Alcyonidiidae 
has been called Ctenosoniata, the cell-opening being closed 
with marginal setae, and there being no vibracula and no 
avicularia. Alcyvnidiuin is the leading or only genus. 
Also written Alcyonidiadre, Alcyonididte, and Halcyoni- 
diidce; not to be confounded with Alcyoniida. 
Alcyonidium (al"si-o-nid'i-um), n. [NL., as Al- 
cyon-ium + dim. -idium, < Gr. -ISiov.] A genus of 
1'olyzoa, of the family Alcyonidiidte. A. glutino- 
tum, one of the species, is called ragged-staff or mermaid's 
glove, and was formerly regarded as a plant. Also written 
llalcyonidium. 
alcyoniform (al'si-on-i-form), a. [< alcyon + 
-form.] Having the form of or resembling an 
alcyon. Also written halcyoniform. 
Alcyoniidae (al"si-o-ni'i-de), n. pi. [NL.,< 
Alcyonium + -ida;.] A family of alcyonarian 
polyps, of the order Alcyoniacea;. The leading 
genus is Alcyonium (which see). Representatives of the 
family are found in all seas and at various depths ; some 
are called cork-polyps. Also written Alcyonidte and II al- 
cyoniHie; not to be confounded with Alcyonidiidce. 
alcyonite (al'si-o-nit), n. [< Alcyonium + -ite 2 .] 
A fossil of or lik'e the genus Alcyonium; one of 
the sponge-like fossils common in the chalk for- 
mation. Also written halcyonite. 
Alcyonium (al-si-6'ni-um), n. fNL., < L. al- 
cyonium, also alcyoneum, < Gr. aknvfrwov, also 
aAKv6veiav, bastard-sponge, a zoophyte, so called 
from its resemblance to the nest of the a/jtvuv, 
halcyon: see alcyon.] The leading genus of 
polyps of the family Alcyoniidai (which see). A. 
digitatum, the so-called dead men's fingers, dead men's 
toes, and cow's paps, is a common British species. It is 
a lobed, spongy-looking body, pellucid when distended 
with water, and covered with stellate apertures for the 
polyps. (Pascoe.) A. glomeratum is another species. 
The name of the genus is synonymous with Lobularia. 
Also written Halcyonium. 
alcyonoid (al'si-o-noid), . [< Alcyonium + 
-oid.'] A member of the family Alcyoniida; or of 
the order Alcyoniacea;. Also written halcyonoid. 
aldayt, aAv. [ME.,< al, all, + day*.] Constant- 
ly; continually; always. Cltaucer. 
aldehyde (al'de-hid), . [< al(cohol) + NL. de- 
hyd(rogenatus), deprived of hydrogen, < L. de, 
from, expressing deprivation, + hydrogen.] 1. 
A transparent colorless liquid, CH 3 COH, of 
pungent suffocating odor, produced by the ox- 
idation of ordinary alcohol. When exposed to the 
air or to oxygen it is converted into acetic acid. Distinc- 
tively called acetic aldehyde and ethaldehyde. 
2. The general name of a class of compounds 
intermediate between alcohols and acids, de- 
rived from their corresponding primary alco- 
hols by the oxidation and removal of two atoms 
of hydrogen, and converted into acids by the 
addition of an atom of oxygen Aldehyde resin, 
aresinous body fonnedby heating aldehyde witn potash in 
alcoholic solution. It is a bright orange-colored powder, 
sparingly soluble in water, but readily soluble in alcohol. 
aldehydic (al'de-hi-dik), a. Of, pertaining to, 
or containing aldehyde. 
alder 1 (al'der), . [E. dial, aller, also owler ; 
< ME. alder, aldyr, aldir, also aller, ellir, olr, etc., 
the d being in- 
serted as in alder 
for aller, gen. pi. 
of all (see aldei'3); 
< AS. air, alor, 
aler = D. els = ;-^- 
elira, erila, erla, \ 
MHG. erle, G. 
erle, dial, eller, 
else, = Icel. olr, 
elrir, m., elri, 
neut., = Sw. al, 
dial, alder, Alder, 
= Norw. older, also or, elle, = Dan. el, pi. elle, = 
Goth, "aliza, *aluza (> Sp. aliso, alder) = L. 
