ametrometer 
adjustment to test the degree of refraction in 
the patient's sight. 
ametropia (am-e-tro'pi-a), . [NL., < Gr. a/ic- 
rpof, irregular, + u^i (UTT-), eye.] A condition 
of the eye which is abnormal with respect to 
refraction : the opposite of cmmetropia. It com- 
prises myopia, hypermetropia, presbyopia, and 
astigmatism. See these words. 
ametropic (am-e-trop'ik), a. Pertaining to or 
produced by ametropia. 
ametrous (a-me'trus), a. [< Gr. a- priv. + 
fiffrpa, uterus : see matrix.'] In teratol., without 
a uterus. Sud. Soc. Lex. 
amevet, ' Same as amove 1 . 
amgarn (am'giini), n. [W. m</nnt, a ferrule.] 
In arclxcol., a kind of celt supposed to have 
served as the ferrule of a spear-shaft. Such celts 
commonly have a loop on one side, and in some instances 
a ring has been found passing through the loop. 
Amharic (am-har'ik), n. [< Amkara, the cen- 
tral division of Abyssinia.] The modern culti- 
vated language of Abyssinia. 
Amharic . . . has been since A. 1). 1300 the language 
of the Court and Nobles [of Abyssinia]. 
R. N. Oust, Mod. Langs, of Africa, p. 88. 
Aniherstia (am-hers'ti-ii), n. [NL., named in 
honor of Countess Amherst, a zealous promoter 
of botany.] A leguminous arboreous genus of 
Burmese plants, of a single species, A. nobilis, 
with very large flowers, bright vermilion spot- 
ted with yellow, in long pendulous racemes. 
The flowers are considered sacred, and are laid as an 
offering before the shrines of Buddha. 
Amia (am'i-a), n. [NL., < Gr. an'ia, a kind of 
tunny (see def . ) ; applied by Linneeus to an 
American genus. ] 1 . A genus of ganoid fishes, 
typical of the family Amiidce, Amia calva being 
the only extant species. It inhabits the fresh waters 
of North America, and is known as the bowfin, dogflsh, 
mudfish, lawyer, brindle, grindle, and John A. Grindle. 
The fish known as amia to the ancients was a very differ- 
ent one. Also called Amiatus. See cut under Amiidce. 
2. A genus of acanthopterygian fishes : synony- 
mous with Apogon. Gronovius. 
amiability (a"mi-a-bil'i-ti), . [< amiable: see 
-bility. Cf. OF. amiabl'ete.] \. The quality of 
being amiable ; excellence of disposition ; amia- 
bleness. 
Suetonius mentions, as an instance of the amiability of 
Titus, that he was accustomed to jest with the people 
during the combats of the gladiators. 
Lecky, Europ. Morals, I. 304. 
2. Lovableness; amability. N. E. D. 
amiable (a'mi-a-bl), a. [< ME. amiable, amyable, 
aimiable, < OF. aimiable, amiable, amiaule, ami- 
able, lovely, friendly, < LL. amicabilis (> E. 
amicable), friendly, < L. amicare, make friendly, 
< amicus, a friend, prop, an adj., friendly, loving. 
< amare, love: see amor, amour, etc. The sense 
'lovable, lovely' is due to a confusion with F. 
aimable, OF. amnble, < L. amabilis, lovable, love- 
ly, < amare, as above.] 1. Friendly; kindly; 
amicable. 
Lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife. 
Shak., M. W. of W., ii. 2. 
That foreign eccentricity to which their nation is so 
amiable. Hoit'ellx, A Foregone Conclusion, p. 72. 
2. Exciting or tending to excite love or delight ; 
lovable; lovely; beautiful; delightful; pleas- 
ing. 
How amiable are thy tabernacles, Lord. Ps. Ixxxiv. 1. 
No company can be more amiable than that of men of 
sense who are soldiers. Steele, Spectator, No. 154 
I found my wife and daughter well, the latter grown 
quite a woman, with many amiable accomplishments ac- 
quired in my absence. Franklin, Autobiog., p. 314. 
