Chapter 86

2. Something which by its shape or use suggests an apron; as, (a) The fat skin covering the belly of a goose or duck . [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell . (b) A piece of leather, or other material, to be spread before a person riding on an outside seat of a vehicle, to defend him from the rain, snow, or dust; a boot. "The weather being too hot for the apron ." Hughes . (c) (Gun.) A leaden plate that covers the vent of a cannon. (d) (Shipbuilding) A piece of carved timber, just above the foremost end of the keel. Totten . (e) A platform, or flooring of plank, at the entrance of a dock, against which the dock gates are shut. (f) A flooring of plank before a dam to cause the water to make a gradual descent. (g) (Mech.) The piece that holds the cutting tool of a planer. (h) (Plumbing) A strip of lead which leads the drip of a wall into a gutter; a flashing. (i) (Zo\'94l.) The infolded abdomen of a crab.

Aproned <Xpage=75>

A"proned (#) , a. Wearing an apron.

A cobbler aproned , and a parson gowned. Pope.

Apronful <Xpage=75>

A"pron*ful (#) , n. ; pl. Apronfuls (#) . The quality an apron can hold.

Apronless <Xpage=75>

A"pron*less , a. Without an apron.

Apron man <Xpage=75>

A"pron man` (#) . A man who wears an apron; a laboring man; a mechanic. [Obs.]

Shak.

Apron string <Xpage=75>

A"pron string` (#) . The string of an apron.

To be tied to a wife's or mother's apron strings , to be unduly controlled by a wife or mother.

He was so made that he could not submit to be tied to the apron strings even of the best of wives. Macaulay.

Aprosos <Xpage=75>

Ap"ro*sos` (#) , a. & adv. [F. <?/ propos; <?/ (L. ad ) + propos purpose, L. proposium plan, purpose, fr. proponere to propose. See Propound .] 1. Opportunely or opportune; seasonably or seasonable.

A tale extremely apropos . Pope.

2. By the way; to the purpose; suitably to the place or subject; -- a word used to introduce an incidental observation, suited to the occasion, though not strictly belonging to the narration.

Apse <Xpage=75>

Apse (#) , n. ; pl. Apses (#) . [See Apsis .] 1. (Arch.) (a) A projecting part of a building, esp. of a church, having in the plan a polygonal or semicircular termination, and, most often, projecting from the east end. In early churches the Eastern apse was occupied by seats for the bishop and clergy. Hence: (b) The bishop's seat or throne, in ancient churches.

2. A reliquary, or case in which the relics of saints were kept.

&hand; This word is also written apsis and absis .

Apsidal <Xpage=75>

Ap"si*dal (#) , a. 1. (Astron.) Of or pertaining to the apsides of an orbit.

2. (Arch.) Of or pertaining to the apse of a church; as, the apsidal termination of the chancel .

Apsides <Xpage=75>

Ap"si*des (#) , n. pl. See Apsis .

Apsis <Xpage=75>

Ap"sis (#) , n. ; pl. Apsides (#) . See Apse . [L. apsis , absis , Gr. <?/, <?/, a tying, fastening, the hoop of a wheel, the wheel, a bow, arch, vault, fr. <?/ to fasten.] 1. (Astron.) One of the two points of an orbit, as of a planet or satellite, which are at the greatest and least distance from the central body, corresponding to the aphelion and perihelion of a planet, or to the apogee and perigee of the moon. The more distant is called the higher apsis ; the other, the lower apsis ; and the line joining them, the line of apsides .

2. (Math.) In a curve referred to polar co\'94rdinates, any point for which the radius vector is a maximum or minimum.

3. (Arch.) Same as Apse .

Apt <Xpage=75>

Apt (#) , a [F. apte , L. aptus , fr. obsolete apere to fasten, to join, to fit, akin to apisci to reach, attain: cf. Gr. <?/ to fasten, Skr. \'bepta fit, fr. \'bep to reach attain.]

1. Fit or fitted; suited; suitable; appropriate.

They have always apt instruments. Burke.

A river . . . apt to be forded by a lamb. Jer. Taylor.

2. Having an habitual tendency; habitually liable or likely; -- used of things.

My vines and peaches . . . were apt to have a soot or smuttiness upon their leaves and fruit. Temple.

This tree, if unprotected, is apt to be stripped of the leaves by a leaf-cutting ant. Lubbock.

3. Inclined; disposed customarily; given; ready; -- used of persons.

Apter to give than thou wit be to ask. Beau. & Fl.

That lofty pity with which prosperous folk are apt to remember their grandfathers. F. Harrison.

