ALEGER, al'e-j[.e]r, _adj._ (_Bacon_) lively, cheerful. [O. Fr.
_alègre_--L. _al[=a]cr-em_.]
ALEGGE, an obsolete form of ALLEGE.
ALEMBIC, al-em'bik, _n._ a vessel used by the old chemists in distillation.
[Ar. _al_, the, _anb[=i]q_--Gr. _ambiks_, a cup.]
ALENGTH, a-length', _adv._ at full length. [A.S. pfx. _a-_, on, and
LENGTH.]
ALERCE, a-lers', _n._ the wood of the sandarac-tree: the Chilian _Arbor
vitæ_--both of the pine family. [Sp.--Ar. _al arza_, cedar.]
ALERT, al-[.e]rt', _adj._ watchful: brisk.--_n._ a sudden attack or
surprise.--_adv._ ALERT'LY.--_n._ ALERT'NESS.--UPON THE ALERT, upon the
watch. [Fr.--It. _all' erta_, on the erect--_erto_, L. _erectus_, erect.]
ALEW, a-l[=u]' (_Spens._) an obsolete form of HALLOO.
ALEWIFE, [=a]l'w[=i]f, _n._ a fish of the same genus as the shad, about a
foot in length, common on the east coast of North America. [Said to be a
corr. of _aloofe_, the Indian name of a fish.]
ALEXANDRIAN, al-egz-an'dri-an, _adj._ relating to Alexandria in Egypt, or
its school of philosophy: relating to Alexander.
ALEXANDRINE, al-egz-an'drin, _n._ a rhyming verse of twelve syllables, six
iambic feet, so-called from its use in old French poems on _Alexander_ the
Great. It is the ordinary verse of French tragedy. French Alexandrines are
arranged in couplets, alternately acatalectic with masculine rhymes, and
hypercatalectic with feminine rhymes.
ALFA, al'fa, _n._ an African name for esparto grass--also spelt HALFA.
ALFALFA, al-fal'fa, _n._ a Spanish name for a variety of lucerne--used also
in some parts of the United States. [Sp. _alfalfa_, three-leaved grass; Ar.
_alfacfacah_.]
ALFRESCO, al-fresk'o, _adv._ on the fresh, as to paint _al fresco_ = on the
fresh plaster: in the fresh or cool air. [It.]
ALGÆ, al'j[=e], _n._ (_bot._) a division of plants, embracing seaweeds.
[L., pl. of _alga_, seaweed.]
ALGATES, al'g[=a]ts, _adv._ (_obs._) always, altogether, at all events,
nevertheless.--Also AL'GATE. [Lit. _alle gate_, every way. See GATE.]
ALGEBRA, al'je-bra, _n._ a method of calculating by symbols--by means of
letters employed to represent the numbers, and signs to represent their
relations, thus forming a kind of universal arithmetic.--_adjs._
ALGEBR[=A]'IC, -AL, pertaining to algebra.--_n._ ALGEBR[=A]'IST, one
skilled in algebra. [It. and Sp., from Ar. _al-jebr_, the resetting of
anything broken, hence combination; _jabara_, to reunite.]
ALGERINE, al'je-r[=e]n, _adj._ of or belonging to Algeria in Northern
Africa.--_n._ a native of Algeria: a pirate.
ALGORISM, al'go-rizm, _n._ the Arabic system of numeration:
arithmetic.--Also AL'GORITHM [Through O. Fr. and Late L. from Ar.
_al-khow[=a]razm[=i]_, the native of Khw[=a]razm, the mathematician Abu
Ja'far Mohammed Ben Musa (9th century).]
ALGOUS, al'gus, _adj._ relating to or like the algæ or seaweeds.
ALGUAZIL, al-gwaz'il, _n._ in Spain, a warrant officer or sergeant.
[Sp.--Ar. _al-waz[=i]r_. See VIZIER.]
ALGUM, al'gum. Same as ALMUG.
ALHAMBRESQUE, al-ham'bresk, _adj._ after the style of the rich
ornamentation of the Alhambra, a palace of the Moorish kings of Granada in
Spain.
