Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter A - Page 103

Asymmetry (n.) Want of symmetry, or proportion between the parts of a thing, esp. want of bilateral symmetry.

Asymmetry (n.) Incommensurability.

Asymptote (n.) A line which approaches nearer to some curve than assignable distance, but, though infinitely extended, would never meet it. Asymptotes may be straight lines or curves. A rectilinear asymptote may be conceived as a tangent to the curve at an infinite distance.

Asynartete (a.) Disconnected; not fitted or adjusted.

Asyndetic (a.) Characterized by the use of asyndeton; not connected by conjunctions.

Asyndeton (n.) A figure which omits the connective; as, I came, I saw, I conquered. It stands opposed to polysyndeton.

Asystole (n.) A weakening or cessation of the contractile power of the heart.

Asystolism (n.) The state or symptoms characteristic of asystole.

At (prep.) Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence, nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are derived all the various uses of at.

At (prep.) A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on, something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at school; at hand; at sea and on land.

At (prep.) The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at risk; at disadvantage.

At (prep.) The relation of some employment or action; occupied with; as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat (eating); except at puns.

At (prep.) The relation of a point or position in a series, or of degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at 80¡; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest.

At (prep.) The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock; at twenty-one; at once; at first.

At (prep.) The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything; at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require, receive, deserve, endure at your hands.

At (prep.) Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike, shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one.

Atabal (n.) A kettledrum; a kind of tabor, used by the Moors.

Atacamite (n.) An oxychloride of copper, usually in emerald-green prismatic crystals.

Atafter (prep.) After.

Ataghan (n.) See Yataghan.

Atake (v. t.) To overtake.

Ataman (n.) A hetman, or chief of the Cossacks.

Ataraxia (n.) Alt. of Ataraxy

Ataraxy (n.) Perfect peace of mind, or calmness.

Ataunt (adv.) Alt. of Ataunto

Ataunto (adv.) Fully rigged, as a vessel; with all sails set; set on end or set right.

Atavic (a.) Pertaining to a remote ancestor, or to atavism.

Atavism (n.) The recurrence, or a tendency to a recurrence, of the original type of a species in the progeny of its varieties; resemblance to remote rather than to near ancestors; reversion to the original form.

Atavism (n.) The recurrence of any peculiarity or disease of an ancestor in a subsequent generation, after an intermission for a generation or two.

Ataxia (n.) Alt. of Ataxy

Ataxy (n.) Disorder; irregularity.

Ataxy (n.) Irregularity in disease, or in the functions.

Ataxy (n.) The state of disorder that characterizes nervous fevers and the nervous condition.

Ataxic (a.) Characterized by ataxy, that is, (a) by great irregularity of functions or symptoms, or (b) by a want of coordinating power in movements.

Atazir (n.) The influence of a star upon other stars or upon men.

Ate () the preterit of Eat.

Ate (n.) The goddess of mischievous folly; also, in later poets, the goddess of vengeance.

-ate () As an ending of participles or participial adjectives it is equivalent to -ed; as, situate or situated; animate or animated.

-ate () As the ending of a verb, it means to make, to cause, to act, etc.; as, to propitiate (to make propitious); to animate (to give life to).

-ate () As a noun suffix, it marks the agent; as, curate, delegate. It also sometimes marks the office or dignity; as, tribunate.

-ate () In chemistry it is used to denote the salts formed from those acids whose names end -ic (excepting binary or halogen acids); as, sulphate from sulphuric acid, nitrate from nitric acid, etc. It is also used in the case of certain basic salts.

Atechnic (a.) Without technical or artistic knowledge.

Ateles (n.) A genus of American monkeys with prehensile tails, and having the thumb wanting or rudimentary. See Spider monkey, and Coaita.

Atelier (n.) A workshop; a studio.

Atellan (a.) Of or pertaining to Atella, in ancient Italy; as, Atellan plays; farcical; ribald.

Atellan (n.) A farcical drama performed at Atella.

Athalamous (a.) Not furnished with shields or beds for the spores, as the thallus of certain lichens.

Athamaunt (n.) Adamant.

