Chapter XXIX: Appendix: Vermiformis (8)

2. Any one trained to contend in exercises requiring great physical agility and strength; one who has great activity and strength; a champion.

3. One fitted for, or skilled in, intellectual contests; as, athletes of debate.

ATHLETIC Ath`let"ic, a. Etym: [L. athleticus, Gr. Athlete.]

1. Of or pertaining to athletes or to the exercises practiced by them; as, athletic games or sports.

2. Befitting an athlete; strong; muscular; robust; vigorous; as, athletic Celts. "Athletic soundness." South. -- Ath*let"ic*al*ly, adv.

ATHLETICISM Ath*let"i*cism, n.

Defn: The practice of engaging in athletic games; athletism.

ATHLETICS Ath*let"ics, n.

Defn: The art of training by athletic exercises; the games and sports of athletes.

ATHLETISM Ath"le*tism, n.

Defn: The state or practice of an athlete; the characteristics of an athlete.

ATHREPSIA A*threp"si*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. priv. + nourishment.] (Med.)

Defn: Profound debility of children due to lack of food and to unhygienic surroundings. --A*threp"tic (#), a.

ATHWART A*thwart", prep. Etym: [Pref. a- + thwart.]

1. Across; from side to side of. Athwart the thicket lone. Tennyson.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: Across the direction or course of; as, a fleet standing athwart our course. Athwart hawse, across the stem of another vessel, whether in contact or at a small distance. -- Athwart ships, across the ship from side to side, or in that direction; -- opposed to fore and aft.

ATHWART A*thwart", adv.

Defn: 1. Across, especially in an oblique direction; sidewise; obliquely. Sometimes athwart, sometimes he strook him straight. Spenser.

2. Across the course; so as to thwart; perversely. All athwart there came A post from Wales loaden with heavy news. Shak.

ATILT A*tilt", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + tilt.]

1. In the manner of a tilter; in the position, or with the action, of one making a thrust. "To run atilt at men." Hudibras.

2. In the position of a cask tilted, or with one end raised.

Note: [In this sense sometimes used as an adjective.] Abroach, atilt, and run Even to the lees of honor. Beau. & Fl.

ATIMY At"i*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: Public disgrace or stigma; infamy; loss of civil rights. Mitford.

-ATION -a"tion. Etym: [L. -ationem. See -tion.]

Defn: A suffix forming nouns of action, and often equivalent to the verbal substantive in -ing. It sometimes has the further meanings of state, and that which results from the action. Many of these nouns have verbs in -ate; as, alliterate -ation, narrate -ation; many are derived through the French; as, alteration, visitation; and many are formed on verbs ending in the Greek formative -ize (Fr. -ise); as, civilization, demoralization.

A-TIPTOE A-tip"toe, adv.

Defn: On tiptoe; eagerly expecting. We all feel a-tiptoe with hope and confidence. F. Harrison.

ATLANTA At*lan"ta, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of small glassy heteropod mollusks found swimming at the surface in mid ocean. See Heteropod.

ATLANTAL At*lan"tal, a. (Anat.) (a) Relating to the atlas. (b) Anterior; cephalic. Barclay.

ATLANTEAN At`lan*te"an, a. Etym: [L. Atlant.]

1. Of or pertaining to the isle Atlantis, which the ancients allege was sunk, and overwhelmed by the ocean.

2. Pertaining to, or resembling, Atlas; strong. With Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear The weight of mightiest monarchies. Milton.

ATLANTES At*lan"tes, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Atlas.] (Arch.)

Defn: Figures or half figures of men, used as columns to support an entablature; -- called also telamones. See Caryatides. Oxf. Gloss.

ATLANTIC At*lan"tic, a. Etym: [L. Atlanticus, fr. Atlas. See Atlas and Atlantes.]

1. Of or pertaining to Mt. Atlas in Libya, and hence applied to the ocean which lies between Europe and Africa on the east and America on the west; as, the Atlantic Ocean (called also the Atlantic); the Atlantic basin; the Atlantic telegraph.

2. Of or pertaining to the isle of Atlantis.

3. Descended from Atlas. The seven Atlantic sisters. Milton.

ATLANTIDES At*lan"ti*des, n. pl. Etym: [L. See Atlantes.]

Defn: The Pleiades or seven stars, fabled to have been the daughters of Atlas.

ATLAS At"las, n.; pl. Atlases. Etym: [L. Atlas, -antis, Gr. Atlas, in W. Africa, regarded as the pillar of heaven. It is from the root of Tolerate.]

1. One who sustains a great burden.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: The first vertebra of the neck, articulating immediately with the skull, thus sustaining the globe of the head, whence the name.

3. A collection of maps in a volume; --

Note: supposed to be so called from a picture of Atlas supporting the world, prefixed to some collections. This name is said to have been first used by Mercator, the celebrated geographer, in the 16th century.

Note:

4. A volume of plates illustrating any subject.

5. A work in which subjects are exhibited in a tabular from or arrangement; as, an historical atlas.

6. A large, square folio, resembling a volume of maps; -- called also atlas folio.

7. A drawing paper of large size. See under Paper, n. Atlas powder, a nitroglycerin blasting compound of pasty consistency and great explosive power.

ATLAS At"las, n. Etym: [Ar., smooth.]

Defn: A rich kind of satin manufactured in India. Brande & C.

ATLAS POWDER At"las pow"der.

Defn: A blasting powder or dynamite composed of nitroglycerin, wood fiber, sodium nitrate, and magnesium carbonate.

ATMAN At"man, n. [Skr. atman.] (Hinduism) (a) The life principle, soul, or individual essence. (b) The universal ego from whom all individual atmans arise. This sense is a European excrescence on the East Indian thought.

ATMIATRY At*mi"a*try, n. [Gr. vapor + medical treatment, healing.]

Defn: Treatment of disease by vapors or gases, as by inhalation.

ATMIDOMETER At`mi*dom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter; cf. F. atmidomètre.]

Defn: An instrument for measuring the evaporation from water, ice, or snow. Brande & C.

ATMO At"mo, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. atmosphere.] (Physics)

Defn: The standard atmospheric pressure used in certain physical measurements calculations; conventionally, that pressure under which the barometer stands at 760 millimeters, at a temperature of 0º Centigrade, at the level of the sea, and in the latitude of Paris. Sir W. Thomson.

ATMOLOGIC; ATMOLOGICAL At`mo*log"ic, At`mo*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to atmology. "Atmological laws of heat." Whewell.

ATMOLOGIST At*mol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One who is versed in atmology.

ATMOLOGY At*mol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.] (Physics)

Defn: That branch of science which treats of the laws and phenomena of aqueous vapor. Whewell.

