9 letter word starting with a

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Words Parts of Speech Meaning/Definition/Similar Words
aard-vark noun An edentate mammal, of the genus Orycteropus, somewhat resembling a pig, common in some parts of Southern Africa. It burrows in the ground, and feeds entirely on ants, which it catches with its long, slimy tongue.
aard-wolf noun A carnivorous quadruped (Proteles Lalandii), of South Africa, resembling the fox and hyena. See Proteles.
aaronical adjective Pertaining to Aaron, the first high priest of the Jews.
abacinate verb t. To blind by a red-hot metal plate held before the eyes.
abaciscus noun One of the tiles or squares of a tessellated pavement; an abaculus.
abactinal adjective Pertaining to the surface or end opposite to the mouth in a radiate animal; — opposed to actinal.
abaisance noun Obeisance.
abandoned imp. & past participle of Abandon, Forsaken, deserted., Self-abandoned, or given up to vice; extremely wicked, or sinning without restraint; irreclaimably wicked ; as, an abandoned villain.
abandonee noun One to whom anything is legally abandoned.
abandoner noun One who abandons.
abasement noun The act of abasing, humbling, or bringing low; the state of being abased or humbled; humiliation.
abashedly adverb In an abashed manner.
abashment noun The state of being abashed; confusion from shame.
abatement noun The act of abating, or the state of being abated; a lessening, diminution, or reduction; removal or putting an end to; as, the abatement of a nuisance is the suppression thereof., The amount abated; that which is taken away by way of reduction; deduction; decrease; a rebate or discount allowed., A mark of dishonor on an escutcheon., The entry of a stranger, without right, into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee.
abattoirs plural of Abattoir
abbatical adjective Abbatial.
abbotship noun The state or office of an abbot.
abdicable adjective Capable of being abdicated.
abdicated imp. & past participle of Abdicate
abdicator noun One who abdicates.
abdominal adjective Of or pertaining to the abdomen; ventral; as, the abdominal regions, muscles, cavity., Having abdominal fins; belonging to the Abdominales; as, abdominal fishes., A fish of the group Abdominales.
abducting present participle & vb. noun of Abduct
abduction noun The act of abducing or abducting; a drawing apart; a carrying away., The movement which separates a limb or other part from the axis, or middle line, of the body., The wrongful, and usually the forcible, carrying off of a human being; as, the abduction of a child, the abduction of an heiress., A syllogism or form of argument in which the major is evident, but the minor is only probable.
abearance noun Behavior.
abecedary adjective Pertaining to, or formed by, the letters of the alphabet; alphabetic; hence, rudimentary., A primer; the first principle or rudiment of anything.
abelonian noun One of a sect in Africa (4th century), mentioned by St. Augustine, who states that they married, but lived in continence, after the manner, as they pretended, of Abel.
aberrance noun Alt. of Aberrancy
aberrancy noun State of being aberrant; a wandering from the right way; deviation from truth, rectitude, etc.
abhominal adjective Inhuman.
abhorring present participle & vb. noun of Abhor, Detestation., Object of abhorrence.
abhorrent adjective Abhorring; detesting; having or showing abhorrence; loathing; hence, strongly opposed to; as, abhorrent thoughts., Contrary or repugnant; discordant; inconsistent; — followed by to., Detestable.
abidingly adverb Permanently.
abietinic adjective Of or pertaining to abietin; as, abietinic acid.
abiliment noun Habiliment.
abilities plural of Ability
abjection noun The act of bringing down or humbling., The state of being rejected or cast out., A low or downcast state; meanness of spirit; abasement; degradation.
ablactate verb t. To wean.
abnegated imp. & past participle of Abnegate
abnegator noun One who abnegates, denies, or rejects anything.
abnormity noun Departure from the ordinary type; irregularity; monstrosity.
abnormous adjective Abnormal; irregular.
abodement noun A foreboding; an omen.
abolished imp. & past participle of Abolish
abolisher noun One who abolishes.
abolition noun The act of abolishing, or the state of being abolished; an annulling; abrogation; utter destruction; as, the abolition of slavery or the slave trade; the abolition of laws, decrees, ordinances, customs, taxes, debts, etc.
abominate verb t. To turn from as ill-omened; to hate in the highest degree, as if with religious dread; loathe; as, to abominate all impiety.
abortment noun Abortion.
abounding present participle & vb. noun of Abound
abovedeck adjective On deck; and hence, like aboveboard, without artifice.
abovesaid adjective Mentioned or recited before.
abrahamic adjective Pertaining to Abraham, the patriarch; as, the Abrachamic covenant.
abram-man noun One of a set of vagabonds who formerly roamed through England, feigning lunacy for the sake of obtaining alms.
abreption noun A snatching away.
abreuvoir noun The joint or interstice between stones, to be filled with mortar.
abridging present participle & vb. noun of Abridge
abrogable adjective Capable of being abrogated.
abrogated imp. & past participle of Abrogate
abrogator noun One who repeals by authority.
abruption noun A sudden breaking off; a violent separation of bodies.
abscesses plural of Abscess
abscision noun See Abscission.
abscisses plural of Absciss
abscissas plural of Abscissa
abscissae plural of Abscissa
absconded imp. & past participle of Abscond
absconder noun One who absconds.
absenting present participle & vb. noun of Absent
absinthic adjective Relating to the common wormwood or to an acid obtained from it.
absinthin noun The bitter principle of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium).
absolving present participle & vb. noun of Absolve
absolvent adjective Absolving., An absolver.
absorbing present participle & vb. noun of Absorb, Swallowing, engrossing; as, an absorbing pursuit.
absorbent adjective Absorbing; swallowing; absorptive., Anything which absorbs., Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also a substance e. g., iodine) which acts on the absorbent vessels so as to reduce enlarged and indurated parts., The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants.
abstained imp. & past participle of Abstain
abstainer noun One who abstains; esp., one who abstains from the use of intoxicating liquors.
abstinent adjective Refraining from indulgence, especially from the indulgence of appetite; abstemious; continent; temperate., One who abstains., One of a sect who appeared in France and Spain in the 3d century.
abstorted adjective Wrested away.
abstringe verb t. To unbind.
absurdity noun The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment., That which is absurd; an absurd action; a logical contradiction.
abundance noun An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; wealth: — strictly applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number.
abusively adverb In an abusive manner; rudely; with abusive language.
abysmally adverb To a fathomless depth; profoundly.
academial adjective Academic.
academian noun A member of an academy, university, or college.
academism noun The doctrines of the Academic philosophy.
academist noun An Academic philosopher., An academician.
academies plural of Academy
acalephan noun One of the Acalephae.
acalephae noun pl. A group of Coelenterata, including the Medusae or jellyfishes, and hydroids; — so called from the stinging power they possess. Sometimes called sea nettles.
acalycine adjective Alt. of Acalysinous
acanthine adjective Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the plant acanthus.
acapsular adjective Having no capsule.
accedence noun The act of acceding.
accension noun The act of kindling or the state of being kindled; ignition.
accenting present participle & vb. noun of Accent
accentual adjective Of or pertaining to accent; characterized or formed by accent.
accepting present participle & vb. noun of Accept
acceptant adjective Accepting; receiving., An accepter.
acception noun Acceptation; the received meaning.
acceptive adjective Fit for acceptance., Ready to accept.
accessary adjective Accompanying, as a subordinate; additional; accessory; esp., uniting in, or contributing to, a crime, but not as chief actor. See Accessory., One who, not being present, contributes as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense.
accession noun A coming to; the act of acceding and becoming joined; as, a king’s accession to a confederacy., Increase by something added; that which is added; augmentation from without; as, an accession of wealth or territory., A mode of acquiring property, by which the owner of a corporeal substance which receives an addition by growth, or by labor, has a right to the part or thing added, or the improvement (provided the thing is not changed into a different species). Thus, the owner of a cow becomes the owner of her calf., The act by which one power becomes party to engagements already in force between other powers., The act of coming to or reaching a throne, an office, or dignity; as, the accession of the house of Stuart; — applied especially to the epoch of a new dynasty., The invasion, approach, or commencement of a disease; a fit or paroxysm.
accessive adjective Additional.
accessory adjective Accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; additional; connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal; contributing or contributory; said of persons and things, and, when of persons, usually in a bad sense; as, he was accessory to the riot; accessory sounds in music., That which belongs to something else deemed the principal; something additional and subordinate., Same as Accessary, n., Anything that enters into a work of art without being indispensably necessary, as mere ornamental parts.
accidence noun The accidents, of inflections of words; the rudiments of grammar., The rudiments of any subject.
accipient noun A receiver.
accipiter noun A genus of rapacious birds; one of the Accipitres or Raptores., A bandage applied over the nose, resembling the claw of a hawk.
acclaimer noun One who acclaims.
acclimate verb t. To habituate to a climate not native; to acclimatize.
acclivity noun A slope or inclination of the earth, as the side of a hill, considered as ascending, in opposition to declivity, or descending; an upward slope; ascent.
acclivous adjective Sloping upward; rising as a hillside; — opposed to declivous.
accompany verb t. To go with or attend as a companion or associate; to keep company with; to go along with; — followed by with or by; as, he accompanied his speech with a bow., To cohabit with., To associate in a company; to keep company., To cohabit (with)., To perform an accompanying part or parts in a composition.
according present participle & vb. noun of Accord, Agreeing; in agreement or harmony; harmonious., Accordingly; correspondingly.
accordant adjective Agreeing; consonant; harmonious; corresponding; conformable; — followed by with or to.
accordion noun A small, portable, keyed wind instrument, whose tones are generated by play of the wind upon free metallic reeds.
accosting present participle & vb. noun of Accost
accounted imp. & past participle of Account
accourage verb t. To encourage.
accoutred of Accoutre
accretion noun The act of increasing by natural growth; esp. the increase of organic bodies by the internal accession of parts; organic growth., The act of increasing, or the matter added, by an accession of parts externally; an extraneous addition; as, an accretion of earth., Concretion; coherence of separate particles; as, the accretion of particles so as to form a solid mass., A growing together of parts naturally separate, as of the fingers toes., The adhering of property to something else, by which the owner of one thing becomes possessed of a right to another; generally, gain of land by the washing up of sand or sail from the sea or a river, or by a gradual recession of the water from the usual watermark., Gain to an heir or legatee, failure of a coheir to the same succession, or a co-legatee of the same thing, to take his share.
accretive adjective Relating to accretion; increasing, or adding to, by growth.
accrument noun The process of accruing, or that which has accrued; increase.
accumbent adjective Leaning or reclining, as the ancients did at their meals., Lying against anything, as one part of a leaf against another leaf., One who reclines at table.
accusable adjective Liable to be accused or censured; chargeable with a crime or fault; blamable; — with of.
acephalan noun Same as Acephal., Belonging to the Acephala.
acescence noun Alt. of Acescency
acescency noun The quality of being acescent; the process of acetous fermentation; a moderate degree of sourness.
acetamide noun A white crystalline solid, from ammonia by replacement of an equivalent of hydrogen by acetyl.
acetifier noun An apparatus for hastening acetification.
acetified imp. & past participle of Acetify
acetosity noun The quality of being acetous; sourness.
acetylene noun A gaseous compound of carbon and hydrogen, in the proportion of two atoms of the former to two of the latter. It is a colorless gas, with a peculiar, unpleasant odor, and is produced for use as an illuminating gas in a number of ways, but chiefly by the action of water on calcium carbide. Its light is very brilliant.
achieving present participle & vb. noun of Achieve
achillean adjective Resembling Achilles, the hero of the Iliad; invincible.
aciculate adjective Alt. of Aciculated
aciculite noun Needle ore.
acidifier noun A simple or compound principle, whose presence is necessary to produce acidity, as oxygen, chlorine, bromine, iodine, etc.
acidified imp. & past participle of Acidify
acidulate verb t. To make sour or acid in a moderate degree; to sour somewhat.
acidulent adjective Having an acid quality; sour; acidulous.
acidulous adjective Slightly sour; sub-acid; sourish; as, an acidulous tincture.
aciniform adjective Having the form of a cluster of grapes; clustered like grapes., Full of small kernels like a grape.
acipenser noun A genus of ganoid fishes, including the sturgeons, having the body armed with bony scales, and the mouth on the under side of the head. See Sturgeon.
acockbill adverb Hanging at the cathead, ready to let go, as an anchor., Topped up; having one yardarm higher than the other.
aconitine noun An intensely poisonous alkaloid, extracted from aconite.
acorn cup The involucre or cup in which the acorn is fixed.
acoumeter noun An instrument for measuring the acuteness of the sense of hearing.
acoumetry noun The measuring of the power or extent of hearing.
acoustics noun The science of sounds, teaching their nature, phenomena, and laws.
acquiesce verb i. To rest satisfied, or apparently satisfied, or to rest without opposition and discontent (usually implying previous opposition or discontent); to accept or consent by silence or by omitting to object; — followed by in, formerly also by with and to., To concur upon conviction; as, to acquiesce in an opinion; to assent to; usually, to concur, not heartily but so far as to forbear opposition.
acquiring present participle & vb. noun of Acquire
acquisite adjective Acquired.
acquitted imp. & past participle of Acquit
acquittal noun The act of acquitting; discharge from debt or obligation; acquittance., A setting free, or deliverance from the charge of an offense, by verdict of a jury or sentence of a court.
acquitter noun One who acquits or releases.
acraspeda noun pl. A group of acalephs, including most of the larger jellyfishes; the Discophora.
acridness noun The quality of being acrid or pungent; irritant bitterness; acrimony; as, the acridity of a plant, of a speech.
acritical adjective Having no crisis; giving no indications of a crisis; as, acritical symptoms, an acritical abscess.
acrobatic adjective Pertaining to an acrobat.
acropetal adjective Developing from below towards the apex, or from the circumference towards the center; centripetal; — said of certain inflorescence.
acrophony noun The use of a picture symbol of an object to represent phonetically the initial sound of the name of the object.
acropolis noun The upper part, or the citadel, of a Grecian city; especially, the citadel of Athens.
acrospire noun The sprout at the end of a seed when it begins to germinate; the plumule in germination; — so called from its spiral form., To put forth the first sprout.
acrospore noun A spore borne at the extremity of the cells of fructification in fungi.
