Asaphus
As´a•phus, n. [NL., fr. Gr. indistinct, uncertain.] (Paleon.) A genus of trilobites found in the Lower Silurian formation. See Illust. in Append.

Asarabacca
As•a•ra•bac´ca, n. [L. asarum + bacca a berry. See Asarone.] (Bot.) An acrid herbaceous plant ( Asarum Europaeum), the leaves and roots of which are emetic and cathartic. It is principally used in cephalic snuffs.

Asbestic
As•bes´tic, a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling asbestus; inconsumable; asbestine.

Asbestiform
As•bes´ti•form, a. [L. asbestus + -form.] Having the form or structure of asbestus.

Asbestine
As•bes´tine, a. Of or pertaining to asbestus, or partaking of its nature; incombustible; asbestic.

Asbestous
As•bes´tous, a. Asbestic. { As•bes´tus, As•bes´tos ( 277), } n. [L. asbestos (NL. asbestus) a kind of mineral unaffected by fire, Gr. (prop. an adj.) inextinguishable; ’a priv. + to extinguish.] (Min.) A variety of amphibole or of pyroxene, occurring in long and delicate fibers, or in fibrous masses or seams, usually of a white, gray, or green-gray color. The name is also given to a similar variety of serpentine. The finer varieties have been wrought into gloves and cloth which are incombustible. The cloth was formerly used as a shroud for dead bodies, and has been recommended for firemen’s clothes. Asbestus in also employed in the manufacture of iron safes, for fireproof roofing, and for lampwicks. Some varieties are called amianthus. Dana.

Asbolin
As´bo•lin, n. [Gr. soot.] (Chem.) A peculiar acrid and bitter oil, obtained from wood soot.

Ascariasis
As•ca•ri´a•sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. an intestinal worm.] (Med.) A disease, usually accompanied by colicky pains and diarrhea, caused by the presence of ascarids in the gastrointestinal canal.

Ascarid
As´ca•rid, n. ; pl. Ascarides or Ascarids. [NL. ascaris, fr. Gr. .] (Zoöl.) A parasitic nematoid worm, espec. the roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, often occurring in the human intestine, and allied species found in domestic animals; also commonly applied to the pinworm ( Oxyuris), often troublesome to children and aged persons.

Ascendable
As•cend´a•ble, a. Capable of being ascended. { As•cend´an•cy, As•cend´ance } n. Same as Ascendency.

Ascendency
As•cend´en•cy, n. Governing or controlling influence; domination; power.
"An undisputed ascendency." - Macaulay.
"Custom has an ascendency over the understanding." - Watts.
Syn. — Control; authority; influence; sway; dominion; prevalence; domination.

Ascendible
As•cend´i•ble, a. [L. ascendibilis.] Capable of being ascended; climbable.

Ascending
As•cend´ing, a. Rising; moving upward; as an ascending kite. — As•cend´ing•ly, adv. Ascending latitude (Astron.), the increasing latitude of a planet. Ferguson. — Ascending line (Geneol.), the line of relationship traced backward or through one’s ancestors. One’s father and mother, grandfather and grandmother, etc., are in the line direct ascending. — Ascending node having, that node of the moon or a planet wherein it passes the ecliptic to proceed northward. It is also called the northern node. Herschel. — Ascending series. (Math.) (a) A series arranged according to the ascending powers of a quantity. (b) A series in which each term is greater than the preceding. — Ascending signs, signs east of the meridian.

Ascension
As•cen´sion, n. [F. ascension, L. ascensio, fr. ascendere. See Ascend.]
1. The act of ascending; a rising; ascent.
2. Specifically: The visible ascent of our Savior on the fortieth day after his resurrection. ( Acts i. 9.) also Ascension Day.
3. An ascending or arising, as in distillation; also that which arises, as from distillation.
"Vaporous ascensions from the stomach." - Sir T. Browne.
Ascension Day, the Thursday but one before Whitsuntide, the day on which commemorated our Savior’s ascension into heaven after his resurrection; — called also Holy Thursday. — Right ascension (Astron.), that degree of the equinoctial, counted from the beginning of Aries, which rises with a star, or other celestial body, in a right sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the meridian with the star; — expressed either in degrees or in time. — Oblique ascension (Astron.), an arc of the equator, intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator which rises together with a star, in an oblique sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the horizon with a star. It is little used in modern astronomy.

Ascensive
As•cen´sive, a. [See Ascend.]
1. Rising; tending to rise, or causing to rise. Owen.
2. (Gram.) Augmentative; intensive. Ellicott.

Ascertainer
As•cer•tain´er, n. One who ascertains.

Ascertainment
As•cer•tain´ment, n. The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; a finding out by investigation; discovery.
"The positive ascertainment of its limits." - Burke.

Ascessancy
As•ces´san•cy, n. As•ces´sant a. See Acescency Acescent. [Obs.]

Asceticism
As•cet´i•cism, n. The condition, practice, or mode of life, of ascetics.

Ascham
As´cham, n. [From Roger Ascham, who was a great lover of archery.] A sort of cupboard, or case, to contain bows and other implements of archery.

Ascidian
As•cid´i•an, n. [Gr. bladder, pouch.] (Zoöl.) One of the Ascidioidea, or in a more general sense, one of the Tunicata. Also as an adj.

Ascidiarium
As•cid•i•a´ri•um, n. [NL. See Ascidium.] (Zoöl.) The structure which unites together the ascidiozooids in a compound ascidian.

Ascidioidea
As•cid•i•oid´e•a, n. pl. [NL., fr. ascidium + -oid. See Ascidium.] (Zoöl.) A group of Tunicata, often shaped like a two-necked bottle. The group includes, social, and compound species. The gill is a netlike structure within the oral aperture. The integument is usually leathery in texture. See Illustration in Appendix.

Ascites
As•ci´tes, n. [L., fr. Gr. (sc. disease), fr. bladder, belly.] (Med.) A collection of serous fluid in the cavity of the abdomen; dropsy of the peritoneum. Dunglison. { As•cit´ic, As•cit´ic•al } a. Of, pertaining to, or affected by, ascites; dropsical.

Ascititious
As•ci•ti´tious, a. [See Adscititious.] Supplemental; not inherent or original; adscititious; additional; assumed.
"Homer has been reckoned an ascititious name." - Pope.

Asclepiadaceous
As•cle•pi•a•da´ceous, a. [See Asclepias.] (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, plants of the Milkweed family.

Ascocarp
As´co•carp, n. [Gr. ’asko•s a bladder + karpo•s fruit.] (Bot.) In ascomycetous fungi, the spherical, discoid, or cup-shaped body within which the asci are collected, and which constitutes the mature fructification. The different forms are known in mycology under distinct names. Called also spore fruit.

Ascococcus
As•co•coc´cus, n. ; pl. Ascococci . [NL., fr. Gr. ’asko•s bladder, bag + kernel.] (Biol.) A form of micrococcus, found in putrid meat infusions, occurring in peculiar masses, each of which is inclosed in a hyaline capsule and contains a large number of spherical micrococci.

Ascomycetes
As•co•my•ce´tes, n. pl. [NL.; ascus + Gr.,, fungus.] (Bot.) A large class of higher fungi distinguished by septate hyphae, and by having their spores formed in asci, or spore sacs. It comprises many orders, among which are the yeasts, molds, mildews, truffles, morels, etc. — As•co•my•ce´tous (#), a.

Ascospore
As´co•spore, n. [ Ascus + spore.] (Bot.) One of the spores contained in the asci of lichens and fungi. [See Illust. of Ascus.]

Ascribe
As•cribe´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ascribed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascribing.] [L. ascribere, adscribere, to ascribe; a. + scribere to write: cf. OF. ascrire. See Scribe.]
1. To attribute, impute, or refer, as to a cause; as his death was ascribed to a poison; to ascribe an effect to the right cause; to ascribe such a book to such an author.
"The finest [speech] that is ascribed to Satan in the whole poem." - Addison.
2. To attribute, as a quality, or an appurtenance; to consider or allege to belong.
Syn. — To Ascribe, Attribute, Impute. Attribute denotes, 1. To refer some quality or attribute to a being; as to attribute power to God. 2. To refer something to its cause or source; as to attribute a backward spring to icebergs off the coast. Ascribe is used equally in both these senses, but involves a different image. To impute usually denotes to ascribe something doubtful or wrong, and hence, in general literature, has commonly a bad sense; as to impute unworthy motives. The theological sense of impute is not here taken into view.
"More than good-will to me attribute naught." - Spenser.
"Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit." - Pope.
"And fairly quit him of the imputed blame." - Spenser.

Ascus
As´cus, n. ; pl. Asci . [NL., fr. Gr. a bladder.] (Bot.) A small membranous bladder or tube in which are inclosed the seedlike reproductive particles or sporules of lichens and certain fungi.

Asemia
A•se´mi•a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. priv. + sign.] (Med.) Loss of power to express, or to understand, symbols or signs of thought.

Asepsis
A•sep´sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. priv. + sepsis.] State of being aseptic; the methods or processes of asepticizing.

Aseptic
A•sep´tic, a. [Pref. a. not + septic.] Not liable to putrefaction; nonputrescent. — n. An aseptic substance.

Asexual
A•sex´u•al ( 135), a. [Pref. a. not + sexual.] (Biol.) Having no distinct sex; without sexual action; as asexual reproduction. See Fission and Gemmation.

Asexually
A•sex´u•al•ly, adv. In an asexual manner; without sexual agency.

Ash (ash), n. [OE. asch, esh, AS. aesc; akin to OHG. asc, Sw. & Dan. ask, Icel. askr, D. esch, G. esche.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of trees of the Olive family, having opposite pinnate leaves, many of the species furnishing valuable timber, as the European ash ( Fraxinus excelsior) and the white ash ( F. Americana). Prickly ash ( Zanthoxylum Americanum) and Poison ash ( Rhus venenata) are shrubs of different families, somewhat resembling the true ashes in their foliage. — Mountain ash. See Roman tree, and under Mountain.
2. The tough, elastic wood of the ash tree. Ash is used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound term; as ash bud, ash wood, ash tree, etc.

Ash, n. , sing. of Ashes. Ash is rarely used in the singular except in connection with chemical or geological products; as soda ash, coal which yields a red ash, etc., or as a qualifying or combining word; as ash bin, ash heap, ash hole, ash pan, ash pit, ash-grey, ash-colored, pearl ash, pot ash. Bone ash, burnt powered; bone earth. — Volcanic ash. See under Ashes.

Ash, v. t. To strew or sprinkle with ashes. Howell.

Ash Wednesday
Ash• Wednes"day (ash• wenz"da). The first day of Lent; — so called from a custom in the Roman Catholic church of putting ashes, on that day, upon the foreheads of penitents.

Ashame
A•shame, v. t. [Pref. a. + shame: cf. AS. ascamian to shame (where a. is the same as Goth. us-, G. er-, and orig. meant out), gescamian, gesceamian, to shame.] To shame. [R.] Barrow.

Ashamed
A•shamed´, a. [Orig. a p. p. of ashame, v. t.] Affected by shame; abashed or confused by guilt, or a conviction or consciousness of some wrong action or impropriety. "I am ashamed to beg." Wyclif.
"All that forsake thee shall be ashamed." - Jer. xvii. 13.
"I began to be ashamed of sitting idle." - Johnson.
"Enough to make us ashamed of our species." - Macaulay.
"An ashamed person can hardly endure to meet the gaze of those present." - Darwin.
Ashamed seldom precedes the noun or pronoun it qualifies. By a Hebraism, it is sometimes used in the Bible to mean disappointed, or defeated.

Ashamedly
A•sham´ed•ly, adv. Bashfully. [R.]

Ashantee
Ash•an•tee´, n. ; pl. Ashantees . A native or an inhabitant of Ashantee in Western Africa.

Ashantee
Ash•an•tee´, a. Of or pertaining to Ashantee.

Ash-colored
Ash´-col•ored, a. Of the color of ashes; a whitish gray or brownish gray.

Ashen
Ash´en, a. [See Ash, the tree.] Of or pertaining to the ash tree. "Ashen poles." Dryden.

Ashen
Ash´en, a. Consisting of, or resembling, ashes; of a color between brown and gray, or white and gray.
"The ashen hue of age." - Sir W. Scott.

Ashen
Ash´en, n. , obs. pl. for Ashes. Chaucer.

