Chapter 25

Al`der*man"i*ty (&?;), n. 1. Aldermen collectively; the body of aldermen.

2. The state of being an alderman. [Jocular]

Al`der*man*like` (&?;), a. Like or suited to an alderman.

Al"der*man*ly, a. Pertaining to, or like, an alderman.

Al"der*man*ly, a. Pertaining to, or like, an alderman. "An aldermanly discretion." Swift.

Al"der*man*ry (&?;), n. 1. The district or ward of an alderman.

2. The office or rank of an alderman. [R.] B. Jonson.

Al"der*man*ship, n. The condition, position, or office of an alderman. Fabyan.

Al"dern (&?;), a. Made of alder.

Al"der*ney (&?;), n. One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often called Jersey cattle. See Jersey, 3.

Al"dine (?; 277), a. (Bibliog.) An epithet applied to editions (chiefly of the classics) which proceeded from the press of Aldus Manitius, and his family, of Venice, for the most part in the 16th century and known by the sign of the anchor and the dolphin. The term has also been applied to certain elegant editions of English works.

Ale (l), n. [AS. ealu, akin to Icel., Sw., and Dan. öl, Lith. alus a kind of beer, OSlav. ol beer. Cf. Ir. ol drink, drinking.] 1. An intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops.

The word ale, in England and the United States, usually designates a heavier kind of fermented liquor, and the word beer a lighter kind. The word beer is also in common use as the generic name for all malt liquors.

2. A festival in English country places, so called from the liquor drunk. "At wakes and ales." B. Jonson."On ember eves and holy ales." Shak.

A*leak" (&?;), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + leak.] In a leaking condition.

A"le*a*to*ry (&?;), a. [L. aleatorius, fr. alea chance, die.] (Law) Depending on some uncertain contingency; as, an aleatory contract. Bouvier.

Ale"bench` (&?;), n. A bench in or before an alehouse. Bunyan.

Ale"ber`ry (&?;), n. [OE. alebery, alebrey; ale + bre broth, fr. AS. brw pottage.] A beverage, formerly made by boiling ale with spice, sugar, and sops of bread.

Their aleberries, caudles, possets. Beau. & Fl.

A*lec"i*thal (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; yelk.] (Biol.) Applied to those ova which segment uniformly, and which have little or no food yelk embedded in their protoplasm. Balfour.

Ale"con`ner (&?;), n. [/Ale + con, OE. cunnen to test, AS. cunnian to test. See Con.] Orig., an officer appointed to look to the goodness of ale and beer; also, one of the officers chosen by the liverymen of London to inspect the measures used in public houses. But the office is a sinecure. [Also called aletaster.] [Eng.]

Ale"cost` (&?;), n. [Ale + L. costus an aromatic plant: cf. Costmary.] (Bot.) The plant costmary, which was formerly much used for flavoring ale.

||Al`ec*tor"i*des (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a cock.] (Zoöl.) A group of birds including the common fowl and the pheasants.

A*lec`to*rom"a*chy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; cock + &?; fight.] Cockfighting.

A*lec"to*ro*man`cy (&?;), n. See Alectryomancy.

A*lec`try*om'a*chy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; cock + &?; fight.] Cockfighting.

A*lec"try*o*man`cy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; cock + -mancy.] Divination by means of a cock and grains of corn placed on the letters of the alphabet, the letters being put together in the order in which the grains were eaten. Amer. Cyc.

A*lee" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + lee.] (Naut.) On or toward the lee, or the side away from the wind; the opposite of aweather. The helm of a ship is alee when pressed close to the lee side.

Hard alee, or Luff alee, an order to put the helm to the lee side.

Al"e*gar (&?;), n. [Ale + eager sour, F. aigre. Cf. Vinegar.] Sour ale; vinegar made of ale. Cecil.

Al"e*ger (&?;), a. [F. allègre, earlier alègre, fr. L. alacer.] Gay; cheerful; sprightly. [Obs.] Bacon.

A*legge" (&?;), v. t. [OE. aleggen, alegen, OF. alegier, F. alléger, fr. LL. alleviare, for L. allevare to lighten; ad + levis light. Cf. Alleviate, Allay, Allege.] To allay or alleviate; to lighten. [Obs.]

That shall alegge this bitter blast. Spenser.

