Amovability - Amphitropal

Amour propre (ȧm�r pr�pr'). [F.] Self-love; self-esteem.
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Amovability (�), n. Liability to be removed or dismissed from office. [R.] T. Jefferson.
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Amovable (�), a. [Cf. F. amovible.] Removable.
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Amove (�), v. t. [L. amovere; a- (ab) + movere to move: cf. OF. amover.] 1. To remove, as a person or thing, from a position. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
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2. (Law) To dismiss from an office or station.
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Amove, v. t. & i. [OE. amovir, L. admovere to move to, to excite; ad + movere.] To move or be moved; to excite. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Ampelite (ămp�līt), n. [L. ampelitis, Gr. 'ampeli^tis, fr. 'ampelos vine.] (Min.) An earth abounding in pyrites, used by the ancients to kill insects, etc., on vines; -- applied by Brongniart to a carbonaceous alum schist.
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Ampelopsis (ămp�lŏpsĭs), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'ampelos vine + 'opsis appearance.] (Bot.) A genus formerly including the Virginia creeper.
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Amperage (?), n. (Elec.) The strength of a current of electricity carried by a conductor or generated by a machine, measured in ampères.
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{ Ampère (äNpâr), Ampere (ămpār), } n. [From the name of a French electrician.] (Elec.) The unit of electric current; -- defined by the International Electrical Congress in 1893 and by U. S. Statute as, one tenth of the unit of current of the C. G. S. system of electro-magnetic units, or the practical equivalent of the unvarying current which, when passed through a standard solution of nitrate of silver in water, deposits silver at the rate of 0.001118 grams per second. Called also the international ampère.
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Ampère foot. (Elec.) A unit, employed in calculating fall of pressure in distributing mains, equivalent to a current of one ampère flowing through one foot of conductor.
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Ampère hour. (Elec.) The quantity of electricity delivered in one hour by a current whose average strength is one ampère. It is used as a unit of quantity, and is equal to 3600 coulombs. The terms Ampère minute and Ampère second are sometimes similarly used.
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{ Ampèremeter (�), Amperometer (�), } n. [Ampère + meter.] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the strength of an electrical current in ampères.
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ampere-second n. 1. a unit of charge equal to that acquired by the accumulation of one ampere for one second.
Syn. -- coulomb, C
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ampere-turn, Ampère turn. (Elec.) A unit of magnetomotive force equal to the product of one complete convolution (of a coiled conductor) into one ampère of current; thus, a conductor having five convolutions and carrying a current of half an ampère is said to have 21/2 ampère turns. The magnetizing effect of a coil is proportional to the number of its ampère turns.
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Ampersand (�), n. [A corruption of and, per se and, i. e., & by itself makes and.] A word used to describe the character �, �, or &. Halliwell.
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Amphi-. [Gr. 'amfi.] A prefix in words of Greek origin, signifying both, of both kinds, on both sides, about, around.
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Amphiarthrodial (�), a. [Pref. amphi- + arthrodial.] Characterized by amphiarthrosis.
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Amphiarthrosis (�), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'amfi + � a joining, � a joint.] (Anat.) A form of articulation in which the bones are connected by intervening substance admitting slight motion; symphysis.
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Amphiaster (�), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'amfi + 'asthr a star.] (Biol.) The achromatic figure, formed in mitotic cell-division, consisting of two asters connected by a spindle-shaped bundle of rodlike fibers diverging from each aster, and called the spindle.
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Amphibia (�), n. pl. [See .] (Zoöl.) One of the classes of vertebrates.
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☞ The Amphibia are distinguished by having usually no scales, by having eggs and embryos similar to those of fishes, and by undergoing a complete metamorphosis, the young having gills. There are three living orders: (1) The tailless, as the frogs (Anura); (2) The tailed (Urodela), as the salamanders, and the siren group (Sirenoidea), which retain the gills of the young state (hence called Perennibranchiata) through the adult state, among which are the siren, proteus, etc.; (3) The Cœcilians, or serpentlike Amphibia (Ophiomorpha or Gymnophiona), with minute scales and without limbs. The extinct Labyrinthodonts also belonged to this class. The term is sometimes loosely applied to both reptiles and amphibians collectively.
