The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section A and B

Chapter 15

Chapter 153,892 wordsPublic domain

3. To settle or bring to a satisfactory state, so that parties are agreed in the result; as, to adjust accounts; the differences are adjusted.

4. To bring to a true relative position, as the parts of an instrument; to regulate for use; as, to adjust a telescope or microscope.

Syn. -- To adapt; suit; arrange; regulate; accommodate; set right; rectify; settle.

Ad*just"a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being adjusted.

Ad*just"age (&?;), n. [Cf. Ajutage.] Adjustment. [R.]

Ad*just"er (&?;), n. One who, or that which, adjusts.

Ad*just"ive (&?;), a. Tending to adjust. [R.]

Ad*just"ment (-ment), n. [Cf. F. ajustement. See Adjust.] 1. The act of adjusting, or condition of being adjusted; act of bringing into proper relations; regulation.

Success depends on the nicest and minutest adjustment of the parts concerned. Paley.

2. (Law) Settlement of claims; an equitable arrangement of conflicting claims, as in set-off, contribution, exoneration, subrogation, and marshaling. Bispham.

3. The operation of bringing all the parts of an instrument, as a microscope or telescope, into their proper relative position for use; the condition of being thus adjusted; as, to get a good adjustment; to be in or out of adjustment.

Syn. -- Suiting; fitting; arrangement; regulation; settlement; adaptation; disposition.

Ad"ju*tage (&?;), n. Same as Ajutage.

Ad"ju*tan*cy (&?;), n. [See Adjutant.] 1. The office of an adjutant.

2. Skillful arrangement in aid; assistance.

It was, no doubt, disposed with all the adjutancy of definition and division. Burke.

Ad"ju*tant (&?;), n. [L. adjutans, p. pr. of adjutare to help. See Aid.] 1. A helper; an assistant.

2. (Mil.) A regimental staff officer, who assists the colonel, or commanding officer of a garrison or regiment, in the details of regimental and garrison duty.

Adjutant general (a) (Mil.), the principal staff officer of an army, through whom the commanding general receives communications and issues military orders. In the U. S. army he is brigadier general. (b) (Among the Jesuits), one of a select number of fathers, who resided with the general of the order, each of whom had a province or country assigned to his care.

3. (Zoöl.) A species of very large stork (Ciconia argala), a native of India; -- called also the gigantic crane, and by the native name argala. It is noted for its serpent-destroying habits.

Ad"ju*ta`tor (&?;), n. (Eng. Hist.) A corruption of Agitator.

Ad*jute" (&?;), v. t. [F. ajouter; confused with L. adjutare.] To add. [Obs.]

Ad*ju"tor (&?;), n. [L., fr. adjuvare. See Aid.] A helper or assistant. [Archaic] Drayton.

Ad*ju"to*ry (&?;), a. [L. adjutorius.] Serving to help or assist; helping. [Obs.]

Ad*ju"trix (&?;), n. [L. See Adjutor.] A female helper or assistant. [R.]

Ad"ju*vant (d"j*vnt), a. [L. adjuvans, p. pr. of adjuvare to aid: cf. F. adjuvant. See Aid.] Helping; helpful; assisting. [R.] "Adjuvant causes." Howell.

Ad"ju*vant, n. 1. An assistant. [R.] Yelverton.

2. (Med.) An ingredient, in a prescription, which aids or modifies the action of the principal ingredient.

Ad`le*ga"tion (&?;), n. [L. adlegatio, allegatio, a sending away; fr. adlegare, allegare, to send away with a commission; ad in addition + legare to send as ambassador. Cf. Allegation.] A right formerly claimed by the states of the German Empire of joining their own ministers with those of the emperor in public treaties and negotiations to the common interest of the empire. Encyc. Brit.

||Ad lib"i*tum (&?;). At one's pleasure; as one wishes.

Ad`lo*cu"tion (&?;), n. See Allocution. [Obs.]

Ad*mar"gin*ate (&?;), v. t. [Pref. ad- + margin.] To write in the margin. [R.] Coleridge.