Ashes
Ash´es, n. pl. [OE. asche, aske, AS. asce, aesce, axe; akin to OHG. asca, G. asche, D. asch, Icel. & Sw. aska, Dan. aske, Goth. azgo.]
1. The earthy or mineral particles of combustible substances remaining after combustion, as of wood or coal.
2. Specifically: The remains of the human body when burnt, or when "returned to dust" by natural decay.
"Their martyred blood and ashes sow." - Milton.
"The coffins were broken open. The ashes were scattered to the winds." - Macaulay.
3. The color of ashes; deathlike paleness.
"The lip of ashes, and the cheek of flame." - Byron.
In dust and ashes, In sackcloth and ashes, with humble expression of grief or repentance; — from the method of mourning in Eastern lands. — Volcanic ashes, or Volcanic ash, the loose, earthy matter, or small fragments of stone or lava, ejected by volcanoes.

Ash-fire
Ash´-fire, n. A low fire used in chemical operations.

Ash-furnace
Ash´-fur•nace, Ash´-ov•en, n. A furnace or oven for fritting materials for glass making.

Ashine
A•shine´, a. Shining; radiant. { Ash´lar, Ash´ler }, n. [OE. ascheler, achiler, OF. aiseler, fr. aiselle, dim. of ais plank, fr. L. axis, assis, plank, axle. See Axle.]
1. (Masonry) (a) Hewn or squared stone; also masonry made of squared or hewn stone.
"Rough ashlar, a block of freestone as brought from the quarry. When hammer-dressed it is known as common ashlar." - Knight.
(b) In the United States especially, a thin facing of squared and dressed stone upon a wall of rubble or brick. Knight. { Ash´lar•ing, Ash´ler•ing } n.
1. The act of bedding ashlar in mortar.
2. Ashlar when in thin slabs and made to serve merely as a case to the body of the wall. Brande & C.
3. (Carp.) The short upright pieces between the floor beams and rafters in garrets. See Ashlar, 2.

Ashtoreth
Ash´to•reth, n. ; pl. Ashtaroth . The principal female divinity of the Phœnicians, as Baal was the principal male divinity. W. Smith.

Ashweed
Ash´weed, n. (Bot.) [A corruption of ache-weed; F. ache. So named from the likeness of its leaves to those of ache (celery).] Goutweed.

Ashy
Ash´y, a.
1. Pertaining to, or composed of, ashes; filled, or strewed with, ashes.
2. Ash-colored; whitish gray; deadly pale. Shak. Ashy pale, pale as ashes. Shak.

Asian
A´sian, a. [L. Asianus, Gr., fr., L. Asia.] Of or pertaining to Asia; Asiatic. "Asian princes." Jer. Taylor. — n. An Asiatic.

Asiarch
A´si•arch, n. [L. Asiarcha, Gr. ; + ruler.] One of the chiefs or pontiffs of the Roman province of Asia, who had the superintendence of the public games and religious rites. Milner.

Asiatic
A•si•at´ic, a. [L. Asiaticus, Gr. .] Of or pertaining to Asia or to its inhabitants. — n. A native, or one of the people, of Asia.

Asiaticism
A•si•at´i•cism, n. Something peculiar to Asia or the Asiatics.

Aside
A•side´, adv. [Pref. a. + side.]
1. On, or to, one side; out of a straight line, course, or direction; at a little distance from the rest; out of the way; apart.
"Thou shalt set aside that which is full." - 2 Kings iv. 4.
"But soft! but soft! aside: here comes the king." - Shak.
"The flames were blown aside." - Dryden.
2. Out of one’s thoughts; off; away; as to put aside gloomy thoughts. "Lay aside every weight." Heb. xii. 1.
3. So as to be heard by others; privately.
"Then lords and ladies spake aside." - Sir W. Scott.
To set aside (Law), to annul or defeat the effect or operation of, by a subsequent decision of the same or of a superior tribunal; to declare of no authority; as to set aside a verdict or a judgment.

Aside
A•side´, n. Something spoken aside; as a remark made by a stageplayer which the other players are not supposed to hear.

Asilus
A•si´lus, n. [L., a gadfly.] (Zoöl.) A genus of large and voracious two-winged flies, including the bee killer and robber fly. { As•i•ne´go, As•si•ne´go }, n. [Sp. asnico, dim. of asno an ass.] A stupid fellow. [Obs.] Shak.

Asinine
As´i•nine, a. [L. asininus, fr. asinus ass. See Ass.] Of or belonging to, or having the qualities of, the ass, as stupidity and obstinacy. "Asinine nature." B. Jonson. "Asinine feast." Milton.

Asiphonate
A•si´phon•ate, a. (Zoöl.) Destitute of a siphon or breathing tube; — said of many bivalve shells. — n. An asiphonate mollusk. { As•i•pho´ne•a, A•si•pho•na´ta, As•i•phon´i•da } n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ’a priv. + a tube.] (Zoöl.) A group of bivalve mollusks destitute of siphons, as the oyster; the asiphonate mollusks.

Asitia
A•si´ti•a, n. [Gr. ; ’a priv. + food.] (Med.) Want of appetite; loathing of food.

Ask, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Asked ; p. pr. & vb. n. Asking.] [OE. asken, ashen, axien, AS. ascian, acsian; akin to OS. escon, OHG. eiscon, Sw. aska, Dan. aeske, D. eischen, G. heischen, Lith. jëskóti, OSlav. iskati to seek, Skr. ish to desire. rad.5.]
1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; — often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed.
"Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God." - Judg. xviii. 5.
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." - John xv. 7.
2. To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as what price do you ask?
"Ask me never so much dowry." - Gen. xxxiv. 12.
"To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." - Luke xii. 48.
"An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity." - Addison.
3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about; to question.
"He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself." - John ix. 21.
"He asked the way to Chester." - Shak.
4. To invite; as to ask one to an entertainment.
5. To publish in church for marriage; — said of both the banns and the persons. Fuller.
Syn. — To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat; beseech; implore; crave; require; demand; claim; exhibit; inquire; interrogate. See Beg.

Ask, v. i.
1. To request or petition; — usually followed by for; as to ask for bread.
"Ask, and it shall be given you." - Matt. vii. 7.
2. To make inquiry, or seek by request; — sometimes followed by after.
"Wherefore … dost ask after my name?" - Gen. xxxii. 29.

Ask, n. [See 2d Asker.] (Zoöl.) A water newt. [Scot. & North of Eng.] { A•skance´, A•skant´ } adv. [Cf. D. schuin, schuins, sideways, schuiven to shove, schuinte slope. Cf. Asquint.] Sideways; obliquely; with a side glance; with disdain, envy, or suspicion.
"They dart away; they wheel askance." - Beattie.
"My palfrey eyed them askance." - Landor.
"Both … were viewed askance by authority." - Gladstone.

Asker
Ask´er, n. One who asks; a petitioner; an inquirer. Shak.

Asker
Ask´er, n. [A corruption of AS. aexe lizard, newt.] (Zoöl.) An ask; a water newt. [Local Eng.]

Askew
A•skew´, adv. & a. [Pref. a. + skew.] Awry; askance; asquint; oblique or obliquely; — sometimes indicating scorn, or contempt, or entry. Spenser.

Asking
Ask´ing, n.
1. The act of inquiring or requesting; a petition; solicitation. Longfellow.
2. The publishing of banns.

Aslake
A•slake´ (a•slak"), v. t. & i. [AS. aslacian, slacian, to slacken. Cf. Slake.] To mitigate; to moderate; to appease; to abate; to diminish. [Archaic] Chaucer.

Asleep
A•sleep´, a. & adv. [Pref. a. + sleep.]
1. In a state of sleep; in sleep; dormant.
"Fast asleep the giant lay supine." - Dryden.
"By whispering winds soon lulled asleep." - Milton.
2. In the sleep of the grave; dead.
"Concerning them which are asleep … sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." - 1 Thess. iv. 13.
3. Numbed, and, usually, tingling. Udall.
"Leaning long upon any part maketh it numb, and, as we call it, asleep." - Bacon.

Aslope
A•slope´, adv. & a. [Pref. a. + slope.] Slopingly; aslant; declining from an upright direction; sloping. "Set them not upright, but aslope." Bacon.

Aslug
A•slug´, adv. [Pref. a. + slug to move slowly.] Sluggishly. [Obs.] Fotherby.

Asmear
A•smear´, a. [Pref. a. + smear.] Smeared over. Dickens.

Asmonean
As•mo•ne´an, a. Of or pertaining to the patriotic Jewish family to which the Maccabees belonged; Maccabean; as the Asmonean dynasty. [Written also Asmonaean.]

Asmonean
As•mo•ne´an, n. One of the Asmonean family. The Asmoneans were leaders and rulers of the Jews from 168 to 35 b. c.

Asomatous
A•so´ma•tous, a. [L. asomatus, Gr. ; ’a priv. + body.] Without a material body; incorporeal. Todd.

Asonant
As´o•nant, a. [Pref. a. not + sonant.] Not sounding or sounded. [R.] C. C. Felton.

Asp, n. (Bot.) Same as Aspen. "Trembling poplar or asp." Martyn.

Asp (asp), n. [L. aspis, fr. Gr. ’aspi•s: cf. OF. aspe, F. aspic.] (Zoöl.) A small, hooded, poisonous serpent of Egypt and adjacent countries, whose bite is often fatal. It is the Naja haje. The name is also applied to other poisonous serpents, esp. to Vipera aspis of southern Europe. See Haje.As•pal´a•thus, n. [L. aspalathus, Gr. .] (Bot.) (a) A thorny shrub yielding a fragrant oil. Ecclus. xxiv. 15. (b) A genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosae. The species are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope.

Asparaginous
As•pa•rag´i•nous, a. Pertaining or allied to, or resembling, asparagus; having shoots which are eaten like asparagus; as asparaginous vegetables.

Asparagus
As•par´a•gus, n. [L., fr. Gr., ; cf. to swell with sap or juice, and Zend paregha prong, sprout, Pers. asparag, Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. Sparrowgrass.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceae, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens.
2. The young and tender shoots of A. officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of food. This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people. Asparagus beetle (Zoöl.), a small beetle ( Crioceris asparagi) injurious to asparagus.

Aspect
As´pect, n. [L. aspectus, fr. aspicere, aspectum, to look at; a. + spicere, specere, to look, akin to E. spy.]
1. The act of looking; vision; gaze; glance. [R.] "The basilisk killeth by aspect." Bacon.
"His aspect was bent on the ground." - Sir W. Scott.
2. Look, or particular appearance of the face; countenance; mien; air. "Serious in aspect." Dryden.
"[Craggs] with aspect open shall erect his head." - Pope.
3. Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view. "The aspect of affairs." Macaulay.
"The true aspect of a world lying in its rubbish." - T. Burnet.
4. Position or situation with regard to seeing; that position which enables one to look in a particular direction; position in relation to the points of the compass; as a house has a southern aspect, that is, a position which faces the south.
5. Prospect; outlook. [Obs.]
"This town affords a good aspect toward the hill from whence we descended." - Evelyn.
6. (Astrol.) The situation of planets or stars with respect to one another, or the angle formed by the rays of light proceeding from them and meeting at the eye; the joint look of planets or stars upon each other or upon the earth. Milton. The aspects which two planets can assume are five; sextile,, when the planets are 60° apart; quartile, or quadrate,, when their distance is 90° or the quarter of a circle; trine,, when the distance is 120°; opposition,, when the distance is 180°, or half a circle; and conjunction,, when they are in the same degree. Astrology taught that the aspects of the planets exerted an influence on human affairs, in some situations for good and in others for evil.
7. (Astrol.) The influence of the stars for good or evil; as an ill aspect. Shak.
"The astrologers call the evil influences of the stars evil aspects." - Bacon.
Aspect of a plane (Geom.), the direction of the plane.

Aspect
As•pect´, v. t. [L. aspectare, v. intens. of aspicere. See Aspect, n. ] To behold; to look at. [Obs.]

Aspect
As´pect, n. (Aëronautics) A view of a plane from a given direction, usually from above; more exactly, the manner of presentation of a plane to a fluid through which it is moving or to a current. If an immersed plane meets a current of fluid long side foremost, or in broadside aspect, it sustains more pressure than when placed short side foremost. Hence, long narrow wings are more effective than short broad ones of the same area.

Aspect ratio. (Aëronautics) The ratio of the long to the short side of an aëroplane, aërocurve, or wing.

Aspectable
As•pect´a•ble, a. [L. aspectabilis.] Capable of being; visible. "The aspectable world." Ray. "Aspectable stars." Mrs. Browning.

Aspectant
As•pect´ant, a. (Her.) Facing each other.

