Chapter 20

Af*fuse" (f*fz"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affused (-fzd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Affusing (&?;).] [L. affusus, p. p. of affundere to pour to; ad + fundere. See Fuse.] To pour out or upon. [R.]

I first affused water upon the compressed beans. Boyle.

Af*fu"sion (f*f"zhn), n. [Cf. F. affusion.] The act of pouring upon, or sprinkling with a liquid, as water upon a child in baptism. Specifically: (Med) The act of pouring water or other fluid on the whole or a part of the body, as a remedy in disease. Dunglison.

Af*fy" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affied (&?;); p. pr. Affying.] [OF. afier, LL. affidare. Cf. Affiance.] 1. To confide (one's self to, or in); to trust. [Obs.]

2. To betroth or espouse; to affiance. [Obs.] Shak.

3. To bind in faith. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

Af*fy", v. i. To trust or confide. [Obs.] Shak.

Af"ghan (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Afghanistan.

Af"ghan, n. 1. A native of Afghanistan.

2. A kind of worsted blanket or wrap.

A*field" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + field.] 1. To, in, or on the field. "We drove afield." Milton.

How jocund did they drive their team afield! Gray.

2. Out of the way; astray.

Why should he wander afield at the age of fifty- five! Trollope.

A*fire" (*fr"), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + fire.] On fire.

A*flame" (*flm"), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + flame.] In flames; glowing with light or passion; ablaze. G. Eliot.

A*flat" (*flt"), adv. [Pref. a- + flat.] Level with the ground; flat. [Obs.] Bacon.

A*flaunt" (*flnt"), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + flaunt.] In a flaunting state or position. Copley.

A*flick"er (*flk"r), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + flicker.] In a flickering state.

A*float" (*flt"), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + float.] 1. Borne on the water; floating; on board ship.

On such a full sea are we now afloat. Shak.

2. Moving; passing from place to place; in general circulation; as, a rumor is afloat.

3. Unfixed; moving without guide or control; adrift; as, our affairs are all afloat.

A*flow" (*fl"), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + flow.] Flowing.

Their founts aflow with tears. R. Browning.

A*flush" (*flsh"), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + flush, n.] In a flushed or blushing state.

A*flush", adv. & a. [Pref. a- + flush, a.] On a level.

The bank is . . . aflush with the sea. Swinburne.

A*flut"ter (&?;), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + flutter.] In a flutter; agitated.

A*foam" (&?;), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + foam.] In a foaming state; as, the sea is all afoam.

A*foot" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + foot.] 1. On foot.

We 'll walk afoot a while. Shak.

2. Fig.: In motion; in action; astir; in progress.

The matter being afoot. Shak.

A*fore" (&?;), adv. [OE. afore, aforn, AS. onforan or ætforan; pref. a- + fore.] 1. Before. [Obs.]

If he have never drunk wine afore. Shak.

2. (Naut.) In the fore part of a vessel.

A*fore", prep. 1. Before (in all its senses). [Archaic]

2. (Naut.) Before; in front of; farther forward than; as, afore the windlass.

Afore the mast, among the common sailors; -- a phrase used to distinguish the ship's crew from the officers.

A*fore"cit`ed (&?;), a. Named or quoted before.

A*fore"go`ing (&?;), a. Gong before; foregoing.

A*fore"hand` (&?;) adv. Beforehand; in anticipation. [Archaic or Dial.]

She is come aforehand to anoint my body. Mark xiv. 8.

A*fore"hand`, a. Prepared; previously provided; -- opposed to behindhand. [Archaic or Dial.]

Aforehand in all matters of power. Bacon.

A*fore"men`tioned (&?;), a. Previously mentioned; before-mentioned. Addison.

A*fore"named` (&?;), a. Named before. Peacham.

A*fore"said` (&?;), a. Said before, or in a preceding part; already described or identified.

A*fore"thought` (&?;), a. Premeditated; prepense; previously in mind; designed; as, malice aforethought, which is required to constitute murder. Bouvier.

A*fore"thought`, n. Premeditation.

