Chapter 55

Am"bi*ent , n. Something that surrounds or invests; as, air . . . being a perpetual ambient .

Sir H. Wotton.

Ambigenous <Xpage=46>

Am*big"e*nous (#) , a. [L. ambo both + genus kind.] Of two kinds. (Bot.) Partaking of two natures, as the perianth of some endogenous plants, where the outer surface is calycine, and the inner petaloid.

Ambigu <Xpage=46>

Am"bi*gu (#) , n. [F., fr. ambigu doubtful, L. ambiquus . See Ambiguous .] An entertainment at which a medley of dishes is set on at the same time.

Ambiguity <Xpage=46>

Am`bi*gu"i*ty (#) , n. ; pl. Ambiguities (#) . [L. ambiguitas , fr. ambiguus : cf. F. ambiguit\'82 .] 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.

No shadow of ambiguity can rest upon the course to be pursued. I. Taylor.

The words are of single signification, without any ambiguity . South.

Ambiguous <Xpage=46>

Am*big"u*ous (#) , a. [L. ambiguus , fr. ambigere to wander about, waver; amb- + agere to drive.] 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.

What have been thy answers? What but dark, Ambiguous , and with double sense deluding? Milton.

Syn. -- Doubtful; dubious; uncertain; unsettled; indistinct; indeterminate; indefinite. See Equivocal .

Ambiguously <Xpage=46>

Am*big"u*ous*ly , adv. In an ambiguous manner; with doubtful meaning.

Ambiguousness <Xpage=46>

Am*big"u*ous*ness , n. Ambiguity.

Ambilevous <Xpage=46>

Am`bi*le"vous (#) , a. [L. ambo both + laevus left.] Left-handed on both sides; clumsy; -- opposed to ambidexter . [R.]

Sir T. Browne.

Ambiloquy <Xpage=46>

Am*bil"o*quy (#) , n. Doubtful or ambiguous language. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Ambiparous <Xpage=46>

Am*bip"a*rous (#) , a. [L. ambo both + parere to bring forth.] (Bot.) Characterized by containing the rudiments of both flowers and leaves; -- applied to a bud.

Ambit <Xpage=46>

Am"bit (#) , n. [L. ambitus circuit, fr. ambire to go around. See Ambient .] Circuit or compass.

His great parts did not live within a small ambit . Milward.

Ambition <Xpage=46>

Am*bi"tion (#) , n. [F. ambition , L. ambitio a going around, especially of candidates for office is Rome, to solicit votes (hence, desire for office or honor<?/ fr. ambire to go around. See Ambient , Issue .] 1. The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire; canvassing. [Obs.]

[I] used no ambition to commend my deeds. Milton.

2. An eager, and sometimes an inordinate, desire for preferment, honor, superiority, power, or the attainment of something.

Cromwell, I charge thee, fling a way ambition : By that sin fell the angels. Shak.

The pitiful ambition of possessing five or six thousand more acres. Burke.

Ambition <Xpage=46>

Am*bi"tion , v. t. [Cf. F. ambitionner .] To seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet. [R.]

Pausanias, ambitioning the sovereignty of Greece, bargains with Xerxes for his daughter in marriage. Trumbull.

Ambitionist <Xpage=46>

Am*bi"tion*ist , n. One excessively ambitious. [R.]

Ambitionless <Xpage=46>

Am*bi"tion*less , a. Devoid of ambition.

Pollok.

Ambitious <Xpage=46>

Am*bi"tious (#) , a. [L. ambitiosus : cf. F. ambitieux . See Ambition .] 1. Possessing, or controlled by, ambition; greatly or inordinately desirous of power, honor, office, superiority, or distinction.

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious , And Brutus is an honorable man. Shak.

2. Strongly desirous; -- followed by of or the infinitive; as, ambitious to be or to do something .

I was not ambitious of seeing this ceremony. Evelyn.

Studious of song, and yet ambitious not to sing in vain. Cowper.

3. Springing from, characterized by, or indicating, ambition; showy; aspiring; as, an ambitious style .

A giant statue . . . Pushed by a wild and artless race, From off wide, ambitious base. Collins.

Ambitiously <Xpage=46>

Am*bi"tious*ly , adv. In an ambitious manner.

<-- p. 47 -->

Ambitiousness <Xpage=47>

Am*bi"tious*ness (#) , n. The quality of being ambitious; ambition; pretentiousness.

