Asiatic 
Asiatic (a-shi- or a-zhi-af ik), n. and . [< L. 
Axititicits,<. Gr. 'Amnr/M, < '\r,ia, L. Asia, Asia : 
see J,W<H.] I. . 1. Belonging to or characlci- 
istic of Asia or its inhabitants. 2. Character- 
ized I iv Asianism. Asiatic cholera, *ee cimicra. 
Asiatic pills, in iiii'il.. pills of aineuionsoxid and Mark 
pepper. 
II. H. A native of Asia. 
Asiaticism (a-shi- or a-zhi-at'i-sizm), H. [< . l"i- 
ulic + -ism.'] Something characteristic of Asi 
atics; specifically, Asiatic, as distinguished 
from European, modes of thought and life. 
[Bare.] 
The si eat stnl^le between I 1 ! otestant islll and Asiati- 
Asiaticization (a-slii- or a-zhi-at"i-si-za'shon), 
n. [< Asinliri:( + -//.] The act of render- 
ing Asiatic, or of permeating with Asiaticism. 
[1,'are.] 
The Asialii'iiatinn of Kiiropenn life. 
./. riske, Amer. I'ol. Ideas, p. 117. 
Asiaticize (a-shi- or a-zhi-at'i-siz), v. t.; pret. 
and pp. Axiii/ici-i'il. p)ir. Axititiri .hit/. [< Asi- 
atic + -i:?.] To render Asiatic ; tinge or imbue 
with Asiatic ideas, customs, etc. [Rare.] 
The close of the seventeenth century, which marks the 
culmination of the Asiaticiziiui tendency in Europe saw 
di ipcitism, both political and religions, firmly established 
in I'Vailcc, and Spain, and Italy, and ill half of Germany. 
J. Figke, Amer. Pol. Ideas, p. 119.. 
Asida (as'i-da), n. [NL.] The typical genus of 
hectics of tl'ie subfamily Asidina; containing 
numerous wingless species with ovate bodies, 
inhabiting desert regions of Europe and North 
America. 
aside (a-sid'), prep. phr. as adv. and prep. [< 
ME. aside, a side, on side, on syd (also with ad- 
verbial gen. suffix, asides, asidis, aw/dix): see 
on, 3 , and.wte 1 .] I. nrfr. 1. On or to one side ; 
to or at a short distance; apart; away from 
some normal direction or position : as, to turn 
or stand aside ; to draw a curtain aside. 
Thou sllalt set aside that which is full. 2 Ki. iv. 4. 
He took him aside from the multitude. Mark vii. 33. 
The flames were blown aside. 
Dryilen, Pal. and Arc., 1. 1631). 
2. Apart or separately (from) ; in a state of 
withdrawal or exclusion (from). [A use of aside 
for apart nearly or quite peculiar to the United 
States.] 
I give thee love as God gives light, 
Aside from merit or from prayer. 
R. T. Cooke, Poems, p. 7. 
That we agree with him [Emerson], or that he always 
agrees with himself, is aside from the question. 
Lou-ell, Study Windows, p. 197. 
3. Out of one's thoughts, consideration, or re- 
gard ; away ; off : as, to lay aside one's animos- 
ity; to put one's cares aside. 
Without laying aside that dauntless valour which had 
been the terror of every land from the Elbe to the Pyre- 
nees. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. 
Books can only reveal us to ourselves, ami as often as 
they do us this service, we lay them aside. 
Tlwreau, Letters, p. 153. 
No man can put abstract notions more entirely aside 
than he. X. A. Rev., CXLII. 5(X!. 
4. So as not to be heard by some one present : 
chiefly a dramatic use. Thus, on the stage, to utter a 
speech aside, is to utter it in such a manner that it is as- 
sumed not to be heard by the other characters, or to be 
heard only by those for whom it is intended. 
o dear, madam, you are not to say that to her face! 
aside, ma'am, aside. - The whole scene is to be aside. 
Sheridan, The Critic, iii. 1. 