Ad*max"il*la*ry (&?;), a. [Pref. ad- + maxillary.] (Anat.) Near to the maxilla or jawbone.

Ad*meas"ure (?; 135), v. t. [Cf. OF. amesurer, LL. admensurare. See Measure.] 1. To measure.

2. (Law) To determine the proper share of, or the proper apportionment; as, to admeasure dower; to admeasure common of pasture. Blackstone.

2. The measure of a thing; dimensions; size.

3. (Law) Formerly, the adjustment of proportion, or ascertainment of shares, as of dower or pasture held in common. This was by writ of admeasurement, directed to the sheriff.

Ad*meas"ur*er (&?;), n. One who admeasures.

Ad*men`su*ra"tion (&?;), n. [LL. admensuratio; L. ad + mensurare to measure. See Mensuration.] Same as Admeasurement.

Ad*min"i*cle (&?;), n. [L. adminculum support, orig., that on which the hand rests; ad + manus hand + dim. ending -culym.] 1. Help or support; an auxiliary. Grote.

2. (Law) Corroborative or explanatory proof.

In Scots law, any writing tending to establish the existence or terms of a lost deed. Bell.

Ad`mi*nic"u*lar (&?;), a. Supplying help; auxiliary; corroborative; explanatory; as, adminicular evidence. H. Spencer.

Ad`mi*nic"u*la*ry (&?;), a. Adminicular.

Ad*min"is*ter (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Administered (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Administering.] [OE. aministren, OF. aministrer, F. administer, fr. L. administrare; ad + ministrare to serve. See Minister.] 1. To manage or conduct, as public affairs; to direct or superintend the execution, application, or conduct of; as, to administer the government or the state.

For forms of government let fools contest: Whate'er is best administered is best. Pope.

2. To dispense; to serve out; to supply; execute; as, to administer relief, to administer the sacrament.

[Let zephyrs] administer their tepid, genial airs. Philips.

Justice was administered with an exactness and purity not before known. Macaulay.

3. To apply, as medicine or a remedy; to give, as a dose or something beneficial or suitable. Extended to a blow, a reproof, etc.

A noxious drug had been administered to him. Macaulay.

4. To tender, as an oath.

Swear . . . to keep the oath that we administer. Shak.

5. (Law) To settle, as the estate of one who dies without a will, or whose will fails of an executor.

Syn. -- To manage; conduct; minister; supply; dispense; give out; distribute; furnish.

Ad*min"is*ter, v. i. 1. To contribute; to bring aid or supplies; to conduce; to minister.

A fountain . . . administers to the pleasure as well as the plenty of the place. Spectator.

2. (Law) To perform the office of administrator; to act officially; as, A administers upon the estate of B.

Ad*min"is*ter, n. Administrator. [Obs.] Bacon.

Ad*min`is*te"ri*al (&?;), a. Pertaining to administration, or to the executive part of government.

Ad*min"is*tra*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being administered; as, an administrable law.

Ad*min"is*trant (&?;), a. [F., p. pr. of administrer. See Administer.] Executive; acting; managing affairs. -- n. One who administers.

Ad*min"is*trate (&?;), v. t. [L. administratus, p. p. of administrare.] To administer. [R.] Milman.

Ad*min`is*tra"tion (?; 277), n. [OE. administracioun, L. administratio: cf. F. administration.] 1. The act of administering; government of public affairs; the service rendered, or duties assumed, in conducting affairs; the conducting of any office or employment; direction; management.

His financial administration was of a piece with his military administration. Macaulay.

2. The executive part of government; the persons collectively who are intrusted with the execution of laws and the superintendence of public affairs; the chief magistrate and his cabinet or council; or the council, or ministry, alone, as in Great Britain.

A mild and popular administration. Macaulay.

The administration has been opposed in parliament. Johnson.

3. The act of administering, or tendering something to another; dispensation; as, the administration of a medicine, of an oath, of justice, or of the sacrament.

