alembic 
I have occasioned great speculation, and diverted ray- 
self with the important mysteries that have been aim*- 
bicked out of a trifle. tt'aljjole, Letters, I. 208. 
alembroth (a-lem'broth), . [Formerly also 
alembor, late ME. alembroke; origin unknown.] 
The salt called by the alchemists the salt of art, 
science, or wisdom ; a double chlorid of mer- 
cury and ammonia. Although poisonous, it 
was formerly used as a stimulant. 
alenaget, . Same as (linage. 
Alengon lace. See lace. 
alengtht (a-length' ), prep. phr. as adv. and prep. 
[ME. alenght (for *alen</tlt) ; < a s , on, at, + 
length.] 1. adv. At full length ; along; stretch- 
ed at full length. 
II. prep. In the direction of the length of. 
Alepas (al'e-pas), n. [NL., < Or. a- copulative 
+ /Umif, a limpet: see Lepas.] A genus of 
barnacles or acorn-shells, of the family Lepadi- 
cUe. They are ordinary cirripeds with thoracic 
limbs. A. cornuta is an example. 
aleph (a'lef), n. [Heb. 'dleph = Ar. 'alif: see 
alpha.] The first letter of the Hebrew alpha- 
bet (X), representing the older Phenician let- 
ter which gave name and form to the Greek A, 
d/t^a. See a 1 . This letter, in the Semitic languages, is 
not properly a vowel, but is a quasi-consonantal sign, to 
which the pronunciation of any initial vowel may be at- 
tached. In transliteration into Roman letters, this sign 
is represented by a Greek "smooth breathing" (') or is 
left unmarked. 
alepidosaurid (a-lep"i-do-sa'rid), n. A fish of 
the family Alepidosaurida. Also called alepi- 
dosauroid. 
Alepidosauridas (a-lep*i-do-sa'ri-de), n. pi. 
[NL., < Alepidosaurus + -ida 1 .] A family of 
large, fierce, and voracious abdominal deep-sea 
fishes. Also called Aleposattridas and Alepi- 
sauridce. 
The Alepidosauridae are deep-sea fishes of large size, re- 
markable for the great size of their teeth. The body is 
elongate, and without scales ; the mouth is extremely 
large, with rows of compressed teeth of unequal size, 
some of those on the lower jaw and palatines being fang- 
like. The dorsal fln is very long, covering almost the 
whole of the back, and there is no adipose fln. 
Stand. Nat. HM., III. 138. 
Alepidosaurilia (a-lep'i-do-sa-ri'na), n. pi 
[NL., < Alepidosaurus + -ina.~\ In Gunther's 
classification of fishes, a division of Scopelidce, 
containing those with the dorsal fin occupying 
nearly the entire length of the back ; a group 
corresponding to the family Alepidosaurida; 
(which see). Preferably written Alepidosau- 
rince, as a subfamily. 
alepidosauroid (a-lep"i-d6-sa'roid), a. and n. 
[< Alepidosaurtis + -aid.] I. a. Having the 
characters of the Alepidosaurida. 
H. K. An alepidosaurid. 
Alepidosaurus (a - lep " i - do - sa ' rus), n. [NL. , 
as Aleposaurus, but with Gr. Atx/f (2.ein6-) in- 
stead of equiy. /.CTTOC (AETTO-), a scale.] A genus 
of fishes, typical of the family Alepidosauridce. 
It was at one time supposed to be related to Saurus, but 
is distinguished by the scaleless skin, whence the name. 
Also called Alepisaurnji, Alepoitaurus. A. ferox is a spe- 
cies known as handsaw-fish and lancet-fish. 
alepidote (a-lep'i-dot), a. and n. [<Gr. o 
<5urof, without scales, < a- priv. + JUm'f 
a scale: see Lepidium.] I. a. Not having 
scales : as, an alepidote fish. 
II. n. Any fish whose skin is not covered with 
scales. 
alepinet (al'e-pen), . [Also written alapeen, 
prob. for Aleppine, belonging to Aleppo: see 
Aleppine.] A mixed stuff, either of wool and 
silk or of mohair and cotton. Dyer. 
