amphoteric 
que), a compar. form of afujiu = L. unibo, both : 
gee ambi-.] Partly the oue and partly the other ; 
neutral. Nmiirt (1849). Amphoteric reaction, in 
ehe.m., a reaction appearing both acid and alkaline in its 
effect on colors ust'd as tc.sts. 
amphotis (am-fo'tis), . ; pi. auipliotidex (am- 
fot'i-dez). [< tir. a/ufwrtc or aui/iurif, < a/ifl, on 
both sides, + ovq (UT-) = E. ear 1 .] 1. In Or. <ui- 
tiq., a covering of leather or woolen stuff worn 
over the ears by boxers. 2. [cap.'] [NL.] In 
zoiil., a genus of coleopterous insects. 
Ampithoe (am-pith'6-e), n. See Amphithoe. 
ample (am'pl), a. [^late ME. ample, < F. <ttpl<; 
< L. umplus, prob. < am- for ambi-, around (see 
limb/-), + -/iliin for "-jtuluy, full, = E. full 1 : cf. 
L. pleitus, full, and see full* and plenty.] 1. 
Large in dimensions ; of great size, extent, ca- 
pacity, or bulk; wide; spacious; extended. 
All the people in that ample hous 
Did to that image bowe their humble knee. 
Spenser, F. Q., III. xi. 49. 
Of deeper t<x> and ampler Hoods, 
Which, as in mirrors, shew'd the woods. 
Dryden, To Mrs. Anne Killigrew, 1. 112. 
Her waist is ampler than her life, 
For life is but a span. 
0. W. Holmes, My Aunt. 
2. Large in kind or degree ; having full scope 
or extent ; copious ; unrestricted ; unrestrained : 
as, an ample narrative; to give ample praise, 
or do ample justice. 
Were I alone to pass the difficulties, 
And had as ample power as I have will. 
Shak., T. and C., ii. 2. 
The noble and rich may diffuse their ample charities. 
Steele, Guardian, No. 174. 
To him we grant our amplest powers to sit 
Judge of all present, past, and future wit. 
Pope, Dnnciad, ii. 375. 
3. Fully sufficient for any purpose, or for the 
purpose specified; abundant; liberal; plenti- 
ful : as, ample provision for the table. 
An ample number of horses had been purchased in Eng- 
land with the public money. Macaulay, Hist. I in-. . xiv. 
Give ample room and verge enough 
The characters of Hell to trace. 
Gray, The Bard, ii. 1. 
= Syn. Ample, Copious, Plenteous, spacious, roomy, ex- 
tensive, extended, wide, capacious, abundant, sufficient, 
full, enough, unrestricted, plenary, unstinted. (See lists 
under abundant and large.) Ample, in its more common 
uses, has reference to the sufficiency of the supply for 
every need ; copious carries with it the idea of the unfail- 
ingness of the source ; while plenteous usually indicates 
largeness of quantity in actual possession: as, ample 
stores or resources ; a copious supply of materials ; a plen- 
teous harvest. 
By their [the philosophers'] long career of heroic defeat, 
they have furnished us with a concrete demonstration, 
almost superfluously ample, of the relativity of human 
knowledge. J. Fiske, Cosmic Philos., I. 26. 
It [the Union] has been to us all a copious fountain of 
national, social, and personal happiness. D. Webster. 
Like over-ripen'd corn, 
Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteoun load. 
Shak., 2 Hen. VI., 1. 2. 
amplectt (am-plekf), v. t. [< L. amplecti, em- 
brace, wind around, <. am- for ambi-, around 
(see ambi-), + plectere, weave, plait, fold, akin 
to plicare, fold, = Gr. v^enttv, weave : see plait 
and ply.] To embrace ; clasp. 
amplectant (am-plek'tant), a. [More correctly 
"amplectent, (. L. amplecien(t-)s, ppr. of amplecti, 
embrace, clasp, wind around : see amplect. The 
term, -ant instead of -ent is prob. due to the L. 
freq. form amplexari, ppr. amplexan(t-)s : see 
amplex.] Embracing; clasping; specifically, in 
hot., twining about stems or clasping leaf- 
stalks: as, amplectant petioles or tendrils. 
ampleness (am'pl-nes), n. The state or quality 
of being ample; largeness; sufficiency; abun- 
dance. 
amplext (am-pleks'), r. t. [< L. amplexus, pp. 
