Chapter XXXI: Appendix: Vermiformis (10)

Defn: A system of balloting or voting in public elections, originally used in South Australia, in which there is such an arrangement for polling votes that secrecy is compulsorily maintained, and the ballot used is an official ballot printed and distributed by the government.

AUSTRALIZE Aus"tral*ize, v. i. Etym: [See Austral.]

Defn: To tend toward the south pole, as a magnet. [Obs.] They [magnets] do septentrionate at one extreme, and australize at another. Sir T. Browne.

AUSTRIAN Aus"tri*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Austria, or to its inhabitants. -- n.

Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Austria.

AUSTRINE Aus"trine, n. Etym: [L. austrinus, from auster south.]

Defn: Southern; southerly; austral. [Obs.] Bailey.

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN Aus"tro-Hun*ga"ri*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the monarchy composed of Austria and Hungary.

AUSTROMANCY Aus"tro*man`cy, n. Etym: [L. auster south wind + -mancy.]

Defn: Soothsaying, or prediction of events, from observation of the winds.

AUSZUG Aus"zug` (ous"tsook), n.; Ger. pl. -zÜge (-tsü`ge). [G.]

Defn: See Army organization, Switzerland.

AUTARCHY Au"tar*chy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Self-sufficiency. [Obs.] Milton.

AUTHENTIC Au*then"tic, a. Etym: [OE. autentik, OF. autentique, F. authentique, L. authenticus coming from the real author, of original or firsthand authority, from Gr. sons and perh. orig. from the p. pr. of to be, root as, and meaning the one it really is. See Am, Sin, n., and cf. Effendi.]

1. Having a genuine original or authority, in opposition to that which is false, fictitious, counterfeit, or apocryphal; being what it purports to be; genuine; not of doubtful origin; real; as, an authentic paper or register. To be avenged On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire. Milton.

2. Authoritative. [Obs.] Milton.

3. Of approved authority; true; trustworthy; credible; as, an authentic writer; an authentic portrait; authentic information.

4. (Law)

Defn: Vested with all due formalities, and legally attested.

5. (Mus.)

Defn: Having as immediate relation to the tonic, in distinction from plagal, which has a correspondent relation to the dominant in the octave below the tonic.

Syn. -- Authentic, Genuine. These words, as here compared, have reference to historical documents. We call a document genuine when it can be traced back ultimately to the author or authors from whom it professes to emanate. Hence, the word has the meaning, "not changed from the original, uncorrupted, unadulterated:" as, a genuine text. We call a document authentic when, on the ground of its being thus traced back, it may be relied on as true and authoritative (from the primary sense of "having an author, vouched for"); hence its extended signification, in general literature, of trustworthy, as resting on unquestionable authority or evidence; as, an authentic history; an authentic report of facts. A genuine book is that which was written by the person whose name it bears, as the author of it. An authentic book is that which relates matters of fact as they really happened. A book may be genuine without being, authentic, and a book may be authentic without being genuine. Bp. Watson.

Note: It may be said, however, that some writers use authentic (as, an authentic document) in the sense of "produced by its professed author, not counterfeit."

AUTHENTIC Au*then"tic, n.

Defn: An original (book or document). [Obs.] "Authentics and transcripts." Fuller.

AUTHENTICAL Au*then"tic*al, a.

Defn: Authentic. [Archaic]

AUTHENTICALLY Au*then"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In an authentic manner; with the requisite or genuine authority.

AUTHENTICALNESS Au*then*tic*al*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being authentic; authenticity. [R.] Barrow.

AUTHENTICATE Au*then"ti*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Authenticated (; p. pr. & vb. n. Authenticating ( Etym: [Cf. LL. authenticare.]

1. To render authentic; to give authority to, by the proof, attestation, or formalities required by law, or sufficient to entitle to credit. The king serves only as a notary to authenticate the choice of judges. Burke.

2. To prove authentic; to determine as real and true; as, to authenticate a portrait. Walpole.

AUTHENTICITY Au`then*tic"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. authenticité.]

1. The quality of being authentic or of established authority for truth and correctness.

2. Genuineness; the quality of being genuine or not corrupted from the original.

Note: In later writers, especially those on the evidences of Christianity, authenticity is often restricted in its use to the first of the above meanings, and distinguished from qenuineness.

AUTHENTICLY Au*then"tic*ly, adv.

Defn: Authentically.

AUTHENTICNESS Au*then"tic*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being authentic; authenticity. [R.] Hammond.

AUTHENTICS Au*then"tics, n. (Ciwil Law)

Defn: A collection of the Novels or New Constitutions of Justinian, by an anonymous author; -- so called on account of its authencity. Bouvier.

AUTHOR Au"thor, n. Etym: [OE. authour, autour, OF. autor, F. auteur, fr. L. auctor, sometimes, but erroneously, written autor or author, fr. augere to increase, to produce. See Auction, n.]

1. The beginner, former, or first mover of anything; hence, the efficient cause of a thing; a creator; an originator. Eternal King; thee, Author of all being. Milton.

2. One who composes or writers a book; a composer, as distinguished from an editor, translator, or compiler. The chief glory every people arises from its authors. Johnson.

3. The editor of a periodical. [Obs.]

4. An informant. [Archaic] Chaucer.

AUTHOR Au"thor, v. t.

1. To occasion; to originate. [Obs.] Such an overthrow . . . I have authored. Chapman.

2. To tell; to say; to declare. [Obs.] More of him I dare not author. Massinger.

AUTHORESS Au"thor*ess, n.

Defn: A female author. Glover.

Note: The word is not very much used, author being commonly applied to a female writer as well as to a male.

AUTHORIAL Au*tho"ri*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to an author. "The authorial Hare.

AUTHORISM Au"thor*ism, n.

Defn: Authoriship. [R.]

AUTHORITATIVE Au*thor"i*ta*tive, a.

1. Having, or proceeding from, due authority; entitled to obedience, credit, or acceptance; determinate; commanding. The sacred functions of authoritative teaching. Barrow.

2. Having an air of authority; positive; dictatorial; peremptory; as, an authoritative tone. The mock authoritative manner of the one, and the insipid mirth of the other. Swift. -- Au*thor"i*ta*tive*ly, adv -- Au*thor"i*ta*tive*ness, n.

AUTHORITY Au*thor"i*ty, n.; pl. Authorities (. Etym: [OE. autorite, auctorite, F. autorité, fr. L. auctoritas, fr. auctor. See Author, n.]

1. Legal or rightful power; a right to command or to act; power exercised buy a person in virtue of his office or trust; dominion; jurisdiction; authorization; as, the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children; the authority of a court. Thus can the demigod, Authority, Make us pay down for our offense. Shak. By what authority doest thou these things Matt. xxi. 23.

2. Government; the persons or the body exercising power or command; as, the local authorities of the States; the military authorities. [Chiefly in the plural.]

3. The power derived from opinion, respect, or esteem; influence of character, office, or station, or mental or moral superiority, and the like; claim to be believed or obeyed; as, an historian of no authority; a magistrate of great authority.

4. That which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in support of opinions, actions, measures, etc. Hence: (a) Testimony; witness. "And on that high authority had believed." Milton. (b) A precedent; a decision of a court, an official declaration, or an opinion, saying, or statement worthy to be taken as a precedent. (c) A book containing such a statement or opinion, or the author of the book. (d) Justification; warrant. Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discern Authority for sin, warrant for blame. Shak.

