ASL - Aspirate

ASL n. same as , the sign language used in the US.
Syn. -- American sign language, AMESLAN
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Aslake (ȧslāk), v. t. & i. [AS. āslacian, slacian, to slacken. Cf. .] To mitigate; to moderate; to appease; to abate; to diminish. [Archaic] Chaucer.
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Aslant (�), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + slant.] Toward one side; in a slanting direction; obliquely.
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[The shaft] drove through his neck aslant. Dryden.
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Aslant, prep. In a slanting direction over; athwart.
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There is a willow grows aslant a brook. Shak.
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Asleep, a. & adv. [Pref. a- + sleep.] 1. In a state of sleep; in sleep; dormant.
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Fast asleep the giant lay supine. Dryden.
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By whispering winds soon lulled asleep. Milton.
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2. In the sleep of the grave; dead.
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Concerning them which are asleep . . . sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thess. iv. 13.
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3. Numbed, and, usually, tingling. Udall.
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Leaning long upon any part maketh it numb, and, as we call it, asleep. Bacon.
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Aslope (�), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + slope.] Slopingly; aslant; declining from an upright direction; sloping. “Set them not upright, but aslope.” Bacon.
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Aslug (�), adv. [Pref. a- + slug to move slowly.] Sluggishly. [Obs.] Fotherby.
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Asmear (�), a. [Pref. a- + smear.] Smeared over. Dickens.
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Asmonean (�), a. Of or pertaining to the patriotic Jewish family to which the Maccabees belonged; Maccabean; as, the Asmonean dynasty. [Written also Asmonæan.]
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Asmonean, n. One of the Asmonean family. The Asmoneans were leaders and rulers of the Jews from 168 to 35 b. c.
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Asoak (�), a. [Pref. a- + soak.] Soaking.
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Asomatous (�), a. [L. asomatus, Gr. �; 'a priv. + � body.] Without a material body; incorporeal. Todd.
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Asonant (�), a. [Pref. a- not + sonant.] Not sounding or sounded. [R.] C. C. Felton.
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Asp (�), n. (Bot.) Same as . “Trembling poplar or asp.” Martyn.
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Asp (ȧsp), n. [L. aspis, fr. Gr. 'aspis: cf. OF. aspe, F. aspic.] (Zoöl.) A small, hooded, poisonous serpent of Egypt and adjacent countries, whose bite is often fatal. It is the Naja haje. The name is also applied to other poisonous serpents, esp. to Vipera aspis of southern Europe. See .
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Aspalathus (�), n. [L. aspalathus, Gr. �.] (Bot.) (a) A thorny shrub yielding a fragrant oil. Ecclus. xxiv. 15. (b) A genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosæ. The species are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope.
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Asparagaceae n. 1. 1 one of many families or subfamilies into which some classification systems subdivide the Liliaceae: includes genera Asparagus and sometimes Ruscus.
Syn. -- family Asparagaceae.
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Asparagine (�), n. [Cf. F. asparagine.] (Chem.) A white, nitrogenous, crystallizable substance, C4H8N2O3+H2O, found in many plants, and first obtained from asparagus. It is believed to aid in the disposition of nitrogenous matter throughout the plant; -- called also altheine.
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Asparaginous (�), a. Pertaining or allied to, or resembling, asparagus; having shoots which are eaten like asparagus; as, asparaginous vegetables.
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Asparagus (ăspărȧgŭs), n. [L., fr. Gr. 'asparagos, 'asfaragos; cf. sparga^n to swell with sap or juice, and Zend çparegha prong, sprout, Pers. asparag, Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. .] 1. (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceæ, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens.
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2. The young and tender shoots of Asparagus officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of food.
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☞ This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people.
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Coloq. Asparagus beetle (Zoöl.), a small beetle (Crioceris asparagi) injurious to asparagus.
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aspartame n. 1. an artificial sweetener containing an aspartic acid peptide, (C14H18N2O5); it is 160 times sweeter than sucrose (cane sugar) and is used as a calorie-free sweetener. Chemically it is N-L-α-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester. It is sold also under the trade name Equal.
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Aspartic (�), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived, asparagine; as, aspartic acid.
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Aspect (�), n. [L. aspectus, fr. aspicere, aspectum, to look at; ad + spicere, specere, to look, akin to E. spy.] 1. The act of looking; vision; gaze; glance. [R.] “The basilisk killeth by aspect.” Bacon.