Aspected
As•pect´ed, a. Having an aspect. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Aspection
As•pec´tion, n. [L. aspectio, fr. aspicere to look at.] The act of viewing; a look. [Obs.] { Asp´en (as"pen), Asp (asp), } n. [AS. aesp, aeps; akin to OHG. aspa, Icel. ösp, Dan. aesp, Sw. asp, D. esp, G. espe, äspe, aspe; cf. Lettish apsa, Lith. apuszis.] (Bot.) One of several species of poplar bearing this name, especially the Populus tremula, so called from the trembling of its leaves, which move with the slightest impulse of the air.

Aspen
Asp´en (as"pen), a. Of or pertaining to the aspen, or resembling it; made of aspen wood.
"Nor aspen leaves confess the gentlest breeze." - Gay.

Asper
As´per (as"per), a. [OE. aspre, OF. aspre, F. âpre, fr. L. asper rough.] Rough; rugged; harsh; bitter; stern; fierce. [Archaic] "An asper sound." Bacon.

Asper
As´per (as"per), n. [L. spiritus asper rough breathing.] (Greek Gram.) The rough breathing; a mark (&asper;) placed over an initial vowel sound or over ρ to show that it is aspirated, that is, pronounced with h before it; thus "ws, pronounced hos, "rh•twr, pronounced hra"tor.

Asper
As´per, n. [F. aspre or It. aspro, fr. MGr. ’a•spron, ’a•spros, white (prob. from the whiteness of new silver coins).] A Turkish money of account (formerly a coin), of little value; the 120th part of a piaster.

Asperate
As´per•ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Asperated; p. pr. & vb. n. Asperating.] [L. asperatus, p. p. of asperare, fr. asper rough.] To make rough or uneven.
"The asperated part of its surface." - Boyle.

Asperges
As•per´ges, n. [L., Thou shalt sprinkle.] (R. C. Ch.) (a) The service or ceremony of sprinkling with holy water. (b) The brush or instrument used in sprinkling holy water; an aspergill. { As´per•gill, As•per•gil´lum } n. [LL. aspergillum, fr. L. aspergere. See Asperse, v. t.]
1. The brush used in the Roman Catholic church for sprinkling holy water on the people. [Also written aspergillus.]
2. (Zoöl.) See Wateringpot shell.

Asperity
As•per´i•ty, n. ; pl. Asperities . [L. asperitas, fr. asper rough: cf. F. asperite.]
1. Roughness of surface; unevenness; — opposed to smoothness. "The asperities of dry bodies." Boyle.
2. Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates upon the ear; raucity.
3. Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness.
4. Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity; crabbedness; harshness; — opposed to mildness. "Asperity of character." Landor.
"It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received." - Johnson.
5. Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty.
"The acclivities and asperities of duty." - Barrow.
Syn. — Acrimony; moroseness; crabbedness; harshness; sourness; tartness. See Acrimony.

Aspermous
A•sper´mous, a. [Gr. ; ’a priv. + seed.] (Bot.) Destitute of seeds; aspermatous.

Asperne
A•sperne´, v. t. [L. aspernari; a ( a. ) + spernari.] To spurn; to despise. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

Asperous
As´per•ous, a. [See Asper, a. ] Rough; uneven. Boyle.

Asperser
As•pers´er, n. One who asperses; especially, one who vilifies another.

Aspersion
As•per´sion, n. [L. aspersio, fr. aspergere: cf. F. aspersion.]
1. A sprinkling, as with water or dust, in a literal sense.
"Behold an immersion, not and aspersion." - Jer. Taylor.
2. The spreading of calumniations reports or charges which tarnish reputation, like the bespattering of a body with foul water; calumny.
"Every candid critic would be ashamed to cast wholesale aspersions on the entire body of professional teachers." - Grote.
"Who would by base aspersions blot thy virtue." - Dryden.

Aspersive
As•pers´ive, a. Tending to asperse; defamatory; slanderous. — As•pers´ive•ly, adv.

Aspersoir
As•per•soir´, n. [F.] An aspergill.

Aspersorium
As•per•so´ri•um, n. ; pl. Aspersoria . [LL. See Asperse.]
1. The stoup, basin, or other vessel for holy water in Roman Catholic churches.
2. A brush for sprinkling holy water; an aspergill. { As´phalt, As•phal´tum } n. [Gr., of eastern origin: cf. F. asphalte.]
1. Mineral pitch, Jews’ pitch, or compact native bitumen. It is brittle, of a black or brown color and high luster on a surface of fracture; it melts and burns when heated, leaving no residue. It occurs on the surface and shores of the Dead Sea, which is therefore called Asphaltites, or the Asphaltic Lake. It is found also in many parts of Asia, Europe, and America. See Bitumen.
2. A composition of bitumen, pitch, lime, and gravel, used for forming pavements, and as a water-proof cement for bridges, roofs, etc.; asphaltic cement. Artificial asphalt is prepared from coal tar, lime, sand, etc. Asphalt stone, Asphalt rock, a limestone found impregnated with asphalt.

Asphalte
As•phalte´, n. [F. See Asphalt.] Asphaltic mastic or cement. See Asphalt, 2.

Asphaltite
As•phal´tite, a. Asphaltic.

Asphaltite
As•phal´tite, a. Asphaltic. Bryant.

Asphaltus
As•phal´tus, n. See Asphalt.

Asphyxial
As•phyx´i•al, a. Of or relating to asphyxia; as asphyxial phenomena.

Asphyxiate
As•phyx´i•ate, v. t. To bring to a state of asphyxia; to suffocate. [Used commonly in the past pple.]

Asphyxiated
As•phyx´i•a•ted, As•phyx´ied, p. p. In a state of asphyxia; suffocated.

Asphyxiation
As•phyx•i•a´tion, n. The act of causing asphyxia; a state of asphyxia.

Aspic
As´pic, n. [F. See Asp.]
1. The venomous asp. [Chiefly poetic] Shak. Tennyson.
2. A piece of ordnance carrying a 12 pound shot. [Obs.]

Aspic
As´pic, n. [F., a corrupt. of spic (OF. espi, F. epi), L. spica ( spicum, spicus), ear, spike. See Spike.] A European species of lavender ( Lavandula spica), which produces a volatile oil. See Spike.

Aspic
As´pic, n. [F., prob. fr. aspic an asp.] A savory meat jelly containing portions of fowl, game, fish, hard boiled eggs, etc. Thackeray.

Aspidobranchia
As•pi•do•bran´chi•a, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr.,, shield + gills.] (Zoöl.) A group of Gastropoda, with limpetlike shells, including the abalone shells and keyhole limpets.

Aspirant
As•pir´ant ( 277), a. [Cf. F. aspirant, p. pr. of aspirer. See Aspire.] Aspiring.

Aspirant
As•pir´ant, n. [Cf. F. aspirant.] One who aspires; one who eagerly seeks some high position or object of attainment.
"In consequence of the resignations … the way to greatness was left clear to a new set of aspirants." - Macaulay.

Aspirate
As´pi•rate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Aspirated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Aspirating .] [L. aspiratus, p. p. of aspirare to breathe toward or upon, to add the breathing h; a. + spirare to breathe, blow. Cf. Aspire.] To pronounce with a breathing, an aspirate, or an h sound; as we aspirate the words horse and house; to aspirate a vowel or a liquid consonant.

Aspirate
As´pi•rate, n.
1. A sound consisting of, or characterized by, a breath like the sound of h; the breathing h or a character representing such a sound; an aspirated sound.
2. A mark of aspiration (&asper;) used in Greek; the asper, or rough breathing. Bentley.
3. An elementary sound produced by the breath alone; a surd, or nonvocal consonant; as f, th in thin, etc. { As´pi•rate (as"pi•rat), As´pi•ra´ted (-ra"ted), } a. [L. aspiratus, p. p.] Pronounced with the h sound or with audible breath.
"But yet they are not aspirate, i. e., with such an aspiration as h." - Holder.

Aspiration
As•pi•ra´tion, n. [L. aspiratio, fr. aspirare: cf. F. aspiration.]
1. The act of aspirating; the pronunciation of a letter with a full or strong emission of breath; an aspirated sound.
"If aspiration be defined to be an impetus of breathing." - Wilkins.
2. The act of breathing; a breath; an inspiration.
3. The act of aspiring of a ardently desiring; strong wish; high desire. "Aspirations after virtue." Johnson.
"Vague aspiration after military renown." - Prescott.

Aspirator
As´pi•ra•tor, n.
1. (Chem.) An apparatus for passing air or gases through or over certain liquids or solids, or for exhausting a closed vessel, by means of suction.
2. (Med.) An instrument for the evacuation of the fluid contents of tumors or collections of blood.

Aspiratory
As•pir´a•to•ry, a. Of or pertaining to breathing; suited to the inhaling of air

Aspire
As•pire´, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Aspired ; p. pr. & vb. n. Aspiring.] [F. aspirer, L. aspirare. See Aspirate, v. t.]
1. To desire with eagerness; to seek to attain something high or great; to pant; to long; — followed by to or after, and rarely by a. ; as to aspire to a crown; to aspire after immorality.
"Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell; Aspiring to be angels, men rebel." - Pope.
2. To rise; to ascend; to tower; to soar.
"My own breath still foments the fire, Which flames as high as fancy can aspire." - Waller.

Aspire
As•pire´, v. t. To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to. [Obs.]
"That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds." - Shak.

Aspire
As•pire´, n. Aspiration. [Obs.] Chapman.

Aspirement
As•pire´ment, n. Aspiration. [Obs.]

Aspirer
As•pir´er, n. One who aspires.

Aspirin
As´pi•rin, n. (Pharm.) A white crystalline compound of acetyl and salicylic acid used as a drug for the salicylic acid liberated from it in the intestines.

Aspiring
As•pir´ing, a. That aspires; as an Aspiring mind. — As•pir´ing•ly, adv. — As•pir´ing•ness, n.

Aspish
Asp´ish, a. Pertaining to, or like, an asp.

Asportation
As•por•ta´tion, n. [L. asportatio, fr. asportare to carry away; abs = ab + portare to bear, carry.] (Law) The felonious removal of goods from the place where they were deposited. It is adjudged to be larceny, though the goods are not carried from the house or apartment. Blackstone.

Asprawl
A•sprawl´, adv. & a. Sprawling.

Asquat
A•squat´, adv. & a. Squatting.

Asquint
A•squint´, adv. [Cf. Askant, Squint.] With the eye directed to one side; not in the straight line of vision; obliquely; awry, so as to see distortedly; as to look asquint.

Assailant
As•sail´ant, a. [F. assaillant, p. pr. of assaillir.] Assailing; attacking. Milton.

Assailant
As•sail´ant, n. [F. assaillant.] One who, or that which, assails, attacks, or assaults; an assailer.
"An assailant of the church." - Macaulay.

Assailer
As•sail´er, n. One who assails.

Assailment
As•sail´ment, n. The act or power of assailing; attack; assault. [R.]
"His most frequent assailment was the headache." - Johnson.

Assamar
As´sa•mar, n. [L. assare to roast + amarus, bitter.] (Chem.) The peculiar bitter substance, soft or liquid, and of a yellow color, produced when meat, bread, gum, sugar, starch, and the like, are roasted till they turn brown.

Assamese
As•sam•ese´, a. Of or pertaining to Assam, a province of British India, or to its inhabitants. — n. sing. & pl. A native or natives of Assam.

Assapan
As•sa•pan´, As•sa•pan´ic, n. [Prob. Indian name.] (Zoöl.) The American flying squirrel ( Pteromys volucella).

Assart
As•sart´ (as•särt"), n. [OF. essart the grubbing up of trees, fr. essarter to grub up or clear ground of bushes, shrubs, trees, etc., fr. LL. exartum, exartare, for exsaritare; L. ex + sarire, sarrire, saritum, to hoe, weed.]
1. (Old Law) The act or offense of grubbing up trees and bushes, and thus destroying the thickets or coverts of a forest. Spelman. Cowell.
2. A piece of land cleared of trees and bushes, and fitted for cultivation; a clearing. Ash. Assart land, forest land cleared of woods and brush.

Assart
As•sart´, v. t. To grub up, as trees; to commit an assart upon; as to assart land or trees. Ashmole.

Assassin
As•sas´sin, n. [F. (cf. It. assassino), fr. Ar. •hashishin one who has drunk of the hashish. Under its influence the Assassins of the East, followers of the Shaikh al-Jabal (Old Man of the Mountain), were said to commit the murders required by their chief.] One who kills, or attempts to kill, by surprise or secret assault; one who treacherously murders any one unprepared for defense.

