AMBROSIAN ing to ambrosia; anointed or fragrant with ambrosia; fragrant; ambrosial. B. Jonson. Ambrosian (am-bro'zhi-an), a. Of or pertaining to any person of the name of Ambrose, especially St. Ambrose. The Ambrosian office or ritual, a formula of worship in the church of Milan, instituted by St. Ambrose. -Ambrosian chant, a mode of singing or chanting introduced by St. Ambrose. It was more monotonous than the Gregorian, which was used afterwards. Ambrosin (am'brō-sin), n. A coin struck by the dukes of Milan in the middle ages, on which St. Ambrose was represented on horseback, with a whip in his right hand. Ambrotype (am'bro-tip), n. [Gr. ambrotos, immortal, and typos, impression.] In photog. a picture taken on a plate of prepared glass, in which the lights are represented in silver and the shadows by a dark back-ground showing through the transparent portions of the plate. Ambry (am'bri), n. [Contracted from almonry (which see); but another word seems to have become mixed up with this, namely, Fr. armoire, a cupboard, from L.L. armaria, armarium, originally a chest for keeping arms.] 1. A place where alms are deposited for distribution to the poor; an almonry; also, a place in ancient abbeys and priories where the almoner lived. -2. A niche or Ambry, Romsey Church, Hampshire. recess in the wall of ancient churches near the altar, fitted with a door, in which the sacred utensils were deposited. In the larger churches and cathedrals the ambries were very numerous, used for various purposes, and sometimes large enough to be what we should now call closets, the doors and other parts that were seen being usually richly carved.-3. A place in which are deposited the utensils for housekeeping; a cupboard; a place for cold victuals. [Provincial.] Ambs-ace (amz'as), n. [Fr. ambesas-0. Fr. ambes, pl. of ambe, from L. ambo, both, and as, ace. See ACE.] A double ace, as when two dice turn up the ace. Ambulacral (am-bu-la'kral), a. In zool. pertaining to an ambulacrum or to ambulacra. Ambulacrum (am-bu-la'krum), n. pl. Ambulacra (am-bu-la'kra). [L. ambulacrum, an alley. See AMBULATE.] In zool. one of the perforated spaces or avenues through which are protruded the tube feet, by means of which locomotion is effected in the Echinodermata. Ambulance (am'bu-lans), n. [Fr.] 1. A hospital establishment which accompanies an army in its movements in the field for the purpose of providing assistance, of a more or less temporary nature, to the soldiers wounded in battle.-2. A cart, waggon, or litter employed to convey the wounded from the place where they fell to the hospital. Ambulance-cart, Ambulance- waggon Ambulance-waggon in use in the British army, to carry seven sick or wounded men. (am'bu-lans-kärt, am'bu-lans-wag-on), n. A 86 two or four wheeled vehicle fitted with suitable appliances for conveying the wounded from the field of battle. Ambulant (am'bu-lant), a. [L. ambulans, from ambulo, to go about.] Walking; moving from place to place. 'A knight. ambulant, combatant.' Gayton. Ambulate (am'bu-lat), v.i. pret. & pp. ambulated; ppr. ambulating. [L. ambulo, ambulatum, to go about, formed from inseparable preposition amb, around, about.] To move backward and forward; to walk. Ambulation (am-bu-la'shon), n. The act of ambulating or walking about. Ambulative (am'bu-lat-iv), a. Having a tendency to walk or advance; walking; spreading. Ambulator (am'bū-lat-èr), n. 1. One who walks about.-2. In road surv. an instrument for measuring distances; a perambulator (which see).-3. A name sometimes given to the original form of the velocipede. See VELOCIPEDE. Ambulatory (am'bu-la-to-ri), a. 1. Having the power or faculty of walking; as, an ambulatory animal.-2. Pertaining to a walk; happening or obtained during a walk. "The princes of whom his majesty had an ambulatory view in his travels." Wotton. 3. Accustomed to move from place to place; not stationary; as, an ambulatory court. The priesthood before was very ambulatory, and dispersed into all families. Fer. Taylor. 4. In ornith. formed or adapted for walking: a term sometimes applied to the feet of birds with three toes before and one behind, as in the passerine birds.-5. In law, not fixed, but capable of being altered; as, a will is ambulatory until the death of the testator; the return of a sheriff is ambulatory until it is filed. Ambulatory (am'bu-la-to-ri), n. Any part of a building intended for walking in, as the aisles of a church or the cloisters of a monastery; specifically, any place inclosed by a colonnade or arcade, as a portico or corridor. Ambulet (am'bul), v.i. [See AMBULATE.] To remove from place to place. The indecency of ambuling communions is very great. Lord Burleigh. Amburbial (am-bérb'i-al), a. [L. am, amb, around, and urbs, a city.] Encompassing or surrounding a city. [Rare.] Ambury (am'bu-ri), n. [A. Sax. ampre, a crooked swelling vein.] 1. A tumour, wart, or swelling on a horse, full of blood and soft to the touch.-2. Club-root, a sort of gall or excrescence in some plants of the nat. order Cruciferæ, and chiefly in the turnip, produced by a puncture made by the ovipositor of an insect and the deposition of its eggs. Ambuscade (am-bus-kad), n. [Fr. embuscade, from It. imboscare, to lie in bushesin, in, and bosco, a wood, the same word as E. bush. See BUSH.] 1. A lying in wait and concealed for the purpose of attacking an enemy by surprise.-2. A private station in which troops lie concealed with a view to attack their enemy by surprise; ambush.3. A body of troops lying in ambush. Ambuscade (am-bus-kad'), v. t. pret. & pp. ambuscaded; ppr. ambuscading. To lie in wait for, or to attack from a concealed position. Of or Ambuscading (am-bus-kād'ing), a. pertaining to an ambuscade; given to form'Ambuscading, or forming ambuscades. ing ways.' Carlyle. Ambuscadot (am-bus-ka'do), n. An ambuscade. Shak. Ambuscadot (am-bus-ka'do), v.t. To post Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege, 2. A private or concealed station, where troops lie in wait to attack their enemy by surprise; an ambuscade.-3. The troops posted in a concealed place for attacking by surprise. Lay thee an ambush for the city. Josh. viii. 2. Ambush (am'bush), v. t. To post or place in ambush. The subtil Turk having ambushed a thousand horse,... charged the Persians. Sir T. Herbert. AMENABLY Ambush (am'bush), v.i. To lie in wait for the purpose of attacking by surprise. An am Nor saw the snake that ambush'd for his prey. Fudge Trumbull. Ambushment (am'bush-ment), n. bush, in all its senses. 