Chapter 57

As*cen"sive (&?;), a. [See Ascend.] 1. Rising; tending to rise, or causing to rise. Owen.

2. (Gram.) Augmentative; intensive. Ellicott.

As*cent" (&?;). [Formed like descent, as if from a F. ascente, fr. a verb ascendre, fr. L. ascendere. See Ascend, Descent.] 1. The act of rising; motion upward; rise; a mounting upward; as, he made a tedious ascent; the ascent of vapors from the earth.

To him with swift ascent he up returned. Milton.

2. The way or means by which one ascends.

3. An eminence, hill, or high place. Addison.

4. The degree of elevation of an object, or the angle it makes with a horizontal line; inclination; rising grade; as, a road has an ascent of five degrees.

As`cer*tain" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ascertained (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Ascertaining.] [OF. acertener; a (L. ad) + certain. See Certain.] 1. To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise. [Obs.]

When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained. Jer. Taylor.

Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects. Robertson.

2. To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine. [Archaic]

The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth. Hooker.

The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase and ascertain the condemnation. Jer. Taylor.

The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers. Smollett.

The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation. Gibbon.

3. To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal.

He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent on England was practicable. Macaulay.

As`cer*tain"a*ble (&?;), a. That may be ascertained. -- As`cer*tain"a*ble*ness, n. -- As`cer*tain"a*bly, adv.

As`cer*tain"er (&?;), n. One who ascertains.

As`cer*tain"ment (&?;), n. The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; a finding out by investigation; discovery.

The positive ascertainment of its limits. Burke.

As*ces"san*cy (&?;), n. As*ces"sant (&?;), a. See Acescency, Acescent. [Obs.]

As*cet"ic (&?;) a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to exercise, to practice gymnastics.] Extremely rigid in self-denial and devotions; austere; severe.

The stern ascetic rigor of the Temple discipline. Sir W. Scott.

As*cet"ic, n. In the early church, one who devoted himself to a solitary and contemplative life, characterized by devotion, extreme self-denial, and self-mortification; a hermit; a recluse; hence, one who practices extreme rigor and self-denial in religious things.

I am far from commending those ascetics that take up their quarters in deserts. Norris.

Ascetic theology, the science which treats of the practice of the theological and moral virtues, and the counsels of perfection. Am. Cyc.

As*cet"i*cism (&?;), n. The condition, practice, or mode of life, of ascetics.

As"cham (&?;), n. [From Roger Ascham, who was a great lover of archery.] A sort of cupboard, or case, to contain bows and other implements of archery.

||As"ci, n. pl. See Ascus.

As"cian, n. One of the Ascii.

As*cid"i*an (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; bladder, pouch.] (Zoöl.) One of the Ascidioidea, or in a more general sense, one of the Tunicata. Also as an adj.

||As*cid`i*a"ri*um (&?;), n. [NL. See Ascidium.] (Zoöl.) The structure which unites together the ascidiozooids in a compound ascidian.

As*cid"i*form, a. [Gr. &?; a pouch + - form.] (Zoöl.) Shaped like an ascidian.

||As*cid`i*oid"e*a (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. ascidium + -oid. See Ascidium.] (Zoöl.) A group of Tunicata, often shaped like a two-necked bottle. The group includes, social, and compound species. The gill is a netlike structure within the oral aperture. The integument is usually leathery in texture. See Illustration in Appendix.

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As*cid`i*o*zo"oid (s*sd`**z"oid), n. [Ascidium + zooid.] (Zoöl.) One of the individual members of a compound ascidian. See Ascidioidea.

||As*cid"i*um (s*sd"*m), n.; pl. Ascidia (-). [NL., fr. ascus. See Ascus.] 1. (Bot.) A pitcher-shaped, or flask-shaped, organ or appendage of a plant, as the leaves of the pitcher plant, or the little bladderlike traps of the bladderwort (Utricularia).