II. prep. By the side of ; beside. [Rare, ex- 
cept in old English and Scotch.] 
Here slake your thirst aside their liveliest rill. Landor. 
aside (a-sid'), H. [< aside, adv."] Something 
spoken and not heard, or supposed not to be 
hoard, by some one or more present ; especially, 
a remark uttered by an actor on the stage, and 
assumed not to be heard by the other charac- 
ters on the stage, or to be heard only by those 
for whom it is intended. 
asiderite (a-sid'e-rit), . [< Gr. a- priv. 4- mnV- 
P'ITIK, of iron: see a- 18 and sideritc.] A me- 
teoric stone which contains 110 metallic iron. 
See meteorite. 
Asidinae (as-i-di'ne), w. pi. [NL., < Asida + 
-/'.] A subfamily of atracheliate heterome- 
rous beetles, of the family Tenebrionida;, typi- 
fied by the genus 
337 
Asilidffi (a-sil'i-do), n.pl. [NL.,< Asilus + -ida:] 
A family of dipterous insects, or flies, belong- 
ing to the group l'i trin-liiitii of the suborder 
linirlii/n-i-ii : the hornet-flies, very active, pre- 
dacious, and voracious, preying upon other in- 
sects, and making a humming noise in flight. 
Asilus (a-si'lus), . [NL., < L. asilus, a gad- 
fly, horse-fly.] 1. A genus of two-winded 
Hies, of the family 
Asilidte, popularly 
known as hornet- 
flies, robber-flics, 
or hawk-Hies. They 
arc lar^e. rather slen 
<ler-l>oilicd tlies. having 
stroii'-; legs and a ro- 
murkalily strong beak 
with which they pierce 
their prey. Tliey de 
stroy caterpillars, grass- 
hoppers, and even 
honey-bees. Their lar- 
vse live under ground. 
2. In ornith.: (a) 
[1. c.~] An old name 
(Gesner, 1555, to 
Brisson, 1760) of 
the willow-warbler, 1'hyUoscopus trochilus. (b) 
A genus of such warblers. Sechstein, 1802. 
Asimina (a-sim'i-nii), n. [NL. (cf. Canadian 
]'. ad mine, the fruit; aciminicr, the tree), < 
iixiininti, the northern Algonkin corruption of 
southern Illinois rasximina (pi.), the name of 
the fruit, prob., as Dr. Trumbull suggests, < 
rassa, a sleeve, + mitt, pi. mina, fruit; from 
its shape.] An anonaceous genus of shrubs 
of the Atlantic and Gulf States, including half 
a dozen species. Of these the most widely distributed 
, say), 
shrubs, confined to the Gulf States. Some doubtful spe- 
cies are also credited to Mexico ami the West Indies. 
asinaryt (as'i-na-ri), a. [< L. asinarius, < asi- 
nus, an ass: see a** 1 .] Asinine. Bailey. 
asinegot (as-i-ne'go), . [Also asinico, Sp. as- 
nicn, a little ass, dim. of Sp. Pg. asno, < L. asi- 
nus: see ass 1 .'] 1. A little ass. 2. A foolish 
fellow. 
Thou sodden-wilted lord I thou hast no more brain than 
I have in mine elbows ; an assineyo may tutor thee. 
Shak., T. and C., U. 1. 
Also spelled assinego. 
asinine (as'i-nin or -nin), a. [< L. asininiis, < 
asinus, an ass: see ass 1 .'] 1. Belonging to or 
characteristic of the ass. 2. Haying the quali- 
ties attributed to the ass; stupid; obstinate; 
obtrusively silly ; offensively awkward. 
This one act . . . proclaims his asinine nature. 
B. Jonson, The Devil is an Ass, i. 6. 
The gravest historians of the Netherlands often relieved 
their elephantine labors by the most asinine gambols. 
Motley, Dutch Republic, I. SB. 
asininity (as-i-nin'i-ti), . [< asinine + -ity. 
Cf. ML. asinitas, stupidity.] The quality of 
being asinine ; obstinate stupidity. 
