aphorism 
crn sense prarerb often appears in some concrete flgura- 
tivr and homely form: as, "Too many cooks spoil the 
broth "; "Every till) must stand on its own bottom." A 
/,/-</< i.s ;i trutll too obvious to need explanation or proof ; 
it is a word nf relative application ; what would be a tn<- 
i*m ti> one iiii^lit be ail f/.i-i<i/i/ or an i//</*m-/.--//i to another. 
A byirtird is a cant term or phrase, in every one's mouth 
like a proverb, but applied in disparagement. Saw is a 
contemptuous term for an expression that is more com- 
mon than wise, or for a trite or foolish saying reiterated 
to wearisomeness. 
aphorismt (af'o-rizm), v. i. [< aphorism, .] 
Same as a/pkanee, [Rare.] 
There is no art that hath been more cankered in her 
principles, more soiled and slubbered with iiiiliun'.-onii/:/ 
pedantry, than the art of poliev. 
Miliua, Kef. in England, p. 33. 
aphorismatic (af'o-riz-mat'ik), . [< apho- 
rixm. + -<itic.~\ Same as aphorismic. 
aphorismer (af 'o-riz-mer), . One who ex- 
presses himself in aphorisms. [Bare.] 
The tribe pf aphorismer* and politicasters. 
Milton, Ref. in England, p. f>li. 
aphorismic (iif-o-riz'mik), a. [< aphorism + 
-f'c.] Relating to aphorisms; having the form 
of an aphorism; containing aphorisms. An 
equivalent form is aphorismatic. 
The style of Junius is a sort of metre, the law of which 
is a sort of balance of thesis and antithesis. When he gets 
out of this (tit/wrixmic metre into a sentence of five or six 
lines long, nothing can exceed the slovenliness of the Eng- 
lish. Coleridge, Table-Talk, p. 264. 
aphorist (af 'o-rist), . [< aphor-ism + -int.] A 
writer of aphorisms. 
He took this occasion of farther clearing and justifying 
what he had written against the aphorixt*. 
R. Nelson, Life of Bp. Bull, p. 246. 
aphoristic (af-o-ris'tik), a. [< Or. a<fx>picm>i6, 
fit for defining, sententious, (.atfmpi&iv: see apho- 
rism.] Having the character of aphorisms; re- 
sembling aphorisms ; in the form of an apho- 
rism ; stated in short, unconnected sentences ; 
abounding in aphorisms. An aphoristic style is one 
which is fragmentary in its outward form, but methodical 
in its reasoning. 
The method of the book is aphoristic. De Quincey. 
The Sanscrit law-books are sometimes in aphoristic prose, 
sometimes in verse, sometimes in a mixture of both. 
Maine, Early Law and Custom, p. 10. 
aphoristical (af-o-ris'ti-kal), a. Same as apho- 
ristic. 
aphoristically (af-o-ris'ti-kal-i), adv. In or by 
aphorisms ; briefly and pithily. 
These being carried down, seldom miss a cure, as Hip- 
pocrates doth likewise aphorixticaUy tell us. Harvey. 
aphorize (af'o-riz), v. i.; pret. and pp. aplio- 
riscd, ppr. aphorizing. [< Gr. a$opit.tiv : see 
aphorism.'] To utter aphorisms; write or speak 
in aphorisms; especially, make an excessive 
use of aphorisms. Coleridge. 
aphract (af'rakt), a. [< Gr. atfpaM-uf, old Attic 
aipaptiToc, unfenced, unfortified, < a- priv. + ijipaK- 
r<Sf, verbal adj. of Qpdaauv, fence in, fortify.] 
Open; undefended or unguarded. [Bare.] 
We And the war galley of the Phoenicians represented 
on the walls of the palaces unearthed by Layard and his 
followers in Assyrian discovery. . . . The vessel repre- 
sented is a bireme war galley which is aphract, that is to 
say, has the upper tier of rowers unprotected and exposed 
to view. Encyc. Brit., XXI. 805. 
aphredoderid (af-re-dod'e-rid), n. A fish of the 
family ApkredoderidtB. 