acroteria plural of Acroterium
actinaria noun pl. A large division of Anthozoa, including those which have simple tentacles and do not form stony corals. Sometimes, in a wider sense, applied to all the Anthozoa, expert the Alcyonaria, whether forming corals or not.
actinozoa noun pl. A group of Coelenterata, comprising the Anthozoa and Ctenophora. The sea anemone, or actinia, is a familiar example.
actionary noun Alt. of Actionist
actionist noun A shareholder in joint-stock company.
actualist noun One who deals with or considers actually existing facts and conditions, rather than fancies or theories; — opposed to idealist.
actuality noun The state of being actual; reality; as, the actuality of God’s nature.
actualize verb t. To make actual; to realize in action.
actuarial adjective Of or pertaining to actuaries; as, the actuarial value of an annuity.
actuaries plural of Actuary
actuating present participle & vb. noun of Actuate
actuation noun A bringing into action; movement.
actuosity noun Abundant activity.
aculeated adjective Having a sharp point; armed with prickles; prickly; aculeate.
acuminate adjective Tapering to a point; pointed; as, acuminate leaves, teeth, etc., To render sharp or keen., To end in, or come to, a sharp point.
acuminose adjective Terminating in a flat, narrow end.
acuminous adjective Characterized by acumen; keen.
acuteness noun The quality of being acute or pointed; sharpness; as, the acuteness of an angle., The faculty of nice discernment or perception; acumen; keenness; sharpness; sensitiveness; — applied to the senses, or the understanding. By acuteness of feeling, we perceive small objects or slight impressions: by acuteness of intellect, we discern nice distinctions., Shrillness; high pitch; — said of sounds., Violence of a disease, which brings it speedily to a crisis.
adansonia noun A genus of great trees related to the Bombax. There are two species, A. digitata, the baobab or monkey-bread of Africa and India, and A. Gregorii, the sour gourd or cream-of-tartar tree of Australia. Both have a trunk of moderate height, but of enormous diameter, and a wide-spreading head. The fruit is oblong, and filled with pleasantly acid pulp. The wood is very soft, and the bark is used by the natives for making ropes and cloth.
adaptable adjective Capable of being adapted.
adaptness noun Adaptedness.
adderwort noun The common bistort or snakeweed (Polygonum bistorta).
addicting present participle & vb. noun of Addict
addiction noun The state of being addicted; devotion; inclination.
addressed imp. & past participle of Address
addressee noun One to whom anything is addressed.
adducible adjective Capable of being adduced.
adduction noun The act of adducing or bringing forward., The action by which the parts of the body are drawn towards its axis]; — opposed to abduction.
adductive adjective Adducing, or bringing towards or to something.
adelaster noun A provisional name for a plant which has not had its flowers botanically examined, and therefore has not been referred to its proper genus.
adelphous adjective Having coalescent or clustered filaments; — said of stamens; as, adelphous stamens. Usually in composition; as, monadelphous.
ademption noun The revocation or taking away of a grant donation, legacy, or the like.
adenalgia noun Alt. of Adenalgy
adeniform adjective Shaped like a gland; adenoid.
adenoidal adjective Glandlike; glandular.
adenology noun The part of physiology that treats of the glands.
adenotomy noun Dissection of, or incision into, a gland or glands.
adeptness noun The quality of being adept; skill.
adfluxion noun See Affluxion.
adherence noun The quality or state of adhering., The state of being fixed in attachment; fidelity; steady attachment; adhesion; as, adherence to a party or to opinions.
adherency noun The state or quality of being adherent; adherence., That which adheres.
adiabatic adjective Not giving out or receiving heat.
adiaphory noun Indifference.
adipocere noun A soft, unctuous, or waxy substance, of a light brown color, into which the fat and muscle tissue of dead bodies sometimes are converted, by long immersion in water or by burial in moist places. It is a result of fatty degeneration.
adiposity noun The state of being fat; fatness.
adjacence Alt. of Adjacency
adjacency The state of being adjacent or contiguous; contiguity; as, the adjacency of lands or buildings., That which is adjacent.
adjection noun The act or mode of adding; also, the thing added.
adjective noun Added to a substantive as an attribute; of the nature of an adjunct; as, an adjective word or sentence., Not standing by itself; dependent., Relating to procedure., A word used with a noun, or substantive, to express a quality of the thing named, or something attributed to it, or to limit or define it, or to specify or describe a thing, as distinct from something else. Thus, in phrase, “a wise ruler,” wise is the adjective, expressing a property of ruler., A dependent; an accessory., To make an adjective of; to form or change into an adjective.
adjoining present participle & vb. noun of Adjoin, Joining to; contiguous; adjacent; as, an adjoining room.
adjoinant adjective Contiguous.
adjourned imp. & past participle of Adjourn
adjournal noun Adjournment; postponement.
adjudging present participle & vb. noun of Adjudge
adjunctly adverb By way of addition or adjunct; in connection with.
adjusting present participle & vb. noun of Adjust
adjustage noun Adjustment.
adjustive adjective Tending to adjust.
adjutancy noun The office of an adjutant., Skillful arrangement in aid; assistance.
adjutator noun A corruption of Agitator.
admeasure verb t. To measure., To determine the proper share of, or the proper apportionment; as, to admeasure dower; to admeasure common of pasture., The measure of a thing; dimensions; size., Formerly, the adjustment of proportion, or ascertainment of shares, as of dower or pasture held in common. This was by writ of admeasurement, directed to the sheriff.
adminicle noun Help or support; an auxiliary., Corroborative or explanatory proof.
admirable adjective Fitted to excite wonder; wonderful; marvelous., Having qualities to excite wonder united with approbation; deserving the highest praise; most excellent; — used of persons or things.
admirably adverb In an admirable manner.
admiralty noun The office or jurisdiction of an admiral., The department or officers having authority over naval affairs generally., The court which has jurisdiction of maritime questions and offenses., The system of jurisprudence of admiralty courts., The building in which the lords of the admiralty, in England, transact business.
admirance noun Admiration.
admission noun The act or practice of admitting., Power or permission to enter; admittance; entrance; access; power to approach., The granting of an argument or position not fully proved; the act of acknowledging something /serted; acknowledgment; concession., Acquiescence or concurrence in a statement made by another, and distinguishable from a confession in that an admission presupposes prior inquiry by another, but a confession may be made without such inquiry., A fact, point, or statement admitted; as, admission made out of court are received in evidence., Declaration of the bishop that he approves of the presentee as a fit person to serve the cure of the church to which he is presented.
admissive adjective Implying an admission; tending to admit.
admissory adjective Pertaining to admission.
admitting present participle & vb. noun of Admit
admixtion noun A mingling of different things; admixture.
admixture noun The act of mixing; mixture., The compound formed by mixing different substances together., That which is mixed with anything.
admonitor noun Admonisher; monitor.
adnascent adjective Growing to or on something else.
adnominal adjective Pertaining to an adnoun; adjectival; attached to a noun.
adoptable adjective Capable of being adopted.
adoptious adjective Adopted.
adoration noun The act of playing honor to a divine being; the worship paid to God; the act of addressing as a god., Homage paid to one in high esteem; profound veneration; intense regard and love; fervent devotion., A method of electing a pope by the expression of homage from two thirds of the conclave.
adorement noun The act of adoring; adoration.
adoringly adverb With adoration.
adornment noun An adorning; an ornament; a decoration.
adsignify verb t. To denote additionally.
adulation noun Servile flattery; praise in excess, or beyond what is merited.
adulatory adjective Containing excessive praise or compliment; servilely praising; flattering; as, an adulatory address.
adulterer noun A man who commits adultery; a married man who has sexual intercourse with a woman not his wife., A man who violates his religious covenant.
adultness noun The state of being adult.
adumbrant adjective Giving a faint shadow, or slight resemblance; shadowing forth.
adumbrate verb t. To give a faint shadow or slight representation of; to outline; to shadow forth., To overshadow; to shade.
adunation noun A uniting; union.
adustible adjective That may be burnt.
advancing present participle & vb. noun of Advance
advancive adjective Tending to advance.
advantage noun Any condition, circumstance, opportunity, or means, particularly favorable to success, or to any desired end; benefit; as, the enemy had the advantage of a more elevated position., Superiority; mastery; — with of or over., Superiority of state, or that which gives it; benefit; gain; profit; as, the advantage of a good constitution., Interest of money; increase; overplus (as the thirteenth in the baker’s dozen)., To give an advantage to; to further; to promote; to benefit; to profit.
advenient adjective Coming from outward causes; superadded.
adventist noun One of a religious body, embracing several branches, who look for the proximate personal coming of Christ; — called also Second Adventists.
adventive adjective Accidental., Adventitious., A thing or person coming from without; an immigrant.
adventual adjective Relating to the season of advent.
adventure noun That which happens without design; chance; hazard; hap; hence, chance of danger or loss., Risk; danger; peril., The encountering of risks; hazardous and striking enterprise; a bold undertaking, in which hazards are to be encountered, and the issue is staked upon unforeseen events; a daring feat., A remarkable occurrence; a striking event; a stirring incident; as, the adventures of one’s life., A mercantile or speculative enterprise of hazard; a venture; a shipment by a merchant on his own account., To risk, or hazard; jeopard; to venture., To venture upon; to run the risk of; to dare., To try the chance; to take the risk.
adverbial adjective Of or pertaining to an adverb; of the nature of an adverb; as, an adverbial phrase or form.
adversary noun One who is turned against another or others with a design to oppose or resist them; a member of an opposing or hostile party; an opponent; an antagonist; an enemy; a foe., Opposed; opposite; adverse; antagonistic., Having an opposing party; not unopposed; as, an adversary suit.
adversely adverb In an adverse manner; inimically; unfortunately; contrariwise.
adversion noun A turning towards; attention.
adversity noun Opposition; contrariety.
adverting present participle & vb. noun of Advert
advertent adjective Attentive; heedful; regardful.
advertise verb t. To give notice to; to inform or apprise; to notify; to make known; hence, to warn; — often followed by of before the subject of information; as, to advertise a man of his loss., To give public notice of; to announce publicly, esp. by a printed notice; as, to advertise goods for sale, a lost article, the sailing day of a vessel, a political meeting.
advisable adjective Proper to be advised or to be done; expedient; prudent., Ready to receive advice.
advisably adverb With advice; wisely.
advisedly adverb Circumspectly; deliberately; leisurely., With deliberate purpose; purposely; by design.
advocated imp. & past participle of Advocate
advoutrer noun An adulterer.
aegophony noun Same as Egophony.
aeolipile noun Alt. of Aeolipyle
aeolipyle noun An apparatus consisting chiefly of a closed vessel (as a globe or cylinder) with one or more projecting bent tubes, through which steam is made to pass from the vessel, causing it to revolve.
aepyornis noun A gigantic bird found fossil in Madagascar.
aeriality noun The state of being aerial; unsubstantiality.
aerognosy noun The science which treats of the properties of the air, and of the part it plays in nature.
aerolitic adjective Of or pertaining to aerolites; meteoric; as, aerolitic iron.
aerologic adjective Alt. of Aerological
aeromancy noun Divination from the state of the air or from atmospheric substances; also, forecasting changes in the weather.
aerometer noun An instrument for ascertaining the weight or density of air and gases.
aerometry noun The science of measuring the air, including the doctrine of its pressure, elasticity, rarefaction, and condensation; pneumatics.
aerophoby noun Dread of a current of air.
aerophyte noun A plant growing entirely in the air, and receiving its nourishment from it; an air plant or epiphyte.
aeroplane noun A flying machine, or a small plane for experiments on flying, which floats in the air only when propelled through it.
aeroscope noun An apparatus designed for collecting spores, germs, bacteria, etc., suspended in the air.
aeroscopy noun The observation of the state and variations of the atmosphere.
aesthesia noun Perception by the senses; feeling; — the opposite of anaesthesia.
aesthesis noun Sensuous perception.
aesthetic adjective Alt. of Aesthetical
aestivate verb i. To spend the summer., To pass the summer in a state of torpor.
aetiology noun The science, doctrine, or demonstration of causes; esp., the investigation of the causes of any disease; the science of the origin and development of things., The assignment of a cause.
affabrous adjective Executed in a workmanlike manner; ingeniously made.
affatuate verb t. To infatuate.
affecting present participle & vb. noun of Affect, Moving the emotions; fitted to excite the emotions; pathetic; touching; as, an affecting address; an affecting sight., Affected; given to false show.
affection noun The act of affecting or acting upon; the state of being affected., An attribute; a quality or property; a condition; a bodily state; as, figure, weight, etc. , are affections of bodies., 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., 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., Prejudice; bias., Disease; morbid symptom; malady; as, a pulmonary affection., The lively representation of any emotion., Affectation., Passion; violent emotion.
affective adjective Tending to affect; affecting., Pertaining to or exciting emotion; affectional; emotional.
affianced imp. / past participle of Affiance
affiancer noun One who makes a contract of marriage between two persons.
affidavit noun A sworn statement in writing; a declaration in writing, signed and made upon oath before an authorized magistrate.
affiliate verb t. To adopt; to receive into a family as a son; hence, to bring or receive into close connection; to ally., 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., To connect in the way of descent; to trace origin to., 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., To connect or associate one’s self; — followed by with; as, they affiliate with no party.
affirming present participle & vb. noun of Affirm
affirmant noun One who affirms or asserts., One who affirms, instead of taking an oath.
affixture noun The act of affixing, or the state of being affixed; attachment.
afflation noun A blowing or breathing on; inspiration.
afflicted imp. & past participle of Afflict
afflicter noun One who afflicts.
affluence noun A flowing to or towards; a concourse; an influx., An abundant supply, as of thought, words, feelings, etc.; profusion; also, abundance of property; wealth.
affluency noun Affluence.
affluxion noun The act of flowing towards; afflux.
affording present participle & vb. noun of Afford
affreight verb t. To hire, as a ship, for the transportation of goods or freight.
affronted imp. & past participle of Affront
affrontee noun One who receives an affront.
affronter noun One who affronts, or insults to the face.
aforehand adverb Beforehand; in anticipation., Prepared; previously provided; — opposed to behindhand.
aforesaid adjective Said before, or in a preceding part; already described or identified.
aforetime adverb In time past; formerly.