A*fore"time` (&?;), adv. In time past; formerly. "He prayed . . . as he did aforetime." Dan. vi. 10.

||A for`ti*o"ri (&?;). [L.] (Logic & Math.) With stronger reason.

A*foul" (&?;), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + foul.] In collision; entangled. Totten.

To run afoul of, to run against or come into collision with, especially so as to become entangled or to cause injury.

A*fraid" (&?;), p. a. [OE. afrayed, affraide, p. p. of afraien to affray. See Affray, and cf. Afeard.] Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear; apprehensive. [Afraid comes after the noun it limits.] "Back they recoiled, afraid." Milton.

This word expresses a less degree of fear than terrified or frightened. It is followed by of before the object of fear, or by the infinitive, or by a dependent clause; as, to be afraid of death. "I am afraid to die." "I am afraid he will chastise me." "Be not afraid that I your hand should take." Shak. I am afraid is sometimes used colloquially to soften a statement; as, I am afraid I can not help you in this matter.

Syn. -- Fearful; timid; timorous; alarmed; anxious.

Af"reet (&?;), n. Same as Afrit.

A*fresh" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + fresh.] Anew; again; once more; newly.

They crucify . . . the Son of God afresh. Heb. vi. 6.

Af"ric (&?;), a. African. -- n. Africa. [Poetic]

Af"ri*can (&?;), a. [L. Africus, Africanus, fr. Afer African.] Of or pertaining to Africa.

African hemp, a fiber prepared from the leaves of the Sanseviera Guineensis, a plant found in Africa and India. - - African marigold, a tropical American plant (Tagetes erecta). -- African oak or African teak, a timber furnished by Oldfieldia Africana, used in ship building.

Af"ri*can, n. A native of Africa; also one ethnologically belonging to an African race.

Af`ri*can"der (&?;), n. One born in Africa, the offspring of a white father and a "colored" mother. Also, and now commonly in Southern Africa, a native born of European settlers.

Af"ri*can*ism (&?;), n. A word, phrase, idiom, or custom peculiar to Africa or Africans. "The knotty Africanisms . . . of the fathers." Milton.

Af"ri*can*ize (&?;), v. t. To place under the domination of Africans or negroes. [Amer.] Bartlett.

Af"rit (&?;), Af"rite(&?;), Af"reet(&?;), n. [Arab. 'ifrt.] (Moham. Myth.) A powerful evil jinnee, demon, or monstrous giant.

A*front" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + front.] In front; face to face. -- prep. In front of. Shak.

Aft (ft), adv. & a. [AS. æftan behind; orig. superl. of of, off. See After.] (Naut.) Near or towards the stern of a vessel; astern; abaft.

Aft"er (ft"tr), a. [AS. æfter after, behind; akin to Goth. aftaro, aftra, backwards, Icel. aptr, Sw. and Dan. efter, OHG. aftar behind, Dutch and LG. achter, Gr. 'apwte`rw further off. The ending -ter is an old comparative suffix, in E. generally -ther (as in other), and after is a compar. of of, off. √194. See Of; cf. Aft.] 1. Next; later in time; subsequent; succeeding; as, an after period of life. Marshall.

In this sense the word is sometimes needlessly combined with the following noun, by means of a hyphen, as, after-ages, after- act, after-days, after-life. For the most part the words are properly kept separate when after has this meaning.

2. Hinder; nearer the rear. (Naut.) To ward the stern of the ship; -- applied to any object in the rear part of a vessel; as the after cabin, after hatchway. It is often combined with its noun; as, after-bowlines, after-braces, after-sails, after-yards, those on the mainmasts and mizzenmasts.

After body (Naut.), the part of a ship abaft the dead flat, or middle part.

Aft"er, prep. 1. Behind in place; as, men in line one after another. "Shut doors after you." Shak.

2. Below in rank; next to in order. Shak.

Codrus after Ph&?;bus sings the best. Dryden.

3. Later in time; subsequent; as, after supper, after three days. It often precedes a clause. Formerly that was interposed between it and the clause.

After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Matt. xxvi. 32.

