Astacidae 
America, amoni: them the Mind < r:i\vli>li <.l tin- Mammoth 
Cave, C. JH-lillciiliix. The Inlister is Ha:, in, i> 
II. iiiiir-rii-iliiiin. ^l|,lnll|'.^ U all. .tiler '.;eml.- n< this lal.iily. 
See cut under A*tttctt.i. 
Astacina (as-ta-si'na). H. pi. [NL,, < Jrfoetu 
+ -(.] A group of macrnron- decapod crus- 
3. [NL.] A genus of bivalve shells, formerly of 
great .extent and referred to it family Cypriiiiiln . 
now restricted and made 
tlie tv|ie of a family .l.iliir- 
tiilii:' 
taceans corresponding more or less nearly with Astartidi)B(as-tar'ti-de), n. 
Astileiiii or Aslneiilii-. 
astacine (as'ta-sin), n. and ti. [< Antaeus + 
-/<!. 1 I. (/. Having the characters of a craw- 
fish; pertaining to the Axliii-iiln: 
II. H. One. of the Axttieiitu; as a crawlisli. 
The prol.lcru whether (lie crustacean in qnt-Htion was n 
lilliliile .\*tni'ini' or H true Hnuiariilc IniL'Ilt lie \ery llaril 
t< solve. //<"/.'</, rravllsh, vi. 
Also astaeniil. 
Astacini Ois-ta-si'iii), >i. i>l. [NL., < Axltifim 
+ -iiii.] In Latreille's system of ehissilication, 
the third section of macriirous decapod crus- 
taceans, containing a nunilier of forms now 
distributed in several families and at least two 
suborders. His subjection .if Ilic s;i name C..ITC- A ""i""J '."" "',"V 7\""' 
s| mils mo re nearly In the m.idern family .4tarii/i>'( which AStaSia. (as-ta 81-a), 
III. [NL., < Asttirti; :i, + 
-idir.] In some systems of 
zoological classification, a 
family of dimyarian bi- 
vitlves, with solid equal 
valves, an external liga- 
ment, cardinal teeth, and 
also lateral teeth on each 
valve, the pallial line en- 
tire, the muscular scars ovate, ami a distinct 
pedal scar above the anterior muscular one. 
The typical species are 
ellicM.V inhabitants of the 
ii<.iMi..rn seas, lint iiicin 
tiers i. f tile same tuinily are 
funnel in most other seas. 
Astafte lulcata. 
astacite (as'ta-sit), H. [< Gr. Harare, a lob- 
ster, a crawlisli, + -ifc-2.] A ]>etrilivd or fossil 
crawfish, or other similar crutttaceous animal. 
Also tmtamlile. 
astacoid (as'ta-koid), <i. and n. [< Astae.iix + 
-viil.] Same as (mlneiiie. /liu-lu/. 
Astacoidea (as-ta-koi'de-a), . pi. [NL., < As- 
liieim + -iiiilen.] A sn| lert a mily group or series 
of marruroiis decapod crustaceans. 
astacolite (as-tak'd-lit), [< Gr. aaronAc, a 
lobster, a crawfish, + '/.idof, a stone.] 
Astacus (as'ta-kus), n. 
ii. [NL.,<Gr. aaracia, 
unsteadiness, incon- 
stancy, < iin-nntr, un- 
steady: see tixlatie.] 
A genus of eustoma- 
tons flagellate infuso- 
rians, typical of the 
family Astaxiitlte, hav- 
ing a distinct tubular 
pharynx. It contains such species as A. tri- 
cliopltora, found in marsh-water. 
Same as astasiid (as-tas'i-id), n. An infusorian of the 
family Astasiida:. 
[NL., < Gr. airraK.6c, a AstasiidaB (as-ta-si'i-de), n. pi. [NL.,< Astasia 
Aslartt bortalis semistili ,/.',r. 
/, / . anterior and posterior pcd.il 
muscle. 
asteriated 
In jxitlnil., defective secretion of sebaceous 
matter by the glands of the skin. 
asteer (a-ster'), pri-p. pin . as mil-, or ii. [Sc., 
= iixtir, i\. v.] In or into a state of stir; stir- 
ring. [Scotch."! 
asteism (as'te-izm), n. [< (ir. iinrtm/ti'n; clever 
talk, < aarelfeodai, talk cleverly. < nnruui-. clever, 
witty, lit. of the town, < iinrr, town. ('I. 
< L. civis, a citi/.en ; itrliinic, < L. urlm, a city.) 
In rhet., polite irony; a polite and ingenious 
manner of deriding another. 
astel (as'lel), H. [< -MK. <ixt<lli, < OK. nxli-He = 
Pr. tixtc/ii, < L. *atelln, for iistiilii. a form of 
imsiilti. a thin l)oanl, a shingle, ilitn. of n 
board: see aslili /. ] A ceiling of boards over- 
head in a mining-drift, designed to protect the 
men when at work from falling rocks. [Kng. | 
aster 1 (as'ter), n. [L., < Gr. nr,-i lt i, a star (also 
a plant, prob. Axti-r .11 HI-UK: cf. anr/nw (> L. <ix- 
ini,n), a star, a constellation, usually in pi. 
liar/ia, the stars), = E. star, q. v.] If. A star. 