Ambitus <Xpage=47>

Am"bi*tus (#) , n. [L. See Ambit , Ambition .] 1. The exterior edge or border of a thing, as the border of a leaf, or the outline of a bivalve shell.

2. (Rom. Antiq.) A canvassing for votes.

Amble <Xpage=47>

Am"ble (#) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Ambled (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ambling (#) .] [F. ambler to amble, fr. L. ambulare to walk, in LL., to amble, perh. fr. amb- , ambi- , and a root meaning to go : cf. Gr. <?/ to go, E. base . Cf. Ambulate .] 1. To go at the easy gait called an amble; -- applied to the horse or to its rider.

2. To move somewhat like an ambling horse; to go easily or without hard shocks.

The skipping king, he ambled up and down. Shak.

Sir, your wit ambles well; it goes easily. Shak.

Amble <Xpage=47>

Am"ble , n. 1. A peculiar gait of a horse, in which both legs on the same side are moved at the same time, alternating with the legs on the other side. "A fine easy amble ."

B. Jonson.

2. A movement like the amble of a horse.

Ambler <Xpage=47>

Am"bler (#) , n. A horse or a person that ambles.

Amblingly <Xpage=47>

Am"bling*ly , adv. With an ambling gait.

Amblotic <Xpage=47>

Am*blot"ic (#) , a. [Gr. <?/, <?/, fr. <?/ an abortion.] Tending to cause abortion.

Amblygon <Xpage=47>

Am"bly*gon (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ obtuse + <?/ angle: cf. F. amblygone .] (Geom.) An obtuse-angled figure, esp. and obtuse-angled triangle. [Obs.]

Amblygonal <Xpage=47>

Am*blyg"o*nal (#) , a. Obtuse-angled. [Obs.]

Hutton.

Amblyopia, Amblyopy <Xpage=47>

Am`bly*o"pi*a (#) , Am"bly*o`py (#) , n. [Gr. <?/; <?/ blunt, dim + <?/ eye: cf. F. amblyopie .] (Med.) Weakness of sight, without and opacity of the cornea, or of the interior of the eye; the first degree of amaurosis.

Amblyopic <Xpage=47>

Am"bly*op"ic (#) , a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to amblyopy.

Quain.

Amblypoda <Xpage=47>

Am*blyp"o*da (#) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ blunt + <?/, <?/, foot.] (Paleon.) A group of large, extinct, herbivorous mammals, common in the Tertiary formation of the United States.

Ambo <Xpage=47>

Am"bo (#) , n. ; pl. Ambos (#) . [LL. ambo , Gr. <?/, any rising, a raised stage, pulpit: cf. F. ambon .] A large pulpit or reading desk, in the early Christian churches.

Gwilt.

Ambon <Xpage=47>

Am"bon (#) , n. Same as Ambo .

Amboyna wood <Xpage=47>

Am*boy"na wood (#) . A beautiful mottled and curled wood, used in cabinetwork. It is obtained from the Pterocarpus Indicus of Amboyna, Borneo, etc.

Ambreate <Xpage=47>

Am"bre*ate (#) , n. (Chem.) A salt formed by the combination of ambreic acid with a base or positive radical.

Ambreic <Xpage=47>

Am*bre"ic (#) , a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to ambrein; -- said of a certain acid produced by digesting ambrein in nitric acid.

Ambrein <Xpage=47>

Am"bre*in (#) , n. [Cf. F. ambr\'82ine . See Amber .] (Chem.) A fragrant substance which is the chief constituent of ambergris.

Ambrite <Xpage=47>

Am"brite (#) , n. [From amber .] A fossil resin occurring in large masses in New Zealand.

Ambrose <Xpage=47>

Am"brose (#) , n. A sweet-scented herb; ambrosia. See Ambrosia , 3.

Turner.

Ambrosia <Xpage=47>

Am*bro"sia (?; 277) , n. [L. ambrosia , Gr. <?/, properly fem. of <?/, fr. <?/ immortal, divine; <?/ priv. + <?/ mortal (because it was supposed to confer immortality on those who partook of it). <?/ stands for <?/, akin to Skr. mrita , L. mortuus , dead, and to E. mortal .] 1. (Myth.) (a) The fabled food of the gods (as nectar was their drink), which conferred immortality upon those who partook of it. (b) An unguent of the gods.

His dewy locks distilled ambrosia . Milton.

2. A perfumed unguent, salve, or draught; something very pleasing to the taste or smell.

Spenser.

