Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter A - Page 33

Afterclap (n.) An unexpected subsequent event; something disagreeable happening after an affair is supposed to be at an end.

Aftercrop (n.) A second crop or harvest in the same year.

After damp () An irrespirable gas, remaining after an explosion of fire damp in mines; choke damp. See Carbonic acid.

After-dinner (n.) The time just after dinner.

After-dinner (a.) Following dinner; post-prandial; as, an after-dinner nap.

After-eatage (n.) Aftergrass.

Aftereye (v. t.) To look after.

Aftergame (n.) A second game; hence, a subsequent scheme or expedient.

After-glow (n.) A glow of refulgence in the western sky after sunset.

Aftergrass (n.) The grass that grows after the first crop has been mown; aftermath.

Aftergrowth (n.) A second growth or crop, or (metaphorically) development.

Afterguard (n.) The seaman or seamen stationed on the poop or after part of the ship, to attend the after-sails.

After-image (n.) The impression of a vivid sensation retained by the retina of the eye after the cause has been removed; also extended to impressions left of tones, smells, etc.

Afterings (n. pl.) The last milk drawn in milking; strokings.

Aftermath (n.) A second moving; the grass which grows after the first crop of hay in the same season; rowen.

After-mentioned (a.) Mentioned afterwards; as, persons after-mentioned (in a writing).

Aftermost (a. superl.) Hindmost; -- opposed to foremost.

Aftermost (a. superl.) Nearest the stern; most aft.

Afternoon (n.) The part of the day which follows noon, between noon and evening.

After-note (n.) One of the small notes occur on the unaccented parts of the measure, taking their time from the preceding note.

Afterpains (n. pl.) The pains which succeed childbirth, as in expelling the afterbirth.

Afterpiece (n.) A piece performed after a play, usually a farce or other small entertainment.

Afterpiece (n.) The heel of a rudder.

After-sails (n.) The sails on the mizzenmast, or on the stays between the mainmast and mizzenmast.

Aftershaft (n.) The hypoptilum.

Aftertaste (n.) A taste which remains in the mouth after eating or drinking.

Afterthought (n.) Reflection after an act; later or subsequent thought or expedient.

Afterwards (adv.) Alt. of Afterward

Afterward (adv.) At a later or succeeding time.

Afterwise (a.) Wise after the event; wise or knowing, when it is too late.

After-wit (n.) Wisdom or perception that comes after it can be of use.

After-witted (a.) Characterized by after-wit; slow-witted.

Aftmost (a.) Nearest the stern.

Aftward (adv.) Toward the stern.

Aga (n.) Alt. of Agha

Agha (n.) In Turkey, a commander or chief officer. It is used also as a title of respect.

Again (adv.) In return, back; as, bring us word again.

Again (adv.) Another time; once more; anew.

Again (adv.) Once repeated; -- of quantity; as, as large again, half as much again.

Again (adv.) In any other place.

Again (adv.) On the other hand.

Again (adv.) Moreover; besides; further.

Again (prep.) Alt. of Agains

Agains (prep.) Against; also, towards (in order to meet).

Againbuy (v. t.) To redeem.

Againsay (v. t.) To gainsay.

Against (prep.) Abreast; opposite to; facing; towards; as, against the mouth of a river; -- in this sense often preceded by over.

Against (prep.) From an opposite direction so as to strike or come in contact with; in contact with; upon; as, hail beats against the roof.

Against (prep.) In opposition to, whether the opposition is of sentiment or of action; on the other side; counter to; in contrariety to; hence, adverse to; as, against reason; against law; to run a race against time.

Against (prep.) By of before the time that; in preparation for; so as to be ready for the time when.

Againstand (v. t.) To withstand.

Againward (adv.) Back again.

Agalactia (n.) Alt. of Agalaxy

Agalaxy (n.) Failure of the due secretion of milk after childbirth.

Agalactous (a.) Lacking milk to suckle with.

Agal-agal (n.) Same as Agar-agar.

