Chapter 42

AmÏbi¶tiousÏness (?), n. The quality of being ambitious; ambition; pretentiousness. Ø Am¶biÏtus (?), n. [L. See Ambit, Ambition.] 1. The exterior edge or border of a thing, as the border of a leaf, or the outline of a bivalve shell. 2. (Rom. Antiq.) A canvassing for votes. Am¶ble (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ambled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ambling (?).] [F. ambler to amble, fr. L. ambulare to walk, in LL., to amble, perh. fr. ambÏ, ambiÏ, and a root meaning to go: cf. Gr. ? to go, E. base. Cf. Ambulate.] 1. To go at the easy gait called an ~; Ð applied to the horse or to its rider. 2. To move somewhat like an ambling horse; to go easily or without hard shocks. The skipping king, he ambled up and down. Shak. Sir, your wit ambles well; it goes easily. Shak. Am¶ble, n. 1. A peculiar gait of a horse, in which both legs on the same side are moved at the same time, alternating with the legs on the other side. ½A fine easy amble.¸ B. Jonson. 2. A movement like the ~ of a horse. Am¶bler (?), n. A horse or a person that ambles. Am¶blingÏly, adv. With an ambling gait. AmÏblot¶ic (?), a. [Gr. ?, ?, fr. ? an abortion.] Tending to cause abortion. Am¶blyÏgon (?), n. [Gr. ? obtuse + ? angle: cf. F. amblygone.] (Geom.) An obtuseÐangled figure, esp. and obtuseÐangled triangle. [Obs.] AmÏblyg¶oÏnal (?), a. ObtuseÐangled. [Obs.] Hutton. { Ø Am·blyÏo¶piÏa (?), Am¶blyÏo·py (?), } n. [Gr. ?; ? blunt, dim + ? eye: cf. F. amblyopie.] (Med.) Weakness of sight, without and opacity of the cornea, or of the interior of the eye; the first degree of amaurosis. Am¶blyÏop¶ic (?), a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to amblyopy. Quain. Ø AmÏblyp¶oÏda (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ? blunt + ?, ?, foot.] (Paleon.) A group of large, extinct, herbivorous mammals, common in the Tertiary formation of the United States. Ø Am¶bo (?), n.; pl. Ambos (?). [LL. ambo, Gr. ?, any rising, a raised stage, pulpit: cf. F. ambon.] A large pulpit or reading desk, in the early Christian churches. Gwilt. Ø Am¶bon (?), n. Same as Ambo. AmÏboy¶na wood (?). A beautiful mottled and curled wood, used in cabinetwork. It is obtained from the Pterocarpus Indicus of Amboyna, Borneo, etc. Am¶breÏate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt formed by the combination of ambreic acid with a base or positive radical. AmÏbre¶ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to ambrein; Ð said of a certain acid produced by digesting ambrein in nitric acid. Am¶breÏin (?), n. [Cf. F. ambr‚ine. See Amber.] (Chem.) A fragrant substance which is the chief constituent of ambergris. Am¶brite (?), n. [From amber.] A fossil resin occurring in large masses in New Zealand. Am¶brose (?), n. A sweetÏscented herb; ambrosia. See Ambrosia, 3. Turner. AmÏbro¶sia (?; 277), n. [L. ambrosia, Gr. ?, properly fem. of ?, fr. ? immortal, divine; ? priv. + ? mortal (because it was supposed to confer immortality on those who partook of it). ? stands for ?, akin to Skr. mrita, L. mortuus, dead, and to E. mortal.] 1. (Myth.) (a) The fabled food of the gods (as nectar was their drink), which conferred immortality upon those who partook of it. (b) An unguent of the gods,. His dewy locks distilled ambrosia. Milton. 2. A perfumed unguent, salve, or draught; something very pleasing to the taste or smell. Spenser. 3.ÿFormerly, a kind of fragrant plant; now (Bot.), a genus of plants, including some coarse and worthless weeds, called ragweed, hogweed, etc. Am¶bro¶siÏac (?), a. [L. ambrosiacus: cf. F. ambrosiaque.] Having the qualities of ambrosia; delicious. [R.]½Ambrosiac odors.¸ B. Jonson. AmÏbro¶sial (?), a. [L. ambrosius, Gr. ?.] 