Assassin
As•sas´sin, v. t. To assassinate. [Obs.] Stillingfleet.

Assassinate
As•sas´sin•ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assassinated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Assassinating .] [LL. assassinatus, p. p. of assassinare.]
1. To kill by surprise or secret assault; to murder by treacherous violence.
"Help, neighbors, my house is broken open by force, and I am ravished, and like to be assassinated." - Dryden.
2. To assail with murderous intent; hence, by extended meaning, to maltreat exceedingly. [Archaic]
"Your rhymes assassinate our fame." - Dryden.
"Such usage as your honorable lords Afford me, assassinated and betrayed." - Milton.
Syn. — To kill; murder; slay. See Kill.

Assassinate
As•sas´sin•ate, n. [F. assassinat.]
1. An assassination, murder, or murderous assault. [Obs.]
"If I had made an assassinate upon your father." - B. Jonson.
2. An assassin. [Obs.] Dryden.

Assassination
As•sas•si•na´tion, n. The act of assassinating; a killing by treacherous violence.

Assassinator
As•sas´si•na•tor, n. An assassin.

Assassinous
As•sas´sin•ous, a. Murderous. Milton.

Assastion
As•sas´tion, n. [F., fr. LL. assatio, fr. L. assare to roast.] Roasting. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Assault
As•sault´, n. [OE. asaut, assaut, OF. assaut, asalt, F. assaut, LL. assaltus; L. a. + saltus a leaping, a springing, salire to leap. See Assail.]
1. A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town.
"The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault." - Prescott.
"Unshaken bears the assault Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest." - Wordsworth.
2. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government. Clarendon.
3. (Law) An apparently violent attempt, or willful offer with force or violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or offer to beat another, accompanied by a degree of violence, but without touching his person, as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery. Blackstone. Wharton.
"Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the battery. Mozley & W."
Syn. — Attack; invasion; incursion; descent; onset; onslaught; charge; storm.

Assault
As•sault´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaulting.] [From Assault, n. : cf. OF. assaulter, LL. assaltare.]
1. To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces.
"Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound." - Milton.
2. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to assail; as to assault a reputation or an administration.
"Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn, … Assault his ears." - Dryden.
In the latter sense, assail is more common.
Syn. — To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See Attack.

Assaulter
As•sault´er, n. One who assaults, or violently attacks; an assailant. E. Hall.

Assay
As•say´, n. [OF. asai, essai, trial, F. essa. See Essay, n. ]
1. Trial; attempt; essay. [Obs.] Chaucer.
"I am withal persuaded that it may prove much more easy in the assay than it now seems at distance." - Milton.
2. Examination and determination; test; as an assay of bread or wine. [Obs.]
"This can not be, by no assay of reason." - Shak.
3. Trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state of being tried. [Obs.]
"Through many hard assays which did betide." - Spenser.
4. Tested purity or value. [Obs.]
"With gold and pearl of rich assay." - Spenser.
5. (Metallurgy) The act or process of ascertaining the proportion of a particular metal in an ore or alloy; especially, the determination of the proportion of gold or silver in bullion or coin.
6. The alloy or metal to be assayed. Ure. Assay and essay are radically the same word; but modern usage has appropriated assay chiefly to experiments in metallurgy, and essay to intellectual and bodily efforts. See Essay. Assay is used adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as assay balance, assay furnace. Assay master, an officer who assays or tests gold or silver coin or bullion. — Assay ton, a weight of 29,166⅔ grams.

Assay
As•say´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assayed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaying.] [OF. asaier, essaier, F. essayer, fr. essai. See Assay, n. , Essay, v. ]
1. To try; to attempt; to apply. [Obs. or Archaic]
"To-night let us assay our plot." - Shak.
"Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed." - Milton.
2. To affect. [Obs.]
"When the heart is ill assayed." - Spenser.
3. To try tasting, as food or drink. [Obs.]
4. To subject, as an ore, alloy, or other metallic compound, to chemical or metallurgical examination, in order to determine the amount of a particular metal contained in it, or to ascertain its composition.

Assay
As•say´, v. i. To attempt, try, or endeavor. [Archaic. In this sense essay is now commonly used.]
"She thrice assayed to speak." - Dryden.

Assay pound
As"say pound. A small standard weight used in assaying bullion, etc., sometimes equaling 0.5 gram, but varying with the assayer.

Assay ton. A weight of 29.166 + grams used in assaying, for convenience. Since it bears the same relation to the milligram that a ton of 2000 avoirdupois pounds does to the troy ounce, the weight in milligrams of precious metal obtained from an assay ton of ore gives directly the number of ounces to the ton.

Assayable
As•say´a•ble, a. That may be assayed.

Assayer
As•say´er, n. One who assays. Specifically: One who examines metallic ores or compounds, for the purpose of determining the amount of any particular metal in the same, especially of gold or silver.

Assaying
As•say´ing, n. The act or process of testing, esp. of analyzing or examining metals and ores, to determine the proportion of pure metal.

Asse, n. (Zoöl.) A small foxlike animal ( Vulpes cama) of South Africa, valued for its fur.

Assecuration
As•se•cu•ra´tion, n. [LL. assecuratio, fr. assecurare.] Assurance; certainty. [Obs.]

Assecure
As•se•cure´, v. t. [LL. assecurare.] To make sure or safe; to assure. [Obs.] Hooker.

Assecution
As•se•cu´tion, n. [F. assecution, fr. L. assequi to obtain; a. + sequi to follow.] An obtaining or acquiring. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

Assegai
As´se•gai, n. Same as Assagai.

Assemble
As•sem´ble, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assembled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Assembling .] [F. assembler, fr. LL. assimulare to bring together to collect; L. a. + simul together; akin to similis like, Gr. at the same time, and E. same. Cf. Assimilate, Same.] To collect into one place or body; to bring or call together; to convene; to congregate.
"Thither he assembled all his train." - Milton.
"All the men of Israel assembled themselves." - 1 Kings viii. 2.

Assemble
As•sem´ble, v. i. To meet or come together, as a number of individuals; to convene; to congregate. Dryden.
"The Parliament assembled in November." - W. Massey.

Assemble
As•sem´ble, v. i. To liken; to compare. [Obs.]
"Bribes may be assembled to pitch." - Latimer.

Assemble
As•sem´ble, v. t. To collect and put together the parts of; as to assemble a bicycle, watch, gun, or other manufactured article.

Assembler
As•sem´bler, n. One who assembles a number of individuals; also one of a number assembled.

Assembly
As•sem´bly, n. ; pl. Assemblies . [F. assemblee, fr. assembler. See Assemble.]
1. A company of persons collected together in one place, and usually for some common purpose, esp. for deliberation and legislation, for worship, or for social entertainment.
2. A collection of inanimate objects. [Obs.] Howell.
3. (Mil.) A beat of the drum or sound of the bugle as a signal to troops to assemble. In some of the United States, the legislature, or the popular branch of it, is called the Assembly, or the General Assembly. In the Presbyterian Church, the General Assembly is the highest ecclesiastical tribunal, composed of ministers and ruling elders delegated from each presbytery; as the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, or of Scotland. Assembly room, a room in which persons assemble, especially for dancing. — Unlawful assembly (Law), a meeting of three or more persons on a common plan, in such a way as to cause a reasonable apprehension that they will disturb the peace tumultuously. — Westminster Assembly, a convocation, consisting chiefly of divines, which, by act of Parliament, assembled July 1, 1643, and remained in session some years. It framed the "Confession of Faith," the "Larger Catechism," and the "Shorter Catechism," which are still received as authority by Presbyterians, and are substantially accepted by Congregationalists.
Syn. — See Assemblage.

Assent
As•sent´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assented; p. pr. & vb. n. Assenting.] [F. assentir, L. assentire, assentiri; a. + sentire to feel, think. See Sense.] To admit a thing as true; to express one’s agreement, acquiescence, concurrence, or concession.
"Who informed the governor … And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so." - Acts xxiv. 9.
"The princess assented to all that was suggested." - Macaulay.
Syn. — To yield; agree; acquiesce; concede; concur.

Assent
As•sent´, n. [OE. assent, fr. assentir. See Assent, v. ] The act of assenting; the act of the mind in admitting or agreeing to anything; concurrence with approval; consent; agreement; acquiescence.
"Faith is the assent to any proposition, on the credit of the proposer." - Locke.
"The assent, if not the approbation, of the prince." - Prescott.
"Too many people read this ribaldry with assent and admiration." - Macaulay.
Royal assent, in England, the assent of the sovereign to a bill which has passed both houses of Parliament, after which it becomes law.
Syn. — Concurrence; acquiescence; approval; accord. — Assent, Consent. Assent is an act of the understanding, consent of the will or feelings. We assent to the views of others when our minds come to the same conclusion with theirs as to what is true, right, or admissible. We consent when there is such a concurrence of our will with their desires and wishes that we decide to comply with their requests. The king of England gives his assent, not his consent, to acts of Parliament, because, in theory at least, he is not governed by personal feelings or choice, but by a deliberate, judgment as to the common good. We also use assent in cases where a proposal is made which involves but little interest or feeling. A lady may assent to a gentleman’s opening the window; but if he offers himself in marriage, he must wait for her consent.

Assentatory
As•sent´a•to•ry, a. Flattering; obsequious. [Obs.] — As•sent´a•to•ri•ly, adv. [Obs.]

Assenter
As•sent´er, n. One who assents.

Assentient
As•sen´tient, a. Assenting.

Assenting
As•sent´ing, a. Giving or implying assent. — As•sent´ing•ly, adv.

Assentive
As•sent´ive, a. Giving assent; of the nature of assent; complying. — As•sent´ive•ness, n.

Assentment
As•sent´ment, n. Assent; agreement. [Obs.]

Assert
As•sert´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Asserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Asserting.] [L. assertus, p. p. of asserere to join or fasten to one’s self, claim, maintain; a. + serere to join or bind together. See Series.]
1. To affirm; to declare with assurance, or plainly and strongly; to state positively; to aver; to asseverate.
"Nothing is more shameful … than to assert anything to be done without a cause." - Ray.
2. To maintain; to defend. [Obs. or Archaic]
"That … I may assert Eternal Providence, And justify the ways of God to men." - Milton.
"I will assert it from the scandal." - Jer. Taylor.
3. To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures; to vindicate a claim or title to; as to assert our rights and liberties. To assert one’s self, to claim or vindicate one’s rights or position; to demand recognition.
Syn. — To affirm; aver; asseverate; maintain; protest; pronounce; declare; vindicate. — To Assert, Affirm, Maintain, Vindicate. To assert is to fasten to one’s self, and hence to claim. It is, therefore, adversative in its nature. We assert our rights and privileges, or the cause of tree institutions, as against opposition or denial. To affirm is to declare as true. We assert boldly; we affirm positively. To maintain is to uphold, and insist upon with earnestness, whatever we have once asserted; as to maintain one’s cause, to maintain an argument, to maintain the ground we have taken. To vindicate is to use language and measures of the strongest kind, in defense of ourselves and those for whom we act. We maintain our assertions by adducing proofs, facts, or arguments; we are ready to vindicate our rights or interests by the utmost exertion of our powers.

Assertion
As•ser´tion, n. [L. assertio, fr. asserere.]
1. The act of asserting, or that which is asserted; positive declaration or averment; affirmation; statement asserted; position advanced.
"There is a difference between assertion and demonstration." - Macaulay.
2. Maintenance; vindication; as the assertion of one’s rights or prerogatives.

Assertive
As•sert´ive, a. Positive; affirming confidently; affirmative; peremptory.
"In a confident and assertive form." - Glanvill.
As•sert´ive•ly, adv. — As•sert´ive•ness, n.

Assertor
As•sert´or, n. [L., fr. asserere.] One who asserts or avers; one who maintains or vindicates a claim or a right; an affirmer, supporter, or vindicator; a defender; an asserter.
"The assertors of liberty said not a word." - Macaulay.
"Faithful assertor of thy country’s cause." - Prior.

Assertorial
As•ser•to´ri•al, a. Asserting that a thing is; — opposed to problematical and apodeictical.

Assertory
As•sert´o•ry, a. [L. assertorius, fr. asserere.] Affirming; maintaining.
"Arguments … assertory, not probatory." - Jer. Taylor.
"An assertory, not a promissory, declaration." - Bentham.
"A proposition is assertory, when it enounces what is known as actual." - Sir W. Hamilton.

