AUSTERE, aws-t[=e]r', _adj._ harsh: severe: stern: grave: sober: severe in
self-discipline, strictly moral or abstinent: severely simple, without
luxury.--_adv._ AUSTERE'LY.--_ns._ AUSTERE'NESS, AUSTER'ITY, quality of
being austere: severity of manners or life: harshness: asceticism: severe
simplicity of style, dress, or habits. [L. _austerus_--Gr.
_aust[=e]ros_--_au-ein_, to dry.]
AUSTRAL, aws'tral, _adj._ southern.--_adj._ AUSTRALASIAN
(aws-tral-[=a]'zhi-an), pertaining to Australasia, or the islands and
island-groups that lie to the south of Asia.--_n._ a native or colonist of
one of these.--_adj._ AUSTR[=A]'LIAN, of or pertaining to Australia, a
large island between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.--_n._ an aboriginal
native of Australia proper, later also a white colonist or resident. [L.
_australis_--_auster_, the south wind.]
AUSTRIAN, aws'tri-an, _adj._ of or pertaining to Austria, an empire of
Central Europe.--_n._ a native of Austria.
AUSTRINGER, aw'string-[.e]r, _n._ a keeper of goshawks.--Also A'STRINGER.
[O. Fr. _ostruchier_, _austruchier_. See OSTRICH.]
AUTARCHY, awt'är-ki, _n._ absolute power. [Gr., from _autos_, self, and
_archein_, to rule.]
AUTHENTIC, -AL, aw-thent'ik, -al, _adj._ real: genuine, as opposed to
_counterfeit_, _apocryphal_: original: true: entitled to acceptance, of
established credibility. A distinction is sometimes made between
_authentic_ and _genuine_--the former, that the writing is trustworthy, as
setting forth real facts; the latter, that we have it as it left its
author's hands--an _authentic_ history: a _genuine_ text.--_adv._
AUTHENT'ICALLY. [Fr. and L. from Gr. _authent[=e]s_, one who does anything
with his own hand--_autos_, self.]
AUTHENTICATE, aw-thent'ik-[=a]t, _v.t._ to make authentic: to prove
genuine: to give legal validity to: to certify the authorship of.--_ns._
AUTHENTIC[=A]'TION, act of authenticating: confirmation; AUTHENTIC'ITY,
quality of being authentic: state of being true or in accordance with fact:
genuineness.
AUTHOR, awth'or, _n._ one who originates or brings anything into being: a
beginner or first mover of any action or state of things: the writer of an
original book: elliptically for an author's writings: one's authority for
something: an informant:--_fem._ AUTH'ORESS.--_adjs._ AUTH[=O]'RIAL,
AUTH'ORISH; AUTHOR[=I]S'ABLE.--_n._ AUTHORIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ AUTH'ORISE,
to give authority to: to sanction: to permit: to justify: to establish by
authority.--_adj._ AUTH'ORLESS, anonymous.--_ns._ AUTH'ORLING, a petty
author; AUTH'ORSHIP, AUTH'ORING, AUTH'ORISM, state or quality of being an
author. [Through Fr. from L. _auctor_--_aug[=e]re_, _auctum_, to cause
things to increase, to produce.]
AUTHORITY, awth-or'it-i, _n._ legal power or right: power derived from
office or character: weight of testimony: permission:--_pl._ AUTHOR'ITIES,
precedents: opinions or sayings carrying weight: persons in power.--_adj._
AUTHOR'ITATIVE, having the sanction or weight of authority:
dictatorial.--_adv._ AUTHOR'ITATIVELY.--_n._ AUTHOR'ITATIVENESS. [L.
_auctoritatem_, _auctoritas_, _auctor_.]
AUTOBIOGRAPHY, aw-to-b[=i]-og'raf-i, _n._ the biography or life of a person
written by himself.--_n._ AUTOBIOG'RAPHER, one who writes his own
life.--_adjs._ AUTOBIOGRAPH'IC, -AL. [Gr. _autos_, one's self, _bios_,
life, _graphein_, to write.]
