Ancient Acerra. 
acerose 
acerose (as'e-ros), a. [< L. accrosus, chaffy. 
< (icus (acer-) i = Gr. a^i'/iov, chaff; akin to E. 
own, q. v., and also to L. acer, sharp, and acits, 
a needle ; from a root 
*ac, be sharp. The 
second sense seems 
to rest upon L. acus 
(itcit-), a needle; but 
the form can be de- 
rived only from acus 
(acer-). chaff.] In 
lot.: (a) Chaffy; re- 
sembling chaff. [Very 
rare.] (b) Straight, 
slender, rigid, and 
sharp-pointed, as the 
leaves of the pine; Aceros<!LeavcS (p ine) . 
needle-shaped. 
acerotet, a. Probably a misprint for acerose. 
"Acerote bread, browne bread." Cockeram 
(1612). "Acerote, browne bread, not ranged, 
chaffebread, hungrie bread." Minsheu (1625). 
acerous 1 (as'e-rus), a. Same as acerose. 
acerous 2 (as'e-rus), a. [< Gr. drc/jof, collateral 
form of ciKeparof, aufpuc,, without horns, < a- priv. 
+ nepaf, a horn.] 1. Of or pertaining to the 
Acera, 2. 2. Having minute or undeveloped 
antenna, as an insect. 3. Having no horns; 
aceratophorous. 
acerra (a-ser'a), M. [L.] In. Rom. antiq. : (a) 
A box or casket used to hold the incense which 
was thrown upon the altar 
during sacrifices, (b) A 
small portable altar on 
which incense was burned, 
especially at funeral cere- 
monies. 
acertaint, r. t. An occa- 
sional and more correct 
form of ascertain (which 
see). 
Acerus (as'e-rus), n. [NL., < Gr. a/cepoy, with- 
out horns: see acerotw 2 .] 1. In ornith.j a ge- 
nus of hornbills, family Sucerotida;, having no 
casque. A. nepalenais is the type and only spe- 
cies. B. 11. Hodgson, 1832. Also spelled Aceros. 
2. In entom., a genus of coleopterous insects. 
Dejean 1833. 
acerval (a-ser'val), a. [< L. acervalis, < acervus, 
a heap, akin to acer, sharp, pointed, and per- 
haps to acer, a maple-tree.] Pertaining to a 
heap. [Rare.] 
acervate (a-ser'vat), v. t.j pret. and pp. acer- 
rated, ppr. acerrating. [< L. acervatus, pp. of 
acervare, heap up, < acervus, a heap : see acer- 
val.'] To heap up. [Rare.] 
acervate (a-ser'vat), a. [< L. acervatuSj pp. : 
see the verb.] In bot., neaped; growing in 
heaps, or in closely compacted clusters. 
acervately (a-ser'vat-li), adv. In an acervate 
manner ; in heaps. [Rare.] 
acervation (as-er-va'shon), n. [<L. acerva- 
tio(n-), < acervare, heap up : see acervate, r.] 
The act of heaping together. Bullokar, 1676. 
acervative (a-ser'va-tiv), a. Heaped up ; form- 
ing a heap. [Rare.] 
Piled together irregularly, or in an acervative manner. 
W. B. Carpenter. 
acervoset (a-ser'vos), a. [< L. as if "acervosus, 
< acerrus, a heap.] Full of heaps. Bailey. 
Acervulina (a-ser-vu-U'na), n. [NL., < acervu- 
lus, q. v., + -ina.] A genus of foraminifers, 
of the family NummulinidtB. 
Acervulinae (a-ser-vu-li'ne), n. pi. [NL.,< acer- 
vulus, q. v., + -fcwB.1 A group of foraminifer- 
ous rhizopodous protozoans, in which the spiral 
form of the shell is so obscured or effaced by 
the irregular addition of new chambers that 
the whole appears as if heaped together. 
acervuline (a-ser'vu-lin), a. [< NL. acervulus, 
q. v., + -inel.] 1. Having the form or appear- 
ance of little heaps ; heaped up. [Rare.] 