3. Specifically, possessing or exhibiting agree- 
able moral qualities, as sweetness of temper, 
kind-heartedness, and the like; having an ex- 
cellent disposition : as, anawjafttegirl; an ami- 
able disposition. 
This [word] and " lovely " have been so far differentiated 
that amiable never expresses now any other than moral 
loveliness; which in "lovely" is seldom or never implied. 
Abp. Trench. 
He is so amiable that you will love him, if ever you be- 
come acquainted with him. 
Jefferno-u., in Bancroft's Hist. Const., II. 353. 
His [Fox's] private friends . . . maintained that ... if 
he was misled, he was misled by amiable feelings, by a 
desire to serve his friends and by anxious tenderness for 
his children. Macaulay, Lord Holland. 
= Syn. Engaging, benignant, sweet-tempered, kind-heart- 
ed, lovely in character. 
amiableness (a'mi-a-bl-nes), n. The quality 
of being amiable ; loveliness ; amiability. 
amiably (a'mi-a-bli), adv. 1. In an amiable 
manner; in a manner to excite or attract love. 
2f. Pleasingly; delightfully. [Rare.] 
The palaces rise so amiably. 
Sir T. Herbert, Travels, p. 12H. 
175 
They [the parables] are amiably perspicuous, vigorous, 
and bright. Blaelcu'all, .Sacred Classics, I. 380. 
Amiadas (a-nu'a-de), n. pi. Same as Amiidce. 
amiant, amianth. (am'i-ant, -anth), n. [Prop. 
amiant, < ME. antyaunt, < OF. 'amfante, mod. 
F. amiante, < L. amiantus, < Gr. a/tiavToc. : see 
amiantus.] Same as amiantus. 
amiantiform, amianthiform (am-i-an'ti-, -thi- 
fdrm), a. [< NL. amiantus, -thus, + L. forma, 
form.] Having the form or likeness of ami- 
antus. 
amiantine, amianthine (am-i-an'tin, -thin), a. 
[< amiant, -anth, + -tree 1 .] Relating to or of 
the nature of amiantus. 
amiantoid, amianthoid (am-i-an'toid, -thoid), 
a. [< amiant, -anth, + -aid.] Resembling ami- 
antus in form. 
amiantoidal, amianthoidal (am"i-an-toi'-, 
-thoi'dal), a. [< amiantoid + -a?.] Same as 
amiantoid. 
amiantus, amianthus (am-i-an'tus, -thus), . 
[The form amianthus is recent and erroneous, 
simulating Gr. avdof, a flower (cf . amaranth) ; 
L. amiantus, <Gr. a/tiavrof, undefiled, unsoiled; 
6 auiavroc. MBor,, a greenish stone like asbestos 
(Dioscorides) ; < a- priv. + /uavrAg, stained, de- 
filed, verbal adj. of fuaiveiv, stain, defile: see 
miasm.] 1. Flexible asbestos, earth-flax, or 
mountain-flax; a mineral somewhat resem- 
bling flax, and usually grayish- or greenish- 
white in color. It is composed of delicate filaments, 
very flexible and somewhat elastic, often long and resem- 
bling threads of silk. It is incombustible, and has been 
wrought into cloth and paper with the aid of flax, which is 
afterward removed by a red heat. It is also employed for 
lamp-wicks and for filling gas-grates, the flbers remain- 
ing red-hot without being consumed. It is a finer form 
of the variety of hornblende called asbestos (which see). 
The name is also sometimes extended to include the soft, 
silky, and inelastic form of serpentine called chrysotile. 
Much amber full of insects, and divers things of woven 
amianthus. Evelyn, Diary, March 23, 1646. 
Serpentine . . . also delicately fibrous, and then called 
amianthus or chrysotile. 
Dana, Manual of Geol. (ed. 1862), p. 61. 