Alepisauridae (a-lep-i-sa'ri-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Alepisaurus + -idee.] Same as Alejridosauridce. 
Alepisaurus (a-lep-i-sa'rus), n. [NL., improp. 
for Alepidosaurus.] Same as Alepidosaurus. 
Alepocephali (a-lep-6-sef'a-li), n. pi. [PI. of 
Alepoceplialm.] Same as Alepocepttalidte. 
alepocephalid (a-lep-6-sef'a-lid), n. One of 
the Alepocephalidce (which see). 
Alepocephalidse (a-lep*6-se-fal'i-de), n. pi. 
[NIj.,<.Alepocephalus + -idaj.] A family of clu- 
peoid abdominal fishes. The technical characters 
Altpocephalus bairdi. 
(From Report of U. S. Fish Commission, 1884.) 
are : supramaxillary bones of three pieces, as in the dupe- 
idee, the dorsal fln posterior and opposite the anal fln, few 
pyloric ca;ca, and no air-bladder. About a dozen species 
136 
referable to four genera have been discovered in the deeper 
portions of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as of 
the Mediterranean sea. Also called Ale/we/ilmU. 
alepocephaloid (a-lep-6-sef'a-loid), a. and n. 
1. . Having the character of the Alepoceplitil/- 
da: 
II. . Same as alepocephalid. 
Aleppcephalus (a-lep-6-sef'a-lus), n. [NL., < 
Gr. <i- priv. + /Un-of, scale, + cefoA^, head.] A 
genus of fishes, typical of the family Alepoce- 
iilidlidte: so called from the scaleless head. 
ale-polet (al'pol), n. Same as ale-stttkc. 
Aleposauridae (a-lep-6-sa'ri-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Aleposaurus + -ida;.] Same as Alepidosauriiln . 
Aleposaurus (a-lep-6-sa'rus), n. [NL., < Gr. 
aAeTTOf, faulty form of d/fTrMurof, without scales 
(< a- priv. + A^jrof, also /Un-if, a scale: see Le- 
pidium). + aaiipof, a lizard, also a sea-fish : see 
Saurus.] Same as Alepidosaurus. 
ale-postt (aTpost), n. Same as ale-stake. 
ale-pot (al'pot), n. A pot or mug for holding 
ale. In England a pot of beer or ale means a quart of 
it ; hence, ale-pot means especially a quart-pot. 
A clean cloth was spread before him, with knife, fork, 
and spoon, salt-cellar, pepper-box, glass, and pewter ale- 
pot. Dickens, Little Don-it. 
Aleppine (a-lep'in), o. and n. [(.Aleppo, Euro- 
pean (It.) form of Turk, and Ar. ffaleb, said to 
be named from Ar. halab, milk.] I. a. Per- 
taining to Aleppo, a city of Asiatic Turkey, or 
to its inhabitants. 
U. n. A native or an inhabitant of Aleppo. 
Aleppo gall, Ulcer. See ulcer. 
alerce (a-lers'; Sp. pron. a-lar'tha), n. [Sp., the 
larch, prob. < o-, repr. Ar. al, me, T lerce, 
"larce = It. larice, < L. larix (ace. laricem), the 
larch (see larch), perhaps mixed with Ar. al- 
'arzah, al-'erz, < al, the, + 'arzah.'erz, Pers. arz, 
cedar.] 1. A name given in Spain to wood 
used by the Moors in their edifices, obtained 
from the sandarac-tree of Morocco, Callitris 
quadrivalvis. See Callitris. 2. Same as alerce- 
tree. 
With here and there a red cedar or an alerce pine. 