(or amplexari, freq.) of amplecti, embrace: see 
amplect.] To embrace ; clasp. 
amplexationt (am-plek-sa'shon), n. [< L. as 
if *amplt'xatio(n-), t amplexari, pp. amplexatus: 
see amplex.] An embrace. 
An humble amplexation of those sacred feet. 
Bp. Hall, The Resurrection. 
amplexicaudate (am-plek-si-ka'dat), a. [< 
Nlj.aiii)>lexicaudatus, < L. amplexus, embracing, 
+ cauda, tail : see amplex and caudate.] Having 
the tail entirely enveloped in 
the interfemoral membrane: 
saidof certain bats, 
amplexicaul (am-plek'si-kal), 
a. [< NL. <i/>i/ili i .i i ic/inlix,<'L. 
amplexus, embracing, + caulis, 
a stem : see amplex and caulis.] 
In hot., nearly surrounding or 
embracing the stem, as the 
base of some leaves. 
187 
amplexifoliate (am-plek-si-fo'li-at), a. [< NL. 
amplrxifiiliatux, < L. amplexus, embracing, + 
folium, leaf: see amplex and foliate.] In hot., 
having leaves which clasp the stem. N. E. D. 
ampliatet (am'pli-at), v. t. [< L. umplnttit*. 
pp. of ampliarr, enlarge, < amplux, ample: see 
tun pit:'] To make greater or more ample; en- 
large; extend. 
To maintain and ampliate. the external possessions of 
your eniphv. I'dall, 1'ref. to the Kynges Maiestee. 
ampliate (am'pli-at), a. [< L. ampliatus, pp. : 
see the verb.] Enlarged; dilated; in logic, 
enlarged in scope by a modifying term. See 
ampliation, ampliative. 
ampliation (am-pli-a'shon), n. [< L. amplia- 
tin(n-), < umpliare: see 'ampliate, t.] 1. En- 
largement; amplification. [Bare.] 
Odious matters admit not of an ampliation, but ought to 
be restrained and interpreted in the mildest sense. 
Ayliffe, Parergon, p. 157. 
2. In Horn, law, a delaying to pass sentence ; 
a postponement of a decision in order to obtain 
further evidence. 3. In logic, such a modifica- 
tion of the verb of a proposition as makes the 
subject denote objects which without such modi- 
fication it would not denote, especially things 
existing in the past and future. Thus, in the prop- 
osition, "Some man may be Antichrist," the modal auxil- 
iary may enlarges the breadth of man, and makes it apply 
to future men as well as to those who now exist. 
ampliative (am'pli-a-tiv), a. [< ampliate + 
-ive.] Enlarging; increasing; synthetic. Ap- 
plied (a) In logic, to a modal expression causing an am- 
pliation (see ampliation, 3) ; thus, the word may in "Some 
man may be Antichrist" is an ampliative term. (6) In the 
Kantian philosophy, to a judgment whose predicate is not 
contained in the definition of the subject : more commonly 
termed by Kant a synthetic judgment. [ " Ampliative judg- 
ment " in this sense is Archbishop Thomson's translation of 
Kant's word Erweiterungsurtheil, translated by Prof. Max 
Miiller "expanding judgment."] 
No subject, perhaps, in modern speculation has excited 
an intenser interest or more vehement controversy than 
Kant's famous distinction of analytic and synthetic judg- 
ments, or, as I think they might with far less of ambiguity 
be denominated, explicative and ampliative judgments. 
