amnion 
brates which possess an itniniun arc termed Amniimntn . 
those which dn imt, Anamniorutta: UTIDS coincident re- 
spectively with Allantitiifea iin<l Attftliantoidea. 
2. In entom., a membrane which surrounds the 
larva of many insects, as the millepeds (luHdas), 
for some time after they are hatched from the 
egg. It is regarded by some as the analogue 
of the amnion of a vertebrate. 
In many insects anil in the higher vertebrates, the em- 
liryn acquire! a special protective envelope, the aiiinimi, 
which is thrown off at birth. Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 67. 
3. A reflected portion of a membrane, in ascid- 
ians, which lines the inner wall of the ovisac, 
and forms a kind of amniotic investment of the 
embryo. 
It is the cavity left between this amnion and the inner 
hemisphere of the blastoderm which becomes the parental 
blond-sinus. Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 533. 
4. In hot., a name formerly given to the fluid 
contents of the embryo sac. 
Sometimes erroneously written amnios. 
False amnion, the part of the original amnionic mem- 
brane left lining the chorion after the amnionic sac proper 
is formed by a duplication and inversion of a part of the 
original membrane. It disappears either by absorption 
or by taking part in the development of the chorion. 
Also called eenitula (<. 
Amnionata (am^ni-o-na'ta), n. pi. [NL. ; 
prop. "Amniata or Amniota ; { amnion + -ata.] 
A name given by Haeckel to those vertebrates 
which have an amnion. It corresponds to Allan- 
toidea, and is coextensive with Mammalia and Saurop- 
gida of Huxley, or mammals, birds, and reptiles, the am- 
phibians and fishes being termed Anamnionata (which see). 
Also called Atnniota. 
amnionic (am-ni-on'ik), a. [The proper form 
would be *amniae; < amnion (amni-ori) + -ic 
(-<zc).] Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of 
an amnion; amniotic. 
In a number of Insect* belonging to different orders of 
the class, an amniottir, investment is developed from the 
extra-neural part of the blastoderm. 
Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 220. 
amnionless (am'ni-on-les), a. [< amnion , -t- 
-less.] Having no amnion ; anamniotic. 
amnios (am'ni-os), n. [= F. amnios.'] An er- 
roneous form for amnion. 
Amniota (am-ni-6'ta), n. pi. [NL., neut. pi. of 
*amniotus, < Gr. as if *a[iwuT6<;, < a/tviov, am- 
nion.] Same as Amnionata. 
amniotic (am-ni-ot'ik), a. [As Amniota + -ic ; 
= F. amnlotique. ] 1 . Pertaining to the amnion ; 
contained in the amnion : as, the amniotic fluid. 
2. Possessing an amnion; belonging to the 
Amnionata, as a mammal, bird, or reptile. See 
Amnionata. 
Also amnic. 
Amniotic cavity, the hollow of the amnion, containing 
the amniotic liquid and the fetus. Amniotic folds. 
See amnion. Amniotic liquid, amniotic fluid, or 
liquor fl-mnll, the liquid in which the fetus is suspended 
by the umbilical cord. See ctnmi'on. Amniotic sac. () 
The amnion, invested externally by the chorion ; the lin- 
ing of the "bag of waters." ((>) In bot., the embryo-sac. 
[No longer used.] 
amock, a. or adv. See amuck. 
amoeba (a-me'bii), n. ; pi. amoebas, amoeba; 
(-baz, -be). [Nil'., < Gr. afioijiij, change^ ex- 
change, < aueifietv, change, exchange, akin to 
L. movers, ; > E. move, q. v.] 1. [cap.'] A ge- 
nus of microscopic rhizopodous Protozoa, of 
which A. difflnens, common in all fresh-water 
ponds and ditches, is the type, it exists as a mass 
of protoplasm, and moves about and grasps particles of 
food, etc., by means of pseudopodia, or finger-like pro- 
cesses, which it forms by protruding portions of its body. 