ATMOLYSIS At*mol"y*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: The act or process of separating mingled gases of unequal diffusibility by transmission through porous substances.

ATMOLYZATION At`mol*y*za"tion, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Separation by atmolysis.

ATMOLYZE At"mo*lyze, v. t. (Chem.)

Defn: To subject to atmolysis; to separate by atmolysis.

ATMOLYZER At"mo*ly`zer, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An apparatus for effecting atmolysis.

ATMOMETER At*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. atmomètre.]

Defn: An instrument for measuring the rate of evaporation from a moist surface; an evaporometer. Huxley.

ATMOSPHERE At"mos*phere, n. Etym: [Gr. atman breath, soul, G. athem breath) + atmosphère. See Sphere.]

1. (Physics) (a) The whole mass of aëriform fluid surrounding the earth; -- applied also to the gaseous envelope of any celestial orb, or other body; as, the atmosphere of Mars. (b) Any gaseous envelope or medium. An atmosphere of cold oxygen. Miller.

2. A supposed medium around various bodies; as, electrical atmosphere, a medium formerly supposed to surround electrical bodies. Franklin.

3. The pressure or weight of the air at the sea level, on a unit of surface, or about 14.7 Ibs. to the sq. inch. Hydrogen was liquefied under a pressure of 650 atmospheres. Lubbock.

4. Any surrounding or pervading influence or condition. The chillest of social atmospheres. Hawthorne.

5. The portion of air in any locality, or affected by a special physical or sanitary condition; as, the atmosphere of the room; a moist or noxious atmosphere.

ATMOSPHERIC; ATMOSPHERICAL At`mos*pher"ic, At`mos*pher"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. atmosphérique.]

1. Of or pertaining to the atmosphere; of the nature of, or resembling, the atmosphere; as, atmospheric air; the atmospheric envelope of the earth.

2. Existing in the atmosphere. The lower atmospheric current. Darwin.

3. Caused, or operated on, by the atmosphere; as, an atmospheric effect; an atmospheric engine.

4. Dependent on the atmosphere. [R.] In am so atmospherical a creature. Pope. Atmospheric engine, a steam engine whose piston descends by the pressure of the atmosphere, when the steam which raised it is condensed within the cylinder. Tomlinson. -- Atmospheric line (Steam Engin.), the equilibrium line of an indicator card. Steam is expanded "down to the atmosphere" when its pressure is equal to that of the atmosphere. (See Indicator card.) -- Atmospheric pressure, the pressure exerted by the atmosphere, not merely downwards, but in every direction. In amounts to about 14.7 Ibs. on each square inch. -- Atmospheric railway, one in which pneumatic power, obtained from compressed air or the creation of a vacuum, is the propelling force. -- Atmospheric tides. See under Tide.

ATMOSPHERICALLY At`mos*pher"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In relation to the atmosphere.

ATMOSPHEROLOGY At`mos*phe*rol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Atmosphere + -logy.]

Defn: The science or a treatise on the atmosphere.

ATOKOUS At"o*kous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Producing only asexual individuals, as the eggs of certain annelids.

ATOLE A*to"le, n. [Mex. Sp.]

Defn: A porridge or gruel of maize meal and water, milk, or the like. [Sp. Amer.]

ATOLL A*toll", n. Etym: [The native name in the Indian Ocean.]

Defn: A coral island or islands, consisting of a belt of coral reef, partly submerged, surrounding a central lagoon or depression; a lagoon island.

ATOM At"om, n. Etym: [L. atomus, Gr. atome. See Tome.]

1. (Physics) (a) An ultimate indivisible particle of matter. (b) An ultimate particle of matter not necessarily indivisible; a molecule. (c) A constituent particle of matter, or a molecule supposed to be made up of subordinate particles.

Note: These three definitions correspond to different views of the nature of the ultimate particles of matter. In the case of the last two, the particles are more correctly called molecules. Dana.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: The smallest particle of matter that can enter into combination; one of the elementary constituents of a molecule.

3. Anything extremely small; a particle; a whit. There was not an atom of water. Sir J. Ross.

ATOM At"om, v. t.

Defn: To reduce to atoms. [Obs.] Feltham.

ATOMIC; ATOMICAL A*tom"ic, A*tom"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. atomique.]

1. Of or pertaining to atoms.

2. Extremely minute; tiny. Atomic philosophy, or Doctrine of atoms, a system which assuming that atoms are endued with gravity and motion accounted thus for the origin and formation of all things. This philosophy was first broached by Leucippus, was developed by Democritus, and afterward improved by Epicurus, and hence is sometimes denominated the Epicurean philosophy. -- Atomic theory, or the Doctrine of definite proportions (Chem.), teaches that chemical combinations take place between the supposed ultimate particles or atoms of bodies, in some simple ratio, as of one to one, two to three, or some other, always expressible in whole numbers. -- Atomic weight (Chem.), the weight of the atom of an element as compared with the weight of the atom of hydrogen, taken as a standard.

ATOMICALLY A*tom"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In an atomic manner; in accordance with the atomic philosophy.

ATOMICIAN At`o*mi"cian, n.

Defn: An atomist. [R.]

ATOMICISM A*tom"i*cism, n.

Defn: Atomism. [Obs.]

ATOMICITY At`o*mic"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. atomicité.] (Chem.)

Defn: Degree of atomic attraction; equivalence; valence; also (a later use) the number of atoms in an elementary molecule. See Valence.

ATOMISM At"om*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. atomisme.]

Defn: The doctrine of atoms. See Atomic philosophy, under Atomic.

ATOMIST At"om*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. atomiste.]

Defn: One who holds to the atomic philosophy or theory. Locke.

ATOMISTIC At`om*is"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to atoms; relating to atomism. [R.] It is the object of the mechanical atomistic philosophy to confound synthesis with synartesis. Coleridge.

ATOMIZATION At`om*i*za"tion, n.

1. The act of reducing to atoms, or very minute particles; or the state of being so reduced.

2. (Med.)

Defn: The reduction of fluids into fine spray.

ATOMIZE At"om*ize, v. t.

Defn: To reduce to atoms, or to fine spray. The liquids in the form of spray are said to be pulverized, nebulized, or atomized. Dunglison.

ATOMIZER At"om*i`zer, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, atomizes; esp., an instrument for reducing a liquid to spray for disinfecting, cooling, or perfuming.

ATOMOLOGY At`om*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Atom + -logy.]

Defn: The doctrine of atoms. Cudworth.

ATOMY At"om*y, n.

Defn: An atom; a mite; a pigmy.

ATOMY At"o*my, n. Etym: [For anatomy, taken as an atomy.]

Defn: A skeleton. [Ludicrous] Shak.

ATONABLE A*ton"a*ble, a.

