Chapter 105

2. (Floriculture) A plant of the genus Callistephus . Many varieties (called China asters , German asters , etc.) are cultivated for their handsome compound flowers.

Asterias <Xpage=93>

As*te"ri*as (#) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ starred, fr. <?/ star.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of echinoderms.

&hand; Formerly the group of this name included nearly all starfishes and ophiurans. Now it is restricted to a genus including the commonest shore starfishes.

Asteriated <Xpage=93>

As*te"ri*a`ted (#) , a. [See Asterias .] Radiated, with diverging rays; as, asteriated sapphire .

Asteridian <Xpage=93>

As`ter*id"i*an (#) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Asterioidea. -- n. A starfish; one of the Asterioidea.

Asterioidea, Asteridea <Xpage=93>

As*te`ri*oid"e*a (#) , As`ter*id"e*a (#) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ + -oid . See Asterias .] (Zo\'94l.) A class of Echinodermata including the true starfishes. The rays vary in number and always have ambulacral grooves below. The body is starshaped or pentagonal.

Asterion <Xpage=93>

As*te"ri*on (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ starry.] (Anat.) The point on the side of the skull where the lambdoid, parieto-mastoid and occipito-mastoid sutures.

Asteriscus <Xpage=93>

As`ter*is"cus (#) , n. [L., an asterisk. See Asterisk .] (Anat.) The smaller of the two otoliths found in the inner ear of many fishes.

Asterisk <Xpage=93>

As"ter*isk (#) , n. [L. asteriscus , Gr. <?/, dim. of <?/ star. See Aster .] The figure of a star, thus, <?/, used in printing and writing as a reference to a passage or note in the margin, to supply the omission of letters or words, or to mark a word or phrase as having a special character.

Asterism <Xpage=93>

As`ter*ism (#) , n. [Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ star; cf. F. ast\'82risme .] 1. (Astron.) (a) A constellation. [Obs.] (b) A small cluster of stars.

2. (Printing) (a) An asterisk, or mark of reference. [R.] (b) Three asterisks placed in this manner, &asterism;, to direct attention to a particular passage.

3. (Crystallog.) An optical property of some crystals which exhibit a star-shaped by reflected light, as star sapphire, or by transmitted light, as some mica.

Astern <Xpage=93>

A*stern" (#) , adv. [Pref. a- + stern .] (Naut.) 1. In or at the hinder part of a ship; toward the hinder part, or stern; backward; as, to go astern .

2. Behind a ship; in the rear. "A gale of wind right astern ." De Foe . "Left this strait astern ." Drake .

To bake astern , to go stern foremost. -- To be astern of the reckoning , to be behind the position given by the reckoning . -- To drop astern , to fall or be left behind. -- To go astern , to go backward, as from the action of currents or winds.

Asternal <Xpage=93>

A*ster"nal (#) , a. [Pref. a- not + sternal .] (Anat.) Not sternal; -- said of ribs which do not join the sternum.

Asteroid <Xpage=93>

As"ter*oid (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ starlike, starry; <?/ star + <?/ form: cf. F. ast\'82ro\'8bde . See Aster .] A starlike body; esp. one of the numerous small planets whose orbits lie between those of Mars and Jupiter; -- called also planetoids and minor planets .

Asteroidal <Xpage=93>

As`ter*oid"al (#) , a. Of or pertaining to an asteroid, or to the asteroids.

Asterolepis <Xpage=93>

As`te*rol"e*pis (#) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ star + <?/ scale.] (Paleon.) A genus of fishes, some of which were eighteen or twenty feet long, found in a fossil state in the Old Red Sandstone.

Hugh Miller.

<-- p. 94 -->

Asterophyllite <Xpage=94>

As`ter*oph"yl*lite (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ star + <?/ leaf.] (Paleon.) A fossil plant from the coal formations of Europe and America, now regarded as the branchlets and foliage of calamites.

Astert <Xpage=94>

A*stert (#) , v. t. [Pref. a- + start ; OE. asterten , asturten .] To start up; to befall; to escape; to shun. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Astert <Xpage=94>

A*stert" , v. i. To escape. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Asthenia, Astheny <Xpage=94>

As`the*ni"a (#) , As"the*ny (#) , n. [NL. asthenia , Gr. <?/; <?/ priv. + <?/ strength.] (Med.) Want or loss of strength; debility; diminution of the vital forces.

