Chapter XXVIII: Appendix: Vermiformis (7)

ASSOCIATE As*so"ci*ate, n.

1. A companion; one frequently in company with another, implying intimacy or equality; a mate; a fellow.

2. A partner in interest, as in business; or a confederate in a league.

3. One connected with an association or institution without the full rights or privileges of a regular member; as, an associate of the Royal Academy.

4. Anything closely or usually connected with another; an concomitant. The one [idea] no sooner comes into the understanding, than its associate appears with it. Locke.

Syn. -- Companion; mate; fellow; friend; ally; partner; coadjutor; comrade; accomplice.

ASSOCIATED As*so"ci*a`ted, a.

Defn: Joined as a companion; brought into association; accompanying; combined. Associated movements (Physiol.), consensual movements which accompany voluntary efforts without our consciousness. Dunglison.

ASSOCIATESHIP As*so"ci*ate*ship, n.

Defn: The state of an associate, as in Academy or an office.

ASSOCIATION As*so`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. association, LL. associatio, fr. L. associare.]

1. The act of associating, or state of being associated; union; connection, whether of persons of things. "Some . . . bond of association." Hooker. Self-denial is a kind of holy association with God. Boyle.

2. Mental connection, or that which is mentally linked or associated with a thing. Words . . . must owe their powers association. Johnson. Why should . . . the holiest words, with all their venerable associations, be profaned Coleridge.

3. Union of persons in a company or society for some particular purpose; as, the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a benevolent association. Specifically, as among the Congregationalists, a society, consisting of a number of ministers, generally the pastors of neighboring churches, united for promoting the interests of religion and the harmony of the churches. Association of ideas (Physiol.), the combination or connection of states of mind or their objects with one another, as the result of which one is said to be revived or represented by means of the other. The relations according to which they are thus connected or revived are called the law of association. Prominent among them are reckoned the relations of time and place, and of cause and effect. Porter.

ASSOCIATIONAL As*so`ci*a"tion*al, a.

1. Of or pertaining to association, or to an association.

2. Pertaining to the theory held by the associationists.

ASSOCIATIONISM As*so`ci*a"tion*ism, n. (Philos.)

Defn: The doctrine or theory held by associationists.

ASSOCIATIONIST As*so`ci*a"tion*ist, n. (Philos.)

Defn: One who explains the higher functions and relations of the soul by the association of ideas; e. g., Hartley, J. C. Mill.

ASSOCIATIVE As*so"ci*a*tive, a.

Defn: Having the quality of associating; tending or leading to association; as, the associative faculty. Hugh Miller.

ASSOCIATOR As*so"ci*a`tor, n.

Defn: An associate; a confederate or partner in any scheme. How Pennsylvania's air agrees with Quakers, And Carolina's with associators. Dryden.

ASSOIL As*soil", v. t. Etym: [OF. assoiler, absoiler, assoldre, F. absoudre, L. absolvere. See Absolve.]

1. To set free; to release. [Archaic] Till from her hands the spright assoiled is. Spenser.

2. To solve; to clear up. [Obs.] Any child might soon be able to assoil this riddle. Bp. Jewel.

3. To set free from guilt; to absolve. [Archaic] Acquitted and assoiled from the guilt. Dr. H. More. Many persons think themselves fairly assoiled, because they are . . . not of scandalous lives. Jer. Taylor.

4. To expiate; to atone for. [Archaic] Spenser. Let each act assoil a fault. E. Arnold.

5. To remove; to put off. [Obs.] She soundly slept, and careful thoughts did quite assoil. Spenser.

ASSOIL As*soil", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad- + soil.]

Defn: To soil; to stain. [Obs. or Poet.] Beau. & Fl. Ne'er assoil my cobwebbed shield. Wordsworth.

ASSOILMENT As*soil"ment, n.

Defn: Act of assoiling, or state of being assoiled; absolution; acquittal.

ASSOILMENT As*soil"ment, n.

Defn: A soiling; defilement.

ASSOILZIE; ASSOILYIE As*soil"zie, As*soil"yie, v. t. Etym: [Old form assoil. See Assoil.] (Scots Law)

Defn: To absolve; to acquit by sentence of court. God assoilzie him for the sin of bloodshed. Sir W. Scott.

ASSONANCE As"so*nance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assonance. See Assonant.]

1. Resemblance of sound. "The disagreeable assonance of Steevens.

2. (Pros.)

Defn: A peculiar species of rhyme, in which the last accented vowel and those which follow it in one word correspond in sound with the vowels of another word, while the consonants of the two words are unlike in sound; as, calamo and platano, baby and chary. The assonance is peculiar to the Spaniard. Hallam.

3. Incomplete correspondence. Assonance between facts seemingly remote. Lowell.

ASSONANT As"so*nant, a. Etym: [L. assonans, p. pr. of assonare to sound to, to correspond to in sound; ad + sonare to sound, sonus sound: cf. F. assonant. See Sound.]

1. Having a resemblance of sounds.

2. (Pros.)

Defn: Pertaining to the peculiar species of rhyme called assonance; not consonant.

ASSONANTAL As`so*nan"tal, a.

Defn: Assonant.

ASSONATE As"so*nate, v. i. Etym: [L. assonare, assonatum, to respond to.]

Defn: To correspond in sound.

ASSORT As*sort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assorting.] Etym: [F. assortir; (L. ad) + sortir to cast or draw lots, to obtain by lot, L. sortiri, fr. sors, sortis, lot. See Sort.]

1. To separate and distribute into classes, as things of a like kind, nature, or quality, or which are suited to a like purpose; to classify; as, to assort goods.

Note: [Rarely applied to persons.] They appear . . . no ways assorted to those with whom they must associate. Burke.

2. To furnish with, or make up of, various sorts or a variety of goods; as, to assort a cargo.

ASSORT As*sort", v. i.

Defn: To agree; to be in accordance; to be adapted; to suit; to fall into a class or place. Mitford.

ASSORTED As*sort"ed, a.

Defn: Selected; culled.

ASSORTMENT As*sort"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assortiment.]

1. Act of assorting, or distributing into sorts, kinds, or classes.

2. A collection or quantity of things distributed into kinds or sorts; a number of things assorted.

3. A collection containing a variety of sorts or kinds adapted to various wants, demands, or purposes; as, an assortment of goods.

ASSOT As*sot", v. t. Etym: [OF. asoter, F. assoter; ad) + sot stupid. See Sot.]

Defn: To besot; to befool; to beguile; to infatuate. [Obs.] Some ecstasy assotted had his sense. Spenser.

ASSOT As*sot", a.

Defn: Dazed; foolish; infatuated. [Obs.] Willie, I ween thou be assot. Spenser.

ASSUAGE As*suage", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assuaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Assuaging.] Etym: [OE. asuagen, aswagen, OF. asoagier, asuagier, fr. assouagier, fr. L. ad + suavis sweet. See Sweet.]

Defn: To soften, in a figurative sense; to allay, mitigate, ease, or lessen, as heat, pain, or grief; to appease or pacify, as passion or tumult; to satisfy, as appetite or desire. Refreshing winds the summer's heat assuage. Addison. To assuage the sorrows of a desolate old man Burke. The fount at which the panting mind assuages Her thirst of knowledge. Byron.

Syn. -- To alleviate; mitigate; appease; soothe; calm; tranquilize; relieve. See Alleviate.

