Search the Dictionary

Expressing approbation; commending; as, an approving smile. -- Ap*prov"ing*ly, adv.

The string of an apron. To be tied to a wife's or mother's apron strings, to be unduly controlled by a wife or mother. He was so made that he could not submit to be tied to the apron strings even of the best of wives. Macaulay.

Hogging; -- opposed to sagging.

The act of furnishing with, or taking, arms. The arming was now universal. Macaulay.

Striking; attracting attention; impressive. This most solemn and arresting occurrence. J. H. Newman.

Rising; moving upward; as, an ascending kite. -- As*cend"ing*ly, adv. Ascending latitude (Astron.), the increasing latitude of a planet. Ferguson. -- Ascending line (Geneol.), the line of relationship traced backward or through one's ancestors. One's father and mother, grandfather and grandmother, etc., are in the li…

The act of bedding ashlar in mortar.

The act of inquiring or requesting; a petition; solicitation. Longfellow.

That aspires; as, an Aspiring mind. -- As*pir"ing*ly, adv. -- As*pir"ing*ness, n.

The act or process of testing, esp. of analyzing or examining metals and ores, to determine the proportion of pure metal.

Giving or implying assent. -- As*sent"ing*ly, adv.

Pretentious; taking much upon one's self; presumptuous. Burke.

That assures; tending to assure; giving confidence. -- As*sur"ing*ly, adv.

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

Of a nature to astound; astonishing; amazing; as, an astounding force, statement, or fact. -- As*tound"ing*ly, adv.

t; to contract; to cause parts to draw together; to compress. Which contraction . . . astringeth the moistuBacon.

The quality of being astringent; the power of contracting the parts of the body; that quality in medicines or other substances which causes contraction of the organic textures; as, the astringency of tannin.

Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; -- opposed to laxative; as, astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste; astringent fruit.

In an astringent manner.

A falconer who keeps a goschawk. [Obs.] Shak. Cowell. [Written also austringer.]