Asterope - Astronomic

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Asterope (?), n. [Gr. �, lit., lightning.] 1. (Myth.) One of the Pleiades; -- called also Sterope.
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2. (Astron.) A double star in the Pleiades (21 k and 22 l Pleiadum, of the 5.8 and 6.4 magnitude respectively), appearing as a single star of the 5.3 magnitude to the naked eye.
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Asterophyllite (ăstẽrŏfĭllīt), n. [Gr. 'asthr star + fyllon leaf.] (Paleon.) A fossil plant from the coal formations of Europe and America, now regarded as the branchlets and foliage of calamites.
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Astert (�), v. t. [Pref. a- + start; OE. asterten, asturten.] To start up; to befall; to escape; to shun. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Astert, v. i. To escape. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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{ Asthenia (�), Astheny (�), } n. [NL. asthenia, Gr. 'asqenia; 'a priv. + sqenos strength.] (Med.) Want or loss of strength; debility; diminution of the vital forces.
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Asthenic (�), a. [Gr. 'asqenikos; 'a priv. + sqenos strength.] (Med.) Characterized by, or pertaining to, debility; weak; debilitating.
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Asthenopia (�), n. [Gr. 'a priv. + sqenos strength + 'wps eye.] Weakness of sight. Quain. -- Asthenopic (�), a.
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asthenosphere n. 1. the lower layer of the earth's crust, below the lithosphere. It is estimated as from fifty to several hundred miles thick. It is less rigid than the lithosphere, but still rigid enough to transmit some transverse seismic waves. [RHUD]
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astheny n. 1. an abnormal loss of strength.
Syn. -- asthenia
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Asthma (?; 277), n. [Gr. � short-drawn breath, fr. � to blow, for �: cf. Skr. vā, Goth. waian, to blow, E. wind.] (Med.) A disease, characterized by difficulty of breathing (due to a spasmodic contraction of the bronchi), recurring at intervals, accompanied with a wheezing sound, a sense of constriction in the chest, a cough, and expectoration.
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Asthma paper. Paper impregnated with saltpeter. The fumes from the burning paper are often inhaled as an alleviative by asthmatics. [Archaic]
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{ Asthmatic (�), Asthmatical (�), } a. [L. asthmaticus, Gr. �.] Of or pertaining to asthma; as, an asthmatic cough; liable to, or suffering from, asthma; as, an asthmatic patient. -- Asthmatically, adv.
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Asthmatic, n. A person affected with asthma.
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Astigmatic (�), a. (Med. & Opt.) Affected with, or pertaining to, astigmatism; as, astigmatic eyes; also, remedying astigmatism; as, astigmatic lenses.
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Astigmatism (�), n. [Gr. 'a priv. + �, �, a prick of a pointed instrument, a spot, fr. � to prick: cf. F. astigmatisme.] (Med. & Opt.) A defect of the eye or of a lens, in consequence of which the rays derived from one point are not brought to a single focal point, thus causing imperfect images or indistinctness of vision.
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☞ The term is applied especially to the defect causing images of lines having a certain direction to be indistinct, or imperfectly seen, while those of lines transverse to the former are distinct, or clearly seen.
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Astipulate (�), v. i. [L. astipulari; ad + stipulari to stipulate.] To assent. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
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Astipulation (�), n. [L. astipulatio.] Stipulation; agreement. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
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Astir (�), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + stir.] Stirring; in a state of activity or motion; out of bed.
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{ Astomatous (�), Astomous (�), } a. [Gr. 'a priv. + �, �, mouth.] Not possessing a mouth.
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{ Aston (�), Astone (�), } v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astoned, Astond, or Astound.] [See .] To stun; to astonish; to stupefy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Astonied (�), p. p. Stunned; astonished. See . [Archaic]
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And I astonied fell and could not pray. Mrs. Browning.
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Astonish (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astonished (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Astonishing.] [OE. astonien, astunian, astonen, OF. estoner, F. étonner, fr. L. ex out + tonare to thunder, but perhaps influenced by E. stun. See , , .] 1. To stun; to render senseless, as by a blow. [Obs.]
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Enough, captain; you have astonished him. [Fluellen had struck Pistol]. Shak.
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The very cramp-fish [i. e., torpedo] . . . being herself not benumbed, is able to astonish others. Holland.
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2. To strike with sudden fear, terror, or wonder; to amaze; to surprise greatly, as with something unaccountable; to confound with some sudden emotion or passion.
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Musidorus . . . had his wits astonished with sorrow. Sidney.
