Part 6

AGNOSTIC, ag-nos'tik, _n._ one who holds that we know nothing of things beyond material phenomena--that a First Cause and an unseen world are things unknown and apparently unknowable.--_n._ AGNOS'TICISM. [Coined by Prof. Huxley in 1869 from the word in Acts, xvii. 23; _a_, privative, and Gr. _gn[=o]stikos_, good at knowing. See GNOSTIC.]

AGNUS DEI, ag'nus-d[=e]'[=i], a part of the Mass beginning with the words _Agnus Dei_, also the music set to it: a figure of a lamb emblematic of Christ, bearing with its right foot the banner of the cross, and having the nimbus inscribed with the cross around its head: a round cake of wax stamped with such a figure, and blessed by the Pope. [L., lit. 'lamb of God.']

AGO, a-g[=o]', AGONE, a-gon', _adv._ gone: past: since. [Pa.p. of A.S. _[=a]g[=a]n_, to pass away--inten. pfx. _[=a]-_, and _g[=a]n_, to go.]

AGOG, a-gog', _adj._ or _adv._ eager: astir. [Perh. connected with O. Fr. _en gogues_; _estre en ses gogues_, to be frolicsome, or Fr. _vivre [`a] gogo_, to live in abundance. The ultimate origin is unknown.]

AGOING, a-g[=o]'ing, _adv._ going on: current.

AGONE. See AGO.

AGONIC, ag'on-ik, _adj._ having or making no angle.--AGONIC LINE, the line of no magnetic variation--an irregular line passing through the magnetic poles of the earth, along which the magnetic needle points directly north or south. [Gr. _ag[=o]nos_; _a_, neg., _g[=o]nia_, angle.]

AGONIST, ag'o-nist, _n._ one who contends for a prize in public games.--_adjs._ AGONIST'IC, -AL, relating to athletic contests: combative.--_adv._ AGONIST'ICALLY.--_n._ AGONIST'ICS, the art and theory of games and prize-fighting. [See AGONY.]

AGONY, ag'o-ni, _n._ a violent struggle: extreme suffering: the death struggle in particular: Christ's anguish in Gethsemane.--_v.t._ AG'ONISE, to struggle, suffer agony: to subject to agony.--_adj._ AG'ONISING, causing agony.--_adv._ AG'ONISINGLY.--AGONY COLUMN, the part of a newspaper containing special advertisements, as for missing friends and the like. [Gr.--_ag[=o]n_, contest.]

AGOOD, a-good', _adv._ (_obs._) in good earnest, heartily. [A.S. pfx. _a-_, and GOOD.]

AGORA, ag'o-ra, _n._ an assembly, hence a place of assembly, the market-place. [Gr.]

AGOUTA, a-g[=oo]'ta, _n._ a rat-like animal of Hayti.

AGOUTI, a-g[=oo]'ti, _n._ a small South American rodent allied to the guinea-pig. [Native word.]

AGRAFFE, a-graf', _n._ a kind of clasp or hook. [Fr. _agrafe_, a clasp--Low L. _grappa_, Old High Ger. _chrapfo_ (Ger. _krappen_), a hook.]

AGRARIAN, ag-r[=a]'ri-an, _adj._ relating to land, or its management, as in 'agrarian crime,' &c., applied esp. to Roman laws for the equal distribution of the public lands: rural.--_n._ AGR[=A]'RIANISM, an equal division of lands: a political movement in favour of interference with the ordinary conditions of private property in land. [L. _agrarius_--_ager_, a field. See ACRE.]

AGREE, a-gr[=e]', _v.i._ to be of one mind: to concur: to assent to: to be consistent, to harmonise: to determine, to settle: to resemble, to suit: (_gram._) to be in concord with--taking the same gender, number, case, or person: to do well with climate, &c. (followed by _with_ before the person or thing agreeing: by _upon_, _on_, _for_, _to_, _in_ before the condition of the agreement):--_pa.p._ agreed'.--_adj._ AGREE'ABLE, suitable: pleasant: favourable to, consenting to.--_n._ AGREE'ABLENESS, suitableness: conformity: quality of pleasing--also AGREEABIL'ITY.--_adv._ AGREE'ABLY.--_n._ AGREE'MENT, concord: conformity: harmony: a bargain or contract. [O. Fr. _agr['e]er_, to accept kindly--L. _ad_, to, and _gratus_, pleasing.]

