acrecDonc 
acrecbolic (ak-rek-bol'ik), a, [< Gr. (Uywf, at 
the top, + ecbolic, q. v.] Eversible by protru- 
sion of the apex ; protruded by a forward move- 
ment of the tip: applied to the introverted pro- 
boscis of certain animals, as rhabdocrelous pla- 
narians and sundry gastropods: the opposite of 
acrembolic, and correlated with j>l< // mlmlii- 
as, "acrecbolic tubes or introverts," E. K. l.mi- 
kester, Encyc. Brit., XVI. ii"> 
acrecencia (Sp. pron. a-kra-then'the-a), n. 
[Sp., = E. accrescence, q. v.] Increase ; augmen- 
tation; growth; accretion. More specifically, the 
enhancement of the portions of one or more of several heirs, 
legatees, etc., resulting when the others do not accept or 
are incapable of sharing the inheritance. Used in the law 
of parts of the United States originally settled by Span- 
iards. 
acrecimiento (Sp. pron. a-kra-the-me-en'to), . 
[Sp., <acrecer = E. accresce, q. v.] Same as 
acrecencia. 
acred (a'kerd), a. Possessing acres or landed 
property : used chiefly in composition : as, 
"many-acred men," Sir W. Jones, Speech on 
Ref . of Parl. 
He was not (infrequently a son of a noble, or at least uf 
an acred, house. The Nation, July 26, 1877, p. 58. 
acre-dale (a'ker-dal), . [< acre + dale 2 = dean, 
a share.] Land in a common field, different 
parts of which are held by different proprietors. 
[Prov. Eng.] 
Acredula (a-kred'u-la), . [L., an unknown 
bird, variously guessed to be a thrush, owl, 
nightingale, or lark.] A genus of titmice, fam- 
ily Paridfe, founded by Koch in 1816, character- 
ized by the grVat length of the tail. Acredula 
caudata, the type of the genns, is the common long-tailed 
titmouse or European bottle-tit (which see). A. rosea is 
another species. 
acremant (a'ker-man), n. [< ME. akerman, < 
AS. wccrman ; < acre, a field, + man.] A farmer ; 
one who cultivates the fields. K. D. 
acrembolic (ak-rem-bol'ik). a. [<Gr. A/cpof, at 
the top, + embolic, q. v.] Introversible by in- 
trusion of the apex ; withdrawn by a sinking in 
of the tip : applied to the everted proboscis of 
certain animals, as rhabdocoelous planarians 
and sundry gastropods : opposed to acrecbolic, 
The acrembolic proboscis or frontal introvert of the 
Nemertine worms has a complete range. 
E. R. Lankester, Encyc. Brit., XVI. 852. 
acre-shott (a'ker-shot), . [< acre, a field. + 
xtiot, proportion, reckoning: see scot and shot.} 
A local laud-tax or charge. Ihujdale. 
acre-stafft (a'ker-staf), . [< acre, a field, + 
staff.~\ A plow-staff, used to clear the colter 
or cutter of the plow when clogged with earth. 
Also spelled akcr-staff. 
Where the Husbandman's Acre-sta/iuul the Shepherd's 
hook are, as in this County, in State, there they engross 
all to themselves. fuller. Worthies, I. 561. 
acrid (ak'rid), a. and n. [First in 18th century ; 
< L. acer, rarely acris, acrux (> P. acre = Sp. Pg. 
It. acre), sharp, pungent ; with termination due 
to the kindred L. acidus, sharp, sour : see acid.] 
1. a. 1. Sharp or biting to the tongue or in- 
teguments; bitterly pungent; irritating: as, 
acrid salts. Acrid substances are those which cxcit* in 
the organs of taste a sensation uf pungency and heat, and 
when applied to the skin irritate and inflame it. Acrid 
poisons, including those also called corrosive and escha- 
rotic, are those which irritate, corrode, or bum the parts 
it) which they are applied, producing an intense burning 
sensation, and acute pain in the alimentary canal. They 
include concentrated acids and alkalis, compounds of mer- 
cury, arsenic, copper, etc. 
The acrid little jets of smoke which escaped from the 
joints of his stove from time to time annoyed him. 
HinveUs, A Modern Instance, iii. 
