Chapter 33

Am"pe*lite (m"p*lt), n. [L. ampelitis, Gr. 'ampeli^tis, fr. 'a`mpelos vine.] (Min.) An earth abounding in pyrites, used by the ancients to kill insects, etc., on vines; -- applied by Brongniart to a carbonaceous alum schist.

{ ||Am`père" (äN`pâr"), Am*pere" (m*pr"), } n. [From the name of a French electrician.] (Elec.) The unit of electric current; -- defined by the International Electrical Congress in 1893 and by U. S. Statute as, one tenth of the unit of current of the C. G. S. system of electro-magnetic units, or the practical equivalent of the unvarying current which, when passed through a standard solution of nitrate of silver in water, deposits silver at the rate of 0.001118 grams per second. Called also the international ampère.

{ ||Am`père"me`ter (&?;), Am`pe*rom"e*ter (&?;), } n. [Ampère + meter.] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the strength of an electrical current in ampères.

Am"per*sand (&?;), n. [A corruption of and, per se and, i. e., & by itself makes and.] A word used to describe the character &?;, &?;, or &. Halliwell.

Am*phi-. [Gr. 'amfi`.] A prefix in words of Greek origin, signifying both, of both kinds, on both sides, about, around.

Am`phi*ar*thro"di*al (&?;), a. [Pref. amphi- + arthrodial.] Characterized by amphiarthrosis.

Am`phi*ar*thro"sis (&?;), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'amfi` + &?; a joining, &?; a joint.] (Anat.) A form of articulation in which the bones are connected by intervening substance admitting slight motion; symphysis.

Am"phi*as`ter (&?;), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'amfi` + 'asth`r a star.] (Biol.) The achromatic figure, formed in mitotic cell-division, consisting of two asters connected by a spindle-shaped bundle of rodlike fibers diverging from each aster, and called the spindle.

||Am*phib"i*a (&?;), n. pl. [See Amphibium.] (Zoöl.) One of the classes of vertebrates.

The Amphibia are distinguished by having usually no scales, by having eggs and embryos similar to those of fishes, and by undergoing a complete metamorphosis, the young having gills. There are three living orders: (1) The tailless, as the frogs (Anura); (2) The tailed (Urodela), as the salamanders, and the siren group (Sirenoidea), which retain the gills of the young state (hence called Perennibranchiata) through the adult state, among which are the siren, proteus, etc.; (3) The Cœcilians, or serpentlike Amphibia (Ophiomorpha or Gymnophiona), with minute scales and without limbs. The extinct Labyrinthodonts also belonged to this class. The term is sometimes loosely applied to both reptiles and amphibians collectively.

Am*phib"i*al (-al), a. & n. Amphibian. [R.]

Am*phib"i*an (-an), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Amphibia; as, amphibian reptiles.

Am*phib"i*an, n. (Zoöl.) One of the Amphibia.

Am*phib`i*o*log"ic*al (&?;), a. Pertaining to amphibiology.

Am*phib`i*ol"o*gy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; amphibious + -logy: cf. F. amphibiologie.] A treatise on amphibious animals; the department of natural history which treats of the Amphibia.

||Am*phib`i*ot"i*ca (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. 'amfi` + biwtiko`s pertaining to life.] (Zoöl.) A division of insects having aquatic larvæ.

Am*phib"i*ous (&?;), a. [Gr. 'amfi`bios living a double life, i. e., both on land in water; 'amfi` + bi`os life.] 1. Having the ability to live both on land and in water, as frogs, crocodiles, beavers, and some plants.

2. Pertaining to, adapted for, or connected with, both land and water.

The amphibious character of the Greeks was already determined: they were to be lords of land and sea. Hare.

3. Of a mixed nature; partaking of two natures.

Not in free and common socage, but in this amphibious subordinate class of villein socage. Blackstone.

Am*phib"i*ous*ly, adv. Like an amphibious being.

||Am*phib"i*um (&?;), n.; pl. L. Amphibia (&?;); E. Amphibiums (&?;). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; (sc. &?; an animal). See Amphibious.] An amphibian.

Am`phi*blas"tic (m`f*bls"tk), a. [Gr. 'amfi` + blastiko`s tending to sprout.] (Biol.) Segmenting unequally; -- said of telolecithal ova with complete segmentation.

