All - Alleviation

Prev Next

☞ In the ancient phrases, all too dear, all too much, all so long, etc., this word retains its appropriate sense or becomes intensive.
[ Webster]

2. Even; just. (Often a mere intensive adjunct.) [Obs. or Poet.]
[ Webster]

All as his straying flock he fed. Spenser.
[ Webster]

A damsel lay deploring
All on a rock reclined. Gay.
[ Webster]

Coloq. All to , or Coloq. All-to . In such phrases as “all to rent,” “all to break,” “all-to frozen,” etc., which are of frequent occurrence in our old authors, the all and the to have commonly been regarded as forming a compound adverb, equivalent in meaning to entirely, completely, altogether. But the sense of entireness lies wholly in the word all (as it does in “all forlorn,” and similar expressions), and the to properly belongs to the following word, being a kind of intensive prefix (orig. meaning asunder and answering to the LG. ter-, HG. zer-). It is frequently to be met with in old books, used without the all. Thus Wyclif says, “The vail of the temple was to rent:” and of Judas, “He was hanged and to-burst the middle:” i. e., burst in two, or asunder. -- Coloq. All along . See under . -- Coloq. All and some , individually and collectively, one and all. [Obs.] “Displeased all and some.” Fairfax. -- Coloq. All but . (a) Scarcely; not even. [Obs.] Shak. (b) Almost; nearly. “The fine arts were all but proscribed.” Macaulay. -- Coloq. All hollow , entirely, completely; as, to beat any one all hollow. [Low] -- Coloq. All one , the same thing in effect; that is, wholly the same thing. -- Coloq. All over , over the whole extent; thoroughly; wholly; as, she is her mother all over. [Colloq.] -- Coloq. All the better , wholly the better; that is, better by the whole difference. -- Coloq. All the same , nevertheless. “There they [certain phenomena] remain rooted all the same, whether we recognize them or not.” J. C. Shairp. “But Rugby is a very nice place all the same.” T. Arnold. -- See also under , n.
[ Webster]

All (�), n. The whole number, quantity, or amount; the entire thing; everything included or concerned; the aggregate; the whole; totality; everything or every person; as, our all is at stake.
[ Webster]

Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all. Shak.
[ Webster]

All that thou seest is mine. Gen. xxxi. 43.
[ Webster]

All is used with of, like a partitive; as, all of a thing, all of us.
[ Webster]

Coloq. After all , after considering everything to the contrary; nevertheless. -- Coloq. All in all , a phrase which signifies all things to a person, or everything desired; (also adverbially) wholly; altogether.
[ Webster]
Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee,
Forever. Milton.
[ Webster]
Trust me not at all, or all in all. Tennyson.
[ Webster]
-- Coloq. All in the wind (Naut.), a phrase denoting that the sails are parallel with the course of the wind, so as to shake. -- Coloq. All told , all counted; in all. -- Coloq. And all , and the rest; and everything connected. “Bring our crown and all.” Shak. -- Coloq. At all . (a) In every respect; wholly; thoroughly. [Obs.] “She is a shrew at al(l).” Chaucer. (b) A phrase much used by way of enforcement or emphasis, usually in negative or interrogative sentences, and signifying in any way or respect; in the least degree or to the least extent; in the least; under any circumstances; as, he has no ambition at all; has he any property at all? “Nothing at all.” Shak. “If thy father at all miss me.” 1 Sam. xx. 6. -- Coloq. Over all , everywhere. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

☞ All is much used in composition to enlarge the meaning, or add force to a word. In some instances, it is completely incorporated into words, and its final consonant is dropped, as in almighty, already, always: but, in most instances, it is an adverb prefixed to adjectives or participles, but usually with a hyphen, as, all-bountiful, all-glorious, allimportant, all-surrounding, etc. In others it is an adjective; as, allpower, all-giver. Anciently many words, as, alabout, alaground, etc., were compounded with all, which are now written separately.
[ Webster]

All, conj. [Orig. all, adv., wholly: used with though or if, which being dropped before the subjunctive left all as if in the sense although.] Although; albeit. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

All they were wondrous loth. Spenser.
[ Webster]

Alla breve (�). [It., according to the breve.] (Old Church Music) With one breve, or four minims, to measure, and sung faster like four crotchets; in quick common time; -- indicated in the time signature by �.
[ Webster]

Allah (�), n. [ contr. fr. the article al the + ilah God.] The name of the Supreme Being, in use among the Arabs and the Mohammedans generally.
[ Webster]

All-a-mort (�), a. See .
[ Webster]

Allanite (�), n. [From T. Allan, who first distinguished it as a species.] (min.) A silicate containing a large amount of cerium. It is usually black in color, opaque, and is related to epidote in form and composition.
[ Webster]