2. Figuratively, severe ; virulent ; violent ; 
stinging: as, "acrid temper," ('Oil-pec, Charity. 
II. . 1. An acrid poison: as, "a powerful 
acrid," Pereira, Mat. Med. 2. One of a class 
of morbific substances supposed by the humor- 
ists to exist in the humors. 
acridia (a-krid'i-a), n. pi. [NL., pi. of Acrid- 
'(.] Members of the grasshopper family, or 
the family itself, considered without special 
reference to its rank in classification. Also 
called acridii. See Acridida;. 
acridian (a-krid'i-an), a. and n. I. a. Beloug- 
ingor relating to the Acridida: 
II. . One of the acridia. 
Acrididae, Acridiidae (a-krid'i-de, ak-ri-di'i- 
de), n. pi. [NL., < Acrid-ium, Acridi-um, + -id<e.~\ 
A family of saltatorial orthopterous insects, 
including the locusts or short-horned grass- 
hoppers, having the hind legs fitted by enlarge- 
ment of the femora for leaping: related to the 
crickets (Gryttida:) and to the long-horned 
grasshoppers and katydids (Locustidai). 
54 
In Gryllida 1 and Locustidtc the antenmc are long and 
setaceous, ... in Acridiidce they are short and stout, 
rarely clavate. The ovipositor in the two former families 
is often very large ; in Acridiidte there is no ovipositor. 
Pascoe, Zool. Class., 1880, p. 115. 
acridii (a-krid'i-i), n.jrf. [NL., masc.pl.] Same 
;i:~ iirridia. 
acridity (a-krid'i-ti), n. [< acrid + -itij, after 
acidity.] The quality of being acrid ; pungency 
conjoined with bitterness and corrosive irrita- 
tion : acridness. 
Acridium (a-krid'i-um), n. [NL.; also written 
improp. Acrydium; <Gr. anpi6un>, dim. of anpic., 
a locust: see Acris.] A leading genus of grass- 
hoppers, giving name to the family Acridida;. 
acridly (ak'rid-li), adv. With sharp or irritat- 
ing bitterness. 
acridness (ak'rid-nes), . The quality of being 
acrid or pungent. 
acridqphagUS (ak-ri-<lof 'a-jpis), n.; pi. acridopli- 
agi (-ji). [NL.,<Gr. aKptd'otyayoc,, < anpic, (anpiS-), a 
locust (see Acris), + <j>ayeiv, eat.] A locust-eater. 
They are still acridophagi, and even the citizens far pre- 
fer a dish of locusts to the "fasikh," which act as ancho- 
vies, sardines, and herrings in Egypt. 
R. F. Burton, El-Medinah, p. 343. 
Acridotheres(ak'ri-do-the'rez), n. [NL.(Vieil- 
lot, 1816), < Gr. axpif (anpii-), a locust, + dripav, 
hunt or chase, < (typa, a hunting, the chase.] A 
notable genus of old-world sturnoid passerine 
birds, founded by Vieillot in 1816 ; the minas 
or mina-birds, several species of which are 
among the commonest and most characteristic 
birds of India and zoologically related coun- 
tries. They resemble and are allied to starlings. A.tri*ti* 
is a leading example. The species have often been re* 
ferred to the Cuvierian genus Oraculus (which see). Crido- 
theres is an erroneous form of Acridothtrett, apparently 
originating with Cuvier. 
acrimonious (ak-ri-mo'ni-us), a. [= F. acri- 
monieux = Pg. acrimonioso, < ML. acrimoniomix, 
< L. acrimonia, acrimony.] 1. Abounding in 
acrimony or acridness; acrid; corrosive. [Now 
rare.] 
If gall cannot he rendered acrimonious and bitter of 
itself. Harvey, Consumption. 
2. Figuratively, severe; bitter; virulent; caus- 
tic; stinging: applied to language, temper, 
etc. 
The factions have the cunning to say, that the bitter- 
ness of their spirit is owing to the harsh and acrimonious 
treatment they receive. Ames, Works, II. 113. 