Defn: Admitting an atonement; capable of being atoned for; expiable.

AT ONE At one". Etym: [OE. at on, atone, atoon, attone.]

1. In concord or friendship; in agreement (with each other); as, to be, bring, make, or set, at one, i. e., to be or bring in or to a state of agreement or reconciliation. If gentil men, or othere of hir contree Were wrothe, she wolde bringen hem atoon. Chaucer.

2. Of the same opinion; agreed; as, on these points we are at one.

3. Together. [Obs.] Spenser. He and Aufidius can no more atone Than violentest contrariety. Shak.

2. To stand as an equivalent; to make reparation, compensation, or amends, for an offense or a crime. The murderer fell, and blood atoned for blood. Pope. The ministry not atoning for their former conduct by any wise or popular measure. Junius.

ATONE A*tone", v. t.

1. To set at one; to reduce to concord; to reconcile, as parties at variance; to appease. [Obs.] I would do much To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio. Shak.

2. To unite in making. [Obs. & R.] The four elements . . . have atoned A noble league. Ford.

3. To make satisfaction for; to expiate. Or each atone his guilty love with life. Pope.

ATONEMENT A*tone"ment, n.

1. (Literally, a setting at one.) Reconciliation; restoration of friendly relations; agreement; concord. [Archaic] By whom we have now received the atonement. Rom. v. 11. He desires to make atonement Betwixt the Duke of Gloucester and your brothers. Shak.

2. Satisfaction or reparation made by giving an equivalent for an injury, or by doing of suffering that which will be received in satisfaction for an offense or injury; expiation; amends; -- with for. Specifically, in theology: The expiation of sin made by the obedience, personal suffering, and death of Christ. When a man has been guilty of any vice, the best atonement be can make for it is, to warn others. Spectator. The Phocians behaved with, so much gallantry, that they were thought to have made a sufficient atonement for their former offense. Potter.

ATONER A*ton"er, n.

Defn: One who makes atonement.

ATONES At*ones, adv.

Defn: Etym: [See At one.] [Obs.] Down he fell atones as a stone. Chaucer.

ATONIC A*ton"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. atonique. See Atony.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: Characterized by atony, or want of vital energy; as, an atonic disease.

2. (Gram.)

Defn: Unaccented; as, an atonic syllable.

3. Destitute of tone vocality; surd. Rush.

ATONIC A*ton"ic, n.

1. (Gram.)

Defn: A word that has no accent.

2. An element of speech entirely destitute of vocality, or produced by the breath alone; a nonvocal or surd consonant; a breathing. Rush.

3. (Med.)

Defn: A remedy capable of allaying organic excitement or irritation. Dunglison.

ATONY At"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. atonie.] (Med.)

Defn: Want of tone; weakness of the system, or of any organ, especially of such as are contractile.

ATOP A*top", adv.

Defn: On or at the top. Milton.

ATRABILARIAN; ATRABILARIOUS At`ra*bi*la"ri*an, At`ra*bi*la"ri*ous, a. Etym: [LL. atrabilarius, fr. L. atra bilis black bile: cf. F. atrabilaire, fr. atrabile.]

Defn: Affected with melancholy; atrabilious. Arbuthnot.

ATRABILARIAN At`ra*bi*la"ri*an, n.

Defn: A person much given to melancholy; a hypochondriac. I. Disraeli.

ATRABILIAR At`ra*bil"iar, a.

Defn: Melancholy; atrabilious.

ATRABILIARY At`ra*bil"ia*ry, a.

1. Of or pertaining to atra bilis or black bile, a fluid formerly supposed to be produced by the kidneys.

2. Melancholic or hypohondriac; atrabilious; -- from the supposed predominance of black bile, to the influence of which the ancients attributed hypochondria, melancholy, and mania. Atrabiliary arteries, capsules, and veins (Anat.), those pertaining to the kidney; -- called also renal arteries, capsules, and veins.

ATRABILIOUS At`ra*bil"ious, a.

Defn: Melancholic or hypochondriac; atrabiliary. Dunglision. A hard-faced, atrabilious, earnest-eyed race. Lowell. He was constitutionally atrabilious and scornful. Froude.

ATRAMENTACEOUS At`ra*men*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. atramentum ink, fr. ater black.]

Defn: Black, like ink; inky; atramental. [Obs.] Derham.

ATRAMENTAL; ATRAMENTOUS At`ra*men"tal, At`ra*men"tous, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to ink; inky; black, like ink; as, atramental galls; atramentous spots.

ATRAMENTARIOUS At`ra*men*ta"ri*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. atramentaire. See Atramentaceous.]

Defn: Like ink; suitable for making ink. Sulphate of iron (copperas, green vitriol) is called atramentarious, as being used in making ink.

ATREDE At*rede, v. t. Etym: [OE. at (AS. æt) out + rede.]

Defn: To surpass in council. [Obs.] Men may the olde atrenne, but hat atrede. Chaucer.

ATRENNE At*renne", v. t. Etym: [OE. at + renne to run.]

Defn: To outrun. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ATRESIA A*tre"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Absence or closure of a natural passage or channel of the body; imperforation.

ATRIAL A"tri*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to an atrium.

ATRIP A*trip", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + trip.] (Naut.) (a) Just hove clear of the ground; -said of the anchor. (b) Sheeted home, hoisted taut up and ready for trimming; -- said of sails. (c) Hoisted up and ready to be swayed across; -- said of yards.

ATRIUM A"tri*um, n.; pl. Atria. Etym: [L., the fore court of a Roman house.]

1. (Arch.) (a) A square hall lighted from above, into which rooms open at one or more levels. (b) An open court with a porch or gallery around three or more sides; especially at the entrance of a basilica or other church. The name was extended in the Middle Ages to the open churchyard or cemetery.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: The main part of either auricle of the heart as distinct from the auricular appendix. Also, the whole articular portion of the heart.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A cavity in ascidians into which the intestine and generative ducts open, and which also receives the water from the gills. See Ascidioidea.

ATROCHA At`ro*cha, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kind of chætopod larva in which no circles of cilia are developed.

ATROCIOUS A*tro"cious, a. Etym: [L. atrox, atrocis, cruel, fierce: cf. F. atroce.]

1. Extremely heinous; full of enormous wickedness; as, atrocious quilt or deeds.

2. Characterized by, or expressing, great atrocity, great atrocity. Revelations . . . so atrocious that nothing in history approaches them. De Quincey.