aftercast noun A throw of dice after the game in ended; hence, anything done too late.
afterclap noun An unexpected subsequent event; something disagreeable happening after an affair is supposed to be at an end.
aftercrop noun A second crop or harvest in the same year.
aftergame noun A second game; hence, a subsequent scheme or expedient.
afterings noun pl. The last milk drawn in milking; strokings.
aftermath noun A second moving; the grass which grows after the first crop of hay in the same season; rowen.
aftermost adjective superl. Hindmost; — opposed to foremost., Nearest the stern; most aft.
afternoon noun The part of the day which follows noon, between noon and evening.
afterward adverb At a later or succeeding time.
afterwise adjective Wise after the event; wise or knowing, when it is too late.
after-wit noun Wisdom or perception that comes after it can be of use.
againward adverb Back again.
agalactia noun Alt. of Agalaxy
agal-agal noun Same as Agar-agar.
agar-agar noun A fucus or seaweed much used in the East for soups and jellies; Ceylon moss (Gracilaria lichenoides).
agennesis noun Impotence; sterility.
agentship noun Agency.
aggravate verb t. To make heavy or heavier; to add to; to increase., To make worse, or more severe; to render less tolerable or less excusable; to make more offensive; to enhance; to intensify., To give coloring to in description; to exaggerate; as, to aggravate circumstances., To exasperate; to provoke; to irritate.
aggregate verb t. To bring together; to collect into a mass or sum. “The aggregated soil.”, To add or unite, as, a person, to an association., To amount in the aggregate to; as, ten loads, aggregating five hundred bushels., Formed by a collection of particulars into a whole mass or sum; collective., Formed into clusters or groups of lobules; as, aggregate glands., Composed of several florets within a common involucre, as in the daisy; or of several carpels formed from one flower, as in the raspberry., Having the several component parts adherent to each other only to such a degree as to be separable by mechanical means., United into a common organized mass; — said of certain compound animals., A mass, assemblage, or sum of particulars; as, a house is an aggregate of stone, brick, timber, etc., A mass formed by the union of homogeneous particles; — in distinction from a compound, formed by the union of heterogeneous particles.
aggressed imp. & past participle of Aggress
aggressor noun The person who first attacks or makes an aggression; he who begins hostility or a quarrel; an assailant.
aggrieved imp. & past participle of Aggrieve
aggrouped imp. & past participle of Aggroup
agileness noun Agility; nimbleness.
agistator noun See Agister.
agistment noun Formerly, the taking and feeding of other men’s cattle in the king’s forests., The taking in by any one of other men’s cattle to graze at a certain rate., The price paid for such feeding., A charge or rate against lands; as, an agistment of sea banks, i. e., charge for banks or dikes.
agitating present participle & vb. noun of Agitate
agitation noun The act of agitating, or the state of being agitated; the state of being moved with violence, or with irregular action; commotion; as, the sea after a storm is in agitation., A stirring up or arousing; disturbance of tranquillity; disturbance of mind which shows itself by physical excitement; perturbation; as, to cause any one agitation., Excitement of public feeling by discussion, appeals, etc.; as, the antislavery agitation; labor agitation., Examination or consideration of a subject in controversy, or of a plan proposed for adoption; earnest discussion; debate.
agitative adjective Tending to agitate.
agminated adjective Grouped together; as, the agminated glands of Peyer in the small intestine.
agnus dei A figure of a lamb bearing a cross or flag., A cake of wax stamped with such a figure. It is made from the remains of the paschal candles and blessed by the Pope., A triple prayer in the sacrifice of the Mass, beginning with the words “Agnus Dei.”
agonistic adjective Alt. of Agonistical
agonizing present participle & vb. noun of Agonize
agreeable adjective Pleasing, either to the mind or senses; pleasant; grateful; as, agreeable manners or remarks; an agreeable person; fruit agreeable to the taste., Willing; ready to agree or consent., Agreeing or suitable; conformable; correspondent; concordant; adapted; — followed by to, rarely by with., In pursuance, conformity, or accordance; — in this sense used adverbially for agreeably; as, agreeable to the order of the day, the House took up the report.
agreeably adverb In an agreeably manner; in a manner to give pleasure; pleasingly., In accordance; suitably; consistently; conformably; — followed by to and rarely by with. See Agreeable, 4., Alike; similarly.
agreement noun State of agreeing; harmony of opinion, statement, action, or character; concurrence; concord; conformity; as, a good agreement subsists among the members of the council., Concord or correspondence of one word with another in gender, number, case, or person., A concurrence in an engagement that something shall be done or omitted; an exchange of promises; mutual understanding, arrangement, or stipulation; a contract., The language, oral or written, embodying reciprocal promises.
agriology noun Description or comparative study of the customs of savage or uncivilized tribes.
agronomic Alt. of Agronomical
ahungered adjective Pinched with hunger; very hungry.
aid-major noun The adjutant of a regiment.
aigremore noun Charcoal prepared for making powder.
ailanthus noun Same as Ailantus.
air brake A railway brake operated by condensed air.
air-built adjective Erected in the air; having no solid foundation; chimerical; as, an air-built castle.
air-drawn adjective Drawn in air; imaginary.
air drill A drill driven by the elastic pressure of condensed air; a pneumatic drill.
air level Spirit level. See Level.
airometer noun A hollow cylinder to contain air. It is closed above and open below, and has its open end plunged into water.
air plant A plant deriving its sustenance from the air alone; an aerophyte.
air poise An instrument to measure the weight of air.
air shaft A passage, usually vertical, for admitting fresh air into a mine or a tunnel.
air stove A stove for heating a current of air which is directed against its surface by means of pipes, and then distributed through a building.
air-tight adjective So tight as to be impermeable to air; as, an air-tight cylinder., A stove the draft of which can be almost entirely shut off.
aitchbone noun The bone of the rump; also, the cut of beef surrounding this bone.
aitiology noun See Aetiology.
alabaster noun A compact variety or sulphate of lime, or gypsum, of fine texture, and usually white and translucent, but sometimes yellow, red, or gray. It is carved into vases, mantel ornaments, etc., A hard, compact variety of carbonate of lime, somewhat translucent, or of banded shades of color; stalagmite. The name is used in this sense by Pliny. It is sometimes distinguished as oriental alabaster., A box or vessel for holding odoriferous ointments, etc.; — so called from the stone of which it was originally made.
alabastra plural of Alabastrum
alackaday interj. An exclamation expressing sorrow.
alacrious adjective Brisk; joyously active; lively.
aladinist noun One of a sect of freethinkers among the Mohammedans.
alilonghi noun The tunny. See Albicore.
alarmable adjective Easily alarmed or disturbed.
alarmedly adverb In an alarmed manner.
alaternus noun An ornamental evergreen shrub (Rhamnus alaternus) belonging to the buckthorns.
albatross noun A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long-continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere.
albertite noun A bituminous mineral resembling asphaltum, found in the county of A. /bert, New Brunswick.
albertype noun A picture printed from a kind of gelatine plate produced by means of a photographic negative.
albescent adjective Becoming white or whitish; moderately white.
albigeois noun pl. A sect of reformers opposed to the church of Rome in the 12th centuries.
albinoism noun The state or condition of being an albino; albinism.
albinotic adjective Affected with albinism.
albugines plural of Albugo
albuminin noun The substance of the cells which inclose the white of birds’ eggs.
alburnous adjective Of or pertaining to alburnum; of the alburnum; as, alburnous substances.
alcarraza noun A vessel of porous earthenware, used for cooling liquids by evaporation from the exterior surface.
alchemist noun One who practices alchemy.
alchemize verb t. To change by alchemy; to transmute.
alchymist noun Alt. of Alchymy
alcoholic adjective Of or pertaining to alcohol, or partaking of its qualities; derived from, or caused by, alcohol; containing alcohol; as, alcoholic mixtures; alcoholic gastritis; alcoholic odor., A person given to the use of alcoholic liquors., Alcoholic liquors.
alcoranic adjective Of or pertaining to the Koran.
alcyonium noun A genus of fleshy Alcyonaria, its polyps somewhat resembling flowers with eight fringed rays. The term was also formerly used for certain species of sponges.
alcyonoid adjective Like or pertaining to the Alcyonaria., A zoophyte of the order Alcyonaria.
aldebaran noun A red star of the first magnitude, situated in the eye of Taurus; the Bull’s Eye. It is the bright star in the group called the Hyades.
aldehydic adjective Of or pertaining to aldehyde; as, aldehydic acid.
alecithal adjective Applied to those ova which segment uniformly, and which have little or no food yelk embedded in their protoplasm.
aleconner noun Orig., an officer appointed to look to the goodness of ale and beer; also, one of the officers chosen by the liverymen of London to inspect the measures used in public houses. But the office is a sinecure. [Also called aletaster.]
alemannic adjective Belonging to the Alemanni, a confederacy of warlike German tribes., The language of the Alemanni.
alembroth noun The salt of wisdom of the alchemists, a double salt composed of the chlorides of ammonium and mercury. It was formerly used as a stimulant.
alepidote adjective Not having scales., A fish without scales.
alertness noun The quality of being alert or on the alert; briskness; nimbleness; activity.
aletaster noun See Aleconner.
aleuronic adjective Having the nature of aleurone.
alfilaria noun The pin grass (Erodium cicutarium), a weed in California.
algebraic adjective Alt. of Algebraical
algidness noun Algidity.
algonquin noun Alt. of Algonkin
algorithm noun The art of calculating by nine figures and zero., The art of calculating with any species of notation; as, the algorithms of fractions, proportions, surds, etc.
alibility noun Quality of being alible.
alienable adjective Capable of being alienated, sold, or transferred to another; as, land is alienable according to the laws of the state.
alienated imp. & past participle of Alienate
alienator noun One who alienates.
aliferous adjective Having wings, winged; aligerous.
aligerous adjective Having wings; winged.
alighting present participle & vb. noun of Alight
alignment noun The act of adjusting to a line; arrangement in a line or lines; the state of being so adjusted; a formation in a straight line; also, the line of adjustment; esp., an imaginary line to regulate the formation of troops or of a squadron., The ground-plan of a railway or other road, in distinction from the grades or profile.
alimental adjective Supplying food; having the quality of nourishing; furnishing the materials for natural growth; as, alimental sap.
alinement noun Same as Alignment.
aliseptal adjective Relating to expansions of the nasal septum.
alkalious adjective Alkaline.
alkalized imp. & past participle of Alkalize
alkekengi noun An herbaceous plant of the nightshade family (Physalis alkekengi) and its fruit, which is a well flavored berry, the size of a cherry, loosely inclosed in a enlarged leafy calyx; — also called winter cherry, ground cherry, and strawberry tomato.
alkoranic adjective Same as Alcoranic.
allantoic adjective Pertaining to, or contained in, the allantois.
allantoid adjective Alt. of Allantoidal, A membranous appendage of the embryos of mammals, birds, and reptiles, — in mammals serving to connect the fetus with the parent; the urinary vesicle.
allantoin noun A crystalline, transparent, colorless substance found in the allantoic liquid of the fetal calf; — formerly called allantoic acid and amniotic acid.
allantois noun Alt. of Allantoid
allatrate verb i. To bark as a dog.
allayment noun An allaying; that which allays; mitigation.
allective adjective Alluring., Allurement.
allegiant adjective Loyal.
allegoric adjective Alt. of Allegorical
alleluiah noun An exclamation signifying Praise ye Jehovah. Hence: A song of praise to God. See Hallelujah, the commoner form.
allemande noun A dance in moderate twofold time, invented by the French in the reign of Louis XIV.; — now mostly found in suites of pieces, like those of Bach and Handel., A figure in dancing.
allenarly adverb Solely; only.
alleviate verb t. To lighten or lessen the force or weight of., To lighten or lessen (physical or mental troubles); to mitigate, or make easier to be endured; as, to alleviate sorrow, pain, care, etc. ; — opposed to aggravate., To extenuate; to palliate.
all fours All four legs of a quadruped; or the two legs and two arms of a person.
allhallow noun Alt. of Allhallows
allicient adjective That attracts; attracting., That attracts.
alligator noun A large carnivorous reptile of the Crocodile family, peculiar to America. It has a shorter and broader snout than the crocodile, and the large teeth of the lower jaw shut into pits in the upper jaw, which has no marginal notches. Besides the common species of the southern United States, there are allied species in South America., Any machine with strong jaws, one of which opens like the movable jaw of an alligator, a form of squeezer for the puddle ball, a rock breaker, a kind of job press, called also alligator press.
allineate verb t. To align.
alliteral adjective Pertaining to, or characterized by alliteration.
allocatur noun “Allowed.” The word allocatur expresses the allowance of a proceeding, writ, order, etc., by a court, judge, or judicial officer.
allodiary noun One who holds an allodium.
allograph noun A writing or signature made by some person other than any of the parties thereto; — opposed to autograph.
allomorph noun Any one of two or more distinct crystalline forms of the same substance; or the substance having such forms; — as, carbonate of lime occurs in the allomorphs calcite and aragonite., A variety of pseudomorph which has undergone partial or complete change or substitution of material; — thus limonite is frequently an allomorph after pyrite.
allopathy noun That system of medical practice which aims to combat disease by the use of remedies which produce effects different from those produced by the special disease treated; — a term invented by Hahnemann to designate the ordinary practice, as opposed to homeopathy.
allotting present participle & vb. noun of Allot
allotment noun The act of allotting; assignment., That which is allotted; a share, part, or portion granted or distributed; that which is assigned by lot, or by the act of God; anything set apart for a special use or to a distinct party., The allowance of a specific amount of scrip or of a particular thing to a particular person.
allotropy noun The property of existing in two or more conditions which are distinct in their physical or chemical relations.
allottery noun Allotment.
allowable adjective Praiseworthy; laudable., Proper to be, or capable of being, allowed; permissible; admissible; not forbidden; not unlawful or improper; as, a certain degree of freedom is allowable among friends.
allowably adverb In an allowable manner.
