Chapter 43

Shall by him be amerced with penance due. Spenser. AÏmerce¶aÏble (?), a. Liable to be amerced. AÏmerce¶ment (?), n. [OF. amerciment.] The infliction of a penalty at the discretion of the court; also, a mulct or penalty thus imposed. It differs from a fine,in that the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and certain sum prescribed by statue for an offense; but an amercement is arbitrary. Hence, the act or practice of affeering. [See Affeer.] Blackstone. µ This word, in old books, is written amerciament. ÷ royal, a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanor in his office. Jacobs. AÏmer¶cer (?), n. One who amerces. AÏmer¶ciaÏment (?), n. [LL. amerciamentum.] Same as Amercement. Mozley & W. AÏmer¶iÏcan (?), a. [Named from Ameri?us Vespucius.] 1. Of or pertaining to America; as, the American continent: American Indians. 2. Of or pertaining to the United States. ½A young officer of the American navy.¸ Lyell. ÷ ivy. See Virginia creeper. Ð ÷ Party (U. S. Politics), a party, about 1854, which opposed the influence of foreignÐborn citizens, and those supposed to owe allegiance to a foreign power. Ð Native ~ Party (U. S. Politics), a party of principles similar to those of the ÷ party. It arose about 1843, but soon died out. AÏmer¶iÏcan (?), n. A native of America; Ð originally applied to the aboriginal inhabitants, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America, and especially to the citizens of the United States. The name American must always exalt the pride of patriotism. Washington. AÏmer¶iÏcanÏism (?), n. 1. Attachment to the United States. 2. A custom peculiar to the United States or to America; an American characteristic or idea. 3. A word or phrase peculiar to the United States. AÏmer·iÏcanÏiÏza¶tion (?), n. The process of Americanizing. AÏmer¶iÏcanÏize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Americanizer (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Americanizing.] To render American; to assimilate to the Americans in customs, ideas, etc.; to stamp with American characteristics. Ames¶Ðace (?), n. Same as AmbsÐace. Am¶ess (?), n. (Eccl.) Amice, a hood or cape. See 2d Amice. Ø Am·eÏtab¶oÏla (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zo”l.) A group of insects which do not undergo any metamorphosis. [Written also Ametabolia.] AÏmet·aÏbo¶liÏan (?), a. [Gr. ? unchangeable; ? priv. + ? changeable, ? to change.] (Zo”l.) Of or pertaining to insects that do undergo any metamorphosis. { AÏme·aÏbol¶ic (?), Am·eÏtab¶oÏlous, } a. (Zo”l.) Not undergoing any metamorphosis; as, ametabolic insects. AÏmeth¶oÏdist (?), n. [Pref. aÏ not + methodist.] One without method; a quack. [Obs.] Am¶eÏthyst (?), [F. ametiste, amatiste, F. am‚thyste, L. amethystus, fr. Gr. ? without drunkenness; as a noun, a remedy for drunkenness, the amethyst, supposed to have this power; ? priv. + ? to be drunken, ? strong drink, wine. See Mead.] 1. (Min.) A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish violet color, of different shades. It is much used as a jeweler's stone. Oriental ~, the violetÐblue variety of transparent crystallized corundum or sapphire. 2. (Her.) A purple color in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat of arms. Am·eÏthys¶tine (?), a. [L. amethystinus, Gr. ?.] 1. Resembling amethyst, especially in color; bluish violet. 