The latter . . . are often piled up in an irregular acer- 
vuline manner. W. B. Carpenter, Micros., 483. 
2. Of or pertaining to the Aeervnlinai. 
acervulus (a-ser'vu-lus), n. ; pi. acervuli (-li). 
[NL., a little heap, dim. of L. acervus, a heap: 
see aeerval."] In anat., a mass of calcareous 
gritty particles, consisting principally of earthy 
salts, found within and sometimes on the out- 
side of the conarium or pineal body of the brain ; 
brain-sand. Commonly called acervulus cerebri 
(acervulus of the brain). 
acescence (a-ses'ens), n. [<F. acescece = It. 
acesccnza, < L. as if "acescentia, < acescen(t-)s, 
ppr. of acescere, become sour: see acescent.} 
44 
The act orprocess of becoming acescent or mod- 
erately sour. 
acescency (a-ses'en-si), n. [See aeescence.'] 
The state or quality of being moderately sour ; 
mild acidity. 
Nurses should never give suck after fasting ; the milk 
having an acescency very prejudicial to the . . . recipient. 
W. Jones, Life of Up. Home, p. 350. 
acescent (a-ses'eut), a. [< F. acescent = Pg. 
(ivescente, < L. a'cescen(t-)s, ppr. of acescere, be- 
come sour, < acere, be sour : see acid.] Turning 
sour; becoming tart or acid by spontaneous 
decomposition, as vegetable or animal juices 
or infusions ; hence, slightly sour ; acidulous ; 
subacid. 
The vinegar which is most esteemed for culinary pur- 
poses is that prepared from wine, from the acencent varie- 
ties of which it is extensively manufactured in France. 
W. A. Miller, Elem. of Cllem., 1277. 
Aceste (a-ses'te), . [NL., < (f) Or. d/c?<rr#, fem. 
of d/cf(TT6V, curable, easily revived, < aKeio8at, 
cure, heal.] A notable genus of spatangoid 
sea-urchins. A. belluHfera Is a species having most of 
the upper surface occupied by the deeply sunken, odd, an- 
terior ambulacrum, with a narrow fasciole, and |arge flat- 
tened spines incurved over the hollow, in which are a 
number of great discoidal suckers. 
Aceste may be regarded as a permanent form of the 
young of Schizaster. Stand. A'(. Hint., I. 17(. 
acetablet (as'e-ta-bl), n. [< OF. acetabitle, < L. 
acetabulum: see acetabulum."] 1. An acetabu- 
lum ; a measure of about one eighth of a pint. 
Holland. 2. ]nanat.,snmea8acetabulum, 2 (a). 
acetabula, n. Plural of acetabulum. 
acetabular (as-e-tab'u-lar), a. Belonging to 
the acetabulum ; of the nature of an acetabu- 
lum ; cotyloid ; cup-like. 
Acetabulifera (as-e-tab-u-lif 'e-ra), n. pi. [NL., 
neut. pi. of acetabulifer: see acetabuliferous."] 
A name introduced by D'Orbigny, 1834, as an 
ordinal term for the cephalopods with suckers 
on the inner faces of the arms, that is, the cuttle- 
fishes, squids, and all other living cephalopods 
except the Nautilida!. Same as Cryptodibran- 
cliiata and DibrancMata (which see). 
acetabuliferous (as-e-tab-u-lif 'e-rus), a. [< NL. 
acetabulifer, < L. aeetabulum, a sucker, + ferre 
= E. bear 1 .] 1. Having or bearing acetabula. 
