Aguishness – Alhenna

Aguishness

A'GUISHNESS, noun Chilliness; the quality of being aguish.

Agul

A'GUL, noun A species of the hedysarum.

Ah

AH, An exclamation, expressive of surprise, pity, complaint, contempt, dislike, joy, exultation, etc., according to the manner of utterance.

Aha

'AH'A.

1. An exclamation expressing triumph, contempt, or simple surprise; but the senses are distinguished by very different modes of utterance, and different modification of features.

2. A sunk fence, not visible, without near approach.

Ahaniger

AHAN'IGER, noun A name of the gar-fish.

Ahead

AHEAD, adverb Ahed', [a and head, or at head.]

1. Further forward than another thing; in front; originally a sea term, denoting further forward than another ship, or on the point to which the stem is directed, in opposition to astern.

2. Onward; forward; towards the point before the stem or head; as, move ahead

3. Headlong; without restraint; precipitantly; as children suffered to run ahead [Not used.]

Aheight

AHEI'GHT, adverb [a and height.] Aloft; on high. [Not used.]

Ahiccyatli

AHICCYAT'LI, noun A poisonous serpent of Mexico, somewhat resembling the rattlesnake, but destitute of rattles. Its poison is as fatal as that of any known species of serpent.

Ahigh

AHI'GH, adverb On high. [Not used.]

Ahold

AHO'LD, adverb Near the wind; as, to lay a ship ahold [Not in use.]

Ahovai

AHOVAI, noun A trivial name synonymous with Cerbera, a very poisonous species of plum.

Ahoy

AHOY; , exclamation A sea term used in hailing.

Ahriman

AHRIMAN. [See Ariman.]

Ahuitla

AHUIT'LA, noun A worm found in the lake of Mexico, four inches in length, as thick as a goose-quill; the tail, which is hard and poisonous, contains a sting.

Ahuitzote

AHUIT'ZOTE, noun An amphibious quadruped of the tropical climate. of America, whose body is a foot long, its snout long and sharp, its skin of a mixed black and brown color.

Aia

A'IA, noun A Brazilian fowl of the spoon-bill kind, and resembling that bird in form and size.

Aicurus

AICU'RUS, noun A large and beautiful species of parrot, found in Brazil; its head beautifully variegated with yellow, red and violet colors; its body green; the tips of its wings red, and its tail long and yellow.

Aid

AID, verb transitive [Latin adjuto.

To help; to assist; to support, either by furnishing strength or means to effect a purpose, or to prevent or remove evil.

AID, noun

1. Help; succor; support; assistance.

2. The person who aids or yields support; a helper; an auxiliary; also the thing that aids or yields succor.

3. In English law, a subsidy or tax granted by parliament, and making a part of the king's revenue.

In France, aids are equivalent to customs, or duties on imports and exports.

4. In England, a tax paid by a tenant to his lord; originally a mere gift, which afterwards became a right demandable by the lord. the aids of this king were chiefly three.

1. To ransom the lord when a prisoner.

2. To make the lord's eldest son a knight.

3. To marry the lord's eldest daughter.

5. An aiddecamp, so called by abbreviation.

6. To pray in aid in law, is to call in a person interested in a title, to assist in defending it. Thus a tenant for life may pray in the aid of him in remainder or reversion; that is, he may pray or petition that he may be joined in the suit to aid or help maintain the title. This act or petition is called aid-prayer.

Court of aids, in France, is a court which has cognizance of causes respecting duties or customs.

Aidance

A'IDANCE, noun Aid; help; assistance. [little used.]

Aidant

A'IDANT, adjective Helping; helpful; supplying aid. [Not used.]

Aiddecamp

A'IDDECAMP, noun plur. Aiddecamps.]

In military affairs, an officer whose duty is to receive and communicate the orders of a general officer. [The pronunciation should be English, according to the orthography, not aid de cong.]

Aided

A'IDED, participle passive Assisted; supported; furnished with succor.

Aider

A'IDER, noun One who helps; an assistant, or auxiliary.

Aiding

A'IDING, participle present tense Helping; assisting.

Aidless

A'IDLESS, adjective Helpless; without aid; unsupported; undefended.

Aiglet

A'IGLET, noun

1. A tag of a point curved into the representation of an animal, generally of a man; a small plate of metal.

2. In botany, a pendant at the ends of the chives of flowers, as in the rose and tulip.

Aigret

A'IGRET, AIGRETTE, n. 1. In zoology, a name of the small white heron.2. In botany. [See Egret.]

Aigrette

A'IGRET, AIGRETTE noun

1. In zoology, a name of the small white heron.

2. In botany. [See Egret.]

Aigulet

A'IGULET, noun [Fr. Usually contracted into aiglet, which see.]

Aikraw

A'IKRAW, noun A popular name of a species of lichen, or moss.

Ail

AIL, verb transitive

To trouble; to affect with uneasiness, either of body or mind; used to express some uneasiness or affection, whose cause is unknown; as, what ails the man? I know not what ails him.

What aileth thee, Hagar? Genesis 21:17.

It is never used to express a specific disease. We never say, he ails a pleurisy; but it is unusual to say, he ails something; he ails nothing; nothing ails him.

AIL, noun Indisposition, or morbid affection.

