Acochlides 
of Ko^Aof, a shell-fish with a spiral shell, the 
shell itself; akin to K&)XTI, a shell: see conch.'] 
In Latreille's system of classification, 1825, a 
family of acetabuliferous cephalopods, without 
a shell. It included most of the octopods. 
acock (a-kok'), prep. phr. as adv. or a. [<o 3 , 
on, + cocA; 2 .] In a cocked manner: as, he set 
his hat nciM-k. 
a-cockbill (a-kok'bil), prep. phr. as adv. or a. 
[< a 3 , on, + cocfc 2 (condition of being cocked or 
turned upward : see cocfc 2 ) + bill 2 , point or end : 
see bill?, 5.] Naut., with the ends pointing up- 
ward. Applied (a) to an anchor when it hangs down by 
its ring from the cathead, and (4) to the yards of a ship 
when they are tipped up at an angle with the deck. 
50 
acolle, p. a. See accolle. 
acology (a-kol'o-ji), w. [<Gr. nof, remedy, + 
-/wyia, < 'Myc'.v, speak : see -ology.] The doctrine 
of remedies, surgical and medical. 
Acoloithus (ak-o-loi'thus), . [NL., prop, aco- 
I a tli its, < Gr. andAovdof, a follower: see acolyth, 
acolyte.! A genus of moths belonging to the 
family Zygccnida-, founded by Clemens in 1 862. 
Man-of-war with Yards a-cockbill. 
It was now the close of Lent, and on Good Friday she 
had all her yards a-cockbill, which is customary among 
Catholic vessels. R. H. Dana, Jr., Before the Mast, p. 147. 
acocotl (ak'o-kot-1), n. [Mex.] A musical in- 
strument used by the aborigines in Mexico : now 
usually called clarin. It consists of a thin tube from 
8 to 10 feet in length, made of the dry stalk of a plant of 
the same name. The performer inhales the air through it. 
S. A'. Handbook, Mus. Inst, p. 89. 
Acoela (a-se'la), n. pi. [NL. : see acoelotis.] An 
order of worms destitute of an alimentary 
canal. The group consists of the family Conrolurtdcr, 
which is usiiHlly placed in the order Tiirbellaria. 
Acoelomata (as-e-lora'a-ta), n. pi. [NL., < Gr. 
a- nriv. + Koiiu/M, a hollow: see coiloma.] A 
division of Protoccelomata, or sponges ; contain- 
ing the Ascones: so called in allusion to its 
pores and the absence of co3lomata. 
acoelomate (a-se'lo-mat), a. Same as accelom- 
atous. 
accelomatous (as-e-lom'a-tus), a. [< Gr. a- priv. 
+ Koihafia, a hollow : see -l8, ccetoma, and 
cailomatous.] 1. In zoiil., having no body-cavity 
or perivisceral space ; not coelomatous. 
Although these acwlomatou* worms have no body-cavity, 
no blood, no vascular system, they always have a kidney 
system. Haeckel, Evol. of Man (trans.), II. 404. 
2. Of or pertaining to the Aceelomi ; cestoid. 
Equivalent forms are accelomate, acoeltimoiis. 
Aceelomi (as-e-lo'mi), . pi. [NL., < Gr. a- priv. 
+ KoiTiW/ia, a cavity.] Those worms which nave 
no proper body-cavity and no intestinal cavity, 
and which are also devoid of a blood-vascular 
system ; the cestoids or flat-worms, such as tape- 
worms. See cuts under Cestoidea and T<enia. 
Tlte name is nearly synonymous with Plathelminthes, but 
comprehends not only the actual or existing plathelminths, 
in a zoological sense, but also the hypothetical primitive 
worms, Archelminthes, supposed to have possessed the 
same or a similar type of structure. In Haeckel's classifi- 
cation the Acaelomi form one of the classes or main divi- 
sions of the animal kingdom. See Ccelomi. 
accelomous (a-se'lo-mus), a. Same as accelom- 
atous. 
accelous (a-se'lus),a. [<NL. ca?Zus,<Gr. a/c<M/>.of, 
not hollow, < a- priv. + Ko7/lor, hollow.] In zoiil., 
having no intestinal cavity; anenterous. 
Accemeti, Acoemetse (a-sem'e-ti, -te), n. pi. 
[LL., < Gr. anoifjr/Toi, masc., annt/ir/rat, fern., pi. 
of (iKoi/ir/rof, -ra, sleepless, < a- priv. + noi/tav, 
bring to sleep: see cemetery.] ATI order of 
monks and nuns in Constantinople under the 
Eastern Empire, so named because they divided 
their communities into relays for keeping up 
perpetual worship, in the sixth century the monks 
embraced Nestoriamsm and the order became extinct. 
The order of nuns, however, existed till the conquest of 
Constantinople by the Turks in the fifteenth century. 