Asthenic <Xpage=94>

As*then"ic (#) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/ priv. + <?/ strength.] (Med.) Characterized by, or pertaining to, debility; weak; debilitating.

Asthenopia <Xpage=94>

As`the*no"pi*a (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ priv. + <?/ strength + <?/ eye.] Weakness of sight. Quain . -- As`the*nop"ic (#) , a.

Asthma <Xpage=94>

Asth"ma (?; 277) , n. [Gr. <?/ short-drawn breath, fr. <?/ to blow, for <?/: cf. Skr. v\'be , Goth. waian , to blow, E. wind .] (Med.) A disease, characterized by difficulty of breathing (due to a spasmodic contraction of the bronchi), recurring at intervals, accompanied with a wheezing sound, a sense of constriction in the chest, a cough, and expectoration.

Asthmatic, Asthmatical <Xpage=94>

Asth*mat"ic (#) , Asth*mat"ic*al (#) , a. [L. asthmaticus , Gr. <?/.] Of or pertaining to asthma; as, an asthmatic cough ; liable to, or suffering from, asthma; as, an asthmatic patient . -- Asth*mat"ic*al*ly , adv.

Asthmatic <Xpage=94>

Asth*mat"ic , n. A person affected with asthma.

Astigmatic <Xpage=94>

As`tig*mat"ic (#) , a. (Med. & Opt.) Affected with, or pertaining to, astigmatism; as, astigmatic eyes ; also, remedying astigmatism; as, astigmatic lenses .

Astigmatism <Xpage=94>

A*stig"ma*tism (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ priv. + <?/, <?/, a prick of a pointed instrument, a spot, fr. <?/ to prick: cf. F. astigmatisme .] (Med. & Opt.) A defect of the eye or of a lens, in consequence of which the rays derived from one point are not brought to a single focal point, thus causing imperfect images or indistictness of vision.

&hand; The term is applied especially to the defect causing images of lines having a certain direction to be indistinct, or imperfectly seen, while those of lines transverse to the former are distinct, or clearly seen.

Astipulate <Xpage=94>

As*tip"u*late (#) , v. i. [L. astipulari ; ad + stipulari to stipulate.] To assent. [Obs.]

Bp. Hall.

Astipulation <Xpage=94>

As*tip`u*la"tion (#) , n. [L. astipulatio .] Stipulation; agreement. [Obs.]

Bp. Hall.

Astir <Xpage=94>

A*stir" (#) , adv. & a. [Pref. a- + stir .] Stirring; in a state of activity or motion; out of bed.

Astomatous, Astomous <Xpage=94>

A*stom"a*tous (#) , As"to*mous (#) , a. [Gr. <?/ priv. + <?/, <?/, mouth.] Not possessing a mouth.

Aston, Astone <Xpage=94>

As*ton" (#) , As*tone" (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Astoned , Astond , or Astound .] [See Astonish .] To stun; to astonish; to stupefy. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Astonied <Xpage=94>

As*ton"ied (#) , p. p. Stunned; astonished. See Astony . [Archaic]

And I astonied fell and could not pray. Mrs. Browning.

Astonish <Xpage=94>

As*ton"ish (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Astonished (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Astonishing .] [OE. astonien , astunian , astonen , OF. estoner , F. \'82tonner , fr. L. ex out + tonare to thunder, but perhaps influenced by E. stun . See Thunder , Astound , Astony .] 1. To stun; to render senseless, as by a blow. [Obs.]

Enough, captain; you have astonished him. [Fluellen had struck Pistol]. Shak.

The very cramp-fish [ i. e. , torpedo] . . . being herself not benumbed, is able to astonish others. Holland.

2. To strike with sudden fear, terror, or wonder; to amaze; to surprise greatly, as with something unaccountable; to confound with some sudden emotion or passion.

Musidorus . . . had his wits astonished with sorrow. Sidney.

I, Daniel . . . was astonished at the vision. Dan. viii. 27.

Syn. -- To amaze; astound; overwhelm; surprise. -- Astonished , Surprised . We are surprised at what is unexpected. We are astonished at what is above or beyond our comprehension. We are taken by surprise. We are struck with astonishment. C. J. Smith . See Amaze .

Astonishedly <Xpage=94>

As*ton"ish*ed*ly (#) , adv. In an astonished manner. [R.]

Bp. Hall.