Aile

AISLE, or AILE noun Pronounced Ile. [Latin ala.]

Ailing

A'ILING, participle present tense Diseased; indisposed; full of complaints.

Ailment

A'ILMENT, noun Disease; indisposition; morbid affection of the body; but the word is not applied ordinarily to acute diseases.

Aim

AIM, verb intransitive

To point at, with a missive weapon; to direct the intention or purpose; to attempt to reach, or accomplish; to tend towards; to endeavor; followed by at before the object; as, a man aims at distinction; or aims to be rich.

AIM, verb transitive To direct or point as a weapon; to direct to a particular object; as, to aim a musket or an arrow, the first or a blow; to aim a satire or a reflection at some person or vice.

AIM, noun

1. The pointing or direction of a missile weapon; the direction of any thing to a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it; as a spear, a blow, a discourse or remark.

2. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be affected; as, a man missed his aim

3. Figuratively, a purpose; intention; design; scheme; as, men are often disappointed of their aim

4. Conjecture; guess.

It is impossible, by aim to tell it. [Not used.]

Aimed

A'IMED, participle passive Pointed; directed; intended to strike or affect.

Aimer

A'IMER, noun One that aims.

Aiming

A'IMING, participle present tense Pointing a weapon at an object; directing any thing to an object; intending; purposing.

Aimless

A'IMLESS, adjective Without aim.

Air

AIR, noun [Latin aer; Heb. to shine. The radical sense is to open, expand; whence clear; or to flow, to shoot, to radiate.]

1. The fluid which we breathe. air is inodorous, invisible, insipid, colorless, elastic, possessed of gravity, easily moved, rarefied, and condensed.

Atmospheric air is a compound fluid, consisting of oxygen gas, and nitrogen or azote; the proportion of each is stated by chimists differently; some experiments making the oxygen a twenty-eighth part of a hundred; others, not more than a twenty-third, or something less. The latter is probably the true proportion.

Oxygen gas is called vital air The body of air surrounding the earth is called the atmosphere. The specific gravity of air is to that of water, nearly as 1 to 828. air is necessary to life; being inhaled into the lungs, the oxygenous part is separated from the azotic, and it is supposed to furnish the body with heat and animation. It is the medium of sounds and necessary to combustion.

2. air in motion; a light breeze.

Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play.

3. Vent; utterance abroad; publication; publicity; as, a story has taken air

You gave it air before me.

Wind is used in like manner.

4. A tune; a short song or piece of music adapted to words; also, the peculiar modulation of the notes, which gives music its character; as, a soft air A song or piece of poetry for singing; also, the leading part of a tune, or that which is intended to exhibit the greatest variety of melody.

5. The peculiar look, appearance, manner or mien of a person; as, a heavy air; the air of youth; a graceful air; a lofty air It is applied to manners or gestures, as well as to features.

6. Airs, in the plural, is used to denote an affected manner, show of pride, haughtiness; as, when it is said of a person, he puts on airs. The word is used also to express the artificial motions or carriage of a horse.

7. In painting, that which expresses the life of action; manner; gesture; attitude.

8. Any thing light or uncertain; that is light as air

Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks. obsolete

9. Advice; intelligence; information. obsolete

10. Different states of air are characterized by different epithets; as, good air foul air morning air evening air; and sometimes airs may have been used for ill-scent or vapor, but the use is not legitimate.

To take the air is to go abroad; to walk or ride a little distance.

To take air is to be divulged; to be made public.

AIR, verb transitive

1. To expose to the air; to give access to the open air; to ventilate; as, to air clothes; to air a room.

2. To expose to heat; to warm; as, to air liquors.

3. To dry by a fire; to expel dampness; as, to air linen.

Air-Balloon

A'IR-BALLOON. [See Balloon.]

Air-Bladder

A'IR-BLADDER, noun A vesicle or cuticle filled with air; also, the bladder of a fish.

Air-Born

A'IR-BORN, adjective Born of the air.

Air-Braving

A'IR-BRAVING, adjective Braving the winds.

Air-Built

A'IR-BUILT, adjective Erected in the air; having no solid foundation; chimerical; as, an air-built castle; air build hopes.

Air-Drawn

A'IR-DRAWN, adjective Drawn in air; imaginary.

Air-Gun

A'IR-GUN, noun A pneumatic engine, resembling a musket, to discharge bullets by means of the elastic force of compressed air.

Air-Holder

A'IR-HOLDER, noun [Air and hold.]

An instrument for holding air, for the purpose of counteracting the pressure of a decreasing column of mercury.

Air-Hole

A'IR-HOLE, noun An opening to admit or discharge air.

Air-Jacket

A'IR-JACKET, noun A leather jacket, to which are fastened bags or bladders filled with air, to render persons buoyant in swimming.

Air-Pipe

A'IR-PIPE, noun A pipe used to draw foul air from a ship's hold, by means of a communication with the furnace, and the rarefaction of the air by fire. This pipe is intended to supply the combustion with the air of the hold, by preventing the access of other air to the fire.

Air-Poise

A'IR-POISE, noun [Air and poise.]

An instrument to measure the weight of the air.

Air-Pump

A'IR-PUMP, noun A machine for exhausting the air of a vessel. The machines for this purpose are of different constructions.