allowance noun Approval; approbation., The act of allowing, granting, conceding, or admitting; authorization; permission; sanction; tolerance., Acknowledgment., License; indulgence., That which is allowed; a share or portion allotted or granted; a sum granted as a reimbursement, a bounty, or as appropriate for any purpose; a stated quantity, as of food or drink; hence, a limited quantity of meat and drink, when provisions fall short., Abatement; deduction; the taking into account of mitigating circumstances; as, to make allowance for the inexperience of youth., A customary deduction from the gross weight of goods, different in different countries, such as tare and tret., To put upon a fixed allowance (esp. of provisions and drink); to supply in a fixed and limited quantity; as, the captain was obliged to allowance his crew; our provisions were allowanced.
allowedly adverb By allowance; admittedly.
alloxanic adjective Of or pertaining to alloxan; — applied to an acid obtained by the action of soluble alkalies on alloxan.
allumette noun A match for lighting candles, lamps, etc.
alluminor noun An illuminator of manuscripts and books; a limner.
allurance noun Allurement.
alluvious noun Alluvial.
alluviums plural of Alluvium
almandine noun The common red variety of garnet.
almendron noun The lofty Brazil-nut tree.
almondine noun See Almandine
almonries plural of Almonry
almsgiver noun A giver of alms.
almshouse noun A house appropriated for the use of the poor; a poorhouse.
aloneness noun A state of being alone, or without company; solitariness.
alongside adverb Along or by the side; side by side with; — often with of; as, bring the boat alongside; alongside of him; alongside of the tree.
aloofness noun State of being aloof.
alopecist noun A practitioner who tries to prevent or cure baldness.
altarwise adverb In the proper position of an altar, that is, at the east of a church with its ends towards the north and south.
alterable adjective Capable of being altered.
alterably adverb In an alterable manner.
altercate verb i. To contend in words; to dispute with zeal, heat, or anger; to wrangle.
alternacy noun Alternateness; alternation.
alternant verb t. Composed of alternate layers, as some rocks.
alternate adjective Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal., Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second; as, the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. ; read every alternate line., Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence., That which alternates with something else; vicissitude., A substitute; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty., A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means., To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly., To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; — followed by with; as, the flood and ebb tides alternate with each other., To vary by turns; as, the land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.
alternity noun Succession by turns; alternation.
altimeter noun An instrument for taking altitudes, as a quadrant, sextant, etc.
altimetry noun The art of measuring altitudes, or heights.
altiscope noun An arrangement of lenses and mirrors which enables a person to see an object in spite of intervening objects.
altissimo noun The part or notes situated above F in alt.
altometer noun A theodolite.
aluminate noun A compound formed from the hydrate of aluminium by the substitution of a metal for the hydrogen.
aluminium noun The metallic base of alumina. This metal is white, but with a bluish tinge, and is remarkable for its resistance to oxidation, and for its lightness, having a specific gravity of about 2.6. Atomic weight 27.08. Symbol Al.
aluminize verb t. To treat or impregnate with alum; to alum.
aluminous adjective Pertaining to or containing alum, or alumina; as, aluminous minerals, aluminous solution.
alum root A North American herb (Heuchera Americana) of the Saxifrage family, whose root has astringent properties.
alutation noun The tanning or dressing of leather.
alvearies plural of Alveary
alveolary adjective Alveolar.
alveolate adjective Deeply pitted, like a honeycomb.
amability noun Lovableness.
amacratic adjective Amasthenic.
amanitine noun The poisonous principle of some fungi.
amarantus noun Same as Amaranth.
amaritude noun Bitterness.
amaryllis noun A pastoral sweetheart., A family of plants much esteemed for their beauty, including the narcissus, jonquil, daffodil, agave, and others., A genus of the same family, including the Belladonna lily.
amassable adjective Capable of being amassed.
amassette noun An instrument of horn used for collecting painters’ colors on the stone in the process of grinding.
amassment noun An amassing; a heap collected; a large quantity or number brought together; an accumulation.
amatorial adjective Of or pertaining to a lover or to love making; amatory; as, amatorial verses.
amatorian adjective Amatory.
amaurosis noun A loss or decay of sight, from loss of power in the optic nerve, without any perceptible external change in the eye; — called also gutta serena, the “drop serene” of Milton.
amaurotic adjective Affected with amaurosis; having the characteristics of amaurosis.
amazement noun The condition of being amazed; bewilderment [Obs.]; overwhelming wonder, as from surprise, sudden fear, horror, or admiration., Frenzy; madness.
amazonian adjective Pertaining to or resembling an Amazon; of masculine manners; warlike., Of or pertaining to the river Amazon in South America, or to its valley.
amazonite noun Alt. of Amazon stone
ambagious adjective Circumlocutory; circuitous.
ambassade ambassade. Alt. of Embassade
ambassage noun Same as Embassage.
ambergris noun A substance of the consistence of wax, found floating in the Indian Ocean and other parts of the tropics, and also as a morbid secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), which is believed to be in all cases its true origin. In color it is white, ash-gray, yellow, or black, and often variegated like marble. The floating masses are sometimes from sixty to two hundred and twenty-five pounds in weight. It is wholly volatilized as a white vapor at 212¡ Fahrenheit, and is highly valued in perfumery.
ambiguity noun The quality or state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty, particularly as to the signification of language, arising from its admitting of more than one meaning; an equivocal word or expression.
ambiguous adjective Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to signification; capable of being understood in either of two or more possible senses; equivocal; as, an ambiguous course; an ambiguous expression.
ambiloquy noun Doubtful or ambiguous language.
ambitious adjective Possessing, or controlled by, ambition; greatly or inordinately desirous of power, honor, office, superiority, or distinction., Strongly desirous; — followed by of or the infinitive; as, ambitious to be or to do something., Springing from, characterized by, or indicating, ambition; showy; aspiring; as, an ambitious style.
amblingly adverb With an ambling gait.
amblyopia noun Alt. of Amblyopy
amblyopic adjective Of or pertaining to amblyopy.
amblypoda noun pl. A group of large, extinct, herbivorous mammals, common in the Tertiary formation of the United States.
ambrosiac adjective Having the qualities of ambrosia; delicious.
ambrosial adjective Consisting of, or partaking of the nature of, ambrosia; delighting the taste or smell; delicious., Divinely excellent or beautiful.
ambrosian adjective Ambrosial., Of or pertaining to St. Ambrose; as, the Ambrosian office, or ritual, a formula of worship in the church of Milan, instituted by St. Ambrose.
ambrotype noun A picture taken on a plate of prepared glass, in which the lights are represented in silver, and the shades are produced by a dark background visible through the unsilvered portions of the glass.
ambulacra plural of Ambulacrum
ambulance noun A field hospital, so organized as to follow an army in its movements, and intended to succor the wounded as soon as possible. Often used adjectively; as, an ambulance wagon; ambulance stretcher; ambulance corps., An ambulance wagon or cart for conveying the wounded from the field, or to a hospital.
ambulator noun One who walks about; a walker., A beetle of the genus Lamia., A genus of birds, or one of this genus., An instrument for measuring distances; — called also perambulator.
ambuscade verb t. A lying in a wood, concealed, for the purpose of attacking an enemy by surprise. Hence: A lying in wait, and concealed in any situation, for a like purpose; a snare laid for an enemy; an ambush., A place in which troops lie hid, to attack an enemy unexpectedly., The body of troops lying in ambush., To post or conceal in ambush; to ambush., To lie in wait for, or to attack from a covert or lurking place; to waylay., To lie in ambush.
ambuscado noun Ambuscade.
ambushing present participle & vb. noun of Ambush
ambustion noun A burn or scald.
amendable adjective Capable of being amended; as, an amendable writ or error.
amendment noun An alteration or change for the better; correction of a fault or of faults; reformation of life by quitting vices., In public bodies; Any alternation made or proposed to be made in a bill or motion by adding, changing, substituting, or omitting., Correction of an error in a writ or process.
amenities plural of Amenity
ametabola noun pl. A group of insects which do not undergo any metamorphosis.
ametropia noun Any abnormal condition of the refracting powers of the eye.
amianthus noun Earth flax, or mountain flax; a soft silky variety of asbestus.
amidships adverb In the middle of a ship, with regard to her length, and sometimes also her breadth.
amissible adjective Liable to be lost.
amnestied impast participle p. of Amnesty
amoebaeum noun A poem in which persons are represented at speaking alternately; as the third and seventh eclogues of Virgil.
amolition noun Removal; a putting away.
amorosity noun The quality of being amorous; lovingness.
amorously adverb In an amorous manner; fondly.
amorphism noun A state of being amorphous; esp. a state of being without crystallization even in the minutest particles, as in glass, opal, etc.
amorphous adjective Having no determinate form; of irregular; shapeless., Without crystallization in the ultimate texture of a solid substance; uncrystallized., Of no particular kind or character; anomalous.
amounting present participle & vb. noun of Amount
ampersand noun A word used to describe the character /, /, or &.
amphibial adjective & noun Amphibian.
amphibian adjective Of or pertaining to the Amphibia; as, amphibian reptiles., One of the Amphibia.
amphibium noun An amphibian.
amphibole noun A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in color and in composition. It occurs in monoclinic crystals; also massive, generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The color varies from white to gray, green, brown, and black. It is a silicate of magnesium and calcium, with usually aluminium and iron. Some common varieties are tremolite, actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende (the last name being also used as a general term for the whole species). Amphibole is a constituent of many crystalline rocks, as syenite, diorite, most varieties of trachyte, etc. See Hornblende.
amphiboly noun Ambiguous discourse; amphibology.
amphicome noun A kind of figured stone, rugged and beset with eminences, anciently used in divination.
amphidisc noun A peculiar small siliceous spicule having a denticulated wheel at each end; — found in freshwater sponges.
amphigean adjective Extending over all the zones, from the tropics to the polar zones inclusive.
amphigene noun Leucite.
amphigony noun Sexual propagation.
amphigory noun A nonsense verse; a rigmarole, with apparent meaning, which on further attention proves to be meaningless.
amphilogy noun Ambiguity of speech; equivocation.
amphioxus noun A fishlike creature (Amphioxus lanceolatus), two or three inches long, found in temperature seas; — also called the lancelet. Its body is pointed at both ends. It is the lowest and most generalized of the vertebrates, having neither brain, skull, vertebrae, nor red blood. It forms the type of the group Acrania, Leptocardia, etc.
amphipoda noun pl. A numerous group of fourteen — footed Crustacea, inhabiting both fresh and salt water. The body is usually compressed laterally, and the anterior pairs or legs are directed downward and forward, but the posterior legs are usually turned upward and backward. The beach flea is an example. See Tetradecapoda and Arthrostraca.
amphiscii noun pl. Alt. of Amphiscians
amophorae plural of Amphora
ampleness noun The state or quality of being ample; largeness; fullness; completeness.
amplifier noun One who or that which amplifies.
amplified imp. & past participle of Amplify
amplitude noun State of being ample; extent of surface or space; largeness of dimensions; size., Largeness, in a figurative sense; breadth; abundance; fullness., Of extent of capacity or intellectual powers., Of extent of means or resources., The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the center of the sun, or a star, at its rising or setting. At the rising, the amplitude is eastern or ortive: at the setting, it is western, occiduous, or occasive. It is also northern or southern, when north or south of the equator., The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the foot of the vertical circle passing through any star or object., The horizontal line which measures the distance to which a projectile is thrown; the range., The extent of a movement measured from the starting point or position of equilibrium; — applied especially to vibratory movements., An angle upon which the value of some function depends; — a term used more especially in connection with elliptic functions.
ampullary adjective Resembling an ampulla.
ampullate adjective Alt. of Ampullated
amputated imp. & past participle of Amputate
amputator noun One who amputates.
amusement noun Deep thought; muse., The state of being amused; pleasurable excitement; that which amuses; diversion.
amygdalic adjective Of or pertaining to almonds; derived from amygdalin; as, amygdalic acid.
amygdalin noun A glucoside extracted from bitter almonds as a white, crystalline substance.
amyloidal adjective Resembling or containing amyl; starchlike.
anabolism noun The constructive metabolism of the body, as distinguished from katabolism.
anacanths noun pl. A group of teleostean fishes destitute of spiny fin-rays, as the cod.
anacardic adjective Pertaining to, or derived from, the cashew nut; as, anacardic acid.
anacharis noun A fresh-water weed of the frog’s-bit family (Hydrocharidaceae), native to America. Transferred to England it became an obstruction to navigation. Called also waterweed and water thyme.
anachoret adjective Alt. of Anachoretical
anacrotic adjective Pertaining to anachronism.
anacrusis noun A prefix of one or two unaccented syllables to a verse properly beginning with an accented syllable.
anaerobic adjective Relating to, or like, anaerobies; anaerobiotic.
anagogics noun pl. Mystical interpretations or studies, esp. of the Scriptures.
analectic adjective Relating to analects; made up of selections; as, an analectic magazine.
analepsis Alt. of Analepsy
analeptic adjective Restorative; giving strength after disease., A restorative.
analgesia noun Absence of sensibility to pain.
analogism noun an argument from the cause to the effect; an a priori argument., Investigation of things by the analogy they bear to each other.
analogist noun One who reasons from analogy, or represent, by analogy.
analogize verb i. To employ, or reason by, analogy.
analogous adjective Having analogy; corresponding to something else; bearing some resemblance or proportion; — often followed by to.
analogies plural of Analogy
analytics noun The science of analysis.
analyzing present participle & vb. noun of Analyze
anamnesis noun A recalling to mind; recollection.
anandrous adjective Destitute of stamens, as certain female flowers.
anangular adjective Containing no angle.
ananthous adjective Destitute of flowers; flowerless.
anapestic adjective Pertaining to an anapest; consisting of an anapests; as, an anapestic meter, foot, verse., Anapestic measure or verse.
anaplasty noun The art of operation of restoring lost parts or the normal shape by the use of healthy tissue.
anaptotic adjective Having lost, or tending to lose, inflections by phonetic decay; as, anaptotic languages.
anaptichi plural of Anaptychus
anarchism noun The doctrine or practice of anarchists.
anarchist noun An anarch; one who advocates anarchy of aims at the overthrow of civil government.
anarchize verb t. To reduce to anarchy.
anastatic adjective Pertaining to a process or a style of printing from characters in relief on zinc plates.
anathemas plural of Anathema
anatocism noun Compound interest.
anatomism noun The application of the principles of anatomy, as in art., The doctrine that the anatomical structure explains all the phenomena of the organism or of animal life.
