ALCOVE, al'k[=o]v, or al-k[=o]v', _n._ a recess in a room: any recess: a
shady retreat. [Sp. _alcoba_, a place in a room railed off to hold a
bed--Ar. _al_, the, _qobbah_, a vault.]
ALDEHYDE, al'd[=e]-h[=i]d, _n._ a volatile fluid with a suffocating smell,
obtained by the oxidation of alcohol: a large class of compounds
intermediate between alcohols and acids. [From _Al. dehyd._, a contr. for
_Alcohol dehydrogenatum_.]
ALDER, awl'd[.e]r, _n._ a tree related to the birch, usually growing in
moist ground. [A.S. _alor_; Ger. _erle_; L. _alnus_.]
ALDER-LIEFEST, awl-d[.e]r-l[=e]f'est, _adj._ (_Shak._) most beloved of all.
[The M. E. gen. pl. forms _alra_, _alre_, _aller_, _alder_, survived till
about 1600; for _liefest_, see LIEF.]
ALDERMAN, awl'd[.e]r-man, _n._ in English and Irish boroughs, a civic
dignitary next in rank to the mayor.--They are usually chosen for three
years; those of London are chosen for life.--The name was assumed
incongruously enough for superior members of the county councils set up in
England in 1888: in Anglo-Saxon times, the governor of a shire until by
Canute displaced by the earl; thenceforward, any head man of a
guild.--_adjs._ ALDERMAN'IC, AL'DERMANLIKE, AL'DERMANLY, pompous and
portly. [A.S. _ealdor_ (from _eald_, old), senior, chief; _ealdorman_,
ruler, king, chief magistrate.]
ALDERN, awl'd[.e]rn, _adj._ made of alder.
ALDINE, al'd[=i]n, _adj._ applied to books printed by Aldus Manutius of
Venice, in 16th century.
ALE, [=a]l, _n._ a beverage made from an infusion of malt by fermentation:
a festival, so called from the liquor drunk.--_ns._ ALE'BERRY, a beverage
made from ale; ALE'CONNER, an ale-taster, a civic officer appointed to test
the quality of the ale brewed--A.S. _cunnere_, a trier; ALE'-HOUSE, a house
in which ale is sold. [A.S. _alu_; Ice. _öl_.]
ALEATORY, [=a]'l[=e]-a-t[=o]-ri, _adj._ depending on the throw of the dice:
dependent on certain contingencies. [L. _[=a]le[=a]t[=o]rius_, _[=a]lea_, a
die.]