apheretically 
apheretically (af-e-ret'i-kal-i), adv. After the 
manner of an ai>heresis; by omitting the first 
syllable. Also spelled ajihim'tically. 
aphesis (af'e-sis), n. [NL., < Or. aijieaif, a let- 
ting go, let go, let loose, < afti-vat, let go, send 
off, < OTTO, off, T livai, send.] The gradual and 
unintentional removal of a short unaccented 
vowel at the beginning of a word; a special 
form of apheresis, as in squire for esquire, down 
for admen, etc. J. A. H. Murray. (N. E. D.) 
apheta (af'e-tii), n. [ML., < Gr. atyerr/c,, one who 
lets go, hence one who lets go a military engine, 
and, according to Du Gauge, one who starts 
the chariots in a race (cf. atyertipia, the starting- 
place, MGr. iityeroBvpavoinTric,, one who opened 
the barriers to start the racing-chariots), hence 
in astrology the planet which starts a human 
being in his career, < a<j>ero(, let off, let loose, 
verbal adj. of afyikvai, let off: see aphesis.'} In 
astral., the planet dominating the life of the 
native; the planet which is lord of the house 
that rules the matter inquired after; the proro- 
gator, significator, or hyleg. 
The aphetic place is the situation of the Apheta, Hyleg, 
prorogator, significator, or giver of life, for they all have 
the same meaning. Sibley, Astrology, p. 433. 
apheter (af'e-t6r), . [< Gr. d^er^p, equiv. to 
a<j>-n/<;, one who lets off a military engine : see 
a/ilieta.} That which loosens or sets free. 
[Bare.] 
This katastate is, as it were, the fuse or trigger whose 
action fires the massive charge of the muscular gun, and 
might receive the name of apheter. 
M. Foster, Encyc. Brit., XIX. 20. 
aphetic 1 (a-fet'ik), a. [< Gr. a^rnxof, < o^erof, 
let loose, set free: see apliesis and apheta.} 
Produced by or resulting from aphesis. 
aphetic 2 (a-fet'ik), a. [< apheta + -ic.} Same 
as aplietical. 
aphetical (a-fet'i-kal), . [< aphetic 2 + -a/.] 
In astral., pertaining to the apheta, or planet 
significative of life Aphetical places (translation 
of Greek roirot afarutoi), the places in which the apheta 
may he found. The rules given in Ptolemy's ' ' Tetrabiblos " 
(iii. 10) are intricate and vague. 
aphetically ' (a-fet'i-kal-i), adv. In an aphetic 
manner. 
aphetically 2 (a-fet'i-kal-i), adv. In the manner 
or position of the apheta. 
aphetism (af'e-tizm), n. [< aphetic 1 + -igm.} 
An aphetized form of a word ; a form resulting 
from the loss of a weak initial vowel, as down 
for adown. 
aphetize (af'e-tiz), v. t. ; pret. and pp. aphetized, 
ppr. aphetizing. [< aphetic 1 + -ise.} To render 
aphetic ; shorten by aphesis. 
aphid (af'id), n. [< aphis (aphid-)."] An aphid- 
lan; a plant-louse; a member of the genus 
Aphis or family Aphidid<e (which see). In the 
plural, the plant-lice : a general or indetermi- 
nate term for the members (a) of the genus 
Aphis, (b) of the family Aphididw, or (c) of the 
suborder Pliytophthiria. 
Aphides (af'i-dez), n. pi. [NL,., pi. of Aphis, 
q. v.] Same as Aphididw. 
aphidian (a-fid'i-an), n. and a. [< Aphis (Aphid-) 
+ -Jan.] I. . An insect of the family Aphidi- 
dw; an aphid; a plant-louse. 
II. a. Pertaining to the genus Aphis or to 
the family Aphididee. 
aphidid (af 'i-did), n. One of the Aphididte; an 
aphis. 
The Fenesica larva actually feeds upon the aphidids. 
Science, VII. 394. 
