_accus[=a]re_--_ad_, to, _causa_, cause.]
ACCUSTOM, ak-kus'tum, _v.t._ to make familiar by custom: to habituate (with _to_).--_adj._ ACCUS'TOMARY.--_p.adj._ ACCUS'TOMED, usual: frequent: habituated.--_n._ ACCUS'TOMEDNESS. [O. Fr. _acostumer_ (Fr.
_accoutumer_)--_a_, to, _costume_, _coustume_--L. _consuetudinem_. See CUSTOM.]
ACE, [=a]s, _n._ the one at dice, also at cards, dominoes, &c.: a single point, an atom. [Fr.--L. _as_, unity--_as_, Tarentine Doric form of Gr.
_heis_, one.]
ACELDAMA, a-sel'da-ma, _n._ a field of blood--the name given to the field outside Jerusalem bought with the blood-money of Jesus. [Gr.--Aramaic.]
ACEPHALAN, a-sef'a-lan, _n._ (_zool._) one of the Acephala, a class of molluscs, which present no traces of a head.--_adj._ ACEPH'ALOUS, without a head. [Gr. _a_, neg., _kephal[=e]_, the head.]
ACERBITY, as-[.e]r'bi-ti, _n._ bitterness: sourness: harshness: severity.--_adj._ ACERB'. [Fr.,--L. _acerbitat-em_--L. _acerbus_, harsh to the taste--_acer_, sharp.]
ACERIC, a-ser'ik, _adj._ obtained from the maple. [From L. _acer_, a maple-tree.]
ACETABULUM, as-[=e]-tab'[=u]-lum, _n._ (_anat._) the cavity which receives the head of the thigh-bone: also a glandular substance found in the placenta of some animals:--_pl._ ACETAB'ULA. [L., a cup-shaped vessel.]
ACETIC, as-et'ik, _adj._ of the nature of vinegar: sour--also AC[=E]'TOUS, ACETOSE'.--_n._ ACES'CENCE, a tendency to sourness.--_adj._ ACES'CENT.--_n._ AC'ETATE, salt of acetic acid which is the sour principle in vinegar. [L. _acetum_, vinegar--_ac-[=e]re_, to be sour.]
ACETIFY, as-et'i-f[=i], _v.t._ or _v.i._ to turn into vinegar.--_n._ ACETIFIC[=A]'TION. [L. _acetum_, vinegar, and _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
ACETOPATHY, as-et-op'a-thi, _n._ the treating of ailments by the external application of dilute acetic acid. [L. _ac[=e]tum_, acid, and Gr. _pathos_, feeling.]
ACETYLENE, a-set'i-l[=e]n, _n._ a powerful illuminant gas (C_2H_2) produced commercially from carbide of calcium by means of water.
ACHaeAN. See ACHEAN.
ACHARNEMENT, a-sharn'ment (sometimes nasalised as in French), _n._ thirst for blood, ferocity. [Fr. _acharner_, refl. _sacharner_, to thirst for blood.]
ACHATES, a-k[=a]ts', _n.pl._ (_Spens._). Same as CATES.
ACHATES, a-k[=a]'tes, _n._ trusty comrade, from the 'fidus Achates' of Virgil's _aeneid_--the constant companion of aeneas in his wanderings after the fall of Troy.
ACHE, [=a]k, _n._ a continued pain.--_v.i._ to be in continued pain:--_pr.p._ [=a]ch'ing; _pa.p._ [=a]ched.--_n._ ACH'ING, continued pain or distress. [The verb is properly _ake_, the noun _ache_, as in _speak_ and _speech_. The A.S. noun _aece_ is from the verb _ac-an_, to ache.]
ACHENIUM, a-k[=e]'ni-um, _n._ (_bot._) a small hard one-seeded fruit, which does not open when ripe, as in the buttercup.--Also ACHENE'. [From Gr. _a_, neg., and _chainein_, to gape.]
ACHERON, ak'k[.e]r-on, _n._ death, hell--from the name of that river in the infernal regions of classical mythology.--_adj._ ACHERON'TIC, deadly.
