Chapter VI: Front Matter (6)

ACTINIA Ac*tin"i*a, n.; pl. L. Actiniæ, E. Actinias. Etym: [Latinized fr. Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) An animal of the class Anthozoa, and family Actinidæ. From a resemblance to flowers in form and color, they are often called animal flowers and sea anemones. [See Polyp.]. (b) A genus in the family Actinidæ.

ACTINIC Ac*tin"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to actinism; as, actinic rays.

ACTINIFORM Ac*tin"i*form, a. Etym: [Gr. -form.]

Defn: Having a radiated form, like a sea anemone.

ACTINISM Ac"tin*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The property of radiant energy (found chiefly in solar or electric light) by which chemical changes are produced, as in photography.

ACTINIUM Ac*tin"i*um, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A supposed metal, said by Phipson to be contained in commercial zinc; -- so called because certain of its compounds are darkened by exposure to light.

ACTINO-CHEMISTRY Ac`ti*no-chem"is*try, n.

Defn: Chemistry in its relations to actinism. Draper.

ACTINOGRAM Ac*tin"o*gram, n. [Gr. , , ray + -gram.]

Defn: A record made by the actinograph.

ACTINOGRAPH Ac*tin"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]

Defn: An instrument for measuring and recording the variations in the actinic or chemical force of rays of light. Nichol.

ACTINOID Ac"tin*oid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]

Defn: Having the form of rays; radiated, as an actinia.

ACTINOLITE Ac*tin"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)

Defn: A bright green variety of amphibole occurring usually in fibrous or columnar masses.

ACTINOLITIC Ac`tin*o*lit"ic, a. (Min.)

Defn: Of the nature of, or containing, actinolite.

ACTINOLOGY Ac`ti*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: The science which treats of rays of light, especially of the actinic or chemical rays.

ACTINOMERE Ac*tin"o*mere, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the radial segments composing the body of one of the Coelenterata.

ACTINOMETER Ac`ti*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter] (a) An instrument for measuring the direct heating power of the sun's rays. (b) An instrument for measuring the actinic effect of rays of light.

ACTINOMETRIC Ac`ti*no*met"ric, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the measurement of the intensity of the solar rays, either (a) heating, or (b) actinic.

ACTINOMETRY Ac`ti*nom"e*try, n.

1. The measurement of the force of solar radiation. Maury.

2. The measurement of the chemical or actinic energy of light. Abney.

ACTINOMYCOSIS Ac`ti*no*my*co"sis, n. [NL.] (Med.)

Defn: A chronic infectious disease of cattle and man due to the presence of Actinomyces bovis. It causes local suppurating tumors, esp. about the jaw. Called also lumpy jaw or big jaw. -- Ac`ti*no*my*cot"ic (#), a.

ACTINOPHONE Ac*tin"o*phone, n. [Gr. , , ray + voice.] (Physics)

Defn: An apparatus for the production of sound by the action of the actinic, or ultraviolet, rays.

ACTINOPHONIC Ac*tin`o*phon"ic, a. (Physics)

Defn: Pertaining to, or causing the production of, sound by means of the actinic, or ultraviolet, rays; as, actinophonic phenomena.

ACTINOPHOROUS Ac`ti*noph"o*rous, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Having straight projecting spines.

ACTINOSOME Ac*tin"o*some, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The entire body of a coelenterate.

ACTINOST Ac"tin*ost, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: (Anat.) One of the bones at the base of a paired fin of a fish.

ACTINOSTOME Ac*tin"o*stome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The mouth or anterior opening of a coelenterate animal.

ACTINOTROCHA Ac`ti*not"ro*cha, n. pl. Etym: [NL.; Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A peculiar larval form of Phoronis, a genus of marine worms, having a circle of ciliated tentacles.

ACTINOZOA Ac"ti*no*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of Coelenterata, comprising the Anthozoa Ctenophora. The sea anemone, or actinia, is a familiar example.

ACTINOZOAL Ac`ti*no*zo"al, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Actinozoa.

ACTINOZOON; ACTINOZOOEN Ac"ti*no*zo"ön, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Actinozoa.

ACTINULA Ac*tin"u*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kind of embryo of certain hydroids (Tubularia), having a stellate form.

ACTION Ac"tion, n. Etym: [OF. action, L. actio, fr. agere to do. See Act.]

1. A process or condition of acting or moving, as opposed to rest; the doing of something; exertion of power or force, as when one body acts on another; the effect of power exerted on one body by another; agency; activity; operation; as, the action of heat; a man of action. One wise in council, one in action brave. Pope.

2. An act; a thing done; a deed; an enterprise. (pl.): Habitual deeds; hence, conduct; behavior; demeanor. The Lord is a Good of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 1 Sam. ii. 3.

3. The event or connected series of events, either real or imaginary, forming the subject of a play, poem, or other composition; the unfolding of the drama of events.

4. Movement; as, the horse has a spirited action.

5. (Mech.)

Defn: Effective motion; also, mechanism; as, the breech action of a gun.

6. (Physiol.)

Defn: Any one of the active processes going on in an organism; the performance of a function; as, the action of the heart, the muscles, or the gastric juice.

7. (Orat.)

Defn: Gesticulation; the external deportment of the speaker, or the suiting of his attitude, voice, gestures, and countenance, to the subject, or to the feelings.

8. (Paint. & Sculp.)

Defn: The attitude or position of the several parts of the body as expressive of the sentiment or passion depicted.

9. (Law) (a) A suit or process, by which a demand is made of a right in a court of justice; in a broad sense, a judicial proceeding for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment of a public offense. (b) A right of action; as, the law gives an action for every claim.

10. (Com.)

Defn: A share in the capital stock of a joint-stock company, or in the public funds; hence, in the plural, equivalent to stocks. [A Gallicism] [Obs.] The Euripus of funds and actions. Burke.

11. An engagement between troops in war, whether on land or water; a battle; a fight; as, a general action, a partial action.

12. (Music)

Defn: The mechanical contrivance by means of which the impulse of the player's finger is transmitted to the strings of a pianoforte or to the valve of an organ pipe. Grove. Chose in action. (Law) See Chose. -- Quantity of action (Physics), the product of the mass of a body by the space it runs through, and its velocity.

Syn. -- Action, Act. In many cases action and act are synonymous; but some distinction is observable. Action involves the mode or process of acting, and is usually viewed as occupying some time in doing. Act has more reference to the effect, or the operation as complete. To poke the fire is an act, to reconcile friends who have quarreled is a praiseworthy action. C. J. Smith.

ACTIONABLE Ac"tion*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. actionabilis. See Action.]

Defn: That may be the subject of an action or suit at law; as, to call a man a thief is actionable.

ACTIONABLY Ac"tion*a*bly, adv.

Defn: In an actionable manner.

ACTIONARY; ACTIONIST Ac"tion*a*ry, Ac"tion*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. actionnaire.] (Com.)

Defn: A shareholder in joint-stock company. [Obs.]

ACTIONLESS Ac"tion*less, a.

Defn: Void of action.

ACTIVATE Ac"ti*vate, v. t.

Defn: To make active. [Obs.]

ACTIVE Ac"tive, a. Etym: [F. actif, L. activus, fr. agere to act.]

1. Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; -- opposed to Ant: passive, that receives; as, certain active principles; the powers of the mind.

2. Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble; as, an active child or animal. Active and nervous was his gait. Wordsworth.

3. In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; -- opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct; as, active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano.

4. Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy; -- opposed to dull, sluggish, indolent, or inert; as, an active man of business; active mind; active zeal.

5. Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to Ant: sedentary or to Ant: tranquil; as, active employment or service; active scenes.

6. Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; - - opposed to Ant: speculative or Ant: theoretical; as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.

7. Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.

8. Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease; an active remedy.

9. (Gram.) (a) Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to Ant: passive. See Active voice, under Voice. (b) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive. (c) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere existence or state. Active capital, Active wealth, money, or property that may readily be converted into money.

Syn. -- Agile; alert; brisk; vigorous; nimble; lively; quick; sprightly; prompt; energetic.

ACTIVELY Ac"tive*ly, adv.

1. In an active manner; nimbly; briskly; energetically; also, by one's own action; voluntarily, not passively.

2. (Gram.)

Defn: In an active signification; as, a word used actively.

ACTIVENESS Ac"tive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being active; nimbleness; quickness of motion; activity.

ACTIVITY Ac*tiv"i*ty, n.; pl. Activities. Etym: [Cf. F. activité, LL. activitas.]

Defn: The state or quality of being active; nimbleness; agility; vigorous action or operation; energy; active force; as, an increasing variety of human activities. "The activity of toil." Palfrey.

Syn. -- Liveliness; briskness; quickness.

ACTLESS Act"less, a.

Defn: Without action or spirit. [R.]

ACTON Ac"ton, n. Etym: [OF. aketon, auqueton, F. hoqueton, a quilted jacket, fr. Sp. alcoton, algodon, cotton. Cf. Cotton.]

Defn: A stuffed jacket worn under the mail, or (later) a jacket plated with mail. [Spelled also hacqueton.] [Obs.] Halliwell. Sir W. Scott.

ACTOR Ac"tor, n. Etym: [L. actor, fr. agere to act.]

1. One who acts, or takes part in any affair; a doer.

2. A theatrical performer; a stageplayer. After a well graced actor leaves the stage. Shak.

3. (Law) (a) An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes. Jacobs. (b) One who institutes a suit; plaintiff or complainant.

ACTRESS Ac`tress, n. Etym: [Cf. F. actrice.]

1. A female actor or doer. [Obs.] Cockeram.

2. A female stageplayer; a woman who acts a part.

ACTUAL Ac"tu*al (#; 135), a. Etym: [OE. actuel, F. actuel, L. actualis, fr. agere to do, act.]

1. Involving or comprising action; active. [Obs.] Her walking and other actual performances. Shak. Let your holy and pious intention be actual; that is . . . by a special prayer or action, . . . given to God. Jer. Taylor.

2. Existing in act or reality; really acted or acting; in fact; real; -- opposed to potential, possible, virtual, speculative, coceivable, theoretical, or nominal; as, the actual cost of goods; the actual case under discussion.

3. In action at the time being; now exiting; present; as the actual situation of the country. Actual cautery. See under Cautery. -- Actual sin (Theol.), that kind of sin which is done by ourselves in contradistinction to "original sin."

Syn. -- Real; genuine; positive; certain. See Real.

ACTUAL Ac"tu*al, n. (Finance)

Defn: Something actually received; real, as distinct from estimated, receipts. [Cant] The accounts of revenues supplied . . . were not real receipts: not, in financial language, "actuals," but only Egyptian budget estimates. Fortnightly Review.

ACTUALIST Ac"tu*al*ist, n.

Defn: One who deals with or considers actually existing facts and conditions, rather than fancies or theories; -- opposed to idealist. J. Grote.

ACTUALITY Ac`tu*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Actualities.

Defn: The state of being actual; reality; as, the actuality of God's nature. South.

ACTUALIZATION Ac`tu*al*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: A making actual or really existent. [R.] Emerson.

ACTUALIZE Ac"tu*al*ize, v. t.

Defn: To make actual; to realize in action. [R.] Coleridge.

ACTUALLY Ac"tu*al*ly, adv.

1. Actively. [Obs.] "Neither actually . . . nor passively." Fuller.

2. In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.

ACTUALNESS Ac"tu*al*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being actual; actuality.

ACTUARIAL Ac`tu*a"ri*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to actuaries; as, the actuarial value of an annuity.

ACTUARY Ac"tu*a*ry, n.; pl. Actuaries. Etym: [L. actuarius copyist, clerk, fr. actus, p. p. of agere to do, act.]

1. (Law)

Defn: A registar or clerk; -- used originally in courts of civil law jurisdiction, but in Europe used for a clerk or registar generally.

2. The computing official of an insurance company; one whose profession it is to calculate for insurance companies the risks and premiums for life, fire, and other insurances.

ACTUATE Ac"tu*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Actuated; p. pr. & vb. n. Actuating.] Etym: [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare, fr. L. actus act.]

1. To put into action or motion; to move or incite to action; to influence actively; to move as motives do; -- more commonly used of persons. Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion. Johnson. Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it. Addison.

2. To carry out in practice; to perform. [Obs.] "To actuate what you command." Jer. Taylor.

Syn. -- To move; impel; incite; rouse; instigate; animate.

ACTUATE Ac"tu*ate, a. Etym: [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare.]

Defn: Put in action; actuated. [Obs.] South.

ACTUATION Ac`tu*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. actuatio.]

Defn: A bringing into action; movement. Bp. Pearson.

ACTUATOR Ac"tu*a`tor, n.

Defn: One who actuates, or puts into action. [R.] Melville.

ACTUOSE Ac"tu*ose`, a. Etym: [L. actuosus.]

Defn: Very active. [Obs.]

ACTUOSITY Ac`tu*os"i*ty, n.

Defn: Abundant activity. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

ACTURE Ac"ture, n.

Defn: Action. [Obs.] Shak.

ACTURIENCE Ac*tu"ri*ence, n. Etym: [A desid. of L. agere, actum, to act.]

Defn: Tendency or impulse to act. [R.] Acturience, or desire of action, in one form or another, whether as restlessness, ennui, dissatisfaction, or the imagination of something desirable. J. Grote.

ACUATE Ac"u*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. acus needle.]

Defn: To sharpen; to make pungent; to quicken. [Obs.] "[To] acuate the blood." Harvey.

ACUATE Ac"u*ate, a.

Defn: Sharpened; sharp-pointed.

ACUATION Ac`u*a"tion, n.

Defn: Act of sharpening. [R.]

ACUITION Ac`u*i"tion, n. Etym: [L. acutus, as if acuitus, p. p. of acuere to sharpen.]

Defn: The act of sharpening. [Obs.]

ACUITY A*cu"i*ty, n. Etym: [LL. acuitas: cf. F. acuité.]

Defn: Sharpness or acuteness, as of a needle, wit, etc.

ACULEATE A*cu"le*ate, a. Etym: [L. aculeatus, fr. aculeus, dim. of acus needle.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a sting; covered with prickles; sharp like a prickle.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Having prickles, or sharp points; beset with prickles.

3. Severe or stinging; incisive. [R.] Bacon.

ACULEATED A*cu"le*a`ted, a.

Defn: Having a sharp point; armed with prickles; prickly; aculeate.

ACULEIFORM A*cu"le*i*form, a.

Defn: Like a prickle.

ACULEOLATE A*cu"le*o*late, a. Etym: [L. aculeolus little needle.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having small prickles or sharp points. Gray.

ACULEOUS A*cu"le*ous, a.

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

ACULEUS A*cu"le*us, n.; pl. Aculei. Etym: [L., dim. of acus needle.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A prickle growing on the bark, as in some brambles and roses. Lindley.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sting.

ACUMEN A*cu"men, n. Etym: [L. acumen, fr. acuere to sharpen. Cf. Acute.]