Also spelled Acemeti, Acemetie. 
acoiet, v. t- and i. A Middle English form of accoi/. 
acoldt (a-kold'), a. [< ME. acold, acoled (< AS. 
acoled), cold, lit. cooled, pp. of acolen, < AS. 
acolian, become cool or cold, < a- + colian, be- 
come cool or cold, < col, cool, cold : see cool. 
The ME. form acold, acoled, would regularly be- 
come E. "aeooled (akold) ; the present 6 sound is 
due to confusion with E. cold, < AS. ceald, which 
is akin to col, and so, remotely, to aeold.] Cold. 
Poor Tom's a-cold. Shak., Lear, iii. 4. 
s amtricattlis, 
a. larva ; *, pupa ; c , cocoon ; rf, moth ; t, moth with outstretched 
wings. 
They are small and delicate and of somber colors. The 
larvse are somewhat hairy and feed gregariously, undergo- 
ing transformation in some crevice, within tough oval co- 
coons. They have a habit of following one another in 
"Indian flic." A. aniericanui (now placed in Harrurina) 
destroys grape-leaves. 
acolouthitet, . [< Gr. ofoftoUtof, acolyth, + 
-ite 2 : see acolyte.] Same as acolyte. 
acolyctin (ak-o-lik'tin), n. [< NL. Aco(nitum) 
lyc(oc)t(onum), the plant from which it is de- 
rived (see Aconitum), + -in 2 .] An alkaloid de- 
rived from Aconitum lycoctonum, and identical 
with napellin. 
acolyte (ak'o-lit), n. [< ME. acolit, acolyt, < OF. 
acolyte = Sp. acolito = Pg. acolyto = It. accolito, 
< ML. acolytus, acolitus, acolythus (>E. acolyth), 
acolfttus, prop, acoliithus, an acolyte, < Gr. a*6- 
AovOof, a follower, an attendant, < d- copulative 
+ /cfAfitfof , a way, a journey, from the same root 
as neZeodai, set in motion, urge on, and nefavetv, 
command.] 1. One who waits on a person; 
an attendant ; an assistant. 
With such chiefs, ami with James and John as acolytes. 
Motley. 
2. Iii the Bom. Catli. Ch., one ordained to the 
fourth and highest of the minor orders, ranking 
immediately below the subdeacon. See orders. 
His office is to serve those of the superior orders in the 
ministry of the altar, light the candles, prepare the wine 
and water, etc. The name is now commonly extended to 
the boys who exercise these offices without ordination. 
3. In astron., an attendant or accompanying 
star or other heavenly body ; a satellite. 
But she [the nioon] is the earth's nearest neighbor, and 
therefore conspicuous ; her constant acolyte, whose obse- 
quious and rapid motions demand and compel attention. 
New Princeton Rev., I. 47. 
Sometimes written acolyth, and formerly also 
acholithite, acolythe, acolythist, acolothist. 
acolyth, acolythe (ak'6-lith, -lith), n. [<ML. 
acolythus, for acoluthtis, the correct form of 
acolytus: see acolyte.] See acolyte. 
acolythate (a-kol''i-that), n. [< ncolyth + -ate^.] 
The state, office, or orders of an acolyte. 
acolythical (ak-o-lith'i-kal), a. [< "acolythic + 
-al.] Belonging or pertaining to an acolyte. 
acolythistt (a-kol'i-thist), n. Same as acolyte. 
acombert, >' t. See accumber. 
Acomys (ak'o-mis), n. [NL., < Gr. anf/, a sharp 
point (or L. aeus, a needle), + ^uSf = E. mouse.] 
A genus of rodents, of the family MuricUe and 
subfamily ^furiniK, having sharp flattened 
spines in the fur. The skull and teeth are as 
in the genus Mus. 
acon(a'kon), n. [<(?) Gr. O.KUV, a dart.] A boat 
used for traveling over mud-beds. See extract. 
Walton also invented the pousse-pied or aeon, a land of 
boat which is still in use. The aeon is composed of a 
plank of hard wood, which constitutes the bottom, and is 
called the sole. This plank is bent in the fore part in such 
a manner as to form a sort of prow. Three light planks, 
which are nailed together at the sides and back, complete 
this simple boat. E. P. Wriyht, Anim. Life, p. 558. 
acondylous, acondylose (a-kon'di-lus, -Ips), a. 
[< Gr. kffam&Of. without knuckles or joints, 
< a- priv. -I- ArovrfiMof , a knuckle, a joint : see a- 1 ^ 
emtdi/lf, and -oils, -ose.] In bot., jointless. 
aconella (ak-6-nel'a), n. [NL., < acon(itum) + 
dim. -ella.] In client., an organic base obtained 
from the root of Acomtum Napellus, closely re- 
sembling if not identical with narcotin. 
aconellin (ak-o-nel'in), . [< aconella + -i 2 .] 
