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The portion of air in any locality, or affected by a special physical or sanitary condition; as, the atmosphere of the room; a moist or noxious atmosphere.

s denominated the Epicurean philosophy. -- Atomic theory, or the Doctrine of definite proportions (Chem.), teaches that chemical combinations take place between the supposed ultimate particles or atoms of bodies, in some simple ratio, as of one to one, two to three, or some other, always expressible in whole numbers.…

r auricle of the heart as distinct from the auricular appendix. Also, the whole articular portion of the heart.

a figurative sense; to ascribe or attribute; to affix; -- with to; as, to attach great importance to a particular circumstance. Top this treasure a curse is attached. Bayard Taylor.

To mix in just proportion; to regulate; as, a mind well attempered with kindness and justice.

A tempering, or mixing in due proportion.

Tempered; proportioned; properly adapted. Hope must be . . . attemperate to the promise. Hammond.

attesting; testimony; witness; a solemn or official declaration, verbal or written, in support of a fact; evidence. The truth appears from the attestation of witnesses, or of the proper officer. The subscription of a name to a writing as a witness, is an attestation.

e lower plants, consisting of two centrospheres containing centrosomes. It exercises an important function in mitosis.

urs or to augury; betokening; ominous; significant; as, an augural staff; augural books. "Portents augural." Cowper.

Received by the ear; known by report. "Auricular traditions." Bacon.

Roman practice of taking the auspicium, or inspection of birds, before undertaking any important business. They auspicate all their proceedings. Burke.

position to that which is false, fictitious, counterfeit, or apocryphal; being what it purports to be; genuine; not of doubtful origin; real; as, an authentic paper or register. To be avenged On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire. Milton.

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

That which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in support of opinions, actions, measures, etc. Hence:

To sanction or confirm by the authority of some one; to warrant; as, to authorize a report. A woman's story at a winter's fire, Authorized by her grandam. Shak.

A judgment of the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal condemning or acquitting persons accused of religious offenses.

one of its own products, as of silver oxide by the silver formed by reduction of a small portion of it. -- Au`to*cat`a*lyt"ic (#), a.

aëroplane is inherently stable if it keeps in steady poise by virtue of its shape and proportions alone; it is automatically stable if it keeps in steady poise by means of self-operative mechanism.

The time of maturity or decline; latter portion; third stage. Dr. Preston was now entering into the autumn of the duke's favor. Fuller. Life's autumn past, I stand on winter's verge. Wordsworth.