Astronomical - Atheize

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Astronomical (-ĭk�l), a. [L. astronomicus, Gr. 'astronomikos: cf. F. astronomique.] Of or pertaining to astronomy; in accordance with the methods or principles of astronomy. -- Astronomically, adv.
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Coloq. Astronomical clock . See under . -- Coloq. Astronomical day . See under . -- Coloq. Astronomical fractions , Coloq. Astronomical numbers . See under .
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Astronomize, v. i. [Gr. �.] To study or to talk astronomy. [R.]
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They astronomized in caves. Sir T. Browne.
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Astronomy (�), n. [OE. astronomie, F. astronomie, L. astronomia, fr. Gr. �, fr. � astronomer; 'asthr star + � to distribute, regulate. See , and .] 1. Astrology. [Obs.]
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Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck;
And yet methinks I have astronomy. Shak.
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2. The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena.
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3. A treatise on, or text-book of, the science.
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Coloq. Physical astronomy . See under .
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Astrophel (�), n. See . [Obs.]
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Astrophotography (�), n. [Astro- + photography.] The application of photography to the delineation of the sun, moon, and stars.
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Astrophotometer (?), n. [Pref. astro- + photometer.] (Astron.) A photometer for measuring the brightness of stars.
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Astrophotometry (?), n. (Astron.) The determination of the brightness of stars, and also of the sun, moon, and planets. -- Astrophotometrical (#), a.
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Astrophysical (�), a. Pertaining to the physics of astronomical science.
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astrophysicist n. 1. an astronomer who studies the physical properties of celestial bodies.
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astrophysics n. 1. the concerned with the physical and chemical properties of celestial bodies.
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Astrophysics (?), n. [Astro- + physics.] (Astron.) The science treating of the physical characteristics of the stars and other heavenly bodies, their chemical constitution, light, heat, atmospheres, etc. It is a branch of astronomy.
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☞ Its observations were traditionally made with the spectroscope, bolometer, etc., usually in connection with the telescope. In modern times, radiotelescopes, infrared telescopes, X-ray and gamma ray detectors and neutrino detection equipment located deep underground are all put into service to observe and test theories about astronomical phenomena.
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Astrophyton (�), n. [Astro- + Gr. fyton a plant.] (Zoöl.) A genus of ophiurans having the arms much branched.
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Astroscope (�), n. [Astro- + scope.] An old astronomical instrument, formed of two cones, on whose surface the constellations were delineated.
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Astroscopy (�), n. Observation of the stars. [Obs.]
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Astrotheology (�), n. [Astro- + theology.] Theology founded on observation or knowledge of the celestial bodies. Derham.
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Astructive (�), a. [L. astructus, p. p. of astruere to build up; ad + struere to build.] Building up; constructive; -- opposed to destructive. [Obs.]
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Astrut (�), a. & adv. 1. Sticking out, or puffed out; swelling; in a swelling manner. [Archaic]
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Inflated and astrut with self-conceit. Cowper.
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2. In a strutting manner; with a strutting gait.
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Astucious (�), a. [F. astucieux. See .] Subtle; cunning; astute. [R.] Sir W. Scott. -- Astuciously, adv. [R.]
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Astucity (�), n. [See .] Craftiness; astuteness. [R.] Carlyle.
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Astun (�), v. t. [See , .] To stun. [Obs.] “Breathless and astunned.” Somerville.
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Asturian (�), a. Of or pertaining to Asturias in Spain. -- n. A native of Asturias.
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Astute (�), a. [L. astutus, fr. astus craft, cunning; perh. cognate with E. acute.] Critically discerning; sagacious; shrewd; subtle; crafty.
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Syn. -- Keen; eagle-eyed; penetrating; skilled; discriminating; cunning; sagacious; subtle; wily; crafty.
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Astutely, adv. -- Astuteness, n.
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Astylar (�), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + � pillar.] (arch.) Without columns or pilasters. Weale.
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Astyllen (�), n. (Mining) A small dam to prevent free passage of water in an adit or level.
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Asunder (�), adv. [Pref. a- + sunder.] Apart; separate from each other; into parts; in two; separately; into or in different pieces or places.
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I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder. Zech. xi. 10.
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As wide asunder as pole and pole. Froude.
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Asura (�), n. (Hind. Myth.) An enemy of the gods, esp. one of a race of demons and giants.
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Aswail (�), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) The sloth bear (Melursus labiatus) of India.
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Asweve (�), v. t. [AS. aswebban; a + swebban. See .] To stupefy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Aswing (�), adv. In a state of swinging.