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Amphibial (-�l), a. & n. Amphibian. [R.]
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Amphibian (-an), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Amphibia; as, amphibian reptiles.
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Amphibian, n. (Zoöl.) One of the Amphibia.
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Amphibiological (�), a. Pertaining to amphibiology.
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Amphibiology (�), n. [Gr. � amphibious + -logy: cf. F. amphibiologie.] A treatise on amphibious animals; the department of natural history which treats of the Amphibia.
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Amphibiotica (�), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. 'amfi + biwtikos pertaining to life.] (Zoöl.) A division of insects having aquatic larvæ.
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Amphibious (�), a. [Gr. 'amfibios living a double life, i. e., both on land in water; 'amfi + bios life.] 1. Having the ability to live both on land and in water, as frogs, crocodiles, beavers, and some plants.
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2. Pertaining to, adapted for, or connected with, both land and water.
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The amphibious character of the Greeks was already determined: they were to be lords of land and sea. Hare.
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3. Of a mixed nature; partaking of two natures.
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Not in free and common socage, but in this amphibious subordinate class of villein socage. Blackstone.
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Amphibiously, adv. Like an amphibious being.
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Amphibium (�), n.; pl. L. Amphibia (�); E. Amphibiums (�). [NL., fr. Gr. � (sc. � an animal). See .] An amphibian.
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Amphiblastic (ămfĭblăstĭk), a. [Gr. 'amfi + blastikos tending to sprout.] (Biol.) Segmenting unequally; -- said of telolecithal ova with complete segmentation.
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Amphibole (ămfĭbōl), n. [Gr. 'amfibolos doubtful, equivocal, fr. 'amfiballein to throw round, to doubt: cf. F. amphibole. Haüy so named the genus from the great variety of color and composition assumed by the mineral.] (Min.) A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in color and in composition. It occurs in monoclinic crystals; also massive, generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The color varies from white to gray, green, brown, and black. It is a silicate of magnesium and calcium, with usually aluminium and iron. Some common varieties are tremolite, actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende (the last name being also used as a general term for the whole species). Amphibole is a constituent of many crystalline rocks, as syenite, diorite, most varieties of trachyte, etc. See .
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Amphibolic (ămfĭbŏlĭc), a. 1. Of or pertaining to amphiboly; ambiguous; equivocal.
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2. Of or resembling the mineral amphibole.
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amphibolite n. 1. a metamorphic rock composed chiefly of amphibole and plagioclase.
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Amphibological (ămfĭb�lŏjĭk�l), a. Of doubtful meaning; ambiguous. “Amphibological expressions.” Jer. Taylor.
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-- Amphibologically, adv.
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Amphibology (ămfĭb�l�j�), n.; pl. Amphibologies (-jĭz). [L. amphibologia, for amphibolia, fr. Gr. 'amfibolia, with the ending -logia as if fr. Gr. 'amfibolos ambiguous + logos speech: cf. F. amphibologie. See .] A phrase, discourse, or proposition, susceptible of two interpretations; and hence, of uncertain meaning. It differs from equivocation, which arises from the twofold sense of a single term.
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Amphibolous (�), a. [L. amphibolus, Gr. � thrown about, doubtful. See .]
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1. Ambiguous; doubtful. [Obs.]
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Never was there such an amphibolous quarrel -- both parties declaring themselves for the king. Howell.
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2. (Logic) Capable of two meanings.
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An amphibolous sentence is one that is capable of two meanings, not from the double sense of any of the words, but from its admitting of a double construction; e. g., “The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose.” Whately.
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Amphiboly (�), n.; pl. Amphibolies (�). [L. amphibolia, Gr. �: cf. OE. amphibolie. See .] Ambiguous discourse; amphibology.
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If it oracle contrary to our interest or humor, we will create an amphiboly, a double meaning where there is none. Whitlock.
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Amphibrach (ămfĭbrăk), n. [L. �, Gr. � short at both ends; 'amfi + brachys short.] (Anc. Pros.) A foot of three syllables, the middle one long, the first and last short (˘ -- ˘); as, hăbērĕ. In modern prosody the accented syllable takes the place of the long and the unaccented of the short; as, pro-phetic.