Defn: Quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind; the faculty of nice discrimination. Selden.

Syn. -- Sharpness; sagacity; keenness; shrewdness; acuteness.

ACUMINATE A*cu"mi*nate, a. Etym: [L. acuminatus, p. p. of acuminare to sharpen, fr. acumen. See Acumen.]

Defn: Tapering to a point; pointed; as, acuminate leaves, teeth, etc.

ACUMINATE A*cu"mi*nate, v. t.

Defn: To render sharp or keen. [R.] "To acuminate even despair." Cowper.

ACUMINATE A*cu"mi*nate, v. i.

Defn: To end in, or come to, a sharp point. "Acuminating in a cone of prelacy." Milton.

ACUMINATION A*cu`mi*na"tion, n.

Defn: A sharpening; termination in a sharp point; a tapering point. Bp. Pearson.

ACUMINOSE A*cu"mi*nose`, a.

Defn: Terminating in a flat, narrow end. Lindley.

ACUMINOUS A*cu"mi*nous, a.

Defn: Characterized by acumen; keen. Highmore.

ACUPRESSURE Ac`u*pres"sure, n. Etym: [L. acus needle + premere, pressum, to press.] (Surg.)

Defn: A mode of arresting hemorrhage resulting from wounds or surgical operations, by passing under the divided vessel a needle, the ends of which are left exposed externally on the cutaneous surface. Simpson.

ACUPUNCTURATION Ac`u*punc`tu*ra"tion, n.

Defn: See Acupuncture.

ACUPUNCTURE Ac`u*punc"ture, n. Etym: [L. acus needle + punctura a pricking, fr. pungere to prick: cf. F. acuponcture.]

Defn: Pricking with a needle; a needle prick. Specifically (Med.):

Defn: The insertion of needles into the living tissues for remedial purposes.

ACUPUNCTURE Ac`u*punc"ture, v. t.

Defn: To treat with acupuncture.

ACUSTUMAUNCE A*cus"tum*aunce, n.

Defn: See Accustomance. [Obs.]

ACUTANGULAR A*cut"an`gu*lar, a.

Defn: Acute-angled.

ACUTE A*cute", a. Etym: [L. acutus, p. p. of acuere to sharpen, fr. a root ak to be sharp. Cf. Ague, Cute, Edge.]

1. Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; -- opposed to blunt or obtuse; as, an acute angle; an acute leaf.

2. Having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute distinctions; penetrating; clever; shrewd; -- opposed to Ant: dull or Ant: stupid; as, an acute observer; acute remarks, or reasoning.

3. Having nice or quick sensibility; susceptible to slight impressions; acting keenly on the senses; sharp; keen; intense; as, a man of acute eyesight, hearing, or feeling; acute pain or pleasure.

4. High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; -- opposed to grave or low; as, an acute tone or accent.

5. (Med.)

Defn: Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity, and coming speedily to a crisis; -- opposed to chronic; as, an acute disease. Acute angle (Geom.), an angle less than a right angle.

Syn. -- Subtile; ingenious; sharp; keen; penetrating; sagacious; sharp- witted; shrewd; discerning; discriminating. See Subtile.

ACUTE A*cute", v. t.

Defn: To give an acute sound to; as, he acutes his rising inflection too much. [R.] Walker.

ACUTE-ANGLED A*cute"-*an`gled, a.

Defn: Having acute angles; as, an acute-angled triangle, a triangle with every one of its angles less than a right angle.

ACUTELY A*cute"ly, adv.

Defn: In an acute manner; sharply; keenly; with nice discrimination.

ACUTENESS A*cute"ness, n.

1. The quality of being acute or pointed; sharpness; as, the acuteness of an angle.

2. The faculty of nice discernment or perception; acumen; keenness; sharpness; sensitiveness; -- applied to the senses, or the understanding. By acuteness of feeling, we perceive small objects or slight impressions: by acuteness of intellect, we discern nice distinctions. Perhaps, also, he felt his professional acuteness interested in bringing it to a successful close. Sir W. Scott.

3. Shrillness; high pitch; -- said of sounds.

4. (Med.)

Defn: Violence of a disease, which brings it speedily to a crisis.

Syn. -- Penetration; sagacity; keenness; ingenuity; shrewdness; subtlety; sharp-wittedness.

ACUTIFOLIATE A*cu`ti*fo"li*ate, a. Etym: [L. acutus sharp + folium leaf.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having sharp-pointed leaves.

ACUTILOBATE A*cu`ti*lo"bate, a. Etym: [L. acutus sharp + E. lobe.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having acute lobes, as some leaves.

ACUTORSION Ac`u*tor"sion, n. [L. acus needle + torsion.] (Med.)

Defn: The twisting of an artery with a needle to arrest hemorrhage.

ACYCLIC A*cyc"lic, a. [Pref. a- not + cyclic.]

Defn: Not cyclic; not disposed in cycles or whorls; as: (a) (Bot.)

Defn: Of a flower, having its parts inserted spirally on the receptacle. (b) (Org. Chem.) Having an open-chain structure; aliphatic.

ACYL Ac"yl, n. [Acid + -yl.] (Org. Chem.)

Defn: An acid radical, as acetyl, malonyl, or benzoyl.

AD- Ad-. Etym: [A Latin preposition, signifying to. See At.]

Defn: As a prefix ad- assumes the forms ac-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, at-, assimilating the d with the first letter of the word to which ad- is prefixed. It remains unchanged before vowels, and before d, h, j, m, v. Examples: adduce, adhere, adjacent, admit, advent, accord, affect, aggregate, allude, annex, appear, etc. It becomes ac- before qu, as in acquiesce.

ADACT Ad*act", v. t. Etym: [L. adactus, p. p. of adigere.]

Defn: To compel; to drive. [Obs.] Fotherby.

ADACTYL; ADACTYLOUS A*dac"tyl, A*dac"tyl*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) Without fingers or without toes. (b) Without claws on the feet (of crustaceous animals).

ADAGE Ad"age, n. Etym: [F. adage, fr. L. adagium; ad + the root of L. aio I say.]

Defn: An old saying, which has obtained credit by long use; a proverb. Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would," Like the poor cat i' the adage. Shak.

Syn. -- Axiom; maxim; aphorism; proverb; saying; saw; apothegm. See Axiom.

ADAGIAL A*da"gi*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to an adage; proverbial. "Adagial verse." Barrow.

ADAGIO A*da"gio, a. & adv. Etym: [It. adagio; ad (L. ad) at + agio convenience, leisure, ease. See Agio.] (Mus.)

Defn: Slow; slowly, leisurely, and gracefully. When repeated, adagio, adagio, it directs the movement to be very slow.

ADAGIO A*da"gio, n.

Defn: A piece of music in adagio time; a slow movement; as, an adagio of Haydn.

ADAM Ad"am, n.

1. The name given in the Bible to the first man, the progenitor of the human race.

2. (As a symbol)

Defn: "Original sin;" human frailty. And whipped the offending Adam out of him. Shak. Adam's ale, water. [Coll.] -- Adam's apple.

1. (Bot.) (a) A species of banana (Musa paradisiaca). It attains a height of twenty feet or more. Paxton]. (b) A species of lime (Citris limetta).

2. The projection formed by the thyroid cartilage in the neck. It is particularly prominent in males, and is so called from a notion that it was caused by the forbidden fruit (an apple) sticking in the throat of our first parent. -- Adam's flannel (Bot.), the mullein (Verbascum thapsus). -- Adam's needle (Bot.), the popular name of a genus (Yucca) of liliaceous plants.