anatomist noun One who is skilled in the art of anatomy, or dissection.
anatomize verb t. To dissect; to cut in pieces, as an animal vegetable body, for the purpose of displaying or examining the structure and use of the several parts., To discriminate minutely or carefully; to analyze.
anatomies plural of Anatomy
anatropal adjective Alt. of Anatropous
ancestral adjective Of, pertaining to, derived from, or possessed by, an ancestor or ancestors; as, an ancestral estate.
anchoring present participle & vb. noun of Anchor
anchorage noun The act of anchoring, or the condition of lying at anchor., A place suitable for anchoring or where ships anchor; a hold for an anchor., The set of anchors belonging to a ship., Something which holds like an anchor; a hold; as, the anchorages of the Brooklyn Bridge., Something on which one may depend for security; ground of trust., A toll for anchoring; anchorage duties., Abode of an anchoret.
anchorate adjective Anchor-shaped.
anchoress noun A female anchoret.
anchorite noun One who renounces the world and secludes himself, usually for religious reasons; a hermit; a recluse., Same as Anchoret.
anchylose verb t. & i. To affect or be affected with anchylosis; to unite or consolidate so as to make a stiff joint; to grow together into one.
ankylosis noun Stiffness or fixation of a joint; formation of a stiff joint., The union of two or more separate bones to from a single bone; the close union of bones or other structures in various animals., Same as Anchylosis.
anciently adverb In ancient times., In an ancient manner.
ancientry noun Antiquity; what is ancient., Old age; also, old people., Ancient lineage; ancestry; dignity of birth.
ancillary adjective Subservient or subordinate, like a handmaid; auxiliary.
ancipital adjective Alt. of Ancipitous
andantino adjective Rather quicker than andante; between that allegretto.
androgyne noun An hermaphrodite., An androgynous plant.
androgyny noun Alt. of Androgynism
androides noun A machine or automaton in the form of a human being.
andromeda noun A northern constellation, supposed to represent the mythical Andromeda., A genus of ericaceous flowering plants of northern climates, of which the original species was found growing on a rock surrounded by water.
androtomy noun Dissection of the human body, as distinguished from zootomy; anthropotomy.
anecdotal adjective Pertaining to, or abounding with, anecdotes; as, anecdotal conversation.
anecdotic adjective Alt. of Anecdotical
anemogram noun A record made by an anemograph.
anemology noun The science of the wind.
angelhood noun The state of being an angel; angelic nature.
angelical adjective Belonging to, or proceeding from, angels; resembling, characteristic of, or partaking of the nature of, an angel; heavenly; divine.
angellike adjective & adverb Resembling an angel.
angiology noun That part of anatomy which treats of blood vessels and lymphatics.
angiotomy noun Dissection of the blood vessels and lymphatics of the body.
anglesite noun A native sulphate of lead. It occurs in white or yellowish transparent, prismatic crystals.
anglewise adverb In an angular manner; angularly.
angleworm noun A earthworm of the genus Lumbricus, frequently used by anglers for bait. See Earthworm.
anglicify verb t. To anglicize.
anglicism noun An English idiom; a phrase or form language peculiar to the English., The quality of being English; an English characteristic, custom, or method.
anglicity noun The state or quality of being English.
anglicize verb t. To make English; to English; to anglify; render conformable to the English idiom, or to English analogies.
anglified imp. & past participle of Anglify
angriness noun The quality of being angry, or of being inclined to anger.
anguiform adjective Snake-shaped.
anguineal adjective Anguineous.
angularly adverb In an angular manner; with of at angles or corners.
angulated adjective Having angles or corners; angled; as, angulate leaves.
angustate adjective Narrowed.
anhistous adjective Without definite structure; as, an anhistous membrane.
anhydride noun An oxide of a nonmetallic body or an organic radical, capable of forming an acid by uniting with the elements of water; — so called because it may be formed from an acid by the abstraction of water.
anhydrite noun A mineral of a white or a slightly bluish color, usually massive. It is anhydrous sulphate of lime, and differs from gypsum in not containing water (whence the name).
anhydrous adjective Destitute of water; as, anhydrous salts or acids.
anientise verb t. To frustrate; to bring to naught; to annihilate.
anileness noun Anility.
animalish adjective Like an animal.
animalism noun The state, activity, or enjoyment of animals; mere animal life without intellectual or moral qualities; sensuality.
animality noun Animal existence or nature.
animalize verb t. To endow with the properties of an animal; to represent in animal form., To convert into animal matter by the processes of assimilation., To render animal or sentient; to reduce to the state of a lower animal; to sensualize.
animastic adjective Pertaining to mind or spirit; spiritual., Psychology.
animating present participle & vb. noun of Animate, Causing animation; life-giving; inspiriting; rousing.
animation noun The act of animating, or giving life or spirit; the state of being animate or alive., The state of being lively, brisk, or full of spirit and vigor; vivacity; spiritedness; as, he recited the story with great animation.
animative adjective Having the power of giving life or spirit.
animistic adjective Of or pertaining to animism.
animosity verb t. Mere spiritedness or courage., Violent hatred leading to active opposition; active enmity; energetic dislike.
anisopoda noun pl. A division of Crustacea, which, in some its characteristics, is intermediate between Amphipoda and Isopoda.
annealing present participle & vb. noun of Anneal, The process used to render glass, iron, etc., less brittle, performed by allowing them to cool very gradually from a high heat., The burning of metallic colors into glass, earthenware, etc.
annectent adjective Connecting; annexing.
annelidan adjective Of or pertaining to the Annelida., One of the Annelida.
annellata noun pl. See Annelida.
annexment noun The act of annexing, or the thing annexed; appendage.
anniverse noun Anniversary.
annodated adjective Curved somewhat in the form of the letter S.
annotated imp. & past participle of Annotate
annotator noun A writer of annotations; a commentator.
announced imp. & past participle of Announce
announcer noun One who announces.
annoyance noun The act of annoying, or the state of being annoyed; molestation; vexation; annoy., That which annoys.
annualist noun One who writes for, or who edits, an annual.
annuitant noun One who receives, or its entitled to receive, an annuity.
annuities plural of Annuity
annulling present participle & vb. noun of Annul
annularry adverb In an annular manner.
annulated adjective Furnished with, or composed of, rings; ringed; surrounded by rings of color., Of or pertaining to the Annulata.
annulment noun The act of annulling; abolition; invalidation.
annuloida noun pl. A division of the Articulata, including the annelids and allied groups; sometimes made to include also the helminths and echinoderms.
annulosan noun One of the Annulosa.
anodynous adjective Anodyne.
anointing present participle & vb. noun of Anoint
anomalism noun An anomaly; a deviation from rule.
anomalous adjective Deviating from a general rule, method, or analogy; abnormal; irregular; as, an anomalous proceeding.
anomalies plural of Anomaly
anonymity noun The quality or state of being anonymous; anonymousness; also, that which anonymous.
anonymous adjective Nameless; of unknown name; also, of unknown or unavowed authorship; as, an anonymous benefactor; an anonymous pamphlet or letter.
anorthite noun A mineral of the feldspar family, commonly occurring in small glassy crystals, also a constituent of some igneous rocks. It is a lime feldspar. See Feldspar.
anserated adjective Having the extremities terminate in the heads of eagles, lions, etc.; as, an anserated cross.
answering present participle & vb. noun of Answer
antalkali noun Alt. of Antalkaline
antarctic adjective Opposite to the northern or arctic pole; relating to the southern pole or to the region near it, and applied especially to a circle, distant from the pole 23¡ 28/. Thus we say the antarctic pole, circle, ocean, region, current, etc.
ant-eater noun One of several species of edentates and monotremes that feed upon ants. See Ant-bear, Pangolin, Aard-vark, and Echidna.
antecians noun pl. See Ant/cians.
antedated imp. & past participle of Antedate
antefixes plural of Antefix
antelucan adjective Held or being before light; — a word applied to assemblies of Christians, in ancient times of persecution, held before light in the morning.
antemetic adjective Tending to check vomiting., A remedy to check or allay vomiting.
antemural noun An outwork of a strong, high wall, with turrets, in front of the gateway (as of an old castle), for defending the entrance.
antenatal adjective Before birth.
antennule noun A small antenna; — applied to the smaller pair of antennae or feelers of Crustacea.
anthelion noun A halo opposite the sun, consisting of a colored ring or rings around the shadow of the spectator’s own head, as projected on a cloud or on an opposite fog bank.
anthemion A floral ornament. See Palmette
antheroid adjective Resembling an anther.
anthobian noun A beetle which feeds on flowers.
anthodium noun The inflorescence of a compound flower in which many florets are gathered into a involucrate head.
anthokyan noun The blue coloring matter of certain flowers. Same as Cyanin.
antholite noun A fossil plant, like a petrified flower.
anthology noun A discourse on flowers., A collection of flowers; a garland., A collection of flowers of literature, that is, beautiful passages from authors; a collection of poems or epigrams; — particularly applied to a collection of ancient Greek epigrams., A service book containing a selection of pieces for the festival services.
anthorism noun A description or definition contrary to that which is given by the adverse party.
anthotaxy noun The arrangement of flowers in a cluster; the science of the relative position of flowers; inflorescence.
anthozoan adjective Pertaining to the Anthozoa., One of the Anthozoa.
anthozoic adjective Of or pertaining to the Anthozoa.
anthracic adjective Of or relating to anthrax; as, anthracic blood.
anthrenus noun A genus of small beetles, several of which, in the larval state, are very destructive to woolen goods, fur, etc. The common “museum pest” is A. varius; the carpet beetle is A. scrophulariae. The larvae are commonly confounded with moths.
anthropic adjective Alt. of Anthropical
antichlor noun Any substance (but especially sodium hyposulphite) used in removing the excess of chlorine left in paper pulp or stuffs after bleaching.
anticivic noun Opposed to citizenship.
anticness noun The quality of being antic.
antidotal adjective Having the quality an antidote; fitted to counteract the effects of poison.
antigraph noun A copy or transcript.
antihelix noun The curved elevation of the cartilage of the ear, within or in front of the helix. See Ear.
antiloquy noun Contradiction.
antimason noun One opposed to Freemasonry.
antimeter noun A modification of the quadrant, for measuring small angles.
antimonic adjective Pertaining to, or derived from, antimony; — said of those compounds of antimony in which this element has its highest equivalence; as, antimonic acid.
antipapal adjective Opposed to the pope or to popery.
antipathy noun Contrariety or opposition in feeling; settled aversion or dislike; repugnance; distaste., Natural contrariety; incompatibility; repugnancy of qualities; as, oil and water have antipathy.
antiphone noun The response which one side of the choir makes to the other in a chant; alternate chanting or signing.
antiphony noun A musical response; also, antiphonal chanting or signing., An anthem or psalm sung alternately by a choir or congregation divided into two parts. Also figuratively.
antipodal adjective Pertaining to the antipodes; situated on the opposite side of the globe., Diametrically opposite.
antipodes noun Those who live on the side of the globe diametrically opposite., The country of those who live on the opposite side of the globe., Anything exactly opposite or contrary.
antiquary adjective Pertaining to antiquity., One devoted to the study of ancient times through their relics, as inscriptions, monuments, remains of ancient habitations, statues, coins, manuscripts, etc.; one who searches for and studies the relics of antiquity.
antiquate verb t. To make old, or obsolete; to make antique; to make old in such a degree as to put out of use; hence, to make void, or abrogate.
antiquely adverb In an antique manner.
antiquist noun An antiquary; a collector of antiques.
antiquity noun The quality of being ancient; ancientness; great age; as, a statue of remarkable antiquity; a family of great antiquity., Old age., Ancient times; former ages; times long since past; as, Cicero was an eloquent orator of antiquity., The ancients; the people of ancient times., An old gentleman., A relic or monument of ancient times; as, a coin, a statue, etc.; an ancient institution. [In this sense, usually in the plural.]
antisolar adjective Opposite to the sun; — said of the point in the heavens 180¡ distant from the sun.
antispast noun A foot of four syllables, the first and fourth short, and the second and third long (#).
antitoxin noun Alt. of Antitoxine
antitypal adjective Antitypical.
antizymic adjective Preventing fermentation.
antrovert verb t. To bend forward.
anxietude noun The state of being anxious; anxiety.
anxieties plural of Anxiety
anxiously adverb In an anxious manner; with painful uncertainty; solicitously.
apartment noun A room in a building; a division in a house, separated from others by partitions., A set or suite of rooms., A compartment.
apartness noun The quality of standing apart.
apathetic adjective Alt. of Apathetical
aperitive adjective Serving to open; aperient.
apertness noun Openness; frankness.
apetalous adjective Having no petals, or flower leaves. [See Illust. under Anther].
aphanitic adjective Resembling aphanite; having a very fine-grained structure.
apheresis noun The dropping of a letter or syllable from the beginning of a word; e. g., cute for acute., An operation by which any part is separated from the rest.
aphrodite noun The Greek goddess of love, corresponding to the Venus of the Romans., A large marine annelid, covered with long, lustrous, golden, hairlike setae; the sea mouse., A beautiful butterfly (Argunnis Aphrodite) of the United States.
aphyllous adjective Destitute of leaves, as the broom rape, certain euphorbiaceous plants, etc.
apiaceous adjective Umbelliferous.
apiculate adjective Alt. of Apiculated
apishness noun The quality of being apish; mimicry; foppery.
aplanatic adjective Having two or more parts of different curvatures, so combined as to remove spherical aberration; — said of a lens.
apneumona noun pl. An order of holothurians in which the internal respiratory organs are wanting; — called also Apoda or Apodes.
apocopate verb t. To cut off or drop; as, to apocopate a word, or the last letter, syllable, or part of a word., Alt. of Apocopated
apocrypha noun pl. Something, as a writing, that is of doubtful authorship or authority; — formerly used also adjectively., Specif.: Certain writings which are received by some Christians as an authentic part of the Holy Scriptures, but are rejected by others.
apodictic adjective Alt. of Apodictical, Same as Apodeictic.
apollonic adjective Of, pertaining to, or resembling, Apollo.
apologist noun One who makes an apology; one who speaks or writes in defense of a faith, a cause, or an institution; especially, one who argues in defense of Christianity.