[Hare.] 2. A plant of the genus Aster. 3. 
['"/'.] [NL.] A large genus of plants, natural 
order ('iiiii/iiixitii; natives of Europe, Asia, ami 
America, but chiefly of North America, about 
120 species occurring in the United States. 
They are mostly perennial, limit-nun i" late summer anil 
autumn "H uhich ai count they art; often called in Eng- 
land Michaelmas or Christinas daisies. The ray-ttnu. i- 
vary from white to lilac -blue or purple, the center IK-IIIB 
yellow, changing sometimes to purple. .Many of the spe- 
cies resemble one another closely, an. I in no nemis is the 
satisfactory determination of the species more difficult. 
4. A name of plants of some allied genera, as 
the Cape after (Agatha-a ameHoides), the China 
aster (Callintephus Cliincitgif), the false aster 
(Boltonia), the golden aster (Chrysopsis), and 
-, . ., . , -a--, n. p. ., sasa . ..-, .- - - --- 
lobster, a crawfish.] The typical genus of the +-(/.] A family of animalcules, mostly free- ! he 'White-topped aster (ixnocarpus). 5. In 
swimming, exceedingly plastic and variable in 
form, bearing a single terminal flagelium, and 
having the oral aperture distinct and the endo- 
plasm colorless. 
astatet, . An obsolete form of estate. 
'., a karyolcinetic figure intervening in time 
between the rosette and the diaster during the 
changes in the nucleus of a cell. See diaster 
and karyokinesis. 
Aster a (as'ter), n. In ornith., same as Asttir. 
astatic (as-tat'ik), a. [< Gr. a<rrarof, not stand- - as * er - t L - '" dim- suffix, as 
ing still, unstable, unsteady, < a-priv. + ararof, 
verbal adj. of lardvat, stand: see-l8 a ndsfac.] 
1. Unstable; unsteady. 
The house was rested, at each of its piers, upon a hand- 
ful of cast-iron shot, each one fourth of an inch in diame- 
ter. By this means the building has been made astatic. 
Hence 2. In phys., having no tendency 
4-..!.^ J~G 1A_ /H J\ iil !A i Jf 
Rivor-Crawfish (Astacitsjinviatilis). (From Huxley's " Crayfish.") 
family Astfieiihe, and one of the two leading 
genera of fluviatile crawfishes, the other being 
- 
astarboard (a-star'bord), prep. phr. as adv. 
[< 3 + starboard.'] At or to the starboard or 
right-hand side of a ship when looking forward. 
astare (a-star'), prep. phr. as adv. or a. [< a 3 
+ store*.] Staring. 
astartt (a-starf), v. [< ME. asterten, asteorten, 
aaturten, startle, startup, escape, <<*-(< AS. a-) 
+ sterten, etc., start: see a-i and start 1 .} I. 
trans. 1. To escape; escape from. 
Every tere which that Creseyde asterte, 
Chaucer, Troillls, lii. 1070. 
2. To cause to start ; startle. 
No daunger there the shepheard can astert. 
Speiuier, Shep. Cal., Nov. 
II. intraiis. I. To start up. 
a bit of a parasite, Antoniaster, a little Antony, 
oleaster, wild olive, pinaster, wild pine, surdatter, 
deafish, etc.] A suffix of Latin origin, forming 
contemptuous diminutives, as in criticaster, 
poetaster. It occurs without recognized dimin- 
utive force in pinaster, oleaster (w-hich see). 
Pop. Sri. Mo., XXVIII. 566. Asteracantbiidae (as'te-ra-kan-thi'i-de), n. pi. 
to [NL., < Asteracaitthion + "-ida;.] A family of 
take a definite (fexed) positioTi ; without direc- ordinary starfishes, of the order Asteroidea. 
tive power: used especially of a magnetic nee- A8tera.canthion(as"te-ra-kan'thi-on), n. [NL., 
die whose directive property has been neutral- < G> r - acrrr/p, a star, + anavda, a spine.] A genus 
ized. A needle may ' starfishes, typical of the family Astcracan- 
S. be rendered astatic thiidai. A. rubens is a common British species, 
y iii various ways, l>ut the "five-finger" of the oystennen. 
"roximityof another AsteracanthuS (as"te-ra-kan'thus), w. [NL., < 
needle of the same in- G>T- aori]p, a star, + andvda, a spine.] A genus 
tensity nxed parallel of placoid fossil fishes, occurring in the Oolite 
to it, and with the and Lias formations. 
