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trict; 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.]

Somewhat astringent.

Sourness of taste, with bitterness and astringency, like that of unripe fruit.

See Astringent.

A North American herb (Heuchera Americana) of the Saxifrage family, whose root has astringent properties.

Astringent and repellent. -- n.

ion of silver phosphate in an aqueous solution of ethylene diamine, used as an antiseptic astringent and as a disinfectant.

A contraction of parts by applications; the action of an astringent substance on the animal economy. Dunglison.

Binding; astringent. -- n.

Sour and astringent; rough to the state; having acerbity; as, an austere crab apple; austere wine.

Harshness or astringent sourness to the taste; acerbity. Johnson.

ng plant of the heath family (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), having leaves which are tonic and astringent, and glossy red berries of which bears are said to be fond.

An astringent and narcotic drug made from the dried leaves and seed capsules of wild hemp (Cannabis Indica), and chewed or smoked in the East as a means of intoxication. See Hasheesh.

An herbaceous plant (Trillium erectum), and its astringent rootstock, which is said to have medicinal properties.

nus Polygonum, section Bistorta; snakeweed; adderwort. Its root is used in medicine as an astringent.

acidulated fermented drink of the Arabs and Egyptians, made from millet seed and various astringent substances; also, an intoxicating beverage made from hemp seed, darnel meal, and water. [Written also bosa, bozah, bouza.]