ALIAS, [=a]'li-as, _adv._ otherwise.--_n._ an assumed name:--_pl._
A'LIASES. [L. _alias_, at another time, otherwise--_alius_, Gr. _allos_,
other.]
ALIBI, al'i-b[=i], _n._ the plea that a person charged with a crime was
elsewhere when it was committed. [L.--_alius_, other, _ibi_, there.]
ALICANT, al'i-kant, _n._ a Spanish wine formerly much esteemed, said to
have been made near Alicante in Spain.
ALIEN, [=a]l'yen, _adj._ foreign: different in nature: adverse to.--_n._
one belonging to another country: one not entitled to the rights of
citizenship.--_n._ AL'IENAGE, state of being an alien. [L.
_alienus_--_alius_, other.]
ALIENATE, [=a]l'yen-[=a]t, _v.t._ to transfer a right or title to another:
to withdraw the affections: to misapply.--_adj._ withdrawn:
estranged.--_n._ ALIENABIL'ITY.--_adj._ AL'IENABLE, capable of being
transferred to another.--_ns._ ALIEN[=A]'TION; ALIEN[=A]'TOR.--_adj._
AL'IENED, made alien, estranged.--_n._ AL'IENISM, the position of being a
foreigner. [L. See ALIEN.]
ALIENIST, [=a]l'yen-ist, _n._ one who specially treats mental diseases.
[Fr.]
ALIFE, a-l[=i]f', _adv._ (_obs._) on my life, as one's life, excessively.
ALIGHT, a-l[=i]t', _v.i._ to come down, as from a horse (_from_): to
descend: to land anywhere (_upon_): to fall upon. [A.S. _alíhtan_, to come
down. See LIGHT, _v._]
ALIGHT, a-l[=i]t', _adj._ on fire: lighted up. [_a_, on, and LIGHT. See
LIGHT, _n._]
ALIGN, a-l[=i]n', _v.t._ to regulate by a line: to arrange in line, as
troops.--_n._ ALIGN'MENT, a laying out by a line: arrangement of soldiers
in a line or lines: the ground-plan of a railway or road. [Fr.
_aligner_--L. _ad_, and _linea_, a line.]
ALIKE, a-l[=i]k', _adj._ like one another: having resemblance.--_adv._ in
the same manner or form: equally: similarly. [A.S. _gelíc_, _anlíc_,
_onlíc_. See LIKE.]
ALIMENT, al'i-ment, _n._ nourishment: food: provision for maintenance,
alimony: support.--_v.t._ to support, sustain: make provision for the
maintenance of.--_adjs._ ALIMENT'AL, supplying food; ALIMENT'ARY,
pertaining to aliment: nutritive.--_ns._ ALIMENT[=A]'TION, the act or state
of nourishing or of being nourished; ALIMENT'IVENESS (_phrenol._), desire
for food or drink; AL'IMONY, an allowance for support made to a wife when
legally separated from her husband, or temporarily while the process is
pending.--ALIMENTARY CANAL, the principal part of the digestive apparatus
of animals, in man extending, with convolutions, about 30 feet from the
mouth to the anus--including pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, small and large
intestine, &c. [L. _alimentum--al[)e]re_, to nourish.]
ALINEATION. See ALLINEATION.
ALIPED, al'i-ped, _adj._ wing-footed.--_n._ an animal whose toes are
connected by a membrane serving as a wing, as the bat. [L. _alipes_--_ala_,
a wing, and _pes_, _pedis_, a foot.]
ALIQUANT, al'i-kwant, _adj._ an aliquant part of a number is one that will
not divide it without a remainder, thus 5 is an aliquant part of 12. [L.
_aliquantum_, somewhat, _alius_, another, and _quantus_, how great.]
ALIQUOT, al'i-kwot, _adj._ such a part of a number as will divide it
without a remainder. [L. _aliquot_, some, several--_alius_, other, _quot_,
how many.]
ALISMA, al-iz'ma, _n._ a small genus of aquatic plants, the chief being the
common water-plantain. [Gr.]
ALIVE, a-l[=i]v', _adj._ in life: susceptible. [Prep. _a = on_, and A.S.
