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Insurance; a contract for the payment of a sum on occasion of a certain event, as loss or death.

Very wonderful; of a nature to excite astonishment; as, an astonishing event.

One who practices astrology; one who professes to foretell events by the aspects and situation of the stars.

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

A small dam to prevent free passage of water in an adit or level.

od matter of discharge has subsequently accrued which could not have been availed of to prevent such judgment. Wharton.

An official diviner who foretold events by the singing, chattering, flight, and feeding of birds, or by signs or omens derived from celestial phenomena, certain appearances of quadrupeds, or unusual occurrences.

The art or practice of foretelling events by observing the actions of birds, etc.; divination.

Soothsaying, or prediction of events, from observation of the winds.

itive assertion. Signally has this averment received illustration in the course of recent events. I. Taylor.

To turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object; to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can the danger be averted "To avert his ire." Milton. When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions in religion, it doth avert them from the church. Bacon.…

Capable of being averted; preventable.

n. -- To back the oars, to row backward with the oars. -- To back a rope, to put on a preventer. -- To back the sails, to arrange them so as to cause the ship to move astern. -- To back up, to support; to sustain; as, to back up one's friends. -- To back a warrant (Law), is for a justice of the peace, in the count…

A board attached to the rim of a water wheel to prevent the water from running off the floats or paddies into the interior of the wheel. W. Nicholson.

A rope or strap used to prevent excessive forward motion.

Toward, or in, past time or events; ago. Some reigns backward. Locke.

n festivals, of which one is held at the close of the fast called Ramadan, and the other seventy days after the fast.

The seventh sign in the Zodiac, called Libra, which the sun enters at the equinox in September.

tone, iron, etc., put into the hold to sink a vessel in the water to such a depth as to prevent capsizing.

Anything which obstructs, hinders, or prevents; an obstruction; a barrier. Must I new bars to my own joy create Dryden.