AUTHORIZABLE Au"thor*i`za*ble, a. Etym: [LL. authorisabilis.]

Defn: Capable of being authorized. Hammond.

AUTHORIZATION Au`thor*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. autorisation.]

Defn: The act of giving authority or legal power; establishment by authority; sanction or warrant. The authorization of laws. Motley. A special authorization from the chief. Merivale.

AUTHORIZE Au"thor*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Authorized (; p. pr. & vb. n. Authorizing.] Etym: [OE. autorize, F. autoriser, fr. LL. auctorizare, authorisare. See Author.]

1. To clothe with authority, warrant, or legal power; to give a right to act; to empower; as, to authorize commissioners to settle a boundary.

2. To make legal; to give legal sanction to; to legalize; as, to authorize a marriage.

3. To establish by authority, as by usage or public opinion; to sanction; as, idioms authorized by usage.

4. To sanction or confirm by the authority of some one; to warrant; as, to authorize a report. A woman's story at a winter's fire, Authorized by her grandam. Shak.

5. To justify; to furnish a ground for. Locke.

AUTHORIZED Au"thor*ized, a.

1. Possessed of or endowed with authority; as, an authorized agent.

2. Sanctioned by authority. The Authorized Version of the Bible is the English translation of the Bible published in 1611 under sanction of King James I. It was "appointed to be read in churches," and has been the accepted English Bible. The Revised Version was published in a complete form in 1855.

AUTHORIZE ONE'S SELF To authorize one's self

Defn: , to rely for authority. [Obs.] Authorizing himself, for the most part, upon other histories. Sir P. Sidney.

AUTHORIZER Au"thor*i`zer, n.

Defn: One who authorizes.

AUTHORLESS Au"thor*less, a.

Defn: Without an author; without authority; anonymous.

AUTHORLY Au"thor*ly, a.

Defn: Authorial. [R.] Cowper.

AUTHORSHIP Au"thor*ship, n.

1. The quality or state of being an author; function or dignity of an author.

2. Source; origin; origination; as, the authorship of a book or review, or of an act, or state of affairs.

AUTHOTYPE Au"tho*type, n.

Defn: A type or block containing a facsimile of an autograph. Knight.

AUTO- Au"to- (. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A combining form, with the meaning of self, one's self, one's own, itself, its own.

AUTOBIOGRAPHER Au`to*bi*og"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Auto- + biographer.]

Defn: One who writers his own life or biography.

AUTOBIOGRAPHIC; AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL Au`to*bi`o*graph"ic, Au`to*bi`o*graph"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, autobiography; as, an autobiographical sketch. "Such traits of the autobiographic sort." Carlyle. -- Au`to*bi`o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.

AUTOBIOGRAPHIST Au`to*bi*og"ra*phist, n.

Defn: One who writes his own life; an autobiographer. [R.]

AUTOBIOGRAPHY Au`to*bi*og"ra*phy, n.; pl. Autobiographies (. Etym: [Auto- + biography.]

Defn: A biography written by the subject of it; memoirs of one's life written by one's self.

AUTOCARPOUS; AUTOCARPIAN Au`to*car"pous, Au`to*car"pi*an, a. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Consisting of the pericarp of the ripened pericarp with no other parts adnate to it, as a peach, a poppy capsule, or a grape.

AUTOCATALYSIS Au`to*ca*tal"y*sis, n. [Auto-+ catalysis.] (Chem.)

Defn: Self-catalysis; catalysis of a substance by one of its own products, as of silver oxide by the silver formed by reduction of a small portion of it. -- Au`to*cat`a*lyt"ic (#), a.

AUTOCEPHALOUS Au`to*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: Having its own head; independent of episcopal or patriarchal jurisdiction, as certain Greek churches.

AUTOCHRONOGRAPH Au`to*chron"o*graph, n. Etym: [Auto- + chronograph.]

Defn: An instrument for the instantaneous self-recording or printing of time. Knight.

AUTOCHTHON Au*toch"thon, n.; pl. E. Authochthons (, L. Autochthones (. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

1. One who is supposed to rise or spring from the ground or the soil he inhabits; one of the original inhabitants or aborigines; a native; -- commonly in the plural. This title was assumed by the ancient Greeks, particularly the Athenians.

2. That which is original to a particular country, or which had there its origin.

AUTOCHTHONAL; AUTHOCHTHONIC; AUTOCHTHONOUS Au*toch"tho*nal, Au`thoch*thon"ic, Au*toch"tho*nous, a.

Defn: Aboriginal; indigenous; native.

AUTOCHTHONISM Au*toch"tho*nism, n.

Defn: The state of being autochthonal.

AUTOCHTHONY Au*toch"tho*ny, n.

Defn: An aboriginal or autochthonous condition.

AUTOCLASTIC Au`to*clas"tic, a. [See Auto-; Clastic.] (Geol.)

Defn: Broken in place; -- said of rocks having a broken or brecciated structure due to crushing, in contrast to those of brecciated materials brought from a distance.

AUTOCLAVE Au"to*clave, n. Etym: [F., fr. Gr. clavis key.]

Defn: A kind of French stewpan with a steamtight lid. Knight.

AUTOCOHERER Au`to*co*her"er, n. [Auto- + coherer.] (Wireless Teleg.)

Defn: A self-restoring coherer, as a microphonic detector.

AUTOCRACY Au*toc"ra*cy, n.; pl. Autocracies. Etym: [Gr. autocratie. See Autocrat.]

1. Independent or self-derived power; absolute or controlling authority; supremacy. The divine will moves, not by the external impulse or inclination of objects, but determines itself by an absolute autocracy. South.

2. Supreme, uncontrolled, unlimited authority, or right of governing in a single person, as of an autocrat.

3. Political independence or absolute sovereignty (of a state); autonomy. Barlow.

4. (Med.)

Defn: The action of the vital principle, or of the instinctive powers, toward the preservation of the individual; also, the vital principle. [In this sense, written also autocrasy.] Dunglison.

AUTOCRAT Au"to*crat, n. Etym: [Gr. autocrate. See Hard, a.]

1. An absolute sovereign; a monarch who holds and exercises the powers of government by claim of absolute right, not subject to restriction; as, Autocrat of all the Russias (a title of the Czar).

2. One who rules with undisputed sway in any company or relation; a despot. The autocrat of the breakfast table. Holmes.

AUTOCRATIC; AUTOCRATICAL Au`to*crat"ic, Au`to*crat"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to autocracy or to an autocrat; absolute; holding independent and arbitrary powers of government. -- Au`to*crat"ic*al*ly, adv.

AUTOCRATOR Au*toc"ra*tor, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: An autocrat. [Archaic]

AUTOCRATORICAL Au`to*cra*tor"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to an autocrator; absolute. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.

AUTOCRATRIX Au*toc"ra*trix, n. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: A female sovereign who is independent and absolute; -- a title given to the empresses of Russia.

AUTOCRATSHIP Au"to*crat*ship, n.

Defn: The office or dignity of an autocrat.

AUTO-DA-FE Au"to-da-fé", n.; pl. Autos-da-fé (. Etym: [Pg., act of the faith; auto act, fr. L. actus + da of the + fé faith, fr. L. fides.]

1. A judgment of the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal condemning or acquitting persons accused of religious offenses.

