Ashes Ash"es noun plural [ Middle English asche , aske , Anglo-Saxon asce , æsce , axe ; akin to Old High German asca , German asche , Dutch asch , Icelandic & Swedish aska , Danish aske , Goth. azgo .] 1. The earthy or mineral particles of combustible substances remaining after combustion, as of wood or coal. 2. Specifically: The remains of the human body when burnt, or when "returned to dust" by natural decay.

Their martyred blood and ashes sow.
Milton.

The coffins were broken open. The ashes were scattered to the winds.
Macaulay.

3. The color of ashes; deathlike paleness.

The lip of ashes , and the cheek of flame.
Byron.

In dust and ashes , In sackcloth and ashes , with humble expression of grief or repentance; -- from the method of mourning in Eastern lands. -- Volcanic ashes , or Volcanic ash , the loose, earthy matter, or small fragments of stone or lava, ejected by volcanoes.

Ashine A·shine" adjective Shining; radiant.

Ashlar, Ashler Ash"lar, Ash"ler noun [ Middle English ascheler , achiler , Old French aiseler , from aiselle , dim. of ais plank, from Latin axis , assis , plank, axle. See Axle .] 1. (Masonry) (a) Hewn or squared stone; also, masonry made of squared or hewn stone.

Rough ashlar , a block of freestone as brought from the quarry. When hammer-dressed it is known as common ashlar .
Knight.

(b) In the United States especially, a thin facing of squared and dressed stone upon a wall of rubble or brick. Knight.

Ashlaring, Ashlering Ash"lar·ing, Ash"ler·ing noun 1. The act of bedding ashlar in mortar. 2. Ashlar when in thin slabs and made to serve merely as a case to the body of the wall. Brande & C. 3. (Carp.) The short upright pieces between the floor beams and rafters in garrets. See Ashlar , 2.

Ashore A·shore" adverb [ Prefix a- + shore .] On shore or on land; on the land adjacent to water; to the shore; to the land; aground (when applied to a ship); -- sometimes opposed to aboard or afloat .

Here shall I die ashore .
Shak.

I must fetch his necessaries ashore .
Shak.

Ashtoreth Ash"to·reth noun ; plural Ashtaroth The principal female divinity of the Phœnicians, as Baal was the principal male divinity. W. Smith.

Ashweed Ash"weed` noun (Botany) [ A corruption of ache -weed; French ache . So named from the likeness of its leaves to those of ache (celery).] Goutweed.

Ashy Ash"y adjective 1. Pertaining to, or composed of, ashes; filled, or strewed with, ashes. 2. Ash-colored; whitish gray; deadly pale. Shak. Ashy pale , pale as ashes. Shak.

Asian A"sian adjective [ Latin Asianus , Greek ..., from ..., Latin Asia .] Of or pertaining to Asia; Asiatic. " Asian princes." Jer. Taylor. -- noun An Asiatic.

Asiarch A"si·arch noun [ Latin Asiarcha , Greek ...; ... + ... ruler.] One of the chiefs or pontiffs of the Roman province of Asia, who had the superintendence of the public games and religious rites. Milner.

Asiatic A`si·at"ic adjective [ Latin Asiaticus , Greek ....] Of or pertaining to Asia or to its inhabitants. -- noun A native, or one of the people, of Asia.

Asiaticism A`si·at"i·cism noun Something peculiar to Asia or the Asiatics.

Aside A·side" adverb [ Prefix a- + side .] 1. On, or to, one side; out of a straight line, course, or direction; at a little distance from the rest; out of the way; apart.

Thou shalt set aside that which is full.
2 Kings iv. 4.

But soft! but soft! aside : here comes the king.
Shak.

The flames were blown aside .
Dryden.

2. Out of one's thoughts; off; away; as, to put aside gloomy thoughts. "Lay aside every weight." Hebrew xii. 1. 3. So as to be heard by others; privately.

Then lords and ladies spake aside .
Sir W. Scott.

To set aside (Law) , to annul or defeat the effect or operation of, by a subsequent decision of the same or of a superior tribunal; to declare of no authority; as, to set aside a verdict or a judgment.

Aside A·side" noun Something spoken aside; as, a remark made by a stageplayer which the other players are not supposed to hear.

Asilus A·si"lus noun [ Latin , a gadfly.] (Zoology) A genus of large and voracious two-winged flies, including the bee killer and robber fly.

Asinego, Assinego As`i·ne"go, As`si·ne"go noun [ Spanish asnico , dim. of asno an ass.] A stupid fellow. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Asinine As"i·nine adjective [ Latin asininus , from asinus ass. See Ass .] Of or belonging to, or having the qualities of, the ass, as stupidity and obstinacy. " Asinine nature." B. Jonson. " Asinine feast." Milton.