ADAMANT Ad"a*mant, n. Etym: [OE. adamaunt, adamant, diamond, magnet, OF. adamant, L. adamas, adamantis, the hardest metal, fr. Gr. adamare to love, be attached to, the word meant also magnet, as in OF. and LL. See Diamond, Tame.]

1. A stone imagined by some to be of impenetrable hardness; a name given to the diamond and other substance of extreme hardness; but in modern minerology it has no technical signification. It is now a rhetorical or poetical name for the embodiment of impenetrable hardness. Opposed the rocky orb Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield. Milton.

2. Lodestone; magnet. [Obs.] "A great adamant of acquaintance." Bacon. As true to thee as steel to adamant. Greene.

ADAMANTEAN Ad`a*man*te"an, a. Etym: [L. adamanteus.]

Defn: Of adamant; hard as adamant. Milton.

ADAMANTINE Ad`a*man"tine, a. Etym: [L. adamantinus, Gr.

1. Made of adamant, or having the qualities of adamant; incapable of being broken, dissolved, or penetrated; as, adamantine bonds or chains.

2. (Min.)

Defn: Like the diamond in hardness or luster.

ADAMBULACRAL Ad`am*bu*la"cral, a. Etym: [L. ad + E. ambulacral.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Next to the ambulacra; as, the adambulacral ossicles of the starfish.

ADAMIC; ADAMICAL A*dam"ic, A*dam"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Adam, or resembling him. Adamic earth, a name given to common red clay, from a notion that Adam means red earth.

ADAMITE Ad"am*ite, n. Etym: [From Adam.]

1. A descendant of Adam; a human being.

2. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a sect of visionaries, who, professing to imitate the state of Adam, discarded the use of dress in their assemblies.

ADAM'S APPLE Ad"am's ap"ple.

Defn: See under Adam.

ADANCE A*dance", adv.

Defn: Dancing. Lowell.

ADANGLE A*dan"gle, adv.

Defn: Dangling. Browning.

ADANSONIA Ad`an*so"ni*a, n. Etym: [From Adanson, a French botanist.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of great trees related to the Bombax. There are two species, A. digitata, the baobab or monkey-bread of Africa and India, and A. Gregorii, the sour gourd or cream-of-tartar tree of Australia. Both have a trunk of moderate height, but of enormous diameter, and a wide-spreading head. The fruit is oblong, and filled with pleasantly acid pulp. The wood is very soft, and the bark is used by the natives for making ropes and cloth. D. C. Eaton.

ADAPT A*dapt", a.

Defn: Fitted; suited. [Obs.] Swift.

ADAPT A*dapt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adapted; p. pr. & vb. n. Adapting.] Etym: [L. adaptare; ad + aptare to fit; cf. F. adapter. See Apt, Adept.]

Defn: To make suitable; to fit, or suit; to adjust; to alter so as to fit for a new use; -- sometimes followed by to or for. For nature, always in the right, To your decays adapts my sight. Swift. Appeals adapted to his [man's] whole nature. Angus. Streets ill adapted for the residence of wealthy persons. Macaulay.

ADAPTABILITY; ADAPTABLENESS A*dapt`a*bil"i*ty, A*dapt"a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being adaptable; suitableness. "General adaptability for every purpose." Farrar.

ADAPTABLE A*dapt"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being adapted.

ADAPTATION Ad`ap*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. adaptation, LL. adaptatio.]

1. The act or process of adapting, or fitting; or the state of being adapted or fitted; fitness. "Adaptation of the means to the end." Erskine.

2. The result of adapting; an adapted form.

ADAPTATIVE A*dapt"a*tive, a.

Defn: Adaptive. Stubbs.

ADAPTEDNESS A*dapt"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being adapted; suitableness; special fitness.

ADAPTER A*dapt"er, n.

1. One who adapts.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: A connecting tube; an adopter.

ADAPTION A*dap"tion, n.

Defn: Adaptation. Cheyne.

ADAPTIVE A*dapt"ive, a.

Defn: Suited, given, or tending, to adaptation; characterized by adaptation; capable of adapting. Coleridge. -- A*dapt"ive*ly, adv.

ADAPTIVENESS A*dapt"ive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being adaptive; capacity to adapt.

ADAPTLY A*dapt"ly, adv.

Defn: In a suitable manner. [R.] Prior.

ADAPTNESS A*dapt"ness, n.

Defn: Adaptedness. [R.]

ADAPTORIAL Ad`ap*to"ri*al, a.

Defn: Adaptive. [R.]

ADAR A"dar, n. Etym: [Heb. adär.]

Defn: The twelfth month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical year, and the sixth of the civil. It corresponded nearly with March.

ADARCE A*dar"ce, n. Etym: [L. adarce, adarca, Gr.

Defn: A saltish concretion on reeds and grass in marshy grounds in Galatia. It is soft and porous, and was formerly used for cleansing the skin from freckles and tetters, and also in leprosy. Dana.

ADATIS Ad"a*tis, n.

Defn: A fine cotton cloth of India.

ADAUNT A*daunt", v. t. Etym: [OE. adaunten to overpower, OF. adonter; à (L. ad) + donter, F. dompter. See Daunt.]

Defn: To daunt; to subdue; to mitigate. [Obs.] Skelton.

ADAW A*daw", v. t. Etym: [Cf. OE. adawe of dawe, AS. of dagum from days, i. e., from life, out of life.]

Defn: To subdue; to daunt. [Obs.] The sight whereof did greatly him adaw. Spenser.

ADAW A*daw", v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. adawen to wake; pref. a- (cf. Goth. us- , Ger. er-) + dawen, dagon, to dawn. See Daw.]

Defn: To awaken; to arouse. [Obs.] A man that waketh of his sleep He may not suddenly well taken keep Upon a thing, ne seen it parfitly Till that he be adawed verily. Chaucer.

ADAYS A*days", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- (for on) + day; the final s was orig. a genitive ending, afterwards forming adverbs.]

Defn: By day, or every day; in the daytime. [Obs.] Fielding.

AD CAPTANDUM Ad cap*tan"dum. Etym: [L., for catching.]

Defn: A phrase used adjectively sometimes of meretricious attempts to catch or win popular favor.

ADD Add, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Added; p. pr. & vb. n. Adding.] Etym: [L. addere; ad + dare to give, put. Cf. Date, Do.]

1. To give by way of increased possession (to any one); to bestow (on). The Lord shall add to me another son. Gen. xxx. 24.

2. To join or unite, as one thing to another, or as several particulars, so as to increase the number, augment the quantity, enlarge the magnitude, or so as to form into one aggregate. Hence: To sum up; to put together mentally; as, to add numbers; to add up a column. Back to thy punishment, False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings. Milton. As easily as he can add together the ideas of two days or two years. Locke.

3. To append, as a statement; to say further. He added that he would willingly consent to the entire abolition of the tax. Macaulay.

Syn. -- To Add, Join, Annex, Unite, Coalesce. We add by bringing things together so as to form a whole. We join by putting one thing to another in close or continuos connection. We annex by attaching some adjunct to a larger body. We unite by bringing things together so that their parts adhere or intermingle. Things coalesce by coming together or mingling so as to form one organization. To add quantities; to join houses; to annex territory; to unite kingdoms; to make parties coalesce.

ADD Add, v. i.

1. To make an addition. To add to, to augment; to increase; as, it adds to our anxiety. "I will add to your yoke." 1 Kings xii. 14.