Air-Sacs

A'IR-SACS, noun Air bags in birds, which are certain receptacles of air, or vesicles lodged in the fleshy parts, in the hollow bones and in the abdomen, which all communicate with the lungs. These are supposed to render the body specifically lighter, and to supply the place of a muscular diaphragm.

Air-Shaft

A'IR-SHAFT, noun A passage for air into a mine, usually opened in a perpendicular direction, and meeting the adits or horizontal passages, to cause a free circulation of fresh air through the mine.

Air-Stirring

A'IR-STIRRING, adjective Putting the air in motion.

Air-Thread

A'IR-THREAD, noun A name given to the spider's webs, which are often seen floating in the air. These filaments are attached to the tops or ends of branches or shrubs or trees, and serve to support the spider when in quest of prey.

Air-Threatening

A'IR-THREATENING, adjective Threatening the air; lofty.

Air-Vessel

A'IR-VESSEL, noun A spiral duct in plants contained air, and supposed to be analogous to the lungs in animals.

Aira

A'IRA, noun Hair grass, a genus of plants.

Aired

A'IRED, participle passive Exposed to air; cleansed by air; heated or dried by exposure to a fire; ventilated.

Airer

A'IRER, noun One who exposes to the air.

Airiness

A'IRINESS, noun

1. Exposure to a free current of air; openness to the air; as, the airiness of a country seat.

2. Gaiety; levity; as, the airiness of young persons.

Airing

A'IRING, participle present tense Exposing to the air; warming; drying.

A'IRING, noun An exposure to the air, or to a fire, for warming or drying; also, a walk or ride in the open air; a short excursion. The exercise of horses in the open air.

Airless

A'IRLESS, adjective Not open to a free current of air; wanting fresh air, or communication with open air.

Airling

A'IRLING, noun A thoughtless, gay person.

Airy

A'IRY, adjective

1. Consisting of air; as, an airy substance.

2. Relating or belonging to air; high in air; as, an airy flight; airy region.

3. Open to a free current of air; as, an airy situation.

4. Light as air; resembling air; thin; unsubstantial; without solidity; as, airy ghosts. An airy dress is one which admits air, and is cool.

5. Without reality; having no solid foundation; vain; trifling; as, an airy scheme; airy notions.

6. Gay; sprightly; full of vivacity and levity; light of heart; lively; as an airy girl.

A'IRY, or A'ery, noun [See Aery-light.] Among sportsmen, the nest of the hawk or eagle.

Airy-Flying

A'IRY-FLYING, adjective Flying like air.

Aisle

AISLE, or AILE, noun Pronounced Ile. [Latin ala.]

The wing of a quire; a walk in a church.

Aizoon

AIZO'ON, noun [Latin aizoon ] it seems to be composed of Gr. always, and Eng. aye, and living.]

A genus of plants, called by Miller sempervive. The name has, by some writers, been applied to the house leek and to the aloes.

Ajava

AJA'VA, noun The seed of a plant brought from Malabar, said to be an excellent carminative, and very useful in the colic.

Ajuga

AJU'GA, noun Bugle, a genus of plants.

Ajuru-Catinga

AJU'RU-CATINGA, noun A species of American parrot, of a green color, with eyes of a fiery red, encircled with white.

Ajuru-Curau

AJU'RU-CURAU, noun An American parrot, of a lively green color, with a blue crown; the throat, and sides of the head, of a fine yellow.

Ajuru-Para

AJU'RU-PARA, noun A small parrot of America, of a beautiful green, with the beak, legs and circlets of the eyes white.

Ajutage

AJ'UTAGE, or AD'JUTAGE, noun

A tube fitted to the mouth of a vessel, through which the water of a fountain is to be played.

Ake

AKE, verb intransitive Less properly written ache. [See Ache.]

1. To be in pain; usually, in pain of some continuance.

2. To feel distress of mind; to be grieved; as, the heart akes.

AKE, noun Continued pain, less severe than is expressed by pang, agony, and torment; as, the tooth-ake; head-ake. It is commonly used in composition with the name of the part affected, as head-ake.

Aker

A'KER, noun [Gr., Latin ager.]

Originally an open field. But in G. Britain the quantity of land in the aker is fixed by statute at four thousand eight hundred and forty square yards, making one hundred and sixty square rods, perches or poles; and this is the quantity of land it contains in the United States of America. [See Acre.]

Akin

AKIN', adjective [a or of and kin. See Kin.]

1. Related by blood, used of persons; as, the two families are near akin

2. Allied by nature; partaking of the same properties; as, envy and jealousy are near akin [This adjective is used only after the noun.]

Aking

A'KING, participle present tense Having continued pain; suffering distress of mind, or grief.

A'KING, noun Continued pain, or distress of mind.

Al

AL, in Arabic, an adjective or inseparable prefix. Its use is to render nouns definite, like the English the; as, alkoran, the koran or the book by eminence; alcove, alchimy, alembic, almanac, etc.

AL, In English, is sometimes a contraction of the Saxon athel, noble or illustrious.

More generally al in composition is a contraction of ald or alt, old, and it is prefixed to many names, as Alburg.