4. Subsequent to and in consequence of; as, after what you have said, I shall be careful.

5. Subsequent to and notwithstanding; as, after all our advice, you took that course.

6. Moving toward from behind; following, in search of; in pursuit of.

Ye shall not go after other gods. Deut. vi. 14.

After whom is the king of Israel come out? 1 Sam. xxiv. 14.

7. Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to; as, to look after workmen; to inquire after a friend; to thirst after righteousness.

8. In imitation of; in conformity with; after the manner of; as, to make a thing after a model; a picture after Rubens; the boy takes after his father.

To name or call after, to name like and reference to.

Our eldest son was named George after his uncle. Goldsmith.

9. According to; in accordance with; in conformity with the nature of; as, he acted after his kind.

He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes. Isa. xi. 3.

They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. Rom. viii. 5.

10. According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting. [Archaic]

He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk and currency, and not after their intrinsic value. Bacon.

After all, when everything has been considered; upon the whole. -- After (with the same noun preceding and following), as, wave after wave, day after day, several or many (waves, etc.) successively. -- One after another, successively. -- To be after, to be in pursuit of in order to reach or get; as, he is after money.

Aft"er, adv. Subsequently in time or place; behind; afterward; as, he follows after.

It was about the space of three hours after. Acts. v. 7.

After is prefixed to many words, forming compounds, but retaining its usual signification. The prefix may be adverbial, prepositional, or adjectival; as in after- described, after- dinner, after-part. The hyphen is sometimes needlessly used to connect the adjective after with its noun. See Note under After, a., 1.

Aft"er*birth` (&?;), n. (Med.) The placenta and membranes with which the fetus is connected, and which come away after delivery.

Aft"er*cast` (&?;), n. A throw of dice after the game in ended; hence, anything done too late. Gower.

Aft"er*clap` (&?;), n. An unexpected subsequent event; something disagreeable happening after an affair is supposed to be at an end. Spenser.

Aft"er*crop` (&?;), n. A second crop or harvest in the same year. Mortimer.

Aft"er damp` (&?;).An irrespirable gas, remaining after an explosion of fire damp in mines; choke damp. See Carbonic acid.

Aft"er-din`ner(&?;), n. The time just after dinner. "An after-dinner's sleep." Shak. [Obs.] -- a. Following dinner; post-prandial; as, an after-dinner nap.

Aft"er-eat`age(&?;), n. Aftergrass.

Aft"er*eye` (&?;), v. t. To look after. [Poetic] Shak.

Aft"er*game` (&?;), n. A second game; hence, a subsequent scheme or expedient. Wotton.

Aftergame at Irish, an ancient game very nearly resembling backgammon. Beau. & Fl.

Aft"er-glow(&?;), n. A glow of refulgence in the western sky after sunset.

Aft"er*grass` (&?;), n. The grass that grows after the first crop has been mown; aftermath.

Aft"er*growth` (&?;), n. A second growth or crop, or (metaphorically) development. J. S. Mill.

Aft"er*guard` (&?;), n. (Naut.) The seaman or seamen stationed on the poop or after part of the ship, to attend the after-sails. Totten.

Aft"er-im`age(&?;), n. The impression of a vivid sensation retained by the retina of the eye after the cause has been removed; also extended to impressions left of tones, smells, etc.

Aft"er*ings (&?;), n. pl. The last milk drawn in milking; strokings. [Obs.] Grose.

Aft"er*math (&?;), n. [After + math. See Math.] A second moving; the grass which grows after the first crop of hay in the same season; rowen. Holland.

Aft"er-men`tioned(&?;), a. Mentioned afterwards; as, persons after-mentioned (in a writing).

Aft"er*most (&?;), a. superl. [OE. eftemest, AS. æftemest,akin to Gothic aftumist and aftuma, the last, orig. a superlative of of, with the superlative endings -te, -me, -st.] 1. Hindmost; -- opposed to foremost.

2. (Naut.) Nearest the stern; most aft.

Aft"er*noon" (&?;), n. The part of the day which follows noon, between noon and evening.

Aft"er-note`(&?;), n. (Mus.) One of the small notes occur on the unaccented parts of the measure, taking their time from the preceding note.

