Amacratic
Am•a•crat´ic, a. [Gr. together + power.] (Photog.) Amasthenic. Sir J. Herschel.

Amadavat
Am•a•da•vat´, n. [Indian name. From Ahmedabad, a city from which it was imported to Europe.] (Zoöl.) The strawberry finch, a small Indian song bird ( Estrelda amandava), commonly caged and kept for fighting. The female is olive brown; the male, in summer, mostly crimson; — called also red waxbill. [Written also amaduvad and avadavat.]

Amadou
Am´a•dou, n. [F. amadou tinder, prop. lure, bait, fr. amadouer to allure, caress, perh. fr. Icel. mata to feed, which is akin to E. meat.] A spongy, combustible substance, prepared from fungus ( Boletus and Polyporus) which grows on old trees; German tinder; punk. It has been employed as a styptic by surgeons, but its common use is as tinder, for which purpose it is prepared by soaking it in a strong solution of niter. Ure.

Amain
A•main´, adv. [Pref. a. + main. See 2d Main, n. ]
1. With might; with full force; vigorously; violently; exceedingly.
"They on the hill, which were not yet come to blows, perceiving the fewness of their enemies, came down amain." - Milton.
"That striping giant, ill-bred and scoffing, shouts amain." - T. Parker.
2. At full speed; in great haste; also at once. "They fled amain." Holinshed.

Amain
A•main´, v. t. [F. amener. See Amenable.] (Naut.) To lower, as a sail, a yard, etc.

Amain
A•main´, v. i. (Naut.) To lower the topsail, in token of surrender; to yield.

Amalgam
A•mal´gam, n. [F. amalgame, prob. fr. L. malagma, Gr., emollient, plaster, poultice, fr. to make soft, fr. soft.]
1. An alloy of mercury with another metal or metals; as an amalgam of tin, bismuth, etc. Medalists apply the term to soft alloys generally.
2. A mixture or compound of different things.
3. (Min.) A native compound of mercury and silver.

Amalgam
A•mal´gam, v. t. i. [Cf. F. amalgamer] To amalgamate. Boyle. B. Jonson.

Amalgama
A•mal´ga•ma, n. Same as Amalgam.
"They divided this their amalgama into a number of incoherent republics." - Burke.

Amalgamation
A•mal•ga•ma´tion, n. [Cf. F. amalgamation.]
1. The act or operation of compounding mercury with another metal; — applied particularly to the process of separating gold and silver from their ores by mixing them with mercury. Ure.
2. The mixing or blending of different elements, races, societies, etc.; also the result of such combination or blending; a homogeneous union. Macaulay.

Amalgamative
A•mal´ga•ma•tive, a. Characterized by amalgamation.

Amalgamator
A•mal´ga•ma•tor, n. One who, or that which, amalgamates. Specifically: A machine for separating precious metals from earthy particles by bringing them in contact with a body of mercury with which they form an amalgam.

Amalgamize
A•mal´ga•mize, v. t. To amalgamate. [R.]

Amandine
A•man´dine, n. [F. amande almond. See Almond.]
1. The vegetable casein of almonds.
2. A kind of cold cream prepared from almonds, for chapped hands, etc.

Amanuensis
A•man•u•en´sis, n. ; pl. Amanuenses . [L., fr. a, a. + manus hand.] A person whose employment is to write what another dictates, or to copy what another has written.

Amaracus
A•mar´a•cus, n. [L., fr. Gr. .] A fragrant flower. Tennyson.

Amarant
Am´a•rant, n. Amaranth, 1. [Obs.] Milton.

Amarantaceous
Am•a•ran•ta´ceous, a. (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which the amaranth is the type.

Amaranth
Am´a•ranth, n. [L. amarantus, Gr., unfading, amaranth; ’a priv. + to quench, cause to wither, fr. a root meaning to die, akin to E. mortal; — so called because its flowers do not soon wither: cf. F. amarante. The spelling with th seems to be due to confusion with Gr. flower.]
1. An imaginary flower supposed never to fade. [Poetic]
2. (Bot.) A genus of ornamental annual plants ( Amaranthus) of many species, with green, purplish, or crimson flowers.
2. A color inclining to purple.

Amaranthine
Am•a•ran´thine, a.
1. Of or pertaining to amaranth. "Amaranthine bowers." Pope.
2. Unfading, as the poetic amaranth; undying.
"They only amaranthine flower on earth Is virtue." - Cowper.
3. Of a purplish color. Buchanan. { Am•a•ran´thus (am•a•ran"thus), Am•a•ran´tus (am•a•ran"tus), } n. Same as Amaranth.

Amaritude
A•mar´i•tude, n. [L. amaritudo, fr. amarus bitter: cf. OF. amaritude.] Bitterness. [R.] { Am•a•ryl•li•da´ceous, Am•a•ryl•lid´e•ous, } a. (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, an order of plants differing from the lily family chiefly in having the ovary below the petals. The narcissus and daffodil are members of this family.

Amaryllis
Am•a•ryl´lis, n. [L. Amaryllis, Gr.,, the name of a country girl in Theocritus and Virgil.]
1. A pastoral sweetheart.
"To sport with Amaryllis in the shade." - Milton.
2. (bot.) (a) A family of plants much esteemed for their beauty, including the narcissus, jonquil, daffodil, agave, and others. (b) A genus of the same family, including the Belladonna lily.

Amass
A•mass´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Amassed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Amassing.] [F. ambusher, LL. amassare; L. a. + massa lump, mass. See Mass.] To collect into a mass or heap; to gather a great quantity of; to accumulate; as to amass a treasure or a fortune; to amass words or phrases.
"The life of Homer has been written by amassing all the traditions and hints the writers could meet with." - Pope.
Syn. — To accumulate; heap up; pile.

Amass
A•mass´, n. [OF. amasse, fr. ambusher.] A mass; a heap. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

Amassable
A•mass´a•ble, a. Capable of being amassed.

Amasser
A•mass´er, n. One who amasses.

Amassette
A•mas•sette´, n. [F. See Amass.] An instrument of horn used for collecting painters’ colors on the stone in the process of grinding.

Amasthenic
Am•as•then´ic, a. [Gr. together + force.] (Photog.) Uniting the chemical rays of light into one focus, as a certain kind of lens; amacratic.

Amate
A•mate´, v. t. [OF. amater, amatir.] To dismay; to dishearten; to daunt. [Obs. or Archaic]
"The Silures, to amate the new general, rumored the overthrow greater than was true." - Milton.

Amate
A•mate´, v. t. [Pref. a. + mate.] To be a mate to; to match. [Obs.] Spenser.

Amateur
Am•a•teur´, n. [F., fr. L. amator lover, fr. amare to love.] A person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science as to music or painting; esp. one who cultivates any study or art, from taste or attachment, without pursuing it professionally.

Amateurish
Am•a•teur´ish, a. In the style of an amateur; superficial or defective like the work of an amateur. — Am•a•teur´ish•ly, adv. — Am•a•teur´ish•ness, n.

Amateurism
Am´a•teur•ism, n. The practice, habit, or work of an amateur.

Amateurship
Am´a•teur•ship, n. The quality or character of an amateur.

Amative
Am´a•tive, a. [L. amatus, p. p. of amare to love.] Full of love; amatory.

Amativeness
Am´a•tive•ness, n. (Phren.) The faculty supposed to influence sexual desire; propensity to love. Combe.

Amatorial
Am•a•to´ri•al, a. [See Amatorious.] Of or pertaining to a lover or to love making; amatory; as amatorial verses.

Amatorian
Am•a•to´ri•an, a. Amatory. [R.] Johnson.

Amatorious
Am•a•to´ri•ous, a. [L. amatorius, fr. amare to love.] Amatory. [Obs.] "Amatorious poem." Milton.

Amatory
Am´a•to•ry, a. Pertaining to, producing, or expressing, sexual love; as amatory potions.

Amaurosis
Am•au•ro´sis, n. [Gr., fr. dark, dim.] (Med.) A loss or decay of sight, from loss of power in the optic nerve, without any perceptible external change in the eye; — called also gutta serena, the "drop serene" of Milton.

Amaurotic
Am•au•rot´ic, a. Affected with amaurosis; having the characteristics of amaurosis.

Amaze
A•maze´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Amazed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Amazing.] [Pref. a. + maze.]
1. To bewilder; to stupefy; to bring into a maze. [Obs.]
"A labyrinth to amaze his foes." - Shak.
2. To confound, as by fear, wonder, extreme surprise; to overwhelm with wonder; to astound; to astonish greatly. "Amazing Europe with her wit." Goldsmith.
"And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?" - Matt. xii. 23.
Syn. — To astonish; astound; confound; bewilder; perplex; surprise. — Amaze, Astonish. Amazement includes the notion of bewilderment of difficulty accompanied by surprise. It expresses a state in which one does not know what to do, or to say, or to think. Hence we are amazed at what we can not in the least account for. Astonishment also implies surprise. It expresses a state in which one is stunned by the vastness or greatness of something, or struck with some degree of horror, as when one is overpowered by the normity of an act, etc.

Amaze
A•maze´, v. i. To be astounded. [Archaic] B. Taylor.

Amaze
A•maze´, v. t. Bewilderment, arising from fear, surprise, or wonder; amazement. [Chiefly poetic]
"The wild, bewildered Of one to stone converted by amaze." - Byron.

Amazedly
A•maz´ed•ly, adv. In amazement; with confusion or astonishment. Shak.

Amazedness
A•maz´ed•ness, n. The state of being amazed, or confounded with fear, surprise, or wonder. Bp. Hall.

Amazeful
A•maze´ful, a. Full of amazement. [R.]

Amazement
A•maze´ment, n.
1. The condition of being amazed; bewilderment [Obs.]; overwhelming wonder, as from surprise, sudden fear, horror, or admiration.
"His words impression left Of much amazement." - Milton.
2. Frenzy; madness. [Obs.] Webster (1661).

Amazing
A•maz´ing, a. Causing amazement; very wonderful; as amazing grace. — A•maz´ing•ly, adv.

Amazon
Am´a•zon, n. [L., fr. Gr. .]
1. One of a fabulous race of female warriors in Scythia; hence, a female warrior.
2. A tall, strong, masculine woman; a virago.
3. (Zoöl.) A name numerous species of South American parrots of the genus ChrysotisAmazon ant (Zoöl.), a species of ant ( Polyergus rufescens), of Europe and America. They seize by conquest the larvae and nymphs of other species and make slaves of them in their own nests.