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{ Amphicarpic (�), Amphicarpous (�), } a. [Gr. 'amfi + karpos fruit.] (Bot.) Producing fruit of two kinds, either as to form or time of ripening.
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Amphichroic (�), a. [Gr. 'amfi + � color.] (Chem.) Exhibiting or producing two colors, as substances which in the color test may change red litmus to blue and blue litmus to red.
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{ Amphicœlian (�), Amphicœlous (�), } a. [Gr. � hollowed all round; 'amfi + � hollow.] (Zoöl.) Having both ends concave; biconcave; -- said of vertebræ.
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Amphicome (�), n. [Gr. � with hair all round; 'amfi + � hair.] A kind of figured stone, rugged and beset with eminences, anciently used in divination. [Obs.] Encyc. Brit.
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Amphictyonic (�), a. [Gr. �.] Of or pertaining to the Amphictyons or their League or Council; as, an Amphictyonic town or state; the Amphictyonic body. W. Smith.
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Amphictyons (�), n. pl. [L. Amphictyones, Gr. �. Prob. the word was orig. � dwellers around, neighbors.] (Grecian Hist.) Deputies from the confederated states of ancient Greece to a congress or council. They considered both political and religious matters.
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Amphictyony (�), n.; pl. Amphictyonies (�). [Gr. �.] (Grecian Hist.) A league of states of ancient Greece; esp. the celebrated confederation known as the Amphictyonic Council. Its object was to maintain the common interests of Greece.
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Amphid (�), n. [Gr. 'amfw both: cf. F. amphide.] (Chem.) A salt of the class formed by the combination of an acid and a base, or by the union of two oxides, two sulphides, selenides, or tellurides, as distinguished from a haloid compound. [R.] Berzelius.
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Amphidisc (�), n. [Gr. 'amfi + diskos a round plate.] (Zoöl.) A peculiar small siliceous spicule having a denticulated wheel at each end; -- found in freshwater sponges.
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Amphidromical (�), a. [Gr. 'amfidromos running about or around.] Pertaining to an Attic festival at the naming of a child; -- so called because the friends of the parents carried the child around the hearth and then named it.
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Amphigamous (�), a. [Gr. � + � marriage.] (Bot.) Having a structure entirely cellular, and no distinct sexual organs; -- a term applied by De Candolle to the lowest order of plants.
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Amphigean (�), a. [Gr. � + �, �, the earth.] Extending over all the zones, from the tropics to the polar zones inclusive.
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Amphigen (�), n. [Gr. � + -gen: cf. F. amphigène.] (Chem.) An element that in combination produces amphid salt; -- applied by Berzelius to oxygen, sulphur, selenium, and tellurium. [R.]
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Amphigene (�), n. (Min.) Leucite.
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Amphigenesis (�), n. [Gr. � + � generation.] (Biol.) Sexual generation; amphigony.
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Amphigenous (�), a. (Bot.) Increasing in size by growth on all sides, as the lichens.
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Amphigonic (�), a. Pertaining to amphigony; sexual; as, amphigonic propagation. [R.]
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Amphigonous (�), a. [Gr. � + � a begetting.] Relating to both parents. [R.]
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Amphigony (�), n. Sexual propagation. [R.]
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Amphigoric (�), a. [See .] Nonsensical; absurd; pertaining to an amphigory.
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Amphigory (�), n. [F. amphigouri, of uncertain derivation; perh. fr. Gr. � + � a circle.] A nonsense verse; a rigmarole, with apparent meaning, which on further attention proves to be meaningless. [Written also amphigouri.]
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{ Amphilogism (�), Amphilogy (�), } n. [Gr. � + -logy.] Ambiguity of speech; equivocation. [R.]
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Amphimacer (�), n. [L. amphimacru�, Gr. �; � on both sides + � long.] (Anc. Pros.) A foot of three syllables, the middle one short and the others long, as in cāst�tās. Andrews.
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Amphineura (�), n. pl. [NL., fr. � + � sinew, nerve.] (Zoöl.) A division of Mollusca remarkable for the bilateral symmetry of the organs and the arrangement of the nerves.
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Amphioxidae n. 1. 1 a family comprising the lancelets.