AGRESTIC, a-gres'tik, _adj._ pertaining to the fields: rural: unpolished. [L. _agrestis_--_ager_, a field.]

AGRICULTURE, ag'ri-kult-[=u]r, _n._ the art or practice of cultivating the land.--_adj._ AGRICULT'URAL, relating to agriculture.--_n._ AGRICULT'URIST, one skilled in agriculture: a farmer--also AGRICULT'URALIST. [L. _agricultura_--_ager_, a field, _cultura_, cultivation. See CULTURE.]

AGRIMONY, ag'ri-mun-i, _n._ a genus of plants of the rose-group, with small yellow flowers and bitter taste. [L. _agrimonia_, for _argemonia_, Gr. _argem[=o]n[=e]_.]

AGRIN, a-grin', _adv._ on the grin.

AGRISE, a-gr[=i]z', _v.t._ (_obs._) to terrify, to make frightful. [A.S. _[=a]gr[=i]san_, to dread.]

AGRONOMIAL, ag-r[=o]-n[=o]'mi-al, _adj._ relating to the management of farms--also AGRONOM'IC.--_n._ AGRON'OMY, agricultural pursuits. [Gr. _agronomos_; _agros_, a field, _nemein_, to deal out.]

AGROUND, a-grownd', _adv._ stranded.

AGUARDIENTE, a-gw[:a]r-di-[.e]n't[.e], _n._ a kind of grape-brandy made in Spain and Portugal: any spirituous liquor, applied even to Mexican pulque. [Sp., from _agua ardiente_, burning water; _agua_--L. _aqua_; _ardiente_, _arder_--L. _ard[=e]re_, to burn.]

AGUE, [=a]'g[=u], _n._ a fever coming in periodical fits, accompanied with shivering: chilliness: quaking.--_adj._ A'GUED, struck with ague: shivering: cold; A'GUISH. [O. Fr. _aigue_ (Fr. _aigu_, sharp)--L. _acutus_. See ACUTE.]

AGUERRIED, a-ger'id, _adj._ inured to war, or instructed in it. [Fr. _aguerrir_, to make warlike; _[`a]_--Lat. _ad_, to, and _guerre_, war.]

AGUISE, a-g[=i]z', _v.t._ (_Spens._) to dress, to adorn. [Pfx. _a-_, and GUISE.]

AH, [:a], _interj._ an exclamation of surprise, joy, pity, complaint, &c.

AHA, [:a]-h[:a]', _interj._ an exclamation of exultation, pleasure, surprise, or contempt.

AHEAD, a-hed', _adv._ farther on: in advance: headlong, as in the phrase 'to go _ahead_.'

AHEAP, a-h[=e]p', _adv._ in a heap: in a state of collapse through terror or astonishment.

AHEIGHT, a-h[=i]t', _adv._ (_arch._) on high, aloft.

AHEM, a-hem', _interj._ a lengthened form of HEM.

AHITHOPHEL. See ACHITOPHEL.

AHIGH, a-h[=i]', _adv._ an obsolete form of ON HIGH.

AHOLD, a-h[=o]ld', _adv._ (_Shak._) near the wind, so as to keep clear of the land.

AHORSEBACK, a-hors'bak, _adv._ on horseback.

AHOY, a-hoi', _interj._ a nautical term used in hailing. [Form of interj. HOY.]

AHULL, a-hul', _adv._ (_naut._) with sails furled, and helm lashed to the lee-side, driving before the wind, stern foremost.

AHUNGERED, a-hung'g[.e]rd, _adj._ oppressed with hunger. [Erroneously written AN HUNGERED, as in Bible.]

AIBLINS, [=a]b'linz, _adv._ (_Scot._) perhaps, possibly. [See ABLE.]

AID, [=a]d, _v.t._ to help, assist.--_n._ help: assistance, as in defending an action: an auxiliary: subsidy or money grant to the king.--_n._ AID'ANCE, aid, help, support.--_adj._ AID'ANT, (_arch._) aiding, helping.--_n._ AID'ER, one who brings aid: a helper.--_adjs._ AID'FUL; AID'LESS.--COURT OF AIDS, the court that supervised the customs duties. [O. Fr. _aider_--L. _adjut[=a]re_--_ad_, and _juv[=a]re_, _jutum_, to help.]