2. pl. (Zoöl.) A genus of simple ascidians, which formerly included most of the known species. It is sometimes used as a name for the Ascidioidea, or for all the Tunicata.

As*cig"er*ous (&?;), a. [Ascus + - gerous.] (Bot.) Having asci. Loudon.

{ ||As"ci*i (&?;), As"cians (&?;), } n. pl. [L. ascii, pl. of ascius, Gr. &?; without shadow; 'a priv. + &?; shadow.] Persons who, at certain times of the year, have no shadow at noon; -- applied to the inhabitants of the torrid zone, who have, twice a year, a vertical sun.

||As*ci"tes (&?;), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; (sc. &?; disease), fr. &?; bladder, belly.] (Med.) A collection of serous fluid in the cavity of the abdomen; dropsy of the peritoneum. Dunglison.

{ As*cit"ic (&?;), As*cit"ic*al (&?;), } a. Of, pertaining to, or affected by, ascites; dropsical.

As`ci*ti"tious (&?;), a. [See Adscititious.] Supplemental; not inherent or original; adscititious; additional; assumed.

Homer has been reckoned an ascititious name. Pope.

As*cle"pi*ad (&?;), n. (Gr. & L. Pros.) A choriambic verse, first used by the Greek poet Asclepias, consisting of four feet, viz., a spondee, two choriambi, and an iambus.

As*cle`pi*a*da"ceous, a. [See Asclepias.] (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, plants of the Milkweed family.

||As*cle"pi*as, n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, named from Asclepios or Aesculapius.] (Bot.) A genus of plants including the milkweed, swallowwort, and some other species having medicinal properties.

Asclepias butterfly (Zoöl.), a large, handsome, red and black butterfly (Danais Archippus), found in both hemispheres. It feeds on plants of the genus Asclepias.

||As`co*coc"cus (&?;), n.; pl. Ascococci (&?;). [NL., fr. Gr. 'asko`s bladder, bag + &?; kernel.] (Biol.) A form of micrococcus, found in putrid meat infusions, occurring in peculiar masses, each of which is inclosed in a hyaline capsule and contains a large number of spherical micrococci.

As"co*spore (&?;), n. [Ascus + spore.] (Bot.) One of the spores contained in the asci of lichens and fungi. [See Illust. of Ascus.]

As*crib"a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being ascribed; attributable.

As*cribe" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ascribed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Ascribing.] [L. ascribere, adscribere, to ascribe; ad + scribere to write: cf. OF. ascrire. See Scribe.] 1. To attribute, impute, or refer, as to a cause; as, his death was ascribed to a poison; to ascribe an effect to the right cause; to ascribe such a book to such an author.

The finest [speech] that is ascribed to Satan in the whole poem. Addison.

2. To attribute, as a quality, or an appurtenance; to consider or allege to belong.

Syn. -- To Ascribe, Attribute, Impute. Attribute denotes, 1. To refer some quality or attribute to a being; as, to attribute power to God. 2. To refer something to its cause or source; as, to attribute a backward spring to icebergs off the coast. Ascribe is used equally in both these senses, but involves a different image. To impute usually denotes to ascribe something doubtful or wrong, and hence, in general literature, has commonly a bad sense; as, to impute unworthy motives. The theological sense of impute is not here taken into view.

More than good-will to me attribute naught. Spenser.

Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit. Pope.

And fairly quit him of the imputed blame. Spenser.

As"cript (&?;), a. See Adscript. [Obs.]

As*crip"tion (&?;), n. [L. ascriptio, fr. ascribere. See Ascribe.] The act of ascribing, imputing, or affirming to belong; also, that which is ascribed.

As`crip*ti"tious (&?;), a. [L. ascriptitius, fr. ascribere.] 1. Ascribed.

2. Added; additional. [Obs.]

An ascriptitious and supernumerary God. Farindon.

As"cus (&?;), n.; pl. Asci (&?;). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a bladder.] (Bot.) A small membranous bladder or tube in which are inclosed the seedlike reproductive particles or sporules of lichens and certain fungi.