4. Ready; especially fitted or qualified (to do something); quick to learn; prompt; expert; as, a pupil apt to learn; an apt scholar. "An apt wit."

Johnson.

Live a thousand years, I shall not find myself so apt to die. Shak.

I find thee apt . . . Now, Hamlet, hear. Shak.

Syn. -- Fit; meet; suitable; qualified; inclined; disposed; liable; ready; quick; prompt.

Apt <Xpage=75>

Apt , v. t. [L. aptare . See Aptate .] To fit; to suit; to adapt. [Obs.] " To apt their places."

B. Jonson.

That our speech be apted to edification. Jer. Taylor.

Aptable <Xpage=75>

Apt"a*ble (#) , a. [LL. aptabilis , fr. L. aptare .] Capable of being adapted. [Obs.]

Sherwood.

Aptate <Xpage=75>

Ap"tate (#) , v. t. [L. aptatus , p. p. of aptare . See Apt .] To make fit. [Obs.]

Bailey

Aptera <Xpage=75>

Ap"te*ra (#) , n. pl. [NL. aptera , fr. Gr. <?/ without wings; <?/ priv. + <?/ wing, <?/ to fly.] (Zo\'94l.) Insects without wings, constituting the seventh Linn\'91n order of insects, an artificial group, which included Crustacea, spiders, centipeds, and even worms. These animals are now placed in several distinct classes and orders.

Apteral <Xpage=75>

Ap"ter*al (#) , a. 1. (Zo\'94l.) Apterous.

2. (Arch.) Without lateral columns; -- applied to buildings which have no series of columns along their sides, but are either prostyle or amphiprostyle, and opposed to peripteral .

R. Cyc.

Apteran <Xpage=75>

Ap"ter*an (#) , n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the Aptera.

Apteria <Xpage=75>

Ap*te"ri*a (#) , n. pl. [NL. See Aptera .] (Zo\'94l.) Naked spaces between the feathered areas of birds. See Pteryli\'91 .

Apterous <Xpage=75>

Ap"ter*ous (#) , a. 1. (Zo\'94l.) Destitute of wings; apteral; as, apterous insects .

2. (Bot.) Destitute of winglike membranous expansions, as a stem or petiole; -- opposed to atate .

Apteryges <Xpage=75>

Ap*ter"y*ges (#) , n. pl. [NL. See Apteryx .] (Zo\'94l.) An order of birds, including the genus Apteryx.

Apteryx <Xpage=75>

Ap"te*ryx (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ priv. + <?/ wing. Cf. Aptera .] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of New Zealand birds about the size of a hen, with only short rudiments of wings, armed with a claw and without a tail; the kiwi. It is allied to the gigantic extinct moas of the same country. Five species are known.

Aptitude <Xpage=75>

Apt"i*tude (#) , n. [F. aptitude , LL. aptitudo , fr. L. aptus . See Apt , and cf. Attitude .] 1. A natural or acquired disposition or capacity for a particular purpose, or tendency to a particular action or effect; as, oil has an aptitude to burn .

He seems to have had a peculiar aptitude for the management of irregular troops. Macaulay.

2. A general fitness or suitableness; adaptation.

That sociable and helpful aptitude which God implanted between man and woman. Milton.

3. Readiness in learning; docility; aptness.

He was a boy of remarkable aptitude . Macaulay.

Aptitudinal <Xpage=75>

Apt`i*tu"di*nal (#) , a. Suitable; fit. [Obs.]

Aptly <Xpage=75>

Apt"ly (#) , adv. In an apt or suitable manner; fitly; properly; pertinently; appropriately; readily.

Aptness <Xpage=75>

Apt"ness , n. 1. Fitness; suitableness; appropriateness; as, the aptness of things to their end .

The aptness of his quotations. J. R. Green.

<-- p. 76 -->

2. Disposition of the mind; propensity; as, the aptness of men to follow example .

3. Quickness of apprehension; readiness in learning; docility; as, an aptness to learn is more observable in some children than in others .

4. Proneness; tendency; as, the aptness of iron to rust .

Aptote <Xpage=76>

Ap"tote (#) , n. [L. aptotum , Gr. <?/ indeclinable; <?/ priv. + <?/ fallen, declined, <?/ to fall.] (Gram.) A noun which has no distinction of cases; an indeclinable noun.

Aptotic <Xpage=76>

Ap*tot"ic (#) , a. Pertaining to, or characterized by, aptotes; uninflected; as, aptotic languages .