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His aspect was bent on the ground. Sir W. Scott.
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2. Look, or particular appearance of the face; countenance; mien; air. “Serious in aspect.” Dryden.
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[Craggs] with aspect open shall erect his head. Pope.
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3. Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view. “The aspect of affairs.” Macaulay.
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The true aspect of a world lying in its rubbish. T. Burnet.
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4. Position or situation with regard to seeing; that position which enables one to look in a particular direction; position in relation to the points of the compass; as, a house has a southern aspect, that is, a position which faces the south.
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5. Prospect; outlook. [Obs.]
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This town affords a good aspect toward the hill from whence we descended. Evelyn.
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6. (Astrol.) The situation of planets or stars with respect to one another, or the angle formed by the rays of light proceeding from them and meeting at the eye; the joint look of planets or stars upon each other or upon the earth. Milton.
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☞ The aspects which two planets can assume are five; sextile, �, when the planets are 60° apart; quartile, or quadrate, �, when their distance is 90° or the quarter of a circle; trine, �, when the distance is 120°; opposition, �, when the distance is 180°, or half a circle; and conjunction, �, when they are in the same degree. Astrology taught that the aspects of the planets exerted an influence on human affairs, in some situations for good and in others for evil.
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7. (Astrol.) The influence of the stars for good or evil; as, an ill aspect. Shak.
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The astrologers call the evil influences of the stars evil aspects. Bacon.
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8. (Aëronautics) A view of a plane from a given direction, usually from above; more exactly, the manner of presentation of a plane to a fluid through which it is moving or to a current. If an immersed plane meets a current of fluid long side foremost, or in broadside aspect, it sustains more pressure than when placed short side foremost. Hence, long narrow wings are more effective than short broad ones of the same area.
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Coloq. Aspect of a plane (Geom.), the direction of the plane.
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Aspect (�), v. t. [L. aspectare, v. intens. of aspicere. See , n.] To behold; to look at. [Obs.]
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Aspectable (�), a. [L. aspectabilis.] Capable of being; visible. “The aspectable world.” Ray. “Aspectable stars.” Mrs. Browning.
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Aspectant (�), a. (Her.) Facing each other.
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Aspected, a. Having an aspect. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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Aspect ratio. (Aëronautics) The ratio of the long to the short side of an aëroplane, aërocurve, or wing.
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Aspection (�), n. [L. aspectio, fr. aspicere to look at.] The act of viewing; a look. [Obs.]
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{ Aspen (ăspĕn), Asp (ȧsp), } n. [AS. æsp, æps; akin to OHG. aspa, Icel. ösp, Dan. æsp, Sw. asp, D. esp, G. espe, äspe, aspe; cf. Lettish apsa, Lith. apuszis.] (Bot.) One of several species of poplar bearing this name, especially the Populus tremula, so called from the trembling of its leaves, which move with the slightest impulse of the air.
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Aspen (ăspĕn), a. Of or pertaining to the aspen, or resembling it; made of aspen wood.
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Nor aspen leaves confess the gentlest breeze. Gay.
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Asper (ăspẽr), a. [OE. aspre, OF. aspre, F. âpre, fr. L. asper rough.] Rough; rugged; harsh; bitter; stern; fierce. [Archaic] “An asper sound.” Bacon.
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Asper (ăspẽr), n. [L. spiritus asper rough breathing.] (Greek Gram.) The rough breathing; a mark (ʽ) placed over an initial vowel sound or over ρ to show that it is aspirated, that is, pronounced with h before it; thus ws, pronounced hōs, rhtwr, pronounced hrātōr.
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Asper, n. [F. aspre or It. aspro, fr. MGr. 'aspron, 'aspros, white (prob. from the whiteness of new silver coins).] A Turkish money of account (formerly a coin), of little value; the 120th part of a piaster.
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Asperate (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asperated; p. pr. & vb. n. Asperating.] [L. asperatus, p. p. of asperare, fr. asper rough.] To make rough or uneven.
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The asperated part of its surface. Boyle.
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Asperation (�), n. The act of asperating; a making or becoming rough. Bailey.
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Asperges (�), n. [L., Thou shalt sprinkle.] (R. C. Ch.) (a) The service or ceremony of sprinkling with holy water. (b) The brush or instrument used in sprinkling holy water; an aspergill.
