AS, adverb az. [Gr. But more probably the English word is contracted from als.]
1. Literally, like; even; similar. 'Ye shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil.' 'As far as we can see, ' that is, like far, equally far. Hence it may be explained by in like manner; as do as you are commanded.
2. It was formerly used where we now use that. obsolete
The relations are so uncertain as they require a great deal of examination.
3. It was formerly used where we now use that. obsolete
He lies, as he his bliss did know.
4. While; during; at the same time. 'He trembled as he spoke.' But in most of its uses, it is resolvable into like, equal, even, or equally, in like manner. In some phrases, it must be considered a nominative word, or other words must be supplied. 'Appoint to office such men as deserve public confidence.' This phrase may be elliptical for 'such men as those who deserve public confidence.'
AS seems, in some cases, to imply the sense of proportion. 'In general, men are more happy, as they are less involved in public concerns.'
AS, in a subsequent part of a sentence, answers to such; give us such things as you please; and in a preceding part of a sentence, has so to answer to it; as with the people, so with the priest.
AS, noun [Latin]
1. A Roman weight of 12 ounces, answering to the libra or pound.
2. A Roman coin, originally of a pound weight; but reduced, after the first Punic war, to two ounces; in the second Punic war, to one ounce; and by the Papirian law, to half an ounce. It was originally stamped with the figure of a sheep, sow, or ox; and afterwards with a Janus, on one side, and on the reverse, a rostrum or prow of a ship.
3. An integer; a whole or single thing. Hence the English ace. Hence the Romans used the word for the whole inheritance; haeres ex asse, an heir to the whole estate.
ASA, A corruption of lasar, an ancient name of a gum. [See Ooze.]
ASBES'TINE, adjective [See Asbestus.]
Pertaining to asbestus, or partaking of its nature and qualities; incombustible.
ASBES'TINITE, noun [See Asbestus.] The actinolite or strahlstein.
Calciferous abestinite; a variety of steatite.
ASBES'TOS, noun [Gr. inextinguishable; of neg. to extinguish.]
A mineral, which has frequently the appearance of a vegetable substance. It is always fibrous, and its fibers sometimes appear to be prismatic crystals. They are sometimes delicate, flexible, and elastic; at other times, stiff and brittle. Its powder is soft to the touch; its colors are some shade of white, gray or green, passing into brown, red or black. It is incombustible, and has been wrought into a soft, flexible cloth, which was formerly used as a shroud for dead bodies. It has been also manufactured into incombustible paper, and wicks for lamps.
Ligniform asbestus is a variety of a brown color, of a splintery fracture, and if broken across, presents an irregular filamentous structure, like wood.
ASBES'TUS,
ASCA'RIS, noun plural ascar'ides. [Gr.]
In zoology, a genus of intestinal worms. The body is cylindrical, and tapering at the ends. It includes two of the most common worms in the human intestines, the ascarides, and the lumbricoides.
ASCEND', verb intransitive [Latin ascendo, from scando, to mount or climb.]
1. To move upwards; to mount; to go up; to rise, whether in air or water, or upon a material object.
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, etc.
3. To proceed from modern to ancient times; to recur to former ages; as, our inquiries ascend to the remotest antiquity.
4. In a corresponding sense, to proceed in a line towards ancestors; as, to ascend to our first progenitors.
5. To rise as a star; to proceed or come above the horizon.
6. In music, to rise in vocal utterance; to pass from any note to one more acute.
ASCEND', verb transitive To go or move upwards upon, as to ascend a hill or ladder; or to climb, as to ascend a tree.
ASCEND'ABLE, adjective That may be ascended.
ASCEND'ANT, noun
1. Superiority or commanding influence; as, one man has the ascendant over another.
2. An ancestor, or one who precedes in genealogy, or degrees of kindred; opposed to descendant.
3. Height; elevation. [Little used.]
4. In astrology, that degree of the ecliptic which rises above the horizon at the time of one's birth. That part of the ecliptic at any particular time above the horizon, supposed to have influence on a person's life and fortune.
ASCEND'ANT, adjective
1. Superior; predominant; surpassing.
2. In astrology, above the horizon.
ASCEND'ED, participle passive or adjective Risen; mounted up; gone to heaven.
ASCEND'ENCY, noun Power; governing or controlling influence.
Custom has an ascendency over the understanding.
ASCEND'ING, participle present tense Rising; moving upwards; proceeding from the less to the greater; proceeding from modern to ancient, from grave to more acute. A star is said to be ascending when rising above the horizon, in any parallel of the equator.
Ascending latitude is the latitude of a planet, when moving towards the North pole.
Ascending node is that point of a planet's orbit, wherein it passes the ecliptic to proceed northward. It is also called the northern node.
Ascending vessels, in anatomy, are those which carry the blood upward or toward the superior parts of the body.
ASCEN'SION, noun [Latin ascensio.]
1. The act of ascending; a rising. It is frequently applied to the visible elevation of our Savior to Heaven.
2. The thing rising, or ascending. [not authorized.]
3. In astronomy, ascension is either right or oblique. Right ascension of the sun or of a star, is that degree of the equinoctial, counted from the beginning of Aries, which rises with the sun or star, in a right sphere. Oblique ascension is an arch 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.
ASCEN'SIVE, adjective Rising; tending to rise, or causing to rise.
ASCENT', noun [Latin ascensus.]
1. The act of rising; motion upwards, whether in air, water or other fluid, or on elevated objects; rise; a mounting upwards; as the ascent of vapors from the earth.
2. The way by which one ascends; the means of ascending.
3. An eminence, hill or high place.
4. The degree of elevation of an object, or the angle it makes with a horizontal line; as, a road has an ascent of five degrees.
5. Acclivity; the rise of a hill; as a steep ascent
ASCERTA'IN, verb transitive [Latin ad certum, to a certainty.]
1. To make certain; to define or reduce to precision by moving obscurity or ambiguity.
The divine law ascertains the truth.
2. To make certain, by trial, examination or experiment, so as to know what was before unknown; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal.
3. To make sure by previous measures.
The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority in the house of lords, persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers.
4. To make certain or confident, followed by a pronoun; as, to ascertain us of the goodness of our work. [unusual.]
5. To fix; to establish with certainty; to render invariable, and not subject to will.
The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation.
ASCERTA'INABLE, adjective That may be made certain in fact, or certain to the mind; that may be certainly known or reduced to a certainty.
ASCERTA'INED, participle passive Made certain; defined; established; reduced to a certainty.
ASCERTA'INER, noun The person who ascertains or makes certain.
ASCERTA'INING, participle present tense Making certain; fixing; establishing; reducing to a certainty; obtaining certain knowledge.
ASCERTA'INMENT, noun The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; certainty; fixed rule.
ASCESSANCY,
ASCESSANT, See Acescency, Acescent.]
ASCESSANT, See Acescency, Acescent.]
ASCET'IC, adjective [Gr. exercised, hardened; from to exercise.
Retired from the world; rigid; severe; austere; employed in devotions and mortifications.
ASCET'IC, noun
1. One who retires from the customary business of life, and devotes himself to the duties of piety and devotion; a hermit; a recluse.
2. The title of certain books, on devout exercises; as the ascetics of St. Basil.
AS'CIAN, noun [Latin ascii, from Gr. priv. and a shadow.]
A person, who, at certain times of the year, has no shadow at noon. Such are the inhabitants of the torrid zone, who have, at times, a vertical sun.
AS'CITANS, noun [Gr. a bag or bottle of skin.]
A sect or branch of Montanists, who appeared in the second century. They introduced into their assemblies, certain bacchanals, who danced around a bag or skin distended with air, in allusion to the bottles filled with new wine. Math. 9.
AS'CITES, noun [Gr. a bladder.]
A dropsy or tense elastic swelling of the belly, with fluctuation, from a collection of water.
ASCIT'IC
ASCIT'ICAL, adjective Belonging to an ascites; dropsical; hydropical.
ASCITI'TIOUS, adjective [Latin ascitus; Low Latin ascititius, from ascisco, to take to or associate.]
Additional; added; supplemental; not inherent or original.
Homer has been reckoned on ascititious name.
ASCLE'PIAD, noun In ancient poetry, a verse of four feet, the first of which is a spondee, the second a choriamb, and the last two, dactyls; or of four feet and a cesura, the first, a spondee, the second, a dactyl, then the cesura, followed by two dactyls.
ASCRI'BABLE, adjective [See Ascribe.] That may be ascribed or attributed.