1. Consisting of, or partaking of the nature of, ambrosia; delighting the taste or smell; delicious. ½Ambrosial food.¸ ½Ambrosial fragrance.¸ Milton. 2. Divinely excellent or beautiful. ½Shakes his ambrosial curls.¸ Pope. AmÏbro¶sialÏly, adv. After the manner of ambrosia; delightfully. ½Smelt ambrosially.¸ Tennyson. AmÏbro¶sian (?), a. Ambrosial. [R.] . Jonson. AmÏbro¶sian, a. Of or pertaining to St. Ambrose; as, the Ambrosian office, or ritual, a formula of worship in the church of Milan, instituted by St. Ambrose. ÷ chant, the mode of signing or chanting introduced by St. Ambrose in the 4th century. Am¶broÏsin (?), n. [LL. Ambrosinus nummus.] An early coin struck by the dukes of Milan, and bearing the figure of St. Ambrose on horseback. Am¶broÏtype (?), n. [Gr. ? immortal + Ïtype.] (Photog.) A picture taken on a place of prepared glass, in which the lights are represented in silver, and the shades are produced by a dark background visible through the unsilvered portions of the glass. Am¶bry (?), n.; pl. Ambries (?). [OE. aumbry, almery, OF. almarie, armarie, aumaire, F. armoire, LL. armarium chest, cupboard, orig. a repository for arms, fr. L. arama arms. The word has been confused with almonry. See Armory.] 1. In churches, a kind of closet, niche, cupboard, or locker for utensils, vestments, etc. 2. A store closet, as a pantry, cupboard, etc. 3. Almonry. [Improperly so used] Ambs¶Ðace (?), n. [OF. ambesas; ambes both (fr. L. ambo) + as ace. See Ace.] Double aces, the lowest throw of all at dice. Hence: Bad luck; anything of no account or value. Am·buÏla¶cral (?), a. (Zo”l.) Of or pertaining to ambulacra; avenuelike; as, the ambulacral ossicles, plates, spines, and suckers of echinoderms. Am·buÏla¶criÏform (?), a. [Ambulacrum + Ïform.] (Zo”l.)ÿHaving the form of ambulacra. Ø Am·buÏla¶crum (?), n. pl; pl. Ambulacra (?). [L., an alley or covered way.] (Zo”l.) (a) One of the radical zones of echinoderms, along which run the principal nerves, blood vessels, and water tubes. These zones usually bear rows of locomotive suckers or tentacles, which protrude from regular pores. In star fishes they occupy the grooves along the under side of the rays. (b) One of the suckers on the feet of mites. Am¶buÏlance (?), n. [F. ambulance, h“pital ambulant, fr. L. ambulare to walk. See Amble.] (Mil.) (a) A field hospital, so organized as to follow an army in its movements, and intended to succor the wounded as soon as possible. Often used adjectively; as, an ambulance wagon; ambulance stretcher; ambulance corps. (b) An ~ wagon or cart for conveying the wounded from the field, or to a hospital. Am¶buÏlant (?), a. [L. ambulans, p. pr. of ambulare to walk: cf. F. ambulant.] Walking; moving from place to place. Gayton. Am¶buÏlate (?), v. i. [L. ambulare to walk. See Amble.] To walk; to move about. [R.] Southey. Am·buÏla¶tion (?), n. [L. ambulatio.] The act of walking. Sir T. Browne. Am¶buÏlaÏtive (?), a. Walking. [R.] Am¶buÏla·tor (?), n. 1. One who walks about; a walker. 2. (Zo”l.) (a) A beetle of the genus Lamia. (b) A genus of birds, or one of this genus. 3. An instrument for measuring distances; Ð called also perambulator. Knight. Am·buÏlaÏto¶riÏal (?), a. Ambulatory; fitted for walking. Verrill. Am¶buÏlaÏtoÏry (?), a. [L. ambulatorius.] 1. Of or pertaining to walking; having the faculty of walking; formed or fitted for walking; as, an ambulatory animal. 2. Accustomed to move from place to place; not stationary; movable; as, an ambulatory court, which exercises its jurisdiction in different places. The priesthood... before was very ambulatory, and dispersed into all families. Jer. Taylor. 