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{ Aspergill (�), Aspergillum (�), } n. [LL. aspergillum, fr. L. aspergere. See , v. t.] 1. The brush used in the Roman Catholic church for sprinkling holy water on the people. [Also written aspergillus.]
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2. (Zoöl.) See .
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Aspergilliform (�), a. [Aspergillum + -form.] (Bot.) Resembling the aspergillum in form; as, an aspergilliform stigma. Gray.
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{ Asperifoliate (�), Asperifolious (�), } a. [L. asper rough + folium leaf.] (Bot.) Having rough leaves.
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☞ By some applied to the natural order now called Boraginaceæ or borageworts.
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Asperity (�), n.; pl. Asperities (�). [L. asperitas, fr. asper rough: cf. F. aspérité.] 1. Roughness of surface; unevenness; -- opposed to smoothness. “The asperities of dry bodies.” Boyle.
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2. Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates upon the ear; raucity.
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3. Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness.
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4. Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity; crabbedness; harshness; -- opposed to mildness. “Asperity of character.” Landor.
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It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received. Johnson.
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5. Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty.
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The acclivities and asperities of duty. Barrow.
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Syn. -- Acrimony; moroseness; crabbedness; harshness; sourness; tartness. See .
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Aspermatous (�), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + �, �, seed.] (Bot.) Aspermous.
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Aspermous, a. [Gr. �; 'a priv. + � seed.] (Bot.) Destitute of seeds; aspermatous.
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Asperne (�), v. t. [L. aspernari; a (ab) + spernari.] To spurn; to despise. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
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Asperous (�), a. [See , a.] Rough; uneven. Boyle.
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Asperse (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aspersed (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Aspersing.] [L. aspersus, p. p. of aspergere to scatter, sprinkle; ad + spargere to strew. See .] 1. To sprinkle, as water or dust, upon anybody or anything, or to besprinkle any one with a liquid or with dust. Heywood.
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2. To bespatter with foul reports or false and injurious charges; to tarnish in point of reputation or good name; to slander or calumniate; as, to asperse a poet or his writings; to asperse a man's character.
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With blackest crimes aspersed. Cowper.
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Syn. -- To slander; defame; detract from; calumniate; vilify. -- To , , , . These words have in common the idea of falsely assailing the character of another. To asperse is figuratively to cast upon a character hitherto unsullied the imputation of blemishes or faults which render it offensive or loathsome. To defame is to detract from a man's honor and reputation by charges calculated to load him with infamy. Slander (etymologically the same as scandal) and calumniate, from the Latin, have in common the sense of circulating reports to a man's injury from unworthy or malicious motives. Men asperse their neighbors by malignant insinuations; they defame by advancing charges to blacken or sully their fair fame; they slander or calumniate by spreading injurious reports which are false, or by magnifying slight faults into serious errors or crimes.
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Aspersed (�), a. 1. (Her.) Having an indefinite number of small charges scattered or strewed over the surface. Cussans.
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2. Bespattered; slandered; calumniated. Motley.
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Asperser (�), n. One who asperses; especially, one who vilifies another.
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Aspersion (�), n. [L. aspersio, fr. aspergere: cf. F. aspersion.] 1. A sprinkling, as with water or dust, in a literal sense.
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Behold an immersion, not and aspersion. Jer. Taylor.
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2. The spreading of calumniations reports or charges which tarnish reputation, like the bespattering of a body with foul water; calumny.
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Every candid critic would be ashamed to cast wholesale aspersions on the entire body of professional teachers. Grote.
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Who would by base aspersions blot thy virtue. Dryden.
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Aspersive (�), a. Tending to asperse; defamatory; slanderous. -- Aspersively, adv.
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Aspersoir (�), n. [F.] An aspergill.
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Aspersorium (�), n.; pl. Aspersoria (�). [LL. See .] 1. The stoup, basin, or other vessel for holy water in Roman Catholic churches.
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2. A brush for sprinkling holy water; an aspergill.
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{ Asphalt (�), Asphaltum (�), } n. [Gr. �, of eastern origin: cf. F. asphalte.] 1. Mineral pitch, Jews' pitch, or compact native bitumen. It is brittle, of a black or brown color and high luster on a surface of fracture; it melts and burns when heated, leaving no residue. It occurs on the surface and shores of the Dead Sea, which is therefore called Asphaltites, or the Asphaltic Lake. It is found also in many parts of Asia, Europe, and America. See .