Darvrin, Voyage of Beagle, xiii. 
alerce-tree (a-lers'tre), n. A large coniferous 
timber-tree of Chili, Libocedrus Chilensis, ex- 
tensively used on the southern Pacific coast. 
alerion, . See allerion. 
alert (a-lerf), a. and n., orig. prep. phr. [< F. 
olwfe, mteij. phr., adj., and n., formerly allerte, 
sometimes written d I'erte, = Sp. alerta (alerto, 
adj. ) = Pg. alerta, < It. alt erta, on the watch, on 
the lookout; stare alF erta, be on one's guard, 
lit. stand on the lookout: alV for alia, for 
la, < L. ad illam, on the ; erta, a lookout, also a 
declivity, a slope, a steep, fern, of erto, raised 
aloft, steep, pp. of ergere, raise, erect, < L. eri- 
gere, raise, pp. erectus, > E. erect, q. v.] I. a. 1. 
Active in vigilance; watchful; vigilantly at- 
tentive. 
Yt ceaseless still she throve, alert, alive, 
The working bee, in full or empty hive. 
Crabbe, Parish Register. 
Nothing is worth reading that does not require an alert 
mind. C. D. Warner, Backlog Studies, p. 15. 
2. Moving with celerity; brisk; active; nim- 
ble : as, " an alert young fellow," Addison, 
Spectator, No. 403. = Syn, 1. Heedful, wary. 2. Live- 
ly, agile, quick, prompt, ready, spry. 
II. . [From the phr. on the alert, a pleo- 
nastic E. version of the orig. It. phr. alV erta : 
see I.] An attitude of vigilance; watch; 
guard : especially in the phrase on or upon the 
alert, upon the watch ; on the lookout ; guarding 
against surprise or danger: as, "the readiness 
of one on the alert," Dickens. 
He was instructed to notify his officers to be on the 
alert for any indications of battle. 
U. S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, I. 412. 
alertly (a-16rt'li), adv. In an alert manner j with 
watchful vigilance ; nimbly ; briskly; actively. 
alertness (a-lert'nes), n. The state or quality 
of being alert; briskness; nimbleuess; activity. 
-ales. [< L. -ales, pi. of -alts, a common adj. 
suffix: see-a?.] In bot., a plural termination dis- 
tinguishing the names of cohorts, a grade inter- 
mediate between class and order. 
ale-SCOtt, ale-shott (al'skot, al'shot), n. [< 
ale + scot, also shot, payment: see scot and 
shot, payment.] A reckoning to be paid for ale. 
alese. n. See aleze. 
ale-Silver (al'sil'ver), n. A duty anciently 
paid to the lord mayor of London by the sellers 
of ale within the city. 
ale-staket (al'stak), . A stake having a gar- 
land or bush of twigs at the top of it, set up as 
a sign before an ale-house. 
aleurone 
A garland hadde he set upon his heed 
As gret as it were for an ale-stake. 
Chaucer, Gen. Prol. to C. T., 1. 667. 
Also called ale-pole, ale-post. 
ale-taster (al'tas"ter), . Same as ale-conner. 
alethiology ^a-le-thi-ol'o-ji), n. [< Gr. id.ifiua, 
truth (< u/j/m/f, true, < a- priv. + ^avBavciv, '/.adeiv, 
escape notice, be concealed : see Lethe), + -toy'ia, 
< Xf yeiv, speak: see -ology.] A term used by 
Sir William Hamilton to denote that part of 
logic which treats of the nature of truth and 
error, and of the rules for their discrimination, 
alethoscope (a-le'tho-skop), n. [< Gr. aAT/Of/f, 
true (see alethiology), + ammclv, view.] An op- 
tical instrument by means of which pictures 
are made to present a more natural and life- 
like appearance. 
Aletornis (al-e-tor'nis), n. [NL., < Gr. aZfyrr/c,, 
a wanderer, vagrant (< d/iaaffai, wander, stray ), 
+ 6pvif, bird.] A genus of extinct Tertiary 
birds from the Eocene of Wyoming Territory. 
Several species are described by Marsh, who places them 
among the cranes and rails. They range in size from that 
of a woodcock to that of a small crane. 
Aletris (al'e-tris), n. NL., < Gr. aherpic,, a (fe- 
male) grinder of corn, (aAtrpeveiv, extended from 
ateiv, grind.] A genus of plants, natural order 
Hemodoracece, natives of the eastern United 
States, chiefly from New Jersey southward. 
