Chapter IX: Front Matter (9)

3. Bent of mind; a feeling or natural impulse or natural impulse acting upon and swaying the mind; any emotion; as, the benevolent affections, esteem, gratitude, etc. ; the malevolent affections, hatred, envy, etc.; inclination; disposition; propensity; tendency. Affection is applicable to an unpleasant as well as a pleasant state of the mind, when impressed by any object or quality. Cogan.

4. A settled good will; kind feeling; love; zealous or tender attachment; -- often in the pl. Formerly followed by to, but now more generally by for or towards; as, filial, social, or conjugal affections; to have an affection for or towards children. All his affections are set on his own country. Macaulay.

5. Prejudice; bias. [Obs.] Bp. Aylmer.

6. (Med.)

Defn: Disease; morbid symptom; malady; as, a pulmonary affection. Dunglison.

7. The lively representation of any emotion. Wotton.

8. Affectation. [Obs.] "Spruce affection." Shak.

9. Passion; violent emotion. [Obs.] Most wretched man, That to affections does the bridle lend. Spenser.

Syn. -- Attachment; passion; tenderness; fondness; kindness; love; good will. See Attachment; Disease.

AFFECTIONAL Af*fec"tion*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the affections; as, affectional impulses; an affectional nature.

AFFECTIONATE Af*fec"tion*ate, a. Etym: [Cf. F. affectionné.]

1. Having affection or warm regard; loving; fond; as, an affectionate brother.

2. Kindly inclined; zealous. [Obs.] Johson. Man, in his love God, and desire to please him, can never be too affectionate. Sprat.

3. Proceeding from affection; indicating love; tender; as, the affectionate care of a parent; affectionate countenance, message, language.

4. Strongly inclined; -- with to. [Obs.] Bacon.

Syn. -- Tender; attached; loving; devoted; warm; fond; earnest; ardent.

AFFECTIONATED Af*fec"tion*a`ted, a.

Defn: Disposed; inclined. [Obs.] Affectionated to the people. Holinshed.

AFFECTIONATELY Af*fec"tion*ate*ly, adv.

Defn: With affection; lovingly; fondly; tenderly; kindly.

AFFECTIONATENESS Af*fec"tion*ate*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being affectionate; fondness; affection.

AFFECTIONED Af*fec"tioned, a.

1. Disposed. [Archaic] Be kindly affectioned one to another. Rom. xii. 10.

2. Affected; conceited. [Obs.] Shak.

AFFECTIVE Af*fec"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. affectif.]

1. Tending to affect; affecting. [Obs.] Burnet.

2. Pertaining to or exciting emotion; affectional; emotional. Rogers.

AFFECTIVELY Af*fec"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In an affective manner; impressively; emotionally.

AFFECTUOUS Af*fec"tu*ous, a. Etym: [L. affectuous: cf. F. affectueux. See Affect.]

Defn: Full of passion or emotion; earnest. [Obs.] -- Af*fec"tu*ous*ly, adv. [Obs.] Fabyan.

AFFEER Af*feer", v. t. Etym: [OF. aforer, afeurer, to tax, appraise, assess, fr. L. ad + forum market, court of justice, in LL. also meaning pri.]

1. To confirm; to assure. [Obs.] "The title is affeered." Shak.

2. (Old Law)

Defn: To assess or reduce, as an arbitrary penalty or amercement, to a certain and reasonable sum. Amercements . . . were affeered by the judges. Blackstone.

AFFEERER; AFFEEROR Af*feer"er, Af*feer"or, n. Etym: [OF. aforeur, LL. afforator.] (Old Law)

Defn: One who affeers. Cowell.

AFFEERMENT Af*feer"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. aforement.] (Old Law)

Defn: The act of affeering. Blackstone.

AFFERENT Af"fer*ent, a. Etym: [L. afferens, p. pr. of afferre; ad + ferre to bear.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Bearing or conducting inwards to a part or organ; -- opposed to efferent; as, afferent vessels; afferent nerves, which convey sensations from the external organs to the brain.

AFFETTUOSO Af*fet`tu*o"so, adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: With feeling.

AFFIANCE Af*fi"ance, n. Etym: [OE. afiaunce trust, confidence, OF. afiance, fr. afier to trust, fr. LL. affidare to trust; ad + fidare to trust, fr. L. fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Affidavit, Affy, Confidence.]

1. Plighted faith; marriage contract or promise.

2. Trust; reliance; faith; confidence. Such feelings promptly yielded to his habitual affiance in the divine love. Sir J. Stephen. Lancelot, my Lancelot, thou in whom I have Most joy and most affiance. Tennyson.

AFFIANCE Af*fi"ance, v. t. [imp. Affianced; p. pr. Affiancing.] Etym: [Cf. OF. afiancier, fr. afiance.]

1. To betroth; to pledge one's faith to for marriage, or solemnly promise (one's self or another) in marriage. To me, sad maid, he was affianced. Spenser.

2. To assure by promise. [Obs.] Pope.

AFFIANCER Af*fi"an*cer, n.

Defn: One who makes a contract of marriage between two persons.

AFFIANT Af*fi"ant, n. Etym: [From p. pr. of OF. afier, LL. affidare. See Affidavit.] (Law)

Defn: One who makes an affidavit. [U. S.] Burrill.

Syn. -- Deponent. See Deponent.

AFFICHE Af`fiche", n. [F., fr. afficher to affix.]

Defn: A written or printed notice to be posted, as on a wall; a poster; a placard.

AFFIDAVIT Af`fi*da"vit, n. Etym: [LL. affidavit he has made oath, perfect tense of affidare. See Affiance, Affy.] (Law)

Defn: A sworn statement in writing; a declaration in writing, signed and made upon oath before an authorized magistrate. Bouvier. Burrill.

Note: It is always made ex parte, and without cross-examination, and in this differs from a deposition. It is also applied to written statements made on affirmation.

Syn. -- Deposition. See Deposition.

AFFILE Af*file", v. t. Etym: [OF. afiler, F. affiler, to sharpen; a (L. ad) + fil thread, edge.]

Defn: To polish. [Obs.]

AFFILIABLE Af*fil"i*a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being affiliated to or on, or connected with in origin.

AFFILIATE Af*fil"i*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affiliated; p. pr. & vb. n. Affiliating.] Etym: [LL. adfiliare, affiliare, to adopt as son; ad + filius son: cf. F. affilier.]

1. To adopt; to receive into a family as a son; hence, to bring or receive into close connection; to ally. Is the soul affiliated to God, or is it estranged and in rebellion I. Taylor.

2. To fix the paternity of; -- said of an illegitimate child; as, to affiliate the child to (or on or upon) one man rather than another.

3. To connect in the way of descent; to trace origin to. How do these facts tend to affiliate the faculty of hearing upon the aboriginal vegetative processes H. Spencer.

4. To attach (to) or unite (with); to receive into a society as a member, and initiate into its mysteries, plans, etc.; -- followed by to or with. Affiliated societies, societies connected with a central society, or with each other.

AFFILIATE Af*fil"i*ate, v. i.

Defn: To connect or associate one's self; -- followed by with; as, they affiliate with no party.