ACHIEVE, a-ch[=e]v', _v.t._ to bring to a head or end: to perform: to accomplish: to carry out successfully: to gain, win.--_adj._ ACHIEV'ABLE, that may be achieved.--_n._ ACHIEVE'MENT, a performance: an exploit: an escutcheon or armorial shield granted in memory of some achievement, applied especially to the escutcheon over the tomb of a dead person, generally called a _hatchment_. [Fr. _achever_, from _a chief (venir)_--Low L. _ad caput venire_, to come to a head. See CHIEF.]
ACHILLEAN, ak-il-l[=e]'an, _adj._ like Achilles, the great Greek hero in the Trojan war, brave, swift of foot, unrelenting in wrath.--ACHILLES TENDON, the attachment of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles of the calf of the leg to the heel-bone, so named from the infant Achilles's mother, Thetis, having held him by the heel when she dipped him into the Styx to make him invulnerable.
ACHITOPHEL, a-hit'[=o]-fel, _n._ an able but unprincipled counsellor, from the name of David's sage counsellor who treacherously abetted the rebellion of Absalom. Dryden in his famous satire applied the name to Shaftesbury.--Also AHITH'OPHEL.
ACHROMATIC, a-kr[=o]m-at'ik, _adj._ transmitting light without colour, of a lens or telescope.--_adv._ ACHROMAT'ICALLY.--_n._ ACHROM'ATISM, the state of being achromatic.--_v.t._ ACHROM'ATIZE, to render achromatic. [Gr. _a_, neg., and _chr[=o]ma_, _chromatos_, colour.]
ACICULAR, as-ik'[=u]-lar, _adj._ needle-shaped; slender and sharp-pointed.--Also ACIC'ULATE, ACIC'ULATED. [L. _acicula_, dim. of _acus_, a needle.]
ACID, as'id, _adj._ sharp: sour.--_n._ a sour substance: (_chem._) one of a class of substances, usually sour, which turn vegetable blues to red, and combine with alkalies, metallic oxides, &c. to form salts.--_adj._ ACID'IFIABLE, capable of being converted into an acid.--_ns._ ACIDIFIC[=A]'TION; ACID'ITY, the quality of being acid or sour--also AC'IDNESS.--_v.t._ ACID'ULATE, to make slightly acid. [L. _ac-[=e]re_, to be sour--root _ak_, sharp.]
ACIDIFY, as-id'i-f[=i], _v.t._ to make acid: to convert into an acid:--_pr.p._ acid'ifying; _pa.p._ acid'ified. [L. _acidus_, sour, and _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
ACIDIMETER, as-id-im'e-t[.e]r, _n._ an instrument for measuring the strength of acids.--_n._ ACIDIM'ETRY, the act of such measurement. [ACID and METER.]
ACIDULOUS, as-id'[=u]-lus, _adj._ slightly sour: subacid: containing carbonic acid, as mineral waters: (_fig._) caustic, sharp. [L. _acidulus_, dim. of _acidus_, sour. See ACID.]
ACIERAGE, [=a]'s[=e]-[.e]r-[=a]j, _n._ the covering of an engraved copper-plate with a film of iron to ensure durability. [Fr. _acier_, steel--L. _acies_, a sharp point, and _-age_.]
ACIFORM, as'i-form, _adj._ needle-shaped. [L. _acus_, a needle, and FORM, from _forma_, shape.]
ACINIFORM, a-sin'i-form, _adj._ in clusters like grapes, or having the form of grapes. [L. _acinus_, a grape.]
ACKNOW, ak-n[=o]', _v.t._ (_obs._) to know, to recognise.--_adj._ ACKNOWN (_Shak._), known or acquainted. [A.S. _on_, in, on, _cnawan_, to KNOW.]
ACKNOWLEDGE, ak-nol'ej, _v.t._ to own a knowledge of: to own as true: to confess: to admit or give intimation of the receipt of.--_adj._ ACKNOW'LEDGEABLE.--_adv._ ACKNOW'LEDGEABLY.--_n._ ACKNOWLEDGMENT, recognition: admission: confession: thanks: a receipt. [From the _v._ ACKNOW, with suffix _-ledge_.]