2. Composed of, or containing, amethyst. Ø Am·eÏtro¶piÏa (?), n. [Gr. ? irregular + ?, ?, eye.] (Med.) Any abnormal condition of the refracting powers of the eye. Ð Am·eÏtrop¶ic (?), a. AmÏhar¶ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to Amhara, a division of Abyssinia; as, the Amharic language is closely allied to the Ethiopic. Ð n. The Amharic language (now the chief language of Abyssinia). Ø Am¶iÏa (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. ? a kind of tunny.] (Zo”l.) A genus of freshÐwater ganoid fishes, exclusively confined to North America; called bowfin in Lake Champlain, dogfish in Lake Erie, and mudfish in South Carolina, etc. See Bowfin. A·miÏaÏbil¶iÏty (?), n. The quality of being amiable; amiableness; sweetness of disposition. Every excellency is a degree of amiability. Jer. Taylor. A¶miÏaÏble (?), a. [F. amiable, L. amicabilis friendly, fr. amicus friend, fr. amare to love. The meaning has been influenced by F. aimable, L. amabilis lovable, fr. amare to love. Cf. Amicable, Amorous, Amability.] 1. Lovable; lovely; pleasing. [Obs. or R.] So amiable a prospect. Sir T. Herbert. 2. Friendly; kindly; sweet; gracious; as, an amiable temper or mood; amiable ideas. 3. Possessing sweetness of disposition; having sweetness of temper, kindÐheartedness, etc., which causes one to be liked; as, an amiable woman. 4. Done out of love. [Obs.] Lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife. Shak. A·miÏaÏbleÏness, n. The quality of being amiable; amiability. A¶miÏaÏbly, adv. In an amiable manner. Am¶iÏanth (?), n. See Amianthus. [Poetic] Am·iÏan¶thiÏform (?), a. [Amianthus + Ïform.] Resembling amianthus in form. Am·iÏan¶thoid (?), a. [Amianthus + Ïoid: cf. F. amianto‹de.] Resembling amianthus. Am·iÏan¶thus (?), n. [L. amiantus, Gr. ? ? (lit., unsoiled stone) a greenish stone, like asbestus; ? priv. + ? to stain, to defile; so called from its incombustibility.] (Min.) Earth flax, or mountain flax; a soft silky variety of asbestus. Am¶ic (?), a. [L. ammonia + Ïic.] (Chem.) Related to, or derived, ammonia; Ð used chiefly as a suffix; as, amic acid; phosphamic acid. ÷ acid (Chem.), one of a class of nitrogenized acids somewhat resembling amides. Am·iÏcaÏbil¶iÏty (?), n. The quality of being amicable; friendliness; amicableness. Ash. Am¶iÏcaÏble (?), a. [L. amicabilis, fr. amicus friend, fr. amare to love. See Amiable.] Friendly; proceeding from, or exhibiting, friendliness; after the manner of friends; peaceable; as, an amicable disposition, or arrangement. That which was most remarkable in this contest was... the amicable manner in which it was managed. Prideoux. ÷ action (Law.), an action commenced and prosecuted by ~ consent of the parties, for the purpose of obtaining a decision of the court on some matter of law involved in it. Bouvier. Burrill. Ð ÷ numbers (Math.), two numbers, each of which is equal to the sum of all the aliquot parts of the other. Syn. - Friendly; peaceable; kind; harmonious. Ð Amicable, Friendly. Neither of these words denotes any great warmth of affection, since friendly has by no means the same strength as its noun friendship. It does, however, imply something of real cordiality; while amicable supposes very little more than that the parties referred to are not disposed to quarrel. Hence, we speak of amicable relations between two countries, an amicable adjustment of difficulties. ½Those who entertain friendly feelings toward each other can live amicably together.¸ Am¶iÏcaÏbleÏness (?), n. The quality of being amicable; amicability. Am¶iÏcaÏbly, adv. In an amicable manner. Am¶ice (?), n. [OE. amyse, prob. for amyt, OF. amit, ameit, fr. L. amictus cloak, the word being confused with amice, almuce, a hood or cape. See next word.] A square of white linen worn at first on the head, but now about the neck and shoulders, by priests of the Roman Catholic Church while saying Mass. µ Examples of the use of the words amice, a square of linen, and amice, amess, or amyss, a hood or cape, show confusion between them from an early date. Am¶ice, n. [OE. amuce, amisse, OF. almuce, aumuce, F. aumusse, LL. almucium, almucia, aumucia: of unknown origin; cf. G. mtze cap, prob. of the same origin. Cf. Mozetta.] (Eccl.) A hood, or cape with a hood, made of lined