amber 
II. a. 1. Consisting of or resembling amber; 
of the color of amber. 
What time the amtx-r morn 
Forth gushes from beneath a low-hung cloud. 
ZtamiMDR, Ode to Memory. 
2f. Having the odor of ambergris. 
An amber scent of odorous perfume 
Her harbinger. Milton, S. A., 1. 720. 
Amber bronze, a decorative finish for iron surfaces. 
Amber cement. See cement. Amber varnish, amber 
heated with linseed- or nut-oil, and thinned, when cool, 
with turpentine. It is very insoluble, hard, tough, and of 
a permanent color, which is generally too yellow for work 
in delicate tints. It dries very slowly, and forms an ex- 
cellent addition to copal varnishes, making them much 
harder and more durable. 
amber 2 (am'ber), v. t. If. To scent or flavor 
with amber or ambergris. 
Be sure 
The wines be lusty, high, and full of spirit, 
And amber' A alL 
la' nn. and PL, Custom of Country, lii. 2. 
2. To make amber-colored. N. E. D 3. To 
inclose in amber. N. E. D. 
amber-fish (am'ber-fish), . [< amber 2 + fish.} 
A fish of the family Carangidie and genus Serf- 
old. There are several species. They have a fusiform 
contour, but with the snout more or less decurved. The 
Amber-fish (Sertola dartalis). 
(From Report of U. S. Fish Commission, 1884.) 
color is generally blackish, with dark or blackish bands 
encroaching upon the dorsal and anal flns. The splnous 
dorsal fln is well developed. Some of the species are es- 
teemed as food. They vary from about a foot to 4 or 5 
feet in length. Species are found in almost all tropical 
and warm waters, and at least six occur along the coasts 
of the United States. 
ambergris (am'ber-gres), n. [Early mod. E. 
amber-greeee, -griese, -grise, -grease, etc., and 
transposed grisamber, q. v. ; late ME. imber- 
gres; < P. ambre gris, that is, gray amber (am- 
ber 2 , 1), thus distinguished from ambre jaune, 
yellow amber (amber 2 , 2) : ambre, like E. amber 2 , 
orig. used with the sense of 'ambergris'; gris, 
gray, < OHG. gris, G. greis, gray.] A morbid 
secretion of the liver or intestines of the sper- 
maceti whale, the Catodon (I'hyseter) macrocepii- 
altis; a solid, opaque, ash-colored, inflammable 
substance, lighter than water, of a consistence 
like that of wax, and having when heated a 
fragrant odor. It softens in the heat of the hand, melts 
below 212' F. into a kind of yellow resin, and is highly solu- 
ble in alcohol. It is usually found floating on the surface 
of the ocean, or cast upon the shore in regions frequented 
by whales, as on the coasts of the Bahama islands, some- 
times in masses of from 00 to 225 pounds in weight. In 
this substance are found the beaks of the cuttlefish, on 
which the whale is known to feed. It is highly valued as 
a material for perfumery, and was formerly used in medi- 
cine as an aphrodisiac and for spicing wines. Sometimes 
written ambergrise or ambergrease. 
Of ornaments . . . they [the women of El-Medinah] 
have a vast variety, . . . and they delight in strong per- 
fumes, musk, civet, ambergris, attar of rose, oil of jas- 
mine, aloe-wood, and extract of cinnamon. 
R. F. Burton, El-Medinah, p. 282. 
Ambergris is a sort of hezoar, found in the alimentary 
canal of the cachalot, and seemingly derived from the fatty 
matter contained in the Cephalopoda upon which the Ce- 
tacean feeds. Huxley, Anat. Vert., p. 841. 
amber-seed (am'ber-sed), n. The seed of Hi- 
biscus Abelmosehus, a plant cultivated in most 
warm countries. These seeds have a musky odor, and 
are often used to perfume pomatum. The Arabs mix them 
with their coffee. Also called musk-seed and ambrette. 
amber-tree (am 'ber-tre), n. The English name 
for Anthospermum, a genus of African shrubs 
with evergreen leaves, which when bruised 
emit a fragrant odor. 
ambes-acet, ambs-acet (amz'as), n. [< ME. 
ambesas, ambezas, < OF. ambesas, ambezas (F. 
ambesas), < ambes (< L. ambo, both) + as, ace: 
see ambi- and ace."] The double ace, the lowest 
cast at dice ; hence, ill luck, misfortune. Also 
spelled ames-ace. 
Your bagges ben not filled with ambes-as. 
Chaucer, Man of Law's Tale, 1. 26. 