2 Chr. xiii. 13. Ambustiont (am-bust'yon), n. [L. ambustio, from amburo, to burn or scorch-amb, about, and uro, ustum, to burn.] A burn or scald. Cockeram. Same as Ama Amebean (am-e-bē'an), a. bean (which see). Ameer, Amir (a-mer'), n. [Ar.] A nobleman; a chief; à ruler; an emir (which see). Ameiva (a-mi'va), n. A genus of small saurian reptiles of the family Teide. They are rather pretty animals, with a very long whip-like tail, and peculiarly elongated toes on the hinder feet. The tail is covered with a series of scales arranged in rings. The general colour is dark olive speckled with black on the nape of the neck: on the sides are rows or bands of white spots edged with black. There are many species, inhabiting either Central America or the West Indian Islands. Amelt (am'el), n. [Fr. émail, enamel.] Enmel (which see). Amelt (am'el), v.t. To enamel. 'Enlightened all with stars, and richly ameled." Chapman. Amel-corn (am'el-korn), n. Same as Amyl corn. Ameliorable (a-mel'yor-a-bl), a. Capable of being ameliorated. Ameliorate (a-mel'yor-åt), v.t. pret. & pp. ameliorated; ppr. ameliorating. [Through Fr. améliorer, from L. ad, to, and melioro, melioratum, to make better, from melior, better.] To make better; to improve; to meliorate. In every human being there is a wish to ameliorate his own condition. Macaulay. Ameliorate (a-mel'yor-at), v.i. To grow better; to meliorate. Wine ameliorates by age.' Goodrich. Amelioration (a-mel'yor-a"shon), n. The act of ameliorating, or the state of being ameliorated; a making or becoming better; improvement; melioration. The October politician is so full of charity and good-nature, that he supposes that these very robbers and murderers themselves are in course of amelioration. Burke. Ameliorative (a-mel'yor-at-iv), a. Producing, or having a tendency to produce, amelioration or amendment; as, ameliorative medicines. Ameliorator (a-mel'yor-at-ér), n. One who ameliorates. Amen (a'men). [Heb. amen, firm, established, allied to Ar. amún, faithful; Chal. aman, to trust.] A term used in devotions, occurring generally at the end of a prayer, and meaning So be it. At the end of a creed it is equivalent to a solemn assertion of belief. One cried, God bless us! and, Amen! the other. Shak. In the Roman Catholic version of the New Testament, published at Rheims in 1582, it is used where the Authorized Version has verily, being the word used in the original. Amen, amen I say unto thee, Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Jn. iii. 3. It is used as a noun to denote Christ as being one who is true and faithful. These things saith the Amen.' Rev. iii. 14. It is used as an adjective to signify made true, verified, fulfilled. All the promises of God in him (Christ) are yea, and in him Amen. 2 Cor. i. 20. Amenability. See AMENABLENESS. Amenable (a-me'na-bl), a. [Fr. amener, to bring or lead to-d, to, and mener, to lead. See DEMEAN.] 1. In old law, easy to be led; governable, as a woman by her husband. 2. Liable to answer or be called to account; responsible; answerable; accountable; as, every man is amenable to the laws. The sovereign of this country is not amenable to any form of trial known to the laws. Funius. 3. Ready to yield or submit, as to advice; submissive. AMENAGE Amenage (am'en-åj), v.t. [Prefix a for ad, and menage for manage; 0. Fr. amesnager. See MANAGE] To bring under or to a state of subordination; to manage. With her, whoso will raging Furor tame, Must first begin, and well her amenage. Spenser. Amenance (am'en- ans), n. [From Fr. amener; see AMENABLE, and comp. demean, demeanour, from same stem.] Conduct; mien or carriage. With grave speech and grateful amenance.' Ph. Fletcher. Amend (a-mend'), v. t. [Fr. amender, for emender, Pr. emendar, to correct, from L. emendo, to free from faults-e, out, out of, and menda, a fault. See MEND.] To make better, or change for the better, in any way, as by removing what is erroneous, corrupt, faulty, superfluous, and the like, by supplying a want, or by substituting one thing for another; to correct; to improve; to reform. Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Jer. vii. 3. Much more was to be done before Shakspere could be restored to himself, such as amending the cor. rupted text, &c. Warburton. We shall cheer her sorrows and amend her blood by wedding her to a Norman. Sir W. Scott. Amend (a-mend), vi. To grow or become better by reformation or rectifying something wrong in manners or morals.-Amend, Improve Amend differs from improve in this, that to amend implies something previously wrong, while to improve does not necessarily do so. Amendable (a-mend'a-bl), a. Capable of being amended or corrected; as, an amendable writ or error. Amendatory (a-mend'a-to-ri), a. Supplying amendment; corrective. Amende (ä-mänd), n. [Fr. amende, L.L. amenda, a penalty, reparation. See AMEND, t] A pecuniary punishment or fine; a recantation or reparation.-Amende honorable, formerly a punishment in France in which an offender against public decency and morality, being led into court with a rope about his neck, begged pardon of his God, the court, &c. In popular lan. the phrase now signifies a public or open recantation and reparation to an injured party for improper language or treatment. She was condemned to make the amende honor. able, that is, to confess her delinquency, at the end of a public religious procession, with a lighted taper in her hand, and to be imprisoned during the pleasure of the King of France. Miss Strickland. Amender (a-mend'èr), n. One who amends. We find this digester of codes, amender of laws,.. permitting... one of the most atrocious acts of oppression. Brougham. Amendful (a-mend'ful), a. Full of amendment or improvement. Your most amendful and unmatched fortunes.' Beau. & Fl. Amendment (a-mendment), n. 1. The act of making better, or changing for the better, in any way, as by the correction of faults, the removal of superfluities, the supplying of deficiencies, the substitution of one thing for another, &c.; improvement; reformation. Amendment of life.' Hooker. Her works are so perfect that there is no place for amendments Ray. 2 The act of becoming better, or state of having become better; specifically, recovery of health. Your honour's players, hearing your amendment, Shak. Are come to play a pleasant comedy. 3. In parliamentary proceedings, an alteration proposed to be made in the draft of any bill, or in the terms of any motion under discussion; also, any alteration proposed in the terms of any motion or resolution brought forward at a public meeting. Sometimes an amendment is moved, the effect of which is entirely to reverse the sense of the original motion.-4. In law, the correction of an error in a writ or process.-SYN. Correction, improvement, reformation, amelioration, betterment. Amends (a-mendz'), n. pl. Compensation for a loss or injury; recompense; satisfaction; equivalent. Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends' Shak 87 To this... he added a sweetness and amenity of temper which extorted the praises even of his political opponents. Buckle. – Amenity damages, damages given for the defacements of grounds, especially around dwelling-houses, or otherwise for annoyance or loss of amenity caused by the passing of a railway, the construction of public works, and the like. [Gr. a, Amenorrhoea (a-mēn'o-rĕ"a), n. priv., men, a month, and rheo, to flow.] An obstruction of the menses from other causes than pregnancy and advanced age. A Mensa et Thoro. [L., from board or table and bed.] In law, a phrase descriptive of a kind of divorce in which the husband and wife separate, but the husband maintains the wife, and the marriage bond is not dissolved; now superseded by a decree of judicial separation. Ament (am'ent), n. Same as Amentum (which see). Amentaceae (a-men-tā'sē-ē), n. pl. A group of plants whose flowers are arranged in an amentum or catkin, and which were formerly considered to form a natural order, but which later botanists have separated into several different orders, as Cupulifera, Salicaceae, Betulacea, Platanacer, and Myrica Amentaceous (a-men-ta'shus), a. In bot. (a) consisting of or resembling an amentum; as, an amentaceous inflorescence. (b) Furnished with amenta; as, amentaceous plants. Amentia (a-men'shi-a), n. [L., want of reasona, without, and mens, mentis, mind. See MIND.] Imbecility of mind; idiocy or dotage. Amentum. Willow (Salix fragilis), male and female, with separate flowers. Amentum (a-men'tum), n. pl. Amenta (a-men'ta). [L. amentum,a thong for throwing a spear, also a shoestrap.] In bot. a kind of inflorescence consisting of unisexual apetalous flowers in the axils of scales or bracts ranged along a stalk or axis; a catkin. The true amentum or catkin is articulated with the branch and deciduous, and is well seen in the willow,birch,oak, Amenuse,t v.t. [Fr. amenuiser, to make poplar, and hazel. small-a for ad, to, and menuiser, from menu, little, and that from L. minutus, minute. See MINUTE.] To lessen; to diminish. 'If he amenuse or withdraw the almesse of the poor.' Chaucer. Amerce (a-mers), v. t. pret. & pp. amerced; ppr. amercing. [Fr. amercié, fined at the mercy of the court-à, at, and merci, mercy.] 1. To punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed by law, but left to the discretion of the court; as, the court amerced the criminal in the sum of £100.-2. To punish by inflicting a penalty of any kind, as by depriving of some right or privilege, or entailing some loss upon; to punish in general. Millions of spirits for his fault amerced of heaven.' Milton. 'Shall by him be amerced with penance Amerceable (a-mers'a-bl), a. due.' Spenser. amercement. Liable to 1. The act Amercement (a-mers'ment), n. of amercing, or state of being amerced.2. In law, a pecuniary penalty inflicted on an offender at the discretion of the court. It differs from a fine, in that the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and certain sum prescribed by statute for an offence, while an amercement is arbitrary; hence the practice of affeering. See AFFEER. - Amercement royal, a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanour in his office. Amercer (a-mers'ér), n. One who amerces. Amerciament (a-mer'si-a-ment), n. Same as Amercement, 2. American (a-mer'i-kan), a. [The name America arose from a misunderstanding. Martin Waltzemüller or Waldseemüller, a native and teacher in the gymnasium of St. Dié,in Lorraine, gave the name Americi Terra in 1507 to South America, or those parts of it said to have been discovered by Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian mariner, who under AMHARIC the Portuguese made two voyages to America between 1501 and 1504. This name, which was rapidly adopted in Germany, and extended to the whole continent, was gradually adopted also in other countries. The mainland was first seen in 1497 by Sebastian Cabot, who sailed under the patronage of Henry VII. of England.] Pertaining to America; in a restricted sense, pertaining to the United States; as, the American navy.—American leather, a kind of varnished or enamelled cloth, prepared in imitation of leather, for covering chairs, sofas, &c. American (a-mer'i-kan), n. A native of America: originally applied to the aborigi nal races found there by the Europeans, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America; and, in a restricted sense, to the inhabitants of the United States. Americanism (a-mer'i-kan-izm), n. 1. The love or preference which American citizens have to their own country, or its interests, customs, &c.; the exhibition of such preference; as, his Americanism is of the most pronounced type.-2. A word, phrase, or idiom peculiar to the English language as spoken in America, and not forming part of the language as spoken in England. [There are also of course Spanish and Portuguese Americanisms in a similar sense.] Americanize (a-mer'i-kan-iz), v.t. pret. & pp. americanized; ppr. americanizing. 1. To render American or like what prevails or is characteristic of America (especially the United States) and its institutions. The line of argument has been adopted by the right honourable gentleman opposite with regard to what he terms americanizing the institutions of the country. Gladstone. 2. To naturalize in America. Ames-ace (amz'ās), n. A double ace; an ambs-ace. I had rather be in this choice than throw ames-ace for my life. Shak. Amess (am'es), n. Same as Almuce (which see). Ametabola, Ametabolia (a-me-tab'o-la, a'met-a-bō"li-a), n. pl. [Gr. ametabolos, unchangeablea, priv., and metaballo, to throw in a different position, to changemeta, implying change, and ballo, to throw.] A division of insects, including only the apterous or wingless insects, as lice, springtails, &c., which do not undergo any metamorphosis, but which escape from the egg nearly under the same form which they preserve through life. Ametabolian (a'met-a-bō'li-an), n. In zool. an insect that does not undergo a metamorphosis. See AMETABOLA. Ametabolic (a-met-a-bol"ik), a. [Gr. a, priv., and metabole, change. See AMETABOLA.] In zool. a term applied to those insects which do not possess wings when perfect, and which do not therefore pass through any well-marked metamorphosis. Amethodical (a-me-thod'ik-al), a. [Prefix a, not, and methodical (which see).] Unmethodical; irregular; without order. Bailey. [Rare.] Amethodist (a-meth'od-ist), n. [Gr. amethodos, without plan or method. See METHOD.] A quack. Empiricall amethodists.' Whit lock. Amethyst (am'e-thist), n. [L. amethystus; Gr. amethystos--a, neg., and methyō, to inebriate, from some supposed quality in the stone of preventing or curing intoxication.] 1. A violet-blue or purple variety of quartz, the colour being due to the presence of peroxide of iron. It generally occurs crystallized in hexahedral prisms or pyramids; also in rolled fragments, composed of imperfect prismatic crystals. Its fracture is conchoidal or splintery. It is wrought into various articles of jewelry. The finest amethysts come from India, Ceylon, and Brazil. -Oriental amethyst, a rare violet-coloured gem, a variety of alumina or corundum, of extraordinary brilliancy and beauty.