2. An execution of such sentence, by the civil power, esp. the burning of a heretic. It was usually held on Sunday, and was made a great public solemnity by impressive forms and ceremonies.

3. A session of the court of Inquisition.

AUTO-DE-FE Au"to-de-fe", n.; pl. Autos-de-fe. Etym: [Sp., act of faith.]

Defn: Same as Auto-da-fé.

AUTODIDACT Au"to*di*dact`, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: One who is self-taught; an automath.

AUTODYNAMIC Au`to*dy*nam"ic, a. Etym: [Auto- + dynamic.]

Defn: Supplying its own power; -- applied to an instrument of the nature of a water-ram.

AUTOECIOUS Au*to"cious, a. [Auto-+ Gr. house.] (Biol.)

Defn: Passing through all its stages on one host, as certain parasitic fungi; -- contrasted with heterocious.

AUTOECISM Au*to"cism, n.

Defn: Quality of being autocious.

AUTOFECUNDATION Au`to*fec`un*da"tion, n. Etym: [Auto- + fecundation.] (Biol.)

Defn: Self-impregnation. Darwin.

AUTOGAMOUS Au*tog"a*mous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Characterized by autogamy; self-fertilized.

AUTOGAMY Au*tog"a*my, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Self-fertilization, the fertilizing pollen being derived from the same blossom as the pistil acted upon.

AUTOGENEAL Au`to*ge"ne*al, a.

Defn: Self-produced; autogenous.

AUTOGENESIS Au`to*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Auto- + genesis.] (Biol.)

Defn: Spontaneous generation.

AUTOGENETIC Au`to*ge*net"ic, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Relating to autogenesis; self-generated.

AUTOGENETIC DRAINAGE Autogenetic drainage. (Phys. Geog.)

Defn: A system of natural drainage developed by the constituent streams through headwater erosion.

AUTOGENETIC TOPOGRAPHY Autogenetic topography. (Phys. Geog.)

Defn: A system of land forms produced by the free action of rain and streams on rocks of uniform texture.

AUTOGENOUS Au*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Gr.

1. (Biol.)

Defn: Self-generated; produced independently.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: Developed from an independent center of ossification. Owen. Autogenous soldering, the junction by fusion of the joining edges of metals without the intervention of solder.

AUTOGENOUSLY Au*tog"e*nous*ly, adv.

Defn: In an autogenous manner; spontaneously.

AUTOGRAPH Au"to*graph, n. Etym: [F. autographe, fr. Gr.

Defn: That which is written with one's own hand; an original manuscript; a person's own signature or handwriting.

AUTOGRAPH Au"to*graph, a.

Defn: In one's own handwriting; as, an autograph letter; an autograph will.

AUTOGRAPHAL Au*tog"ra*phal, a.

Defn: Autographic. [Obs.]

AUTOGRAPHIC; AUTOGRAPHICAL Au`to*graph"ic, Au`to*graph"ic*al, a.

1. Pertaining to an autograph, or one's own handwriting; of the nature of an autograph.

2. Pertaining to, or used in, the process of autography; as, autographic ink, paper, or press.

AUTOGRAPHY Au*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. autographie.]

1. The science of autographs; a person's own handwriting; an autograph.

2. A process in lithography by which a writing or drawing is transferred from paper to stone. Ure.

AUTOHARP Au"to*harp, n. [Auto- + harp.]

Defn: A zitherlike musical instrument, provided with dampers which, when depressed, deaden some strings, leaving free others that form a chord.

AUTOHYPNOTIC Au`to*hyp*not"ic, a.

Defn: Pert. to autohypnotism; self-hypnotizing. -- n.

Defn: An autohypnotic person.

AUTOHYPNOTISM Au`to*hyp"no*tism, n. [Auto-+ hypnotism.]

Defn: Hypnotism of one's self by concentration of the attention on some object or idea.

AUTO-INFECTION Au`to-in*fec"tion, n. [Auto- + infection.] (Med.)

Defn: Poisoning caused by a virus that originates and develops in the organism itself.

AUTO-INOCULATION Au`to-in*oc`u*la"tion, n. [Auto-+ inoculation.] (Med.)

Defn: Inoculation of a person with virus from his own body.

AUTO-INTOXICATION Au`to-in*tox`i*ca"tion, n. [Auto-+ intoxication.] (Med.)

Defn: Poisoning, or the state of being poisoned, from toxic substances produced within the body; autotoxæmia.

AUTOKINESIS Au`to*ki*ne"sis, n. [NL.; auto-+ Gr. motion.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Spontaneous or voluntary movement; movement due to an internal cause.

AUTOKINETIC Au`to*ki*net"ic, a. [Auto- + kinetic.]

Defn: Self-moving; moving automatically.

AUTOKINETIC SYSTEM Autokinetic system.

Defn: In fire-alarm telegraphy, a system so arranged that when one alarm is being transmitted, no other alarm, sent in from another point, will be transmitted until after the first alarm has been disposed of.

AUTOLATRY Au*tol"a*try, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr.

Defn: Self-worship. Farrar.

AUTOMATH Au"to*math, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: One who is self-taught. [R.] Young.

AUTOMATIC; AUTOMATICAL Au`to*mat"ic, Au`to*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. automatique. See Automaton.]

1. Having an inherent power of action or motion. Nothing can be said to be automatic. Sir H. Davy.

2. Pertaining to, or produced by, an automaton; of the nature of an automaton; self-acting or self-regulating under fixed conditions; -- esp. applied to machinery or devices in which certain things formerly or usually done by hand are done by the machine or device itself; as, the automatic feed of a lathe; automatic gas lighting; an automatic engine or switch; an automatic mouse.

3. Not voluntary; not depending on the will; mechanical; as, automatic movements or functions. Unconscious or automatic reasoning. H. Spenser. Automatic arts, such economic arts or manufacture as are carried on by self-acting machinery. Ure.

AUTOMATICALLY Au`to*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In an automatic manner.

AUTOMATISM Au*tom"a*tism, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being automatic; the power of self- moving; automatic, mechanical, or involuntary action. (Metaph.) A theory as to the activity of matter.

AUTOMATON Au*tom"a*ton, n.; pl. L. Automata (, E. Automatons (. Etym: [L. fr. Gr. ma, man, to strive, think, cf. Mean, v. i.]

1. Any thing or being regarded as having the power of spontaneous motion or action. Huxley. So great and admirable an automaton as the world. Boyle. These living automata, human bodies. Boyle.

2. A self-moving machine, or one which has its motive power within itself; -- applied chiefly to machines which appear to imitate spontaneously the motions of living beings, such as men, birds, etc.

AUTOMATOUS Au*tom"a*tous, a. Etym: [L. automatus, Gr. Automaton.]

Defn: Automatic. [Obs.] "Automatous organs." Sir T. Browne.

AUTOMIXTE SYSTEM Au`to*mixte" system. (Mach.)

Defn: A system (devised by Henri Pieper, a Belgian) of driving automobiles employing a gasoline engine and an auxiliary reversible dynamo. When there is an excess of power the dynamo is driven by the engine so as to charge a small storage battery; when there is a deficiency of power the dynamo reverses and acts as an auxiliary motor. Sometimes called Pieper system. -- Automixte car, etc.

AUTOMOBILE Au`to*mo"bile, n. [F.]