alnus, orig. "alsnus (> F. aune, alder, and per- 
haps Sp. Pg. alamo, poplar: see alamo), = 
OBulg. jellha, Bulg. jelha = Serv. jelsha = Bo- 
hem, jelshe, olshe = Pol. olcha, olcza = Russ. 
olikha, voHlcha, dial, elkha, elokha, = Lith. Lett. 
elksnis, alksnis, alder.] 1. The popular name of 
shrubs and trees belonging to the genus Alnus, 
natural order Oupulifera;. The common alder of Eu- 
rope is Alnus ijlutinosa. In the eastern United States the 
common species are the smooth alder, A. aerrulata, and 
the speckled alder, A. incana. Both are also known as 
black alder. These are usually tall shrubs, rarely small 
trees. The alders of the Pacific coast, A. rhombifolia and 
A. rubra, frequently grow to be trees of medium size. The 
bark of the alder has been used in several parts of the 
world as one of the materials for dyeing black along with 
copperas or iron liquor, and also in obtaining other colors, 
as brownish yellow or orange. See Alnus. 
2. A name of species of other widely differ- 
ent genera, from their resemblance to true al- 
ders. The black or berry-bearing alder of Europe is the 
alder-buckthorn, Rhamnus Frangula. In southern Africa 
the name red alder is given to the Cunonia Capenttis, and 
white alder to Platylophits trifoliatus, both saxifragaceous 
shrubs. In North America the Ilex verticillata is some- 
134 
times called black alder, the Rkamnu* alnifolia dwarf al- 
der, and the Clethra alnifolia white alder. 
alder 2 t, a. and . An old form of elder 2 . 
alder 3 t, allert, [ME., also written alther. al- 
(//v, ulrr, ulre, < AS. culra, also aim, gen. pi. of 
eall,M: see all. The d is inserted as in al- 
der*.] The Middle English genitive plural of 
all. From its common occurrence before adjectives in the 
superlative it came to be regarded as a prefix of such ad- 
jectives: as, alder-first, flret of all: alder-best, best of all; 
alder-liefest or alder-lievest, dearest of all. It is also used, 
in the form aller, with the genitive plural of personal pro- 
nouns : as, youre aller, of all of you ; oure aller, of all of 
us ; here alter, of all of them. 
A-morwe whan the day bigan to sprynge, 
Up ros our hoste, and was oure alter cok. 
Chaucer, Gen. Prol. to C. T., 1. 823. 
You, mine alder-litfest sovereign. Shak., 2 Hen. VI., i. 1. 
alder-buckthorn (al'der-buk'thdrn), . The 
European plant Bhamnus Frangula. See Bliam- 
MW. 
alderman (al'der-man), n. ; pi. aldermen (-men). 
[< ME. alderman, atdermon, < AS. ealdorman (= 
ONorth. aldormon, -mann, -monn), < ealdor, a 
prince, chief, elder, + man (mann, man, monn), 
man: see alder 2 , elder%, n.,andman.] 1. In the 
Anglo-Saxon period of English history, a title 
meaning at first simply chieftain or lord, but 
later used specifically to denote the chief magis- 
trate of a county or group of counties. The office 
was both civil and military, and was tending to become a 
great hereditary benefice when it was replaced, under Ca- 
nute, by the earldom. After this the name was applied to 
any head man, as the head man of a guild. 
If the earlier kingdoms were restored, the place of the 
king in each was taken by an ealdorman, who, however 
independent and powerful he might be, was still named 
by the West-Saxon sovereign, and could be deposed by 
that ruler and the national Witan. 
J. R. Green, Conq. of Eng., p. 248. 
The ealdormen were nobles by birth, and generally the 
leaders in war. StilU, Stud. lied. Hist., p. 203. 
