4. To make secure with of

But what on earth can long abide in state? Or who can him assure of happy day? Spenser. And, for that dow'ry, I'll assure her of Her widowhood, be it that she survives me, In all my lands and leases whatsoever. Shaksp. 5. To affiance; to betroth.

This diviner laid claim to me, called me Dromio, swore I was assured to her. Shakspeare. ASSURED. participial adj. [from assure.] 1. Certain; indubitable; not doubted.

Bacon.

It is an assured experience, that flint laid about the bottom of a tree makes it prosper. 2. Certain; not doubting.

Young princes, close your hands,
And your lips too; for I am well assured
That I did so, when I was first assur'd. Shaksp.
As when by night the glass

Of Galilæo less assur'd observes Imagin'd lands and regions in the moon. Milton. 3. Immodest; vitiously confident. ASSUREDLY. adv. [from assured.] Certainly; indubitably.

They promis'd me eternal happiness, And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel I am not worthy yet to wear: I shall assuredly. Shakspeare. God is absolutely good, and so, assuredly, the cause of all that is good; but of any thing that is evil he is no cause at all. Raleigh. Assuredly he will stop our liberty, till we restore him his worship. South. ASSU'REDNESS. n. s. [from assured.] The state of being assured; certainty. ASSURER. n. s. [from assure.].

1. He that gives assurance.

cially in the night-time, and when the body is in a prone posture; because then the contents of the lower belly bear so against the diaphragm, as to lessen the capacity of the breast, whereby the lungs have less room to move. Quincy. An asthma is the inflation of the membranes of the lungs, and of the membranes covering the muscles of the thorax. Flayer on the Humours. ASTHMATICAL. adj. [from asthma-] ASTHMATICK. S Troubled with an asthma.

In asthmatical persons, though the lungs be very much stuffed with tough phlegm, yet the patient may live some months, if not some years. Boyle.

Isaiah.

After drinking, our horses are almost asthmatick; and, for avoiding the watering of them, we wet their hay. Floger. ASTO'NIED. part. adj. A word used in the version of the Bible for astonished. Many were astonied at thee. The French astony'd. J. Philips. To ASTONISH. v. a. [estonner, Fr. from attonitus, Lat.] To confound with some sudden passion, as with fear or wonder; to amaze; to surprise; to stun.

Unmanly dread invades

It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. Shakspeare. Astonish'd at the voice, he stood amaz'd, And all around with inward horror gaz'd. Addis. A genius universal as his theme, Astonishing as chaos.

Thomson.

To ASSWA'GE. See AssUAGE. A'STERISK. n. s. [åçıgíox@.] A mark in printing or writing, in form of a little star; as *.

He also published the translation of the Septuagint by itself, having first compared it with the Hebrew, and noted by asterisks what was defective, and by obelisks what was redundant.

Grew.

A'STERISM. 7. s. [asterismus, Lat.] 1. A constellation.

Poetry had filled the skies with asterisms, and histories belonging to them; and then astrology devises the feigned virtues and influences of each. Bentley's Sermons. 2. An asterisk, or mark. This is a very improper use.

Dwell particularly on passages with an asterism, for the observations which follow such a note, will give you a clear light. Dryden's Dufresnoy. ASTERN. adv. [from a and stern.] In the hinder part of the ship; behind the ship.

The galley gives her side, and turns her prow, While those astern, descending down the steep, Thro' gaping waves behold the boiling deep.

Dryden. To ASTEʼRT. v. a. [a word used by Spenser, as it seems, for start, or startle.] To terrify; to startle; to fright. We deem of death, as doom of ill desert; But knew we fools what it us brings until, Die would we daily, once it to expert; No danger there the shepherd can astert. Spens. A'STHMA. n. s. [.] A frequent, difficult, and short respiration, joined ·with a hissing sound and a cough, espe

Of a nature to excite astonishment. ASTONISHMENT. n. s. [estonnement, Fr.] Amazement; confusion of mind from fear or wonder.

We found, with no less wonder to us than astonishment to themselves, that they were the two valiant and famous brothers. Sidney.