AIDE-DE-CAMP, [=a]d'-de-kong, _n._ an officer who carries the orders of a general on the field, and brings him intelligence:--_pl._ AIDES'-DE-CAMP. [Fr., assistant on the field.]

AIERY, a variant of AERIE.

AIGRETTE, [=a]'gret, _n._ (_zool._) a small white heron: (_bot._) the down attached to vegetable seeds, as in the thistle: a plume composed of feathers, or of precious stones, like a heron's crest. [Fr. _aigrette_.]

AIGUILLE, [=a]-gw[=e]l', _n._ a sharp, needle-like peak of rock, applied esp. to many of the peaks near Mont Blanc: a slender boring-drill for blasting. [Fr. See AGLET.]

AIGUILLETTE. See AGLET.

AIL, [=a]l, _v.i._ to feel pain: to be in trouble.--_v.t._ to trouble, afflict--_obs._ except in impers. phrase 'What ails you?'--_n._ trouble: indisposition.--_n._ AIL'MENT, pain: indisposition: disease. [A.S. _eglan_, to pain. See AWE.]

AILANTO, [=e]l-an'to, _n._ a lofty and beautiful tree, native to South-eastern Asia, but grown to shade public walks in France and Italy. Its leaves give food to a species of silkworm--it is sometimes called the Vernis du Japon, or Japan Varnish, apparently by confusion with certain species of Rhus.--Also AILAN'TUS. [Native Amboyna name, meaning 'tree of the gods.']

AILETTE, [=a]l-let', _n._ an iron plate once worn by men-at-arms for defence on the shoulder. [Fr., dim. of _aille_--L. _ala_, a wing.]

AIM, [=a]m, _v.i._ to point at with a weapon: to direct the intention or endeavour (_at_): (_obs._) to conjecture.--_v.t._ to point, as a weapon or firearm.--_n._ the pointing of a weapon: the thing pointed at: design: intention.--_adj._ AIM'LESS, without aim.--_adv._ AIM'LESSLY.--_n._ AIM'WORTHINESS, good aim.--TO CRY AIM, in old writers, to encourage archers when shooting by crying 'aim,' hence to applaud or encourage. [O. Fr. _esmer_, to reckon--L. _aestim[=a]re_, to estimate. See ESTIMATE.]

AIN'T, [=a]nt, a colloquial contracted form of _are not_--also AN'T = _aren't_, _are not_.--AN'T (_Shak._) occurs as a variant of _on't_ = _on it_, _of it_.

AIR, [=a]r, _n._ the fluid we breathe: the atmosphere: any special condition of atmosphere, as in 'the night-_air_,' 'to take the air:' a light breeze: publicity: the bearing of a person: outward appearance, manner, look: an assumed or affected manner: (_mus._) a rhythmical melody: a song, also specially a sprightly song: the soprano part in a harmonised composition, being that which gives it its character: (_pl._) affectation.--_v.t._ to expose to the air: to dry: to expose to warm air: (_obs._) to take an airing.--_ns._ AIR'-BATH, an arrangement for drying substances in air of any desired temperature; AIR'-BED, a bed for the sick, inflated with air; AIR'-BLAD'DER, in some fishes, an organ containing air, by which they maintain their equilibrium in the water; AIR'-BRAKE, a railway brake worked by compressed air.--_adj._ AIR'-BUILT, built in air: having no solid foundation.--_ns._ AIR'-CELL, a cavity containing air; AIR'-CUSH'ION, an air-tight cushion, which can be inflated; AIR'-DRAIN, an ample space at the foot of foundation walls, for the sake of dryness.--_adj._ AIR'DRAWN, drawn in air: visionary: (_Shak._) imaginary.--_ns._ AIR'-EN'GINE, an engine put in motion by air expanded by heat; AIR'-GAS, illuminating gas made by charging atmospheric air with vapour of petroleum or other hydrocarbon; AIR'-GUN, a gun which discharges bullets by means of compressed air.--_adv._ AIR'ILY, gaily.--_ns._ AIR'INESS, state of being airy; openness: liveliness; AIR'ING, exposure to the air or fire: a short excursion in the open air; AIR'-JACK'ET, a jacket with air-tight cavities, which being inflated renders a person buoyant in water.--_adj._ AIR'LESS, void of air: not having free communication with the open air.--_ns._ AIR'-LOCK, a small chamber for the entrance and exit of men and materials, at the top of the caisson or hollow cylinder used for founding the piers of bridges under water; AIR'-PUMP, an instrument for pumping the air out of a vessel; AIR'-SAC, an air-cell or air-space, esp. in the bones of birds; AIR'-SHAFT, a passage for air into a mine; AIR'-SHIP, a navigable balloon; AIR'-SPACE, the cubic content of a room, hospital-ward, or the like, with reference to the respirable air contained in it.--_adj._ AIR'-TIGHT, so tight as not to admit air.--_n._ AIR'-VES'SEL, a vessel or tube containing air.--_adv._ AIR'WARDS, up in the air.--_adj._ AIR'Y, consisting of or relating to air: open to the air: like air: unsubstantial: light of heart: sprightly.--TO TAKE AIR, to get wind, to become publicly known. [Fr.--L. _aer_--Gr.]