Astonishing <Xpage=94>

As*ton"ish*ing , a. Very wonderful; of a nature to excite astonishment; as, an astonishing event .

Syn. -- Amazing; surprising; wonderful; marvelous.

As*ton"ish*ing*ly , adv. -- As*ton"ish*ing*ness , n.

Astonishment <Xpage=94>

As*ton"ish*ment (#) , n. [Cf. OF. est<?/nnement , F. \'82tonnement .] 1. The condition of one who is stunned. Hence: Numbness; loss of sensation; stupor; loss of sense. [Obs.]

A coldness and astonishment in his loins, as folk say. Holland.

2. Dismay; consternation. [Archaic]

Spenser.

3. The overpowering emotion excited when something unaccountable, wonderful, or dreadful is presented to the mind; an intense degree of surprise; amazement.

Lest the place And my quaint habits breed astonishment . Milton.

4. The object causing such an emotion.

Thou shalt become an astonishment . Deut. xxviii. 37.

Syn. -- Amazement; wonder; surprise.

Astony <Xpage=94>

As*ton"y (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Astonied (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Astonying . See Astone .] To stun; to bewilder; to astonish; to dismay. [Archaic]

The captain of the Helots . . . strake Palladius upon the side of his head, that he reeled astonied . Sir P. Sidney.

This sodeyn cas this man astonied so, That reed he wex, abayst, and al quaking. Chaucer.

Astoop <Xpage=94>

A*stoop" (#) , adv. [Pref. a- + stoop .] In a stooping or inclined position.

Gay.

Astound <Xpage=94>

As*tound" (#) , a. [OE. astouned , astound , astoned , p. p. of astone . See Astone .] Stunned; astounded; astonished. [Archaic]

Spenser.

Thus Ellen, dizzy and astound . As sudden ruin yawned around. Sir W. Scott.

Astound <Xpage=94>

As*tound" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Astounded , [Obs.] Astound ; p. pr. & vb. n. Astounding .] [See Astound , a. ] 1. To stun; to stupefy.

No puissant stroke his senses once astound . Fairfax.

2. To astonish; to strike with amazement; to confound with wonder, surprise, or fear.

These thoughts may startle well, but not astound The virtuous mind. Milton.

Astounding <Xpage=94>

As*tound"ing , a. Of a nature to astound; astonishing; amazing; as, an astounding force, statement, or fact . -- As*tound"ing*ly , adv.

Astoundment <Xpage=94>

As*tound"ment (#) , n. Amazement.

Coleridge.

Astrachan <Xpage=94>

As`tra*chan" (#) , a. & n. See Astrakhan .

Astraddle <Xpage=94>

A*strad"dle (#) , adv. [Pref. a- + straddle .] In a straddling position; astride; bestriding; as, to sit astraddle a horse .

Astr\'91an <Xpage=94>

As*tr\'91"an (#) , a. [Gr. <?/ starry.] (Zo\'94l.) Pertaining to the genus Astr\'91a or the family Astr\'91id\'91 . -- n. A coral of the family Astr\'91id\'91 ; a star coral.

Astragal <Xpage=94>

As"tra*gal (#) , n. [L. astragalus , Gr. <?/ the ankle bone, a molding in the capital of the Ionic column.] 1. (Arch.) A convex molding of rounded surface, generally from half to three quarters of a circle.

2. (Gun.) A round molding encircling a cannon near the mouth.

Astragalar <Xpage=94>

As*trag"a*lar (#) , a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the astragalus.

Astragaloid <Xpage=94>

As*trag"a*loid (#) , a. [ Astragalus + -oid .] (Anat.) Resembling the astragalus in form.

Astragalomancy <Xpage=94>

As*trag"a*lo*man`cy (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ ankle bone, die + -mancy .] Divination by means of small bones or dice.

Astragalus <Xpage=94>

As*trag"a*lus (#) , n. [L. See Astragal .] 1. (Anat.) The ankle bone, or hock bone; the bone of the tarsus which articulates with the tibia at the ankle.

2. (Bot.) A genus of papilionaceous plants, of the tribe Galege\'91 , containing numerous species, two of which are called, in English, milk vetch and licorice vetch . Gum tragacanth is obtained from different oriental species, particularly the A. gummifer and A. verus .

3. (Arch.) See Astragal , 1 .