ASCRI'BE, verb transitive [Latin ascribo, of ad and scribo, to write.]
1. To attribute, impute, or set to, as to a cause; to assign, as effect to a cause; as, losses are often to be ascribed to imprudence.
2. To attribute, as a quality, or an appurtenance; to consider or allege to belong; as, to ascribe perfection to God, or imperfection to man. Job 36:3. Psalms 68:34. 1 Samuel 18:8.
ASCRI'BED, participle passive Attributed or imputed; considered or alleged, as belonging.
ASCRI'BING, participle present tense Attributing; imputing; alleging to belong.
ASCRIP'TION, noun The act of ascribing, imputing or affirming to belong.
ASCRIPTI'TIOUS, adjective That is ascribed. This word is applied to villains under the feudal system, who are annexed to the freehold and transferable with it.
ASH, noun
1. A well known tree, of which there are many species. There is no hermaphrodite calyx, or it is quadripartite; and no corol, or it is tetrapetalous. There are two stamens; one pistil; one seed, contained in a membranous, lanceolate capsule, and the pistil of the female flower is lanceolate. The leaves are pinnate, and the capsules grow in cluster. This wood is valuable, for fuel, as well as for timber; and the tree, when it grows in an open field, often forms, with its branches, a beautiful oval figure and a thick shade.
2. The wood of the ash tree.
ASH, adjective Pertaining to or like the ash; made of ash
ASHA'ME, verb transitive To shame. [Not used.]
ASHA'MED, adjective
1. Affected by shame; abashed or confused by guilt or a conviction of some criminal action or indecorous conduct, or by the exposure of some gross errors or misconduct, which the person is conscious must be wrong, and which tends to impair his honor or reputation. It is followed by of.
Thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed Exodus 16:1.
Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. Hosea 10.
2. Confused by a consciousness of guilt or of inferiority; by the mortification of pride; by failure or disappointment.
They shall be greatly ashamed that trust in images.
Isaiah 42:17.
[This adjective always follows its noun.]
ASHA'MEDLY, adverb Bashfully. [Not used.]
ASH'EN, adjective [See Ash.] Pertaining to ash; made of ash.
ASH'ES, noun plural Without the singular number.
1. The earthy particles of combustible substances remaining after combustion; as of wood or coal.
2. The remains of the human body when burnt. Hence figuratively, a dead body or corpse.
3. In scripture, ashes is used to denote vileness, meanness, frailty, or humiliation.
I who am but dust and ashes Genesis 18:27.
I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes Job 42:6.
ASH'-FIRE, noun A low fire used in chimical operations.
ASH'-HOLE, noun A repository for ashes; the lower part of a furnace.
ASH'-LAR, noun Common or free stones, as they come from the quarry, of different lengths, breadths and thicknesses.
ASH'LERING, noun Quartering for lathing to, in garrets, two or three feet high, perpendicular to the floor, and reaching to the under side of the rafters.
ASHO'RE, adverb [a, at or on, and shore. See shore.]
1. On shore; on the land adjacent to water; to the shore; as, bring the goods ashore
2. On land, opposed to aboard; as, the captain of the ship remained ashore
3. On the ground; as, the ship was driven ashore
ASHWEDNESDAY, noun The first day of Lent; supposed to be so called from a custom in the Romish Church of sprinkling ashes, that day, on the heads of penitents, then admitted to penance.
ASH'-WEED, noun A plant, the small wild angelica, gout-wort, goats-foot, or herb-gerard.
ASH'Y, adjective Belonging to ashes; ash-colored; pale; inclining to a whitish gray.
ASHY'PALE, adjective Pale as ashes.
A'SIAN, adjective [from Asia, a name originally given to Asia Minor or some part of it; perhaps from the Asses, Ases or Osses, about Mount Taurus.
Pertaining to Asia.
A'SIARCH, noun [Asia and chief.]
A chief or pontiff of Asia; one who had the superintendence of the public games. Acts 19:1.
ASIAT'IC, adjective Belonging to Asia, a quarter of the globe which extends from the strait of Constantinople and Arabian gulf, to the Pacific ocean on the east. It is probable, the name was originally appropriated to what is now Asia Minor or rather a part of it.
ASIAT'IC, noun A native of Asia.
ASIAT'ICISM, noun Imitation of the Asiatic manner.
ASI'DE, ad. [a and side. See Side.]
1. On or to one side; out of a perpendicular or straight direction.
2. At a little distance from the main part or body.
Thou shalt set aside that which is full. 2 Kings 4:4.
3. From the body; as, to put or lay aside a garment.
John 13:4.
4. From the company; at a small distance or in private; as when speakers utter something by themselves, upon the stage.
5. Separate from the person, mind or attention; in a state of abandonment.
Let us lay aside every weight. Hebrews 12:1.
6. Out of the line of rectitude or propriety, in a moral view.
They are all gone aside Psalms 14:3.
7. In a state of separation to a particular use; as, to set aside a thing for a future day.
To set aside in judicial proceedings, is to defeat the effect or operation of, by a subsequent decision of a superior tribunal; as, to set aside a verdict or a judgment.
ASINE'GO, noun A foolish fellow.
AS'ININE, rarely. AS'INARY, adjective [Latin asinus.]
Belonging to the ass; having the qualities of the ass.
'ASK, verb transitive [Gr. In former times, the English word was pronounced ax, as in the royal style of assenting to bills in Parliament. 'Be it as it is axed.']
1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; with of before the person to whom the request is made.
Ask counsel of God. Judges 18:5.
2. To require, expect or claim.
To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:48.
3. To interrogate, or inquire; to put a question, with a view to an answer.
He is of age, ask him. John 9:21.
4. To require, or make claim.
Ask me never so much dowry. Genesis 34:12. Daniel 2:10.
5. To claim, require or demand, as the price or value of a commodity; to set a price; as, what price do you ask?
6. To require, as physically necessary.
The exigence of a state asks a much longer time to conduct the design to maturity.
This sense is nearly or entirely obsolete; ask being superseded by require and demand.
7. To invite; as, to ask guests to a wedding or entertainment; ask my friend to step into the house.
'ASK, verb intransitive
1. To request or petition, followed by for; as, ask for bread; or without for.
Ask and it shall be given you. Matthew 7:7.
2. to inquire, or seek by request; sometimes followed by after.
Wherefore dost thou ask after my name? Genesis 32:29.
This verb can hardly be considered as strictly intransitive, for some person or object is always understood.
Ask is not equivalent to demand, claim, and require, at least, in modern usage; much less, is it equivalent to beg and beseech. The first three words, demand, claim, require, imply a right or supposed right in the person asking, to the thing requested; and beseech implies more urgency, than ask ask and request imply no right, but suppose the thing desired to be a favor. The French demander is correctly rendered by ask rather than by deman.
ASK'ANCE,
ASK'ANT, adverb sideways; obliquely; towards one corner of the eye.
ASK'ANT, adv. sideways; obliquely; towards one corner of the eye.
'ASKED, participle passive Requested; petitioned; questioned; interrogated.
ASKEW', adverb
With a wry look; aside; askant; sometimes indicating scorn, or contempt, or envy.
'ASKING, participle present tense
1. Requesting; petitioning; interrogating; inquiring.
2. Silently expressing request or desire.
Explain the asking eye.
ASLA'KE, verb transitive [See Slack.]
To remit; to slacken. [Not in use.]
ASLA'NI, noun A silver coin worth from 115 to 120 aspers.
ASL'ANT, adjective or adverb [a and slant. See Slant.]
On one side; obliquely; not perpendicularly or with a right angle.
The shaft drove through his neck aslant
ASLEE'P, adjective or adverb [a and sleep.]
1. sleeping; in a state of sleep; at rest.
Sisera was fast asleep Judges 4:21.
2. To a state of sleep; as to fall asleep
3. Dead; in a state of death.
Concerning them who are asleep sorrow not. 1 Thessalonians 4:13.
4. To death.
For since the fathers fell asleep all things continue. 2 Peter 3:4.
ASLO'PE, adjective or adverb [a and slope. See Slope.
With leaning or inclination; obliquely; with declivity or descent, as a hill; declining from an upright direction.
Set them not upright, but aslope
ASLUG', ad. In a sluggish manner. [Not used.]
ASMONE'AN, adjective Pertaining to Asmoneus, the father of Simon, and chief of the Asmoneans, a family that reigned over the Jews 126 years.
ASMONE'AN, noun One of the family of Asmoneus.
