‖n. [ L., a little saucer for vinegar, fr. acetum vinegar, fr. acere to be sour. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Rom. Antiq.) A vinegar cup; socket of the hip bone; a measure of about one eighth of a pint, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) (a) The bony cup which receives the head of the thigh bone. (b) The cavity in which the leg of an insect is inserted at its articulation with the body. (c) A sucker of the sepia or cuttlefish and related animals. (d) The large posterior sucker of the leeches. (e) One of the lobes of the placenta in ruminating animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_; topmost + &unr_; finger. ] (Zool.) The upper surface of the toes, individually. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., from allumer to light. ] A match for lighting candles, lamps, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. alumineor, fr. L. ad + liminare. See Luminate. ] An illuminator of manuscripts and books; a limner. [ Obs. ] Cowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. alum, alom, OF. alum, F. alun, fr. L. alumen alum. ] (Chem.) A double sulphate formed of aluminium and some other element (esp. an alkali metal) or of aluminium. It has twenty-four molecules of water of crystallization. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Common alum is the double sulphate of aluminium and potassium. It is white, transparent, very astringent, and crystallizes easily in octahedrons. The term is extended so as to include other double sulphates similar to alum in formula. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. ] (Chem.) Alum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. alumen, aluminis. See Alum. ] (Chem.) One of the earths, consisting of two parts of aluminium and three of oxygen, Al2O3. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is the oxide of the metal aluminium, the base of aluminous salts, a constituent of a large part of the earthy siliceous minerals, as the feldspars, micas, scapolites, etc., and the characterizing ingredient of common clay, in which it exists as an impure silicate with water, resulting from the decomposition of other aluminous minerals. In its natural state, it is the mineral corundum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A compound formed from the hydrate of aluminium by the substitution of a metal for the hydrogen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Combined with alumina. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] Alumina. Davy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or containing aluminium; as, aluminic phosphate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. alumen alum + -ferous: cf. F. aluminifère. ] Containing alum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. alumen + -form. ] Having the form of alumina. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. alumen. See Alum. ] (Chem.) same as aluminum, chiefly British in usage. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aluminium bronze or
gold, a pale gold-colored alloy of aluminium and copper, used for journal bearings, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To treat or impregnate with alum; to alum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Alumin-ium + -graphy. ] Art or process of producing, and printing from, aluminium plates, after the manner of ordinary lithography. -- A*lu`mi*no*graph"ic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

a. [ L. aluminosus, fr. alumen alum: cf. F. alumineux. ] Pertaining to or containing alum, or alumina; as, aluminous minerals, aluminous solution. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The metallic element forming the base of alumina. This metal is white, but with a bluish tinge, and is remarkable for its resistance to oxidation, and for its lightness, having a specific gravity of about 2.6. Atomic weight 27.08. Symbol Al. Also called aluminium. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. Somewhat like alum. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. fem.; pl. Alumnæ /plu> . [ L. See Alumnus. ] A female pupil; especially, a graduate of a school or college. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Alumni [ L., fr. alere to nourish. ] A pupil; especially, a graduate of a college or other seminary of learning. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) A North American herb (Heuchera Americana) of the Saxifrage family, whose root has astringent properties. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } (Min.) A variety of shale or clay slate, containing iron pyrites, the decomposition of which leads to the formation of alum, which often effloresces on the rock. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Min.) A subsulphate of alumina and potash; alunite. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Animalcula [ NL. See Animalcule. ] An animalcule. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Animalculæ, as if from a Latin singular animalcula, is a barbarism. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. belonging to a period before a war, especially the American Civil War. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. 1 a genus of brown algae distinguished by compressed or inflated branchlets along the axis.
Syn. -- genus Ascophyllum. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ ‖ } n. [ LL. aspergillum, fr. L. aspergere. See Asperse, v. t. ] 1. The brush used in the Roman Catholic church for sprinkling holy water on the people. [ Also written aspergillus. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) See Wateringpot shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. E. Asylums L. Asyla [ L. asylum, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; exempt from spoliation, inviolable; 'a priv. + &unr_; right of seizure. ] 1. A sanctuary or place of refuge and protection, where criminals and debtors found shelter, and from which they could not be forcibly taken without sacrilege. [ 1913 Webster ]

So sacred was the church to some, that it had the right of an asylum or sanctuary. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name was anciently given to temples, altars, statues of the gods, and the like. In later times Christian churches were regarded as asylums in the same sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any place of retreat and security. [ 1913 Webster ]