A-sea, adv. [Pref. a- + sea.] On the sea; at sea; toward the sea.

A*sep"tic (&?;), a. [Pref. a- not + septic.] Not liable to putrefaction; nonputrescent. -- n. An aseptic substance.

A*sex"u*al (?; 135), a. [Pref. a- not + sexual.] (Biol.) Having no distinct sex; without sexual action; as, asexual reproduction. See Fission and Gemmation.

A*sex"u*al*ly (&?;), adv. In an asexual manner; without sexual agency.

Ash (sh), n. [OE. asch, esh, AS. æsc; akin to OHG. asc, Sw. & Dan. ask, Icel. askr, D. esch, G. esche.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of trees of the Olive family, having opposite pinnate leaves, many of the species furnishing valuable timber, as the European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and the white ash (F. Americana).

Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum Americanum) and Poison ash (Rhus venenata) are shrubs of different families, somewhat resembling the true ashes in their foliage. -- Mountain ash. See Roman tree, and under Mountain.

2. The tough, elastic wood of the ash tree.

Ash is used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound term; as, ash bud, ash wood, ash tree, etc.

Ash, n., sing. of Ashes.

Ash is rarely used in the singular except in connection with chemical or geological products; as, soda ash, coal which yields a red ash, etc., or as a qualifying or combining word; as, ash bin, ash heap, ash hole, ash pan, ash pit, ash-grey, ash-colored, pearlash, potash.

Bone ash, burnt powered; bone earth. -- Volcanic ash. See under Ashes.

Ash, v. t. To strew or sprinkle with ashes. Howell.

A*shame (&?;), v. t. [Pref. a- + shame: cf. AS. scamian to shame (where - is the same as Goth. us-, G. er-, and orig. meant out), gescamian, gesceamian, to shame.] To shame. [R.] Barrow.

A*shamed" (&?;), a. [Orig. a p. p. of ashame, v. t.] Affected by shame; abashed or confused by guilt, or a conviction or consciousness of some wrong action or impropriety. "I am ashamed to beg." Wyclif.

All that forsake thee shall be ashamed. Jer. xvii. 13.

I began to be ashamed of sitting idle. Johnson.

Enough to make us ashamed of our species. Macaulay.

An ashamed person can hardly endure to meet the gaze of those present. Darwin.

Ashamed seldom precedes the noun or pronoun it qualifies. By a Hebraism, it is sometimes used in the Bible to mean disappointed, or defeated.

A*sham"ed*ly (&?;), adv. Bashfully. [R.]

Ash`an*tee" (&?;), n.; pl. Ashantees (&?;). A native or an inhabitant of Ashantee in Western Africa.

Ash`an*tee", a. Of or pertaining to Ashantee.

Ash"-col`ored (&?;), a. Of the color of ashes; a whitish gray or brownish gray.

Ash"en (&?;), a. [See Ash, the tree.] Of or pertaining to the ash tree. "Ashen poles." Dryden.

Ash"en, a. Consisting of, or resembling, ashes; of a color between brown and gray, or white and gray.

The ashen hue of age. Sir W. Scott.

Ash"en (&?;), n., obs. pl. for Ashes. Chaucer.

Ash"er*y (&?;), n. 1. A depository for ashes.

2. A place where potash is made.

Ash"es (&?;), n. pl. [OE. asche, aske, AS. asce, æsce, axe; akin to OHG. asca, G. asche, D. asch, Icel. & Sw. aska, Dan. aske, Goth. azgo.] 1. The earthy or mineral particles of combustible substances remaining after combustion, as of wood or coal.

2. Specifically: The remains of the human body when burnt, or when "returned to dust" by natural decay.

Their martyred blood and ashes sow. Milton.

The coffins were broken open. The ashes were scattered to the winds. Macaulay.

3. The color of ashes; deathlike paleness.

The lip of ashes, and the cheek of flame. Byron.