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4. (Law) (a) The management and disposal, under legal authority, of the estate of an intestate, or of a testator having no competent executor. (b) The management of an estate of a deceased person by an executor, the strictly corresponding term execution not being in use.

Administration with the will annexed, administration granted where the testator has appointed no executor, or where his appointment of an executor for any cause has failed, as by death, incompetency, refusal to act, etc.

Syn. -- Conduct; management; direction; regulation; execution; dispensation; distribution.

Ad*min"is*tra`tive (&?;), a. [L. administrativus: cf. F. administratif.] Pertaining to administration; administering; executive; as, an administrative body, ability, or energy. -- Ad*min"is*tra`tive*ly, adv.

Ad*min`is*tra"tor (&?;), n. [L.] 1. One who administers affairs; one who directs, manages, executes, or dispenses, whether in civil, judicial, political, or ecclesiastical affairs; a manager.

2. (Law) A man who manages or settles the estate of an intestate, or of a testator when there is no competent executor; one to whom the right of administration has been committed by competent authority.

Ad*min`is*tra"tor*ship, n. The position or office of an administrator.

Ad*min`is*tra"trix (&?;), n. [NL.] A woman who administers; esp., one who administers the estate of an intestate, or to whom letters of administration have been granted; a female administrator.

Ad`mi*ra*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. [L. admirabilitac.] Admirableness. [R.] Johnson.

Ad"mi*ra*ble (&?;), a. [L. admirabilis: cf. F. admirable.] 1. Fitted to excite wonder; wonderful; marvelous. [Obs.]

In man there is nothing admirable but his ignorance and weakness. Jer. Taylor.

2. Having qualities to excite wonder united with approbation; deserving the highest praise; most excellent; -- used of persons or things. "An admirable machine." "Admirable fortitude." Macaulay.

Syn. -- Wonderful; marvelous; surprising; excellent; delightful; praiseworthy.

Ad"mi*ra*ble*ness, n. The quality of being admirable; wonderful excellence.

Ad"mi*ra*bly, adv. In an admirable manner.

Ad"mi*ral (&?;), n. [OE. amiral, admiral, OF. amiral, ultimately fr. Ar. amr-al- bahr commander of the sea; Ar. amr is commander, al is the Ar. article, and amr-al, heard in different titles, was taken as one word. Early forms of the word show confusion with L. admirabilis admirable, fr. admirari to admire. It is said to have been introduced into Europe by the Genoese or Venetians, in the 12th or 13th century. Cf. Ameer, Emir.] 1. A naval officer of the highest rank; a naval officer of high rank, of which there are different grades. The chief gradations in rank are admiral, vice admiral, and rear admiral. The admiral is the commander in chief of a fleet or of fleets.

2. The ship which carries the admiral; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet.

Like some mighty admiral, dark and terrible, bearing down upon his antagonist with all his canvas straining to the wind, and all his thunders roaring from his broadsides. E. Everett.

3. (Zoöl.) A handsome butterfly (Pyrameis Atalanta) of Europe and America. The larva feeds on nettles.

Admiral shell (Zoöl.), the popular name of an ornamental cone shell (Conus admiralis).

Lord High Admiral, a great officer of state, who (when this rare dignity is conferred) is at the head of the naval administration of Great Britain.

Ad"mi*ral*ship, n. The office or position oaf an admiral; also, the naval skill of an admiral.

Ad"mi*ral*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Admiralties (&?;). [F. amirauté, for an older amiralté, office of admiral, fr. LL. admiralitas. See Admiral.] 1. The office or jurisdiction of an admiral. Prescott.

2. The department or officers having authority over naval affairs generally.

3. The court which has jurisdiction of maritime questions and offenses.

In England, admiralty jurisdiction was formerly vested in the High Court of Admiralty, which was held before the Lord High Admiral, or his deputy, styled the Judge of the Admiralty; but admiralty jurisdiction is now vested in the probate, divorce, and admiralty division of the High Justice. In America, there are no admiralty courts distinct from others, but admiralty jurisdiction is vested in the district courts of the United States, subject to revision by the circuit courts and the Supreme Court of the United States. Admiralty jurisprudence has cognizance of maritime contracts and torts, collisions at sea, cases of prize in war, etc., and in America, admiralty jurisdiction is extended to such matters, arising out of the navigation of any of the public waters, as the Great Lakes and rivers.