ASO'MATOUS, adjective [Gr. priv and body.]
Without a material body; incorporeal. [Not used.]
'ASP,
ASPAL'ATHUS, noun A plant.
ASPAR'AGIN, noun White transparent crystals of a peculiar vegetable principle, which spontaneously form in asparagus juice evaporated to the consistence of syrup. They are in the form of rhomboidal prisms.
ASPAR'AGUS, noun [Latin and Gr. probably from to tear, from its lacerated appearance, or from the root of a spire, from its stem.]
Asparagus, sperage, vulgarly, sparrow-grass; a genus of plants. That which is cultivated in gardens, has an upright herbaceous stalk, bristly leaves, and equal stipulas. The roots have a bitterish mucilaginous taste; and the stalk is, in some degree, aperient and deobstruent, but not very efficacious.
'ASPECT, noun [Latin aspectus, from aspicio, to look on, of ad and specio, to see or look.]
1. Look; view; appearance to the eye or the mind; as, to present an object or a subject in its true aspect or under a double aspect So we say, public affairs have a favorable aspect
2. Countenance; look, or particular appearance of the face; as a mild or severe aspect
3. View; sight; act of seeing. [This sense is now unusual.]
4. Position or situation with regard to seeing, or that position which enables one to look in a particular direction; as, a house has a southern aspect that is, a position which faces or looks to the south.
5. In astronomy, the situation of one planet with respect to another. The aspects are five sextile, when the planets are 60 degrees distant; quartile or quadrate, when their distance is 90 degrees, or the quarter of a circle; trine, when the distance is 120 degrees; opposition, when the distance is 180 degrees, or half a circle; and conjunction, when they are in the same degree.
ASPECT', verb transitive To behold. [Not used.]
ASPECT'ABLE, adjective That may be seen. [Not used.]
ASPECT'ED, adjective Having an aspect. [Not used.]
ASPEC'TION, noun The act of viewing. [Not used.]
ASP'EN or ASP, noun
A species of the poplar, so called from the trembling of its leaves, which move with the slightest impulse of the air. Its leaves are roundish, smooth, and stand on long slender foot-stalks.
ASP'EN, adjective Pertaining to the aspen or resembling it; made of aspen wood.
Nor aspen leaves confess the gentlest breeze.
AS'PER, adjective [Latin See Asperate.] Rough; rugged. [Little used.]
AS'PER, noun [Latin aspiro, to breathe.]
In grammar, the Greek accent, importing that the letter over which it is placed ought to be aspirated, or pronounced as if the letter h preceded it.
AS'PER, noun A Turkish coin, of which three make a medine. Its value is about a cent and 12 decimals.
AS'PERATE, verb transitive [Latin aspero, from asper, rough.]
To make rough or uneven.
ASPERA'TION, noun A making rough.
ASPERIFO'LIATE, adjective [Latin asper, rough, and folium, a leaf.]
Having rough leaves. Plants of this kind are, by some authors, classified according to this character. They constitute the forty-first order of Linne's fragments of a natural method. In the methods of Herman, Boerhave, and Ray, this class consists of plants which have four naked seeds. Their leaves stand alternately on the stalks, and the flower is monopetalous in five divisions.
ASPERIFO'LIOUS, adjective Having leaves rough to the touch. [See the preceding word.]
ASPER'ITY, noun [Latin asperitas, from asper, rough.]
1. Roughness of surface; unevenness; opposed to smoothness.
2. Roughness of sound; that quality which grates the ear; harshness of pronunciation.
3. Roughness to the taste; sourness.
4. Roughness or ruggedness of temper; moroseness; sourness; crabbedness.
5. Sharpness.
AS'PEROUS, adjective [Latin asper, rough.] Rough; uneven.
ASPERSE, verb transitive aspers'. [Latin aspergo, aspersus, of ad and spargo, to scatter.]
1. To bespatter with foul reports or false and injurious charges; to tarnish in point of reputation, or good name; to slander or calumniate; as, to asperse a poet of his writings; to asperse a character.
2. To cast upon.
ASPERS'ER, n One that asperses, or villifies another.
ASPER'SION, noun
1. A sprinkling, as of water or dust, in a literal sense.
2. The spreading of calumnious reports or charges, which tarnish reputation, like the bespattering of a body with foul water.
ASPHALT'
ASPHALT'IC, adjective Pertaining to asphalt or containing it; bituminous.
ASPHALT'IC, a. Pertaining to asphalt, or containing it; bituminous.
ASPHALT'ITE, adjective Pertaining to or containing asphalt.
ASPHALT'UM, noun [Gr.] Bitumen Judaicum, Jew's pitch; a smooth, hard, brittle, black or brown substance, which breaks with a polish, melts easily when heated, and when pure, burns without leaving any ashes. It has little taste, and scarcely any smell, unless heated, when it emits a strong smell of pitch. it is found in a soft or liquid state on the surface of the Dead Sea, which, from this substance, is called Asphaltite, or the Asphaltic Lake. It is found also in the earth, in many parts of Asia, Europe and America. Formerly, it was used for embalming dead bodies; the solid asphalt is still employed in Arabia, Egypt, and Persia, instead of pitch for ships; and the fluid asphalt is used for varnishing, and for burning in lamps. A species found in Neufchatel is found excellent as a cement for walls and pavements; very durable in air, and not penetrable by water. A composition of asphalt, lamp black and oil is used for drawing black figures on dialplates.
AS'PHODEL, noun [Latin and Gr. See Theoph.]
King's-spear; a genus of lilaceous plants, cultivated for the beauty of their flowers. The ancients planted asphodels near graves, to supply the names of the dead with nourishment.
ASPHU'RELATES, noun [Gr. priv. and a hammer; not malleable.]
A series of semimetallic fossils, fusible by fire, and in their purest state not malleable. In their native state, they are mixed with sulphur and other adventitious matter, in the form of ore. Under this denomination are classed bismuth, antimony, cobalt, zink and quicksilver.
ASPHYX'Y, noun [Gr. of a priv. and pulse.]
A temporary suspension of the motion of the heart and arteries; swooning; fainting.
ASP'IC, noun
1. The asp, which see.
2. A piece of ordnance carrying a twelve pound shot.
ASP'IC, noun A plant growing in France, a species of lavender, which it resembles in the blue color of its flowers, and in the figure and green color of its leaves. It is called male-lavender, spica nardi, and Pseudo-nardus. The oil of this plant is used by painters, farriers and other artificers. It is very inflammable, of a white color and aromatic; and it is almost the only dissolvent of sandarac.
ASP'IC, noun [Latin aspis; Gr. a round shield and an asp; supposed to be from Heb. to gather in, or collect; from the coil of this serpent, with his head elevated in the center, like the boss of a buckler.]
A small poisonous serpent of Egypt and Libya, whose bite occasions inevitable death, but without pain. It is said that the celebrated Cleopatra, rather than be carried a captive to Rome by Augustus, suffered death by the bite of the asp; but the fact has been questioned. Authors are not agreed, as to what species the asp of the ancients should be referred. Bruce thinks it the coluber cerastes. Linne.
ASPI'RANT, noun [See aspire.] One who aspires, breathes after, or seeks with eagerness.
AS'PIRATE, verb transitive [Latin aspiro, to breathe or blow; Gr. to palpitate, from spiro. See Spire, Spirit.]
To pronounce with a breathing or full emission of breath. We aspirate the words horse and house.
AS'PIRATE, verb intransitive To be uttered with a strong breathing; as, the letter h aspirates.
AS'PIRATE, noun A letter marked with an asper, or note of breathing; a mark of aspiration, as the Greek accent.
AS'PIRATE, adjective Pronounced with a full breath.
AS'PIRATED, participle passive Uttered with a strong emission of breath.
AS'PIRATING, participle present tense Pronouncing with a full breath.
ASPIRA'TION, noun
1. The pronunciation of a letter with a full emission of breath.
2. A breathing after; an ardent wish or desire, chiefly of spiritual blessings.
3. The act of aspiring or of ardently desiring what is noble or spiritual.
ASPI'RE, verb intransitive [Latin aspiro, to breathe. See Aspirate.]
1. To desire with eagerness; to pant after an object, great, noble or spiritual; followed by to or after; as to aspire to a crown or after immortality.
2. To aim at something elevated; to rise or tower with desire.
Aspiring to be Gods, if angels fell;
Aspiring to be angels, men rebel.
ASPI'RER, noun One who aspires; one who aims to rise in power or consequence, or to accomplish some important object.
