ASSIZE, as-s[=i]z', _v.t._ to assess: to set or fix the quantity or price.--_n._ a statute settling the weight, measure, or price of anything: (_Scot._) a trial by jury, the jury: judgment, sentence, the Last Judgment: (_pl._) the sessions or sittings of a court held periodically in English counties, at which causes are tried by judges of the High Court of Justice on circuit and a jury.--_n._ ASSIZ'ER, an officer who inspects weights and measures. [O. Fr. _assise_, an assembly of judges, a set rate--_asseoir_--L. _assid[=e]re_.]
ASSOCIATE, as-s[=o]'shi-[=a]t, _v.t._ to join with, as a friend or partner: to unite in the same body.--_v.i._ to keep company (_with_): to combine or unite.--_ns._ ASSOCIABIL'ITY, ASS[=O]'CIABLENESS.--_adjs._ ASS[=O]'CIABLE, that may be joined or associated: sociable: companionable; ASS[=O]'CIATE, joined or connected with.--_n._ one joined or connected with another: a companion, friend, partner, or ally.--_ns._ ASS[=O]'CIATESHIP, office of an associate; ASSOCI[=A]'TION, act of associating: union or combination: a society of persons joined together to promote some object.--_adj._ ASS[=O]'CI[=A]TIVE, tending to association.--ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL, the game as formulated by the Football Association (formed in 1863).--ASSOCIATION (OF IDEAS), applied to laws of mental combination which facilitate recollection: similarity: contiguity, repetition. [L. _associ[=a]tum_, _associ[=a]re_--_ad_, to _socius_, a companion.]
ASSOIL, as-soil', _v.t._ to loosen from: to absolve or acquit: to solve: (_Spens._) to remove, to let loose, to renew, to get rid of.--_n._ ASSOIL'MENT. [Through Fr. from L.--L. _ab_, from, _solv[)e]re_, to loose.]
ASSOIL, as-soil', _v.t._ to soil, stain, or make dirty. [L. _ad_, and SOIL.
See SOIL (2).]
ASSOILZIE, as-soil'y[=e], _v.i._ to free one accused from a charge: a Scots law term, the same as the archaic _assoil_, to absolve from sin, discharge, pardon. See ABSOLVITOR, under ABSOLVE. [Through Fr. from L.
_absolv[)e]re_.]
ASSONANCE, as'son-ans, _n._ a correspondence in sound: in Spanish and Portuguese poetry, a kind of rhyme, consisting in the coincidence of the vowels of the corresponding syllables, without regard to the consonants, as in _mate_ and _shape_, _feel_ and _need_.--_adjs._ AS'SSONANT, resembling in sound; AS'SONANTAL, AS'SONANTIC.--_v.t._ AS'SONATE, to correspond in sound. [Fr.--L. _asson[=a]re_, _as_ = _ad-_, to, _son[=a]re_, to sound.]
ASSORT, as-sort', _v.t._ to separate into classes: to arrange.--_v.i._ to agree or be in accordance with: to fall into a class with, suit well with: (_arch._) to keep company with.--_p.adj._ ASSORT'ED, classified, arranged in sorts.--_ns._ ASSORT'EDNESS; ASSORT'MENT, act of assorting: a quantity or number of things assorted: variety. [Fr. _assortir_--L. _ad_, to, _sors_, a lot.]
ASSOT, as-sot', _v.t._ (_Spens._) to besot, to infatuate.--_p.adj._ ASSOT', or ASSOT'TED (_Spens._), infatuated. [O. Fr. _asoter_--_a_, to, _sot_, foolish. See SOT.]
ASSUAGE, as-sw[=a]j', _v.t._ to soften, mitigate, or allay.--_v.i._ to abate or subside: to diminish.--_n._ ASSUAGE'MENT, abatement: mitigation.--_adj._ ASSU[=A]'SIVE, softening, mild. [O. Fr., formed as if from a L. _assuavi[=a]re_--_ad_, to, _suavis_, mild.]
ASSUBJUGATE, as-sub'j[=oo]-g[=a]t, _v.t._ (_Shak._) to reduce to subjugation.
ASSUEFACTION, as-w[=e]-fak'shun, _n._ (_Sir T. Browne_) the act of accustoming, habituation. [L. _assuefac[)e]re_--_assuetus_, accustomed, and _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
ASSUETUDE, as'w[=e]-t[=u]d, _n._ (_obs._) custom, habit. [L. _assuetus_.]