2. To perform the arithmetical operation of addition; as, he adds rapidly.

ADDABLE Add"a*ble, a. Etym: [Add, v. + -able.]

Defn: Addible.

ADDAX Ad"dax, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the largest African antelopes (Hippotragus, or Oryx, nasomaculatus).

Note: It is now believed to be the Strepsiceros (twisted horn) of the ancients. By some it is thought to be the pygarg of the Bible.

ADDEEM Ad*deem", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + deem.]

Defn: To award; to adjudge. [Obs.] "Unto him they did addeem the prise." Spenser.

ADDENDUM Ad*den"dum, n.; pl. Addenda. Etym: [L., fr. addere to add.]

Defn: A thing to be added; an appendix or addition. Addendum circle (Mech.), the circle which may be described around a circular spur wheel or gear wheel, touching the crests or tips of the teeth. Rankine.

ADDER Add"er, n. Etym: [See Add.]

Defn: One who, or that which, adds; esp., a machine for adding numbers.

ADDER Ad"der, n. Etym: [OE. addere, naddere, eddre, AS. nædre, adder, snake; akin to OS. nadra, OHG. natra, natara, Ger. natter, Goth. nadrs, Icel. nathr, masc., nathra, fem.: cf. W. neidr, Gorn. naddyr, Ir. nathair, L. natrix, water snake. An adder is for a nadder.]

1. A serpent. [Obs.] "The eddre seide to the woman." Wyclif. Gen. iii. 4. )

2. (Zoöl.) (a) A small venomous serpent of the genus Vipera. The common European adder is the Vipera (or Pelias) berus. The puff adders of Africa are species of Clotho. (b) In America, the term is commonly applied to several harmless snakes, as the milk adder, puffing adder, etc. (c) Same as Sea Adder.

Note: In the sculptures the appellation is given to several venomous serpents, -- sometimes to the horned viper (Cerastles).

ADDER FLY Ad"der fly.

Defn: A dragon fly.

ADDER'S-TONGUE Ad"der's-tongue`, n. (Bot.) (a) A genus of ferns (Ophioglossum), whose seeds are produced on a spike resembling a serpent's tongue. (b) The yellow dogtooth violet. Gray.

ADDERWORT Ad"der*wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The common bistort or snakeweed (Polygonum bistorta).

ADDIBILITY Add`i*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quantity of being addible; capability of addition. Locke.

ADDIBLE Add"i*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being added. "Addible numbers." Locke.

ADDICE Ad"dice, n.

Defn: See Adze. [Obs.] Moxon.

ADDICT Ad*dict", p. p.

Defn: Addicted; devoted. [Obs.]

ADDICT Ad*dict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Addicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Addicting.] Etym: [L. addictus, p. p. of addicere to adjudge, devote; ad + dicere to say. See Diction.]

1. To apply habitually; to devote; to habituate; -- with to. "They addict themselves to the civil law." Evelyn. He is addicted to his study. Beau. & Fl. That part of mankind that addict their minds to speculations. Adventurer. His genius addicted him to the study of antiquity. Fuller. A man gross . . . and addicted to low company. Macaulay.

2. To adapt; to make suitable; to fit. [Obs.] The land about is exceedingly addicted to wood, but the coldness of the place hinders the growth. Evelyn.

Syn. -- Addict, Devote, Consecrate, Dedicate. Addict was formerly used in a good sense; as, addicted to letters; but is now mostly employed in a bad sense or an indifferent one; as, addicted to vice; addicted to sensual indulgence. "Addicted to staying at home." J. S. Mill. Devote is always taken in a good sense, expressing habitual earnestness in the pursuit of some favorite object; as, devoted to science. Consecrate and dedicate express devotion of a higher kind, involving religious sentiment; as, consecrated to the service of the church; dedicated to God.

ADDICTEDNESS Ad*dict"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being addicted; attachment.

ADDICTION Ad*dic"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. L. addictio an adjudging.]

Defn: The state of being addicted; devotion; inclination. "His addiction was to courses vain." Shak.

ADDISON'S DISEASE Ad"di*son's dis*ease". Etym: [Named from Thomas Addison, M. D., of London, who first described it.] (Med.)

Defn: A morbid condition causing a peculiar brownish discoloration of the skin, and thought, at one time, to be due to disease of the suprarenal capsules (two flat triangular bodies covering the upper part of the kidneys), but now known not to be dependent upon this causes exclusively. It is usually fatal.

ADDITAMENT Ad*dit"a*ment, n. Etym: [L. additamentum, fr. additus, p. p. of addere to add.]

Defn: An addition, or a thing added. Fuller. My persuasion that the latter verses of the chapter were an additament of a later age. Coleridge.

ADDITION Ad*di"tion, n. Etym: [F. addition, L. additio, fr. addere to add.]

1. The act of adding two or more things together; -- opposed to subtraction or diminution. "This endless addition or addibility of numbers." Locke.

2. Anything added; increase; augmentation; as, a piazza is an addition to a building.

3. (Math.)

Defn: That part of arithmetic which treats of adding numbers.

4. (Mus.)

Defn: A dot at the right side of a note as an indication that its sound is to be lengthened one half. [R.]

5. (Law)

Defn: A title annexed to a man's name, to identify him more precisely; as, John Doe, Esq.; Richard Roe, Gent.; Robert Dale, Mason; Thomas Way, of New York; a mark of distinction; a title.

6. (Her.)

Defn: Something added to a coat of arms, as a mark of honor; -- opposed to abatement. Vector addition (Geom.), that kind of addition of two lines, or vectors, AB and BC, by which their sum is regarded as the line, or vector, AC.

Syn. -- Increase; accession; augmentation; appendage; adjunct.

ADDITIONAL Ad*di"tion*al, a.

Defn: Added; supplemental; in the way of an addition.

ADDITIONAL Ad*di"tion*al, n.

Defn: Something added. [R.] Bacon.

ADDITIONALLY Ad*di"tion*al*ly, adv.

Defn: By way of addition.

ADDITIONARY Ad*di"tion*a*ry, a.

Defn: Additional. [R.] Herbert.

ADDITITIOUS Ad`di*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. addititius, fr. addere.]

Defn: Additive. [R.] Sir J. Herschel.

ADDITIVE Ad"di*tive, a. Etym: [L. additivus.] (Math.)

Defn: Proper to be added; positive; -- opposed to subtractive.

ADDITORY Ad"di*to*ry, a.

Defn: Tending to add; making some addition. [R.] Arbuthnot.

ADDLE Ad"dle, n. Etym: [OE. adel, AS. adela, mud.]

1. Liquid filth; mire. [Obs.]

2. Lees; dregs. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

ADDLE Ad"dle, a.

Defn: Having lost the power of development, and become rotten, as eggs; putrid. Hence: Unfruitful or confused, as brains; muddled. Dryden.

ADDLE Ad"dle, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Addled; p. pr. & vb. n. Addling.]

Defn: To make addle; to grow addle; to muddle; as, he addled his brain. "Their eggs were addled." Cowper.

ADDLE Ad"dle, v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. adlen, adilen, to gain, acquire; prob. fr. Icel. ö\'eblask to acquire property, akin to othal property. Cf. Allodial.]

1. To earn by labor. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.

2. To thrive or grow; to ripen. [Prov. Eng.] Kill ivy, else tree will addle no more. Tusser.

ADDLE-BRAIN; ADDLE-HEAD; ADDLE-PATE Ad"dle-brain`, Ad"dle-head`, Ad"dle-pate, n.

Defn: A foolish or dull-witted fellow. [Colloq.]

