Every man at his best state is altogether vanity.
Ps. xxxix. 5.
Al*tom"e*ter (&?;), n. [L. altus high + -meter.] A theodolite. Knight.
Al"to-re*lie"vo (&?;), n. Alto- rilievo.
||Al"to-ri*lie*vo (&?;), n.; pl. Alto-rilievos (&?;). [It.] (Sculp.) High relief; sculptured work in which the figures project more than half their thickness; as, this figure is an alto-rilievo or in alto- rilievo.
When the figure stands only half out, it is called mezzo- rilievo, demi-rilievo, or medium relief; when its projection is less than one half, basso-rilievo, bas-relief, or low relief.
Al"tri*cal (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Like the articles.
||Al*tri"ces (&?;), n. pl. [L., nourishes, pl. of altrix.] (Zoöl.) Nursers, -- a term applied to those birds whose young are hatched in a very immature and helpless condition, so as to require the care of their parents for some time; -- opposed to præcoces.
Al"tru*ism (&?;), n. [F. altruisme (a word of Comte's), It. altrui of or to others, fr. L. alter another.] Regard for others, both natural and moral; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness; -- opposed to egoism or selfishness. [Recent] J. S. Mill.
Al"tru*ist, n. One imbued with altruism; -- opposed to egoist.
Al`tru*is"tic (&?;), a. [Cf. F. altruiste, a. See Altruism..] Regardful of others; beneficent; unselfish; -- opposed to egoistic or selfish. Bain. -- Al`tru*is"tic*al*ly, adv.
Al"u*del (&?;), n. [F. & Sp. aludel, fr. Ar. aluthl.] (Chem.) One of the pear-shaped pots open at both ends, and so formed as to be fitted together, the neck of one into the bottom of another in succession; -- used in the process of sublimation. Ure.
||Al"u*la (&?;), n. [NL., dim. of L. ala a wing.] (Zoöl.) A false or bastard wing. See under Bastard.
Al"u*lar (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the alula.
Al"um (&?;), n. [OE. alum, alom, OF. alum, F. alun, fr. L. alumen alum.] (Chem.) A double sulphate formed of aluminium and some other element (esp. an alkali metal) or of aluminium. It has twenty-four molecules of water of crystallization.
Common alum is the double sulphate of aluminium and potassium. It is white, transparent, very astringent, and crystallizes easily in octahedrons. The term is extended so as to include other double sulphates similar to alum in formula.
Al"um (&?;), v. t. To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum. Ure.
||A*lu"men (&?;), n. [L.] (Chem.) Alum.
A*lu"mi*na (&?;), n. [L. alumen, aluminis. See Alum.] (Chem.) One of the earths, consisting of two parts of aluminium and three of oxygen, Al2O3.
It is the oxide of the metal aluminium, the base of aluminous salts, a constituent of a large part of the earthy siliceous minerals, as the feldspars, micas, scapolites, etc., and the characterizing ingredient of common clay, in which it exists as an impure silicate with water, resulting from the decomposition of other aluminous minerals. In its natural state, it is the mineral corundum.
A*lu`mi*nate (&?;), n. (Chem.) A compound formed from the hydrate of aluminium by the substitution of a metal for the hydrogen.
A*lu"mi*na`ted (&?;). a. Combined with alumina.
Al"u*mine (l"*mn), n. [F.] Alumina. Davy.
Al`u*min"ic (l`*mn"l), a. Of or containing aluminium; as, aluminic phosphate.
A*lu`mi*nif"er*ous (&?;), a. [L. alumen alum + -ferous: cf. F. aluminifère.] Containing alum.
A*lu"mi*ni*form (&?;), a. [L. alumen + -form.] Having the form of alumina.
Al`u*min"i*um (l`*mn"*m), n. [L. alumen. See Alum.] (Chem.) The metallic base of alumina. This metal is white, but with a bluish tinge, and is remarkable for its resistance to oxidation, and for its lightness, having a specific gravity of about 2.6. Atomic weight 27.08. Symbol Al.
Aluminium bronze or gold, a pale gold-colored alloy of aluminium and copper, used for journal bearings, etc.
A*lu"mi*nize (*l*m*nz), v. t. To treat or impregnate with alum; to alum.
A*lu"mi*nous (*l*m*ns), a. [L. aluminosus, fr. alumen alum: cf. F. alumineux.] Pertaining to or containing alum, or alumina; as, aluminous minerals, aluminous solution.
A*lu"mi*num (*l*m*nm), n. See Aluminium.
Al"um*ish (&?;), a. Somewhat like alum.
||A*lum"na (&?;), n. fem.; pl. Alumnæ (&?;) . [L. See Alumnus.] A female pupil; especially, a graduate of a school or college.
||A*lum"nus (&?;), n.; pl. Alumni (&?;). [L., fr. alere to nourish.] A pupil; especially, a graduate of a college or other seminary of learning.
Al"um root` (&?;). (Bot.) A North American herb (Heuchera Americana) of the Saxifrage family, whose root has astringent properties.
{ Al"um schist" (&?;), Al"um shale" (&?;), } (Min.) A variety of shale or clay slate, containing iron pyrites, the decomposition of which leads to the formation of alum, which often effloresces on the rock.
Al"um stone` (&?;). (Min.) A subsulphate of alumina and potash; alunite.
Al"u*nite (&?;), n. (Min.) Alum stone.
A*lu"no*gen (&?;), n. [F. alun alum + -gen.] (Min.) A white fibrous mineral frequently found on the walls of mines and quarries, chiefly hydrous sulphate of alumina; -- also called feather alum, and hair salt.
Al"ure (&?;), n. [OF. alure, aleure, walk, gait, fr. aler (F. aller) to go.] A walk or passage; -- applied to passages of various kinds.
The sides of every street were covered with fresh alures of marble.
T. Warton.
Al"u*ta"ceous (&?;), a. [L. alutacius, fr. aluta soft leather.] 1. Leathery.