ASSUME, as-s[=u]m', _v.t._ to adopt, take in: to take up, to take upon one's self: to take for granted: to arrogate: to pretend to possess.--_v.i._ to claim unduly: to be arrogant.--_adjs._ ASSUM'ABLE, ASSUMP'TIVE, that may be assumed.--_adv._ ASSUM'ABLY, presumably.--_adj._ ASSUMED', appropriated, usurped: pretended: taken as the basis of argument.--_advs._ ASSUM'EDLY, ASSUM'INGLY.--_adj._ ASSUM'ING, haughty: arrogant. [L. _assum[)e]re_--_ad_, to, _sum[)e]re_, _sumptum_, to take.]
ASSUMPSIT, a-sump'sit, _n._ an action at law, wherein the plaintiff asserts that the defendant undertook (L. _assumpsit_) to do a certain act and failed to fulfil his promise: in the United States, the most common form of action.
ASSUMPTION, as-sum'shun, _n._ act of assuming: a supposition: the thing supposed, a proposition: (_logic_) the minor premise in a syllogism.--ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN, a church festival kept on the 15th of August, based on the notion that after the death of Mary, her soul and body were preserved from corruption and taken up to heaven by Christ and His angels.--DEED OF ASSUMPTION (_Scots law_), a deed executed by trustees under a trust-deed assuming a new trustee or settlement. [L. See ASSUME.]
ASSURE, a-sh[=oo]r', _v.t._ to make sure or secure: to give confidence: (_Shak._) to betroth: to tell positively: to insure.--_adj._ ASSUR'ABLE.--_n._ ASSUR'ANCE, confidence: feeling of certainty: self-reliance: impudence: positive declaration: insurance, as applied to lives: the securing of a title to property: (_theol._) subjective certainty of one's salvation: a solemn declaration or promise, a certain proof: surety, warrant.--_adj._ ASSURED', certain: without doubt: insured: overbold.--_adv._ ASSUR'EDLY.--_ns._ ASSUR'EDNESS; ASSUR'ER, one who gives assurance: an insurer or underwriter: one who insures his life. [O. Fr.
_aseurer_ (Fr. _assurer_)--Late L. _adsecur[=a]re_--_ad_, to, _securus_, safe. See SURE.]
ASSURGENT, as-ur'jent, _adj._ rising, ascending: (_bot._) rising in a curve to an erect position: (_her._) of a bearing depicted as rising from the sea.--_n._ ASSUR'GENCY, the tendency to rise.
ASSWAGE. A form of ASSUAGE.
ASSYRIAN, as-sir'i-an, _adj._ belonging to Assyria.--_n._ an inhabitant of Assyria: the language of Assyria.--_ns._ ASSYRIOL'OGIST; ASSYRIOL'OGY, the science of Assyrian antiquities. [Gr. _Assurios_--_Assuria_, Assyria.]
ASTARE, a-st[=a]r', _adv. phrase_, staring.
ASTART, a-start', _v.i._ (_Spens._) to start up suddenly: to happen, fall out.--_adv._ with a start, suddenly. [Pfx. _a-_, and START.]
ASTATIC, a-stat'ik, _adj._ having a tendency not to stand still: losing polarity, as a magnetic needle. [Gr. neg., _astatos_--_a_, neg., _statos_, verb. adj. of _histanai_, to stand.]
ASTAY, a-st[=a]', _adv._ applied to an anchor when, in lifting it, the cable forms such an angle with the surface of the water as to appear in a line with the stays of the ship. [Prep. _a_, on, and STAY.]
ASTER, as't[.e]r, _n._ a genus of plants of the natural order Compositae, with showy radiated flowers varying from white to lilac-blue or purple, mostly perennial, flowering in late summer and autumn, hence often called in England Michaelmas or Christmas daisies.--CHINA ASTER, the best-known and most valued of the family, brought from China to France by a missionary in the 18th century. [Gr. _ast[=e]r_, a star.]
ASTERIAS, as-t[=e]r'i-as, _n._ a genus of Echinoderms, containing the common five-rayed starfish. [Gr. _ast[=e]rias_, a fish--_ast[=e]r_, a star.]
ASTERISK, as't[.e]r-isk, _n._ a star, used in printing as a reference to a note at the bottom or on the margin of the page, and sometimes as a mark of the omission of words, thus *.--_n._ AS'TERISM, a group or collection of small stars: a constellation: three asterisks placed to direct attention to a passage: a property of some minerals which show a star-shaped luminous figure when viewed by reflected light--e.g. the asteriated sapphire. [Gr.
_asteriskos_, dim. of _aster_, a star.]
ASTERN, a-st[.e]rn', _adv._ in the stern: towards the hinder part of a ship: behind. [Prep. _a_, and STERN.]
ASTEROID, as't[.e]r-oid, _n._ one of the minor planetary bodies revolving between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.--_adj._ ASTEROID'AL. [Gr.