She esteemed this as much above his wisdom, as astonishment is beyond bare admiration. South. To ASTOUND. v. a. [estonner, Fr.] To astonish; to confound with fear or wonder. This word is now somewhat obsolete.

These thoughts may startle well, but not astound The virtuous mind, that ever walks attended By a strong siding champion, conscience. Milt. ASTRA'DDLE. adv. [from a and straddle.]

With one's legs across any thing. Dict. A'STRAGAL. n. s. [drgiyan, the ankle or anklebone.] A little round member in the form of a ring or bracelet, 'serving as an ornament at the tops and bottoms of columns. Builder's Dict.

We see none of that ordinary confusion, which is the result of quarter rounds of the astragal, and I know not how many other intermingled particulars. Spectator. A'STRAL. adj. [from astrum, Lat.] Starry; belonging to the stars.

Some astral forms I must invoke by pray'r, Fram'd all of purest atoms of the air; Not in their natures simply good or ill, But most subservient to bad spirits will. Dryden. ASTRA'Y. adv, [from a and stray.] Out of the right way.

May seem the wain was very evil led, When such an one had guiding of the way,

That knew not whether right he went, or else astray. Spenser. You run astray, for whilst we talk of Ireland, you rip up the original of Scotland. Spenser. Like one that had been led astray Through the heav'ns wide pathless way. Milt. To ASTRICT. v. a. [astringo, Lat.] To contract by applications, in opposition to relax: a word not so much used as constringe.

The solid parts were to be relaxed or astricted, as they let the humours pass either in too small or too great quantities. Arbuthnot on Aliments. ASTRICTION. n. s. [astrictio, Lat.] The act or power of contracting the parts of the body by applications.

Astriction is in a substance that hath a virtual cold; and it worketh partly by the same means that cold doth. Bacon.

This virtue requireth an astriction, but such an astriction as is not grateful to the body; for a pleasing astriction doth rather bind in the nerves than expel them; and therefore such astriction is found in things of a harsh taste. Bacon. Lenitive substances are proper for dry atrabilarian constitutions, who are subject to astriction of the belly, and the piles. Arbuthnot on Diet. ASTRICTIVE. adj. [from astrict.] Stiptick; of a binding quality. ASTRICTORY. adj. [astrictorius, Lat.] Astringent; apt to bind. ASTRIDE. adv. [from a and stride.] With the legs open.

To lay their native arms aside, Their modesty, and ride astride.

Dict.

- Dict.

Hudibras.

Dict.

I saw a place, where the Rhone is so straitened between two rocks, that a man may stand astride upon both at once. Boyle. ASTRIFEROUS. adj. [astrifer, Lat] Bearing or having stars. ASTRI'GEROUS. adj. [astriger, Lat.] Carrying stars. Dict. To ASTRINGE. v. a. [astringo, Lat.] To press by contraction; to make the parts draw together.

Tears are caused by a contraction of the spirits of the brain; which contraction, by conse quence, astringeth the moisture of the brain, and thereby sendeth tears into the eyes. Bacon. ASTRINGENCY. n. s. [from astringe.] The power of contracting the parts of the body: opposed to the power of relaxation.

Astriction prohibiteth dissolution; as, in medicines, astringents inhibit putrefaction; and, by astringency, some small quantity of oil of vitriol will keep fresh water long from putrefying.

Bacon's Natural History. Acid, acrid, austere, and bitter substances, by their astringency, create horrour, that is, stimu late the fibres. ASTRINGENT. adj. [astringens, Lat.] Binding; contracting: opposed to lax

Arbuthnot.

ative. It is used sometimes of tastes which seem to contract the mouth.

Astringent medicines are binding, which act by the asperity of their particles, whereby they corrugate the membranes, and make them draw up closer. Quincy.

The myrobalan hath parts of contrary natures, for it is sweet, and yet astringent. Bacon.

The juice is very astringent, and therefore of slow motion.

Bacon.

What diminisheth sensible perspiration, encreaseth the insensible; for that reason a strength

A'STROLABE. n. s. [of a'sǹg, and to take.]

Dict.