Aphididae (a-fid'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Aphis 
(Aphid-) + -idee.'} A family of hemipterous in- 
sects, of the suborder Phytophthiria ; the true 
plant-lice, as typified by the genus Aphis,amH as 
distinguished from the false plant-lice, or Psyl- 
lidce, and other phytophthirian insects. They 
are all injurious to vegetation, living on the juices of 
plants, which they suck, and also producing a great va- 
riety of galls. Almost every plant has lice peculiar to 
it, immense numbers of which live upon it. The genera 
are very numerous. See cuts under Aphis. Also called 
Aphides. 
Aphidii (a-fid'i-i), n. pi. [NL., pi. of aphiditis 
(also used to designate a genus of hymenopter- 
ous insects), < Aphis (Aphid-), q. v.] In La- 
treille's system of classification, the second 
family of homopterous hemipterous insects, 
commonly called plant-lice, inexactly equiva- 
lent to the modern family Aphidida, including 
the thysanurous genus Tkrips, etc., as well as 
the PsyllidcB or false plant-lice, and excluding 
the Coceida or scale-insects. [Not in use.] 
aphidious (a-fid'i-us), a. [< aphid + -ious.} 
Pertaining to or of the nature of aphids. 
Aphidiphaga (af-i-dif 'a-ga), n. pi. [NL., neut. 
pi. of aphitliphagus : see aphidiphagous.} A 
258 
aphorism 
group of insects more or less exactly corre- Aphodius (a-fo'di-us), n. [NL., < Gr. ,>. r ,,,i, s , 
n ^s:*T *-;!!' ^ n u<i.'i,<i.-/r),./.k <,nnN excrement, evacuation, and lit. departure, (. 
spending to Latreille's Aphidiphagi (which see). 
Tneyare small beetles with rounded bodies, strong \viims, 
hard elytra, securiform maxillary palps, and clavate an- 
tennffi. See Cm-ciiiellid(f. 
Aphidiphagi (af-i-dif 'a- ji), n. pi. [NL., pi. 
of apltidiplmftus: see apMaiphagovs.} In La- 
treille's system of classification, the second 
family of trimerous Cok-optera, consisting of the 
old genus Coednella, and corresponding to the 
modern family Coccine llidai ; the lady-birds; 
small beetles which habitually feed upon aphids. 
[Not in use.] 
aphidiphagous (af-i-dif'a-gus), a. [< NL. a/ilii- 
diiihnyux, \ Aphis (Aphid-) + Gr. -^aj-of, < tftayeiv, 
eat.] Of or pertaining to the Aphidiplnajn ; 
hence, preying upon or devouring aphids. 
aphidivorous (af-i-div'o-rus), a. [< NL. Aphis 
(Aphid-) + L. vorare, devour.] Same as aphi- 
diphagous. 
aphilanthropy (af-i-lan' thro-pi), n. [< Gr. 
a<l>i)idvti/xjiro<;, not loving man, \ a- priv. + <fu/.dv- 
QpuiTof, loving man : see philanthropy.} 1. Want 
of philanthropy; lack of benevolence. [Bare.] 
2. Inpathol., preference of solitude to soci- 
ety, the first stage of melancholia. 
Aphis (a'fis), n. [NL. (Linnwus), the sing, per- 
haps from the pi. aphides (see -iff 2 ), which may 
have been taken (if so, prop, aphides, but now 
treated as aphides) from Gr. aipeiieic,, pi. of 
Geranium Plant-louse (Aphis pelargonii) : the apterous agamoge- 
netic form, magnified ; appendages of only one side shown. 
, unsparing, lavish (as if in allusion to 
their extreme prolificness or voracity), < d- priv. 
+ QriieoOat, spare.] 1. A genus of small plant- 
sucking insects, of the family Aphididte and or- 
der Homoptera. They multiply by parthenogenesis and 
very rapidly. From a pair of honey-tubes, near the end of 
the abdomen, they emit a saccharine fluid, known as honey- 
Apple-tree riant-lou&e (A f fit's matt). ( Cross and small figure show 
natural sizes. ) 
dew and aphis-sugar, which is greedily devoured by ants. 