_ast[=e]r_, a star, _eidos_, form.]
ASTERT, a-st[.e]rt'. Same as ASTART.
ASTHENIA, as-th[=e]-n[=i]'a, _n._ debility, lack of strength.--_adj._ ASTHEN'IC [Gr. _a_, priv., and _sthenos_, strength.]
ASTHMA, ast'ma, _n._ a chronic disorder of the organs of respiration, characterised by the occurrence of paroxysms in which the breathing becomes difficult, and accompanied by wheezing and a distressing feeling of tightness in the chest.--_adjs._ ASTHMAT'IC, -AL, pertaining to or affected by asthma.--_adv._ ASTHMAT'ICALLY. [Gr. _asthma_, _asthmat-os_--_az-ein_, to breathe hard, _a-ein_, to blow.]
ASTIGMATISM, a-stig'ma-tizm, _n._ a defective condition of the eye, in which rays proceeding to the eye from one point are not correctly brought to a focus at _one_ point.--_adj._ ASTIGMAT'IC. [Gr. _a_, neg., and _stigma_, _stigmat-os_, a point.]
ASTIR, a-stir', _prep. phr._ or _adv._ on the move, out of bed, in motion or excitement. [Prep. _a_, and STIR.]
ASTOMATOUS, as-tom'a-tus, _adj._ having no mouth, used of a division of the protozoa.
ASTONISH, as-ton'ish, _v.t._ to impress with sudden surprise or wonder: to amaze: (_Shak._) to stun--older form ASTON'Y, whence the _p.adj._ ASTON'IED, dazed, bewildered, greatly astonished.--ASTON', ASTUN', ASTONED', ASTUNNED', are obsolete.--_p.adj._ ASTON'ISHED, amazed: (_obs._) stunned.--_adj._ ASTON'ISHING, very wonderful, amazing.--_adv._ ASTON'ISHINGLY.--_n._ ASTON'ISHMENT, amazement: wonder: a cause for astonishment. [From the earlier form, _Astone_; O. Fr. _estoner_; L.
_atton[=a]re_, to strike with a thunderbolt.]
ASTOUND, as-townd', _v.t._ to amaze, to strike dumb with astonishment:--_pa.p._ astound'ed; _pr.p._ astound'ing.--_pa.p._ ASTOUND'
(_arch._).--_p.adj._ ASTOUND'ING. [ASTOUND (adj.) is developed from ASTONED, hence the verb is a doublet of ASTONISH.]
ASTRADDLE, a-strad'dl, _adv._ sitting astride. [Prep. _a_, on, and STRADDLE.]
[Illustration]
ASTRAGAL, as'tra-gal, _n._ (_archit._) a small semicircular moulding or bead encircling a column: a round moulding near the mouth of a cannon: the bars which hold the panes of a window. [Gr. _astragalos_, one of the vertebrae, a moulding.]
ASTRAGALUS, as-trag'al-us, _n._ a bone of the foot, forming with the leg-bones the hinge of the ankle-joint, by a convex upper surface and smooth sides. [Gr.]
ASTRAKHAN, as'tra-kan, _n._ name given to lamb-skins with a curled wool obtained from _Astrakhan_ on the Caspian Sea: a rough fabric made in imitation of it.
ASTRAL, as'tral, _adj._ belonging to the stars: starry: in the science of Theosophy, descriptive of a supersensible substance supposed to pervade all space and enter into all bodies.--ASTRAL BODY, a living form composed of astral fluid, a ghost or wraith; ASTRAL SPIRITS, pervading spirits supposed to animate the heavenly bodies, forming, as it were, their souls--among the most potent of demoniacal spirits in medieval demonology. [L. _astralis_, _astrum_, a star.]
ASTRAND, a-strand', _adv._ stranded. [Prep. _a_, on, and STRAND.]
ASTRAY, a-str[=a]', _adv._ out of the right way. [Prep. _a_, on, and STRAY.]
ASTRICTION, as-trik'shun, _n._ a binding or contraction: restriction.--_v.t._ ASTRICT', to bind, restrict. [L. _astriction-em_, _astring[)e]re_. See ASTRINGENT.]
ASTRIDE, a-str[=i]d', _adv._ with the legs apart, or across. [Prep. _a_, on, and STRIDE.]
ASTRINGENT, as-trin'jent, _adj._ binding: contracting: strengthening.--_n._ a medicine that causes costiveness.--_v.t._ ASTRINGE', to bind together: to draw tight: hence to render constipated.--_n._ ASTRIN'GENCY.--_adv._ ASTRIN'GENTLY. [L. _astringent-em_, _astring[)e]re_--_ad_, to, _string[)e]re_, to bind.]