From thus continually altering its shape it received its for- 
mer name of proteun animalcule. Within the body are 
usually found a nucleus and nucleolus, and certain clear 
spaces, termed contractile vesicles, from their exhibiting 
rhythmical movements of contraction and dilatation. 
There is no distinct mouth, and food seized by means of 
the pseudopodia is engulfed within the soft sarcode-body 
and by any portion of its 
surface, the apertures 
by which the food is 
taken in closing up im- 
mediately after its re- 
ception. Reproduction 
takes place in several 
ways, but chiefly by fis- 
sion, whereby an amoeba 
simply divides into two 
portions, each of which 
becomes a distinct ani- 
malcule. Several other 
species have been described ; but there is reason to think 
that some of these, at least, may be early forms of other 
and more complex animals, or even of plants. The term 
appears to have been first used by Ehrenberg in 1830, as 
the name of a genus of his Polygatttrica. 
2. An animal of the genus Amoeba. 3. Any 
single cell or corpuscle of one of the higher 
animals; a cell regarded as itself an animal, 
and an individual of the morphological grade 
of development of an amojboid organism. 
[Bare.] 
179 
Amoebae (.a-nuVbe), . pi. [NL., pi. of 
In zoiil., the order to which the genus Amoeba 
belongs. 
Amoebaea (am-e-be'a), n. pi. [NL., neut. pi. 
of L. amoelioi'us, alternate : see ammbean 1 .] Tne 
name given by Ehreuberg to the amoebiform 
organisms which he placed in his Poli/i/astrim. 
amoebaeum (am-e-be'um), n. ; pi. amaebosa (-a). 
[L., neut. of OtlKSbaxiS, < Gr. a/ioifiaio/;, recipro- 
cal, alternate, < a/ioijtii, change, alternation : see 
amteba.] A poem in which persons are repre- 
sented as speaking alternately, as in the third 
and seventh eclogues of Virgil. 
amoeba-movement (a-me'ba-mov"ment), n. A 
movement of naked membraneless protoplasmic 
bodies, consisting of rapid changes in external 
contour, extension and contraction, and a creep- 
ing about as if flowing. See amoeboid move- 
ments, under amceboitl, a. 
amoeban (a-me'ban), a. Of or pertaining to the 
amoebas; amoebous. 
Amoebea (am-e-be'a), n. pi. [NL., < Amosba, 
q. v.] An order of Ithizopoda, of which the 
genus Amoeba is the type. See Amoeba. 
amoebean 1 (am-f-be'an), a. [< L. amoeb<eus,<. Gr. 
afioi/iaiof: see amoebatum.] Alternately answer- 
ing or responsive; of the nature of an amoa- 
basum (which see). Also spelled amebean. 
Aiiuebean verses and the custom of vying ... by turns. 
J. Warton. 
Erelong the pastoral and town idyls of Theocritus, with 
their anurbean dialogue and elegant occasional songs, won 
the ear of both the fashionable and critical worlds. 
Stedman, Viet. Poets, p. 207. 
amoebean 2 (am-e-be'an), a. [< Amoebea + -an.} 
Of or relating to the Amoebea. 
AmoebidaB (a-me'bi-de), n. pi. [NL., < Amoeba 
+ -wto.] The typical family of the Amoeba:, 
Amoebina, or Anueboidea, mainly represented 
by the genus Amoeba, as distinguished from 
such amoaboids as are members of Difflugia and 
Arcella, or such other rhizopods as the sun-ani- 
malcules, as Actinophrys sol, etc. 
amoebiform (a-me'bi-f6rm), a. and . [< amoe- 
ba + -form.] I. a. Amosba-like; undergoing 
frequent changes of shape, like an amoeba ; re- 
lated to the amoebas. 
The corpuscle, in fact, has an inherent contractility, like 
one of those low organisms, known as an Amoeba, whence 
its motions are frequently called amoebiform. 
Huxley, Crayfish, p. 177. 