Assess
As•sess´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assessed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Assessing.] [OF. assesser to regulate, settle, LL. assessare to value for taxation, fr. L. assidere, supine as if assessum, to sit by, esp. of judges in a court, in LL. to assess, tax. Cf. Assize, v. , Cess.]
1. To value; to make a valuation or official estimate of for the purpose of taxation.
2. To apportion a sum to be paid by (a person, a community, or an estate), in the nature of a tax, fine, etc.; to impose a tax upon (a person, an estate, or an income) according to a rate or apportionment.
3. To determine and impose a tax or fine upon (a person, community, estate, or income); to tax; as the club assessed each member twenty-five cents.
4. To fix or determine the rate or amount of.
"This sum is assessed and raised upon individuals by commissioners in the act." - Blackstone.

Assessee
As•sess•ee´, n. One who is assessed.

Assession
As•ses´sion, n. [L. assessio, fr. assidre to sit by or near; a. + sedre to sit. See Sit.] A sitting beside or near.

Assessor
As•sess´or, n. [L., one who sits beside, the assistant of a judge, fr. assidre. See Assession. LL., one who arranges of determines the taxes, fr. assidre. See Assess, v. , and cf. Cessor.]
1. One appointed or elected to assist a judge or magistrate with his special knowledge of the subject to be decided; as legal assessors, nautical assessors. Mozley & W.
2. One who sits by another, as next in dignity, or as an assistant and adviser; an associate in office.
"Whence to his Son, The assessor of his throne, he thus began." - Milton.
"With his ignorance, his inclinations, and his fancy, as his assessors in judgment." - I. Taylor.
3. One appointed to assess persons or property for the purpose of taxation. Bouvier.

Assessorship
As•sess´or•ship, n. The office or function of an assessor.

Asset
As´set, n. Any article or separable part of one’s assets.

Assets
As´sets, n. pl. [OF. asez enough, F. assez, fr. L. a. + satis, akin to Gr. enough, Goth. saps full. Cf. Assai, Satisfy.]
1. (Law) (a) Property of a deceased person, subject by law to the payment of his debts and legacies; - - called assets because sufficient to render the executor or administrator liable to the creditors and legatees, so far as such goods or estate may extend. Story. Blackstone. (b) Effects of an insolvent debtor or bankrupt, applicable to the payment of debts.
2. The entire property of all sorts, belonging to a person, a corporation, or an estate; as the assets of a merchant or a trading association; — opposed to liabilities. In balancing accounts the assets are put on the Cr. side and the debts on the Dr. side.

Asseverative
As•sev´er•a•tive, a. Characterized by asseveration; asserting positively.

Asseveratory
As•sev´er•a•to•ry, a. Asseverative.

Assibilate
As•sib´i•late, v. t. [L. assibilatus, p. p. of assibilare to hiss out; a. + sibilare to hiss.] To make sibilant; to change to a sibilant. J. Peile.

Assibilation
As•sib•i•la´tion, n. Change of a non- sibilant letter to a sibilant, as of - tion to - shun, duke to ditch.

Assidean
As•si•de´an, n. [Heb. khasad to be pious.] One of a body of devoted Jews who opposed the Hellenistic Jews, and supported the Asmoneans.

Assident
As´si•dent, a. [L. assidens, p. pr. of assidre to sit by: cf. F. assident. See Assession.] (Med.) Usually attending a disease, but not always; as assident signs, or symptoms.

Assiduity
As•si•du´i•ty, n. ; pl. Assiduities . [L. assiduitas: cf. F. assiduite. See Assiduous.]
1. Constant or close application or attention, particularly to some business or enterprise; diligence.
"I have, with much pains and assiduity, qualified myself for a nomenclator." - Addison.
2. Studied and persevering attention to a person; - - usually in the plural.

Assientist
As•si•en´tist, n. [Cf. F. assientiste, Sp. asentista.] A shareholder of the Assiento company; one of the parties to the Assiento contract. Bancroft.

Assiento
As•si•en´to, n. [Sp. asiento seat, contract or agreement, fr. asentar to place on a chair, to adjust, to make an agreement; a (L. a. ) + sentar, a participial verb; as if there were a L. sedentare to cause to sit, fr. sedens, sedentis, p. pr. of sedre to sit.] A contract or convention between Spain and other powers for furnishing negro slaves for the Spanish dominions in America, esp. the contract made with Great Britain in 1713.

Assign
As•sign´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assigned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Assigning.] [OE. assignen, asignen, F. assigner, fr. L. assignare; a. + signare to mark, mark out, designate, signum mark, sign. See Sign.]
1. To appoint; to allot; to apportion; to make over.
"In the order I assign to them." - Loudon.
"The man who could feel thus was worthy of a better station than that in which his lot had been assigned." - Southey.
"He assigned to his men their several posts." - Prescott.
2. To fix, specify, select, or designate; to point out authoritatively or exactly; as to assign a limit; to assign counsel for a prisoner; to assign a day for trial.
"All as the dwarf the way to her assigned." - Spenser.
"It is not easy to assign a period more eventful." - De Quincey.
3. (Law) To transfer, or make over to another, esp. to transfer to, and vest in, certain persons, called assignees, for the benefit of creditors. To assign dower, to set out by metes and bounds the widow’s share or portion in an estate. Kent.

Assign
As•sign´, n. [From Assign, v. ] A thing pertaining or belonging to something else; an appurtenance. [Obs.]
"Six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdles, hangers, and so." - Shak.

Assign
As•sign´, n. [See Assignee.] (Law) A person to whom property or an interest is transferred; as a deed to a man and his heirs and assigns.

Assignability
As•sign•a•bil´i•ty, n. The quality of being assignable.

Assignable
As•sign´a•ble, a. Capable of being assigned, allotted, specified, or designated; as an assignable note or bill; an assignable reason; an assignable quantity.

Assignat
As•si•gnat´ ( 277), n. [F. assignat, fr. L. assignatus, p. p. of assignare.] One of the notes, bills, or bonds, issued as currency by the revolutionary government of France (1790-1796), and based on the security of the lands of the church and of nobles which had been appropriated by the state.

Assignation
As•sig•na´tion, n. [L. assignatio, fr. assignare: cf. F. assignation.]
1. The act of assigning or allotting; apportionment.
"This order being taken in the senate, as touching the appointment and assignation of those provinces." - Holland.
2. An appointment of time and place for meeting or interview; — used chiefly of love interviews, and now commonly in a bad sense.
"While nymphs take treats, or assignations give." - Pope.
3. A making over by transfer of title; assignment. House of assignation, a house in which appointments for sexual intercourse are fulfilled.

Assignee
As•sign•ee´, n. [F. assigne, p. p. of assigner. See Assign, v. , and cf. Assign an assignee.] (Law) (a) A person to whom an assignment is made; a person appointed or deputed by another to do some act, perform some business, or enjoy some right, privilege, or property; as an assignee of a bankrupt. See Assignment (c). An assignee may be by special appointment or deed, or be created by jaw; as an executor. Cowell. Blount. (b) pl. In England, the persons appointed, under a commission of bankruptcy, to manage the estate of a bankrupt for the benefit of his creditors.

Assignment
As•sign´ment, n. [LL. assignamentum: cf. OF. assenement.]
1. An allotting or an appointment to a particular person or use; or for a particular time, as of a cause or causes in court.
2. (Law) (a) A transfer of title or interest by writing, as of lease, bond, note, or bill of exchange; a transfer of the whole of some particular estate or interest in lands. (b) The writing by which an interest is transferred. (c) The transfer of the property of a bankrupt to certain persons called assignees, in whom it is vested for the benefit of creditors. Assignment of dower, the setting out by metes and bounds of the widow’s thirds or portion in the deceased husband’s estate, and allotting it to her. Assignment is also used in law as convertible with specification; assignment of error in proceedings for review being specification of error; and assignment of perjury or fraud in indictment being specifications of perjury or fraud.

Assignor
As•sign•or´, n. [L. assignator. Cf. Assigner.] (Law) An assigner; a person who assigns or transfers an interest; as the assignor of a debt or other chose in action.

Assimilable
As•sim´i•la•ble, a. That may be assimilated; that may be likened, or appropriated and incorporated.

Assimilate
As•sim´i•late, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assimilated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Assimilating .] [L. assimilatus, p. p. of assimilare; a. + similare to make like, similis like. See Similar, Assemble, Assimilate.]
1. To bring to a likeness or to conformity; to cause a resemblance between. Sir M. Hale.
"To assimilate our law to the law of Scotland." - John Bright.
"Fast falls a fleecy; the downy flakes Assimilate all objects." - Cowper.
2. To liken; to compae. [R.]
3. To appropriate and transform or incorporate into the substance of the assimilating body; to absorb or appropriate, as nourishment; as food is assimilated and converted into organic tissue.
"Hence also animals and vegetables may assimilate their nourishment." - Sir I. Newton.
"His mind had no power to assimilate the lessons." - Merivale.

Assimilate
As•sim´i•late, v. i.
1. To become similar or like something else. [R.]
2. To change and appropriate nourishment so as to make it a part of the substance of the assimilating body.
"Aliment easily assimilated or turned into blood." - Arbuthnot.
3. To be converted into the substance of the assimilating body; to become incorporated; as some kinds of food assimilate more readily than others.
"I am a foreign material, and cannot assimilate with the church of England." - J. H. Newman.

Assimilation
As•sim•i•la´tion, n. [L. assimilatio: cf. F. assimilation.]
1. The act or process of assimilating or bringing to a resemblance, likeness, or identity; also the state of being so assimilated; as the assimilation of one sound to another.
"To aspire to an assimilation with God." - Dr. H. More.
"The assimilation of gases and vapors." - Sir J. Herschel.
2. (Physiol.) The conversion of nutriment into the fluid or solid substance of the body, by the processes of digestion and absorption, whether in plants or animals.
"Not conversing the body, not repairing it by assimilation, but preserving it by ventilation." - Sir T. Browne.
The term assimilation has been limited by some to the final process by which the nutritive matter of the blood is converted into the substance of the tissues and organs.

Assimilative
As•sim´i•la•tive, a. [Cf. LL. assimilativus, F. assimilatif.] Tending to, or characterized by, assimilation; that assimilates or causes assimilation; as an assimilative process or substance.

Assimilatory
As•sim´i•la•to•ry, a. Tending to assimilate, or produce assimilation; as assimilatory organs.

Assimulate
As•sim´u•late, v. t. [L. assimulatus, p. p. of assimulare, equiv. to assimilare. See Assimilate, v. t.]
1. To feign; to counterfeit; to simulate; to resemble. [Obs.] Blount.
2. To assimilate. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

Assinego
As•si•ne´go, n. See Asinego.

Assist
As•sist´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assisting.] [L. assistere; a. + sistere to cause to stand, to stand, from stare to stand: cf. F. assister. See Stand.] To give support to in some undertaking or effort, or in time of distress; to help; to aid; to succor.
"Assist me, knight. I am undone!" - Shak.
Syn. — To help; aid; second; back; support; relieve; succor; befriend; sustain; favor. See Help.

Assist
As•sist´, v. i.
1. To lend aid; to help.
"With God not parted from him, as was feared, But favoring and assisting to the end." - Milton.
2. To be present as a spectator; as to assist at a public meeting. [A Gallicism] Gibbon. Prescott.

Assistance
As•sist´ance, n. [Cf. F. assistance.]
1. The act of assisting; help; aid; furtherance; succor; support.
"Without the assistance of a mortal hand." - Shak.
2. An assistant or helper; a body of helpers. [Obs.]
"Wat Tyler [was] killed by valiant Walworth, the lord mayor of London, and his assistance, … John Cavendish." - Fuller.
3. Persons present. [Obs. or a Gallicism]

Assistant
As•sist´ant, a. [Cf. F. assistant, p. pr. of assister.]
1. Helping; lending aid or support; auxiliary.
"Genius and learning … are mutually and greatly assistant to each other." - Beattie.
2. (Mil.) Of the second grade in the staff of the army; as an assistant surgeon. [U.S.] In the English army it designates the third grade in any particular branch of the staff. Farrow.

Assistant
As•sist´ant, n.
1. One who, or that which, assists; a helper; an auxiliary; a means of help.
"Four assistants who his labor share." - Pope.
"Rhymes merely as assistants to memory." - Mrs. Chapone.
2. An attendant; one who is present. Dryden.

Assistantly
As•sist´ant•ly, adv. In a manner to give aid. [R.]

Assister
As•sist´er, n. An assistant; a helper.

Assistful
As•sist´ful, a. Helpful.

Assistive
As•sist´ive, a. Lending aid, helping.

Assistless
As•sist´less, a. Without aid or help. [R.] Pope.

Assistor
As•sist´or, n. (Law) A assister.