AL, in the composition of Latin words, is written before l for ad, for the ease of pronunciation; as, in allevo, alludo, for ad levo, ad ludo.

Alabaster

AL'ABASTER, noun [Latin from Gr.]

A sub-variety of carbonate of lime, found in large masses, formed by the deposition of calcarious particles in caverns of limestone rocks. These concretions have a foliated, fibrous or granular structure, and are of a pure white color, or more generally they present shades of yellow, red or brown, in undulating or concentric stripes, or in spots.

Among the ancients, alabaster was also the name of a vessel in which odoriferous liquors were kept; so called from the stone of which it was made. Also, the name of a measure, containing ten ounces of wine or nine of oil.

AL'ABASTER, adjective Made of alabaster or resembling it.

Alabastrum dendroide, a kind of laminated alabaster variegated with figures of shrubs and trees, found in the province of Hohenstein.

Alack

ALACK', exclamation

An exclamation expressive of sorrow.

Alackaday

ALACK'ADAY, An exclamation uttered to express regret or sorrow.

Alacriousness

ALAC'RIOUSNESS, noun Briskness. [Not used.]

Alacrity

ALAC'RITY, noun [Latin alacritas, from alacer, alaris.]

Cheerfulness; gaiety; sprightliness; more usually, a cheerful readiness or promptitude to do some act; cheerful willingness; as, the soldiers advanced with alacrity to meet the enemy.

Aladinists

ALAD'INISTS. Free thinkers among the Mohammedans.

Alalite

AL'ALITE, noun A crystallized mineral; diopside; a semi-transparent pyroxene. A variety with twelve sided prisms, was found by Bonvoisin, near the village of Ala in Piedmont, and by him called alalite

Alamire

ALAMIRE', noun The lowest note but one, in Guido Aretine's scale of music.

Alamodality

ALAMODAL'ITY, noun Conformity to the prevailing mode, or fashion of the times. [Little used.]

Alamode

ALAMO'DE, adverb According to the fashion or prevailing mode.

ALAMO'DE, noun A thin glossy silk for hoods, scarfs, etc.

Aland

ALAND', adverb At or on land.

Alarm

AL'ARM, noun

1. Any sound, outcry or information intended to give notice of approaching danger as, to sound an alarm

2. A summon to arms.

3. Sudden surprise with fear or terror; as, the fire or the enemy excited an alarm

4. Terror; a sensation excited by an apprehension of danger, from whatever cause; as, we felt an alarm at the cry of fire.

5. In fencing, an appeal or challenge.

AL'ARM, verb transitive

1. To give notice of danger; to rouse to vigilance, and exertions for safety.

2. To call to arms for defense.

3. To surprise with apprehension of danger; to disturb with terror; to fill with anxiety by the prospect of evil.

Alarm-Bell

AL'ARM-BELL, noun A bell that gives notice of danger.

Alarm-Post

AL'ARM-POST, noun A place to which troops are to repair in cases of an alarm.

Alarm-Watch

AL'ARM-WATCH, noun A watch that strikes the hour by regulated movement.

Alarmed

AL'ARMED, participle passive Notified of sudden danger; surprised with fear; roused to vigilance or activity by apprehension of approaching danger; solicitous at the prospect or expectation of evil. Thus, we are alarmed at the approach of danger, or alarmed for the safety of friends at sea.

Alarming

AL'ARMING, participle present tense Giving notice of approaching danger; rousing to vigilance; exciting solicitude by a prospect of evil.

AL'ARMING, adjective Exciting apprehension; terrifying; awakening a sense of danger; as, an alarming message.

Alarmingly

AL'ARMINGLY, adverb With alarm; in a manner to excite apprehension.

Alarmist

AL'ARMIST, noun One that excites alarm.

Alarum

ALARUM, For alarm, is a corruption, and is not to be used.

Alas

ALAS', exclamation

An exclamation expressive of sorrow, grief, pity, concern, or apprehension of evil; sometimes followed by day or while; alas the day, like alack a day; or alas the while, expressing an unhappy time.

Alate

ALA'TE, adverb Lately. [Not used.]

Alated

ALA'TED, adjective [Latin ala, a wing; alatus, winged.]

Winged; having dilatations like wings.

Alatern

AL'ATERN, noun A trivial name of a species of rhamnus or buckthorn.

Alb

ALB, noun [Latin albus, Gr. white.]

A surplice or vestment of white linen, reaching to the feet, worn by the Romish clergy. Also a Turkish coin, called also an asper, value one hundred and twelve mills.

Albatros

AL'BATROS, noun An aquatic fowl, belonging to the order of ansers. The bill is strait; the upper mandible crooked at the point, and the lower one truncated; the nostrils are oval, open and little prominent, and placed on the sides; the wings are pennated, and there are three webbed toes on each foot. The upper part of the body is of a spotted brown, and the belly white. It is of the size of a pelican or larger, very voracious, preying on fish and small water fowls. These fowls are seen, in great numbers, about the capes of the two continents, and on the northern shores of Asia. They are sometimes called the great gull.

Albegeois

ALBIGEN'SES, ALBEGEOIS noun A party of Reformers, who separated from the church of Rome, in the 12th century; so called from the albegeois a small territory in France, where they resided. They are sometimes confounded with the Waldenses; but they were prior to them in time, differed from them in some of their tenets, and resided in a different part of France. The Catholics made war upon them, and they gradually dwindled, till the reformation, when the remains of them fell in with the followers of Zuinglius and the Genevan Protestants.