ASSUAGE As*suage", v. i.

Defn: To abate or subside. [Archaic] "The waters assuaged." Gen. vii. 1. The plague being come to a crisis, its fury began to assuage. De Foe.

ASSUAGEMENT As*suage"ment, n. Etym: [OF. assouagement, asuagement.]

Defn: Mitigation; abatement.

ASSUAGER As*sua"ger, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, assuages.

ASSUASIVE As*sua"sive, a. Etym: [From assuage, as if this were fr. a supposed L. assuadere to persuade to; or from E. pref. ad + -suasive as in persuasive.]

Defn: Mitigating; tranquilizing; soothing. [R.] Music her soft assuasive voice applies. Pope.

ASSUBJUGATE As*sub"ju*gate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad- + subjugate.]

Defn: To bring into subjection. [Obs.] Shak.

ASSUEFACTION As`sue*fac"tion, n. Etym: [L. assuefacere to accustom to; assuetus (p. p. of assuescere to accustom to) + facere to make; cf. OF. assuefaction.]

Defn: The act of accustoming, or the state of being accustomed; habituation. [Obs.] Custom and studies efform the soul like wax, and by assuefaction introduce a nature. Jer. Taylor.

ASSUETUDE As"sue*tude, n. Etym: [L. assuetudo, fr. assuetus accustomed.]

Defn: Accustomedness; habit; habitual use. Assuetude of things hurtful doth make them lose their force to hurt. Bacon.

ASSUMABLE As*sum"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be assumed.

ASSUMABLY As*sum"a*bly, adv.

Defn: By way of assumption.

ASSUME As*sume", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assuming.] Etym: [L. assumere; ad + sumere to take; sub + emere to take, buy: cf. F. assumer. See Redeem.]

1. To take to or upon one's self; to take formally and demonstratively; sometimes, to appropriate or take unjustly. Trembling they stand while Jove assumes the throne. Pope. The god assumed his native form again. Pope.

2. To take for granted, or without proof; to suppose as a fact; to suppose or take arbitrarily or tentatively. The consequences of assumed principles. Whewell.

3. To pretend to possess; to take in appearance. Ambition assuming the mask of religion. Porteus. Assume a virtue, if you have it not. Shak.

4. To receive or adopt. The sixth was a young knight of lesser renown and lower rank, assumed into that honorable company. Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- To arrogate; usurp; appropriate.

ASSUME As*sume", v. i.

1. To be arrogant or pretentious; to claim more than is due. Bp. Burnet.

2. (Law)

Defn: To undertake, as by a promise. Burrill.

ASSUMED As*sumed", a.

1. Supposed.

2. Pretended; hypocritical; make-believe; as, an assumed character.

ASSUMEDLY As*sum"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: By assumption.

ASSUMENT As*sum"ent, n. Etym: [L. assumentum, fr. ad + suere to sew.]

Defn: A patch; an addition; a piece put on. [Obs.] John Lewis (1731).

ASSUMER As*sum"er, n.

Defn: One who assumes, arrogates, pretends, or supposes. W. D. Whitney.

ASSUMING As*sum"ing, a.

Defn: Pretentious; taking much upon one's self; presumptuous. Burke.

ASSUMPSIT As*sump"sit, n. Etym: [L., he undertook, pret. of L. assumere. See Assume.] (Law) (a) A promise or undertaking, founded on a consideration. This promise may be oral or in writing not under seal. It may be express or implied. (b) An action to recover damages for a breach or nonperformance of a contract or promise, express or implied, oral or in writing not under seal. Common or indebitatus assumpsit is brought for the most part on an implied promise. Special assumpsit is founded on an express promise or undertaking. Wharton.

ASSUMPT As*sumpt", v. t. Etym: [L. assumptus, p. p. of assumere. See Assume.]

Defn: To take up; to elevate; to assume. [Obs.] Sheldon.

ASSUMPT As*sumpt", n. Etym: [L. assumptum, p. p. neut. of assumere.]

Defn: That which is assumed; an assumption. [Obs.] The sun of all your assumpts is this. Chillingworth.

ASSUMPTION As*sump"tion, n. Etym: [OE. assumpcioun a taking up into heaven, L. assumptio a taking, fr. assumere: cf. F. assomption. See Assume.]

1. The act of assuming, or taking to or upon one's self; the act of taking up or adopting. The assumption of authority. Whewell.

2. The act of taking for granted, or supposing a thing without proof; supposition; unwarrantable claim. This gives no sanction to the unwarrantable assumption that the soul sleeps from the period of death to the resurrection of the body. Thodey. That calm assumption of the virtues. W. Black.

3. The thing supposed; a postulate, or proposition assumed; a supposition. Hold! says the Stoic; your assumption's wrong. Dryden.

4. (Logic)

Defn: The minor or second proposition in a categorical syllogism.

5. The taking of a person up into heaven. Hence: (Rom. Cath. & Greek Churches)

Defn: A festival in honor of the ascent of the Virgin Mary into heaven.

ASSUMPTIVE As*sump"tive, a. Etym: [L. assumptivus, fr. assumptus, fr. assumere.]

Defn: Assumed, or capable of being assumed; characterized by assumption; making unwarranted claims. -- As*sump"tive*ly, adv. Assumptive arms (Her.), originally, arms which a person had a right to assume, in consequence of an exploit; now, those assumed without sanction of the Heralds' College. Percy Smith.

ASSURANCE As*sur"ance, n. Etym: [OE. assuraunce, F. assurance, fr. assurer. See Assure.]

1. The act of assuring; a declaration tending to inspire full confidence; that which is designed to give confidence. Whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts xvii. 31. Assurances of support came pouring in daily. Macaulay.

2. The state of being assured; firm persuasion; full confidence or trust; freedom from doubt; certainty. Let us draw with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. Heb. x. 22.

3. Firmness of mind; undoubting, steadiness; intrepidity; courage; confidence; self-reliance. Brave men meet danger with assurance. Knolles. Conversation with the world will give them knowledge and assurance. Locke.

4. Excess of boldness; impudence; audacity; as, his assurance is intolerable.

5. Betrothal; affiance. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.

6. Insurance; a contract for the payment of a sum on occasion of a certain event, as loss or death.

Note: Recently, assurance has been used, in England, in relation to life contingencies, and insurance in relation to other contingencies. It is called temporary assurance, in the time within which the contingent event must happen is limited. See Insurance.

7. (Law)

Defn: Any written or other legal evidence of the conveyance of property; a conveyance; a deed.

Note: In England, the legal evidences of the conveyance of property are called the common assurances of the kingdom. Blackstone.

ASSURE As*sure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assured; p. pr. & vb. n. Assuring.] Etym: [OF. aseürer, F. assurer, LL. assecurare; L. ad + securus secure, sure, certain. See Secure, Sure, and cf. Insure.]

1. To make sure or certain; to render confident by a promise, declaration, or other evidence. His promise that thy seed shall bruise our foe . . . Assures me that the bitterness of death Is past, and we shall live. Milton.

2. To declare to, solemnly; to assert to (any one) with the design of inspiring belief or confidence. I dare assure thee that no enemy Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus. Shak.

3. To confirm; to make certain or secure. And it shall be assured to him. Lev. xxvii. 19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 1 John iii. 19.