Amazonian
Am•a•zo´ni•an, a.
1. Pertaining to or resembling an Amazon; of masculine manners; warlike. Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to the river Amazon in South America, or to its valley. { Am´a•zon•ite, Am"a•zon stone• } n. [Named from the river Amazon.] (Min.) A variety of feldspar, having a verdigris-green color.

Amb-, Am•bi-. [L. prefix ambi-, amb-, akin to Gr., Skr. abhi, AS. embe, emb, OHG. umbi, umpi, G. um, and also L. ambo both. Cf. Amphi-, Both, By.] A prefix meaning about, around; — used in words derived from the Latin.

Ambaginous
Am•bag´i•nous, a. Ambagious. [R.]

Ambagious
Am•ba´gious, a. [L. ambagiosus.] Circumlocutory; circuitous. [R.]

Ambagitory
Am•bag´i•to•ry, a. Ambagious. [R.]

Ambassade
Am´bas•sade, Em´bas•sade, n. [F. ambassade. See Embassy.]
1. The mission of an ambassador. [Obs.] Carew.
2. An embassy. [Obs.] Strype.

Ambassadorship
Am•bas•sa•dor•ship, n. The state, office, or functions of an ambassador.

Ambassadress
Am•bas´sa•dress, n. A female ambassador; also the wife of an ambassador. Prescott.

Ambassage
Am´bas•sage, n. Same as Embassage. [Obs. or R.] Luke xiv. 32.

Amber room
Am"ber room A room formerly in the Czar’s Summer Palace in Russia, which was richly decorated with walls and fixtures made from amber. The amber was removed by occupying German troops during the Second World War and has as of 1997, never been recovered. The room is being recreated from old photographs by Russian artisans. PJC

Amber seed
Am"ber seed . Seed of the Hibiscus abelmoschus, somewhat resembling millet, brought from Egypt and the West Indies, and having a flavor like that of musk; musk seed. Chambers.

Amber tree
Am"ber tree . A species of Anthospermum, a shrub with evergreen leaves, which, when bruised, emit a fragrant odor.

Ambergrease
Am´ber•grease, n. See Ambergris.

Ambidexter
Am´bi•dex´ter, a. [LL., fr. L. ambo both + dexter right, dextra (sc. manus) the right hand.] Using both hands with equal ease. Smollett.

Ambidexter
Am•bi•dex´ter, n.
1. A person who uses both hands with equal facility.
2. Hence: A double-dealer; one equally ready to act on either side in party disputes.
"The rest are hypocrites, ambidexters, so many turning pictures — a lion on one side, a lamb on the other." - Burton.
3. (Law) A juror who takes money from both parties for giving his verdict. Cowell.

Ambidexterity
Am´bi•dex•ter´i•ty, n.
1. The quality of being ambidextrous; the faculty of using both hands with equal facility. Hence: Versatility; general readiness; as ambidexterity of argumentation. Sterne.
"Ignorant I was of the human frame, and of its latent powers, as regarded speed, force, and ambidexterity." - De Quincey.
2. Double-dealing. (Law) A juror’s taking of money from the both parties for a verdict.

Ambidextral
Am•bi•dex´tral, a. Pertaining equally to the right-hand side and the left-hand side. Earle.

Ambidextrous
Am•bi•dex´trous, a.
1. Having the faculty of using both hands with equal ease. Sir T. Browne.
2. Practicing or siding with both parties.
"All false, shuffling, and ambidextrous dealings. L’Estrange."

Ambidextrously
Am´bi•dex´trous•ly, adv. In an ambidextrous manner; cunningly.

Ambidextrousness
Am•bi•dex´trous•ness, n. The quality of being ambidextrous; ambidexterity.

Ambient
Am´bi•ent, a. [L. ambiens, p. pr. of ambire to go around; amb- + ire to go.] Encompassing on all sides; circumfused; investing. "Ambient air." Milton. "Ambient clouds." Pope.

Ambient
Am´bi•ent, n. Something that surrounds or invests; as air … being a perpetual ambient. Sir H. Wotton.

Ambigenous
Am•big´e•nous, a. [L. ambo both + genus kind.] Of two kinds. (Bot.) Partaking of two natures, as the perianth of some endogenous plants, where the outer surface is calycine, and the inner petaloid.

Ambigu
Am´bi•gu, n. [F., fr. ambigu doubtful, L. ambiquus. See Ambiguous.] An entertainment at which a medley of dishes is set on at the same time.

Ambiguous
Am•big´u•ous, a. [L. ambiguus, fr. ambigere to wander about, waver; amb- + agere to drive.] Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to signification; capable of being understood in either of two or more possible senses; equivocal; as an ambiguous course; an ambiguous expression.
"What have been thy answers? What but dark, Ambiguous, and with double sense deluding?" - Milton.
Syn. — Doubtful; dubious; uncertain; unsettled; indistinct; indeterminate; indefinite. See Equivocal.

Ambiguousness
Am•big´u•ous•ness, n. Ambiguity.

Ambilevous
Am•bi•le´vous, a. [L. ambo both + laevus left.] Left-handed on both sides; clumsy; — opposed to ambidexter. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Ambiloquy
Am•bil´o•quy, n. Doubtful or ambiguous language. [Obs.] Bailey.

Ambiparous
Am•bip´a•rous, a. [L. ambo both + parere to bring forth.] (Bot.) Characterized by containing the rudiments of both flowers and leaves; — applied to a bud.

Ambit
Am´bit, n. [L. ambitus circuit, fr. ambire to go around. See Ambient.] Circuit or compass.
"His great parts did not live within a small ambit." - Milward.

Ambitionist
Am•bi´tion•ist, n. One excessively ambitious. [R.]

Ambitionless
Am•bi´tion•less, a. Devoid of ambition. Pollok.

Ambitious
Am•bi´tious, a. [L. ambitiosus: cf. F. ambitieux. See Ambition.]
1. Possessing, or controlled by, ambition; greatly or inordinately desirous of power, honor, office, superiority, or distinction.
"Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man." - Shak.
2. Strongly desirous; — followed by of or the infinitive; as ambitious to be or to do something.
"I was not ambitious of seeing this ceremony." - Evelyn.
"Studious of song, and yet ambitious not to sing in vain." - Cowper.
3. Springing from, characterized by, or indicating, ambition; showy; aspiring; as an ambitious style.
"A giant statue … Pushed by a wild and artless race, From off wide, ambitious base." - Collins.

Ambitiousness
Am•bi´tious•ness (am•bish"us•nes), n. The quality of being ambitious; ambition; pretentiousness.

Ambitus
Am´bi•tus (am"bi•tus), n. [L. See Ambit, Ambition.]
1. The exterior edge or border of a thing, as the border of a leaf, or the outline of a bivalve shell.
2. (Rom. Antiq.) A canvassing for votes.

Ambler
Am´bler, n. A horse or a person that ambles.

Amblingly
Am´bling•ly, adv. With an ambling gait.

Amblotic
Am•blot´ic, a. [Gr.,, fr. an abortion.] Tending to cause abortion.

Amblygon
Am´bly•gon, n. [Gr. obtuse + angle: cf. F. amblygone.] (Geom.) An obtuse-angled figure, esp. and obtuse-angled triangle. [Obs.]

Amblygonal
Am•blyg´o•nal, a. Obtuse- angled. [Obs.] Hutton. { Am•bly•o´pi•a, Am´bly•o•py } n. [Gr. ; blunt, dim + eye: cf. F. amblyopie.] (Med.) Weakness of sight, without and opacity of the cornea, or of the interior of the eye; the first degree of amaurosis.

Amblyopic
Am´bly•op´ic, a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to amblyopy. Quain.

Amblypoda
Am•blyp´o•da, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. blunt +,, foot.] (Paleon.) A group of large, extinct, herbivorous mammals, common in the Tertiary formation of the United States.

Ambo
Am´bo, n. ; pl. Ambos . [LL. ambo, Gr., any rising, a raised stage, pulpit: cf. F. ambon.] A large pulpit or reading desk, in the early Christian churches. Gwilt.

Ambon
Am´bon, n. Same as Ambo.

Amboyna pine. (Bot.) The resiniferous tree Agathis Dammara, of the Moluccas.

Amboyna wood
Am•boy"na wood . A beautiful mottled and curled wood, used in cabinetwork. It is obtained from the Pterocarpus Indicus of Amboyna, Borneo, etc.

Ambreate
Am´bre•ate, n. (Chem.) A salt formed by the combination of ambreic acid with a base or positive radical.

Ambreic
Am•bre´ic, a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to ambrein; — said of a certain acid produced by digesting ambrein in nitric acid.

Ambrein
Am´bre•in, n. [Cf. F. ambreine. See Amber.] (Chem.) A fragrant substance which is the chief constituent of ambergris.

Ambrose
Am´brose, n. A sweet-scented herb; ambrosia. See Ambrosia, 3. Turner.

Ambrosia beetle. (Zoöl.) A bark beetle that feeds on ambrosia.

Ambrosiac
Am´bro´si•ac, a. [L. ambrosiacus: cf. F. ambrosiaque.] Having the qualities of ambrosia; delicious. [R.]"Ambrosiac odors." B. Jonson.

Ambrosial
Am•bro´sial, a. [L. ambrosius, Gr. .]
1. Consisting of, or partaking of the nature of, ambrosia; delighting the taste or smell; delicious. "Ambrosial food." "Ambrosial fragrance." Milton.
2. Divinely excellent or beautiful. "Shakes his ambrosial curls." Pope.

Ambrosially
Am•bro´sial•ly, adv. After the manner of ambrosia; delightfully. "Smelt ambrosially." Tennyson.

Ambrosian
Am•bro´sian, a. Ambrosial. [R.] . Jonson.

Ambrosian
Am•bro´sian, a. Of or pertaining to St. Ambrose; as the Ambrosian office, or ritual, a formula of worship in the church of Milan, instituted by St. Ambrose. Ambrosian chant, the mode of signing or chanting introduced by St. Ambrose in the 4th century.

Ambrosin
Am´bro•sin, n. [LL. Ambrosinus nummus.] An early coin struck by the dukes of Milan, and bearing the figure of St. Ambrose on horseback.

Ambrotype
Am´bro•type (-tip), n. [Gr. ’a•mbrotos immortal + -type.] (Photog.) A picture taken on a plate of prepared glass, in which the lights are represented in silver, and the shades are produced by a dark background visible through the unsilvered portions of the glass.