Allantoic (�), a. [Cf. F. allantoïque.] Pertaining to, or contained in, the allantois.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Allantoic acid . (Chem.) See .
[ Webster]

{ Allantoid (�), Allantoidal (�), } a. [Gr. � shaped like a sausage; � sausage + e'i^dos form.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the allantois.
[ Webster]

Allantoidea (�), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) The division of Vertebrata in which the embryo develops an allantois. It includes reptiles, birds, and mammals.
[ Webster]

Allantoin (�), n. (Chem.) A crystalline, transparent, colorless substance found in the allantoic liquid of the fetal calf; -- formerly called allantoic acid and amniotic acid.
[ Webster]

{ Allantois (�), Allantoid (�), } n.. (Anat.) A membranous appendage of the embryos of mammals, birds, and reptiles, -- in mammals serving to connect the fetus with the parent; the urinary vesicle.
[ Webster]

Allatrate (�), v. i. [L. allatrare. See .] To bark as a dog. [Obs.] Stubbes.
[ Webster]

Allay (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allayed (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Allaying.] [OE. alaien, aleggen, to lay down, put down, humble, put an end to, AS. ālecgan; ā- (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out) + lecgan to lay; but confused with old forms of allege, alloy, alegge. See .] 1. To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm; as, to allay popular excitement; to allay the tumult of the passions.
[ Webster]

2. To alleviate; to abate; to mitigate; as, to allay the severity of affliction or the bitterness of adversity.
[ Webster]

It would allay the burning quality of that fell poison. Shak.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- To alleviate; check; repress; assuage; appease; abate; subdue; destroy; compose; soothe; calm; quiet. See .
[ Webster]

Allay (�), v. t. To diminish in strength; to abate; to subside. “When the rage allays.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Allay, n. Alleviation; abatement; check. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Allay, n. Alloy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Allay, v. t. To mix (metals); to mix with a baser metal; to alloy; to deteriorate. [Archaic] Fuller.
[ Webster]

Allayer (�), n. One who, or that which, allays.
[ Webster]

Allayment (�), n. An allaying; that which allays; mitigation. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

The like allayment could I give my grief. Shak.
[ Webster]

all-devouring adj. prenom. 1. both plant- and flesh-eating; -- said of animals.
[WordNet 1.5]

Allecret (�), n. [OF. alecret, halecret, hallecret.] A kind of light armor used in the sixteenth century, esp. by the Swiss. Fairholt.
[ Webster]

Allect (�), v. t. [L. allectare, freq. of allicere, allectum.] To allure; to entice. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Allectation (�), n. [L. allectatio.] Enticement; allurement. [Obs.] Bailey.
[ Webster]

Allective (�), a. [LL. allectivus.] Alluring. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Allective, n. Allurement. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
[ Webster]

Alledge (�), v. t. See . [Obs.]
[ Webster]

☞ This spelling, corresponding to abridge, was once the prevailing one.
[ Webster]

Allegation (�), n. [L. allegatio, fr. allegare, allegatum, to send a message, cite; later, to free by giving reasons; ad + legare to send, commission. Cf. and .] 1. The act of alleging or positively asserting.
[ Webster]

2. That which is alleged, asserted, or declared; positive assertion; formal averment
[ Webster]

I thought their allegation but reasonable. Steele.
[ Webster]

3. (Law) A statement by a party of what he undertakes to prove, -- usually applied to each separate averment; the charge or matter undertaken to be proved.
[ Webster]

Allege (ăllĕj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alleged (-lĕjd); p. pr. & vb. n. Alleging.] [OE. aleggen to bring forward as evidence, OF. esligier to buy, prop. to free from legal difficulties, fr. an assumed LL. exlitigare; L. ex + litigare to quarrel, sue (see ). The word was confused with L. allegare (see ), and lex law. Cf. .] 1. To bring forward with positiveness; to declare; to affirm; to assert; as, to allege a fact.
[ Webster]

2. To cite or quote; as, to allege the authority of a judge. [Archaic]
[ Webster]

3. To produce or urge as a reason, plea, or excuse; as, he refused to lend, alleging a resolution against lending.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- To bring forward; adduce; advance; assign; produce; declare; affirm; assert; aver; predicate.
[ Webster]

Allege, v. t. [See .] To alleviate; to lighten, as a burden or a trouble. [Obs.] Wyclif.
[ Webster]

Allegeable (�), a. Capable of being alleged or affirmed.
[ Webster]

The most authentic examples allegeable in the case. South.
[ Webster]

Allegeance (�), n. Allegation. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Allegement (�), n. Allegation. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

With many complaints and allegements. Bp. Sanderson.
[ Webster]

Alleger (�), n. One who affirms or declares.
[ Webster]

Allegge (�), v. t. See and . [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Alleghenian (?), a. Also Alleghanian. (Biogeography) Pertaining to or designating the humid division of the Transition zone extending across the northern United States from New England to eastern Dakota, and including also most of Pennsylvania and the mountainous region as far south as northern Georgia.
[Webster Suppl.]

