AWRACK, a-rak', _adv._ in a state of wreck.
AWRONG, a-rong', _adv._ wrongly.
AWRY, a-r[=i]', _adj._ twisted to one side: distorted, crooked: wrong:
perverse.--_adv._ unevenly: perversely: erroneously.--TO LOOK AWRY, to look
askance at anything; TO WALK AWRY, to go wrong. [Prep. _a_, on, and WRY.]
AXE, AX, aks, _n._ a well-known tool or instrument for hewing or chopping,
usually of iron with a steel edge:--_pl._ AX'ES. [A.S. _æx_; L. _ascia_;
Gr. _axin[=e]_.]
AXILE, aks'il, _adj._ lying in the axis of anything, as an embryo in the
axis of a seed.
AXILLA, aks'il-la, _n._ (_anat._) the armpit.--_ns._ AX'ILLA, AX'IL
(_bot._), the angle between the upper side of a branch and the trunk, or a
petiole and the stem it springs from.--_adjs._ AX'ILLAR, AX'ILLARY. [L.
_axilla_, the armpit.]
AXINOMANCY, aks'in-o-man-si, _n._ a mode of divination from the motions of
an axe poised upon a stake, or of an agate placed upon a red-hot axe. [Gr.
_axin[=e]_, an axe, and _manteia_, divination.]
AXIOM, aks'yum, _n._ a self-evident truth: a universally received principle
in an art or science.--_adjs._ AXIOMAT'IC, AXIOMAT'ICAL.--_adv._
AXIOMAT'ICALLY. [Gr. _axi[=o]ma_--_axio-ein_, to think worth, to take for
granted--_axios_, worth.]
AXIS, aks'is, _n._ the axle, or the line, real or imaginary, on which a
body revolves: the straight line about which the parts of a body or system
are systematically arranged, or which passes through the centre of all the
corresponding parallel sections of it, as of a cylinder, globe, or
spheroid. The axis of a curved line is formed by a right line dividing the
curve into two symmetrical parts, as in the parabola, ellipse, and
hyperbola:--_pl._ AXES (aks'[=e]z).--_adj._ AX'IAL.--_adv._ AX'IALLY.--_n._
AX'OID, a curve generated by the revolution of a point round an advancing
axis.--AXIS OF A LENS, the right line passing through a lens in such a
manner as to be perpendicular to both sides of it; AXIS OF A TELESCOPE, a
right line which passes through the centres of all the glasses in the tube;
AXIS OF INCIDENCE, the line passing through the point of incidence
perpendicularly to the refracting surface; AXIS OF REFRACTION, the
continuation of the same line through the refracting medium; AXIS OF THE
EQUATOR, the polar diameter of the earth, which is also the axis of
rotation; AXIS OF THE EYE, the right line passing through the centres of
the pupil and the crystalline lens. [L. _axis_; cf. Gr. _ax[=o]n_, Sans.
_aksha_, A.S. _eax_.]
AXIS, aks'is, _n._ the hog-deer of India. [L. _axis_, Pliny's name for an
Indian quadruped.]
AXLE, aks'l, AXLE-TREE, aks'l-tr[=e], _n._ the pin or rod in the nave of a
wheel on which the wheel turns: a pivot or support of any kind; the
imaginary line of ancient cosmographers on which a planet revolved.--_adj._
AX'LED. [More prob. Norse _öxull_ than a dim. from A.S. _eax_.]
AXOLOTL, aks'o-lotl, _n._ a reptile found in Mexico, allied to the tailed
batrachia, but distinguished by retaining its gills through life.
[Mexican.]
AY, [=a], _interj._ ah! oh! alas! esp. in _ay me!_ [M. E. _ey_, _ei_, perh.
from Fr. _ahi_, _aï_; cf. Sp. _ay de mi!_]
AY, AYE, [=i], _adv._ yea: yes: indeed.--_n._ AYE ([=i]), a vote in the
affirmative: (_pl._) those who vote in the affirmative. [Perh. a dial. form
of _aye_, ever; perh. a variant of _yea_.]
AYAH, [=a]'ya, _n._ a native Indian waiting-maid. [Anglo-Ind.: Hind.
_[=a]ya_, derived from the Port. _aia_, nurse.]
AYE, AY, [=a], _adv._ ever: always: for ever.--FOR AYE, FOR EVER AND AYE,
for ever, to all eternity.--In combination, with sense of 'ever,' as in
Shakespeare's 'aye-remaining,' &c. [Ice. _ei_, ever; A.S. _a_; conn. with
AGE, EVER.]
AYE-AYE, [=i]'[=i], _n._ a quadruped about the size of a hare found in
Madagascar, closely allied to the lemurs, with much of the aspect of a
squirrel. [Malagasy _aiay_.]
AYELP, a-y[.e]lp', _adv._ yelping.
