Apolar A·po"lar adjective [ Prefix a- + polar .] (Biol.) Having no radiating processes; -- applied particularly to certain nerve cells.

Apolaustic Ap`o·laus"tic adjective [ Greek ..., from ... to enjoy.] Devoted to enjoyment.

Apollinarian A·pol`li·na"ri·an adjective [ Latin Apollinaris , from Apollo .] (Rom. Antiq.) In honor of Apollo; as, the Apollinarian games.

Apollinarian A·pol`li·na"ri·an noun (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Apollinaris, Bishop of Laodicea in the fourth century, who denied the proper humanity of Christ.

Apollinaris water A·pol`li·na"ris wa"ter An effervescing alkaline mineral water used as a table beverage. It is obtained from a spring in Apollinarisburg, near Bonn.

Apollo A·pol"lo noun [ Latin Apollo , - linis , Greek ....] (Classic Myth.) A deity among the Greeks and Romans. He was the god of light and day (the "sun god"), of archery, prophecy, medicine, poetry, and music, etc., and was represented as the model of manly grace and beauty; -- called also Phébus .

The Apollo Belvedere , a celebrated statue of Apollo in the Belvedere gallery of the Vatican palace at Rome, esteemed of the noblest representations of the human frame.

Apollonian, Apollonic Ap`ol·lo"ni·an, Ap`ol·lon"ic adjective Of, pertaining to, or resembling, Apollo.

Apollyon A·pol"ly·on noun [ Greek ... destroying, from ..., ..., to destroy utterly; ... from, entirely + ... to destroy.] The Destroyer; -- a name used (Rev. ix. 11) for the angel of the bottomless pit, answering to the Hebrew Abaddon .

Apologer A·pol"o·ger noun A teller of apologues. [ Obsolete]

Apologetic, Apologetical A·pol`o·get"ic, A·pol`o·get"ic·al adjective [ Greek ..., from ... to speak in defense of; ... from + ... speech, ... to say, to speak. See Logic .] Defending by words or arguments; said or written in defense, or by way of apology; regretfully excusing; as, an apologetic essay. "To speak in a subdued and apologetic tone." Macaulay.

Apologetically A·pol`o·get"ic·al·ly adverb By way of apology.

Apologetics A·pol`o·get"ics noun That branch of theology which defends the Holy Scriptures, and sets forth the evidence of their divine authority.

Apologist A·pol"o·gist noun [ Confer French apologiste .] One who makes an apology; one who speaks or writes in defense of a faith, a cause, or an institution; especially, one who argues in defense of Christianity.

Apologize A·pol"o·gize intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Apologized ; present participle & verbal noun Apologizing .] [ Confer French apologiser .] 1. To make an apology or defense. Dr. H. More.

2. To make an apology or excuse; to make acknowledgment of some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends; -- with for ; as , my correspondent apologized for not answering my letter.

To apologize for his insolent language.
Froude.

Apologize A·pol"o·gize transitive verb To defend. [ Obsolete]

The Christians . . . were apologized by Plinie.
Dr. G. Benson.

Apologizer A·pol"o·gi`zer noun One who makes an apology; an apologist.

Apologue Ap"o·logue noun [ Latin apologous , Greek ...; ... from + ... speech, ... to speak: confer French apologue .] A story or relation of fictitious events, intended to convey some moral truth; a moral fable.

» An apologue differs from a parable in this;: the parable is drawn from events which take place among mankind, and therefore requires probability in the narrative; the apologue is founded on supposed actions of brutes or inanimate things, and therefore is not limited by strict rules of probability. Æsop's fables are good examples of apologues .

Apology A·pol"o·gy noun ; plural Apologies . [ Latin apologia , Greek ...; ... from + ...: confer French apologie . See Apologetic .] 1. Something said or written in defense or justification of what appears to others wrong, or of what may be liable to disapprobation; justification; as, Tertullian's Apology for Christianity.

It is not my intention to make an apology for my poem; some will think it needs no excuse, and others will receive none.
Dryden.

2. An acknowledgment intended as an atonement for some improper or injurious remark or act; an admission to another of a wrong or discourtesy done him, accompanied by an expression of regret.

3. Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.

He goes to work devising apologies for window curtains.
Dickens.

Syn. -- Excuse . An apology , in the original sense of the word, was a pleading off from some charge or imputation, by explaining and defending one's principles or conduct. It therefore amounted to a vindication. One who offers an apology , admits himself to have been, at least apparently, in the wrong, but brings forward some palliating circumstance, or tenders a frank acknowledgment, by way of reparation. We make an apology for some breach of propriety or decorum (like rude expressions, unbecoming conduct, etc.), or some deficiency in what might be reasonably expected. We offer an excuse when we have been guilty of some breach or neglect of duty; and we do it by way of extenuating our fault, and with a view to be forgiven. When an excuse has been accepted, an apology may still, in some cases, be necessary or appropriate. "An excuse is not grounded on the claim of innocence, but is rather an appeal for favor resting on some collateral circumstance. An apology mostly respects the conduct of individuals toward each other as equals; it is a voluntary act produced by feelings of decorum, or a desire for the good opinion of others." Crabb.

Apology A·pol"o·gy intransitive verb To offer an apology. [ Obsolete]

For which he can not well apology .
J. Webster.

Apomecometer Ap`o·me·com"e·ter noun An instrument for measuring the height of objects. Knight.

Apomecometry Ap`o·me·com"e·try noun [ Prefix apo- + Greek ... length + -metry .] The art of measuring the distance of objects afar off. [ Obsolete or R.]

Apomorphia, Apomorphine Ap`o·mor"phi·a, Ap`o·mor"phine noun [ Prefix apo- + morphia , morphine .] (Chemistry) A crystalline alkaloid obtained from morphia. It is a powerful emetic.

Aponeurosis Ap`o·neu·ro"sis noun ; plural Aponeuroses [ Greek ..., from ... to pass into a tendon; ... from + ... to strain the sinews, ... sinew, tendon, nerve.] (Anat.) Any one of the thicker and denser of the deep fasciæ which cover, invest, and the terminations and attachments of, many muscles. They often differ from tendons only in being flat and thin. See Fascia .

Aponeurotic Ap`o·neu·rot"ic adjective (Anat.) Of or pertaining to an aponeurosis.

Aponeurotomy Ap`o·neu·rot"o·my noun [ Aponeurosis + Greek ... a cutting.] Dissection of aponeuroses.

Apopemptic Ap`o·pemp"tic (-pĕmp"tĭk) adjective [ Greek 'apopemptiko`s , from 'apope`mpein to send off or away; 'apo` from + pe`mpein to send.] Sung or addressed to one departing; valedictory; as, apopemptic songs or hymns.
[ 1913 Webster]

Apophasis A·poph"a·sis (ȧ*pŏf"ȧ*sĭs) noun [ Greek 'apo`fasis denial, from 'apofa`nai to speak out, to deny.] (Rhet.) A figure by which a speaker formally declines to take notice of a favorable point, but in such a manner as to produce the effect desired. [ For example, see Mark Antony's oration. Shak., Julius Cæsar, iii. 2. ]

Apophlegmatic Ap`o·phleg·mat"ic adjective [ Greek ...; ... from + ... full of phlegm. See Phlegmatic .] (Medicine) Designed to facilitate discharges of phlegm or mucus from mouth or nostrils. -- noun An apophlegmatic medicine.

Apophlegmatism Ap`o·phleg"ma·tism noun [ Greek ..., Galen.] 1. (Medicine) The action of apophlegmatics.

2. An apophlegmatic. [ Obsolete] Bacon.

Apophlegmatizant Ap`o·phleg·mat"i·zant noun (Medicine) An apophlegmatic. [ Obsolete]

Apophthegm Ap`oph·thegm noun See Apothegm .

Apophthegmatic, Apophthegmatical Ap`oph·theg·mat"ic, Ap`oph·theg·mat"ic·al adjective Same as Apothegmatic .

Apophyge A·poph"y·ge noun [ Greek 'apofygh` escape, in arch. the curve with which the shaft escapes into its base or capital, from 'apofey`gein to flee away; 'apo` from + fey`gein to flee: confer French apophyge .] (Architecture) The small hollow curvature given to the top or bottom of the shaft of a column where it expands to meet the edge of the fillet; -- called also the scape . Parker.