Ambry
Am´bry, n. ; pl. Ambries . [OE. aumbry, almery, OF. almarie, armarie, aumaire, F. armoire, LL. armarium chest, cupboard, orig. a repository for arms, fr. L. arama arms. The word has been confused with almonry. See Armory.]
1. In churches, a kind of closet, niche, cupboard, or locker for utensils, vestments, etc.
2. A store closet, as a pantry, cupboard, etc.
3. Almonry. [ Improperly so used]

Ambulacriform
Am•bu•la´cri•form, a. [ Ambulacrum + -form] (Zoöl.) Having the form of ambulacra.

Ambulacrum
Am•bu•la´crum, n. ; pl. Ambulacra . [L., an alley or covered way.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the radical zones of echinoderms, along which run the principal nerves, blood vessels, and water tubes. These zones usually bear rows of locomotive suckers or tentacles, which protrude from regular pores. In star fishes they occupy the grooves along the under side of the rays. (b) One of the suckers on the feet of mites.

Ambulance
Am´bu•lance, n. [F. ambulance, hôpital ambulant, fr. L. ambulare to walk. See Amble.] (Mil.) (a) A field hospital, so organized as to follow an army in its movements, and intended to succor the wounded as soon as possible. Often used adjectively; as an ambulance wagon; ambulance stretcher; ambulance corps. (b) An ambulance wagon or cart for conveying the wounded from the field, or to a hospital.

Ambulate
Am´bu•late, v. i. [L. ambulare to walk. See Amble.] To walk; to move about. [R.] Southey.

Ambulative
Am´bu•la•tive, a. Walking. [R.]

Ambulator
Am´bu•la•tor, n.
1. One who walks about; a walker.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) A beetle of the genus Lamia. (b) A genus of birds, or one of this genus.
3. An instrument for measuring distances; — called also perambulator. Knight.

Ambulatorial
Am•bu•la•to´ri•al, a. Ambulatory; fitted for walking. Verrill.

Ambulatory
Am´bu•la•to•ry, a. [L. ambulatorius.]
1. Of or pertaining to walking; having the faculty of walking; formed or fitted for walking; as an ambulatory animal.
2. Accustomed to move from place to place; not stationary; movable; as an ambulatory court, which exercises its jurisdiction in different places.
"The priesthood … before was very ambulatory, and dispersed into all families." - Jer. Taylor.
3. Pertaining to a walk. [R.]
"The princess of whom his majesty had an ambulatory view in his travels." - Sir H. Wotton.
4. (Law) Not yet fixed legally, or settled past alteration; alterable; as the dispositions of a will are ambulatory until the death of the testator.

Ambulatory
Am´bu•la•to•ry, n. ; pl. Ambulatories . [Cf. LL. ambulatorium.] (Arch.) A place to walk in, whether in the open air, as the gallery of a cloister, or within a building.

Amburry
Am´bur•ry, n. Same as Anbury.

Ambuscado
Am•bus•ca´do, n. Ambuscade. [Obs.] Shak.

Ambuscadoed
Am•bus•ca´doed, p. p. Posted in ambush; ambuscaded. [Obs.]

Ambush
Am´bush (am"boosh), n. [F. embûche, fr. the verb. See Ambush, v. t.]
1. A disposition or arrangement of troops for attacking an enemy unexpectedly from a concealed station. Hence: Unseen peril; a device to entrap; a snare.
"Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege Or ambush from the deep." - Milton.
2. A concealed station, where troops or enemies lie in wait to attack by surprise.
"Bold in close ambush, base in open field." - Dryden.
3. The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; liers in wait. [Obs.]
"The ambush arose quickly out of their place." - Josh. viii. 19.
To lay an ambush, to post a force in ambush.

Ambush
Am´bush (am"boosh), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ambushed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ambushing.] [OE. enbussen, enbushen, OF. embushier, embuissier, F. embûcher, embusquer, fr. LL. imboscare; in + LL. boscus, buscus, a wood; akin to G. bush, E. bush. See Ambuscade, Bush.]
1. To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.
"By ambushed men behind their temple laid, We have the king of Mexico betrayed." - Dryden.
2. To attack by ambush; to waylay.

Ambush
Am´bush, v. i. To lie in wait, for the purpose of attacking by surprise; to lurk.
"Nor saw the snake that ambushed for his prey." - Trumbull.

Ambusher
Am´bush•er, n. One lying in ambush.

Ambushment
Am´bush•ment, n. [OF. embuschement. See Ambush, v. t.] An ambush. [Obs.] 2 Chron. xiii. 13.

Amebean
Am•e•be´an, a. (Zoöl.) See Ambean.

Amelcorn
Am´el•corn, n. [Ger. amelkorn: cf. MHG. amel, amer, spelt, and L. amylum starch, Gr. .] A variety of wheat from which starch is produced; — called also French rice.

Ameliorable
A•mel´io•ra•ble, a. Capable of being ameliorated.

Ameliorate
A•mel´io•rate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ameliorated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ameliorating.] [L. a. + meliorare to make better: cf. F. ameliorer. See Meliorate.] To make better; to improve; to meliorate.
"In every human being there is a wish to ameliorate his own condition." - Macaulay.

Ameliorate
A•mel´io•rate, v. i. To grow better; to meliorate; as wine ameliorates by age.

Amelioration
A•mel•io•ra´tion, n. [Cf. F. amelioration.] The act of ameliorating, or the state of being ameliorated; making or becoming better; improvement; melioration. "Amelioration of human affairs." J. S. Mill.

Ameliorative
A•mel´io•ra•tive, a. Tending to ameliorate; producing amelioration or improvement; as ameliorative remedies, efforts.

Ameliorator
A•mel´io•ra•tor, n. One who ameliorates.

Amen
A•men´ ( 277), interj., adv., & n. [L. amen, Gr. ’amh•n, Heb. amen certainly, truly.] An expression used at the end of prayers, and meaning, So be it. At the end of a creed, it is a solemn asseveration of belief. When it introduces a declaration, it is equivalent to truly, verily. It is used as a noun, to denote: (a) concurrence in belief, or in a statement; assent; (b) the final word or act; (c) Christ as being one who is true and faithful.
"And let all the people say, Amen." - Ps. cvi. 48.
"Amen, amen, I say to thee, except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God." - John ii. 3. Rhemish Trans.
To say amen to, to approve warmly; to concur in heartily or emphatically; to ratify; as I say Amen to all.

Amen
A•men´, v. t. To say Amen to; to sanction fully.

Amenability
A•me•na•bil´i•ty, n. The quality of being amenable; amenableness. Coleridge.

Amenable
A•me´na•ble, a. [F. amener to lead; (L. a. ) = mener to lead, fr. L. minare to drive animals (properly by threatening cries), in LL. to lead; L. minari, to threaten, minae threats. See Menace.]
1. (Old Law) Easy to be led; governable, as a woman by her husband. [Obs.] Jacob.
2. Liable to be brought to account or punishment; answerable; responsible; accountable; as amenable to law.
"Nor is man too diminutive … to be amenable to the divine government." - I. Taylor.
3. Liable to punishment, a charge, a claim, etc.
4. Willing to yield or submit; responsive; tractable.
"Sterling … always was amenable enough to counsel." - Carlyle.

Amenably
A•me´na•bly, adv. In an amenable manner.

Amenage
Am´e•nage, v. t. [OF. amesnagier. See Manage.] To manage. [Obs.] Spenser.

Amendable
A•mend´a•ble, a. Capable of being amended; as an amendable writ or error. — A•mend´a•ble•ness, n.

Amendatory
A•mend´a•to•ry, a. Supplying amendment; corrective; emendatory. Bancroft.

Amende
A•mende´, n. [F. See Amend.] A pecuniary punishment or fine; a reparation or recantation. Amende honorable . (Old French Law) A species of infamous punishment in which the offender, being led into court with a rope about his neck, and a lighted torch in his hand, begged pardon of his God, the court, etc. In popular language, the phrase now denotes a public apology or recantation, and reparation to an injured party, for improper language or treatment.

Amendful
A•mend´ful, a. Much improving. [Obs.]

Amendment
A•mend´ment, n. [F. amendement, LL. amendamentum.]
1. An alteration or change for the better; correction of a fault or of faults; reformation of life by quitting vices.
2. In public bodies; Any alternation made or proposed to be made in a bill or motion by adding, changing, substituting, or omitting.
3. (Law) Correction of an error in a writ or process.
Syn. — Improvement; reformation; emendation.

Amends
A•mends´, n. sing. & pl. [F. amendes, pl. of amende. Cf. Amende.] Compensation for a loss or injury; recompense; reparation. [Now const. with sing. verb.] "An honorable amends." Addison.
"Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends." - Shak.

Amenorrhœa
A•men•or•rhœ"a, n. [Gr. ’a priv. + month + to flow: cf. F. amenorrhee.] (Med.) Retention or suppression of the menstrual discharge.

Amenorrhœal
A•men•or•rhœ"al, a. Pertaining to amenorrhœa.

Ament
Am´ent, n. [L. amentum thong or strap.] (Bot.) A species of inflorescence; a catkin.
"The globular ament of a buttonwood." - Coues.

Amentaceous
Am•en•ta´ceous, a. [LL. amentaceus.] (Bot.) (a) Resembling, or consisting of, an ament or aments; as the chestnut has an amentaceous inflorescence. (b) Bearing aments; having flowers arranged in aments; as amentaceous plants.

Amentia
A•men´ti•a, n. [L.] (Med.) Imbecility; total want of understanding.

Amentiferous
Am•en•tif´er•ous, a. [L. amentum + -ferous.] (Bot.) Bearing catkins. Balfour.

Amentiform
A•men´ti•form, a. [L. amentum + -form.] (Bot.) Shaped like a catkin.

Amentum
A•men´tum, n. ; pl. Amenta . Same as Ament.

Amercement
A•merce´ment, n. [OF. amerciment.] The infliction of a penalty at the discretion of the court; also a mulct or penalty thus imposed. It differs from a fine,in that the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and certain sum prescribed by statute for an offense; but an amercement is arbitrary. Hence, the act or practice of affeering. [See Affeer.] Blackstone. This word, in old books, is written amerciament. Amercement royal, a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanor in his office. Jacobs.

Amerciament
A•mer´cia•ment, n. [LL. amerciamentum.] Same as Amercement. Mozley & W.