AUTO-CAR, aw'to-kär, _n._ a vehicle for the road moved from within by
steam, electric power, &c. instead of by traction. [Gr. _autos_, self, and
CAR.]
AUTOCARPOUS, aw-to-kär'pus, _adj._ applied to such fruit as consists only
of the pericarp, with no adnate parts. [Gr. _autos_, self, _karpos_,
fruit.]
AUTOCHTHON, aw-tok'thon, _n._ one of the primitive inhabitants of a
country: an aboriginal:--_pl._ AUTOCH'THONS and AUTOCH'THONES.--_adj._
AUTOCH'THONOUS.--_ns._ AUTOCH'THONY, AUTOCH'THONISM, the condition of being
autochthonous. [Gr.; made up of _autos_, self, _chth[=o]n_, _chthonos_, the
soil; the Athenians claiming to have actually sprung from the soil on which
they lived.]
AUTOCRAT, aw'to-krat, _n._ one who rules by his own power: an absolute
sovereign.--_n._ AUTOC'RACY, an absolute government by one man:
despotism.--_adj._ AUTOCRAT'IC,--_adv._ AUTOCRAT'ICALLY. [Gr.
_autokrat[=e]s_--_autos_, self, _kratos_, power.]
AUTO-DA-FÉ, aw'to-da-f[=a]', _n._ the public declaration of the judgment
passed on heretics in Spain and Portugal by the Inquisition, also the
infliction of the punishment which immediately followed thereupon, esp. the
public burning of the victims:--_pl._ AUTOS-DA-FÉ. [Port. _auto da fé_ =
Sp. _auto de fe_; _auto_--L. _actum_, act; _da_--L. _de_, of; and _fe_--L.
_fides_, faith.]
AUTOGENOUS, aw-toj'e-nus, _adj._ self-generated: independent.--_n._
AUTOG'ENY, a mode of spontaneous generation. [Gr. _autogen[=e]s_, _autos_,
self, _genos_, offspring.]
AUTOGRAPH, aw'to-graf, _n._ one's own handwriting: a signature: an original
manuscript.--_v.t._ to write with one's hand.--_adj._ AUTOGRAPH'IC.--_adv._
AUTOGRAPH'ICALLY.--_n._ AU'TOGRAPHY, act of writing with one's own hand:
reproduction of the outline of a writing or drawing by fac-simile. [Gr.
_autos_, self, _graph[=e]_, writing.]
AUTOGRAVURE, aw-to-grav'[=u]r, _n._ a process of photo-engraving akin to
autotype. [Gr. _auto_, self; Fr. _gravure_, engraving.]
AUTOLATRY, aw-tol'a-tri, _n._ worship of one's self.--_n._ AUTOL'OGY is
merely a justifiable enough scientific study of ourselves. [Gr. _autos_,
self, _latreia_, worship.]
AUTOLYCUS, aw-tol'i-kus, _n._ a thief: a snapper up of unconsidered
trifles: a plagiarist. [From the character in Shakespeare's _Winter's
Tale_.]
AUTOMATON, aw-tom'a-ton, _n._ a self-moving machine, or one which moves by
concealed machinery: a living being regarded as without consciousness: the
self-acting power of the muscular and nervous systems, by which movement is
effected without intelligent determination: a human being who acts by
routine, without intelligence:--_pl._ AUTOM'ATONS, AUTOM'ATA.--_adjs._
AUTOMAT'IC, -AL.--_adv._ AUTOMAT'ICALLY.--_ns._ AUTOM'ATISM, automatic or
involuntary action: power of self-moving: power of initiating vital
processes from within the cell, organ, or organism, independently of any
direct or immediate stimulus from without: the doctrine that animals are
automata, their motions, &c., being the result of mechanical laws;
AUTOM'ATIST, one who holds the doctrine of automatism. [Gr. _automatos_,
self-moving--_autos_, self, and a stem _mat-_, to strive after, to move.]
AUTOMOBILE, aw-to-m[=o]'bil, _adj._ self-moving.--_n._ a motor-car. [Gr.
