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The producing of an unintended effect by the glancing of an instrument, as when a shot intended for A glances and strikes B.

Containing abuse, or serving as the instrument of abuse; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous. "An abusive lampoon." Johnson.

A part performed by instruments, accompanying another part or parts performed by voices; the subordinate part, or parts, accompanying the voice or a principal instrument; also, the harmony of a figured bass. P. Cyc.

A small, portable, keyed wind instrument, whose tones are generated by play of the wind upon free metallic reeds.

Accrument. [R.]

An instrument for estimating the amount of acetic acid in vinegar or in any liquid containing acetic acid.

An instrument for ascertaining the strength of acids. Ure.

To own as genuine; to assent to, as a legal instrument, to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form; as, to acknowledgea deed.

An instrument for measuring the acuteness of the sense of hearing. Itard.

An instrument for measuring and recording the variations in the actinic or chemical force of rays of light. Nichol.

An instrument for measuring the direct heating power of the sun's rays.

To bring to a true relative position, as the parts of an instrument; to regulate for use; as, to adjust a telescope or microscope.

The operation of bringing all the parts of an instrument, as a microscope or telescope, into their proper relative position for use; the condition of being thus adjusted; as, to get a good adjustment; to be in or out of adjustment.

An instrument for ascertaining the weight or density of air and gases.

An instrument, proposed by Edison, for greatly intensifying speech. It consists of a phonograph diaphragm so arranged that its action opens and closes valves, producing synchronous air blasts sufficient to operate a larger diaphragm with greater amplitude of vibration.

An instrument to measure the degree of sensation, by determining at how short a distance two impressions upon the skin can be distinguished, and thus to determine whether the condition of tactile sensibility is normal or altered.

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.

d 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.

The faculty of acting or of exerting power; the state of being in action; action; instrumentality. The superintendence and agency of Providence in the natural world. Woodward.

An instrument for boring holes, used in blasting.