Attractivity - Aught

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Attractivity (ăttrăktĭvĭt�), n. The quality or degree of attractive power.
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Attractor (ăttrăktẽr), n. One who, or that which, attracts. Sir T. Browne
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Attrahent (�), a. [L. attrahens, p. pr. of attrahere. See , v. t.] Attracting; drawing; attractive.
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Attrahent, n. 1. That which attracts, as a magnet.
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The motion of the steel to its attrahent. Glanvill.
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2. (Med.) A substance which, by irritating the surface, excites action in the part to which it is applied, as a blister, an epispastic, a sinapism.
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Attrap (�), v. t. [F. attraper to catch; à (L. ad) + trappe trap. See (for taking game).] To entrap; to insnare. [Obs.] Grafton.
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Attrap, v. t. [Pref. ad + trap to adorn.] To adorn with trapping; to array. [Obs.]
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Shall your horse be attrapped . . . more richly? Holland.
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Attrectation (�), n. [L. attrectatio; ad + tractare to handle.] Frequent handling or touching. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
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Attributable (�), a. Capable of being attributed; ascribable; imputable.
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Errors . . . attributable to carelessness. J. D. Hooker.
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Attribute (ăttrĭbūt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attributed; p. pr. & vb. n. Attributing.] [L. attributus, p. p. of attribuere; ad + tribuere to bestow. See .] To ascribe; to consider (something) as due or appropriate (to); to refer, as an effect to a cause; to impute; to assign; to consider as belonging (to).
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We attribute nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction in it. Abp. Tillotson.
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The merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer. Shak.
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Syn. -- See .
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Attribute (�), n. [L. attributum.] 1. That which is attributed; a quality which is considered as belonging to, or inherent in, a person or thing; an essential or necessary property or characteristic.
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But mercy is above this sceptered away; . . .
It is an attribute to God himself. Shak.
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2. Reputation. [Poetic] Shak.
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3. (Paint. & Sculp.) A conventional symbol of office, character, or identity, added to any particular figure; as, a club is the attribute of Hercules.
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4. (Gram.) Quality, etc., denoted by an attributive; an attributive adjunct or adjective.
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Attribution (�), n. [L. attributio: cf. F. attribution.] 1. The act of attributing or ascribing, as a quality, character, or function, to a thing or person, an effect to a cause.
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2. That which is ascribed or attributed.
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Attributive (�), a. [Cf. F. attributif.] Attributing; pertaining to, expressing, or assigning an attribute; of the nature of an attribute.
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Attributive, n., (Gram.) A word that denotes an attribute; esp. a modifying word joined to a noun; an adjective or adjective phrase.
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Attributively, adv. In an attributive manner.
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Attrite (�), a. [L. attritus, p. p. of atterere; ad + terere to rub. See .] 1. Rubbed; worn by friction. Milton.
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2. (Theol.) Repentant from fear of punishment; having attrition of grief for sin; -- opposed to contrite.
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Attrition (�), n. [L. attritio: cf. F. attrition.] 1. The act of rubbing together; friction; the act of wearing by friction, or by rubbing substances together; abrasion.
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Effected by attrition of the inward stomach. Arbuthnot.
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2. The state of being worn. Johnson.
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3. (Theol.) Grief for sin arising only from fear of punishment or feelings of shame. See . Wallis.
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attritional adj. 1. of or pertaining to attrition (definition 4).
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Attritus (?), n. [L. attritus, p. p. of atterere; ad + terere to rub.] Matter pulverized by attrition.
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Attry (�), a. [See .] Poisonous; malignant; malicious. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Attune (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attuned (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Attuning.] [Pref. ad- + tune.]
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1. To tune or put in tune; to make melodious; to adjust, as one sound or musical instrument to another; as, to attune the voice to a harp.
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2. To arrange fitly; to make accordant.
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Wake to energy each social aim,
Attuned spontaneous to the will of Jove. Beattie.
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Atwain (�), adv. [OE. atwaine, atwinne; pref. a- + twain.] In twain; asunder. [Obs. or Poetic] “Cuts atwain the knots.” Tennyson.
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Atween (�), adv. or prep. [See , and cf. .] Between. [Archaic] Spenser. Tennyson.
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Atwirl (�), a. & adv. [Pref. a- + twist.] Twisted; distorted; awry. [R.] Halliwell.
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Atwite (�), v. t. [OE. attwyten, AS. ætwītan. See .] To speak reproachfully of; to twit; to upbraid. [Obs.]
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Atwixt (�), adv. Betwixt. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Atwo (�), adv. [Pref. a- + two.] In two; in twain; asunder. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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{ Atypic (�), Atypical, } a. [Pref. a- not + typic, typical.] That has no type; devoid of typical character; irregular; unlike the type.