Assithment
As•sith´ment, n. See Assythment. [Obs.]

Assizor
As•siz´or, n. (Scots Law) A juror.

Assober
As•so´ber, v. t. [Pref. ad- + sober. Cf. Ensober.] To make or keep sober. [Obs.] Gower.

Associable
As•so´cia•ble, a. [See Associate.]
1. Capable of being associated or joined.
"We know feelings to be associable only by the proved ability of one to revive another." - H. Spencer.
2. Sociable; companionable. [Obs.]
3. (Med.) Liable to be affected by sympathy with other parts; — said of organs, nerves, muscles, etc.
"The stomach, the most associable of all the organs of the animal body." - Med. Rep.

Associate
As•so´ci•ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Associated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Associating .] [L. associatus, p. p. of associare; a. + sociare to join or unite, socius companion. See Social.]
1. To join with one, as a friend, companion, partner, or confederate; as to associate others with us in business, or in an enterprise.
2. To join or connect; to combine in acting; as particles of gold associated with other substances.
3. To connect or place together in thought.
"He succeeded in associating his name inseparably with some names which will last as long as our language." - Macaulay.
4. To accompany; to keep company with. [Obs.]
"Friends should associate friends in grief and woe." - Shak.

Associate
As•so´ci•ate, v. i.
1. To unite in company; to keep company, implying intimacy; as congenial minds are disposed to associate.
2. To unite in action, or to be affected by the action of a different part of the body. E. Darwin.

Associate
As•so´ci•ate, a. [L. associatus, p. p.]
1. Closely connected or joined with some other, as in interest, purpose, employment, or office; sharing responsibility or authority; as an associate judge.
"While I descend … to my associate powers." - Milton.
2. Admitted to some, but not to all, rights and privileges; as an associate member.
3. (Physiol.) Connected by habit or sympathy; as associate motions, such as occur sympathetically, in consequence of preceding motions. E. Darwin.

Associate
As•so´ci•ate, n.
1. A companion; one frequently in company with another, implying intimacy or equality; a mate; a fellow.
2. A partner in interest, as in business; or a confederate in a league.
3. One connected with an association or institution without the full rights or privileges of a regular member; as an associate of the Royal Academy.
4. Anything closely or usually connected with another; an concomitant.
"The one [idea] no sooner comes into the understanding, than its associate appears with it." - Locke.
Syn. — Companion; mate; fellow; friend; ally; partner; coadjutor; comrade; accomplice.

Associated
As•so´ci•a•ted, a. Joined as a companion; brought into association; accompanying; combined. Associated movements (Physiol.), consensual movements which accompany voluntary efforts without our consciousness. Dunglison.

Associateship
As•so´ci•ate•ship, n. The state of an associate, as in Academy or an office.

Association
As•so•ci•a´tion ( 277), n. [Cf. F. association, LL. associatio, fr. L. associare.]
1. The act of associating, or state of being associated; union; connection, whether of persons of things. "Some … bond of association." Hooker.
"Self-denial is a kind of holy association with God." - Boyle.
2. Mental connection, or that which is mentally linked or associated with a thing.
"Words … must owe their powers association." - Johnson.
"Why should … the holiest words, with all their venerable associations, be profaned?" - Coleridge.
3. Union of persons in a company or society for some particular purpose; as the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a benevolent association. Specifically, as among the Congregationalists, a society, consisting of a number of ministers, generally the pastors of neighboring churches, united for promoting the interests of religion and the harmony of the churches. Association of ideas (Physiol.), the combination or connection of states of mind or their objects with one another, as the result of which one is said to be revived or represented by means of the other. The relations according to which they are thus connected or revived are called the law of association. Prominent among them are reckoned the relations of time and place, and of cause and effect. Porter.

Associational
As•so•ci•a´tion•al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to association, or to an association.
2. Pertaining to the theory held by the associationists.

Associationism
As•so•ci•a´tion•ism, n. (Philos.) The doctrine or theory held by associationists.

Associationist
As•so•ci•a´tion•ist, n. (Philos.) One who explains the higher functions and relations of the soul by the association of ideas; e. g., Hartley, J. C. Mill.

Associative
As•so´ci•a•tive, a. Having the quality of associating; tending or leading to association; as the associative faculty. Hugh Miller.

Associator
As•so´ci•a•tor, n. An associate; a confederate or partner in any scheme.
"How Pennsylvania’s air agrees with Quakers, And Carolina’s with associators." - Dryden.

Assoil
As•soil´, v. t. [OF. assoiler, absoiler, assoldre, F. absoudre, L. absolvere. See Absolve.]
1. To set free; to release. [Archaic]
"Till from her hands the spright assoiled is." - Spenser.
2. To solve; to clear up. [Obs.]
"Any child might soon be able to assoil this riddle." - Bp. Jewel.
3. To set free from guilt; to absolve. [Archaic]
"Acquitted and assoiled from the guilt." - Dr. H. More.
"Many persons think themselves fairly assoiled, because they are … not of scandalous lives." - Jer. Taylor.
4. To expiate; to atone for. [Archaic] Spenser.
"Let each act assoil a fault." - E. Arnold.
5. To remove; to put off. [Obs.]
"She soundly slept, and careful thoughts did quite assoil." - Spenser.

Assoil
As•soil´, v. t. [Pref. ad- + soil.] To soil; to stain. [Obs. or Poet.] Beau. & Fl.
"Ne’er assoil my cobwebbed shield." - Wordsworth.

Assoilment
As•soil´ment, n. Act of assoiling, or state of being assoiled; absolution; acquittal.

Assoilment
As•soil´ment, n. A soiling; defilement.

Assoilzie
As•soil´zie, As•soil´yie, v. t. [Old form assoil&yogh;e. See Assoil.] (Scots Law) To absolve; to acquit by sentence of court.
"God assoilzie him for the sin of bloodshed." - Sir W. Scott.

Assonate
As´so•nate, v. i. [L. assonare, assonatum, to respond to.] To correspond in sound.

Assort
As•sort´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assorting.] [F. assortir; (L. a. ) + sortir to cast or draw lots, to obtain by lot, L. sortiri, fr. sors, sortis, lot. See Sort.]
1. To separate and distribute into classes, as things of a like kind, nature, or quality, or which are suited to a like purpose; to classify; as to assort goods. [Rarely applied to persons.]
"They appear … no ways assorted to those with whom they must associate." - Burke.
2. To furnish with, or make up of, various sorts or a variety of goods; as to assort a cargo.

Assort
As•sort´, v. i. To agree; to be in accordance; to be adapted; to suit; to fall into a class or place. Mitford.

Assorted
As•sort´ed (as•sôrt"ed), a. Selected; culled.

Assortment
As•sort´ment (-m ent), n. [Cf. F. assortiment.]
1. Act of assorting, or distributing into sorts, kinds, or classes.
2. A collection or quantity of things distributed into kinds or sorts; a number of things assorted.
3. A collection containing a variety of sorts or kinds adapted to various wants, demands, or purposes; as an assortment of goods.

Assot
As•sot´, v. t. [OF. asoter, F. assoter; (L. a. ) + sot stupid. See Sot.] To besot; to befool; to beguile; to infatuate. [Obs.]
"Some ecstasy assotted had his sense." - Spenser.

Assot
As•sot´, a. Dazed; foolish; infatuated. [Obs.]
"Willie, I ween thou be assot." - Spenser.

Assuage
As•suage´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assuaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Assuaging .] [OE. asuagen, aswagen, OF. asoagier, asuagier, fr. assouagier, fr. L. a. + suavis sweet. See Sweet.] To soften, in a figurative sense; to allay, mitigate, ease, or lessen, as heat, pain, or grief; to appease or pacify, as passion or tumult; to satisfy, as appetite or desire.
"Refreshing winds the summer’s heat assuage." - Addison.
"To assuage the sorrows of a desolate old man" - Burke.
"The fount at which the panting mind assuages Her thirst of knowledge." - Byron.
Syn. — To alleviate; mitigate; appease; soothe; calm; tranquilize; relieve. See Alleviate.

Assuage
As•suage´, v. i. To abate or subside. [Archaic] "The waters assuaged." Gen. vii. 1.
"The plague being come to a crisis, its fury began to assuage." - De Foe.

Assuagement
As•suage´ment, n. [OF. assouagement, asuagement.] Mitigation; abatement.

Assuager
As•sua´ger, n. One who, or that which, assuages.

Assuasive
As•sua´sive, a. [From assuage, as if this were fr. a supposed L. assuadere to persuade to; or from E. pref. a. + -suasive as in per suasive.] Mitigating; tranquilizing; soothing. [R.]
"Music her soft assuasive voice applies." - Pope.

Assubjugate
As•sub´ju•gate, v. t. [Pref. ad- + subjugate.] To bring into subjection. [Obs.] Shak.

Assuefaction
As•sue•fac´tion, n. [L. assuefacere to accustom to; assuetus (p. p. of assuescere to accustom to) + facere to make; cf. OF. assuefaction.] The act of accustoming, or the state of being accustomed; habituation. [Obs.]
"Custom and studies efform the soul like wax, and by assuefaction introduce a nature." - Jer. Taylor.

Assuetude
As´sue•tude, n. [L. assuetudo, fr. assuetus accustomed.] Accustomedness; habit; habitual use.
"Assuetude of things hurtful doth make them lose their force to hurt." - Bacon.

Assumable
As•sum´a•ble, a. That may be assumed.

Assumably
As•sum´a•bly, adv. By way of assumption.

Assume
As•sume´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assumed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Assuming.] [L. assumere; a. + sumere to take; sub + emere to take, buy: cf. F. assumer. See Redeem.]
1. To take to or upon one’s self; to take formally and demonstratively; sometimes, to appropriate or take unjustly.
"Trembling they stand while Jove assumes the throne." - Pope.
"The god assumed his native form again." - Pope.
2. To take for granted, or without proof; to suppose as a fact; to suppose or take arbitrarily or tentatively.
"The consequences of assumed principles." - Whewell.
3. To pretend to possess; to take in appearance.
"Ambition assuming the mask of religion." - Porteus.
"Assume a virtue, if you have it not." - Shak.
4. To receive or adopt.
"The sixth was a young knight of lesser renown and lower rank, assumed into that honorable company." - Sir W. Scott.
Syn. — To arrogate; usurp; appropriate.

Assume
As•sume´, v. i.
1. To be arrogant or pretentious; to claim more than is due. Bp. Burnet.
2. (Law) To undertake, as by a promise. Burrill.

Assumed
As•sumed´, a.
1. Supposed.
2. Pretended; hypocritical; make-believe; as an assumed character.

Assumedly
As•sum´ed•ly, adv. By assumption.

Assument
As•sum´ent, n. [L. assumentum, fr. a. + suere to sew.] A patch; an addition; a piece put on. [Obs.] John Lewis (1731).

Assumer
As•sum´er, n. One who assumes, arrogates, pretends, or supposes. W. D. Whitney.

Assuming
As•sum´ing, a. Pretentious; taking much upon one’s self; presumptuous. Burke.

Assumpsit
As•sump´sit ( 215), n. [L., he undertook, pret. of L. assumere. See Assume.] (Law) (a) A promise or undertaking, founded on a consideration. This promise may be oral or in writing not under seal. It may be express or implied. (b) An action to recover damages for a breach or nonperformance of a contract or promise, express or implied, oral or in writing not under seal. Common or indebitatus assumpsit is brought for the most part on an implied promise. Special assumpsit is founded on an express promise or undertaking. Wharton.

Assumption
As•sump´tion ( 215), n. [OE. assumpcioun a taking up into heaven, L. assumptio a taking, fr. assumere: cf. F. assomption. See Assume.]
1. The act of assuming, or taking to or upon one’s self; the act of taking up or adopting.
"The assumption of authority." - Whewell.
2. The act of taking for granted, or supposing a thing without proof; supposition; unwarrantable claim.
"This gives no sanction to the unwarrantable assumption that the soul sleeps from the period of death to the resurrection of the body." - Thodey.
"That calm assumption of the virtues." - W. Black.
3. The thing supposed; a postulate, or proposition assumed; a supposition.
"Hold! says the Stoic; your assumption’s wrong." - Dryden.
4. (Logic) The minor or second proposition in a categorical syllogism.
5. The taking of a person up into heaven. Hence: (Rom. Cath. & Greek Churches) A festival in honor of the ascent of the Virgin Mary into heaven.