If we knew the man, we should see that to return an 
acrimonious answer would be the most ridiculous of all 
possible modes of retort. Whiuple, Ess. and Rv., I. 139. 
acrimoniously (ak-ri-mo'ni-us-li), adr. In an 
acrimonious manner ; sharply ; bitterly ; pun- 
gently. 
acrimoniousness (ak-ri-mo'ni-us-nes), n. The 
state or quality of being acrimonious. 
acrimony (ak'ri-mo-ui), n. [ = F. aerimonic = 
Sp. Pg. It. acrimonia, < L. acrimonia, sharpness, 
pungency, austerity, < acer (acr-), sharp, pun- 
gent: see acrid and acid.] 1. Acridity; harsh- 
ness or extreme bitterness of taste ; pungency ; 
corrosiveness. [Now rare.] 
Those milks [in certain plants] have all an acrimony, 
though one would think they should )>e lenitive. 
Bacon, Nat. Hist., 039. 
2. Figuratively, sharpness or severity of tem- 
per ; bitterness of expression proceeding from 
anger, ill nature, or petulance ; virulence. 
Acrimony of voice and gesture. 
Bp. Hacket, Life of Abp. Williams. 
In his official letters he expressed with great acrimony 
his contempt for the king's character and understanding. 
Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. 
Acrimony Of the humors, an imaginary acrid change 
of the blood, lymph, etc., which by the humorists was 
conceived to cause many diseases. Dunylison. ~ Syn. 2. 
Acrimony, Asperity, Harshness, Severity, Tartness, Sour- 
iiess, Bitterness, Virulence, Rancor, acerbity, crabbedness, 
irascibility. (See harshness.) These words express differ- 
ent degrees of severe feeling, language, or conduct, their 
signification being determined largely by their derivation 
and primary use. Tartness is the mildest term, applying 
generally to language ; it implies some wit or quickness of 
mind, and perhaps a willingness to display it. As tartness 
is the subacid quality of mind, so acrimony is its acidity ; 
it is a biting sharpness ; it may or may not proceed from 
a nature permanently soured. Sourness is the Anglo-Saxon 
foracrimoni/, with more suggestion of permanent quality 
sou 
BM, 
ne-ss with a touch of rancor; it is more positive and aggres- 
sive. Sourness and bitterness contain less malignity than 
acrimony. Virulence rises to a high degree of malignity, 
and rancor to such a height as almost to break down self- 
control ; the whole nature is envenomed, rancid. These 
words are almost never applied to conduct ; asperity and 
harshness, being founded upon a different figure, are nat- 
urally and often so applied ; they convey the idea of rough- 
ness to the touch. Asperity is the lighter of the two ; it is 
often a roughness of manner, and may betheresultof anger ; 
it has a sharper edge than harshness. Harshness is the 
most applicable to conduct, demands, etc., of all the list; 
it may proceed from insensibility to others' feelings or 
ournexs of look or language proceeding from a sour nature. 
bitterness, which is founded upon a kindred figure, is sour- 
aero- 
rights. Ni rrrili/ has a wide range of meaning, expressing 
often that which is justified or necessary, and often that 
which is harsh or hard; as applied tolangua^ hid 
it is a weighty word. We may speak of acrintnnii in de- 
bate or of feeling; asperity of manner; harshness of con- 
duct, language, requirements, terms, treatment; Mttrity 
of censure, punishment, manner; tartness of reply ; *<(//- 
ness of aspect; bitterness of spirit, feeling, retort; fVc- 
/"<v and rancor of feeling and language. 
It is well known in what terms of acrimony and per- 
sonal hatred Swift attacked Dryden. 
Godirin, The Enquirer, p. 379. 
The orators of the opposition declared against him 
with great animation and asperity. 
Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. 
He that by harshness of nature and arbitrariness of 
commands uses his children like servants is what they 
mean by a tyrant. Sir W. Temple. 
Severity, gradually hardening and .darkening into mis- 
anthropy, characterizes the works of Swift. 
Macattlay, Addison. 
The Dean [Swift), the author of all the mirth, preserves 
an invincible gravity and even sourness of aspect. 
Macaulay, Addison. 
To express themselves with smartness against the errors 
of men, without bitterness against their persons. 
Steele, Tatler, No. 242. 
No authors draw upon themselves more displeasure 
than those who deal in political matters, which is justly 
incurred, considering that spirit of rancour and virulence 
with which works of this nature abound. Addison. 
