AAR

Aardwolf (Dutch, earth-wolf), in zoology, the name of a carnivorous digitigrade quadruped, which appears to form an intermediate link between the civet and the hyæna.

Ab'aca, in botany, a species of flax or hemp which grows in the Philippine Islands.

Abacis'cus (Lat. from Gr. abax a slab), in the arts, a term applied to the square compartment of a tessellated pavement, which incloses the entire design; sometimes called Abacus. Ab'ajour(Fr. a skylight), in architecture, a sloping aperture for air or light in a vault or prison apartment. Ab'atis (Fr. à breastwork or rampart). in military science, a number of felled trees, having the smaller branches cut off, and placed side by side with their points outwards, to prevent assailants from mounting the breastwork.

Ab'attoir (Fr. a beating down), the name of a slaughter-house for cattle. Abattu'ta (Ital. by beating), in music, an expression signifying that after a break the time of any piece is to be beaten as before.

Abat-voix (Fr. throwing down the voice), in acoustics, a sort of sounding-board or canopy placed over a pulpit or rostrum for the purpose of concentrating the voice of the speaker.

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Abax (Gr. a slab), in entomology, a genus of coleopterous insects. Abdo'men (Lat. a hiding-place), in vertebrated animals, that cavity which contains the organs of digestion the lower venter or belly.-In entomology, the hinder part of the body, which appears united to the fore part by a filament, as in the

ABO

the pectorals, as in the herring or pike. Abduc'tor (Lat. that which draws back), in anatomy, a muscle which serves to draw back the parts to which it is attached.

Abe'lia (so named from Dr. C. Abel, of the Chinese embassy), a genus of pretty flowering greenhouse plants; order Caprifoliaceæ. Abelmos'chus, a genus of plants, of which the Abelmosk, or Syrian mallow, is the type.

Ab'erdevine (Fr.), a well-known songbird, the Carduelis spinus of Cuvier. Abhal (Arab.), the fruit of a species of cypress, used pathologically as an emmenagogue.

A'bia, a genus of hymenopterous insects which inhabit the furze and alder. A'bies (Lat. a fir-tree), a genus of coni

ferous trees, embracing a variety of species, as the pine, larch, spruce, &c.; order Pinaceæ. -The Abies Albertiana is a beautiful specimen, lately brought from California, and so called in memory of the late Prince Albert.

Abiet'eæ (Lat. abies), in botany, a suborder of the Pinacea or Conifers.Abietic acid is a kind of resin obtained from the Pinus abies of Linnæus.

Ab'ietine (Lat. abies), a kind of resin

obtained from Strasburg turpentine. Abilgaar'dia (so called from Professor

Abilgaard, of Copenhagen), a genus of plants; order Cyperaceæ. Abla'nia, a genus of arboreous plants, natives of Guiana; order Tiliaceæ. Ab'lepsy (Gr. ablepsia blindness), in pathology, defect of sight; blindness. Abo'ma, in zoology, the name of a large serpent which inhabits the fens of S. America.

Aboma'sum (Lat.), in physiology, the fourth stomach of ruminating animals.

Aborigʻines (Lat. originals), in ethno

B

logy, the primitive inhabitants of a country.

A'bramis (Lat.), a genus of fishes, the bream; family Cyprinidæ.

Abran'chians (Gr.without gills), a name applied to Cuvier's third order of the Annelides, comprising the earth and aquatic worms, the Lumbrici and Naiades.......

Afrazite (Gr. without bubbles), the name of a mineral which does not effervesce when liquefied before the blowpipe.

Abreuvoir (Fr.), in masonry, the joint between two stones, or the interstice to be filled up with cement.

Abro'ma (Gr. not fit for food), in botany, a genus of evergreens; order Bytt

neriaceæ.

Abretanum (Gr. immortality), in botany, a species of Artemisia, the southernwood.

