Alcayde - Alehoof

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Alcayde (ălkād), n. Same as .
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Alcazar (�), n. [ fr. Ar. al the + qacr (in pl.) a castle.] A fortress; also, a royal palace. Prescott.
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Alcedo (�), n. [L., equiv. to Gr. �. See .] (Zoöl.) A genus of perching birds, including the European kingfisher (Alcedo ispida). See .
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Alces n. 1. 1 a genus of elk or moose.
Syn. -- genus Alces.
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{ Alchemic (�), Alchemical (�), } a. [Cf. F. alchimique.] Of or relating to alchemy.
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Alchemically, adv. In the manner of alchemy.
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Alchemist (�), n. [Cf. OF. alquemiste, F. alchimiste.] One who practices alchemy.
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You are alchemist; make gold. Shak.
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{ Alchemistic (�), Alchemistical (�), } a. Relating to or practicing alchemy.
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Metaphysical and alchemistical legislators. Burke.
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Alchemistry (�), n. Alchemy. [Obs.]
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Alchemize (�), v. t. To change by alchemy; to transmute. Lovelace.
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Alchemy (�), n. [OF. alkemie, arquemie, F. alchimie, Ar. al-kīmīa, fr. late Gr. �, for �, a mingling, infusion, � juice, liquid, especially as extracted from plants, fr. � to pour; for chemistry was originally the art of extracting the juices from plants for medicinal purposes. Cf. Sp. alquimia, It. alchimia. Gr. � is prob. akin to L. fundere to pour, Goth. guitan, AS. geótan, to pour, and so to E. fuse. See , and cf. .] 1. An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It led the way to modern chemistry.
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2. A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various utensils; hence, a trumpet. [Obs.]
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Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy. Milton.
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3. Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious.
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Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy. Shak.
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Alchymic (�), a., Alchymist (�), n., Alchymistic (�), a., Alchymy (�), n. See , , , .
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Alco (�), n. A small South American dog, domesticated by the aborigines.
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{ Alcoate (�), Alcohate (�), } n. Shortened forms of .
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Alcohol (ălk�hŏl), n. [Cf. F. alcool, formerly written alcohol, Sp. alcohol alcohol, antimony, galena, OSp. alcofol; all fr. Ar. al-kohl a powder of antimony or galena, to paint the eyebrows with. The name was afterwards applied, on account of the fineness of this powder, to highly rectified spirits, a signification unknown in Arabia. The Sp. word has both meanings. Cf. .] 1. An impalpable powder. [Obs.]
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2. The fluid essence or pure spirit obtained by distillation. [Obs.] Boyle.
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3. Pure spirit of wine; pure or highly rectified spirit (called also ethyl alcohol or ethanol, CH3.CH2.OH); the spirituous or intoxicating element of fermented or distilled liquors, or more loosely a liquid containing it in considerable quantity. It is extracted by simple distillation from various vegetable juices and infusions of a saccharine nature, which have undergone vinous fermentation. [The ferementation is usually carried out by addition of brewer's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae to an aqueous solution containing carbohydrates.]
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☞ As used in the U. S. “Pharmacopœia,” alcohol contains 91 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 9 per cent of water; and diluted alcohol (proof spirit) contains 45.5 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 54.5 per cent of water.
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4. (Organic Chem.) A class of compounds analogous to vinic alcohol in constitution. Chemically speaking, they are hydroxides of certain organic radicals; as, the radical ethyl forms common or ethyl alcohol (C2H5.OH); methyl forms methyl alcohol (CH3.OH) or wood spirit; amyl forms amyl alcohol (C5H11.OH) or fusel oil, etc.
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Alcoholate (�), n. [Cf. F. alcolaie.] (Chem.) A crystallizable compound of a salt with alcohol, in which the latter plays a part analogous to that of water of crystallization. Graham.
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Alcoholature (�), n. [Cf. F. alcoolature.] (Med.) An alcoholic tincture prepared with fresh plants. New Eng. Dict.
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Alcoholic (�), a. [Cf. F. alcolique.] Of or pertaining to alcohol, or partaking of its qualities; derived from, or caused by, alcohol; containing alcohol; as, alcoholic mixtures; alcoholic gastritis; alcoholic odor.
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Alcoholic, n. 1. A person given to the use of alcoholic liquors.
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2. pl. Alcoholic liquors.
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Alcoholism (�), n. [Cf. F. alcoolisme.] (Med.) A diseased condition of the system, brought about by the continued use of alcoholic liquors.
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Alcoholization (�), n. [Cf. F. alcoolisation.] 1. The act of reducing a substance to a fine or impalpable powder. [Obs.] Johnson.