They hate to mingle in the filthy fray, 
Where the soul sours, and gradual rancour grows, 
Imbittered more from peevish day to day. 
Thomson, Castle of Indolence, i. 17. 
AcriS (ak'ris), .' [NL., < Gr. aKplf (axpid-), a 
locust (L. gryllus).'] A genus of tree-frogs of 
the family Bylida: Acris yrylltu, a characteristic ex- 
ample, is common in the United States, its loud rattling 
pipe l>eing heard everywhere in the spring. Duweril and 
Bibrtm. 
acrisia (a-lcris'i-ii), . [NL., < Gr. anpiaia, want 
of judgment, the undecided character of a 
disease, < aKpirof, undecided, undiscernible, < a- 
priv. + Kptr&f, separated, distinguished, < Kpivctv, 
separate, distinguish, judge : see emi* and 
critic. ] A condition of disease such as to render 
prognosis impossible or unfavorable ; absence 
of detenninable or favorable symptoms, 
acrisy (ak'ri-si), . [<. acrisia."} 1. Same as 
acrisia. 2. Injudiciousness. [Rare.] 
Acrita (ak'ri-ta), u.pl. [NL.,< Gr. anptra, neut. 
pi. of (iKpirof, undiscernible, indiscriminate : see 
acrisia.'} A name originally proposed for that 
group of animals in which no distinct nervous 
system exists or is discernible, it thus included, 
besides all of the Protozoa, such as the acalephs, some 
of the Polypijrra, certain Entozoa, the Polyyastrica, etc. 
The name has l>cen employed by different writers with 
varying latitude of signification, but is now disused, ex- 
cept as a (loose) synonym of Protozoa and other low forms 
of the Cuvierian Radiata, since it has been shown to apply 
to no natural group of animals. See Cryptoneura. Also 
incorrectly written Acrites, after the French. 
acritan (ak'ri-tan), a. [See Acrita.'} Of or be- 
longing to the Acrita. 
acrite (ak'rit), a. Same as acritan. 
acritical (a-krit'i-kal), a. [< Gr. a- priv. + crit- 
ical ; Pg. acritico, not critical. Cf. Gr. aKpiTof, 
under acrisia.] }n patitol. : (a) Having no crisis : 
as, an acritical abscess. (6) Giving no indica- 
tions of a crisis : as, acritical symptoms. 
acritochromacy (ak'ri-to-kro'ma-si), . [< 
acritocliromatic: see -acy.~] Inability to distin- 
guish between colors ; color-blindness ; achro- 
matopsia. 
i'rom imperfect observation and the difficulty experi- 
enced in communicating intelligently with the Eskimo, 1 
was unable to determine whether acritochromacy existed 
among them to any great extent. 
Arc. Cruise of the Canrin, 1881, p. 24. 
acritochromatic (ak'ri-to-kro-mat'ik), a. 
[< Gr. anptroc, not distinguishing* (see acrisia), 
+ ;)fpu/i(r-), color.] Characterized by or af- 
fected with acritochromacy; unable to distin- 
guish between colors. 
acritude (ak'ri-tud), . [< L. acritudo, sharp- 
ness, < acer, sharp : see acrid.] An acrid qual- 
ity; bitter pungency ; biting heat. [Rare.] 
acrityt (ak'ri-ti), n. [After F. (terete, < L. acri- 
ta(t-)s, < acris, sharp: see acrid.} Sharpness; 
keen severity ; strictness. 
The acrity of prudence, and severity of judgment. 
A. Gorges, tr. of Bacon, De Sap. Vet., xviii. 
aero-. [L., etc., < Gr. aapo-, combining form of 
dk/wf, at the furthest point or end, terminal, 
extreme, highest, topmost, outermost; neut. 
anpov, the highest or furthest point, top, peak, 
summit, headland, end, extremity; fern. &K/M, 
equiv. to anpav. Cf. aur/, a point, edge, and see 
acid, etc.] In zool. and hot., an element of 
many compounds of Greek origin, referring to 
the top, tip, point, apex, summit, or edge of 
anything. In a few compounds aero- (acr-) 
improperly represents Latin acer, acris, sharp, 
pungent: as, acronarcotic, acrolein. 