Hence 2. In modern usage, a magistrate of a 
city or borough, next in rank to the mayor, in 
England and Ireland, besides being a member of the com- 
mon council, which manages the aff airsof the municipality, 
he is vested with the powers of a police judge. The corre- 
sponding title in Scotland is bailie. Aldermen are usually 
chosen for three years, but the twenty-six aldermen of Lon- 
don are chosen for life. In most of the United States there 
is in each city an elected board of aldermen, representing 
wards, who constitute the municipal assembly, or the up- 
per branch of it where it consists of two bodies, and usually 
also possess some judicial powers. In Pennsylvanian cities 
the title alderman is given to an officer having duties equiv- 
alent to those of a justice of the peace elsewhere. 
3. In England, a half-crown: a meaning ex- 
plained by Brewer as containing an allusion to 
the fact that an alderman is a sort of half -king. 
[Slang.] 4. A turkey. [Slang.] Alderman in 
Chains, a turkey hung with sausages. [Slang.] Alder- 
man's pace, a slow, stately pace: equivalent to the 
French jtajt d'abbS. 
aldermanate (al'der-man-at), n. [< alderman + 
-ate 3 .] The office of alderman ; aldermen col- 
lectively. 
aldermancy (al'der-man-si), n. [< alderman + 
-cy, as in abbacy and other words of ult. L. ori- 
gin.] The office of an alderman; aldermauate. 
aldermanic (al-der-man'ik), a. [< alderman + 
-ic.] Relating or belonging to an alderman; 
characteristic of aldermen. 
aldermanity (al-der-man'i-ti), . [< alderman 
+ -ity.] 1. Aldermen collectively; the body 
of aldermen. B. Jonson. 2. The dignity or 
qualities of an alderman. Lamb. 
alderman-lizard (arder-man-liz / 'ard), n. A 
book-name of the Sauronialus ater, a stout 
black Calif oruian lizard: so called from its 
obesity, a characteristic popularly attributed 
to aldermen. It attains a length of about a 
foot. See Sauromalus. 
aldermanly (al'der-man-li), a. [< alderman + 
-ly 1 .] Pertaining to or like an alderman. 
aldermanry (arder-man-ri), n. ; pi. alderman- 
ries (-riz). [< alderman -r -ry.] A district of 
a borough having its own alderman ; a ward. 
N. E. D. 
aldermanship (al'der-man-ship), n. [< alder- 
man + -ship.] The office of an alderman. 
aldernt (al'dern), a. [< alder + -en 1 *, -n%; = D. 
elzen, < els, alder.] Made of alder. 
Then aldern boats first plow'd the ocean. 
May, tr. of Virgil's Oeorgics. 
Aldine (al'dln or al'din), a. [< NL. Aldinus, < 
Aldus.] An epithet applied to those editions, 
chiefly of the classics, which proceeded from 
the press of Aldus Manutius (Latinized form 
of Italian Aldo Manuzio), of Venice, and his 
family, from 1494 to 1597. The distinguishing mark 
is an anchor entwined with a dolphin printed on the title- 
page. These editions are noted for both the beauty of the 
typography and the correctness of the text. The term has 
also been applied to certain English and American edi- 
tions of various works. See cut in next column. 
ale-conner 
Aldriant, [Perhaps Ar.] A star in the 
nock of the Lion. Chaucer. 
Aldrovandine (al-dro-van'din), a. Of or per- 
taining to the naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi 
(1522-1607): as, Aldro- 
1'iiiiiliiie owl, the Scops 
aldrovanitii. 
ale (al), H. [< ME. ale, < 
AS. ealu, also ealo, im- 
prop. eala (so in uom. and 
ace., but gen. and dat. 
ealoth, aloth, pointing to 
an orig. stem *alul), = 
OS. alo (in comp. alo-fat 
= AS. ealofait, an ale- 
cup, > E. ale^vat) = Icel. 
Sw. Dan. 67, ale, = OBulg. Dcv , A of A | dus . from stathl! , 
olu, cider, = Sloven, ol, 
olcj,vol = OPruss. alu = Lith. alus = Lett, allus 
(> Finn, olut), beer. Cf. Gael, and Ir. ol, 
drink.] 1. A light-colored beer, made from 
malt which is dried at a low heat. See beer. 
Pale ale is made from the palest or lightest-colored malt, 
the fermenting temperature being kept below 72 to pre- 
vent the formation of acetic acid. 
