astrictory 
astrictoryt (as-trik'to-ri), . [< L. nstrictoriux, 
binding, < iititi'irtux, pp. of iistrini/i'i-i : see 
axlriiijic."] Astringent ; binding; *p( to hind. 
astride (a-slnd'), !>/'< i>. plir. as iidr. or . [< <( :! 
+ xtriilr.] With one leg on each side of gome 
object; with the legs wide apart. 
I'liK-fil fixlt-iil'' upon thr hars of the palisade. Xi-i>n. 
astriferOUSt (as-trif'<;-nm), <l. [< L. iixti-ifi-r. 
star-bearing 1 , (. axtrum, a star, + fcrrc = K. 
ftcnr 1 .] Bearing or containing stars. Itliiunt. 
astrigerOUSt (:is-tri.j';;-rusj, a. [< L. axlrii/ri; 
star-bearing, < nxtrinii, u star, + </'''"'', bear.] 
Bearing stars. Jiinli ;/. 
astrild (as'trild), w. f< Axlri/ilii, I'.xlnlila: see 
Kxtwlda."] A bird of tlie genus !'.!<! niilii (which 
see): as, the gray uxtrilil. l-'.xinliln fnnrca. 
astringe (as-trinj'), r. ; pret. and pp. nxlriiii/i-il, 
ppr. antrint/iiig. [Early mod. E. also mlxfrini/1 , 
< L. iixtriitgrrr, itilxtriiiiirrf, draw close, con- 
tract, < ml, to, + xtriiif/rrc, bind fast, strain: 
see iix/i'ii'l. :ind xlriiifii ni, xtrict, and <rai.] 
I. trans. 1. To compress; bind together; con- 
strict. [Rare.] 
\Vhi< h contraction . . . (iKtriwi/fli the moisture of the 
brain, ami thereby si-ndeth teontnto the eyes. 
Baciin, Nat. Hint., 714. 
2f. Figuratively, to oblige ; constrain ; bind by 
obligation. 
II. int raiis. To become solid; congeal. Hol- 
land. 
astringency (as-trin'jen-si), n. [= F. astrin- 
gence; < astringent: see -ence, -ency."] The 
quality of being astringent; especially, that 
property in certain substances by which they 
cause contraction of soft or relaxed parts of 
the body : as, the astringency of acids or bitters. 
astringent (as-trin'jent), a. and H. [= F. astrin- 
i/fiit.Cii. astringen(i-)x. adstringen(t-)s,ppT. of 
astrini/err, udxtringere, draw close, contract: see 
astringe.] I. a. Binding; contracting; con- 
strictive; styptic. 
A strengthening and astringent diet. 
Arbuthnot, Aliment*. 
II. . A substance which contracts the tis- 
sues and canals of the body, condensing the 
soft solids, and thereby checking or diminish- 
ing excessive discharges, as of blood. The chief 
astringents are the mineral acids, alum, lime-water, chalk, 
t-uli- of copper, zinc, iron, lead, and silver, and among 
vegetables catechu, kino, oak-bark, and galls. Vegetable 
astringents owe their efficacy to the presence of tannin. 
Formerly also adstringent. 
astringently (as-trin'jent-li), adv. In an astrin- 
gent manner. 
astringer (as'trin-jer), n. See austringer. 
astrite (as'trit), n. [< LL. astrites, also asteri- 
tes, < Gr. aorepiTTK, a brilliant precious stone, < 
aarf/p, a star: see aster 1 ."] Any radiated or star- 
like fossil, as one of the detached articulations 
of fossil encrinites ; star-stone. See encrinite. 
Also asterite and astroite. 
astro-. [< Gr. aarpo-, combining form of aarpov, 
a star: see astral and astcr^."] The initial ele- 
ment in many compound scientific terms of 
Greek origin, meaning star. 