Assurance
As•sur´ance, n. [OE. assuraunce, F. assurance, fr. assurer. See Assure.]
1. The act of assuring; a declaration tending to inspire full confidence; that which is designed to give confidence.
"Whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." - Acts xvii. 31.
"Assurances of support came pouring in daily." - Macaulay.
2. The state of being assured; firm persuasion; full confidence or trust; freedom from doubt; certainty.
"Let us draw with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience." - Heb. x. 22.
3. Firmness of mind; undoubting, steadiness; intrepidity; courage; confidence; self-reliance.
"Brave men meet danger with assurance." - Knolles.
"Conversation with the world will give them knowledge and assurance." - Locke.
4. Excess of boldness; impudence; audacity; as his assurance is intolerable.
5. Betrothal; affiance. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
6. Insurance; a contract for the payment of a sum on occasion of a certain event, as loss or death. Recently, assurance has been used, in England, in relation to life contingencies, and insurance in relation to other contingencies. It is called temporary assurance, in the time within which the contingent event must happen is limited. See Insurance.
7. (Law) Any written or other legal evidence of the conveyance of property; a conveyance; a deed. In England, the legal evidences of the conveyance of property are called the common assurances of the kingdom. Blackstone.

Assuredly
As•sur´ed•ly, adv. Certainly; indubitably. "The siege assuredly I’ll raise." Shak.

Assuredness
As•sur´ed•ness, n. The state of being assured; certainty; full confidence.

Assurer
As•sur´er, n.
1. One who assures. Specifically: One who insures against loss; an insurer or underwriter.
2. One who takes out a life assurance policy.

Assurgency
As•sur´gen•cy, n. Act of rising.
"The … assurgency of the spirit through the body." - Coleridge.

Assurgent
As•sur´gent, a. [L. assurgens, p. pr. of assurgere; a. + surgere to rise.] Ascending; (Bot.) rising obliquely; curving upward. Gray.

Assuring
As•sur´ing, a. That assures; tending to assure; giving confidence. — As•sur´ing•ly, adv.

Asswage
As•swage´, v. See Assuage.

Assyriological
As•syr•i•o•log´ic•al, a. Of or pertaining to Assyriology; as Assyriological studies.

Assyriologist
As•syr•i•ol´o•gist, n. One versed in Assyriology; a student of Assyrian archaeology.

Assyriology
As•syr•i•ol´o•gy, n. [ Assyria + -logy.] The science or study of the antiquities, language, etc., of ancient Assyria.

Assythment
As•syth´ment, n. [From OF. aset, asez, orig. meaning enough. See Assets.] Indemnification for injury; satisfaction. [Chiefly in Scots law]

Astart
A•start´, v. t. & i. Same as Astert. [Obs.]

Astate
A•state´, n. Estate; state. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Astatic
A•stat´ic, a. [Pref. a. not + static.] (Magnetism) Having little or no tendency to take a fixed or definite position or direction: thus, a suspended magnetic needle, when rendered astatic, loses its polarity, or tendency to point in a given direction. Astatic pair (Magnetism), a pair of magnetic needles so mounted as to be nearly or quite astatic, as in some galvanometers.

Astatically
A•stat´ic•al•ly, adv. In an astatic manner.

Astaticism
A•stat´i•cism, n. The state of being astatic.

Astatize
As´ta•tize, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Astatized p. pr. & vb. n. Astatizing.] (Magnetism) To render astatic.

Astay
A•stay´, adv. (Naut.) An anchor is said to be astay, when, in heaving it, an acute angle is formed between the cable and the surface of the water.

Asteism
As´te•ism, n. [Gr. refined and witty talk, fr. of the town, polite, witty, fr. city: cf. F. asteisme.] (Rhet.) Genteel irony; a polite and ingenious manner of deriding another.

Astel
As´tel (as"tel), n. [OE. astelle piece of wood, OF. astele splinter, shaving, F. attelle, astelle: cf. L. astula, dim. of assis board.] (Mining) An arch, or ceiling, of boards, placed over the men’s heads in a mine.

Aster
As´ter (as"ter), n. [L. aster aster, star, Gr. ’asth•r star. See Star.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of herbs with compound white or bluish flowers; starwort; Michaelmas daisy.
2. (Floriculture) A plant of the genus Callistephus. Many varieties (called China asters, German asters, etc.) are cultivated for their handsome compound flowers.

Aster
As´ter, n. (Biol.) A star- shaped figure of achromatic substance found chiefly in cells dividing by mitosis.

Asterias
As•te´ri•as, n. [NL., fr. Gr. starred, fr. ’asth•r star.] (Zoöl.) A genus of echinoderms. Formerly the group of this name included nearly all starfishes and ophiurans. Now it is restricted to a genus including the commonest shore starfishes.

Asteriated
As•te´ri•a•ted, a. [See Asterias.] Radiated, with diverging rays; as asteriated sapphire.

Asteriscus
As•ter•is´cus, n. [L., an asterisk. See Asterisk.] (Anat.) The smaller of the two otoliths found in the inner ear of many fishes.

Astern
A•stern´, adv. [Pref. a. + stern.] (Naut.)
1. In or at the hinder part of a ship; toward the hinder part, or stern; backward; as to go astern.
2. Behind a ship; in the rear. "A gale of wind right astern." De Foe. "Left this strait astern." Drake. To bake astern, to go stern foremost. — To be astern of the reckoning, to be behind the position given by the reckoning. — To drop astern, to fall or be left behind. — To go astern, to go backward, as from the action of currents or winds.

Asternal
A•ster´nal, a. [Pref. a. not + sternal.] (Anat.) Not sternal; — said of ribs which do not join the sternum.

Asteroid
As´ter•oid, n. [Gr. starlike, starry; ’asth•r star + form: cf. F. asteroïde. See Aster.] A starlike body; esp. one of the numerous small planets whose orbits lie between those of Mars and Jupiter; — called also planetoids and minor planets.

Asterolepis
As•te•rol´e•pis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ’asth•r star + scale.] (Paleon.) A genus of fishes, some of which were eighteen or twenty feet long, found in a fossil state in the Old Red Sandstone. Hugh Miller.

Asterope
As•ter´o•pe, n. [Gr., lit., lightning.]
1. (Myth.) One of the Pleiades; — called also Sterope.
2. (Astron.) A double star in the Pleiades (21 k and 22 l Pleiadum, of the 5.8 and 6.4 magnitude respectively), appearing as a single star of the 5.3 magnitude to the naked eye.

Asterophyllite
As•ter•oph´yl•lite (as•ter•of"il•lit), n. [Gr. ’asth•r star + fy•llon leaf.] (Paleon.) A fossil plant from the coal formations of Europe and America, now regarded as the branchlets and foliage of calamites.

Astert
A•stert, v. t. [Pref. a. + start; OE. asterten, asturten.] To start up; to befall; to escape; to shun. [Obs.] Spenser.

Astert
A•stert´, v. i. To escape. [Obs.] Chaucer. { As•the•ni´a, As´the•ny } n. [NL. asthenia, Gr. ’asqe•nia; ’a priv. + sqe•nos strength.] (Med.) Want or loss of strength; debility; diminution of the vital forces.

Asthenic
As•then´ic, a. [Gr. ’asqeniko•s; ’a priv. + sqe•nos strength.] (Med.) Characterized by, or pertaining to, debility; weak; debilitating.

Asthenopia
As•the•no´pi•a, n. [Gr. ’a priv. + sqe•nos strength + ’w•ps eye.] Weakness of sight. Quain. — As•the•nop´ic, a.

Asthma
Asth´ma ( 277), n. [Gr. short-drawn breath, fr. to blow, for : cf. Skr. v. , Goth. waian, to blow, E. wind.] (Med.) A disease, characterized by difficulty of breathing (due to a spasmodic contraction of the bronchi), recurring at intervals, accompanied with a wheezing sound, a sense of constriction in the chest, a cough, and expectoration. { Asth•mat´ic, Asth•mat´ic•al } a. [L. asthmaticus, Gr. .] Of or pertaining to asthma; as an asthmatic cough; liable to, or suffering from, asthma; as an asthmatic patient. — Asth•mat´ic•al•ly, adv.

Asthma paper
Asth"ma pa"per. Paper impregnated with saltpeter. The fumes from the burning paper are often inhaled as an alleviative by asthmatics.

Asthmatic
Asth•mat´ic, n. A person affected with asthma.

Astigmatic
As•tig•mat´ic, a. (Med. & Opt.) Affected with, or pertaining to, astigmatism; as astigmatic eyes; also remedying astigmatism; as astigmatic lenses.

Astigmatism
A•stig´ma•tism, n. [Gr. ’a priv. +,, a prick of a pointed instrument, a spot, fr. to prick: cf. F. astigmatisme.] (Med. & Opt.) A defect of the eye or of a lens, in consequence of which the rays derived from one point are not brought to a single focal point, thus causing imperfect images or indistinctness of vision. The term is applied especially to the defect causing images of lines having a certain direction to be indistinct, or imperfectly seen, while those of lines transverse to the former are distinct, or clearly seen.

Astipulate
As•tip´u•late, v. i. [L. astipulari; a. + stipulari to stipulate.] To assent. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Astipulation
As•tip•u•la´tion, n. [L. astipulatio.] Stipulation; agreement. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Astir
A•stir´, adv. & a. [Pref. a. + stir.] Stirring; in a state of activity or motion; out of bed. { A•stom´a•tous, As´to•mous } a. [Gr. ’a priv. +,, mouth.] Not possessing a mouth. { As•ton´, As•tone´ } v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Astoned, Astond, or Astound.] [See Astonish.] To stun; to astonish; to stupefy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Astonishing
As•ton´ish•ing, a. Very wonderful; of a nature to excite astonishment; as an astonishing event.
Syn. — Amazing; surprising; wonderful; marvelous. As•ton´ish•ing•ly, adv. — As•ton´ish•ing•ness, n.

Astonishment
As•ton´ish•ment, n. [Cf. OF. estonnement, F. etonnement.]
1. The condition of one who is stunned. Hence: Numbness; loss of sensation; stupor; loss of sense. [Obs.]
"A coldness and astonishment in his loins, as folk say." - Holland.
2. Dismay; consternation. [Archaic] Spenser.
3. The overpowering emotion excited when something unaccountable, wonderful, or dreadful is presented to the mind; an intense degree of surprise; amazement.
"Lest the place And my quaint habits breed astonishment." - Milton.
4. The object causing such an emotion.
"Thou shalt become an astonishment." - Deut. xxviii. 37.
Syn. — Amazement; wonder; surprise.

Astony
As•ton´y, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Astonied ; p. pr. & vb. n. Astonying. See Astone.] To stun; to bewilder; to astonish; to dismay. [Archaic]
"The captain of the Helots … strake Palladius upon the side of his head, that he reeled astonied." - Sir P. Sidney.
"This sodeyn cas this man astonied so, That reed he wex, abayst, and al quaking." - Chaucer.

Astound
As•tound´, a. [OE. astouned, astound, astoned, p. p. of astone. See Astone.] Stunned; astounded; astonished. [Archaic] Spenser.
"Thus Ellen, dizzy and astound. As sudden ruin yawned around." - Sir W. Scott.

Astound
As•tound´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Astounded, [Obs.] Astound; p. pr. & vb. n. Astounding.] [See Astound, a. ]
1. To stun; to stupefy.
"No puissant stroke his senses once astound." - Fairfax.
2. To astonish; to strike with amazement; to confound with wonder, surprise, or fear.
"These thoughts may startle well, but not astound The virtuous mind." - Milton.

Astoundment
As•tound´ment, n. Amazement. Coleridge.

Astrachan
As•tra•chan´, a. & n. See Astrakhan.

Astraean
As•trae´an, a. [Gr. starry.] (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the genus Astraea or the family Astraeidae. — n. A coral of the family Astraeidae; a star coral.

Astragal
As´tra•gal, n. [L. astragalus, Gr. the ankle bone, a molding in the capital of the Ionic column.]
1. (Arch.) A convex molding of rounded surface, generally from half to three quarters of a circle.
2. (Gun.) A round molding encircling a cannon near the mouth.

Astragalar
As•trag´a•lar, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the astragalus.

Astragaloid
As•trag´a•loid, a. [ Astragalus + -oid.] (Anat.) Resembling the astragalus in form.

Astragalomancy
As•trag´a•lo•man•cy, n. [Gr. ankle bone, die + -mancy.] Divination by means of small bones or dice.

Astragalus
As•trag´a•lus, n. [L. See Astragal.]
1. (Anat.) The ankle bone, or hock bone; the bone of the tarsus which articulates with the tibia at the ankle.
2. (Bot.) A genus of papilionaceous plants, of the tribe Galegeae, containing numerous species, two of which are called, in English, milk vetch and licorice vetch. Gum tragacanth is obtained from different oriental species, particularly the A. gummifer and A. verus.
3. (Arch.) See Astragal, 1.