Albeit

ALBE'IT, [This is supposed to be a compound of all, be and it, and is equivalent to admit, or grant it all.]

Be it so; admit all that; although; notwithstanding.

Whereas ye say, the Lord saith it, albeit I have not spoken. Ezekiel 8:1.

[This word is not antiquated.]

Albelen

AL'BELEN, noun A fish of the truttaceous or trout kind, found in the German lakes, weighing five or six pounds.

Albescent

ALBES'CENT, adjective [Latin albesco, to grow white.]

Becoming white, or rather, whitish; moderately white.

Albicore

AL'BICORE, noun A marine fish, like a tunny, noted for following ships.

Albigenses

ALBIGEN'SES, ALBEGEOIS, noun A party of Reformers, who separated from the church of Rome, in the 12th century; so called from the Albegeois, a small territory in France, where they resided. They are sometimes confounded with the Waldenses; but they were prior to them in time, differed from them in some of their tenets, and resided in a different part of France. The Catholics made war upon them, and they gradually dwindled, till the reformation, when the remains of them fell in with the followers of Zuinglius and the Genevan Protestants.

Albin

AL'BIN, noun [Latin albus, white.]

A mineral, of an opake white color, consisting of aggregated crystalline lamins, found in Bohemia.

This is regarded as a variety of apophyllite.

Albino

ALBI'NO, noun [Latin albus, white.]

A white descendant of black parents, or a white person belonging to a race of blacks. A person naturally white.

Albinos

ALBI'NOS, noun A name signifying white men, given by the Portuguese to the white negroes of Africa. The color of this race appears like that of persons affected with leprosy; and negroes look upon them as monsters.

Albion

AL'BION, noun An ancient name of England, still used in poetry. It is supposed this name was given to it on account of its white cliffs.

Albora

ALBO'RA, noun A sort of itch or rather leprosy, terminating without ulceration, but with fetid evacuations in the mouth and nostrils.

Alboro

ALBO'RO, noun The erythrinus, a small red fish of the Mediterranean.

Albugineous

ALBUGIN'EOUS, adjective [Latin albugo, the white spot in the eye, from albus white.]

Pertaining to or resembling the white of the eye, or of an egg.

Albugineous humor, the aqueous humor of the eye.

Albugo

ALBU'GO, noun The white speck in the eye, called the film, haw, dragon, pearl or cicatrice. Also a disease of the eye, occasioned by a white opake spot growing on the cornea and obstructing vision. It is called also leucoma, nebula, pannus oculi, onyx, unguis etc.

Albula

ALBU'LA, noun A species of truttaceous fish, destitute of teeth. The albula Indica is called by the Dutch wit-fish, and is of the size of a herring. The albula nobilis is a fish caught in the lakes of Germany.

Album

AL'BUM, noun [Latin albus, white.]

1. Among the Romans, a white table, board or register, on which the names of public officers and public transactions were entered.

2. A book, originally blank, in which foreigners or strangers insert autographs of celebrated persons, or in which friends insert pieces as memorials for each other.

Albumen

ALBU'MEN, noun [Latin from albus, white.]

The white of an egg. A like substance is a chief constituent in all animal solids.

Albuminous

ALBU'MINOUS, adjective Pertaining to, or having the properties of albumen.

Alburn

AL'BURN,

ALBURN'UM, noun [Latin alburnum, from albus, white.]

The white and softer part of wood, between the inner bark and wood. In America, it is popularly called the sap. This is annually acquiring hardness, and becoming wood.

AL'BURN, adjective [Latin alburnus, from albus, white.]

A fish called the bleak. It belongs to the order of abdominals, and the genus Cyprinus. It is five or six inches in length, and esteemed delicious food. Artificial pearls are made of its scales.

Alburnum

ALBURN'UM, n. [L. alburnum, from albus, white.]

The white and softer part of wood, between the inner bark and wood. In America, it is popularly called the sap. This is annually acquiring hardness, and becoming wood.

Alcahest

AL'CAHEST, or ALKAHEST, noun

A pretended universal dissolvent, or menstruum.

Alcaic

ALCA'IC, adjective Pertaining to Alcaeus, a Lyric poet of Mitylene, in Lesbos, who flourished about the forty-fourth Olympiad; or to other poets of the same name, of which three are mentioned; one an Athenian tragic poet, and another a Messenian.

Alcaics

ALCA'ICS, noun plural Several kinds of verse; so called from Alcaeus, their inventor. One kind consists of five feet, a spondee or iambic, an iambic, a long syllable and two dactyls.

Alcaid

ALCA'ID,

Among the Moors, Spaniards and Portuguese, a governor. In Portugal, the chief civil magistrate of a town or city; also the jurisdiction of certain judges of appeal. In Spain, the governor of a castle or fort; also a jailer.

Alcanna

ALCAN'NA, noun A plant; and a powder, prepared from the leaves of the Egyptian privet, used by the Turkish females to give a golden color to the nails and hair. Infused in water it forms a yellow color; with vinegar, it forms a red. From the berries is extracted an oil, used in medicine. In Cairo, it forms an article of commerce.