Am"phi*bole (m"f*bl), n. [Gr. 'amfi`bolos doubtful, equivocal, fr. 'amfiba`llein to throw round, to doubt: cf. F. amphibole. Haüy so named the genus from the great variety of color and composition assumed by the mineral.] (Min.) A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in color and in composition. It occurs in monoclinic crystals; also massive, generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The color varies from white to gray, green, brown, and black. It is a silicate of magnesium and calcium, with usually aluminium and iron. Some common varieties are tremolite, actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende (the last name being also used as a general term for the whole species). Amphibole is a constituent of many crystalline rocks, as syenite, diorite, most varieties of trachyte, etc. See Hornblende.

Am`phi*bol"ic (m`f*bl"c), a. 1. Of or pertaining to amphiboly; ambiguous; equivocal.

2. Of or resembling the mineral amphibole.

Am*phib`o*log"ic*al (m*fb`*lj"*kal), a. Of doubtful meaning; ambiguous. "Amphibological expressions." Jer. Taylor.

-- Am*phib`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

Am`phi*bol"o*gy (m`f*bl"*j), n.; pl. Amphibologies (- jz). [L. amphibologia, for amphibolia, fr. Gr. 'amfiboli`a, with the ending -logia as if fr. Gr. 'amfi`bolos ambiguous + lo`gos speech: cf. F. amphibologie. See Amphiboly.] A phrase, discourse, or proposition, susceptible of two interpretations; and hence, of uncertain meaning. It differs from equivocation, which arises from the twofold sense of a single term.

Am*phib"o*lous (&?;), a. [L. amphibolus, Gr. &?; thrown about, doubtful. See Amphibole.]

1. Ambiguous; doubtful. [Obs.]

Never was there such an amphibolous quarrel -- both parties declaring themselves for the king. Howell.

2. (Logic) Capable of two meanings.

An amphibolous sentence is one that is capable of two meanings, not from the double sense of any of the words, but from its admitting of a double construction; e. g., "The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose." Whately.

Am*phib"o*ly (&?;), n.; pl. Amphibolies (&?;). [L. amphibolia, Gr. &?;: cf. OE. amphibolie. See Amphibolous.] Ambiguous discourse; amphibology.

If it oracle contrary to our interest or humor, we will create an amphiboly, a double meaning where there is none. Whitlock.

Am"phi*brach (m"f*brk), n. [L. &?;, Gr. &?; short at both ends; 'amfi` + brachy`s short.] (Anc. Pros.) A foot of three syllables, the middle one long, the first and last short ( -- ); as, hbr. In modern prosody the accented syllable takes the place of the long and the unaccented of the short; as, pro-phet\'b6ic.

{ Am`phi*car"pic (&?;), Am`phi*car"pous (&?;), } a. [Gr. 'amfi` + karpo`s fruit.] (Bot.) Producing fruit of two kinds, either as to form or time of ripening.

Am`phi*chro"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. 'amfi` + &?; color.] (Chem.) Exhibiting or producing two colors, as substances which in the color test may change red litmus to blue and blue litmus to red.

{ Am`phi*cœ"li*an (&?;), Am`phi*cœ"lous (&?;), } a. [Gr. &?; hollowed all round; 'amfi` + &?; hollow.] (Zoöl.) Having both ends concave; biconcave; -- said of vertebræ.

Am"phi*come (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; with hair all round; 'amfi` + &?; hair.] A kind of figured stone, rugged and beset with eminences, anciently used in divination. [Obs.] Encyc. Brit.

Am*phic`ty*on"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?;.] Of or pertaining to the Amphictyons or their League or Council; as, an Amphictyonic town or state; the Amphictyonic body. W. Smith.

Am*phic"ty*ons (&?;), n. pl. [L. Amphictyones, Gr. &?;. Prob. the word was orig. &?; dwellers around, neighbors.] (Grecian Hist.) Deputies from the confederated states of ancient Greece to a congress or council. They considered both political and religious matters.

Am*phic"ty*o*ny (&?;), n.; pl. Amphictyonies (&?;). [Gr. &?;.] (Grecian Hist.) A league of states of ancient Greece; esp. the celebrated confederation known as the Amphictyonic Council. Its object was to maintain the common interests of Greece.