Abrus (Gr. delicate), a genus of leguminous plants, commonly called wild liquorice, from their roots having the property of common liquorice.

Abscis'sa (Lat. a cutting off), in mathematics, that part of the diameter of a conic section which lies between the vertex and a semi-ordinate. Abscon'sio (Lat. concealment), in anatomy, the cavity of a bone which receives and conceals the head of another bone.

Absin'thate (Lat. not pleasant), in chemistry, a salt formed by the combination of absinthic acid with a base. Absin'thine (Gr. disagreeable to the taste), the bitter principle of wormwood.

Absin'thites (Lat.), a term applied to wines impregnated with wormwood. Absinthium (Lat.), a species of Artemisia, wormwood, so-called from its vermifuge properties.

Absorbents (Lat. absorbent properties), in physiology, a term applied to the vessels which absorb and conveyfluids to the thoracic duct, generally known as the lacteals and lymphatics.

Abstergents (Lat. cleansers), in pathology, lotions and other applications for cleansing sores, ulcers, &c.

Abstrin'gent (Lat. unbinding), in pathology, a term applied to any medicine used for removing concretions or obstructions in general.

Absus (Lat.), in botany, the four-eared cassia, the Cassius absus of Linnæus. Abu'ta (the vernacular

in Guiana), in botany, a genus of climbing plants; order Sanguisorbaceӕ. Abu'tilon, in botany, an annual plant, the Sida abutilon of Linnæus, growing in the East and West Indies; order Malvaceæ.

Acacia (Gr. the Egyptian thorn), a genus of leguminous plants, consisting of numerous species, some of which yield gum-arabic and catechu, others tannin; sub-order Papilionaceӕ. Acæ'na (Gr. a thorn), a genus of herbaceous plants of the TetrandriaMonogynia class; nat. order Sanguisorbaceæ.

Acæ'nitus, a genus of insects, of the tribe of Ichneumonides. Acal'epha (Gr. a nettle), in zoology, a class of marine, gelatinous, and radiate animals, which includes the sea-nettle, the jelly-fish, medusa, &c. In botany, a genus of prickly plants; nat. order Euphorbiaceæ. Acal'ysine (Lat. wanting a calyx), in botany, a term applied to flowers destitute of a flower-cup.

Acam'aca (Sp. unwearied), the name of a bird, of the genus Todus, the Brazilian fly-catcher.

Acamar'chus (Gr. indefatigable architect), a genus of corals; fam. Cellularia.

Ac'amus, a chambered fossil shell of a conical shape.

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Acanthaceae (the prickle-tribe), natural order of exogenous monopetalous plants, composed of shrubs or herbs, and chiefly tropical. Acan'thæ (Gr. prickles, thorns, orspines, from which a great variety of scientific terms are formed), in botany, the prickles of thorny plants; and in zoology, the spinous processes of animals. Acanthari'næ, a sub-family of Coryphænidæ fishes.

Acan'thicus (Gr. prickly or thorny), a genus of fishes furnished with sharp spines on the scale coating of their bodies; fam. Siluridæ.

Acan'thion, a genus of animals allied to the porcupine; order Rodentia. Acan'thium, in botany, the coffee thistle. Acanthi'za, a genus of birds, of the family Silviadæ, or Warblers. Acan'thobole (Gr. spine-striking), an instrument in surgery for extracting splinters of bone, or any foreign substance, from a wound. Acanthocephala (Gr. spine-headed), worms which attach themselves to the intestines by the instrumentality of curved spines; fam. Entozoa. Acanthoce'rus (Gr. spine-horned), a genus of coleopterous insects; fam. Scarabæidæ.

Acanthoci'nus (Gr. spine-moving), a genus of coleopterous insects; fam. Longicornes.

Acanthoderma (Gr. spine-skinned),

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a genus of fossilized fishes. Acan'thodes (Gr. spine-toothed), genus of fossil fishes, of the order Ganoidia.

