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Literally, the letters of a word read backwards, but in its usual wider sense, the change or one word or phrase into another by the transposition of its letters. Thus Galenus becomes angelus; William Noy (attorney-general to Charles I., and a laborious man) may be turned into I moyl in law.

ty where there is no law or supreme power; a state of lawlessness; political confusion. Spread anarchy and terror all around. Cowper.

gled. -- The anchor is acockbill, when it is suspended perpendicularly from the cathead, ready to be let go. -- The anchor is apeak, when the cable is drawn in do tight as to bring to ship directly over it. -- The anchor is atrip, or aweigh, when it is lifted out of the ground. -- The anchor is awash, when it is ho…

; and other things or ingredients. The abbreviation, etc. (et cetera), or &c., is usually read and so forth.

Intense dread of, or aversion to, England or the English. -- An"glo*phobe, n.

To smear or rub over with oil or an unctuous substance; also, to spread over, as oil. And fragrant oils the stiffened limbs anoint. Dryden. He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. John ix. 6.

scratched deposit of silver on glass, used in connection with the receiving apparatus for reading wireless signals. The electric waves falling on this contrivance increase its resistance several times. The anticoherer can be used in conjunction with a telephone.

Pertaining to Aphrodite or Venus. "Aphrodisian dames" [that is, courtesans]. C. Reade.

An ornamental appendage of wood at the ship's stern, usually spreading like a fan and curved like a bird's feather. Audsley.

To make or get (something) ready; to prepare. [Obs.] Chaucer.

esire; esp. natural desire; a craving; an eager appetite. They had a strong appetency for reading. Merivale.

t; to constitute; to ordain; to prescribe; to fix the time and place of. Thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. 2 Sam. xv. 15. He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness. Acts xvii. 31. Say that the emperor request a parley . . . and appoint the meeti…

Having or showing a just or ready appreciation or perception; as, an appreciative audience. -- Ap*pre"ci*a*tive*ly, adv.

To anticipate; esp., to anticipate with anxiety, dread, or fear; to fear. The opposition had more reason than the king to apprehend violence. Macaulay.

Anticipative of something unfavorable' fearful of what may be coming; in dread of possible harm; in expectation of evil. Not at all apprehensive of evils as a distance. Tillotson. Reformers . . . apprehensive for their lives. Gladstone.

A piece of leather, or other material, to be spread before a person riding on an outside seat of a vehicle, to defend him from the rain, snow, or dust; a boot. "The weather being too hot for the apron." Hughes.

Inclined; disposed customarily; given; ready; -- used of persons. Apter to give than thou wit be to ask. Beau. & Fl. That lofty pity with which prosperous folk are apt to remember their grandfathers. F. Harrison.

Readiness in learning; docility; aptness. He was a boy of remarkable aptitude. Macaulay.

In an apt or suitable manner; fitly; properly; pertinently; appropriately; readily.

Quickness of apprehension; readiness in learning; docility; as, an aptness to learn is more observable in some children than in others.