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Aswoon (�), adv. In a swoon. Chaucer.
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Aswooned (�), adv. In a swoon.
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Asylum (�), n.; pl. E. Asylums (�), L. Asyla (�). [L. asylum, Gr. �, fr. � exempt from spoliation, inviolable; 'a priv. + � right of seizure.] 1. A sanctuary or place of refuge and protection, where criminals and debtors found shelter, and from which they could not be forcibly taken without sacrilege.
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So sacred was the church to some, that it had the right of an asylum or sanctuary. Ayliffe.
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☞ The name was anciently given to temples, altars, statues of the gods, and the like. In later times Christian churches were regarded as asylums in the same sense.
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2. Any place of retreat and security.
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Earth has no other asylum for them than its own cold bosom. Southey.
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3. An institution for the protection or relief of some class of destitute, unfortunate, or afflicted persons; as, an asylum for the aged, for the blind, or for the insane; a lunatic asylum; an orphan asylum.
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Asymmetral (�), a. Incommensurable; also, unsymmetrical. [Obs.] D. H. More.
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{ Asymmetric (�), Asymmetrical (�), } a. [See .] 1. Incommensurable. [Obs.]
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2. Not symmetrical; wanting proportion; esp., not bilaterally symmetrical. Huxley.
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Asymmetrous (�), a. [Gr. �.] Asymmetrical. [Obs.] Barrow.
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Asymmetry (�), n. [Gr. �; 'a priv. + � symmetry.] 1. Want of symmetry, or proportion between the parts of a thing, esp. lack of bilateral symmetry.
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2. (Math.) Incommensurability. [Obs.] Barrow.
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asymptomatic adj. (Med.) showing no symptoms of disease.
Syn. -- symptomless.
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Asymptote (?; 215), n. [Gr. � not falling together; 'a priv. + � to fall together; � with + � to fall. Cf. .] (Math.) A line which approaches nearer to some curve than assignable distance, but, though infinitely extended, would never meet it. Asymptotes may be straight lines or curves. A rectilinear asymptote may be conceived as a tangent to the curve at an infinite distance.
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Asynartete (�), a. [Gr. � not united, disconnected; 'a priv. + � with + � to fasten to.] Disconnected; not fitted or adjusted. -- Asynartetic (�), a.
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Coloq. Asynartete verse (Pros.), a verse of two members, having different rhythms; as when the first consists of iambuses and the second of trochees.
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asynchronism n. 1. 1 the relation that exists when things occur at unrelated times.
Syn. -- asynchrony, desynchronization, desynchronisation, desynchronizing.
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Asynchronous (?), a. [Gr. � not + synchronous.] Not simultaneous; not concurrent in time; -- opposed to synchronous.
Syn. -- nonsynchronous, unsynchronized, unsynchronous.
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2. (Paleontology) occurring in different geologic times; -- of taxa/ synchronous
Syn. -- allochronic
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3. chronologically misplaced; belonging to a different time or era
Syn. -- anachronic, anachronous, anachronistic
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4. (Computers) occurring at different speeds in different computers connected by a data transmission link; -- said of methods data of transmission between computers. Opposite of synchronous.
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asynchrony n. 1. the relation that exists when things occur at unrelated times.
Syn. -- asynchronism, desynchronization, desynchronisation, desynchronizing
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Asyndetic (�), a. [See .] Characterized by the use of asyndeton; not connected by conjunctions. -- Asyndetically, adv.
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Asyndeton (�), n. [L., fr. Gr. �, fr. � unconnected; 'a priv. + � bound together, fr. �; � with + � to bind.] (Rhet.) A figure which omits the connective; as, I came, I saw, I conquered. It stands opposed to polysyndeton.
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Asystole (�), n. [Pref. a- not + systole.] (Physiol.) A weakening or cessation of the contractile power of the heart.
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Asystolism (�), n. The state or symptoms characteristic of asystole.
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At (�), prep. [AS. æt; akin to OHG. az, Goth., OS., & Icel. at, Sw. åt, Dan. & L. ad.] Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence, nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are derived all the various uses of at. It expresses: -
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1. A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on, something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at school; at hand; at sea and on land.
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2. The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at risk; at disadvantage.
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3. The relation of some employment or action; occupied with; as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat (eating); except at puns.
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4. The relation of a point or position in a series, or of degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at 80°; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest.
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5. The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock; at twenty-one; at once; at first.
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6. The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything; at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require, receive, deserve, endure at your hands.
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7. Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike, shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one.