2. Pertaining to the Acetttbulifera ; having 
rows of cup-like suckers, as the cuttlefish. 
acetabuliform (as-e-tab'u-li-f orm), a. [< L. ace- 
tabulum, a cup-shaped vessel, + -formis,(. forma, 
shape.] 1. In bo t., having the form of a shallow 
cup or bowl. 2. Having the form of an ace- 
tabulum ; sucker-shaped ; cup-like ; cotyloid. 
acetabulum (as-e-tab'u-lum), n. ; pi. acetabula 
(-la). [L. ,< acetum, vinegar: see ace turn."] 1. In 
Bom. antiq.: (a) A vinegar-cup; a small wide- 
mouthed vessel of earthenware 
or metal, sometimes placed 
on the larger food-dishes, in 
which vinegar or other condi- sn.l^sslis^show^ 
ment was served, (b) A dry ^,,^'^f on the 
or liquid measure, .0677 of a 
liter. Daremberg et Saglio. (c) A similar cup 
or vessel used by jugglers in their feats. 2. In 
anat. : (a) The cavity of the os innominatum, 
or hip-bone, which receives the head of the 
f ernur ; the cotyle, or cotyloid cavity, formed at 
the junction of the ilium, ischium, and pubis. 
See cuts under sacrarium, quarter, innominate, 
(b) A cotyledon or lobe of the placenta of ru- 
minating animals, (c) In insects, the socket of 
the trunk in which the leg is inserted, (d) A 
cup-like sucker, such as those with which the 
arms of the cuttlefish and other dibranchiate 
cephalopodous mollusks are provided. See 
cut under Sepia, (e) A sessile or pedunculate 
sucker-like organ on the ventral surface of cer- 
tain entozoa. 3. In bot. : (a) The cup- or sau- 
cer-like fructification of many lichens, (b) The 
receptacle of certain fungi. 4. In music, an 
ancient instrument, made either of earthen- 
ware or of metal, used like a kettledrum or 
struck against another acetabulum after the 
manner of cymbals. 
acetal (as'e-tal), n. [< acet-ic + al(cohol)."] A 
colorless mobile liquid, C 6 Hi 4 O2, with an ether- 
like odor, produced by the imperfect oxidation 
of alcohol, under the influence of platinum 
black. 
acetamid, acetamide (a-set'a-mid or -mid, or 
as'e-ta-mid or -mid), n. [< acet-atc + amid.'] 
A white crystalline solid, CH 3 CO.NH 2 , pro- 
duced by distilling ammonium acetate, or by 
heating ethyl acetate with strong aqueous am- 
monia. It combines with both acids and metals 
to form unstable compounds. 
aceto-gelatin 
acetart (as'o-tiir), it. [< L. acctaria : see aceta- 
ry. ] A dish of raw_herbs with vinegar ; a salad. 
acetariOUS (as-e-ta'ri-us), a. [< L. *aceta>'iit. 
adj., found only in neut. pi. acctaria, as noun: 
see acetary.'] 1. Containing acetary, as certain 
fruits. 2. Used in salads, as lettuce, mustard, 
cress, endive, etc. 
acetary (as'e-ta-ri), n. [< L. acetaria (sc. 
holfi-a, herbs), herbs prepared with vinegar and 
oil, salad, neut. pi. of *acetarius,<acetnni, vine- 
gar: see acetum. Cf. It. aectario, a salad.] An 
acid pulpy substance in certain fruits, as the 
pear, inclosed in a congeries of small calculous 
bodies toward the base of the fruit. 
acetate (as'e-tat), . [=F. acetate = Sp. Pg. 
acetato, < NL. acctatum,<. L. acfftum, vinegar: see 
acetum and -ate 1 .] In diem., a salt formed by 
the union of acetic acid with a base. 
acetated (as'e-ta-ted), p. a. [As if pp. of *ace- 
tati', v.] Combined with acetic acid. 
acetation (as-e-ta'shon), n. [As if < "acetate, v.] 
Same as acetijication. 
As though ... it had, by some magical process of aceta- 
tion, been all at once turned into verjuice. 
H. Royers, Life of J. Howe, I. 55. (jV. E. D.) 
acetic (a-set'ik or a-se'tik), a. [= F. aeetique = 
Sp. Pg. acetico, < NL. acetieus, < L. acetum, vine- 
gar: see acetum.] Having the properties of vine- 
gar; SOUT Acetic acid, t'II :1 CO.<>H, a colorless liquid 
with a strongly acid and pungent smell and taste. In the 
arts it is chiefly prepared by the oxidation of alcohol (ace- 
tous fermentation) and by the dry distillation of wood. It 
is present in vinegar in a dilute and impure form. In its 
pure state, at temperatures below 62 V., it is a crystalline 
solid, and is known as glacial or crystalline acetic acid. 
