Chapter 40

A*grise" , v. t. 1. To shudder at; to abhor; to dread; to loathe. [Obs.]

Wyclif.

2. To terrify; to affright. [Obs.]

His manly face that did his foes agrise . Spenser.

Agrom <Xpage=34>

A"grom (#) , n. [Native name.] (Med.) A disease occurring in Bengal and other parts of the East Indies, in which the tongue chaps and cleaves.

Agronomic, Agronomical <Xpage=34>

Ag`ro*nom"ic (#) , Ag`ro*nom"ic*al (#) , [Cf. F. agronomique .] Pertaining to agronomy, of the management of farms.

Agronomics <Xpage=34>

Ag`ro*nom"ics (#) , n. The science of the distribution and management of land.

Agronomist <Xpage=34>

A*gron"o*mist (#) , n. One versed in agronomy; a student of agronomy.

Agronomy <Xpage=34>

A*gron"o*my (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ rural; as a noun, an overseer of the public lands; <?/ field + <?/ usage, <?/ to deal out, manage: cf. F. agronomie .] The management of land; rural economy; agriculture.

Agrope <Xpage=34>

A*grope" (#) , adv. & a. [Pref. a- + grope .] In the act of groping.

Mrs. Browning.

Agrostis <Xpage=34>

A*gros"tis (#) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/.] A genus of grasses, including species called in common language bent grass . Some of them, as redtop ( Agrostis vulgaris ), are valuable pasture grasses.

Agrostographic, Agrostographical <Xpage=34>

A*gros`to*graph"ic (#) , A*gros`to*graph"ic*al (#) , a. [Cf. F. agrostographique .] Pertaining to agrostography.

Agrostography <Xpage=34>

Ag`ros*tog"ra*phy (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ + -graphy .] A description of the grasses.

Agrostologic, Agrostological <Xpage=34>

A*gros`to*log"ic (#) , A*gros`to*log"ic*al (#) , a. Pertaining to agrostology.

Agrostologist <Xpage=34>

Ag`ros*tol"o*gist (#) , n. One skilled in agrostology.

Agrostology <Xpage=34>

Ag`ros*tol"ogy (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ + -logy .] That part of botany which treats of the grasses.

Aground <Xpage=34>

A*ground" (#) , adv. & a. [Pref. a- + ground .] On the ground; stranded; -- a nautical term applied to a ship when its bottom lodges on the ground.

Totten.

Agroupment <Xpage=34>

A*group"ment (#) , n. See Aggroupment .

Agrypnotic <Xpage=34>

Ag`ryp*not"ic (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ sleepless; <?/ to chase, search for + <?/ sleep: cf. F. agrypnotique .] Anything which prevents sleep, or produces wakefulness, as strong tea or coffee.

Aguardiente <Xpage=34>

A`guar*di*en"te (#) , n. [Sp., contr. of agua ardiente burning water (L. aqua water + ardens burning).] 1. A inferior brandy of Spain and Portugal.

2. A strong alcoholic drink, especially pulque. [Mexico and Spanish America.]

Ague <Xpage=34>

A"gue (#) , n. [OE. agu , ague , OF. agu , F. aigu , sharp, OF. fem. ague , LL. (febris) acuta , a sharp, acute fever, fr. L. acutus sharp. See Acute .] 1. An acute fever. [Obs.] "Brenning agues ."

P. Plowman.

2. (Med.) An intermittent fever, attended by alternate cold and hot fits.

3. The cold fit or rigor of the intermittent fever; as, fever and ague .

4. A chill, or state of shaking, as with cold.

Dryden.

Ague cake , an enlargement of the spleen produced by ague. -- Ague drop , a solution of the arsenite of potassa used for ague. -- Ague fit , a fit of the ague. Shak. -- Ague spell , a spell or charm against ague. Gay . -- Ague tree , the sassafras, -- sometimes so called from the use of its root formerly, in cases of ague. [Obs.]

Ague <Xpage=34>

A"gue , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Agued (#) .] To strike with an ague, or with a cold fit.

Heywood.

Aguilt <Xpage=34>

A*guilt" (#) , v. t. To be guilty of; to offend; to sin against; to wrong. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Aguise <Xpage=34>

A*guise" (#) , n. Dress. [Obs.]

Dr. H. More.

Aguise <Xpage=34>

A*guise" , v. t. [Pref a- + guise .] To dress; to attire; to adorn. [Obs.]