Ale"hoof` (l"hf`), n. [AS. hfe ground ivy; the first part is perh. a corruption: cf. OE. heyhowe hedgehove, ground ivy, "in old MSS. heyhowe, heyoue, haihoue, halehoue." Prior.] Ground ivy (Nepeta Glechoma).

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Ale"house` (&?;), n. A house where ale is retailed; hence, a tippling house. Macaulay.

Ale"-knight` (&?;), n. A pot companion. [Obs.]

Al`e*man"nic (&?;), a. Belonging to the Alemanni, a confederacy of warlike German tribes.

Al`e*man"nic, n. The language of the Alemanni.

The Swabian dialect . . . is known as the Alemannic. Amer. Cyc.

A*lem"bic (*lm"bk), n. [F. alambic (cf. Sp. alambique), Ar. al-anbq, fr. Gr. 'a`mbix cup, cap of a still. The cap or head was the alembic proper. Cf. Limbec.] An apparatus formerly used in distillation, usually made of glass or metal. It has mostly given place to the retort and worm still. Used also metaphorically.

The alembic of a great poet's imagination. Brimley.

A*lem"broth (-brth), n. [Origin uncertain.] The salt of wisdom of the alchemists, a double salt composed of the chlorides of ammonium and mercury. It was formerly used as a stimulant. Brande & C.

A`len`çon" lace" (&?;). See under Lace.

A*length" (*lngth"), adv. [Pref. a- + length.] At full length; lengthwise. Chaucer.

A*lep"i*dote, a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?;, &?;, a scale.] (Zoöl.) Not having scales. -- n. A fish without scales.

Ale"pole` (&?;), n. A pole set up as the sign of an alehouse. [Obs.]

A*lert" (*lrt"), a. [F. alerte, earlier à l'erte on the watch, fr. It. all' erta on the watch, prop. (standing) on a height, where one can look around; erta a declivity, steep, erto steep, p. p. of ergere, erigere, to erect, raise, L. erigere. See Erect.] 1. Watchful; vigilant; active in vigilance.

2. Brisk; nimble; moving with celerity.

An alert young fellow. Addison.

Syn. -- Active; agile; lively; quick; prompt.

A*lert", n. (Mil.) An alarm from a real or threatened attack; a sudden attack; also, a bugle sound to give warning. "We have had an alert." Farrow.

On the alert, on the lookout or watch against attack or danger; ready to act.

A*lert"ly, adv. In an alert manner; nimbly.

A*lert"ness, n. The quality of being alert or on the alert; briskness; nimbleness; activity.

Ale" sil`ver (&?;). A duty payable to the lord mayor of London by the sellers of ale within the city.

Ale"stake (&?;), n. A stake or pole projecting from, or set up before, an alehouse, as a sign; an alepole. At the end was commonly suspended a garland, a bunch of leaves, or a "bush." [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ale"tast`er (&?;), n. See Aleconner. [Eng.]

A*le`thi*ol"o*gy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; truth + -logy.] The science which treats of the nature of truth and evidence. Sir W. Hamilton.

A*leth"o*scope (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; true + &?; to view.] An instrument for viewing pictures by means of a lens, so as to present them in their natural proportions and relations.

A*leu"ro*man`cy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; wheaten flour + -mancy: cf. F. aleuromancie.] Divination by means of flour. Encyc. Brit.

Al`eu*rom"e*ter (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; flour + -meter.] An instrument for determining the expansive properties, or quality, of gluten in flour. Knight.

A*leu"rone (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; flour.] (Bot.) An albuminoid substance which occurs in minute grains ("protein granules") in maturing seeds and tubers; -- supposed to be a modification of protoplasm.

Al`eu*ron"ic (&?;), a. (Bot.) Having the nature of aleurone. D. C. Eaton.

{ A*leu"tian (&?;), A*leu"tic (&?;), } a. [Said to be from the Russ. aleut a bold rock.] Of or pertaining to a chain of islands between Alaska and Kamtchatka; also, designating these islands.

Al"e*vin (&?;), n. [F. alevin, OF. alever to rear, fr. L. ad + levare to raise.] Young fish; fry.

A*lew" (&?;), n. Halloo. [Obs.] Spenser.

Ale"wife` (&?;), n.; pl. Alewives (&?;). A woman who keeps an alehouse. Gay.