American plan
A•mer"i•can plan. In hotels, aplan upon which guests pay for both room and board by the day, week, or other convenient period; — contrasted with European plan.

American Protective Association
A•mer"i•can Pro•tect"ive As•so•ci•a"tion. A secret organization in the United States, formed in Iowa in 1887, ostensibly for the protection of American institutions by keeping Roman Catholics out of public office. Abbrev. commonly to A. P .A.

Americanism
A•mer´i•can•ism, n.
1. Attachment to the United States.
2. A custom peculiar to the United States or to America; an American characteristic or idea.
3. A word or phrase peculiar to the United States.

Americanization
A•mer•i•can•i•za´tion (a•mer•i•k an•i•za"shun), n. The process of Americanizing.

Americanize
A•mer´i•can•ize (-iz), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Americanizer ; p. pr. & vb. n. Americanizing.] To render American; to assimilate to the Americans in customs, ideas etc.; to stamp with American characteristics.

Ametabolian
A•met•a•bo´li•an, a. [Gr. unchangeable; ’a priv. + changeable, to change.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to insects that do undergo any metamorphosis. { A•met•a•bol´ic, Am•e•tab´o•lous } a. (Zoöl.) Not undergoing any metamorphosis; as ametabolic insects.

Amethodist
A•meth´o•dist, n. [Pref. a. not + methodist.] One without method; a quack. [Obs.]

Amethyst
Am´e•thyst, [F. ametiste, amatiste, F. amethyste, L. amethystus, fr. Gr. without drunkenness; as a noun, a remedy for drunkenness, the amethyst, supposed to have this power; ’a priv. + to be drunken, strong drink, wine. See Mead.]
1. (Min.) A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish violet color, of different shades. It is much used as a jeweler’s stone. Oriental amethyst, the violet-blue variety of transparent crystallized corundum or sapphire.
2. (Her.) A purple color in a nobleman’s escutcheon, or coat of arms.

Ametropia
Am•e•tro´pi•a, n. [Gr. irregular +,, eye.] (Med.) Any abnormal condition of the refracting powers of the eye. — Am•e•trop´ic, a.

Amharic
Am•har´ic, a. Of or pertaining to Amhara, a division of Abyssinia; as the Amharic language is closely allied to the Ethiopic. — n. The Amharic language (now the chief language of Abyssinia).

Amia
Am´i•a, n. [L., fr. Gr. a kind of tunny.] (Zoöl.) A genus of fresh-water ganoid fishes, exclusively confined to North America; called bowfin in Lake Champlain, dogfish in Lake Erie, and mudfish in South Carolina, etc. See Bowfin.

Amiable
A´mi•a•ble, a. [F. amiable, L. amicabilis friendly, fr. amicus friend, fr. amare to love. The meaning has been influenced by F. aimable, L. amabilis lovable, fr. amare to love. Cf. Amicable, Amorous, Amability.]
1. Lovable; lovely; pleasing. [Obs. or R.]
"So amiable a prospect." - Sir T. Herbert.
2. Friendly; kindly; sweet; gracious; as an amiable temper or mood; amiable ideas.
3. Possessing sweetness of disposition; having sweetness of temper, kind-heartedness, etc., which causes one to be liked; as an amiable woman.
4. Done out of love. [Obs.]
"Lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford’s wife." - Shak.

Amiably
A´mi•a•bly, adv. In an amiable manner.

Amianth
Am´i•anth, n. See Amianthus. [Poetic]

Amianthoid
Am•i•an´thoid, a. [ Amianthus + -oid: cf. F. amiantoïde.] Resembling amianthus.

Amianthus
Am•i•an´thus, n. [L. amiantus, Gr. (lit., unsoiled stone) a greenish stone, like asbestus; ’a priv. + to stain, to defile; so called from its incombustibility.] (Min.) Earth flax, or mountain flax; a soft silky variety of asbestus.

Amic
Am´ic, a. [L. a. monia + - ic.] (Chem.) Related to, or derived, ammonia; — used chiefly as a suffix; as amic acid; phosph amic acid. Amic acid (Chem.), one of a class of nitrogenized acids somewhat resembling amides.

Amicability
Am•i•ca•bil´i•ty, n. The quality of being amicable; friendliness; amicableness. Ash.

Amicable
Am´i•ca•ble, a. [L. amicabilis, fr. amicus friend, fr. amare to love. See Amiable.] Friendly; proceeding from, or exhibiting, friendliness; after the manner of friends; peaceable; as an amicable disposition, or arrangement.
"That which was most remarkable in this contest was … the amicable manner in which it was managed." - Prideoux.
Amicable action (Law.), an action commenced and prosecuted by amicable consent of the parties, for the purpose of obtaining a decision of the court on some matter of law involved in it. Bouvier. Burrill. — Amicable numbers (Math.), two numbers, each of which is equal to the sum of all the aliquot parts of the other.
Syn. — Friendly; peaceable; kind; harmonious. — Amicable, Friendly. Neither of these words denotes any great warmth of affection, since friendly has by no means the same strength as its noun friendship. It does, however, imply something of real cordiality; while amicable supposes very little more than that the parties referred to are not disposed to quarrel. Hence, we speak of amicable relations between two countries, an amicable adjustment of difficulties. "Those who entertain friendly feelings toward each other can live amicably together."

Amicably
Am´i•ca•bly, adv. In an amicable manner.

Amice
Am´ice, n. [OE. amyse, prob. for amyt, OF. amit, ameit, fr. L. amictus cloak, the word being confused with amice, almuce, a hood or cape. See next word.] A square of white linen worn at first on the head, but now about the neck and shoulders, by priests of the Roman Catholic Church while saying Mass.

Amice
Am´ice, n. [OE. amuce, amisse, OF. almuce, aumuce, F. aumusse, LL. almucium, almucia, aumucia: of unknown origin; cf. G. mütze cap, prob. of the same origin. Cf. Mozetta.] (Eccl.) A hood, or cape with a hood, made of lined with gray fur, formerly worn by the clergy; — written also amess, amyss, and almuce.

Amidin
Am´i•din, n. [Cf. F. amidine, fr. amido starch, fr. L. amylum, Gr. fine meal, neut. of not ground at the mill, — hence, of the finest meal; ’a priv. +,, mill. See Meal.] (Chem.) Start modified by heat so as to become a transparent mass, like horn. It is soluble in cold water.

Amidol
Am´i•dol, n. [ Amide + - ol as in alcohol.] (Photog. & Chem.) A salt of a diamino phenol, C₆H₃(OH)(NH₂)₂, used as a developer.

Amidships
A•mid´ships, adv. (Naut.) In the middle of a ship, with regard to her length, and sometimes also her breadth. Totten. { A•midst´, A•mid´ } prep. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a later addition, as in whilst, amongst, alongst. See Mid.] In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. "This fair tree amidst the garden." "Unseen amid the throng." "Amidst thick clouds." Milton. "Amidst acclamations." "Amidst the splendor and festivity of a court." Macaulay.
"But rather famish them amid their plenty." - Shak.
Syn. — Amidst, Among. These words differ to some extent from each other, as will be seen from their etymology. Amidst denotes in the midst or middle of, and hence surrounded by; as this work was written amidst many interruptions. Among denotes a mingling or intermixing with distinct or separable objects; as "He fell among thieves." "Blessed art thou among women." Hence, we say, among the moderns, among the ancients, among the thickest of trees, among these considerations, among the reasons I have to offer. Amid and amidst are commonly used when the idea of separate or distinguishable objects is not prominent. Hence, we say, they kept on amidst the storm, amidst the gloom, he was sinking amidst the waves, he persevered amidst many difficulties; in none of which cases could among be used. In like manner, Milton speaks of Abdiel, —
"The seraph Abdiel, faithful found; Among the faithless faithful only he," because he was then considered as one of the angels. But when the poet adds, —
"From amidst them forth he passed," we have rather the idea of the angels as a collective body.
"Those squalid cabins and uncleared woods amidst which he was born. Macaulay. "

Amine
Am´ine ( 277), n. [ Ammonia + - ine.] (Chem.) One of a class of strongly basic substances derived from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by a basic atom or radical.

Aminol
Am´i•nol, n. [From amine.] (Pharm.) A colorless liquid prepared from herring brine and containing amines, used as a local antiseptic.

Amioid
Am´i•oid, a. (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the Amioidei. — n. One of the Amioidei.

Amioidei
Am•i•oi´de•i, n. pl. [NL., fr. Amia + -oid.] (Zoöl.) An order of ganoid fishes of which Amia is the type. See Bowfin and Ganoidei.

Amiss
A•miss´, adv. [Pref. a. + miss.] Astray; faultily; improperly; wrongly; ill.
"What error drives our eyes and ears amiss?" - Shak.
"Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss." - James iv. 3.
To take (an act, thing) amiss, to impute a wrong motive to (an act or thing); to take offense at; to take unkindly; as you must not take these questions amiss.

Amiss
A•miss´ (a•mis"), a. Wrong; faulty; out of order; improper; as it may not be amiss to ask advice. [Used only in the predicate.] Dryden.
"His wisdom and virtue can not always rectify that which is amiss in himself or his circumstances." - Wollaston.

Amiss
A•miss´, n. A fault, wrong, or mistake. [Obs.]
"Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss." - Shak.

Amissibility
A•mis•si•bil´i•ty, [Cf. F. amissibilite. See Amit.] The quality of being amissible; possibility of being lost. [R.]
"Notions of popular rights and the amissibility of sovereign power for misconduct were alternately broached by the two great religious parties of Europe." - Hallam.

Amission
A•mis´sion, n. [L. amissio: cf. F. amission.] Deprivation; loss. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Amit
A•mit´, v. t. [L. amittere, amissum, to lose; a ( a. ) + mittere to send. See Missile.] To lose. [Obs.]
"A lodestone fired doth presently amit its proper virtue." - Sir T. Browne.

Amity
Am´i•ty, n. ; pl. Amities . [F. amitie, OF. amistie, amiste, fr. an assumed LL. amisitas, fr. L. amicus friendly, from amare to love. See Amiable.] Friendship, in a general sense, between individuals, societies, or nations; friendly relations; good understanding; as a treaty of amity and commerce; the amity of the Whigs and Tories.
"To live on terms of amity with vice." - Cowper.
Syn. — Harmony; friendliness; friendship; affection; good will; peace.

Ammeter
Am´me•ter, n. (Physics) A contraction of amperometer or ampèremeter.