3. Formerly, a kind of fragrant plant; now (Bot.), a genus of plants, including some coarse and worthless weeds, called ragweed , hogweed , etc.

Ambrosiac <Xpage=47>

Am"bro"si*ac (#) , a. [L. ambrosiacus : cf. F. ambrosiaque .] Having the qualities of ambrosia; delicious. [R.] " Ambrosiac odors."

B. Jonson.

Ambrosial <Xpage=47>

Am*bro"sial (#) , a. [L. ambrosius , Gr. <?/.] 1. Consisting of, or partaking of the nature of, ambrosia; delighting the taste or smell; delicious. " Ambrosial food." " Ambrosial fragrance."

Milton.

2. Divinely excellent or beautiful. "Shakes his ambrosial curls."

Pope.

Ambrosially <Xpage=47>

Am*bro"sial*ly , adv. After the manner of ambrosia; delightfully. "Smelt ambrosially ."

Tennyson.

Ambrosian <Xpage=47>

Am*bro"sian (#) , a. Ambrosial. [R.]

. Jonson.

Ambrosian <Xpage=47>

Am*bro"sian , a. 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.

Ambrosian chant , the mode of signing or chanting introduced by St. Ambrose in the 4th century.

Ambrosin <Xpage=47>

Am"bro*sin (#) , n. [LL. Ambrosin us nummus.] An early coin struck by the dukes of Milan, and bearing the figure of St. Ambrose on horseback.

Ambrotype <Xpage=47>

Am"bro*type (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ immortal + -type .] (Photog.) A picture taken on a place 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.

Ambry <Xpage=47>

Am"bry (#) , n. ; pl. Ambries (#) . [OE. aumbry , almery , OF. almarie , armarie , aumaire , F. armoire , LL. armarium chest, cupboard, orig. a repository for arms, fr. L. arama arms. The word has been confused with almonry . See Armory .] 1. In churches, a kind of closet, niche, cupboard, or locker for utensils, vestments, etc.

2. A store closet, as a pantry, cupboard, etc.

3. Almonry. [ Improperly so used ]

Ambs-ace <Xpage=47>

Ambs"-ace (#) , n. [OF. ambesas ; ambes both (fr. L. ambo ) + as ace. See Ace .] Double aces, the lowest throw of all at dice. Hence: Bad luck; anything of no account or value.

Ambulacral <Xpage=47>

Am`bu*la"cral (#) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to ambulacra; avenuelike; as, the ambulacral ossicles, plates, spines, and suckers of echinoderms .

Ambulacriform <Xpage=47>

Am`bu*la"cri*form (#) , a. [ Ambulacrum + -form ] (Zo\'94l.) Having the form of ambulacra.

Ambulacrum <Xpage=47>

Am`bu*la"crum (#) , n. ; pl. Ambulacra (#) . [L., an alley or covered way.] (Zo\'94l.) (a) One of the radical zones of echinoderms, along which run the principal nerves, blood vessels, and water tubes. These zones usually bear rows of locomotive suckers or tentacles, which protrude from regular pores. In star fishes they occupy the grooves along the under side of the rays. (b) One of the suckers on the feet of mites.

Ambulance <Xpage=47>

Am"bu*lance (#) , n. [F. ambulance , h\'93pital ambulant , fr. L. ambulare to walk. See Amble .] (Mil.) (a) 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. (b) An ambulance wagon or cart for conveying the wounded from the field, or to a hospital.

Ambulant <Xpage=47>

Am"bu*lant (#) , a. [L. ambulans , p. pr. of ambulare to walk: cf. F. ambulant .] Walking; moving from place to place.

Gayton.

Ambulate <Xpage=47>

Am"bu*late (#) , v. i. [L. ambulare to walk. See Amble .] To walk; to move about. [R.]

Southey.

Ambulation <Xpage=47>

Am`bu*la"tion (#) , n. [L. ambulatio .] The act of walking.

Sir T. Browne.

Ambulative <Xpage=47>

Am"bu*la*tive (#) , a. Walking. [R.]

Ambulator <Xpage=47>

Am"bu*la`tor (#) , n. 1. One who walks about; a walker.

2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A beetle of the genus Lamia . (b) A genus of birds, or one of this genus.

3. An instrument for measuring distances; -- called also perambulator .

Knight.

Ambulatorial <Xpage=47>

Am`bu*la*to"ri*al (#) , a. Ambulatory; fitted for walking.