ASPI'RING, participle present tense Desiring eagerly; aiming at something noble, great, or spiritual.
ASPI'RING, adjective Ambitious; animated with an ardent desire of power, importance, or excellence.
ASPI'RING, noun
1. Ambition; eager desire of something great.
2. Points; stops. [Not used.]
ASPORTA'TION, noun [Latin asportatio, of abs and porto, to carry. See Bear.]
A carrying away. In law, the felonious removal of goods from the place where they were deposited, is an asportation and adjudged to be theft, though the goods are not carried from the house or apartment.
ASQUINT', adverb [See Askance, and Squint.]
1. To the corner or angle of the eye; obliquely; towards one side; not in the straight line of vision; as, to look asquint
2. Not with regard or due notice.
'ASS, noun [Latin asinus; Gr. an ear.]
1. A quadruped of the equine genus. This animal has long slouching ears, a short mane, and a tail covered with long hairs at the end. He is usually of an ash color, with a black bar across the shoulders. The tame or domestic ass is patient to stupidity, and carries a heavy burden. He is slow, but very sure footed, and for this reason very useful on rough steep hills.
2. A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt.
ASS'AI, A term in music; added to a word signifying slow, it denotes a little quicker; and to a word signifying quick, it denotes a little slower.
ASSA'IL, verb transitive [Latin assilio, to leap or rush upon, of ad and salio, to leap, to rise.]
1. To leap or fall upon by violence; to assault; to attack suddenly, as when one person falls upon another to beat him.
2. To invade or attack, in a hostile manner, as an army, or nation.
3. To attack with arguments, censure, abuse, or criticism, with a view to injure, bring into disrepute, or overthrow.
4. To attack, with a view to overcome, by motives applied to the passions.
Nor hide the encounter of assailing eyes.
ASSA'ILABLE, adjective That may be assailed, attacked or invaded.
ASSA'ILANT, noun One who assails, attacks or assaults.
ASSA'ILANT, adjective Assaulting; attacking; invading with violence.
ASSA'ILED, participle passive Assaulted; invaded; attacked with violence.
ASSA'ILER, noun One who assails.
ASSA'ILING, participle present tense assaulting; invading by force; attacking with violence.
ASSA'ILMENT, noun Attack. [Little used.]
ASSAPAN'IC, noun The flying squirrel; an animal which flies a little distance by extending the skin between the fore and hind legs. [See Squirrel.]
AS'SARON, noun The omer or homer, a Hebrew measure of five pints.
ASSART', noun
1. In ancient laws, the offense of grubbing up trees, and thus destroying thickets or coverts of a forest.
2. a tree plucked up by the roots, also a piece of land cleared.
ASSART', verb transitive To grub up trees; to commit an assart
ASSAS'SIN, noun
One who kills or attempts to kill, by surprise or secret assault. The circumstance of surprise or secresy seems essential to the signification of this word; though it is sometimes used to denote one who takes any advantage, in killing or attempting to murder; as by attacking one when unarmed.
ASSAS'SINATE, verb transitive
1. To kill or attempt to kill, by surprise or secret assault; to murder by sudden violence. Assassin as a verb is not now used.
2. To way lay; to take by treachery.
ASSAS'SINATE, noun A murder or murderer. [not used.]
ASSAS'SINATED, participle passive Murdered by surprise or secret assault.
ASSAS'SINATING, participle present tense Murdering by surprise or secret assault.
ASSASSINA'TION, noun The act of killing or murdering, by surprise or secret assault; murder by violence.
ASSAS'SINATOR, noun An assassin, which see.
ASSAS'SINOUS, adjective Murderous. [Not used.]
ASSAS'SINS, noun In Syria, a tribe or clan called Ismaelians, Batanists or Batenians. They originated in Persia about the year 1090; whence a colony migrated and settled on the mountains of Lebanon, and were remarkable for their assassinations. Their religion was a compound of magianism, judaism, and christianity. One article of their creed was, that the Holy Spirit resided in their Chief, and that his orders proceeded from God himself. He was called Scheik, and is better known by the denomination of Old man of the mountain. This barbarous chieftain and his followers spread terror among nations far and near, for almost two centuries, when the tribe was subdued by Sultan Bibaris.
ASSA'TION, noun [Latin assatus.] A roasting. [Not used.]
ASSAULT', noun [Latin assulto, of ad and salto, to leap, formed on salio, or its root. See Assail. We have the same root in insult and result.]
1. An attack or violent onset, whether by an individual, a company, or an army. An assault by private persons may be made with or without weapons. As assault by an army is a violent hostile attack; and when made upon a fort or fortified place is called a storm, as opposed to sap or siege.
2. An attack by hostile words or measures; as, an assault upon the prerogatives of a prince, or upon a constitution of government.
3. In Law, an unlawful setting upon one's person; an attempt or offer to beat another, without touching his person; as by lifting the fist or a cane, in a threatening manner. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery.
ASSAULT', verb transitive
1. To attack or fall upon by violence, or with a hostile intention; as, to assault a man, a house or town.
2. To invade or fall on with force; as, the cry of war assaults our ears.
3. To attack by words, arguments or unfriendly measures, with a view to shake, impair or overthrow; as, to assault a character, the laws or the administration.
ASSAULT'ABLE, adjective That may be assaulted.
ASSAULT'ED, participle passive Attacked with force, arms, violence, or hostile views.
ASSAULT'ER, noun One who assaults, or violently attacks.
ASSAULT'ING, participle present tense Attacking with force, or with hostile measures.
ASSA'Y, noun [Latin sequor; assequor, to follow, to examine. See Essay.]
1. The trial of the goodness, purity, weight, value, etc. of metals or metallic substances. Any operation or experiement for ascertaining the quantity of a precious metal in an ore or mineral. Analysis is a term of more comprehensive import, extending to an examination of the nature and quantities of all parts of the compound.
2. In law, an examination of weights and measures by the standard.
3. Examination; trial; effort; first entrance upon any business; attempt. In these senses, which are found in old authors, now rarely used. [See Essay.]
4. Value; great purity. obsolete
ASSA'Y, verb transitive
1. To try or prove, by examination or experiment, the quantity and purity of metallic substances.
2. To apply to the touchstone.
ASSA'Y, verb intransitive To attempt, try or endeavor.
He assayed to go. 1 Samuel 17:39.
[In this sense essay is now used.]
ASSA'YED, participle passive Examined; tested; proved by experiment.
ASSA'YER, noun One who examines metals to find their quantity and purity. An officer of the mint, whose business is to try the weight and purity of metals.
ASSA'YING, participle present tense Trying by some standard; examining by experiment, as metals; proving; attempting.
ASSECU'RANCE, noun Assurance. [Not used.]
ASSECURA'TION, noun assurance; a making secure. [Not used.]
ASSECU'RE, verb transitive To secure. [Not used.]
ASSECU'TION, noun [Latin assequor.] an obtaining or acquiring.
ASSEM'BLAGE, noun
1. A collection of individuals, or of particular things; the state of being assembled.
2. Rarely, the act of assembling.
ASSEM'BLANCE, noun Representation; an assembling. [Not in use.]
ASSEM'BLE, verb transitive [Latin simul.]
To collect a number of individuals or particulars into one place, or body; to bring or call togethe; to convene; to congregate.
ASSEM'BLE, verb intransitive To meet or come together; to convene, as a number of individuals.
ASSEM'BLED, participle passive collected into a body; congregated.
ASSEM'BLER, noun One who assembles.
ASSEM'BLING, participle present tense Coming together; collecting into one place.
ASSEM'BLING, noun A collection or meeting together. Hebrews 10:25.
ASSEM'BLY, noun
1. A company or collection of individuals, in the same place; usually for the same purpose.
2. A congregation or religious society convened.
3. In some of the United States, the legislature, consisting of different houses or branches, whether in session or not. In some states, the popular branch or House of Representatives is denominated an assembly [See the constitutions of the several states.]
4. a collection of persons for amusement; as a dancing assembly
5. A convocation, convention or council of ministers and ruling elders delegated from each presbytery; as the General assembly of Scotland or of the United States.
6. In armies, the second beating of the drum before a march, when the soldiers strike their tents.
7. An assemblage. [Not in use.]
ASSENT', noun [Latin assensus, from assentior, to assent of ad and sentio, to thing.]
1. The act of the mind in admitting, or agreeing to, the truth of a proposition.
Faith is the assent to any proposition, on the credit of the proposer.