_autos_, self, L. _mobilis_, mobile.]
AUTOMORPHIC, aw-to-mor'fik, _adj._ marked by automorphism, the ascription
to others of one's own characteristics. [Gr. _autos_, self, _morph[=e]_,
form.]
AUTONOMY, aw-ton'om-i, _n._ the power or right of self-government: (Kant's
_philos._) the doctrine that the human will carries its guiding principle
within itself.--_adjs._ AUTON'OMOUS, AUTONOM'IC. [Gr.--_autos_, and
_nomos_, law.]
AUTONYM, aw'ton-im, _n._ a writing published under the author's real name.
[Gr. _autos_, self, _onoma_, a name.]
AUTOPHAGOUS, aw-tof'ag-us, _adj._ self-devouring.--_n._ AUTOPH'AGY,
sustenance by self-absorption of the tissues of the body. [Gr. _autos_,
self, _phagein_, to eat.]
AUTOPHOBY, aw-tof'ob-i, _n._ a shrinking from making any reference to one's
self. [Gr. _autos_, self, _phobia_, fear.]
AUTOPHONY, aw-tof'on-i, _n._ observation of the resonance of one's own
voice, heard by placing the ear to the patient's chest. [Gr. _autos_, self,
_ph[=o]n[=e]_, sound.]
AUTOPLASTY, aw'to-plas-ti, _n._ a mode of surgical treatment which consists
in replacing a diseased part by means of healthy tissue from another part
of the same body. [Gr. _auto-plastos_, self-formed.]
AUTOPSY, aw'top-si, _n._ personal inspection, esp. the examination of a
body after death.--Also AUTOP'SIA. [Gr.; _autos_, self, _opsis_, sight.]
AUTOPTIC, -AL, aw-topt'ik, -al, _adj._ seen with one's own eyes.--_adv._
AUTOPT'ICALLY. [See AUTOPSY.]
AUTOSCHEDIASM, aw-to-sked'i-azm, _n._ anything extemporised.--_v.t._
AUTOSCHED'IASE.--_adj._ AUTOSCHEDIAS'TIC. [Gr. _autos_, self, _schedios_,
off-hand.]
AUTOTHEISM, aw'to-th[=e]-izm, _n._ assumption of divine powers: the
doctrine of the self-subsistence of God, esp. of the second person in the
Trinity.--_n._ AU'TOTHEIST, a self-deifier. [Gr. _autos_, self, _theos_, a
god.]
AUTOTYPE, aw'to-t[=i]p, _n._ a true impress or copy of the original: a
process of printing from a photographic negative in a permanent black or
other pigment.--_v.t._ to reproduce by such a process.--_n._
AUTOTYPOG'RAPHY, a process by which drawings made on gelatine are
transferred to a plate from which impressions may be taken. [Gr. _autos_,
self, _typos_, a stamp.]
AUTUMN, aw'tum, _n._ the third season of the year when fruits are gathered
in, popularly comprising the months of August, September, and October--in
North America, September, October, and November. Astronomically, in the
northern hemisphere, it begins at the autumnal equinox, when the sun enters
Libra, 22d September, and ends at the winter solstice, when the sun enters
Capricorn, 21st December.--_adj._ AUTUM'NAL.--_adv._ AUTUM'NALLY. [L.
_autumnus_, _auctumnus_, anciently referred to aug-[=e]re, as the season of
increase; by Corssen and others, to the Sans. _av_, to do good to.]
AUXESIS, awk-s[=e]'sis, _n._ gradual deepening in force of meaning:
hyperbole. [Gr.]
AUXILIAR, awg-zil'yar, AUXILIARY, awg-zil'yar-i, _adj._ helping:
subsidiary, as troops.--_ns._ AUXIL'IAR, an auxiliary; AUXIL'IARY, a
helper: an assistant: (_gram._) a verb that helps to form the moods and
tenses of other verbs. [L. _auxiliaris_--_auxilium_, help--_aug-[=e]re_, to
increase.]