with gray fur, formerly worn by the clergy; Ð written also amess, amyss, and almuce. AÏmid¶ (?), prep. See Amidst. Am¶ide (?; 277), n. [Ammonia + Ïide.] (Chem.) A compound formed by the union of amidogen with an acid element or radical. It may also be regarded as ammonia in which one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by an acid atom or radical. Acid ~, a neutral compound formed by the substitution of the amido group for hydroxyl in an acid. Am¶iÏdin (?), n. [Cf. F. amidine, fr. amido? starch, fr. L. amylum, Gr. ? fine meal, neut. of ? not ground at the mill, Ð hence, of the finest meal; ? priv. + ?, ?, mill. See Meal.] (Chem.) Start modified by heat so as to become a transparent mass, like horn. It is soluble in cold water. AÏmi¶do (?), a. [From Amide.] (Chem.) Containing, or derived from, amidogen. ÷ acid, an acid in which a portion of the nonacid hydrogen has been replaced by the ~ group. The ~ acids are both basic and acid. Ð ÷ group, amidogen, NH2. AÏmid¶oÏgen (?), n. [Amide + Ïgen.] (Chem.) A compound radical, NH2, not yet obtained in a separate state, which may be regarded as ammonia from the molecule of which one of its hydrogen atoms has been removed; Ð called also the amido group, and in composition represented by the form amido. AÏmid¶ships (?), adv. (Naut.) In the middle of a ship, with regard to her length, and sometimes also her breadth. Totten. { AÏmidst¶ (?) , AÏmid¶ (?), } prep. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a later addition, as in whilst, amongst, alongst. See Mid.] In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. ½This fair tree amidst the garden.¸ ½Unseen amid the throng.¸ ½Amidst thick clouds.¸ Milton. ½Amidst acclamations.¸ ½Amidst the splendor and festivity of a court.¸ Macaulay. But rather famish them amid their plenty. Shak. Syn. Ð Amidst, Among. These words differ to some extent from each other, as will be seen from their etymology. Amidst denotes in the midst or middle of, and hence surrounded by; as, this work was written amidst many interruptions. Among denotes a mingling or intermixing with distinct or separable objects; as, ½He fell among thieves.¸ ½Blessed art thou among women.¸ Hence, we say, among the moderns, among the ancients, among the thickest of trees, among these considerations, among the reasons I have to offer. Amid and amidst are commonly used when the idea of separate or distinguishable objects is not prominent. Hence, we say, they kept on amidst the storm, amidst the gloom, he was sinking amidst the waves, he persevered amidst many difficulties; in none of which cases could among be used. In like manner, Milton speaks of Abdiel, Ð The seraph Abdiel, faithful found; Among the faithless faithful only he, because he was then considered as one of the angels. But when the poet adds, Ð From amidst them forth he passed, we have rather the idea of the angels as a collective body. Those squalid cabins and uncleared woods amidst which he was born. Macaulay. Am¶ine (?; 277), n. [Ammonia + Ïine.] (Chem.) One of a class of strongly basic substances derived from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by a basic atom or radical. Am¶iÏoid (?), a. (Zo”l.) Like or pertaining to the Amioidei. Ð n. One of the Amioidei. Ø Am·iÏoi¶deÏi (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Amia + Ïoid.] (Zo”l.) An order of ganoid fishes of which Amis is type. See Bowfin and Ganoidei. Ø AÏmir¶ (?), n. Same as Ameer. AÏmiss¶ (?), adv. [Pref. aÏ + miss.] Astray; faultily; improperly; wrongly; ill. What error drives our eyes and ears amiss? Shak. Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss. James iv. 3. To take (an act, thing) amiss, to impute a wrong motive to (an act or thing); to take offense at' to take unkindly; as, you must not take these questions amiss.

