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The dropping of a letter or syllable from the beginning of a word; e. g., cute for acute.

The loss of a short unaccented vowel at the beginning of a word; -- the result of a phonetic process; as, squire for esquire. New Eng. Dict.

Shortened by dropping a letter or a syllable from the beginning of a word; as, an aphetic word or form. -- A*phet"ic*al*ly, adv. New Eng. Dict.

A genus of insects belonging to the order Hemiptera and family Aphidæ, including numerous species known as plant lice and green flies.

Belonging to bees.

At or belonging to an apex, tip, or summit. Gray.

Belonging to Apicius, a notorious Roman epicure; hence applied to whatever is peculiarly refined or dainty and expensive in cookery. H. Rogers.

Belonging to the Aplacentata; without placenta.

said of a lens. Aplanatic focus of a lens (Opt.), the point or focus from which rays diverging pass the lens without spherical aberration. In certain forms of lenses there are two such foci; and it is by taking advantage of this fact that the best aplanatic object glasses of microscopes are constructed.…

Belonging to, or resembling, a family of plants, of which the dogbane (Apocynum) is the type.

A figure in which the speaker professes to be at a loss what course to pursue, where to begin to end, what to say, etc.

A marginal note on a letter or other paper; an annotation. Motley.

appeals in the admiralty courts. Wharton. Burrill. Apostles' creed, a creed of unknown origin, which was formerly ascribed to the apostles. It certainly dates back to the beginning of the sixth century, and some assert that it can be found in the writings of Ambrose in the fourth century. -- Apostle spoon (Antiq.), a…

erson, some person or thing, absent or present; as, Milton's apostrophe to Light at the beginning of the third book of "Paradise Lost."

The furniture of a ship, as masts, sails, rigging, anchors, guns, etc.

ce: To call on one for aid; to make earnest request. I appeal to the Scriptures in the original. Horsley. They appealed to the sword. Macaulay.

Hanging; annexed; adjunct; concomitant; as, a seal appendant to a paper. As they have transmitted the benefit to us, it is but reasonable we should suffer the appendant calamity. Jer. Taylor.

Belonging; appertaining. [Now usually written appurtenant.] Coleridge.

A longing; a desire; especially an ardent desire; appetite; appetency.

Any strong desire; an eagerness or longing. It God had given to eagles an appetite to swim. Jer. Taylor. To gratify the vulgar appetite for the marvelous. Macaulay.