AFFILIATION Af*fil`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [F. affiliation, LL. affiliatio.]

1. Adoption; association or reception as a member in or of the same family or society.

2. (Law)

Defn: The establishment or ascertaining of parentage; the assignment of a child, as a bastard, to its father; filiation.

3. Connection in the way of descent. H. Spencer.

AFFINAL Af*fi"nal, a. Etym: [L. affinis.]

Defn: Related by marriage; from the same source.

AFFINE Af*fine", v. t. Etym: [F. affiner to refine; (L. ad) + fin fine. See Fine.]

Defn: To refine. [Obs.] Holland.

AFFINED Af*fined", a. Etym: [OF. afiné related, p. p., fr. LL. affinare to join, fr. L. affinis neighboring, related to; ad + finis boundary, limit.]

Defn: Joined in affinity or by any tie. [Obs.] "All affined and kin." Shak.

AFFINITATIVE Af*fin"i*ta*tive, a.

Defn: Of the nature of affinity. -- Af*fin"i*ta*tive*ly, adv.

AFFINITIVE Af*fin"i*tive, a.

Defn: Closely connected, as by affinity.

AFFINITY Af*fin"i*ty, n.; pl. Affinities(#). Etym: [OF. afinité, F. affinité, L. affinites, fr. affinis. See Affined.]

1. Relationship by marriage (as between a husband and his wife's blood relations, or between a wife and her husband's blood relations); -- in contradistinction to consanguinity, or relationship by blood; -- followed by with, to, or between. Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh. 1 Kings iii. 1.

2. Kinship generally; close agreement; relation; conformity; resemblance; connection; as, the affinity of sounds, of colors, or of languages. There is a close affinity between imposture and credulity. Sir G. C. Lewis.

2. Companionship; acquaintance. [Obs.] About forty years past, I began a happy affinity with William Cranmer. Burton.

4. (Chem.)

Defn: That attraction which takes place, at an insensible distance, between the heterogeneous particles of bodies, and unites them to form chemical compounds; chemism; chemical or elective affinity or attraction.

5. (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: A relation between species or highe

6. (Spiritualism)

Defn: A superior spiritual relationship or attraction held to exist sometimes between persons, esp. persons of the opposite sex; also, the man or woman who exerts such psychical or spiritual attraction.

AFFIRM Af*firm", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affirmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Affirming.] Etym: [OE. affermen, OF. afermer, F. affirmer, affermir, fr. L. affirmare; ad + firmare to make firm, firmus firm. See Firm.]

1. To make firm; to confirm, or ratify; esp. (Law),

Defn: to assert or confirm, as a judgment, decree, or order, brought before an appelate court for review.

2. To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true; -- opposed to deny. Jesus, . . . whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Acts xxv. 19.

3. (Law)

Defn: To declare, as a fact, solemnly, under judicial sanction. See Affirmation, 4.

Syn. -- To assert; aver; declare; asseverate; assure; pronounce; protest; avouch; confirm; establish; ratify. -- To Affirm, Asseverate, Aver, Protest. We affirm when we declare a thing as a fact or a proposition. We asseverate it in a peculiarly earnest manner, or with increased positiveness as what can not be disputed. We aver it, or formally declare it to be true, when we have positive knowledge of it. We protest in a more public manner and with the energy of perfect sincerity. People asseverate in order to produce a conviction of their veracity; they aver when they are peculiarly desirous to be believed; they protest when they wish to free themselves from imputations, or to produce a conviction of their innocence.

AFFIRM Af*firm", v. i.

1. To declare or assert positively. Not that I so affirm, though so it seem To thee, who hast thy dwelling here on earth. Milton.

2. (Law)

Defn: To make a solemn declaration, before an authorized magistrate or tribunal, under the penalties of perjury; to testify by affirmation.

AFFIRMABLE Af*firm"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being affirmed, asserted, or declared; -- followed by of; as, an attribute affirmable of every just man.

AFFIRMANCE Af*firm"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. afermance.]

1. Confirmation; ratification; confirmation of a voidable act. This statute . . . in affirmance of the common law. Bacon.

2. A strong declaration; affirmation. Cowper.

AFFIRMANT Af*firm"ant, n. Etym: [L. affirmans, -antis, p. pr. See Affirm.]

1. One who affirms or asserts.

2. (Law)

Defn: One who affirms of taking an oath.

AFFIRMATION Af`fir*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. affirmatio: cf. F. affirmation.]

1. Confirmation of anything established; ratification; as, the affirmation of a law. Hooker.

2. The act of affirming or asserting as true; assertion; -- opposed to negation or denial.

3. That which is asserted; an assertion; a positive as, an affirmation, by the vender, of title to property sold, or of its quality.

4. (Law)

Defn: A solemn declaration made under the penalties of perjury, by persons who conscientiously decline taking an oath, which declaration is in law equivalent to an oath. Bouvier.

AFFIRMATIVE Af*firm"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. affirmativus: cf. F. affirmatif.]

1. Confirmative; ratifying; as, an act affirmative of common law.

2. That affirms; asserting that the fact is so; declaratory of what exists; answering "yes" to a question; -- opposed to negative; as, an affirmative answer; an affirmative vote.

3. Positive; dogmatic. [Obs.] J. Taylor. Lysicles was a little by the affirmative air of Crito. Berkeley.

4. (logic)

Defn: Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition.

5. (Alg.)

Defn: Positive; -- a term applied to quantities which are to be added, and opposed to negative, or such as are to be subtracted.

AFFIRMATIVE Af*firm"a*tive, n.

1. That which affirms as opposed to that which denies; an affirmative proposition; that side of question which affirms or maintains the proposition stated; -- opposed to Ant: negative; as, there were forty votes in the affirmative, and ten in the negative. Whether there are such beings or not, 't is sufficient for my purpose that many have believed the affirmative. Dryden.

2. A word or phrase expressing affirmation or assent; as, yes, that is so, etc.

AFFIRMATIVELY Af*firm"a*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In an affirmative manner; on the affirmative side of a question; in the affirmative; -- opposed to negatively.

AFFIRMATORY Af*firm"a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Giving affirmation; assertive; affirmative. Massey.

AFFIRMER Af*firm"er, n.

Defn: One who affirms.

AFFIX Af*fix", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affixed; p. pr. & vb. n. Affixing.] Etym: [LL. affixare, L. affixus, p. p. of affigere to fasten to; ad + figere to fasten: cf. OE. affichen, F. afficher, ultimately fr. L. affigere. See Fix.]

1. To subjoin, annex, or add at the close or end; to append to; to fix to any part of; as, to affix a syllable to a word; to affix a seal to an instrument; to affix one's name to a writing.

2. To fix or fasten in any way; to attach physically. Should they [caterpillars] affix them to the leaves of a plant improper for their food. Ray.

3. To attach, unite, or connect with; as, names affixed to ideas, or ideas affixed to things; to affix a stigma to a person; to affix ridicule or blame to any one.

4. To fix or fasten figuratively; -- with on or upon; as, eyes affixed upon the ground. [Obs.] Spenser.

Syn. -- To attach; subjoin; connect; annex; unite.