4. The system of jurisprudence of admiralty courts.

5. The building in which the lords of the admiralty, in England, transact business.

Ad*mir"ance (&?;), n. [Cf. OF. admirance.] Admiration. [Obs.] Spenser.

Ad`mi*ra"tion (&?;), n. [F., fr. L. admiratio. See Admire.] 1. Wonder; astonishment. [Obs.]

Season your admiration for a while. Shak.

2. Wonder mingled with approbation or delight; an emotion excited by a person or thing possessed of wonderful or high excellence; as, admiration of a beautiful woman, of a landscape, of virtue.

3. Cause of admiration; something to excite wonder, or pleased surprise; a prodigy.

Now, good Lafeu, bring in the admiration. Shak.

Note of admiration, the mark (!), called also exclamation point.

Syn. -- Wonder; approval; appreciation; adoration; reverence; worship.

Ad*mir"a*tive (&?;), a. Relating to or expressing admiration or wonder. [R.] Earle.

Ad*mire" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Admired (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Admiring (&?;).] [F. admirer, fr. L. admirari; ad + mirari to wonder, for smirari, akin to Gr. &?; to smile, Skr. smi, and E. smile.] 1. To regard with wonder or astonishment; to view with surprise; to marvel at. [Archaic]

Examples rather to be admired than imitated. Fuller.

2. To regard with wonder and delight; to look upon with an elevated feeling of pleasure, as something which calls out approbation, esteem, love, or reverence; to estimate or prize highly; as, to admire a person of high moral worth, to admire a landscape.

Admired as heroes and as gods obeyed. Pope.

Admire followed by the infinitive is obsolete or colloquial; as, I admire to see a man consistent in his conduct.

Syn. -- To esteem; approve; delight in.

Ad*mire", v. i. To wonder; to marvel; to be affected with surprise; -- sometimes with at.

To wonder at Pharaoh, and even admire at myself. Fuller.

Ad*mired" (&?;), a. 1. Regarded with wonder and delight; highly prized; as, an admired poem.

2. Wonderful; also, admirable. [Obs.] "Admired disorder." " Admired Miranda." Shak.

Ad*mir"er (&?;), n. One who admires; one who esteems or loves greatly. Cowper.

Ad*mir"ing, a. Expressing admiration; as, an admiring glance. -- Ad*mir"ing*ly, adv. Shak.

Ad*mis`si*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. [Cf. F. admissibilité.] The quality of being admissible; admissibleness; as, the admissibility of evidence.

Ad*mis"si*ble (&?;), a. [F. admissible, LL. admissibilis. See Admit.] Entitled to be admitted, or worthy of being admitted; that may be allowed or conceded; allowable; as, the supposition is hardly admissible. -- Ad*mis"si*ble*ness, n. -- Ad*mis"si*bly, adv.

Ad*mis"sion (&?;), n. [L. admissio: cf. F. admission. See Admit.] 1. The act or practice of admitting.

2. Power or permission to enter; admittance; entrance; access; power to approach.

What numbers groan for sad admission there! Young.

3. The granting of an argument or position not fully proved; the act of acknowledging something &?;serted; acknowledgment; concession.

The too easy admission of doctrines. Macaulay.

4. (Law) Acquiescence or concurrence in a statement made by another, and distinguishable from a confession in that an admission presupposes prior inquiry by another, but a confession may be made without such inquiry.

5. A fact, point, or statement admitted; as, admission made out of court are received in evidence.

6. (Eng. Eccl. Law) Declaration of the bishop that he approves of the presentee as a fit person to serve the cure of the church to which he is presented. Shipley.

Syn. -- Admittance; concession; acknowledgment; concurrence; allowance. See Admittance.

Ad*mis"sive (&?;), a. Implying an admission; tending to admit. [R.] Lamb.