II. n. An amoeba, or an animal or corpuscle 
of amoeban character. See anweba, 3. 
Other genera of the aniaebiforms. 
Coves, Key to N. A. Birds, p. 192. 
Amoebina (anve-bi'na), n. pi. [NL., < Amoeba 
+ -ina.] See Amoeboidea. 
amoebodont (a-me'bo-dont), a. [< Gr. a/toifji/, 
change, alternation, + 6<5o(>f (odovr-) = E. tooth.} 
A term descriptive of a form of lophodont denti- 
tion in which the crests or folds of the crowns 
of the molar teeth are alternate: opposed to 
antiodont. 
amoeboid (a-me'boid), a. and n. [< amoeba + 
-oid.~] I. a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling 
an amoeba : as, amoeboid masses. 
It is not uncommon for portions of the protoplasmic 
substance to pass into an amoeboid condition. 
W. B. Carpenter, Micros., 335. 
The blood-corpuscles of Solen legumen, . . . besides 
colorless amoeboid forms, comprise a vast number of oval 
ones, deeply stained by haemoglobin. 
E. R. LanJcerter, Pref. to Gegenbaur's Comp. Anat, p. 10. 
Amoeboid cell. See cell. Amoeboid movements, con- 
stant changes of shape of an anueba or other single-celled 
organism, as an ovum, a cytode, or a formative cell of any 
of the higher animals ; especially, such movements as are 
exhibited, for example, by the white corpuscles of the blood 
of man, the resemblance of such objects to an amceba be- 
ing striking, and their morphological characters being 
nearly identical. 
II. n. An amoebiform organism ; one of the 
Amasbidce. 
Amoeboidea (am-e-boi'df-a), n. pi. [NL., < 
Amoeba + -oidea.] An order of amcebiform 
rhizopodous Protozoa, of which the genus Amae- 
Amcebze (much magnified). 
Radiolaria by the absence of a complete calcareous or si- 
licious shell. The terms Antaeboidea, Am&bina, Amcebcea, 
and Anurbce'(aee Amoeba) are more or less nearly synony- 
mous ; but the definition of the groups of amoebiform ani- 
mals varies with almost every leading writer. See am&ba. 
amoebous (a -me 'bus), w. [< amoeba + -ous.] 
Of or pertaining to the genus Amosba; resem- 
bling an amceba in structure. Also amoeban. 
amoebula (a-me'bu-la), . ; pi. ameebulos (-le). 
[NL., dim. of amoeba^ A little amoeba. E. K. 
Lank-ester, Encyc. Brit., XIX. 840. 
amoenomania (a-me-no-ma'ni-a), n. [NL., < L. 
amtuHug, pleasant (see umene), + manin, < Gr. 
among 
uavia, mania.] A form of mania in which the 
hallucinations are of an agreeable nature. 
amoindert, v. t. [< F. nmoiiitlrir, lessen, < a, to, 
+ iHohiilrr, < L. minor, less.] To lessen or di- 
minish. Donne. 
amok (a-mok'), a. or adv. See amuck. 
aniole (a-mo'le), . [Mex.] 1. A Mexican name 
for the roots of various species of plants which 
have detergent properties and are used as a 
substitute for soap. 2. The name of several 
plants which furnish these roots, in New Mexico 
and adjacent parts of Mexico the most common species 
is the lechuguilla, A'.i<n~<- tatfrattmtto. In California the 
iiaitir is given especially to Chlorogalum ixnitfridianum, 
a liliaceous plant having large bulbs coated with coarse 
brown fibers, of which mattresses are made. See soap-plaiit. 
amolisht, ' * [< OF. amolisx-, stem of certain 
parts of amolir, < L. amoliri, remove with an 
effort, < a for ab, away, + moliri, exert one's 
self upon, move, < moles, a heavy mass: see 
molcS. Cf. demolish.] To remove forcibly ; put 
away with an effort. [Rare.] 
amolitiont, [< L- amolitio(n-), < amoliri, pp. 
amolitns, remove: see amolish.] A putting 
away; removal. [Rare.] 
amollisht, v. t. [< ME. amolisshen, < OF. amo- 
liss-, stem of certain parts of amolir, F. amol- 
lir, soften, < a- (< L. ad, to) + molir, < L. mol- 
lire, soften, < mollis, soft: see moll, mollify.] 