Ammiral
Am´mi•ral, n. An obsolete form of admiral. "The mast of some great ammiral." Milton.

Ammite
Am´mite (am"mit), n. [Gr. ’ammi•ths, ’ammi•tis, sandstone, fr. ’a•mmos or "a•mmos sand.] (Geol.) Oölite or roestone; — written also hammite. [Obs.]

Ammodyte
Am´mo•dyte, n. [L. ammodytes, Gr. sand burrower, a kind of serpent; ’a•mmos sand + diver, to dive.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of a genus of fishes; the sand eel. (b) A kind of viper in southern Europe. [Obs.]

Ammonal
Am´mo•nal, n. [ Ammonium + a. uminium.] An explosive consisting of a mixture of powdered aluminium and nitrate of ammonium.

Ammonia
Am•mo´ni•a, n. [From sal ammoniac, which was first obtaining near the temple of Jupiter Ammon, by burning camel’s dung. See Ammoniac.] (Chem.) A gaseous compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, NH₃, with a pungent smell and taste: — often called volatile alkali, and spirits of hartshorn. { Am•mo´ni•ac, Am•mo•ni´a•cal } a. Of or pertaining to ammonia, or possessing its properties; as an ammoniac salt; ammoniacal gas. Ammoniacal engine, an engine in which the vapor of ammonia is used as the motive force. — Sal ammoniac [L. sal ammoniacus], the salt usually called chloride of ammonium, and formerly muriate of ammonia.

Ammoniated
Am•mo´ni•a•ted, a. (Chem.) Combined or impregnated with ammonia.

Ammonic
Am•mo´nic, a. Of or pertaining to ammonia.

Ammonite
Am´mon•ite, n. [L. cornu Ammonis born of Ammon; L. Ammon, Gr. an appellation of Jupiter, as represented with the horns of a ram. It was originally the name of an. Egyptian god, Amun.] (Paleon.) A fossil cephalopod shell related to the nautilus. There are many genera and species, and all are extinct, the typical forms having existed only in the Mesozoic age, when they were exceedingly numerous. They differ from the nautili in having the margins of the septa very much lobed or plaited, and the siphuncle dorsal. Also called serpent stone, snake stone, and cornu Ammonis.

Ammonitiferous
Am•mon•i•tif´er•ous, a. [ Ammonite + -ferous.] Containing fossil ammonites.

Ammonitoidea
Am•mon•i•toid´e•a, n. pl. [NL., fr. Ammonite + -oid.] (Zoöl.) An extensive group of fossil cephalopods often very abundant in Mesozoic rocks. See Ammonite.

Amnesic
Am•ne´sic, a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to amnesia. "Amnesic or coördinate defects." Quian.

Amnestic
Am•nes´tic, a. Causing loss of memory.

Amnesty
Am´nes•ty, n. [L. amnestia, Gr., a forgetting, fr. forgotten, forgetful; ’a priv. + to remember: cf. F. amnistie, earlier amnestie. See Mean, v. ]
1. Forgetfulness; cessation of remembrance of wrong; oblivion.
2. An act of the sovereign power granting oblivion, or a general pardon, for a past offense, as to subjects concerned in an insurrection.

Amnesty
Am´nes•ty, v. t. [ imp. p. p. Amnestied ; p. pr. & vb. n. Amnestying.] To grant amnesty to.

Amnigenous
Am•nig´e•nous, a. [L. amnigena; amnis a river + root gen of gignere to beget.] Born or bred in, of, or near a river. [Obs.] Bailey.

Amnion
Am´ni•on, n. [Gr. the membrane round the fetus, dim. of lamb.] (Anat.) A thin membrane surrounding the embryos of mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Amnios
Am´ni•os, n. Same as Amnion.

Amœbea
Am•œ•be"a, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) That division of the Rhizopoda which includes the amœba and similar forms.

Amœbean
Am•œ•be"an, a. Alternately answering.

Amœbian
A•mœ"bi•an, n. (Zoöl.) One of the Amœbea. { A•mœ"bi•form, A•mœ"boid } a. [ Amœba + -form or -oid.] (Biol.) Resembling an amœba; amœba-shaped; changing in shape like an amœba. Amœboid movement, movement produced, as in the amœba, by successive processes of prolongation and retraction.

Amœbous
A•mœ"bous, a. Like an amœba in structure.

Amole
A•mo´le, n. [Mex.] (Bot.) Any detergent plant, or the part of it used as a detergent, as the roots of Agave Americana, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, etc. [Sp. Amer. & Mex.]

Amolition
Am•o•li´tion, n. [L. amolitio, fr. amoliri to remove; a ( a. ) + moliri to put in motion.] Removal; a putting away. [Obs.] Bp. Ward (1673).

Amomum
A•mo´mum, n. [L., fr. Gr. an Indian spice plant.] (Bot.) A genus of aromatic plants. It includes species which bear cardamoms, and grains of paradise.

Amoneste
A•mon´este, v. t. To admonish. [Obs.] { A•mong´, A•mongst´ } prep. [OE. amongist, amonges, amonge, among, AS. onmang, ongemang, gemang, in a crowd or mixture. For the ending -st see Amidst. See Mingle.]
1. Mixed or mingled; surrounded by.
"They heard, And from his presence hid themselves among The thickest trees." - Milton.
2. Conjoined, or associated with, or making part of the number of; in the number or class of.
"Blessed art thou among women." - Luke i. 28.
3. Expressing a relation of dispersion, distribution, etc.; also a relation of reciprocal action.
"What news among the merchants?" - Shak.
"Human sacrifices were practiced among them." - Hume.
"Divide that gold amongst you." - Marlowe.
"Whether they quarreled among themselves, or with their neighbors." - Addison.
Syn. — Amidst; between. See Amidst, Between.

Amoret
Am´o•ret, n. [OF. amorette, F. amourette, dim. of amour.]
1. An amorous girl or woman; a wanton. [Obs.] J. Warton.
2. A love knot, love token, or love song. (pl.) Love glances or love tricks. [Obs.]
3. A petty love affair or amour. [Obs.]

Amorette
Am´o•rette´, n. An amoret. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

Amorist
Am´o•rist, n. [L. armor love. See Amorous.] A lover; a gallant. [R.] Milton.
"It was the custom for an amorist to impress the name of his mistress in the dust, or upon the damp earth, with letters fixed upon his shoe." - Southey.

Amorosity
Am•o•ros´i•ty, n. The quality of being amorous; lovingness. [R.] Galt.

Amoroso
Am•o•ro´so, n. [It. amoroso, LL. amorosus.] A lover; a man enamored.

Amoroso
Am•o•ro´so, adv. [It.] (Mus.) In a soft, tender, amatory style.

Amorous
Am´o•rous, a. [OF. amoros, F. amoreux, LL. amorosus, fr. L. amor love, fr. amare to love.]
1. Inclined to love; having a propensity to love, or to sexual enjoyment; loving; fond; affectionate; as an amorous disposition.
2. Affected with love; in love; enamored; — usually with of; formerly with on.
"Thy roses amorous of the moon." - Keats.
"High nature amorous of the good." - Tennyson.
"Sure my brother is amorous on Hero." - Shak.
3. Of or relating to, or produced by, love. "Amorous delight." Milton. "Amorous airs." Waller.
Syn. — Loving; fond; tender; passionate; affectionate; devoted; ardent.

Amorously
Am´o•rous•ly, adv. In an amorous manner; fondly.

Amorousness
Am´o•rous•ness, n. The quality of being amorous, or inclined to sexual love; lovingness.

Amorpha
A•mor´pha, n. ; pl. Amorphas . [Gr. shapeless.] (Bot.) A genus of leguminous shrubs, having long clusters of purple flowers; false or bastard indigo. Longfellow.

Amorphism
A•mor´phism, n. [See Amorphous.] A state of being amorphous; esp. a state of being without crystallization even in the minutest particles, as in glass, opal, etc. There are stony substances which, when fused, may cool as glass or as stone; the glass state is spoken of as a state of amorphism.

Amorphozoa
A•mor•pho•zo´a, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. shapeless; ’a priv. + form + animal.] (Zoöl.) Animals without a mouth or regular internal organs, as the sponges.

Amorphozoic
A•mor•pho•zo´ic, a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Amorphozoa.

Amorphy
A•mor´phy, n. [Gr. : cf. F. amorphie. See Amorphous.] Shapelessness. [Obs.] Swift.

Amortise
A•mor´tise, v. , A•mor•ti•sa´tion, n. , A•mor´tis•a•ble, a. , A•mor´tise•ment, n. Same as Amortize, Amortization, etc.

Amortization
A•mor•ti•za´tion, n. [LL. amortisatio, admortizatio. See Amortize, and cf. Admortization.]
1. (Law) The act or right of alienating lands to a corporation, which was considered formerly as transferring them to dead hands, or in mortmain.
2. The extinction of a debt, usually by means of a sinking fund; also the money thus paid. Simmonds.

Amount
A•mount´, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Amounted; p. pr. & vb. n. Amounting.] [OF. amonter to increase, advance, ascend, fr. amont (equiv. to L. ad montem to the mountain) upward, F. amont up the river. See Mount, n. ]
1. To go up; to ascend. [Obs.]
"So up he rose, and thence amounted straight." - Spenser.
2. To rise or reach by an accumulation of particular sums or quantities; to come ( to) in the aggregate or whole; — with to or unto.
3. To rise, reach, or extend in effect, substance, or influence; to be equivalent; to come practically ( to); as the testimony amounts to very little.

Amount
A•mount´, v. t. To signify; to amount to. [Obs.]

Amount
A•mount´, n.
1. The sum total of two or more sums or quantities; the aggregate; the whole quantity; a totality; as the amount of 7 and 9 is 16; the amount of a bill; the amount of this year’s revenue.
2. The effect, substance, value, significance, or result; the sum; as the amount of the testimony is this.
"The whole amount of that enormous fame." - Pope.

Amour
A•mour´, n. [F., fr. L. amor love.]
1. Love; affection. [Obs.]
2. Love making; a love affair; usually, an unlawful connection in love; a love intrigue; an illicit love affair. In amours with, in love with. [Obs.]

Amour propre
A"mour• pro"pre (a"moor• pro"pr’). [F.] Self-love; self-esteem.

Amovability
A•mov•a•bil´i•ty, n. Liability to be removed or dismissed from office. [R.] T. Jefferson.

Amovable
A•mov´a•ble, a. [Cf. F. amovible.] Removable.