4. To affiance; to betroth. [Obs.] Shak.

5. (Law)

Defn: To insure; to covenant to indemnify for loss, or to pay a specified sum at death. See Insure.

Syn. -- To declare; aver; avouch; vouch; assert; asseverate; protest; persuade; convince.

ASSURED As*sured", a.

Defn: Made sure; safe; insured; certain; indubitable; not doubting; bold to excess.

ASSURED As*sured", n.

Defn: One whose life or property is insured.

ASSUREDLY As*sur"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: Certainly; indubitably. "The siege assuredly I'll raise." Shak.

ASSUREDNESS As*sur"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being assured; certainty; full confidence.

ASSURER As*sur"er, n.

1. One who assures. Specifically: One who insures against loss; an insurer or underwriter.

2. One who takes out a life assurance policy.

ASSURGENCY As*sur"gen*cy, n.

Defn: Act of rising. The . . . assurgency of the spirit through the body. Coleridge.

ASSURGENT As*sur"gent, a. Etym: [L. assurgens, p. pr. of assurgere; ad + surgere to rise.]

Defn: Ascending; (Bot.)

Defn: rising obliquely; curving upward. Gray.

ASSURING As*sur"ing, a.

Defn: That assures; tending to assure; giving confidence. -- As*sur"ing*ly, adv.

ASSWAGE As*swage", v.

Defn: See Assuage.

ASSYRIAN As*syr"i*an, a. Etym: [L. Assyrius.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Assyria, or to its inhabitants. -- n. A native or an inhabitant of Assyria; the language of Assyria.

ASSYRIOLOGICAL As*syr`i*o*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Assyriology; as, Assyriological studies.

ASSYRIOLOGIST As*syr`i*ol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One versed in Assyriology; a student of Assyrian archæology.

ASSYRIOLOGY As*syr`i*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Assyria + -logy.]

Defn: The science or study of the antiquities, language, etc., of ancient Assyria.

ASSYTHMENT As*syth"ment, n. Etym: [From OF. aset, asez, orig. meaning enough. See Assets.]

Defn: Indemnification for injury; satisfaction. [Chiefly in Scots law]

ASTACUS As"ta*cus, n. Etym: [L. astacus a crab, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of crustaceans, containing the crawfish of fresh-water lobster of Europe, and allied species of western North America. See Crawfish.

ASTARBOARD A*star"board, adv. (Naut.)

Defn: Over to the starboard side; -- said of the tiller.

ASTART A*start", v. t. & i.

Defn: Same as Astert. [Obs.]

ASTARTE As*tar"te, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of bivalve mollusks, common on the coasts of America and Europe.

ASTATE A*state", n.

Defn: Estate; state. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ASTATIC A*stat"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + static.] (Magnetism)

Defn: Having little or no tendency to take a fixed or definite position or direction: thus, a suspended magnetic needle, when rendered astatic, loses its polarity, or tendency to point in a given direction. Astatic pair (Magnetism), a pair of magnetic needles so mounted as to be nearly or quite astatic, as in some galvanometers.

ASTATICALLY A*stat"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In an astatic manner.

ASTATICISM A*stat"i*cism, n.

Defn: The state of being astatic.

ASTATIZE As"ta*tize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Astatized; p. pr. & vb. n. Astatizing.] (Magnetism)

Defn: To render astatic.

ASTATKI As*tat"ki, n. [From Russ. ostatki remnants, pl. of ostatok.]

Defn: A thick liquid residuum obtained in the distillation of Russian petroleum, much used as fuel.

ASTAY A*stay", adv. (Naut.)

Defn: An anchor is said to be astay, in heaving it, an acute angle is formed between the cable and the surface of the water.

ASTEISM As"te*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. astéisme.] (Rhet.)

Defn: Genteel irony; a polite and ingenious manner of deriding another.

ASTEL As"tel, n. Etym: [OE. astelle piece of wood, OF. astele splinter, shaving, F. attelle, astelle: cf. L. astula, dim. of assis board.] (Mining)

Defn: An arch, or ceiling, of boards, placed over the men's heads in a mine.

ASTER As"ter, n. Etym: [L. aster aster, star, Gr. Star.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of herbs with compound white or bluish flowers; starwort; Michaelmas daisy.

2. (Floriculture)

Defn: A plant of the genus Callistephus. Many varieties (called China asters, German asters, etc.) are cultivated for their handsome compound flowers.

ASTERIAS As*te"ri*as, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of echinoderms.

Note: Formerly the group of this name included nearly all starfishes and ophiurans. Now it is restricted to a genus including the commonest shore starfishes.

ASTERIATED As*te"ri*a`ted, a. Etym: [See Asterias.]

Defn: Radiated, with diverging rays; as, asteriated sapphire.

ASTERIDIAN As`ter*id"i*an, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Asterioidea. -- n.

Defn: A starfish; one of the Asterioidea.

ASTERIOIDEA; ASTERIDEA As*te`ri*oid"e*a, As`ter*id"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oid. See Asterias.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A class of Echinodermata including the true starfishes. The rays vary in number and always have ambulacral grooves below. The body is starshaped or pentagonal.

ASTERION As*te"ri*on, n. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The point on the side of the skull where the lambdoid, parieto- mastoid and occipito-mastoid sutures.

ASTERISCUS As`ter*is"cus, n. Etym: [L., an asterisk. See Asterisk.] (Anat.)

Defn: The smaller of the two otoliths found in the inner ear of many fishes.

ASTERISK As"ter*isk, n. Etym: [L. asteriscus, Gr. Aster.]

Defn: The figure of a star, thus,

ASTERISM As`ter*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. astérisme.]

1. (Astron.) (a) A constellation. [Obs.] (b) A small cluster of stars.

2. (Printing) (a) An asterisk, or mark of reference. [R.] (b) Three asterisks placed in this manner, *, to direct attention to a particular passage.

3. (Crystallog.)

Defn: An optical property of some crystals which exhibit a star- shaped by reflected light, as star sapphire, or by transmitted light, as some mica.

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

1. In or at the hinder part of a ship; toward the hinder part, or stern; backward; as, to go astern.

2. Behind a ship; in the rear. "A gale of wind right astern." De Foe. "Left this strait astern." Drake. To bake astern, to go stern foremost. -- To be astern of the reckoning, to be behind the position given by the reckoning. -- To drop astern, to fall or be left behind. -- To go astern, to go backward, as from the action of currents or winds.

ASTERNAL A*ster"nal, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + sternal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Not sternal; -- said of ribs which do not join the sternum.

ASTEROID As"ter*oid, n. Etym: [Gr. astéroïde. See Aster.]

Defn: A starlike body; esp. one of the numerous small planets whose orbits lie between those of Mars and Jupiter; -- called also planetoids and minor planets.

ASTEROIDAL As`ter*oid"al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to an asteroid, or to the asteroids.

ASTEROLEPIS As`te*rol"e*pis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of fishes, some of which were eighteen or twenty feet long, found in a fossil state in the Old Red Sandstone. Hugh Miller.

ASTEROPE As*ter"o*pe, n. [Gr. , lit., lightning.]

1. (Myth.)

Defn: One of the Pleiades; -- called also Sterope.

2. (Astron.) A double star in the Pleiades (21 k and 22 l Pleiadum, of the 5.8 and 6.4 magnitude respectively), appearing as a single star of the 5.3 magnitude to the naked eye.