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Coloq. At all , Coloq. At home , Coloq. At large , Coloq. At last , Coloq. At length , Coloq. At once , etc. See under , , , (phrase and syn.), , , etc. -- Coloq. At it , busily or actively engaged. -- Coloq. At least . See and . -- Coloq. At one . See , in the Vocabulary.
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Syn. -- , . When reference to the interior of any place is made prominent in is used. It is used before the names of countries and cities (esp. large cities); as, we live in America, in New York, in the South. At is commonly employed before names of houses, institutions, villages, and small places; as, Milton was educated at Christ's College; money taken in at the Customhouse; I saw him at the jeweler's; we live at Beachville. At may be used before the name of a city when it is regarded as a mere point of locality. “An English king was crowned at Paris.” Macaulay. “Jean Jacques Rousseau was born at Geneva, June, 28, 1712.” J. Morley. In regard to time, we say at the hour, on the day, in the year; as, at 9 o'clock, on the morning of July 5th, in the year 1775.
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Atabal (�), n. [Sp. atabal, fr. Ar. at-tabl the drum, tabala to beat the drum. Cf. .] A kettledrum; a kind of tabor, used by the Moors. Croly.
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Atabrine n. [Trademark.] a drug once used to treat malaria (C23H30ClN3O); chemically it is a derivative of the tricyclic structure acridine: 6-chloro-9-[[4-(diethylamino-1-methylbutyl)]amino]-2-methoxyacridine. It also has some anthelmintic activity against cestodes. Atabrine is a trademark.
Syn. -- quinacrine, mepacrine.
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Atacamite (�), n. [From the desert of Atacama, where found.] (Min.) An oxychloride of copper, usually in emerald-green prismatic crystals.
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Atafter (�), prep. After. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Ataghan (�), n. See .
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Atake (�), v. t. To overtake. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Ataman (�), n. [Russ. ataman': cf. Pol. hetman, G. hauptmann headman, chieftain. Cf. .] A hetman, or chief of the Cossacks.
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Atamasco lily (?). [Atamasco is fr. North American Indian.] (Bot.) See under .
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atar n. 1. essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers.
Syn. -- attar, athar, ottar
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ataractic ataraxic adj. 1. tending to soothe or calm or tranquilize
Syn. -- calming, sedative, soothing, tranquilizing
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ataractic n. 1. 1 drug that reduces nervous tension and gives peace of mind.
Syn. -- ataraxic
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{ Ataraxia (�), Ataraxy (�), } n. [NL. ataraxia, Gr. 'ataraxia; 'a priv. + taraktos disturbed, tarassein to disturb.] Perfect peace of mind, or calmness.
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ataraxic n. 1. drug that reduces nervous tension and gives peace of mind.
Syn. -- ataractic
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{ Ataunt (�), Ataunto (�), } adv. [F. autant as much (as possible).] (Naut.) Fully rigged, as a vessel; with all sails set; set on end or set right.
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Atavic (�), a. [Cf. F. atavique.] Pertaining to a remote ancestor, or to atavism.
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Atavism (�), n. [L. atavus an ancestor, fr. avus a grandfather.] 1. (a) The recurrence, or a tendency to a recurrence, of the original type of a species in the progeny of its varieties; resemblance to remote rather than to near ancestors; reversion to the original form. (b) (Biol.) The recurrence of any peculiarity or disease of an ancestor in a subsequent generation, after an intermission for a generation or two.
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Now and then there occur cases of what physiologists call atavism, or reversion to an ancestral type of character. J. Fiske
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2. recurrence of or reversion to a past style, outlook, approach, or manner.
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atavistic adj. 1. 1 displaying characteristics of a previous cultural era or of a previous ancestral form; displaying atavism
Syn. -- atavic, throwback(prenominal)
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{ Ataxia (�), Ataxy (�), } n. [NL. ataxia, Gr. �, fr. � out of order; 'a priv. + � ordered, arranged, � to put in order: cf. F. ataxie.] 1. Disorder; irregularity. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
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2. (Med.) (a) Irregularity in disease, or in the functions. (b) The state of disorder that characterizes nervous fevers and the nervous condition. [archaic]
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3. (Med.) Loss of coordination in the voluntary muscles, especially the limbs; an inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements; it results in unsteady movements and a staggering gait. See also locomotor ataxia, an ataxia which occurs when attempting to perform coordinated muscular movements.
Syn. -- ataxy
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Coloq. Locomotor ataxia . See .
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Ataxic (�), a. [Cf. F. ataxique. See .] (Med.) Characterized by ataxy, that is, (a) by great irregularity of functions or symptoms, or (b) by a lack of coordinating power in movements.