2. Consent; agreement to a proposal, respecting some right or interest; as, the bill before the house has the assent of a great majority of the members.
The distinction between assent and consent seems to be this:assent is the agreement to an abstract proposition. We assent to a statement, but we do not consent to it. Consent is an agreement to some proposal or measure which affects the rights or interest of the consenter. We consent to a proposal of marriage. This distinction however is not always observed. [See Consent.]
3. Accord; agreement. 2 Chronicles 18:12.
ASSENT', verb intransitive To admit as true; to agree, yield or concede, or rather to express an agreement of the mind to what is alleged, or proposed.
The Jews also assented, saying these things are so.
Acts 24:9.
It is sometimes used for consent, or an agreement to something affecting the rights or interest of the person assenting. But to assent to the marriage of a daughter is less correct than to consent.
ASSENTA'TION, noun [Latin assentatio, from assentor, to comply.]
Compliance with the opinion of another, from flattery or dissimulation.
ASSENTA'TOR, noun A flatterer.
ASSENTATO'RILY, adverb With adulation. [Not in use.]
ASSENT'ER, noun One who assents, agrees to, or admits.
ASSENT'ING, participle present tense Agreeing to, or admitting as true; yielding to.
ASSENT'INGLY, adverb In a manner to express assent; by agreement.
ASSENT'MENT, adjective Assent; agreement. [Rarely used.]
ASSERT', verb transitive [Latin assero, assertum, to claim or challenge, to maintain or assert; of ad and sero. The sense of sero is to sow, properly to throw or set. To assert is to throw or set firmly.]
1. To affirm positively; to declare with assurance; to aver.
2. To maintain or defend by words or measures; to vindicate a claim or title to; as, to assert our rights and liberties.
ASSERT'ED, participle passive Affirmed positively; maintained; vindicated.
ASSERT'ING, participle present tense Declaring with confidence; maintaining; defending.
ASSER'TION, noun
1. The act of asserting; the maintaining of a claim.
2. Positive declaration or averment; affirmation; position advanced.
ASSERT'IVE, adjective Positive; affirming confidently; peremptory.
ASSERT'IVELY, adverb Affirmatively
ASSERT'OR, noun One who affirms positively; one who maintains or vindicates a claim; an affirmer, supporter, or vindicator.
ASSERT'ORY, adjective Affirming; maintaining.
ASSESS', verb transitive [Latin assideo, ad and sedeo.]
1. To set, fix or charge a certain sum upon one, as a tax; as, to assess each citizen in due proportion.
2. To value; to fix the value of property, for the purpose of being taxed; as by the law of the United States. Also, to value or fix the profits of business, for the purpose of taxation.
3. To set, fix or ascertain; as, it is the province of a jury to assess damages.
ASSESS', noun Assessment. [Not used.]
ASSESS'ABLE, adjective That may be assessed.
ASSESS'ED, participle passive Charged with a certain sum; valued; set; fixed; ascertained.
ASSESS'ING, participle present tense Charging with a sum; valuing; fixing; ascertaining.
ASSES'SION, noun A sitting down by a person. [Not used.]
ASSES'SIONARY, adjective Pertaining to assessors.
ASSESS'MENT, noun
1. A valuation of property or profits of business, for the purpose of taxation. An assessment is a valuation made by authorized persons according to their discretion, as opposed to a sum certain or determined by law. It may be a direct charge of the tax to be paid; or a valuation of the property of those who are to pay the tax, for the purpose of fixing the proportion which each man shall pay; on which valuation the law imposes a specific sum upon a given amount.
2. A tax or specific sum charged on the person or property.
3. The act of assessing; the act of determining the amount of damages by a jury.
ASSESS'OR, noun
1. One appointed to assess the person or property.
2. An inferior officer of justice, who sits to assist the judge.
3. One who sits by another, as next in dignity.
ASSETS', noun plural [Latin sat, satis, enough.]
Goods or estate of a deceased person, sufficient to pay the debts of the deceased. But the word sufficient, though expressing the original signification of assets is not with us necessary to the definition. In present usage, assets are the money, goods or estate of a deceased person, subject by law to the payment of his debts and legacies. assets are real or personal; real assets are lands which descend to the heir, subject to the fulfillment of the obligations of the ancestor; personal assets are the money or goods of the deceased, or debts due to him, which come into the hands of the executor or administrator, or which he is bound to collect and convert into money.
ASSEV'ER,
ASSEV'ERATE, verb transitive [Latin assevero, from ad and swear.]
To affirm or aver positively, or with solemnity.
ASSEVERA'TION, noun Positive affirmation or assertion; solemn declaration. This word is not, generally, if ever, used for a declaration under an official oath, but for a declaration accompanied with solemnity.
ASSIDE'ANS or CHASIDE'ANS, [Heb. pious.]
AS'SIDENT, adjective [Latin assideo, assidens, of ad and sedeo, to sit.]
Assident signs, in medicine, are such as usually attend a disease, but not always; distinguished from pathognomic signs, which are inseparable from it.
ASSID'UATE, adjective Daily. [Not in use.]
ASSIDU'ITY, noun [Latin assiduitas. See Assiduous.]
1. Constant or close application to any business or enterprise; diligence.
2. Attention; Attentiveness to persons. Assiduities, in plural, are services rendered with zeal and constancy.
ASSID'UOUS, adjective [Latin assiduus, from assideo, to sit close, ad and sedeo; Eng. to sit.]
1. Constant in application; as a person assiduous in his occupation.
2. Attentive; careful; regular in attendance; as an assiduous physician or nurse.
3. Performed with constant diligence or attention; as assiduous labor.
ASSID'UOUSLY, adverb Diligently; attentively; with earnestness and care; with regular attendance.
ASSID'UOUSNESS, noun Constant or diligent application.
ASSIENT'O, noun [Latin assideo.]
A contract or convention between the king of Spain and other powers, for furnishing slaves for the Spanish dominions in south America.
ASSI'GN, verb transitive [Latin assigno, of ad and signo, to allot to mark out, signum, a mark. The primary sense of sign is to send, or to set.]
1. To allot; to appoint or grant by distribution or apportionment.
The priests had a portion assigned them. Genesis 47:22.
2. To designate or appoint for a particular purpose.
They assigned Bezer, a city of refuge. Joshua 20:8.
3. To fix, specify or designate; as an assigned quantity.
4. To make or set over; to transfer, sell or convey, by writing, as by indorsing a note, or by any writing on a separate paper.
5. To allege or show in particular; as, to assign a reason for one's conduct.
6. In law, to show or set forth with particularity; as, to assign error in a writ; to assign false judgment.
ASSI'GN, noun A person to whom property or an interest is or may be transferred; as, a deed to a man and his heirs and assigns.
ASSI'GNABLE, adjective
1. That may be allotted, appointed or assigned.
2. That may be transferred by writing; as an assignable note, or bill.
3. That may be specified, shown with precision or designated; as an assignable error.
AS'SIGNAT, noun A public note or bill in France; paper currency.
ASSIGNA'TION, noun
1. An appointment of time and place for meeting; used chiefly of love-meetings.
2. A making over by transfer of title. [See Assignment.]
3. In Russia, a public note or bank bill; paper currency.
ASSI'GNED, participle passive Appointed; allotted; made over; shown or designated.
ASSIGNEE', noun A person to whom an assignment is made; a person appointed or deputed to do some act, perform some business or enjoy some right, privilege or property; as an assignee of a bankrupt. An assignee may be by special appointment or deed, or be created by law; as an executor.
ASSI'GNER, noun One who assigns, or appoints.
ASSI'GNING, participle present tense Allotting; appointing; transferring; showing specially.
ASSI'GNMENT, noun
1. An allotting, or an appointment to a particular person or use.
2. A transfer of title or interest by writing, as of a lease, bond, note, or bill of exchange.
3. The writing by which an interest is transferred.
4. The appointment or designation of causes or actions in court, for trial on particular days.
5. In law, the conveyance of the whole interest which a man has in an estate, usually for life or year. It differs from a lease, which is the conveyance of a less term than the lessor has in the estate.
ASSIGNOR', noun an assigner; a person who assigns or transfers an interest; as the assignor of a bill of exchange.
ASSIM'ILABLE, adjective That may be assimilated.
ASSIM'ILATE, verb transitive [Latin assimilo, of ad and similis, like. See Similar.]
1. To bring to a likeness; to cause to resemble.
2. To convert into a like substance; as, food is assimilated by conversion into animal substances, flesh, chyle, blood, etc.