Defn: An automobile vehicle or mechanism; esp., a self-propelled vehicle suitable for use on a street or roadway. Automobiles are usually propelled by internal combustion engines (using volatile inflammable liquids, as gasoline or petrol, alcohol, naphtha, etc.), steam engines, or electric motors. The power of the driving motor varies from about 4 to 50 H. P. for ordinary vehicles, ranging from the run-about to the touring car, up to as high as 200 H. P. for specially built racing cars. Automobiles are also commonly, and generally in British usage, called motor cars.

AUTOMOBILISM Au`to*mo"bil*ism, n.

Defn: The use of automobiles, or the practices, methods, or the like, of those who use them. -- Au`to*mo"bil*ist, n.

AUTOMORPHIC Au`to*mor"phic, a. Etym: [Auto- + Gr.

Defn: Patterned after one's self. The conception which any one frames of another's mind is more or less after the pattern of his own mind, -- is automorphic. H. Spenser.

AUTOMORPHISM Au`to*mor"phism, n.

Defn: Automorphic characterization. H. Spenser.

AUTONOMASY Au`to*nom"a*sy, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. antonomasia.] (Rhet.)

Defn: The use of a word of common or general signification for the name of a particular thing; as, "He has gone to town," for, "He has gone to London."

AUTONOMIC Au`to*nom"ic, a.

Defn: Having the power of self-government; autonomous. Hickok.

AUTONOMIST Au"to"no*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. automiste. See Autonomy.]

Defn: One who advocates autonomy.

AUTONOMOUS Au*ton"o*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.

1. Independent in government; having the right or power of self- government.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: Having independent existence or laws.

AUTONOMY Au*ton"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. autonomie. See Autonomous.]

1. The power or right of self-government; self-government, or political independence, of a city or a state.

2. (Metaph.)

Defn: The sovereignty of reason in the sphere of morals; or man's power, as possessed of reason, to give law to himself. In this, according to Kant, consist the true nature and only possible proof of liberty. Fleming.

AUTOPATHIC Au`to*path"ic, a. [See Auto-, and Pathic, a.] (Med.)

Defn: Dependent upon, or due or relating to, the structure and characteristics of the diseased organism; endopathic; as, an autopathic disease; an autopathic theory of diseases.

AUTOPHAGI Au*toph"a*gi, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Birds which are able to run about and obtain their own food as soon as hatched.

AUTOPHAGY Au*toph"a*gy, n. [Gr. self + to eat.] (Med.)

Defn: The feeding of the body upon itself, as in fasting; nutrition by consumption of one's own tissues.

AUTOPHOBY Au*toph"o*by, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr.

Defn: Fear of one's self; fear of being egotistical. [R.] Hare.

AUTOPHONY Au*toph"o*ny, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: An auscultatory process, which consists in noting the tone of the observer's own voice, while he speaks, holding his head close to the patient's chest. Dunglison.

AUTOPLASTIC Au`to*plas"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to autoplasty.

AUTOPLASTY Au"to*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Auto- + -plasty.] (Surg.)

Defn: The process of artificially repairing lesions by taking a piece of healthy tissue, as from a neighboring part, to supply the deficiency caused by disease or wounds.

AUTOPNEUMATIC Au`to*pneu*mat"ic, a. [Auto-+ pneumatic.]

Defn: Acting or moving automatically by means of compressed air.

AUTOPSIC; AUTOPSICAL Au*top"sic, Au*top"sic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to autopsy; autoptical. [Obs.]

AUTOPSORIN Au*top"so*rin, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: That which is given under the doctrine of administering a patient's own virus.

AUTOPSY Au"top*sy, n. Etym: [Gr. autopsie. See Optic, a.]

1. Personal observation or examination; seeing with one's own eyes; ocular view. By autopsy and experiment. Cudworth.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Dissection of a dead body, for the purpose of ascertaining the cause, seat, or nature of a disease; a post-mortem examination.

AUTOPTIC; AUTOPTICAL Au*top"tic, Au*top"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. autoptique.]

Defn: Seen with one's own eyes; belonging to, or connected with, personal observation; as, autoptic testimony or experience.

AUTOPTICALLY Au*top"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: By means of ocular view, or one's own observation. Sir T. Browne.

AUTOSCHEDIASTIC; AUTOSCHEDIASTICAL Au`to*sche`di*as"tic, Au`to*sche`di*as"tic*al, a. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. Schediasm.]

Defn: Extemporary; offhand. [R.] Dean Martin.

AUTOSTABILITY Au`to*sta*bil"i*ty, n. [Auto-+ stability.] (Mechanics)

Defn: Automatic stability; also, inherent stability. An aëroplane is inherently stable if it keeps in steady poise by virtue of its shape and proportions alone; it is automatically stable if it keeps in steady poise by means of self-operative mechanism.

AUTOSTYLIC Au`to*styl"ic, a. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Having the mandibular arch articulated directly to the cranium, as in the skulls of the Amphibia.

AUTOSUGGESTION Au`to*sug*ges"tion, n. [Auto-+ suggestion.] (Med.)

Defn: Self-suggestion as distinguished from suggestion coming from another, esp. in hypnotism. Autosuggestion is characteristic of certain mental conditions in which expectant belief tends to produce disturbance of function of one or more organs.

AUTOTHEISM Au"to*the`ism, n. Etym: [Auto- + theism.]

1. The doctrine of God's self-existence. [R.]

2. Deification of one's self; self-worship. [R.]

AUTOTHEIST Au"to*the`ist, n.

Defn: One given to self-worship. [R.]

AUTOTOXAEMIA; AUTOTOXEMIA Au`to*tox*æ"mi*a, Au`to*tox*e"mi*a, n. [NL. See Auto-, and Toxæmia.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Self-intoxication. See Auto-intoxication.

AUTOTOXIC Au`to*tox"ic, a. [Auto- + toxic.] (Med.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or causing, autotoxæmia.

AUTOTOXICATION Au`to*tox`i*ca"tion, n. [Auto-+ toxication.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Same as Auto-intoxication.

AUTOTRANSFORMER Au`to*trans*form"er, n. [Auto-+ transformer.] (Elec.)

Defn: A transformer in which part of the primary winding is used as a secondary winding, or vice versa; -- called also a compensator or balancing coil.

AUTOTROPHIC Au`to*troph"ic, a. [Auto- + trophic.] (Plant Physiol.)

Defn: Capable of self-nourishment; -- said of all plants in which photosynthetic activity takes place, as opposed to parasitism or saprophytism.

AUTOTROPISM Au*tot"ro*pism, n. [Auto- + Gr. to turn.] (Plant Physiol.)

Defn: The tendency of plant organs to grow in a straight line when uninfluenced by external stimuli.

AUTOTYPE Au"to*type, n. Etym: [Auto- + -type: cf. F. autotype.]

1. A facsimile.

2. A photographic picture produced in sensitized pigmented gelatin by exposure to light under a negative; and subsequent washing out of the soluble parts; a kind of picture in ink from a gelatin plate.

AUTOTYPOGRAPHY Au`to*ty*pog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Auto- + typography.]

Defn: A process resembling "nature printing," by which drawings executed on gelatin are impressed into a soft metal plate, from which the printing is done as from copperplate.

AUTOTYPY Au*tot"y*py, n.

Defn: The art or process of making autotypes.