ASTEROPHYLLITE As`ter*oph"yl*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A fossil plant from the coal formations of Europe and America, now regarded as the branchlets and foliage of calamites.

ASTERT A*stert, v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + start; OE. asterten, asturten.]

Defn: To start up; to befall; to escape; to shun. [Obs.] Spenser.

ASTERT A*stert", v. i.

Defn: To escape. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ASTHENIA; ASTHENY As`the*ni"a, As"the*ny, n. Etym: [NL. asthenia, Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Want or loss of strength; debility; diminution of the vital forces.

ASTHENIC As*then"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Characterized by, or pertaining to, debility; weak; debilitating.

ASTHENOPIA As`the*no"pi*a, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Weakness of sight. Quain. -- As`the*nop"ic, a.

ASTHMA Asth"ma, n. Etym: [Gr. va, Goth. waian, to blow, E. wind.] (Med.)

Defn: A disease, characterized by difficulty of breathing (due to a spasmodic contraction of the bronchi), recurring at intervals, accompanied with a wheezing sound, a sense of constriction in the chest, a cough, and expectoration.

ASTHMA PAPER Asth"ma pa"per.

Defn: Paper impregnated with saltpeter. The fumes from the burning paper are often inhaled as an alleviative by asthmatics.

ASTHMATIC; ASTHMATICAL Asth*mat"ic, Asth*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. asthmaticus, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to asthma; as, an asthmatic cough; liable to, or suffering from, asthma; as, an asthmatic patient. -- Asth*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.

ASTHMATIC Asth*mat"ic, n.

Defn: A person affected with asthma.

ASTIGMATIC As`tig*mat"ic, a. (Med. & Opt.)

Defn: Affected with, or pertaining to, astigmatism; as, astigmatic eyes; also, remedying astigmatism; as, astigmatic lenses.

ASTIGMATISM A*stig"ma*tism, n. Etym: [Gr. astigmatisme.] (Med. & Opt.)

Defn: A defect of the eye or of a lens, in consequence of which the rays derived from one point are not brought to a single focal point, thus causing imperfect images or indistictness of vision.

Note: The term is applied especially to the defect causing images of lines having a certain direction to be indistinct, or imperfectly seen, while those of lines transverse to the former are distinct, or clearly seen.

ASTIPULATE As*tip"u*late, v. i. Etym: [L. astipulari; ad + stipulari to stipulate.]

Defn: To assent. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

ASTIPULATION As*tip`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. astipulatio.]

Defn: Stipulation; agreement. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

ASTIR A*stir", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + stir.]

Defn: Stirring; in a state of activity or motion; out of bed.

ASTOMATOUS; ASTOMOUS A*stom"a*tous, As"to*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Not possessing a mouth.

ASTON; ASTONE As*ton", As*tone", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astoned, Astond, or Astound.] Etym: [See Astonish.]

Defn: To stun; to astonish; to stupefy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ASTONIED As*ton"ied, p. p.

Defn: Stunned; astonished. See Astony. [Archaic] And I astonied fell and could not pray. Mrs. Browning.

ASTONISH As*ton"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astonished; p. pr. & vb. n. Astonishing.] Etym: [OE. astonien, astunian, astonen, OF. estoner, F. étonner, fr. L. ex out + tonare to thunder, but perhaps influenced by E. stun. See Thunder, Astound, Astony.]

1. To stun; to render senseless, as by a blow. [Obs.] Enough, captain; you have astonished him. [Fluellen had struck Pistol]. Shak. The very cramp-fish [i. e., torpedo] . . . being herself not benumbed, is able to astonish others. Holland.

2. To strike with sudden fear, terror, or wonder; to amaze; to surprise greatly, as with something unaccountable; to confound with some sudden emotion or passion. Musidorus . . . had his wits astonished with sorrow. Sidney. I, Daniel . . . was astonished at the vision. Dan. viii. 27.

Syn. -- To amaze; astound; overwhelm; surprise. -- Astonished, Surprised. We are surprised at what is unexpected. We are astonished at what is above or beyond our comprehension. We are taken by surprise. We are struck with astonishment. C. J. Smith. See Amaze.

ASTONISHEDLY As*ton"ish*ed*ly, adv.

Defn: In an astonished manner. [R.] Bp. Hall.

ASTONISHING As*ton"ish*ing, a.

Defn: Very wonderful; of a nature to excite astonishment; as, an astonishing event.

Syn. -- Amazing; surprising; wonderful; marvelous. As*ton"ish*ing*ly, adv. -- As*ton"ish*ing*ness, n.

ASTONISHMENT As*ton"ish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. est, F. étonnement.]

1. The condition of one who is stunned. Hence: Numbness; loss of sensation; stupor; loss of sense. [Obs.] A coldness and astonishment in his loins, as folk say. Holland.

2. Dismay; consternation. [Archaic] Spenser.

3. The overpowering emotion excited when something unaccountable, wonderful, or dreadful is presented to the mind; an intense degree of surprise; amazement. Lest the place And my quaint habits breed astonishment. Milton.

4. The object causing such an emotion. Thou shalt become an astonishment. Deut. xxviii. 37.

Syn. -- Amazement; wonder; surprise.

ASTONY As*ton"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astonied; p. pr. & vb. n. Astonying. See Astone.]

Defn: To stun; to bewilder; to astonish; to dismay. [Archaic] The captain of the Helots . . . strake Palladius upon the side of his head, that he reeled astonied. Sir P. Sidney. This sodeyn cas this man astonied so, That reed he wex, abayst, and al quaking. Chaucer.

ASTOOP A*stoop", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + stoop.]

Defn: In a stooping or inclined position. Gay.

ASTOUND As*tound", a. Etym: [OE. astouned, astound, astoned, p. p. of astone. See Astone.]

Defn: Stunned; astounded; astonished. [Archaic] Spenser. Thus Ellen, dizzy and astound. As sudden ruin yawned around. Sir W. Scott.

ASTOUND As*tound", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astounded, [Obs.] Astound; p. pr. & vb. n. Astounding.] Etym: [See Astound, a.]

1. To stun; to stupefy. No puissant stroke his senses once astound. Fairfax.

2. To astonish; to strike with amazement; to confound with wonder, surprise, or fear. These thoughts may startle well, but not astound The virtuous mind. Milton.

ASTOUNDING As*tound"ing, a.

Defn: Of a nature to astound; astonishing; amazing; as, an astounding force, statement, or fact. -- As*tound"ing*ly, adv.

ASTOUNDMENT As*tound"ment, n.

Defn: Amazement. Coleridge.

ASTRACHAN As`tra*chan", a. & n.

Defn: See Astrakhan.

ASTRADDLE A*strad"dle, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + straddle.]

Defn: In a straddling position; astride; bestriding; as, to sit astraddle a horse.

ASTRAEAN As*træ"an, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to the genus Astræa or the family Astræidæ. -- n.

Defn: A coral of the family Astræidæ; a star coral.

ASTRAGAL As"tra*gal, n. Etym: [L. astragalus, Gr.

1. (Arch.)

Defn: A convex molding of rounded surface, generally from half to three quarters of a circle.

2. (Gun.)

Defn: A round molding encircling a cannon near the mouth.

ASTRAGALAR As*trag"a*lar, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the astragalus.

ASTRAGALOID As*trag"a*loid, a. Etym: [Astragalus + -oid.] (Anat.)