AIRLING, [=a]r'ling, _n._ (_obs._) a thoughtless, gay person.

AIRT, [=a]rt, _n._ (_Scot._) direction, quarter. [Gael. _aird_, _[`a]rd_; Ir. _ard_.]

AISLE, [=i]l, _n._ any lateral division of any part of a church, whether of nave, choir, or transept. The word is often erroneously applied to the passage in a church between the pews or seats.--_adj._ AISLED, ([=i]ld), having aisles. [O. Fr. _ele_, _aisle_ (Fr. _aile_)--L. _axilla_, _ala_, a wing.]

AIT, [=a]t, _n._ a small island in a river or lake. [A.S. forms, _['i]get_, _['i]geoth_, supply the key to the word, but its history is obscure.]

AITCHBONE, [=a]ch'b[=o]n, _n._ the bone of the rump: the cut of beef over this bone. [Orig. _nache-_ or _nage_bone; O. Fr. _nache_, _nage_--L. _nates_, buttock; _a nache_ became _aitch_, and erroneously _edge_-bone.]

AJAR, a-j[:a]r', _adv._ partly open. [A.S. _on_, on, _cyrr_, a turn.]

AJEE, AGEE, a-j[=e]', _adv._ (_Scot._ and _prov._) aside, off the straight, ajar. [Prep. _a_, and _gee_, to move to one side; _jee_, a call to a horse to move to one side.]

AJUTAGE, ADJUTAGE, ad'joo-t[=a]j, _n._ a tube adjusted to an orifice through which water is discharged. [Fr.--Fr. _ajouter_. See ADJUST.]

AKE, [=a]k, old form of ACHE.

AKEE, a-k[=e]', _n._ the fruit of a small African sapindaceous tree, now common in the West Indies.

AKIMBO, a-kim'bo, _adj._ with hand on hip and elbow bent outward. [Ety. uncertain; Skeat suggests the Ice. _kengboginn_, bent into a crook, from _kengr_, a crook, twist, kink, and _boginn_, bowed. Others connect the _-kim_ with KEEN.]

AKIN, a-kin', _adj._ of kin: related by blood: having the same properties. [OF and KIN.]

ALABASTER, al'a-bas-t[.e]r, _n._ a semi-transparent kind of gypsum or sulphate of lime: the fine limestone deposited as stalagmites and stalactites.--_adj._ made of alabaster.--_adj._ ALABAS'TRIAN. [Gr. _alabastros_, said to be derived from _Alabastron_, a town in Egypt.]

ALACK, a-lak', _interj._ an exclamation denoting sorrow.

ALACK-A-DAY, a-lak'-a-d[=a], _interj._ (_rare_) an exclamation of sadness. [Interj. _ah_, _lak_ (LACK), and DAY.]

ALACRITY, a-lak'ri-ti, _n._ briskness: cheerful readiness: promptitude. [L. _alacris_, brisk.]

ALALIA, a-l[=a]'li-a, _n._ loss of speech. [Gr. _a_, priv., and _lalein_, to talk.]

ALAMEDA, a-la-m[=e]'da, _n._ a public walk or promenade between two rows of trees. [Sp.]

ALAMODE, a-la-m[=o]d', _adv._ and _adj._ according to the mode or fashion.--_n._ a light kind of glossy silk for scarfs, hat-bands, &c.--_n._ ALAMODAL'ITY (_rare_).--ALAMODE BEEF, beef larded and stewed with vegetables. [Fr. _[`a] la mode_.]