, 
Acetic anhydrid, (CHaOOW}, a colorless mobile liquid 
with an odor like that of acetic acid, but more irritating. 
On standing in contact with water it is gradually converted 
into acetic acid. Also called acetic oxiil. Acetic ethers, 
compounds consisting of acetates of alcohol radicals. 
Common acetic ether is a limpid mobile liquid having a 
penetrating, refreshing smell, and a pleasant burning taste. 
It is used in medicine, and as a flavoring ingredient in the 
poorer classes of wines. It is prepared by distilling a mix- 
ture of alcohol, oil of vitriol, and sodium acetate. Acetic 
ferment, a microscopic fungus (Myfodrrma aci'ti of Pas- 
teur) belonging to the group of micro-bacteria, which is 
the agent in the production of vinegar in wine, cider, etc., 
by the oxidation of alcohol. 
acetidin (a-set'i-din), n. [< acet-ic + -id + -in.] 
Same as diacetin. 
acetincation (a-set*i-fi-ka'shon), n. [< acetify : 
see -fication.] The act or process of acetifying 
or becoming acetous ; conversion into vinegar. 
Chemical acetiflcation, the conversion of wine, beer, 
cider, and other alcoholic fluids into vinegar. It has been 
shown to depend upon the presence of a minute fungus 
(Mycoderma aceti of Pasteur), which derives its food from 
the albuminous and mineral matter present in the liquor ; 
It is very rapidly developed, and, absorbing the oxygen of 
the air, transmits it to the alcohol, which by oxidation is 
transformed into vinegar. See fermentation. 
acetifier (a-set'i-fl-er), n. An apparatus for 
hastening the acetincation of fermented liquors 
by the exposure of large surfaces to the air. 
The liquor enters the top of a cask or vat containing 
layers of shavings or brushwood, by which it is divided 
and distributed, and, as it trickles downward, comes into 
intimate contact with air which is admitted through per- 
forations in the sides of the vat. 
acetify (a-set'i-fi). v. ; pret. and pp. acetified, 
ppr. acetifying. [< L. acetum, vinegar, 4- E. -fy, 
make.] I. trans. To convert into vinegar; 
make acetous. 
II. intrans. To become acetous ; be con- 
verted into vinegar. 
When wines are new, and somewhat saccharine or too 
alcoholic, they acetify reluctantly. Vre, Diet., III. 1070. 
acetimeter, acetometer (as-e-tim'e-ter, -tom'- 
e-ter), n. [= F. acetimetrc = Pg. acetometro, < 
L. acetum, vinegar, + Gr. /ierpov, a measure.] 
An instrument for ascertaining the strength or 
parity of vinegar or acetic acid. 
acetimetrical (a-set-i-met'ri-kal), a. [< *ace- 
timetric (< acetimeter) + -a/.] (3f or pertaining 
to acetimetry. 
The acetimetrical method employed by the Excise. 
Ure, Diet., I. 16. 
acetimetry (as-e-tim'e-tri), n. The act or pro- 
cess of ascertaining the strength or purity of 
vinegar or acetic acid. 
acetin (as'e-tiu), . [< acet-ic + -in.] A com- 
pound obtained by the union of one molecule 
of glycerin with one, two, or three molecules 
of acetic acid. The acetins may also be regarded as 
glycerin in which one, two, or three atoms of hydrogen 
are replaced by acetyl. They include monoacetin (C's 
HioO 4 ), diacetin or acetidiu (C 7 H la O 5 ), and triacetin 
(C'c.H^Ou). Watt*. 
aceto-. A prefix to names of chemical com- 
pounds, signifying the presence of acetic acid 
or acetyl radical. 
aceto-gelatin (as"e-tp-jel'a-tin), a. Containing 
acetic acid and gelatin Aceto-gelatin emulsion. 
an emulsiun tonned of pyroxylin, acetic acid, alcohol, and 
gelatin : used for coating certain photographic plates. 