_lífe_, dat. of _líf_, life.]
ALIZARIN, a-liz'a-r[=e]n, _n._ a colouring matter used in the dyeing of
Turkey red, formerly extracted from madder, the commercial name of which in
the Levant is _alizari_. [Fr.; Ar. _al_, the, and _'aç[=a]rah_, juice
pressed out.]
ALKAHEST, ALCAHEST, al'ka-hest, _n._ the universal solvent of the
alchemists. [A coinage of Paracelsus--on Arabic analogies.]
ALKALI, al'ka-li, or -l[=i], _n._ (_chem._) a substance which combines with
an acid and neutralises it, forming a salt. Potash, soda, and lime are
alkalies; they have an acrid taste (that of soap), and turn vegetable blues
to green:--_pl._ AL'KALIES.--_n._ ALKALES'CENCY, tendency to become
alkaline.--_adj._ ALKALES'CENT, tending to become alkaline: slightly
alkaline.--_n._ ALKALIM'ETER, an instrument for measuring the strength of
alkalies.--_adj._ ALKALINE (al'ka-l[=i]n, or -lin), having the properties
of an alkali.--_n._ ALKALIN'ITY.--_v.t._ AL'KALISE, to render
alkaline:--_pr.p._ al'kal[=i]sing; _pa.p._ al'kal[=i]sed. See ACID. [Ar.
_al_-_qal[=i]y_, ashes.]
ALKALIFY, al'ka-li-f[=i], _v.t._ to convert into an alkali.--_v.i._ to
become alkaline:--_pr.p._ al'kalifying; _pa.p._ al'kalif[=i]ed.--_adj._
ALKALIF[=I]'ABLE, capable of being converted into an alkali. [ALKALI, and
L. _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
ALKALOID, al'ka-loid, _n._ a vegetable principle possessing in some degree
alkaline properties.--_adj._ pertaining to or resembling alkali. [ALKALI,
and Gr. _eidos_, form or resemblance.]
ALKANET, al'ka-net, _n._ a plant, native of the Levant and Southern Europe,
cultivated for its root, which yields a red colouring matter: the dye
itself. [Sp. _alcaneta_.]
ALKORAN, _n._ Same as ALCORAN.
ALL, awl, _adj._ the whole of: every one of: any whatever.--_adv._ wholly:
completely: entirely: (_Shak._) only, alone.--_n._ the whole: everything:
the totality of things--the universe.--_n._ ALL'-FATH'ER, God.--ALL
(_obs._), entirely, altogether, as in 'all to-brake' (Judges, ix. 53). The
prefix _to-_ originally belonged to the verb (_tó brecan_), but as verbs
with this prefix were rarely used without _all_, the fact was forgotten,
and the _to_ was erroneously regarded as belonging to the _all_. Hence came
into use _all_-_to_ = wholly, utterly; ALL BUT, everything short of,
almost; ALL IN ALL, all things in all respects, all or everything
together--(_adverbially_) altogether; ALL OVER, thoroughly, entirely; ALL
OVER WITH, finished, done with (also _coll._, ALL UP with); ALL RIGHT, a
colloquial phrase expressing assent or approbation; ALL'S ONE, it is just
the same; ALL TO ONE (_obs._), altogether.--AFTER ALL, when everything has
been considered, nevertheless; AND ALL, and everything else; AND ALL THAT,
and all the rest of it, _et cetera_; AT ALL, in the least degree or to the
least extent.--FOR ALL, notwithstanding; FOR GOOD AND ALL, finally.--ONCE
FOR ALL, once only. [A.S. _all_, _eal_; Ger. _all_, Gael. _uile_, W.
_oll._]
ALLAH, al'la, _n._ the Arabic name of the one God. [Ar. _al-ilâh_, 'the
worthy to be adored.']
ALLANTOIS, a-lan't[=o]-is, _n._ a membranous sac-like appendage for
effecting oxygenation in the embryos of mammals, birds, and
reptiles.--_adjs._ ALLANT[=O]'IC, ALLAN'TOID. [Gr. _allas_, a sausage.]
