Chapter 77

As... as. See So... as, under So. Ð As far as, to the extent or degree. ½As far as can be ascertained.¸ Macaulay. Ð As far forth as, as far as. [Obs.] Chaucer. Ð As for, or As to, in regard to; with respect to. Ð As good as, not less than; not falling short of. Ð As good as one's word, faithful to a promise. Ð As if, or As though, of the same kind, or in the same condition or manner, that it would be if. Ð As it were (as it were), a qualifying phrase used to apologize for or to relieve some expression which might be regarded as inappropriate or incongruous; in a manner. Ð As now, just now. [Obs.] Chaucer. Ð As swythe, as quickly as possible. [Obs.] Chaucer. Ð As well, also; too; besides. Addison. Ð As well as, equally with, no less than. ½I have understanding as well as you.¸ Job xii. 3. Ð As yet, until now; up to or at the present time; still; now. As (?), n. [See Ace.] An ace. [Obs.] Chaucer. AmbesÐas, double aces. Ø As (?), n.; pl. Asses (?). [L. as. See Ace.] 1. A Roman weight, answering to the libra or pound, equal to nearly eleven ounces Troy weight. It was divided into twelve ounces. 2. A Roman copper coin, originally of a pound weight (12 oz.); but reduced, after the first Punic war, to two ounces; in the second Punic war, to one ounce; and afterwards to half an ounce. Ø As¶a (?), n. [NL. asa, of oriental origin; cf. Per. az¾ mastic, Ar. as¾ healing, is¾ remedy.] An ancient name of a gum. As·aÏfet¶iÏda, As·aÏf?t¶iÏda } (?), n. [Asa + L. foetidus fetid.] The fetid gum resin or inspissated juice of a large umbelliferous plant (Ferula asaf?tida) of Persia and the East India. It is used in medicine as an antispasmodic. [Written also assaf?tida.] Ø As¶aÏphus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? indistinct, uncertain.] (Paleon.) A genus of trilobites found in the Lower Silurian formation. See Illust. in Append. Ø As·aÏraÏbac¶ca (?), n. [L. asarum + bacca a berry. See Asarone.] (Bot.) An acrid herbaceous plant (Asarum Europ‘um), the leaves and roots of which are emetic and cathartic. It is principally used in cephalic snuffs. As¶aÏrone (?), n. [L. asarum hazelwort, wild spikenard, Gr. ?] (Chem.) A crystallized substance, resembling camphor, obtained from the Asarum Europ‘um; Ð called also camphor of asarum. AsÏbes¶tic (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling asbestus; inconsumable; asbestine. AsÏbes¶tiÏform (?), a. [L. asbestus + Ïform.] Having the form or structure of asbestus. AsÏbes¶tine (?), a. Of or pertaining to asbestus, or partaking of its nature; incombustible; asbestic. AsÏbes¶tous (?), a. Asbestic. AsÏbes¶tus (?), AsÏbes¶tos (?; 277), } n. [L. asbestos (NL. asbestus) a kind of mineral unaffected by fire, Gr. ? (prop. an adj.) inextinguishable; ? priv. + ? to extinguish.] (Min.) A variety of amphibole or of pyroxene, occurring in long and delicate fibers, or in fibrous masses or seams, usually of a white, gray, or greenÐgray color. The name is also given to a similar variety of serpentine. µ The finer varieties have wrought into gloves and cloth which are incombustible. The cloth was formerly used as a shroud for dead bodies, and has been recommended for firemen's clothes. Asbestus in also employed in the manufacture of iron sa?es, for fireproof roofing, and for lampwicks. Some varieties are called amianthus. Dana. Ab¶soÏlin (?), n. [Gr. ? soot.] (Chem.) A peculiar acrid and bitter oil, obtained from wood soot. As¶caÏrid (?), n.; pl. Ascarides (?) or Ascarids. [NL. ascaris, fr. Gr. ?.] (Zo”l.) A parasitic nematoid worm, espec. the roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, often occurring in the human intestine and allied species found in domestic animals; also commonly applied to the pinworm (Oxyuris), often troublesome to children and aged persons. AsÏcend¶ (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ascended; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascending.] [L. ascendere; ad + scandere to climb, mount. See Scan.] 1. To move upward; to mount; to go up; to rise; Ð opposed to descend. Higher yet that star ascends. Bowring. I ascend unto my father and your father. John xx. 17. Formerly used with up. The smoke of it ascended up to heaven. Addison. 2. To rise, in a figurative sense; to proceed from an inferior to a superior degree, from mean to noble objects, from particulars to generals, from modern to ancient times, from one note to another more acute, etc.; as, our inquiries ascend to the remotest antiquity; to ascend to our first progenitor. Syn. - To rise; mount; climb; scale; soar; tower. AsÏcend¶, v. t. To go or move upward upon or along; to climb; to mount; to go up the top of; as, to ascend a hill, a ladder, a tree, a river, a throne. AsÏcend¶aÏble (?), a. Capable of being ascended. AsÏcend¶anÏcy (?), AsÏcend¶ance (?), } n. Same as Ascendency. AsÏcend¶ant (?), n. [F. ascendant, L. ascendens; p. pr. of ascendere.] 1. Ascent; height; elevation. [R.] Sciences that were then in their highest ascendant. Temple. 2. (Astrol.) The horoscope, or that degree of the ecliptic which roses above the horizon at the moment of one's birth; supposed to have a commanding influence on a person's life and fortune. µ Hence the phrases To be in the ~, to have commanding power or influence, and Lord of the ~, one who has possession of such power or influence; as, to rule, for a while, lord of the ascendant. Burke. 