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The act of seizing or taking hold of; seizure; as, the hand is an organ of apprehension. Sir T. Browne.

One who is bound by indentures or by legal agreement to serve a mechanic, or other person, for a certain time, with a view to learn the art, or trade, in which his master is bound to instruct him.

A man who wears an apron; a laboring man; a mechanic. [Obs.] Shak.

Of or pertaining to the apse of a church; as, the apsidal termination of the chancel.

Inclined; disposed customarily; given; ready; -- used of persons. Apter to give than thou wit be to ask. Beau. & Fl. That lofty pity with which prosperous folk are apt to remember their grandfathers. F. Harrison.

iness in learning; docility; as, an aptness to learn is more observable in some children than in others.

woman named Tofana, in the middle of the 17th century, who is said to have poisoned more than 600 persons. Francis. -- Aqua vitæ Etym: [L., water of life. Cf. Eau de vie, Usquebaugh], a name given to brandy and some other ardent spirits. Shak.

A conductor, conduit, or artificial channel for conveying water, especially one for supplying large cities with water.

A fabaceous tree of Brazil (Centrolobium robustum) having handsomely striped wood; --called also zebrawood.

ng of a steel bow set in a shaft of wood, furnished with a string and a trigger, and a mechanical device for bending the bow. It served to throw arrows, darts, bullets, etc. [Written also arbalet and arblast.] Fosbroke.

A traffic in bills of exchange (see Arbitration of Exchange); also, a traffic in stocks which bear differing values at the same time in different markets.

That form of episcopacy in which the chief power is in the hands of archbishops.

A great magician, wizard, or enchanter. Spenser.

Backward; in or to the rear; behindhand. Spenser.

ing, silver; -- said of certain silver compounds in which silver has a higher proportion than in argentic compounds; as, argentous chloride.

A large ship, esp. a merchant vessel of the largest size. Where your argosies with portly sail . . . Do overpeer the petty traffickers. Shak.

oposition, opinion, or measure; to use arguments; to reason. I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will. Milton.

Matter for question; business in hand. [Obs.] Sheathed their swords for lack of argument. Shak.

cterized by melody, as distinguished from harmony. Mendelssohn wants the ariose beauty of Handel; vocal melody is not his forte; the interest of his airs harmonic. Foreign Quart. Rev.

The limb of the human body which extends from the shoulder to the hand; also, the corresponding limb of a monkey.