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Aubade (�), n. [F., fr. aube the dawn, fr. L. albus white.] An open air concert in the morning, as distinguished from an evening serenade; also, a pianoforte composition suggestive of morning. Grove.
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The crowing cock . . .
Sang his aubade with lusty voice and clear. Longfellow.
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Aubaine (�), n. [F., fr. aubain an alien, fr. L. alibi elsewhere.] Succession to the goods of a stranger not naturalized. Littré.
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Coloq. Droit d'aubaine (�), the right, formerly possessed by the king of France, to all the personal property of which an alien died possessed. It was abolished in 1819. Bouvier.
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Aube (�), n. [See .] An alb. [Obs.] Fuller.
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Auberge (�), n. [F.] An inn. Beau. & Fl.
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Aubin (�), n. [F.] A broken gait of a horse, between an amble and a gallop; -- commonly called a Canterbury gallop.
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Auburn (�), a. [OE. auburne blonde, OF. alborne, auborne, fr. LL. alburnus whitish, fr. L. albus white. Cf. .] 1. Flaxen-colored. [Obs.] Florio.
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2. Reddish brown.
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His auburn locks on either shoulder flowed. Dryden.
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Auchenium (�), n. [NL., fr. Gr. �, fr. � the neck.] (Zoöl.) The part of the neck nearest the back.
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Auctary (�), n. [L. auctarium.] That which is superadded; augmentation. [Obs.] Baxter.
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Auction (�), n. [L. auctio an increasing, a public sale, where the price was called out, and the article to be sold was adjudged to the last increaser of the price, or the highest bidder, fr. L. augere, auctum, to increase. See .] 1. A public sale of property to the highest bidder, esp. by a person licensed and authorized for the purpose; a vendue.
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2. The things sold by auction or put up to auction.
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Ask you why Phryne the whole auction buys ? Pope.
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☞ In the United States, the more prevalent expression has been “sales at auction,” that is, by an increase of bids (Lat. auctione). This latter form is preferable.
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Coloq. Dutch auction , the public offer of property at a price beyond its value, then gradually lowering the price, till some one accepts it as purchaser. P. Cyc.
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Auction, v. t. To sell by auction.
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Auctionary (�), a. [L. auctionarius.] Of or pertaining to an auction or an auctioneer. [R.]
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With auctionary hammer in thy hand. Dryden.
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Auction bridge. A variety of the game of bridge in which the players, beginning with the dealer, bid for the privilege of naming the trump and playing with the dummy for that deal, there being heavy penalties for a player's failure to make good his bid. The score value of each trick more than six taken by the successful bidder is as follows: when the trump is spades, 2; clubs, 6; diamonds, 7; hearts, 8; royal spades (lilies), 9; and when the deal is played with no trump, 10.
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Auction pitch. A game of cards in which the players bid for the privilege of determining or “pitching” the trump suit. R. F. Foster.
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Auctioneer (�), n. A person who sells by auction; a person whose business it is to dispose of goods or lands by public sale to the highest or best bidder.
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Auctioneer, v. t. To sell by auction; to auction.
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Estates . . . advertised and auctioneered away. Cowper.
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Aucupation (�), n. [L. aucupatio, fr. auceps, contr. for aviceps; avis bird + capere to take.] Birdcatching; fowling. [Obs.] Blount.
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Audacious (�), a. [F. audacieux, as if fr. LL. audaciosus (not found), fr. L. audacia audacity, fr. audax, -acis, bold, fr. audere to dare.] 1. Daring; spirited; adventurous.
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As in a cloudy chair, ascending rides
Audacious. Milton.
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2. Contemning the restraints of law, religion, or decorum; bold in wickedness; presumptuous; impudent; insolent. “ Audacious traitor.” Shak. “ Such audacious neighborhood.” Milton.
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3. Committed with, or proceedings from, daring effrontery or contempt of law, morality, or decorum. “Audacious cruelty.” “Audacious prate.” Shak.
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Audaciously, adv. In an audacious manner; with excess of boldness; impudently.
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Audaciousness, n. The quality of being audacious; impudence; audacity.
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Audacity (�), n. 1. Daring spirit, resolution, or confidence; venturesomeness.
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The freedom and audacity necessary in the commerce of men. Tatler.
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2. Reckless daring; presumptuous impudence; -- implying a contempt of law or moral restraints.
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With the most arrogant audacity. Joye.
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audad n. same as .
Syn. -- aoudad, arui, Barbary sheep, maned sheep, Ammotragus lervia.
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Auden n. An English poet in the U. S. Born 1907, died 1973.
Syn. -- Wystan Hugh Auden
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Audenesque adj. 1. of or pertaining to W. H. Auden.
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Audibility (�), n. The quality of being audible; power of being heard; audible capacity.