-2. In her, a purple colour: the same in a nobleman's escutcheon as purpure in a gentleman's and mercury in that of a prince. Amethystine (a-mê-thist'in), a. 1. Pertaining to or resembling amethyst; anciently applied to a garment of the colour of amethyst, as distinguished from the Tyrian and hyacinthine purple.-2. Composed of amethyst; as, an amethystine cup. Amharic (am-ha'rik), n. [From Amhara, a province in Abyssinia.] The vernacular language of South-western Abyssinia, a cor AMHERSTIA rupt and barbarous dialect of Arabic, with many African elements. Amherstia (am-hèrst'i-a), n. [In honour of Countess Amherst, a zealous promoter of botany. ] A genus of plants, nat. order Leguminosa. The flowers are large, bright vermilion with yellow spots, and form a raceme about 3 feet long. There is only one species, the A. nobilis, a native of Burmah, in which country the flowers are collected and laid before the shrines of Buddha. Amia (am'i-a), n. A genus of ganoid fishes found in the rivers of America, and constituting the family Amiidæ (which see). Amiability (a'mi-a-bil"i-ti), n. The quality of being amiable or lovable; excellence of disposition; amiableness. Amiable (a'mi-a-bl), a. [Under this form there are probably two kindred words mixed up, namely Fr. aimable, lovely, amiable, from L. amabilis, from amo to love; Fr. amiable, amicable, L. amicabilis.] 1. Exciting or tending to excite love or delight; lovely; beautiful; delightful; pleasing. 'How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord.' Ps. lxxxiv. 1. Come set thee down upon this flow'ry bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy. Shak. There is nothing more amiable in nature than the character of a truly good man. Clarke. 2. Possessing such agreeable moral qualities as sweetness of temper, kind-heartedness, or the like; having an excellent disposition; lovable; as, an amiable girl; an amiable disposition. See extract. This (word) and 'lovely' have been so far differentiated that amiable' never expresses now any other than moral loveliness; which in lovely' is seldom or never implied. Abp. Trench. 3. Exhibiting love or a show of love; proceeding from love. Lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife. Shak. Amiableness (a'mi-a-bl-nes), n. The quality of being amiable; loveliness; amiability. Amiably (a'mi-a-bli), adv. 1. In an amiable manner; in a manner to excite or attract love. 2. Pleasingly; delightfully. The palaces rise so amiably.' Sir T. Herbert. [Rare.] They (the parables) are so amiably perspicuous, vigorous, and bright. Blackwall. Amianth, Amianthus (am'i-anth, am-i-an'thus), n. [Gr. amiantosa, neg., and miaino, to pollute or vitiate: so called from its incombustibility.] Flexible asbestos, earth-flax, or mountain-flax; a mineral occurring generally in serpentine veins, somewhat resembling flax, usually grayish or of a greenish-white colour. It is composed of delicate filaments, very flexible, and somewhat elastic, often long and resembling threads of silk. It is incombustible, and has sometimes been wrought into cloth and paper by the aid of flax, which is afterwards removed by a red heat. It has also been employed as lamp-wicks, and for filling gasgrates, the fibres remaining red-hot without being consumed. It is a finer variety of asbestos (which see). Amianthiform (am-i-an'thi-form), a. [Amianth and form.] Having the form or likeness of amianth. Amianthinite (am-i-an'thin-it), n. A species of amorphous mineral, a variety of actinolite; its colour is ash, greenish, or yellowishgray, often mixed with yellow or red; its fracture confusedly foliated and fibrous. Amianthoid (am-i-an'thoid), n. [Amianth, and Gr. eidos, form.] A mineral which occurs in tufts, composed of long capillary filaments, flexible and very elastic; more flexible than the fibres of asbestos, but stiffer and more elastic than those of amianth. The colour is olive-green or greenishwhite. It is a variety of hornblende. Amianthoid (am-i-an'thoid), a. Resembling amianth in form. Amianthus. See AMIANTH. Amicability (am'ik-a-bil'i-ti), n. Quality of being amicable; amicableness. Amicable (am'ik-a-bl), a. [L. amicabilis, from amicus, a friend, from amo, to love.] Characterized by or exhibiting friendship, peaceableness, or harmony; friendly; peaceable; harmonious in social or mutual transactions; as, an amicable arrangement; an amicable adjustment of differences. 'His kindness and humanity, and amicable disposition, and affability and pleasantness of temper. Wood.-Amicable action, in law, an action commenced and prosecuted according to a mutual understanding, for the 88 purpose of obtaining a decision of the courts on some matter of law involved in it. Amicable numbers, in arith. such as are mutually equal to the sum of one another's aliquot parts.-Amicable, Friendly. Ami cable is negative; friendly is positive: amicable simply implies a degree of friendship such as that we do not wish to disagree with those with whom we are on amicable terms; friendly means that the relations are of an active character, that we have done something to attain, and would do more to retain, the relation.-SYN. Friendly, peaceable, harmonious. Amicableness (am'ik-a-bl-nes), n. The quality of being amicable, peaceable, friendly, or disposed to peace; a disposition to preserve peace and friendship; friendliness. Amicably (am'ik-a-bli), adv. In an amicable or friendly manner; with harmony; without controversy; as, the dispute was amicably adjusted. Amical† (a-mi'kal or am'ik-al), a. Friendly; amicable. 'An amical call to repentance.' W. Watson. Amice (am'is), n. [0. Fr. amis, amit, Fr. amict, from L. amictus, an upper or outer garment, from amicio, amictum, to wrap round-prefix am, around, and jacio, jactum, to throw.] Something wrapped round a person; specifically, (a) a flowing cloak formerly worn by priests and pilgrims. A palmer's amice wrapped him round, With a wrought Spanish baldrick bound. Sir W. Scott. (b) An oblong piece or strip of fine linen, with an embroidered apparel sewed upon it, falling down the shoulders like a cope, worn under the alb by priests of the Roman Catholic Church when engaged in the service of the mass. It was originally temporarily placed on the head till the other vestments were arranged, after which it was 1, Amice round the neck. 2, Amice worn as a hood. turned down with the apparel outwards, so that when reposing on the shoulders it resembled an embroidered collar. To this position on the head is to be referred its later symbolism as a helmet of salvation. The bands worn by some Protestant clergymen are a relic of the amice. Arrayed in habit black and amice thin, Like to a holy monk the service to begin. Spenser. Amict (am'ikt), n. Same as Amice. Amicus Curiæ (a-mî'kus kū'ri-ē), n. [L.] In law, a friend of the court; a person in court who informs the judge of an error he has noticed or makes any useful suggestion. Amid, Amidst (a-mid', a-midst'), prep. [Prefix a, on, in, and mid, midst. In A. Sax. it appears as on-middan, on-middum, later as amidde, amiddes; the t has been tacked on as in against; the es is an adverbial genit. termination. See MID, MIDDLE, &c.] In the midst or middle; surrounded or encompassed by; mingled with; among. Amid is used chiefly in poetry. Placed far amid the melancholy main.' Thomson. 