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I, Daniel . . . was astonished at the vision. Dan. viii. 27.
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Syn. -- To amaze; astound; overwhelm; surprise. -- , . We are surprised at what is unexpected. We are astonished at what is above or beyond our comprehension. We are taken by surprise. We are struck with astonishment. C. J. Smith. See .
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Astonishedly (�), adv. In an astonished manner. [R.] Bp. Hall.
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Astonishing, a. Very wonderful; of a nature to excite astonishment; as, an astonishing event.
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Syn. -- Amazing; surprising; wonderful; marvelous.
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Astonishingly, adv. -- Astonishingness, n.
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Astonishment (�), n. [Cf. OF. estonnement, F. étonnement.] 1. The condition of one who is stunned. Hence: Numbness; loss of sensation; stupor; loss of sense. [Obs.]
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A coldness and astonishment in his loins, as folk say. Holland.
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2. Dismay; consternation. [Archaic] Spenser.
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3. The overpowering emotion excited when something unaccountable, wonderful, or dreadful is presented to the mind; an intense degree of surprise; amazement.
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Lest the place
And my quaint habits breed astonishment. Milton.
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4. The object causing such an emotion.
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Thou shalt become an astonishment. Deut. xxviii. 37.
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Syn. -- Amazement; wonder; surprise.
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Astony (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astonied (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Astonying. See .] To stun; to bewilder; to astonish; to dismay. [Archaic]
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The captain of the Helots . . . strake Palladius upon the side of his head, that he reeled astonied. Sir P. Sidney.
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This sodeyn cas this man astonied so,
That reed he wex, abayst, and al quaking. Chaucer.
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Astoop (�), adv. [Pref. a- + stoop.] In a stooping or inclined position. Gay.
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Astound (�), a. [OE. astouned, astound, astoned, p. p. of astone. See .] Stunned; astounded; astonished. [Archaic] Spenser.
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Thus Ellen, dizzy and astound.
As sudden ruin yawned around. Sir W. Scott.
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Astound, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astounded, [Obs.] Astound; p. pr. & vb. n. Astounding.] [See , a.] 1. To stun; to stupefy.
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No puissant stroke his senses once astound. Fairfax.
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2. To astonish; to strike with amazement; to confound with wonder, surprise, or fear.
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These thoughts may startle well, but not astound
The virtuous mind. Milton.
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astounded adj. 1. struck with an intense and usually sudden surprise sufficient to produce wonder or perplexity
Syn. -- amazed, astonied, astonished, dumbfounded, flabbergasted, stunned, stupefied, thunderstruck
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Astounding, a. Of a nature to astound; astonishing; amazing; as, an astounding force, statement, or fact. -- Astoundingly, adv.
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Astoundment (�), n. Amazement. Coleridge.
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Astrachan (�), a. & n. See .
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Astraddle (�), adv. [Pref. a- + straddle.] In a straddling position; astride; bestriding; as, to sit astraddle a horse.
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Astræan (�), a. [Gr. � starry.] (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the genus Astræa or the family Astræidæ. -- n. A coral of the family Astræidæ; a star coral.
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Astragal (�), n. [L. astragalus, Gr. � the ankle bone, a molding in the capital of the Ionic column.] 1. (Arch.) A convex molding of rounded surface, generally from half to three quarters of a circle.
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2. (Gun.) A round molding encircling a cannon near the mouth.
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Astragalar (�), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the astragalus.
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Astragaloid (�), a. [Astragalus + -oid.] (Anat.) Resembling the astragalus in form.
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Astragalomancy (�), n. [Gr. � ankle bone, die + -mancy.] Divination by means of small bones or dice.
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Astragalus (�), n. [L. See .] 1. (Anat.) The ankle bone, or hock bone; the bone of the tarsus which articulates with the tibia at the ankle.
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2. (Bot.) A genus of papilionaceous plants, of the tribe Galegeæ, containing numerous species, two of which are called, in English, milk vetch and licorice vetch. Gum tragacanth is obtained from different oriental species, particularly the Astragalus gummifer and Astragalus verus.
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3. (Arch.) See , 1.
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Astrakhan (�), a. Of or pertaining to Astrakhan in Russia or its products; made of an Astrakhan skin. -- n. The skin of stillborn or young lambs of that region, the curled wool of which resembles fur.
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Astral (�), a. [L. astralis, fr. astrum star, Gr. �: cf. F. astral. See .] 1. Pertaining to, coming from, or resembling, the stars; starry; starlike.
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Shines only with an astral luster. I. Taylor.
