Webster's Dictionary, 1913
Alcoranist noun One who adheres to the letter of the Koran, rejecting all traditions.
Alcornoque noun [ Spanish , cork tree.] The bark of several trees, esp. of Bowdichia virgilioides of Brazil, used as a remedy for consumption; of Byrsonima crassifolia , used in tanning; of Alchornea latifolia , used medicinally; or of Quercus ilex , the cork tree.
[ French alcôve
, Spanish or Portuguese alcoba
, from Arabic al-quobbah
arch, vault, tent.] 1. (Architecture) A recessed portion of a room, or a small room opening into a larger one; especially, a recess to contain a bed; a lateral recess in a library. 2. A small ornamental building with seats, or an arched seat, in a pleasure ground; a garden bower. Cowper. 3. Any natural recess analogous to an alcove or recess in an apartment.
The youthful wanderers found a wild alcove .
Alcyonacea noun plural
[ New Latin ] (Zoology) A group of soft-bodied Alcyonaria, of which Alcyonium is the type. See Illust. under Alcyonaria .
Alcyonaria noun plural [ New Latin ] (Zoology) One of the orders of Anthozoa. It includes the Alcyonacea, Pennatulacea, and Gorgonacea.
Alcyones noun plural
[ Latin , plural of Alcyon
.] (Zoology) The kingfishers.
Alcyonic adjective (Zoology) Of or pertaining to the Alcyonaria.
Alcyonium noun [ Greek ... a zoöphyte, so called from being like the halcyon's nest.] (Zoology) A genus of fleshy Alcyonaria, its polyps somewhat resembling flowers with eight fringed rays. The term was also formerly used for certain species of sponges.
Alcyonoid adjective [ Greek ... + - oid .] (Zoology) Like or pertaining to the Alcyonaria. -- noun A zoöphyte of the order Alcyonaria.
Alday adverb Continually. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.
[ Arabic al- debarān
, from dabar
to follow; so called because this star follows upon the Pleiades.] (Astron.) A red star of the first magnitude, situated in the eye of Taurus; the Bull's Eye. It is the bright star in the group called the Hyades.
Now when Aldebaran was mounted high
Above the shiny Cassiopeia's chair.
Aldehyde noun [ Abbrev. from al cohol dehyd rogenatum, alcohol deprived of its hydrogen.] (Chemistry) A colorless, mobile, and very volatile liquid obtained from alcohol by certain processes of oxidation. » The aldehydes are intermediate between the alcohols and acids, and differ from the alcohols in having two less hydrogen atoms in the molecule, as common aldehyde (called also acetic aldehyde or ethyl aldehyde ), C 2 H 4 O; methyl aldehyde , CH 2 O. Aldehyde ammonia (Chemistry) , a compound formed by the union of aldehyde with ammonia.
Aldehydic adjective (Chemistry) Of or pertaining to aldehyde; as, aldehydic acid. Miller.
Alder (al"dẽr) noun [ Middle English aldir , aller , from Anglo-Saxon alr , aler , alor , akin to Dutch els , German erle , Icelandic erlir , erli , Swed. al , Danish elle , el , Latin alnus , and English elm .] (Botany) A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus Alnus . The wood is used by turners, etc.; the bark by dyers and tanners. In the U. S. the species of alder are usually shrubs or small trees. Black alder . (a) A European shrub ( Rhamnus frangula ); Alder buckthorn. (b) An American species of holly ( Ilex verticillata ), bearing red berries.
Alder (al"dẽr), Al"ler (al"lẽr) adjective [ From ealra , alra , gen. plural of Anglo-Saxon eal . The d is excrescent.] Of all; -- used in composition; as, alder best, best of all, alder wisest, wisest of all. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.
1. Any of numerous neuropterous insects of the genus Sialis or allied genera. They have aquatic larvæ, which are used for bait. 2. (Angling) An artificial fly with brown mottled wings, body of peacock harl, and black legs.
[ For allerliefest
dearest of all. See Lief
.] Most beloved.
[ Obsolete] Shak.
; plural Aldermen
[ Anglo-Saxon aldormon
an elder + man
. See Elder
] 1. A senior or superior; a person of rank or dignity.
[ Obsolete] » The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to princes, dukes, earls, senators, and presiding magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom or authority. Thus Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called Alderman
of all England; and there were aldermen
of cities, counties, and castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective districts. 3. One of a board or body of municipal officers next in order to the mayor and having a legislative function. They may, in some cases, individually exercise some magisterial and administrative functions.
Aldermancy noun The office of an alderman.