ACLINIC, ak-lin'ik, _adj._ without inclination, applied to the magnetic equator, which cuts the terrestrial equator, inasmuch as on that line the magnetic needle has no dip, but lies horizontal. [Gr. _aklin[=e]s_--_a_, neg., _klin-ein_, to bend.]
ACME, ak'm[=e], _n._ the top or highest point: the culmination or perfection in the career of anything: crisis, as of a disease.--ACME SKATES, the name given to a kind of skates, formed of steel, fixed to the boot by a mechanical device, permitting them to be quickly fixed on or taken off. [Gr. _akm[=e]_--_ak[=e]_, a point.]
ACNE, ak'n[=e], _n._ a common skin disease, an inflammation of the sebaceous follicles of the skin, often occurring on the nose. [A corr. of Gr. _akm[=e]_, a point.]
ACOCK, a-kok', _adv._ in a cocked manner: defiantly.--A COCK-BILL (_naut._), having the ends pointing upward, as of an anchor hanging by its ring at the cat-head, in a position for dropping; or of the yards when topped up by one lift to an angle with the deck--the symbol of mourning.
[Prep. _a_, and COCK.]
ACOEMETI, a-sem'[=e]-t[=i], _n.pl._ a congregation of monks founded in 460 near Constantinople, who by alternating choirs kept divine service going on day and night without intermission in their monastery. [Gr. _akoimetoi_, sleepless, _a_, neg., and _koimaein_, to put to sleep.]
ACOLD, a-k[=o]ld', _adj._ (_arch._) cold. [A.S. _acoled_, pa.p. of _acolian_; pfx. _a-_, intens., and _colian_, to COOL.]
ACOLYTE, ak'o-l[=i]t, ACOLYTH, ak'o-lith, _n._ an inferior church officer: an attendant or assistant: (_R. C. Church_) one ordained to the fourth of the minor orders, next to the sub-deacon. [Gr. _akolouthos_, an attendant.]
ACONITE, ak'o-n[=i]t, _n._ the plant wolf's-bane or monk's-hood: poison.--_adj._ ACONIT'IC.--_n._ ACON'ITINE, the essential principle of aconite. [L. _aconitum_--Gr. _akoniton_.]
ACOP, a-kop', _adv._ (_obs._) on the top or head: on high. [Prep. _a_, and A.S. _cop_, _copp_, summit.]
ACORN, [=a]'korn, _n._ the seed or fruit of the oak.--_adj._ A'CORNED.--_n._ A'CORN-SHELL, a name for the Bal[)a]nus (L., acorn), a genus of Cirripedes in the class Crustacea. [A.S. _aecern_, prob. from _aecer_, field, hence meaning 'the fruit of the unenclosed land.' The modern form is due to confusion with _oak_ (A.S. _ac_) and _corn_.]
ACOSMISM, a-koz'mizm, _n._ refusal to believe in the existence of an eternal world. [Gr., _a_, neg., and _kosmos_, the world.]
ACOTYLEDON, a-kot-i-l[=e]'dun, _n._ a plant without distinct cotyledons or seed-lobes.--_adj._ ACOTYL[=E]'DONOUS. [Gr. _a_, neg., and _kotyl[=e]d[=o]n_. See COTYLEDON.]
ACOUSTIC, a-kowst'ik, _adj._ pertaining to the sense of hearing or to the theory of sounds: used in hearing, auditory.--_n._ ACOUST'ICS, the science of sound. [Fr.--Gr. _akoustikos_--_akouein_, to hear.]
ACOY. Same as ACCOY.
ACQUAINT, ak-kw[=a]nt', _v.t._ to make or let one to know: to inform a person of a thing (_with_): to inform (with personal object only).--_ns._ ACQUAINT'ANCE, familiar knowledge: a person whom we know; ACQUAINT'ANCESHIP, familiar knowledge.--_p.adj._ ACQUAINT'ED (_with_), personally known: having personal knowledge of. [O. Fr. _acointer_--Low L.
_accognit[=a]re_--L. _ad_, to, _cognitus_, known.]