Above all knights ye goodly seem aguised . Spenser.

Aguish <Xpage=34>

A"gu*ish (#) , a. 1. Having the qualities of an ague; somewhat cold or shivering; chilly; shaky.

Her aguish love now glows and burns. Granville.

2. Productive of, or affected by, ague; as, the aguish districts of England .

T. Arnold.

A"gu*ish*ness , n.

Agush <Xpage=34>

A*gush" (#) , adv. & a. [Pref. a- + gush .] In a gushing state.

Hawthorne.

Agynous <Xpage=34>

Ag"y*nous (#) , a. [Gr. <?/ priv. + <?/ woman.] (Bot.) Without female organs; male.

Ah <Xpage=34>

Ah (#) , interj. [OE. a : cf. OF. a , F. ah , L. ah , Gr. <?/, Sk. \'be , Icel. \'91, OHG. \'be , Lith. \'a0 , \'a0\'a0 .] An exclamation, expressive of surprise, pity, complaint, entreaty, contempt, threatening, delight, triumph, etc., according to the manner of utterance.

Aha <Xpage=34>

A*ha" (#) , interj. [ Ah , interj. + ha .] An exclamation expressing, by different intonations, triumph, mixed with derision or irony, or simple surprise.

Aha <Xpage=34>

A*ha" , n. A sunk fence. See Ha-ha .

Mason.

Ahead <Xpage=34>

A*head" (#) , adv. [Pref. a- + head .] 1. In or to the front; in advance; onward.

The island bore but a little ahead of us. Fielding.

2. Headlong; without restraint. [Obs.]

L'Estrange.

To go ahead . (a) To go in advance. (b) To go on onward. (c) To push on in an enterprise. [Colloq] -- To get ahead of . (a) To get in advance of. (b) To surpass; to get the better of. [Colloq.]

Aheap <Xpage=34>

A*heap" (#) , adv. [Pref. a- + heap .] In a heap; huddled together.

Hood.

Aheight <Xpage=34>

A*height" (#) , adv. [Pref. a- + height .] Aloft; on high. [Obs.] "Look up aheight ."

Shak.

Ahem <Xpage=34>

A*hem" (#) , interj. An exclamation to call one's attention; hem.

Ahey <Xpage=34>

A*hey" (#) , interj. Hey; ho.

Ahigh <Xpage=34>

A*high" (#) , adv. On high. [Obs.]

Shak.

Ahold <Xpage=34>

A*hold" (#) , adv. [Pref. a- + hold .] Near the wind; as, to lay a ship ahold . [Obs.]

Shak.

Ahorseback <Xpage=34>

A*horse"back (#) , adv. On horseback.

Two suspicious fellows ahorseback . Smollet.

Ahoy <Xpage=34>

A*hoy" (#) , interj. [OE. a, interj. + hoy .] (Naut.) A term used in hailing; as, "Ship ahoy ."

Ahriman <Xpage=34>

Ah"ri*man (#) , n. [Per.] The Evil Principle or Being of the ancient Persians; the Prince of Darkness as opposer to Ormuzd , the King of Light.

Ahu <Xpage=34>

A"hu (#) , n. [Native name.] (Zo\'94l.) The Asiatic gazelle.

Ahull <Xpage=34>

A*hull" (#) , adv. [Pref. a- + hull .] (Naut.) With the sails furled, and the helm lashed alee; -- applied to ships in a storm. See Hull , n.

Ahungered <Xpage=34>

A*hun"gered (#) , a. [Pref. a- + hungered .] Pinched with hunger; very hungry.

C. Bront\'82.

Ai <Xpage=34>

A"i (#) , n. ; pl. Ais (#) . [Braz. a\'8b , ha\'8b , from the animal's cry: cf. F. a\'8b .] (Zo\'94l.) The three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) of South America. See Sloth .

Aiblins, Ablins <Xpage=34>

Ai"blins , A"blins (#) , adv. [See Able .] Perhaps; possibly. [Scotch]

Burns.

Aich's metal <Xpage=34>

Aich's met"al (#) . A kind of gun metal, containing copper, zinc, and iron, but no tin.

Aid <Xpage=34>

Aid (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Aided (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Aiding .] [F. aider , OF. aidier , fr. L. adjutare to help, freq. of adjuvare to help; ad + juvare to help. Cf. Adjutant .] To support, either by furnishing strength or means in co\'94peration to effect a purpose, or to prevent or to remove evil; to help; to assist.