Ale"wife`, n.; pl. Alewives. [This word is properly aloof, the Indian name of a fish. See Winthrop on the culture of maize in America, "Phil Trans." No. 142, p. 1065, and Baddam's "Memoirs," vol. ii. p. 131.] (Zoöl.) A North American fish (Clupea vernalis) of the Herring family. It is called also ellwife, ellwhop, branch herring. The name is locally applied to other related species.

Al`ex*an"ders (&?;), Al`i*san"ders (&?;), n. [OE. alisaundre, OF. alissandere, fr. Alexander or Alexandria.] (Bot) A name given to two species of the genus Smyrnium, formerly cultivated and used as celery now is; -- called also horse parsely.

Al`ex*an"dri*an (&?;), a. 1. Of or pertaining to Alexandria in Egypt; as, the Alexandrian library.

2. Applied to a kind of heroic verse. See Alexandrine, n.

Al`ex*an"drine (?; 277), a. Belonging to Alexandria; Alexandrian. Bancroft.

Al`ex*an"drine (&?;), n. [F. alexandrin.] A kind of verse consisting in English of twelve syllables.

The needless Alexandrine ends the song, That, like a wounded snake, drags its slow length along. Pope.

{ A*lex`i*phar"mac (&?;), A*lex`i*phar"ma*cal (&?;), } a. & n. [See Alexipharmic.] Alexipharmic. [Obs.]

{ A*lex`i*phar"mic (&?;), A*lex`i*phar"mic*al (&?;), } a. [Gr. &?; keeping off poison; &?; to keep off + &?; drug, poison: cf. F. alexipharmaque.] (Med.) Expelling or counteracting poison; antidotal.

A*lex`i*phar"mic (&?;), n. (Med.) An antidote against poison or infection; a counterpoison.

A*lex`i*py*ret"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; + &?; burning heat, fever, &?; fire.] (Med.) Serving to drive off fever; antifebrile. -- n. A febrifuge.

{ A*lex`i*ter"ic (&?;), A*lex`i*ter"ic*al (&?;), } a. [Gr. &?; fit to keep off or help, fr. &?; one who keeps off, helper; &?; to keep off: cf. F. alexitère.] (Med.) Resisting poison; obviating the effects of venom; alexipharmic.

A*lex`i*ter"ic, n. [Gr. &?; a remedy, an amulet: cf. F. alexitère, LL. alexiterium.] (Med.) A preservative against contagious and infectious diseases, and the effects of poison in general. Brande & C.

||Al"fa (&?;) or Al"fa grass" (&?;), n. A plant (Macrochloa tenacissima) of North Africa; also, its fiber, used in paper making.

Al*fal"fa (&?;), n. [Sp.] (Bot.) The lucern (Medicago sativa); -- so called in California, Texas, etc.

Al"fe*nide (&?;), n. (Metal.) An alloy of nickel and silver electroplated with silver.

||Al*fe"res (&?;), n. [Sp., fr. Ar. al- frs knight.] An ensign; a standard bearer. [Obs.] J. Fletcher.

Al"fet, n. [LL. alfetum, fr. AS. lfæt a pot to boil in; l burning + fæt vat.] A caldron of boiling water into which an accused person plunged his forearm as a test of innocence or guilt.

||Al*fil`a*ri"a (&?;), n. (Bot.) The pin grass (Erodium cicutarium), a weed in California.

||Al`fi*o"ne (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) An edible marine fish of California (Rhacochilus toxotes).

||Al*fres"co (&?;), adv. & a. [It. al fresco in or on the fresh.] In the open-air. Smollett.

||Al"ga (&?;), n.; pl. Algæ (&?;). [L., seaweed.] (Bot.) A kind of seaweed; pl. the class of cellular cryptogamic plants which includes the black, red, and green seaweeds, as kelp, dulse, sea lettuce, also marine and fresh water confervæ, etc.

Al"gal (&?;), a., (Bot.) Pertaining to, or like, algæ.

||Al`ga*ro"ba (&?;), n. [Sp. algarroba, fr. Ar. al-kharr&?;bah. Cf. Carob.] (Bot.) (a) The Carob, a leguminous tree of the Mediterranean region; also, its edible beans or pods, called St. John's bread. (b) The Honey mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), a small tree found from California to Buenos Ayres; also, its sweet, pulpy pods. A valuable gum, resembling gum arabic, is collected from the tree in Texas and Mexico.