ASSIM'ILATE, verb intransitive
1. To become similar.
2. To be converted into a like substance.
ASSIM'ILATED, participle passive Brought to a likeness; changed into a like substance.
ASSIM'ILATING, participle present tense Causing to resemble; converting into a like substance.
ASSIMILA'TION, noun
1. The act of bringing to a resemblance.
2. The act or process by which bodies convert other bodies into their own nature and substance; as, flame assimilates oil, and the food of animals is by assimilation converted into the substances which compose their bodies.
Mineral assimilation is the property which substances possess, in the earth, of appropriating and assimilating to themselves other substances with which they are in contact; a property which seems to be the basis of the natural history of the earth.
ASSIM'ILATIVE, adjective having power of converting to a likeness, or to a like substance.
ASSIM'ULATE, verb transitive [Latin assimulo.] To feign. [Not used. See simulate.]
ASSIMULA'TION, noun A counterfeiting. [Not used. See Simulation.]
ASSIST', verb transitive [Latin assisto, of ad and sisto, to stand up; English, to stand by.]
To help; to aid; to succor; to give support to in some undertaking or effort, or in time of distress.
ASSIST', verb intransitive To lend aid.
ASSIST'ANCE, noun Help; aid; furtherance; succor; a contribution of support in bodily strength or other means.
ASSIST'ANT, adjective Helping; lending aid or support; auxiliary.
ASSIST'ANT, noun One who aids, or who contributes his strength or other means to further the designs of welfare of another; an auxiliary.
ASSIST'ED, participle passive Helped; aided.
ASSIST'ER, noun One that lends aid.
ASSIST'ING, participle present tense Helping; aiding; supporting with strength or means.
ASSIST'LESS, adjective Without aid or help.
ASSI'ZE,
ASSI'ZED, participle passive Regulated in weight, measure or price, by an assize or ordinance.
ASSI'ZED, pp. Regulated in weight, measure or price, by an assize or ordinance.
ASSI'ZER, noun An officer who has the care or inspection of weights and measures.
ASSI'ZES, noun [Latin assideo, to sit by, of ad and sedeo, to sit.]
1. Originally, an assembly of knights and other substantial men, with a bailiff or justice, in a certain place and at a certain time, for public business. The word was sometimes applied to the general council, or Wittenagemote, of England.
2. A court in England, held in every county by special commission to one of the judges, who is called a justice of the assize, and empowered to take assizes that is, the verdict of a jury, called the assize.
3. A jury. In this sense the word was applied to the grand assize, for the trial of property, and to the petty assize, for the trial of possession. In Scotland, the assize consists of fifteen men, selected from a greater number.
4. A writ; as an assize of novel disseisin, which is given to recover the possession of lands, tenements, rents, common, etc., of which the tenant has been lately disseised; assize of mort d'ancestor, which lies against an abator, who enters upon land after the death of the tenant, and before the heir enters; assize of darrein presentment, which lies against a stranger who presents a clerk to a benefice.
5. A particular species of rents, established and not subject to be varied.
6. The time or place of holding the court of assize.
7. In a more general sense, any court of justice.
8. A statute of regulation; an ordinance regulating the weight, measure and price of articles sold in market; and hence the word came to signify the weight, measure or price itself; as the assize of bread.
This word is, in a certain sense, now corrupted into size, which see.
ASSI'ZE, verb transitive To fix the weight, measure or price of commodities, by an ordinance or regulation of authority.
ASSI'ZOR, noun In Scotland, a juror.
ASSO'BER, verb transitive [See Sober.] To keep under. [Not used.]
ASSOCIABIL'ITY, noun The quality of being capable of association; the quality of suffering some change by sympathy, or of being affected by the affections of another part of the body.
ASSO'CIABLE, adjective assoshable. [See Associate.]
1. That may be joined to or associated.
2. In a medical sense, liable to be affected by sympathy, or to receive from other parts correspondent feelings and affections. 'The stomach, the most associable of all the organs of the animal body.'
ASSO'CIATE, verb transitive assoshate. [Latin associo, of ad and socio, to join.]
1. To join in company, as a friend, companion, partner or confederate; as, to associate others with us in business, or in an enterprise.
It conveys the idea of intimate union.
2. To unite in the same mass; as, particles of matte associated with other substances.
ASSO'CIATE, verb intransitive
1. To unite in company; to keep company, implying intimacy; as, congenial minds are disposed to associate
2. To unite in action, or be affected by the action of a different part of the body.
ASSO'CIATE, adjective
1. Joined in interest or purpose; confederate.
2. Joined in employment or office; as an associate judge.
ASSO'CIATE, noun
1. A companion; one frequently in company with another, implying intimacy or equality; a mate; a fellow.
2. A partner in interest, as in business; or a confederate in a league.
3. A companion in a criminal transaction; an accomplice.
ASSO'CIATED, participle passive United in company or in interest; joined.
ASSO'CIATESHIP, noun The state or office of an associate.
ASSO'CIATING, participle present tense Uniting in company or in interest; joining.
ASSOCIA'TION, noun
1. The act of associating; union; connection of persons.
2. Union of persons in a company; a society formed for transacting or carrying on some business for mutual advantage; a partnership. It is often applied to a union of states or a confederacy.
3. Union of things; apposition, as of particles of matter.
4. Union or connection of ideas. An association of ideas is where two or more ideas constantly or naturally follow each other in the mind, so that one almost infallibly produces the other.
5. An exertion or change of some extreme part of the sensory residing in the muscles or organs of sense, in consequence of some antecedent or attendant fibrous contractions.
6. In ecclesiastical affairs, a society of the clergy, consisting of a number of pastors of neighboring churches, united for promoting the interests of religion and the harmony of the churches.
ASSOCIA'TIONAL, adjective Pertaining to an association of clergymen.
ASSO'CIATIVE, adjective Having the quality of associating, or of being affected by sympathy.
ASSOIL', verb transitive [Latin absolvo.] To solve; to release; to absolve.
ASSOIL', verb transitive To soil; to stain. obsolete
AS'SONANCE, noun [Latin ad and sono, to sound. See Sound.]
Resemblance of sounds. In rhetoric and poetry, a resemblance in sound or termination, without making rhyme.
AS'SONANT, adjective Having a resemblance of sounds. In Spanish poetry, assonant rhymes are those in which a resemblance of sounds serves instead of a natural rhyme; as, ligera, tierra.
ASSORT', verb transitive [See Sort.]
1. To separate and distribute into classes things of the like kind, nature or quality, or things which are suited to a like purpose. It is sometimes applied to persons as well as things.
2. To furnish with all sorts.
ASSORT', verb intransitive To agree; to be in accordance with; to suit.
ASSORT'ED, participle passive
1. Distributed into sorts, kinds or classes.
2. Furnished with an assortment, or with a variety; as a well assorted store.
ASSORT'ING, participle present tense Separating into sorts; supplying with an assortment.
ASSORT'MENT, noun
1. The act of distributing into sorts, kinds of classes, or of selecting and suiting things.
2. A mass or quantity distributed into kinds or sorts; or a number of things assorted.
3. A number of things of the same kind, varied in size, color, quality, price, form, or the like, to suit the market, the wants of people, or various purposes; as an assortment of thread, of silks, of calicoes, etc.
An assortment of paintings.
4. A variety of sorts or kinds adapted to various wants, demands or purposes; as an assortment of goods.
ASSOT', verb transitive [See Sot.] To infatuate; to besot. [Not used.]
ASSUA'GE, verb transitive
To soften, in a figurative sense; to allay, mitigate, ease or lessen, as pain or grief; to appease or pacify, as passion or tumult. In strictness, it signifies rather to moderate, than to quiet, tranquilize or reduce to perfect peace or ease.
ASSUA'GE, verb intransitive To abate or subside.
The waters assuaged. Genesis 8:1.
But I apprehend the sense is, the waters were checked; Hebrew.
ASSUA'GED, participle passive Allayed; mitigated; eased; appeased.
ASSUA'GEMENT, noun Mitigation; abatement.
ASSUA'GER, noun One who allays; that which mitigates or abates.
ASSUA'GING, participle present tense Allaying; mitigating; appeasing; abating.
ASSUA'SIVE, adjective [from assuage.] Softening; mitigating; tranquilizing.
ASSUEFAC'TION, noun [Latin assuefacio.] The act of accustoming. [Not used.]
AS'SUETUDE, noun [Latin assuetudo, from assuetus, p. of assuesco, to accustom.] Custom; habit; habitual use.