apologize verb i. To make an apology or defense., To make an apology or excuse; to make acknowledgment of some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends; — with for; as, my correspondent apologized for not answering my letter., To defend.
apologies plural of Apology
apophasis noun A figure by which a speaker formally declines to take notice of a favorable point, but in such a manner as to produce the effect desired. [For example, see Mark Antony’s oration. Shak., Julius Caesar, iii. 2.]
apophysis noun A marked prominence or process on any part of a bone., An enlargement at the top of a pedicel or stem, as seen in certain mosses.
apoplexed adjective Affected with apoplexy.
apostatic adjective Apostatical.
apostille noun A marginal note on a letter or other paper; an annotation.
apostolic adjective Alt. of Apostolical, A member of one of certain ascetic sects which at various times professed to imitate the practice of the apostles.
apotelesm noun The result or issue., The calculation and explanation of a nativity.
apothecia plural of Apothecium
apothesis noun A place on the south side of the chancel in the primitive churches, furnished with shelves, for books, vestments, etc., A dressing room connected with a public bath.
appalling present participle & vb. noun of Appall, Such as to appall; as, an appalling accident.
apparatus plural of Apparatus, Things provided as means to some end., Hence: A full collection or set of implements, or utensils, for a given duty, experimental or operative; any complex instrument or appliance, mechanical or chemical, for a specific action or operation; machinery; mechanism., A collection of organs all of which unite in a common function; as, the respiratory apparatus.
appareled imp. & past participle of Apparel
apparence noun Appearance.
apparency noun Appearance., Apparentness; state of being apparent., The position of being heir apparent.
apparitor noun Formerly, an officer who attended magistrates and judges to execute their orders., A messenger or officer who serves the process of an ecclesiastical court.
appeacher noun An accuser.
appealing present participle & vb. noun of Appeal, That appeals; imploring.
appealant noun An appellant.
appearing present participle & vb. noun of Appear
appeasing present participle & vb. noun of Appease
appeasive adjective Tending to appease.
appellant adjective Relating to an appeal; appellate., One who accuses another of felony or treason., One who appeals, or asks for a rehearing or review of a cause by a higher tribunal., A challenger., One who appealed to a general council against the bull Unigenitus., One who appeals or entreats.
appellate adjective Pertaining to, or taking cognizance of, appeals., A person or prosecuted for a crime. [Obs.] See Appellee.
appending present participle & vb. noun of Append
appendage noun Something appended to, or accompanying, a principal or greater thing, though not necessary to it, as a portico to a house., A subordinate or subsidiary part or organ; an external organ or limb, esp. of the articulates.
appendant verb t. Hanging; annexed; adjunct; concomitant; as, a seal appendant to a paper., Appended by prescription, that is, a personal usage for a considerable time; — said of a thing of inheritance belonging to another inheritance which is superior or more worthy; as, an advowson, common, etc. , which may be appendant to a manor, common of fishing to a freehold, a seat in church to a house., Anything attached to another as incidental or subordinate to it., A inheritance annexed by prescription to a superior inheritance.
appension noun The act of appending.
appertain verb i. To belong or pertain, whether by right, nature, appointment, or custom; to relate.
appetence noun A longing; a desire; especially an ardent desire; appetite; appetency.
appetency noun Fixed and strong desire; esp. natural desire; a craving; an eager appetite., Specifically: An instinctive inclination or propensity in animals to perform certain actions, as in the young to suck, in aquatic fowls to enter into water and to swim; the tendency of an organized body to seek what satisfies the wants of its organism., Natural tendency; affinity; attraction; — used of inanimate objects.
appetible adjective Desirable; capable or worthy of being the object of desire.
appetizer noun Something which creates or whets an appetite.
applauded imp. & past participle of Applaud
applauder noun One who applauds.
apple pie A pie made of apples (usually sliced or stewed) with spice and sugar.
appliable adjective Applicable; also, compliant.
appliance noun The act of applying; application; [Obs.] subservience., The thing applied or used as a means to an end; an apparatus or device; as, to use various appliances; a mechanical appliance; a machine with its appliances.
applicant noun One who apples for something; one who makes request; a petitioner.
applicate adjective Applied or put to some use., To apply.
appliedly adverb By application.
appliment noun Application.
applotted imp. & past participle of Applot
appointed imp. & past participle of Appoint
appointee verb t. A person appointed., A person in whose favor a power of appointment is executed.
appointer noun One who appoints, or executes a power of appointment.
appointor noun The person who selects the appointee. See Appointee, 2.
apportion verb t. To divide and assign in just proportion; to divide and distribute proportionally; to portion out; to allot; as, to apportion undivided rights; to apportion time among various employments.
appraisal noun A valuation by an authorized person; an appraisement.
appraised imp. & past participle of Appraise
appraiser noun One who appraises; esp., a person appointed and sworn to estimate and fix the value of goods or estates.
apprehend verb t. To take or seize; to take hold of., Hence: To take or seize (a person) by legal process; to arrest; as, to apprehend a criminal., To take hold of with the understanding, that is, to conceive in the mind; to become cognizant of; to understand; to recognize; to consider., To know or learn with certainty., To anticipate; esp., to anticipate with anxiety, dread, or fear; to fear., To think, believe, or be of opinion; to understand; to suppose., To be apprehensive; to fear.
appressed adjective Alt. of Apprest
apprising present participle & vb. noun of Apprise
approbate adjective Approved., To express approbation of; to approve; to sanction officially.
approving present participle & vb. noun of Approve, Expressing approbation; commending; as, an approving smile.
appulsion noun A driving or striking against; an appulse.
appulsive adjective Striking against; impinging; as, the appulsive influence of the planets.
apriorism noun An a priori principle.
apriority noun The quality of being innate in the mind, or prior to experience; a priori reasoning.
aproctous adjective Without an anal office.
apronfuls plural of Apronful
apronless adjective Without an apron.
apron man A man who wears an apron; a laboring man; a mechanic.
apteryges noun pl. An order of birds, including the genus Apteryx.
apyrexial adjective Relating to apyrexy.
aquarelle noun A design or painting in thin transparent water colors; also, the mode of painting in such colors.
aquariums plural of Aquarium
aquatical adjective Aquatic.
aquatinta noun A kind of etching in which spaces are bitten by the use of aqua fortis, by which an effect is produced resembling a drawing in water colors or India ink; also, the engraving produced by this method.
aquilated adjective Adorned with eagles’ heads.
arabesque noun A style of ornamentation either painted, inlaid, or carved in low relief. It consists of a pattern in which plants, fruits, foliage, etc., as well as figures of men and animals, real or imaginary, are fantastically interlaced or put together., Arabian., Relating to, or exhibiting, the style of ornament called arabesque; as, arabesque frescoes.
arabinose noun A sugar of the composition C5H10O5, obtained from cherry gum by boiling it with dilute sulphuric acid.
aracanese adjective Of or pertaining to Aracan, a province of British Burmah., A native or natives of Aracan.
arachnida noun pl. One of the classes of Arthropoda. See Illustration in Appendix.
arachnoid adjective Resembling a spider’s web; cobweblike., Pertaining to a thin membrane of the brain and spinal cord, between the dura mater and pia mater., Covered with, or composed of, soft, loose hairs or fibers, so as to resemble a cobweb; cobwebby., The arachnoid membrane., One of the Arachnoidea.
aragonese adjective Of or pertaining to Aragon, in Spain, or to its inhabitants., A native or natives of Aragon, in Spain.
aragonite noun A mineral identical in composition with calcite or carbonate of lime, but differing from it in its crystalline form and some of its physical characters.
araneidan adjective Of or pertaining to the Araneina or spiders., One of the Araneina; a spider.
araucaria noun A genus of tall conifers of the pine family. The species are confined mostly to South America and Australia. The wood cells differ from those of other in having the dots in their lateral surfaces in two or three rows, and the dots of contiguous rows alternating. The seeds are edible.
arbitrage noun Judgment by an arbiter; authoritative determination., A traffic in bills of exchange (see Arbitration of Exchange); also, a traffic in stocks which bear differing values at the same time in different markets.
arbitrary adjective Depending on will or discretion; not governed by any fixed rules; as, an arbitrary decision; an arbitrary punishment., Exercised according to one’s own will or caprice, and therefore conveying a notion of a tendency to abuse the possession of power., Despotic; absolute in power; bound by no law; harsh and unforbearing; tyrannical; as, an arbitrary prince or government.
arbitrate verb t. To hear and decide, as arbitrators; as, to choose to arbitrate a disputed case., To decide, or determine generally., To decide; to determine., To act as arbitrator or judge; as, to arbitrate upon several reports; to arbitrate in disputes among neighbors; to arbitrate between parties to a suit.
arbitress noun A female arbiter; an arbitratrix.
arborator noun One who plants or who prunes trees.
arboreous adjective Having the form, constitution, or habits, of a proper tree, in distinction from a shrub., Pertaining to, or growing on, trees; as, arboreous moss.
arboretum noun A place in which a collection of rare trees and shrubs is cultivated for scientific or educational purposes.
arborical adjective Relating to trees.
arborized adjective Having a treelike appearance.
arbustive adjective Containing copses of trees or shrubs; covered with shrubs.
archaical adjective Archaic.
archaized imp. & past participle of Archaize
archangel noun A chief angel; one high in the celestial hierarchy., A term applied to several different species of plants (Angelica archangelica, Lamium album, etc.).
archducal adjective Of or pertaining to an archduke or archduchy.
archduchy noun The territory of an archduke or archduchess.
archegony noun Spontaneous generation; abiogenesis.
archelogy noun The science of, or a treatise on, first principles.
archenemy noun A principal enemy. Specifically, Satan, the grand adversary of mankind.
archeress noun A female archer.
archetype noun The original pattern or model of a work; or the model from which a thing is made or formed., The standard weight or coin by which others are adjusted., The plan or fundamental structure on which a natural group of animals or plants or their systems of organs are assumed to have been constructed; as, the vertebrate archetype.
archiater noun Chief physician; — a term applied, on the continent of Europe, to the first or body physician of princes and to the first physician of some cities.
archierey noun The higher order of clergy in Russia, including metropolitans, archbishops, and bishops.
archimage noun Alt. of Archimagus
architect noun A person skilled in the art of building; one who understands architecture, or makes it his occupation to form plans and designs of buildings, and to superintend the artificers employed., A contriver, designer, or maker.
archivist noun A keeper of archives or records.
archivolt noun The architectural member surrounding the curved opening of an arch, corresponding to the architrave in the case of a square opening., More commonly, the molding or other ornaments with which the wall face of the voussoirs of an arch is charged.
archilute noun A large theorbo, or double-necked lute, formerly in use, having the bass strings doubled with an octave, and the higher strings with a unison.
arcograph noun An instrument for drawing a circular arc without the use of a central point; a cyclograph.
arctation noun Constriction or contraction of some natural passage, as in constipation from inflammation.
arctogeal adjective Of or pertaining to arctic lands; as, the arctogeal fauna.
arctoidea noun pl. A group of the Carnivora, that includes the bears, weasels, etc.
arcuately adverb In the form of a bow.
arcuation noun The act of bending or curving; incurvation; the state of being bent; crookedness., A mode of propagating trees by bending branches to the ground, and covering the small shoots with earth; layering.
ardassine noun A very fine sort of Persian silk.
arduously adverb In an arduous manner; with difficulty or laboriousness.
arenation noun A sand bath; application of hot sand to the body.
arendator noun In some provinces of Russia, one who farms the rents or revenues.
arenulous adjective Full of fine sand; like sand.
areolated adjective Divided into small spaces or areolations, as the wings of insects, the leaves of plants, or the receptacle of compound flowers.
areometer noun An instrument for measuring the specific gravity of fluids; a form hydrometer.
areometry noun The art or process of measuring the specific gravity of fluids.
areopagus noun The highest judicial court at Athens. Its sessions were held on Mars’ Hill. Hence, any high court or tribunal
areostyle adjective & noun See Intercolumniation, and Araeostyle.
aretology noun That part of moral philosophy which treats of virtue, its nature, and the means of attaining to it.
argentate adjective Silvery white.
argentine adjective Pertaining to, or resembling, silver; made of, or sounding like, silver; silvery., Of or pertaining to the Argentine Republic in South America., A siliceous variety of calcite, or carbonate of lime, having a silvery-white, pearly luster, and a waving or curved lamellar structure., White metal coated with silver., A fish of Europe (Maurolicus Pennantii) with silvery scales. The name is also applied to various fishes of the genus Argentina., A citizen of the Argentine Republic.
argentite noun Sulphide of silver; — also called vitreous silver, or silver glance. It has a metallic luster, a lead-gray color, and is sectile like lead.
argentous adjective Of, pertaining to, or containing, silver; — said of certain silver compounds in which silver has a higher proportion than in argentic compounds; as, argentous chloride.
argillite noun Argillaceous schist or slate; clay slate. Its colors is bluish or blackish gray, sometimes greenish gray, brownish red, etc.
argillous adjective Argillaceous; clayey.
argonauta noun A genus of Cephalopoda. The shell is called paper nautilus or paper sailor.
arhythmic adjective Alt. of Arhythmous
aridities plural of Aridity
aristarch noun A severe critic.
ark shell A marine bivalve shell belonging to the genus Arca and its allies.
armadillo noun Any edentate animal if the family Dasypidae, peculiar to America. The body and head are incased in an armor composed of small bony plates. The armadillos burrow in the earth, seldom going abroad except at night. When attacked, they curl up into a ball, presenting the armor on all sides. Their flesh is good food. There are several species, one of which (the peba) is found as far north as Texas. See Peba, Poyou, Tatouay., A genus of small isopod Crustacea that can roll themselves into a ball.
armillary noun Pertaining to, or resembling, a bracelet or ring; consisting of rings or circles.
armistice noun A cessation of arms for a short time, by convention; a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement; a truce.
armorican adjective Of or pertaining to the northwestern part of France (formerly called Armorica, now Bretagne or Brittany), or to its people., The language of the Armoricans, a Celtic dialect which has remained to the present times., A native of Armorica.
army worm A lepidopterous insect, which in the larval state often travels in great multitudes from field to field, destroying grass, grain, and other crops. The common army worm of the northern United States is Leucania unipuncta. The name is often applied to other related species, as the cotton worm., The larva of a small two-winged fly (Sciara), which marches in large companies, in regular order. See Cotton worm, under Cotton.