Syn. -- family Amphioxidae, Branchiostomidae, family Branchiostomidae.
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amphiprostylar adj. 1. 1 having columns at both ends but not on the sides.
Syn. -- amphiprostyle, amphistylar, porticoed
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Amphioxus (�), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � + � sharp.] (Zoöl.) A fishlike creature (Amphioxus lanceolatus), two or three inches long, found in temperature seas; -- also called the lancelet. Its body is pointed at both ends. It is the lowest and most generalized of the vertebrates, having neither brain, skull, vertebræ, nor red blood. It forms the type of the group Acrania, Leptocardia, etc.
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Amphipneust (�), n. [Gr. � + � one who breathes, � to breathe.] (Zoöl.) One of a tribe of Amphibia, which have both lungs and gills at the same time, as the proteus and siren.
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Amphipod (�), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Amphipoda.
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{ Amphipod (�), Amphipodan (�), } a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Amphipoda.
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Amphipoda (�), n. pl. [NL., FR. Gr. � + �, � foot.] (Zoöl.) A numerous group of fourteen -- footed Crustacea, inhabiting both fresh and salt water. The body is usually compressed laterally, and the anterior pairs or legs are directed downward and forward, but the posterior legs are usually turned upward and backward. The beach flea is an example. See and .
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Amphipodous (�), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Amphipoda.
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Amphiprostyle (�), a. [L. amphiprostylos, Gr. � having a double prostyle: cf. F. amphiprostyle. See .] (Arch.) Doubly prostyle; having columns at each end, but not at the sides. -- n. An amphiprostyle temple or edifice.
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Amphirhina (�), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. � + �, �, nose.] (Zoöl.) A name applied to the elasmobranch fishes, because the nasal sac is double.
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Amphisbæna (�), n. [L., fr. Gr. �; � on both ends + � to go.] 1. A fabled serpent with a head at each end, moving either way. Milton.
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2. (Zoöl.) A genus of harmless lizards, serpentlike in form, without legs, and with both ends so much alike that they appear to have a head at each, and ability to move either way. See Illustration in Appendix.
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☞ The Gordius aquaticus, or hairworm, has been called an amphisbæna; but it belongs among the worms.
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Amphisbænoid (�), a. [NL., fr. L. amphisbaena + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the lizards of the genus Amphisbæna.
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{ Amphiscii (�), Amphiscians (�), } n. pl. [Gr. � throwing a shadow both ways; � + � shadow.] The inhabitants of the tropic, whose shadows in one part of the year are cast to the north, and in the other to the south, according as the sun is south or north of their zenith.
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Amphistomous (�), a. [Gr. � + � mouth.] (Zoöl.) Having a sucker at each extremity, as certain entozoa, by means of which they adhere.
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Amphistylic (�), a. [Gr. � + � pillar, support.] (Anat.) Having the mandibular arch articulated with the hyoid arch and the cranium, as in the cestraciont sharks; -- said of a skull.
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{ Amphitheater, Amphitheatre, } (�), n. [L. amphitheatrum, fr. Gr. �; � + � theater: cf. F. amphithéâtre. See .] 1. An oval or circular building with rising tiers of seats about an open space called the arena.
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☞ The Romans first constructed amphitheaters for combats of gladiators and wild beasts.
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2. Anything resembling an amphitheater in form; as, a level surrounded by rising slopes or hills, or a rising gallery in a theater.
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Amphitheatral (�), a. [L. amphitheatralis: cf. F. amphithéâtral.] Amphitheatrical; resembling an amphitheater.
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{ Amphitheatric (�), Amphitheatrical (�), } a. [L. amphitheatricus.] Of, pertaining to, exhibited in, or resembling, an amphitheater.
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Amphitheatrically, adv. In the form or manner of an amphitheater.
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Amphitrocha (ămfĭtr�kȧ), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'amfi + trochos a wheel.] (Zoöl.) A kind of annelid larva having both a dorsal and a ventral circle of special cilia.
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{ Amphitropal (-p�l), Amphitropous (-pŭs), } a. [Gr. 'amfi + trepein to turn.] (Bot.) Having the ovule inverted, but with the attachment near the middle of one side; half anatropous.
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