In dust and ashes, In sackcloth and ashes, with humble expression of grief or repentance; -- from the method of mourning in Eastern lands. -- Volcanic ashes, or Volcanic ash, the loose, earthy matter, or small fragments of stone or lava, ejected by volcanoes.

Ash"-fire, n. A low fire used in chemical operations.

Ash"-fur`nace (&?;), Ash"-ov`en (&?;), n. A furnace or oven for fritting materials for glass making.

A*shine" (&?;), a. Shining; radiant.

{ Ash"lar, Ash"ler } (&?;), n. [OE. ascheler, achiler, OF. aiseler, fr. aiselle, dim. of ais plank, fr. L. axis, assis, plank, axle. See Axle.] 1. (Masonry) (a) Hewn or squared stone; also, masonry made of squared or hewn stone.

Rough ashlar, a block of freestone as brought from the quarry. When hammer-dressed it is known as common ashlar. Knight.

(b) In the United States especially, a thin facing of squared and dressed stone upon a wall of rubble or brick. Knight.

{ Ash"lar*ing, Ash"ler*ing, } n. 1. The act of bedding ashlar in mortar.

2. Ashlar when in thin slabs and made to serve merely as a case to the body of the wall. Brande & C.

3. (Carp.) The short upright pieces between the floor beams and rafters in garrets. See Ashlar, 2.

A*shore" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + shore.] On shore or on land; on the land adjacent to water; to the shore; to the land; aground (when applied to a ship); -- sometimes opposed to aboard or afloat.

Here shall I die ashore. Shak.

I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Shak.

Ash"to*reth (&?;), n.; pl. Ashtaroth (&?;). The principal female divinity of the Phœnicians, as Baal was the principal male divinity. W. Smith.

Ash` Wednes"day (sh` wnz"d). The first day of Lent; -- so called from a custom in the Roman Catholic church of putting ashes, on that day, upon the foreheads of penitents.

Ash"weed` (&?;), n. (Bot.) [A corruption of ache-weed; F. ache. So named from the likeness of its leaves to those of ache (celery).] Goutweed.

Ash"y (&?;), a. 1. Pertaining to, or composed of, ashes; filled, or strewed with, ashes.

2. Ash-colored; whitish gray; deadly pale. Shak.

Ashy pale, pale as ashes. Shak.

A"sian (&?;), a. [L. Asianus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?;, L. Asia.] Of or pertaining to Asia; Asiatic. "Asian princes." Jer. Taylor. -- n. An Asiatic.

A"si*arch (&?;), n. [L. Asiarcha, Gr. &?;; &?; + &?; ruler.] One of the chiefs or pontiffs of the Roman province of Asia, who had the superintendence of the public games and religious rites. Milner.

A`si*at"ic (&?;), a. [L. Asiaticus, Gr. &?;.] Of or pertaining to Asia or to its inhabitants. -- n. A native, or one of the people, of Asia.

A`si*at"i*cism (&?;), n. Something peculiar to Asia or the Asiatics.

A*side" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + side.] 1. On, or to, one side; out of a straight line, course, or direction; at a little distance from the rest; out of the way; apart.

Thou shalt set aside that which is full. 2 Kings iv. 4.

But soft! but soft! aside: here comes the king. Shak.

The flames were blown aside. Dryden.

2. Out of one's thoughts; off; away; as, to put aside gloomy thoughts. "Lay aside every weight." Heb. xii. 1.

3. So as to be heard by others; privately.

Then lords and ladies spake aside. Sir W. Scott.

To set aside (Law), to annul or defeat the effect or operation of, by a subsequent decision of the same or of a superior tribunal; to declare of no authority; as, to set aside a verdict or a judgment.

A*side", n. Something spoken aside; as, a remark made by a stageplayer which the other players are not supposed to hear.

||A*si"lus (&?;), n. [L., a gadfly.] (Zoöl.) A genus of large and voracious two-winged flies, including the bee killer and robber fly.