ASSU'ME, verb transitive [Latin assumo, of ad and sumo, to take.]
1. To take or take upon one. If differs from receive, in not implying an offer to give.
The God assumed his native form again.
2. To take what is not just; to take with arrogant claims; to arrogate; to seize unjustly; as, to assume haughty airs; to assume unwarrantable powers.
3. To take for granted, or without proof; to suppose as a fact; as, to assume a principle in reasoning.
4. To appropriate, or take to one's self; as, to assume the debts of another.
5. To take what is fictitious; to pretend to possess; to take in appearance; as, to assume the garb of humility.
ASSUME, verb intransitive
1. To be arrogant; to claim more than is due.
2. In law, to take upon one's self an obligation; to undertake or promise; as, A assumed upon himself, and promised to pay.
ASSU'MED, participle passive Taken; arrogated; taken without proof; pretended.
ASSU'MER, noun One who assumes; an arrogant person.
ASSU'MING, participle present tense Taking; arrogating; taking for granted; pretending.
ASSU'MING, adjective Taking or disposed to take upon one's self more than is just; haughty; arrogant.
ASSU'MING, noun Presumption.
ASSUMP'SIT, noun [Latin assumo.]
1. In law, a promise or undertaking, founded on a consideration. This promise may be verbal or written; An assumpsit is express or implied; express, when made in words of writing; implied, when in consequence of some benefit or consideration accruing to one person from the acts of another, the law presumes that person has promised to make compensation. In this case, the law, upon a principle of justice, implies or raises a promise, on which an action may be brought to recover the compensation. Thus if A contracts with B to build a house for him, by implication and intendment of law, A promises to pay B for the same, without any express words to that effect.
2. An action founded on a promise. When this action is brought on a debt, it is called indebitatus assumpsit which is an action on the case to recover damages for the non-payment of a debt.
ASSUMPT', verb transitive To take up; to raise. [Barbarous and not used.]
ASSUMPT', noun That which is assumed. [not used.]
ASSUMP'TION, noun [Latin assumptio.]
1. The act of taking to one's self.
2. The act of taking for granted, or supposing a thing without proof; supposition.
This gives no sanction to the unwarrantable assumption that the soul sleeps from the period of death to the resurrection of the body.
3. The thing supposed; a postulate or proposition assumed. In logic, the minor or second proposition in a categorical syllogism.
4. A consequence drawn from the propositions of which an argument is composed.
5. Undertaking; a taking upon one's self.
6. In the Romish Church, the taking up a person into heaven, as the Virgin Mary. Also a festival in honor of the miraculous ascent of Mary, celebrated by the Romish and Greek churches.
7. Adoption.
ASSUMP'TIVE, adjective That is or may be assumed. In heraldry, assumptive arms are such as a person has a right, with the approbation of his sovereign, and of the heralds, to assume, in consequence of an exploit.
ASSU'RANCE, noun ashu'rance. [Latin verus; or securus, contracted.]
1. The act of assuring, or of making a declaration in terms that furnish ground of confidence; as, I trusted to his assurances; or the act of furnishing any ground of full confidence.
Whereof he hath given assurance to all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:31.
2. Firm persuasion; full confidence or trust; freedom from doubt; certain expectation; the utmost certainty.
Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith. Hebrews 10:22.
3. Firmness of mind; undoubting steadiness; intrepidity.
Brave men meet danger with assurance
4. Excess of boldness; impudence; as, his assurance is intolerable.
5. Freedom from excessive modesty, timidity or bashfulness; laudable confidence.
Conversation with the world will give them knowledge and assurance
6. Insurance; a contract to make good a loss. [See Insurance.]
7. Any writing or legal evidence of the conveyance of property.
8. Conviction.
9. In theology, full confidence of one's interest in Christ, and of final salvation.
ASSU'RE, verb transitive ashu're. [See Assurance.]
1. To make certain; to give confidence by a promise, declaration, or other evidence; as, he assured me of his sincerity.
2. To confirm; to make certain or secure.
And it shall be assured to him. Leviticus 27:19.
3. To embolden; to make confident.
And hereby we shall assure our hearts before him. 1 John 3:1.
4. To make secure, with of before the object secured; as, let me be assured of your fidelity.
5. To affiance; to betroth. obsolete
6. To insure; to covenant to indemnify for loss. [See Insure.]
ASSU'RED, participle passive Made certain or confident; made secure; insured.
ASSU'RED, adjective Certain; indubitable; not doubting; bold to excess.
ASSU'REDLY, adverb Certainly; indubitably.
Assuredly thy son Solomon shall reign. 1 Kings 1:13.
ASSU'REDNESS, noun The state of being assured; certainty; full confidence.
ASSU'RER, noun One who assumes; one who insures against loss; an insurer or underwriter.
ASSUR'GENT, adjective [Latin assurgens, assurgo.]
Rising upwards in an arch; as an assurgent stem, in botany.
ASSU'RING, participle present tense Making sure or confident; giving security; confirming.
ASSWA'GE, [See Assuage.]
AS'TACITE,
AS'TACOLITE, noun [Gr. a crawfish and a stone.]
Petrified or fossil crawfish, and other crustaceous animals; called also cancrites, crabites, and gammarolites.
AS'TEISM, noun [Gr. beautiful, polite.]
In rhetoric, genteel irony; a polite and ingenious manner of deriding another.
ASTEN'IC, adjective asten'ic. [Gr. priv. and strength.]
Weak; characterized by extreme debility.
AS'TER, noun [Gr.] A genus of plants, with compound flowers, many of which are cultivated for their beauty, particularly the China aster The species are very numerous.
ASTE'RIAS,
AS'TER, noun [Gr. a star.] Stella marina, sea-star, or star fish, a genus of the order of Molluscas. It has a depressed body with a coriaceous coat; is composed of five or more segments running out from a central part, and furnished with numerous tentacles, with a mouth below, in the center. There are many species.
ASTE'RIATED, adjective [Supra.] Radiated; presenting diverging rays, like a star; as asteriated sapphire.
ASTE'RIATITE, noun Petrified asterias.
AS'TERISK, noun [Gr. a little star, from a star.]
The figure of a star thus, *, used in printing and writing as a reference to a passage or note in the margin, or to fill the space when a name is omitted.
AS'TERISM, noun [Gr. a little star, from a star.]
1. A constellation; a sign in the zodiac.
The figures of the twelve asterisms.
2. An asterisk, or mark of reference. [This is less proper.]
AS'TERITE, or star stone. [See Astrite.]
ASTERN', adverb [a or at, and stern. See stern.]
1. In or at the hinder part of a ship; or towards the hinder part, or backwards; as, to go astern
2. Behind a ship, at any indefinite distance.
AS'TEROID, noun [Gr. a star, and form.]
A name given by Herschel to the newly discovered planets between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
ASTEROID'AL, adjective Resembling a star; or pertaining to the asteroids.
AS'TEROPODE,
ASTEROPO'DIUM, noun [Gr. a star, and a foot.]
A kind of extraneous fossil, of the same substance with the astrite, to which it serves as the base.
ASTEROPO'DIUM, n. [Gr. a star, and a foot.]
A kind of extraneous fossil, of the same substance with the astrite, to which it serves as the base.ASTERT', verb transitive To startle. [Not in use.]
ASTHENOL'OGY, noun [Gr. priv., strength, and discourse.]
The doctrine of diseases arising from debility.
ASTHMA, noun ast'ma. [Gr.]
A shortness of breath; intermitting difficulty of breathing, with cough, straitness and wheezing.
ASTHMAT'IC, adjective Pertaining to asthma; also affected by asthma; as an asthmatic patient.
ASTIPULATE for Stipulate. [Not in use.]
ASTIPULATION for Stipulation [Not in use.]
ASTO'NE,
ASTO'NED,
ASTO'NIED, participle passive Astonished. obsolete
ASTO'NED,
ASTO'NIED, pp. Astonished. Obs.
ASTON'ISH, verb transitive [Latin attono, to astonish; ad and tono. See Tone and Stun.]
To stun or strike dumb with sudden fear, terror, surprise or wonder; to amaze; to confound with some sudden passion.
I Daniel was astonished at the vision. Daniel 8:27.
ASTON'ISHED, participle passive Amazed; confounded with fear, surprise, or admiration.
ASTON'ISHING, participle present tense Amazing; confounding with wonder or fear.
ASTON'ISHING, adjective Very wonderful; of a nature to excite great admiration, or amazement.
