acacy 
acacyt (ak'a-si), n. [< L. as if 'acacia, < Gr. 
IIKIIKIU, giiilclcssiu'SSj^aica/cof, innocent, < a- priv. 
+ KIIKUIJ, bad.] Freedom from malice. Hti/li //. 
Academe (ak'a-dem), . [<L. academia : see 
academy.] 1. The grove and gymnasium near 
Athens where Plato taught ; the Academy ; fig- 
uratively, any place of similar character. 
The softer Adams of your Academe. 
Tennyson, Princess, ii. 
Hence 2. [i.e.] An academy; a place for phil- 
osophic and literary intercourse or instruction. 
Nor hath fair Europe her vast bounds throughout 
An academe of note I found not out. //<>, /'. 
academial (ak-a-de'mi-al), a. Pertaining to an 
academy ; academical. Johnson. [Rare.] 
academiant (ak-a-de'mi-an), n. Amember of an 
academy ; a student in a university or college. 
That new-discarded academian. 
Marxton, Scourge of Vill., ii. G. 
academic (ak-a-dem'ik), a. and n. [=F. aca- 
demique = Sp. Pg. acnrfemico = It. accadvwim, 
< L. acadenicus, < Gr. 'AKadypeiKoc, pertaining to 
the 'A/tadr/peta : see academy.'] I. a. 1. [cap.] 
Pertaining to the Academy of Athens, or to 
Plato and his followers, from his having taught 
there : as, the Academic groves ; the Academic 
school or philosophy. 2. Pertaining to an ad- 
vanced institution of learning, as a college, a 
university, or an academy; relating to or con- 
nected with higher education : in this and the 
following senses often, and in the third gener- 
ally, written academical : as, academic studies ; 
an academical degree. 
These products of dreaming indolence ... no more 
constituted a literature than a succession of academic 
studies from the pupils of a royal institution can consti- 
tute a school of fine arts. De Quincey, Style, iii. 
3. Pertaining to that department of a college 
or university which is concerned with classi- 
cal, mathematical, and general literary studies, 
as distinguished from the professional and sci- 
entific departments; designed for general as 
opposed to special instruction. [U. S.] 4. Of 
or pertaining to an academy or association of 
adepts ; marked by or belonging to the char- 
acter or methods of such an academy; hence, 
conforming to set rules and traditions ; specu- 
lative; formal; conventional: as, academical 
proceedings; an academical controversy ; anac- 
ademic figure (in art). 
The tone of Lord Chesterfield has always been the tone 
of our old aristocracy ; a tone of elegance and propriety, 
above all things free from the stiffness of pedantry or aca- 
demic rigor. De Qitincey, Style, i. 
For the question is no longer the academic one : " Is it 
wise to give every man the ballot?" but rather the prac- 
tical one : " Is it prudent to deprive whole classes of it 
any longer?" Louvll, Democracy. 
Figure of academic proportions, in paiutiiuj, a figure 
of a little less than hall the natural size, such as it is the 
custom for pupils to draw from the antique and from life ; 
also, a figure in an attitude resembling those chosen by 
instructors in studies from life, for the purpose of display- 
ing muscular action, form, and color to the best advan- 
tage ; hence, an academic figure, composition, etc., is one 
whicli appears conventional or unspoutaneous, and smacks 
of practice-work or adherence to formulas and traditions. 
II. n. 1. [cop.] One who professed to adhere 
to the philosophy of Plato. 2. A student in a 
college or university: as, "a young academic," 
Watts, Imp. of Mind. 
academical (ak-a-dem'i-kal), a. and re. I. a. 
Same as academic, but very rare in sense 1. 
II. n. 1. A member of an academy. 2. pi. 
In Great Britain, the cap and gowii worn by 
the officers and students of a school or college. 
At first he caught up his cap and gown, as though he 
were going out. . . . On second thoughts, however, he 
threw his academical* back on to the sofa. 