AFFIX Af"fix, n.; pl. Affixes. Etym: [L. affixus, p. p. of affigere: cf. F. affixe.]

Defn: That which is affixed; an appendage; esp. one or more letters or syllables added at the end of a word; a suffix; a postfix.

AFFIXION Af*fix"ion, n. Etym: [L. affixio, fr. affigere.]

Defn: Affixture. [Obs.] T. Adams.

AFFIXTURE Af*fix"ture, n.

Defn: The act of affixing, or the state of being affixed; attachment.

AFFLATION Af*fla"tion, n. Etym: [L. afflatus, p. p. of afflare to blow or breathe on; ad + flare to blow.]

Defn: A blowing or breathing on; inspiration.

AFFLATUS Af*fla"tus, n. Etym: [L., fr. afflare. See Afflation.]

1. A breath or blast of wind.

2. A divine impartation of knowledge; supernatural impulse; inspiration. A poet writing against his genius will be like a prophet without his afflatus. Spence.

AFFLICT Af*flict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Afflicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Afflicting.] Etym: [L. afflictus, p. p. of affigere to cast down, deject; ad + fligere to strike: cf. OF. aflit, afflict, p. p. Cf. Flagellate.]

1. To strike or cast down; to overthrow. [Obs.] "Reassembling our afflicted powers." Milton.

2. To inflict some great injury or hurt upon, causing continued pain or mental distress; to trouble grievously; to torment. They did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. Exod. i. 11. That which was the worst now least afflicts me. Milton.

3. To make low or humble. [Obs.] Spenser. Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error before an afflicted truth. Jer. Taylor.

Syn. -- To trouble; grieve; pain; distress; harass; torment; wound; hurt.

AFFLICT Af*flict", p. p. & a. Etym: [L. afflictus, p. p.]

Defn: Afflicted. [Obs.] Becon.

AFFLICTEDNESS Af*flict"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being afflicted; affliction. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

AFFLICTER Af*flict"er, n.

Defn: One who afflicts.

AFFLICTING Af*flict"ing, a.

Defn: Grievously painful; distressing; afflictive; as, an afflicting event. -- Af*flict"ing*ly, adv.

AFFLICTION Af*flic"tion, n. Etym: [F. affliction, L. afflictio, fr. affligere.]

1. The cause of continued pain of body or mind, as sickness, losses, etc.; an instance of grievous distress; a pain or grief. To repay that money will be a biting affliction. Shak.

2. The state of being afflicted; a state of pain, distress, or grief. Some virtues are seen only in affliction. Addison.

Syn. -- Calamity; sorrow; distress; grief; pain; adversity; misery; wretchedness; misfortune; trouble; hardship. -- Affliction, Sorrow, Grief, Distress. Affliction and sorrow are terms of wide and general application; grief and distress have reference to particular cases. Affliction is the stronger term. The suffering lies deeper in the soul, and usually arises from some powerful cause, such as the loss of what is most dear -- friends, health, etc. We do not speak of mere sickness or pain as "an affliction," though one who suffers from either is said to be afflicted; but deprivations of every kind, such as deafness, blindness, loss of limbs, etc., are called afflictions, showing that term applies particularly to prolonged sources of suffering. Sorrow and grief are much alike in meaning, but grief is the stronger term of the two, usually denoting poignant mental suffering for some definite cause, as, grief for the death of a dear friend; sorrow is more reflective, and is tinged with regret, as, the misconduct of a child is looked upon with sorrow. Grief is often violent and demonstrative; sorrow deep and brooding. Distress implies extreme suffering, either bodily or mental. In its higher stages, it denotes pain of a restless, agitating kind, and almost always supposes some struggle of mind or body. Affliction is allayed, grief subsides, sorrow is soothed, distress is mitigated.

AFFLICTIONLESS Af*flic"tion*less, a.

Defn: Free from affliction.

AFFLICTIVE Af*flic"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. afflictif.]

Defn: Giving pain; causing continued or repeated pain or grief; distressing. "Jove's afflictive hand." Pope. Spreads slow disease, and darts afflictive pain. Prior.

AFFLICTIVELY Af*flic"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In an afflictive manner.

AFFLUENCE Af"flu*ence, n. Etym: [F. affluence, L. affluentia, fr. affluens, p. pr. of affluere to flow to; ad + fluere to flow. See Flux.]

1. A flowing to or towards; a concourse; an influx. The affluence of young nobles from hence into Spain. Wotton. There is an unusual affluence of strangers this year. Carlyle.

2. An abundant supply, as of thought, words, feelings, etc.; profusion; also, abundance of property; wealth. And old age of elegance, affluence, and ease. Coldsmith.

Syn. -- Abundance; riches; profusion; exuberance; plenty; wealth; opulence.

AFFLUENCY Af"flu*en*cy, n.

Defn: Affluence. [Obs.] Addison.

AFFLUENT Af"flu*ent, a. Etym: [Cf. F. affluent, L. affluens, -entis, p. pr. See Affluence.]

1. Flowing to; flowing abundantly. "Affluent blood." Harvey.

2. Abundant; copious; plenteous; hence, wealthy; abounding in goods or riches. Language . . . affluent in expression. H. Reed. Loaded and blest with all the affluent store, Which human vows at smoking shrines implore. Prior.

AFFLUENT Af"flu*ent, n.

Defn: A stream or river flowing into a larger river or into a lake; a tributary stream.

AFFLUENTLY Af"flu*ent*ly, adv.

Defn: Abundantly; copiously.

AFFLUENTNESS Af*flu*ent*ness, n.

Defn: Great plenty. [R.]

AFFLUX Af"flux`, n. Etym: [L. affluxum, p. p. of affluere: cf. F. afflux. See Affluence.]

Defn: A flowing towards; that which flows to; as, an afflux of blood to the head.

AFFLUXION Af*flux"ion, n.

Defn: The act of flowing towards; afflux. Sir T. Browne.

AFFODILL Af"fo*dill, n.

Defn: Asphodel. [Obs.]

AFFORCE Af*force", v. t. Etym: [OF. afforcier, LL. affortiare; ad + fortiare, fr. L. fortis strong.]

Defn: To reënforce; to strengthen. Hallam.

AFFORCEMENT Af*force"ment, n. Etym: [OF.]

1. A fortress; a fortification for defense. [Obs.] Bailey.

2. A reënforcement; a strengthening. Hallam.

AFFORCIAMENT Af*for"ci*a*ment, n.

Defn: See Afforcement. [Obs.]

AFFORD Af*ford", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Afforded; p. pr. & vb. n. Affording.] Etym: [OE. aforthen, AS. gefor, for, to further, accomplish, afford, fr. for forth, forward. The prefix ge- has no well defined sense. See Forth.]

1. To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result, fruit, or issue; as, grapes afford wine; olives afford oil; the earth affords fruit; the sea affords an abundant supply of fish.

2. To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result; to provide; to furnish; as, a good life affords consolation in old age. His tuneful Muse affords the sweetest numbers. Addison. The quiet lanes . . . afford calmer retreats. Gilpin.

3. To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting, expending, with profit, or without loss or too great injury; as, A affords his goods cheaper than B; a man can afford a sum yearly in charity.