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Some astral forms I must invoke by prayer. Dryden.
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2. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to an aster; as, astral rays; astral sphere.
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3. (Theosophy) Consisting of, belonging to, or designating, a kind of supersensible substance alleged to be next above the tangible world in refinement; as, astral spirits; astral bodies of persons; astral current; the astral plane.
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Coloq. Astral lamp , an Argand lamp so constructed that no shadow is cast upon the table by the flattened ring-shaped reservoir in which the oil is contained. -- Coloq. Astral spirits , spirits formerly supposed to live in the heavenly bodies or the aërial regions, and represented in the Middle Ages as fallen angels, spirits of the dead, or spirits originating in fire.
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Astrand (�), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + strand.] Stranded. Sir W. Scott.
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Astray (�), adv. & a. [See , .] Out of the right, either in a literal or in a figurative sense; wandering; as, to lead one astray.
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Ye were as sheep going astray. 1 Pet. ii. 25.
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Astrict (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astricted; p. pr. & vb. n. Astricting.] [L. astrictus, p. p. of astringere. See .] 1. To bind up; to confine; to constrict; to contract.
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The solid parts were to be relaxed or astricted. Arbuthnot.
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2. To bind; to constrain; to restrict; to limit. [R.]
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The mind is astricted to certain necessary modes or forms of thought. Sir W. Hamilton.
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3. (Scots Law) To restrict the tenure of; as, to astrict lands. See , 4. Burrill.
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Astrict, a. Concise; contracted. [Obs.] Weever.
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Astriction (�), n. [L. astrictio.] 1. The act of binding; restriction; also, obligation. Milton.
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2. (Med.) (a) A contraction of parts by applications; the action of an astringent substance on the animal economy. Dunglison. (b) Constipation. Arbuthnot.
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3. Astringency. [Obs.] Bacon.
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4. (Scots Law) An obligation to have the grain growing on certain lands ground at a certain mill, the owner paying a toll. Bell.
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☞ The lands were said to be astricted to the mill.
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Astrictive (�), a. Binding; astringent. -- n. An astringent. -- Astrictively, adv.
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Astrictory (�), a. Astrictive. [R.]
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Astride (�), adv. [Pref. a- + stride.] With one leg on each side, as a man when on horseback; with the legs stretched wide apart; astraddle.
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Placed astride upon the bars of the palisade. Sir W. Scott.
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Glasses with horn bows sat astride on his nose. Longfellow.
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Astriferous (acr/strĭfẽrŭs), a. [L. astrifer; astrum star + ferre to bear.] Bearing stars. [R.] Blount.
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Astringe (ăstrĭnj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astringed (-trĭnjd); p. pr. & vb. n. Astringing (-jĭng).] [L. astringere; ad + stringere to draw tight. Cf. , and see , v. t.] 1. To bind fast; to constrict; to contract; to cause parts to draw together; to compress.
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Which contraction . . . astringeth the moisture of the brain and thereby sendeth tears into the eyes. Bacon.
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2. To bind by moral or legal obligation. Wolsey.
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Astringency (ăstrĭnj�ns�), n. The quality of being astringent; the power of contracting the parts of the body; that quality in medicines or other substances which causes contraction of the organic textures; as, the astringency of tannin.
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Astringent (-j�nt), a. [L. astringens, p. pr. of astringere: cf. F. astringent. See .] 1. Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; -- opposed to laxative; as, astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste; astringent fruit.
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2. Stern; austere; as, an astringent type of virtue.
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Astringent, n. A medicine or other substance that produces contraction in the soft organic textures, and checks discharges of blood, mucus, etc.
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External astringents are called styptics. Dunglison.
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Astringently, adv. In an astringent manner.
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Astringer (�), n. [OE. ostreger, OF. ostrucier, F. autoursier, fr. OF. austour, ostor, hawk, F. autour; cf. L. acceptor, for accipiter, hawk.] A falconer who keeps a goshawk. [Obs.] Shak. Cowell. [Written also austringer.]
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Astro- (�). The combining form of the Greek word 'astron, meaning star.
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astrobiology n. exobiology; -- not used technically.
Syn. -- exobiology.
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astrochemistry n. the branch of science involving astronomy and chemistry which studies the chemical composition, chemical reactions, and evolution of matter in outer space. -- astrochemical (�), a. -- astrochemically (�), adv.
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astrocyte n. a large star-shaped neuroglial cell in nervous tissue.