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Audible (�), a. [LL. audibilis, fr. L. audire, auditum, to hear: cf. Gr. � ear, L. auris, and E. ear.] Capable of being heard; loud enough to be heard; actually heard; as, an audible voice or whisper.
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Audible, n. That which may be heard. [Obs.]
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Visibles are swiftlier carried to the sense than audibles. Bacon.
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Audibleness, n. The quality of being audible.
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Audibly, adv. So as to be heard.
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Audience (�), n. [F. audience, L. audientia, fr. audire to hear. See , a.] 1. The act of hearing; attention to sounds.
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Thou, therefore, give due audience, and attend. Milton.
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2. Admittance to a hearing; a formal interview, esp. with a sovereign or the head of a government, for conference or the transaction of business.
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According to the fair play of the world,
Let me have audience: I am sent to speak. Shak.
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3. An auditory; an assembly of hearers. Also applied by authors to their readers.
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Fit audience find, though few. Milton.
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He drew his audience upward to the sky. Dryden.
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Coloq. Court of audience , or Coloq. Audience court (Eng.), a court long since disused, belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury; also, one belonging to the Archbishop of York. Mozley & W. -- Coloq. In general (or Coloq. open ) Coloq. audience , publicly. -- Coloq. To give audience , to listen; to admit to an interview.
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Audient (�), a. [L. audiens, p. pr. of audire. See , a.] Listening; paying attention; as, audient souls. Mrs. Browning.
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Audient, n. A hearer; especially a catechumen in the early church. [Obs.] Shelton.
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Audile (?), n. [L. audire to hear.] (Psychol.) One whose thoughts take the form of mental sounds or of internal discourse rather than of visual or motor images.
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audio n. the part of a transmitted signal which conveys the sound of the event represented by the signal, such as that of a television program. “they always raise the audio for commercials”
Syn. -- sound.
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2. 1 an audible acoustic wave frequency.
Syn. -- audio frequency
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3. the sound elements of television.
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audiocassette n. 1. a cassette for audio tape.
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audio-lingual adj. 1. pertaining to a method of teaching language that focuses on listening and speaking.
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audiology n. 1. 1 the measurement of hearing.
Syn. -- audiometry.
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Audiometer (�), n. [L. audire to hear + -meter.] (Acous.) An instrument by which the power of hearing can be gauged and recorded on a scale.
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audiometry n. 1. the measurement of hearing.
Syn. -- audiology
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2. measuring sensitivity of hearing.
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audio system, audio-system n. 1. a system of electronic equipment for recording or reproducing sound.
Syn. -- sound system.
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audiotape n. 1. magnetic tape for use in recording sound.
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2. a tape recording of sound.
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audiovisual audio-visual adj. 1. 1 pertaining to or using audiovisual aids in teaching or exposition the school's audiovisual department
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audiovisual n. 1. 1 materials using sight or sound to present information; -- usually used in the plural. “language tapes and videocassettes and other audiovisuals”
Syn. -- audiovisual aid.
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Audiphone (�), n. [L. audire to hear + Gr. � sound.] An instrument which, placed against the teeth, conveys sound to the auditory nerve and enables the deaf to hear more or less distinctly; a dentiphone.
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Audit (�), n. [L. auditus a hearing, fr. audire. See , a.] 1. An audience; a hearing. [Obs.]
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He appeals to a high audit. Milton.
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2. An examination in general; a judicial examination.
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Specifically: An examination of an account or of accounts, with the hearing of the parties concerned, by proper officers, or persons appointed for that purpose, who compare the charges with the vouchers, examine witnesses, and state the result.
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3. The result of such an examination, or an account as adjusted by auditors; final account.
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Yet I can make my audit up. Shak.
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4. A general receptacle or receiver. [Obs.]
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It [a little brook] paid to its common audit no more than the revenues of a little cloud. Jer. Taylor.
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Coloq. Audit ale , a kind of ale, brewed at the English universities, orig. for the day of audit. -- Coloq. Audit house , Coloq. Audit room , an appendage to a cathedral, for the transaction of its business.
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Audit (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Audited; p. pr. & vb. n. Auditing.] To examine and adjust, as an account or accounts; as, to audit the accounts of a treasure, or of parties who have a suit depending in court.
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Audit, v. i. To settle or adjust an account.
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Let Hocus audit; he knows how the money was disbursed. Arbuthnot.
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Audita querela (�). [L., the complaint having been heard.] (Law) A writ which lies for a party against whom judgment is recovered, but to whom good matter of discharge has subsequently accrued which could not have been availed of to prevent such judgment. Wharton.
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Audition (�), n. [L. auditio.] The act of hearing or listening; hearing.