Astrocaryum (as-tro-ka'ri-um), n. [NL., < Gr. 
aarpov, a star, + ndpvov, a nut.] A genus of 
palms from 10 to 40 feet in height, with beauti- 
ful pinnated leaves, inhabiting the tropical parts 
of America. The stems are covered with stiff and sharp 
spines, often a foot in length. The seed is inclosed in a 
hard stony nut, and that is enveloped by a fleshy fibrous 
pericarp. The cattle of the upper Amazon feed on the 
fleshy pericarp of A. Murunmru. The wood of A. Ayri 
i - much used for bows and for other purposes, and the fibers 
of the leaves of A. Tucnma are used for fishing-nets. 
astrofelt, astrophelt, . [Found only in Spen- 
ser as quoted. It is in the first instance appar. a 
manipulated form of asphodel (affodil, daffodil) 
simulating L. astrum, a star, and/<?7, gall ('bit- 
ter'). In the second instance the name is 
professedly taken from "Astrophel" (Sir Philip 
Sidney), the subject of the elegy of that name 
and of another elegy (by Matthew Eoydon) 
printed with it; in the latter also written As- 
tropliill ("Our Astrophill did Stella love"), as 
if < Gr. aarpov, L. astrum, a star ('Stella,' 'star- 
light'), + 0i'/>0f, loving.] A name applied by 
Spenser to some bitter herb. 
My little flocke, whom earst I lov'd so well, 
And wont to feede with finest grasse that grew, 
Feede ye hencefoorth on bitter AstroftU, 
And stinking Smallage, and unsaverie Rew. 
Si>enser, Daphnaida, 1. 346. 
That hearbe of some Starlight is cald by name, 
Of others Penthia, though not so well: 
Hut tliou, where ever thou doest flnde the same, 
from this day forth do call it Astrophel. 
Spenser, Astrophel, 1. 196. 
astrogeny (as-troj'e-ni), . [< Gr. aarpov, a 
star, + -jiveia, generation : see -geny.~\ The 
Sir Francis Drake's Astrolabe. 
Royal Naval College. England. 
357 
theory of the creation or evolution of the 
celestial bodies; stellar cosmogony. //.//- 
i-i-r. Also axlfiifiiiiiy. 
astrognosy (a*-trog'n$-si), w. [< <;r. aarpm, 
a star, -r yvaau;, knowledge: see i/iiiixtn'.\ 
Knowledge of the stars, .especially of the fixed 
slurs, in respect to their names, 'magnitudes, 
situations, etc. 
astrogonic (as-tro-gou'ik), a. Of or pertaining 
to iistrogony or astrogeuy. 
astrogony (as-trog'o-ni), H. [< Gr. aarpov, a 
stiir, + -yovia, generation : see -finny.] Same 
as uxtrogeiiy. 
astrography (us-trog'ra-li), H. [< (ir. <'iarpov,& 
star, + -jpaQia, < ypafyeiv, write, describe.] A 
description of, or the art of describing or map- 
ping, the stars. 
astroid (as'troid), . [< Gr. aarpoiitw, star- 
like^ aarpov, a star, + rMof, form, likeness. 
Cf. asteroid.'] 1. In her., same as mullet. 2. 
A plane curve of the sixth class and fourth or- 
der, having two conjugate diameters of a conic 
and the line at infinity as inflectional tangents. 
astroite (as'tro-it), n. [< L. astroites (Pliny), 
an unknown precious stone, < Gr. 'arrrpoirris, < 
aarpov, a star. ( 'f. astrite.] Same as astrite. 
astrolabe (as'tro-lab), n. [Early mod. E. also 
iix/i-otalii/, ustroloby, etc., < ME. nxti-nluhr, uxlro- 
labii', n.iii-elii/iii. axfrolabre, etc.,< OV.astrelabe, 
mod. F. astrolabe, < - 
ML. astrolabinm, < Gr. 
aarpokaftov (sc. bpyavav, 
instrument), an astro- 
labe, prop. neut. of 
*aarpo%.afia(;, lit. taking 
stars, < aarpov, a star, + 
/Mft/idveiv, Xo/iJciv, take.] 
1. An obsolete astro- 
nomical instrument of 
different forms, used 
for taking the altitude 
of the sun or stars, 
and for the solution 
of other problems in 
astronomy. The name 
was applied to any instru- 
ment with a graduated circle 
or circles, but more especial- 
ly to one intended to be held in the hand. Some astro- 
labes were annillary spheres of complicated construction, 
while others were planispheres intended to measure the 
altitude only. One of the most important uses of the as- 
trolabe was in navigation, for which it was superseded by 
Hadley's quadrant and sextant. 
My art cannot err ; 
If it does, I'll burn my antrolabe. 
Massinyer, City Madam, ii. 2. 
