Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)

AGRESTIC, a-gres'tik, adj. pertaining to the fields: rural: unpolished. [L. _agrestis_--_ager_, a field.]

AGRICULTURE, ag'ri-kult-[=u]r, n. the art or practice of cultivating the land.--_adj._ AGRICULT'URAL, relating to agriculture.--_n._ AGRICULT'URIST, one skilled in agriculture: a farmer--also AGRICULT'URALIST. [L. _agricultura_--_ager_, a field, cultura, cultivation. See CULTURE.]

AGRIMONY, ag'ri-mun-i, n. a genus of plants of the rose-group, with small yellow flowers and bitter taste. [L. agrimonia, for argemonia, Gr. argem[=o]n[=e].]

AGRIN, a-grin', adv. on the grin.

AGRISE, a-gr[=i]z', v.t. (obs.) to terrify, to make frightful. [A.S. [=a]gr[=i]san, to dread.]

AGRONOMIAL, ag-r[=o]-n[=o]'mi-al, adj. relating to the management of farms--also AGRONOM'IC.--_n._ AGRON'OMY, agricultural pursuits. [Gr. agronomos; agros, a field, nemein, to deal out.]

AGROUND, a-grownd', adv. stranded.

AGUARDIENTE, a-gwär-di-[.e]n't[.e], n. a kind of grape-brandy made in Spain and Portugal: any spirituous liquor, applied even to Mexican pulque. [Sp., from agua ardiente, burning water; _agua_--L. aqua; ardiente, _arder_--L. ard[=e]re, to burn.]

AGUE, [=a]'g[=u], n. a fever coming in periodical fits, accompanied with shivering: chilliness: quaking.--_adj._ A'GUED, struck with ague: shivering: cold; A'GUISH. [O. Fr. aigue (Fr. aigu, sharp)--L. acutus. See ACUTE.]

AGUERRIED, a-ger'id, adj. inured to war, or instructed in it. [Fr. aguerrir, to make warlike; _à_--Lat. ad, to, and guerre, war.]

AGUISE, a-g[=i]z', v.t. (Spens.) to dress, to adorn. [Pfx. a-, and GUISE.]

AH, ä, interj. an exclamation of surprise, joy, pity, complaint, &c.

AHA, ä-hä', interj. an exclamation of exultation, pleasure, surprise, or contempt.

AHEAD, a-hed', adv. farther on: in advance: headlong, as in the phrase 'to go ahead.'

AHEAP, a-h[=e]p', adv. in a heap: in a state of collapse through terror or astonishment.

AHEIGHT, a-h[=i]t', adv. (arch.) on high, aloft.

AHEM, a-hem', interj. a lengthened form of HEM.

AHITHOPHEL. See ACHITOPHEL.

AHIGH, a-h[=i]', adv. an obsolete form of ON HIGH.

AHOLD, a-h[=o]ld', adv. (Shak.) near the wind, so as to keep clear of the land.

AHORSEBACK, a-hors'bak, adv. on horseback.

AHOY, a-hoi', interj. a nautical term used in hailing. [Form of interj. HOY.]

AHULL, a-hul', adv. (naut.) with sails furled, and helm lashed to the lee-side, driving before the wind, stern foremost.

AHUNGERED, a-hung'g[.e]rd, adj. oppressed with hunger. [Erroneously written AN HUNGERED, as in Bible.]

AIBLINS, [=a]b'linz, adv. (Scot.) perhaps, possibly. [See ABLE.]

AID, [=a]d, v.t. to help, assist.--_n._ help: assistance, as in defending an action: an auxiliary: subsidy or money grant to the king.--_n._ AID'ANCE, aid, help, support.--_adj._ AID'ANT, (arch.) aiding, helping.--_n._ AID'ER, one who brings aid: a helper.--_adjs._ AID'FUL; AID'LESS.--COURT OF AIDS, the court that supervised the customs duties. [O. Fr. _aider_--L. _adjut[=a]re_--_ad_, and juv[=a]re, jutum, to help.]

AIDE-DE-CAMP, [=a]d'-de-kong, n. an officer who carries the orders of a general on the field, and brings him intelligence:--_pl._ AIDES'-DE-CAMP. [Fr., assistant on the field.]

AIERY, a variant of AERIE.

AIGRETTE, [=a]'gret, n. (zool.) a small white heron: (bot.) the down attached to vegetable seeds, as in the thistle: a plume composed of feathers, or of precious stones, like a heron's crest. [Fr. aigrette.]

AIGUILLE, [=a]-gw[=e]l', n. a sharp, needle-like peak of rock, applied esp. to many of the peaks near Mont Blanc: a slender boring-drill for blasting. [Fr. See AGLET.]

AIGUILLETTE. See AGLET.