4. To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other circumstances be injurious; -- with an auxiliary, as can, could, might, etc.; to be able or rich enough. The merchant can afford to trade for smaller profits. Hamilton. He could afford to suffer With those whom he saw suffer. Wordsworth.

AFFORDABLE Af*ford"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be afforded.

AFFORDMENT Af*ford"ment, n.

Defn: Anything given as a help; bestowal. [Obs.]

AFFOREST Af*for"est, v. t. Etym: [LL. afforestare; ad + forestare. See Forest.]

Defn: To convert into a forest; as, to afforest a tract of country.

AFFORESTATION Af*for`es*ta"tion, n.

Defn: The act of converting into forest or woodland. Blackstone.

AFFORMATIVE Af*form"a*tive, n.

Defn: An affix.

AFFRANCHISE Af*fran"chise, v. t. Etym: [F. affranchir; (L. ad) + franc free. See Franchise and Frank.]

Defn: To make free; to enfranchise. Johnson.

AFFRANCHISEMENT Af*fran"chise*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. affranchissement.]

Defn: The act of making free; enfranchisement. [R.]

AFFRAP Af*frap", v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. It. affrappare, frappare, to cut, mince, F. frapper to strike. See Frap.]

Defn: To strike, or strike down. [Obs.] Spenser.

AFFRAY Af*fray", v. t. [p. p. Affrayed.] Etym: [OE. afraien, affraien, OF. effreer, esfreer, F. effrayer, orig. to disquiet, put out of peace, fr. L. ex + OHG. fridu peace (akin to E. free). Cf. Afraid, Fray, Frith inclosure.] [Archaic]

1. To startle from quiet; to alarm. Smale foules a great heap That had afrayed [affrayed] me out of my sleep. Chaucer.

2. To frighten; to scare; to frighten away. That voice doth us affray. Shak.

AFFRAY Af*fray", n. Etym: [OE. afrai, affrai, OF. esfrei, F. effroi, fr. OF. esfreer. See Affray, v. t.]

1. The act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack. [Obs.]

2. Alarm; terror; fright. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. A tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl; a fray. "In the very midst of the affray." Motley.

4. (Law)

Defn: The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the terror of others. Blackstone.

Note: A fighting in private is not, in a legal sense, an affray.

Syn. -- Quarrel; brawl; scuffle; encounter; fight; contest; feud; tumult; disturbance.

AFFRAYER Af*fray"er, n.

Defn: One engaged in an affray.

AFFRAYMENT Af*fray"ment, n.

Defn: Affray. [Obs.] Spenser.

AFFREIGHT Af*freight", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad- + freight: cf. F. affréter. See Freight.]

Defn: To hire, as a ship, for the transportation of goods or freight.

AFFREIGHTER Af*freight"er, n.

Defn: One who hires or charters a ship to convey goods.

AFFREIGHTMENT Af*freight"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. affrétement.]

Defn: The act of hiring, or the contract for the use of, a vessel, or some part of it, to convey cargo.

AFFRET Af*fret", n. Etym: [Cf. It. affrettare to hasten, fretta haste.]

Defn: A furious onset or attack. [Obs.] Spenser.

AFFRICATE Af"fri*cate, n. [L. affricatus, p. p. of affricare to rub against; af- = ad- + fricare to rub.] (Phon.)

Defn: A combination of a stop, or explosive, with an immediately following fricative or spirant of corresponding organic position, as pf in german Pfeffer, pepper, z (= ts) in German Zeit, time.

AFFRICTION Af*fric"tion, n. Etym: [L. affricare to rub on. See Friction.]

Defn: The act of rubbing against. [Obs.]

AFFRIENDED Af*friend"ed, p. p.

Defn: Made friends; reconciled. [Obs.] "Deadly foes . . . affriended." Spenser.

AFFRIGHT Af*fright", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affrighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Affrighting.] Etym: [Orig. p. p.; OE. afright, AS. afyrhtan to terrify; a- (cf. Goth. us-, Ger. er-, orig. meaning out) + fyrhto fright. See Fright.]

Defn: To impress with sudden fear; to frighten; to alarm. Dreams affright our souls. Shak. A drear and dying sound Affrights the flamens at their service quaint. Milton.

Syn. -- To terrify; frighten; alarm; dismay; appall; scare; startle; daunt; intimidate.

AFFRIGHT Af*fright", p. a.

Defn: Affrighted. [Obs.] Chaucer.

AFFRIGHT Af*fright", n.

1. Sudden and great fear; terror. It expresses a stronger impression than fear, or apprehension, perhaps less than terror. He looks behind him with affright, and forward with despair. Goldsmith.

2. The act of frightening; also, a cause of terror; an object of dread. B. Jonson.

AFFRIGHTEDLY Af*fright"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: With fright. Drayton.

AFFRIGHTEN Af*fright"en, v. t.

Defn: To frighten. [Archaic] "Fit tales . . . to affrighten babes." Southey.

AFFRIGHTER Af*fright"er, n.

Defn: One who frightens. [Archaic]

AFFRIGHTFUL Af*fright"ful, a.

Defn: Terrifying; frightful. -- Af*fright"ful*ly, adv. [Archaic] Bugbears or affrightful apparitions. Cudworth.

AFFRIGHTMENT Af*fright"ment, n.

Defn: Affright; the state of being frightened; sudden fear or alarm. [Archaic] Passionate words or blows . . . fill the child's mind with terror and affrightment. Locke.

AFFRONT Af*front", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affronted; p. pr. & vb. n. Affronting.] Etym: [OF. afronter, F. affronter, to confront, LL. affrontare to strike against, fr. L. ad + frons forehead, front. See Front.]

1. To front; to face in position; to meet or encounter face to face. [Obs.] All the sea-coasts do affront the Levant. Holland. That he, as 't were by accident, may here Affront Ophelia. Shak.

2. To face in defiance; to confront; as, to confront; as, to affront death; hence, to meet in hostile encounter. [Archaic]

3. To offend by some manifestation of disrespect; to insult to the face by demeanor or language; to treat with marked incivility. How can any one imagine that the fathers would have dared to affront the wife of Aurelius Addison.

Syn. -- TO insult; abuse; outrage; wound; illtreat; slight; defy; offend; provoke; pique; nettle.

AFFRONT Af*front", n. Etym: [Cf. F. affront, fr. affronter.]

1. An encounter either friendly or hostile. [Obs.] I walked about, admired of all, and dreaded On hostile ground, none daring my affront. Milton.

2. Contemptuous or rude treatment which excites or justifies resentment; marked disrespect; a purposed indignity; insult. Offering an affront to our understanding. Addison.

3. An offense to one's self-respect; shame. Arbuthnot.

Syn. -- Affront, Insult, Outrage. An affront is a designed mark of disrespect, usually in the presence of others. An insult is a personal attack either by words or actions, designed to humiliate or degrade. An outrage is an act of extreme and violent insult or abuse. An affront piques and mortifies; an insult irritates and provokes; an outrage wounds and injures. Captious persons construe every innocent freedom into an affront. When people are in a state of animosity, they seek opportunities of offering each other insults. Intoxication or violent passion impels men to the commission of outrages. Crabb.