Astrakhan <Xpage=94>

As`tra*khan" (#) , a. Of or pertaining to Astrakhan in Russia or its products; made of an Astrakhan skin. -- n. The skin of stillborn or young lambs of that region, the curled wool of which resembles fur.

Astral <Xpage=94>

As"tral (#) , a. [L. astralis , fr. astrum star, Gr. <?/: cf. F. astral . See Star .] Pertaining to, coming from, or resembling, the stars; starry; starlike.

Shines only with an astral luster. I. Taylor.

Some astral forms I must invoke by prayer. Dryden.

Astral lamp , an Argand lamp so constructed that no shadow is cast upon the table by the flattened ring-shaped reservoir in which the oil is contained. -- Astral spirits , spirits formerly supposed to live in the heavenly bodies or the a\'89rial regions, and represented in the Middle Ages as fallen angels, spirits of the dead, or spirits originating in fire.

Astrand <Xpage=94>

A*strand" (#) , adv. & a. [Pref. a- + strand .] Stranded.

Sir W. Scott.

Astray <Xpage=94>

A*stray" (#) , adv. & a. [See Estray , Stray .] Out of the right, either in a literal or in a figurative sense; wandering; as, to lead one astray .

Ye were as sheep going astray . 1 Pet. ii. 25.

Astrict <Xpage=94>

As*trict" (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Astricted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Astricting .] [L. astrictus , p. p. of astringere . See Astringe .] 1. To bind up; to confine; to constrict; to contract.

The solid parts were to be relaxed or astricted . Arbuthnot.

2. To bind; to constrain; to restrict; to limit. [R.]

The mind is astricted to certain necessary modes or forms of thought. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. (Scots Law) To restrict the tenure of; as, to astrict lands . See Astriction , 4 .

Burrill.

Astrict <Xpage=94>

As*trict" , a. Concise; contracted. [Obs.]

Weever.

Astriction <Xpage=94>

As*tric"tion (#) , n. [L. astrictio .] 1. The act of binding; restriction; also, obligation.

Milton.

2. (Med.) (a) A contraction of parts by applications; the action of an astringent substance on the animal economy. Dunglison . (b) Constipation.

Arbuthnot.

3. Astringency. [Obs.]

Bacon.

4. (Scots Law) An obligation to have the grain growing on certain lands ground at a certain mill, the owner paying a toll.

Bell.

&hand; The lands were said to be astricted to the mill.

Astrictive <Xpage=94>

As*tric"tive (#) , a. Binding; astringent. -- n. An astringent. -- As*tric"tive*ly , adv.

Astrictory <Xpage=94>

As*tric"to*ry (#) , a. Astrictive. [R.]

Astride <Xpage=94>

A*stride" (#) , adv. [Pref. a- + stride .] With one leg on each side, as a man when on horseback; with the legs stretched wide apart; astraddle.

Placed astride upon the bars of the palisade. Sir W. Scott.

Glasses with horn bows sat astride on his nose. Longfellow.

Astriferous <Xpage=94>

As*trif"er*ous (#) , a. [L. astrifer ; astrum star + ferre to bear.] Bearing stars. [R.]

Blount.

Astringe <Xpage=94>

As*tringe" (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Astringed (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Astringing (#) .] [L. astringere ; ad + stringere to draw tight. Cf. Astrict , and see Strain , v. t. ] 1. To bind fast; to constrict; to contract; to cause parts to draw together; to compress.

Which contraction . . . astringeth the moistu<?/<?/ <?/ br<?/<?/ and thereby sendeth tears into the eyes. Bacon.

2. To bind by moral or legal obligation.

Wolsey.

Astringency <Xpage=94>

As*trin"gen*cy (#) , n. The quality of being astringent; the power of contracting the parts of the body; that quality in medicines or other substances which causes contraction of the organic textures; as, the astringency of tannin .

Astringent <Xpage=94>

As*trin"gent (#) , a. [L. astringens , p. pr. of astringere : cf. F. astringent . See Astringe .] 1. Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; -- opposed to laxative ; as, astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste; astringent fruit.

2. Stern; austere; as, an astringent type of virtue .

Astringent <Xpage=94>

As*trin"gent , n. A medicine or other substance that produces contraction in the soft organic textures, and checks discharges of blood, mucus, etc.

External astringents are called styptics. Dunglison.

Astringently <Xpage=94>

As*trin"gent*ly , adv. In an astringent manner.

Astringer <Xpage=94>