Asininity As`i·nin"i·ty noun The quality of being asinine; stupidity combined with obstinacy.

Asiphonate A·si"phon·ate adjective (Zoology) Destitute of a siphon or breathing tube; -- said of many bivalve shells. -- noun An asiphonate mollusk.

Asiphonea As`i·pho"ne·a A*si`pho*na"ta As`i*phon"i*da noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek 'a priv. + ... a tube.] (Zoology) A group of bivalve mollusks destitute of siphons, as the oyster; the asiphonate mollusks.

Asitia A·si"ti·a noun [ Greek ...; 'a priv. + ... food.] (Medicine) Want of appetite; loathing of food.

Ask Ask transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Asked ; present participle & verbal noun Asking .] [ Middle English asken , ashen , axien , Anglo-Saxon āscian , ācsian ; akin to Old Saxon ēscōn , Old High German eiscōn , Swedish āska , Danish æske , Dutch eischen , German heischen , Lithuanian jëskóti , OSlav. iskati to seek, Sanskrit ish to desire. √5.] 1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; -- often with of , in the sense of from , before the person addressed.

Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God.
Judg. xviii. 5.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John xv. 7.

2. To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask ?

Ask me never so much dowry.
Gen. xxxiv. 12.

To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luke xii. 48.

An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity.
Addison.

3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about; to question.

He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
John ix. 21.

He asked the way to Chester.
Shak.

4. To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment. 5. To publish in church for marriage; -- said of both the banns and the persons. Fuller. Syn. -- To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat; beseech; implore; crave; require; demand; claim; exhibit; inquire; interrogate. See Beg .

Ask Ask intransitive verb 1. To request or petition; -- usually followed by for ; as, to ask for bread.

Ask , and it shall be given you.
Matt. vii. 7.

2. To make inquiry, or seek by request; -- sometimes followed by after .

Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name?
Gen. xxxii. 29.

Ask Ask noun [ See 2d Asker .] (Zoology) A water newt. [ Scot. & North of Eng.]

Askance A·skance" transitive verb To turn aside. [ Poet.]

O, how are they wrapped in with infamies
That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes!
Shak.

Askance, Askant A·skance", A·skant" adverb [ Confer Dutch schuin , schuins , sideways, schuiven to shove, schuinte slope. Confer Asquint .] Sideways; obliquely; with a side glance; with disdain, envy, or suspicion.

They dart away; they wheel askance .
Beattie.

My palfrey eyed them askance .
Landor.

Both . . . were viewed askance by authority.
Gladstone.

Asker Ask"er noun One who asks; a petitioner; an inquirer. Shak.

Asker Ask"er noun [ A corruption of Anglo-Saxon a...exe lizard, newt.] (Zoology) An ask; a water newt. [ Local Eng.]

Askew A·skew" adverb & adjective [ Prefix a- + skew .] Awry; askance; asquint; oblique or obliquely; -- sometimes indicating scorn, or contempt, or entry. Spenser.

Asking Ask"ing noun 1. The act of inquiring or requesting; a petition; solicitation. Longfellow. 2. The publishing of banns.

Aslake A·slake" (ȧ*slāk") transitive verb & i. [ Anglo-Saxon āslacian , slacian , to slacken. Confer Slake .] To mitigate; to moderate; to appease; to abate; to diminish. [ Archaic] Chaucer.

Aslant A·slant" adverb & adjective [ Prefix a- + slant .] Toward one side; in a slanting direction; obliquely.

[ The shaft] drove through his neck aslant .
Dryden.

Aslant A·slant" preposition In a slanting direction over; athwart.

There is a willow grows aslant a brook.
Shak.

Asleep A·sleep" adjective & adverb [ Prefix a- + sleep .] 1. In a state of sleep; in sleep; dormant.

Fast asleep the giant lay supine.
Dryden.

By whispering winds soon lulled asleep .
Milton.

2. In the sleep of the grave; dead.

Concerning them which are asleep . . . sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1 Thess. iv. 13.

3. Numbed, and, usually, tingling. Udall.

Leaning long upon any part maketh it numb, and, as we call it, asleep .
Bacon.

Aslope A·slope" adverb & adjective [ Prefix a- + slope .] Slopingly; aslant; declining from an upright direction; sloping. "Set them not upright, but aslope ." Bacon.

Aslug A·slug" adverb [ Prefix a- + slug to move slowly.] Sluggishly. [ Obsolete] Fotherby.