Alcatraz

AL'CATRAZ, noun The Spanish name of the Pelecanus Onocrotalus of Linne; a pelican; also a fish taken on the coast of India.

Alcavala

ALCAV'ALA, noun In Spain, a tax on every transfer of property, real or personal.

Alcedo

ALCE'DO, noun [Latin]

The king fisher; a genus of birds, of the order of Picae. The species are numerous. They usually live about rivers, feeding on fish, which they take by darting into the water with surprising velocity. [See Halcyon.]

Alchimic

ALCHIM'IC,

ALCHIM'ICAL

ALCHIM'ICALLY, adjective Relating to alchimy, or produced by it.

adv. In the manner of alchimy.

Alchimical

ALCHIM'ICAL, a. Relating to alchimy, or produced by it.

adv. In the manner of alchimy.

Alchimically

ALCHIM'ICALLY, a. Relating to alchimy, or produced by it.

adv. In the manner of alchimy.

Alchimist

AL'CHIMIST, noun One who practices alchimy.

Alchimistic

ALCHIMIST'IC,

ALCHIMIST'ICAL, adjective Practicing alchimy, or relating to it.

Alchimistical

ALCHIMIST'ICAL, a. Practicing alchimy, or relating to it.

Alchimy

AL'CHIMY, noun [See Chimistry.]

1. The more sublime and difficult part of chimistry, and chiefly such as relate to the transmutation of metals are gold, the finding a universal remedy for diseases, and an alkabest or universal solvent, and other things now treated as ridiculous. This pretended science was much cultivated in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but is now held in contempt.

2. formerly, a mixed metal used for utensils.

Alcmanian

ALCMA'NIAN, adjective Pertaining to Alcman, a lyric poet of the twenty-seventh Olympiad, celebrated for his amorous verses. The alcmanian verse consisted of two dactyls and two trochees.

Alco

AL'CO, noun a quadruped of America, nearly resembling a dog, but mute and melancholy; and this circumstance seems to have given rise to the fable that dogs, transported to America become mute. The animal was used for food by the native Americans, and the first Spanish settlers; but it is said to be now extinct. It is known also by the name of Techichi.

Alcohol

AL'COHOL, noun [Heb. to paint with a preparation of powder of antimony. The oriental females still practice the painting of the eye brows with this material. The name was applied to this substance, and afterwards to other fine powders, and to highly rectified spirits.]

Pure or highly rectified spirit, obtained from formented liquors by distillation. It consists of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. it is extremely light and inflammable, and a powerful stimulant and antiseptic. This is the usual sense of the word; but originally, in Arabic, it signified a fine impalpable powder, in which sense it is still used.

Alcoholic

ALCOHOL'IC, adjective Pertaining to alcohol, or partaking of its qualities.

Alcoholization

ALCOHOLIZA'TION, noun the act of rectifying spirit, till it is wholly dephlegmatedor of reducing a substance to an impalpable powder.

Alcoholize

AL'COHOLIZE, verb transitive To convert into alcohol; to rectify spirit till it is wholly dephlegmated; also, to reduce a substance to an impalpable powder.

Alcor

AL'COR, noun A small star adjoining to the large bright one in the middle of the tail of Ursa Major.

Alcoran

ALCORAN. [See Koran and Alkoran.]

Alcove

AL'COVE or ALCO'VE, noun [Eng. cubby.]

1. A recess, or part of a room, separated by an estrade, or partition of columns, or by other corresponding ornaments; in which is placed a bed of state, and sometimes seats for company. The bed is sometimes raised two or three steps, with a rail at the foot. These are frequent in Spain.

2. A recess in a library, or small lateral apartment for books.

Alcyon

AL'CYON, noun A trivial name of the kingfisher. [See Halcyon.]

Alcyonite

AL'CYONITE, noun A fossil zoophite, somewhat resembling a fungus.

Alcyonium

ALCYO'NIUM, noun The name of a submarine plant, or bastard spunge. Also a kind of astroit or coral, a fossil found in England.

Alder

AL'DER, noun [Latin alnus.]

A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus Alnus. The name is applied also to some species of other genera.

Alderman

ALD'ERMAN, noun plural Aldermen.

1. Among our Saxon ancestors, a senior or superior. The title was applied to princes, dukes, earls, senators and presiding magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom or authority. Thus, Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called alderman of all England; and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective districts.

2. In present usage, a magistrate or officer of a town corporate, next in rank below the mayor. The number of aldermen is different in different cities. In London the number is twenty-six, one in each ward, and the office is held for life.

In the United States, the number of aldermen depends on the charters of incorporation. In general, aldermen have the powers of a justice of the peace, and with the mayor, they constitute the court of the corporation. In most of our cities, they are annually elected by the citizens.

Aldermanly

AL'DERMANLY, adjective Pertaining to or like an alderman.

Aldern

AL'DERN, adjective Made of Alder.

Ale

ALE, noun

1. A liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation. It differs from beer, in having a smaller proportion of hops. It is of different sorts, chiefly pale and brown; the first made from malt slightly dried; the second, from malt more considerably dried or roasted. ale was the common drink of the ancient inhabitants of Europe. It is usually made with barley; but sometimes with wheat, rye, millet, oats, etc.