1. An instrument chiefly used for taking the altitude of the pole, the sun, or stars, at sea.

2. A stereographick projection of the circles of the sphere upon the plain of some great circle. Chambers. ASTROLOGER.n.s. [astrologus, Lat. from ἀς τον and λόγω.]

1. One that, supposing the influences of the stars to have a causal power, professes to foretel or discover events depending on those influences.

Not unlike that which astrologers call a conjunction of planets, of no very benign aspect the one to the other. Wotton.

A happy genius is the gift of nature: it depends on the influence of the stars, say the astrologers; on the organs of the body, say the naturalists; it is the particular gift of heaven, say the divines, both christians and heathens. Dryd. Astrologers, that future fates foreshew. Pope. I never heard a finer satire against lawyers, than that of astrologers, when they pretend, by rules of art, to tell when a suit will end, and whether to the advantage of the plaintiff or defendant."

Swift.

2. It was anciently used for one that understood or explained the motions of the planets, without including prediction. A worthy astrologer, by perspective glasses, hath found in the stars many things unknown to the ancients. Raleigh. ASTROLOGIAN. n.s.[fromastrology.] The same with astrologer.

The twelve houses of heaven, in the form which astrologians use. Camden.

The stars, they say, cannot dispose No more than can the astrologiani. Hudibras. ASTROLOGICAL. ASTROLOGICK.

AL.} adj. [from astrology.]

1. Professing astrology.

Some seem a little astrological, as when they warn us from places of malign influence. Wotton. No astrologick wizard honour gains, Who has not oft been banish'd, or in chains. Dryden.

2. Relating to astrology.

Astrological prayers seem to me to be built on as good reason as the predictions. Stillingflect. The poetical fables are more ancient than the astrological influences, that were not known to the Greekstill after Alexander the Great. Bentley. ASTROLOGICALLY.adu.[fromastrology.] In an astrological manner.

To ASTROLOGIZE. v. n. [from astrology.] To practise astrology. ASTROLOGY. n. s. [astrologia, Lat.] The practice of foretelling things by the knowledge of the stars: an art now generally exploded, as irrational and false.

I know the learned think of the art of astrology, that the stars do not force the actions or wills of men.

ASTRONOMER. n. s. [from and, a rule or law.]

Swift. sov, a star, One that

studies the celestial motions, and the rules by which they are governed.

The motions of factions under kings ought to be like the motions, as the astronomers speak of, in the inferiour orbs. Bacon.

Astronomers no longer doubt of the motion of the planets about the sun.

The old and new astronomers in vain Attempt the heav'nly motions to explain.

ASTRONOMICAL.

Locke.

Blackmore.

adj. [from astrono my.] Belonging to

ASTRONOMICK. astronomy. Our forefathers marking certain mutations to happen in the sun's progress through the zodiack, they registrate and set them down in their astro nomical canons. Brown's Vulgar Errours.

Can he not pass an astronomick line, Or dreads the sun th' imaginary sign, That he should ne'er advance to either pole? Blackmore. ASTRONOMICALLY. adv. [from astronomical.] In an astronomical manner. ASTRONOMY. n. s. [vía, from agov, a star, and vμ, a law or rule.] A mixed mathematical science, teaching the knowledge of the celestial bodies, their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods, eclipses, and order. Pythagoras taught that the earth and planets turn round the sun, which stands immoveable in the center, From the time of Pythagoras, astronomy sunk into neglect, till it was revived by the Ptolemys, kings of Egypt; and the Saracens brought it from Africa to Spain, and restored this science to Europe.

Chambers.

To this must be added the understanding of the globes, and the principles of geometry and astronomy. Cowley, A'STROSCOPY. n. s. [s, a star, and exonéw, to view.] Observation of the Dict. ASTRO-THEOLOGY. n. s. [from astrum, a star, and theologia, divinity.] Divinity founded on the observation of the celestial bodies.

stars.

That the diurnal and annual revolutions are the motions of the terraqueous globe, not of the sun, I shew in the preface of my Astro-Theology. Derbam's Physico-Theology. ASUNDER.adv.[aƑundɲan, Sax.] Apart; separately; not together.