They are very destructive to tender plants, upon which 
they congregate in enormous numbers. 
2. II. c.} A plant-louse. [In this sense the 
plural aphides (af'i-dez) is used.] Woolly aphis. 
See Kriosoma. 
aphis-lion (a'fis-li'on), . A name for the larva 
of a lace-winged fly of the family Hemerobiida;. 
aphis-sugar (a'fis-shug*'ar), n. Honey-dew, a 
secretion peculiar to insects of the genus Aphis, 
voided from their anal siphuncles. 
aphlaston (a-flas'ton), n. [Gr. a^aarav."} Same 
as aplustre. 
aphlogistic (af-lo-jis'tik), a. [< Gr. aQU-yiarof, 
not inflammable, < d- priv. + ^/o/iorof, inflam- 
mable: see phlogiston.} Flameless Aphlogistic 
lamp, a lamp in which a coil of platinum wire extending 
above the wick is kept constantly red-hot by the slow com- 
bustion of alcohol-vapor, heated first by the name of the 
wick, but after this is extinguished by the incandescent 
wire. 
aphnology (af-nol'o-ji), . [< Gr. fyvot, usu- 
ally aijievof, revenue, riches, wealth, abundance 
(cf. Skt. apnas, income, property; akin to L. 
opes, wealth, copia, plenty, etc.), + -\oyia, < 
Ae-yetv, speak: see -ology.} The science of 
wealth; a treatise on the science of wealth; 
plutology. [Bare.] 
The title ought to have been Aphnology. Aphnos, or 
aphenos, expresses wealth in the largest sense of general 
abundance and well-being. Sir J. Ilerschel. 
Aphodiidae (af-o-di'i-de), . pi. [NL., < A/ilm- 
dius + -ida\} A family of beetles, named by 
Macleay in 1819 from the genus Aphodinn. 
, , . , 
-K&, from, away, + odof, way.] A genus of 
scarabseoid lamellicom beetles, related to the 
dung-beetles of the genus <;>tri/i><'x, sometimes 
giving name to a family Apliodiida: [to species 
are mostly small, haum; strintc elytra, concealed meta 
thoracic fpinu-ra, toothed front til.he and spurred hind 
tlbbe, and 9-jointed antemue. over . MI North American 
species niv described, Including several introduced from 
IJiiupe, such as the comparatively large black .-I. ./ 
Aphododeridae (af'o-do-der'i-de), . y//. SIT 
.l/ilin //mil ridd'. 
Aphododerus (af-o-dod'e-rus), H. See Aphrr- 
aodemt. 
aphonia (a-fo'ni-a), . [NL., < Gr. d^uv/a, 
speechlessness, < a<j>uvof, speechless, voiceless : 
see aphonous.} In pathol., loss of voice through 
a morbid condition of tke larynx or its immedi- 
ate innervation; dumbness; speechlessness. 
It is a condition in which one wants to speak and knows 
how to do so, but cannot produce a vocal sound, though 
he may whisper. Also ^A"/iv. 
aphonic (a-fon'ik), a. and . [< ti/ihoiiia + -ic.} 
1. a. Pertaining to or characterized by apho- 
nia: speechless; dumb. 
II. H. A person affected with aphonia. 
aphonous (af'o-nus), a. [< Gr. tuJKWof, voice- 
less, < a- priv. 4- tyuvij, voice : see phonic.} Des- 
titute of voice ; voiceless. 
aphony (af'6-ni), n. Same as aphonia. 
aphona (a-fo'ri-ii), . [NL., < Gr. afopia, ste- 
rility, dearth, < <i(io/f, not bearing, < a- priv. + 
^opof, bearing, < Qtpciv = E. &Mf*.] Sterility; 
unfruitfulness. 
aphorism (af'o-rizm), n. [= F. aphorisme, < 
Gr. a(j>o/>i0fi6f. a definition, a short pithy sen- 
tence, < aQopiZeiv, define, mark off, < OTTO, off, + 
Apifctv, divide, bound, < opof, a boundary: see 
horizon.} 1. A definition or concise statement 
of a principle. 