ALAMORT, a-la-mort', _adj._ half-dead: in a depressed condition: dejected. Sometimes erroneously ALL AMORT. [Fr. _[`a] la mort_, to death. See MORTAL.]

ALAND, a-land', _adv._ on or to land: landed.

ALAR, [=a]'lar, _adj._ of, or having, wings.--Also A'LARY. [L. _ala_, a wing.]

ALARM, a-l[:a]rm', _n._ notice of danger: sudden surprise with fear: a mechanical contrivance to arouse from sleep: a call to arms.--_v.t._ to call to arms: to give notice of danger: to fill with dread.--_adv._ ALARM'INGLY.--_n._ ALARM'IST, one who excites alarm: one given to prophesy danger.--_adj._ alarming. [Fr. _alarme_--It. _all' arme_, to arms--L. _ad_, to, _arma_, arms.]

ALARUM, al-[:a]r'um, _n._ and _v.t._ same as ALARM--now used, except poetically, only of an _alarum-clock_.

ALAS, a-las', _interj._ expressive of grief.--ALAS THE DAY, ALAS THE WHILE (in old writers), ah! unhappy day, or time. [O. Fr. _ha las_, _a las_ (mod. Fr. _h['e]las_); _ha!_ and _las_, _lasse_, wretched, weary--L. _lassus_, wearied.]

ALATE, a-l[=a]t', _adv._ (_arch._) lately. [A.S. pfx. _a-_, on, and LATE.]

ALATE, al'[=a]t, _adj._ winged: (_bot._) bordered by a leafy expansion.--Also AL'ATED. [L. _alatus_--_ala_, a wing.]

ALB, alb, _n._ in R.C. churches, a white linen vestment with tight sleeves, reaching to the feet, worn by the officiating priest at the celebration of the eucharist, under the chasuble, cope, or dalmatic. [A.S. _albe_--Low L. _alba_, L. _albus_, white.]

ALBACORE, al'ba-k[=o]r, _n._ a large species of the tunny fish, found in West Indian waters. [Port.--Ar. _al_, the, _bukr_, pl. _bak[=a]rat_, a young camel.]

ALBATA, al-b[=a]'ta, _n._ a white silvery alloy of nickel, zinc, and copper--also _British plate_ and _German Silver_. [L., _alb[=a]re_, to whiten, _albus_, white.]

ALBATROSS, al'ba-tros, _n._ a large, long-winged, web-footed sea-bird of remarkable powers of flight, found abundantly in the Southern Ocean,

## particularly near the Cape of Good Hope. [Corr. from ALCATRAS (q.v.), perh.

with reference to _albus_, white, from its colour.]

ALBE, ALE-BE, awl-b[=e]', _obs._ forms of ALBEIT.

ALBEIT, awl-b[=e]'it, _adv._ although it be: notwithstanding: even if, although. [All be it (that) = all though it be that]

ALBERT, al'bert, _n._ a short kind of watch-chain. [Named from Prince _Albert_, husband of Queen Victoria.]

ALBESCENT, al-bes'ent, _adj._ becoming white: whitish.--_n._ ALBES'CENCE. [L. _albescens_, -_entis_, pr.p. of _albesc[)e]re_, to grow white--_albus_, white.]

ALBESPYNE, ALBESPINE, al'be-sp[=i]n, _n._ whitethorn, hawthorn. [O. Fr. _albespine_, _aubespine_ (Fr. _aub['e]pine_)--L. _alba spina_, white thorn.]

ALBIGENSES, al-bi-jen's[=e]z, _n.pl._ a name applied to antisacerdotal sects in the south of France during the 12th and 13th centuries, infected with Manichaean heresy, and extirpated with the most horrible cruelties. [The town _Albi_.]

ALBINO, al-b[=i]'no, _n._ a human being or animal whose skin and hair are abnormally white, and the pupil of the eye of pink colour:--_fem._ ALB[=I]'NESS:--_pl._ ALB[=I]'NOS.--_n._ AL'BINISM, state or condition of being an albino. [Sp. _albino_, whitish--L. _albus_, white.]

ALBITE, al'b[=i]t, _n._ a species of mineral of the felspar family, of a white colour, and forming a constituent of many kinds of rocks. [From L. _albus_, white.]

