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Succession by turns; alternation. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

The five united jaws and accessory ossicles of certain sea urchins.

In or at the hinder part of a ship; toward the hinder part, or stern; backward; as, to go astern.

Not sternal; -- said of ribs which do not join the sternum.

The quality of being better or superior; superiority. [R.] Sir P. Sidney.

Doubly ternate, as when a petiole has three ternate leaflets. -- Bi*ter"nate*ly, adv. Gray.

A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons, of various species.

eproach or sarcasm; deep distress, grief, or vexation of mind. The lip that curls with bitterness. Percival. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Job vii. 11.

The swamp hickory (Carya amara). Its thin-shelled nuts are bitter.

An American tree (Juglans cinerea) of the Walnut family, and its edible fruit; -- so called from the oil contained in the latter. Sometimes called oil nut and white walnut.

A tract of crown land in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, England, to which is attached the nominal office of steward. As members of Parliament cannot resign, when they wish to go out they accept this stewardship, which legally vacates their seats.

A natural reservoir; a hollow place containing water. "The wide cisterns of the lakes." Blackmore.

An instrument shaped like a lute, but strung with wire and played with a quill or plectrum. [Written also cithern.] Shak.

Blockhead; dunce; -- so called because the handle of a cittern usually ended with a carved head. Marsion

Equally eternal. -- Co`e*ter"nal*ly, adv. Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven first born! Or of the Eternal coeternal beam. Milton.

Existence from eternity equally with another eternal being; equal eternity.

The relation of a godfather to a person. [Obs.] The relation of gossipred or compaternity by the cannon law is a spiritual affinity. Sir J. Da

A society or body of men united for some purpose, or in some profession; a brotherhood.

on; terror, combined with amaxement; dismay. The chiefs around, In silence wrapped, in onsternation downed. Attend the stern reply. Pope.

The puffin.