Acanthome'ra (Gr. prickle-thighed), a name applied to certain genera of coleopterous and dipterous insects. Acanthono'tus (Gr. spine-backed), a genus of fishes furnished with dorsal and anal spines.

Acan'thophis (Gr. a prickly serpent), a genus of serpents furnished with plates beneath the tail. Acan'thopod (Gr. prickle-legged), a tribe of clavicorn and coleopterous insects; also a genus of fishes, with the ventral fins represented by two sharp spines; fam. Squamipennes. Acanthop'tera (Gr. prickle-winged), a genus of coleopterous insects; fam. Cerambycidæ.

Acanthopterygii (Gr. prickle-finned), an order of fishes distinguished from others by their hard, bony, and prickly back-fins, as in the perch.

Acanthos'celes (Gr. prickle-legged), a genus of coleopterous insects, fam. Carabidæ.

Acanthospermum (Gr. a spine, and seed), a genus of plants, of the order Compositæ.

Acanthos'tachys (Gr. spine, and stachys a spike), a genus of stove-plants, of the order Bromeliacea

Acanthu'rus (Gr. spine-tailed), a genus of lancet-fish, of the order Acanthopterygii.

Acan'thus (Gr. a thorn), in botany, the plant bear's-breech, or brank ursine; nat. order Acanthaceæ.-In architecture, a kind of ornamental foliage which resembles the leaves of the acanthus, and is introduced into the capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders.

Aca'nus (Gr. a spiny shrub), a genus of fossil fishes.

Acar'dia (Gr. without a hinge), a genus of fossil bivalve shells of the oyster kind.

Acardo (Gr. ut supra), a genus of flat

bivalve shells.

Ac'ari (Gr. mites), small spider-like animals, of the order Aptera. Acar'ida, or Acar'ides (Gr. mites), a division of the Arachnides, including the mite (acarus), the tick (ricinus), &c. Acar'na (Gr. a thistle), a genus of plants of the thistle tribe.

Acar'nar (Arab.), the name of a brilliant star of the first magnitude, in the constellation Eridanus.

Acar'py (Gr. wanting fruit), in botany, unfruitfulness.

Acas'ta (Gr. sharpness), in conchology, a genus of Cirripeds, with subconic compressed shells.

Acathar'sia (Gr. uncleanness), in medicine, impurity of the blood; and in the sordes proceeding from a

surgery,

wound.

Acaulous (Gr. wanting the stalk), in botany, those plants which are without the stem or caulis, and have their flowers resting on the ground. Accen'tor (Lat. a tuner), a genus of birds belonging to the Parinæ, or Titmice; fam. Silviada.-In music, one who takes the lead of a band or chorus. Accentu'ra (Ital.), a term in music to express the manner in which particular passages are to be executed. Accipen'ser (Lat. the sturgeon), a genus of malacopterygious fishes, from which the isinglass of the shops is made; fam. Sturionidæ. It is sometimes found eighteen feet long.

Accip'iter (Lat. a hawk), a genus of rapacious birds; sub-family Accipi.

trinæ.

Accordatu'ra (Ital.accordance), in music, a particular mode of tuning a stringed

instrument.

Accordion (from accord), a small musical wind instrument, with keys, the tones of which are produced by the play of wind upon metallic reeds. Accrescimento (Ital. increase), in music, the increase of a note by one half of its original duration, which is indicated by a dot.

Accrete (Lat. grown together), in botany, a term applied to the increase of additional substance, or two parts of a plant grown together. Aceph'ala (Gr. headless), a term applied to the inhabitants of bivalve and other shells, of the order Mollusca.-In entomology, an order of insects. Aceph'alism (Gr.), the state of a fœtus without a head.

Aceph'alobrach (Gr.), a foetus without head and arms.

Acephalochi'rus (Gr.), a foetus without head and hands. Aceph'alocyst (Gr. a headless bladder), a genus of Entozoa, or intestinal animal, which has the appearance of a simple bladder, without any visible organs.