aroideous adjective Belonging to, or resembling, the Arum family of plants.
aromatize verb t. To impregnate with aroma; to render aromatic; to give a spicy scent or taste to; to perfume.
aromatous adjective Aromatic.
arquebuse noun A sort of hand gun or firearm a contrivance answering to a trigger, by which the burning match was applied. The musket was a later invention.
arquifoux noun Same as Alquifou.
arraigned imp. & past participle of Arraign
arraigner noun One who arraigns.
arraiment verb t. Alt. of Arrayment
arrayment verb t. Clothes; raiment.
arranging present participle & vb. noun of Arrange
arraswise adverb Alt. of Arrasways
arrasways adverb Placed in such a position as to exhibit the top and two sides, the corner being in front; — said of a rectangular form.
arrearage noun That which remains unpaid and overdue, after payment of a part; arrears.
arrectary noun An upright beam.
arreption noun The act of taking away.
arresting present participle & vb. noun of Arrest, Striking; attracting attention; impressive.
arrestive adjective Tending to arrest.
arrhizous adjective Destitute of a true root, as a parasitical plant.
arriswise adverb Diagonally laid, as tiles; ridgewise.
arrivance noun Arrival.
arrogance noun The act or habit of arrogating, or making undue claims in an overbearing manner; that species of pride which consists in exorbitant claims of rank, dignity, estimation, or power, or which exalts the worth or importance of the person to an undue degree; proud contempt of others; lordliness; haughtiness; self-assumption; presumption.
arrogancy noun Arrogance.
arrogated imp. & past participle of Arrogate
arrowhead noun The head of an arrow., An aquatic plant of the genus Sagittaria, esp. S. sagittifolia, — named from the shape of the leaves.
arrowroot noun A west Indian plant of the genus Maranta, esp. M. arundinacea, now cultivated in many hot countries. It said that the Indians used the roots to neutralize the venom in wounds made by poisoned arrows., A nutritive starch obtained from the rootstocks of Maranta arundinacea, and used as food, esp. for children an invalids; also, a similar starch obtained from other plants, as various species of Maranta and Curcuma.
arrowwood noun A shrub (Viburnum dentatum) growing in damp woods and thickets; — so called from the long, straight, slender shoots.
arrowworm noun A peculiar transparent worm of the genus Sagitta, living at the surface of the sea. See Sagitta.
arseniate noun See Arsenate.
arsenical adjective Of or pertaining to, or containing, arsenic; as, arsenical vapor; arsenical wall papers.
arsenious adjective Pertaining to, consisting of, or containing, arsenic; as, arsenious powder or glass., Pertaining to, or derived from, arsenic, when having an equivalence next lower than the highest; as, arsenious acid.
arsesmart noun Smartweed; water pepper.
artemisia noun A genus of plants including the plants called mugwort, southernwood, and wormwood. Of these A. absinthium, or common wormwood, is well known, and A. tridentata is the sage brush of the Rocky Mountain region.
arteriole noun A small artery.
arteritis noun Inflammation of an artery or arteries.
arthritic adjective Alt. of Arthritical
arthritis noun Any inflammation of the joints, particularly the gout.
arthrodia noun A form of diarthrodial articulation in which the articular surfaces are nearly flat, so that they form only an imperfect ball and socket.
arthrodic adjective Of or pertaining to arthrodia.
arthropod noun One of the Arthropoda.
arthrosis noun Articulation.
artichoke noun The Cynara scolymus, a plant somewhat resembling a thistle, with a dilated, imbricated, and prickly involucre. The head (to which the name is also applied) is composed of numerous oval scales, inclosing the florets, sitting on a broad receptacle, which, with the fleshy base of the scales, is much esteemed as an article of food., See Jerusalem artichoke.
articling present participle & vb. noun of Article
articular noun Of or pertaining to the joints; as, an articular disease; an articular process., Alt. of Articulary
articulus noun A joint of the cirri of the Crinoidea; a joint or segment of an arthropod appendage.
artificer noun An artistic worker; a mechanic or manufacturer; one whose occupation requires skill or knowledge of a particular kind, as a silversmith., One who makes or contrives; a deviser, inventor, or framer., A cunning or artful fellow., A military mechanic, as a blacksmith, carpenter, etc.; also, one who prepares the shells, fuses, grenades, etc., in a military laboratory.
artillery noun Munitions of war; implements for warfare, as slings, bows, and arrows., Cannon; great guns; ordnance, including guns, mortars, howitzers, etc., with their equipment of carriages, balls, bombs, and shot of all kinds., The men and officers of that branch of the army to which the care and management of artillery are confided., The science of artillery or gunnery.
artlessly adverb In an artless manner; without art, skill, or guile; unaffectedly.
art union An association for promoting art (esp. the arts of design), and giving encouragement to artists.
aruspices plural of Aruspex
arytenoid adjective Ladle-shaped; — applied to two small cartilages of the larynx, and also to the glands, muscles, etc., connected with them. The cartilages are attached to the cricoid cartilage and connected with the vocal cords.
asafetida noun Alt. of Asafoetida
asbestine adjective Of or pertaining to asbestus, or partaking of its nature; incombustible; asbestic.
asbestous adjective Asbestic.
ascarides plural of Ascarid
ascending present participle & vb. noun of Ascend, Rising; moving upward; as, an ascending kite.
ascendant noun Ascent; height; elevation., The horoscope, or that degree of the ecliptic which rises above the horizon at the moment of one’s birth; supposed to have a commanding influence on a person’s life and fortune., Superiority, or commanding influence; ascendency; as, one man has the ascendant over another., An ancestor, or one who precedes in genealogy or degrees of kindred; a relative in the ascending line; a progenitor; — opposed to descendant., Alt. of Ascendent
ascendent adjective Rising toward the zenith; above the horizon., Rising; ascending., Superior; surpassing; ruling.
ascension noun The act of ascending; a rising; ascent., Specifically: The visible ascent of our Savior on the fortieth day after his resurrection. (Acts i. 9.) Also, Ascension Day., An ascending or arising, as in distillation; also that which arises, as from distillation.
ascensive adjective Rising; tending to rise, or causing to rise., Augmentative; intensive.
ascertain verb t. To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise., To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine., To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal.
ascessant adjective See Acescency, Acescent.
ascitical adjective Of, pertaining to, or affected by, ascites; dropsical.
asclepiad noun A choriambic verse, first used by the Greek poet Asclepias, consisting of four feet, viz., a spondee, two choriambi, and an iambus.
asclepias noun A genus of plants including the milkweed, swallowwort, and some other species having medicinal properties.
ascococci plural of Ascococcus
ascospore noun One of the spores contained in the asci of lichens and fungi. [See Illust. of Ascus.]
ascribing present participle & vb. noun of Ascribe
asexually adverb In an asexual manner; without sexual agency.
ashamedly adverb Bashfully.
ashantees plural of Ashantee
ashlaring noun Alt. of Ashlering
ashlering noun The act of bedding ashlar in mortar., Ashlar when in thin slabs and made to serve merely as a case to the body of the wall., The short upright pieces between the floor beams and rafters in garrets. See Ashlar, 2.
ashtaroth plural of Ashtoreth
ashtoreth noun The principal female divinity of the Phoenicians, as Baal was the principal male divinity.
asininity noun The quality of being asinine; stupidity combined with obstinacy.
asiphonea noun pl. Alt. of Asiphonida
asomatous adjective Without a material body; incorporeal.
asparagus noun A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceae, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens., The young and tender shoots of A. officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of food.
aspectant adjective Facing each other.
aspection noun The act of viewing; a look.
asperated imp. & past participle of Asperate
aspergill noun Alt. of Aspergillum
aspermous adjective Destitute of seeds; aspermatous.
aspersing present participle & vb. noun of Asperse
aspersion noun A sprinkling, as with water or dust, in a literal sense., The spreading of calumniations reports or charges which tarnish reputation, like the bespattering of a body with foul water; calumny.
aspersive adjective Tending to asperse; defamatory; slanderous.
aspersoir noun An aspergill.
asphaltum noun Mineral pitch, Jews’ pitch, or compact native bitumen. It is brittle, of a black or brown color and high luster on a surface of fracture; it melts and burns when heated, leaving no residue. It occurs on the surface and shores of the Dead Sea, which is therefore called Asphaltites, or the Asphaltic Lake. It is found also in many parts of Asia, Europe, and America. See Bitumen., A composition of bitumen, pitch, lime, and gravel, used for forming pavements, and as a water-proof cement for bridges, roofs, etc.; asphaltic cement. Artificial asphalt is prepared from coal tar, lime, sand, etc.
asphaltic adjective Pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing, asphalt; bituminous.
asphaltus noun See Asphalt.
asphyctic adjective Pertaining to asphyxia.
asphyxial adjective Of or relating to asphyxia; as, asphyxial phenomena.
asphyxied past participle In a state of asphyxia; suffocated.
aspirated imp. & past participle of Aspirate, Pronounced with the h sound or with audible breath.
aspirator noun An apparatus for passing air or gases through or over certain liquids or solids, or for exhausting a closed vessel, by means of suction., An instrument for the evacuation of the fluid contents of tumors or collections of blood.
assailing present participle & vb. noun of Assail
assailant adjective Assailing; attacking., One who, or that which, assails, attacks, or assaults; an assailer.
assapanic noun The American flying squirrel (Pteromys volucella).
assastion noun Roasting.
assaulted imp. & past participle of Assault
assaulter noun One who assaults, or violently attacks; an assailant.
assayable adjective That may be assayed.
assembled imp. & past participle of Assemble
assembler noun One who assembles a number of individuals; also, one of a number assembled.
assenting present participle & vb. noun of Assent, Giving or implying assent.
assentive adjective Giving assent; of the nature of assent; complying.
asserting present participle & vb. noun of Assert
assertion noun The act of asserting, or that which is asserted; positive declaration or averment; affirmation; statement asserted; position advanced., Maintenance; vindication; as, the assertion of one’s rights or prerogatives.
assertive adjective Positive; affirming confidently; affirmative; peremptory.
assertory adjective Affirming; maintaining.
assessing present participle & vb. noun of Assess
assession noun A sitting beside or near.
assiduate adjective Unremitting; assiduous.
assiduity noun Constant or close application or attention, particularly to some business or enterprise; diligence., Studied and persevering attention to a person; — usually in the plural.
assiduous adjective Constant in application or attention; devoted; attentive; unremitting., Performed with constant diligence or attention; unremitting; persistent; as, assiduous labor.
assigning present participle & vb. noun of Assign
assisting present participle & vb. noun of Assist
assistant adjective Helping; lending aid or support; auxiliary., Of the second grade in the staff of the army; as, an assistant surgeon., One who, or that which, assists; a helper; an auxiliary; a means of help., An attendant; one who is present.
assistful adjective Helpful.
assistive adjective Lending aid, helping.
associate verb t. To join with one, as a friend, companion, partner, or confederate; as, to associate others with us in business, or in an enterprise., To join or connect; to combine in acting; as, particles of gold associated with other substances., To connect or place together in thought., To accompany; to keep company with., To unite in company; to keep company, implying intimacy; as, congenial minds are disposed to associate., To unite in action, or to be affected by the action of a different part of the body., Closely connected or joined with some other, as in interest, purpose, employment, or office; sharing responsibility or authority; as, an associate judge., Admitted to some, but not to all, rights and privileges; as, an associate member., Connected by habit or sympathy; as, associate motions, such as occur sympathetically, in consequence of preceding motions., A companion; one frequently in company with another, implying intimacy or equality; a mate; a fellow., A partner in interest, as in business; or a confederate in a league., One connected with an association or institution without the full rights or privileges of a regular member; as, an associate of the Royal Academy., Anything closely or usually connected with another; an concomitant.
assoilzie verb t. Alt. of Assoilyie
assoilyie verb t. To absolve; to acquit by sentence of court.
assonance noun Resemblance of sound., A peculiar species of rhyme, in which the last acce`ted vow`l and tnose whioh follow it in one word correspond in sound with the vowels of another word, while the consonants of the two words are unlike in sound; as, calamo and platano, baby and chary., Incomplete correspondence.
assorting present participle & vb. noun of Assort
assuaging present participle & vb. noun of Assuage
assuasive adjective Mitigating; tranquilizing; soothing.
assuetude noun Accustomedness; habit; habitual use.
assumable adjective That may be assumed.
assumably adverb By way of assumption.
assumedly adverb By assumption.
assumpsit noun A promise or undertaking, founded on a consideration. This promise may be oral or in writing not under seal. It may be express or implied., An action to recover damages for a breach or nonperformance of a contract or promise, express or implied, oral or in writing not under seal. Common or indebitatus assumpsit is brought for the most part on an implied promise. Special assumpsit is founded on an express promise or undertaking.
assurance noun The act of assuring; a declaration tending to inspire full confidence; that which is designed to give confidence., The state of being assured; firm persuasion; full confidence or trust; freedom from doubt; certainty., Firmness of mind; undoubting, steadiness; intrepidity; courage; confidence; self-reliance., Excess of boldness; impudence; audacity; as, his assurance is intolerable., Betrothal; affiance., Insurance; a contract for the payment of a sum on occasion of a certain event, as loss or death., Any written or other legal evidence of the conveyance of property; a conveyance; a deed.
assuredly adverb Certainly; indubitably.
assurgent adjective Ascending, rising obliquely; curving upward.
asteridea noun pl. A class of Echinodermata including the true starfishes. The rays vary in number and always have ambulacral grooves below. The body is star-shaped or pentagonal.
asthmatic adjective Alt. of Asthmatical, A person affected with asthma.
astonying present participle & vb. noun of Astony
astounded imp. & past participle of Astound
astrachan adjective & noun See Astrakhan.
astraddle adverb In a straddling position; astride; bestriding; as, to sit astraddle a horse.
astrakhan adjective Of or pertaining to Astrakhan in Russia or its products; made of an Astrakhan skin., The skin of stillborn or young lambs of that region, the curled wool of which resembles fur.
astricted imp. & past participle of Astrict
astringed imp. & past participle of Astringe
astringer noun A falconer who keeps a goshawk.
astrofell noun A bitter herb, probably the same as aster, or starwort.