AVA, ä'va, _n._ native name in the Sandwich Islands for a species of
cordyline yielding an intoxicating drink, also called _kava_: any similar
drink.
AVAIL, a-v[=a]l', _v.t._ to be of value or service to: to benefit: to take
the benefit of (used reflexively with _of_).--_v.i._ to be of use: to
answer the purpose: (_obs._) to take or draw advantage: (_Amer._) to
inform, assure of.--_n._ benefit: profit: service.--_adj._ AVAIL'ABLE, that
one may avail one's self of, utilise: profitable: suitable, obtainable:
accessible.--_ns._ AVAIL'ABLENESS, AVAILABIL'ITY, quality of being
available: power in promoting an end in view: validity.--_advs._
AVAIL'ABLY; AVAIL'INGLY, in an availing manner. [Fr.--L. _ad_, to,
_val-[=e]re_, to be strong, to be worth.]
AVAIL. Same as AVALE.
AVALANCHE, av'al-ansh, _n._ a mass of snow and ice sliding down from a
mountain: a snow-slip.--_v.i._ AV[=A]LE' (_Spens._), to descend.--_v.t._
(_Spens._) to cause to descend. [Fr. _avaler_, to slip down--L. _ad_, to,
_vall-em_, the valley.]
AVANT, av'ang, prefix used as _adj._ in combination, as in AV'ANT-COUR'IER,
one who runs before, in _pl._ the skirmishers or advance-guard of an army;
AV'ANT-GARDE, the vanguard of an army. [Fr.;--L. _ante_.]
AVANTURINE. See AVENTURINE.
AVARICE, av'ar-is, _n._ eager desire for wealth: covetousness.--_adj._
AVARI'CIOUS, extremely covetous: greedy.--_adv._ AVARI'CIOUSLY.--_n._
AVARI'CIOUSNESS. [Fr.--L. _avaritia_--_avarus_, greedy--_av[=e]re_, to pant
after.]
AVAST, a-väst', _interj._ (_naut._) hold fast! stop! [Dut. _houd vast_,
hold fast.]
AVATAR, a-va-tär', _n._ the descent of a Hindu deity in a visible form:
incarnation: (_fig._) supreme glorification of any principle. [Sans.;
_ava_, away, down, _tar_, to pass over.]
AVAUNT, a-vawnt', _interj._ move on! begone! (_Shak._) used as _n._ 'to
give her the _avaunt_.'--_v.i._ (_Spens._) to advance: (_obs._) depart.
[Fr. _avant_, forward--L. _ab_, from, _ante_, before.]
AVAUNT, a-vawnt', _v.i._ (_Spens._) to advance boastfully. [O. Fr.
_avanter_--Low L. _vanitare_, to boast--L. _vanus_, vain.]
AVE, [=a]'v[=e], _interj._ and _n._ be well or happy: hail, an address or
prayer to the Virgin Mary: in full, _Ave Mar[=i]'a_.--AVE MARIA, or AVE
MARY, the Hail Mary, or angelic salutation (Luke, i. 28). [L. _av[=e]re_,
to be well or propitious. See ANGELUS.]
AVENACEOUS, av'en-[=a]-shus, _adj._ of the nature of oats. [L. _avena_,
oats.]
AVENGE, a-venj', _v.t._ to vindicate: take vengeance on some one on account
of some injury or wrong (with _on_, _upon_; _of_ obsolete).--_adj._
AVENGE'FUL.--_ns._ AVENGE'MENT; AVENG'ER, one who avenges:--_fem._
AVENG'ERESS. [O. Fr. _avengier_--L. _vindic[=a]re_. See VENGEANCE.]
AVENS, [=a]'vens, _n._ popular name of two species of _Geum_--the herb
bennet (once used to flavour ale) and the sub-alpine mountain-avens. [Fr.]
[Illustration]
AVENTAIL, AVENTAILE, av'en-t[=a]l, _n._ the flap or movable part of a
helmet in front, for admitting air to the wearer. [O. Fr. _esventail_,
air-hole--L. _ex_, out, _ventus_, wind.]