Acer (Lat. sharp), a genus of plants, the maple.

Acera'ceae (Lat. acer sharp), a natural order of monopetalous exogens, allied to the lindens, of which the maple is the type; their sap yields a saccharine substance, of which sugar can be manufactured.

A'cerans (Gr. without horns), in entomology, a family of insects without antennæ or wings.

A'ceras (Gr. without spurs), a genus of plants, of the order Orchidaceæ. Ac'erate (Lat. sharp), in chemistry, a salt, of which lime is the basis. Acera'tum (Gr. hornless), in botany, a species of plant, of the order Elæocarpaceæ.

Aceri'na, a genus of fishes; order Acanthopterygii.

Aces'tis (Gr. a healer), a factitious sort of borax, made of Cyprian verdigris,

&c.

Acetab'ulum (Lat. a vinegar cruet), in anatomy, the cavity which receives, as in a socket, the head of the thighbone. In botany, a species of Tubularia, navel-wort.

Ace'tary (Lat. sourness), a term applied to the pulpy substance contained in the base of certain fruits, as the pear.

Ace'tas, Acetate (Lat. acidity), in chemistry and pharmacy, salt or acetate formed by the union of acetic acid with a metallic or alkaline base; an acetate, of which there are various compounds, as acetate of ammonia, of copper, of morphia, of barytes, of soda, of iron, of lead, &c. Acetom'eter (Lat. and Gr. a vinegar measurer), an instrument for ascertaining the strength of acids. Acetom'otry (Gr. measurement of acids), the processof ascertaining the strength of acids.

Acetosel'la (Lat.), in botany, a species of oxalis, of the order Oxalide; the wood sorrel.

Ace'tum (Lat.), the chemical name for vinegar.

Ace'tyl (Lat. acetum vinegar), in chemistry, a term applied to the supposed base of vinegar and other acids. Achæ'nium (Gr. not gaping), in botany, the name of a small one-seeded fruit, which does not open when ripe. Achæ'us (Gr.), a genus of crustaceans; fam. Brachyura.

Acha'nia (Gr. closed, in allusion to the corolla not opening), a genus of plants; order Malvaceæ.

Achati'na (Gr. agate), a genus of land

snails, with oblong ventricose shells; fam. Helicidæ.

Achatinel'la (Gr.), a sub-genus of agateshells; fam. Helicidæ. Acher'ner (Arab.), a star of the first magnitude, of the constellation Eridanus.

Acheron'tia (Gr. from Acheron, the fabled hell of antiquity), in entomology, a genus of Lepidoptera ; fam. Crepuscularia.

A'chias, a genus of dipterous insects; fam. Muscidæ.

Achil'la (Gr. from Achilles, who applied one of its species, the milfoil, in curing Telephus), a genus of composite plants.

Achilles Tendon, in anatomy, the name of the strong tendon inserted in the leg, so called from the mythological story of Achilles being held by the heel when dipped in the river Styx.

Acnime'nes, a beautiful flowering plant; order Gesneraceæ.

Ach'irite, in mineralogy, a silicate of copper, or green malachite, so called from Achir Malmed, who first introduced it into Europe. Achi'rus (Gr. without fins), a genus of flat-fishes; fam. Pleuronectidæ. Achlamyd'ea (Gr. without a tunic), in botany, a term applied to those plants which have neither corolla nor calyx. Ach'mite, the name of a dark red-brown mineral, the bisilicate of iron and ot soda.

Achnan'thes (Gr. froth-flower), a genus of sea-weeds, so called from the fine down with which they are covered. Achnodon'ton (Gr. chaff-toothed), in botany, a genus of plants; order Graminaceæ.

Achor (Gr.), in pathology, a kind of pus

tule which contains a yellowish matter, generally occurring on the heads of children.

