Search the Dictionary

Having a sound, strong body; physically competent; robust. "Able-bodied vagrant." Froude. -- A`ble-bod"ied*ness, n..

The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment. "The absurdity of the actual idea of an infinite number." Locke.

indicate the nature and place of the spoken accent; (b) a mark to indicate the quality of sound of the vowel marked; as, the French accents.

and, when of persons, usually in a bad sense; as, he was accessory to the riot; accessory sounds in music.

Harmony of sounds; agreement in pitch and tone; concord; as, the accord of tones. Those sweet accords are even the angels' lays. Sir J. Davies.

Pertaining to the sense of hearing, the organs of hearing, or the science of sounds; auditory. Acoustic duct, the auditory duct, or external passage of the ear. -- Acoustic telegraph, a telegraph making audible signals; a telephone. -- Acoustic vessels, brazen tubes or vessels, shaped like a bell, used in ancient the…

In relation to sound or to hearing. Tyndall.

The science of sounds, teaching their nature, phenomena, and laws. Acoustics, then, or the science of sound, is a very considerable branch of physics. Sir J. Herschel.

The use of a picture symbol of an object to represent phonetically the initial sound of the name of the object.

The use of a picture symbol of an object to represent phonetically the initial sound of the name of the object.

An apparatus for the production of sound by the action of the actinic, or ultraviolet, rays.

Pertaining to, or causing the production of, sound by means of the actinic, or ultraviolet, rays; as, actinophonic phenomena.

High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; -- opposed to grave or low; as, an acute tone or accent.

Shrillness; high pitch; -- said of sounds.

A dot at the right side of a note as an indication that its sound is to be lengthened one half. [R.]

ally; close agreement; relation; conformity; resemblance; connection; as, the affinity of sounds, of colors, or of languages. There is a close affinity between imposture and credulity. Sir G. C. Lewis.

th sudden fear; to frighten; to alarm. Dreams affright our souls. Shak. A drear and dying sound Affrights the flamens at their service quaint. Milton.

reality; having no solid foundation; empty; trifling; visionary. "Airy fame." Shak. Empty sound, and airy notions. Roscommon.

Inability to utter articulate sounds, due either to paralysis of the larynx or to that form of aphasia, called motor, or ataxis, aphasia, due to loss of control of the muscles of speech.

Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warming sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger. Sound an alarm in my holy mountain. Joel ii. 1.