ASTROLABE, as'tr[=o]-l[=a]b, _n._ an instrument for measuring the altitudes of the sun or stars, now superseded by Hadley's quadrant and sextant. [Gr.; _astron_, a star, _labb-_, _lambano_, I take.]
ASTROLATRY, as-trol'a-tri, _n._ the worship of the stars. [Gr. _astron_, a star, _latreia_, worship.]
ASTROLOGY, as-trol'o-ji, _n._ the infant stage of the science of the stars, out of which grew _Astronomy_; it was occupied chiefly in determining from the positions and motions of the heavenly bodies their supposed influence on human and terrestrial affairs.--_n._ ASTROL'OGER, one versed in astrology.--_adjs._ ASTROLOG'IC, -AL.--_adv._ ASTROLOG'ICALLY. [Gr.
_astrologia_--_astron_, star, _logos_, knowledge.]
ASTRONOMY, as-tron'om-i, _n._ the laws or science of the stars or heavenly bodies.--_n._ ASTRON'OMER, one versed in astronomy.--_adj._ ASTRONOM'IC.--_adv._ ASTRONOM'ICALLY.--_v.t._ ASTRON'OMISE. [Gr.
_astronomia_--_astron_, star, _nomos_, a law.]
ASTROPHEL, as'tro-fel, _n._ a name applied by Spenser to some kind of bitter herb.
ASTRUT, a-strut', _adv._ in a strutting manner. [Prep. _a_, on, and STRUT.]
ASTUTE, ast-[=u]t', _adj._ crafty: cunning: shrewd: sagacious.--_adv._ ASTUTE'LY.--_n._ ASTUTE'NESS.--The _adj._ AST[=U]'CIOUS, _adv._ AST[=U]'CIOUSLY, and _n._ AST[=U]'CITY are all _rare_. [L.
_astutus_--_astus_, crafty, akin perhaps to ACUTE.]
ASTYLAR, a-st[=i]'lar, _adj._ without columns. [Gr. _a_, neg., _stylos_, a column.]
ASUDDEN, a-sud'en, _adv._ suddenly. [Prep. _a_, and SUDDEN.]
ASUNDER, a-sun'd[.e]r, _adv._ apart: into parts: separately. [Prep. _a_, and SUNDER.]
ASWARM, a-swarm', _adv._ swarming. [Prep. _a_, and SWARM.]
ASWAY, a-sw[=a]', _adv._ swaying.
ASWIM, a-swim', _adv._ afloat.
ASWING, a-swing', _adv._ swinging.
ASWOON, a-sw[=oo]n', _adv._ in a swoon.
ASYLUM, a-s[=i]l'um, _n._ a place of refuge for debtors and for such as were accused of some crime: an institution for the care or relief of the unfortunate, such as the blind or insane: any place of refuge or protection. [L.--Gr. _asylon_--_a_, neg., _syl[=e]_, right of seizure.]
ASYMMETRY, a-sim'e-tri, _n._ want of symmetry or proportion between parts.--_adjs._ ASYMMET'RIC, -AL.--_adv._ ASYMMET'RICALLY. [Gr. See SYMMETRY.]
ASYMPTOTE, a'sim-t[=o]t, _n._ (_math._) a line that continually approaches nearer to some curve without ever meeting it.--_adjs._ ASYMPTOT'IC, -AL.--_adv._ ASYMPTOT'ICALLY. [Gr. _asympt[=o]tos_, not coinciding--_a_, not, _syn_, with, _pt[=o]tos_, apt to fall, _pipt-ein_, to fall.]
ASYNARTETE, a-sin'ar-t[=e]t, _adj._ and _n._ not connected, consisting of two members having different rhythms; a verse of such a kind.--Also ASYN'ARTETIC. [Gr.; _a_, neg., _syn_, together, _arta-ein_, to knit.]
ASYNCHRONISM, a-sin'kro-nizm, _n._ want of synchronism or correspondence in time.--_adj._ ASYN'CHRONOUS.
ASYNDETON, a-sin'de-ton, _n._ (_rhet._) a figure in which the conjunctions are omitted, as in Matt. x. 8.--_adj._ ASYNDET'IC. [Gr.; _a_, neg., _syndetos_, bound together, _syn_, together, _dein_, to bind.]
ASYNTACTIC, as-in-tak'tik, _adj._ loosely put together, irregular, ungrammatical. [Gr.; _a_, neg., _syntaktos_, _syntass-ein_, to put in order together.]
ASYSTOLE, a-sis'to-l[=e], _n._ (_med._) the condition of a heart the left ventricle of which is unable to empty itself.--Also ASYS'TOLISM. [Made up of Gr. _a_, neg., _systol[=e]_, contraction.]
