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The celebrated work of Ptolemy of Alexandria, which contains nearly all that is known of the astronomical observations and theories of the ancients. The name was extended to other similar works.

A book or table, containing a calendar of days, and months, to which astronomical data and various statistics are often added, such as the times of the rising and setting of the sun and moon, eclipses, hours of full tide, stated festivals of churches, terms of courts, etc. Nautical almanac, an almanac, or year book, co…

essed from sweet or bitter almonds. -- Oil of bitter almonds, a poisonous volatile oil obtained from bitter almonds by maceration and distillation; benzoic aldehyde. -- Imitation oil of bitter almonds, nitrobenzene. -- Almond tree (Bot.), the tree bearing the almond. -- Almond willow (Bot.), a willow which has leav…

A medicine containing chiefly aloes.

A very high mountain. Specifically, in the plural, the highest chain of mountains in Europe, containing the lofty mountains of Switzerland, etc. Nor breath of vernal air from snowy alp. Milton. Hills peep o'er hills, and alps on alps arise. Pope.

Of or pertaining to the Alps. [R.] "The Alpen snow." J. Fletcher.

A reddish glow seen near sunset or sunrise on the summits of mountains; specif., a reillumination sometimes observed after the summits have passed into shadow, supposed to be due to a curving downward (refraction) of the light rays from the west resulting from the cooling of the air.

Pertaining to the Alps, or other high mountains; as, Alpestrine diseases, etc.

A sensitized paper for obtaining positives by artificial light. It is coated with gelatin containing silver bromide and chloride. [Eng.]

Pertaining to, furnished with, expressed by, or in the order of, the letters of the alphabet; as, alphabetic characters, writing, languages, arrangement.

Of or pertaining to the Alps, or to any lofty mountain; as, Alpine snows; Alpine plants.

Pertaining to Alsatia.

Capable of being altered. Our condition in this world is mutable and uncertain, alterable by a thousand accidents. Rogers.

ual rank, sometimes determined by lot and at other times in regular order. The practice obtains in the signing of treaties and conventions between nations.

ause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly. The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil. Grew.

ground, or above a given level, or of one object above another; as, the altitude of a mountain, or of a bird above the top of a tree.

Of or pertaining to height; as, altitudinal measurements.

Pertaining to the alula.

A variety of shale or clay slate, containing iron pyrites, the decomposition of which leads to the formation of alum, which often effloresces on the rock.

Of or containing aluminium; as, aluminic phosphate.