ALBUGINEOUS, al-b[=u]-jin'e-us, _adj._ like the white of an egg or of the eye. [L. _albugo_, _albuginis_, whiteness, from _albus_, white.]

ALBUM, al'bum, _n._ among the Romans, a white tablet or register on which the praetor's edicts and such public notices were recorded: a blank book for the insertion of portraits, autographs, poetical extracts, memorial verses, postage-stamps, or the like.--_adj._ AL'BUM[=E]'AN, and _n._ AL'BUMESS, whimsical coinages of Charles Lamb. [L. _albus_, white.]

ALBUMEN, al-b[=u]'men, _n._ the white of eggs: a like substance found in animal and vegetable bodies.--_ns._ ALB[=U]'MIN, one of the classes of albuminoids, such as are soluble in water, or in dilute acids or alkalis; ALB[=U]'MINATE, one of a class of bodies in which albumin appears in weak combination with a base.--_v.t._ ALBUMINISE' (_phot._), to cover or impregnate with albumen: to coat paper with an albuminous solution.--_adj._ ALB[=U]'MINOUS, like or containing albumen: insipid. [L.--_albus_, white.]

ALBUMINOID, al-b[=u]'min-oid, _adj._ like albumen.--_n._ one of a class of nitrogenous compounds derived from animal tissues. [ALBUMEN, and Gr. _eidos_, form.]

ALBURNUM, al-burn'um, _n._ in trees, the white and soft parts of wood between the inner bark and the heart-wood.--_adj._ ALBURN'OUS. [L.--_albus_, white.]

ALCAHEST. See ALKAHEST.

ALCAIC, al-k[=a]'ik, _adj._ of or pertaining to the Greek lyrical poet, Alcaeus (_c._ 600 B.C.), or to the kind of verse invented by him. The most common form consists of an anacrusis, a trochee, a spondee, and two dactyls; a second, of a catalectic iambic pentameter, the third foot always being a spondee; a third, of two dactyls followed by two trochees. The most common arrangement was two lines of (1), followed by one of (2) and one of (3). Cf. Tennyson's 'O mighty-mouth'd inventor of harmonies.'

ALCAID, ALCAYDE, al-k[=a]d', _n._ a governor: a chief magistrate: a gaoler. [Sp. and Port.--Ar. _alk[=a][=i]d_--_al_, the, _q[=a][=i]d_, a leader, _q[=a]da_, to lead.]

ALCALDE, al-kal'd[=a], _n._ a judge. [Sp.--Ar. _al-q[=a]d[=i]_.]

ALCATRAS, al'ka-tras, _n._ a name applied loosely to several large ocean birds, as the pelican, gannet, frigate-bird, and even the albatross. [Sp. _alcatraz_, a white pelican.]

ALCHEMY, ALCHYMY, al'ki-mi, _n._ the infant stage of chemistry, as astrology was of astronomy.--A chief pursuit of the alchemists was to transmute the other metals into gold, and to discover the elixir of life.--_adj._ ALCHEM'IC--_n._ AL'CHEMIST, one skilled in alchemy. [Ar. _Al-k[=i]m[=i][=a]_--_al_, the, and _k[=i]m[=i][=a]_--late Gr. _ch[=e]meia_, 'transmution,' prob. as specially an Egyptian art, from _Khem_, the native name of Egypt; confused with Gr. _ch[=u]meia_, pouring, from _chein_, to pour, hence the old spellings _alchymy_, _chymistry_.]

ALCOHOL, al'k[=o]-hol, _n._ pure spirit, a liquid generated by the fermentation of sugar and other saccharine matter, and forming the intoxicating element of fermented liquors.--_adj._ ALCOHOL'IC, of or like alcohol.--_n._ ALCOHOLIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ AL'COHOLISE, to convert into alcohol, or saturate with it: to rectify.--_n._ AL'COHOLISM, a term employed to denote the symptoms of disease produced by alcoholic poisoning.--ABSOLUTE ALCOHOL, alcohol entirely free from water. [Ar. _al-koh'l_--_al_, the, _koh'l_, fine powder of antimony used in the East to stain the eyelids.]

ALCOHOLOMETER, al-k[=o]-hol-om'e-t[.e]r, _n._ an instrument for ascertaining the strength of spirits.--_n._ ALCOHOLOM'ETRY, the process of such measurement. [ALCOHOL and METER.]