Am"phid (&?;), n. [Gr. 'a`mfw both: cf. F. amphide.] (Chem.) A salt of the class formed by the combination of an acid and a base, or by the union of two oxides, two sulphides, selenides, or tellurides, as distinguished from a haloid compound. [R.] Berzelius.

Am"phi*disc (&?;), n. [Gr. 'amfi` + di`skos a round plate.] (Zoöl.) A peculiar small siliceous spicule having a denticulated wheel at each end; -- found in freshwater sponges.

Am`phi*drom"ic*al (&?;), a. [Gr. 'amfi`dromos running about or around.] Pertaining to an Attic festival at the naming of a child; -- so called because the friends of the parents carried the child around the hearth and then named it.

Am*phig"a*mous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; + &?; marriage.] (Bot.) Having a structure entirely cellular, and no distinct sexual organs; -- a term applied by De Candolle to the lowest order of plants.

Am`phi*ge"an (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; + &?;, &?;, the earth.] Extending over all the zones, from the tropics to the polar zones inclusive.

Am"phi*gen (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; + -gen: cf. F. amphigène.] (Chem.) An element that in combination produces amphid salt; -- applied by Berzelius to oxygen, sulphur, selenium, and tellurium. [R.]

Am"phi*gene (&?;), n. (Min.) Leucite.

Am`phi*gen"e*sis (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; + &?; generation.] (Biol.) Sexual generation; amphigony.

Am*phig"e*nous (&?;), a. (Bot.) Increasing in size by growth on all sides, as the lichens.

Am`phi*gon"ic (&?;), a. Pertaining to amphigony; sexual; as, amphigonic propagation. [R.]

Am*phig"o*nous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; + &?; a begetting.] Relating to both parents. [R.]

Am*phig"o*ny (&?;), n. Sexual propagation. [R.]

Am`phi*gor"ic (&?;), a. [See Amphigory.] Nonsensical; absurd; pertaining to an amphigory.

Am"phi*go*ry (&?;), n. [F. amphigouri, of uncertain derivation; perh. fr. Gr. &?; + &?; a circle.] A nonsense verse; a rigmarole, with apparent meaning, which on further attention proves to be meaningless. [Written also amphigouri.]

{ Am*phil"o*gism (&?;), Am*phil"o*gy (&?;), } n. [Gr. &?; + -logy.] Ambiguity of speech; equivocation. [R.]

Am*phim"a*cer (&?;), n. [L. amphimacru&?;, Gr. &?;; &?; on both sides + &?; long.] (Anc. Pros.) A foot of three syllables, the middle one short and the others long, as in cst&?;ts. Andrews.

||Am`phi*neu"ra (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. &?; + &?; sinew, nerve.] (Zoöl.) A division of Mollusca remarkable for the bilateral symmetry of the organs and the arrangement of the nerves.

||Am`phi*ox"us (&?;), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; + &?; sharp.] (Zoöl.) A fishlike creature (Amphioxus lanceolatus), two or three inches long, found in temperature seas; -- also called the lancelet. Its body is pointed at both ends. It is the lowest and most generalized of the vertebrates, having neither brain, skull, vertebræ, nor red blood. It forms the type of the group Acrania, Leptocardia, etc.

Am*phip"neust (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; + &?; one who breathes, &?; to breathe.] (Zoöl.) One of a tribe of Amphibia, which have both lungs and gills at the same time, as the proteus and siren.

Am"phi*pod (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Amphipoda.

{ Am"phi*pod (&?;), Am*phip"o*dan (&?;), } a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Amphipoda.

||Am*phip"o*da (&?;), n. pl. [NL., FR. Gr. &?; + &?;, &?; foot.] (Zoöl.) A numerous group of fourteen -- footed Crustacea, inhabiting both fresh and salt water. The body is usually compressed laterally, and the anterior pairs or legs are directed downward and forward, but the posterior legs are usually turned upward and backward. The beach flea is an example. See Tetradecapoda and Arthrostraca.

Am*phip"o*dous (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Amphipoda.

