyc. Brit. (g) The periodical sessions of the judges of the superior courts in every county of England for the purpose of administering justice in the trial and determination of civil and criminal cases; -- usually in the plural. Brande. Wharton. Craig. Burrill. (h) The time or place of holding the court of assize; -- generally in the plural, assizes.

3. Measure; dimension; size. [In this sense now corrupted into size.] An hundred cubits high by just assize. Spenser. [Formerly written, as in French, assise.]

ASSIZE As*size", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assized; p. pr. & vb. n. Assizing.] Etym: [From Assize, n.: cf. LL. assisare to decree in assize. Cf. Asses, v.]

1. To assess; to value; to rate. [Obs.] Gower.

2. To fix the weight, measure, or price of, by an ordinance or regulation of authority. [Obs.]

ASSIZER As*siz"er, n.

Defn: An officer who has the care or inspection of weights and measures, etc.

ASSIZOR As*siz"or, n. (Scots Law)

Defn: A juror.

ASSOBER As*so"ber, v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad- + sober. Cf. Ensober.]

Defn: To make or keep sober. [Obs.] Gower.

ASSOCIABILITY As*so`cia*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being associable, or capable of association; associableness. "The associability of feelings." H. Spencer.

ASSOCIABLE As*so"cia*ble, a. Etym: [See Associate.]

1. Capable of being associated or joined. We know feelings to be associable only by the proved ability of one to revive another. H. Spencer.

2. Sociable; companionable. [Obs.]

3. (Med.)

Defn: Liable to be affected by sympathy with other parts; -- said of organs, nerves, muscles, etc. The stomach, the most associable of all the organs of the animal body. Med. Rep.

ASSOCIABLENESS As*so"cia*ble*ness, n.

Defn: Associability.

ASSOCIATE As*so"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Associated; p. pr. & vb. n. Associating.] Etym: [L. associatus, p. p. of associare; ad + sociare to join or unite, socius companion. See Social.]

1. To join with one, as a friend, companion, partner, or confederate; as, to associate others with .

2. To join or connect; to combine in acting; as, particles of gold associated with other substances.

3. To connect or place together in thought. He succeeded in associating his name inseparably with some names which will last an long as our language. Macaulay.

4. To accompany; to keep company with. [Obs.] Friends should associate friends in grief and woe. Shak.

ASSOCIATE As*so"ci*ate, v. i.

1. To unite in company; to keep company, implying intimacy; as, congenial minds are disposed to associate.

2. To unite in action, or to be affected by the action of a different part of the body. E. Darwin.

ASSOCIATE As*so"ci*ate, a. Etym: [L. associatus, p. p.]

1. Closely connected or joined with some other, as in interest, purpose, employment, or office; sharing responsibility or authority; as, an associate judge. While I descend . . . to my associate powers. Milton.

2. Admitted to some, but not to all, rights and privileges; as, an associate member.

3. (Physiol.)

Defn: Connected by habit or sympathy; as, associate motions, such as occur sympathetically, in consequence of preceding motions. E. Darwin.