Search the Dictionary

an adroit reply. "Adroit in the application of the telescope and quadrant." Horsley. "He was adroit in intrigue." Macaulay.

The quality of being adroit; skill and readiness; dexterity. Adroitness was as requisite as courage. Motley.

upplied beforehand. I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances. Jay. The account was made up with intent to show what advances had been made. Kent. In advance (a) In front; before. (b) Beforehand; before an equivalent is received. (c) In the state of having advanced money on account; as, A is advance to B a th…

Risk; danger; peril. [Obs.] He was in great adventure of his life. Berners.

mind or attention; to refer; to take heed or notice; -- with to; as, he adverted to what was said. I may again advert to the distinction. Owen.

diphthong in the Latin language; used also by the Saxon writers. It answers to the Gr. æ was generally replaced by a, the long e or ee. In derivatives from Latin words with ae, it is mostly superseded by e. For most words found with this initial combination, the reader will therefore search under the letter E.…

old Norse mythology, the gods Odin, Thor, Loki, Balder, Frigg, and the others. Their home was called Asgard.

m a great distance; far away; -- often used with from preceding, or off following; as, he was seen from afar; I saw him afar off. The steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar. Beattie.

To assign; to appoint. [R.] One of the domestics was affected to his special service. Thackeray.

or marriage, or solemnly promise (one's self or another) in marriage. To me, sad maid, he was affianced. Spenser.

Positive; dogmatic. [Obs.] J. Taylor. Lysicles was a little by the affirmative air of Crito. Berkeley.

did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. Exod. i. 11. That which was the worst now least afflicts me. Milton.

subsequent; as, after supper, after three days. It often precedes a clause. Formerly that was interposed between it and the clause. After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Matt. xxvi. 32.

ding to aggravate. Ag*gres"sive*ly, adv. -- Ag*gres"sive*ness, n. No aggressive movement was made. Macaulay.

To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb; as, he was greatly agitated. The mind of man is agitated by various passions. Johnson.

lemic feats; athletic; combative; hence, strained; unnatural. As a scholar, he [Dr. Parr] was brilliant, but he consumed his power in agonistic displays. De Quincey.

ymbolically: Something unsubstantial, light, or volatile. "Charm ache with air." Shak. He was still all air and fire. Macaulay . [Air and fire being the finer and quicker elements as opposed to earth and water.]

Slightly turned or opened; as, the door was standing ajar.

r vessel for holding odoriferous ointments, etc.; -- so called from the stone of which it was originally made. Fosbroke.

alacrity to meet the enemy. I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind that I was wont to have. Shak.