Two indirect lines, the further that they are drawn out, the further they go asunder. Spenser. Sense thinks the planets spheres not much asunder:

What tells us then their distance is so far? Davies. Greedy hope to find

His wish, and best advantage, us asunder. Milt. The fall'n archangel, envious of our state, Seeks hid advantage to betray us worse; Which, when asunder, will not prove too hard, For both together are each other's guard. Dryd. Borne far asunder by the tides of men, Like adamant and steel they meet again. Dryd All this metallick matter, both that which continued asunder, and in single corpuscles, and that which was amassed and concreted into nodules, subsided. Woodward. ASY'LUM, n. 5. [Lat. davλoy, from a, not, and uniw, to pillage.] A place out of

which he that has filed to it, may not be taken; a sanctuary; a refuge; a place of retreat and security.

So sacred was the church to soine, that it had the right of an asylum, or sanctuary. ASYMMETRY. n. s. [from «, without, and Ayliffe. συμμέτρια, symmetry.]

1. Contrariety to symmetry; disproportion.

The asymmetries of the brain, as well as the deformities of the legs or face, may be rectified in time. Grew. 2. This term is sometimes used in mathematicks, for what is more usually called incommensurability; when betweentwo quantities there is no common measure. A'SYMPTOTE. n. s. [from o, priv. cv, with, and low, to fall: which never meet; incoincident.] Asymptotes are right lines, which approach nearer and nearer to some curve; but which, though they and their curve were infinitely continued, would never 'meet; and may be conceived as tangents to their curves at an infinite distance.

Chambers.

Asymptote lines, though they may approach still nearer together, till they are nearer than the least assignable distance, yet, being still produced infinitely, will never meet. Grew. ASYMPTOTICAL. adj. [from asymptote.] Curves are said to be asymptotical, when they continually approach, without a possibility of meeting. ASY'NDETON. n. s. [årúyderov, of a, priv. and view, to bind together.] A figure in grammar, when a conjunction copulative is omitted in a sentence; as in veni, vidi, vici, &is left out. AT. prep. [ær, Sax.]

1. At, before a place, denotes the nearness of the place; as, a man is at the house before he is in it.

This custom continued among many, to say their prayers at fountains. Stilling fleet. 2. At, before a word signifying time, notes the coexistence of the time with the event; the word time is sometimes included in the adjective; we commonly say at a minute, at an hour, on a day, in a month.

We thought it at the very first a sign of cold affection. Hooker.

How frequent to desert him, and at last To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds. Milt. At the same time that the storm beats upon the whole species, we are falling foul upon one another. Addison.

We made no efforts at all, where we could have most weakened the common enemy, and at the same time, enriched ourselves. Swift. 3. At, before a causal word, signifes nearly the same as with, noting that the event accompanies. or immediately succeeds, the action of the cause. At his touch, Such sanctity hath Heaven giv'n his hand, They presently amend. Shakspeare's Macbeth. O'sir, when he shall hear of your approach, If that young Arthur be not gone already, Ev'n at this news he dies. Shakspeare.

made on purpose with sliders over them, called registers. Quincy. A'THEISM. n. s. [from atheist. It is only of two syllables in poetry.] The disbelief of a God.

God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. Bacon.

It is the common interest of mankind, to punish all those who would seduce men to atheism. Tillotson. A'THEIST. n. s. [, without God.] One that denies the existence of God. To these that sober race of men, whose lives Religious titled them the sons of God, Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame, Ignobly! to the trains, and to the smiles, Of these fair atheists.

Milton. Though he were really a speculative atheist, yet, if he would but proceed rationally, he could not however be a practical atheist, nor live without God in this world. South.

Atheist, use thine eyes, And, having view'd the order of the skies, Think, if thou canst, that matter, blindly hurl'd Without a guide, should frame this wond'rous world.

Creech.

No atheist, as such, can be a true friend, an affectionate relation, or a loyal subject. Bentley. A'THEIST. adj. [from the noun.] Atheistical; denying God.

Milton.

Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy The atheist crew. ATHEISTICAL. adj. [from atheist.] ATHEISTICK. Given to atheisin; impious.