{ Al"ga*rot (&?;), Al"ga*roth (&?;), } n. [F. algaroth, fr. the name of the inventor, Algarotti.] (Med.) A term used for the Powder of Algaroth, a white powder which is a compound of trichloride and trioxide of antimony. It was formerly used in medicine as an emetic, purgative, and diaphoretic.

||Al`ga*ro*vil"la (&?;), n. The agglutinated seeds and husks of the legumes of a South American tree (Inga Marthæ). It is valuable for tanning leather, and as a dye.

{ Al"gate (&?;), Al"gates (&?;), } adv. [All + gate way. The s is an adverbial ending. See Gate.] 1. Always; wholly; everywhere. [Obs.]

Ulna now he algates must forego. Spenser.

Still used in the north of England in the sense of "everywhere."

2. By any or means; at all events. [Obs.] Fairfax.

3. Notwithstanding; yet. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Al"ga*zel` (&?;), n. [Ar. al the + ghazl.] (Zoöl.) The true gazelle.

Al"ge*bra (&?;), n. [LL. algebra, fr. Ar. al-jebr reduction of parts to a whole, or fractions to whole numbers, fr. jabara to bind together, consolidate; al-jebr w'almuqbalah reduction and comparison (by equations): cf. F. algèbre, It. & Sp. algebra.] 1. (Math.) That branch of mathematics which treats of the relations and properties of quantity by means of letters and other symbols. It is applicable to those relations that are true of every kind of magnitude.

2. A treatise on this science.

{ Al`ge*bra"ic (&?;), Al`ge*bra"ic*al (&?;), } a. Of or pertaining to algebra; containing an operation of algebra, or deduced from such operation; as, algebraic characters; algebraical writings.

Algebraic curve, a curve such that the equation which expresses the relation between the coördinates of its points involves only the ordinary operations of algebra; -- opposed to a transcendental curve.

Al`ge*bra"ic*al*ly, adv. By algebraic process.

Al"ge*bra`ist (&?;), n. One versed in algebra.

Al"ge*bra*ize (&?;), v. t. To perform by algebra; to reduce to algebraic form.

Al*ge"ri*an (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Algeria. -- n. A native of Algeria.

Al`ge*rine" (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Algiers or Algeria.

Al`ge*rine", n. A native or one of the people of Algiers or Algeria. Also, a pirate.

Al"gid (&?;), a. [L. algidus cold, fr. algere to be cold: cf. F. algide.] Cold; chilly. Bailey.

Algid cholera (Med.), Asiatic cholera.

Al*gid"i*ty (&?;), n. Chilliness; coldness; especially (Med.), coldness and collapse.

Al"gid*ness (&?;), n. Algidity. [Obs.]

Al*gif"ic (&?;), a. [L. algificus, fr. algus cold + facere to make.] Producing cold.

Al"goid (&?;), a. [L. alga + - oid.] Of the nature of, or resembling, an alga.

Al"gol (&?;), n. [Ar. al-ghl destruction, calamity, fr. ghla to take suddenly, destroy.] (Astron.) A fixed star, in Medusa's head, in the constellation Perseus, remarkable for its periodic variation in brightness.

Al`go*log"ic*al (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to algology; as, algological specimens.

Al*gol"o*gist (&?;), n. One learned about algæ; a student of algology.

Al*gol"o*gy (&?;), n. [L. alga seaweed + -logy.] (Bot.) The study or science of algæ or seaweeds.

{ Al*gon"quin (&?;), Al*gon"kin (&?;), } n. One of a widely spread family of Indians, including many distinct tribes, which formerly occupied most of the northern and eastern part of North America. The name was originally applied to a group of Indian tribes north of the River St. Lawrence.

||Al"gor (&?;), n. [L.] (Med.) Cold; chilliness.

{ Al"go*rism (&?;), Al"go*rithm (&?;), } n. [OE. algorism, algrim, augrim, OF. algorisme, F. algorithme (cf. Sp. algoritmo, OSp. alguarismo, LL. algorismus), fr. the Ar. al- Khowrezm of Khowrezm, the modern Khiwa, surname of Abu Ja'far Mohammed ben Mus, author of a work on arithmetic early in the 9th century, which was translated into Latin, such books bearing the name algorismus. The spelling with th is due to a supposed connection with Gr. &?; number.] 1. The art of calculating by nine figures and zero.

