{ As"phalt (&?;), As*phal"tum (&?;), } n. [Gr. &?;, of eastern origin: cf. F. asphalte.] 1. Mineral pitch, Jews' pitch, or compact native bitumen. It is brittle, of a black or brown color and high luster on a surface of fracture; it melts and burns when heated, leaving no residue. It occurs on the surface and shores of the Dead Sea, which is therefore called Asphaltites, or the Asphaltic Lake. It is found also in many parts of Asia, Europe, and America. See Bitumen.
2. A composition of bitumen, pitch, lime, and gravel, used for forming pavements, and as a water-proof cement for bridges, roofs, etc.; asphaltic cement. Artificial asphalt is prepared from coal tar, lime, sand, etc.
Asphalt stone, Asphalt rock, a limestone found impregnated with asphalt.
As"phalt, v. t. To cover with asphalt; as, to asphalt a roof; asphalted streets.
||As`phalte" (&?;), n. [F. See Asphalt.] Asphaltic mastic or cement. See Asphalt, 2.
As*phal"tic (&?;), a. Pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing, asphalt; bituminous. "Asphaltic pool." "Asphaltic slime." Milton.
As*phal"tite (&?;), a. Asphaltic.
As*phal"tite (&?;), a. Asphaltic. Bryant.
||As*phal"tus, n. See Asphalt.
As"pho*del (&?;), n. [L. asphodelus, Gr. &?;. See Daffodil.] (Bot.) A general name for a plant of the genus Asphodelus. The asphodels are hardy perennial plants, several species of which are cultivated for the beauty of their flowers.
The name is also popularly given to species of other genera. The asphodel of the early English and French poets was the daffodil. The asphodel of the Greek poets is supposed to be the Narcissus poeticus. Dr. Prior.
Pansies, and violets, and asphodel.
Milton.
As*phyc"tic (&?;), a. Pertaining to asphyxia.
{ ||As*phyx"i*a (&?;), As*phyx"y (&?;), } n. [NL. asphyxia, fr. Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; to throb, beat.] (Med.) Apparent death, or suspended animation; the condition which results from interruption of respiration, as in suffocation or drowning, or the inhalation of irrespirable gases.
As*phyx"i*al (&?;), a. Of or relating to asphyxia; as, asphyxial phenomena.
As*phyx"i*ate (&?;), v. t. To bring to a state of asphyxia; to suffocate. [Used commonly in the past pple.]
As*phyx"i*a`ted (&?;), As*phyx"ied (&?;), p. p. In a state of asphyxia; suffocated.
As*phyx`i*a"tion (&?;), n. The act of causing asphyxia; a state of asphyxia.
As"pic (&?;), n. [F. See Asp.] 1. The venomous asp. [Chiefly poetic] Shak. Tennyson.