Hence 2. Thread or fabrics made from the 
mineral amiantus. 
Also sometimes called amiant, amianth. 
Amiatus (am-i-a'tus), n. Same as Amia, 1. 
amicability (am'i-ka-biri-ti), n. [< amicable: 
see -bility, and cf. amiability.'] The quality of 
being amicable ; amicableness. 
amicable (am'i-ka-bl), a. [< L. amicabilis, 
friendly ; whence also OF. aimiable, > E. ami- 
able, q. v.] Characterized by or exhibiting 
friendliness, peaceableness, or harmony ; friend- 
ly ; peaceable ; harmonious in social or other 
relations. 
Plato and Tully, it should seem, thought truth could 
never be examined with more advantage than amidst the 
amicable opposition of well-regulated converse. 
Sir T. Fitz-Osborne, Letters. 
By amicable collisions they have worn down their as- 
perities and sharp angles. 
Sterne, Sentimental Journey, p. 54. 
Amicable action, in law, an action commenced and 
prosecuted according to a mutual understanding, for the 
purpose of obtaining a decision of the courts on some 
matter of law. Amicable compounder. See com- 
pounder. Amicable numbers, in arith., any pair of 
numbers each of which is equal to the sum of the ali- 
quot parts of the other, that is, is equal to the sum of all 
the numbers which will divide the other without remain- 
der : as, 284 (1 + 2 +4 + 5 +10 +11 + 20 + 22+ 44 + 55 + 110 
[the aliquot parts of 220] = 284) and 220 (1 + 2 + 4+ 71+142 
[the aliquot parts of 284] = 220). The next higher pair of 
amicable numbers is 17,296 and 18,416. = Syn. Amicable, 
Friendly, kind, neighborly, cordial. Amicable is often so 
weak as to be almost negative ; friendly is positive. Ami- 
cable simply notes freedom from hard feeling, disagree- 
ment, or quarrel ; hence we speak of an amicable action 
at law, amicable relations between families and between 
states. Friendly implies a degree of active interest. All 
nations should be on amicable terms ; few are enough alike 
to be really friendly. A micable also implies close relation 
or contact ; friendly feelings may exist toward those of 
whom we have only heard. 
Enter each mild, each amicable guest. 
Pope, Eloisa to Abelard, 1. 301. 
It is in the time of trouble . . . that the warmth of the 
friendly heart and the support of the friendly hand ac- 
quire increased value and demand additional gratitude. 
Bp. Maid. 
amicableness (am'i-ka-bl-nes), n. [< amicable 
+ -ness.] The quality of being amicable, 
peaceable, friendly, or disposed to peace ; a 
disposition to preserve peace and friendship; 
friendliness. 
Give not over your amicable ties* for that ; their policie 
is no warrant against your dutie. 
J. Saltmarsh, Smoke in the Temple (1646), p. 54. 
amicably (am'i-ka-bli), adv. In an amicable 
or friendly manner; with harmony; without 
controversy. 
1. Amice around the neck. 
2, Amice worn as a hood. 
amid 
I could wish to see the disturbances of Europe once 
more amicably adjusted. 
Goldsmith, Citizen of the World, Ixxxv. 
amicalt (am'i-kal), a. [= F. antical, < L. amicalis 
(post-classical), friendly, < arnicas, friend: see 
amiable.] Friendly; amicable. 
An amicat call to repentance. 
W. Watson, in Athen. Oxon., iii. 
amice 1 (am'is), . [Early mod. E. amice, amyce, 
ii in in, antes, amisse, amys, amysse, amesse, < ME. 
amyse, an altered form (perhaps by confusion 
with amisse, E. amice 2 ) of earlier amyt, E. 
amit 1 , < OF. amit, mod. F. amict = Sp. amito = 
Pg. amicto = It. amitto, ammitto, amice, < L. 
amictus, a mantle, cloak, ML. an amice, lit. that 
which is thrown or wrapped around one, < ami- 
cire, pp. amictus, throw around, wrap around, 
< am-, ambi-, around, +jacere, throw: see jet 1 ."] 