Am*phip"ro*style (&?;), a. [L. amphiprostylos, Gr. &?; having a double prostyle: cf. F. amphiprostyle. See Prostyle.] (Arch.) Doubly prostyle; having columns at each end, but not at the sides. -- n. An amphiprostyle temple or edifice.

||Am`phi*rhi"na (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; + &?;, &?;, nose.] (Zoöl.) A name applied to the elasmobranch fishes, because the nasal sac is double.

||Am`phis*bæ"na (&?;), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;; &?; on both ends + &?; to go.] 1. A fabled serpent with a head at each end, moving either way. Milton.

2. (Zoöl.) A genus of harmless lizards, serpentlike in form, without legs, and with both ends so much alike that they appear to have a head at each, and ability to move either way. See Illustration in Appendix.

The Gordius aquaticus, or hairworm, has been called an amphisbæna; but it belongs among the worms.

||Am`phis*bæ"noid (&?;), a. [NL., fr. L. amphisbaena + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the lizards of the genus Amphisbæna.

{ ||Am*phis"ci*i (&?;), Am*phis"cians (&?;), } n. pl. [Gr. &?; throwing a shadow both ways; &?; + &?; shadow.] The inhabitants of the tropic, whose shadows in one part of the year are cast to the north, and in the other to the south, according as the sun is south or north of their zenith.

Am*phis"to*mous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; + &?; mouth.] (Zoöl.) Having a sucker at each extremity, as certain entozoa, by means of which they adhere.

Am`phi*sty"lic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; + &?; pillar, support.] (Anat.) Having the mandibular arch articulated with the hyoid arch and the cranium, as in the cestraciont sharks; -- said of a skull.

{ Am`phi*the"a*ter, Am`phi*the"a*tre, } (&?;), n. [L. amphitheatrum, fr. Gr. &?;; &?; + &?; theater: cf. F. amphithéâtre. See Theater.] 1. An oval or circular building with rising tiers of seats about an open space called the arena.

The Romans first constructed amphitheaters for combats of gladiators and wild beasts.

2. Anything resembling an amphitheater in form; as, a level surrounded by rising slopes or hills, or a rising gallery in a theater.

Am`phi*the"a*tral (&?;), a. [L. amphitheatralis: cf. F. amphithéâtral.] Amphitheatrical; resembling an amphitheater.

{ Am`phi*the*at"ric (&?;), Am`phi*the*at"ric*al (&?;), } a. [L. amphitheatricus.] Of, pertaining to, exhibited in, or resembling, an amphitheater.

Am`phi*the*at"ric*al*ly, adv. In the form or manner of an amphitheater.

||Am*phit"ro*cha (m*ft"rk), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'amfi` + trocho`s a wheel.] (Zoöl.) A kind of annelid larva having both a dorsal and a ventral circle of special cilia.

{ Am*phit"ro*pal (-pal), Am*phit"ro*pous (- ps), } a. [Gr. 'amfi` + tre`pein to turn.] (Bot.) Having the ovule inverted, but with the attachment near the middle of one side; half anatropous.

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||Am`phi*u"ma (m`f*"m), n. (Zoöl.) A genus of amphibians, inhabiting the Southern United States, having a serpentlike form, but with four minute limbs and two persistent gill openings; the Congo snake.

Am`pho*pep"tone (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; + E. peptone.] (Physiol.) A product of gastric digestion, a mixture of hemipeptone and antipeptone.

||Am"pho*ra (&?;), n.; pl. Amophoræ (&?;). [L., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, a jar with two handles; &?; + &?; bearer, &?; to bear. Cf. Ampul.] Among the ancients, a two-handled vessel, tapering at the bottom, used for holding wine, oil, etc.

Am"pho*ral (&?;), a. [L. amphoralis.] Pertaining to, or resembling, an amphora.

Am*phor"ic (&?;), a. (Med.) Produced by, or indicating, a cavity in the lungs, not filled, and giving a sound like that produced by blowing into an empty decanter; as, amphoric respiration or resonance.

Am`pho*ter"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; both.] Partly one and partly the other; neither acid nor alkaline; neutral. [R.] Smart.

Am"ple (&?;), a. [F. ample, L. amplus, prob. for ambiplus full on both sides, the last syllable akin to L. plenus full. See Full, and cf. Double.] Large; great in size, extent, capacity, or bulk; spacious; roomy; widely extended.