Men are atheistical, because they are first vicious; and question the truth of christianity, because they hate the practice. South.

This argument demonstrated the existence of a deity, and convinced all atheistick gainsayers. Ray on the Creation. ATHEISTICALLY.adv. [from atheistical.] In an atheistical manner.

Is it not enormous, that a divine, hearing a great sinner talk atheistically, and scoff profanely at religion, should, instead of vindicating the truth, tacitly approve the scoffer?

South. Tillotson.

I entreat such as are atheistically inclined, to consider these things.

Feeling the matter fluctuating, I thought it atheromatous. Wiseman's Surgery, ATHIRST. adv. [from a and 'thirst.] Thirsty; in want of drink.

With scanty measure then supply their food; And, when atbirst, restrain 'em from the flood. Dryden. ATHLETICK. adj. [from athleta, Lat. ans, a wrestler.]

1. Belonging to wrestling.

2. Strong of body; vigorous; lusty; robust.

Seldom shall one see in rich families that athletick soundness and vigour of constitution, which is seen in cottages, where nature is cook, and necessity caterer. South.

Science distinguishes a man of honour from one of those athletick brutes, whom undeservedly we call heroes. Dryden. ATHWA'RT. prep. [from a and theart.] 1. Across; transverse to any thing.

Themistocles made Xerxes post out of Grecia, by giving out a purpose to break his bridge athwart the Hellespont. Bacon's Essays,

Execrable shape!

That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance Thy miscreated front atheart my way. P. Lust, 2. Through: this is not proper.

Now, athwart the terrors that thy vow Has planted round thee, thou appear'st more fair. Addison.

ATHWA'RT. adv. à tort.

1. In a manner vexatious and perplexing ; crossly.

All athrart there came A post from Wales, loaden with heavy news. Shakspeare.

2. Wrong: à travers.

The baby beats the nurse, and quite atbaart Goes all decorum. Shakspeare.

ATILT. adv. [from a and tilt.]
1. In the manner of a tilter; with the action
of a man making a thrust at an antagonist.
In the city Tours

Thou ran'st atilt, in honour of my love,
And stol'st away the ladies hearts from France.
Shakspeare.

To run atilt at men, and wield
Their naked tools in open field.

Hudibras.

The quality of being atheistical. Lord, purge out of all hearts profaneness and atheisticalness. Hammond's Fundamentals. A'THEL,ATHELING, ADEL,andÆTHEL, from adel, noble, Germ. So Ethelred, is noble for counsel; Ethelard, a noble genius; Ethelbert, eminently noble; Ethelward, a noble protector. Gibson. A'THEOUS. adj. [& Fi&.] Atheistick; godless.

Thy Father, who is holy, wise, and pure, Suffers the hypocrite, or atheous priest, To tread his sacred courts. Par. Reg. ATHERO MA. n. s. [¿Téqwja, from Jiga, pap or pulse.] A species of wen, which neither causes pain, discolours the skin, nor yields easily to the touch.

If the matter forming them resembles milk eurds, the tumour is called atheroma; if it be like honey, meliceris; and if composed of fat, or a suety substance, steatoma. Sharp. ATHEKO'MATOUS. adj. [from atheroma.] Having the qualities of an atheroma, or curdy wen.

behind, to make it run out.

Such a man is always atilt; his favours come hardly from him. Spectator. ATLAS. n. 5.

1. A collection of maps; so called probably from a picture of Atlas supporting the heavens, prefixed to some collection. 2. A large square folio; so called from those folios, which, containing maps, were made large and square.

3. Sometimes the supporters of a building. 4. A rich kind of silk or stuff made for women's clothes.

I have the conveniency of buying Dutch atlasses with gold and silver, or without. Spectater. ATMOSPHERE.N. S. [Tμ~, vapour, and opalga, a sphere.]

The exteriour part of this our habitable world is the air, or atmosphere; a light, thin, fluid, or springy body, that encompasses the solid earth on all sides: Immense the whole excited atmosphere Impetuous rushes o'er the sounding world.

Locke.

Thomsen.