3. Pertaining to a walk. [R.] The princess of whom his majesty had an ambulatory view in his travels. Sir H. Wotton. 4. (Law) Not yet fixed legally, or settled past alteration; alterable; as, the dispositions of a will are ambulatory until the death of the testator. Am¶buÏlaÏtoÏry, n.; pl. Ambulatories (?). [Cf. LL. ambulatorium.] (Arch.) A place to walk in, whether in the open air, as the gallery of a cloister, or within a building. Am¶burÏry (?), n. Same as Anbury. Am·busÏcade¶ (?), n. [F. embuscade, fr. It. imboscata, or Sp. emboscada, fr. emboscar to ambush, fr. LL. imboscare. See Ambush, v. t.] 1. A lying in a wood, concealed, for the purpose of attacking an enemy by surprise. Hence: A lying in wait, and concealed in any situation, for a like purpose; a snare laid for an enemy; an ambush. 2. A place in which troops lie hid, to attack an enemy unexpectedly. [R.] Dryden. 3. (Mil.) The body of troops lying in ambush. Am·busÏcade¶, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ambuscaded (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ambuscading (?).] 1. To post or conceal in ambush; to ambush. 2. To lie in wait for, or to attack from a covert or lurking place; to waylay. Am·busÏcade¶, v. i. To lie in ambush. Am·busÏca¶do (?), n. Ambuscade. [Obs.] Shak. Am·busÏca¶doed (?), p. p. Posted in ambush; ambuscaded. [Obs.] Am¶bush (?), n. [F. emb–che, fr. the verb. See Ambush, v. t.] 1. A disposition or arrangement of troops for attacking an enemy unexpectedly from a concealed station. Hence: Unseen peril; a device to entrap; a snare. Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege Or ambush from the deep. Milton. 2. A concealed station, where troops or enemies lie in wait to attack by surprise. Bold in close ambush, base in open field. Dryden. 3. The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; liers in wait. [Obs.] The ambush arose quickly out of their place. Josh. viii. 19. To lay an ~, to post a force in ~. Am¶bush (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ambushed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ambushing.] [OE. enbussen, enbushen, OF. embushier, embuissier, F. emb–cher, embusquer, fr. LL. imboscare; in + LL. boscus, buscus, a wood; akin to G. bush, E. bush. See Ambuscade, Bu?h.] 1. To station in ~ with a view to surprise an enemy. By ambushed men behind their temple ?ai?, We have the king of Mexico betrayed. Dryden. 2. To attack by ~; to waylay. Am¶bush, v. i. To lie in wait, for the purpose of attacking by surprise; to lurk. Nor saw the snake that ambushed for his prey. Trumbull. Am¶bushÏer (?), n. One lying in ~. Am¶bushÏment (?), n. [OF. embuschement. See Ambush, v. t.] An ~. [Obs.] 2 Chron. xiii. 13. AmÏbus¶tion (?; 106), n. [L. ambustio.] (Med.) A burn or scald. Blount. Am·eÏbe¶an (?), a. (Zo”l.) See Am?bean. AÏmeer¶, AÏmir¶ (?), n. [See Emir.] 1. Emir. [Obs.] 2. One of the Mohammedan nobility of Afghanistan and Scinde. Am¶el (?), n. [OE. amell, OF. esmail, F. ‚mail, of German origin; cf. OHG. smelzi, G. schmelz. See Smelt, v. t.] Enamel. [Obs.] Boyle. Am¶el, v. t. [OE. amellen, OF. esmailler, F. ‚mailler, OF. esmail, F. ‚mail.] To enamel. [Obs.] Enlightened all with stars, And richly ameled. Chapman. Am¶elÏcorn· (?), n. [Ger. amelkorn: cf. MHG. amel, amer, spelt, and L. amylum starch, Gr. ?.] A variety of wheat from which starch is produced; Ð called also French rice. AÏmel¶ioÏraÏble (?), a. Capable of being ameliorated. AÏmel¶ioÏrate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ameliorated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ameliorating.] [L. ad + meliorare to make better: cf. F. am‚liorer. See Meliorate.] To make better; to improve; to meliorate. In every human being there is a wish to ameliorate his own condition. Macaulay. AÏmel¶ioÏrate, v. i. To grow better; to ~; as, wine ameliorates by age. AÏmel·ioÏra¶tion (?), n. [Cf. F. am‚lioration.] The act of ameliorating, or the state of being ameliorated; making or becoming better; improvement; melioration. ½Amelioration of human affairs.