3. Very grievous or violent; terrible; as, atrocious distempers. [Obs.] Cheyne.

Syn. -- Atrocious, Flagitious, Flagrant. Flagitious points to an act as grossly wicked and vile; as, a flagitious proposal. Flagrant marks the vivid impression made upon the mind by something strikingly wrong or erroneous; as, a flagrant misrepresentation; a flagrant violation of duty. Atrocious represents the act as springing from a violent and savage spirit. If Lord Chatham, instead of saying "the atrocious crime of being a young man," had used either of the other two words, his irony would have lost all its point, in his celebrated reply to Sir Robert Walpole, as reported by Dr. Johnson. -- A*tro"cious*ly, adv. -- A*tro"cious*ness, n.

ATROCITY A*troc"i*ty, n.; pl. Atrocities. Etym: [F. atrocité, L. atrocitas, fr. atrox, atrocis, cruel.]

1. Enormous wickedness; extreme heinousness or cruelty.

2. An atrocious or extremely cruel deed. The atrocities which attend a victory. Macaulay.

ATROPHIC A*troph"ic, a.

Defn: Relating to atrophy.

ATROPHIED At"ro*phied, p. a.

Defn: Affected with atrophy, as a tissue or organ; arrested in development at a very early stage; rudimentary.

ATROPHY At"ro*phy, n. Etym: [L. atrophia, Gr. atrophie.]

Defn: A wasting away from want of nourishment; diminution in bulk or slow emaciation of the body or of any part. Milton.

ATROPHY At"ro*phy, v. t. [p. p. Atrophied.]

Defn: To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken.

ATROPHY At"ro*phy, v. i.

Defn: To waste away; to dwindle.

ATROPIA A*tro"pi*a, n.

Defn: Same as Atropine.

ATROPINE At"ro*pine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A poisonous, white, crystallizable alkaloid, extracted from the Atropa belladonna, or deadly nightshade, and the Datura Stramonium, or thorn apple. It is remarkable for its power in dilating the pupil of the eye. Called also daturine.

ATROPISM At"ro*pism, n. (Med.)

Defn: A condition of the system produced by long use of belladonna.

ATROPOUS At"ro*pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Not inverted; orthotropous.

ATROUS A"trous, a. Etym: [L. ater.]

Defn: Coal-black; very black.

ATRYPA A*try"pa, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A extinct genus of Branchiopoda, very common in Silurian limestones.

ATTABAL At"ta*bal, n.

Defn: See Atabal.

ATTACCA At*tac"ca. Etym: [It., fr. attaccare to tie, bind. See Attach.] (Mus.)

Defn: Attack at once; -- a direction at the end of a movement to show that the next is to follow immediately, without any pause.

ATTACH At*tach", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attached; p. pr. & vb. n. Attaching.] Etym: [OF. atachier, F. attacher, to tie or fasten: cf. Celt. tac, tach, nail, E. tack a small nail, tack to fasten. Cf. Attack, and see Tack.]

1. To bind, fasten, tie, or connect; to make fast or join; as, to attach one thing to another by a string, by glue, or the like. The shoulder blade is . . . attached only to the muscles. Paley. A huge stone to which the cable was attached. Macaulay.

2. To connect; to place so as to belong; to assign by authority; to appoint; as, an officer is attached to a certain regiment, company, or ship.

3. To win the heart of; to connect by ties of love or self-interest; to attract; to fasten or bind by moral influence; -- with to; as, attached to a friend; attaching others to us by wealth or flattery. Incapable of attaching a sensible man. Miss Austen. God . . . by various ties attaches man to man. Cowper.

4. To connect, in a figurative sense; to ascribe or attribute; to affix; -- with to; as, to attach great importance to a particular circumstance. Top this treasure a curse is attached. Bayard Taylor.

5. To take, seize, or lay hold of. [Obs.] Shak.

6. To take by legal authority: (a) To arrest by writ, and bring before a court, as to answer for a debt, or a contempt; -- applied to a taking of the person by a civil process; being now rarely used for the arrest of a criminal. (b) To seize or take (goods or real estate) by virtue of a writ or precept to hold the same to satisfy a judgment which may be rendered in the suit. See Attachment, 4. The earl marshal attached Gloucester for high treason. Miss Yonge. Attached column (Arch.), a column engaged in a wall, so that only a part of its circumference projects from it.

Syn. -- To affix; bind; tie; fasten; connect; conjoin; subjoin; annex; append; win; gain over; conciliate.

ATTACH At*tach", v. i.

1. To adhere; to be attached. The great interest which attaches to the mere knowledge of these facts cannot be doubted. Brougham.

2. To come into legal operation in connection with anything; to vest; as, dower will attach. Cooley.

ATTACH At*tach", n.

Defn: An attachment. [Obs.] Pope.

ATTACHABLE At*tach"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being attached; esp., liable to be taken by writ or precept.

ATTACHE At`ta*ché", n. Etym: [F., p. p. of attacher. See Attach, v. t.]

Defn: One attached to another person or thing, as a part of a suite or staff. Specifically: One attached to an embassy.

ATTACHMENT At*tach"ment, n. Etym: [F. attachment.]

1. The act attaching, or state of being attached; close adherence or affection; fidelity; regard; anas, an attachment to a friend, or to a party.

2. That by which one thing is attached to another; connection; as, to cut the attachments of a muscle. The human mind . . . has exhausted its forces in the endeavor to rend the supernatural from its attachment to this history. I. Taylor.

3. Something attached; some adjunct attached to an instrument, machine, or other object; as, a sewing machine attachment (i. e., a device attached to a sewing machine to enable it to do special work, as tucking, etc.).

4. (Giv. Law) (a) A seizure or taking into custody by virtue of a legal process. (b) The writ or percept commanding such seizure or taking.

Note: The term is applied to a seizure or taking either of persons or property. In the serving of process in a civil suit, it is most generally applied to the taking of property, whether at common law, as a species of distress, to compel defendant's appearance, or under local statutes, to satisfy the judgment the plaintiff may recover in the action. The terms attachment and arrest are both applied to the taking or apprehension of a defendant to compel an appearance in a civil action. Attachments are issued at common law and in chancery, against persons for contempt of court. In England, attachment is employed in some cases where capias is with us, as against a witness who fails to appear on summons. In some of the New England States a writ of attachment is a species of mesne process upon which the property of a defendant may be seized at the commencement of a suit and before summons to him, and may be held to satisfy the judgment the plaintiff may recover. In other States this writ can issue only against absconding debtors and those who conceal themselves. See Foreign, Garnishment, Trustee process. Bouvier. Burrill. Blackstone.

Syn. -- Attachment, Affection. The leading idea of affection is that of warmth and tenderness; the leading idea of attachment is that of being bound to some object by strong and lasting ties. There is more of sentiment (and sometimes of romance) in affection, and more of principle in preserving attachment. We speak of the ardor of the one, and the fidelity of the other. There is another distinction in the use and application of these words. The term attachment is applied to a wider range of objects than affection. A man may have a strong attachment to his country, to his profession, to his principles, and even to favorite places; in respect to none of these could we use the word affection.