ASTON'ISHINGLY, adverb In a manner or degree to excite amazement.
ASTON'ISHINGNESS, noun The quality of exciting astonishment.
ASTON'ISHMENT, noun Amazement; confusion of mind from fear, surprise or admiration, at an extraordinary or unexpected event.
ASTO'NY, verb transitive [See Astonish.] To terrify or astonish. obsolete
ASTOUND', verb transitive To astonish; to strike dumb with amazement.
ASTRAD'DLE, adverb [ a and straddle. See Straddle.]
With the legs across a thing, or on different sides; as, to sit astraddle
AS'TRAGAL, noun [Gr. a turning joint, vertebra, spondylus.]
1. In architecture, a little round molding which surrounds the top or bottom of a column, in the form of a ring; representing a ring or band of iron, to prevent the splitting of the column. it is often cut into beads or berries, and is used in ornamented entablatures to separate the several faces of the architrave.
2. In gunnery, a round molding on cannon near the mouth.
3. In anatomy, the buckle, ankle, or sling bone; the upper bone of the foot supporting the tibia.
4. In botany, the wood pea; the milk vetch; the liquorice vetch.
AS'TRAL, adjective [Latin astrum; Gr. a star.]
Belonging to the stars; starry.
ASTRA'Y, adverb [a and stray. See Stray.]
Out of the right way or proper place, both in a literal and figurative sense. In morals and religion, it signifies wandering from the path of rectitude, from duty and happiness.
Before I was afflicted, I want astray Psalms 129:1.
Cattle go astray when they leave their proper owners or inclosures. See Deuteronomy 22:1.
ASTRE'A, noun [Gr. a star.]
The goddess of justice. A name sometimes given to the sign virgo. The poets feign that justice quitted heaen, in the golden age, to reside on earth; but becoming weary with the iniquities of men, she return to heaven, and commenced a constellation of stars.
ASTRICT', verb intransitive [Latin astringo, astrictus. See Astringe.]
To bind fast, or compress. [Not much used.]
ASTRICT', adjective Compendious; contracted.
ASTRICT'ED, participle passive Bound fast; compressed with bandages.
ASTRICT'ING, participle present tense Binding close; compressing; contracting.
ASTRIC'TION, noun
1. The act of binding close, or compressing with ligatures.
2. A contraction of parts by applications; the stopping of hemorrhages.
ASTRICT'IVE, adjective Binding; compressing; styptic.
ASTRICT'ORY, adjective Astringent; binding; apt to bind.
ASTRIF'EROUS, adjective [Latin astrifer; astrum, a star, and fero, to bear.]
Bearing or containing stars. [Little used.]
ASTRIG'EROUS,
a. [Low Latin astriger.] Bearing stars. [Not used.]
ASTRINGE, verb transitive astrinj'. [Latin astringo, of ad and stringo, to bind fast, to strain. See Strain.]
To compress; to bind together; to contract by pressing the parts together.
ASTRING'ED, participle passive Compressed; straitened; contracted.
ASTRING'ENCY, noun The power of contracting the parts of the body; that quality in medicines which binds, contracts or strengthens parts which are relaxed; as the astringency of acids or bitters.
ASTRING'ENT, adjective Binding; contracting; strengthening; opposed to laxative.
ASTRING'ENT, noun a medicine which binds or contracts the parts of the body to which it is applied, restrains profuse discharges, coagulates animal fluids, condenses and strengthens the solids.
Modern practice inclines to the use of astringent for internal applications, and styptic, for external.
ASTRING'ER, noun A falconer that keeps a goss hawk.
ASTRING'ING, participle present tense Compressing; binding fast; contracting.
AS'TRITE, noun [Gr. a star.]
An extraneous fossil, called also asteria and astroit. Astrites are stones in the form of small, short, angular, or sulcated columns, about an inch and a half long, and the third of an inch in diameter, composed of several regular joints, which, when separated, resemble a radiated star.
Astrites are said to be detached articulations of encrinites, a kind of marine polypier.
ASTROG'RAPHY, noun [Gr. a star, and to describe.]
A description of the stars, or the science of describing them.
AS'TROIT, noun
1. Star-stone. [See Astrite.]
2. A species of petrified madrepore often found in calcarious stones.
AS'TROLABE, noun [Gr. a star, and to take.]
1. An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the sun or stars at sea.
2. A stereographic projection of the sphere, either upon the plane of the equator, the eye being supposed to be in the pole of the world; or upon the plane of the meridian, the eye being in the point of intersection of the equinoctial and the horizon.
3. Among the ancients, the same as the modern armillary sphere.
ASTROL'OGER,
ASTROLO'GIAN, noun [Latin astrologus, of a star, and discourse.]
1. One who professes to foretell future events by the aspects and situation of the stars. Astrologian is little used.
2. Formerly, one who understood the motions of the planets, without predicting.
ASTROLO'GIAN, n. [L. astrologus, of a star, and discourse.]
1. One who professes to foretell future events by the aspects and situation of the stars. Astrologian is little used.2. Formerly, one who understood the motions of the planets, without predicting.ASTROLOG'IC,
ASTROLOG'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to astrology; professing or practicing astrology.
ASTROLOG'ICAL, a. Pertaining to astrology; professing or practicing astrology.
ASTROLOG'ICALLY, adverb In the manner of astrology.
ASTROL'OGIZE, verb intransitive To practice astrology.
ASTROL'OGY, noun [Supra.] A science which teaches to judge of the effects and influences of the stars, and to foretell future events, by their situation and different aspects. This science was formerly in great request, as men ignorantly supposed the heavenly bodies to have a ruling influence over the physical and moral world; but it is now universally exploded by true science and philosophy.
ASTRON'OMER, noun One who is versed in astronomy; one who has a knowledge of the laws of the heavenly orbs, or the principles by which their motions are regulated, with their various phenomena.
ASTRONOM'IC,
ASTRONOM'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to astronomy.
ASTRONOM'ICAL, a. Pertaining to astronomy.
ASTRONOM'ICALLY, adverb in an astronomical manner; by the principles of astronomy.
ASTRON'OMIZE', verb intransitive To study astronomy. [Little used.]
ASTRON'OMY, noun [Gr. a star, and a law or rule.]
The science which teaches the knowledge of the celestial bodies, their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, aspects, eclipses, order, etc. This science depends on observations, made chiefly with instruments, and upon mathematical calculations.
AS'TROSCOPE, noun [Gr. a star, and to view.]
An astronomical instrument, composed of two cones, on whose surface the constellations, with their stars, are delineated, by means of which the stars may be easily known.
AS'TROSCOPY, noun [See Astroscope.] Observation of the stars.
ASTRUT', adverb [See Strut.] In a strutting manner.
ASTU'TE, adjective [Latin astutus, from astus, craft, subtilty.]
Shrewd; sharp; eagle-eyed; critically examining or discerning.
ASUND'ER, adverb [See sunder.]
Apart; into parts; separately; in a divided state.
The Lord hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. Psalms 129:4.
ASWOON', adverb In a swoon. obsolete
ASY'LUM, noun [Latin from Gr. safe from spoil, and spoil, to plunder.]
1. A sanctuary, or place of refuge, where criminals and debtors shelter themselves from justice, and from which they cannot be taken without sacrilege. Temples and altars were anciently asylums; as were tombs, statues and monuments. The ancient heathens allowed asylums for the protection of the vilest criminals; and the Jews had their cities of refuge.
2. Any place of retreat and security.
ASYM'METRAL,
ASYMMET'RICAL, adjective [See Symmetry.]
Not having symmetry. [Little used.]
ASYMMET'RICAL, a. [See Symmetry.]
Not having symmetry. [Little used.]ASYM'METRY, noun [Gr. priv. symmetry, of with, and to measure.]
The want of proportion between the parts of a thing. It is also used in mathematics for incommensurability, when between two quantities there is no common measure.
AS'YMPTOTE, noun [Gr. priv. with, and to fall; not meeting or coinciding.]
A line which approaches nearer and nearer to some curve, but though infinitely extended, would never meet it. This may be conceived as a tangent to a curve at an infinite distance.
ASYMPTOT'ICAL, adjective Belonging to an asymptote. asymptotical lines or curves are such as continually approach, when extended, but never meet.
ASYN'DETON, noun [Gr. priv. and to bind together.]
In grammar, a figure which omits the connective; as, veni, vidi, vici. It stands opposed to polysymdeton, which is a multiplication of connectives.