ALLAY, al-l[=a]', _v.t._ to lighten, relieve: to make quiet or calm.--_n._
ALLAY'MENT (_obs._), state of being allayed: state of rest: that which
allays. [M. E. forms, _aleggen_, _aleyen_ (A.S. _a-lecgan_; lecgan, causal
of _licgan_, to lie); identical in form, and accordingly confounded in
meaning with M. E. words of Latin origin; _alegge_ (later _allege_, now
obs.)--L. _allevi[=a]re_; _alaye_ (modern _allay_, _alloy_)--L.
_allig[=a]re_; _aleye_ (obs.)--L. _alleg[=a]re_; _alegge_ (modern
_allege_)--Low L. _ex-litig[=a]re_.]
ALLAY, an obsolete form of ALLOY.
ALLEDGE. Old spelling of ALLEGE.
ALLEGE, al-lej', _v.t._ to produce as an argument or plea: to assert:
(_B_.) to give proofs--_n._ ALLEG[=A]'TION, an assertion.--_p.adj._
ALLEGED', cited, quoted. [Through O. Fr. forms from Low L.
_ex-litig[=a]re_, to clear at law. See ALLAY above.]
ALLEGIANCE, al-l[=e]j'i-ans, _n._ the duty of a subject to his liege or
sovereign.--_adj._ ALL[=E]'GIANT. [L. _ad_, to, and LIEGE.]
ALLEGORY, al'le-gor-i, _n._ a description of one thing under the image of
another.--_adjs._ ALLEGOR'IC, -al, in the form of an allegory:
figurative.--_adv._ ALLEGOR'ICALLY.--_v.t._ AL'LEGORISE, to put in form of
an allegory.--_v.i._ to use allegory.--_ns._ AL'LEGORIST, one who uses
allegory; ALLEGORIZ[=A]'TION. [Gr. _all[=e]goria_; _allos_, other, and
_agoreuein_, to speak.]
ALLEGRO, al-l[=e]'gr[=o], _adv._ and _adj._ (_mus._) a word denoting a
brisk movement.--_adv._ and _adj._ ALLEGRET'TO, somewhat brisk. [It.--L.
_alacer_, brisk.]
ALLELUIA, ALLELUIAH, al-le-l[=oo]'ya. Same as HALLELUIAH.
ALLEMANDE, al'le-mand, _n._ a name given to various Germain dances:
(_mus._) the first movement after the prelude in a suite. [Fr. _Allemande_,
German.]
ALLENARLY, al-len'ar-li, _adv._ solely, only--obsolete save only in Scotch
conveyancing. [All, and _anerly_, formed from _ane_, one.]
ALLEVIATE, al-l[=e]v'i-[=a]t, _v.t._ to make light: to mitigate.--_ns._
ALLEVI[=A]'TION; ALLEV'I[=A]TOR. [L. _ad_, _levis_, light.]
ALLEY, al'li, _n._ a walk in a garden or shrubbery: a passage in a city
narrower than a street: a long narrow enclosure for playing at bowls or
skittles:--_pl._ ALL'EYS. [O. Fr. _alee_ (Fr. _allée_), a passage, from
_aller_, to go, O. Fr. _aner_, most prob. from L. _adn[=a]re_, to go to by
water, or _adit[=a]re_, _ad[=i]re_.]
ALLEY, ALLY, al'li, _n._ a name given by boys to a choice taw or large
marble. [Contraction of _alabaster_, of which it was originally made.]
ALL-FIRED, awl-f[=i]rd', _adj._ (_slang_) infernal.--_adv._ excessively. [A
softening of _hell-fired_, U.S.]
ALL-FOOLS'-DAY, awl-f[=oo]lz'-d[=a], _n._ April first. [From the sportive
deceptions practised on that day.]
ALL-FOURS, awl-f[=o]rz', _n.pl._ (preceded by _on_) on four legs, or on two
hands and two feet: a game at cards played by two, so called from the four
particulars by which the reckoning is made--_high_, _low_, _Jack_, and _the
game_: also a game at dominoes.
ALL-HAIL, awl-h[=a]l', _interj._ all health! a phrase of salutation. [See
HAIL, interj.]