AYENBITE, [=i]'en-b[=i]t, _n._ (_obs._) remorse, as in the book-title
_Ayenbite of Inwyt_ ('remorse of conscience'). [M. E. _ayen_, again bite.]
AYGULETS, obsolete form of AIGLETS.
AYME, obsolete form of AIM.
AYRY. See EYRY.
AZALEA, a-z[=a]'le-a, _n._ a genus of shrubby plants, with fine white,
yellow, or crimson flowers, mostly natives of China or North America,
closely allied to the rhododendron. [Gr. _azaleos_, dry--_aza_, dryness.]
AZIMUTH, az'im-uth, _n._ the arc of the horizon between the meridian of a
place and a vertical circle passing through any celestial body.--_adj._
AZ'IMUTHAL, pertaining to the azimuth. [Ar. _as-sum[=u]t_, _as_ = _al_,
the, _s[=u]mut_, _samt_, direction. See ZENITH.]
AZO-, in combination, for AZOTE.
AZOIC, a-z[=o]'ik, _adj._ without life: before the existence of animal
life: formed when there was no animal life on the globe, as rocks. [Gr.
_a_, neg., and _z[=o][=e]_, life--_za-ein_, to live.]
AZONIC, a-zon'ik, _adj._ not limited to a zone, not local. [Gr.; _a_, neg.,
_z[=o]n[=e]_, a belt region.]
AZOTE, a-z[=o]t', _n._ an old name for nitrogen, so called because it does
not sustain animal life.--_adj._ AZOT'IC.--_v.t._ AZ'OTISE, to impregnate
with acid.--_n._ AZ'OTITE, a salt of azotic or nitrous acid.--_adj._
AZOT'OUS, nitrous. [Gr. _a_, neg., and _za-ein_, to live.]
AZOTH, äz'[=o]th, _n._ the alchemist's name for mercury: Paracelsus's
universal remedy. [From Ar. _az-z[=a][=u]g_, _az_ = _al_, the,
_z[=a][=u]g_, from Pers. _zh[=i]wah_, quicksilver.]
AZRAEL, az'r[=a]-el, _n._ in Mohammedan mythology, the angel of death.
AZTEC, az'tek, _adj._ relating to or descended from the Aztecs, the
dominant tribe in Mexico at the time of the arrival of the Spaniards.
AZURE, azh'[=u]r, or [=a]'zh[=u]r, _adj._ of a faint blue: sky-coloured;
clear, cloudless.--_n._ a delicate blue colour: the sky.--_adjs._
AZUR[=E]'AN, AZ'URINE, azure.--_n._ AZ'URITE, blue carbonate of
copper.--_adjs._ AZ'URN (_Milton_), azure; AZ'URY, bluish. [O. Fr.
_azur_--Low L. _azura_--Ar. (_al_) _lazward_, Pers. _l[=a]jward_, lapis
lazuli, blue colour.]
AZYGOUS, az'i-gus, _adj._ not yoked or joined with another: (_anat._) not
one of a pair, as a muscle. [Gr. _azygos_--_a_, neg., and _zygos_, a yoke,
from _zeugnumi_, to join.]
AZYMOUS, az'i-mus, _adj._ unfermented: unleavened.--_ns._ AZ'YM, AZ'YME,
unleavened bread; AZ'YMITE, a member of a church using unleavened bread in
the Eucharist--a name applied by the Eastern Church to the Western, as well
as to the Armenian and Maronite Churches. [Gr. _azymos_--_a_, neg.,
_[=e]zym_, leaven.]
* * * * *
[Illustration]
the second letter of our alphabet, called by the Phoenicians _beth_, 'the
house,' coresponding to Greek [Greek: beta], '_beta_.'--B in music is the
seventh note of the scale of C major; B or B FLAT, a humorous euphemism for
the domestic _bug_.
BAA, bä, _n._ the cry of a sheep.--_v.i._ to cry or bleat as a sheep.--_n._
BAA'ING. [From the sound.]
BAAL, b[=a]'al, _n._ the chief male deity of the Phoenician nations: a
false god generally:--_pl._ B[=A]'ALIM.--_ns._ B[=A]'ALISM; B[=A]'ALITE.
[Heb.]
BABBLE, bab'bl, _v.i._ to speak like a baby: to make a continuous murmuring
sound like a brook, &c.: to make a babbling noise: to tell secrets.--_v.t._
to prate: to utter.--_adjs._ BAB'BLATIVE, BAB'BLY.--_ns._ BAB'BLE,
BAB'BLEMENT, BAB'BLING, idle senseless talk: prattle: confused murmur, as
of a stream; BAB'BLER, one who babbles. [Prob. imit., from the repeated
syllable _ba_; cf. Dut. _babbelen_, Ger. _pappelen_, Fr. _babiller_.]