The aphorim . . . formulated by Linnteus in regard 
to plants. Qitatrefayen, Human Species (trans.), p. 50. 
2. A precept or rule expressed in few words; a 
detached sentence containing some important 
truth : as, the aphorisms of Hippocrates, or of 
the civil law. 
The three ancient commentators on Hippocrates . . . 
have given the same definition of an aphvritnn, i. e., "a 
succinct saying, comprehending a complete statement," 
or a saying poor in expression, but rich in sentiment. 
Fleming. 
= Syn. Aphorism, Axiom, Maxim, Precept, Dwtwti, Apo- 
thegm, Saying, Adage, Proverb, Truism, Byuwd, Saw, all 
concur in expressing a pithy general proposition, usually in 
one short sentence ; but the longer the form the less ap- 
plicable do these names become. An aphorism is a truth, 
pointedly set forth, relating rather to speculative princi- 
ples, ethics, or science than to practical matters, and form- 
ing a brief ami excellent statement of a doctrine: thus, 
"Moderation is the silken string running through the 
pearl-chain of all virtues," and " Maladies are cured by 
nature, not by remedies," are aphoritrmg. "Life is short, 
and art is long," is from the first aphorixmof Hippocrates. 
An axiom is a self-evident truth, and is therefore used as a 
basis for reasoning. "A straight line is the shortest dis- 
tance between two points " is one of the axioms of mathe- 
matics ; "The greater good is to be chosen before the less" 
is an axiom of morals. The number of axioms is neces- 
sarily limited ; of aphorisms, maxims, etc., unlimited. A 
inaxim is a truth which, while not so definite and neces- 
sarily true as an axiom, yet equally acceptable to the 
mind, refers rather to practical than to abstract truth, 
stating one of the fundamental rules of conduct, civil 
government, business policy, and the like : as, it is a sound 
itnLi'hti that one should risk in speculation no more than 
he can afford to lose. It suggests a lesson more pointedly 
and directly than aphorism, and differs from precept in 
that a precept is a direct injunction, whereas a maxim is 
a mere statement of a truth from which a precept may be 
deduced. It would be a precept to say, "In speculation 
risk no more than you can afford to lose." A dictum is 
not a precept, but an opinion given with authority, as 
from superior knowledge : as, a dictum of the critics ; a dic- 
tum of Carlyle's. An apothegm, in common matters what 
an aphorism is in higher, is essentially a terse proposition 
that makes a vivid impression on the mind: thus, " In the 
adversity of our best friends we always find something 
that doth not displease us " ; this is called by Dean Swift 
a maxim, but is more properly an apothegm. "Heaven 
helps those that help themselves," and 
"Ht who fights and runs away 
May live to fight another day " 
(Goldsmith, Art of PoctryX 
are apothegms. A xaifintf is a lower grade of apothegm; each 
is likely to he found associated with the name of the author : 
as, the apothegms of Socrates ; a saying of Poor Richard. 
Each is a felicitous expression current for its own sake, 
but deriving additional popularity from the celebrity of 
its author. " Herein is that MT//iX</ true, One soweth, and 
another reapeth," John iv. 37; "The little and short '.'/- 
ings at wise and excellent men are of great value, like the 
dust of gold or the least sparks of the diamond," Twabon. 
Adage and proverb are habitual sayings, generally of long 
standing, embodying the common sense of mankind on 
ordinary subjects. The adage is often the more vener- 
able by age and the more dignified in its character: as, 
"Necessity knows no law." A sailing may easily become 
an admir. ' l'rnrrrl> as used in the Bible is often a saying: 
as, "Physician, heal thyself,"Luke iv. 23; but in the mod- 