ADDLE-BRAINED; ADDLE-HEADED; ADDLE-PATED Ad"dle-brained`, Ad"dle-head`ed, Ad"dle-pa`ted, a.

Defn: Dull-witted; stupid. "The addle-brained Oberstein." Motley. Dull and addle-pated. Dryden.

ADDLE-PATEDNESS Ad"dle-pa`ted*ness, n.

Defn: Stupidity.

ADDLINGS Ad"dlings, n. pl. Etym: [See Addle, to earn.]

Defn: Earnings. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

ADDOOM Ad*doom", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + doom.]

Defn: To adjudge. [Obs.] Spenser.

ADDORSED Ad*dorsed", a. Etym: [L. ad + dorsum, back: cf. F. adossé.] (Her.)

Defn: Set or turned back to back.

ADDRESS Ad*dress", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Addressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Addressing.] Etym: [OE. adressen to raise erect, adorn, OF. adrecier, to straighten, address, F. adresser, fr. à (L. ad) + OF. drecier, F. dresser, to straighten, arrange. See Dress, v.]

1. To aim; to direct. [Obs.] Chaucer. And this good knight his way with me addrest. Spenser.

2. To prepare or make ready. [Obs.] His foe was soon addressed. Spenser. Turnus addressed his men to single fight. Dryden. The five foolish virgins addressed themselves at the noise of the bridegroom's coming. Jer. Taylor.

3. Reflexively: To prepare one's self; to apply one's skill or energies (to some object); to betake. These men addressed themselves to the task. Macaulay.

4. To clothe or array; to dress. [Archaic] Tecla . . . addressed herself in man's apparel. Jewel.

5. To direct, as words (to any one or any thing); to make, as a speech, petition, etc. (to any one, an audience). The young hero had addressed his players to him for his assistance. Dryden.

6. To direct speech to; to make a communication to, whether spoken or written; to apply to by words, as by a speech, petition, etc., to speak to; to accost. Are not your orders to address the senate Addison. The representatives of the nation addressed the king. Swift.

7. To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to direct and transmit; as, he addressed a letter.

8. To make suit to as a lover; to court; to woo.

9. (Com.)

Defn: To consign or intrust to the care of another, as agent or factor; as, the ship was addressed to a merchant in Baltimore. To address one's self to. (a) To prepare one's self for; to apply one's self to. (b) To direct one's speech or discourse to.

ADDRESS Ad*dress", v. i.

1. To prepare one's self. [Obs.] "Let us address to tend on Hector's heels." Shak.

2. To direct speech. [Obs.] Young Turnus to the beauteous maid addrest. Dryden.

Note: The intransitive uses come from the dropping out of the reflexive pronoun.

ADDRESS Ad*dress, n. Etym: [Cf. F. adresse. See Address, v. t.]

1. Act of preparing one's self. [Obs.] Jer Taylor.

2. Act of addressing one's self to a person; verbal application.

3. A formal communication, either written or spoken; a discourse; a speech; a formal application to any one; a petition; a formal statement on some subject or special occasion; as, an address of thanks, an address to the voters.

4. Direction or superscription of a letter, or the name, title, and place of residence of the person addressed.

5. Manner of speaking to another; delivery; as, a man of pleasing or insinuating address.

6. Attention in the way one's addresses to a lady. Addison.

7. Skill; skillful management; dexterity; adroitness.

Syn. -- Speech; discourse; harangue; oration; petition; lecture; readiness; ingenuity; tact; adroitness.

ADDRESSEE Ad`dress*ee", n.

Defn: One to whom anything is addressed.

ADDRESSION Ad*dres"sion, n.

Defn: The act of addressing or directing one's course. [Rare & Obs.] Chapman.

ADDUCE Ad*duce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adduced; p. pr. & vb. n. Adducing.] Etym: [L. adducere, adductum, to lead or bring to; ad + ducere to lead. See Duke, and cf. Adduct.]

Defn: To bring forward or offer, as an argument, passage, or consideration which bears on a statement or case; to cite; to allege. Reasons . . . were adduced on both sides. Macaulay. Enough could not be adduced to satisfy the purpose of illustration. De Quincey.

Syn. -- To present; allege; advance; cite; quote; assign; urge; name; mention.

ADDUCENT Ad*du"cent, a. Etym: [L. addunces, p. pr. of adducere.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Bringing together or towards a given point; -- a word applied to those muscles of the body which pull one part towards another. Opposed to abducent.

ADDUCER Ad*du"cer, n.

Defn: One who adduces.

ADDUCIBLE Ad*du"ci*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being adduced. Proofs innumerable, and in every imaginable manner diversified, are adducible. I. Taylor.

ADDUCT Ad*duct", v. t. Etym: [L. adductus, p. p. of adducere. See Adduce.] (Physiol.)

Defn: To draw towards a common center or a middle line. Huxley.

ADDUCTION Ad*duc"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. adduction. See Adduce.]

1. The act of adducing or bringing forward. An adduction of facts gathered from various quarters. I. Taylor.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: The action by which the parts of the body are drawn towards its axis]; -- opposed to abduction. Dunglison.

ADDUCTIVE Ad*duc"tive, a.

Defn: Adducing, or bringing towards or to something.

ADDUCTOR Ad*duc"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. adducere.] (Anat.)

Defn: A muscle which draws a limb or part of the body toward the middle line of the body, or closes extended parts of the body; -- opposed to abductor; as, the adductor of the eye, which turns the eye toward the nose. In the bivalve shells, the muscles which close the values of the shell are called adductor muscles. Verrill.

ADDULCE Ad*dulce", v. t. Etym: [Like F. adoucir; fr. L. ad. + dulcis sweet.]

Defn: To sweeten; to soothe. [Obs.] Bacon.

ADEEM A*deem", v. t. Etym: [L. adimere. See Ademption.] (Law)

Defn: To revoke, as a legacy, grant, etc., or to satisfy it by some other gift.

ADELANTADILLO A`de*lan`ta*dil"lo, n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: A Spanish red wine made of the first ripe grapes.

ADELANTADO A`de*lan*ta"do, n. Etym: [Sp., prop. p. of adelantar to advance, to promote.]

Defn: A governor of a province; a commander. Prescott.

ADELASTER Ad*e*las"ter, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A provisional name for a plant which has not had its flowers botanically examined, and therefore has not been referred to its proper genus.

ADELING Ad"el*ing, n.

Defn: Same as Atheling.

ADELOCODONIC A*del`o*co*don"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Applied to sexual zooids of hydroids, that have a saclike form and do not become free; -- opposed to phanerocodonic.

ADELOPOD A*del"o*pod, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An animal having feet that are not apparent.

ADELPHIA A*del"phi*a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A "brotherhood," or collection of stamens in a bundle; -- used in composition, as in the class names, Monadelphia, Diadelphia, etc.

ADELPHOUS A*del"phous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having coalescent or clustered filaments; -- said of stamens; as, adelphous stamens. Usually in composition; as, monadelphous. Gray.

ADEMPT A*dempt", p. p. Etym: [L. ademptus, p. p. of adimere to take away.]

Defn: Takes away. [Obs.] Without any sinister suspicion of anything being added or adempt. Latimn.

ADEMPTION A*demp"tion, n. Etym: [L. ademptio, fr. adimere, ademptum, to take away; ad + emere to buy, orig. to take.] (Law)

Defn: The revocation or taking away of a grant donation, legacy, or the like. Bouvier.

ADEN-; ADENO- Aden- or Adeno-. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Combining forms of the Greek word for gland; -- used in words relating to the structure, diseases, etc., of the glands.