The elephant's discourse 
Will neutralize the stupiil asininity. 
The Centura, XXVII. 1WO. 
asinus (as'i-nus), H. [L., an ass: see a** 1 .] 
In 2007. : (a) Specifically, the ass, E(/mis asinus. 
(b) [cap.] Geuerically, a subgenus of Equtts, 
including the asses, as the hemione, onager, 
quagga, zebra, etc. 
asio (a'si-6), . [NL., < L. asio (in Pliny, with 
var. reading axio), a horned owl.] An old name 
of a horned owl. It was made a genus by Krissou, 
17BO, having as type the common long-eared owl of Europe, 
A. otus, and the name has been given with little discrimi- 
nation to sundry horned or eared owls. Sow usually : (o) 
[cap.] A genus comprehending only A. otus and its im- 
mediate relatives, as A. tcilsonianus of North America, A. 
accipitrinus, the short-eared owl, etc. See cut under oicl. 
(b) The specific name of the small red or gray owl of North 
America, Strix asio (Linnaeus), now Scope asio. 
Asiphonata (a-si-fo-na'ta), n. pi. [NL., neut. 
pi. of aniphonatus: see asiphonate.~] An order 
of acephalous lamellibranchiate mollusks, con- 
taining headless bivalves without respiratory 
tubes or siphons like those which in the 
Siphonata convey water from the gills, and 
having the lobes of the mantle free. Most of 
the Asiphonata are fixed, the foot being small or want- 
ing, and many secrete a byssus. The order includes in 
general those bivalves best known and most useful and 
valuable to man, as oysters, pearl-oysters, scallops, mus- 
sels, unios, etc., and is now divided into about 12 families. 
Synonymous with Atraehia. MsoAsiphonia,,Asiphoniata, 
tons brachycerous dipterous insects, corre- 
ponding most nearly to the modern family 
2H$*OI hornet-flies. Latreille divided the Lin- 
aeun uenus .ix,7 , into twogiwips, which he called ^i. 
and iini,,,t,,,i 
22 
asip>onate(a- S i'fo-n,t), a: 
'. r ' T P. n Yj+ c "^ 1 '' ? 
/?*] Not possessing a resp.ratory tube 
J 81 P h "= PP OSed V P ^.^T 2' 
f or pertaining to the Asiphonata. H. A. 
Nicholson. Also tufpkomatt and estphonate. 
ask 
Asiphonia (as-i-fo'ni-ji), . ;;/. [XL.] Same as 
Asiphonata, 
Asiphoniata (an-i-fo-ui-a'tii), . ]>l. [NL.] 
Same 1 as .Ixipliiiiiiilii. 
asiphoniate (as-i-fo'ni-at), a. Same as asipho- 
Itrltt . 
Asiphonida(as-i-fon'i-da), w. pi. [NL.] Same 
as .txi/ilioiuilii. 
-asis. See -iii.tis. 
asitia (a-sish'iii), H. [NL.. < Gr. aatria, want 
of food or of appetite, < Amroj, without food, < 
ri- pri v. + ninif, food.] Loss of appetite ; loath- 
ing of food. 
ask 1 (ask), r. [E. dial, also ni and ass (pret. 
ngt) ', < ME. iixki'ii. c>7.v. assimilated ashen, as- 
--i-ii, mlii-ii, i-xxi'H, transposed men, acgeit, acgien, 
iij-ii-ii, < AS. iixi'inii, nftrii transposed iicxiini, iis- 
ian, dhsian, = OS. fsrim = dries, askia = D. 
i ixrhi'ii = OI H i. rixmii, MHO. eisehen, G. eischen, 
heischen = Sw. lixkn = Dan. irskc, ask (cf. 
Icel. mskja, wish: see tciA), = OBulg. iskati = 
Bohem. jiskati = Russ. iskatl = Lith. jeshkoti 
= Lett. atfrat, seek; cf. 8kt. tf isli, seek, de- 
sire.] I. trans. 1. To request; seek by words 
to obtain; petition for: commonly with /', in 
the sense of from, before the person to whom 
the request is made. 