2. A merry meeting in English country places, so called from the liquor drank.

Medicated Ales are those which are prepared for medicinal purposes, by an infusion of herbs during fermentation.

Ale-Bench

A'LE-BENCH, noun A bench in or before an ale house.

Ale-Berry

A'LE-BERRY, noun A beverage, made by boiling ale with spice, sugar and sops of bread.

Ale-Brewer

A'LE-BREWER, noun One whose occupation is to brew ale.

Ale-Conner

A'LE-CONNER, noun [ale and con, to know or see.]

An officer in London, whose business is to inspect the measures used in public houses, to prevent frauds in selling liquors. four of these are chosen annually by the livery men, in common hall, on midsummer's day.

Ale-Cost

A'LE-COST, noun Costmary, a plant, a species of Tanacetum.

Ale-Fed

A'LE-FED, adjective Fed with ale.

Ale-Gar

A'LE-GAR, noun Sour ale; the acid of ale.

Ale-Hoof

A'LE-HOOF, noun

Ground-ivy, the glechoma hederacea, of Linne. The leaves of this plant are used to clarify and give flavor to ale.

Ale-House

A'LE-HOUSE, noun a house where ale is retailed; and hence a tipling house.

Ale-House-Keeper

A'LE-HOUSE-KEEPER, noun One who keeps an ale-house.

Ale-Knight

A'LE-KNIGHT, noun a pot companion.

Ale-Shot

A'LE-SHOT, noun A reckoning to be paid for ale.

Ale-Silver

A'LE-SILVER, noun A duty paid to the Lord Mayor of London, by the sellers of ale within the city.

Ale-Stake

A'LE-STAKE, noun a stake set as a sign before an ale-house.

Ale-Taster

A'LE-TASTER, noun An officer appointed in every court leet, and sworn, to inspect ale, beer and bread, and examine the quality and quantity within the precincts of the lordship.

Ale-Vat

A'LE-VAT, noun a vat in which ale is fermented.

Ale-Washed

A'LE-WASHED, adjective Steeped or soaked in ale.

Ale-Wife

A'LE-WIFE, noun a woman who keeps an ale house.

Alectryomancy

ALECTRYOM'ANCY, noun [Gr. a cock and divination.]

An ancient practice of foretelling events by means of a cock. The twenty four letters were laid on the ground, and a grain of corn on each; a cock was then permitted to pick up the grains, and the letters under the grains selected, being formed into words, were supposed to foretell the event desired.

Alee

ALEE', adverb [a or at and lee. See Lee.]

In seaman's language, on the side opposite to the wind, that is opposite to the side on which it strikes. The helm of a ship is alee when pressed close to the see side.

Hard alee or luff alee is an order to put the helm to the lee side.

Helm's alee that is, the helm is alee a notice given as an order to the seamen to cause the head-sails to shake in the wind, with a view to bring the ship about.

Aleger

A'LEGER, adjective [Latin alacer.]

Gay; cheerful; sprightly. [Not used.]

Alegge

ALEGGE, verb intransitive To lighten; to lessen; to assuage. [Not used.]

Alembdar

ALEMB'DAR, noun In Turkey, an officer who bears the green standard of Mohammed, when the Sultan appears in public.

Alembic

ALEM'BIC, noun

A chimical vessel used in distillation; usually made of glass or copper. The bottom part containing the liquor to be distilled, is called the cucurbit; the upper part which receives and condenses the stream, is called the head, the beak of which is fitted to the neck of a receiver. The head is more properly the alembic This vessel is not so generally used now, as the worm still and retort.

Alength

ALENGTH', adverb [a and length.]

At full length; along; stretched at full length.

Alepidote

ALEP'IDOTE, noun [Gr. a scale.]

Any fish whose skin is not covered with scales.

Alert

ALERT', adjective

1. Watchful; vigilant; active in vigilance. hence the military phrase, upon the alert upon the watch, guarding against surprise or danger.

2. Brisk; nimble; moving the celerity.

Alertness

ALERT'NESS, noun Briskness; nimbleness; sprightliness; levity.

Aleuromancy

ALEUROM'ANCY, noun [Gr. meal and divination.]

A kind of divination by meal, used by the ancients.

Aleutian

ALEU'TIAN, or ALEU'TIC, adjective Designating certain isles in the Pacific ocean, eastward of Kamtschatka, extending northeastward towards America. The word is formed from aleut, which, in Russia, is a bald rock.

Aleutic

ALEU'TIAN, or ALEU'TIC, adjective Designating certain isles in the Pacific ocean, eastward of Kamtschatka, extending northeastward towards America. The word is formed from aleut, which, in Russia, is a bald rock.

Alewife

A'LEWIFE, or A'LOOF, noun

An American fish, belonging to the genus Clupea, and called Clupea Serrata. it resembles the herring. The established pronunciation is alewife plu alewives.

Alexanders

ALEX'ANDERS, noun The name of a plant of the genus Smyrnium.

ALEX'ANDER'S FOOT, noun The name of a plant.