AFFRONTE Af*fron*té", a. Etym: [F. affronté, p. p.] (Her.)

Defn: Face to face, or front to front; facing.

AFFRONTEDLY Af*front"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: Shamelessly. [Obs.] Bacon.

AFFRONTEE Af*fron*tee", n.

Defn: One who receives an affront. Lytton.

AFFRONTER Af*front"er, n.

Defn: One who affronts, or insults to the face.

AFFRONTINGLY Af*front"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In an affronting manner.

AFFRONTIVE Af*front"ive, a.

Defn: Tending to affront or offend; offensive; abusive. How affrontive it is to despise mercy. South.

AFFRONTIVENESS Af*front"ive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality that gives an affront or offense. [R.] Bailey.

AFFUSE Af*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affused; p. pr. & vb. n. Affusing.] Etym: [L. affusus, p. p. of affundere to pour to; ad + fundere. See Fuse.]

Defn: To pour out or upon. [R.] I first affused water upon the compressed beans. Boyle.

AFFUSION Af*fu"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. affusion.]

Defn: The act of pouring upon, or sprinkling with a liquid, as water upon a child in baptism. Specifically: (Med)

Defn: The act of pouring water or other fluid on the whole or a part of the body, as a remedy in disease. Dunglison.

AFFY Af*fy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affied; p. pr. Affying.] Etym: [OF. afier, LL. affidare. Cf. Affiance.]

1. To confide (one's self to, or in); to trust. [Obs.]

2. To betroth or espouse; to affiance. [Obs.] Shak.

3. To bind in faith. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

AFFY Af*fy", v. i.

Defn: To trust or confide. [Obs.] Shak.

AFGHAN Af"ghan, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Afghanistan.

AFGHAN Af"ghan, n.

1. A native of Afghanistan.

2. A kind of worsted blanket or wrap.

AFIELD A*field", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + field.]

1. To, in, or on the field. "We drove afield." Milton. How jocund did they drive their team afield! Gray.

2. Out of the way; astray. Why should he wander afield at the age of fifty-five! Trollope.

AFIRE A*fire", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + fire.]

Defn: On fire.

AFLAME A*flame", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flame.]

Defn: Inflames; glowing with light or passion; ablaze. G. Eliot.

AFLAT A*flat", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + flat.]

Defn: Level with the ground; flat. [Obs.] Bacon.

AFLAUNT A*flaunt", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flaunt.]

Defn: In a flaunting state or position. Copley.

AFLICKER A*flick"er, adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flicker.]

Defn: In a flickering state.

AFLOAT A*float", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + float.]

1. Borne on the water; floating; on board ship. On such a full sea are we now afloat. Shak.

2. Moving; passing from place to place; in general circulation; as, a rumor is afloat.

3. Unfixed; moving without guide or control; adrift; as, our affairs are all afloat.

AFLOW A*flow", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flow.]

Defn: Flowing. Their founts aflow with tears. R. Browning.

AFLUSH A*flush", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flush, n.]

Defn: In a flushed or blushing state.

AFLUSH A*flush", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flush, a.]

Defn: On a level. The bank is . . . aflush with the sea. Swinburne.

AFLUTTER A*flut"ter, adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flutter.]

Defn: In a flutter; agitated.

AFOAM A*foam", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + foam.]

Defn: In a foaming state; as, the sea is all afoam.

A. F. OF L. A. F. of L. (Abbrev.)

Defn: American Federation of Labor.

AFOOT A*foot", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + foot.]

1. On foot. We 'll walk afoot a while. Shak.

2. Fig.: In motion; in action; astir; in progress. The matter being afoot. Shak.

AFORE A*fore", adv. Etym: [OE. afore, aforn, AS. onforan or ætforan; pref. a- + fore.]

1. Before. [Obs.] If he have never drunk wine afore. Shak.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: In the fore part of a vessel.

AFORE A*fore", prep.

1. Before (in all its senses). [Archaic]

2. (Naut.)

Defn: Before; in front of; farther forward than; as, afore the windlass. Afore the mast, among the common sailors; -- a phrase used to distinguish the ship's crew from the officers.

AFORECITED A*fore"cit`ed, a.

Defn: Named or quoted before.

AFOREGOING A*fore"go`ing, a.

Defn: Going before; foregoing.

AFOREHAND A*fore"hand` adv.

Defn: Beforehand; in anticipation. [Archaic or Dial.] She is come aforehand to anoint my body. Mark xiv. 8.

AFOREHAND A*fore"hand`, a.

Defn: Prepared; previously provided; -- opposed to behindhand. [Archaic or Dial.] Aforehand in all matters of power. Bacon.

AFOREMENTIONED A*fore"men`tioned, a.

Defn: Previously mentioned; before-mentioned. Addison.

AFORENAMED A*fore"named`, a.

Defn: Named before. Peacham.

AFORESAID A*fore"said`, a.

Defn: Said before, or in a preceding part; already described or identified.

AFORETHOUGHT A*fore"thought`, a.

Defn: Premeditated; prepense; previously in mind; designed; as, malice aforethought, which is required to constitute murder. Bouvier.

AFORETHOUGHT A*fore"thought`, n.

Defn: Premeditation.

AFORETIME A*fore"time`, adv.

Defn: In time past; formerly. "He prayed . . . as he did aforetime." Dan. vi. 10.

A FORTIORI A for`ti*o"ri. Etym: [L.] (Logic & Math.)

Defn: With stronger reason.

AFOUL A*foul", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + foul.]

Defn: In collision; entangled. Totten. To run afoul of, to run against or come into collision with, especially so as to become entangled or to cause injury.

AFRAID A*fraid", p. a. Etym: [OE. afrayed, affraide, p. p. of afraien to affray. See Affray, and cf. Afeard.]

Defn: Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear; apprehensive. [Afraid comes after the noun it limits.] "Back they recoiled, afraid." Milton.

Note: This word expresses a less degree of fear than terrified or frightened. It is followed by of before the object of fear, or by the infinitive, or by a dependent clause; as, to be afraid of death. "I am afraid to die." "I am afraid he will chastise me." "Be not afraid that I your hand should take." Shak. I am afraid is sometimes used colloquially to soften a statement; as, I am afraid I can not help you in this matter.

Syn. -- Fearful; timid; timorous; alarmed; anxious.

AFREET Af"reet, n.

Defn: Same as Afrit.

AFRESH A*fresh", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + fresh.]

Defn: Anew; again; once more; newly. They crucify . . . the Son of God afresh. Heb. vi. 6.

AFRIC Af"ric, a.

Defn: African. -- n.

Defn: Africa. [Poetic]

AFRICAN Af"ri*can, a. Etym: [L. Africus, Africanus, fr. Afer African.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Africa. African hemp, a fiber prerared from the leaves of the Sanseviera Guineensis, a plant found in Africa and India. -- African marigold, a tropical American plant (Tagetes erecta). -- African oak or African teak, a timber furnished by Oldfieldia Africana, used in ship building. African violet African-American, a United States citizen of African descent.

AFRICAN Af"ri*can, n.

Defn: A native of Africa; also one ethnologically belonging to an African race.