,li -counsel . . . o/Ood. Judges xvlll. 5. 
2. To demand, expect, or claim : with for: as, 
what price do you ask, or ask for it f 
.4*fc me never so mind dowry. Geu. xxxiv. 12. 
3. To solicit from ; request of : with a personal 
object, and with or without for before tne thing 
desired : as, I ask you a great favor ; to ask one 
for a drink of water. 
I came near, . . . and asked him the truth of all this. 
Dan. vii. 10. 
4. To require as necessary or useful ; demand ; 
exact. 
The exigence of a state asks a much longer time to con- 
duct the design to maturity. Additon. 
To And the medium asks some share of wit, 
And therefore 'tis a mark fools never hit. 
Cowper, Conversation. 
5. To interrogate or inquire of; put a ques- 
tion to. 
He Is of age, auk him. John ix. 21. 
6. To inquire concerning ; seek to be informed 
about : as, to ask the way ; to ask a question. 
Here kennell'd in a brake she Hnds a hound, 
And asks the weary caitiff for his master. 
Shak., Venus and Adonis, 1. 914. 
7. To invite : as, to ask guests to a wedding 
or entertainment. To ask in church, to publish 
banns of marriage. [The verb ask is used in this phrase 
because the publication is really an inquiry whether any 
one can state any valid objection to the marriage. J = 8yn. 
1 to 4. Auk, Kequettt, Bey, Demand, Claim, Require, Solicit, 
Beseech Entreat, Cram, Svmtieate, Implore, Importune. 
Auk is the generic word in this list ; it implies neither that 
what is asked must be rendered, nor, on the other hand, 
that it would be a favor. Demand, claim, and require ask 
imperatively or authoritatively ; the others call for a favor 
with different degrees of urgency or humility. Beseech, 
solicit, entreat, importune, and sometimes bf<j, imply great 
urgency ; crave, supplicate, and implore imply gre_at urgen- 
cy and great dependence or humility. Request is a little 
more formal or carefully civil than ask: as, your atten- 
dance is requested. Bey is primarily to ask as a beggar ; 
sometimes, by the hyperbole of social usage, to ask as a 
favor, real or professed : as, I bey your pardon. Demand 
and claim more often refer to things ; require applies more 
often to action : as, he demanded his share ; he claimed 
the whole ; he required me to come ; he required some 
proof to back my demand and substantiate my claim. 
Solicit is ui-gent, but less so than the words that follow it : 
as, he solicited my vote. Beseech is most applicable to the 
act of asking on the ground of pure favor. Entreat implies 
continued appeal or representations of a moving kind. 
Crave is almost or quite abject : like brp, it has been taken 
into polite forms of speech, and in that use robbed of most 
of its force. Supplicate and implore are, figuratively, 
modes of prayer, as to a superior being ; they imply urgent 
or desperate appeal, perhaps in many words. To impor- 
tune is generally ta beg in a iiersistent, wearying way, 
with urgency, but perhaps without especial dependence 
or humility. 
To a*k and have, command and be obeyed. 
Marlom, Tamburlaine, I. iv. 3. 
To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir, 
And I'll request your presence. Shak., Macbeth, iii. 1. 
These matters could not be thus carri'd without a beijg'd 
and borrow'd force from worldly authority. 
Milton, Church-Government, ii. 3. 
It is only when the reasonable and the practicable are 
denied that men demaiul the unreasonable and impracti- 
cable. Lou-ell, Democracy. 
Mince the knight 
Came not to us, of us to claim the prize, 
Ourselves will send it after. 
Tennyton, Lancelot and Elaine. 
The guards opened the doors, we were told that we could 
proceed no further, and were required to alight. 
f'roude, Sketches, p. 41. 
The port . . . was crowded with those who hastened to 
tolidt permission to share in the enterprise. 
Bancroft, Hist. U. 8., I. 40. 
