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To be arrogant or pretentious; to claim more than is due. Bp. Burnet.

ephus. Many varieties (called China asters, German asters, etc.) are cultivated for their handsome compound flowers.

Any place of retreat and security. Earth has no other asylum for them than its own cold bosom. Southey.

A line which approaches nearer to some curve than assignable distance, but, though infinitely extended, would never meet it. Asymptotes may be straight lines or curves. A rectilinear asymptote may be conceived as a tangent to the curve at an infinite distance.

ction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are derived all the various uses of at. It expresses: -

Together. [Obs.] Spenser. He and Aufidius can no more atone Than violentest contrariety. Shak.

original type of a species in the progeny of its varieties; resemblance to remote rather than to near ancestors; reversion to the original form.

Of or pertaining to atoms; relating to atomism. [R.] It is the object of the mechanical atomistic philosophy to confound synthesis with synartesis. Coleridge.

Absence or closure of a natural passage or channel of the body; imperforation.

To accompany or be present or near at hand, in pursuance of duty; to be ready for service; to wait or be in waiting; -- often followed by on or upon. He was required to attend upon the committee. Clarendon.

To make thin or slender, as by mechanical or chemical action upon inanimate objects, or by the effects of starvation, disease, etc., upon living bodies.

e; one's mental attitude in respect to religion. The attitude of the country was rapidly changing. J. R. Green. To strike an attitude, to take an attitude for mere effect.

to pose. Maria, who is the most picturesque figure, was put to attitudinize at the harp. Hannah More.

Frequent handling or touching. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

enalties for a player's failure to make good his bid. The score value of each trick more than six taken by the successful bidder is as follows: when the trump is spades, 2; clubs, 6; diamonds, 7; hearts, 8; royal spades (lilies), 9; and when the deal is played with no trump, 10.

Of or pertaining to an auction or an auctioneer. [R.] With auctionary hammer in thy hand. Dryden.

That which may be heard. [Obs.] Visibles are swiftlier carried to the sense than audibles. Bacon.

One whose thoughts take the form of mental sounds or of internal discourse rather than of visual or motor images.

eral receptacle or receiver. [Obs.] It [a little brook] paid to its common audit no more than the revenues of a little cloud. Jer. Taylor. Audit ale, a kind of ale, brewed at the English universities, orig. for the day of audit. -- Audit house, Audit room, an appendage to a cathedral, for the transaction of its busine…

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