Allegheny (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to the Allegheny Mountains, or the region where they are situated. Also Alleghany.
[Webster Suppl.]

2. [From the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania.] (Geol.) Pertaining to or designating a subdivision of the Pennsylvanian coal measure.
[Webster Suppl.]

Allegiance (�), n. [OE. alegeaunce; pref. a- + OF. lige, liege. The meaning was influenced by L. ligare to bind, and even by lex, legis, law. See , .] 1. The tie or obligation, implied or expressed, which a subject owes to his sovereign or government; the duty of fidelity to one's king, government, or state.
[ Webster]

2. Devotion; loyalty; as, allegiance to science.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- Loyalty; fealty. -- , . These words agree in expressing the general idea of fidelity and attachment to the “powers that be.” Allegiance is an obligation to a ruling power. Loyalty is a feeling or sentiment towards such power. Allegiance may exist under any form of government, and, in a republic, we generally speak of allegiance to the government, to the state, etc. In well conducted monarchies, loyalty is a warm-hearted feeling of fidelity and obedience to the sovereign. It is personal in its nature; and hence we speak of the loyalty of a wife to her husband, not of her allegiance. In cases where we personify, loyalty is more commonly the word used; as, loyalty to the constitution; loyalty to the cause of virtue; loyalty to truth and religion, etc.
[ Webster]

Hear me, recreant, on thine allegiance hear me! Shak.
[ Webster]

So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found, . . .
Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified,
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal. Milton.
[ Webster]

Allegiant (�), a. Loyal. Shak.
[ Webster]

{ Allegoric (�), Allegorical (�), } a. [F. allégorique, L. allegorius, fr. Gr. �. See .] Belonging to, or consisting of, allegory; of the nature of an allegory; describing by resemblances; figurative. “An allegoric tale.” Falconer. “An allegorical application.” Pope.
[ Webster]

Allegorical being . . . that kind of language which says one thing, but means another. Max Miller.
[ Webster]

Allegorically, adv. -- Allegoricalness, n.
[ Webster]

Allegorist (�), n. [Cf. F. allegoriste.] One who allegorizes; a writer of allegory. Hume.
[ Webster]

Allegorization (�), n. The act of turning into allegory, or of understanding in an allegorical sense.
[ Webster]

Allegorize (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allegorized (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Allegorizing.] [Cf. F. allégoriser, fr. L. allegorizare.] 1. To form or turn into allegory; as, to allegorize the history of a people.
[ Webster]

2. To treat as allegorical; to understand in an allegorical sense; as, when a passage in a writer may understood literally or figuratively, he who gives it a figurative sense is said to allegorize it.
[ Webster]

Allegorize, v. t. To use allegory. Holland.
[ Webster]

Allegorizer (�), n. One who allegorizes, or turns things into allegory; an allegorist.
[ Webster]

Allegory (�), n.; pl. Allegories (�). [L. allegoria, Gr. �, description of one thing under the image of another; � other + � to speak in the assembly, harangue, � place of assembly, fr. � to assemble: cf. F. allégorie.] 1. A figurative sentence or discourse, in which the principal subject is described by another subject resembling it in its properties and circumstances. The real subject is thus kept out of view, and we are left to collect the intentions of the writer or speaker by the resemblance of the secondary to the primary subject.
[ Webster]

2. Anything which represents by suggestive resemblance; an emblem.
[ Webster]

3. (Paint. & Sculpt.) A figure representation which has a meaning beyond notion directly conveyed by the object painted or sculptured.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- Metaphor; fable. -- , . “An allegory differs both from fable and parable, in that the properties of persons are fictitiously represented as attached to things, to which they are as it were transferred. . . . A figure of Peace and Victory crowning some historical personage is an allegory. “I am the Vine, ye are the branches” [John xv. 1-6] is a spoken allegory. In the parable there is no transference of properties. The parable of the sower [Matt. xiii. 3-23] represents all things as according to their proper nature. In the allegory quoted above the properties of the vine and the relation of the branches are transferred to the person of Christ and His apostles and disciples.” C. J. Smith.
[ Webster]

An allegory is a prolonged metaphor. Bunyan's “Pilgrim's Progress” and Spenser's “Faërie Queene” are celebrated examples of the allegory.
[ Webster]

Allegresse (�), n. [F. allégresse, fr. L. alacer sprightly.] Joy; gladsomeness.
[ Webster]

Allegretto (�), a. [It., dim. of allegro.] (Mus.) Quicker than andante, but not so quick as allegro. -- n. A movement in this time.
[ Webster]