You speedy helpers . . . Appear and aid me in this enterprise. Shak.

Syn. -- To help; assist; support; sustain; succor; relieve; befriend; co\'94perate; promote. See Help .

Aid <Xpage=34>

Aid , n. [F. aide , OF. a\'8bde , a\'8be , fr. the verb. See Aid , v. t .] 1. Help; succor; assistance; relief.

An unconstitutional mode of obtaining aid . Hallam.

2. The person or thing that promotes or helps in something done; a helper; an assistant.

It is not good that man should be alone; let us make unto him an aid like unto himself. Tobit viii. 6.

3. (Eng. Hist.) A subsidy granted to the king by Parliament; also, an exchequer loan.

4. (Feudal Law) A pecuniary tribute paid by a vassal to his lord on special occasions.

Blackstone.

5. An aid-de-camp, so called by abbreviation; as, a general's aid .

Aid prayer (Law) , a proceeding by which a defendant beseeches and claims assistance from some one who has a further or more permanent interest in the matter in suit. -- To pray in aid , to beseech and claim such assistance.

Aidance <Xpage=34>

Aid"ance (#) , n. [Cf. OF. aidance .] Aid. [R.]

Aidance 'gainst the enemy. Shak.

Aidant <Xpage=34>

Aid"ant (#) , a. [Cf. F. aidant , p. pr. of aider to help.] Helping; helpful; supplying aid.

Shak.

Aid-de-camp <Xpage=34>

Aid"-de-camp` (#) , n. ; pl. Aids-de-camp . (#) . [F. aide de camp (literally) camp assistant.] (Mil.) An officer selected by a general to carry orders, also to assist or represent him in correspondence and in directing movements.

Aider <Xpage=34>

Aid"er (#) , n. One who, or that which, aids.

Aidful <Xpage=34>

Aid"ful (#) , a. Helpful. [Archaic.]

Bp. Hall.

Aidless <Xpage=34>

Aid"less , a. Helpless; without aid.

Milton.

Aid-major <Xpage=34>

Aid"-ma`jor (#) , n. The adjutant of a regiment.

Aiel <Xpage=34>

Ai"el (#) , n. See Ayle . [Obs.]

Aiglet <Xpage=34>

Aig"let (#) , n. Same as Aglet .

Aigre <Xpage=34>

Ai"gre (#) , a. [F. See Eager .] Sour. [Obs.]

Shak.

Aigremore <Xpage=34>

Ai"gre*more (#) , n. [F. origin unknown.] Charcoal prepared for making powder.

Aigret, Aigrette <Xpage=34>

Ai"gret (#) , Ai*grette (#) , n. [F., a sort of white heron, with a tuft of feathers on its head; a tuft of feathers; dim. of the same word as heron . See Heron , and cf. Egret , Egrette .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) The small white European heron. See Egret .

2. A plume or tuft for the head composed of feathers, or of gems, etc.

Prescott.

3. A tuft like that of the egret . (Bot.) A feathery crown of seed; egret; as, the aigrette or down of the dandelion or the thistle .

Aiguille <Xpage=34>

Ai`guille" (#) , n. [F., a needle. See Aglet .] 1. A needle-shaped peak.

2. An instrument for boring holes, used in blasting.

Aiguillette <Xpage=34>

Ai`guil*lette" (#) , n. [F. See Aglet .] 1. A point or tag at the end of a fringe or lace; an aglet.

2. One of the ornamental tags, cords, or loops on some military and naval uniforms.

Aigulet <Xpage=34>

Ai"gu*let (#) , n. See Aglet .

Spenser.

Ail <Xpage=34>

Ail (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ailed (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ailing .] [OE. eilen , ailen , AS. eglan to trouble, pain; akin to Goth. us- agljan to distress, agls troublesome, irksome, aglo , aglitha , pain, and prob. to E. awe . <?/.] To affect with pain or uneasiness, either physical or mental; to trouble; to be the matter with; -- used to express some uneasiness or affection, whose cause is unknown; as, what ails the man? I know not what ails him .

What aileth thee, Hagar? Gen. xxi. 17.

&hand; It is never used to express a specific disease. We do not say, a fever ails him; but, something ails him.

Ail <Xpage=34>

Ail , v. i. To be affected with pain or uneasiness of any sort; to be ill or indisposed or in trouble.

When he ails ever so little . . . he is so peevish. Richardson.