Amove
A•move´, v. t. [L. amovere; a. ( a. ) + movere to move: cf. OF. amover.]
1. To remove, as a person or thing, from a position. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
2. (Law) To dismiss from an office or station.

Amove
A•move´, v. t. & i. [OE. amovir, L. admovere to move to, to excite; a. + movere.] To move or be moved; to excite. [Obs.] Spenser.

Ampelite
Am´pe•lite (am"pe•lit), n. [L. ampelitis, Gr. ’ampeli^tis, fr. ’a•mpelos vine.] (Min.) An earth abounding in pyrites, used by the ancients to kill insects, etc., on vines; — applied by Brongniart to a carbonaceous alum schist. { Am•père" (äN•pâr"), Am•pere´ (am•par"), } n. [From the name of a French electrician.] (Elec.) The unit of electric current; — defined by the International Electrical Congress in 1893 and by U. S. Statute as one tenth of the unit of current of the C. G. S. system of electro-magnetic units, or the practical equivalent of the unvarying current which, when passed through a standard solution of nitrate of silver in water, deposits silver at the rate of 0.001118 grams per second. Called also the international ampère. { Am•père"me•ter, Am•pe•rom´e•ter, } n. [ Ampère + meter.] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the strength of an electrical current in ampères.

Ampelopsis
Am•pe•lop´sis (am•pe•lop"sis), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ’a•mpelos vine + ’o•psis appearance.] (Bot.) A genus formerly including the Virginia creeper.

Amperage
Am•per´age, n. (Elec.) The strength of a current of electricity carried by a conductor or generated by a machine, measured in ampères.

Ampère foot
Am•père" foot. (Elec.) A unit, employed in calculating fall of pressure in distributing mains, equivalent to a current of one ampère flowing through one foot of conductor.

Ampère hour. (Elec.) The quantity of electricity delivered in one hour by a current whose average strength is one ampère. It is used as a unit of quantity, and is equal to 3600 coulombs. The terms Ampère minute and Ampère second are sometimes similarly used.

Ampère turn. (Elec.) A unit equal to the product of one complete convolution (of a coiled conductor) into one ampère of current; thus, a conductor having five convolutions and carrying a current of half an ampère is said to have 2½ ampère turns. The magnetizing effect of a coil is proportional to the number of its ampère turns.

Ampersand
Am´per•sand, n. [A corruption of and, per se and, i. e., & by itself makes and.] A word used to describe the character,, or &. Halliwell.

Amphi-
Am•phi-. [Gr. ’amfi•.] A prefix in words of Greek origin, signifying both, of both kinds, on both sides, about, around.

Amphiarthrodial
Am•phi•ar•thro´di•al, a. [Pref. amphi- + arthrodial.] Characterized by amphiarthrosis.

Amphiarthrosis
Am•phi•ar•thro´sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ’amfi• + a joining, a joint.] (Anat.) A form of articulation in which the bones are connected by intervening substance admitting slight motion; symphysis.

Amphiaster
Am´phi•as•ter, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ’amfi• + ’asth•r a star.] (Biol.) The achromatic figure, formed in mitotic cell-division, consisting of two asters connected by a spindle-shaped bundle of rodlike fibers diverging from each aster, and called the spindle.

Amphibia
Am•phib´i•a, n. pl. [See Amphibium.] (Zoöl.) One of the classes of vertebrates. The Amphibia are distinguished by having usually no scales, by having eggs and embryos similar to those of fishes, and by undergoing a complete metamorphosis, the young having gills. There are three living orders: (1) The tailless, as the frogs ( Anura); (2) The tailed ( Urodela), as the salamanders, and the siren group ( Sirenoidea), which retain the gills of the young state (hence called Perennibranchiata) through the adult state, among which are the siren, proteus, etc.; (3) The Cœcilians, or serpentlike Amphibia ( Ophiomorpha or Gymnophiona), with minute scales and without limbs. The extinct Labyrinthodonts also belonged to this class. The term is sometimes loosely applied to both reptiles and amphibians collectively.

Amphibian
Am•phib´i•an (-an), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Amphibia; as amphibian reptiles.

Amphibian
Am•phib´i•an, n. (Zoöl.) One of the Amphibia.

Amphibiological
Am•phib•i•o•log´ic•al, a. Pertaining to amphibiology.

Amphibiology
Am•phib•i•ol´o•gy, n. [Gr. amphibious + -logy: cf. F. amphibiologie.] A treatise on amphibious animals; the department of natural history which treats of the Amphibia.

Amphibiotica
Am•phib•i•ot´i•ca, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ’amfi• + biwtiko•s pertaining to life.] (Zoöl.) A division of insects having aquatic larvae.

Amphibious
Am•phib´i•ous, a. [Gr. ’amfi•bios living a double life, i. e., both on land in water; ’amfi• + bi•os life.]
1. Having the ability to live both on land and in water, as frogs, crocodiles, beavers, and some plants.
2. Pertaining to, adapted for, or connected with, both land and water.
"The amphibious character of the Greeks was already determined: they were to be lords of land and sea." - Hare.
3. Of a mixed nature; partaking of two natures.
"Not in free and common socage, but in this amphibious subordinate class of villein socage." - Blackstone.

Amphibiously
Am•phib´i•ous•ly, adv. Like an amphibious being.

Amphibium
Am•phib´i•um, n. ; pl. L. Amphibia ; E. Amphibiums . [NL., fr. Gr. (sc. an animal). See Amphibious.] An amphibian.

Amphibole
Am´phi•bole (am"fi•bol), n. [Gr. ’amfi•bolos doubtful, equivocal, fr. ’amfiba•llein to throw round, to doubt: cf. F. amphibole. Haüy so named the genus from the great variety of color and composition assumed by the mineral.] (Min.) A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in color and in composition. It occurs in monoclinic crystals also massive generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The color varies from white to gray, green, brown, and black. It is a silicate of magnesium and calcium, with usually aluminium and iron. Some common varieties are tremolite, actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende (the last name being also used as a general term for the whole species). Amphibole is a constituent of many crystalline rocks, as syenite, diorite, most varieties of trachyte, etc. See Hornblende.

Amphibological
Am•phib•o•log´ic•al (am•fib•o•loj"i•k al), a. Of doubtful meaning; ambiguous. "Amphibological expressions." Jer. Taylor. — Am•phib•o•log´ic•al•ly, adv.

Amphibology
Am•phi•bol´o•gy (am•fi•bol"o•jy), n. ; pl. Amphibologies (- jiz). [L. amphibologia, for amphibolia, fr. Gr. ’amfiboli•a, with the ending -logia as if fr. Gr. ’amfi•bolos ambiguous + lo•gos speech: cf. F. amphibologie. See Amphiboly.] A phrase, discourse, or proposition, susceptible of two interpretations; and hence, of uncertain meaning. It differs from equivocation, which arises from the twofold sense of a single term.

Amphichroic
Am•phi•chro´ic, a. [Gr. ’amfi• + color.] (Chem.) Exhibiting or producing two colors, as substances which in the color test may change red litmus to blue and blue litmus to red. { Am•phi•cœ"li•an, Am•phi•cœ"lous, } a. [Gr. hollowed all round; ’amfi• + hollow.] (Zoöl.) Having both ends concave; biconcave; — said of vertebrae.

Amphicome
Am´phi•come, n. [Gr. with hair all round; ’amfi• + hair.] A kind of figured stone, rugged and beset with eminences, anciently used in divination. [Obs.] Encyc. Brit.

Amphictyonic
Am•phic•ty•on´ic, a. [Gr. .] Of or pertaining to the Amphictyons or their League or Council; as an Amphictyonic town or state; the Amphictyonic body. W. Smith.

Amphictyons
Am•phic´ty•ons, n. pl. [L. Amphictyones, Gr. . Prob. the word was orig. dwellers around, neighbors.] (Grecian Hist.) Deputies from the confederated states of ancient Greece to a congress or council. They considered both political and religious matters.

Amphictyony
Am•phic´ty•o•ny, n. ; pl. Amphictyonies . [Gr. .] (Grecian Hist.) A league of states of ancient Greece; esp. the celebrated confederation known as the Amphictyonic Council. Its object was to maintain the common interests of Greece.

Amphid
Am´phid, n. [Gr. ’a•mfw both: cf. F. amphide.] (Chem.) A salt of the class formed by the combination of an acid and a base, or by the union of two oxides, two sulphides, selenides, or tellurides, as distinguished from a haloid compound. [R.] Berzelius.

Amphidisc
Am´phi•disc, n. [Gr. ’amfi• + di•skos a round plate.] (Zoöl.) A peculiar small siliceous spicule having a denticulated wheel at each end; — found in freshwater sponges.

Amphidromical
Am•phi•drom´ic•al, a. [Gr. ’amfi•dromos running about or around.] Pertaining to an Attic festival at the naming of a child; — so called because the friends of the parents carried the child around the hearth and then named it.

Amphigamous
Am•phig´a•mous, a. [Gr. + marriage.] (Bot.) Having a structure entirely cellular, and no distinct sexual organs; — a term applied by De Candolle to the lowest order of plants.

Amphigean
Am•phi•ge´an, a. [Gr. +,, the earth.] Extending over all the zones, from the tropics to the polar zones inclusive.

Amphigen
Am´phi•gen, n. [Gr. + -gen: cf. F. amphigène.] (Chem.) An element that in combination produces amphid salt; — applied by Berzelius to oxygen, sulphur, selenium, and tellurium. [R.]

Amphigene
Am´phi•gene, n. (Min.) Leucite.

Amphigenesis
Am•phi•gen´e•sis, n. [Gr. + generation.] (Biol.) Sexual generation; amphigony.

Amphigenous
Am•phig´e•nous, a. (Bot.) Increasing in size by growth on all sides, as the lichens.

Amphigonic
Am•phi•gon´ic, a. Pertaining to amphigony; sexual; as amphigonic propagation. [R.]

Amphigonous
Am•phig´o•nous, a. [Gr. + a begetting.] Relating to both parents. [R.]

Amphigony
Am•phig´o•ny, n. Sexual propagation. [R.]

Amphigoric
Am•phi•gor´ic, a. [See Amphigory.] Nonsensical; absurd; pertaining to an amphigory.

Amphimacer
Am•phim´a•cer, n. [L. amphimacru, Gr. ; on both sides + long.] (Anc. Pros.) A foot of three syllables, the middle one short and the others long, as in casttas. Andrews.