3. Superiority, or commanding influence; ascendency; as, one man has the ascendant over another. Chievres had acquired over the mind of the young monarch the ascendant not only of a tutor, but of a parent. Robertson. 4. An ancestor, or one who precedes in genealogy or degrees of kindred; a relative in the ascending line; a progenitor; Ð opposed to descendant. Ayliffe. AsÏcend¶ant (?), AsÏcend¶ent (?), } a. 1. Rising toward the zenith; above the horizon. The constellation... about that time ascendant. Browne. 2. Rising; ascending. Ruskin. 3. Superior; surpassing; ruling. An ascendant spirit over him. South. The ascendant community obtained a surplus of wealth. J. S. Mill. Without some power of persuading or confuting, of defending himself against accusations, ... no man could possibly hold an ascendent position. Grote. AsÏcend¶enÏcy (?), n. Governing or controlling influence; domination; power. An undisputed ascendency. Macaulay. Custom has an ascendency over the understanding. Watts. Syn. - Control; authority; influence; sway' dominion; prevalence; domination. AsÏcend¶iÏble (?), a. [L. ascendibilis.] Capable of being ascended; climbable. AsÏcend¶ing, a. Rising; moving upward; as, an ascending kite. Ð AsÏcend¶ingÏly, adv. ÷ latitude (Astron.), the increasing latitude of a planet. Ferguson. Ð ÷ line (Geneal.), the line of relationship traced backward or through one's ancestors. One's father and mother, grandfather and grandmother, etc., are in the line direct ascending. Ð ÷ nodeÿhaving, that node of the moon or a planet wherein it passes the ecliptic to proceed northward. It is also called the northern node. Herschel. Ð ÷ series. (Math.) (a) A series arranged according to the ~ powers of a quantity. (b) A series in which each term is greater than the preceding. Ð ÷ signs, signs east of the meridian. AsÏcen¶sion , n. [F. ascension, L. ascensio, fr. ascendere. See Ascend.] 1. The act of ascending; a rising; ascent. 2. Specifically: The visible ascent of our Savior on the fortieth day after his resurrection. (Acts i. 9.) Also, Ascension Day. 3. An ascending or arising, as in distillation; also that which arises, as from distillation. Vaporous ascensions from the stomach. Sir T. Browne. ÷ Day, the Thursday but one before Whitsuntide, the day on which commemorated our Savior's ~ into heaven after his resurrection; Ð called also Holy Thursday. Ð Right ~ (Astron.), that degree of the equinoctial, counted from the beginning of Aries, which rises with a star, or other celestial body, in a right sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the meridian with the star; Ð expressed either in degrees or in time. Ð Oblique ~ (Astron.), an arc of the equator, intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator which rises together with a star, in an oblique sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the horizon with a star. It is little used in modern astronomy. AsÏcen¶sionÏal (?), a. Relating to ascension; connected with ascent; ascensive; tending upward; as, the ascensional power of a balloon. ÷ difference (Astron.), the difference between oblique and right ascension; Ð used chiefly as expressing the difference between the time of the rising or setting of a body and six o'clock, or six hours from its meridian passage. AsÏcen¶sive (?), a. [See Ascend.] 1. Rising; tending to rise, or causing to rise. Owen. 2. (Gram.) Augmentative; intensive. Ellicott. AsÏcent¶ (?). [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·cerÏtain¶ (?), 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·cerÏtain¶aÏble (?), a. That may be ascertained. Ð As·cerÏtain¶aÏbleÏness, n. Ð As·cerÏtain¶aÏbly, adv. As·cerÏtain¶er (?), n. One who ascertains. As·cerÏtain¶ment (?), n. The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; a finding out by investigation; discovery. The positive ascertainment of its limits. Burke. AsÏces¶sanÏcy (?), n. AsÏces¶sant (?), a. See Acescency, Acescent. [Obs.] AsÏcet¶ic (?) a. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to exercise, to practice gymnastics.] Extremely rigid in selfÐdenial and devotions; austere; severe. The stern ascetic rigor of the Temple discipline. Sir W. Scott. AsÏcet¶ic, n. In the early church, one who devoted himself to a solitary and contemplative life, characterized by devotion, extreme selfÐdenial, and selfÐmortification; a hermit; a recluse; hence, one who practices extreme rigor and selfÐdenial in religious things. I am far from commending those ascetics that take up their quarters in deserts. Norris. ÷ theology, the science which treats of the practice of the theological and moral virtues, and the counsels of perfection. Am. Cyc. AsÏcet¶iÏcism (?), 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. Ø As¶ci , n. pl. See Ascus. As¶cian , n. One of the Ascii. AsÏcid¶iÏan (?), n. [Gr. ? bladder, pouch.] (Zo”l.) One of the Ascidioidea, or in a more general sense, one of the Tunicata. Also as an Adj. Ø AsÏcid·iÏa¶riÏum (?), n. [NL. See Ascidium.] (Zo”l.) The structure which unites together the ascidiozooids in a compound ascidian. AsÏcid¶iÏform , a. [Gr. ? a pouch + Ïform.] (Zo”l.) Shaped like an ascidian. Ø AsÏcid·iÏoid¶eÏa (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. ascidium + Ïoid. See Ascidium.] (Zo”l.) A group of Tunicata, often shaped like a twoÐnecked 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.

<-- p. 88 -->