'Amidst the garden.' Milton. Amide, Amine (am'id, am'in), n. In chem. names given to a series of salts produced by the substitution of elements or radicals for the hydrogen atoms of ammonia: often used as terminations of the names of such salts. When these hydrogen atoms are replaced by acid radicals, the salts are called amides, as NH C2 HO (acetamide); while if the replacing radicals are basic, the salts are termed amines, as NH, K (potassamine) and NH, CH, (ethylamine). Amidin, Amidine (am'id-in), n. (C4H20020) A peculiar substance procured from wheat and potato starch. It is opaque or semitransparent, white or yellowish-white, inodorous, insipid, and very friable. It forms the soluble or gelatinous part of starch. Amidogen (a-mid'ō-jen), n. [Amide, and Gr. gennao, to produce- the generator of amides.] A basifying principle composed of two equivalents of hydrogen and one of nitrogen (NH). It has not been isolated, AMMIRAL but may be traced in the compounds called amides and amines. Thus acetamide is a compound of acetum and amidogen; potassamine, of potassium and amidogen Amidships (a-mid'ships), adv. In or towards the middle or the middle line of a ship; as, to put the helm amidships. Amidward (a-mid'ward), adv. Towards the middle line of a ship. Amiidæ (am-i'i-dē), n. pl. A family of recent ganoid fishes, approaching more closely than the other families of the order to the ordinary bony fishes. The skin is covered with small, thin, rounded scales, coated with enamel, and the caudal fin is scarcely unsymmetrical. The species of this family, which are few in number, inhabit the fresh waters of America. One of the largest is the Amia calva. Amilene (am'il-ēn), n. Same as Amylene. Amine. See AMIDE. Amir (a-mer), n. Same as Emir (which see). Amiralt (am'i-ral), n. An admiral. See AM MIRAL Amist (am'is), n. An amice. Spenser. See AMICE. Amiss (a-mis), a. or adv. [Prefix a, and miss. See MISS.] 1. Wrong; faulty; out of time or order; improper: used only as a predicate; as, it may not be amiss to ask advice. There's somewhat in this world amiss Shall be unriddled by and by. Tennyson. -To be not amiss, to be passable or suitable; to be pretty fair; to be not so very bad after all: a phrase used to express approval, but not in a very emphatic way. [Colloq.] She's a miss, she is; and yet she an't amiss-eh! Dickens. 2. In a faulty manner; contrary to propriety, truth, law, or morality. Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss. Jam. iv. 3. Amisst (a-mis'), n. Fault; wrong. 'Some great amiss.' 'Shak. Pale be my looks to witness my amiss. Lyly. Amissibility (a-mis'i-bil"i-ti), n. The capability or possibility of being lost. [Rare.] Notions of popular rights, and the amissibility of sovereign power for misconduct, were broached. Hallam, Amissible (a-mis'i-bl), a. [L. amissibilis.] Capable of being or liable to be lost. [Rare.] Amissiont (a-mi'shon), n. [L. amissio. amissionis, from amitto-a, away, and mitto, to send.] Loss. Amission of their church membership.' Dr. H. More. Amit (a-mit), v.t. [L. amitto, to lose.] To lose. Sir T. Browne. Amity (am'i-ti), n. [Fr. amitié, O. Fr. amisté, Pr. amistat; from a L.L. amicitas (used instead of Class. L. amicitia, friendship), from amicus, a friend, from amo, to love.] Friendship, in a general sense; harmony; good understanding, especially between nations; political friendship; as, a treaty of amity and commerce. Great Britain was in league and amity with all the world. Sir J. Davies. SYN. Harmony, kindness, affection, friendship, good-will. Amma (am'ma), n. [A word probably formed from the earliest sound uttered by an infant, and hence recognized in the name for mother, nurse, in many tongues; comp. G. amme, a wet-nurse; O.G. amma, a mother; Heb. em; Syr. ama, a mother. Comp. also mamma; L. mamma, a breast.] An abbess or spiritual mother. Amma (am'ma), n. [Gr., a band.] A girdle or truss used in ruptures. Amman (am'man), n. [Contr. from G. amt- His spear-to equal which the tallest pine AMMIT Ammitt (am'mit), n. [See AMICE.] An amice. Their motley habits, maniples and stoles, Albs, armits, rochets, chimers, hoods, and cowls. Oldham, Ammite, Hammite(am'mit, ham'mit), n. [Gr. mmos, sand. An old mineralogical name for roe-stone or oolite, and for all those sandstones composed of rounded and loosely compacted grains like oolite. See OOLITE Ammochryse (am'mō-kris), n. [Gr. ammos, sand, and chrysos, gold.] A yellow soft stone, found in Germany, consisting of glossy yellow particles. When rubbed or ground it has been used to strew over fresh writing to prevent blotting. Ammocœtes (am'mō-së-tēž), n. [Gr. ammos, sand, and koite, a bed.] A genus of cyclostomous fishes, family Petromyzonida or Petromyzida, closely allied to the lampreys. One British species is known, the pride or mud-lamprey (4. branchialis); it is occasionally met with in our rivers, where it lodges in the mud. Ammodytes (am'mō-di-téz), n. [Gr. ammos, sand, and dytos, from dyō, to go into, to enter.] A genus of apodal fishes, family Ammodytidae, sub-order Anacanthini; the sand-eel (which see). Ammodytidae (am'mo-di'ti-dē), n. pl. [See AMMODYTES.] A family of fishes, sub-order Anacanthini,order Teleostei, of which the genus Ammodytes is the type. See SAND-EEL Ammon (am'mon), n. [Anc. Egyptian Amun, Ammon.] An ancient Ethiopian, and subsequently Egyptian deity, called by the Greeks Zeus Ammon, and by the Latins Jupiter Ammon. Alexander the Great visited his temple in the desert of Libya, and was saluted, an ד Ammon, from a bronze in British Museum. it is said, by the priests as son of the god. Ammonalum (am'mon-al-um), n. [Contr. for ammonia alum.] A mineral consisting of a hydrosulphate of alumina and ammonia, found in thin fibrous layers in brown-coal in Bohemia. In France it is manufactured and used for potash-alum. Ammonia (am-mỡ'ni-a), n. [Gr. ammoniaken, sal-ammoniac, so called from the salt being first obtained by burning camels' dung near the Temple of Ammon in Libya. ] (NH) The modern name of the volatile alkali, formerly so called to distinguish it from the more fixed alkalies. It is a gas, and was first procured in that state by Priestley, who termed it alkaline air. He obtained it from sal-ammoniac by the action of lime, by which method it is yet generally prepared. Ammonia is used for many purposes, both