AUTUMN Au"tumn, n. Etym: [L. auctumnus, autumnus, perh. fr. a root av to satisfy one's self: cf. F. automne. See Avarice.]

1. The third season of the year, or the season between summer and winter, often called "the fall." Astronomically, it begins in the northern temperate zone at the autumnal equinox, about September 23, and ends at the winter solstice, about December 23; but in popular language, autumn, in America, comprises September, October, and November.

Note: In England, according to Johnson, autumn popularly comprises August, September, and October. In the southern hemisphere, the autumn corresponds to our spring.

2. The harvest or fruits of autumn. Milton.

3. The time of maturity or decline; latter portion; third stage. Dr. Preston was now entering into the autumn of the duke's favor. Fuller. Life's autumn past, I stand on winter's verge. Wordsworth.

AUTUMNAL Au*tum"nal, a. Etym: [L. auctumnalis, autumnalis: cf. F. automnal.]

1. Of, belonging to, or peculiar to, autumn; as, an autumnal tint; produced or gathered in autumn; as, autumnal fruits; flowering in autumn; as, an autumnal plant. Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks In Vallombrosa. Milton.

2. Past the middle of life; in the third stage. An autumnal matron. Hawthorne. Autumnal equinox, the time when the sun crosses the equator, as it proceeds southward, or when it passes the ~ point. -- ~= point, the point of the equator intersected by the ecliptic, as the sun proceeds southward; the first point of Libra. -- ~= signs, the signs Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius, through which the sun passes between the ~ equinox and winter solstice.

AUTUNITE Au"tun*ite, n. [From Autun, France, its locality.] (Min.)

Defn: A lemon-yellow phosphate of uranium and calcium occurring in tabular crystals with basal cleavage, and in micalike scales. H., 2- 2.5. Sp. gr., 3.05-3.19.

AUXANOMETER Aux`a*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]

Defn: An instrument to measure the growth of plants. Goodale.

AUXESIS Aux*e"sis, n. Etym: [NL., Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: A figure by which a grave and magnificent word is put for the proper word; amplification; hyperbole.

AUXETIC Aux*et"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, auxesis; amplifying.

AUXETOPHONE Aux*e"to*phone, n. [Gr. that may be increased + sound, voice.]

Defn: A pneumatic reproducer for a phonograph, controlled by the recording stylus on the principle of the relay. It produces much clearer and louder tones than does the ordinary vibrating disk reproducer.

AUXILIAR Aux*il"iar, a. Etym: [L. auxiliaris: cf. F. auxiliaire. See Auxiliary.]

Defn: Auxiliary. [Archaic] The auxiliar troops and Trojan hosts appear. Pope.

AUXILIAR Aux*il"iar, n.

Defn: An auxiliary. [Archaic] Milton.

AUXILIARLY Aux*il"iar*ly, adv.

Defn: By way of help. Harris.

AUXILIARY Aux*il"ia*ry, a. Etym: [L. auxiliarius, fr. auxilium help, aid, fr. augere to increase.]

Defn: Conferring aid or help; helping; aiding; assisting; subsidiary; as auxiliary troops. Auxiliary scales (Mus.), the scales of relative or attendant keys. See under Attendant, a. -- Auxiliary verbs (Gram.). See Auxiliary, n., 3.

AUXILIARY Aux*il"ia*ry, n.; pl. Auxiliaries (.

1. A helper; an assistant; a confederate in some action or enterprise.

2. (Mil.) pl.

Defn: Foreign troops in the service of a nation at war; (rarely in sing.), a member of the allied or subsidiary force.

3. (Gram.)

Defn: A verb which helps to form the voices, modes, and tenses of other verbs; -- called, also, an auxiliary verb; as, have, be, may, can, do, must, shall, and will, in English; être and avoir, in French; avere and essere, in Italian; estar and haber, in Spanish.

4. (Math.)

Defn: A quantity introduced for the purpose of simplifying or facilitating some operation, as in equations or trigonometrical formulæ. Math. Dict.

AUXILIATORY Aux*il"ia*to*ry, a.

Defn: Auxiliary; helping. [Obs.]

AUXOMETER Aux*om"e*ter, n. [Gr. to increase + -meter.] (Optics)

Defn: An instrument for measuring the magnifying power of a lens or system of lenses.

AVA A"va, n.

Defn: Same as Kava. Johnston.

AVADAVAT Av`a*da*vat", n.

Defn: Same as Amadavat.

AVAIL A*vail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Availed (p. pr. & vb. n. Availing.] Etym: [OE. availen, fr. F. ad) + valoir to be worth, fr. L. valere to be strong, to be worth. See Valiant.]

1. To turn to the advantage of; to be of service to; to profit; to benefit; to help; as, artifices will not avail the sinner in the day of judgment. O, what avails me now that honor high ! Milton.

2. To promote; to assist. [Obs.] Pope. To avail one's self of, to make use of; take advantage of. Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names. Milton. I have availed myself of the very first opportunity. Dickens.

AVAIL A*vail", v. i.

Defn: To be of use or advantage; to answer the purpose; to have strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object; as, the plea in bar must avail, that is, be sufficient to defeat the suit; this scheme will not avail; medicines will not avail to check the disease. "What signs avail " Milton. Words avail very little with me, young man. Sir W. Scott.

AVAIL A*vail", n.

1. Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor, without economy, is of little avail. The avail of a deathbed repentance. Jer. Taylor.

2. pl.

Defn: Proceeds; as, the avails of a sale by auction. The avails of their own industry. Stoddard.

Syn. -- Use; benefit; utility; profit; service.

AVAIL A*vail", v. t. & i.

Defn: See Avale, v. [Obs.] Spenser.

AVAILABILITY A*vail`a*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Availabilities (.

1. The quality of being available; availableness.

Note: The word is sometimes used derogatively in the sense of "mere availableness," or capability of success without regard to worthiness. He was . . . nominated for his availability. Lowell.

2. That which is available.

AVAILABLE A*vail"a*ble, a.

1. Having sufficient power, force, or efficacy, for the object; effectual; valid; as, an available plea. [Obs.] Laws human are available by consent. Hooker.

2. Such as one may avail one's self of; capable of being used for the accomplishment of a purpose; usable; profitable; advantageous; convertible into a resource; as, an available measure; an available candidate. Struggling to redeem, as he did, the available months and days out of so many that were unavailable. Carlyle. Having no available funds with which to pay the calls on new shares. H. Spenser.

AVAILABLENESS A*vail"a*ble*ness, n.

1. Competent power; validity; efficacy; as, the availableness of a title. [Obs.]

2. Quality of being available; capability of being used for the purpose intended. Sir M. Hale.

AVAILABLY A*vail"a*bly, adv.

Defn: In an available manner; profitably; advantageously; efficaciously.

AVAILMENT A*vail"ment, n.

Defn: Profit; advantage. [Obs.]

AVALANCHE Av"a*lanche`, n. Etym: [F. avalanche, fr. avaler to descend, to let down, from aval down, downward; ad) + val, L. vallis, valley. See Valley.]

1. A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice.

2. A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice.

3. A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx of anything.

AVALE A*vale", v. t. & i. Etym: [F. avaler to descend, to let down. See Avalanche.]

1. To cause to descend; to lower; to let fall; to doff. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. To bring low; to abase. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

3. (v. i.)

Defn: To descend; to fall; to dismount. [Obs.] And from their sweaty courses did avale. Spenser.