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AÏmiss¶ (?), a. Wrong; faulty; out of order; improper; as, it may not be amiss to ask advice. [Used only in the predicate.] Dryden. His wisdom and virtue can not always rectify that which is amiss in himself or his circumstances. Wollaston. AÏmiss¶, n. A fault, wrong, or mistake. [Obs.] Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss. Shak. AÏmis·siÏbil¶iÏty (?), [Cf. F. amissibilit‚. See Amit.] The quality of being amissible; possibility of being lost. [R.] Notions of popular rights and the amissibility of sovereign power for misconduct were alternately broached by the two great religious parties of Europe. Hallam. AÏmis¶siÏble (?), a. [L. amissibilis: cf. F. amissible.] Liable to be lost. [R.] AÏmis¶sion (?), n. [L. amissio: cf. F. amission.] Deprivation; loss. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne. AÏmit¶ (?), v. t. [L. amittere, amissum, to lose; a (ab) + mittere to send. See Missile.] To lose. [Obs.] A lodestone fired doth presently amit its proper virtue. Sir T. Browne. Am¶iÏty (?), n.; pl. Amities (?). [F. amiti‚, OF. amisti‚, amist‚, fr. an assumed LL. amisitas, fr. L. amicus friendly, from amare to love. See Amiable.] Friendship, in a general sense, between individuals, societies, or nations; friendly relations; good understanding; as, a treaty of amity and commerce; the amity of the Whigs and Tories. To live on terms of amity with vice. Cowper. Syn. - Harmony; friendliness; friendship; affection; good will; peace. Ø Am¶ma (?), n. [LL. amma, prob. of interjectional or imitative origin: cf. Sp. ama, G. amme, nurse, Basque ama mother, Heb. ?m, Ar. immun, ummun.] An abbes or spiritual mother. Am¶meÏter (?), n. (Physics) A contraction of amperometer or ampŠremeter. Am¶miÏral (?), n. An obsolete form of admiral. ½The mast of some great ammiral.¸ Milton. Am¶mite (?), n. [Gr. ?, ?, sandstone, fr. ? or ? sand.] (Geol.) O”lite or roestone; Ð written also hammite. [Obs.] Am¶moÏdyte (?), n. [L. ammodytes, Gr. ? sand burrower, a kind of serpent; ? sand + ? diver, ? to dive.] (Zo”l.) (a) One of a genus of fishes; the sand eel. (b) A kind of viper in southern Europe. [Obs.] AmÏmo¶niÏa (?), n. [From sal ammoniac, which was first obtaining near the temple of Jupiter Ammon, by burning camel's dung. See Ammoniac.] (Chem.) A gaseous compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, NH3, with a pungent smell and taste: Ð often called volatile alkali, and spirits of hartshorn. { AmÏmo¶niÏac (?), Am·moÏni¶aÏcal (?), } a. Of or pertaining to ammonia, or possessing its properties; as, an ammoniac salt; ammoniacal gas. Ammoniacal engine, an engine in which the vapor of ammonia is used as the motive force. Ð Sal ammoniac [L. sal ammoniacus], the salt usually called chloride of ammonium, and formerly muriate of ammonia. AmÏmo¶niÏac (or Gum· amÏmo¶niÏac), n. [L. Ammoniacum, Gr. ? a resinous gum, said to distill from a tree near the temple of Jupiter Ammon; cf. F. ammoniac. See Ammonite.] (Med.) The concrete juice (gum resin) of an umbelliferous plant, the Dorema ammoniacum. It is brought chiefly from Persia in the form of yellowish tears, which occur singly, or are aggregated into masses. It has a peculiar smell, and a nauseous, sweet taste, followed by a bitter one. It is inflammable, partially soluble in water and in spirit of wine, and is used in medicine as an expectorant and resolvent, and for the formation of certain plasters. AmÏmo¶niÏa·ted (?), a. (Chem.) Combined or impregnated with ammonia. AmÏmo¶nic (?), a. Of or pertaining to ammonia. Am¶monÏite (?), n. [L. cornu Ammonis born of Ammon; L. Ammon, Gr. ? an appellation of Jupiter, as represented with the horns of a ram. It was originally the name of an. Egyptian god, Amun.] (Paleon.) A fossil cephalopod shell related to the nautilus. There are many genera and species, and all are extinct, the typical forms having existed only in the Mesozoic age, when they were exceedingly numerous. They differ from the nautili in having the margins of the septa very much lobed or plaited, and the siphuncle dorsal. Also called serpent stone, snake stone, and cornu Ammonis. Am·monÏiÏtif¶erÏous (?), a. [Ammonite + Ïferous.] Containing fossil ammonites. Ø AmÏmon·iÏtoid¶eÏa (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Ammonite + Ïoid.] (Zo”l.) An extensive group of fossil cephalopods often very abundant in Mesozoic rocks. See Ammonite. AmÏmo¶niÏum (?), n. [See Ammonia.] (Chem.) A compound radical, NH4, having the chemical relations of a strongly basic element like the alkali metals. Am·muÏni¶tion (?), n. [F. amunition, for munition, prob. caused by taking la munition as l'amunition. See Munition.] 