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2. The act rectifying spirit.
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3. Saturation with alcohol; putting the animal system under the influence of alcoholic liquor.
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Alcoholize (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alcoholized (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Alcoholizing.] [Cf. F. alcooliser.] 1. To reduce to a fine powder. [Obs.] Johnson.
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2. To convert into alcohol; to rectify; also, to saturate with alcohol.
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{ Alcoholometer (�), Alcoholmeter (�), } n. [Alcohol + -meter.] (Chem.) An instrument for determining the strength of spirits, with a scale graduated so as to indicate the percentage of pure alcohol, either by weight or volume. It is usually a form of hydrometer with a special scale.
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Alcoholometric (�), Alcoholometrical (�), Alcoholmetrical (�), a. Relating to the alcoholometer or alcoholometry.
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The alcoholometrical strength of spirituous liquors. Ure.
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Alcoholometry (�), n. The process or method of ascertaining the proportion of pure alcohol which spirituous liquors contain.
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Alcohometer (�), n., Alcohometric, a. Same as , .
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Alcoömetry (�), n. See .
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☞ The chemists say alcomètre, alcoomètrie, doubtless by the suppression of a syllable in order to avoid a disagreeable sequence of sounds. (Cf. .) Littré.
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Alcoran (?; 277), n. [alcoran, fr. Ar. al-qorān, orig. the reading, the book, fr. qaraa to read. Cf. .] The Mohammedan Scriptures; the Koran (now the usual form). [Spelt also .]
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Alcoranic (�), a. Of or pertaining to the Koran.
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Alcoranist, n. One who adheres to the letter of the Koran, rejecting all traditions.
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Alcove (?; 277), n. [F. alcôve, Sp. or Pg. alcoba, from Ar. al-quobbah arch, vault, tent.] 1. (Arch.) 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.
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2. A small ornamental building with seats, or an arched seat, in a pleasure ground; a garden bower. Cowper.
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3. Any natural recess analogous to an alcove or recess in an apartment.
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The youthful wanderers found a wild alcove. Falconer.
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Alcyon (�), n. See .
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Alcyonacea (�), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A group of soft-bodied Alcyonaria, of which Alcyonium is the type. See Illust. under .
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Alcyonaria (acr/lsĭŏnārĭȧ), prop. n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) One of the orders of Anthozoa. It includes the Alcyonacea, Pennatulacea, and Gorgonacea.
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Alcyones (ălsĭŏnēz), n. pl. [L., pl. of .] (Zoöl.) The kingfishers.
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Alcyonic (ălsĭŏnĭk), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Alcyonaria.
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Alcyonium (�), n. [Gr. � a zoöphyte, so called from being like the halcyon's nest.] (Zoöl.) 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.
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Alcyonoid (ălsĭ�noid), a. [Gr. 'alkyonion + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the Alcyonaria. -- n. A zoöphyte of the order Alcyonaria.
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Alday (�ld�), adv. Continually. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Aldebaran (ăldĕbȧrăn), prop. n. [Ar. al-debarān, fr. 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.
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Now when Aldebaran was mounted high
Above the shiny Cassiopeia's chair. Spenser.
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Aldehyde (ăld�hīd), n. [Abbrev. fr. alcohol dehydrogenatum, alcohol deprived of its hydrogen.] 1. (Chem.) A colorless, mobile, and very volatile liquid obtained from alcohol by certain processes of oxidation.
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2. (Chem.) Any compound having the group -CHO. Methyl aldehyde, the simplest aldehyde, is more commonly called formaldehyde, H-CHO, and acetic aldehyde is now more commonly called acetaldehyde. The higher aldehydes may be solids. A reducing sugar typically contains the aldehyde group.
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☞ 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 acetaldehyde, acetic aldehyde or ethyl aldehyde), C2H4O; methyl aldehyde (called also formaldehyde), CH2O.
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Coloq. Aldehyde ammonia (Chem.), a compound formed by the union of aldehyde with ammonia.
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Aldehydic (�), a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to aldehyde; as, aldehydic acid. Miller.
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Alder (�ldẽr), n. [OE. aldir, aller, fr. AS. alr, aler, alor, akin to D. els, G. erle, Icel. erlir, erli, Swed. al, Dan. elle, el, L. alnus, and E. elm.] (Bot.) 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.
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Coloq. Black alder . (a) A European shrub (Rhamnus frangula); Alder buckthorn. (b) An American species of holly (Ilex verticillata), bearing red berries.