Aft"er*pains` (&?;), n. pl. (Med.) The pains which succeed childbirth, as in expelling the afterbirth.

Aft"er*piece` (&?;), n. 1. A piece performed after a play, usually a farce or other small entertainment.

2. (Naut.) The heel of a rudder.

Aft"er-sails`(&?;), n. pl. (Naut.) The sails on the mizzenmast, or on the stays between the mainmast and mizzenmast. Totten.

Aft"er*shaft` (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) The hypoptilum.

Aft"er*taste` (&?;), n. A taste which remains in the mouth after eating or drinking.

Aft"er*thought` (&?;), n. Reflection after an act; later or subsequent thought or expedient.

{ Aft"er*wards (&?;), Aft"er*ward (&?;), } adv. [AS. æfteweard, a., behind. See Aft, and -ward (suffix). The final s in afterwards is adverbial, orig. a genitive ending.] At a later or succeeding time.

Aft"er*wise` (&?;), a. Wise after the event; wise or knowing, when it is too late.

Aft"er-wit` (#), n. Wisdom or perception that comes after it can be of use. "After-wit comes too late when the mischief is done." L'Estrange.

Aft"er-wit`ted (&?;), a. Characterized by after-wit; slow-witted. Tyndale.

Aft"most (&?;), a. (Naut.) Nearest the stern.

Aft"ward (&?;), adv. (Naut.) Toward the stern.

||A*ga" or ||A*gha" (#), n. [Turk. adh a great lord, chief master.] In Turkey, a commander or chief officer. It is used also as a title of respect.

A*gain" (?; 277), adv. [OE. agein, agayn, AS. ongegn, ongeán, against, again; on + geán, akin to Ger. gegewn against, Icel. gegn. Cf. Gainsay.] 1. In return, back; as, bring us word again.

2. Another time; once more; anew.

If a man die, shall he live again? Job xiv. 14.

3. Once repeated; -- of quantity; as, as large again, half as much again.

4. In any other place. [Archaic] Bacon.

5. On the other hand. "The one is my sovereign . . . the other again is my kinsman." Shak.

6. Moreover; besides; further.

Again, it is of great consequence to avoid, etc. Hersche&?;.

Again and again, more than once; often; repeatedly. -- Now and again, now and then; occasionally. -- To and again, to and fro. [Obs.] De Foe.

Again was formerly used in many verbal combinations, as, again-witness, to witness against; again-ride, to ride against; again-come, to come against, to encounter; again- bring, to bring back, etc.

{ A*gain" (&?;), A*gains" (&?;), } prep. Against; also, towards (in order to meet). [Obs.]

Albeit that it is again his kind. Chaucer.

A*gain"buy` (&?;), v. t. To redeem. [Obs.] Wyclif.

A*gain"say` (&?;), v. t. To gainsay. [Obs.] Wyclif.

A*gainst" (?; 277), prep. [OE. agens, ageynes, AS. ongegn. The s is adverbial, orig. a genitive ending. See Again.] 1. Abreast; opposite to; facing; towards; as, against the mouth of a river; -- in this sense often preceded by over.

Jacob saw the angels of God come against him. Tyndale.

2. From an opposite direction so as to strike or come in contact with; in contact with; upon; as, hail beats against the roof.

3. In opposition to, whether the opposition is of sentiment or of action; on the other side; counter to; in contrariety to; hence, adverse to; as, against reason; against law; to run a race against time.

The gate would have been shut against her. Fielding.

An argument against the use of steam. Tyndale.

4. By of before the time that; in preparation for; so as to be ready for the time when. [Archaic or Dial.]

Urijah the priest made it, against King Ahaz came from Damascus. 2 Kings xvi. 11.

Against the sun, in a direction contrary to that in which the sun appears to move.

A*gain"stand` (&?;), v. t. To withstand. [Obs.]

A*gain"ward (&?;), adv. Back again. [Obs.]

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{ ||Ag`a*lac"ti*a (g`*lk"t*), Ag"a*lax`y (g"*lk`s), } n. [Gr. 'agalakti`a; 'a priv. + ga`la, gala`ktos, milk.] (Med.) Failure of the due secretion of milk after childbirth.

