ASWAY, a-sw[=a]', _adv._ swaying.
ASWIM, a-swim', _adv._ afloat.
ASWING, a-swing', _adv._ swinging.
ASWOON, a-sw[=oo]n', _adv._ in a swoon.
ASYLUM, a-s[=i]l'um, _n._ a place of refuge for debtors and for such as
were accused of some crime: an institution for the care or relief of the
unfortunate, such as the blind or insane: any place of refuge or
protection. [L.--Gr. _asylon_--_a_, neg., _syl[=e]_, right of seizure.]
ASYMMETRY, a-sim'e-tri, _n._ want of symmetry or proportion between
parts.--_adjs._ ASYMMET'RIC, -AL.--_adv._ ASYMMET'RICALLY. [Gr. See
SYMMETRY.]
ASYMPTOTE, a'sim-t[=o]t, _n._ (_math._) a line that continually approaches
nearer to some curve without ever meeting it.--_adjs._ ASYMPTOT'IC,
-AL.--_adv._ ASYMPTOT'ICALLY. [Gr. _asympt[=o]tos_, not coinciding--_a_,
not, _syn_, with, _pt[=o]tos_, apt to fall, _pipt-ein_, to fall.]
ASYNARTETE, a-sin'ar-t[=e]t, _adj._ and _n._ not connected, consisting of
two members having different rhythms; a verse of such a kind.--Also
ASYN'ARTETIC. [Gr.; _a_, neg., _syn_, together, _arta-ein_, to knit.]
ASYNCHRONISM, a-sin'kro-nizm, _n._ want of synchronism or correspondence in
time.--_adj._ ASYN'CHRONOUS.
ASYNDETON, a-sin'de-ton, _n._ (_rhet._) a figure in which the conjunctions
are omitted, as in Matt. x. 8.--_adj._ ASYNDET'IC. [Gr.; _a_, neg.,
_syndetos_, bound together, _syn_, together, _dein_, to bind.]
ASYNTACTIC, as-in-tak'tik, _adj._ loosely put together, irregular,
ungrammatical. [Gr.; _a_, neg., _syntaktos_, _syntass-ein_, to put in order
together.]
ASYSTOLE, a-sis'to-l[=e], _n._ (_med._) the condition of a heart the left
ventricle of which is unable to empty itself.--Also ASYS'TOLISM. [Made up
of Gr. _a_, neg., _systol[=e]_, contraction.]
AT, at, _prep._ denoting presence, nearness, or relation. Often used
elliptically, as in 'At him, good dog.' [A.S. _æt_; cog. with Goth, and
Ice. _at_, L. _ad_; Sans. _adhi_, on.]
ATABAL, at'a-bal, _n._ a Moorish kettledrum. [Sp.--Ar. _at-tabl_, the
drum.]
ATAGHAN. Same as YATAGHAN.
ATAVISM, at'av-izm, _n._ frequent appearance of ancestral, but not
parental, characteristics in an animal or plant: reversion to an original
type.--_adj._ AT'AVISTIC. [L. _atavus_--_avus_, a grandfather.]
ATAXIA, at-ak'si-a, ATAXY, a-tax'i, or at'ax-i, _n._ (_med._) irregularity
of the functions of the body through disease, esp. inability to co-ordinate
voluntary movements, as in _locomotor ataxy_. [Gr.; _a_, neg., _taktos_,
_tassein_, to arrange.]
ATE, et, or [=a]t, _pa.t._ of EAT.
ATE, [=a]'t[=e], _n._ (_myth._) the goddess of mischief and of all rash
actions and their results. [Gr.]