All the people in that ample house Did to that image bow their humble knees. Spenser.

2. Fully sufficient; abundant; liberal; copious; as, an ample fortune; ample justice.

3. Not contracted of brief; not concise; extended; diffusive; as, an ample narrative. Johnson.

Syn. -- Full; spacious; extensive; wide; capacious; abundant; plentiful; plenteous; copious; bountiful; rich; liberal; munificent. -- Ample, Copious, Abundant, Plenteous. These words agree in representing a thing as large, but under different relations, according to the image which is used. Ample implies largeness, producing a sufficiency or fullness of supply for every want; as, ample stores or resources, ample provision. Copious carries with it the idea of flow, or of collection at a single point; as, a copious supply of materials. "Copious matter of my song." Milton. Abundant and plenteous refer to largeness of quantity; as, abundant stores; plenteous harvests.

Am*plec"tant (&?;), a. [L. amplecti to embrace.] (Bot.) Clasping a support; as, amplectant tendrils. Gray.

Am"ple*ness (&?;), n. The state or quality of being ample; largeness; fullness; completeness.

Am`plex*a"tion (&?;), n. [L. amplexari to embrace.] An embrace. [Obs.]

An humble amplexation of those sacred feet. Bp. Hall.

Am*plex"i*caul (&?;), a. [L. amplexus, p. p. of amplecti to encircle, to embrace + caulis stem: cf. F. amplexicaule.] (Bot.) Clasping or embracing a stem, as the base of some leaves. Gray.

Am"pli*ate (&?;), v. t. [L. ampliatus, p. p. of ampliare to make wider, fr. amplus. See Ample.] To enlarge. [R.]

To maintain and ampliate the external possessions of your empire. Udall.

Am"pli*ate (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Having the outer edge prominent; said of the wings of insects.

Am`pli*a"tion (&?;), n. [L. ampliatio: cf. F. ampliation.] 1. Enlargement; amplification. [R.]

2. (Civil Law) A postponement of the decision of a cause, for further consideration or re-argument.

Am"pli*a*tive (&?;), a. (Logic) Enlarging a conception by adding to that which is already known or received.

"All bodies possess power of attraction" is an ampliative judgment; because we can think of bodies without thinking of attraction as one of their immediate primary attributes. Abp. W. Thomson.

Am*plif"i*cate (&?;), v. t. [L. amplificatus, p. p. of amplificare.] To amplify. [Obs.] Bailey.

Am`pli*fi*ca"tion (&?;), n. [L. amplificatio.] 1. The act of amplifying or enlarging in dimensions; enlargement; extension.

2. (Rhet.) The enlarging of a simple statement by particularity of description, the use of epithets, etc., for rhetorical effect; diffuse narrative or description, or a dilating upon all the particulars of a subject.

Exaggeration is a species of amplification. Brande & C.

I shall summarily, without any amplification at all, show in what manner defects have been supplied. Sir J. Davies.

3. The matter by which a statement is amplified; as, the subject was presented without amplifications.

Am*plif"i*ca*tive (&?;), a. Amplificatory.

Am*plif"i*ca*to*ry (&?;), a. Serving to amplify or enlarge; amplificative. Morell.

Am"pli*fi`er (&?;), n. One who or that which amplifies.

Am"pli*fy (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amplified (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Amplifying.] [F. amplifier, L. amplificare. See Ample, -fy.] 1. To render larger, more extended, or more intense, and the like; -- used especially of telescopes, microscopes, etc.

2. (Rhet.) To enlarge by addition or discussion; to treat copiously by adding particulars, illustrations, etc.; to expand; to make much of.

Troilus and Cressida was written by a Lombard author, but much amplified by our English translator. Dryden.

Am"pli*fy (&?;), v. i. 1. To become larger. [Obs.]

Strait was the way at first, withouten light, But further in did further amplify. Fairfax.

2. To speak largely or copiously; to be diffuse in argument or description; to dilate; to expatiate; -- often with on or upon. Watts.

He must often enlarge and amplify upon the subject he handles. South.

Am"pli*tude (&?;), n. [L. amplitudo, fr. amplus: cf. F. amplitude. See Ample.] 1. State of being ample; extent of surface or space; largeness of dimensions; size.