astrogeny noun The creation or evolution of the stars or the heavens.
astrogony noun Same as Astrogeny.
astrolabe noun An instrument for observing or showing the positions of the stars. It is now disused., A stereographic projection of the sphere on the plane of a great circle, as the equator, or a meridian; a planisphere.
astrology noun In its etymological signification, the science of the stars; among the ancients, synonymous with astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects.
astronomy noun Astrology., The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena., A treatise on, or text-book of, the science.
astrophel noun See Astrofel.
astucious adjective Subtle; cunning; astute.
asymmetry noun Want of symmetry, or proportion between the parts of a thing, esp. want of bilateral symmetry., Incommensurability.
asymptote noun A line which approaches nearer to some curve than assignable distance, but, though infinitely extended, would never meet it. Asymptotes may be straight lines or curves. A rectilinear asymptote may be conceived as a tangent to the curve at an infinite distance.
asyndetic adjective Characterized by the use of asyndeton; not connected by conjunctions.
asyndeton noun A figure which omits the connective; as, I came, I saw, I conquered. It stands opposed to polysyndeton.
atacamite noun An oxychloride of copper, usually in emerald-green prismatic crystals.
athamaunt noun Adamant.
atheistic adjective Alt. of Atheistical
atheneums plural of Athenaeum
athenaeum noun A temple of Athene, at Athens, in which scholars and poets were accustomed to read their works and instruct students., A school founded at Rome by Hadrian., A literary or scientific association or club., A building or an apartment where a library, periodicals, and newspapers are kept for use.
atheology noun Antagonism to theology.
athermous adjective Athermanous.
athetosis noun A variety of chorea, marked by peculiar tremors of the fingers and toes.
athletics noun The art of training by athletic exercises; the games and sports of athletes.
athletism noun The state or practice of an athlete; the characteristics of an athlete.
atlantean adjective Of or pertaining to the isle Atlantis, which the ancients allege was sunk, and overwhelmed by the ocean., Pertaining to, or resembling, Atlas; strong.
atmologic adjective Alt. of Atmological
atmolysis noun The act or process of separating mingled gases of unequal diffusibility by transmission through porous substances.
atmolyzer noun An apparatus for effecting atmolysis.
atmometer noun An instrument for measuring the rate of evaporation from a moist surface; an evaporometer.
atomician noun An atomist.
atomicism noun Atomism.
atomicity noun Degree of atomic attraction; equivalence; valence; also (a later use) the number of atoms in an elementary molecule. See Valence.
atomistic adjective Of or pertaining to atoms; relating to atomism.
atomology noun The doctrine of atoms.
atonement noun Reconciliation; restoration of friendly relations; agreement; concord., Satisfaction or reparation made by giving an equivalent for an injury, or by doing of suffering that which will be received in satisfaction for an offense or injury; expiation; amends; — with for. Specifically, in theology: The expiation of sin made by the obedience, personal suffering, and death of Christ.
atrocious adjective Extremely heinous; full of enormous wickedness; as, atrocious quilt or deeds., Characterized by, or expressing, great atrocity., Very grievous or violent; terrible; as, atrocious distempers.
atrophied p. adjective Affected with atrophy, as a tissue or organ; arrested in development at a very early stage; rudimentary., of Atrophy
attaching present participle & vb. noun of Attach
attacking present participle & vb. noun of Attack
attaining present participle & vb. noun of Attain
attainder noun The act of attainting, or the state of being attainted; the extinction of the civil rights and capacities of a person, consequent upon sentence of death or outlawry; as, an act of attainder., A stain or staining; state of being in dishonor or condemnation.
attainted imp. & past participle of Attaint
attempted imp. & past participle of Attempt
attempter noun One who attempts; one who essays anything., An assailant; also, a temper.
attending present participle & vb. noun of Attend
attendant verb t. Being present, or in the train; accompanying; in waiting., Accompanying, connected with, or immediately following, as consequential; consequent; as, intemperance with all its attendant evils., Depending on, or owing duty or service to; as, the widow attendant to the heir., One who attends or accompanies in any character whatever, as a friend, companion, servant, agent, or suitor., One who is present and takes part in the proceedings; as, an attendant at a meeting., That which accompanies; a concomitant., One who owes duty or service to, or depends on, another.
attentate noun Alt. of Attentat
attention noun The act or state of attending or heeding; the application of the mind to any object of sense, representation, or thought; notice; exclusive or special consideration; earnest consideration, thought, or regard; obedient or affectionate heed; the supposed power or faculty of attending., An act of civility or courtesy; care for the comfort and pleasure of others; as, attentions paid to a stranger.
attentive adjective Heedful; intent; observant; regarding with care or attention., Heedful of the comfort of others; courteous.
attenuant adjective Making thin, as fluids; diluting; rendering less dense and viscid; diluent., A medicine that thins or dilutes the fluids; a diluent.
attenuate verb t. To make thin or slender, as by mechanical or chemical action upon inanimate objects, or by the effects of starvation, disease, etc., upon living bodies., To make thin or less consistent; to render less viscid or dense; to rarefy. Specifically: To subtilize, as the humors of the body, or to break them into finer parts., To lessen the amount, force, or value of; to make less complex; to weaken., To become thin, slender, or fine; to grow less; to lessen., Alt. of Attenuated
atterrate verb t. To fill up with alluvial earth.
attesting present participle & vb. noun of Attest
attestive adjective Attesting; furnishing evidence.
attiguous adjective Touching; bordering; contiguous.
attollent adjective Lifting up; raising; as, an attollent muscle.
attorneys plural of Attorney
attracted imp. & past participle of Attract
attracter noun One who, or that which, attracts.
attractor noun One who, or that which, attracts.
attrahent verb t. Attracting; drawing; attractive., That which attracts, as a magnet., A substance which, by irritating the surface, excites action in the part to which it is applied, as a blister, an epispastic, a sinapism.
attribute verb t. To ascribe; to consider (something) as due or appropriate (to); to refer, as an effect to a cause; to impute; to assign; to consider as belonging (to)., That which is attributed; a quality which is considered as belonging to, or inherent in, a person or thing; an essential or necessary property or characteristic., Reputation., A conventional symbol of office, character, or identity, added to any particular figure; as, a club is the attribute of Hercules., Quality, etc., denoted by an attributive; an attributive adjunct or adjective.
attrition noun The act of rubbing together; friction; the act of wearing by friction, or by rubbing substances together; abrasion., The state of being worn., Grief for sin arising only from fear of punishment or feelings of shame. See Contrition.
auchenium noun The part of the neck nearest the back.
audacious adjective Daring; spirited; adventurous., Contemning the restraints of law, religion, or decorum; bold in wickedness; presumptuous; impudent; insolent., Committed with, or proceedings from, daring effrontery or contempt of law, morality, or decorum.
audiphone noun An instrument which, placed against the teeth, conveys sound to the auditory nerve and enables the deaf to hear more or less distinctly; a dentiphone.
auditress noun A female hearer.
augmented imp. & past participle of Augment
augmenter noun One who, or that which, augments or increases anything.
augurship noun The office, or period of office, of an augur.
augustine noun Alt. of Augustinian
auriculae plural of Auricula
auriculas plural of Auricula
auricular adjective Of or pertaining to the ear, or to the sense of hearing; as, auricular nerves., Told in the ear, i. e., told privately; as, auricular confession to the priest., Recognized by the ear; known by the sense of hearing; as, auricular evidence., Received by the ear; known by report., Pertaining to the auricles of the heart.
auriscalp noun An earpick.
auriscope noun An instrument for examining the condition of the ear.
auriscopy noun Examination of the ear by the aid of the auriscope.
auspicate adjective Auspicious., To foreshow; to foretoken., To give a favorable turn to in commencing; to inaugurate; — a sense derived from the Roman practice of taking the auspicium, or inspection of birds, before undertaking any important business.
auspicial adjective Of or pertaining to auspices; auspicious.
austerely adverb Severely; rigidly; sternly.
austerity noun Sourness and harshness to the taste., Severity of manners or life; extreme rigor or strictness; harsh discipline., Plainness; freedom from adornment; severe simplicity.
authentic noun Having a genuine original or authority, in opposition to that which is false, fictitious, counterfeit, or apocryphal; being what it purports to be; genuine; not of doubtful origin; real; as, an authentic paper or register., Authoritative., Of approved authority; true; trustworthy; credible; as, an authentic writer; an authentic portrait; authentic information., Vested with all due formalities, and legally attested., Having as immediate relation to the tonic, in distinction from plagal, which has a correspondent relation to the dominant in the octave below the tonic., An original (book or document).
authoress noun A female author.
authorial adjective Of or pertaining to an author.
authorism noun Authorship.
authority noun Legal or rightful power; a right to command or to act; power exercised buy a person in virtue of his office or trust; dominion; jurisdiction; authorization; as, the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children; the authority of a court., Government; the persons or the body exercising power or command; as, the local authorities of the States; the military authorities., The power derived from opinion, respect, or esteem; influence of character, office, or station, or mental or moral superiority, and the like; claim to be believed or obeyed; as, an historian of no authority; a magistrate of great authority., That which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in support of opinions, actions, measures, etc., Testimony; witness., A precedent; a decision of a court, an official declaration, or an opinion, saying, or statement worthy to be taken as a precedent., A book containing such a statement or opinion, or the author of the book., Justification; warrant.
authorize verb t. To clothe with authority, warrant, or legal power; to give a right to act; to empower; as, to authorize commissioners to settle a boundary., To make legal; to give legal sanction to; to legalize; as, to authorize a marriage., To establish by authority, as by usage or public opinion; to sanction; as, idioms authorized by usage., To sanction or confirm by the authority of some one; to warrant; as, to authorize a report., To justify; to furnish a ground for.
authotype noun A type or block containing a facsimile of an autograph.
autoclave noun A kind of French stewpan with a steam-tight lid.
autocracy noun Independent or self-derived power; absolute or controlling authority; supremacy., Supreme, uncontrolled, unlimited authority, or right of governing in a single person, as of an autocrat., Political independence or absolute sovereignty (of a state); autonomy., The action of the vital principle, or of the instinctive powers, toward the preservation of the individual; also, the vital principle.
autograph noun That which is written with one’s own hand; an original manuscript; a person’s own signature or handwriting., In one’s own handwriting; as, an autograph letter; an autograph will.
autolatry noun Self-worship.
automatic adjective Alt. of Automatical
automaton verb i. Any thing or being regarded as having the power of spontaneous motion or action., A self-moving machine, or one which has its motive power within itself; — applied chiefly to machines which appear to imitate spontaneously the motions of living beings, such as men, birds, etc.
autonomic adjective Having the power of self-government; autonomous.
autoomist noun One who advocates autonomy.
autophagi noun pl. Birds which are able to run about and obtain their own food as soon as hatched.
autophoby noun Fear of one’s self; fear of being egotistical.
autophony noun An auscultatory process, which consists in noting the tone of the observer’s own voice, while he speaks, holding his head close to the patient’s chest.
auxiliary adjective Conferring aid or help; helping; aiding; assisting; subsidiary; as auxiliary troops., A helper; an assistant; a confederate in some action or enterprise., Foreign troops in the service of a nation at war; (rarely in sing.), a member of the allied or subsidiary force., A verb which helps to form the voices, modes, and tenses of other verbs; — called, also, an auxiliary verb; as, have, be, may, can, do, must, shall, and will, in English; etre and avoir, in French; avere and essere, in Italian; estar and haber, in Spanish., A quantity introduced for the purpose of simplifying or facilitating some operation, as in equations or trigonometrical formulae.
available adjective Having sufficient power, force, or efficacy, for the object; effectual; valid; as, an available plea., Such as one may avail one’s self of; capable of being used for the accomplishment of a purpose; usable; profitable; advantageous; convertible into a resource; as, an available measure; an available candidate.
availment noun Profit; advantage.
avalanche noun A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice., A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice., A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx of anything.
avauntour noun A boaster.
ave maria Alt. of Ave Mary
avengeful adjective Vengeful.
averaging present participle & vb. noun of Average
averpenny noun Money paid by a tenant in lieu of the service of average.
averroism noun The tenets of the Averroists.
averroist noun One of a sect of peripatetic philosophers, who appeared in Italy before the restoration of learning; so denominated from Averroes, or Averrhoes, a celebrated Arabian philosopher. He held the doctrine of monopsychism.
avertible adjective Capable of being averted; preventable.
avisement noun Advisement; observation; deliberation.
avocation noun A calling away; a diversion., That which calls one away from one’s regular employment or vocation., Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one’s time; usual employment; vocation.
avocative adjective Calling off., That which calls aside; a dissuasive.
avoidable adjective Capable of being vacated; liable to be annulled or made invalid; voidable., Capable of being avoided, shunned, or escaped.
avoidance noun The act of annulling; annulment., The act of becoming vacant, or the state of being vacant; — specifically used for the state of a benefice becoming void by the death, deprivation, or resignation of the incumbent., A dismissing or a quitting; removal; withdrawal., The act of avoiding or shunning; keeping clear of., The courts by which anything is carried off.
avoidless adjective Unavoidable; inevitable.
avolation noun The act of flying; flight; evaporation.
avouching present participle & vb. noun of Avouch
avuncular adjective Of or pertaining to an uncle.
awakening present participle & vb. noun of Awaken, Rousing from sleep, in a natural or a figurative sense; rousing into activity; exciting; as, the awakening city; an awakening discourse; the awakening dawn., The act of awaking, or ceasing to sleep. Specifically: A revival of religion, or more general attention to religious matters than usual.
awfulness noun The quality of striking with awe, or with reverence; dreadfulness; solemnity; as, the awfulness of this sacred place., The state of being struck with awe; a spirit of solemnity; profound reverence.
axiomatic adjective Alt. of Axiomatical
axminster noun An Axminster carpet, an imitation Turkey carpet, noted for its thick and soft pile; — so called from Axminster, Eng.
azedarach noun A handsome Asiatic tree (Melia azedarach), common in the southern United States; — called also, Pride of India, Pride of China, and Bead tree., The bark of the roots of the azedarach, used as a cathartic and emetic.
azimuthal adjective Of or pertaining to the azimuth; in a horizontal circle.
azotizing present participle & vb. noun of Azotize