2. A stereographic projection of the sphere, 
either upon the plane of the equator, the eye 
being supposed to be in the pole of the world, 
or upon the plane of the meridian, the eye 
being in the point of intersection of the equi- 
noctial and the horizon. 
astrolabyt, . Same as astrolabe. 
astrolatry (as-trol'a-tri), n. [=F. astroldtrie, 
< Gr. aarpov, a star, + Korpela, worship : see la- 
tria. Cf. idolatry.] Worship of the heavenly 
bodies, as stars, the sun, etc. 
astrolithology (as'tro-li-thol'o-ji), M. [< Gr. 
aarpov, a star, + MBof, a stone, -r- -/toy/a, < /lt- 
yetv, speak: see -ology. Cf. lithology.] The 
scientific study of aerolites or meteoric stones. 
astrologer (as-trol'o-jer), . [< ME. astrolo- 
ger, -ere (with suffix -<T as in astronomer, etc. ; 
cf. astrologian), < L. astrologus, < Gr. aarpo'Xo- 
yof, an astronomer, later an astrologer: see 
astrology."] If. An astronomer; an observer 
of the stars. 
A worthy astrologer, by perspective glasses, hath found in 
the stars many things unknown to the ancients. Kaleigh. 
2. One who professes to determine the influence 
of the stars on persons, events, qualities, etc. 
Astrologer* that future fates foreshow. Pope. 
astrologiant (as-tro-16'ji-an), n. [< ME. astro- 
logien,(OF. astrologien = Pr. astrologian, < LL. 
astrologia, astrology; L., astronomy: see astrol- 
ogy and -an."] Same as astrologer. 
astrologic (as-tro-loj'ik), a. Same as astrologi- 
cal: as, "no astrologic wizard," Dryden. 
astrological (as-tro-loj'i-kal), a. [< Gr. aarpo- 
foyocof, < dorpo^oji'a: see astrology.] Pertain- 
ing to astrology; professing or practising as- 
trology. 
astrologically (as-tro-loj'i-kal-i), adv. In an 
astrological manner ; by means of or according 
to astrology. 
astrologize (as-trol'o-jiz), r. ; pret. and pp. 
axtrnlofiized, ppr. <ixtriili>i/i.:iiii/. [< astrology + 
-ire.] I. iiitrnnit. To practise astrology. 
astronomer 
II. trims. Toascertainbymeans of astrology. 
Also spelled ilxti-iiliit/ixi: 
astrologuet (M'trt-togX " [Karly mod. E. 
and ME. axtrolng, < !'. uxtrnlogue, < L. tistroln- 
i/ux, < (!r. iinr/Ki'/i'i)!)!". see tixtrologi/.~] An as- 
trologer. If I' i fill. 
astrology (as-ti-ol'o-ji), n. [< MK. 
iixti-iil<ii/ir, < OF. iixtritliH/ii- = Sj). HxI 
Pg. It. iintrnliii/ia, < L. aalroloi/ia, < (Ir. <m-/iii/n- 
;ia. iistronoiny, biter astrology, < uc7yjo/<i) of , an 
astronomer, lit. speaking about stars, < nm^xm, a 
st;n', + / , ni', speak: sei ,,/.,</,/. ] 1. Tin 1 sc-ience 
or doctrine of the .stars : practical astronomy: 
a-tnmoniy in its earliest form. '11,, i.-m, i n,, 
rc.strii t (I in n]':uiiiix to the ji-rii.lo -. h h, "i :nl ].ruj,- 
<Tly ("tiled nllllllllllll' llxt/-:>/:>!/'/, Mhilll Il-SIIIIIf, tllat tllf 
hc-avciily lunlics i-icrt, iii'ciii'iliiiu I" thi'ir n-Intivi: posi- 
tions at rritain times, a direct iiitlu< n>. iipmi liumali 
life HIM! il.'stinv, ;int vOii'-h pritjMiscs to <l< t Miiinc in any 
given rilM.' Mllilt this illlhliliri; in. unil thllrt to I. il.!. II 
the f II till' . 'I'll Us, onr's tclll].rl Hill. Ill \\il^ UMTJIlc ll to tllr 
JllillU-l IlluJl-r wlli.'h hi- u:i^ linni. ;t^ -ill n <-m !,, I I HIM Silt- 
urn, jovial from .hij-ili-,-, inf,riu-i<i! HUM V 
and the virtues of herbs, gcin.s. and n.. -ti. n,. - \v<-resu]>- 
]x>sed to be din- to tbrir i uiii, i 
2f. An old name for the plant bistort, /''//- 
,/OIIIIM Ilixlnrlii. Horary astrology, that branch of 
the art hich shos how to Uliwer qneraon by the ngure 
of tin- I ii ",\ \.-ii* at thr Ilioni'-nt uhrli th.- i|ilr>l ion ari.-i^. 