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{ Alder (�ldẽr), Aller (�llẽr), } a. [From ealra, alra, gen. pl. of AS. eal. The d is excrescent.] Of all; -- used in composition; as, alderbest, best of all, alderwisest, wisest of all. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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alderfly, Alder fly. 1. Any of numerous dark-colored neuropterous insects of the genus Sialis or allied genera. They have predaceous aquatic larvæ, which are used for bait.
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2. (Angling) An artificial fly with brown mottled wings, body of peacock harl, and black legs.
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Alder-liefest (�ldẽrlēfĕst), a. [For allerliefest dearest of all. See .] Most beloved. [Obs.] Shak.
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Alderman (�ldẽrm�n), n.; pl. Aldermen (�). [AS. aldormon, ealdorman; ealdor an elder + man. See , n.] 1. A senior or superior; a person of rank or dignity. [Obs.]
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☞ 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.
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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.
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Aldermancy (�), n. The office of an alderman.
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Aldermanic (�), a. Relating to, becoming to, or like, an alderman; characteristic of an alderman.
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Aldermanity (�), n. 1. Aldermen collectively; the body of aldermen.
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2. The state of being an alderman. [Jocular]
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Aldermanlike (�), a. Like or suited to an alderman.
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Aldermanly, a. Pertaining to, or like, an alderman.
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Aldermanly, a. Pertaining to, or like, an alderman. “An aldermanly discretion.” Swift.
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Aldermanry (�), n. 1. The district or ward of an alderman.
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2. The office or rank of an alderman. [R.] B. Jonson.
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Aldermanship, n. The condition, position, or office of an alderman. Fabyan.
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Aldern (�), a. Made of alder.
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Alderney (�), n. 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 , 3.
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Aldine (?; 277), a. (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.
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Aldol (?), n. [Aldehyde + -ol as in alcohol.] (Chem.) A colorless liquid, C4H8O2, 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 Coloq. aldol condensation , to the production of many compounds.
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Ale (āl), n. [AS. ealu, akin to Icel., Sw., and Dan. öl, Lith. alus a kind of beer, OSlav. olŭ beer. Cf. Ir. ol drink, drinking.] 1. An intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops.
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☞ 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.
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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.
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Aleak (�), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + leak.] In a leaking condition.
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Aleatory (�), a. [L. aleatorius, fr. alea chance, die.] (Law) Depending on some uncertain contingency; as, an aleatory contract. Bouvier.
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Alebench (�), n. A bench in or before an alehouse. Bunyan.
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Aleberry (�), n. [OE. alebery, alebrey; ale + bre broth, fr. AS. brīw pottage.] A beverage, formerly made by boiling ale with spice, sugar, and sops of bread.
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Their aleberries, caudles, possets. Beau. & Fl.
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Alecithal (�), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + � yelk.] (Biol.) Applied to those ova which segment uniformly, and which have little or no food yelk embedded in their protoplasm. Balfour.
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Aleconner (�), n. [/Ale + con, OE. cunnen to test, AS. cunnian to test. See .] 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.] [Eng.]
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Alecost (�), n. [Ale + L. costus an aromatic plant: cf. .] (Bot.) The plant costmary, which was formerly much used for flavoring ale.
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Alectorides (�), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. � a cock.] (Zoöl.) A group of birds including the common fowl and the pheasants.
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Alectoromachy (�), n. [Gr. � cock + � fight.] Cockfighting.
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Alectoromancy (�), n. See .
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Alectryom'achy (�), n. [Gr. � cock + � fight.] Cockfighting.
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Alectryomancy (�), n. [Gr. � 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.
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Alectura n. 1. 1 a genus of brush turkeys.
Syn. -- genus Alectura.
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Alee (�), adv. [Pref. a- + lee.] (Naut.) 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.
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Coloq. Hard alee , or Coloq. Luff alee , an order to put the helm to the lee side.
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Alegar (�), n. [Ale + eager sour, F. aigre. Cf. .] Sour ale; vinegar made of ale. Cecil.
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Aleger (�), a. [F. allègre, earlier alègre, fr. L. alacer.] Gay; cheerful; sprightly. [Obs.] Bacon.
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Alegge (�), v. t. [OE. aleggen, alegen, OF. alegier, F. alléger, fr. LL. alleviare, for L. allevare to lighten; ad + levis light. Cf. , , .] To allay or alleviate; to lighten. [Obs.]
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That shall alegge this bitter blast. Spenser.
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Alehoof (ālh�f), n. [AS. hōfe ground ivy; the first part is perh. a corruption: cf. OE. heyhowe hedgehove, ground ivy, “in old MSS. heyhowe, heyoue, haihoue, halehoue.” Prior.] Ground ivy (Nepeta Glechoma).
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