I had rather be in this choice than tlirow ames-ace for 
my life. Shak., All's Well, ii. 3. 
jEschylus, it seems to me, is willing, just as Shakspere is, 
to risk the prosperity of a verse upon a lucky throw of 
words, which may come up the sices of hardy metaphor or 
the ambsace of conceit. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 1st ser., p. 192. 
ambi (am'bi), n. Same as ambe. 
ambi-. [< L. am'bi-, appearing also as ambe-, 
amb-, am-, an-, in OL. also as a prep., am, an, 
168 
around, = Gr. afujii (see amphi-) = Skt. abhi 
(for *ambhi), in comp. abhitas, on both sides, = 
AS. ymbe, ymb, embe, emb, ME. umbe, urn-, Sc. 
urn-, = OS. umbi = OFries. umbc=OD. D. om = 
OHG. umpi, umbi, MHG. umbe, G. urn Icel. 
umb, urn, around, on both sides (see urn-) ; akin 
to L. ambo = Gr. o//^u, both.] A prefix of 
Latin origin, meaning around, round about, 
on both sides: equivalent to amplii-, of Greek 
origin. 
ambidentate (am-bi-den'tat), a. [< LL. ambi- 
dens (-dent-), having (as noun, a sheep having) 
teeth in both jaws (< L. ambi-, on both sides, 
+ dens (dent-) = E. tooth : see dental), + -ate.'] 
Having teeth in both jaws: applied by Dew- 
hurst to certain Cetacea, as porpoises and dol- 
phins. [Rare.] 
ambidexter (am-bi-deks'ter), a. and n. [ML., 
< L. ambi-, around, on both sides, + dexter, the 
right hand : see dexter. Cf . equiv. Gr. a/ifiStl-tof, 
of the same ultimate origin.] I. a. 1. Able 
to use both hands with equal ease ; ambidex- 
trous. 2. Double-dealing; deceitful; tricky. 
= Syn. 1. Ambidexter, Amphiehiral. See amphichiral. 
TL. ii. 1. A person who uses both hands with 
equal facility. Sir T. Brmcne. 2. A double- 
dealer ; one equally ready to act on either side 
in a dispute. Burton. 3. In law, a juror who 
takes money from both parties for giving his 
verdict. 
ambidexterity (am'bi-deks-ter'i-ti), n. [< am- 
bidexter + -ity, after dexterity.'] ' 1. The faculty 
of using both hands with equal facility. 
Ignorant I was of the human frame, and of its latent 
powers, as regarded speed, force, and ambidexterity. 
I)e Quincey. 
2. Double-dealing; duplicity. 
That intricate net of general misery, spun out of his 
D'lsraeli, Amen, of Lit., I. 412. 
ambilevous 
II. M. 1. That which encompasses on all sides, 
as a sphere or the atmosphere. [Rare.] 
Air being a perpetual ambient. 
Wnttiia, Eleni. Archit., p. 7. 
2t. A canvasser, a suitor, or an aspirant. N. 
E. D. 
ambient es, Plural of ambiens. 
ambifarious (am-bi-fa'ri-us), a. [< LL. umbi- 
J'arius, having two sides or meanings, < L. 
ambi-, on both sides, + -fa-rius, < fari, speak. 
Cf. bifarious, multifarious.] Double, or that 
may be taken both ways. Blpunt. [Rare.] 
ambigen, ambigene (am'bi-jen, -jen), . [< 
NL. ambigenas, of two kinds, < L. ambi-, both, 
+ -genus, -born : see -gen, -genous.] Same as 
ambigenal. 
ambigenal (am-bij'e-nal), a. '[As ambigen + 
-al.] Of two kinds : used only in the Newtonian 
phrase ambigenal hyperbola, a hyperbola of the 
third order, having one of its 
infinite legs falling within 
an angle formed by the 
asymptotes, and the other 
without, 
ambigenous (am-bij'e-nus), 
a. [< NL. ambigenus: see 
ambigen and -ous.] Of two 
kinds: in hot., applied to a 
calyx with several series of 
sepals, of which the inner 
are more or less petaloid. 
ambigut (ain'bi-gu), n. [F., 
< ambigu, ambiguous, < L. 
see ambiguous.] 
own crafty ambidexterity. 
3. In Jaw, the taking of money by a juror from 
both parties for a verdict. 
ambidextral (am-bi-deks'tral), a. [< ambidex- 
ter + -a/.] Placed on either side of a given 
thing indifferently : as, " the ambidextral adjec- 
tive, Earle. [Rare. ] 
ambidextrous (am-bi-deks'trus), a. [< ambi- 
dexter + -ous, &ftei dexterous.] 1. Having the 
faculty of using both hands with equal ease 
and dexterity; hence, skilful; facile. 
Nature is prolific and ambidextrous. 
O. W. Holmei, Old Vol. of Life, p. 420. 
2. Practising or siding with both parties; 
double-dealing ; deceitful. 
Shuffling and ambidextrous dealings. 
Sir R. L' Estrange. 
Edward Gosynhyll . . . mending his ambidextrous pen 
for "The Praise of all Women." 
/. D' Israeli, Amen, of Lit., I. 30ft. 
ambidextrously (am-bi-deks'trus-li), adv. 1. 
With both hands; with the dexterity of one 
who can use both hands equally well. 2. In 
a double-dealing way ; cunningly. 
ambidextrousness (am-bi-deks'trus-nes), n. 
