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ntrary direction; opposed; contrary; opposite; conflicting; as, adverse winds; an adverse party; a spirit adverse to distinctions of caste.

Consisting of air; resembling, or partaking of the nature of air. Hence: Unsubstantial; unreal.

The science which treats of the properties of the air, and of the part it plays in nature. Craig.

That department of physics which treats of the atmosphere.

An instrument consisting in part of a differential thermometer. It is used for measuring changes of temperature produced by different conditions of the sky, as when clear or clouded.

Bearing or conducting inwards to a part or organ; -- opposed to efferent; as, afferent vessels; afferent nerves, which convey sensations from the external organs to the brain.

To connect or associate one's self; -- followed by with; as, they affiliate with no party.

That attraction which takes place, at an insensible distance, between the heterogeneous particles of bodies, and unites them to form chemical compounds; chemism; chemical or elective affinity or attraction.

To subjoin, annex, or add at the close or end; to append to; to fix to any part of; as, to affix a syllable to a word; to affix a seal to an instrument; to affix one's name to a writing.

A divine impartation of knowledge; supernatural impulse; inspiration. A poet writing against his genius will be like a prophet without his afflatus. Spence.

The act of hiring, or the contract for the use of, a vessel, or some part of it, to convey cargo.

The act of pouring water or other fluid on the whole or a part of the body, as a remedy in disease. Dunglison.

In the fore part of a vessel.

Said before, or in a preceding part; already described or identified.

To ward the stern of the ship; -- applied to any object in the rear part of a vessel; as the after cabin, after hatchway.

One of the small notes occur on the unaccented parts of the measure, taking their time from the preceding note.

The seaman or seamen stationed on the poop or after part of the ship, to attend the after-sails. Totten.

The part of the day which follows noon, between noon and evening.

The love feast of the primitive Christians, being a meal partaken of in connection with the communion.

That part of the duration of a being or a thing which is between its beginning and any given time; as, what is the present age of a man, or of the earth