ATTACK At*tack", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Attacking.] Etym: [F. attaquer, orig. another form of attacher to attack: cf. It. attacare to fasten, attack. See Attach, Tack a small nail.]

1. To fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms; to assault. "Attack their lines." Dryden.

2. To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; to begin a controversy with; to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by criticism or satire; to censure; as, to attack a man, or his opinions, in a pamphlet.

3. To set to work upon, as upon a task or problem, or some object of labor or investigation.

4. To begin to affect; to begin to act upon, injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste. On the fourth of March he was attacked by fever. Macaulay. Hydrofluoric acid . . . attacks the glass. B. Stewart.

Syn. -- To Attack, Assail, Assault, Invade. These words all denote a violent onset; attack being the generic term, and the others specific forms of attack. To attack is to commence the onset; to assail is to make a sudden and violent attack, or to make repeated attacks; to assault (literally, to leap upon) is to attack physically by a had- to-hand approach or by unlawful and insulting violence; to invade is to enter by force on what belongs to another. Thus, a person may attack by offering violence of any kind; he may assail by means of missile weapons; he may assault by direct personal violence; a king may invade by marching an army into a country. Figuratively, we may say, men attack with argument or satire; they assail with abuse or reproaches; they may be assaulted by severe temptations; the rights of the people may be invaded by the encroachments of the crown.

ATTACK At*tack", v. i.

Defn: To make an onset or attack.

ATTACK At*tack", n. Etym: [Cf. F. attaque.]

1. The act of attacking, or falling on with force or violence; an onset; an assault; -- opposed to defense.

2. An assault upon one's feelings or reputation with unfriendly or bitter words.

3. A setting to work upon some task, etc.

4. An access of disease; a fit of sickness.

5. The beginning of corrosive, decomposing, or destructive action, by a chemical agent.

ATTACKABLE At*tack"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being attacked.

ATTACKER At*tack"er, n.

Defn: One who attacks.

ATTAGAS; ATTAGEN At"ta*gas, At"ta*gen, n. Etym: [L. attagen a kind of bird, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of sand grouse (Syrrghaptes Pallasii) found in Asia and rarely in southern Europe.

ATTAGHAN At"ta*ghan, n.

Defn: See Yataghan.

ATTAIN At*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attained; p. pr. & vb. n. Attaining.] Etym: [Of. atteinen, atteignen, , OF. ateindre, ataindre, F. atteindre, fr. L. attingere; ad + tangere to touch, reach. See Tangent, and cf. Attinge, Attaint.]

1. To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; as, to attain rest. Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the means Abp. Tillotson.

2. To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire. [Obs. with a material object.] Chaucer.

3. To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain. [Obs.] Not well attaining his meaning. Fuller.

4. To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at. "Canaan he now attains." Milton.

5. To overtake. [Obs.] Bacon.

6. To reach in excellence or degree; to equal.

Syn. -- To Attain, Obtain, Procure. Attain always implies an effort toward an object. Hence it is not synonymous with obtain and procure, which do not necessarily imply such effort or motion. We procure or obtain a thing by purchase or loan, and we obtain by inheritance, but we do not attain it by such means.

ATTAIN At*tain", v. i.

1. To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach. If by any means they might attain to Phenice. Acts xxvii. 12. Nor nearer might the dogs attain. Sir W. Scott. To see your trees attain to the dignity of timber. Cowper. Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this. J. R. Green.

2. To come or arrive, by an effort of mind. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain unto it. Ps. cxxxix. 6.

ATTAIN At*tain", n.

Defn: Attainment. [Obs.]

ATTAINABILITY At*tain`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being attainable; attainbleness.

ATTAINABLE At*tain"a*ble, a.

1. Capable of being attained or reached by efforts of the mind or body; capable of being compassed or accomplished by efforts directed to the object. The highest pitch of perfection attainable in this life. Addison.

2. Obtainable. [Obs.] General Howe would not permit the purchase of those articles [clothes and blankets] in Philadelphia, and they were not attainable in the country. Marshall.

ATTAINABLENESS At*tain"a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being attainable; attainability.

ATTAINDER At*tain"der, n. Etym: [OF. ataindre, ateindre, to accuse, convict. Attainder is often erroneously referred to F. teindre tie stain. See Attaint, Attain.]

1. The act of attainting, or the state of being attainted; the extinction of the civil rights and capacities of a person, consequent upon sentence of death or outlawry; as, an act of attainder. Abbott.

Note: Formerly attainder was the inseparable consequence of a judicial or legislative sentence for treason or felony, and involved the forfeiture of all the real and personal property of the condemned person, and such "corruption of blood" that he could neither receive nor transmit by inheritance, nor could he sue or testify in any court, or claim any legal protection or rights. In England attainders are now abolished, and in the United States the Constitution provides that no bill of attainder shall be passed; and no attainder of treason (in consequence of a judicial sentence) shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted.

2. A stain or staining; state of being in dishonor or condemnation. [Obs.] He lived from all attainder of suspect. Shak. Bill of attainder, a bill brought into, or passed by, a legislative body, condemning a person to death or outlawry, and attainder, without judicial sentence.

ATTAINMENT At*tain"ment, n.

1. The act of attaining; the act of arriving at or reaching; hence, the act of obtaining by efforts. The attainment of every desired object. Sir W. Jones.

2. That which is attained to, or obtained by exertion; acquirement; acquisition; (pl.), mental acquirements; knowledge; as, literary and scientific attainments.

ATTAINT At*taint", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attainted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attainting.] Etym: [OE. atteynten to convict, fr. atteynt, OF. ateint, p. p. of ateindre, ataindre. The meanings 3, 4, 5, and 6 were influenced by a supposed connection with taint. See Attain, Attainder.]

1. To attain; to get act; to hit. [Obs.]

2. (Old Law)

Defn: To find guilty; to convict; -- said esp. of a jury on trial for giving a false verdict. [Obs.] Upon sufficient proof attainted of some open act by men of his own condition. Blackstone.

3. (Law)

Defn: To subject (a person) to the legal condition formerly resulting from a sentence of death or outlawry, pronounced in respect of treason or felony; to affect by attainder. No person shall be attainted of high treason where corruption of blood is incurred, but by the oath of two witnesses. Stat. 7 & 8 Wm. III.

4. To accuse; to charge with a crime or a dishonorable act. [Archaic]

5. To affect or infect, as with physical or mental disease or with moral contagion; to taint or corrupt. My tender youth was never yet attaint With any passion of inflaming love. Shak.