Alexandrian

ALEX'ANDRIAN, noun Pertaining to Alexandria. There are many cities of this name, in various parts of the earth. The term is often applied an attribute, or used as a noun, for one who professed or taught the sciences in the school of Alexandria in Egypt; a place highly celebrated for its literature and magnificence, and whose library, it is said, consisted of 700, 000 volumes. The Persians and Turks write for Alexander, Scander, or Sconder; and for Alexandria, Scanderona; hence Scanderoon, a sea port in Syria.

Alexandrine

ALEX'ANDRINE, or ALEXANDRIAN, noun A kind of verse, consisting of twelve syllables, or of twelve and thirteen alternately; so called from a poem written in French on the life of Alexander. This species of verse is peculiar to modern poetry, but well adapted to epic poems. The alexandrine in English consists of twelve syllables, and is less used than this kind of verse is among the French, whose tragedies are generally composed of Alexandrines.

Alexipharmic

ALEXIPH'ARMIC, adjective [Gr. to expel, and poison.]

Expelling poison; antidotal; sudorific; that has the quality of expelling poison or infection by sweat.

ALEXIPH'ARMIC, noun A medicine that is intended to obviate the effects of poison; an antidote to poison or infection. By the Greeks, the word was used for an amulet.

Alexiterial

ALEXITE'RIAL, adjective [Gr. to expel, and poison.]

Resisting poison; obviating the effects of venom.

ALEXITER'IC

Alexiteric

ALEXITER'IC,

ALEXITER'ICAL, noun A medicine to resist the effects of poison, or the bite of venomous animals; nearly synonymous with alexipharmic. Used also by the Greeks for an amulet.

Alexiterical

ALEXITER'ICAL, n. A medicine to resist the effects of poison, or the bite of venomous animals; nearly synonymous with alexipharmic. Used also by the Greeks for an amulet.

Algarot

AL'GAROT, or AL'GAROTH, noun The name of an emetic powder, prepared from the regulus of antimony, dissolved in acids, and separated by repeated lotions in warm water. It is either an Arabic term, or the name of the inventor, a physician of Verona.

Algaroth

AL'GAROT, or AL'GAROTH, noun The name of an emetic powder, prepared from the regulus of antimony, dissolved in acids, and separated by repeated lotions in warm water. It is either an Arabic term, or the name of the inventor, a physician of Verona.

Algates

ALGATES, adverb By all means; on any terms.

Algebra

AL'GEBRA, noun [Ar. the reduction of parts to a whole, or fractions to whole numbers from the verb, which signifies to consolidate; Heb. to be strong.]

The science of quantity in general, or universal arithmetic. algebra is a general method computation, in which signs and symbols, which are commonly the letters of the alphabet, are made to represent numbers and quantities. It takes an known quantity sought, as if granted; and, by means of one or more quantities given, proceeds till the quantity supposed is discovered, by some other known quantity to which it is equal.

This science was of Oriental discovery; but whether among the Arabians or Indians, is uncertain.

Algebraic

ALGEBRA'IC,

ALGEBRA'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to algebra; containing an operation of Algebra, or deduced from such operation.

Algebraic curve, a figure whose intercepted diameters bear always the same proportion to their respective ordinates.

Algebraical

ALGEBRA'ICAL, a. Pertaining to algebra; containing an operation of Algebra, or deduced from such operation. Algebraic curve, a figure whose intercepted diameters bear always the same proportion to their respective ordinates.

Algebraist

ALGEBRA'IST, noun One who is versed in the science of algebra.

Algeneb

AL'GENEB, noun A fixed star of the second magnitude, in the right side of Perseus; Long. 27 degrees 46' 12' of Taurus; Lat. 30 degrees 05' 28' North.

Algerine

ALGERINE', noun [from Algiers.] A native of Algiers, a city and a government on the coast of Africa.

ALGERINE', adjective Belonging to Algiers.

Algid

AL'GID, adjective [Latin algidus.] Cold. [Not used.]

Algol

AL'GOL, noun A fixed star of the third magnitude, called Medusa's head, in Perseus; Long. 21 degrees 50' 42' of Taurus; Lat 23 degrees 23' 47' North.

Algor

AL'GOR, noun [Lat.] Among physicians, an unusual coldness in any part of the body.

Algorism

AL'GORITHM, or AL'GORISM, noun An arabic term, signifying numerical computation, or the six operations of arithmetic.

Algorithm

AL'GORITHM, or AL'GORISM, noun An arabic term, signifying numerical computation, or the six operations of arithmetic.

Algous

AL'GOUS, adjective [Latin alga, sea weed.] Pertaining to sea weed; abounding with, or like sea weed.

Algum

AL'GUM, noun In scripture, a tree or wood about which the learned are not agreed. The most probably conjecture is that the word denotes gummy or resinous wood in general.

The Vulgate translates it ligna thyina, and the Septuagint, wrought-wood; others, ebony, bravil or pine, and the Rabbins render it coral. It was used for musical instruments, stair cases, etc.

The thyinum is the citron tree, from Mauritania, much esteemed by the ancients for its fragrance and beauty. The almug, almugim, or algumin, or simply gummin is most probably a gummy wood, and perhaps may be the Shittim, often mentioned in Scripture. See 1 Kings 10:11.

Alhenna

ALHEN'NA, noun [See Alkenna.]