ADENALGIA; ADENALGY Ad`e*nal"gi*a, Ad"e*nal`gy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: (Med.) Pain in a gland.

ADENIFORM A*den"i*form, a. Etym: [Aden- + -form.]

Defn: Shaped like a gland; adenoid. Dunglison.

ADENITIS Ad`e*ni"tis, n. Etym: [Aden- + -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Glandular inflammation. Dunglison.

ADENOGRAPHIC Ad`e*no*graph"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to adenography.

ADENOGRAPHY Ad`e*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Adeno- + -graphy.]

Defn: That part of anatomy which describes the glands.

ADENOID; ADENOIDAL Ad"e*noid, Ad`e*noid"al a.

Defn: Glandlike; glandular.

ADENOLOGICAL Ad`e*no*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to adenology.

ADENOLOGY Ad`e*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Adeno- + -logy.]

Defn: The part of physiology that treats of the glands.

ADENOMA Ad`e*no"ma, n.; L. pl. -mata (#). [NL.; adeno- + -oma.] (Med.)

Defn: A benign tumor of a glandlike structure; morbid enlargement of a gland. -- Ad`e*nom"a*tous, a.

ADENOPATHY Ad"e*nop"a*thy, n. [Adeno- + Gr. suffering, to suffer.] (Med.)

Defn: Disease of a gland.

ADENOPHOROUS Ad`e*noph"o*rous, a. Etym: [Adeno- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Producing glands.

ADENOPHYLLOUS Ad`e*noph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Adeno- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having glands on the leaves.

ADENOSCLEROSIS Ad"e*no*scle*ro"sis, n. [NL.; adeno- + sclerosis.] (Med.)

Defn: The hardening of a gland.

ADENOSE Ad"e*nose`, a.

Defn: Like a gland; full of glands; glandulous; adenous.

ADENOTOMIC Ad`e*no*tom"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to adenotomy.

ADENOTOMY Ad`e*not"o*my, n. Etym: [Adeno- + Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Dissection of, or incision into, a gland or glands.

ADENOUS Ad"e*nous, a.

Defn: Same as Adenose.

ADEN ULCER A"den ul"cer. [So named after Aden, a seaport in Southern Arabia, where it occurs.] (Med.)

Defn: A disease endemic in various parts of tropical Asia, due to a specific microörganism which produces chronic ulcers on the limbs. It is often fatal. Called also Cochin China ulcer, Persian ulcer, tropical ulcer, etc.

ADEPS Ad"eps, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Animal fat; lard.

ADEPT A*dept", n. Etym: [L. adeptus obtained (sc. artem), adipsci to arrive ad + apisci to pursue. See Apt, and cf. Adapt.]

Defn: One fully skilled or well versed in anything; a proficient; as, adepts in philosophy.

ADEPT A*dept", a.

Defn: Well skilled; completely versed; thoroughly proficient. Beaus adept in everything profound. Cowper.

ADEPTION A*dep"tion, n. Etym: [L. adeptio. See Adept, a.]

Defn: An obtaining; attainment. [Obs.] In the wit and policy of the capitain consisteth the chief adeption of the victory. Grafton.

ADEPTIST A*dept"ist, n.

Defn: A skilled alchemist. [Obs.]

ADEPTNESS A*dept"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being adept; skill.

ADEQUACY Ad"e*qua*cy, n. Etym: [See Adequate.]

Defn: The state or quality of being adequate, proportionate, or sufficient; a sufficiency for a particular purpose; as, the adequacy of supply to the expenditure.

ADEQUATE Ad"e*quate, a. Etym: [L. adaequatus, p. p. of adaequare to make equal to; ad + aequare to make equal, aequus equal. See Equal.]

Defn: Equal to some requirement; proportionate, or correspondent; fully sufficient; as, powers adequate to a great work; an adequate definition. Ireland had no adequate champion. De Quincey.

Syn. -- Proportionate; commensurate; sufficient; suitable; competent; capable.

ADEQUATE Ad"e*quate, v. t. Etym: [See Adequate, a.]

1. To equalize; to make adequate. [R.] Fotherby.

2. To equal. [Obs.] It [is] an impossibility for any creature to adequate God in his eternity. Shelford.

ADEQUATELY Ad"e*quate*ly, adv.

Defn: In an adequate manner.

ADEQUATENESS Ad"e*quate*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being adequate; suitableness; sufficiency; adequacy.

ADEQUATION Ad`e*qua"tion, n. Etym: [L. adaequatio.]

Defn: The act of equalizing; act or result of making adequate; an equivalent. [Obs.] Bp. Barlow.

ADESMY A*des"my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The division or defective coherence of an organ that is usually entire.

ADESSENARIAN Ad*es`se*na"ri*an, n. Etym: [Formed fr. L. adesse to be present; ad + esse to be.] (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One who held the real presence of Christ's body in the eucharist, but not by transubstantiation.

ADFECTED Ad*fect"ed, a. Etym: [L. adfectus or affectus. See Affect, v.] (Alg.)

Defn: See Affected, 5.

ADFILIATED Ad*fil"i*a`ted, a.

Defn: See Affiliated. [Obs.]

ADFILIATION Ad*fil`i*a"tion, n.

Defn: See Affiliation. [Obs.]

ADFLUXION Ad*flux"ion, n.

Defn: See Affluxion.

ADHAMANT Ad*ha"mant, a. Etym: [From L. adhamare to catch; ad + hamus hook.]

Defn: Clinging, as by hooks.

ADHERE Ad*here", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Adhered; p. pr. & vb. n. Adhering.] Etym: [L. adhaerere, adhaesum; ad + haerere to stick: cf. F. adhérer. See Aghast.]

1. To stick fast or cleave, as a glutinous substance does; to become joined or united; as, wax to the finger; the lungs sometimes adhere to the pleura.

2. To hold, be attached, or devoted; to remain fixed, either by personal union or conformity of faith, principle, or opinion; as, men adhere to a party, a cause, a leader, a church.

3. To be consistent or coherent; to be in accordance; to agree. "Nor time nor place did then adhere." Every thing adheres together." Shak.

Syn. -- To attach; stick; cleave; cling; hold

ADHERENCE Ad*her"ence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. adhérence, LL. adhaerentia.]

1. The quality or state of adhering.

2. The state of being fixed in attachment; fidelity; steady attachment; adhesion; as, adherence to a party or to opinions.

Syn. -- Adherence, Adhesion. These words, which were once freely interchanged, are now almost entirely separated. Adherence is no longer used to denote physical union, but is applied, to mental states or habits; as, a strict adherence to one's duty; close adherence to the argument, etc. Adhesion is now confined chiefly to the physical sense, except in the phrase "To give in one's adhesion to a cause or a party."

ADHERENCY Ad*her"en*cy, n.

1. The state or quality of being adherent; adherence. [R.]

2. That which adheres. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

ADHERENT Ad*her"ent, a. Etym: [L. adhaerens, -entis, p. pr.: cf. F. adhérent.]

1. Sticking; clinging; adhering. Pope.

2. Attached as an attribute or circumstance.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: Congenitally united with an organ of another kind, as calyx with ovary, or stamens with petals.

ADHERENT Ad*her"ent, n.

1. One who adheres; one who adheres; one who follows a leader, party, or profession; a follower, or partisan; a believer in a particular faith or church.

2. That which adheres; an appendage. [R.] Milton.

Syn. -- Follower; partisan; upholder; disciple; supporter; dependent; ally; backer.