ALCORAN, al'k[=o]-ran, _n._ the Koran. [_Al_, the Arabic article.]

ALCOVE, al'k[=o]v, or al-k[=o]v', _n._ a recess in a room: any recess: a shady retreat. [Sp. _alcoba_, a place in a room railed off to hold a bed--Ar. _al_, the, _qobbah_, a vault.]

ALDEHYDE, al'd[=e]-h[=i]d, _n._ a volatile fluid with a suffocating smell, obtained by the oxidation of alcohol: a large class of compounds intermediate between alcohols and acids. [From _Al. dehyd._, a contr. for _Alcohol dehydrogenatum_.]

ALDER, awl'd[.e]r, _n._ a tree related to the birch, usually growing in moist ground. [A.S. _alor_; Ger. _erle_; L. _alnus_.]

ALDER-LIEFEST, awl-d[.e]r-l[=e]f'est, _adj._ (_Shak._) most beloved of all. [The M. E. gen. pl. forms _alra_, _alre_, _aller_, _alder_, survived till about 1600; for _liefest_, see LIEF.]

ALDERMAN, awl'd[.e]r-man, _n._ in English and Irish boroughs, a civic dignitary next in rank to the mayor.--They are usually chosen for three years; those of London are chosen for life.--The name was assumed incongruously enough for superior members of the county councils set up in England in 1888: in Anglo-Saxon times, the governor of a shire until by Canute displaced by the earl; thenceforward, any head man of a guild.--_adjs._ ALDERMAN'IC, AL'DERMANLIKE, AL'DERMANLY, pompous and portly. [A.S. _ealdor_ (from _eald_, old), senior, chief; _ealdorman_, ruler, king, chief magistrate.]

ALDERN, awl'd[.e]rn, _adj._ made of alder.

ALDINE, al'd[=i]n, _adj._ applied to books printed by Aldus Manutius of Venice, in 16th century.

ALE, [=a]l, _n._ a beverage made from an infusion of malt by fermentation: a festival, so called from the liquor drunk.--_ns._ ALE'BERRY, a beverage made from ale; ALE'CONNER, an ale-taster, a civic officer appointed to test the quality of the ale brewed--A.S. _cunnere_, a trier; ALE'-HOUSE, a house in which ale is sold. [A.S. _alu_; Ice. _[:o]l_.]

ALEATORY, [=a]'l[=e]-a-t[=o]-ri, _adj._ depending on the throw of the dice: dependent on certain contingencies. [L. _[=a]le[=a]t[=o]rius_, _[=a]lea_, a die.]

ALEE, a-l[=e]', _adv._ on the lee-side. [See LEE.]

ALEFT, a-left', _adv._ on or to the left hand.

ALEGAR, al'e-gar, _n._ sour ale. [ALE, and Fr. _aigre_--L. _acer_, sour.]

ALEGER, al'e-j[.e]r, _adj._ (_Bacon_) lively, cheerful. [O. Fr. _al[`e]gre_--L. _al[=a]cr-em_.]

ALEGGE, an obsolete form of ALLEGE.

ALEMBIC, al-em'bik, _n._ a vessel used by the old chemists in distillation. [Ar. _al_, the, _anb[=i]q_--Gr. _ambiks_, a cup.]

ALENGTH, a-length', _adv._ at full length. [A.S. pfx. _a-_, on, and LENGTH.]

ALERCE, a-lers', _n._ the wood of the sandarac-tree: the Chilian _Arbor vitae_--both of the pine family. [Sp.--Ar. _al arza_, cedar.]

ALERT, al-[.e]rt', _adj._ watchful: brisk.--_n._ a sudden attack or surprise.--_adv._ ALERT'LY.--_n._ ALERT'NESS.--UPON THE ALERT, upon the watch. [Fr.--It. _all' erta_, on the erect--_erto_, L. _erectus_, erect.]

ALEW, a-l[=u]' (_Spens._) an obsolete form of HALLOO.

ALEWIFE, [=a]l'w[=i]f, _n._ a fish of the same genus as the shad, about a foot in length, common on the east coast of North America. [Said to be a corr. of _aloofe_, the Indian name of a fish.]