Athanasian (a.) Of or pertaining to Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria in the 4th century.

Athanor (n.) A digesting furnace, formerly used by alchemists. It was so constructed as to maintain uniform and durable heat.

Athecata (n. pl.) A division of Hydroidea in which the zooids are naked, or not inclosed in a capsule. See Tubularian.

Atheism (n.) The disbelief or denial of the existence of a God, or supreme intelligent Being.

Atheism (n.) Godlessness.

Atheist (n.) One who disbelieves or denies the existence of a God, or supreme intelligent Being.

Atheist (n.) A godless person.

Atheistic (a.) Alt. of Atheistical

Atheistical (a.) Pertaining to, implying, or containing, atheism; -- applied to things; as, atheistic doctrines, opinions, or books.

Atheistical (a.) Disbelieving the existence of a God; impious; godless; -- applied to persons; as, an atheistic writer.

Atheize (v. t.) To render atheistic or godless.

Atheize (v. i.) To discourse, argue, or act as an atheist.

Atheling (n.) An Anglo-Saxon prince or nobleman; esp., the heir apparent or a prince of the royal family.

Atheneums (pl. ) of Athenaeum

Athenaea (pl. ) of Athenaeum

Atheneum (n.) Alt. of Athenaeum

Athenaeum (n.) A temple of Athene, at Athens, in which scholars and poets were accustomed to read their works and instruct students.

Athenaeum (n.) A school founded at Rome by Hadrian.

Athenaeum (n.) A literary or scientific association or club.

Athenaeum (n.) A building or an apartment where a library, periodicals, and newspapers are kept for use.

Athenian (a.) Of or pertaining to Athens, the metropolis of Greece.

Athenian (n.) A native or citizen of Athens.

Atheological (a.) Opposed to theology; atheistic.

Atheology (n.) Antagonism to theology.

Atheous (a.) Atheistic; impious.

Atheous (a.) Without God, neither accepting nor denying him.

Atherine (n.) A small marine fish of the family Atherinidae, having a silvery stripe along the sides. The European species (Atherina presbyter) is used as food. The American species (Menidia notata) is called silversides and sand smelt. See Silversides.

Athermancy (n.) Inability to transmit radiant heat; impermeability to heat.

Athermanous (a.) Not transmitting heat; -- opposed to diathermanous.

Athermous (a.) Athermanous.

Atheroid (a.) Shaped like an ear of grain.

Atheroma (n.) An encysted tumor containing curdy matter.

Atheroma (n.) A disease characterized by thickening and fatty degeneration of the inner coat of the arteries.

Atheromatous (a.) Of, pertaining to, or having the nature of, atheroma.

Athetosis (n.) A variety of chorea, marked by peculiar tremors of the fingers and toes.

Athink (v. t.) To repent; to displease; to disgust.

Athirst (a.) Wanting drink; thirsty.

Athirst (a.) Having a keen appetite or desire; eager; longing.

Athlete (n.) One who contended for a prize in the public games of ancient Greece or Rome.

Athlete (n.) Any one trained to contend in exercises requiring great physical agility and strength; one who has great activity and strength; a champion.

Athlete (n.) One fitted for, or skilled in, intellectual contests; as, athletes of debate.

Athletic (a.) Of or pertaining to athletes or to the exercises practiced by them; as, athletic games or sports.

Athletic (a.) Befitting an athlete; strong; muscular; robust; vigorous; as, athletic Celts.

Athleticism (n.) The practice of engaging in athletic games; athletism.

Athletics (n.) The art of training by athletic exercises; the games and sports of athletes.

Athletism (n.) The state or practice of an athlete; the characteristics of an athlete.

Athwart (prep.) Across; from side to side of.

Athwart (prep.) Across the direction or course of; as, a fleet standing athwart our course.

Athwart (adv.) Across, especially in an oblique direction; sidewise; obliquely.

Athwart (adv.) Across the course; so as to thwart; perversely.

Atilt (adv.) In the manner of a tilter; in the position, or with the action, of one making a thrust.

Atilt (adv.) In the position of a cask tilted, or with one end raised. [In this sense sometimes used as an adjective.]

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