AT, at, _prep._ denoting presence, nearness, or relation. Often used elliptically, as in 'At him, good dog.' [A.S. _aet_; cog. with Goth, and Ice. _at_, L. _ad_; Sans. _adhi_, on.]
ATABAL, at'a-bal, _n._ a Moorish kettledrum. [Sp.--Ar. _at-tabl_, the drum.]
ATAGHAN. Same as YATAGHAN.
ATAVISM, at'av-izm, _n._ frequent appearance of ancestral, but not parental, characteristics in an animal or plant: reversion to an original type.--_adj._ AT'AVISTIC. [L. _atavus_--_avus_, a grandfather.]
ATAXIA, at-ak'si-a, ATAXY, a-tax'i, or at'ax-i, _n._ (_med._) irregularity of the functions of the body through disease, esp. inability to co-ordinate voluntary movements, as in _locomotor ataxy_. [Gr.; _a_, neg., _taktos_, _tassein_, to arrange.]
ATE, et, or [=a]t, _pa.t._ of EAT.
ATE, [=a]'t[=e], _n._ (_myth._) the goddess of mischief and of all rash actions and their results. [Gr.]
ATELIER, at-el-y[=a]', _n._ a workshop, esp. an artist's studio. [Fr.]
ATHANASIA, ath-a-n[=a]'si-a, _n._ deathlessness.--Also ATHAN'ASY. [Gr.; _athanatos_, _a_, neg., _thanatos_, death.]
ATHANASIAN, ath-a-n[=a]z'yan, _adj._ relating to _Athanasius_ (296-373), or to the creed erroneously attributed to him.
ATHANOR, ath'a-nor, _n._ a self-feeding digesting furnace, used by the alchemists, in which a uniform heat was maintained. [Ar. _at-tannur_, _at_ = _al_, the _n[=u]r_, fire.]
ATHEISM, [=a]'the-izm, _n._ disbelief in the existence of God.--_v.i._ and _v.t._ A'THEISE, to talk or write as an atheist.--_n._ A'THEIST, one who disbelieves in the existence of God.--_adjs._ ATHEIST'IC, -AL.--_adv._ ATHEIST'ICALLY.--_adj._ A'THEOUS (_Milton_), atheistic. [Fr.
_atheisme_--Gr. _a_, neg., and _theos_, God.]
ATHELING, ath'el-ing, _n._ a member of a noble family, latterly a prince of the blood royal, or the heir-apparent. [A.S. _aetheling_; Ger. _adel_.]
ATHENaeUM, ATHENEUM, ath-e-n[=e]'um, _n._ a temple of Ath[=e]na or Minerva at Athens, in which scholars and poets read their works: a public institution for lectures, reading, &c. [Gr. _Ath[=e]naion_--_Ath[=e]na_ or _Ath[=e]n[=e]_, the goddess Minerva.]
ATHENIAN, a-th[=e]'ni-an, _adj._ relating to Athens, the capital of Greece.--_n._ a native of Athens.
ATHEOLOGY, a-th[=e]-ol'oj-i, _n._ opposition to theology.--_adj._ ATHEOLOG'ICAL. [Gr. _atheos_, without God, _logia_, discourse.]
ATHERINE, ath'er-[=i]n, _n._ a genus of small fishes, allied to the Gray Mullet family, abundant in the Mediterranean--one species (_Atherina presbyter_), found on the south coast of England, is often sold as a smelt.
[Gr.]
ATHERMANCY, ath-er'man-si, _n._ the property of stopping radiant heat.--_adj._ ATHER'MANOUS. [Gr. _a_, neg., _thermain-ein_, to heat.]
ATHEROMA, ath'er-[=o]-ma, _n._ a name formerly applied to cysts on the scalp, with contents of the consistence of porridge, but now only used of a common form of inflammation of arteries.--_adj._ ATHEROM'ATOUS. [Gr.; _athar[=e]_, porridge.]
ATHIRST, a-th[.e]rst', _adj._ thirsty: eager for. [A.S. _of thyrst_. See THIRST.]
ATHLETE, ath'l[=e]t, _n._ a contender for victory in feats of strength: one vigorous in body or mind. The form ATHL[=E]'TA survived till the later half of the 18th century.--_adj._ ATHLET'IC, relating to athletics: strong, vigorous.--_adv._ ATHLET'ICALLY.--_n._ ATHLETICISM (ath-let'i-sizm), the act of engaging in athletic exercises: devotion to athletics.--_n.pl._ ATHLET'ICS, the art of wrestling, running, &c.: athletic sports. [Gr.
_athl[=e]t[=e]s_--_athlos_, contest.]
ATHRILL, a-thril', _adv._ thrilling.
ATHROB, a-throb', _adv._ throbbing.
ATHWART, a-thwawrt', _prep._ across.--_adv._ sidewise: wrongly: perplexingly. [Prep. _a_, on, and THWART.]