Same as ambidexterity, 1, 2. 
ambiens (am'bi-enz), a. used as n. ; pi. ambi- 
entes (am-bi-en'tez). [L., ppr. of ambire: see 
ambient.] In ornitli., a muscle of the leg of cer- 
tain birds : so called from the way in which it 
winds about the limb in passing from the hip 
to the foot. It is the muscle formerly known as the 
gracili* muscle of birds ; but its identity with the mam- 
malian gracilis is questionable. Most birds, as the entire 
order Passeres, have no ambiens. The presence or ab- 
sence of the muscle has lately been made a basis of the 
division of birds into two primary series in Garrod's clas- 
sification, birds having it being termed Hamalogonatce, 
those lacking it Anomalogonata. See these words. 
The ambiens arises from the pelvis about the acetabu- 
lum, and passes along the inner side of the thigh ; its ten- 
don runs over the convexity of the knee to the outer side, 
and ends by connecting with the flexor digitorum pertora- 
tus. . . . When this arrangement obtains, the result is that 
when a bird goes to roost, and squats on its perch, the 
toes automatically clasp the perch by the strain upon the 
ambiens that ensues as soon as the leg is bent upon the 
thigh, and the tarsus upon the leg, the weight of the bird 
thus holding it fast upon its perch. 
Coues, Key to If. A. Birds, p. 193. 
ambient (am'bi-ent), a. andn. [< L. ambien(t-)s, 
ppr. of ambire, go aroundj < amb-, around (see 
ambi-), + ire, go, = Gr. icvat, go, = Skt. and 
Zend -y/J, go: see 170.] I. a. 1. Surrounding; 
encompassing on all sides j investing: applied 
to aeriform fluids or diffusible substances. 
Whose perfumes through the ambient air diffuse 
Such native aromatics. Carew, To G. X. 
That candles and lights burn dim and blue at the appa- 
rition of spirits may be true, if the ambient air be full of 
sulphurous spirits. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err. 
2. Moving round; circling about. N. E. D. 
- Ambigenal Hyperbola. 
An entertainment or feast a. a, hyperbola; . . 
consisting, not of regular asymptotes, 
courses, but of a medley of dishes set on the 
table together. 
ambiguity (am-bi-gu'i-ti), . ; pi. ambiguities 
(-tiz). [< ME. ambiguite (rare), < L. ambigui- 
ta(t-)s, < ambiguus: see ambiguous.] 1. The 
state of being ambiguous ; doubtfulness or un- 
certainty, particularly of signification. 
The words are of single meaning without any ambiguity. 
South. 
If we would keep our conclusions free from ambiguity, 
we must reserve the term we employ to signify absolute 
rectitude solely for this purpose. 
//. Spencer, Social Statics, p. 610. 
2. An equivocal or ambiguous expression. 
Let our author, therefore, come out of his mists and 
ambiguities, or give us some better authority for his un- 
reasonable doubts. Dryden, To Duchess of York. 
ambiguous (am-big'u-us), a. [< L. ambiguus, 
foing about, changeable, doubtful, uncertain, 
ambigere, go about, wander, doubt, < ambi-, 
around, + agere, drive, move: see agent.] 1. 
Of doubtful or uncertain nature ; wanting clear- 
ness or definiteness; difficult to comprehend or 
distinguish; indistinct; obscure. 
Even the most dextrous distances of the old masters 
. . . are ambiguous. Ruftkin, Mod. Painters, I. ii. 2. 
Stratified rocks of ambiguous character. 
Murchison, Silur. Syst., p. 418. (A'. E. D.) 
2. Of doubtful purport; open to various inter- 
pretations; having a double meaning; equivo- 
cal. 
What have been thy answers, what but dark, 
Ambiguous, and with double sense deluding? 
Milton, P. R., i. 435. 
He was recalled by the Duchess, whose letters had 
been uniformly so ambiguous that he confessed he was 
quite unable to divine their meaning. 
Motley, Dutch Republic, II. 23. 
3. Wavering; undecided; hesitating: as, ."am- 
biguous in all their doings," Milton, Eikono- 
klastes (1649), p. 239. [Rare or obsolete.] 
Th' ambiguous god, who ruled her lab'ring breast, 
In these mysterious words his mind exprest. Dryden. 
4. Using obscure or equivocal language. 
What mutterest thou with thine ambiguous mouth? 
Swinburne, Atalanta, 1. 1500. 
= Syn. 2. Equivocal, etc. (see obscure), indeterminate, in- 
definite, indistinct, not clear, not plain, amphibolous, du- 
bious, vague, enigmatical, dark, blind. 
ambiguously (am-big'u-us-li), adv. In an am- 
biguous manner ; with doubtful meaning. 
Why play . . . into the devil's hands 
By dealing so ambiguously ? 
Browning, King and Book, I. 321. 
ambiguousness (am-big'u-us-nes), . The qual- 
ity of being ambiguous ; ambiguity; obscurity. 
ambilevoust (am-bi-le'vus), a. [< L. ambi-, on 
both sides, + l&vus (= Gr. fau6f, for */la<Fof), 
left. Cf. ambidexter.] Unable to use either 
hand with facility : the opposite of ambidextrous. 
[Rare.] 
Some are as Galen hath expressed; that is, ambilevous, or 
left-handed on both sides ; such as with agility and vigour 
have not the use of either. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., p. 189. 