Agalloch (n.) Alt. of Agallochum

Agallochum (n.) A soft, resinous wood (Aquilaria Agallocha) of highly aromatic smell, burnt by the orientals as a perfume. It is called also agalwood and aloes wood. The name is also given to some other species.

Agalmatolite (n.) A soft, compact stone, of a grayish, greenish, or yellowish color, carved into images by the Chinese, and hence called figure stone, and pagodite. It is probably a variety of pinite.

Agama (n.) A genus of lizards, one of the few which feed upon vegetable substances; also, one of these lizards.

Agamis (pl. ) of Agami

Agami (n.) A South American bird (Psophia crepitans), allied to the cranes, and easily domesticated; -- called also the gold-breasted trumpeter. Its body is about the size of the pheasant. See Trumpeter.

Agamic (a.) Produced without sexual union; as, agamic or unfertilized eggs.

Agamic (a.) Not having visible organs of reproduction, as flowerless plants; agamous.

Agamically (adv.) In an agamic manner.

Agamist (n.) An unmarried person; also, one opposed to marriage.

Agamogenesis (n.) Reproduction without the union of parents of distinct sexes: asexual reproduction.

Agamogenetic (n.) Reproducing or produced without sexual union.

Agamous (a.) Having no visible sexual organs; asexual.

Agamous (a.) cryptogamous.

Aganglionic (a.) Without ganglia.

Agape (adv. & a.) Gaping, as with wonder, expectation, or eager attention.

Agapae (pl. ) of Agape

Agape (n.) The love feast of the primitive Christians, being a meal partaken of in connection with the communion.

Agar-agar (n.) A fucus or seaweed much used in the East for soups and jellies; Ceylon moss (Gracilaria lichenoides).

Agaric (n.) A fungus of the genus Agaricus, of many species, of which the common mushroom is an example.

Agaric (n.) An old name for several species of Polyporus, corky fungi growing on decaying wood.

Agasp (adv. & a.) In a state of gasping.

Agast (v. t.) Alt. of Aghast

Aghast (v. t.) To affright; to terrify.

Agast (p. p. & a.) See Aghast.

Agastric (a.) Having to stomach, or distinct digestive canal, as the tapeworm.

Agate (adv.) On the way; agoing; as, to be agate; to set the bells agate.

Agate (n.) A semipellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen. Its colors are delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds.

Agate (n.) A kind of type, larger than pearl and smaller than nonpareil; in England called ruby.

Agate (n.) A diminutive person; so called in allusion to the small figures cut in agate for rings and seals.

Agate (n.) A tool used by gold-wire drawers, bookbinders, etc.; -- so called from the agate fixed in it for burnishing.

Agatiferous (a.) Containing or producing agates.

Agatine (a.) Pertaining to, or like, agate.

Agatize (v. t.) To convert into agate; to make resemble agate.

Agaty (a.) Of the nature of agate, or containing agate.

Agave (n.) A genus of plants (order Amaryllidaceae) of which the chief species is the maguey or century plant (A. Americana), wrongly called Aloe. It is from ten to seventy years, according to climate, in attaining maturity, when it produces a gigantic flower stem, sometimes forty feet in height, and perishes. The fermented juice is the pulque of the Mexicans; distilled, it yields mescal. A strong thread and a tough paper are made from the leaves, and the wood has many uses.

Agazed (p. p.) Gazing with astonishment; amazed.

Age (n.) The whole duration of a being, whether animal, vegetable, or other kind; lifetime.

Age (n.) That part of the duration of a being or a thing which is between its beginning and any given time; as, what is the present age of a man, or of the earth?

Age (n.) The latter part of life; an advanced period of life; seniority; state of being old.

Age (n.) One of the stages of life; as, the age of infancy, of youth, etc.

Age (n.) Mature age; especially, the time of life at which one attains full personal rights and capacities; as, to come of age; he (or she) is of age.

Age (n.) The time of life at which some particular power or capacity is understood to become vested; as, the age of consent; the age of discretion.

Age (n.) A particular period of time in history, as distinguished from others; as, the golden age, the age of Pericles.

[previous page] [Index] [next page]