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Something said or written in defense or justification of what appears to others wrong, or of what may be liable to disapprobation; justification; as, Tertullian's Apology for Christianity. It is not my intention to make an apology for my poem; some will think it needs no excuse, and others will receive none. Dryden.…

The formation of an aposteme; the process of suppuration. [Written corruptly imposthumation.] Wiseman.

An abscess; a swelling filled with purulent matter. [Written corruptly imposthume.]

s back to the beginning of the sixth century, and some assert that it can be found in the writings of Ambrose in the fourth century. -- Apostle spoon (Antiq.), a spoon of silver, with the handle terminating in the figure of an apostle. One or more were offered by sponsors at baptism as a present to the godchild. B. Jo…

nd perhaps compiled by the same authors or author. -- Apostolic fathers, early Christian writers, who were born in the first century, and thus touched on the age of the apostles. They were Polycarp, Clement, Ignatius, and Hermas; to these Barnabas has sometimes been added. -- Apostolic king (or majesty), a title gran…

A figure of speech by which the orator or writer suddenly breaks off from the previous method of his discourse, and addresses, in the second person, some person or thing, absent or present; as, Milton's apostrophe to Light at the beginning of the third book of "Paradise Lost."

To come before the public; as, a great writer appeared at that time.

Belonging; appertaining. [Now usually written appurtenant.] Coleridge.

To give notice, verbal or written; to inform; -- followed by of; as, we will apprise the general of an intended attack; he apprised the commander of what he had done.

a mechanical device for bending the bow. It served to throw arrows, darts, bullets, etc. [Written also arbalet and arblast.] Fosbroke.

of buildings or monuments of an early epoch, inscriptions, implements, and other relics, written manuscripts, etc.

The plant from which the dye is obtained. [Written also orchal and orchil.]

The subject matter of a discourse, writing, or artistic representation; theme or topic; also, an abstract or summary, as of the contents of a book, chapter, poem. You and love are still my argument. Shak. The abstract or argument of the piece. Jeffrey. [Shields] with boastful argument portrayed. Milton.…

Given to argument; characterized by argument; disputatious; as, an argumentative writer. --Ar`gu*men"ta*tive*ly, adv. -- Ar`gu*men"ta*tive*ness, n.

g arms. [R.] They belonged to the armigerous part of the population, and were entitled to write themselves Esquire. De Quincey.

to a trigger, by which the burning match was applied. The musket was a later invention. [Written also harquebus.]

The adaptation of a composition to voices or instruments for which it was not originally written.

payment by the Greeks Of yesterday's arrear. Cowper. I have a large arrear of letters to write. J. D. Forbes. In arrear or In arrears, behind; backward; behindhand; in debt.

The person at whose suit an arrestment is made. [Also written arrestor.]

The stubble of wheat or grass; a stubble field; eddish. [Eng.] [Written also arish, ersh, etc.] The moment we entered the stubble or arrish. Blackw. Mag.