Aptychus <Xpage=76>

Ap"ty*chus (#) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ priv. + <?/, <?/, fold.] (Zo\'94l.) A shelly plate found in the terminal chambers of ammonite shells. Some authors consider them to be jaws; others, opercula.

Apus <Xpage=76>

A"pus (#) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/. See Apode , n. ] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of fresh-water phyllopod crustaceans. See Phyllopod .

Apyretic <Xpage=76>

Ap`y*ret"ic (#) , a. [Pref. a<?/ not + pyretic .] (Med.) Without fever; -- applied to days when there is an intermission of fever.

Dunglison.

Apyrexia, Apyrexy <Xpage=76>

Ap`y*rex"i*a (#) , Ap`y*rex`y (#) , n. [NL. apyrexia , fr. Gr. <?/; <?/ priv. + <?/ to be feverish, fr. <?/ fire: cf. F. apyrexie .] (Med.) The absence or intermission of fever.

Apyrexial <Xpage=76>

Ap`y*rex"i*al (#) , a. (Med.) Relating to apyrexy. " Apyrexial period."

Brande & C.

Apyrous <Xpage=76>

Ap"y*rous (#) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/ priv. + <?/ fire.] Incombustible; capable of sustaining a strong heat without alteration of form or properties.

Aqua <Xpage=76>

A"qua (#) , n. [L. See Ewer .] Water; -- a word much used in pharmacy and the old chemistry, in various signification, determined by the word or words annexed.

Aqua ammoni\'91 , the aqueous solution of ammonia; liquid ammonia; often called aqua ammonia . -- Aqua marine (#) , or Aqua marina (#) . Same as Aquamarine . -- Aqua regia (#) . [L., royal water] (Chem.) , a very corrosive fuming yellow liquid consisting of nitric and hydrochloric acids. It has the power of dissolving gold, the "royal" metal. -- Aqua Tofana (#) , a fluid containing arsenic, and used for secret poisoning, made by an Italian woman named Tofana , in the middle of the 17th century, who is said to have poisoned more than 600 persons. Francis . -- Aqua vit\'91 (#) [L., water of life. Cf. Eau de vie , Usquebaugh ] , a name given to brandy and some other ardent spirits.

Shak.

Aqua fortis <Xpage=76>

A`qua for"tis (#) . [L., strong water.] (Chem.) Nitric acid. [Archaic]

Aquamarine <Xpage=76>

A`qua*ma*rine" (#) , n. (Min.) A transparent, pale green variety of beryl, used as a gem. See Beryl .

Aquapuncture <Xpage=76>

A`qua*punc"ture (#) , n. [L. aqua water, + punctura puncture, pungere , punctum , to, prick.] (Med.) The introduction of water subcutaneously for the relief of pain.

Aquarelle <Xpage=76>

Aq`ua*relle" (#) , n. [F., fr. Ital acquerello , fr. acqua water, L. aqua .] A design or painting in thin transparent water colors; also, the mode of painting in such colors.

Aquarellist <Xpage=76>

Aq`ua*rel"list (#) , n. A painter in thin transparent water colors.

Aquarial, Aquarian <Xpage=76>

A*qua"ri*al (#) , A*qua"ri*an (#) , a. Of or pertaining to an aquarium.

Aquarian <Xpage=76>

A*qua"ri*an , n. [L. (assumed) Aquarianus , fr. aqua : cf. F. Aquarien . See Aqua .] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of Christian in the primitive church who used water instead of wine in the Lord's Supper.

Aquarium <Xpage=76>

A*qua"ri*um (#) , n. ; pl. E. Aquariums (#) , L. Aquaria (#) . [L. See Aquarius , Ewer .] An artificial pond, or a globe or tank (usually with glass sides), in which living specimens of aquatic animals or plants are kept.

Aquarius <Xpage=76>

A*qua"ri*us (#) , n. [L. aquarius , adj., relating to water, and n., a water-carrier, fr. aqua . See Aqua .] (Astron.) (a) The Water-bearer; the eleventh sign in the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 20th of January; -- so called from the rains which prevail at that season in Italy and the East. (b) A constellation south of Pegasus.

Aquatic <Xpage=76>

A*quat"ic (#) , a. [L. aquaticus : cf. F. aquatique . See Aqua .] Pertaining to water growing in water; living in, swimming in, or frequenting the margins of waters; as, aquatic plants and fowls .

Aquatic <Xpage=76>

A*quat`ic , n. 1. An aquatic animal or plant.

2. pl. Sports or exercises practiced in or on the water.

Aquatical <Xpage=76>

A*quat"ic*al (#) , a. Aquatic. [R.]