Allegro (�), a. [It., merry, gay, fr. L. alacer lively. Cf. .] (Mus.) Brisk, lively. -- n. An allegro movement; a quick, sprightly strain or piece.
[ Webster]

allele n. 1. 1 1. one of two or more alternative forms of a gene that can have the same place on homologous chromosomes and are responsible for alternative traits.
Syn. -- allelomorph
[WordNet 1.5]

2. either of a pair of Mendelian characters that may occur in an organism as a consequence of variation at one gene locus.
[PJC]

allelic adj. 1. of or pertaining to alleles.
[WordNet 1.5]

Allelomorph (?), n. [Gr. � of one another + Gr. morfh form.] (Biol.) One of the pure unit characters commonly existing singly or in pairs in the germ cells of Mendelian hybrids, and exhibited in varying proportion among the organisms themselves; same as , 2. Allelomorphs which under certain circumstances are themselves compound are called hypallelomorphs. See . -- Allelomorphic (#), a.
[ Webster]

As we know that the several unit characters are of such a nature that any one of them is capable of independently displacing or being displaced by one or more alternative characters taken singly, we may recognize this fact by naming such characters allelomorphs. Bateson.
[Webster Suppl.]

allelomorphic adj. 1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an allelomorph.
[WordNet 1.5]

{ Alleluia, Alleluiah } (�), n. [L. alleluia, Gr. �, fr. Heb. hallēlū-yāh. See .] An exclamation signifying Praise ye Jehovah. Hence: A song of praise to God. See , the commoner form.
[ Webster]

I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia. Rev. xix. 1.
[ Webster]

Allemande (�), n. [F., fr. allemand German.] 1. (Mus.) A dance in moderate twofold time, invented by the French in the reign of Louis XIV.; -- now mostly found in suites of pieces, like those of Bach and Handel.
[ Webster]

2. A figure in dancing.
[ Webster]

Allemannic (�), a. See .
[ Webster]

all-embracing adj. 1. 1 broad in scope or content.
Syn. -- all-inclusive, across-the-board, blanket(prenominal), broad, complete, global, panoptic, wide
[WordNet 1.5]

Allenarly (�), adv. [All + anerly singly, fr. ane one.] Solely; only. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
[ Webster]

Aller (�), a. [For ealra, the AS. gen. pl. of eal all.] Same as , of all. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

allergenic adj. 1. of or pertaining to allergens or allergenicity.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. causing an allergy or an allergic reaction.
[PJC]

allergic adj. 1. of or pertaining to allergy. allergic reaction
[WordNet 1.5]

2. 1 having an allergy or peculiar or excessive susceptibilty especially to a specific factor allergic children
Syn. -- hypersensitive, hypersensitized, sensitized, supersensitive, supersensitized
[WordNet 1.5]

allergist n. 1. a physician skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies.
[WordNet 1.5]

allergy n. 1. hypersensitivity to a particular substance. “an allergy to bee venom so severe that a second sting may be fatal”
[WordNet 1.5]

Allerion (�), n. [F. alérion, LL. alario a sort of eagle; of uncertain origin.] (Her.) Am eagle without beak or feet, with expanded wings. Burke.
[ Webster]

Alleviate (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alleviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Alleviating.] [LL. alleviare, fr. L. ad + levis light. See , .] 1. To lighten or lessen the force or weight of. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Should no others join capable to alleviate the expense. Evelyn.
[ Webster]

Those large bladders . . . conduce much to the alleviating of the body [of flying birds]. Ray.
[ Webster]

2. To lighten or lessen (physical or mental troubles); to mitigate, or make easier to be endured; as, to alleviate sorrow, pain, care, etc. ; -- opposed to aggravate.
[ Webster]

The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is much alleviated by giving the use of letters. Bp. Horsley.
[ Webster]

3. To extenuate; to palliate. [R.]
[ Webster]

He alleviates his fault by an excuse. Johnson.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- To lessen; diminish; soften; mitigate; assuage; abate; relieve; nullify; allay. -- To , , , . These words have in common the idea of relief from some painful state; and being all figurative, they differ in their application, according to the image under which this idea is presented. Alleviate supposes a load which is lightened or taken off; as, to alleviate one's cares. Mitigate supposes something fierce which is made mild; as, to mitigate one's anguish. Assuage supposes something violent which is quieted; as, to assuage one's sorrow. Allay supposes something previously excited, but now brought down; as, to allay one's suffering or one's thirst. To alleviate the distresses of life; to mitigate the fierceness of passion or the violence of grief; to assuage angry feeling; to allay wounded sensibility.
[ Webster]

alleviated adj. 1. 1 made less severe or intense. unmitigated
Syn. -- eased, relieved, mitigated.
[WordNet 1.5]

Alleviation (�), n. [LL. alleviatio.] 1. The act of alleviating; a lightening of weight or severity; mitigation; relief.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z