Ag`a*lac"tous (&?;), a. Lacking milk to suckle with.

||A`gal-a"gal (&?;), n. Same as Agar- agar.

{ Ag"al*loch (&?;), ||A*gal"lo*chum (&?;), } n. [Gr. &?;, of Eastern origin: cf. Skr. aguru, Heb. pl. ahlm.] A soft, resinous wood (Aquilaria Agallocha) of highly aromatic smell, burnt by the orientals as a perfume. It is called also agalwood and aloes wood. The name is also given to some other species.

Ag`al*mat"o*lite (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, image, statue + -lite: cf. F. agalmatolithe.] (Min.) A soft, compact stone, of a grayish, greenish, or yellowish color, carved into images by the Chinese, and hence called figure stone, and pagodite. It is probably a variety of pinite.

||Ag"a*ma (&?;), n.; pl. Agamas (&?;). [From the Caribbean name of a species of lizard.] (Zoöl.) A genus of lizards, one of the few which feed upon vegetable substances; also, one of these lizards.

||Ag"a*mi (&?;), n.; pl. Agamis (&?;). [F. agex>, fr. the native name.] (Zoöl.) A South American bird (Psophia crepitans), allied to the cranes, and easily domesticated; -- called also the gold- breasted trumpeter. Its body is about the size of the pheasant. See Trumpeter.

A*gam"ic (&?;), a. [Agamous.] (a) (Biol.) Produced without sexual union; as, agamic or unfertilized eggs. (b) Not having visible organs of reproduction, as flowerless plants; agamous.

A*gam"ic*al*ly (&?;), adv. In an agamic manner.

Ag"a*mist (&?;), n. [See Agamous.] An unmarried person; also, one opposed to marriage. Foxe.

||Ag`a*mo*gen"e*sis (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; unmarried ('a priv. + &?; marriage) + &?; reproduction.] (Biol.) Reproduction without the union of parents of distinct sexes: asexual reproduction.

Ag`a*mo*ge*net"ic (&?;), n. (Biol.) Reproducing or produced without sexual union. -- Ag`a*mo*ge*net"ic*al*ly (&?;), adv.

All known agamogenetic processes end in a complete return to the primitive stock. Huxley.

Ag"a*mous (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a`gamos unmarried; 'a priv. + ga`mos marriage.] (Biol.) Having no visible sexual organs; asexual. In Bot., cryptogamous.

A*gan`gli*o"nic (&?;), a. [Pref. a- not + ganglionic.] (Physiol.) Without ganglia.

A*gape" (&?;), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + gape.] Gaping, as with wonder, expectation, or eager attention.

Dazzles the crowd and sets them all agape. Milton.

||Ag"a*pe (&?;), n.; pl. Agapæ (#). [Gr. 'aga`ph love, pl. 'aga`pai.] The love feast of the primitive Christians, being a meal partaken of in connection with the communion.

||A`gar-a"gar (&?;), n. [Ceylonese local name.] A fucus or seaweed much used in the East for soups and jellies; Ceylon moss (Gracilaria lichenoides).

Ag"a*ric (?; 277), n. [L. agaricum, Gr. &?;, said to be fr. Agara, a town in Sarmatia.] 1. (Bot.) A fungus of the genus Agaricus, of many species, of which the common mushroom is an example.

2. An old name for several species of Polyporus, corky fungi growing on decaying wood.

The "female agaric" (Polyporus officinalis) was renowned as a cathartic; the "male agaric" (Polyporus igniarius) is used for preparing touchwood, called punk or German tinder.

Agaric mineral, a light, chalky deposit of carbonate of lime, sometimes called rock milk, formed in caverns or fissures of limestone.

A*gasp" (&?;), adv. & a. [. a- + gasp.] In a state of gasping. Coleridge.

A*gast" or A*ghast" (&?;), v. t. To affright; to terrify. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.

A*gast" (&?;), p. p. & a. See Aghast.

A*gas"tric (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; stomach.] (Physiol.) Having to stomach, or distinct digestive canal, as the tapeworm.