Defn: Resembling the astragalus in form.

ASTRAGALOMANCY As*trag"a*lo*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]

Defn: Divination by means of small bones or dice.

ASTRAGALUS As*trag"a*lus, n. Etym: [L. See Astragal.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The ankle bone, or hock bone; the bone of the tarsus which articulates with the tibia at the ankle.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of papilionaceous plants, of the tribe Galegeæ, containing numerous species, two of which are called, in English, milk vetch and licorice vetch. Gum tragacanth is obtained from different oriental species, particularly the A. gummifer and A. verus.

3. (Arch.)

Defn: See Astragal, 1.

ASTRAKHAN As`tra*khan", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Astrakhan in Russia or its products; made of an Astrakhan skin. -- n.

Defn: The skin of stillborn or young lambs of that region, the curled wool of which resembles fur.

ASTRAL As"tral, a. Etym: [L. astralis, fr. astrum star, Gr. astral. See Star.]

Defn: Pertaining to, coming from, or resembling, the stars; starry; starlike. Shines only with an astral luster. I. Taylor. Some astral forms I must invoke by prayer. Dryden. Astral lamp, an Argand lamp so constructed that no shadow is cast upon the table by the flattened ring-shaped reservoir in which the oil is contained. -- Astral spirits, spirits formerly supposed to live in the heavenly bodies or the aërial regions, and represented in the Middle Ages as fallen angels, spirits of the dead, or spirits originating in fire.

ASTRAND A*strand", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + strand.]

Defn: Stranded. Sir W. Scott.

ASTRAY A*stray", adv. & a. Etym: [See Estray, Stray.]

Defn: Out of the right, either in a literal or in a figurative sense; wandering; as, to lead one astray. Ye were as sheep going astray. 1 Pet. ii. 25.

ASTRICT As*trict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astricted; p. pr. & vb. n. Astricting.] Etym: [L. astrictus, p. p. of astringere. See Astringe.]

1. To bind up; to confine; to constrict; to contract. The solid parts were to be relaxed or astricted. Arbuthnot.

2. To bind; to constrain; to restrict; to limit. [R.] The mind is astricted to certain necessary modes or forms of thought. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. (Scots Law)

Defn: To restrict the tenure of; as, to astrict lands. See Astriction, 4. Burrill.

ASTRICT As*trict", a.

Defn: Concise; contracted. [Obs.] Weever.

ASTRICTION As*tric"tion, n. Etym: [L. astrictio.]

1. The act of binding; restriction; also, obligation. Milton.

2. (Med.) (a) A contraction of parts by applications; the action of an astringent substance on the animal economy. Dunglison. (b) Constipation. Arbuthnot.

3. Astringency. [Obs.] Bacon.

4. (Scots Law)

Defn: An obligation to have the grain growing on certain lands ground at a certain mill, the owner paying a toll. Bell.

Note: The lands were said to be astricted to the mill.

ASTRICTIVE As*tric"tive, a.

Defn: Binding; astringent. -- n.

Defn: An astringent. -- As*tric"tive*ly, adv.

ASTRICTORY As*tric"to*ry, a.

Defn: Astrictive. [R.]

ASTRIDE A*stride", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + stride.]

Defn: With one leg on each side, as a man when on horseback; with the legs stretched wide apart; astraddle. Placed astride upon the bars of the palisade. Sir W. Scott. Glasses with horn bows sat astride on his nose. Longfellow.

ASTRIFEROUS As*trif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. astrifer; astrum star + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Bearing stars. [R.] Blount.

ASTRINGE As*tringe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astringed; p. pr. & vb. n. Astringing.] Etym: [L. astringere; ad + stringere to draw tight. Cf. Astrict, and see Strain, v. t.]

1. To bind fast; to constrict; to contract; to cause parts to draw together; to compress. Which contraction . . . astringeth the moistuBacon.

2. To bind by moral or legal obligation. Wolsey.

ASTRINGENCY As*trin"gen*cy, n.

Defn: The quality of being astringent; the power of contracting the parts of the body; that quality in medicines or other substances which causes contraction of the organic textures; as, the astringency of tannin.

ASTRINGENT As*trin"gent, a. Etym: [L. astringens, p. pr. of astringere: cf. F. astringent. See Astringe.]

1. Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; -- opposed to laxative; as, astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste; astringent fruit.

2. Stern; austere; as, an astringent type of virtue.

ASTRINGENT As*trin"gent, n.

Defn: A medicine or other substance that produces contraction in the soft organic textures, and checks discharges of blood, mucus, etc. External astringents are called styptics. Dunglison.

ASTRINGENTLY As*trin"gent*ly, adv.

Defn: In an astringent manner.

ASTRINGER As*trin"ger, n. Etym: [OE. ostreger, OF. ostrucier, F. autoursier, fr. OF. austour, ostor, hawk, F. autour; cf. L. acceptor, for accipiter, hawk.]

Defn: A falconer who keeps a goschawk. [Obs.] Shak. Cowell. [Written also austringer.]

ASTRO- As"tro-.

Defn: The combining form of the Greek word 'a`stron, meaning star.

ASTROFEL; ASTROFELL As"tro*fel, As"tro*fell, n.

Defn: A bitter herb, probably the same as aster, or starwort. Spenser.

ASTROGENY As*trog"e*ny, n. Etym: [Astro- + Gr.

Defn: The creation or evolution of the stars or the heavens. H. Spencer.

ASTROGNOSY As*trog"no*sy, n. Etym: [Astro- + Gr.

Defn: The science or knowledge of the stars, esp. the fixed stars. Bouvier.

ASTROGONY As*trog"o*ny, n.

Defn: Same as Astrogeny. -- As`*tro*gon"ic, a.

ASTROGRAPHY As*trog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Astro'cf + -graphy.]

Defn: The art of describing or delineating the stars; a description or mapping of the heavens.

ASTROITE As"tro*ite, n. Etym: [L. astroites: cf. F. astroite.]

Defn: A radiated stone or fossil; star-stone. [Obs.] [Written also astrite and astrion.]

ASTROLABE As"tro*labe, n. Etym: [OE. astrolabie, astrilabe, OF. astrelabe, F. astrolabe, LL. astrolabium, fr. Gr.

1. (Astron.)

Defn: An instrument for observing or showing the positions of the stars. It is now disused.

Note: Among the ancients, it was essentially the armillary sphere. A graduated circle with sights, for taking altitudes at sea, was called an astrolabe in the 18th century. It is now superseded by the quadrant and sextant.

2. A stereographic projection of the sphere on the plane of a great circle, as the equator, or a meridian; a planisphere. Whewell.

ASTROLATER As*trol"a*ter, n.

Defn: A worshiper of the stars. Morley.

ASTROLATRY As*trol"a*try, n. Etym: [Astro- + Gr. astrolâtrie.]

Defn: The worship of the stars.

ASTROLITHOLOGY As`tro*li*thol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Astro- + lithology.]

Defn: The science of aërolites.

ASTROLOGER As*trol"o*ger, n. Etym: [See Astrology.]

1. One who studies the stars; an astronomer. [Obs.]

2. One who practices astrology; one who professes to foretell events by the aspects and situation of the stars.

ASTROLOGIAN As`tro*lo"gi*an, n. Etym: [OF. astrologien.]

Defn: An astrologer. [Obs.]