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astrocytoma n. a tumor of nervous tissue derived from interstitial cells, in which the cells are relatively well-differentiated and resemble astrocytes. The occur primarily in the crebrum and cerebellum. Stedman
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{ Astrofel, Astrofell } (�), n. A bitter herb, probably the same as aster, or starwort. Spenser.
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Astrogeny (�), n. [Astro- + Gr. � birth.] The creation or evolution of the stars or the heavens. H. Spencer.
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Astrognosy (�), n. [Astro- + Gr. � knowledge.] The science or knowledge of the stars, esp. the fixed stars. Bouvier.
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Astrogony (�), n. Same as . -- Astrogonic (�), a.
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Astrography (�), n. [Astro'cf + -graphy.] The art of describing or delineating the stars; a description or mapping of the heavens.
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Astroite (�), n. [L. astroites: cf. F. astroite.] A radiated stone or fossil; star-stone. [Obs.] [Written also astrite and astrion.]
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Astrolabe (ăstr�lāb), n. [OE. astrolabie, astrilabe, OF. astrelabe, F. astrolabe, LL. astrolabium, fr. Gr. 'astrolabon; 'astron star + �, �, to take.] 1. (Astron.) An instrument for observing or showing the positions of the stars. It is now disused.
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☞ Among the ancients, it was essentially the armillary sphere. A graduated circle with sights, for taking altitudes at sea, was called an astrolabe in the 18th century. It is now superseded by the quadrant and sextant.
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2. A stereographic projection of the sphere on the plane of a great circle, as the equator, or a meridian; a planisphere. Whewell.
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Astrolater (�), n. A worshiper of the stars. Morley.
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Astrolatry (�), n. [Astro- + Gr. � service, worship: cf. F. astrolâtrie.] The worship of the stars.
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Astrolithology (�), n. [Astro- + lithology.] The science of aërolites.
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Astrologer (�), n. [See .] 1. One who studies the stars; an astronomer. [Obs.]
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2. One who practices astrology; one who professes to foretell events by the aspects and situation of the stars.
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Astrologian (�), n. [OF. astrologien.] An astrologer. [Obs.]
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{ Astrologic (�), Astrological (�), } a. [Gr. 'astrologikos.] Of or pertaining to astrology; professing or practicing astrology. “Astrologic learning.” Hudibras. “Astrological prognostication.” Cudworth. -- Astrologically, adv.
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Astrologize (�), v. t. & i. To apply astrology to; to study or practice astrology.
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Astrology (ăstrŏl�j�), n. [F. astrologie, L. astrologia, fr. Gr. 'astrologia, fr. 'astrologos astronomer, astrologer; 'asthr star + logos discourse, legein to speak. See .] In its etymological signification, the science of the stars; among the ancients, synonymous with astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects.
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☞ Astrology was much in vogue during the Middle Ages, and became the parent of modern astronomy, as alchemy did of chemistry. It was divided into two kinds: judicial astrology, which assumed to foretell the fate and acts of nations and individuals, and natural astrology, which undertook to predict events of inanimate nature, such as changes of the weather, etc.
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Astromantic (�), a. [Gr. � astrology.] Of or pertaining to divination by means of the stars; astrologic. [R.] Dr. H. More.
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Astrometeorology (�), n. [Astro- + meteorology.] The investigation of the relation between the sun, moon, and stars, and the weather. -- Astrometeorological (�), a. -- Astrometeorologist (�), n.
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Astrometer (�), n. [Astro- + meter.] An instrument for comparing the relative amount of the light of stars.
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Astrometry (�), n. [Astro- + metry.] The art of making measurements among the stars, or of determining their relative magnitudes.
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astronaut adj. a person trained to travel in a spacecraft; one who travels in a spacecraft; -- called in the Soviet Union and Russia cosmonaut.
Syn. -- spaceman, cosmonaut
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astronautic adj. of or pertaining to astronautics.
Syn. -- astronautical
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astronautical adj. of or pertaining to astronautics.
Syn. -- astronautic
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astronautics n. the theory and practice of navigation through the upper atmosphere or outer space; the science of travel in space.
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astronavigation n. 1. navigating according to the positions of the stars.
Syn. -- celestial navigation
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Astronomer (�), n. [See .] 1. An astrologer. [Obs.] Shak.
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2. One who is versed in astronomy; one who has a knowledge of the laws of the heavenly orbs, or the principles by which their motions are regulated, with their various phenomena.
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An undevout astronomer is mad. Young.
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Astronomian (�), n. [OE. & OF. astronomien. See .] An astrologer. [Obs.]
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Astronomic (�), a. Astronomical.
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