Same as aconella. 
aconin, aconine (ak'o-nin), n. [< acon(itum) + 
-in 2 .] An organic base derived from aconitin, 
and probably identical with napellin. 
acontium 
aconitate (a-kon'i-tat), n. [(aconite + -ate' 1 .] 
A salt formed by the union of aconitic acid 
with a base. 
aconite (ak'o-nlt), n. [ = F. amnit = Sp. Pg. 
It. aconito, < L. acnuituni : see Aconitum.] The 
plant wolf s-bane or monk's-hood, Aconitum Na- 
pellus. It is used in medicine, especially in cases of 
fever and neuralyni. Srr .(,<;;/"//;. \-'f 1 fif, iti-nnitf con- 
sists of the rootsof A.ferox and probably other species indi- 
genous in the Himalayas ; it is also called bikh, bitth, and bisk. 
\Viuti-r aconite is anuiunculucfms phiiit. l-'.nmlhi:- /n>-,i> 
lis, a native of Italy, and one of the earliest spring flowers. 
aconitia (ak-o-nish'ia), n. [NL.,< L. aconitum.] 
Same as aconitin, 
aconitic (ak-o-nit'ik), a. Of or pertaining to 
aconite Aconitic acid, OgHgOg, a tribasic acid found 
combined with lime in some spec-its of the genus Aconi- 
tum, and in a few other plants. It is also obtained by the 
dry distillation of citric acid. Also called equine-tie acid. 
See achilleic acid, under achilleic. 
aconitin, aconitine (a-kon'i-tin), n. [< aconite 
+ -i 2 .] A highly poisonous narcotic alkaloid, 
C3 H4 7 NO7, obtained from the roots and leaves 
or several species of Aconitum. it forms white 
powdery grains, or a compact, vitreous, transparent mass ; 
is bitter, acrid, and very soluble in alcohol. It is an im 
portant remedy in neuralgia, especially of the fifth cranial 
nerve. Also called aconitia and aconitina. 
Aconitum (ak-o-ni'tum). n. [L. aconitum, a 
poisonous plant, monk's-hood, wolf s-bane, < 
Gr. antniiTov, also 
Aconite (.A. .Vafellus). 
a, flower; b, same, calyx removed. 
a poi- 
sonous plant, of 
uncertain etym. ; 
said by Pliny to 
be so called be- 
cause it grew iv 
ai<6vaif, on sharp, 
steep rocks (Gr. 
anovii, a whet- 
stone, < \/ *ak, be 
sharp, pierce). 
This is improba- 
ble. The form is 
the same as the 
neut. of Gr. anfmi- 
rof, without dust, 
< a- priv. + KOVU;, 
dust, but there 
seems to be no 
connection be- 
tween the two 
words.] A ge- 
nus of poisonous 
herbs, natural or- 
der Banuncula- 
cea;, including 20 
species, natives of the mountains of the north- 
ern hemisphere. They have very irregular, showy 
flowers, and are often found in cultivation, as the common 
monk's-hood (A. Xapellu/s) and wolf's-bane (A. lycocto- 
num). The roots and leaves, chiefly of A. Napellux, are 
used medicinally. See aconitin. The bikh of Nepal, used 
in poisoning arrows and also as a source of aconitin, is 
derived mainly from A. ferox. 
acontia, . Plural of acontium. 
Acontias (a-kon'ti-as), n. [L., < Gr. awnr/af, a 
quick-darting serpent, a meteor, < &KUV, a jave- 
lin, dart, < a.K.ii, a point.] The leading genus 
of the family Acontiidce (which see). 
acontiid (a-kon'ti-id), n. A lizard of the family 
Acontiida;. 
Acontiidae, Acontiadae (ak-on-ti'i-de, -a-de), n. 
pi. [NL.,< Acontias + -id<p, or-adte.] A family 
of saurian or lacertilian reptiles of the scincoid 
group, related to the Anyuida:, the family to 
whicn the well-known slow-worm of Europe 
belongs. They are weak, timid, and perfectly harmless 
lizards, resembling snakes in consequence of the apparent 
absence of limbs. Acontias is the leading genus, giving 
name to the family ; there are numerous species, inhabit- 
ing chiefly the wanner or dryer parts of the old world. 
Acontias meleagris is sometimes called the dart-snake, 
from its manner of darting upon its prey. 
acontium (a-kon'shium), n. ; pi. acontia (-shia). 
[NL., < Gr. aKovTiav, a small dart, dim. of anuv 
Figure with Acontium. (From " Revue Arch^ologique." ) 
(OKOVT-), a javelin.] 1. In fir. antiq. : (a) A dart 
or javelin, smaller and lighter than the paltos or 
long spear, and thrown by means of a thong or 
amentum. Hence (b) The game of hurling 
the javelin, one of the five exercises of the .fa- 
mous pentathlon (which see) at the Olympian, 