ASTROLOGIC; ASTROLOGICAL As`tro*log"ic, As`tro*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to astrology; professing or practicing astrology. "Astrologi learning." Hudibras. "Astrological prognostication." Cudworth. -- As`tro*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

ASTROLOGIZE As*trol"o*gize, v. t. & i.

Defn: To apply astrology to; to study or practice astrology.

ASTROLOGY As*trol"o*gy, n. Etym: [F. astrologie, L. astrologia, fr. Gr. Star.]

Defn: In its etymological signification, the science of the stars; among the ancients, synonymous with astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects.

Note: Astrology was much in vogue during the Middle Ages, and became the parent of modern astronomy, as alchemy did of chemistry. It was divided into two kinds: judicial astrology, which assumed to foretell the fate and acts of nations and individuals, and natural astrology, which undertook to predict events of inanimate nature, such as changes of the weather, etc.

ASTROMANTIC As`tro*man"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to divination by means of the stars; astrologic. [R.] Dr. H. More.

ASTROMETEOROLOGY As`tro*me`te*or*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Astro- + meteorology.]

Defn: The investigation of the relation between the sun, moon, and stars, and the weather. -- As`*tro*me`te*or`o*log"ic*al, a. -- As`tro*me`te*or*ol"o*gist, n.

ASTROMETER As*trom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Astro- + meter.]

Defn: An instrument for comparing the relative amount of the light of stars.

ASTROMETRY As*trom"e*try, n. Etym: [Astro- + metry.]

Defn: The art of making measurements among the stars, or of determining their relative magnitudes.

ASTRONOMER As*tron"o*mer, n. Etym: [See Astronomy.]

1. An astrologer. [Obs.] Shak.

2. One who is versed in astronomy; one who has a knowledge of the laws of the heavenly orbs, or the principles by which their motions are regulated, with their various phenomena. An undevout astronomer is mad. Young.

ASTRONOMIAN As`tro*no"mi*an, n. Etym: [OE. & OF. astronomien. See Astronomy.]

Defn: An astrologer. [Obs.]

ASTRONOMIC As`tro*nom"ic, a.

Defn: Astronomical.

ASTRONOMICAL As`tro*nom"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. astronomicus, Gr. astronomique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to astronomy; in accordance with the methods or principles of astronomy. -- As`tro*nom"ic*al*ly, adv. Astronomical clock. See under Clock. -- Astronomical day. See under Day. -- Astronomical fractions, Astronomical numbers. See under Sexagesimal.

ASTRONOMIZE As*tron"o*mize, v. i. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: To study or to talk astronomy. [R.] They astronomized in caves. Sir T. Browne.

ASTRONOMY As*tron"o*my, n. Etym: [OE. astronomie, F. astronomie, L. astronomia, fr. Gr. Star, and Nomad.]

1. Astrology. [Obs.] Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck; And yet methinks I have astronomy. Shak.

2. The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena.

3. A treatise on, or text-book of, the science. Physical astronomy. See under Physical.

ASTROPHEL As"tro*phel, n.

Defn: See Astrofel. [Obs.]

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY As`tro*pho*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Astro- + photography.]

Defn: The application of photography to the delineation of the sun, moon, and stars.

ASTROPHOTOMETER As`tro*pho*tom"e*ter, n. [Pref. astro- + photometer.] (Astron.)

Defn: A photometer for measuring the brightness of stars.

ASTROPHOTOMETRY As`tro*pho*tom"e*try, n. (Astron.)

Defn: The determination of the brightness of stars, and also of the sun, moon, and planets. --As`tro*pho`to*met"ric*al (#), a.

ASTROPHYSICAL As`tro*phys"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the physics of astronomical science.

ASTROPHYSICS As`tro*phys"ics, n. [Astro-+ physics.] (Astron.)

Defn: The science treating of the physical characteristics of the stars and other heavenly bodies, their chemical constitution, light, heat, atmospheres, etc.

Its observations are made with the spectroscope, bolometer, etc., usually in connection with the telescope.

ASTROPHYTON As*troph"y*ton, n. Etym: [Astro- + Gr. fyton a plant.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of ophiurans having the arms much branched.

ASTROSCOPE As"tro*scope, n. Etym: [Astro- + scope.]

Defn: An old astronomical instrument, formed of two cones, on whose surface the constellations were delineated.

ASTROSCOPY As*tros"co*py, n.

Defn: Observation of the stars. [Obs.]

ASTROTHEOLOGY As`tro*the*ol"*o*gy, n. Etym: [Astro- + theology.]

Defn: Theology founded on observation or knowledge of the celestial bodies. Derham.

ASTRUCTIVE A*struc"tive, a. Etym: [L. astructus, p. p. of astruere to build up; ad + struere to build.]

Defn: Building up; constructive; -- opposed to destructive. [Obs.]

ASTRUT A*strut", a. & adv.

1. Sticking out, or puffed out; swelling; in a swelling manner. [Archaic] Inflated and astrut with self-conceit. Cowper.

2. In a strutting manner; with a strutting gait.

ASTUCIOUS As*tu"cious, a. Etym: [F. astucieux. See Astute.]

Defn: Subtle; cunning; astute. [R.] Sir W. Scott. -- As*tu"cious*ly, adv. [R.]

ASTUCITY As*tu"ci*ty, n. Etym: [See Astucious.]

Defn: Craftiness; astuteness. [R.] Carlyle.

ASTUN A*stun", v. t. Etym: [See Astony, Stun.]

Defn: To stun. [Obs.] "Breathless and astunned." Somerville.

ASTURIAN As*tu"ri*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Asturias in Spain. -- n.

Defn: A native of Asturias.

ASTUTE As*tute", a. Etym: [L. astutus, fr. astus craft, cunning; perh. cognate with E. acute.]

Defn: Critically discerning; sagacious; shrewd; subtle; crafty.

Syn. -- Keen; eagle-eyed; penetrating; skilled; discriminating; cunning; sagacious; subtle; wily; crafty. As*tute"ly, adv. -- As*tute"ness, n.

ASTYLAR A*sty"lar, a. Etym: [Gr. (arch.)

Defn: Without columns or pilasters. Weale.

ASTYLLEN A*styl"len, n. (Mining)

Defn: A small dam to prevent free passage of water in an adit or level.

ASUNDER A*sun"der, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + sunder.]

Defn: Apart; separate from each other; into parts; in two; separately; into or in different pieces or places. I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder. Zech. xi. 10. As wide asunder as pole and pole. Froude.

ASURA A*su"ra, n. (Hind. Myth.)

Defn: An enemy of the gods, esp. one of a race of demons and giants.

ASWAIL As"wail, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The sloth bear (Melursus labiatus) of India.

ASWEVE A*sweve", v. t. Etym: [AS. aswebban; a + swebban. See Sweven.]

Defn: To stupefy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ASWING A*swing", adv.

Defn: In a state of swinging.

ASWOON A*swoon", adv.

Defn: In a swoon. Chaucer.

ASWOONED A*swooned", adv.

Defn: In a swoon.

ASYLUM A*sy"lum, n.; pl. E. Asylums, L. Asyla. Etym: [L. asylum, Gr.

1. A sanctuary or place of refuge and protection, where criminals and debtors found shelter, and from which they could not be forcibly taken without sacrilege. So sacred was the church to some, that it had the right of an asylum or sanctuary. Ayliffe.