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Audition may be active or passive; hence the difference between listening and simple hearing. Dunglison.
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Auditive (�), a. [Cf. F. auditif.] Of or pertaining to hearing; auditory. [R.] Cotgrave.
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Auditor (�), n. [L. auditor, fr. audire. See , a.] 1. A hearer or listener. Macaulay.
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2. A person appointed and authorized to audit or examine an account or accounts, compare the charges with the vouchers, examine the parties and witnesses, allow or reject charges, and state the balance.
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3. One who hears judicially, as in an audience court.
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☞ In the United States government, and in the State governments, there are auditors of the treasury and of the public accounts. The name is also applied to persons employed to check the accounts of courts, corporations, companies, societies, and partnerships.
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Auditorial (�), a. Auditory. [R.]
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Auditorium (�), n. [L. See , n.] 1. The part of a church, theater, or other public building, assigned to the audience.
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☞ In ancient churches the auditorium was the nave, where hearers stood to be instructed; in monasteries it was an apartment for the reception of strangers.
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2. a building, or a room within a building, containing a large open space for public gatherings, and often having a raised stage where speakers or presentations may be easily viewed by the audience. The students assembled to hear the president speak in the auditorium.
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Auditorship (�), n. The office or function of auditor.
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Auditory (�), a. [L. auditorius.] Of or pertaining to hearing, or to the sense or organs of hearing; as, the auditory nerve. See .
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Coloq. Auditory canal (Anat.), the tube from the auditory meatus or opening of the ear to the tympanic membrane.
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Auditory, n. [L. auditorium.] 1. An assembly of hearers; an audience.
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2. An auditorium. Udall.
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Auditress (�), n. A female hearer. Milton.
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Auditual (�), a. Auditory. [R.] Coleridge.
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Auf (�f), n. [OE. auph, aulf, fr. Icel. ālfr elf. See .] [Also spelt oaf, ouphe.] A changeling or elf child, -- that is, one left by fairies; a deformed or foolish child; a simpleton; an oaf. [Obs.] Drayton.
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Au fait (ō f�). [F. Lit., to the deed, act, or point. Fait is fr. L. factum. See .] Expert; skillful; well instructed.
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Aufklärung (?), n. [G., enlightenment.] A philosophic movement of the 18th century characterized by a lively questioning of authority, keen interest in matters of politics and general culture, and an emphasis on empirical method in science. It received its impetus from the unsystematic but vigorous skepticism of Pierre Bayle, the physical doctrines of Newton, and the epistemological theories of Locke, in the preceding century. Its chief center was in France, where it gave rise to the skepticism of Voltaire , the naturalism of Rousseau, the sensationalism of Condillac, and the publication of the “Encyclopedia” by D'Alembert and Diderot. In Germany, Lessing, Mendelssohn, and Herder were representative thinkers, while the political doctrines of the leaders of the American Revolution and the speculations of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine represented the movement in America.
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Au fond (?). [F., lit., at the bottom.] At bottom; fundamentally; essentially.
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Augean (�), a. 1. (Class. Myth.) Of or pertaining to Augeus, king of Elis, whose stable contained 3000 oxen, and had not been cleaned for 30 years. Hercules cleansed it in a single day.
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2. Hence: Exceedingly filthy or corrupt.
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Coloq. Augean stable (Fig.), an accumulation of corruption or filth almost beyond the power of man to remedy.
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augend n. 1. a number to which another number (the addend) is added.
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Auger (�), n. [OE. augoure, nauger, AS. nafegār, fr. nafu, nafa, nave of a wheel + gār spear, and therefore meaning properly and originally a nave-bore. See (of a wheel) and 2d , n.] 1. A carpenter's tool for boring holes larger than those bored by a gimlet. It has a handle placed crosswise by which it is turned with both hands. A pod auger is one with a straight channel or groove, like the half of a bean pod. A screw auger has a twisted blade, by the spiral groove of which the chips are discharge.
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2. An instrument for boring or perforating soils or rocks, for determining the quality of soils, or the nature of the rocks or strata upon which they lie, and for obtaining water.
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Coloq. Auger bit , a bit with a cutting edge or blade like that of an anger.
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Auget (�), n. [F., dim. of auge trough, fr. L. alveus hollow, fr. alvus belly.] (Mining) A priming tube connecting the charge chamber with the gallery, or place where the slow match is applied. Knight.
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{ Aught (�), Aucht } (�), n. [AS. �ht, fr. āgan to own, p. p. āhte.] Property; possession. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
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Aught (�), n. [OE. aught, ought, awiht, AS. āwiht, ā ever + wiht. √136. See ever, and , .] Anything; any part. [Also written ought.]
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There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord has spoken. Josh. xxi. 45
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But go, my son, and see if aught be wanting. Addison.
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