BABE, b[=a]b, BABY, b[=a]'bi, _n._ an infant or child: a doll, puppet: the
reflection of one's self in miniature seen in the pupil of another's
eye.--_ns._ B[=A]'BY-FARM'ER, one who takes in infants to nurse on payment;
B[=A]'BYHOOD.--_adj._ B[=A]'BYISH.--_n._ B[=A]'BY-JUMP'ER, a seat suspended
from the ceiling of a room by elastic straps, to enable a baby to jump.
[Prob. imitative. See BABBLE.]
BABEL, b[=a]'bel, _n._ a lofty structure: a confused combination of sounds:
a scene of confusion.--_ns._ B[=A]'BELDOM, B[=A]'BELISM. [Heb. _Babel_,
explained in Gen. xi. as confusion.]
BABIROUSSA, -RUSSA, ba-bi-r[=oo]'sa, _n._ a species of wild hog found in
the East Indies, often called the horned or deer hog. [Malay _bâbi_, hog,
and _rûsa_, deer.]
BABOO, bä'b[=oo], _n._ orig. the Hindu title corresponding to our _Mr_, but
often applied disparagingly to a Hindu with a superficial English
education, or adjectively as in 'baboo English,' which is more copious than
correct, with long and learned words often most ingeniously
misapplied.--_ns._ BA'BOODOM, BA'BOOISM. [Hind. _b[=a]b[=u]_.]
BABOON, ba-b[=oo]n', _n._ a species of large monkey, having a long face,
dog-like tusks, large lips, and a short tail.--_n._ BABOON'ERY.--_adj._
BABOON'ISH. [Fr. _babouin_; remoter origin unknown.]
BABYLONIAN, bab-i-l[=o]n'i-an, _adj._ pertaining to Babylon: hence (_fig._)
huge, gigantic: Romish, popish (_obs._ from the identification with Rome of
the scarlet woman of Rev. xvii.); BABEL-LIKE, confused in language.--Also
BABYLON'ISH.
BACCALAUREATE, bak-ka-law're-[=a]t, _n._ the university degree of
bachelor.--_adj._ BACCALAU'REAN [Low L. _baccalaureus_, corrupted from,
_baccalarius_, with some imaginary reference to _bacca lauri_, the laurel
berry. See BACHELOR.]
BACCARAT, BACCARA, bak-ar-[=a]', _n._ a French game of cards played by any
number of betters and a banker. [Fr. _baccara_.]
BACCATE, bak'[=a]t, _adj._ having berries: berry-like or pulpy.--_adjs._
BACCIFEROUS (bak-sif'[.e]r-us), bearing berries; BAC'CIFORM, of the shape
of a berry; BACCIV'OROUS, living on berries. [L. _baccatus_--_bacca_, a
berry.]
BACCHANAL, bak'a-nal, _n._ a worshipper of Bacchus: one who indulges in
drunken revels: a dance or song in honour of Bacchus.--_adj._ relating to
drunken revels--also BACCHAN[=A]'LIAN.--_ns.pl._ BACCHAN[=A]'LIA,
BAC'CHANALS, originally feasts in honour of Bacchus: drunken revels.--_n._
BACCHAN[=A]'LIANISM.--_n._ and _adj._ BACCHANT (bak'kant), a priest of
Bacchus, the god of wine: a reveller: a drunkard.--_n._ BACCHANTE
(bak-kant', bak'kant, bak-kant'i), a priestess of Bacchus, the god of wine:
a female bacchanal:--_pl._ BACCHANT'ES.--_adj._ BACCHIC (bak'kik), relating
to Bacchus: jovial: drunken. [L. _Bacchanalis_, _Bacchus_, Gr. _Bacchos_,
the god of wine.]
BACCY, BACCO, abbreviations of TOBACCO.
BACHARACH, bak'ar-ak, _n._ an excellent wine named from Bacharach, a town
on the Rhine.
BACHELOR, bach'el-or, _n._ a young knight who followed the banner of
another, as being too young to display his own: an unmarried man: one who
has taken his first degree at a university.--_ns._ BACH'ELORHOOD,
BACH'ELORSHIP; BACH'ELORISM, habit of a bachelor; BACH'ELOR'S-BUT'TON, the
popular name of the double-flowered yellow or white varieties of
buttercup.--KNIGHT BACHELOR, title of one who has been knighted, but not
attached to any special order. [O. Fr. _bacheler_. Ety. disputed; acc. to
Brachet from Low L. _baccalarius_, a farm-servant, orig. a cowherd, from
_bacca_, Low L. for _vacca_, a cow.]
BACILLUS, ba-sil'us, _n._ properly the name of a distinct genus of
Schizomycetes, but popularly used in the same sense as BACTERIUM:--_pl._
BACIL'L[=I].--_adjs._ BACIL'LAR, BACIL'LARY, of the shape or nature of a
bacillus, consisting of little rods.--_n._ BACIL'LICIDE, that which
destroys bacilli.--_adj._ BACIL'LIFORM. [Low L. _bacillus_, dim. of
_baculus_, a rod.]