Note: The name was anciently given to temples, altars, statues of the gods, and the like. In later times Christian churches were regarded as asylums in the same sense.

2. Any place of retreat and security. Earth has no other asylum for them than its own cold bosom. Southey.

3. An institution for the protection or relief of some class of destitute, unfortunate, or afflicted persons; as, an asylum for the aged, for the blind, or for the insane; a lunatic asylum; an orphan asylum.

ASYMMETRAL A*sym"me*tral, a.

Defn: Incommensurable; also, unsymmetrical. [Obs.] D. H. More.

ASYMMETRIC; ASYMMETRICAL As`ym*met"ric, As`ym*met"ri*cal, a. Etym: [See Asymmetrous.]

1. Incommensurable. [Obs.]

2. Not symmetrical; wanting proportion; esp., not bilaterally symmetrical. Huxley.

ASYMMETROUS A*sym"me*trous, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Asymmetrical. [Obs.] Barrow.

ASYMMETRY A*sym"me*try, n. Etym: [Gr.

1. Want of symmetry, or proportion between the parts of a thing, esp. want of bilateral symmetry.

2. (Math.)

Defn: Incommensurability. [Obs.] Barrow.

ASYMPTOTE As"ymp*tote, n. Etym: [Gr. Symptom.] (Math.)

Defn: A line which approaches nearer to some curve than assignable distance, but, though infinitely extended, would never meet it. Asymptotes may be straight lines or curves. A rectilinear asymptote may be conceived as a tangent to the curve at an infinite distance.

ASYNARTETE A*syn"ar*tete`, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Disconnected; not fitted or adjusted. -- A*syn"ar*tet"ic, a. Asynartete verse (Pros.), a verse of two members, having different rhythms; as when the first consists of iambuses and the second of trochees.

ASYNCHRONOUS A*syn"chro*nous, a. [Gr. not + synchronous.]

Defn: Not simultaneous; not concurrent in time; --opposed to synchronous.

ASYNDETIC As`yn*det"ic, a. Etym: [See Asyndeton.]

Defn: Characterized by the use of asyndeton; not connected by conjunctions. -- As`yn*det"ic*al*ly, adv.

ASYNDETON A*syn"de*ton, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: A figure which omits the connective; as, I came, I saw, I conquered. It stands opposed to polysyndeton.

ASYSTOLE A*sys"to*le, n. Etym: [Pref. a- not + systole.] (Physiol.)

Defn: A weakening or cessation of the contractile power of the heart.

ASYSTOLISM A*sys"to*lism, n.

Defn: The state or symptoms characteristic of asystole.

AT At, prep. Etym: [AS. æt; akin to OHG. az, Goth., OS., & Icel. at, Sw. åt, Dan. & L. ad.]

Defn: Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence, nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are derived all the various uses of at. It expresses: -

1. A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on, something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at school; at hand; at sea and on land.

2. The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at risk; at disadvantage.

3. The relation of some employment or action; occupied with; as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat (eating); except at puns.

4. The relation of a point or position in a series, or of degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at 80º; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest.

5. The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock; at twenty-one; at once; at first.

6. The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything; at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require, receive, deserve, endure at your hands.

7. Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike, shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one. At all, At home, At large, At last, At length, At once, etc. See under All, Home, Large, Last (phrase and syn.), Length, Once, etc. -- At it, busily or actively engaged. -- At least. See Least and However. -- At one. See At one, in the Vocabulary.

Syn. -- In, At. When reference to the interior of any place is made prominent in is used. It is used before the names of countries and cities (esp. large cities); as, we live in America, in New York, in the South. At is commonly employed before names of houses, institutions, villages, and small places; as, Milton was educated at Christ's College; money taken in at the Customhouse; I saw him at the jeweler's; we live at Beachville. At may be used before the name of a city when it is regarded as a mere point of locality. "An English king was crowned at Paris." Macaulay. "Jean Jacques Rousseau was born at Geneva, June, 28, 1712." J. Morley. In regard to time, we say at the hour, on the day, in the year; as, at 9 o'clock, on the morning of July 5th, in the year 1775.

ATABAL At"a*bal, n. Etym: [Sp. atabal, fr. Ar. at-tabl the drum, tabala to beat the drum. Cf. Tymbal.]

Defn: A kettledrum; a kind of tabor, used by the Moors. Croly.

ATACAMITE A*tac"a*mite, n. Etym: [From the desert of Atacama, where found.] (Min.)

Defn: An oxychloride of copper, usually in emerald-green prismatic crystals.

ATAFTER At`aft"er, prep.

Defn: After. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ATAGHAN At"a*ghan, n.

Defn: See Yataghan.

ATAKE A*take", v. t.

Defn: To overtake. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ATAMAN At"a*man, n. Etym: [Russ. ataman': cf. Pol. hetman, G. hauptmann headman, chieftain. Cf. Hetman.]

Defn: A hetman, or chief of the Cossacks.

ATAMASCO LILY At`a*mas"co lil"y. [Atamasco is fr. North American Indian.] (Bot.)

Defn: See under Lily.

ATARAXIA; ATARAXY At`a*rax"i*a, At"a*rax`y, n. Etym: [NL. ataraxia, Gr.

Defn: Perfect peace of mind, or calmness.

ATAUNT; ATAUNTO A*taunt", A*taunt"o, adv. Etym: [F. autant as much (as possible).] (Naut.)

Defn: Fully rigged, as a vessel; with all sails set; set on end or set right.

ATAVIC A*tav"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. atavique.]

Defn: Pertaining to a remote ancestor, or to atavism.

ATAVISM At"a*vism, n. Etym: [L. atavus an ancestor, fr. avus a grandfather.] (a) The recurrence, or a tendency to a recurrence, of the original type of a species in the progeny of its varieties; resemblance to remote rather than to near ancestors; reversion to the original form. (b) (Biol.) The recurrence of any peculiarity or disease of an ancestor in a subsequent generation, after an intermission for a generation or two. Now and then there occur cases of what physiologists call atavism, or reversion to an ancestral type of character. J. Fiske

ATAXIA; ATAXY A*tax"i*a, At"ax*y, n. Etym: [NL. ataxia, Gr. ataxie.]

1. Disorder; irregularity. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

2. (Med.) (a) Irregularity in disease, or in the functions. (b) The state of disorder that characterizes nervous fevers and the nervous condition. Locomotor ataxia. See Locomotor.

ATAXIC A*tax"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. ataxique. See Ataxia.] (Med.)

Defn: Characterized by ataxy, that is, (a) by great irregularity of functions or symptoms, or (b) by a want of coordinating power in movements. Ataxic fever, malignant typhus fever. Pinel.

ATAZIR At`a*zir", n. Etym: [OF., fr. Ar. al-tasir influence.] (Astron.)

Defn: The influence of a star upon other stars or upon men. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ATE Ate,

Defn: the preterit of Eat.

ATE A"te, n. Etym: [Gr. (Greek. Myth.)

Defn: The goddess of mischievous folly; also, in later poets, the goddess of vengeance.

-ATE -ate. Etym: [From the L. suffix -atus, the past participle ending of verbs of the 1st conj.]

1. As an ending of participles or participial adjectives it is equivalent to -ed; as, situate or situated; animate or animated.

2. As the ending of a verb, it means to make, to cause, to act, etc.; as, to propitiate (to make propitious); to animate (to give life to).