AFRICANDER Af`ri*can"der, n.

Defn: One born in Africa, the offspring of a white father and a "colored" mother. Also, and now commonly in Southern Africa, a native born of European settlers.

AFRICANISM Af"ri*can*ism, n.

Defn: A word, phrase, idiom, or custom peculiar to Africa or Africans. "The knotty Africanisms . . . of the fathers." Milton.

AFRICANIZE Af"ri*can*ize, v. t.

Defn: To place under the domination of Africans or negroes. [Amer.] Bartlett.

AFRIT; AFRITE; AFREET Af"rit, Af"rite(#), Af"reet(#), n. Etym: [Arab. 'ifrit.] (Moham. Myth.)

Defn: A powerful evil jinnee, demon, or monstrous giant.

AFRONT A*front", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + front.]

Defn: In front; face to face. -- prep. In front of. Shak.

AFT Aft, adv. & a. Etym: [AS. æftan behind; orig. superl. of of, off. See After.] (Naut.)

Defn: Near or towards the stern of a vessel; astern; abaft.

AFTER Aft"er, a. Etym: [AS. æfter after, behind; akin to Goth. aftaro, aftra, backwards, Icel. aptr, Sw. and Dan. efter, OHG. aftar behind, Dutch and LG. achter, Gr. -ter is an old comparative suffix, in E. generally -ther (as in other), and after is a compar. of of, off. Of; cf. Aft.]

1. Next; later in time; subsequent; succeeding; as, an after period of life. Marshall.

Note: In this sense the word is sometimes needlessly combined with the following noun, by means of a hyphen, as, after-ages, after-act, after-days, after-life. For the most part the words are properly kept separate when after has this meaning.

2. Hinder; nearer the rear. (Naut.)

Defn: To ward the stern of the ship; -- applied to any object in the rear part of a vessel; as the after cabin, after hatchway.

Note: It is often combined with its noun; as, after-bowlines, after- braces, after-sails, after-yards, those on the mainmasts and mizzenmasts. After body (Naut.), the part of a ship abaft the dead flat, or middle part.

AFTER Aft"er, prep.

1. Behind in place; as, men in line one after another. "Shut doors after you." Shak.

2. Below in rank; next to in order. Shak. Codrus after PhDryden.

3. Later in time; subsequent; as, after supper, after three days. It often precedes a clause. Formerly that was interposed between it and the clause. After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Matt. xxvi. 32.

4. Subsequent to and in consequence of; as, after what you have said, I shall be careful.

5. Subsequent to and notwithstanding; as, after all our advice, you took that course.

6. Moving toward from behind; following, in search of; in pursuit of. Ye shall not go after other gods. Deut. vi. 14. After whom is the king of Israel come out 1 Sam. xxiv. 14.

7. Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to; as, to look after workmen; to inquire after a friend; to thirst after righteousness.

8. In imitation of; in conformity with; after the manner of; as, to make a thing after a model; a picture after Rubens; the boy takes after his father. To name or call after, to name like and reference to. Our eldest son was named George after his uncle. Goldsmith.

9. According to; in accordance with; in conformity with the nature of; as, he acted after his kind. He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes. Isa. xi. 3. They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. Rom. viii. 5.

10. According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting. [Archaic] He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk and currency, and not after their intrinsic value. Bacon. After all, when everything has been considered; upon the whole. -- After (with the same noun preceding and following), as, wave after wave, day after day, several or many (waves, etc.) successively. -- One after another, successively. -- To be after, to be in pursuit of in order to reach or get; as, he is after money.

AFTER Aft"er, adv.

Defn: Subsequently in time or place; behind; afterward; as, he follows after. It was about the space of three hours after. Acts. v. 7.

Note: After is prefixed to many words, forming compounds, but retaining its usual signification. The prefix may be adverbial, prepositional, or adjectival; as in after- described, after-dinner, after-part. The hyphen is sometimes needlessly used to connect the adjective after with its noun. See Note under After, a., 1.

AFTERBIRTH Aft"er*birth`, n. (Med.)

Defn: The placenta and membranes with which the fetus is connected, and which come away after delivery.

AFTERCAST Aft"er*cast`, n.

Defn: A throw of dice after the game in ended; hence, anything done too late. Gower.

AFTERCLAP Aft"er*clap`, n.

Defn: An unexpected subsequent event; something disagreeable happening after an affair is supposed to be at an end. Spenser.

AFTERCROP Aft"er*crop`, n.

Defn: A second crop or harvest in the same year. Mortimer.

AFTER DAMP Aft"er damp`.

Defn: An irrespirable gas, remaining after an explosion of fire damp in mines; choke damp. See Carbonic acid.

AFTER-DINNER Aft"er-din`ner(#), n.

Defn: The time just after dinner. "An after-dinner's sleep." Shak. [Obs.] -- a.

Defn: Following dinner; post-prandial; as, an after-dinner nap.

AFTER-EATAGE Aft"er-eat`age(#), n.

Defn: Aftergrass.

AFTEREYE Aft"er*eye`, v. t.

Defn: To look after. [Poetic] Shak.

AFTERGAME Aft"er*game`, n.

Defn: A second game; hence, a subsequent scheme or expedient. Wotton. Aftergame at Irish, an ancient game very nearly resembling backgammon. Beau. & Fl.

AFTER-GLOW Aft"er-glow(#), n.

Defn: A glow of refulgence in the western sky after sunset.

AFTERGRASS Aft"er*grass`, n.

Defn: The grass that grows after the first crop has been mown; aftermath.

AFTERGROWTH Aft"er*growth`, n.

Defn: A second growth or crop, or (metaphorically) development. J. S. Mill.

AFTERGUARD Aft"er*guard`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: The seaman or seamen stationed on the poop or after part of the ship, to attend the after-sails. Totten.

AFTER-IMAGE Aft"er-im`age(#), n.

Defn: The impression of a vivid sensation retained by the retina of the eye after the cause has been removed; also extended to impressions left of tones, smells, etc.

AFTERINGS Aft"er*ings, n. pl.

Defn: The last milk drawn in milking; strokings. [Obs.] Grose.

AFTERMATH Aft"er*math, n. Etym: [After + math. See Math.]

Defn: A second moving; the grass which grows after the first crop of hay in the same season; rowen. Holland.

AFTER-MENTIONED Aft"er-men`tioned(#), a.

Defn: Mentioned afterwards; as, persons after-mentioned (in a writing).

AFTERMOST Aft"er*most, a. superl. Etym: [OE. eftemest, AS. æftemest,akin to Gothic aftumist and aftuma, the last, orig. a superlative of of, with the superlative endings -te, -me, -st.]

1. Hindmost; -- opposed to foremost.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: Nearest the stern; most aft.

AFTERNOON Aft"er*noon", n.

Defn: The part of the day which follows noon, between noon and evening.

AFTER-NOTE Aft"er-note`(#), n. (Mus.)

Defn: One of the small notes occur on the unaccented parts of the measure, taking their time from the preceding note.

AFTERPAINS Aft"er*pains`, n. pl. (Med.)

Defn: The pains which succeed childbirth, as in expelling the afterbirth.