6. To stain; to obscure; to sully; to disgrace; to cloud with infamy. For so exceeding shone his glistring ray, That Phattaint. Spenser. Lest she with blame her honor should attaint. Spenser.

ATTAINT At*taint", p. p.

Defn: Attainted; corrupted. [Obs.] Shak.

ATTAINT At*taint", n. Etym: [OF. attainte. See Attaint, v.]

1. A touch or hit. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Far.)

Defn: A blow or wound on the leg of a horse, made by overreaching. White.

3. (Law)

Defn: A writ which lies after judgment, to inquire whether a jury has given a false verdict in any court of record; also, the convicting of the jury so tried. Bouvier.

4. A stain or taint; disgrace. See Taint. Shak.

5. An infecting influence. [R.] Shak.

ATTAINTMENT At*taint"ment, n.

Defn: Attainder; attainture; conviction.

ATTAINTURE At*tain"ture, n.

Defn: Attainder; disgrace.

ATTAL At"tal, n.

Defn: Same as Attle.

ATTAME At*tame", v. t. Etym: [OF. atamer, from Latin. See Attaminate.]

1. To pierce; to attack. [Obs.]

2. To broach; to begin. And right anon his tale he hath attamed. Chaucer.

ATTAMINATE At*tam"i*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. attaminare; ad + root of tangere. See Contaminate.]

Defn: To corrupt; to defile; to contaminate. [Obs.] Blount.

ATTAR At"tar, n. Etym: [Per. 'atar perfume, essence, Ar. 'itr, fr. 'atara to smell sweet. Cf. Otto.]

Defn: A fragrant essential oil; esp., a volatile and highly fragrant essential oil obtained from the petals of roses. [Also written otto and ottar.]

ATTASK At*task", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + task.]

Defn: To take to task; to blame. Shak.

ATTASTE At*taste, v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + taste.]

Defn: To taste or cause to taste. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ATTE At"te.

Defn: At the. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ATTEMPER At*tem"per, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attempered; p. pr. & vb. n. Attempering.] Etym: [OF. atemprer, fr. L. attemperare; ad + temperare to soften, temper. See Temper, and cf. Attemperate.]

1. To reduce, modify, or moderate, by mixture; to temper; to regulate, as temperature. If sweet with bitter . . . were not attempered still. Trench.

2. To soften, mollify, or moderate; to soothe; to temper; as, to attemper rigid justice with clemency.

3. To mix in just proportion; to regulate; as, a mind well attempered with kindness and justice.

4. To accommodate; to make suitable; to adapt. Arts . . . attempered to the lyre. Pope.

Note: This word is now not much used, the verb temper taking its place.

ATTEMPERAMENT At*tem"per*a*ment, n. Etym: [OF. attemprement.]

Defn: A tempering, or mixing in due proportion.

ATTEMPERANCE At*tem"per*ance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. atemprance.]

Defn: Temperance; attemperament. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ATTEMPERATE At*tem"per*ate, a. Etym: [L. attemperatus, p. p. of attemperare. See Attemper.]

Defn: Tempered; proportioned; properly adapted. Hope must be . . . attemperate to the promise. Hammond.

ATTEMPERATE At*tem"per*ate, v. t.

Defn: To attemper. [Archaic]

ATTEMPERATION At*tem`per*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act of attempering or regulating. [Archaic] Bacon.

ATTEMPERLY At*tem"per*ly, adv.

Defn: Temperately. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ATTEMPERMENT At*tem"per*ment, n.

Defn: Attemperament.

ATTEMPT At*tempt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attempted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attempting.] Etym: [OF. atenter, also spelt atempter, F. attenter, fr. L. attentare to attempt; ad + tentare, temptare, to touch, try, v. intens. of tendere to stretch. See Tempt, and cf. Attend.]

1. To make trial or experiment of; to try; to endeavor to do or perform (some action); to assay; as, to attempt to sing; to attempt a bold flight. Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose. Longfellow.

2. To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt. [Obs. or Archaic] It made the laughter of an afternoon That Vivien should attempt the blameless king. Thackeray.

3. To try to win, subdue, or overcome; as, one who attempts the virtue of a woman. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute. Shak.

4. To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force; as, to attempt the enemy's camp. Without attempting his adversary's life. Motley.

Syn. -- See Try.

ATTEMPT At*tempt", v. i.

Defn: To make an attempt; -- with upon. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

ATTEMPT At*tempt", n.

Defn: A essay, trial, or endeavor; an undertaking; an attack, or an effort to gain a point; esp. an unsuccessful, as contrasted with a successful, effort. By his blindness maimed for high attempts. Milton. Attempt to commit a crime (Law), such an intentional preparatory act as will apparently result, if not extrinsically hindered, in a crime which it was designed to effect. Wharton.

Syn. -- Attempt, Endeavor, Effort, Exertion, Trial. These words agree in the idea of calling forth our powers into action. Trial is the generic term; it denotes a putting forth of one's powers with a view to determine what they can accomplish; as, to make trial of one's strength. An attempt is always directed to some definite and specific object; as, "The attempt, and not the deed, confounds us." Shak. An endeavor is a continued attempt; as, "His high endeavor and his glad success." Cowper. Effort is a specific putting forth of strength in order to carry out an attempt. Exertion is the putting forth or active exercise of any faculty or power. "It admits of all degrees of effort and even natural action without effort." C. J. Smith. See Try.

ATTEMPTABLE At*tempt"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being attempted, tried, or attacked. Shak.

ATTEMPTER At*tempt"er, n.

1. One who attempts; one who essays anything.

2. An assailant; also, a temper. [Obs.]

ATTEMPTIVE At*tempt"ive, a.

Defn: Disposed to attempt; adventurous. [Obs.] Daniel.

ATTEND At*tend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attended; p. pr. & vb. n. Attending.] Etym: [OE. atenden, OF. atendre, F. attendre, to expect, to wait, fr. L. attendre to stretch, (sc. animum), to apply the mind to; ad + tendere to stretch. See Tend.]

1. To direct the attention to; to fix the mind upon; to give heed to; to regard. [Obs.] The diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth not attend the unskillful words of the passenger. Sir P. Sidney.

2. To care for; to look after; to take charge of; to watch over.

3. To go or stay with, as a companion, nurse, or servant; to visit professionally, as a physician; to accompany or follow in order to do service; to escort; to wait on; to serve. The fifth had charge sick persons to attend. Spenser. Attends the emperor in his royal court. Shak. With a sore heart and a gloomy brow, he prepared to attend William thither. Macaulay.

4. To be present with; to accompany; to be united or consequent to; as, a measure attended with ill effects. What cares must then attend the toiling swain. Dryden.