Ad*mis"so*ry (&?;), a. Pertaining to admission.

Ad*mit" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Admitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Admitting.] [OE. amitten, L. admittere, admissum; ad + mittere to send: cf. F. admettre, OF. admettre, OF. ametre. See Missile.] 1. To suffer to enter; to grant entrance, whether into a place, or into the mind, or consideration; to receive; to take; as, they were into his house; to admit a serious thought into the mind; to admit evidence in the trial of a cause.

2. To give a right of entrance; as, a ticket admits one into a playhouse.

3. To allow (one) to enter on an office or to enjoy a privilege; to recognize as qualified for a franchise; as, to admit an attorney to practice law; the prisoner was admitted to bail.

4. To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation which it is impossible to deny; to own or confess; as, the argument or fact is admitted; he admitted his guilt.

5. To be capable of; to permit; as, the words do not admit such a construction. In this sense, of may be used after the verb, or may be omitted.

Both Houses declared that they could admit of no treaty with the king. Hume.

Ad*mit"ta*ble (&?;), a. Admissible. Sir T. Browne.

Ad*mit"tance (&?;), n. 1. The act of admitting.

2. Permission to enter; the power or right of entrance; also, actual entrance; reception.

To gain admittance into the house. South.

He desires admittance to the king. Dryden.

To give admittance to a thought of fear. Shak.

3. Concession; admission; allowance; as, the admittance of an argument. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

4. Admissibility. [Obs.] Shak.

5. (Eng. Law) The act of giving possession of a copyhold estate. Bouvier.

Syn. -- Admission; access; entrance; initiation. -- Admittance, Admission. These words are, to some extent, in a state of transition and change. Admittance is now chiefly confined to its primary sense of access into some locality or building. Thus we see on the doors of factories, shops, etc. "No admittance." Its secondary or moral sense, as "admittance to the church," is almost entirely laid aside. Admission has taken to itself the secondary or figurative senses; as, admission to the rights of citizenship; admission to the church; the admissions made by one of the parties in a dispute. And even when used in its primary sense, it is not identical with admittance. Thus, we speak of admission into a country, territory, and other larger localities, etc., where admittance could not be used. So, when we speak of admission to a concert or other public assembly, the meaning is not perhaps exactly that of admittance, viz., access within the walls of the building, but rather a reception into the audience, or access to the performances. But the lines of distinction on this subject are one definitely drawn.

||Ad`mit*ta"tur (&?;), n. [L., let him be admitted.] The certificate of admission given in some American colleges.

Ad*mit"ted (&?;), a. Received as true or valid; acknowledged. -- Ad*mit"ted*ly adv. Confessedly.

Ad*mit"ter (&?;), n. One who admits.

Ad*mix" (&?;), v. t. [Pref. ad- + mix: cf. L. admixtus, p. p. of admiscere. See Mix.] To mingle with something else; to mix. [R.]

Ad*mix"tion (?; 106), n. [L. admixtio.] A mingling of different things; admixture. Glanvill.

Ad*mix"ture (?; 135), n. [L. admiscere, admixtum, to admix; ad + miscere to mix. See Mix.] 1. The act of mixing; mixture.

2. The compound formed by mixing different substances together.

3. That which is mixed with anything.

Ad*mon"ish (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Admonished (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Admonishing.] [OE. amonesten, OF. amonester, F. admonester, fr. a supposed LL. admonesstrare, fr. L. admonere to remind, warn; ad + monere to warn. See Monition.] 1. To warn or notify of a fault; to reprove gently or kindly, but seriously; to exhort. "Admonish him as a brother." 2 Thess. iii. 15.

2. To counsel against wrong practices; to cation or advise; to warn against danger or an offense; -- followed by of, against, or a subordinate clause.

Admonishing one another in psalms and hymns. Col. iii. 16.

I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold The danger, and the lurking enemy. Milton.

3. To instruct or direct; to inform; to notify.

Moses was admonished of God, when he was about to make the tabernacle. Heb. viii. 5.

Ad*mon"ish*er (&?;), n. One who admonishes.