The cathedral of Lincoln . . . is a magnificent structure, proportionable to the amplitude of the diocese. Fuller.

2. Largeness, in a figurative sense; breadth; abundance; fullness. (a) Of extent of capacity or intellectual powers. "Amplitude of mind." Milton. "Amplitude of comprehension." Macaulay. (b) Of extent of means or resources. "Amplitude of reward." Bacon.

3. (Astron.) (a) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the center of the sun, or a star, at its rising or setting. At the rising, the amplitude is eastern or ortive: at the setting, it is western, occiduous, or occasive. It is also northern or southern, when north or south of the equator. (b) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the foot of the vertical circle passing through any star or object.

4. (Gun.) The horizontal line which measures the distance to which a projectile is thrown; the range.

5. (Physics) The extent of a movement measured from the starting point or position of equilibrium; -- applied especially to vibratory movements.

6. (math.) An angle upon which the value of some function depends; -- a term used more especially in connection with elliptic functions.

Magnetic amplitude, the angular distance of a heavenly body, when on the horizon, from the magnetic east or west point as indicated by the compass. The difference between the magnetic and the true or astronomical amplitude (see 3 above) is the "variation of the compass."

Am"ply (&?;), adv. In an ample manner.

Am"pul (&?;), n. [AS. ampella, ampolla, L. ampulla: cf. OF. ampolle, F. ampoule.] Same as Ampulla, 2.

||Am*pul"la, n.; pl. Ampullæ (&?;). [L. ] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A narrow-necked vessel having two handles and bellying out like a jug.

2. (Eccl.) (a) A cruet for the wine and water at Mass. (b) The vase in which the holy oil for chrism, unction, or coronation is kept. Shipley.

3. (Biol.) Any membranous bag shaped like a leathern bottle, as the dilated end of a vessel or duct; especially the dilations of the semicircular canals of the ear.

Am`pul*la"ceous (&?;), a. [L. ampullaceus, fr. ampulla.] Like a bottle or inflated bladder; bottle-shaped; swelling. Kirby.

Ampullaceous sac (Zoöl.), one of the peculiar cavities in the tissues of sponges, containing the zooidal cells.

{ Am"pul*lar (&?;), Am`pul*la*ry (&?;), } a. Resembling an ampulla.

{ Am"pul*late (&?;), Am"pul*la`ted (&?;) } a. Having an ampulla; flask-shaped; bellied.

Am*pul"li*form (&?;), a. [Ampulla + -form.] Flask-shaped; dilated.

Am"pu*tate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amputated; p. pr. & vb. n. Amputating.] [L. amputatus, p. p. of amputare: amb- + putare to prune, putus clean, akin to E. pure. See Putative.] 1. To prune or lop off, as branches or tendrils.

2. (Surg.) To cut off (a limb or projecting part of the body). Wiseman.

Am`pu*ta"tion (&?;), n. [L. amputatio: cf. F. amputation.] The act of amputating; esp. the operation of cutting off a limb or projecting part of the body.

Am"pu*ta"tor (&?;), n. One who amputates.

||Am"pyx (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;.] (Greek Antiq.) A woman's headband (sometimes of metal), for binding the front hair.

||Am*ri"ta (&?;), n. [Skr. amrita.] (Hind. Myth.) Immortality; also, the nectar conferring immortality. -- a. Ambrosial; immortal.

Am"sel, Am"zel (&?;), n. [Ger. See Ousel.] (Zoöl.) The European ring ousel (Turdus torquatus).

A*muck" (*mk"), a. & adv. [Malay amoq furious.] In a frenzied and reckless manner.

To run amuck, to rush out in a state of frenzy, as the Malays sometimes do under the influence of "bhang," and attack every one that comes in the way; to assail recklessly and indiscriminately.

Satire's my weapon, but I'm too discreet To run amuck, and tilt at all I meet. Pope.

Am"u*let (&?;), n. [L. amuletum: cf. F. amulette.] An ornament, gem, or scroll, or a package containing a relic, etc., worn as a charm or preservative against evils or mischief, such as diseases and witchcraft, and generally inscribed with mystic forms or characters. [Also used figuratively.]

Am`u*let"ic (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to an amulet; operating as a charm.