5. To be present at; as, to attend church, school, a concert, a business meeting.

6. To wait for; to await; to remain, abide, or be in store for. [Obs.] The state that attends all men after this. Locke. Three days I promised to attend my doom. Dryden.

Syn. -- To Attend, Mind, Regard, Heed, Notice. Attend is generic, the rest are specific terms. To mind is to attend so that it may not be forgotten; to regard is to look on a thing as of importance; to heed is to ~ to a thing from a principle of caution; to notice is to think on that which strikes the senses. Crabb. See Accompany.

ATTEND At*tend", v. i.

1. To apply the mind, or pay attention, with a view to perceive, understand, or comply; to pay regard; to heed; to listen; -- usually followed by to. Attend to the voice of my supplications. Ps. lxxxvi. 6. Man can not at the same time attend to two objects. Jer. Taylor.

2. To accompany or be present or near at hand, in pursuance of duty; to be ready for service; to wait or be in waiting; -- often followed by on or upon. He was required to attend upon the committee. Clarendon.

3. (with to) To take charge of; to look after; as, to attend to a matter of business.

4. To wait; to stay; to delay. [Obs.] For this perfection she must yet attend, Till to her Maker she espoused be. Sir J. Davies.

Syn. -- To Attend, Listen, Hearken. We attend with a view to hear and learn; we listen with fixed attention, in order to hear correctly, or to consider what has been said; we hearken when we listen with a willing mind, and in reference to obeying.

ATTENDANCE At*tend"ance, n. Etym: [OE. attendance, OF. atendance, fr. atendre, F. attendre. See Attend, v. t.]

1. Attention; regard; careful application. [Obs.] Till I come, give attendance to reading. 1 Tim. iv. 13.

2. The act of attending; state of being in waiting; service; ministry; the fact of being present; presence. Constant attendance at church three times a day. Fielding.

3. Waiting for; expectation. [Obs.] Languishing attendance and expectation of death. Hooker.

4. The persons attending; a retinue; attendants. If your stray attendance by yet lodged. Milton.

ATTENDANCY At*tend"an*cy, n.

Defn: The quality of attending or accompanying; attendance; an attendant. [Obs.]

ATTENDANT At*tend"ant, a. Etym: [F. attendant, p. pr. of attendre. See Attend, v. t.]

1. Being present, or in the train; accompanying; in waiting. From the attendant flotilla rang notes triumph. Sir W. Scott. Cherub and Seraph . . . attendant on their Lord. Milton.

2. Accompanying, connected with, or immediately following, as consequential; consequent; as, intemperance with all its attendant evils. The natural melancholy attendant upon his situation added to the gloom of the owner of the mansion. Sir W. Scott.

3. (Law)

Defn: Depending on, or owing duty or service to; as, the widow attendant to the heir. Cowell. Attendant keys (Mus.), the keys or scales most nearly related to, or having most in common with, the principal key; those, namely, of its fifth above, or dominant, its fifth below (fourth above), or subdominant, and its relative minor or major.

ATTENDANT At*tend"ant, n.

1. One who attends or accompanies in any character whatever, as a friend, companion, servant, agent, or suitor. "A train of attendants." Hallam.

2. One who is present and takes part in the proceedings; as, an attendant at a meeting.

3. That which accompanies; a concomitant. [A] sense of fame, the attendant of noble spirits. Pope.

4. (Law)

Defn: One who owes duty or service to, or depends on, another. Cowell.

ATTENDEMENT At*tend"e*ment, n.

Defn: Intent. [Obs.] Spenser.

ATTENDER At*tend"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, attends.

ATTENDMENT At*tend"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. atendement.]

Defn: An attendant circumstance. [Obs.] The uncomfortable attendments of hell. Sir T. Browne.

ATTENT At*tent", a. Etym: [L. attentus, p. p. of attendere. See Attend, v. t.]

Defn: Attentive; heedful. [Archaic] Let thine ears be attent unto the prayer. 2 Chron. vi. 40.

ATTENT At*tent", n.

Defn: Attention; heed. [Obs.] Spenser.

ATTENTATE; ATTENTAT At*ten"tate, At*ten"tat, n. Etym: [L. attentatum, pl. attentata, fr. attentare to attempt: cf. F. attentat criminal attempt. See Attempt.]

1. An attempt; an assault. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. (Law) (a) A proceeding in a court of judicature, after an inhibition is decreed. (b) Any step wrongly innovated or attempted in a suit by an inferior judge.

ATTENTION At*ten"tion, n. Etym: [L. attentio: cf. F. attention.]

1. The act or state of attending or heeding; the application of the mind to any object of sense, representation, or thought; notice; exclusive or special consideration; earnest consideration, thought, or regard; obedient or affectionate heed; the supposed power or faculty of attending. They say the tongues of dying men Enforce attention like deep harmony. Shak.

Note: Attention is consciousness and something more. It is consciousness voluntarily applied, under its law of limitations, to some determinate object; it is consciousness concentrated. Sir W. Hamilton.

2. An act of civility or courtesy; care for the comfort and pleasure of others; as, attentions paid to a stranger. To pay attention to, To pay one's attentions to, to be courteous or attentive to; to wait upon as a lover; to court.

Syn. -- Care; heed; study; consideration; application; advertence; respect; regard.

ATTENTIVE At*ten"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. attentif.]

1. Heedful; intent; observant; regarding with care or attention.

Note: Attentive is applied to the senses of hearing and seeing, as, an attentive ear or eye; to the application of the mind, as in contemplation; or to the application of the mind, in every possible sense, as when a person is attentive to the words, and to the manner and matter, of a speaker at the same time.

2. Heedful of the comfort of others; courteous.

Syn. -- Heedful; intent; observant; mindful; regardful; circumspect; watchful. -- At*ten"tive*ly, adv. -- At*ten"tive*ness, n.

ATTENTLY At*tent"ly, adv.

Defn: Attentively. [Obs.] Barrow.

ATTENUANT At*ten"u*ant, a. Etym: [L. attenuans, p. pr. of attenuare: cf. F. atténuant. See Attenuate.]

Defn: Making thin, as fluids; diluting; rendering less dense and viscid; diluent. -- n. (Med.)

Defn: A medicine that thins or dilutes the fluids; a diluent.

ATTENUATE At*ten"u*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attenuated; p. pr. & vb. n. Attenuating.] Etym: [L. attenuatus, p. p. of attenuare; ad + tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See Thin.]

1. To make thin or slender, as by mechanical or chemical action upon inanimate objects, or by the effects of starvation, disease, etc., upon living bodies.

2. To make thin or less consistent; to render less viscid or dense; to rarefy. Specifically: To subtilize, as the humors of the body, or to break them into finer parts.