Ad*mon"ish*ment (-ment), n. [Cf. OF. amonestement, admonestement.] Admonition. [R.] Shak.

Ad`mo*ni"tion (&?;), n. [OE. amonicioun, OF. amonition, F. admonition, fr. L. admonitio, fr. admonere. See Admonish.] Gentle or friendly reproof; counseling against a fault or error; expression of authoritative advice; friendly caution or warning.

Syn. -- Admonition, Reprehension, Reproof. Admonition is prospective, and relates to moral delinquencies; its object is to prevent further transgression. Reprehension and reproof are retrospective, the former being milder than the latter. A person of any age or station may be liable to reprehension in case of wrong conduct; but reproof is the act of a superior. It is authoritative fault-finding or censure addressed to children or to inferiors.

Ad`mo*ni"tion*er (&?;), n. Admonisher. [Obs.]

Ad*mon"i*tive (&?;), a. Admonitory. [R.] Barrow. -- Ad*mon"i*tive*ly, adv.

Ad*mon"i*tor (&?;), n. [L.] Admonisher; monitor.

Conscience is at most times a very faithful and prudent admonitor. Shenstone.

Ad*mon`i*to"ri*al (&?;), a. Admonitory. [R.] "An admonitorial tone." Dickens.

Ad*mon"i*to*ry (&?;), a. [LL. admonitorius.] That conveys admonition; warning or reproving; as, an admonitory glance. -- Ad*mon"i*to*ri*ly, (&?;), adv.

Ad*mon"i*trix (&?;), n. [L.] A female admonitor.

Ad*mor`ti*za"tion (&?;), n. [LL. admortizatio. Cf. Amortization.] (Law) The reducing or lands or tenements to mortmain. See Mortmain.

Ad*move" (&?;), v. t. [L. admovere. See Move.] To move or conduct to or toward. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Ad*nas"cent (&?;), a. [L. adnascens, p. pr. of adnasci to be born, grow.] Growing to or on something else. "An adnascent plant." Evelyn.

Ad"nate (&?;), a. [L. adnatus, p. p. of adnasci. See Adnascent, and cf. Agnate.] 1. (Physiol.) Grown to congenitally.

2. (Bot.) Growing together; -- said only of organic cohesion of unlike parts.

An anther is adnate when fixed by its whole length to the filament. Gray.

3. (Zoöl.) Growing with one side adherent to a stem; -- a term applied to the lateral zooids of corals and other compound animals.

Ad*na"tion (&?;), n. (Bot.) The adhesion or cohesion of different floral verticils or sets of organs.

Ad*nom"i*nal (&?;), a. [L. ad + nomen noun.] (Gram.) Pertaining to an adnoun; adjectival; attached to a noun. Gibbs. -- Ad*nom"i*nal*ly, adv.

Ad"noun` (&?;), n. [Pref. ad- + noun.] (Gram.) An adjective, or attribute. [R.] Coleridge.

Ad*nu"bi*la`ted (&?;), a. [L. adnubilatus, p. p. of adnubilare.] Clouded; obscured. [R.]

A*do" (*d"), (1) v. inf., (2) n. [OE. at do, northern form for to do. Cf. Affair.] 1. To do; in doing; as, there is nothing ado. "What is here ado?" J. Newton.

2. Doing; trouble; difficulty; troublesome business; fuss; bustle; as, to make a great ado about trifles.

With much ado, he partly kept awake. Dryden.

Let's follow to see the end of this ado. Shak.

||A*do"be (*d"b), n. [Sp.] An unburnt brick dried in the sun; also used as an adjective, as, an adobe house, in Texas or New Mexico.

Ad`o*les"cence (&?;), n. [Fr., fr. L. adolescentia.] The state of growing up from childhood to manhood or womanhood; youth, or the period of life between puberty and maturity, generally considered to be, in the male sex, from fourteen to twenty-one. Sometimes used with reference to the lower animals.

Ad`o*les"cen*cy (&?;), n. The quality of being adolescent; youthfulness.

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