Sir W. Hamilton. 
amplificatet (am'pli-fi-kat), v. t. [< L. ampli- 
ficatus, pp. of amplificare, amplify: see am- 
plify.] To enlarge or extend; amplify. 
amplification (am*pli-fi-ka'shon),. [< ii.ampli- 
ficatio(n-), < amplificare, pp. "amplificatus, am- 
plify: see amplify.] 1. The act of amplifying 
or enlarging in dimensions; enlargement; ex- 
tension. 
Amplification of the visible figure of a known object. 
Reid, Inq. into the Human Mind. 
Specifically 2. In rhet., expansion for rhetori- 
cal purposes of a narrative, description, argu- 
ment, or other discourse ; a discourse or passage 
so expanded; an addition made in expanding. 
The first expression in which he [Dante] clothes his 
thoughts is always so energetic and comprehensive that 
amplification would only injure the effect. 
Macaulay, Dante. 
3. In logic, an increase in the logical depth 
(comprehension) of a term without any corre- 
sponding decrease of breadth (extension), as 
the expansion of "plane triangle" into "plane 
triangle having the sum of its angles equal to 
two right angles," which is equivalent to it with 
respect to extension. 4. In micros., increase 
of the visual area, as distinguished from magni- 
fication (which see). 
amplificative (am'pli-fi-ka-tiv), a. [< amplifi- 
cate + -ive.] Serving or tending to amplify; 
amplificatory ; ampliative. 
amplificator (am'pli-fi-ka-tor), n. [L., < am- 
plificare, pp. amplificatus, amplify: see am- 
plify.] An amplifier; one who or that which 
enlarges or makes more ample. 
It [the microphone] is really an amplificator of mechani- 
cal vibrations of weak intensity which It changes into un- 
dulatory currents. (ireer, Diet, of Electricity, p. 107. 
amplificatory (am'pli-fik-a-to-ri), a. 
ficate + -ory.] Serving to amplify or enlarge; 
amplificative. 
amplifier (am'pli-fi-er), . 1. One who amplifies 
or enlarges. 
That great citie Rome, whereof they [Romulus and Re- 
mus] were the first amplifiers. 
Bp. Bale, English Votaries, ti. 3. 
There are amplifiers who can extend half a dozen thin 
thoughts over a whole folio. 
Art of Sinking in Poetry, p. 89. 
2. A lens placed in the tube of a microscope 
between the object-glass and the eyepiece. 
See microscope. 
The Amplifier is un achromatic concavo-convex lens of 
small diameter. W, Ii. Carpenter, Micros., $ 82. 
amplitude 
amplify (am'pli-fi), i: ; pret. and pp. amplified, 
ppr. aiii]ilil'i/iH(/. [OIK. inti/i/it'i/iii, iiiiijilifirn, 
< OF. (and F.) amplifier = Pr. Sp. Pg. ampfy/loar 
= It. amplificare, < L. nuiplifii-ure, enlarge (cf. 
niiiplififHH, splendid), < iiHiplux, large, +facere, 
make: see ample and -fy.] I. traim. 1. To 
make large or larger in volume, extent, capa- 
city, amount, importance, etc. ; enlarge or make 
more ample. 
All concaves ... do amplify the sound at the coming 
out. Bacon, Nat. Hist., 140. 
"Troilus and Crcssida" was written by a Lombard au- 
thur, but miii-h aimtiijit'd by our English translator. 
Dryden, Pref. to Fables. 
2. To expand in stating or describing; treat 
copiously, so as to present in every point of 
view and in the strongest lights. 
I would not willingly seem to flatter the present [age] 
by amplifying the diligence and true judgment of those 
servitours who have lafxmred in the vineyard. 
Sir J. Davies. 
= Syn. To expand, develop, extend, dilate, magnify. 