AFTERPIECE Aft"er*piece`, n.

1. A piece performed after a play, usually a farce or other small entertainment.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: The heel of a rudder.

AFTER-SAILS Aft"er-sails`(#), n. pl. (Naut.)

Defn: The sails on the mizzenmast, or on the stays between the mainmast and mizzenmast. Totten.

AFTERSENSATION Aft"er*sen*sa`tion, n. (Psychol.)

Defn: A sensation or sense impression following the removal of a stimulus producing a primary sensation, and reproducing the primary sensation in positive, negative, or complementary form. The aftersensation may be continuous with the primary sensation or follow it after an interval.

AFTERSHAFT Aft"er*shaft`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The hypoptilum.

AFTERTASTE Aft"er*taste`, n.

Defn: A taste which remains in the mouth after eating or drinking.

AFTERTHOUGHT Aft"er*thought`, n.

Defn: Reflection after an act; later or subsequent thought or expedient.

AFTERWARDS; AFTERWARD Aft"er*wards, Aft"er*ward, adv. Etym: [AS. æfteweard, a., behind. See Aft, and -ward (suffix). The final s in afterwards is adverbial, orig. a genitive ending.]

Defn: At a later or succeeding time.

AFTERWISE Aft"er*wise`, a.

Defn: Wise after the event; wise or knowing, when it is too late.

AFTER-WIT Aft"er-wit`, n.

Defn: Wisdom or perception that comes after it can be of use. "After- wit comes too late when the mischief is done." L'Estrange.

AFTER-WITTED Aft"er-wit`ted, a.

Defn: Characterized by afterwit; slow-witted. Tyndale.

AFTMOST Aft"most, a. (Naut.)

Defn: Nearest the stern.

AFTWARD Aft"ward, adv. (Naut.)

Defn: Toward the stern.

AGA; AGHA A*ga" or A*gha", n. Etym: [Turk. adha a great lord, chief master.]

Defn: In Turkey, a commander or chief officer. It is used also as a title of respect.

AGAIN A*gain", adv. Etym: [OE. agein, agayn, AS. ongegn, ongeán, against, again; on + geán, akin to Ger. gegewn against, Icel. gegn. Cf. Gainsay.]

1. In return, back; as, bring us word again.

2. Another time; once more; anew. If a man die, shall he live again Job xiv. 14.

3. Once repeated; -- of quantity; as, as large again, half as much again.

4. In any other place. [Archaic] Bacon.

5. On the other hand. "The one is my sovereign . . . the other again is my kinsman." Shak.

6. Moreover; besides; further. Again, it is of great consequence to avoid, etc. Hersche Again and again, more than once; often; repeatedly. -- Now and again, now and then; occasionally. -- To and again, to and fro. [Obs.] De Foe.

Note: Again was formerly used in many verbal combinations, as, again- witness, to witness against; again-ride, to ride against; again-come, to come against, to encounter; again-bring, to bring back, etc.

AGAIN; AGAINS A*gain", A*gains", prep.

Defn: Against; also, towards (in order to meet). [Obs.] Albeit that it is again his kind. Chaucer.

AGAINBUY A*gain"buy`, v. t.

Defn: To redeem. [Obs.] Wyclif.

AGAINSAY A*gain"say`, v. t.

Defn: To gainsay. [Obs.] Wyclif.

AGAINST A*gainst", prep. Etym: [OE. agens, ageynes, AS. ongegn. The s is adverbial, orig. a genitive ending. See Again.]

1. Abreast; opposite to; facing; towards; as, against the mouth of a river; -- in this sense often preceded by over. Jacob saw the angels of God come against him. Tyndale.

2. From an opposite direction so as to strike or come in contact with; in contact with; upon; as, hail beats against the roof.

3. In opposition to, whether the opposition is of sentiment or of action; on the other side; counter to; in contrariety to; hence, adverse to; as, against reason; against law; to run a race against time. The gate would have been shut against her. Fielding. An argument against the use of steam. Tyndale.

4. By of before the time that; in preparation for; so as to be ready for the time when. [Archaic or Dial.] Urijah the priest made it, against King Ahaz came from Damascus. 2 Kings xvi. 11. Against the sun, in a direction contrary to that in which the sun appears to move.

AGAINSTAND A*gain"stand`, v. t.

Defn: To withstand. [Obs.]

AGAINWARD A*gain"ward, adv.

Defn: Back again. [Obs.]

AGALACTIA; AGALAXY Ag`a*lac"ti*a, Ag"a*lax`y, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Failure of the due secretion of milk after childbirth.

AGALACTOUS Ag`a*lac"tous, a.

Defn: Lacking milk to suckle with.

AGAL-AGAL A`gal-a"gal, n.

Defn: Same as Agar-agar.

AGALLOCH; AGALLOCHUM Ag"al*loch, A*gal"lo*chum, n. Etym: [Gr. aguru, Heb. pl. ahalim.]

Defn: A soft, resinous wood (Aquilaria Agallocha) of highly aromatic smell, burnt by the orientals as a perfume. It is called also agalwood and aloes wood. The name is also given to some other species.

AGALMATOLITE Ag`al*mat"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite: cf. F. agalmatolithe.] (Min.)

Defn: A soft, compact stone, of a grayish, greenish, or yellowish color, carved into images by the Chinese, and hence called figure stone, and pagodite. It is probably a variety of pinite.

AGAMA Ag"a*ma, n.; pl. Agamas. Etym: [From the Caribbean name of a species of lizard.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of lizards, one of the few which feed upon vegetable substances; also, one of these lizards.

AGAMI Ag"a*mi, n.; pl. Agamis. Etym: [F. agex, fr. the native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A South American bird (Psophia crepitans), allied to the cranes, and easily domesticated; -- called also the gold-breasted trumpeter. Its body is about the size of the pheasant. See Trumpeter.

AGAMIC A*gam"ic, a. Etym: [Agamous.] (a) (Biol.) Produced without sexual union; as, agamic or unfertilized eggs. (b) Not having visible organs of reproduction, as flowerless plants; agamous.

AGAMICALLY A*gam"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In an agamic manner.

AGAMIST Ag"a*mist, n. Etym: [See Agamous.]

Defn: An unmarried person; also, one opposed to marriage. Foxe.

AGAMOGENESIS Ag`a*mo*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: Reproduction without the union of parents of distinct sexes: asexual reproduction.

AGAMOGENETIC Ag`a*mo*ge*net"ic, n. (Biol.)

Defn: Reproducing or produced without sexual union. -- Ag`a*mo*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv. All known agamogenetic processes end in a complete return to the primitive stock. Huxley.

AGAMOUS Ag"a*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: Having no visible sexual organs; asexual. In Bot., cryptogamous.

AGANGLIONIC A*gan`gli*o"nic, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + ganglionic.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Without ganglia.

AGAPE A*gape", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + gape.]

Defn: Gaping, as with wonder, expectation, or eager attention. Dazzles the crowd and sets them all agape. Milton.

AGAPE Ag"a*pe, n.; pl. Agapæ. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The love feast of the primitive Christians, being a meal partaken of in connection with the communion.