If. A loose wrap or cloak. 
A palmer's amice wrapped him round. 
With a wrought Spanish baldrick bound. 
Smtl, L. of the L. M., ii. 19. 
2. In the Rom. Cath. Ch. and in many Angli- 
can churches, an oblong piece of linen, large 
enough to cover the shoulders, worn with the 
upper edge fastened round the neck, under the 
alb, whenever the 
latter vestment is 
used. Formerly it 
was drawn over the 
head until the more 
solemn parts of the 
mass were reached 
when it was turned 
down ; this custom is 
still partially observed 
by friara not wearing 
the clerical cap or bi- 
retta. It is usually 
embroidered with a large cross, and formerly had an ap- 
parel of orphrey-work, which on being turned down served 
as an ornamental collar. It symbolizes the helmet of sal- 
vation. See anmtus. 
Also written amict. 
amice 2 (am'is), n. [Early mod. E. amice, amise, 
amis, amegs, antes, amys, antos, ammes, ammas, 
etc., and (after ML., Sp., etc.) almuce, < ME. 
amisse, < OF. aumusse, mod. F. 
aumuce, aumusse = Pr. almussa 
= Sp. almucio = Pg. mursa = lt. 
(obs.) mozza, in ML. almussa, 
almussia, almucia, almicia, al- 
musum, almutia, almutium, ar- 
mutia, a cape, hood, amice; cf. 
dim. Pr. almucela = OPg. al- 
mucella, almocella = Sp. almo- 
ccla, OSp. alimicella, almocala, 
with diff. term. OF. aumucette 
= Sp. muceta = It. mozzetta; 
also (< ML. almutia, armutia) 
in Teut. : OHG. almuz, armuz, 
MHG. mutze, miitze, G. miitze, 
OD. alnmtse, amutse, mutse, D. 
muts, Sc. mutch, a cap, hood: 
see mutch. The ult. origin is 
doubtful ; al- maybe the Ar. ar- 
ticle. For the different senses, 
pf fnl fnnfi /V)*>1 nit nf tjio Priest wearing the 
ci. cap*, cape 1 , cope 1 -, uit. or tne A mice. (From a se- 
same origin.] A furred hood puicnrai brass.) 
having long ends hanging down 
the front of the dress, something like the stole, 
worn by the clergy from the thirteenth to the 
fifteenth century for warmth when officiating 
in the church during inclement weather, it is 
still carried, thrown over the left arm, as a part of the 
ceremonial costume by the canons of certain cathedral 
churches in the north of France. The hood has become a 
pocket for the breviary. Also written almuce, aumuce. 
amict (am'ikt), n. Same as amice 1 . 
amictus (a-mik'tus), n. ; pi. amictus. [L. : see 
amice 1 .] 1. InBom. CKfi^., anyuppergarment, 
such as a mantle or cloak: a general term, in- 
cluding the toga and all garments other than 
those worn next to the body. 2. Eccles., the 
name given on the continent of Europe and 
sometimes in England to the amice. See am- 
ice 1 , 2. 3. [cap.] In zool., a genus of dipter- 
ous insects. 
amicus CUriae (a-mi'kus ku'ri-e). [L., a friend 
of the court: amicus, a friend; curia', gen. of 
curia, court: see amy and curia.] In law, a 
friend of the court ; a person in court who, as 
a friend and not in virtue of any interest or 
employment in the cause, informs the judge 
of an error he has noticed, or makes a sugges- 
tion in aid of the duty of the court. 
amid (a-mid'), prep. phr. as adv. and prep. [< 
ME. amidde, amydde, amidden, earlier on midde, 
on midden, < AS. on-middan, on middan : on, E. 
a 3 , in ; middan, dat. (in def. inflection) of midde, 
adj., mid, middle: see mid, adj.; mid, prep., is 
