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A iron instrument which is attached to a ship by a cable (rope or chain), and which, being cast overboard, lays hold of the earth by a fluke or hook and thus retains the ship in a particular station.

In a vertical line. The anchor in apeak, when the cable has been sufficiently hove in to bring the ship over it, and the ship is them said to be hove apeak. [Spelt also apeek.]

Capable of being appeased or pacified; placable. -- Ap*peas"a*ble*ness, n.

Applicable; also, compliant. [Obs.] Howell.

The quality of being applicable or fit to be applied.

The quality or state of being applicable. [R.]

Very applicable; well adapted; suitable or fit; relevant; pat; -- followed by to; as, this argument is very apposite to the case. -- Ap"po*site*ly, adv. -- Ap"po*site*ness, n.

He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent on England was practicable. Macaulay.

Effects of an insolvent debtor or bankrupt, applicable to the payment of debts.

An anchor is said to be astay, in heaving it, an acute angle is formed between the cable and the surface of the water.

he shoulder blade is . . . attached only to the muscles. Paley. A huge stone to which the cable was attached. Macaulay.

ce horse. To back an anchor (Naut.), to lay down a small anchor ahead of a large one, the cable of the small one being fastened to the crown of the large one. -- To back the field, in horse racing, to bet against a particular horse or horses, that some one of all the other horses, collectively designated "the field",…

In a base manner; with despicable meanness; dishonorably; shamefully.

r thread of a bayou moves loiteringly northeastward into a swamp of huge cypresses. G. W. Cable.

In an indigent, mean, or despicable manner; in the manner of a beggar.

To fasten, as one rope to another, or as a sail to its yard or stay; or as a cable to the ring of an anchor. Totten. To bend the brow, to knit the brow, as in deep thought or in anger; to scowl; to frown. Camden.

o do one's best; to the best of our ability. At best, in the utmost degree or extent applicable to the case; under the most favorable circumstances; as, life is at best very short. -- For best, finally. [Obs.] "Those constitutions . . . are now established for best, and not to be mended." Milton. -- To get the best o…

To put round the bitts; as, to bitt the cable, in order to fasten it or to slacken it gradually, which is called veering away. Totten.

AA turn of the cable which is round the bitts. Bitter end, that part of a cable which is abaft the bitts, and so within board, when the ship rides at anchor.

or state of being bitter, sharp, or acrid, in either a literal or figurative sense; implacableness; resentfulness; severity; keenness of reproach or sarcasm; deep distress, grief, or vexation of mind. The lip that curls with bitterness. Percival. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Job vii. 11.…