in medicine and scientific chemistry; not, however, in the gaseous state, but frequently in solution in water, under the names of liquid ammonia, aquequs ammonia, or spirits of hartshorn. It may be liquefied by pressure, and the liquid may be frozen by the same means. It may be procured naturally from putrescent animal substances, and artificially from the destructive distillation of organic matter, except fat, by subjecting it to heat in iron cylinders. In commerce it is chiefly got from the distillation of pit-coal and of refuse animal substances, such as bones, clippings and shavings of horn, hoof, &c. It may also be obtained from vegetable matter when nitrogen is one of its elements. The air contains a minute quantity of ammonia from the putrefaction of animal and vegetable bodies. It is recognized by its pungent smell and transient alkaline effect on vegetable colours. Ammoniac, Ammoniacal (am-mō'ni-ak, am-mo-ni'ak-al), a. Pertaining to ammonia, or possessing its properties. -Ammoniacal gas, ammonia in its purest form. See AMMONIA- Ammoniac gum, or gum-ammoniac, a gum-resin from Africa and the East, brought in large masses, composed of tears, internally white and externally yellow; an exudation from an umbelliferous plant, the 89 Dorema ammoniacum. It has a fetid smell, and a nauseous sweet taste, followed by a bitter one. It is inflammable, soluble in water and spirit of wine, and is used in medicine as an antispasmodic, stimulant, and expectorant in chronic catarrh, bronchitic affections, and asthma. It is also used for plasters.-Ammoniacal liquor, a product of the distillation of coal in gasworks, usually containing 4 to 8 oz. of ammonia in a gallon, and used as a manure.Ammoniacal salt, a salt formed by the union of ammonia with an acid, without the elimination of hydrogen, differing in this from metallic salts, which are formed by the substitution of the metal for the hydrogen of the acid. Ammoniac, Ammoniacum (am-mo'ni-ak, am-mo-ni'ak-um), n. Same as Ammoniac Gum (which see under AMMONIAC, a.) Ammonian (am-mo'ni-an), a. Relating to Ammonius, surnamed Saccas, of Alexandria, who flourished at the end of the second century, and was the founder of the Neoplatonic school of philosophy; his most distinguished pupils being Longinus, Origen, and Plotinus. Ammonite (am'mon-it), n. [Resembling the horns of Jupiter Ammon, whose statues were represented with ram's horns. ] One of the fossil shells of an extensive genus (Ammonites) of extinct cephalopodous molluscs (cuttlefishes), family Ammonitidæ, coiled in a plane spiral, and chambered within like that of the existing nautilus, to which the ammonites were allied. These shells have a nacreous lining in the inside, and a porcelaneous layer externally, and are smooth or rugose, the ridges straight, crooked, or undulated, and in some cases armed with projecting spines or tubercles. The species already described number 500, and range from the lias to the chalk inclusive. They vary in size from mere specks up to 3 or 4 feet in diameter. Sometimes called Snake-stone, and formerly Cornu Ammonis (Ammon's horn). Ammonitidæ (am-mon-it'i-dē), n. pl. A numerous extinct family of tetrabranchiate cephalopods (cuttle-fishes), of which the well-known ammonite is the type. It includes the genera Goniatites, Ceratites, Ammonites, Scaphites, Hamites, and others. They are the most characteristic molluscs of the secondary rocks. See AMMONITE. Ammonitiferous (am'mon-it-if"èr-us), a. Containing the remains of ammonites; as, ammonitiferous rocks. Ammonium (am-mō'ni-um), n. (NH) A name given to the hypothetical base of ammonia, analogous to a metal, as potassium. It has not been isolated. If mercury at the negative pole of a galvanic battery be placed in contact with a solution of ammonia, and the circuit be completed, an amalgam is formed which, at the temperature of 70° or 80° Fahr., is of the consistence of butter, but at the freezing-point is a firm and crystallized mass. This amalgam is supposed to be formed by the metallic base ammonium, and is the nearest approach to its isolation. On the ceasing of the current the amalgam decomposes into mercury, ammonia, and hydrogen, the two latter escaping as gas in the proportions expressed by their atomic weights, namely, H and NH-Ammonium bases, compounds representing one or more molecules of hydrate of ammonium, in which mono- or poly-atomic radicals replace the whole or part of the hydrogen, as iodide of tetrethylium N. (CH), I. Ammoniurett (am-mon-i'u-ret), n. In chem. one of certain supposed compounds of ammonia and a pure metal, or an oxide of a metal. Ammophila (a-mof'i-la), n. [Gr. ammos, sand, and philos, a lover.] 1. A genus of grasses growing on the sandy shores of Europe and North America; the sea-reed. A. arundinacea (common marum, sea-reed, mat-weed, or sea-bent) grows on sandy sea AMOEBA shores, and is extensively employed in Norfolk and Holland for preserving the shores from inroads of the sea, as it serves to bind down the sand by its long matted rhizomes. It is also manufactured into door-mats and floor-brushes. In the Hebrides it is made into ropes, mats, bags, and hats.-2. A longbodied genus of fossorial hymenoptera, commonly called sand-wasps. See SAND-WASP. Ammunition (am-mu-ni'shon), n. [L. ad, and munitio, from munio, to fortify.] Military stores or provisions for attack or defence. In modern usage the signification is confined to the articles which are used in the discharge of firearms and ordnance of all kinds, as powder, balls, bombs, various kinds of shot, &c. Ammunition bread, shoes, stockings, &c., in America such as are contracted for by government, and distributed to the private soldiers. Ammunition-chest (am-mu-ni'shon-chest), n. A chest or box in which the fixed ammunition for field cannon is packed. One is carried on the limber of the gun-carriage, and one on the limber and two on the body of each caisson. Amnesia (am-ne'si-a), n. [Gr. a, priv., and mnesis, memory.] In med. loss of memory. Amnesty (am'nes-ti), n. [L. amnestia, from Gr. amnestia, oblivion-a, not, and root mna, to remember.] An act of oblivion; a general pardon of the offences of subjects against the government, or the proclamation of such pardon. He had already given his consent to an act by which an amnesty was granted to all those who during the late troubles had been guilty of political offences. Macaulay. Amnesty (am'nes-ti), v. t. To grant an amnesty to; to pardon. In this case the government were asked to amnesty men who had committed some of the worst crimes that could be committed. Scotsman newspaper. Amnion (am'ni-on), n. [Gr. amnion, the membrane round the fetus.] 1. The innermost membrane surrounding the fetus of mammals, birds, and reptiles. It is thin, transparent, soft, and smooth on the inside, but rough on the outside: it grows out from the free margins of the blastoderm, which ultimately meet in the middle line of the belly.