2. The art of calculating with any species of notation; as, the algorithms of fractions, proportions, surds, etc.

Al"gous (&?;), a. [L. algosus, fr. alga seaweed.] Of or pertaining to the algæ, or seaweeds; abounding with, or like, seaweed.

||Al`gua*zil" (&?;) (&?;), n. [Sp. alguacil, fr. Ar. alwazr the vizier. Cf. Vizier.] An inferior officer of justice in Spain; a warrant officer; a constable. Prescott.

Al"gum (&?;), n. Same as Almug (and etymologically preferable). 2 Chron. ii. 8.

Al*ham"bra (&?;), n. [Ultimately fr. Ar. al the + hamr red; i. e., the red (sc. house).] The palace of the Moorish kings at Granada.

{ Al`ham*bra"ic (&?;), Al`ham*bresque" (?; 277), } a. Made or decorated after the fanciful style of the ornamentation in the Alhambra, which affords an unusually fine exhibition of Saracenic or Arabesque architecture.

||Al*hen"na (&?;), n. See Henna.

A"li*as (&?;), adv. [L., fr. alius. See Else.] (Law) (a) Otherwise; otherwise called; -- a term used in legal proceedings to connect the different names of any one who has gone by two or more, and whose true name is for any cause doubtful; as, Smith, alias Simpson. (b) At another time.

A"li*as, n.; pl. Aliases (&?;). [L., otherwise, at another time.] (Law) (a) A second or further writ which is issued after a first writ has expired without effect. (b) Another name; an assumed name.

Al"i*bi (&?;), n. [L., elsewhere, at another place. See Alias.] (Law) The plea or mode of defense under which a person on trial for a crime proves or attempts to prove that he was in another place when the alleged act was committed; as, to set up an alibi; to prove an alibi.

Al`i*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. Quality of being alible.

Al"i*ble (&?;), a. [L. alibilis, fr. alere to nourish.] Nutritive; nourishing.

Al"i*cant (&?;), n. A kind of wine, formerly much esteemed; -- said to have been made near Alicant, in Spain. J. Fletcher.

Al"i*dade (&?;), n. [LL. alidada, alhidada, fr. Ar. al-'idda a sort of rule: cf. F. alidade.] The portion of a graduated instrument, as a quadrant or astrolabe, carrying the sights or telescope, and showing the degrees cut off on the arc of the instrument Whewell.

Al"ien (&?;), a. [OF. alien, L. alienus, fr. alius another; properly, therefore, belonging to another. See Else.] 1. Not belonging to the same country, land, or government, or to the citizens or subjects thereof; foreign; as, alien subjects, enemies, property, shores.

2. Wholly different in nature; foreign; adverse; inconsistent (with); incongruous; -- followed by from or sometimes by to; as, principles alien from our religion.

An alien sound of melancholy. Wordsworth.

Alien enemy (Law), one who owes allegiance to a government at war with ours. Abbott.

Al"ien, n. 1. A foreigner; one owing allegiance, or belonging, to another country; a foreign-born resident of a country in which he does not possess the privileges of a citizen. Hence, a stranger. See Alienage.

2. One excluded from certain privileges; one alienated or estranged; as, aliens from God's mercies.

Aliens from the common wealth of Israel. Ephes. ii. 12.

Al"ien, v. t. [F. aliéner, L. alienare.] To alienate; to estrange; to transfer, as property or ownership. [R.] "It the son alien lands." Sir M. Hale.

The prince was totally aliened from all thoughts of . . . the marriage. Clarendon.

Al`ien*a*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. Capability of being alienated. "The alienability of the domain." Burke.

Al"ien*a*ble (&?;), a. [Cf. F. aliénable.] Capable of being alienated, sold, or transferred to another; as, land is alienable according to the laws of the state.

Al"ien*age (&?;), n. [Cf. OF. aliénage.] 1. The state or legal condition of being an alien.

The disabilities of alienage are removable by naturalization or by special license from the State of residence, and in some of the United States by declaration of intention of naturalization. Kent. Wharton.

Estates forfeitable on account of alienage. Story.

2. The state of being alienated or transferred to another. Brougham.

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Al"ien*ate (l"yen*t), a. [L. alienatus, p. p. of alienare, fr. alienus. See Alien, and cf. Aliene.] Estranged; withdrawn in affection; foreign; -- with from.