Amphineura
Am•phi•neu´ra, n. pl. [NL., fr. + sinew, nerve.] (Zoöl.) A division of Mollusca remarkable for the bilateral symmetry of the organs and the arrangement of the nerves.

Amphioxus
Am•phi•ox´us, n. [NL., fr. Gr. + sharp.] (Zoöl.) A fishlike creature ( Amphioxus lanceolatus), two or three inches long, found in temperature seas; — also called the lancelet. Its body is pointed at both ends. It is the lowest and most generalized of the vertebrates, having neither brain, skull, vertebrae, nor red blood. It forms the type of the group Acrania, Leptocardia, etc.

Amphipneust
Am•phip´neust, n. [Gr. + one who breathes, to breathe.] (Zoöl.) One of a tribe of Amphibia, which have both lungs and gills at the same time, as the proteus and siren.

Amphipod
Am´phi•pod, n. (Zoöl.) One of the Amphipoda. { Am´phi•pod, Am•phip´o•dan } a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Amphipoda.

Amphipoda
Am•phip´o•da, n. pl. [NL., FR. Gr. +, foot.] (Zoöl.) A numerous group of fourteen — footed Crustacea, inhabiting both fresh and salt water. The body is usually compressed laterally, and the anterior pairs or legs are directed downward and forward, but the posterior legs are usually turned upward and backward. The beach flea is an example. See Tetradecapoda and Arthrostraca.

Amphiprostyle
Am•phip´ro•style, a. [L. amphiprostylos, Gr. having a double prostyle: cf. F. amphiprostyle. See Prostyle.] (Arch.) Doubly prostyle; having columns at each end, but not at the sides. — n. An amphiprostyle temple or edifice.

Amphisbaena
Am•phis•bae´na, n. [L., fr. Gr. ; on both ends + to go.]
1. A fabled serpent with a head at each end, moving either way. Milton.
2. (Zoöl.) A genus of harmless lizards, serpentlike in form, without legs, and with both ends so much alike that they appear to have a head at each, and ability to move either way. See Illustration in Appendix. The Gordius aquaticus, or hairworm, has been called an amphisbaena; but it belongs among the worms.

Amphisbaenoid
Am•phis•bae´noid, a. [NL., fr. L. amphisbaena + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the lizards of the genus Amphisbaena. { Am•phis´ci•i, Am•phis´cians } n. pl. [Gr. throwing a shadow both ways; + shadow.] The inhabitants of the tropic, whose shadows in one part of the year are cast to the north, and in the other to the south, according as the sun is south or north of their zenith.

Amphistomous
Am•phis´to•mous, a. [Gr. + mouth.] (Zoöl.) Having a sucker at each extremity, as certain entozoa, by means of which they adhere.

Amphistylic
Am•phi•sty´lic, a. [Gr. + pillar, support.] (Anat.) Having the mandibular arch articulated with the hyoid arch and the cranium, as in the cestraciont sharks; — said of a skull. { Am•phi•the´a•ter, Am•phi•the´a•tre }, n. [L. amphitheatrum, fr. Gr. ; + theater: cf. F. amphitheâtre. See Theater.]
1. An oval or circular building with rising tiers of seats about an open space called the arena. The Romans first constructed amphitheaters for combats of gladiators and wild beasts.
2. Anything resembling an amphitheater in form; as a level surrounded by rising slopes or hills, or a rising gallery in a theater.

Amphitheatrically
Am•phi•the•at´ric•al•ly, adv. In the form or manner of an amphitheater.

Amphitrocha
Am•phit´ro•cha (am•fit"roka), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ’amfi• + trocho•s a wheel.] (Zoöl.) A kind of annelid larva having both a dorsal and a ventral circle of special cilia. { Am•phit´ro•pal (-p al), Am•phit´ro•pous (- pus), } a. [Gr. ’amfi• + tre•pein to turn.] (Bot.) Having the ovule inverted, but with the attachment near the middle of one side; half anatropous.

Amphiuma
Am•phi•u´ma (am•fi•u"ma), n. (Zoöl.) A genus of amphibians, inhabiting the Southern United States, having a serpentlike form, but with four minute limbs and two persistent gill openings; the Congo snake.

Amphopeptone
Am•pho•pep´tone, n. [Gr. + E. peptone.] (Physiol.) A product of gastric digestion, a mixture of hemipeptone and antipeptone.

Amphora
Am´pho•ra, n. ; pl. Amophorae . [L., fr. Gr.,, a jar with two handles; + bearer, to bear. Cf. Ampul.] Among the ancients, a two-handled vessel, tapering at the bottom, used for holding wine, oil, etc.

Amphoric
Am•phor´ic, a. (Med.) Produced by, or indicating, a cavity in the lungs, not filled, and giving a sound like that produced by blowing into an empty decanter; as amphoric respiration or resonance.

Amphoteric
Am•pho•ter´ic, a. [Gr. both.] Partly one and partly the other; neither acid nor alkaline; neutral. [R.] Smart.

Ample
Am´ple, a. [F. ample, L. amplus, prob. for ambiplus full on both sides, the last syllable akin to L. plenus full. See Full, and cf. Double.] Large; great in size, extent, capacity, or bulk; spacious; roomy; widely extended.
"All the people in that ample house Did to that image bow their humble knees." - Spenser.
2. Fully sufficient; abundant; liberal; copious; as an ample fortune; ample justice.
3. Not contracted of brief; not concise; extended; diffusive; as an ample narrative. Johnson.
Syn. — Full; spacious; extensive; wide; capacious; abundant; plentiful; plenteous; copious; bountiful; rich; liberal; munificent. — Ample, Copious, Abundant, Plenteous. These words agree in representing a thing as large, but under different relations, according to the image which is used. Ample implies largeness, producing a sufficiency or fullness of supply for every want; as ample stores or resources, ample provision. Copious carries with it the idea of flow, or of collection at a single point; as a copious supply of materials. "Copious matter of my song." Milton. Abundant and plenteous refer to largeness of quantity; as abundant stores; plenteous harvests.

Ampleness
Am´ple•ness, n. The state or quality of being ample; largeness; fullness; completeness.

Amplexation
Am•plex•a´tion, n. [L. amplexari to embrace.] An embrace. [Obs.]
"An humble amplexation of those sacred feet." - Bp. Hall.

Amplexicaul
Am•plex´i•caul, a. [L. amplexus, p. p. of amplecti to encircle, to embrace + caulis stem: cf. F. amplexicaule.] (Bot.) Clasping or embracing a stem, as the base of some leaves. Gray.

Ampliate
Am´pli•ate, v. t. [L. ampliatus, p. p. of ampliare to make wider, fr. amplus. See Ample.] To enlarge. [R.]
"To maintain and ampliate the external possessions of your empire." - Udall.

Ampliate
Am´pli•ate, a. (Zoöl.) Having the outer edge prominent; said of the wings of insects.

Ampliation
Am•pli•a´tion, n. [L. ampliatio: cf. F. ampliation.]
1. Enlargement; amplification. [R.]
2. (Civil Law) A postponement of the decision of a cause, for further consideration or re-argument.

Ampliative
Am´pli•a•tive, a. (Logic) Enlarging a conception by adding to that which is already known or received.
""All bodies possess power of attraction" is an ampliative judgment; because we can think of bodies without thinking of attraction as one of their immediate primary attributes." - Abp. W. Thomson.

Amplificate
Am•plif´i•cate, v. t. [L. amplificatus, p. p. of amplificare.] To amplify. [Obs.] Bailey.

Amplification
Am•pli•fi•ca´tion, n. [L. amplificatio.]
1. The act of amplifying or enlarging in dimensions; enlargement; extension.
2. (Rhet.) The enlarging of a simple statement by particularity of description, the use of epithets, etc., for rhetorical effect; diffuse narrative or description, or a dilating upon all the particulars of a subject.
"Exaggeration is a species of amplification. Brande & C."
"I shall summarily, without any amplification at all, show in what manner defects have been supplied." - Sir J. Davies.
3. The matter by which a statement is amplified; as the subject was presented without amplifications.

Amplificative
Am•plif´i•ca•tive, a. Amplificatory.

Amplificatory
Am•plif´i•ca•to•ry, a. Serving to amplify or enlarge; amplificative. Morell.

Amplifier
Am´pli•fi•er, n. One who or that which amplifies.

Amplify
Am´pli•fy, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Amplified ; p. pr. & vb. n. Amplifying.] [F. amplifier, L. amplificare. See Ample, -fy.]
1. To render larger, more extended, or more intense, and the like; — used especially of telescopes, microscopes, etc.
2. (Rhet.) To enlarge by addition or discussion; to treat copiously by adding particulars, illustrations, etc.; to expand; to make much of.
"Troilus and Cressida was written by a Lombard author, but much amplified by our English translator." - Dryden.

Amplify
Am´pli•fy, v. i.
1. To become larger. [Obs.]
"Strait was the way at first, withouten light, But further in did further amplify." - Fairfax.
2. To speak largely or copiously; to be diffuse in argument or description; to dilate; to expatiate; — often with on or upon. Watts.
"He must often enlarge and amplify upon the subject he handles." - South.

Amplitude
Am´pli•tude, n. [L. amplitudo, fr. amplus: cf. F. amplitude. See Ample.]
1. State of being ample; extent of surface or space; largeness of dimensions; size.
"The cathedral of Lincoln … is a magnificent structure, proportionable to the amplitude of the diocese." - Fuller.
2. Largeness, in a figurative sense; breadth; abundance; fullness. (a) Of extent of capacity or intellectual powers. "Amplitude of mind." Milton. "Amplitude of comprehension." Macaulay. (b) Of extent of means or resources. "Amplitude of reward." Bacon.
3. (Astron.) (a) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the center of the sun, or a star, at its rising or setting. At the rising, the amplitude is eastern or ortive: at the setting, it is western, occiduous, or occasive. It is also northern or southern, when north or south of the equator. (b) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the foot of the vertical circle passing through any star or object.
4. (Gun.) The horizontal line which measures the distance to which a projectile is thrown; the range.
5. (Physics) The extent of a movement measured from the starting point or position of equilibrium; — applied especially to vibratory movements.
6. (math.) An angle upon which the value of some function depends; — a term used more especially in connection with elliptic functions. Magnetic amplitude, the angular distance of a heavenly body, when on the horizon, from the magnetic east or west point as indicated by the compass. The difference between the magnetic and the true or astronomical amplitude (see 3 above) is the "variation of the compass."