{ As`i*ne"go, As`si*ne"go } (&?;), n. [Sp. asnico, dim. of asno an ass.] A stupid fellow. [Obs.] Shak.

As"i*nine (&?;), a. [L. asininus, fr. asinus ass. See Ass.] Of or belonging to, or having the qualities of, the ass, as stupidity and obstinacy. "Asinine nature." B. Jonson. "Asinine feast." Milton.

As`i*nin"i*ty (&?;), n. The quality of being asinine; stupidity combined with obstinacy.

A*si"phon*ate (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Destitute of a siphon or breathing tube; -- said of many bivalve shells. -- n. An asiphonate mollusk.

{ ||As`i*pho"ne*a (&?;), ||A*si`pho*na"ta (&?;), ||As`i*phon"i*da (&?;), } n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. 'a priv. + &?; a tube.] (Zoöl.) A group of bivalve mollusks destitute of siphons, as the oyster; the asiphonate mollusks.

||A*si"ti*a (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; food.] (Med.) Want of appetite; loathing of food.

Ask (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asked (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Asking.] [OE. asken, ashen, axien, AS. scian, csian; akin to OS. scn, OHG. eiscn, Sw. ska, Dan. æske, D. eischen, G. heischen, Lith. jëskóti, OSlav. iskati to seek, Skr. ish to desire. &radic;5.] 1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; -- often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed.

Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God. Judg. xviii. 5.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John xv. 7.

2. To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask?

Ask me never so much dowry. Gen. xxxiv. 12.

To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke xii. 48.

An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity. Addison.

3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about; to question.

He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. John ix. 21.

He asked the way to Chester. Shak.

4. To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment.

5. To publish in church for marriage; -- said of both the banns and the persons. Fuller.

Syn. -- To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat; beseech; implore; crave; require; demand; claim; exhibit; inquire; interrogate. See Beg.

Ask, v. i. 1. To request or petition; -- usually followed by for; as, to ask for bread.

Ask, and it shall be given you. Matt. vii. 7.

2. To make inquiry, or seek by request; -- sometimes followed by after.

Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name? Gen. xxxii. 29.

Ask (&?;), n. [See 2d Asker.] (Zoöl.) A water newt. [Scot. & North of Eng.]

{ A*skance" (&?;), A*skant" (&?;), } adv. [Cf. D. schuin, schuins, sideways, schuiven to shove, schuinte slope. Cf. Asquint.] Sideways; obliquely; with a side glance; with disdain, envy, or suspicion.

They dart away; they wheel askance. Beattie.

My palfrey eyed them askance. Landor.

Both . . . were viewed askance by authority. Gladstone.

A*skance", v. t. To turn aside. [Poet.]

O, how are they wrapped in with infamies That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes! Shak.

Ask"er, n. One who asks; a petitioner; an inquirer. Shak.

Ask"er, n. [A corruption of AS. a&?;exe lizard, newt.] (Zoöl.) An ask; a water newt. [Local Eng.]

A*skew", adv. & a. [Pref. a- + skew.] Awry; askance; asquint; oblique or obliquely; -- sometimes indicating scorn, or contempt, or entry. Spenser.

Ask"ing, n. 1. The act of inquiring or requesting; a petition; solicitation. Longfellow.

2. The publishing of banns.

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A*slake" (*slk"), v. t. & i. [AS. slacian, slacian, to slacken. Cf. Slake.] To mitigate; to moderate; to appease; to abate; to diminish. [Archaic] Chaucer.

A*slant" (&?;), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + slant.] Toward one side; in a slanting direction; obliquely.

[The shaft] drove through his neck aslant. Dryden.

A*slant", prep. In a slanting direction over; athwart.

There is a willow grows aslant a brook. Shak.

A*sleep", a. & adv. [Pref. a- + sleep.] 1. In a state of sleep; in sleep; dormant.

Fast asleep the giant lay supine. Dryden.