O alienate from God. Milton.

Al"ien*ate (-t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alienated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Alienating.] 1. To convey or transfer to another, as title, property, or right; to part voluntarily with ownership of.

2. To withdraw, as the affections; to make indifferent of averse, where love or friendship before subsisted; to estrange; to wean; -- with from.

The errors which . . . alienated a loyal gentry and priesthood from the House of Stuart. Macaulay.

The recollection of his former life is a dream that only the more alienates him from the realities of the present. I. Taylor.

Al"ien*ate (&?;), n. A stranger; an alien. [Obs.]

Al`ien*a"tion (&?;), n. [F. aliénation, L. alienatio, fr. alienare, fr. alienare. See Alienate.] 1. The act of alienating, or the state of being alienated.

2. (Law) A transfer of title, or a legal conveyance of property to another.

3. A withdrawing or estrangement, as of the affections.

The alienation of his heart from the king. Bacon.

4. Mental alienation; derangement of the mental faculties; insanity; as, alienation of mind.

Syn. -- Insanity; lunacy; madness; derangement; aberration; mania; delirium; frenzy; dementia; monomania. See Insanity.

Al"ien*a"tor (&?;), n. One who alienates.

Al*iene (&?;), v. t. To alien or alienate; to transfer, as title or property; as, to aliene an estate.

Al"ien*ee" (&?;), n. (Law) One to whom the title of property is transferred; -- opposed to alienor.

It the alienee enters and keeps possession. Blackstone.

Al"ien*ism (&?;), n. 1. The status or legal condition of an alien; alienage.

The law was very gentle in the construction of the disability of alienism. Kent.

2. The study or treatment of diseases of the mind.

Al"ien*ist (&?;), n. [F. aliéniste.] One who treats diseases of the mind. Ed. Rev.

Al`ien*or" (&?;), n. [OF. aliéneur.] One who alienates or transfers property to another. Blackstone.

{ Al`i*eth"moid (&?;), Al`i*eth*moid"al (&?;), } a. [L. ala wing + E. ethomoid.] (Anat.) Pertaining to expansions of the ethmoid bone or cartilage.

A*life" (&?;), adv. [Cf. lief dear.] On my life; dearly. [Obs.] "I love that sport alife." Beau. & Fl.

A*lif"er*ous (&?;), a. [L. ala wing + -ferous.] Having wings, winged; aligerous. [R.]

Al"i*form (&?;), a. [L. ala wing + -form.] Wing-shaped; winglike.

A*lig"er*ous (&?;), a. [L. aliger; ala wing + gerere to carry.] Having wings; winged. [R.]

A*light" (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Alighted (&?;) sometimes Alit (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Alighting.] [OE. alihten, fr. AS. lhtan; pref. - (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out) + lhtan, to alight, orig. to render light, to remove a burden from, fr. lht, leoht, light. See Light, v. i.] 1. To spring down, get down, or descend, as from on horseback or from a carriage; to dismount.

2. To descend and settle, lodge, rest, or stop; as, a flying bird alights on a tree; snow alights on a roof.

3. To come or chance (upon). [R.]

A*light", a. [Pref. a- + light.] Lighted; lighted up; in a flame. "The lamps were alight." Dickens.

A*lign" (&?;), v. t. [F. aligner; à (L. ad) + ligne (L. linea) line. See Line, and cf. Allineate.] To adjust or form to a line; to range or form in line; to bring into line; to aline.

A*lign", v. t. To form in line; to fall into line.

A*lign"ment (&?;), n. [F. alignement.] 1. The act of adjusting to a line; arrangement in a line or lines; the state of being so adjusted; a formation in a straight line; also, the line of adjustment; esp., an imaginary line to regulate the formation of troops or of a squadron.

2. (Engin.) The ground-plan of a railway or other road, in distinction from the grades or profile.

A*like" (*lk), a. [AS. onlc, gelc; pref. + like.] Having resemblance or similitude; similar; without difference. [Now used only predicatively.]

The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. Ps. cxxxix. 12.

A*like", adv. [AS. gelce, onlce.] In the same manner, form, or degree; in common; equally; as, we are all alike concerned in religion.

A*like"-mind`ed (&?;), a. Like- minded. [Obs.]