Aldermanic adjective Relating to, becoming to, or like, an alderman; characteristic of an alderman.
1. Aldermen collectively; the body of aldermen. 2. The state of being an alderman. [ Jocular]
Aldermanlike adjective Like or suited to an alderman.
Aldermanly adjective Pertaining to, or like, an alderman.
1. The district or ward of an alderman. 2. The office or rank of an alderman. [ R.] B. Jonson.
Aldermanship noun The condition, position, or office of an alderman. Fabyan.
Aldern adjective Made of alder.
Alderney noun One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often called Jersey cattle . See Jersey , 3.
Aldine adjective (Bibliog.) An epithet applied to editions (chiefly of the classics) which proceeded from the press of Aldus Manitius, and his family, of Venice, for the most part in the 16th century and known by the sign of the anchor and the dolphin. The term has also been applied to certain elegant editions of English works.
Aldol noun [ Ald ehyde + - ol as in alcohol .] (Chemistry) A colorless liquid, C 4 H 8 O 2 , obtained by condensation of two molecules of acetaldehyde: CH3CHO + CH3CHO = H3CH(OH)CH2CO; also, any of various derivatives of this. The same reaction has been applied, under the name of aldol condensation , to the production of many compounds.
Ale (āl) noun [ Anglo-Saxon ealu , akin to Icelandic , Swedish , and Danish öl , Lithuanian alus a kind of beer, OSlav. olŭ beer. Confer Ir. ol drink, drinking.]
1. An intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops. » The word ale , in England and the United States, usually designates a heavier kind of fermented liquor, and the word beer a lighter kind. The word beer is also in common use as the generic name for all malt liquors. 2. A festival in English country places, so called from the liquor drunk. "At wakes and ales ." B. Jonson. "On ember eves and holy ales ." Shak.
Ale silver A duty payable to the lord mayor of London by the sellers of ale within the city.
Aleak adverb & adjective [ Prefix a- + leak .] In a leaking condition.
Aleatory adjective [ Latin aleatorius , from alea chance, die.] (Law) Depending on some uncertain contingency; as, an aleatory contract. Bouvier.
Alebench noun A bench in or before an alehouse. Bunyan.
[ Middle English alebery
broth, from Anglo-Saxon brīw
pottage.] A beverage, formerly made by boiling ale with spice, sugar, and sops of bread.
Their aleberries , caudles, possets.
Beau. & Fl.
Alecithal adjective [ Greek 'a priv. + ... yelk.] (Biol.) Applied to those ova which segment uniformly, and which have little or no food yelk embedded in their protoplasm. Balfour.
, Middle English cunnen
to test, Anglo-Saxon cunnian
to test. See Con
.] Orig., an officer appointed to look to the goodness of ale and beer; also, one of the officers chosen by the liverymen of London to inspect the measures used in public houses. But the office is a sinecure. [ Also called aletaster .]
+ Latin costus
an aromatic plant: confer Costmary
.] (Botany) The plant costmary, which was formerly much used for flavoring ale.
Alectorides noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek ... a cock.] (Zoology) A group of birds including the common fowl and the pheasants.
Alectoromachy noun [ Greek ... cock + ... fight.] Cockfighting.
Alectryom'achy noun [ Greek ... cock + ... fight.] Cockfighting.
Alectryomancy noun [ Greek ... cock + -mancy .] Divination by means of a cock and grains of corn placed on the letters of the alphabet, the letters being put together in the order in which the grains were eaten. Amer. Cyc.
Alee adverb [ Prefix a- + lee .] (Nautical) On or toward the lee, or the side away from the wind; the opposite of aweather . The helm of a ship is alee when pressed close to the lee side. Hard alee , or Luff alee , an order to put the helm to the lee side.
sour, French aigre
. Confer Vinegar
.] Sour ale; vinegar made of ale. Cecil.
Aleger adjective [ French allègre , earlier alègre , from Latin alacer .] Gay; cheerful; sprightly. [ Obsolete] Bacon.
Alegge transitive verb
[ Middle English aleggen
, Old French alegier
, French alléger
, from Late Latin alleviare
, for Latin allevare
to lighten; ad
light. Confer Alleviate
.] To allay or alleviate; to lighten.
That shall alegge this bitter blast.
Alehoof (āl"hōf`) noun [ Anglo-Saxon hōfe ground ivy; the first part is perhaps a corruption: confer Middle English heyhowe hedgehove, ground ivy, "in old MSS. heyhowe , heyoue , haihoue , halehoue ." Prior .] Ground ivy ( Nepeta Glechoma ).