AVANT A*vant", n. Etym: [For avant-guard. Cf. Avaunt, Van.]

Defn: The front of an army. [Obs.] See Van.

AVANT-COURIER A*vant"-cou`ri*er, n. Etym: [F., fr. avant before + courrier. See Avaunt, and Courier.]

Defn: A person dispatched before another person or company, to give notice of his or their approach.

AVANT-GUARD A*vant"-guard` (; sq. root277), n. Etym: [F. avant before + E. guard, F. avant-garde. See Avaunt.]

Defn: The van or advanced body of an army. See Vanguard.

AVARICE Av"a*rice, n. Etym: [F. avaritia, fr. avarus avaricious, prob. fr. av to covert, fr. a root av to satiate one's self: cf. Gr. av to satiate one's self, rejoice, protect.]

1. An excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greediness after wealth; covetousness; cupidity. To desire money for its own sake, and in order to hoard it up, is avarice. Beattie.

2. An inordinate desire for some supposed good. All are taught an avarice of praise. Goldsmith.

AVARICIOUS Av`a*ri"cious, a. Etym: [Cf. F. avaricieux.]

Defn: Actuated by avarice; greedy of gain; immoderately desirous of accumulating property.

Syn. -- Greedy; stingy; rapacious; griping; sordid; close. -- Avaricious, Covetous, Parsimonious, Penurious, Miserly, Niggardly. The avaricious eagerly grasp after it at the expense of others, though not of necessity with a design to save, since a man may be covetous and yet a spendthrift. The penurious, parsimonious, and miserly save money by disgraceful self-denial, and the niggardly by meanness in their dealing with others. We speak of persons as covetous in getting, avaricious in retaining, parsimonious in expending, penurious or miserly in modes of living, niggardly in dispensing. -- Av`a*ri"cious*ly, adv -- Av`a*ri"cious*ness, n.

AVAROUS Av"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. avarus.]

Defn: Avaricious. [Obs.]

AVAST A*vast", interj. Etym: [Corrupted from D. houd vast hold fast. See Hold, v. t., and Fast, a.] (Naut.)

Defn: Cease; stop; stay. "Avast heaving." Totten.

AVATAR Av`a*tar", n. Etym: [Skr. avatâra descent; ava from + root t to cross, pass over.]

1. (Hindoo Myth.)

Defn: The descent of a deity to earth, and his incarnation as a man or an animal; -- chiefly associated with the incarnations of Vishnu.

2. Incarnation; manifestation as an object of worship or admiration.

AVAUNCE A*vaunce", v. t. & i. Etym: [See Advance.]

Defn: To advance; to profit. Chaucer.

AVAUNT A*vaunt", interj. Etym: [F. avant forward, fr. L. ab + ante before. Cf. Avant, Advance.]

Defn: Begone; depart; -- a word of contempt or abhorrence, equivalent to the phrase "Get thee gone."

AVAUNT A*vaunt", v. t. & i.

1. To advance; to move forward; to elevate. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. To depart; to move away. [Obs.] Coverdale.

AVAUNT A*vaunt", v. t. & i. Etym: [OF. avanter; (L. ad) + vanter. See Vaunt.]

Defn: To vaunt; to boast. [Obs.] Chaucer.

AVAUNT A*vaunt", n.

Defn: A vaunt; to boast. [Obs.] Chaucer.

AVAUNTOUR A*vaunt"our, n. Etym: [OF. avanteur.]

Defn: A boaster. [Obs.] Chaucer.

AVE A"ve, n. Etym: [L., hail.]

1. An ave Maria. He repeated Aves and Credos. Macaulay.

2. A reverential salutation. Their loud applause and aves vehement. Shak.

AVEL A*vel, v. t. Etym: [L. avellere.]

Defn: To pull away. [Obs.] Yet are not these parts avelled. Sir T. Browne.

AVELLANE A*vel"lane, a. Etym: [Cf. It. avellana a filbert, fr. L. Avella or Abella a city of Campania.] (Her.)

Defn: In the form of four unhusked filberts; as, an avellane cross.

AVE MARIA; AVE MARY A"ve Ma*ri"a, A"ve Ma"ry.Etym: [From the first words of the Roman Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary; L. ave hail, Maria Mary.]

1. A salutation and prayer to the Virgin Mary, as mother of God; -- used in the Roman Catholic church. To number Ave Maries on his beads. Shak.

2. A particular time (as in Italy, at the ringing of the bells about half an hour after sunset, and also at early dawn), when the people repeat the Ave Maria. Ave Maria ! blessed be the hour ! Byron.

AVENA A*ve"na, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of grasses, including the common oat (Avena sativa); the oat grasses.

AVENACEOUS Av`e*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. avenaceus, fr. avena oats.]

Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, oats or the oat grasses.

AVENAGE Av"e*nage, n. Etym: [F. avenage, fr. L. avena oats.] (Old Law)

Defn: A quantity of oats paid by a tenant to a landlord in lieu of rent. Jacob.

AVENALIN A*ven"a*lin, n. [L. avena eats.] (Chem.)

Defn: A crystalline globulin, contained in oat kernels, very similar in composition to excelsin, but different in reactions and crystalline form.

AVENER Av"e*ner, n. Etym: [OF. avenier, fr. aveine, avaine, avoine, oats, F. avoine, L. avena.] (Feud. Law)

Defn: An officer of the king's stables whose duty it was to provide oats for the horses. [Obs.]

AVENGE A*venge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Avenged (p. pr. & vb. n. Avenging ( Etym: [OF. avengier; L. ad + vindicare to lay claim to, to avenge, revenge. See Vengeance.]

1. To take vengeance for; to exact satisfaction for by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on a wrongdoer. He will avenge the blood of his servants. Deut. xxxii. 43. Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold. Milton. He had avenged himself on them by havoc such as England had never before seen. Macaulay.

2. To treat revengefully; to wreak vengeance on. [Obs.] Thy judgment in avenging thine enemies. Bp. Hall.

Syn. -- To Avenge, Revenge. To avenge is to inflict punishment upon evil doers in behalf of ourselves, or others for whom we act; as, to avenge one's wrongs; to avenge the injuries of the suffering and innocent. It is to inflict pain for the sake of vindication, or retributive justice. To revenge is to inflict pain or injury for the indulgence of resentful and malicious feelings. The former may at times be a duty; the latter is one of the worst exhibitions of human character. I avenge myself upon another, or I avenge another, or I avenge a wrong. I revenge only myself, and that upon another. C. J. Smith.

AVENGE A*venge", v. i.

Defn: To take vengeance. Levit. xix. 18.

AVENGE A*venge", n.

Defn: Vengeance; revenge. [Obs.] Spenser.

AVENGEANCE A*venge"ance, n.

Defn: Vengeance. [Obs.]

AVENGEFUL A*venge"ful, a.

Defn: Vengeful. [Obs.] Spenser.

AVENGEMENT A*venge"ment, n.

Defn: The inflicting of retributive punishment; satisfaction taken. [R.] Milton.

AVENGER A*ven"ger, n.

1. One who avenges or vindicates; as, an avenger of blood.

2. One who takes vengeance. [Obs.] Milton.

AVENGERESS A*ven"ger*ess, n.

Defn: A female avenger. [Obs.] Spenser.

AVENIOUS A*ve"ni*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. a- + L. vena a vein.] (Bot.)