Ail <Xpage=34>

Ail , n. Indisposition or morbid affection.

Pope.

Ailanthus <Xpage=34>

Ai*lan"thus (#) , n. Same as Ailantus .

Ailantus <Xpage=34>

Ai*lan"tus (#) , n. [From aylanto , i. e., tree of heaven, the name of the tree in the Moluccas.] (Bot.) A genus of beautiful trees, natives of the East Indies. The tree imperfectly di<?/cious, and the staminate or male plant is very offensive when blossom.

Ailette <Xpage=34>

Ai*lette (#) , n. [F. ailette , dim. of aile wing, L. ala .] A small square shield, formerly worn on the shoulders of knights, -- being the prototype of the modern epaulet.

Fairholt.

Ailment <Xpage=34>

Ail"ment (#) , n. Indisposition; morbid affection of the body; -- not applied ordinarily to acute diseases. "Little ailments ."

Landsdowne.

Ailuroidea <Xpage=34>

Ai`lu*roid"e*a (#) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ cat + -oid .] (Zo\'94l.) A group of the Carnivora, which includes the cats, civets, and hyenas.

Aim <Xpage=34>

Aim (#) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Aimed (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Aiming .] [OE. amen , aimen , eimen , to guess at, to estimate, to aim, OF. esmer , asmer , fr. L. aestimare to estimate; or perh. fr. OF. aesmer ; <?/ (L. ad ) + esmer . See Estimate .] 1. To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it; as, to aim at a fox, or at a target .

2. To direct the indention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor; -- followed by at , or by an infinitive; as, to aim at distinction; to aim to do well.

Aim'st thou at princes? Pope.

3. To guess or conjecture. [Obs.]

Shak.

Aim <Xpage=34>

Aim , v. t. To direct or point, as a weapon, at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object; as, to aim a musket or an arrow, the fist or a blow ( at something); to aim a satire or a reflection ( at some person or vice).

Aim <Xpage=34>

Aim , n. [Cf. OF. esme estimation, fr. esmer . See Aim , v. i. ] 1. The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.

Each at the head leveled his deadly aim . Milton.

2. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.

To be the aim of every dangerous shot. Shak.

3. Intention; purpose; design; scheme.

How oft ambitious aims are crossed! Pope.

4. Conjecture; guess. [Obs.]

What you would work me to, I have some aim . Shak.

To cry aim (Archery) , to encourage. [Obs.]

Shak.

Syn. -- End; object; scope; drift; design; purpose; intention; scheme; tendency; aspiration.

Aimer <Xpage=34>

Aim"er (#) , n. One who aims, directs, or points.

Aimless <Xpage=34>

Aim"less , a. Without aim or purpose; as, an aimless life . -- Aim"less*ly , adv. -- Aim"less*ness , n.

Aino <Xpage=34>

Ai"no (#) , n. [Said to be the native name for man.] One of a peculiar race inhabiting Yesso, the Kooril Islands etc., in the northern part of the empire of Japan, by some supposed to have been the progenitors of the Japanese. The Ainos are stout and short, with hairy bodies.

Ain't <Xpage=34>

Ain't (#) . A contraction for are not and am not ; also used for is not . [Colloq. or llliterate speech] . See An't .

Air <Xpage=34>

Air (#) , n. [OE. air , eir , F. air , L. a\'89r , fr. Gr. <?/, air, mist, for <?/, fr. root <?/ to blow, breathe, probably akin to E. wind . In sense 10 the French has taking a meaning fr. It. aria atmosphere, air, fr. the same Latin word; and in senses 11, 12, 13 the French meaning is either fr. L. aria , or due to confusion with F. aire , in an older sense of origin, descent. Cf. A<?/ry , Debonair , Malaria , Wind .] 1. The fluid which we breathe, and which surrounds the earth; the atmosphere. It is invisible, inodorous, insipid, transparent, compressible, elastic, and ponderable.

&hand; By the ancient philosophers, air was regarded as an element; but modern science has shown that it is essentially a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, with a small amount of carbon dioxide, the average proportions being, by volume: oxygen, 20.96 per cent.; nitrogen, 79.00 per cent.; carbon dioxide, 0.04 per cent. These proportions are subject to a very slight variability. Air also always contains some vapor of water.

2. Symbolically: Something unsubstantial, light, or volatile. "Charm ache with air ."

Shak.

He was still all air and fire. Macaulay . [ Air and fire being the finer and quicker elements as opposed to earth and water .]