3. To lessen the amount, force, or value of; to make less complex; to weaken. To undersell our rivals . . . has led the manufacturer to . . . attenuate his processes, in the allotment of tasks, to an extreme point. I. Taylor. We may reject and reject till we attenuate history into sapless meagerness. Sir F. Palgrave.

ATTENUATE At*ten"u*ate, v. i.

Defn: To become thin, slender, or fine; to grow less; to lessen. The attention attenuates as its sphere contracts. Coleridge.

ATTENUATE; ATTENUATED At*ten"u*ate, At*ten"u*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. attenuatus, p. p.]

1. Made thin or slender.

2. Made thin or less viscid; rarefied. Bacon.

ATTENUATION At*ten`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. attenuatio: cf. F. atténuation.]

1. The act or process of making slender, or the state of being slender; emaciation.

2. The act of attenuating; the act of making thin or less dense, or of rarefying, as fluids or gases.

3. The process of weakening in intensity; diminution of virulence; as, the attenuation of virus.

ATTER At"ter, n. Etym: [AS. ætter.]

Defn: Poison; venom; corrupt matter from a sore. [Obs.] Holland.

ATTERCOP At"ter*cop, n. Etym: [AS. attercoppa a spider; ætter poison + coppa head, cup.]

1. A spider. [Obs.]

2. A peevish, ill-natured person. [North of Eng.]

ATTERRATE At*ter*rate, v. t. Etym: [It. atterrare (cf. LL. atterrare to cast to earth); L. ad + terra earth, land.]

Defn: To fill up with alluvial earth. [Obs.] Ray.

ATTERRATION At`ter*ra"tion, n.

Defn: The act of filling up with earth, or of forming land with alluvial earth. [Obs.]

ATTEST At"test", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attested; p. pr. & vb. n. Attesting.] Etym: [L. attestari; ad + testari to bear witness: cf. F. attester.]

1. To bear witness to; to certify; to affirm to be true or genuine; as, to attest the truth of a writing, a copy of record. Facts . . . attested by particular pagan authors. Addison.

2. To give proof of; to manifest; as, the ruins of Palmyra attest its ancient magnificence.

3. To call to witness; to invoke. [Archaic] The sacred streams which Heaven's imperial state Attests in oaths, and fears to violate. Dryden.

ATTEST At*test", n.

Defn: Witness; testimony; attestation. [R.] The attest of eyes and ears. Shak.

ATTESTATION At`tes*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. attestatio: cf. F. attestation.]

Defn: The act of attesting; testimony; witness; a solemn or official declaration, verbal or written, in support of a fact; evidence. The truth appears from the attestation of witnesses, or of the proper officer. The subscription of a name to a writing as a witness, is an attestation.

ATTESTATIVE At*test"a*tive, a.

Defn: Of the nature of attestation.

ATTESTER; ATTESTOR At*test"er, At*test"or, n.

Defn: One who attests.

ATTESTIVE At*test"ive, a.

Defn: Attesting; furnishing evidence.

ATTIC At"tic, a. Etym: [L. Atticus, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Attica, in Greece, or to Athens, its principal city; marked by such qualities as were characteristic of the Athenians; classical; refined. Attic base (Arch.), a peculiar form of molded base for a column or pilaster, described by Vitruvius, applied under the Roman Empire to the Ionic and Corinthian and "Roman Doric" orders, and imitated by the architects of the Renaissance. -- Attic faith, inviolable faith. -- Attic purity, special purity of language. -- Attic salt, Attic wit, a poignant, delicate wit, peculiar to the Athenians. -- Attic story. See Attic, n. -- Attic style, a style pure and elegant.

ATTIC At"tic, n. Etym: [In sense (a) from F. attique, orig. meaning Attic. See Attic, a.]

1. (Arch.) (a) A low story above the main order or orders of a facade, in the classical styles; -- a term introduced in the 17th century. Hence: (b) A room or rooms behind that part of the exterior; all the rooms immediately below the roof.

2. An Athenian; an Athenian author.

ATTICAL At"tic*al, a.

Defn: Attic. [Obs.] Hammond.

ATTICISM At"ti*cism, n. Etym: [Gr.

1. A favoring of, or attachment to, the Athenians.

2. The style and idiom of the Greek language, used by the Athenians; a concise and elegant expression.

ATTICIZE At"ti*cize, v. t. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: To conform or make conformable to the language, customs, etc., of Attica.

ATTICIZE At"ti*cize, v. i.

1. To side with the Athenians.

2. To use the Attic idiom or style; to conform to the customs or modes of thought of the Athenians.

ATTIGUOUS At*tig"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. attiguus, fr. attingere to touch. See Attain.]

Defn: Touching; bordering; contiguous. [Obs.] -- At*tig"u*ous*ness, n. [Obs.]

ATTINGE At*tinge", v. t. Etym: [L. attingere to touch. See Attain.]

Defn: To touch lightly. [Obs.] Coles.

ATTIRE At*tire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attired; p. pr. & vb. n. Attiring.] Etym: [OE. atiren to array, dispose, arrange, OF. atirier; à (L. ad) + F. tire rank, order, row; of Ger. origin: cf. As. tier row, OHG. ziari, G. zier, ornament, zieren to adorn. Cf. Tire a headdress.]

Defn: To dress; to array; to adorn; esp., to clothe with elegant or splendid garments. Finely attired in a robe of white. Shak. With the linen miter shall he be attired. Lev. xvi. 4.

ATTIRE At*tire", n.

1. Dress; clothes; headdress; anything which dresses or adorns; esp., ornamental clothing. Earth in her rich attire. Milton. I 'll put myself in poor and mean attire. Shak. Can a maid forget her ornament, or a bride her attire Jer. ii. 32.

2. The antlers, or antlers and scalp, of a stag or buck.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: The internal parts of a flower, included within the calyx and the corolla. [Obs.] Johnson.

ATTIRED At*tired", p. p. (Her.)

Defn: Provided with antlers, as a stag.

ATTIREMENT At*tire"ment, n.

Defn: Attire; adornment.

ATTIRER At*tir"er, n.

Defn: One who attires.

ATTITUDE At"ti*tude, n. Etym: [It. attitudine, LL. aptitudo, fr. L. aptus suited, fitted: cf. F. attitude. Cf. Aptitude.]

1. (Paint. & Sculp.)

Defn: The posture, action, or disposition of a figure or a statue.

2. The posture or position of a person or an animal, or the manner in which the parts of his body are disposed; position assumed or studied to serve a purpose; as, a threatening attitude; an attitude of entreaty.

3. Fig.: Position as indicating action, feeling, or mood; as, in times of trouble let a nation preserve a firm attitude; one's mental attitude in respect to religion. The attitude of the country was rapidly changing. J. R. Green. To strike an attitude, to take an attitude for mere effect.