1. Military stores, or provisions of all kinds for attack or defense. [Obs.] 2. Articles used in charging firearms and ordnance of all kinds; as powder, balls, shot, shells, percussion caps, rockets, etc. 3. Any stock of missiles, literal or figurative. ÷ bread, shoes, etc., such as are contracted for by government, and supplied to the soldiers. [Eng.] Am·muÏni¶tion (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ammunitioned (?); p pr. & vb. n. Ammunitioning.] To provide with ammunition. Ø AmÏne¶siÏa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?; ? priv. + ? to remember.] (Med.) Forgetfulness; also, a defect of speech, from cerebral disease, in which the patient substitutes wrong words or names in the place of those he wishes to employ. Quian. AmÏne¶sic (?), a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to amnesia. ½Amnesic or co”rdinate defects.¸ Quian. AmÏnes¶tic (?), a. Causing loss of memory. Am¶nesÏty (?), n. [L. amnestia, Gr. ?, a forgetting, fr. ? forgotten, forgetful; ? priv. + ? to remember: cf. F. amnistie, earlier amnestie. See Mean, v.] 1. Forgetfulness; cessation of remembrance of wrong; oblivion. 2. An act of the sovereign power granting oblivion, or a general pardon, for a past offense, as to subjects concerned in an insurrection. Am¶nesÏty, v. t. [imp. p. p. Amnestied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Amnestying.] To grant ~ to. AmÏnic¶oÏlist (?), n. [L. amnicola, amnis a river + colere to dwell.] One who lives near a river. [Obs.] Bailey. AmÏnig¶eÏnous (?), a. [L. amnigena; amnis a river + root gen of gignere to beget.] Born or bred in, of, or near a river. [Obs.] Bailey. Am¶niÏon (?), n. [Gr. ? the membrane round the fetus, dim. of ? lamb.] (Anat.) A thin membrane surrounding the embryos of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Am¶niÏos (?), n. Same as Amnion. Ø Am·niÏo¶ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Amnion.] (Zo”l.) That group of vertebrates which develops in its embryonic life the envelope called the amnion. It comprises the reptiles, the birds, and the mammals. Am·niÏot¶ic (?), a. [Cf. F. amniotique.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the amnion; characterized by an amnion; as, the amniotic fluid; the amniotic sac. ÷ acid. (Chem.) [R.] See Allantoin. AÏm?¶ba (?), n; pl. L. Am?b‘ (?); E. Am?bas (?). [NL., fr. Gr. ? change.] (Zo”l.) A rhizopod. common in fresh water, capable of undergoing many changes of form at will. See Rhizopoda. Ø Am·?Ïb‘¶um (?), n. [L. amoebaeus, Gr. ?, alternate; L. amoebaeum carmen, Gr. ? ?, a responsive song, fr. ? change.] A poem in which persons are represented at speaking alternately; as the third and seventh eclogues of Virgil. Ø Am·?Ïbe¶a (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zo”l.) That division of the Rhizopoda which includes the am?ba and similar forms. Am·?Ïbe¶an (?), a. Alternately answering. AÏm?¶biÏan (?), n. (Zo”l.) One of the Am?bea. { AÏm?¶biÏform (?), AÏm?¶boid (?), } a. [Am?ba + Ïform or Ïoid.] (Biol.) Resembling an am?ba; am?baÐshaped; changing in shape like an am?ba. ÷ movement, movement produced, as in the am?ba, by successive processes of prolongation and retraction. AÏm?¶bous (?), a. Like an am?ba in structure. Am·oÏli¶tion (?), n. [L. amolitio, fr. amoliri to remove; a (ab) + moliri to put in motion.] Removal; a putting away. [Obs.] Bp. Ward (1673). Ø AÏmo¶mum (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. ? an Indian spice plant.] (Bot.) A genus of aromatic plants. It includes species which bear cardamoms, and grains of paradise. AÏmon¶este (?), v. t. To admonish. [Obs.] { AÏmong¶ (?), AÏmongst¶ (?), } prep. [OE. amongist, amonges, amonge, among, AS. onmang, ongemang, gemang, in a crowd or mixture. For the ending Ïst see Amidst. See Mingle.] 1. Mixed or mingled; surrounded by. They heard, And from his presence hid themselves among The thickest trees. Milton.