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The art of making measurements among the stars, or of determining their relative magnitudes.

The determination of the brightness of stars, and also of the sun, moon, and planets. --As`tro*pho`to*met"ric*al (#), a.

A low story above the main order or orders of a facade, in the classical styles; -- a term introduced in the 17th century. Hence:

A game of cards in which the players bid for the privilege of determining or "pitching" the trump suit. R. F. Foster.

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. Auger bit, a bit with a cutting edge or blade like that of an anger.

en color, occurring in igneous rocks, such as basalt; -- also used instead of the general term pyroxene.

A word which expresses with augmented force the idea or the properties of the term from which it is derived; as, dullard, one very dull. Opposed to diminutive. Gibbs.

ed by his successor. It became extinct when the German empire was dissolved, in 1806. The term is now applied to a council of the war department of the Austrian empire, and the members of different provincial chanceries of that empire are called aulic councilors. P. Cyc.

A familiar name for an aunt. In the southern United States a familiar term applied to aged negro women.

To prove authentic; to determine as real and true; as, to authenticate a portrait. Walpole.

aving, or proceeding from, due authority; entitled to obedience, credit, or acceptance; determinate; commanding. The sacred functions of authoritative teaching. Barrow.

macy. The divine will moves, not by the external impulse or inclination of objects, but determines itself by an absolute autocracy. South.

large cage, or other place, for keeping birds confined; a bird house. Lincolnshire may be termed the aviary of England. Fuller.

A vow or determination. [Archaic]

To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case; to adjudge; as, the arbitrators awarded damages to the complainant. To review The wrongful sentence, and award a new. Dryden.

One who awards, or assigns by sentence or judicial determination; a judge.

On; in continuance; without intermission or delay; as, sing away. [Colloq.]

straight lines intersecting each other, to which points are referred for the purpose of determining their relative position: they are either rectangular or oblique. -- Axes of coördinates in space, the three straight lines in which the coördinate planes intersect each other. -- Axis of a balance, that line about whic…

An apparatus for measuring or determining the proportion of nitrogen; a nitrometer.

ach player has fifteen pieces, or "men", the movements of which from point to point are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called tables. Backgammon board , a board for playing backgammon, often made in the form of two rectangular trays hinged together, each tray containing two "tables".