Sorth le e o7the ,ml Asteraceae (as-te-ra'se-e), n. pi. [NL., < Asterl, 
being adjacent to the 3. + -ace<?.] Same as Composite. 
south pole of the asteria(as-te'ri-a), n. [L.,<Gr. aarijp, astar. Cf. 
In this posi- Asterias.] A variety of sapphire, not perfectly 
transparent, but showing, when cut round, a 
stellar opalescence in the direction of the verti- 
cal axis of the crystal. Also called octtlus cati. 
lley are^iii Asteriad.33 (as-te-ri'a-de), . pi. [NL., < Aste- 
Out of her ld she did astart, 
As one with vew of ghastly feends affright. 
Spent " 
2. To be escaped from. 
She hadde the herte, 
And who hath that may not ajtterte. 
Chaucer, Death of Blanche, 1. 1153. 
other. In this posi 
tion the needles neu- 
tralize each other, 
and are therefore un- 
^- . , . ._ affected by the mag- 
Astatic Needles. thougn iney are still ~. T i * ; * 4- ~~~" '" f " .*-~' ~~.', ' ^; 
subject to the influ- nas > * + **] * Same as Asterttda;. 2. 
ence of an electric current properly situated. Such nee- Some other and major group of starfishes. 
^SSS^tt^J^^S^JSSy&tZ* arterial (as-te'ri-al), a. [< Gr. dor./xor, starry, 
< aartjp, a star.] Relating to or connected with 
In an astatic 
the stars. 
astatically (as-tatl-kal-i), adv. 
manner. 
, F. &, III. ii. 29. astaticism(as-tat'i-sizm), n. [< astatic + -ism.] 
The state or quality of being astatic. 
The nominal sensitiveness of a galvanometer can be in- 
creased to any extent by increasing the axtaticimi of the 
needle. Amer. Jour. Sci., 3d ser., XXXII. 90. 
Astarte (as-tar'te), n. [L., < Gr. 'AorapTi;, astatize (as'ta-tiz), v. t.; pret. and pp. astatized, -7iep~1"~A "fossil tarflsl 
representing Phen. Ashtareth: see Ashtoreth.] ppr. astatiziny. [< astat-ic + -ire.] To render Asterias (as-te'ri-: 
1. The principal female divinity of the Pheni- 
cians, properly a chaste deity, goddess of the 
moon or of the heavens, but frequently con- inside the globe. Encyc. Brit., xV. 
founded with the unchaste Ashera. she was the astatizer (as'ta-ti-zer), n. A device for ren- 
same as the Assyrian Istar. Also called Anhtoreth (A*h- A er \ n tr the neecfle of A o-alvnnnmptpi- aotatin 
tareth. Antoreth), and, incorrectly, AMoroth (AMarM), a Q "!"" g , f "T astatic, 
plural fonn of AMureth. astay (a-sta ), prep. phr. as adv. or a. [< aS 
Naut., said of the anchor when, in 
If the deep learn'd a*te,riitl quacks 
Taint Time to life in almanacks, 
He has on brow a lock of hair, 
But all his head beside is bare. 
T. Ward, England's Reformation, p. 298. 
asterialite (as-te'ri-a-lit), n. [< Asterias, 1, + 
. \ L. astfrias, 
Mooned Axhtaroth, 
Heaven's queen and mother both. 
Milton, Nativity, 1. 200. 
With these in troop 
Paine Axtmvth, whom the 1'hienicians call'd 
Antarte, queen of heaven, with crescent boms. 
Hilton, P. L., i. 439. 
The moon. 
,lx/a*-/y- '.v lieiliatnunileil crescent, 
liistinet with its duplicate horn. 
foe, Ulalume. 
23 
*3v\si. ifxa \t*o-\;\j ii-<*o/, n. IJ.1U*) \ u. iis* '< i t'tf*i \ 
Gr. aoreptof, a fish, lit. stan-y, < aarrip, a star.] 
The deflexion of a properly totalized needle suspended 1. The genus of 
starfishes which 
is typical of the 
family Asterii- 
da;. 2. [1. c.] 
, _ , _ In ornith., 
heaving in, the cable forms such an angle with 
the surface of the water as to appear to be in a 
line with the stays of the ship, 
asteatodes (as-te-a-to'dez), . 
[NL., < Gr. a- 
priv. 4- oreaTufiTK, "like tallow or fat, < areap 
((near-), tallow or fat, + ridof, form.] Same as 
asteaiosii, 
asteatosis (as-te-a-to'sis), . [NL., < Gr. a- 
priv. + crriap (areisr-), tallow or fat, -f- -osis.] 
In ornif., an 
old and disused 
name of the gos- 
hawk, goose- 
hawk, or star- 
hawk. See As- 
tiir. 
asteriated (as- 
te'ri-a-ted), a. 
[< Gr. aaripiof, 
Common Starfish (Attcrias/trrbtsi}. 