By whispering winds soon lulled asleep. Milton.

2. In the sleep of the grave; dead.

Concerning them which are asleep . . . sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thess. iv. 13.

3. Numbed, and, usually, tingling. Udall.

Leaning long upon any part maketh it numb, and, as we call it, asleep. Bacon.

A*slope" (&?;), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + slope.] Slopingly; aslant; declining from an upright direction; sloping. "Set them not upright, but aslope." Bacon.

A*slug" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + slug to move slowly.] Sluggishly. [Obs.] Fotherby.

A*smear" (&?;), a. [Pref. a- + smear.] Smeared over. Dickens.

As`mo*ne"an (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to the patriotic Jewish family to which the Maccabees belonged; Maccabean; as, the Asmonean dynasty. [Written also Asmonæan.]

As`mo*ne"an, n. One of the Asmonean family. The Asmoneans were leaders and rulers of the Jews from 168 to 35 b. c.

A*soak" (&?;), a. [Pref. a- + soak.] Soaking.

A*so"ma*tous (&?;), a. [L. asomatus, Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; body.] Without a material body; incorporeal. Todd.

As"o*nant (&?;), a. [Pref. a- not + sonant.] Not sounding or sounded. [R.] C. C. Felton.

Asp (&?;), n. (Bot.) Same as Aspen. "Trembling poplar or asp." Martyn.

Asp (sp), n. [L. aspis, fr. Gr. 'aspi`s: cf. OF. aspe, F. aspic.] (Zoöl.) A small, hooded, poisonous serpent of Egypt and adjacent countries, whose bite is often fatal. It is the Naja haje. The name is also applied to other poisonous serpents, esp. to Vipera aspis of southern Europe. See Haje.

||As*pal"a*thus (&?;), n. [L. aspalathus, Gr. &?;.] (Bot.) (a) A thorny shrub yielding a fragrant oil. Ecclus. xxiv. 15. (b) A genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosæ. The species are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope.

As*par"a*gine (&?;), n. [Cf. F. asparagine.] (Chem.) A white, nitrogenous, crystallizable substance, C4H8N2O3+H2O, found in many plants, and first obtained from asparagus. It is believed to aid in the disposition of nitrogenous matter throughout the plant; -- called also altheine.

As`pa*rag"i*nous (&?;), a. Pertaining or allied to, or resembling, asparagus; having shoots which are eaten like asparagus; as, asparaginous vegetables.

As*par"a*gus (&?;), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;; cf. &?; to swell with sap or juice, and Zend &?;paregha prong, sprout, Pers. asparag, Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. Sparrowgrass.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceæ, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens.

2. The young and tender shoots of A. officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of food.

This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people.

Asparagus beetle (Zoöl.), a small beetle (Crioceris asparagi) injurious to asparagus.

As*par"tic (&?;), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived, asparagine; as, aspartic acid.

As"pect (&?;), n. [L. aspectus, fr. aspicere, aspectum, to look at; ad + spicere, specere, to look, akin to E. spy.] 1. The act of looking; vision; gaze; glance. [R.] "The basilisk killeth by aspect." Bacon.

His aspect was bent on the ground. Sir W. Scott.

2. Look, or particular appearance of the face; countenance; mien; air. "Serious in aspect." Dryden.

[Craggs] with aspect open shall erect his head. Pope.

3. Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view. "The aspect of affairs." Macaulay.

The true aspect of a world lying in its rubbish. T. Burnet.

4. Position or situation with regard to seeing; that position which enables one to look in a particular direction; position in relation to the points of the compass; as, a house has a southern aspect, that is, a position which faces the south.

5. Prospect; outlook. [Obs.]

This town affords a good aspect toward the hill from whence we descended. Evelyn.

6. (Astrol.) The situation of planets or stars with respect to one another, or the angle formed by the rays of light proceeding from them and meeting at the eye; the joint look of planets or stars upon each other or upon the earth. Milton.