ALL-HALLOW, awl-hal'l[=o], ALL-HALLOWS, awl-hal'l[=o]z, _n._ the day of all
the holy ones. See ALL-SAINTS. [ALL and HALLOW.]
ALL-HALLOW-MASS. See HALLOW-MASS.
ALL-HALLOWN, awl-hal'l[=o]n, _n._ (_Shak._) fine summer weather late in the
season--near All-hallows-day.
ALL-HALLOW-TIDE, awl-hal'l[=o]-t[=i]d, _n._ the time near All-hallows-day.
[See HALLOW and TIDE.]
ALLHEAL, awl-h[=e]l', _n._ (_obs._) a balsam for all wounds, a
panacea--applied to various plants, as the mistletoe, the great valerian,
&c.
ALLIACEOUS, al-li-[=a]'shus, _adj._ pertaining to, or having the properties
of allium or garlic. [L. _allium_, garlic.]
ALLIANCE, al-l[=i]'ans, _n._ state of being allied: union by marriage or
treaty. [See ALLY.]
ALLIGATION, al-li-g[=a]'shun, _n._ (_arith._) a rule for finding the price
of a compound of ingredients of different values. [L. _alligatio_, a
binding together--_ad_, to, and _lig[=a]re_, to bind.]
ALLIGATOR, al'li-g[=a]-tur, _n._ an animal of the crocodile genus, found in
America. [Sp. _el lagarto_--L. _lacerta_, a lizard.]
ALLINEATION, ALINEATION, al-lin-e-[=a]'shun, _n._ the position of two or
more bodies in a straight line with a given point.
ALLISION, al-lizh'un, _n._ a striking against. [L. _allisio_, from
_allid[)e]re_--_ad_, and _læd[)e]re_, to hurt.]
ALLITERATION, al-lit-[.e]r-[=a]'shun, _n._ the recurrence of the same
letter at the beginning of two or more words following close to each other,
as in Churchill's '_a_pt _a_lliteration's _a_rtful _a_id:' the recurrence
of the same initial sound in the first accented syllables of words: initial
rhyme--the characteristic structure of versification of Old English and
Teutonic languages generally. Every alliterative couplet had two accented
syllables, containing the same initial consonants, one in each of the two
sections.--_v.i._ ALLIT'ERATE, to begin with the same letter: to constitute
alliteration.--_adj._ ALLIT'ERATIVE. [Fr.--L. _ad_, to, and _litera_, a
letter.]
ALLOCATE, al'lo-k[=a]t, _v.t._ to place: to assign to each his share.--_n._
ALLOC[=A]'TION, act of allocating: allotment: an allowance made upon an
account. [L. _alloc[=a]re_, _ad_, to, and _loc[=a]re_, _locus_, a place.]
ALLOCUTION, al-lo-k[=u]'shun, _n._ a formal address, esp. of the Pope to
his clergy. [L. _allocutionem_--_ad_, to, and _loqui_, _locutus_, to
speak.]
ALLODIAL, al-l[=o]'di-al, _adj._ held independent of a superior:
freehold--opp. to _Feudal_.
ALLODIUM, al-l[=o]'di-um, _n._ freehold estate: land held in the possession
of the owner without being subject to a feudal superior.--Also ALLOD, ALOD.
[Low L. _all[=o]dium_--Ger. _alôd_, _allôd_.]
ALLOGRAPH, al'l[=o]-graf, _n._ a writing made by one person on behalf of
another. [Gr. _allos_, other, _graph[=e]_, writing.]
ALLOPATHY, al-lop'a-thi, _n._ a name given by homeopathists to the current
or orthodox medical practice, to distinguish it from their own
Homeopathy.--_adj._ ALLOPATH'IC--_ns._ ALLOP'ATHIST, ALLOPATH. [Coined by
Hahnemann (1755-1843), Ger. _allopathie_--Gr. _allos_, other, _patheia_,
_pathos_, suffering.]