Ach'ras (Gr. the wild pear), a genus of plants, of the order Sapotaceæ. Achroma'tic (Gr. without colour), a term applied to optical instruments which are free from colour, or the confusing effects of chromatic aberration. Achro'matism (Gr. ut supra), freedom from colour, as applied to optical instruments.

Achy'la, in botany, a species of seaweed, of the order Confervaceæ. Achyran'thus (Gr.chaff-flower), a genus of evergreen shrubs, so called from their chaff-like envelopes; order Amarantaceæ.

Achyro'nia (Gr. chaff), a genus of leguminous plants, natives of Australia; sub-order Papilionaceæ.

Achyroph'orus (Gr. chaff bearing), a genus of herbaceous plants, with chaff-bearing receptacles; sub-order Tubulifloræ.

Acian'thus (Gr. a sharp-pointed flower), a genus of tuberose plants, of the order Calyceraceæ.

Acicar'pha (Gr. pointed straw), a genus of plants, of the order Caly.

ceraceæ.

Acidim'eter (Gr. acid-measurer), an instrument for ascertaining the strength of acids.

Acido'ton (Gr. sharp-pointed), a genus of stinging nettles, of the order Euphorbiaceæ.

Acid'ulum (Lat.), in chemistry, a salt in which the acid is in excess, as tartaric or oxalic acid. Acina'ciform (Gr. and Lat. scimitarshaped), in botany, a term applied to leaves which are sharp and convex on one side and straight on the other. Acine'sia (Gr. incapability of moving), in pathology, loss of motion.

Acine'ta (Gr. immovable), a genus of plants, of the order Orchidaceæ. A'cini (Lat. grape stones), in botany, a term applied to the small grains of which the fruit of the mulberry or blackberry is composed: "Varii generis reperiuntur acini."-Col. Acin'opus (Gr.grape-footed), in zoology, a genus of coleopterous insects. Acio'a (the Guiana name), a genus of arboraceous plants, a native of Guiana, of the order Chrysobalanaceæ. Acio'tis (Gr. ear-pointed, in reference to the form of the petals), a genus of plants, natives of the West Indies; order Melastomaceæ. Acipen'ser (see Accipenser). Acis, in botany, the name of a bulbousrooted plant, of the order Amaryllidaceæ, so called from the mythological Acis.

Acisanthe'ra (Gr. anther-pointed), a genus of plants, of the order Lythraceæ. Acmade'nia (Gr. gland-pointed, from its glandulous anthers), a genus of plants, of the order Rutaceæ. Acme (Gr. height or summit), in pathology, the crisis of a disease.-In the arts, the summit of perfection. Acmel'la (Lat. from Gr. akme a point), a genus of plants, of the composite order, the Virginian hemp; sub-order Tubuliflora.

Acme'na, in botany, an ornamental species of plants, of the order Myrtaceæ, so called from Acmena, a nymph of Venus.

Acne (Gr.), in pathology, a hard and inflamed tubercle, which occurs in different parts of the body. Acnes'tis (Gr. that cannot be rubbed), in quadrupeds, that part of the spine between the shoulder-blades which the animal cannot reach. Acri'da (Gr. nettle-like, in appearance but without its sting), in botany, a genus of annuals, of the order Chenopodiacea; the Virginian hemp. Aco canthe'ra (Gr. sharp-pointed anther), a genus of plants, of the order Solanaceæ, natives of the Cape of Good Hope.

Acol'ogy (Gr. discourse on curing dis eases), in pathology, the doctrine of therapeutic agencies.

Acon'dylose (Gr. without a knuckle), in botany, a term applied to stalks without joints.

Acon'itine, an alkaline poison extracted from the plant Aconitum (which see).

Aconi'tum (Lat. from Acone, a place in the Crimea, famous for its poisonous plants), a species of plants, generally poisonous, of the order Ranunculacea; wolf's-bane: "Miscent aconita noverca."-Ovid.