Defn: Being without veins or nerves, as the leaves of certain plants.

AVENOR Av"e*nor, n.

Defn: See Avener. [Obs.]

AVENS Av"ens, n. Etym: [OF. avence.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Geum, esp. Geum urbanum, or herb bennet.

AVENTAIL Av"en*tail, n. Etym: [OF. esventail. Cf. Ventail.]

Defn: The movable front to a helmet; the ventail.

AVENTINE Av"en*tine, a.

Defn: Pertaining to Mons Aventinus, one of the seven hills on which Rome stood. Bryant.

AVENTINE Av"en*tine, n.

Defn: A post of security or defense. [Poetic] Into the castle's tower, The only Aventine that now is left him. Beau. & Fl.

AVENTRE A*ven"tre, v. t.

Defn: To thrust forward (at a venture), as a spear. [Obs.] Spenser.

AVENTURE A*ven"ture, n. Etym: [See Adventure, n.]

1. Accident; chance; adventure. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. (Old Law)

Defn: A mischance causing a person's death without felony, as by drowning, or falling into the fire.

AVENTURINE A*ven"tu*rine, n. Etym: [F. aventurine: cf. It. avventurino.]

1. A kind of glass, containing gold-colored spangles. It was produced in the first place by the accidental (par aventure) dropping of some brass filings into a pot of melted glass.

2. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of translucent quartz, spangled throughout with scales of yellow mica. ~= feldspar, a variety of oligoclase with internal firelike reflections due to the presence of minute crystals, probably of hematite; sunstone.

AVENUE Av"e*nue, n. Etym: [F. avenue, fr. avenir to come to, L. advenire. See Advene.]

1. A way or opening for entrance into a place; a passage by which a place may by reached; a way of approach or of exit. "The avenues leading to the city by land." Macaulay. On every side were expanding new avenues of inquiry. Milman.

2. The principal walk or approach to a house which is withdrawn from the road, especially, such approach bordered on each side by trees; any broad passageway thus bordered. An avenue of tall elms and branching chestnuts. W. Black.

3. A broad street; as, the Fifth Avenue in New York.

AVER A"ver, n. Etym: [OF. aver domestic animal, whence LL. averia, pl. cattle. See Habit, and cf. Average.]

Defn: A work horse, or working ox. [Obs. or Dial. Eng.]

AVER A*ver", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Averred (p. pr. & vb. n. Averring.] Etym: [F. avérer, LL. adverare, averare; L. ad + versus true. See Verity.]

1. To assert, or prove, the truth of. [Obs.]

2. (Law)

Defn: To avouch or verify; to offer to verify; to prove or justify. See Averment.

3. To affirm with confidence; to declare in a positive manner, as in confidence of asserting the truth. It is sufficient that the very fact hath its foundation in truth, as I do seriously aver is the case. Fielding. Then all averred I had killed the bird. Coleridge.

Syn. -- To assert; affirm; asseverate. See Affirm.

AVERAGE Av"er*age, n. Etym: [OF. average, LL. averagium, prob. fr. OF. aver, F. avoir, property, horses, cattle, etc.; prop. infin., to have, from L. habere to have. Cf. F. avérage small cattle, and avarie (perh. of different origin) damage to ship or cargo, port dues. The first meaning was peAver, n., Avercorn, Averpenny.]

1. (OLd Eng. Law)

Defn: That service which a tenant owed his lord, to be done by the work beasts of the tenant, as the carriage of wheat, turf, etc.

2. Etym: [Cf. F. avarie damage to ship or cargo.] (Com.) (a) A tariff or duty on goods, etc. [Obs.] (b) Any charge in addition to the regular charge for freight of goods shipped. (c) A contribution to a loss or charge which has been imposed upon one of several for the general benefit; damage done by sea perils. (d) The equitable and proportionate distribution of loss or expense among all interested. General average, a contribution made, by all parties concerned in a sea adventure, toward a loss occasioned by the voluntary sacrifice of the property of some of the parties in interest for the benefit of all. It is called general average, because it falls upon the gross amount of ship, cargo, and freight at risk and saved by the sacrifice. Kent. -- Particular average signifies the damage or partial loss happening to the ship, or cargo, or freight, in consequence of some fortuitous or unavoidable accident; and it is borne by the individual owners of the articles damaged, or by their insurers. -- Petty averages are sundry small charges, which occur regularly, and are necessarily defrayed by the master in the usual course of a voyage; such as port charges, common pilotage, and the like, which formerly were, and in some cases still are, borne partly by the ship and partly by the cargo. In the clause commonly found in bills of lading, "primage and average accustomed," average means a kind of composition established by usage for such charges, which were formerly assessed by way of average. Arnould. Abbott. Phillips.

3. A mean proportion, medial sum or quantity, made out of unequal sums or quantities; an arithmetical mean. Thus, if A loses 5 dollars, B 9, and C 16, the sum is 30, and the average 10.

4. Any medial estimate or general statement derived from a comparison of diverse specific cases; a medium or usual size, quantity, quality, rate, etc. "The average of sensations." Paley.

5. pl.

Defn: In the English corn trade, the medial price of the several kinds of grain in the principal corn markets. On an average, taking the mean of unequal numbers or quantities.

AVERAGE Av"er*age, a.

1. Pertaining to an average or mean; medial; containing a mean proportion; of a mean size, quality, ability, etc.; ordinary; usual; as, an average rate of profit; an average amount of rain; the average Englishman; beings of the average stamp.

2. According to the laws of averages; as, the loss must be made good by average contribution.

AVERAGE Av"er*age, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Averaged (p. pr. & vb. n. Averaging.]

1. To find the mean of, when sums or quantities are unequal; to reduce to a mean.

2. To divide among a number, according to a given proportion; as, to average a loss.

3. To do, accomplish, get, etc., on an average.

AVERAGE Av"er*age, v. i.

Defn: To form, or exist in, a mean or medial sum or quantity; to amount to, or to be, on an ~; as, the losses of the owners will average twenty five dollars each; these spars average ten feet in length.

AVERCORN A"ver*corn`, n. Etym: [Aver,n.+ corn.] (Old Eng. Law)

Defn: A reserved rent in corn, formerly paid to religious houses by their tenants or farmers. Kennet.

AVERMENT A*ver"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. averement, LL. averamentum. See Aver, v. t.]

1. The act of averring, or that which is averred; affirmation; positive assertion. Signally has this averment received illustration in the course of recent events. I. Taylor.

2. Verification; establishment by evidence. Bacon.

3. (Law)

Defn: A positive statement of facts; an allegation; an offer to justify or prove what is alleged.

Note: In any stage of pleadings, when either party advances new matter, he avers it to be true, by using this form of words: "and this he is ready to verify." This was formerly called an averment. It modern pleading, it is termed a verification. Blackstone.

AVERNAL; AVERNIAN A*ver"nal, A*ver"ni*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Avernus, a lake of Campania, in Italy, famous for its poisonous vapors, which ancient writers fancied were so malignant as to kill birds flying over it. It was represented by the poets to be connected with the infernal regions.

AVERPENNY Av"er*pen`ny, n. Etym: [Aver,n.+ penny.] (Old Eng. Law)

Defn: Money paid by a tenant in lieu of the service of average.

AVERROISM A*ver"ro*ism, n.

Defn: The tenets of the Averroists.