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2. A composition of bitumen, pitch, lime, and gravel, used for forming pavements, and as a water-proof cement for bridges, roofs, etc.; asphaltic cement. Artificial asphalt is prepared from coal tar, lime, sand, etc.
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Coloq. Asphalt stone , Coloq. Asphalt rock , a limestone found impregnated with asphalt.
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Asphalt, v. t. To cover with asphalt; as, to asphalt a roof; asphalted streets.
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Asphalte (�), n. [F. See .] Asphaltic mastic or cement. See , 2.
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Asphaltic (�), a. Pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing, asphalt; bituminous. “Asphaltic pool.” “Asphaltic slime.” Milton.
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Asphaltite (�), a. Asphaltic.
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Asphaltite (�), a. Asphaltic. Bryant.
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Asphaltus, n. See .
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Asphodel (�), n. [L. asphodelus, Gr. �. See .] (Bot.) A general name for a plant of the genus Asphodelus. The asphodels are hardy perennial plants, several species of which are cultivated for the beauty of their flowers.
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☞ The name is also popularly given to species of other genera. The asphodel of the early English and French poets was the daffodil. The asphodel of the Greek poets is supposed to be the Narcissus poeticus. Dr. Prior.
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Pansies, and violets, and asphodel. Milton.
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Asphodelus n. 1. 1 small genus of tall striking annuals or perennials with grasslike foliage and flowers in dense racemes or panicles; Mediterranean to Himalayas; sometimes placed in family Asphodelaceae.
Syn. -- genus Asphodelus.
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Asphyctic (�), a. Pertaining to asphyxia.
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{ Asphyxia (�), Asphyxy (�), } n. [NL. asphyxia, fr. Gr. �; 'a priv. + � to throb, beat.] (Med.) Apparent death, or suspended animation; the condition which results from interruption of respiration, as in suffocation or drowning, or the inhalation of poisonous or irrespirable gases.
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Asphyxial (�), a. Of or relating to asphyxia; as, asphyxial phenomena.
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Asphyxiate (�), v. t. To bring to a state of asphyxia; to suffocate. [Used commonly in the past pple.]
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Asphyxiated (�), Asphyxied (�), p. p. In a state of asphyxia; suffocated.
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Asphyxiation (�), n. The act of causing asphyxia; a state of asphyxia.
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Aspic (�), n. [F. See .] 1. The venomous asp. [Chiefly poetic] Shak. Tennyson.
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2. A piece of ordnance carrying a 12 pound shot. [Obs.]
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Aspic, n. [F., a corrupt. of spic (OF. espi, F. épi), L. spica (spicum, spicus), ear, spike. See .] A European species of lavender (Lavandula spica), which produces a volatile oil. See .
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Aspic, n. [F., prob. fr. aspic an asp.] A savory meat jelly containing portions of fowl, game, fish, hard boiled eggs, etc. Thackeray.
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aspidistra n. 1. 1 an evergreen perennial (Aspidistra elatio) with large handsome basal leaves; grown primarily as a foliage houseplant.
Syn. -- cast-iron plant, bar-room plant
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Aspidophoroides n. 1. 1 a genus comprising the alligatorfishes.
Syn. -- genus Aspidophoroides.
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Aspidobranchia (�), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. �, �, shield + � gills.] (Zoöl.) A group of Gastropoda, with limpetlike shells, including the abalone shells and keyhole limpets.
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Aspirant (?; 277), a. [Cf. F. aspirant, p. pr. of aspirer. See .] Aspiring.
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Aspirant, n. [Cf. F. aspirant.] One who aspires; one who eagerly seeks some high position or object of attainment.
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In consequence of the resignations . . . the way to greatness was left clear to a new set of aspirants. Macaulay.
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Aspirate (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aspirated (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Aspirating (�).] [L. aspiratus, p. p. of aspirare to breathe toward or upon, to add the breathing h; ad + spirare to breathe, blow. Cf. .] To pronounce with a breathing, an aspirate, or an h sound; as, we aspirate the words horse and house; to aspirate a vowel or a liquid consonant.
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Aspirate (�), n. 1. A sound consisting of, or characterized by, a breath like the sound of h; the breathing h or a character representing such a sound; an aspirated sound.
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