A*gate" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- on + gate way.] On the way; agoing; as, to be agate; to set the bells agate. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Ag"ate (&?;), n. [F. agate, It. agata, L. achates, fr. Gr. &?;.] 1. (Min.) A semipellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen. Its colors are delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds.

The fortification agate, or Scotch pebble, the moss agate, the clouded agate, etc., are familiar varieties.

2. (Print.) A kind of type, larger than pearl and smaller than nonpareil; in England called ruby.

This line is printed in the type called agate.

3. A diminutive person; so called in allusion to the small figures cut in agate for rings and seals. [Obs.] Shak.

4. A tool used by gold-wire drawers, bookbinders, etc.; -- so called from the agate fixed in it for burnishing.

Ag`a*tif"er*ous (&?;), a. [Agate + -ferous.] Containing or producing agates. Craig.

Ag"a*tine (&?;), a. Pertaining to, or like, agate.

Ag"a*tize (&?;), v. t. [Usually p. p. Agatized(&?;).] To convert into agate; to make resemble agate. Dana.

Ag"a*ty (&?;), a. Of the nature of agate, or containing agate.

A*ga"ve (&?;), n. [L. Agave, prop. name, fr. Gr. &?;, fem. of &?; illustrious, noble.] (bot.) A genus of plants (order Amaryllidaceæ) of which the chief species is the maguey or century plant (A. Americana), wrongly called Aloe. It is from ten to seventy years, according to climate, in attaining maturity, when it produces a gigantic flower stem, sometimes forty feet in height, and perishes. The fermented juice is the pulque of the Mexicans; distilled, it yields mescal. A strong thread and a tough paper are made from the leaves, and the wood has many uses.

A*gazed" (&?;), p. p. [Only in p. p.; another spelling for aghast.] Gazing with astonishment; amazed. [Obs.]

The whole army stood agazed on him. Shak.

Age (j), n. [OF. aage, eage, F. âge, fr. L. aetas through a supposed LL. aetaticum. L. aetas is contracted fr. aevitas, fr. aevum lifetime, age; akin to E. aye ever. Cf. Each.] 1. The whole duration of a being, whether animal, vegetable, or other kind; lifetime.

Mine age is as nothing before thee. Ps. xxxix. 5.

2. That part of the duration of a being or a thing which is between its beginning and any given time; as, what is the present age of a man, or of the earth?

3. The latter part of life; an advanced period of life; seniority; state of being old.

Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. Shak.

4. One of the stages of life; as, the age of infancy, of youth, etc. Shak.

5. Mature age; especially, the time of life at which one attains full personal rights and capacities; as, to come of age; he (or she) is of age. Abbott. In the United States, both males and females are of age when twenty-one years old.

6. The time of life at which some particular power or capacity is understood to become vested; as, the age of consent; the age of discretion. Abbott.

7. A particular period of time in history, as distinguished from others; as, the golden age, the age of Pericles. "The spirit of the age." Prescott.

Truth, in some age or other, will find her witness. Milton.

Archeological ages are designated as three: The Stone age (the early and the later stone age, called paleolithic and neolithic), the Bronze age, and the Iron age. During the Age of Stone man is supposed to have employed stone for weapons and implements.

See Augustan, Brazen, Golden, Heroic, Middle.

8. A great period in the history of the Earth.

The geologic ages are as follows: 1. The Archæan, including the time when was no life and the time of the earliest and simplest forms of life. 2. The age of Invertebrates, or the Silurian, when the life on the globe consisted distinctively of invertebrates. 3. The age of Fishes, or the Devonian, when fishes were the dominant race. 4. The age of Coal Plants, or Acrogens, or the Carboniferous age. 5. The Mesozoic or Secondary age, or age of Reptiles, when reptiles prevailed in great numbers and of vast size. 6. The Tertiary age, or age of Mammals, when the mammalia, or quadrupeds, abounded, and were the dominant race. 7. The Quaternary age, or age of Man, or the modern era. Dana.

9. A century; the period of one hundred years.

Fleury . . . apologizes for these five ages. Hallam.

10. The people who live at a particular period; hence, a generation. "Ages yet unborn." Pope.

The way which the age follows. J. H. Newman.