AIL, [=a]l, v.i. to feel pain: to be in trouble.--_v.t._ to trouble, afflict--_obs._ except in impers. phrase 'What ails you?'--_n._ trouble: indisposition.--_n._ AIL'MENT, pain: indisposition: disease. [A.S. eglan, to pain. See AWE.]

AILANTO, [=e]l-an'to, n. a lofty and beautiful tree, native to South-eastern Asia, but grown to shade public walks in France and Italy. Its leaves give food to a species of silkworm--it is sometimes called the Vernis du Japon, or Japan Varnish, apparently by confusion with certain species of Rhus.--Also AILAN'TUS. [Native Amboyna name, meaning 'tree of the gods.']

AILETTE, [=a]l-let', n. an iron plate once worn by men-at-arms for defence on the shoulder. [Fr., dim. of _aille_--L. ala, a wing.]

AIM, [=a]m, v.i. to point at with a weapon: to direct the intention or endeavour (at): (obs.) to conjecture.--_v.t._ to point, as a weapon or firearm.--_n._ the pointing of a weapon: the thing pointed at: design: intention.--_adj._ AIM'LESS, without aim.--_adv._ AIM'LESSLY.--_n._ AIM'WORTHINESS, good aim.--TO CRY AIM, in old writers, to encourage archers when shooting by crying 'aim,' hence to applaud or encourage. [O. Fr. esmer, to reckon--L. æstim[=a]re, to estimate. See ESTIMATE.]

AIN'T, [=a]nt, a colloquial contracted form of _are not_--also AN'T = aren't, are not.--AN'T (Shak.) occurs as a variant of on't = on it, of it.

AIR, [=a]r, n. the fluid we breathe: the atmosphere: any special condition of atmosphere, as in 'the night-_air_,' 'to take the air:' a light breeze: publicity: the bearing of a person: outward appearance, manner, look: an assumed or affected manner: (mus.) a rhythmical melody: a song, also specially a sprightly song: the soprano part in a harmonised composition, being that which gives it its character: (pl.) affectation.--_v.t._ to expose to the air: to dry: to expose to warm air: (obs.) to take an airing.--_ns._ AIR'-BATH, an arrangement for drying substances in air of any desired temperature; AIR'-BED, a bed for the sick, inflated with air; AIR'-BLAD'DER, in some fishes, an organ containing air, by which they maintain their equilibrium in the water; AIR'-BRAKE, a railway brake worked by compressed air.--_adj._ AIR'-BUILT, built in air: having no solid foundation.--_ns._ AIR'-CELL, a cavity containing air; AIR'-CUSH'ION, an air-tight cushion, which can be inflated; AIR'-DRAIN, an ample space at the foot of foundation walls, for the sake of dryness.--_adj._ AIR'DRAWN, drawn in air: visionary: (Shak.) imaginary.--_ns._ AIR'-EN'GINE, an engine put in motion by air expanded by heat; AIR'-GAS, illuminating gas made by charging atmospheric air with vapour of petroleum or other hydrocarbon; AIR'-GUN, a gun which discharges bullets by means of compressed air.--_adv._ AIR'ILY, gaily.--_ns._ AIR'INESS, state of being airy; openness: liveliness; AIR'ING, exposure to the air or fire: a short excursion in the open air; AIR'-JACK'ET, a jacket with air-tight cavities, which being inflated renders a person buoyant in water.--_adj._ AIR'LESS, void of air: not having free communication with the open air.--_ns._ AIR'-LOCK, a small chamber for the entrance and exit of men and materials, at the top of the caisson or hollow cylinder used for founding the piers of bridges under water; AIR'-PUMP, an instrument for pumping the air out of a vessel; AIR'-SAC, an air-cell or air-space, esp. in the bones of birds; AIR'-SHAFT, a passage for air into a mine; AIR'-SHIP, a navigable balloon; AIR'-SPACE, the cubic content of a room, hospital-ward, or the like, with reference to the respirable air contained in it.--_adj._ AIR'-TIGHT, so tight as not to admit air.--_n._ AIR'-VES'SEL, a vessel or tube containing air.--_adv._ AIR'WARDS, up in the air.--_adj._ AIR'Y, consisting of or relating to air: open to the air: like air: unsubstantial: light of heart: sprightly.--TO TAKE AIR, to get wind, to become publicly known. [Fr.--L. _aër_--Gr.]

AIRLING, [=a]r'ling, n. (obs.) a thoughtless, gay person.

AIRT, [=a]rt, n. (Scot.) direction, quarter. [Gael. aird, àrd; Ir. ard.]

AISLE, [=i]l, n. any lateral division of any part of a church, whether of nave, choir, or transept. The word is often erroneously applied to the passage in a church between the pews or seats.--_adj._ AISLED, ([=i]ld), having aisles. [O. Fr. ele, aisle (Fr. aile)--L. axilla, ala, a wing.]