To soften ; mollify ; mitigate. 
ainollishmentt (a-mol'ish-ment), . [Also writ- 
ten amolishment, < F. amollissement : see amol- 
lish and -ment.] Softening; mitigation. Donne. 
(N. E. n.) 
Amomum (a-mo'mum), n. [L., also amomon, < 
Gr. afiu/jov, applied to an Eastern spice-plant ; 
origin uncertain.] A genus of plants, natural 
order Scitaminece, belonging to tropical regions 
of the old world, and allied to the ginger-plant. 
They are herbaceous, with creeping rootstocks and large 
sheathing leaves, and are remarkable for the pungency 
and aromatic properties of their seeds. Several species 
yield the cardamoms and grains of paradise of commerce, 
amonestet, v. t. An old form of admonish. 
among (a-mung'), prep, and adv., orig. prep, 
phr. [In early mod. E. in two mixed forms: 
(1) among, < ME. among, amonge, among, 
amange, < AS. among (rare and late), contr. of 
usual onmang, prep. ; (2) emong, < ME. emong, 
emonge, emang, imong, ymong (enmong, inmong), 
< AS gemang(= OFries. mong), prep. ; both on- 
mang and gemang are contractions of the full 
form ongemang, prep., originally separated, on 
gemang (orig. followed by gen.), lit. in (the) 
crowd or company (of): on, prep., on, in (see 
-3) ; gemang, a crowd, assembly: see meng and 
mingle. Cf. the extended form amongst.] I. 
prep. 1. In or into the midst of ; in association 
or connection with : as, he fell among thieves ; 
one among this people. 
A practice there is among us to determine doubtful 
matters by the opening of a book. 
Sir T. Brownt, Vulg. Err. 
I stood 
Amami them, but not of them. 
Byron, Childe Harold, iii. 113. 
She dwelt ainonfl the untrodden ways 
Beside the springs of Dove. Wordiicorth, Lucy. 
2. In the number of ; of or out of. 
My beloved is ... the chiefest among ten thousand. 
Cant. v. 10. 
Blessed art thou among women. Luke i. 28. 
The years during which Bacon held the Great Seal were 
amony . . . the most shameful in English history. Every- 
thing at home and abroad was mismanaged. 
JHacaiday, Lord Bacon. 
3. By the joint action or consent of ; with the 
common aid or knowledge of : as; settle it among 
yourselves ; the mischief was done among you. 
You have, avwng you, killed a sweet and innocent lady. 
Shak., Much Ado, v. i. 
4. To each of; by or for distribution to: as, 
he gave five dollars to be divided among them. 
What are they [five loaves and two fishes] among so 
many ? John vi. 9. 
5f. In the circumstances of ; during the time 
or term of; in the course of. 
I never went to any place among all my life . . . which 
I had before . . . thought of. 
Baxter, in Tulloch's Eng. Puritanism, p. 306. (!f. E. D.) 
II. t adv. 1. Together (with something). 
Dogttnr, temper well thi tonge, 
& vse not inonny tallis [many tales] ; 
For lessynggis [leasings] wyll lepe out amonge, 
That oftyn brewis ballys [bales, mischiefs]. 
The Good Wt/fe wold a Pylgremaije, 1. 85. (E. E. T. S., 
[extra ser. VIII., i. 41.) 
2. At intervals ; here and there. 
They [the fowles] sate amonge 
Upon my chambre roofe without*. 
Upon the tyles over al aboute. 
Chaucer, Death of Blanche, 1. 298. 
