Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
As'tral, a. p. 86Belonging to, or resembling, the stars; starry. “Shines only with an astral luster.” I. Taylor. Some astral forms I must invoke by prayer. DrydenĂs'tral Lăm'p p. 86An Argand lamp, in which the oil is contained in a flattened ring, surmounted by a ground glass shade, the whole so arranged as to throw a strong and uninterrupted light on the table below.A-strāy', adv. p. 86Out of the right way or proper place, both in a literal and a figurative sense. Like one that had been led astray Through the heaven's wide, pathless way. Milton. Before I was afflicted, I went…As-trict′, v. t. p. 86To bind fast; to confine. [Rare.] Hall. 2. To constrict; to contract. “The solid parts were to be relaxed or astricted.” Arbuthnot. 3. (Scots Law.) To restrict the tenure of;—applied to lands, which…As-trĭct′, a. p. 86Compendious; contracted. [Obs.] Weever.As-tric'tion, n. p. 86The act of binding fast to something else. Of marriage he is the author and the witness; yet hence will not follow any divine astriction more than what is subordinate to the glory of God and the main…As-trict'ive, a. p. 86Binding; constricting; styptic; astringent. [Obs.] Holland.As-trict'o-ry, a. p. 86Astringent; binding; apt to bind. [Obs.] Bailey.A-stride', adv. p. 86With one leg on each side; with the legs apart. Placed astride upon the bars of the palisade. W. Scott.As-trĭf'er-oŭs, a. p. 86Bearing or containing stars; astriferous. [Rare.] Blount.As-trĭg’er-oŭs, a. p. 86Bearing stars. [Obs.]As-trīn'ge', v. t. p. 86To 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.…As-trĭn'ġen-çy, n. p. 86The quality of being astringent; the power of contracting the parts of the body; that quality in medicines which causes vital contraction of the soft solids; as, the astringency of opium.As-trĭn'ġent, a. p. 86Binding; contracting; strengthening; — opposed to laxative: as, astringent medicines.As-trĭn'ġent, n. p. 86A medicine that has the property of causing vital contraction in the organic textures.As-trĭn'ġent-ly, adv. p. 86In an astringent manner.As-trín'ger, n. p. 86A falconer who keeps a goshawk. [Obs.] [Written also austringer.] Shak. Cowell.Ăs'trīte, n. p. 86The star-stone. [Written also astroite and asterite.] See STAR-STONE.Ăs'tro-fel or Ăs'tro-fell, n. p. 86A kind of bitter herb; probably the same as the aster, or star-wort. Spenser.As-trŏg'no-sy, n. p. 86The science of the stars in respect to their magnitudes, appearance, &c. Bouvier.Ăs'tro-lābe, n. p. 86(Astron.) An instrument for observing the positions of the stars, now disused. ☞ Among the ancients, it was essentially the armillary sphere. A graduated ring with sights, for-taking altitudes at…As-trōl'a-try, n. p. 86The worship of the stars. [Obs.] Cudworth.Ăs'tro-li-thŏl'o-gy, n. p. 86The science of aërolites. Dana.As-trōl'o-ger, n. p. 87One versed in, or who practices, astrology; one who professes to foretell future events by the aspects and situation of the stars. Astrologers that future fates foreshow. Pope.Ăs'tro-lō'gi-an, n. p. 87An astrologer. [Obs.]As'tro-lŏg'ic or As'tro-lŏg'ic-al, a. p. 87Pertaining to astrology; professing or practicing astrology. “Astrologic learning.” Hudibras. “Astrological prognostication.” Cudworth.Ăs'tro-lŏg'ie-al-ly, adv. p. 87In the manner of astrology.As-trōl'o-gīze, v. i. p. 87To practice astrology.As-trŏl'o-gy, n. p. 87In 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, and of foretelling future…As-trōm'e-ter, n. p. 87(Astron.) (a.) An instrument for comparing the light of stars in respect to intensity. (b.) One who measures the light of the stars.As-trŏm'e-try, n. p. 87(Astron.) The art of making measurements among the stars, or of determining their relative magnitudes.As-trōn'o-mer, n. p. 87An astrologer. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. 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…Ăs'tro-nō'mi-an, n. p. 87An astronomer; a magician. [Obs.] Wycliffe.As'tro-nŏm'ic or As'tro-nŏm'ic-al, a. p. 87Pertaining to astronomy.As'tro-nŏm'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 87In an astronomical manner; by the principles of astronomy.As-trŏn'o-mīze, v. i. p. 87To study astronomy. [Rare.] “They astronomized in caves.” Browne.As-trŏn'o-my, n. p. 87Formerly, the same as astrology. Not from the stars do I my judgments pluck; And yet methinks I have astronomy. Shak. 2. The science which treats of the celestial bodies, their magnitudes, motions…As'tro-scōpe, n. p. 87An astronomical instrument, composed of two cones, on whose surface the constellations, with their stars, are delineated, and by means of which the stars may be known;—an imperfect substitute for the…As-trŏs'eo-py, n. p. 87Observation of the stars. [Obs.]As'tro-the-ŏl'o-gy, n. p. 87Natural theology founded on the observation of the celestial bodies. Derham.A-strŭct'ive, a. p. 87Building up; erecting;—opposed to destructive. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.A-strūt', adv. p. 87In a strutting manner. Inflated and astrut with self-conceit. Cowper.A-stūn’, v. t. p. 87To stun. [Obs.] “Breathless and astunned.” Somerville.As-tŭ'ri-an, n. p. 87(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Asturias, an ancient division of Spain.As-tū'ri-an, a. p. 87(Geog.) Pertaining to Asturias, or to its inhabitants.As·tūte', a. p. 87Critically examining or discerning; subtle; cunning. Syn. — Shrewd; keen; eagle-eyed; penetrating; cunning; sagacious; subtle; wily; crafty.As-tūte'ly, adv. p. 87Shrewdly; sharply; subtilely.As-tūte'ness, n. p. 87Shrewdness; cunning.A-sty'lar, a. p. 87(Arch.) Without columns or pilasters. Weale.A-sŭn'der, adv. p. 87Apart; into parts; separately. I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder. Zech. xi. 10.A-swōon', adv. p. 87In a swoon. [Obs.] Gower.A-sȳ'lum, n. p. 87A sanctuary or place of refuge and protection, where criminals and debtors found shelter, and from which they could not be taken without sacrilege. In later times Christian churches were regarded as…A-sym'me-tral or A-sym-mēt'ri-cal, a. p. 87Not having symmetry or commensurability. [Rare.] Cudworth.A-sym'me-trōus, a. p. 87Asymmetrical; incommensurable. [Obs.] Barrow.A-sy̆m'me-try, n. p. 87The want of proportion between the parts of a thing. 2. (Math.) Incommensurability; the want of a common measure between two quantities. Barrow.Ăs′ymp-tōte, n. p. 87A line which approaches nearer and nearer to some curve; but, though infinitely extended, would never meet it. This may be conceived as a tangent to a curve at an infinite distance.As'ymp-tŏt'ic or As'ymp-tŏt'ic-al, a. p. 87Pertaining to, or partaking of the nature of, an asymptote; as, asymptotical lines or surfaces.A-sÿn'ar-tēte, a. p. 87Disconnected; not fitted or adjusted. Asynartete sentences, those of which the members are not united by connective particles; as, I came, I saw, I conquered. Brande.—Asynartete verse (Pros.), a…Ăs'yn-dĕt'ic, a. p. 87Pertaining to, or distinguished by the use of, asyndeton, or the omission of conjunctions.A-sýn'de-ton, n. p. 87(Rhet.) A figure which omits the connective; as, veni, vidi, vici. It stands opposed to polysyndeton, which is a multiplication of connectives. Campbell.