AVENTRE, a-ven'tr, _v.t._ or _v.i._ (_Spens._) to throw, as a spear or
dart. [O. Fr. _venter_, to cast to the wind.]
AVENTURE, a-vent'[=u]r, _v.t._ obsolete form of ADVENTURE.
AVENTURINE, a-ven't[=u]-rin, _n._ a brown, spangled kind of Venetian glass:
a kind of quartz.--Also AVAN'TURINE. [It. _avventura_, chance--because of
the accidental discovery of the glass.]
AVENUE, av'en-[=u], _n._ the principal approach to a country-house, usually
bordered by trees: a double row of trees, with or without a road: a wide
and handsome street, with or without trees, esp. in America: any passage or
entrance into a place: (_fig._) means of access or attainment. [Fr.: from
L. _ad_, to, _ven[=i]re_, to come.]
AVER, a-v[.e]r', _v.t._ to declare to be true: to affirm or declare
positively: (_law_) to prove or justify a plea:--_pr.p._ aver'ring; _pa.p._
averred.--_n._ AVER'MENT, positive assertion: (_law_) a formal offer to
prove a plea: the proof offered. [Fr. _avérer_--L. _ad_, and _verus_,
true.]
AVERAGE, av'[.e]r-[=a]j, _n._ the mean value or quantity of a number of
values or quantities: any expense incurred beyond the freight, payable by
the owner of the goods shipped, as in the phrase PETTY AVERAGE: any loss or
damage to ship or cargo from unavoidable accidental causes--PARTICULAR
AVERAGE. Again, GENERAL AVERAGE is the apportionment of loss caused by
measures taken for the ship's safety, as cutting away the masts, throwing
overboard cargo, accepting towage, or the like.--_adj._ containing a mean
value: ordinary.--_v.t._ to fix an average.--_v.i._ to exist in, or form, a
mean quantity. [Dr Murray says the word first appears about 1500 in
connection with the maritime trade of the Mediterranean (Fr. _avarie_, Sp.
_averia_, It. _avaria_); probably _averia_ is a derivative of It. _avere_
(O. Fr. _aveir_), goods, the original sense being a 'charge on property or
goods.' The It. _avere_ and O. Fr. _aveir_ meant goods, substance,
cattle--L. _hab[=e]re_, to have. The Old Eng. _aver_ in the same sense is
obsolete, but in Scotland _aver_ still means an old horse.]
AVERROISM, av-er-[=o]'izm, _n._ the doctrine of the Arabian philosopher
Averrhoes (died 1198), that the soul is perishable, the only immortal soul
being the world-soul from which individual souls went forth, and to which
they return.--_n._ AVERR[=O]'IST, one who holds this doctrine.
AVERRUNCATE, a-v[.e]r-ungk'[=a]t, _v.t._ (_rare_) to avert or ward off: to
pull up by the roots.--_ns._ AVERRUNC[=A]'TION, act of averting:
extirpation; AVERRUNC'[=A]TOR, an instrument for cutting off branches of
trees. [L. _averrunc[=a]re_, to avert.]
AVERSE, a-v[.e]rs', _adj._ having a disinclination or hatred (with _to_;
_from_ is, however, still used): disliking: turned away from anything:
turned backward; (_her._) turned so as to show the back, as of a right
hand.--_n._ AVERS[=A]'TION (_obs._).--_adv._ AVERSE'LY.--_n._ AVERSE'NESS.
[L. _aversus_, turned away, _pa.p._ of _avert-[)e]re_. See AVERT.]
AVERSION, a-v[.e]r'-shun, _n._ dislike: hatred: the object of dislike. [See
AVERT.]
AVERT, a-v[.e]rt', _v.t._ to turn from or aside: to prevent: ward
off.--_p.adj._ AVERT'ED.--_adv._ AVERT'EDLY.--_adj._ AVERT'IBLE, capable of
being averted. [L. _avert-[=e]re_--_ab_, from, _vert-[)e]re_, to turn.]
AVERTIMENT, for ADVERTISEMENT (_Milton_).