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Coloq. Ataxic fever , malignant typhus fever. Pinel.
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Atazir (�), n. [OF., fr. Ar. al-tasīr influence.] (Astron.) The influence of a star upon other stars or upon men. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Ate (?; 277), the preterit of .
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Ate (�), n. [Gr. �.] (Greek. Myth.) The goddess of mischievous folly; also, in later poets, the goddess of vengeance.
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-ate (�). [From the L. suffix -atus, the past participle ending of verbs of the 1st conj.] 1. As an ending of participles or participial adjectives it is equivalent to -ed; as, situate or situated; animate or animated.
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2. As the ending of a verb, it means to make, to cause, to act, etc.; as, to propitiate (to make propitious); to animate (to give life to).
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3. As a noun suffix, it marks the agent; as, curate, delegate. It also sometimes marks the office or dignity; as, tribunate.
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4. In chemistry it is used to denote the salts formed from those acids whose names end -ic (excepting binary or halogen acids); as, sulphate from sulphuric acid, nitrate from nitric acid, etc. It is also used in the case of certain basic salts.
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Atechnic (�), a. [Pref. a- not + technic.] Without technical or artistic knowledge.
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Difficult to convey to the atechnic reader. Etching & Engr.
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Ateles (�), n. [Gr. � incomplete; 'a priv. + � completion.] (Zoöl.) A genus of American monkeys with prehensile tails, and having the thumb wanting or rudimentary. See , and .
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{ Atelets sauce (?) or Sauce aux hatelets (?) }. [F. hâtelet skewer.] A sauce (such as egg and bread crumbs) used for covering bits of meat, small birds, or fish, strung on skewers for frying.
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Atelier (�) n. [F.] A workshop; a studio.
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Atellan (�), a. [L. Atellanus, fr. Atella, an ancient town of the Osci, in Campania.] Of or pertaining to Atella, in ancient Italy; as, Atellan plays; farcical; ribald. -- n. A farcical drama performed at Atella.
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Athalamous (�), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + � nuptial bed.] (Bot.) Not furnished with shields or beds for the spores, as the thallus of certain lichens.
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Athamaunt (�), n. Adamant. [Obs.]
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Written in the table of athamaunt. Chaucer.
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{ Athanasia (?), Athanasy (?) }, n. [NL. athanasia, fr. Gr. �; � priv. + � death.] The quality of being deathless; immortality.
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Is not a scholiastic athanasy better than none? Lowell.
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Athanasian (?; 277), a. Of or pertaining to Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria in the 4th century.
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Coloq. Athanasian creed , a formulary, confession, or exposition of faith, formerly supposed to have been drawn up by Athanasius; but this opinion is now rejected, and the composition is ascribed by some to Hilary, bishop of Arles (5th century). It is a summary of what was called the orthodox faith.
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Athanor (�), n. [F., fr. Ar. at-tannūr, fr. Heb. tannūr an oven or furnace.] A digesting furnace, formerly used by alchemists. It was so constructed as to maintain uniform and durable heat. Chambers.
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athar n. 1. essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers.
Syn. -- attar, atar, ottar, otto
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Atharva-Veda n. 1. (Hinduism) a collection of mantras and formulas.
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Athecata (�), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. 'a priv. + � chest, box.] (Zoöl.) A division of Hydroidea in which the zooids are naked, or not inclosed in a capsule. See .
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Atheism (�), n. [Cf. F. athéisme. See .] 1. The disbelief or denial of the existence of a God, or supreme intelligent Being.
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Atheism is a ferocious system, that leaves nothing above us to excite awe, nor around us to awaken tenderness. R. Hall.
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Atheism and pantheism are often wrongly confounded. Shipley.
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2. Godlessness.
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Atheist, n. [Gr. � without god; 'a priv. + � god: cf. F. athéiste.] 1. One who disbelieves or denies the existence of a God, or supreme intelligent Being.
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2. A godless person. [Obs.]
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Syn. -- Infidel; unbeliever.
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See .
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{ Atheistic (�), Atheistical (�), } a. 1. Pertaining to, implying, or containing, atheism; -- applied to things; as, atheistic doctrines, opinions, or books.
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Atheistical explications of natural effects. Barrow.
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2. Disbelieving the existence of a God; impious; godless; -- applied to persons; as, an atheistic writer. -- Atheistically, adv. -- Atheisticalness, n.
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Atheize (�), v. t. To render atheistic or godless. [R.]
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They endeavored to atheize one another. Berkeley.
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Atheize, v. i. To discourse, argue, or act as an atheist. [R.] -- Atheizer (�), n. Cudworth.
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