AVERROIST A*ver"ro*ist, n.

Defn: One of a sect of peripatetic philosophers, who appeared in Italy before the restoration of learning; so denominated from Averroes, or Averrhoes, a celebrated Arabian philosopher. He held the doctrine of monopsychism.

AVERRUNCATE Av`er*run"cate, v. t. Etym: [L. averruncare to avert; a, ab, off + verruncare to turn; formerly derived from ab and eruncare to root out. Cf. Aberuncate.]

1. To avert; to ward off. [Obs.] Hudibras.

2. To root up. [Obs.] Johnson.

AVERRUNCATION Av`er*run*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. averroncation.]

1. The act of averting. [Obs.]

2. Eradication. [R.] De Quincey.

AVERRUNCATOR Av`er*run*ca"tor, n. Etym: [Cf. Aberuncator.]

Defn: An instrument for pruning trees, consisting of two blades, or a blade and a hook, fixed on the end of a long rod.

AVERSATION Av`er*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. aversatio, fr. aversari to turn away, v. intens. of avertere. See Avert.]

Defn: A turning from with dislike; aversion. [Obs.or Archaic] Some men have a natural aversation to some vices or virtues, and a natural affection to others. Jer. Taylor.

AVERSE A*verse", a. Etym: [L. aversus, p. p. of avertere. See Avert.]

1. Turned away or backward. [Obs.] The tracks averse a lying notice gave, And led the searcher backward from the cave. Dryden.

2. Having a repugnance or opposition of mind; disliking; disinclined; unwilling; reluctant. Averse alike to flatter, or offend. Pope. Men who were averse to the life of camps. Macaulay. Pass by securely as men averse from war. Micah ii. 8.

Note: The prevailing usage now is to employ to after averse and its derivatives rather than from, as was formerly the usage. In this the word is in agreement with its kindred terms, hatred, dislike, dissimilar, contrary, repugnant, etc., expressing a relation or an affection of the mind to an object.

Syn. -- Averse, Reluctant, Adverse. Averse expresses an habitual, though not of necessity a very strong, dislike; as, averse to active pursuits; averse to study. Reluctant, a term of the of the will, implies an internal struggle as to making some sacrifice of interest or feeling; as, reluctant to yield; reluctant to make the necessary arrangements; a reluctant will or consent. Adverse denotes active opposition or hostility; as, adverse interests; adverse feelings, plans, or movements; the adverse party.

AVERSE A*verse", v. t. & i.

Defn: To turn away. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

AVERSELY A*verse"ly, adv.

1. Backward; in a backward direction; as, emitted aversely.

2. With repugnance or aversion; unwillingly.

AVERSENESS A*verse"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being averse; opposition of mind; unwillingness.

AVERSION A*ver"sion, n. Etym: [L. aversio: cf. F. aversion. See Avert.]

1. A turning away. [Obs.] Adhesion to vice and aversion from goodness. Bp. Atterbury.

2. Opposition or repugnance of mind; fixed dislike; antipathy; disinclination; reluctance. Mutual aversion of races. Prescott. His rapacity had made him an object of general aversion. Macaulay.

Note: It is now generally followed by to before the object. [See Averse.] Sometimes towards and for are found; from is obsolete. A freeholder is bred with an aversion to subjection. Addison. His aversion towards the house of York. Bacon. It is not difficult for a man to see that a person has conceived an aversion for him. Spectator. The Khasias . . . have an aversion to milk. J. D. Hooker.

3. The object of dislike or repugnance. Pain their aversion, pleasure their desire. Pope.

Syn. -- Antipathy; dislike; repugnance; disgust. See Dislike.

AVERT A*vert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Averted; p. pr. & vb. n. Averting.] Etym: [L. avertere; a, ab + vertere to turn: cf. OF. avertir. See Verse, n.]

Defn: To turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object; to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can the danger be averted "To avert his ire." Milton. When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions in religion, it doth avert them from the church. Bacon. Till ardent prayer averts the public woe. Prior.

AVERT A*vert", v. i.

Defn: To turn away. [Archaic] Cold and averting from our neighbor's good. Thomson.

AVERTED A*vert"ed, a.

Defn: Turned away, esp. as an expression of feeling; also, offended; unpropitious. Who scornful pass it with averted eye. Keble.

AVERTER A*vert"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, averts.

AVERTIBLE A*vert"i*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being averted; preventable.

AVERTIMENT A*ver"ti*ment, n.

Defn: Advertisement. [Obs.]

AVES A"ves, n. pl. Etym: [L., pl. of avis bird.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The class of Vertebrata that includes the birds.

Note: Aves, or birds, have a complete double circulation, oviparous, reproduction, front limbs peculiarly modified as wings; and they bear feathers. All existing birds have a horny beak, without teeth; but some Mesozoic fossil birds (Odontornithes) had conical teeth inserted in both jaws. The principal groups are: Carinatæ, including all existing flying birds; Ratitæ, including the ostrich and allies, the apteryx, and the extinct moas; Odontornithes, or fossil birds with teeth.

Note: The ordinary birds are classified largely by the structure of the beak and feet, which are in direct relating to their habits. See Beak, Bird, Odontonithes.

AVESTA A*ves"ta, n.

Defn: The Zoroastrian scriptures. See Zend-Avesta.

AVESTAN A*ves"tan, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Avesta or the language of the Avesta. - -n.

Defn: The language of the Avesta; -- less properly called Zend.

AVIADO A`vi*a"do, n. [Sp.]

Defn: One who works a mine with means provided by another. [Sp. Amer. & Southwestern U. S.]

AVIAN A"vi*an, a.

Defn: Of or instrument to birds.

AVIARY A"vi*a*ry, n.; pl. Aviaries. Etym: [L. aviarium, fr. aviarius pertaining to birds, fr. avis bird, akin to Gr, vi.]

Defn: A house, inclosure, large cage, or other place, for keeping birds confined; a bird house. Lincolnshire may be termed the aviary of England. Fuller.

AVIATE A"vi*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Aviating.]

Defn: To fly, or navigate the air, in an aëroplane or heavier-than- air flying machine. [Colloq.]

AVIATION A`vi*a"tion, n.

Defn: The art or science of flying.

AVIATOR A"vi*a`tor, n. (a) An experimenter in aviation. (b) A flying machine.

AVIATRESS; AVIATRIX A"vi*a`tress, A`vi*a"trix, n.

Defn: A woman aviator.

AVICULA A*vic"u*la, n. Etym: [L., small bird.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of marine bivalves, having a pearly interior, allied to the pearl oyster; -- so called from a supposed resemblance of the typical species to a bird.

AVICULAR A*vic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. avicula a small bird, dim. of avis bird.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a bird or to birds.

AVICULARIA A*vic`u*la"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Avicular.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See prehensile processes on the cells of some Bryozoa, often having the shape of a bird's bill.

AVICULTURE A"vi*cul`ture, n. Etym: [L. avis bird + cultura culture.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Rearing and care of birds.

AVID Av"id, a. Etym: [L. avidus, fr. av to long: cf. F. avide. See Avarice.]

Defn: Longing eagerly for; eager; greedy. "Avid of gold, yet greedier of renown." Southey.

AVIDIOUS A*vid"i*ous, a.

Defn: Avid.

AVIDIOUSLY A*vid"i*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: Eagerly; greedily.