ALLOPHYLIAN, al-l[=o]-f[=i]l'i-an, _adj._ of another race, alien--applied
by Prichard (1786-1848) to the Turanian or non-Aryan and non-Semitic
languages of Europe and Asia.--_n._ ALLOPHYLE'. [L.--Gr. _alloph[=y]los_,
of another tribe; _allos_, other, _ph[=y]l[=e]_, a tribe.]
ALLOT, al-lot', _v.t._ to divide as by lot: to distribute in portions: to
parcel out:--_pr.p._ allot'ting; _pa.p._ allot'ted.--_n._ ALLOT'MENT, the
act of allotting: part or share allotted: a portion of a field assigned to
a cottager to labour for himself. [O. Fr. _aloter_; _lot_ is Teut., seen in
Goth. _hlauts_, A.S. _hlot_.]
ALLOTROPY, al-lot'ro-pi, _n._ the property in some elements, as carbon, of
existing in more than one form.--_adj._ ALLOT'ROPIC. [Gr.; _allos_,
another, and _tropos_, form.]
ALLOVERISHNESS, awl-[=o]'v[.e]r-ish-nes, _n._ a general sense of
indisposition over the whole body, a feeling of discomfort,
malaise.--_adj._ ALL[=O]'VERISH.
ALLOW, al-low', _v.t._ to grant: to permit: to acknowledge: to abate: make
allowance for: (_obs._) invest, entrust: assert, say (_coll._ in
U.S.).--_adj._ ALLOW'ABLE, that may be allowed: not forbidden:
lawful.--_n._ ALLOW'ABLENESS.--_adv._ ALLOW'ABLY.--_n._ ALLOW'ANCE, that
which is allowed: a limited portion of anything: a stated quantity--of
money, &c., to meet expenses: abatement: approbation: permission.--_v.t._
to put any one upon an allowance: to supply anything in limited
quantities.--TO MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR, to take excusing circumstances into
account. [O. Fr. _alouer_, to grant--L. _ad_, to, and _loc[=a]re_, to
place.--ALLOW, in the sense of _approve_ or _sanction_, as used in _B._ and
by old writers, has its root in L. _allaud[=a]re_--_ad-_, and _laud[=a]re_,
to praise.]
ALLOY, al-loi', _v.t._ to mix one metal with another: to reduce the purity
of a metal by mixing a baser one with it: (_fig._) to debase: to temper or
qualify.--_n._ a mixture of two or more metals (when mercury is one of the
ingredients, it is an _amalgam_): a baser metal mixed with a finer:
anything that deteriorates.--_n._ ALLOY'AGE, the act of alloying or mixing
metals: a mixture of different metals. [O. Fr. _alei_ (Fr. _aloi_),
_aleier_--L. _allig[=a]re_. The modern Fr. words _aloi_ and _aloyer_ were
confounded with Fr. _à loi_, to law, and the same confusion was transferred
into English.]
ALL-SAINTS'-DAY, awl-s[=a]nts'-d[=a], _n._ November 1, a feast of the
Church in honour of all the saints collectively. [See ALL-HALLOWS.]
ALL-SOULS'-DAY, awl-s[=o]lz'-d[=a], _n._ November 2, a feast of the Roman
Catholic Church kept in commemoration of all the faithful departed, for the
eternal repose of their souls.
ALLSPICE, awl'sp[=i]s, _n._ a name given to a kind of spice called Pimenta
or Jamaica pepper, from its being supposed to combine the flavour of
cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. [ALL and SPICE.]
ALLUDE, al-l[=u]d', _v.i._ to mention slightly, or convey an indirect
reference to, in passing: to refer to.--_n._ ALL[=U]'SION, an indirect
reference.--_adj._ ALLUS'IVE, alluding to: hinting at: referring to
indirectly.--_adv._ ALLUS'IVELY.--ALLUSIVE ARMS (_her._), also _canting_ or
_punning_ arms, and _armes parlantes_, those in which the charges convey
reference to the bearer's name or title, as the column of the Colonna
family, the Vele calf (O. Fr. _veël_, a calf), the Arundel martlets (O. Fr.
_arondel_, a young swallow). [L. _allud[)e]re_--_ad_, at, _lud[)e]re_,
_lusum_, to play.]