¸ J. S. Mill. AÏmel¶ioÏraÏtive (?), a. Tending to ameliorate; producing amelioration or improvement; as, ameliorative remedies, efforts. AÏmel¶ioÏra·tor (?), n. One who ameliorates. A·men¶ (?; 277), interj., adv., & n. [L. amen, Gr. ?, Heb. ¾m?n certainly, truly.] An expression used at the end of prayers, and meaning, So be it. At the end of a creed, it is a solemn asseveration of belief. When it introduces a declaration, it is equivalent to truly, verily. It is used as a noun, to demote: (a) concurrence in belief, or in a statement; assent; (b) the final word or act; (c) Christ as being one who is true and faithful. And let all the people say, Amen. Ps. cvi. 48. Amen, amen, I say to thee, except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of Gods. John ii. 3. Rhemish Trans. To say ÷ to, to approve warmly; to concur in heartily or emphatically; to ratify; as, I say Amen to all. A·men¶, v. t. To say ÷ to; to sanction fully. AÏmen·naÏbil¶iÏty (?), n. The quality of being amenable; amenableness. Coleridge. AÏme¶naÏble (?), a. [F. amener to lead; ? (L. ad) = mener to lead, fr. L. minare to drive animals (properly by threatening cries), in LL. to lead; L. minari, to threaten, minae threats. See Menace.] 1. (Old Law) Easy to be led; governable, as a woman by her husband. [Obs.] Jacob. 2. Liable to be brought to account or punishment; answerable; responsible; accountable; as, amenable to law. Nor is man too diminutive... to be amenable to the divine government. I. Taylor. 3. Liable to punishment, a charge, a claim, etc. 4. Willing to yield or submit; responsive; tractable. Sterling... always was amenable enough to counsel. Carlyle. AÏme¶naÏbleÏness, n. The quality or state of being amenable; liability to answer charges; answerableness. AÏme¶naÏbly, adv. In an amenable manner. Am¶eeÏnage (?), v. t. [OF. amesnagier. See Manage.] To manage. [Obs.] Spenser. Am¶eÏnance (?), n. [OF. See Amenable.] Behavior; bearing. [Obs.] Spenser. AÏmend¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amended; p. pr. & vb. n. Amending.] [F. amender, L. emendare; e(ex) + mendum, menda, fault, akin to Skr. minda personal defect. Cf. Emend, Mend.] To change or modify in any way for the better; as, (a) by simply removing what is erroneous, corrupt, superfluous, faulty, and the like; (b) by supplying deficiencies; (c) by substituting something else in the place of what is removed; to rectify. Mar not the thing that can not be amended. Shak. An instant emergency, granting no possibility for revision, or opening for amended thought. De Quincey. We shall cheer her sorrows, and amend her blood, by wedding her to a Norman. Sir W. Scott. To amend a bill, to make some change in the details or provisions of a bill or measure while on its passage, professedly for its improvement. Syn. - To Amend, Emend, Correct, Reform, Rectify. These words agree in the idea of bringing things into a more perfect state. We correct (literally, make

