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formerly worn on the shoulders of knights, -- being the prototype of the modern epaulet. Fairholt.

Carriage; attitude; action; movement; as, the head of that portrait has a good air. Fairholt.

By any or means; at all events. [Obs.] Fairfax.

l and some, individually and collectively, one and all. [Obs.] "Displeased all and some." Fairfax. -- All but. (a) Scarcely; not even. [Obs.] Shak. (b) Almost; nearly. "The fine arts were all but proscribed." Macaulay. -- All hollow, entirely, completely; as, to beat any one all hollow. [Low] -- All one, the same thi…

A kind of light armor used in the sixteenth century, esp. by the Swiss. Fairholt.

meliorated; making or becoming better; improvement; melioration. "Amelioration of human affairs." J. S. Mill.

In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. "This fair tree amidst the garden." "Unseen amid the throng." "Amidst thick clouds." Milton. "Amidst acclamations." "Amidst the splendor and festivity of a court." Macaulay. But rather famish them amid their plenty. Shak.

A petty love affair or amour. [Obs.]

Love making; a love affair; usually, an unlawful connection in love; a love intrigue; an illicit love affair. In amours with, in love with. [Obs.]

[Obs.] Strait was the way at first, withouten light, But further in did further amplify. Fairfax.

deep amusement, revolving in my mind, with great perplexity, the amazing change of our affairs. Fleetwood.

t whole the various anomalies and contending principles that are found in the minds and affairs of men. Burke. As Professor Owen has remarked, there is no greater anomaly in nature than a bird that can not fly. Darwin.

an appearance, to be present; to appear in person. -- To save appearances, to preserve a fair outward show.

to me attribute naught. Spenser. Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit. Pope. And fairly quit him of the imputed blame. Spenser.

Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view. "The aspect of affairs." Macaulay. The true aspect of a world lying in its rubbish. T. Burnet.

rchaic] Acquitted and assoiled from the guilt. Dr. H. More. Many persons think themselves fairly assoiled, because they are . . . not of scandalous lives. Jer. Taylor.

To stun; to stupefy. No puissant stroke his senses once astound. Fairfax.

h astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects.

the head of a government, for conference or the transaction of business. According to the fair play of the world, Let me have audience: I am sent to speak. Shak.

A changeling or elf child, -- that is, one left by fairies; a deformed or foolish child; a simpleton; an oaf. [Obs.] Drayton.