T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Rugby, xix. 
academically (ak-a-dem'i-kal-i), adv. In an 
academical manner ; as an academic. 
academician (a-kad-e-mish'an), n. [< F. acade- 
micien, < NL. "academicianus, < L. academicus : 
see academic.] A member of an academy or a 
society for promoting arts and sciences. Par- 
ticularly (a) A member of the British Royal Academy of 
Arts: commonly called Ruijal Academician, and abbrevi- 
ated R. A. (b) A member of the French Academy, (c) A 
full member of the National Academy of Design of New 
York, (d) A member of the National Academy of Sciences. 
[U. S.] See anKuciate, 4, and academy, 3. 
academicism (ak-a-dem'i-sizm), n. The mode 
of teaching or of procedure in an academy; an 
academical mannerism, as of painting. 
Academics (ak-a-dem'iks), n. [PI. of academic.'] 
The Platonic philosophy ; Platonism. 
Academism (a-kad'e-mizm), . The doctrines 
of the Academic philosophers; Platonism. 
academist (a-kad'e-mist), . [< academy + -tat; 
= F. acadeiiiiste, academist, = It. aceademista = 
Pg. academista, a pupil in a riding-school.] 1. 
28 
[cap.] An Academic philosopher. 2. Amem- 
ber of or a student in an academy. 
academy (a-kad'e-mi), . ; jil. ncadfiiiicx (-miz). 
[< F. academic = Sp. Pg. ttcaili'mia = It. in-i-n- 
ilrmia, < L. academia, sometimes acadt'iuia, < Gr. 
'Anad^fteia, less properly 'Anafr/^ia, a plot of 
ground in the suburbs of Athens, < 'AKaSt//u>f, 
L. Acadennis, a reputed hero (&<%).] 1. [cap.] 
Originally, a public pleasure-ground of Athens, 
consecrated to Athene and other deities, con- 
taining a grove and gymnasium, where Plato 
and his followers held their philosophical con- 
ferences ; hence, Plato and his followers col- 
lectively; the members of the school of Plato. 
Tile Academy, which lasted from Plato to Cicero, consisted 
of several distinct schools. Their number is variously 
given. Cicero recognized only two, the old and the new 
Academies, and this division has been generally adopted ; 
others, however, distinguish as many as five Academics. 
Had the poor vulgar rout only been abused into such 
idolatrous superstitions, as to adore a marble or a golden 
deity, it might not so much be wondered at ; but for the 
Academy to own such a paradox, this was without ex- 
cuse. South, Sermons, II. 245. 
2. A superior school or institution of learning. 
Specifically (o) A school for instruction in a particular 
art or science : as, a military or naval academy. (6) In 
the United States, a school or seminary holding a rank 
between a university or college and an elementary school. 
3. An association of adepts for the promotion 
of literature, science, or art, established some- 
times by government, and sometimes by the 
voluntary union of private individuals. The mem- 
1 iers (academicians), who are usually divided into ordinary, 
honorary, and corresponding members, either select their 
own departments or follow those prescribed by the consti- 
tution of the society, and at regular meetings communicate 
the results of their labors in papers, of which the more im- 
portant are afterward printed. Among the most noted in- 
stitutions of this name are the five academies composing 
the National Institute of France (the French Academy, the 
Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, the Academy 
of the Fine Arts, the Academy of Moral and Political Sci- 
ences, and the Academy of Sciences), the Royal Academy of 
Arts in London, the Academy of Sciences of Berlin, the Im- 
l>erial Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg, the National 
Academy of Sciences in Washington, etc. The chief object 
of the French Academy, as also of the celebrated Italian 
Academy della Crusca and of the Spanish Academy, is to 
regulate and purify the vernacular tongue. Academy 
board, a paper board, the surface of which is prepared 
for drawing or painting. Academy figure, academy 
study, an academic study ; a drawing or painting of 
the human figure, especially of the nude, made for prac- 
tice only. See figure of academic projiortions, under aca- 
demic. 
acadialite (a-ka'di-al-it), n. [< Acadia (see Aca- 
dian) -f- -lite for -litn, < Gr. />./(tof, stone.] In min- 
eral., a variety of chabazite (which see), usually 
of a reddish color, found in Nova Scotia. 