ADHERENTLY Ad*her"ent*ly, adv.

Defn: In an adherent manner.

ADHERER Ad*her"er, n.

Defn: One who adheres; an adherent.

ADHESION Ad*he"sion, n. Etym: [L. adhaesio, fr. adhaerere: cf. F. adhésion.]

1. The action of sticking; the state of being attached; intimate union; as the adhesion of glue, or of parts united by growth, cement, or the like.

2. Adherence; steady or firm attachment; fidelity; as, to error, to a policy. His adhesion to the Tories was bounded by his approbation of their foreign policy. De Quincey.

3. Agreement to adhere; concurrence; assent. To that treaty Spain and England gave in their adhesion. Macaulay.

4. (Physics)

Defn: The molecular attraction exerted between bodies in contact. See Cohesion.

5. (Med.)

Defn: Union of surface, normally separate, by the formation of new tissue resulting from an inflammatory process.

6. (Bot.)

Defn: The union of parts which are separate in other plants, or in younger states of the same plant.

Syn. -- Adherence; union. See Adherence.

ADHESIVE Ad*he"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. adhésif.]

1. Sticky; tenacious, as glutinous substances.

2. Apt or tending to adhere; clinging. Thomson. Adhesive attraction. (Physics) See Attraction. -- Adhesive inflammation (Surg.), that kind of inflammation which terminates in the reunion of divided parts without suppuration. -- Adhesive plaster, a sticking; a plaster containing resin, wax, litharge, and olive oil.

ADHESIVELY Ad*he"sive*ly, adv.

Defn: In an adhesive manner.

ADHESIVENESS Ad*he"sive*ness, n.

1. The quality of sticking or adhering; stickiness; tenacity of union.

2. (Phren.)

Defn: Propensity to form and maintain attachments to persons, and to promote social intercourse.

ADHIBIT Ad*hib"it, v. t. Etym: [L. adhibitus, p. p. of adhibere to hold to; ad + habere to have.]

1. To admit, as a person or thing; to take in. Muirhead.

2. To use or apply; to administer. Camden.

3. To attach; to affix. Alison.

ADHIBITION Ad`hi*bi"tion, n. Etym: [L. adhibitio.]

Defn: The act of adhibiting; application; use. Whitaker.

AD HOMINEM Ad hom"i*nem. Etym: [L., to the man.]

Defn: ` phrase applied to an appeal or argument addressed to the principles, interests, or passions of a man.

ADHORT Ad*hort", v. t. Etym: [L. adhortari. See Adhortation.]

Defn: To exhort; to advise. [Obs.] Feltham.

ADHORTATION Ad`hor*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. adhortatio, fr. adhortari to advise; ad + hortari to exhort.]

Defn: Advice; exhortation. [Obs.] Peacham.

ADHORTATORY Ad*hor"ta*to*ry, a.

Defn: Containing counsel or warning; hortatory; advisory. [Obs.] Potter.

ADIABATIC Ad`i*a*bat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physics)

Defn: Not giving out or receiving heat. -- Ad`i*a*bat`ic*al*ly, adv. Adiabatic line or curve, a curve exhibiting the variations of pressure and volume of a fluid when it expands without either receiving or giving out heat. Rankine.

ADIACTINIC Ad`i*ac*tin"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + diactinic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Not transmitting the actinic rays.

ADIANTUM Ad`i*an"tum, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of ferns, the leaves of which shed water; maidenhair. Also, the black maidenhair, a species of spleenwort.

ADIAPHORISM Ad`i*aph"o*rism, n.

Defn: Religious indifference.

ADIAPHORIST Ad`i*aph"o*rist, n. Etym: [See Adiaphorous.] (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of the German Protestants who, with Melanchthon, held some opinions and ceremonies to be indifferent or nonessential, which Luther condemned as sinful or heretical. Murdock.

ADIAPHORISTIC Ad`i*aph`o*ris"tic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to matters indifferent in faith and practice. Shipley.

ADIAPHORITE Ad`i*aph"o*rite, n.

Defn: Same as Adiaphorist.

ADIAPHOROUS Ad`i*aph"o*rous, a. Etym: [Gr.

1. Indifferent or neutral. Jer. Taylor.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Incapable of doing either harm or good, as some medicines. Dunglison.

ADIAPHORY Ad`i*aph"o*ry, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Indifference. [Obs.]

ADIATHERMIC Ad`i*a*ther"mic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Not pervious to heat.

ADIEU A*dieu", interj. & adv. Etym: [OE. also adew, adewe, adue, F. dieu, fr. L. ad to + deus God.]

Defn: Good-by; farewell; an expression of kind wishes at parting.

ADIEU A*dieu", n.; pl. Adieus.

Defn: A farewell; commendation to the care of God at parting. Shak.

ADIGHT A*dight", v. t. [p. p. Adight.] Etym: [Pref. a- (intensive) + OE. dihten. See Dight.]

Defn: To set in order; to array; to attire; to deck, to dress. [Obs.]

AD INFINITUM Ad in`fi*ni"tum. Etym: [L., to infinity.]

Defn: Without limit; endlessly.

AD INTERIM Ad in"ter*imEtym: [L.]

Defn: Meanwhile; temporary.

ADIOS A`dios", interj. [Sp., fr. L. ad to + deus god. Cf. Adieu.]

Defn: Adieu; farewell; good-by; -- chiefly used among Spanish- speaking people.

This word is often pronounced å*de"os, but the Spanish accent, though weak, is on the final syllable.

ADIPESCENT Ad`i*pes"cent, a. Etym: [L. adeps, adipis, fat + -escent.]

Defn: Becoming fatty.

ADIPIC A*dip"ic, a. Etym: [L. adeps, adipis, fat.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, fatty or oily substances; -- applied to certain acids obtained from fats by the action of nitric acid.

ADIPOCERATE Ad`i*poc"er*ate, v. t.

Defn: To convert adipocere.

ADIPOCERATION Ad`i*poc`er*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act or process of changing into adipocere.

ADIPOCERE Ad"i*po*cere`, n. Etym: [L. adeps, adipis, fat + cera wax: cf. F. adipocere.]

Defn: A soft, unctuous, or waxy substance, of a light brown color, into which the fat and muscle tissue of dead bodies sometimes are converted, by long immersion in water or by burial in moist places. It is a result of fatty degeneration.

ADIPOCERIFORM Ad`i*po*cer"i*form, a. Etym: [Adipocere + -form.]

Defn: Having the form or appearance of adipocere; as, an adipoceriform tumor.

ADIPOCEROUS Ad`i*poc"er*ous, a.

Defn: Like adipocere.

ADIPOGENOUS Ad`i*pog"e*nous, a. [See Adipose; -genous.] (Med.)

Defn: Producing fat.

ADIPOLYSIS Ad`i*pol"y*sis, n. [NL.; L. adeps, adipis, fat + Gr. a loosing.] (Physiol.)

Defn: The digestion of fats.

ADIPOLYTIC Ad`i*po*lyt"ic, a. [L. adeps, adipis, fat + Gr. to loose.] (Chem.)

Defn: Hydrolyzing fats; converting neutral fats into glycerin and free fatty acids, esp. by the action of an enzyme; as, adipolytic action.

ADIPOMA Ad`i*po"ma, n.; L. pl. -mata (#). [NL. See Adipose; -oma.] (Med.)

Defn: A mass of fat found internally; also, a fatty tumor. -- Ad`i*pom"a*tous, a.

ADIPOSE Ad"i*pose`, a. Etym: [L. adeps, adipis, fat, grease.]