The two species, A.farinosa&ndA. aurea, are low, smooth, 
stemless, bitter herbs, with fibrous roots, a cluster of spread- 
ing, flat, lance-shaped leaves, and a spiked raceme of small 
white or yellow flowers. They are called colic-root from 
their medicinal reputation, and also ague-grots, star-pross, 
blazing-star, etc. 
alette (a-lef), n. [F., = Sp. aleta = It. aletta, 
a small wing; dim. of L. ala, wing: see aisle.] 
In arch. : (a) A 
small wing of a 
building. (6) A 
pilaster or but- 
tress, (c) The 
lateral face of 
the pier of an 
arch, extending 
from the edge 
of the opening; 
A, arch ; B, B, pilasters ; C, C, alettes (c ). especially, that 
portion of the 
lateral face between the edge of the opening 
and a semi-column, pilaster, or the like, serving 
to decorate the pier. Also spelled allette. 
Aleurites (al-u-ri'tez), . [NL., < Gr. a^evpirrj^, 
pertaining to atevpov, meal, esp. wheaten flour, < 
afaiv, grind.] A genus of plants, natural order 
Euphorbiacete. The most important species, A. triloba 
(the candleberry-tree), a tree SO to 40 feet high, is a native 
of the Moluccas and some of the Pacific islands, and is cul- 
tivated in tropical countries for its nuts, which abound in 
oil, and when dried are used by the Polynesian islanders 
as a substitute for candles, whence they are called candle- 
nuts or candleberries. The oil expressed from the kernels 
dries rapidly, and is known as country walnut or artists' 
oil, or kekune-oil. A. cordata is the Chinese varnish-tree, 
and the oil from its seeds is used in China in painting. 
Aleurpdes (al-u-ro'dez), n. [NL., < Gr. d/>.fp<i- 
dr/f, like flour, < afevpav, flour, + eMof, form.] 
The typical and only genus of the family Aleu- 
rodida;. Also written Aleyrodes. 
Aleurodidae (al-u-rod'i-de). n. pi. [NL.,< Aleit- 
rodes + -idee. ] A family of hemipterous insects, 
of the suborder Phytophthiria,OT plant-lice, re- 
lated to the aphids and scale-insects. These in- 
sects are very small and exceedingly prolific ; they have 
large oval elytra and wings, held nearly horizontal when 
in repose ; the head is small, with divided eyes ; the an- 
tennte are short, 6-jointed, with the rostrum 2-jointed ; and 
the legs are short, simple, with 2-jointed tarsi provided 
with 2 claws. There are about 25 nominal species of the 
single genus Aleurodes. A. proletella resembles a small 
white moth with a dark spot on each wing-cover, and is 
found on celandine, cabbage, oak, etc. The larva is small, 
flat, and oval like a minute scale, as in Psyllidce; the 
pupa is fixed and inclosed in an envelop. 
aleuromancy (a-lu'ro-man-si), n. [< F. aleu- 
romancie, < Gr. afavpo/iavrelav, divination from 
ineal, < iifavpav, meal, + fiavreia, divination.] 
A method of divination by meal or flour, prac- 
tised by the ancients. 
aleuroineter (al-u-rom'e-ter), n. [< Gr. aAevpov, 
flour, esp. wheaten flour, + /lerpov, measure.] 
An instrument invented by M. Boland, about 
1849, for ascertaining the bread-making quali- 
ties of wheaten flour. The indications depend upon 
the expansion of the gluten contained in a given quantity of 
flour when freed of its starch by pulverization and repeated 
washings with water. 
aleurone (a-lu'ron), . [< Gr. afavpov, fine flour, 
+ -one.] The minute albuminoid granules 
(protein) which are found, in connection with 
starch and oily matter, in the endosperm of ripe 
seeds and the cotyledons of the embryo. It is 
considered an inactive resting form of proto- 
plasm. Also called protein-granules. 