Acadian (a-ka'di-an), a. and . [< Acadia, Lat- 
inized form of Acadie, the F. name of Nova 
Scotia.] I. a. Pertaining or relating to Acadia 
or Nova Scotia Acadian fauna, in zoijgeoii., the as- 
semblage of animals or the sum of the animal life of the 
coast- waters of North America from Labrador to Cape Cod. 
U. n . A native or an inhabitant of Acadia 
or Nova Scotia ; specifically, one of the original 
French settlers of Acadia, or of the descendants 
of those who were expelled, in a body by the 
English in 1755, many of whom formed com- 
munities in Louisiana, then a French colony, 
and have retained the name. 
acajou 1 (ak'a-zho), . [< F. acajou, It. acagiu, 
Pg. acaju, Sp. acayoiba, also caoba, caobana, ma- 
hogany ; prob. S. Amer.] A kind of mahogany, 
the wood of Ccdrela fissilis : also applied to the 
true mahogany and other similar woods. See 
mahogany. 
acajou 2 (ak'a-zho), . [Cf. F. noix (Tacajou, 
the cashew-nut, acajou a pommes, the cashew- 
tree; confused with acajou^, but a different 
word, E. prop, cashew: see casheu-1.] 1. The 
fruit of the tree Anacardium occidentale. See 
cashew-nut, cashew-tree. 2. A gum or resin ex- 
tracted from the bark of Anacardium occiden- 
tals. 
acaleph (ak'a-lef), n. One of the Acaleplue or 
sea-nettles. Also spelled acaleplii . 
Acalephs. 
i, Rhixostoma cuvieri. 3, Medusa pellncens, 
Acalepha (ak-a-le'fa), n. pi. [NL., neut. pi. of 
"iicalepltus, adj., <Gr. aKa^.i/ifai, a nettle, a sea- 
nettle. Cf. Acalepha;.] In Cuvier's system of 
classification, the third class of Badiata, a 
acanthaceous 
heterogeneous group now broken up or retained 
in a much modified and restricted sense. See 
Afidcplid'. The leading genera of ruvk-rian afak'phs 
wen Medusa, Cyanea, i;!<i;:ii'tiut, A^fnnt. ];>-m t ; . and 
(''xtllin. ciitupusilm thr A<'nfi'i>fiu xi in [>ln-;<i . \\ ith l'l,i/xtilia, 
l'li/l.i/*l/t-n. ami IH/Jiff,-*. ronstitlltini; thi' At-tili-plta lui- 
dmtattea. 
Acalephae (ak-a-16'fe), n. pi. [NL. (sing. IK-II- 
l<t>lui),<.Grr. anakiifyri, a nettle, also a mollusk 
(Urtica marina) which stings like a nettle.] 
A name given to a large number of marine 
animals included in the subkingdom Ccelente- 
rata, and represented chiefly by the Medusidte 
and their allies, in popular language known as 
sea-nettles, sea-blubbers, jelly-fish, etc. other 
forms once included under it are the Ducitjihura and Luctr- 
narida (both in class llydrozoa), and the Ctenophora (in 
class Actinozoa). The most typical of the Acalepha>, the 
MeduMo!, arc gelatinous, free-swimming animals, consist- 
ing of an umbrella-shaped disk containing canals i which ra- 
diate from the center, whence hangs the digestive cavity. 
All have thread-cells or urticating organs (see ntatatepltan) 
which discharge minute barbed structures, irritating the 
skin like the sting of a nettle ; hence the name of the group. 
acalephan (ak-a-le'fan), a. and n. I. a. Per- 
taining to the Acalep'ha;. 