2f. An ale-drinking ; a festival or merrymaking 
at which ale was the beverage drunk. Com- 
pare bridal, church-ale, clerk-ale, etc. 
Every Inhabitant of the town of Okebrook shall be at 
the several ales ; and every husband and his wife shall 
pay two-pence, every cottager one penny. 
Quoted in N. and Q., 6th ser., X. 391. 
St. A brew of ale ; as much ale as is brewed 
at one time. 
VVituesseth, that the inhabitants, as well of the said 
garish of Elvaston as of the said town of Okebrook, shall 
rew four otar, and every ale of one quarter of malt, and 
at their own costj and charges, betwixt this and the feast 
of St. John Baptist next coming. 
Quoted in JV. and Q., 6th ser., X. 391. 
4f. An ale-house. 
Thou hast not so much charity in thee as to go to the 
ale with a Christian. SAo*., T. G. of V., ii. 6. 
O, Tom, that we were now at Putney, at the ale there. 
Thomas, Lord Cromwell, iii. 1. 
Adam's ale. See Adam. Bitter ale, bitter beer, a 
clear, strong, highly hopped ale, of a pleasant bitter taste. 
Medicated ale, ale which is prepared for medicinal 
pur|K)ses by an infusion of herbs during fermentation. 
aleak (a-lek'), prep.phr. as adv. [< a 3 + leak, 
q. v.] In or into a leaking state. 
aleatico (al-e-at'i-ko), n. [It.] A sweet and 
strong red wine made in Tuscany. It is of dark- 
red color, has a delicate flavor and perfume, and is one of 
the best of very sweet wines. 
aleatory (a'le-a-to-ri), a. [< L. aleatorius, per- 
taining to a gamester or to gaming, < aleator, a 
gamester, a player with dice, < alea, a game 
with dice.] Literally, depending upon the 
throw of a die; hence, depending on a con- 
tingent event Aleatory contract, in law, an agree- 
ment the conditions of which depend on an uncertain 
event. Aleatory sale, a sale the completion of which 
depends on the happening of some uncertain event. 
aleavementt, See allwement. 
ale-bench (al'bench), w. [ME. not found ; < AS. 
ealu-benc: see ale and bench.] A bench in or 
before an ale-house. 
Sit on their ale-bench with their cups and cans. 
Munday and Others, Sit John Oldcastle, i. 1. 
ale-beny (al'ber'i), n. [Early mod. E. alebery, 
ale-brue, < ME. alebery, alberey, alebrey, albry, 
alebre, \ale, ale, + bre, also spelled brewe, broth, 
soup (> bree, broo, q. v.), < AS. briw, broth. 
The word is thus prop, ale-bree, or ale-brew, 
ale-broOj the second element being perverted in 
simulation of berry*.] A beverage formerly 
made by boiling ale with spice, sugar, and sops 
of bread. 
ale-brewer (aTbro"er), n. One whose occupa- 
tion is the brewing of ale. 
alec (a'lek), n. [L., better allec, also alex, and 
with aspirate hallec, halex, the sediment of a 
costly fish-sauce, garum, and in general fish- 
sauce, fish-pickle.] 1. A pickle or sauce of 
small herrings or anchovies. 2t. A herring. 
N. E. D. 
alecampanet(al"e-kam-pan'), . Same as ele- 
campane. 
alecize (al'e-slz), v. t. ; pret. and pp. alecized, 
ppr. alecizing. [< alec + -ize.] To dress with 
alec sauce. N. E. D. 
ale-conner (al'kon'er), n. [< ale + Conner 1 .] 
Originally, a local officer appointed to assay ale 
and beer, and to take care that they were good 
and wholesome, and sold at a proper price. 
The duty of the ale-conners of London now is to inspect 
the measures used by beer- and liquor-sellers, in order to 
prevent fraud. Four of these officers are chosen annually 
by the liverymen, in common hall, on Midsummer's Day 
(June 24). Also called ale-tatter. 
"Tis well known to the parish I have been twice ale-con- 
ner. Middleton, Mayor of Queenborough, iii. 3. 