Apophyllite A·poph"yl·lite noun [ Prefix apo- + Greek ... leaf; so called from its foliated structure or easy cleavage.] (Min.) A mineral relating to the zeolites, usually occurring in square prisms or octahedrons with pearly luster on the cleavage surface. It is a hydrous silicate of calcium and potassium.

Apophysis A·poph"y·sis noun ; plural -ses . [ New Latin , from Greek ... offshoot, process of a bone, from ... to grow from; ... from + ..., ..., to grow.] 1. (Anat.) A marked prominence or process on any part of a bone.

2. (Botany) An enlargement at the top of a pedicel or stem, as seen in certain mosses. Gray.

Apoplectic Ap`o·plec"tic Ap`o*plec"tic*al adjective [ Latin apoplecticus , Greek ..., from ...: confer French apoplectique . See Apoplexy .] Relating to apoplexy; affected with, inclined to, or symptomatic of, apoplexy; as, an apoplectic person, medicine, habit or temperament, symptom, fit, or stroke.

Apoplectic Ap`o·plec"tic noun One liable to, or affected with, apoplexy.

Apoplectiform, Apoplectoid Ap`o·plec"ti·form, Ap`o·plec"toid adjective [ Apoplectic + -form , -oid .] Resembling apoplexy.

Apoplex Ap"o·plex noun Apoplexy. [ Obsolete] Dryden.

Apoplexed Ap`o·plexed (-plĕkst) adjective Affected with apoplexy. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Apoplexy Ap"o·plex`y (ăp"o*plĕks`ȳ) noun [ Middle English poplexye , Late Latin poplexia , apoplexia , from Greek 'apoplhxi`a , from 'apoplh`ssein to cripple by a stroke; 'apo` from + plh`ssein to strike: confer French apoplexie . See Plague .] (Medicine) Sudden diminution or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion, usually caused by pressure on the brain.

» The term is now usually limited to cerebral apoplexy , or loss of consciousness due to effusion of blood or other lesion within the substance of the brain; but it is sometimes extended to denote an effusion of blood into the substance of any organ; as, apoplexy of the lung.

Aporetical Ap`o·ret"ic·al adjective [ Greek .... See Aporia .] Doubting; skeptical. [ Obsolete] Cudworth.

Aporia A·po"ri·a noun ; plural Aporias [ Latin , doubt, Greek ..., from ... without passage, at a loss; 'a priv. + ... passage.] (Rhet.) A figure in which the speaker professes to be at a loss what course to pursue, where to begin to end, what to say, etc.

Aporosa Ap`o·ro"sa noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek .... See Aporia .] (Zoology) A group of corals in which the coral is not porous; -- opposed to Perforata .

Aporose Ap`o·rose" adjective (Zoology) Without pores.

Aport A·port" adverb [ Prefix a- + port .] (Nautical) On or towards the port or left side; -- said of the helm.

Aposematic Ap`o·se·mat"ic adjective [ Prefix apo- + sematic .] (Zoology) Having or designating conspicuous or warning colors or structures indicative of special means of defense against enemies, as in the skunk.

Aposiopesis Ap`o·si`o·pe"sis noun [ Latin , from Greek ..., from ... to be quite silent.] (Rhet.) A figure of speech in which the speaker breaks off suddenly, as if unwilling or unable to state what was in his mind; as, "I declare to you that his conduct -- but I can not speak of that , here."

Apositic Ap`o·sit"ic adjective [ Greek ...; ... from + ... food.] (Medicine) Destroying the appetite, or suspending hunger.

Apostasy A·pos"ta·sy noun ; plural Apostasies [ Middle English apostasie , French apostasie , Latin apostasia , from Greek ... a standing off from, a defection, from ... to stand off, revolt; ... from + ... to stand. See Off and Stand .] An abandonment of what one has voluntarily professed; a total desertion of departure from one's faith, principles, or party; esp., the renunciation of a religious faith; as, Julian's apostasy from Christianity.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
You are here: Webster > Letter A > Page 104 of 156.
« Previous ¦96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 ¦ Next »