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mblage; a collection; harmonious union. [Obs.] That person of his [George Herbert], which afforded so unusual a contesseration of elegancies. Oley.

with it as to throw light upon its meaning. According to all the light that the contexts afford. Sharp.

Affording accommodation or advantage; well adapted to use; handly; as, a convenient house; convenient implements or tools.

long intercourse or study; -- said of things. According as the objects they converse with afford greater or less variety. Locke.

A batten laid lengthwise between two rafters to afford a bearing for laths laid crosswise.

A mark or token added to those already existing, in order to afford security or proof; as, an additional or special mark put upon a package of goods belonging to several persons, that it may not be opened except in the presence of all; a mark added to that of an artificer of gold or silver work by the Goldsmiths' Compa…

Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of the batteries; the woods afforded a good cover. Being compelled to lodge in the field . . . whilst his army was under cover, they might be forced to retire. Clarendon.

Somewhat dead, dull, or lifeless; deathlike. The lips put on a deadish paleness. A. Stafford.

ace for exit; an outlet; hence, a market for goods. The débouchés were ordered widened to afford easy egress. The Century.

Affording exquisite pleasure; delightful; most sweet or grateful to the senses, especially to the taste; charming. Some delicious landscape. Coleridge. One draught of spring's delicious air. Keble. Were not his words delicious Tennyson.

Highly pleasing; affording great pleasure and satisfaction. "Delightful bowers." Spenser. "Delightful fruit." Milton.

lly deposited (as the mud, gravel, etc., deposits of a river). The deposit already formed affording to the succeeding portion of the charged fluid a basis. Kirwan.

Affording a free passage to heat; as, diathermic substances. Melloni.

The act of dictating; the act or practice of prescribing; also that which is dictated. It affords security against the dictation of laws. Paley.

y require; not assigned to any service or use. The great of this kingdom . . . has easily afforded a disposable surplus. Burke.

That which is made of down, as a bed or pillow; that which affords ease and repose, like a bed of down When in the down I sink my head, Sleep, Death's twin brother, times my breath. Tennyson. Thou bosom softness, down of all my cares! Southern.

Dry pile (Physics), a form of the Voltaic pile, constructed without the use of a liquid, affording a feeble current, and chiefly useful in the construction of electroscopes of great delicacy; -- called also Zamboni's , from the names of the two earliest constructors of it. -- Dry pipe (Steam Engine), a pipe which con…

Full of ease; suitable for affording ease or rest; quiet; comfortable; restful. Shak. -- Ease"ful*ly, adv. -- Ease"ful*ness, n.

Not causing, or attended with, pain or disquiet, or much exertion; affording ease or rest; as, an easy carriage; a ship having an easy motion; easy movements, as in dancing. "Easy ways to die." Shak.

t; -- said of manners, language, style, form, architecture, etc. That grace that elegance affords. Drayton. The endearing elegance of female friendship. Johnson. A trait of native elegance, seldom seen in the masculine character after childhood or early youth, was shown in the General's fondness for the sight and fragr…