Ampul
Am´pul, n. [AS. ampella, ampolla, L. ampulla: cf. OF. ampolle, F. ampoule.] Same as Ampulla, 2.

Ampullaceous
Am•pul•la´ceous, a. [L. ampullaceus, fr. ampulla.] Like a bottle or inflated bladder; bottle-shaped; swelling. Kirby. Ampullaceous sac (Zoöl.), one of the peculiar cavities in the tissues of sponges, containing the zooidal cells. { Am´pul•lar, Am•pul•la•ry } a. Resembling an ampulla. { Am´pul•late, Am´pul•la•ted } a. Having an ampulla; flask-shaped; bellied.

Ampulliform
Am•pul´li•form, a. [ Ampulla + -form.] Flask-shaped; dilated.

Amputate
Am´pu•tate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Amputated; p. pr. & vb. n. Amputating.] [L. amputatus, p. p. of amputare: amb- + putare to prune, putus clean, akin to E. pure. See Putative.]
1. To prune or lop off, as branches or tendrils.
2. (Surg.) To cut off (a limb or projecting part of the body). Wiseman.

Amputator
Am´pu•ta´tor, n. One who amputates.

Ampyx
Am´pyx, n. [Gr. .] (Greek Antiq.) A woman’s headband (sometimes of metal), for binding the front hair.

Amrita
Am•ri´ta, n. [Skr. amrita.] (Hind. Myth.) Immortality; also the nectar conferring immortality. — a. Ambrosial; immortal.

Amsel
Am´sel, Am´zel, n. [Ger. See Ousel.] (Zoöl.) The European ring ousel ( Turdus torquatus).

Amuck
A•muck´ (a•muk"), a. & adv. [Malay amoq furious.] In a frenzied and reckless manner. To run amuck, to rush out in a state of frenzy, as the Malays sometimes do under the influence of "bhang," and attack every one that comes in the way; to assail recklessly and indiscriminately.
"Satire’s my weapon, but I’m too discreet To run amuck, and tilt at all I meet." - Pope.

Amulet
Am´u•let, n. [L. amuletum: cf. F. amulette.] An ornament, gem, or scroll, or a package containing a relic, etc., worn as a charm or preservative against evils or mischief, such as diseases and witchcraft, and generally inscribed with mystic forms or characters. [Also used figuratively.]

Amuletic
Am•u•let´ic, a. Of or pertaining to an amulet; operating as a charm.

Amurcous
A•mur´cous, a. [LL. amurcosus, L. amurca the dregs of olives, Gr. ’amo•rghs, fr. ’ame•rgein to pluck.] Full off dregs; foul. [R.] Knowles.

Amusable
A•mus´a•ble (a•muz"a•b’l), a. [Cf. F. amusable.] Capable of being amused.

Amuse
A•muse´ (a•muz"), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Amused (a•muzd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Amusing.] [F. amuser to make stay, to detain, to amuse, à (L. a. ) + OF. muser. See Muse, v. ]
1. To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also to distract; to bewilder. [Obs.]
"Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in receiving their gold." - Holland.
"Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house." - Fuller.
2. To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing or mirthful emotions; to divert.
"A group of children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake." - Gilpin.
3. To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude.
"He amused his followers with idle promises." - Johnson.
Syn. — To entertain; gratify; please; divert; beguile; deceive; occupy. — To Amuse, Divert, Entertain. We are amused by that which occupies us lightly and pleasantly. We are entertained by that which brings our minds into agreeable contact with others, as conversation, or a book. We are diverted by that which turns off our thoughts to something of livelier interest, especially of a sportive nature, as a humorous story, or a laughable incident.
"Whatever amuses serves to kill time, to lull the faculties, and to banish reflection. Whatever entertains usually awakens the understanding or gratifies the fancy. Whatever diverts is lively in its nature, and sometimes tumultuous in its effects." - Crabb.

Amuse
A•muse´, v. i. To muse; to mediate. [Obs.]

Amused
A•mused´, a.
1. Diverted.
2. Expressing amusement; as an amused look.

Amusement
A•muse´ment, n. [Cf. F. amusement.]
1. Deep thought; muse. [Obs.]
"Here I … fell into a strong and deep amusement, revolving in my mind, with great perplexity, the amazing change of our affairs." - Fleetwood.
2. The state of being amused; pleasurable excitement; that which amuses; diversion.
"His favorite amusements were architecture and gardening." - Macaulay.
Syn. — Diversion; entertainment; recreation; relaxation; pastime; sport.

Amuser
A•mus´er (-er), n. One who amuses.

Amusette
Am•u•sette´, n. [F.] A light field cannon, or stocked gun mounted on a swivel.

Amusing
A•mus´ing, a. Giving amusement; diverting; as an amusing story. — A•mus´ing•ly, adv.

Amusive
A•mu´sive ( 277), a. Having power to amuse or entertain the mind; fitted to excite mirth. [R.] — A•mu´sive•ly, adv. — A•mu´sive•ness, n.

Amvis
Am´vis, n. [ Ammonium (nitrate) + L. vis strength, force.] An explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate, a derivative of nitrobenzene, chlorated napthalene, and wood meal.

Amy
A•my´, n. [F. ami, fr. L. amicus.] A friend. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Amyelous
A•my´e•lous, a. [Gr. without marrow.] (Med.) Wanting the spinal cord.

Amygdala
A•myg´da•la (a•mig"da•la), n. ; pl. -lae (-le). [L., an almond, fr. Gr. ’amygda•lh. See Almond.]
1. An almond.
2. (Anat.) (a) One of the tonsils of the pharynx. (b) One of the rounded prominences of the lower surface of the lateral hemispheres of the cerebellum, each side of the vallecula.

Amygdalate
A•myg´da•late, a. [L. amygdala, amygdalum, almond, Gr., . See Almond.] Pertaining to, resembling, or made of, almonds.

Amygdalate
A•myg´da•late, n.
1. (Med.) An emulsion made of almonds; milk of almonds. Bailey. Coxe.
2. (Chem.) A salt amygdalic acid.

Amygdalic
Am•yg•dal´ic, a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to almonds; derived from amygdalin; as amygdalic acid.

Amygdaliferous
A•myg•da•lif´er•ous, a. [L. amygdalum almond + -ferous.] Almond-bearing.

Amygdalin
A•myg´da•lin, n. (Chem.) A glucoside extracted from bitter almonds as a white, crystalline substance.

Amygdaline
A•myg´da•line, a. [L. amygdalinus.] Of, pertaining to, or resembling, almonds.

Amygdaloid
A•myg´da•loid, n. [Gr. almond + -oid: cf. F. amygdaloïde.] (Min.) A variety of trap or basaltic rock, containing small cavities, occupied, wholly or in part, by nodules or geodes of different minerals, esp. agates, quartz, calcite, and the zeolites. When the imbedded minerals are detached or removed by decomposition, it is porous, like lava. { A•myg´da•loid, A•myg•da•loid´al } a.
1. Almond-shaped.
2. Pertaining to, or having the nature of, the rock amygdaloid.

Amyl
Am´yl, n. [L. a. ylum starch + -yl. Cf. Amidin.] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical, C₅H₁₁, of the paraffine series found in amyl alcohol or fusel oil, etc.

Amyl nitrite. A yellowish oily volatile liquid, C₅H₁₁NO₂, used in medicine as a heart stimulant and a vasodilator. The inhalation of its vapor instantly produces flushing of the face.

Amylaceous
Am•y•la´ceous, a. [L. amylum starch, Gr. . See Amidin.] Pertaining to starch; of the nature of starch; starchy.

Amylene
Am´y•lene, n. (Chem.) One of a group of metameric hydrocarbons, C₅H₁₀, of the ethylene series. The colorless, volatile, mobile liquid commonly called amylene is a mixture of different members of the group.

Amylic
A•myl´ic, a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, amyl; as amylic ether. Amylic alcohol (Chem.), one of the series of alcohols, a transparent, colorless liquid, having a peculiar odor. It is the hydroxide of amyl. — Amylic fermentation (Chem.), a process of fermentation in starch or sugar in which amylic alcohol is produced. Gregory.

Amylobacter
Am•y•lo•bac´ter, n. [L. amylum starch + NL. bacterium. See Bacterium.] (Biol.) A microörganism ( Bacillus amylobacter) which develops in vegetable tissue during putrefaction. Sternberg. { Am´y•loid, Am•y•loid´al } a. [L. amylum starch + -oid.] Resembling or containing amyl; starchlike. Amyloid degeneration (Med.), a diseased condition of various organs of the body, produced by the deposit of an albuminous substance, giving a blue color with iodine and sulphuric acid; - - called also waxy or lardaceous degeneration.

Amylogenesis
Am•y•lo•gen´e•sis, n. [ Amylum + genesis.] The formation of starch.

Amylogenic
Am•y•lo•gen´ic, a.
1. Of or pert. to amylogen.
2. Forming starch; — applied specif. to leucoplasts.

Amyloid
Am´y•loid (am"y•loid), n.
1. A non-nitrogenous starchy food; a starchlike substance.
2. (Med.) The substance deposited in the organs in amyloid degeneration.

Amylolysis
Am•y•lol´y•sis, n. [ Amylum + Gr. a loosing.] (Chem.) The conversion of starch into soluble products, as dextrins and sugar, esp. by the action of enzymes. — Am•y•lo•lyt´ic (#), a.

Amylolytic
Am•y•lo•ly´tic, a. [Gr. starch + solvent; to dissolve.] (Physiol.) Effecting the conversion of starch into soluble dextrin and sugar; as an amylolytic ferment. Foster.

Amylometer
Am•y•lom´e•ter, n. [ Amylum + -meter.] Instrument for determining the amount of starch in a substance.

Amyloplastic
Am•y•lo•plas´tic, a. [ Amylum + -plastic.] Starch-forming; amylogenic.

Amylopsin
Am•y•lop´sin, n. [ Amylum + Gr. appearance.] (Physiol. Chem.) The diastase of the pancreatic juice.

Amylose
Am•y•lose´, n. (Chem.) One of the starch group (C₆H₁₀O₅)n of the carbohydrates; as starch, arabin, dextrin, cellulose, etc.

Amyous
Am´y•ous (am"i•us), a. [Gr. ’a•myos.] (Med.) Wanting in muscle; without flesh.

Amyss
Am´yss (am"is), n. Same as Amice, a hood or cape.