-2. In bot. a thin, semi-transparent, gelatinous fluid, in which the embryo of a seed is suspended when it first appears, and by which the embryo is supposed to be nourished in its early stages. Amnios (am'ni-os), n. Same as Amnion. Amniotic (am-ni-ot'ik), a. 1. Pertaining to the amnion; contained in the amnion; as, the amniotic fluid.-2. A term applied to those groups of vertebrates (reptiles, birds, mammals) of which the fetus possesses an amnion. Amniotic acid. See Allantoic Acid under ALLANTOIC.-Amniotic liquid, or liquor amnii, the liquid in which the fetus floats suspended by the umbilical cord. Amoeba (a-mě'ba), n. [Gr. amoibe, change.] A microscopic genus of rhizopodous Protozoa, of which A. difluens, common in all our fresh-water ponds and ditches, is the type. It exists as a mass of protoplasm, which, when placed under the microscope, exhibits curious movements. It pushes its body out into finger-like processes or pseudopodia, and by means of these moves about or grasps particles of food. These processes may be protruded from any portion of the body, and are freely pushed out and as freely withdrawn again, or merged with the general protoplasmic matter of the body. From thus continually altering its shape it received its former name of proteus-animalcule. Within the body a nucleus and nucleolus are usually perceived, and certain clear spaces, termed contractile vesicles, from their exhibiting rhythmical movements of contraction and dilation, may also be noticed. The protoplasm of the amcba's body is differentiated into layers, the outer and firmer layer being termed the ectosarc, the inner and more fluid the endosarc. There is no distinct mouth, and food seized by means of the pseudopodia is engulfed within the soft sarcode body and by any portion of its sur Amoeba, or Fresh-water Proteus, showing some of the shapes which it assumes, and the vacuoles in its sar. codic substance. AMEBÆUM face, the apertures by which the food is taken in closing up immediately after reception of the nutriment. A clear space forms round each food particle after it has been received into the body, and the particle, if digestible, is slowly dissolved, the clear space left for a short time after digestion being termed a vacuole. Reproduction takes place in several ways; as, by fission, whereby an amoeba simply divides into two portions, each of which becomes a distinct animalcule; or by a single pseudopodium detaching itself from the parent body, and developing into a separate amoeba. Several other species have been described. Amœbæum (am-ē-bē'um), n. [L. amœbæum (carmen), from Gr. amoibaios, alternate, from amoibe, change, an answer, from ameibō, to change.] A poem in which persons are represented as speaking alternately, as in the third and seventh eclogues of Virgil. Amœbea (am-ē-bē'a), n. pl. An order of Rhizopoda, of which the genus Amoeba is the type. See AMOEBA. Amæbean (am-ē-bē'an),a. [See AMEBAUM.] Alternately answering or responsive. 'Amobean verses and the custom of vying.. by turns.' J. Warton. Amœbean (am-e-bē'an), a. Of or relating to the order Amobea. Amoeboid (a-me'boid), a. [Amaba (which see), and Gr. eidos, resemblance.] Of or pertaining to or resembling the amoeba; as, amoeboid masses. Same as Amuck. Amœbous (a-mě'bus), a. Of or relating to the genus Amoeba; resembling the amoeba in structure. Amok (a-mok'), n. Amolition † (am-o-li'shon), n. [L. amolitio, amolitionis, from amolior, to remove-a, from, and molior, to move.] A putting away; removal. Amomum (a-mō'mum), n. [Gr. amōmon; Ar. hamauma, from hamma, to warm or heat; the heating plant.] A genus of plants, nat. order Zingiberaceæ, all natives of warm climates, and remarkable for the pungency and aromatic properties of their seeds. Various species yield cardamoms and grains of paradise (which see). Some have been introduced into our hothouses as ornamental plants because of their handsome flowers. Amoneste, v.t. To admonish; to advise. Chaucer. Among, Amongst (a-mung', a-mungst'), prep. [A. Sax, amang, onmang, gemang, from mengan, to mingle; O. E. amonge, amonges, amongest, the es being an adverbial genitive termination, and the t tacked on. Comp. amidst. See MINGLE.] 1. Mixed or mingled with; in or into the midst of; in or into the number of; as, tares among wheat. Blessed art thou among women. Luke i. 28. I always thought It was both impious and unnatural That such immanity and bloody strife Should reign among professors of one faith. Shak. 2. In the power of, or by the action of, all jointly, or one or other of the number; as, I know you have the purse among you. You have among you killed a sweet and innocent lady. Shak. Amontillado (a-mon'til-ä"do), n. [Sp.] A dry kind of sherry of a light colour, highly esteemed by connoisseurs. Amorado + (am-o-rä'do), n. [Sp. pp. of amorar, L. amo, to love; the word is similar to inamorata, inamorato.] A lover. Mark Antony was both a courageous soldier and a passionate amorado. Old tract. Amorean (am-ō-rē'an), n. One of a sect of Gemaric doctors or commentators on the Jerusalem Talmud. Amoret, Amorette (am'o-ret, am-o-ret”), n. [Fr. amourette, a love-intrigue; It. amoretto, a little love or cupid; dim. from L. amor, love, from amo, to love.] 1. A trifling love affair; a slight amour.-2. A lover; a person enamoured. When amorets no more can shine, And Stella own she's not divine. T. Warton. 3. A love-knot. 4. A love-song or lovesonnet. 'His amorets and his canzonets, his pastorals and his madrigals to his Phyllis and his Amaryllis.' Heywood. Amoretto (am-o-ret'to), n. A person enamoured; a lover. The amoretto was wont to take his stand at one place where sat his mistress. Gayton. Amorevoloust (am-o-rev'o-lus),a. [L. amor, 90 love, and volo, to wish.] Full of love or benevolence; kind; charitable. He would leave it to the Princesse to show her cordial and amorevolous affection. Bp. Hacket. Amorist (am'o-rist), n. [L. amor, love.] A lover; a gallant; an inamorato. The pen of some vulgar amorist.' Milton. A-mornings (a-morningz), adv. [Prefix a, on, and mornings, which here is probably the adverbial genitive, not the plural.] In the mornings. Such pleasant walks into the woods A-mornings. Beau, & FI Amorosa (am-ō-rō'sa), n. [It.] An amorous or wanton woman. and violators of the Sir T. Herbert. I took them for amorosas, bounds of modesty. Amoroso (am-ō-rō'sō), n. [It., from amor, love.] A man enamoured; a lover. It is a gibe which an heathen puts upon an amoroso, that wastes his whole time in dalliance upon his mistress, viz. that love is an idle man's business. Bp. Hacket. Amoroso (am-ō-rō'. ō), adv. [It.] In music, tenderly; amorously; in a manner expressive of love: resembling affetuoso, but somewhat bolder and more spirited. Amorous (am'or-us), a. [Fr. amoureux, It. amoroso, L.L. amorosus, L. amor, love.] 1. Inclined to love; having a propensity to love, or to sexual enjoyment; loving; fond; as, an amorous disposition. 