Asmear A·smear" adjective [ Prefix a- + smear .] Smeared over. Dickens.

Asmonean As`mo·ne"an adjective Of or pertaining to the patriotic Jewish family to which the Maccabees belonged; Maccabean; as, the Asmonean dynasty. [ Written also Asmonæan .]

Asmonean As`mo·ne"an noun One of the Asmonean family. The Asmoneans were leaders and rulers of the Jews from 168 to 35 b. c.

Asoak A·soak" adjective [ Prefix a- + soak .] Soaking.

Asomatous A·so"ma·tous adjective [ Latin asomatus , Greek ...; 'a priv. + ... body.] Without a material body; incorporeal. Todd.

Asonant As"o·nant adjective [ Prefix a- not + sonant .] Not sounding or sounded. [ R.] C. C. Felton.

Asp Asp noun (Botany) Same as Aspen . "Trembling poplar or asp ." Martyn.

Asp Asp (ȧsp) noun [ Latin aspis , from Greek 'aspi`s : confer Old French aspe , French aspic .] (Zoology) A small, hooded, poisonous serpent of Egypt and adjacent countries, whose bite is often fatal. It is the Naja haje . The name is also applied to other poisonous serpents, esp. to Vipera aspis of southern Europe. See Haje .
As*pal"a*thus noun [ Latin aspalathus , Greek ....] (Botany) (a) A thorny shrub yielding a fragrant oil. Ecclus. xxiv. 15. (b) A genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosæ . The species are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope.

Asparagine As·par"a·gine noun [ Confer French asparagine .] (Chemistry) A white, nitrogenous, crystallizable substance, C ₄ H ₈ N ₂ O ₃ +H ₂ O, found in many plants, and first obtained from asparagus . It is believed to aid in the disposition of nitrogenous matter throughout the plant; -- called also altheine .

Asparaginous As`pa·rag"i·nous adjective Pertaining or allied to, or resembling, asparagus; having shoots which are eaten like asparagus; as, asparaginous vegetables.

Asparagus As·par"a·gus noun [ Latin , from Greek ..., ...; confer ... to swell with sap or juice, and Zend ...paregha prong, sprout, Pers. asparag , Lithuanian spurgas sprout, Sanskrit sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Confer Sparrowgrass .] 1. (Botany) A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceæ , and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis , a species cultivated in gardens. 2. The young and tender shoots of A. officinalis , which form a valuable and well-known article of food. » This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass ; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people. Asparagus beetle (Zoology) , a small beetle ( Crioceris asparagi ) injurious to asparagus.

Aspartic As·par"tic adjective (Chemistry) Pertaining to, or derived, asparagine; as, aspartic acid.

Aspect As"pect noun [ Latin aspectus , from aspicere , aspectum , to look at; ad + spicere , specere , to look, akin to English spy .] 1. The act of looking; vision; gaze; glance. [ R.] "The basilisk killeth by aspect ." Bacon.

His aspect was bent on the ground.
Sir W. Scott.

2. Look, or particular appearance of the face; countenance; mien; air. "Serious in aspect ." Dryden.

[ Craggs] with aspect open shall erect his head.
Pope.

3. Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view. "The aspect of affairs." Macaulay.

The true aspect of a world lying in its rubbish.
T. Burnet.

4. Position or situation with regard to seeing; that position which enables one to look in a particular direction; position in relation to the points of the compass; as, a house has a southern aspect , that is, a position which faces the south. 5. Prospect; outlook. [ Obsolete]

This town affords a good aspect toward the hill from whence we descended.
Evelyn.

6. (Astrol.) The situation of planets or stars with respect to one another, or the angle formed by the rays of light proceeding from them and meeting at the eye; the joint look of planets or stars upon each other or upon the earth. Milton. » The aspects which two planets can assume are five; sextile, ..., when the planets are 60° apart; quartile, or quadrate, ..., when their distance is 90° or the quarter of a circle; trine, ..., when the distance is 120°; opposition, ..., when the distance is 180°, or half a circle; and conjunction, ..., when they are in the same degree. Astrology taught that the aspects of the planets exerted an influence on human affairs, in some situations for good and in others for evil. 7. (Astrol.) The influence of the stars for good or evil; as, an ill aspect . Shak.

The astrologers call the evil influences of the stars evil aspects .
Bacon.

Aspect of a plane (Geom.) , the direction of the plane.

Aspect As·pect" transitive verb [ Latin aspectare , v. intens. of aspicere . See Aspect , noun ] To behold; to look at. [ Obsolete]