II. intrans. If. To grow or become ample or 
more ample. 
Strait was the way at first, withouten light, 
But further in did further amplify. 
Fairfax, tr. of Tasso, x. 186. 
2. To discourse more at length ; speak largely 
or copiously ; be diffuse in argument or descrip- 
tion ; expatiate ; dilate : commonly with on or 
upon before an object: as, to amplify on the 
several topics of discourse. 
You will find him 
A sharp and subtle knave ; give him but hints, 
And he will amplify. 
Fletcher, Spanish Curate, iv. 2. 
When you affect to amplify on the former branches of 
a discourse, you will often lay a necessity on yourself of 
contracting the latter. Watts, Logic. 
Ampligulares (am'pli-gu-la'rez), . pi. [NL., 
< L. ampins, large, + </ula, throat : see ample 
and gula, gular."] In Sundevall's classification 
of birds, a cohort of Anisodactyli, of an order 
Volucres, composed of the families Trogonidce or 
trogons, CaprimulgidtB or goatsuckers, and Cyp- 
selida^ or swifts : synonymous with Hiantes, 2. 
Amplipalates (am^pli-pa-la'tez), n. pi. [NL., 
< L. amplus, large, +palattim, palate : see am- 
ple and palate.'] In Sundevall's classification 
of birds, a group of fringilline oscine Passeres, 
consisting of the grosbeaks and typical finches. 
amplitude (am'pli-tud), n. [< L. amplitudo, < 
amplus, large : see ample and -tude.] 1. The 
state or quality of being ample in size ; ex- 
tension in space, especially breadth or width ; 
largeness ; extent. 
It is in the power of princes and estates to add ampli- 
tude and greatness to their kingdoms. 
Bacon, Essays, xxxix. 
The cathedral of Lincoln ... is a magnificent struc- 
ture, proportionable to the amplitude of the diocese. 
Fuller, Worthies, Lincolnshire. 
2. The state of being ample in amount ; breadth 
in a figurative sense ; fullness ; abundance ; 
copiousness. 
It is in those things . . . that the amplitude of the Di- 
vine benignity is perceived. 
Paley, Nat. Theol. (ed. 1879), p. 412. (iV. E. D.) 
3. Largeness of mind; extent of mental ca- 
pacity or of intellectual power; breadth of 
thought. 
If our times are sterile in genius, we must cheer us with 
books of rich and believing men who had atmosphere and 
amplitude about them. Emerson, Books. 
4. In math. : (a) In algebra, a positive real 
number multiplied by a root of unity. The 
positive real number is said to be the ampli- 
tude of the product. (6) In elliptic integrals, 
the limit of integration when the integral is 
expressed in the usual trigonometric form. 5. 
In astron., the arc of the horizon intercepted 
between the east or west point and the center 
of the sun or of a star at its rising or setting. 
At the rising of a star its amplitude is eastern or ortive ; 
at the setting it is western, occiduous or occasive. It is 
also northern or southern when north or south of the 
equator. The amplitude of a fixed star remains nearly 
the same all the year round. The sun at the solstices is 
at its maximum amplitude, and at the equinoxes it has 
no amplitude. Amplitude compass, an azimuth com- 
pass whose zeros of graduation are at the east and west 
points, to facilitate the reading of the amplitudes of ce- 
lestial bodies. Amplitude of a simple oscillation or 
vibration, properly, the distance from the middle to 
the extremity of an oscillation ; but the term is usually 
applied to the distance from one extremity of the swing 
to the other. Amplitude of the range of a projec- 
tile, the horizontal line subtending the path of a body 
thrown, or the line which measures the distance it has 
moved ; the range. Hyperbolic or Gudermannian 
amplitude of any quantity , the angle whose tun 
gent is the hyperbolic sine of . Magnetical ampli- 
tude, the arc of the horizon betw-een the sun or a star at 
rising or setting and the east or west point of the horizon, 