'So amorous is Nature of whatever she produces.' Dryden. 'Princes amorous of their chiefs.' Chapman. 2. In love; enamoured: usually with of, formerly sometimes with on. The am'rous master owned her potent eyes. Prior. Sure my brother is amorous on Hero. Shak. 3. Pertaining or relating to love; produced by love; indicating love. 'Amorous delight.' Milton. 'Amorous airs.' Waller. SYN. Loving, fond, tender, passionate. Amorously (am'or-us-li), adv. In an amorous manner; fondly; lovingly. Amorousness (am'or-us-nes), n. The quality of being amorous or inclined to love, or to sexual pleasure; fondness; lovingness. Amorpha (a-mor'fa), n. [Gr. a, neg., and morphe, form.] A genus of plants, nat. order Leguminosæ; bastard indigo. The species are shrubs of moderate size, having pendulous branches and long clusters of blueviolet flowers. They are natives of America. A. fruticosa, the commonest species in European gardens, was introduced into Britain in 1724. The inhabitants of Carolina are said at one time to have made a coarse sort of indigo from its young shoots. Amorphism (a-morfizm), n. State of being amorphous or without shape; specifically, a state of being without crystallization, even in the minutest particles, as in glass, opal, &c. Amorphotæ (a-mor-fō'tē), n. pl. [Gr. amorphotos, formless-a, without, and morphē, shape.] In astron. stars not formed into any constellation, and so not constituting a portion of any symmetrical figure. Amorphous (a-mor'fus), a. [Gr. amorphos -a, neg., and morphe, form.] 1. Having no determinate form; of irregular shape. Kirwan.-2. Having no regular structure; specifically, being without crystallization, even in the minutest particles, as, glass and opal are amorphous.-3. Of no particular kind or character; formless; characterless; clumsy. Scientific treatises . . . are not seldom rude and amorphous in style. Hare. Amorphozoa (a-mor'fō-zõ′′a), n. pl. [Gr. a, without, morphe, shape, and zōon, a living creature.] Lit. shapeless animals; specifically, a term applied to some of the lower groups of animals, as the sponges and their allies, which have no regular symmetrical structure. Blainville. Amorphy (a-mor'fi), n. [See AMORPHOUS.] Irregularity of form; deviation from a determinate shape. 'His epidemical diseases being fastidiosity, amorphy, and oscitation.' Swift. [Rare.] A-morrow (a-mor'ō), adv. See A-MORWE. Amort (a-mort'), a. A word used only in the phrase all amort-half-dead, depressed, spiritless, regardless. Nares thinks the phrase a corruption of a-la-mort, but it is more probably the adv. all and the Norm. amort, dead. How fares my Kate? What, sweeting, all amort! Shak. She danced along with vague, regardless eyes, all amort. Keats. Amortization, Amortizement (a-mortiza"shon, a-mor'tiz-ment), n. [L.L. amorti AMPELITE satio, Fr. amortissement, mortmain.] 1. The act or right of alienating lands or tenements to a corporation in mortmain.-2. The extinction of debt, especially by a sinking fund. Amortize (a-mortiz), v. t. pret. & pp. amortized; ppr. amortizing. [Norm. Fr. amortizer; L.L. amortisare, to sell in mortmainL. ad, to, and mors, mortis, death. See MORTMAIN.] 1. In law, to alienate in mortmain, that is, to sell to a corporation, sole or aggregate, ecclesiastical or temporal, and their successors. See MORTMAIN.-2. To extinguish, as a debt, by means of a sinking fund. A-morwe,t adv. On the morrow. A-morwe, when the day began to spring, Canterbury Tales. Amotion (a-mō'shon), n. [L. amotio, from amoveo, amotum. See AMOVE.] 1. Removal; ejection.-2. In law, deprivation of possession or office; the removal of an officer or member of a corporation. The cause of his amotion is twice mentioned by the Oxford antiquary. T. Warton. Amount (a-mount), v.i. [0. Fr. amonter, to advance, ascend, increase; Norm. Fr. amont, upwards, up the stream-a, to, and monter, to mount, from mont, L. mons, montis, a hill. Comp. avale, from L. ad, to, and vallis, a valley.] 1. To get up; ascend; and hence, to depart. "When the larke doth fyrst amounte on high.' H. Peacham. So up he rose, and thence amounted straight Spenser. 2. To reach a certain amount by an accumulation of particulars; to come in the aggregate or whole. Thy substance, valued at the highest rate, 3. To rise, reach, or extend, in effect, substance, influence, or the like; to be equivalent. The errors of young men are the ruin of business; but the errors of aged men amount but to this, that more might have been done or sooner. Bacon. [Swift joins the pp. of this verb with was, giving it the appearance of a transitive verb. Whose number was now amounted to 300.] Amount (a-mount'), n. 1. The sum total of two or more particular sums or quantities; the aggregate; as, the amount of 7 and 9 is 16.-2. The effect, substance, or result; the sum; as, the evidence, in amount, comes to this. Amour (a-mör′), n. [Fr., from L. amor, love.] An unlawful connection in love; a love intrigue; an affair of gallantry. - Amour propre, self-love; self-conceit; vanity. Amourette (am-or-et), n. Same as Amoret. Amoval (a-mövʼal), n. Total removal. 'Amoval of insufferable nuisances.' Evelyn Amove (a-möv'), v.t. [L. amoveo-a, away, and moveo, to move.] 1. In law, to remove, especially from a post or station. Coroners may be amoved for reasonable cause. 2. To move; to excite; to affect. At her so piteous cry was much amoved Her champion stout. Spenser. Ampac (am'pak), n. An East Indian tree, which yields a highly odoriferous resin, and the leaves of which are used to medicate baths. It is a species of Xanthoxylon. Ampelidæ (am-pel'i-de), n.pl. [See AMPELIS} The chatterers, a family of insessorial or perching birds, having a wide gape, short broad and slightly arched bill, notched at the tip, and sharp hooked claws. Most of them inhabit tropical America, and several are distinguished for the gorgeousness of their plumage. Ampelideæ (am-pel-id'é-ē), n. pl. [From Gr. ampelis, ampelos, a vine.] The name given by Endlicher to the natural order of plants called Vitaceae (which see). Ampelinæ (am-pel-i'ně), n. pl. A sub-family of birds of the family Ampelidæ or chatterers. See AMPELIDE, AMPELIS. Ampelis (am'pel-is), n. [Gr., a kind of singing bird.] A genus of perching birds, forming the type of the family Ampelidæ or chatterers, as well as of the sub-family or group Ampelinæ. This genus includes the Bohemian wax-wing or waxen chatterer, the only chatterer that visits Britain. Ampelite (am'pel-it), n. [Gr. ampelitis, a kind of earth with which the vine was sprinkled to preserve it from worms-ampelos, a vine.] A species of black earth abounding in pyrites, so named from having been used to kill insects in vines. The name is also applied to cannel-coal and to some kinds of schist. |