ALEXANDRIAN, al-egz-an'dri-an, _adj._ relating to Alexandria in Egypt, or its school of philosophy: relating to Alexander.

ALEXANDRINE, al-egz-an'drin, _n._ a rhyming verse of twelve syllables, six iambic feet, so-called from its use in old French poems on _Alexander_ the Great. It is the ordinary verse of French tragedy. French Alexandrines are arranged in couplets, alternately acatalectic with masculine rhymes, and hypercatalectic with feminine rhymes.

ALFA, al'fa, _n._ an African name for esparto grass--also spelt HALFA.

ALFALFA, al-fal'fa, _n._ a Spanish name for a variety of lucerne--used also in some parts of the United States. [Sp. _alfalfa_, three-leaved grass; Ar. _alfacfacah_.]

ALFRESCO, al-fresk'o, _adv._ on the fresh, as to paint _al fresco_ = on the fresh plaster: in the fresh or cool air. [It.]

ALGAE, al'j[=e], _n._ (_bot._) a division of plants, embracing seaweeds. [L., pl. of _alga_, seaweed.]

ALGATES, al'g[=a]ts, _adv._ (_obs._) always, altogether, at all events, nevertheless.--Also AL'GATE. [Lit. _alle gate_, every way. See GATE.]

ALGEBRA, al'je-bra, _n._ a method of calculating by symbols--by means of letters employed to represent the numbers, and signs to represent their relations, thus forming a kind of universal arithmetic.--_adjs._ ALGEBR[=A]'IC, -AL, pertaining to algebra.--_n._ ALGEBR[=A]'IST, one skilled in algebra. [It. and Sp., from Ar. _al-jebr_, the resetting of anything broken, hence combination; _jabara_, to reunite.]

ALGERINE, al'je-r[=e]n, _adj._ of or belonging to Algeria in Northern Africa.--_n._ a native of Algeria: a pirate.

ALGORISM, al'go-rizm, _n._ the Arabic system of numeration: arithmetic.--Also AL'GORITHM [Through O. Fr. and Late L. from Ar. _al-khow[=a]razm[=i]_, the native of Khw[=a]razm, the mathematician Abu Ja'far Mohammed Ben Musa (9th century).]

ALGOUS, al'gus, _adj._ relating to or like the algae or seaweeds.

ALGUAZIL, al-gwaz'il, _n._ in Spain, a warrant officer or sergeant. [Sp.--Ar. _al-waz[=i]r_. See VIZIER.]

ALGUM, al'gum. Same as ALMUG.

ALHAMBRESQUE, al-ham'bresk, _adj._ after the style of the rich ornamentation of the Alhambra, a palace of the Moorish kings of Granada in Spain.

ALIAS, [=a]'li-as, _adv._ otherwise.--_n._ an assumed name:--_pl._ A'LIASES. [L. _alias_, at another time, otherwise--_alius_, Gr. _allos_, other.]

ALIBI, al'i-b[=i], _n._ the plea that a person charged with a crime was elsewhere when it was committed. [L.--_alius_, other, _ibi_, there.]

ALICANT, al'i-kant, _n._ a Spanish wine formerly much esteemed, said to have been made near Alicante in Spain.

ALIEN, [=a]l'yen, _adj._ foreign: different in nature: adverse to.--_n._ one belonging to another country: one not entitled to the rights of citizenship.--_n._ AL'IENAGE, state of being an alien. [L. _alienus_--_alius_, other.]

ALIENATE, [=a]l'yen-[=a]t, _v.t._ to transfer a right or title to another: to withdraw the affections: to misapply.--_adj._ withdrawn: estranged.--_n._ ALIENABIL'ITY.--_adj._ AL'IENABLE, capable of being transferred to another.--_ns._ ALIEN[=A]'TION; ALIEN[=A]'TOR.--_adj._ AL'IENED, made alien, estranged.--_n._ AL'IENISM, the position of being a foreigner. [L. See ALIEN.]

ALIENIST, [=a]l'yen-ist, _n._ one who specially treats mental diseases. [Fr.]

ALIFE, a-l[=i]f', _adv._ (_obs._) on my life, as one's life, excessively.

ALIGHT, a-l[=i]t', _v.i._ to come down, as from a horse (_from_): to descend: to land anywhere (_upon_): to fall upon. [A.S. _al['i]htan_, to come down. See LIGHT, _v._]