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straight) when we conform things to some standard or rule; as, to correct proof sheets. We amend by removing blemishes, faults, or errors, and thus rendering a thing more a nearly perfect; as, to amend our ways, to amend a text, the draft of a bill, etc. Emend is only another form of amend, and is applied chiefly to editions of books, etc. To reform is literally to form over again, or put into a new and better form; as, to reform one's life. To rectify is to make right; as, to rectify a mistake, to rectify abuses, inadvertencies, etc. AÏmend¶ (?), v. i. To grow better by rectifying something wrong in manners or morals; to improve. ½My fortune... amends.¸ Sir P. Sidney. AÏmend¶aÏble (?), a. Capable of being amended; as, an amendable writ or error. Ð AÏmend¶aÏbleÏness, n. AÏmend¶aÏtoÏry (?), a. Supplying amendment; corrective; emendatory. Bancroft. Ø A·mende¶ (?), n. [F. See Amend.] A pecuniary punishment or fine; a reparation or recantation. ÷ honorable (?). (Old French Law) A species of infamous punishment in which the offender, being led into court with a rope about his neck, and a lighted torch in his hand, begged pardon of his God, the court, etc. In popular language, the phrase now denotes a public apology or recantation, and reparation to an injured party, for improper language or treatment. AÏmend¶er (?), n. One who amends. AÏmend¶ful (?), a. Much improving. [Obs.] AÏmend¶ment (?), n. [F. amendement, LL. amendamentum.] 1. An alteration or change for the better; correction of a fault or of faults; reformation of life by quitting vices. 2. In public bodies; Any alternation made or proposed to be made in a bill or motion by adding, changing, substituting, or omitting. 3. (Law) Correction of an error in a writ or process. Syn. - Improvement; reformation; emendation. AÏmends¶ (?), n. sing. & pl. [F. amendes, pl. of amende. Cf. Amende.] Compensation for a loss or injury; recompense; reparation. [Now const. with sing. verb.] ½An honorable amends.¸ Addison. Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends. Shak. AÏmen¶iÏty (?), n. pl. Amenities (?). [F. am‚nit‚, L. amoenitas, fr. amoenus pleasant.] The quality of being pleasant or agreeable, whether in respect to situation, climate, manners, or disposition; pleasantness; civility; suavity; gentleness. A sweetness and amenity of temper. Buckle. This climate has not seduced by its amenities. W. Howitt. Ø AÏmen·orÏrh?¶a (?), n. [Gr. ? priv. + ? month + ? to flow: cf. F. am‚norrh‚e.] (Med.) Retention or suppression of the menstrual discharge. AÏmen·orÏrh?¶al (?), a. Pertaining to amenorrh?a. Ø A men¶sa et tho¶ro (?). [L., from board and bed.] (Law) A kind of divorce which does not dissolve the marriage bong, but merely authorizes a separate life of the husband and wife. Abbott. Am¶ent (?), n. [L. amentum thong or strap.] (Bot.) A species of inflorescence; a catkin. The globular ament of a buttonwood. Coues. Am·enÏta¶ceous (?), a. [LL. amentaceus.] (Bot.) (a) Resembling, or consisting of, an ament or aments; as, the chestnut has an amentaceous inflorescence. (b) Bearing aments; having flowers arranged in aments; as, amentaceous plants. Ø AÏmen¶tiÏa (?), n. [L.] (Med.) Imbecility; total want of understanding. Am·enÏtif¶erÏous (?), a. [L. amentum + Ïferous.] (Bot.) Bearing catkins. Balfour. AÏmen¶tiÏform (?), a. [L. amentum + Ïform.] (Bot.) Shaped like a catkin. Ø AÏmen¶tum (?), n.; pl. Amenta (?). Same as Ament. Am¶eÏnuse (?), v. t. [OF. amenuisier. See Minute.] To lessen. [Obs.] Chaucer. AÏmerce¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amerced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Amercing.] [OF. amercier, fr. a merci at the mercy of, liable to a punishment. See Mercy.] 1. To punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed by law, but left to the discretion of the court; as, the amerced the criminal in the sum on the hundred dollars. µ The penalty of fine may be expressed without a preposition, or it may be introduced by in, with, or of. 2. To punish, in general; to mulct. Millions of spirits for his fault amerced Of Heaven. Milton.