Astral
As´tral, a. [L. astralis, fr. astrum star, Gr. : cf. F. astral. See Star.] Pertaining to, coming from, or resembling, the stars; starry; starlike.
"Shines only with an astral luster." - I. Taylor.
"Some astral forms I must invoke by prayer." - Dryden.
Astral lamp, an Argand lamp so constructed that no shadow is cast upon the table by the flattened ring-shaped reservoir in which the oil is contained. — Astral spirits, spirits formerly supposed to live in the heavenly bodies or the aërial regions, and represented in the Middle Ages as fallen angels, spirits of the dead, or spirits originating in fire.

Astral
As´tral, a.
1. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to an aster; as astral rays; astral sphere.
2. (Theosophy) Consisting of, belonging to, or designating, a kind of supersensible substance alleged to be next above the tangible world in refinement; as astral spirits; astral bodies of persons; astral current.

Astrand
A•strand´, adv. & a. [Pref. a. + strand.] Stranded. Sir W. Scott.

Astray
A•stray´, adv. & a. [See Estray, Stray.] Out of the right, either in a literal or in a figurative sense; wandering; as to lead one astray.
"Ye were as sheep going astray." - 1 Pet. ii. 25.

Astriction
As•tric´tion, n. [L. astrictio.]
1. The act of binding; restriction; also obligation. Milton.
2. (Med.) (a) A contraction of parts by applications; the action of an astringent substance on the animal economy. Dunglison. (b) Constipation. Arbuthnot.
3. Astringency. [Obs.] Bacon.
4. (Scots Law) An obligation to have the grain growing on certain lands ground at a certain mill, the owner paying a toll. Bell. The lands were said to be astricted to the mill.

Astrictive
As•tric´tive, a. Binding; astringent. — n. An astringent. — As•tric´tive•ly, adv.

Astrictory
As•tric´to•ry, a. Astrictive. [R.]

Astride
A•stride´, adv. [Pref. a. + stride.] With one leg on each side, as a man when on horseback; with the legs stretched wide apart; astraddle.
"Placed astride upon the bars of the palisade." - Sir W. Scott.
"Glasses with horn bows sat astride on his nose." - Longfellow.

Astriferous
As•trif´er•ous (acr/s•trif"er•us), a. [L. astrifer; astrum star + ferre to bear.] Bearing stars. [R.] Blount.

Astringe
As•tringe´ (as•trinj"), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Astringed (-trinjd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Astringing (-jing).] [L. astringere; a. + stringere to draw tight. Cf. Astrict, and see Strain, v. t.]
1. To bind fast; to constrict; to contract; to cause parts to draw together; to compress.
"Which contraction … astringeth the moisture of the brain and thereby sendeth tears into the eyes." - Bacon.
2. To bind by moral or legal obligation. Wolsey.

Astringent
As•trin´gent (-j ent), a. [L. astringens, p. pr. of astringere: cf. F. astringent. See Astringe.]
1. Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; — opposed to laxative; as astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste; astringent fruit.
2. Stern; austere; as an astringent type of virtue.

Astringent
As•trin´gent, n. A medicine or other substance that produces contraction in the soft organic textures, and checks discharges of blood, mucus, etc.
"External astringents are called styptics." - Dunglison.

Astringently
As•trin´gent•ly, adv. In an astringent manner.

Astringer
As•trin´ger, n. [OE. ostreger, OF. ostrucier, F. autoursier, fr. OF. austour, ostor, hawk, F. autour; cf. L. acceptor, for accipiter, hawk.] A falconer who keeps a goshawk. [Obs.] Shak. Cowell. [Written also austringer.]

Astro-
As´tro- . The combining form of the Greek word ’a•stron, meaning star. { As´tro•fel, As´tro•fell }, n. A bitter herb, probably the same as aster, or starwort. Spenser.

Astrogeny
As•trog´e•ny, n. [ Astro- + Gr. birth.] The creation or evolution of the stars or the heavens. H. Spencer.

Astrognosy
As•trog´no•sy, n. [ Astro- + Gr. knowledge.] The science or knowledge of the stars, esp. the fixed stars. Bouvier.

Astrogony
As•trog´o•ny, n. Same as Astrogeny. — As••tro•gon´ic, a.

Astroite
As´tro•ite, n. [L. astroites: cf. F. astroite.] A radiated stone or fossil; star-stone. [Obs.] [Written also astrite and astrion.]

Astrolabe
As´tro•labe (as"tro•lab), n. [OE. astrolabie, astrilabe, OF. astrelabe, F. astrolabe, LL. astrolabium, fr. Gr. ’astrola•bon; ’a•stron star +,, to take.]
1. (Astron.) An instrument for observing or showing the positions of the stars. It is now disused. Among the ancients, it was essentially the armillary sphere. A graduated circle with sights, for taking altitudes at sea, was called an astrolabe in the 18th century. It is now superseded by the quadrant and sextant.
2. A stereographic projection of the sphere on the plane of a great circle, as the equator, or a meridian; a planisphere. Whewell.

Astrolater
As•trol´a•ter, n. A worshiper of the stars. Morley.

Astrolatry
As•trol´a•try, n. [ Astro- + Gr. service, worship: cf. F. astrolâtrie.] The worship of the stars.

Astrolithology
As•tro•li•thol´o•gy, n. [ Astro- + lithology.] The science of aërolites.

Astrologer
As•trol´o•ger, n. [See Astrology.]
1. One who studies the stars; an astronomer. [Obs.]
2. One who practices astrology; one who professes to foretell events by the aspects and situation of the stars.

Astrologize
As•trol´o•gize, v. t. & i. To apply astrology to; to study or practice astrology.

Astrology
As•trol´o•gy (as•trol"o•jy), n. [F. astrologie, L. astrologia, fr. Gr. ’astrologi•a, fr. ’astrolo•gos astronomer, astrologer; ’asth•r star + lo•gos discourse, le•gein to speak. See Star.] In its etymological signification, the science of the stars; among the ancients, synonymous with astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects. Astrology was much in vogue during the Middle Ages, and became the parent of modern astronomy, as alchemy did of chemistry. It was divided into two kinds: judicial astrology, which assumed to foretell the fate and acts of nations and individuals, and natural astrology, which undertook to predict events of inanimate nature, such as changes of the weather, etc.

Astrometeorology
As•tro•me•te•or•ol´o•gy, n. [ Astro- + meteorology.] The investigation of the relation between the sun, moon, and stars, and the weather. — As••tro•me•te•or•o•log´ic•al, a. — As•tro•me•te•or•ol´o•gist, n.

Astrometer
As•trom´e•ter, n. [ Astro- + meter.] An instrument for comparing the relative amount of the light of stars.

Astrometry
As•trom´e•try, n. [ Astro- + metry.] The art of making measurements among the stars, or of determining their relative magnitudes.

Astronomer
As•tron´o•mer, n. [See Astronomy.]
1. An astrologer. [Obs.] Shak.
2. One who is versed in astronomy; one who has a knowledge of the laws of the heavenly orbs, or the principles by which their motions are regulated, with their various phenomena.
"An undevout astronomer is mad." - Young.

Astronomical
As•tro•nom´ic•al (-i•k al), a. [L. astronomicus, Gr. ’astronomiko•s: cf. F. astronomique.] Of or pertaining to astronomy; in accordance with the methods or principles of astronomy. — As•tro•nom´ic•al•ly, adv. Astronomical clock. See under Clock. - - Astronomical day. See under Day. — Astronomical fractions, Astronomical numbers. See under Sexagesimal.

Astronomy
As•tron´o•my, n. [OE. astronomie, F. astronomie, L. astronomia, fr. Gr., fr. astronomer; ’asth•r star + to distribute, regulate. See Star, and Nomad.]
1. Astrology. [Obs.]
"Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck; And yet methinks I have astronomy." - Shak.
2. The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena.
3. A treatise on, or text-book of, the science. Physical astronomy. See under Physical.

Astrophotometer
As•tro•pho•tom´e•ter, n. [Pref. astro- + photometer.] (Astron.) A photometer for measuring the brightness of stars.

Astrophotometry
As•tro•pho•tom´e•try, n. (Astron.) The determination of the brightness of stars, and also of the sun, moon, and planets. — As•tro•pho•to•met´ric•al (#), a.

Astrophysical
As•tro•phys´ic•al, a. Pertaining to the physics of astronomical science.

Astrophysics
As•tro•phys´ics, n. [ Astro- + physics.] (Astron.) The science treating of the physical characteristics of the stars and other heavenly bodies, their chemical constitution, light, heat, atmospheres, etc. Its observations are made with the spectroscope, bolometer, etc., usually in connection with the telescope.

Astrophyton
As•troph´y•ton, n. [ Astro- + Gr. fyton a plant.] (Zoöl.) A genus of ophiurans having the arms much branched.

Astroscope
As´tro•scope, n. [ Astro- + scope.] An old astronomical instrument, formed of two cones, on whose surface the constellations were delineated.

Astroscopy
As•tros´co•py, n. Observation of the stars. [Obs.]

Astrotheology
As•tro•the•ol´o•gy, n. [ Astro- + theology.] Theology founded on observation or knowledge of the celestial bodies. Derham.

Astructive
A•struc´tive, a. [L. astructus, p. p. of astruere to build up; a. + struere to build.] Building up; constructive; — opposed to destructive. [Obs.]

Astrut
A•strut´, a. & adv.
1. Sticking out, or puffed out; swelling; in a swelling manner. [Archaic]
"Inflated and astrut with self-conceit." - Cowper.
2. In a strutting manner; with a strutting gait.

Astucious
As•tu´cious, a. [F. astucieux. See Astute.] Subtle; cunning; astute. [R.] Sir W. Scott. — As•tu´cious•ly, adv. [R.]

Astute
As•tute´, a. [L. astutus, fr. astus craft, cunning; perh. cognate with E. acute.] Critically discerning; sagacious; shrewd; subtle; crafty.
Syn. — Keen; eagle-eyed; penetrating; skilled; discriminating; cunning; sagacious; subtle; wily; crafty. As•tute´ly, adv. — As•tute´ness, n.

Astylar
A•sty´lar, a. [Gr. ’a priv. + pillar.] (arch.) Without columns or pilasters. Weale.

Astyllen
A•styl´len, n. (Mining) A small dam to prevent free passage of water in an adit or level.

Asunder
A•sun´der, adv. [Pref. a. + sunder.] Apart; separate from each other; into parts; in two; separately; into or in different pieces or places.
"I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder." - Zech. xi. 10.
"As wide asunder as pole and pole." - Froude.

Asura
A•su´ra, n. (Hind. Myth.) An enemy of the gods, esp. one of a race of demons and giants.

Aswail
As´wail, n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) The sloth bear ( Melursus labiatus) of India.

Asweve
A•sweve´, v. t. [AS. aswebban; a + swebban. See Sweven.] To stupefy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Aswoon
A•swoon´, adv. In a swoon. Chaucer.

Aswooned
A•swooned´, adv. In a swoon.

Asylum
A•sy´lum, n. ; pl. E. Asylums, L. Asyla . [L. asylum, Gr., fr. exempt from spoliation, inviolable; ’a priv. + right of seizure.]
1. A sanctuary or place of refuge and protection, where criminals and debtors found shelter, and from which they could not be forcibly taken without sacrilege.
"So sacred was the church to some, that it had the right of an asylum or sanctuary." - Ayliffe.
The name was anciently given to temples, altars, statues of the gods, and the like. In later times Christian churches were regarded as asylums in the same sense.
2. Any place of retreat and security.
"Earth has no other asylum for them than its own cold bosom." - Southey.
3. An institution for the protection or relief of some class of destitute, unfortunate, or afflicted persons; as an asylum for the aged, for the blind, or for the insane; a lunatic asylum; an orphan asylum.

Asymmetral
A•sym´me•tral, a. Incommensurable; also unsymmetrical. [Obs.] D. H. More. { As•ym•met´ric, As•ym•met´ri•cal } a. [See Asymmetrous.]
1. Incommensurable. [Obs.]
2. Not symmetrical; wanting proportion; esp., not bilaterally symmetrical. Huxley.

Asymmetry
A•sym´me•try, n. [Gr. ; ’a priv. + symmetry.]
1. Want of symmetry, or proportion between the parts of a thing, esp. want of bilateral symmetry.
2. (Math.) Incommensurability. [Obs.] Barrow.