II. n. An acaleph. 
acalephe (ak'a-lef), n. See acaleph. 
acalephoid (ak-a-le'foid), a. [<Gr. aKoMtyri, a 
sea-nettle, + Ewfcf, form.] Like an acaleph or 
a medusa. [Less common than mcdusoid] 
acalycal (a-kal'i-kal), a. [< Gr. a- priv. + /tdAtf, 
calyx, + -al.] In bot., inserted on the recep- 
tacle without adhesion to the calyx : said of 
stamens. 
acalycine (a-kal'i-sin), a. [<Gr. a-priv.-f K.aXv%, 
L. calyx, a cup, + -ine 1 : see calyx.] In bot., 
without a calyx. 
acalycinous (ak-a-lis'i-nus), a. Same as acaly- 
cine. 
acalyculate (ak-a-lik'u-lat), a. [< Gr. a- priv. 
+ NL. calyculus '+ -ate 1 .] In bot., having no 
calyculus or accessory calyx. N. E. D. 
Acalyptratae (ak'a-lip-tra'te), n. pi. [NL., 
< Gr. o- priv. + NL. CalyptraUe, q. v.] A sec- 
tion of dipterous insects or flies, of the family 
Muscido', which, with the exception of the 
Anthomyida; are characterized by the absence 
or rudimentary condition of the tegulai or 
membranous scales above the halteres or pois- 
ing-wings, whence the name : contrasted with 
Calyptratie. 
acampsia (a-kamp'si-a), it. [NL., < Gr. ana^ia, 
inflexibility, < axa/OTrof, unbent, rigid, < a- priv. 
-f- /ca/rr<5f, bent.] Inflexibility of a joint. See 
ankylosis. 
acampsy (a-kamp'si), w. Same as acampsia. 
acanaceous (ak-a-na'shius), a. [< L. acan-os, 
< Gr. anav-of, a prickly shrub (< ani;, a point; 
cf . aicit, a point, prickle), + -aceous.] In bot., 
armed with prickles : said of some rigid prickly 
plants, as the pineapple. 
a cande llier e (a kan - del - 1 i - a ' re ) . [It. : a, to, 
with ; candelliere = E. chandelier.] In the style 
of a candlestick: said of arabesques of sym- 
metrical form, having an upright central stem 
or shaft. 
Acanonia (ak-a-no'ni-a), n. [NL. ; a fuller f onn 
Aeaiialonia occurs ; formation uncertain.] The 
typical {*enus of the subfamily Acanoniida. 
Acanoniida (ak'a-no-ni'i-da), n. pi. [NL., 
< Acanonia + -ida.] In entont., one of the thir- 
teen subfamilies into which the family Fulyuri- 
Aae (which see) has been divided. [The regular 
form of the word as a subfamily-name would 
be Acanoniina:.] 
acantha (a-kan'tha), .; pi. acanthai (-the). 
[NL., < Gr. anavBa, a prickle, thorn, spine, a 
prickly plant, a thorny tree, the spine (of fish, 
serpents, men), one of the spinous processes 
of the vertebra, < iuaj, a point. Cf. Acanthus.] 
1. In bot., a prickle. 2. In zool., a spine or 
pricklyfin. 3. Inanaf.: (a)One of the spinous 
processes of the vertebra. (6) The vertebral 
column as a whole. 4. [efljj.] In entom., a 
genus of coleopterous insects. 
acanthabole, acanthabolus (a-kan'tha-bol, 
ak-an-thab'o-lus), n. ; pi. acanthaboles, acantha- 
boli (-bolz, -Ii). Same as acanthobolus. 
Acanthacese (ak-an-tha'se-e), n. pi. [NL., 
< Acanthus + -acea;.] A large natural order 
of gamopetalous plants, allied to the Scrophu- 
tariacea!. They are herbaceous or shrubby, with oppo- 
site leaves, irregular flowers, and two or four stamens, and 
are of little economic value. Several genera (Jutticitt. 
Aphelandra, Thvnberyia, etc.) are very ornamental and 
are frequent in cultivation. 
acanthaceous (ak-an-tha'shius), a. [< NL. ac- 
anthaeeus: seeooanttaaBd-aoaoiM.] 1. Armed 
with prickles, as a plant. 2. Belonging to the 
order Acanthacea; ; of the type of the acanthus. 