AGAR-AGAR A`gar-a"gar, n. Etym: [Ceylonese local name.]

Defn: A fucus or seaweed much used in the East for soups and jellies; Ceylon moss (Gracilaria lichenoides).

AGARIC Ag"a*ric, n. Etym: [L. agaricum, Gr. Agara, a town in Sarmatia.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A fungus of the genus Agaricus, of many species, of which the common mushroom is an example.

2. An old name for severwal species of Polyporus, corky fungi growing on decaying wood.

Note: The "female agaric" (Polyporus officinalic) was renowned as a cathartic; the "male agaric" (Polyporus igniarius) is used for preparing touchwood, called punk of German tinder. Agaric mineral, a light, chalky deposit of carbonate of lime, sometimes called rock milk, formed in caverns or fissures of limestone.

AGASP A*gasp", adv. & a. Etym: [. a- + gasp.]

Defn: In a state of gasping. Coleridge.

AGAST A*gast", p. p. & a.

Defn: See Aghast.

AGAST; AGHAST A*gast" or A*ghast", v. t.

Defn: To affright; to terrify. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.

AGASTRIC A*gas"tric, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: Having to stomach, or distinct digestive canal, as the tapeworm.

AGATE A*gate", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- on + gate way.]

Defn: On the way; agoing; as, to be agate; to set the bells agate. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

AGATE Ag"ate, n. Etym: [F. agate, It. agata, L. achates, fr. Gr.

1. (Min.)

Defn: A semipellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen. Its colors are delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds.

Note: The fortification agate, or Scotch pebble, the moss agate, the clouded agate, etc., are familiar varieties.

2. (Print.)

Defn: A kind of type, larger than pearl and smaller than nonpareil; in England called ruby.

Note: This line is printed in the type called agate.

3. A diminutive person; so called in allusion to the small figures cut in agate for rings and seals. [Obs.] Shak.

4. A tool used by gold-wire drawers, bookbinders, etc.; -- so called from the agate fixed in it for burnishing.

AGATIFEROUS Ag`a*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Agate + -ferous.]

Defn: Containing or producing agates. Craig.

AGATINE Ag"a*tine, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or like, agate.

AGATIZE Ag"a*tize, v. t. Etym: [Usually p. p. Agatized(#).]

Defn: To convert into agate; to make resemble agate. Dana.

AGATY Ag"a*ty, a.

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

AGAVE A*ga"ve, n. Etym: [L. Agave, prop. name, fr. Gr. (bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants (order Amaryllidaceæ) of which the chief species is the maguey or century plant (A. Americana), wrongly called Aloe. It is from ten to seventy years, according to climate, in attaining maturity, when it produces a gigantic flower stem, sometimes forty feet in height, and perishes. The fermented juice is the pulque of the Mexicans; distilled, it yields mescal. A strong thread and a tough paper are made from the leaves, and the wood has many uses.

AGAZED A*gazed", p. p. Etym: [Only in p. p.; another spelling for aghast.]

Defn: Gazing with astonishment; amazed. [Obs.] The whole army stood agazed on him. Shak.

AGE Age, n. Etym: [OF. aage, eage, F. âge, fr. L. aetas through a supposed LL. aetaticum. L. aetas is contracted fr. aevitas, fr. aevum lifetime, age; akin to E. aye ever. Cf. Each.]

1. The whole duration of a being, whether animal, vegetable, or other kind; lifetime. Mine age is as nothing before thee. Ps. xxxix. 5.

2. That part of the duration of a being or a thing which is between its beginning and any given time; as, what is the present age of a man, or of the earth

3. The latter part of life; an advanced period of life; seniority; state of being old. Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. Shak.

4. One of the stages of life; as, the age of infancy, of youth, etc. Shak.

5. Mature age; especially, the time of life at which one attains full personal rights and capacities; as, to come of age; he (or she) is of age. Abbott.

Note: In the United States, both males and females are of age when twenty-one years old.

6. The time of life at which some particular power or capacity is understood to become vested; as, the age of consent; the age of discretion. Abbott.

7. A particular period of time in history, as distinguished from others; as, the golden age, the age of Pericles. "The spirit of the age." Prescott. Truth, in some age or other, will find her witness. Milton. Archeological ages are designated as three: The Stone age (the early and the later stone age, called paleolithic and neolithic), the Bronze age, and the Iron age. During the Age of Stone man is supposed to have employed stone for weapons and implements. See Augustan, Brazen, Golden, Heroic, Middle.

8. A great period in the history of the Earth.

Note: The geologic ages are as follows: 1. The Archæan, including the time when was no life and the time of the earliest and simplest forms of life. 2. The age of Invertebrates, or the Silurian, when the life on the globe consisted distinctively of invertebrates. 3. The age of Fishes, or the Devonian, when fishes were the dominant race. 4. The age of Coal Plants, or Acrogens, or the Carboniferous age. 5. The Mesozoic or Secondary age, or age of Reptiles, when reptiles prevailed in great numbers and of vast size. 6. The Tertiary age, or age of Mammals, when the mammalia, or quadrupeds, abounded, and were the dominant race. 7. The Quaternary age, or age of Man, or the modern era. Dana.

9. A century; the period of one hundred years. Fleury . . . apologizes for these five ages. Hallam.

10. The people who live at a particular period; hence, a generation. "Ages yet unborn." Pope. The way which the age follows. J. H. Newman. Lo! where the stage, the poor, degraded stage, Holds its warped mirror to a gaping age. C. Sprague.

11. A long time. [Colloq.] "He made minutes an age." Tennyson. Age of a tide, the time from the origin of a tide in the South Pacific Ocean to its arrival at a given place. -- Moon's age, the time that has elapsed since the last preceding conjunction of the sun and moon.

Note: Age is used to form the first part of many compounds; as, agelasting, age-adorning, age-worn, age-enfeebled, agelong.

Syn. -- Time; period; generation; date; era; epoch.

AGE Age, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aged; p. pr. & vb. n. Aging.]

Defn: To grow aged; to become old; to show marks of age; as, he grew fat as he aged. They live one hundred and thirty years, and never age for all that. Holland. I am aging; that is, I have a whitish, or rather a light-colored, hair here and there. Landor.

AGE Age, v. t.

Defn: To cause to grow old; to impart the characteristics of age to; as, grief ages us.

AGED A"ged, a.

1. Old; having lived long; having lived almost to or beyond the usual time allotted to that species of being; as, an aged man; an aged oak.

2. Belonging to old age. "Aged cramps." Shak.

3. Having a certain age; at the age of; having lived; as, a man aged forty years.

AGEDLY A"ged*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of an aged person.

AGEDNESS A"ged*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being aged; oldness. Custom without truth is but agedness of error. Milton.

AGELESS Age"less, a.

Defn: Without old age limits of duration; as, fountains of ageless youth.

AGEN A*gen", adv. & prep.

Defn: See Again. [Obs.]

AGENCY A"gen*cy, n.; pl. Agencies. Etym: [agentia, fr. L. agens, agentis: cf. F. agence. See Agent.]

1. The faculty of acting or of exerting power; the state of being in action; action; instrumentality. The superintendence and agency of Providence in the natural world. Woodward.