Verrill.

Ambulatory <Xpage=47>

Am"bu*la*to*ry (#) , a. [L. ambulatorius .] 1. Of or pertaining to walking; having the faculty of walking; formed or fitted for walking; as, an ambulatory animal .

2. Accustomed to move from place to place; not stationary; movable; as, an ambulatory court, which exercises its jurisdiction in different places .

The priesthood . . . before was very ambulatory , and dispersed into all families. Jer. Taylor.

3. Pertaining to a walk. [R.]

The princess of whom his majesty had an ambulatory view in his travels. Sir H. Wotton.

4. (Law) Not yet fixed legally, or settled past alteration; alterable; as, the dispositions of a will are ambulatory until the death of the testator .

Ambulatory <Xpage=47>

Am"bu*la*to*ry , n. ; pl. Ambulatories (#) . [Cf. LL. ambulatorium .] (Arch.) A place to walk in, whether in the open air, as the gallery of a cloister, or within a building.

Amburry <Xpage=47>

Am"bur*ry (#) , n. Same as Anbury .

Ambuscade <Xpage=47>

Am`bus*cade" (#) , n. [F. embuscade , fr. It. imboscata , or Sp. emboscada , fr. emboscar to ambush, fr. LL. imboscare . See Ambush , v. t. ] 1. 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.

2. A place in which troops lie hid, to attack an enemy unexpectedly. [R.]

Dryden.

3. (Mil.) The body of troops lying in ambush.

Ambuscade <Xpage=47>

Am`bus*cade" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ambuscaded (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ambuscading (#) .] 1. To post or conceal in ambush; to ambush.

2. To lie in wait for, or to attack from a covert or lurking place; to waylay.

Ambuscade <Xpage=47>

Am`bus*cade" , v. i. To lie in ambush.

Ambuscado <Xpage=47>

Am`bus*ca"do (#) , n. Ambuscade. [Obs.]

Shak.

Ambuscadoed <Xpage=47>

Am`bus*ca"doed (#) , p. p. Posted in ambush; ambuscaded. [Obs.]

Ambush <Xpage=47>

Am"bush (#) , n. [F. emb\'96che , fr. the verb. See Ambush , v. t. ] 1. A disposition or arrangement of troops for attacking an enemy unexpectedly from a concealed station. Hence: Unseen peril; a device to entrap; a snare.

Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege Or ambush from the deep. Milton.

2. A concealed station, where troops or enemies lie in wait to attack by surprise.

Bold in close ambush , base in open field. Dryden.

3. The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; liers in wait. [Obs.]

The ambush arose quickly out of their place. Josh. viii. 19.

To lay an ambush , to post a force in ambush.

Ambush <Xpage=47>

Am"bush (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ambushed (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ambushing .] [OE. enbussen , enbushen , OF. embushier , embuissier , F. emb\'96cher , embusquer , fr. LL. imboscare ; in + LL. boscus , buscus , a wood; akin to G. bush , E. bush . See Ambuscade , Bu<?/h .] 1. To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.

By ambushed men behind their temple <?/ai<?/, We have the king of Mexico betrayed. Dryden.

2. To attack by ambush; to waylay.

Ambush <Xpage=47>

Am"bush , v. i. To lie in wait, for the purpose of attacking by surprise; to lurk.

Nor saw the snake that ambushed for his prey. Trumbull.

Ambusher <Xpage=47>

Am"bush*er (#) , n. One lying in ambush.

Ambushment <Xpage=47>

Am"bush*ment (#) , n. [OF. embuschement . See Ambush , v. t. ] An ambush. [Obs.]

2 Chron. xiii. 13.

Ambustion <Xpage=47>

Am*bus"tion (?; 106) , n. [L. ambustio .] (Med.) A burn or scald.

Blount.

Amebean <Xpage=47>

Am`e*be"an (#) , a. (Zo\'94l.) See Am<?/bean .

Ameer, Amir <Xpage=47>

A*meer" , A*mir" (#) , n. [See Emir .] 1. Emir. [Obs.]

2. One of the Mohammedan nobility of Afghanistan and Scinde.

Amel <Xpage=47>

Am"el (#) , n. [OE. amell , OF. esmail , F. \'82mail , of German origin; cf. OHG. smelzi , G. schmelz . See Smelt , v. t. ] Enamel. [Obs.]

Boyle.

Amel <Xpage=47>