Earth has no other asylum for them than its own cold bosom. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An institution for the protection or relief of some class of destitute, unfortunate, or afflicted persons; as, an asylum for the aged, for the blind, or for the insane; a lunatic asylum; an orphan asylum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Decked with feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. bi`os life + luminescence. ] a type of luminescence produced by biological or biochemical processes, such as a glowworm glow or the action of luciferase on luciferin. A well-known example is that of firefly luminescence. See also luciferin. [ PJC ]

n. [ from kalumb, its native name in Mozambique. ] (Med.) The root of a plant (Jateorrhiza Calumba, and probably Cocculus palmatus), indigenous in Mozambique. It has an unpleasantly bitter taste, and is used as a tonic and antiseptic. [ Written also colombo, columbo, and calombo. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

American calumba, the Frasera Carolinensis, also called American gentian. Its root has been used in medicine as bitter tonic in place of calumba. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A bitter principle extracted as a white crystalline substance from the calumba root. [ Written also colombin, and columbin ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. calumet, fr. L. calamus reed. See Halm, and cf. Shawm. ] A kind of pipe, used by the North American Indians for smoking tobacco. The bowl is usually made of soft red stone, and the tube is a long reed often ornamented with feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Smoked the calumet, the Peace pipe,
As a signal to the nations. Lowgfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The calumet is used as a symbol of peace. To accept the calumet is to agree to terms of peace, and to refuse it is to reject them. The calumet of peace is used to seal or ratify contracts and alliances, and as an evidence to strangers that they are welcome. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Calumniated; p. pr. & vb. n. calumniating. ] [ L. calumniatus, p. p. of calumniari. See Calumny, and cf. Challenge, v. t. ] To accuse falsely and maliciously of a crime or offense, or of something disreputable; to slander; to libel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hatred unto the truth did always falsely report and calumniate all godly men's doings. Strype. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To asperse; slander; defame; vilify; traduce; belie; bespatter; blacken; libel. See Asperse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To propagate evil reports with a design to injure the reputation of another; to make purposely false charges of some offense or crime. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. False accusation of crime or offense, or a malicious and false representation of the words or actions of another, with a view to injure his good name. [ 1913 Webster ]

The calumniation of her principal counselors. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who calumniates.

Syn. -- Slanderer; defamer; libeler; traducer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Containing calumny; slanderous. Montagu. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. calumniosus. ] Containing or implying calumny; false, malicious, and injurious to reputation; slanderous; as, calumnious reports. [ 1913 Webster ]

Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes. Shak.

. Slanderous; defamatory; scurrilous; opprobrious; derogatory; libelous; abusive.

-- Ca*lum"ni*ous*ly, adv. -- Ca*lum"ni*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Calumnies [ L. calumnia, fr. calvi to devise tricks, deceive; cf. F. calomnie. Cf. Challenge, n. ] False accusation of a crime or offense, maliciously made or reported, to the injury of another; malicious misrepresentation; slander; detraction. “Infamous calumnies.” Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Capitula [ L., a small head. ] 1. A thick head of flowers on a very short axis, as a clover top, or a dandelion; a composite flower. A capitulum may be either globular or flat. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) A knoblike protuberance of any part, esp. at the end of a bone or cartilage. [ See Illust. of Artiodactyla. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ NL. carpellum, fr. Gr. karpo`s fruit. ] (Bot.) A simple pistil or single-celled ovary or seed vessel, or one of the parts of a compound pistil, ovary, or seed vessel. See Illust of Carpaphore. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the sole genus constituting the family Ceratophyllaceae; the hornworts.
Syn. -- genus Ceratophyllum. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; pl. E. Cerebellums L. Cerebella /plu>. [ L., dim. of cerebrum brain. ] (Anat.) The large lobe of the hind brain in front of and above the medulla; the little brain. It controls combined muscular action. See Brain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a small genus of plants sometimes included in genus Anthemis; chamomile.
Syn. -- genus Chamaemelum. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Chlorine + aluminium. ] An impure aqueous solution of chloride of aluminium, used as an antiseptic and disinfectant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a genus of tropical American evergreen trees or shrubs.
Syn. -- genus Chrysophyllum. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ L., a girdle. ] (Zool.) (a) A distinct girdle or band of color; a raised spiral line as seen on certain univalve shells. (b) The clitellus of earthworms. (c) The base of the crown of a tooth. [ 1913 Webster ]