3. As a noun suffix, it marks the agent; as, curate, delegate. It also sometimes marks the office or dignity; as, tribunate.

4. In chemistry it is used to denote the salts formed from those acids whose names end -ic (excepting binary or halogen acids); as, sulphate from sulphuric acid, nitrate from nitric acid, etc. It is also used in the case of certain basic salts.

ATECHNIC A*tech"nic, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + technic.]

Defn: Without technical or artistic knowledge. Difficult to convey to the atechnic reader. Etching & Engr.

ATELES At"e*les, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of American monkeys with prehensile tails, and having the thumb wanting or rudimentary. See Spider monkey, and Coaita.

ATELETS SAUCE; SAUCE AUX HATELETS A`te*lets" sauce or Sauce` aux ha`te*lets". [F. hâtelet skewer.]

Defn: A sauce (such as egg and bread crumbs) used for covering bits of meat, small birds, or fish, strung on skewers for frying.

ATELIER A`te*lier" n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A workshop; a studio.

ATELLAN A*tel"lan, a. Etym: [L. Atellanus, fr. Atella, an ancient town of the Osci, in Campania.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Atella, in ancient Italy; as, Atellan plays; farcical; ribald. -- n.

Defn: A farcical drama performed at Atella.

ATHALAMOUS A*thal"a*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Not furnished with shields or beds for the spores, as the thallus of certain lichens.

ATHAMAUNT Ath"a*maunt, n.

Defn: Adamant. [Obs.] Written in the table of athamaunt. Chaucer.

ATHANASIA; ATHANASY Ath`a*na"si*a, A*than"a*sy, n. [NL. athanasia, fr. Gr. ; priv. + death.]

Defn: The quality of being deathless; immortality.

Is not a scholiastic athanasy better than none Lowell.

ATHANASIAN Ath`a*na"sian, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria in the 4th century. Athanasian creed, a formulary, confession, or exposition of faith, formerly supposed to have been drawn up by Athanasius; but this opinion is now rejected, and the composition is ascribed by some to Hilary, bishop of Arles (5th century). It is a summary of what was called the orthodox faith.

ATHANOR Ath"a*nor, n. Etym: [F., fr. Ar. at-tannur, fr. Heb. tannur an oven or furnace.]

Defn: A digesting furnace, formerly used by alchemists. It was so constructed as to maintain uniform and durable heat. Chambers.

ATHECATA Ath`e*ca"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Hydroidea in which the zooids are naked, or not inclosed in a capsule. See Tubularian.

ATHEISM A"the*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. athéisme. See Atheist.]

1. The disbelief or denial of the existence of a God, or supreme intelligent Being. Atheism is a ferocious system, that leaves nothing above us to excite awe, nor around us to awaken tenderness. R. Hall. Atheism and pantheism are often wrongly confounded. Shipley.

2. Godlessness.

ATHEIST A"the*ist, n. Etym: [Gr. athéiste.]

1. One who disbelieves or denies the existence of a God, or supreme intelligent Being.

2. A godless person. [Obs.]

Syn. -- Infidel; unbeliever.

Note: See Infidel.

ATHEISTIC; ATHEISTICAL A`the*is"tic, A`the*is"tic*al, a.

1. Pertaining to, implying, or containing, atheism; -- applied to things; as, atheistic doctrines, opinions, or books. Atheistical explications of natural effects. Barrow.

2. Disbelieving the existence of a God; impious; godless; -- applied to persons; as, an atheistic writer. -- A`the*is"tic*al*ly, adv. -- A`the*is"tic*al*ness, n.

ATHEIZE A"the*ize, v. t.

Defn: To render atheistic or godless. [R.] They endeavored to atheize one another. Berkeley.

ATHEIZE A"the*ize, v. i.

Defn: To discourse, argue, or act as an atheist. [R.] -- A"the*i`zer, n. Cudworth.

ATHELING Ath"el*ing, n. Etym: [AS. æ noble, fr. æ noble, akin to G. adel nobility, edel noble. The word æ, E. ethel, is in many AS. proper names, as Ethelwolf, noble wolf; Ethelbald, noble bold; Ethelbert, noble bright.]

Defn: An Anglo-Saxon prince or nobleman; esp., the heir apparent or a prince of the royal family. [Written also Adeling and Ætheling.]

ATHENEUM; ATHENAEUM Ath`e*ne"um, Ath`e*næ"um, n.; pl. E. Atheneums, L. Athenæa. Etym: [L. Athenaemum, Gr. Minerva by the Romans), the tutelary goddess of Athens.]

1 (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: A temple of Athene, at Athens, in which scholars and poets were accustomed to read their works and instruct students.

2. A school founded at Rome by Hadrian.

3. A literary or scientific association or club.

4. A building or an apartment where a library, periodicals, and newspapers are kept for use.

ATHENIAN A*the"ni*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. Athénien.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Athens, the metropolis of Greece. -- n. A native or citizen of Athens.

ATHEOLOGICAL A`the*o*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Opposed to theology; atheistic. Bp. Montagu.

ATHEOLOGY A`the*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Pref. a- not + theology.]

Defn: Antagonism to theology. Swift.

ATHEOUS A"the*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. Atheist.]

1. Atheistic; impious. [Obs.] Milton.

2. Without God, neither accepting nor denying him. I should say science was atheous, and therefore could not be atheistic. Bp. of Carlisle.

ATHERINE Ath"er*ine, n. Etym: [NL. atherina, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small marine fish of the family Atherinidæ, having a silvery stripe along the sides. The European species (Atherina presbyter) is used as food. The American species (Menidia notata) is called silversides and sand smelt. See Silversides.

ATHERMANCY A*ther"man*cy, n. Etym: [See Athermanous.]

Defn: Inability to transmit radiant; impermeability to heat. Tyndall.

ATHERMANOUS A*ther"ma*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. athermane.] (Chem.)

Defn: Not transmitting heat; -- opposed to diathermanous.

ATHERMOUS A*ther"mous, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Athermanous.

ATHEROID Ath"er*oid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]

Defn: Shaped like an ear of grain.

ATHEROMA Ath`e*ro"ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.) (a) An encysted tumor containing curdy matter. (b) A disease characterized by thickening and fatty degeneration of the inner coat of the arteries.

ATHEROMATOUS Ath`e*rom"a*tous, a. (Med.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or having the nature of, atheroma. Wiseman.

ATHETIZE Ath"e*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Athetized; p. pr. & vb. n. Athetizing.] [Gr. , fr. set aside, not fixed; not + to place.]

Defn: To set aside or reject as spurious, as by marking with an obelus.

ATHETOSIS Ath`e*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A variety of chorea, marked by peculiar tremors of the fingers and toes.

ATHINK A*think", v. t.

Defn: To repent; to displease; to disgust. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ATHIRST A*thirst", a. Etym: [OE. ofthurst, AS. ofpyrsted, p. p. of ofpyrstan; pref. of-, intensive + pyrstan to thirst. See Thirst.]

1. Wanting drink; thirsty.

2. Having a keen appetite or desire; eager; longing. "Athirst for battle." Cowper.

ATHLETE Ath"lete, n. Etym: [L. athleta, Gr. wed: cf. F. athlète.]

1. (Antiq.)

Defn: One who contended for a prize in the public games of ancient Greece or Rome.