Aquatile <Xpage=76>

Aq"ua*tile (#) , a. [L. aquatilis : cf. F. aquatile .] Inhabiting the water. [R.]

Sir T. Browne.

Aquatint, Aquatinta <Xpage=76>

A"qua*tint (#) , A`qua*tin"ta (#) , n. [It. acquatinta dyed water; acqua (L. aqua ) water + tinto , fem. tinta , dyed. See Tint .] 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.

Aqueduct <Xpage=76>

Aq"ue*duct (#) , n. [F. aqueduc , OF. aqueduct (Cotgr.), fr. L. aquaeductus ; aquae , gen. of aqua water + ductus a leading, ducere to lead. See Aqua , Duke .] 1. A conductor, conduit, or artificial channel for conveying water, especially one for supplying large cities with water.

&hand; The term is also applied to a structure (similar to the ancient aqueducts), for conveying a canal over a river or hollow; more properly called an aqueduct bridge .

2. (Anat.) A canal or passage; as, the aqueduct of Sylvius , a channel connecting the third and fourth ventricles of the brain .

Aqueity <Xpage=76>

A*que"i*ty (#) , n. Wateriness. [Obs.]

Aqueous <Xpage=76>

A"que*ous (#) , a. [Cf. F. aqueux , L. aquosus , fr. aqua . See Aqua , Aquose .] 1. Partaking of the nature of water, or abounding with it; watery.

The aqueous vapor of the air. Tyndall.

2. Made from, or by means of, water.

An aqueous deposit. Dana.

Aqueous extract , an extract obtained from a vegetable substance by steeping it in water. -- Aqueous humor (Anat.) , one the humors of the eye; a limpid fluid, occupying the space between the crystalline lens and the cornea. (See Eye .) -- Aqueous rocks (Geol.) , those which are deposited from water and lie in strata, as opposed to volcanic rocks, which are of igneous origin; -- called also sedimentary rocks.

Aqueousness <Xpage=76>

A`que*ous*ness , n. Wateriness.

Aquiferous <Xpage=76>

A*quif"er*ous (#) , a. [L. aqua water + -ferous .] Consisting or conveying water or a watery fluid; as, aquiferous vessels; the aquiferous system.

Aquiform <Xpage=76>

A"qui*form (#) , a. [L. aqua water + -form .] Having the form of water.

Aquila <Xpage=76>

Aq"ui*la (#) , n ; pl. Aquil\'91 (#) . [L., an eagle.] 1. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of eagles.

2. (Astron.) A northern constellation southerly from Lyra and Cygnus and preceding the Dolphin; the Eagle.

Aquila alba [L., white eagle] , an alchemical name of calomel .

Brande & C.

Aquilated <Xpage=76>

Aq"ui*la`ted (#) , a. (Her.) Adorned with eagles' heads.

Aquiline <Xpage=76>

Aq"ui*line (?; 277) , a. [L. aquilinus , fr. aquila eagle: cf. F. aquilin . See Eagle . ] 1. Belonging to or like an eagle.

2. Curving; hooked; prominent, like the beak of an eagle; -- applied particularly to the nose

Terribly arched and aquiline his nose. Cowper.

Aquilon <Xpage=76>

Aq"ui*lon (#) , n. [L. aquilo , -lonis : cf. F. aquilon .] The north wind. [Obs.]

Shak.

Aquiparous <Xpage=76>

A*quip"a*rous (#) , a. [L. aqua water + parere to bring forth.] (Med.) Secreting water; -- applied to certain glands.

Dunglison.

Aquitanian <Xpage=76>

Aq`ui*ta"ni*an (#) , a. Of or pertaining to Aquitania, now called Gascony .

Aquose <Xpage=76>

A*quose" (#) , a. [L. aquosus watery, fr. aqua . See Aqua , Aqueous .] Watery; aqueous. [R.]

Bailey.

Aquosity <Xpage=76>

A*quos"i*ty (#) , n. [LL. aquositas .] The condition of being wet or watery; wateriness.

Huxley.

Very little water or aquosity is found in their belly. Holland.

Ar <Xpage=76>

Ar (#) , conj. Ere; before. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Ara <Xpage=76>

A"ra (#) , n. [L.] (Astron.) The Altar; a southern constellation, south of the tail of the Scorpion.

Ara <Xpage=76>

A"ra (#) , n. [Native Indian name.] (Zo\'94l.) A name of the great blue and yellow macaw ( Ara ararauna ), native of South America.

Arab <Xpage=76>