Judicial astrology, that hiam-h of astrology which pro 
fesses to fort-tell human affairs. The practice of judicial 
astrology was forbithlcii iimlcr the severest penalti. - l>\ 
the Jewish, Komaii, and canon laws, a* imply -JIIL' idolatry 
or heresy (equivalent t>> hich treason), and falling under 
the greater excommunication. Natural astrology, (a) 
Astrology applied to determining the destiny of a person 
from the configuration of the planeta at his birth, (b) 
That branch of astrology which professes to predict nat- 
ural effects, as changes of the weather, winds, storms, 
etc. 
Astrolophida (as-tro-lof'i-da), . [NL., < Gr. 
aarpov, a star, + Ao^of, a crest, + -trf.] A 
genus of radiolarians, representing a special 
family, the AstrolopJiUlitla: 
Astrolophididae (as"tro-lo-fid'i-de), n. pi. 
[NL., C Astrolophida + -ida:] A family of 
acant harian radiolarians with a skeleton hav- 
ing a varying number of spicules irregularly 
distributed, consisting of the genera Astro- 
In/iltida and Litholophtda : synonymous with 
Actinellida. Haeckel. 
astromancy (as'tro-man-si), n. [< Gr. aarpo- 
fiavreia, < borpov, a star, + fiavreia, divination.] 
Divination by means of the stars ; astrology. 
astrometeorological (as'tro-me'te-o-ro-loj'i- 
kal), a. Of or pertaining to astrometeor'ology. 
astrometeor ologist ( as* tro-me * te-o-rol ' o-jist ), 
n. One who believes in or practises astrome- 
teorology. 
astrometeorology (as'tro-me'te-o-roro-ji), n. 
[< Gr. &arpov, a star, + //fTfupoXoyVo, meteorol- 
ogy : see meteorology. ] 1 . The pretended art of 
foretelling the weather and its changes from 
the aspects and configurations of the moon and 
stars: a branch of natural astrology. 2. Prog- 
nostication of the weather from the appearance 
of the heavenly bodies. 
astrometer (as-trom'e-ter), . [< Gr. aarpov, 
a star, -t- fierpov, a measure.] An instrument 
designed to measure the relation, brightness, 
or apparent magnitude of the stars, it was in- 
vented by Sir John Herschel. By it an image of Jupiter, 
the moon, or some other object of recognized brightness 
is brought into direct comparison with a star, so that star 
and image are seen in the same direction. By adjusting 
the distance of the image so that it appears equal in 
brightness to the star, ana by measuring this distance, the 
luster of the star is readily determined. 
astrometry (as-trom'e-tri), . [< Gr. aarpov, 
a star, + -jierpia, < fterpov, a measure.] The art 
of determining by measurement the apparent 
relative magnitude of the stars. 
Astronesthes (as-tro-nes'thez),n. [NL-. irreg. 
< torpor, a star, + fow/f, clothing.] The typical 
genus of fishes of the family Astronesthiaa:. 
Astronesthidae (as-tro-ues'thi-de), ii.pl. [NL., 
< Astronesthes + -4da;.'] A family of fishes, rep- 
resented by the genus Astronesthes. They have a 
clavifonn body ; the supramaxillaries as well as intermax- 
illarics enter into the upper arch of the mouth ; a hyoid 
barbel is developed ; the dorsal fin is in advance of the 
anal ; and there is an adipose tin. 
astronomer (as-tron'o-mer), n. [< ME. astron- 
omer, earlier astronoinyer (with suffix -er; cf. 
astronomian), < L. astronomia : see astronomy 
and -er 1 , and cf. astrologer."] 1. One who is 
versed in astronomy; a scientific observer of 
the stars; a student of the laws of the heav- 
enly bodies, or the principles by which their 
motions are regulated, with their various phe- 
nomena. 2f. An astrologer: as, "astronomers 
foretell it," Shak., T. and C., v. 1 Astronomer 
Royal, the official title of the astronomer in charge of any 
one of the royal observatories of Great Britain, especially 
of the Greenwich observatory. 