Aphredoderidae (af "re-do-der'i-de), n. pi. [NL., 
< Aphredoderus + -idiK.~\ A family of teleoceph- 
alous fishes having the vent in the neck or 
breast, the ventral fins post-thoracic and witli 
about 7 rays, but without spines, and a short 
dorsal fin of 3 or 4 spines in front. In Giinther's 
system of classification, the family represents a primary 
group of Acanthoplerygii, characterized by the developed 
dorsal and anal flns and the position of the vent in front 
of the ventrals. Two species, called pirate or pirate-perch, 
are known to inhabit the fresh waters of North America. 
Also Aphododeridce. 
Aphredoderus (af-re-dod'e-rus), n. [NL. (Le- 
sueur, in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1833) ; a 
corrupt form, afterward given as Aphrodedcrus 
(Agassiz), as if < Gr. a^p<i%, foamy (< <z0p<if, 
foam, + fMof, form), -4- itpri, neck, throat, later 
as ApliixliKleri/s (Jordan, 1877) in allusion to the 
position of the vent, < a^o<Sof, departure, evacu- 
ation, excrement (< ano, off, + 6<Wf, way), + 
Septj, neck, throat.] The typical genus of fishes 
of the family AphrcdodcridfE. Also Aphodode- 
niK. 
aphrite (afrit), n. [< Gr. a$p6c., foam, froth, 4- 
-ifc 2 .] A subvariety of calcium carbonate or 
calcite, popularly known asfoam, ciirtli-fi>am,oi 
foaui-Kptir, occurring in small masses, solid, or 
tender and friable, it is composed of lamella; or 
s< ;ilt-s of a pearly luster, and has varieties which shade 
insensibly into argentine. 
259 
Aphriza (af'ri-za), n. [NL. (Audubon, 1839), 
a false formation', < Gr. a</>/>6f, foam, + (deiv, (f/v, 
live.] A genus of plover-like birds, of the fam- 
ily Aphri-idir, related to the oyster-catchers and 
turiistonps, having feet with four toes like the 
latter, and the general appearance and changes 
cil' plumage of the sandpipers. It contains 
only the surf-bird, A. rirgata. See surf-bird. 
Aptirizidae (af-riz'i-de), H. pi. [NL., <'A]iliri.:>i 
T -f'rfrt'.] A family of birds, intermediate be- 
tween CluirtnlriidiK and Hcematopodidce. The 
typical genus is Apliriza. Cones, 1884. 
Aphrizinae (af-ri-zi'ne), 11. pi. [NL., < A/ihii-ti 
+ -iiuc."] A subfamily of birds, containing the 
genus Aplirizn ; the surf-birds. 
aphrizite (af'ri-zlt), n. [< Gr. aQpi&iv, foam, 
be foamy (< iifypoi;, foam), + -zfe 2 .] A variety 
of black tourmalin. 
Aphrqdisia (af-ro-diz'i-a), . pi. [L., < Gr. 
'Afyiofima, neut. pi. of 'Afpoilmof, pertaining to 
Aphrodite, < 'AfyioSiTi/: see Aphrodite."] A festi- 
val in honor of Aphrodite or Venus periodical- 
ly celebrated in various localities of ancient 
Greece. Those of Paphos in Cyprus, of Cyth- 
era, and of Corinth were the most famous. 
aphrodisiac (af-ro-diz'i-ak), a. and . [< Gr. 
atypofiiaiaKof, venereal, < Vuffoiiaiof, pertaining to 
Aphrodite, < 'AfypoSirTi, Venus: see Aphrodite."] 
1. a. Exciting venereal desire; increasing the 
appetite for sexual pleasures ; hence, erotic ; 
sensual. 
II. n. Any drug or preparation which ex- 
cites sexual desire. 
aphrodisiacalt (af"ro-di-zi'a-kal), a. Same as 
aphrodisiac. 
aphrodisian (af-ro-diz'i-an), . [< Gr. 'A<t>po6i- 
ovof : see aphrodisiac,."] Given up to sexual 
pleasures ; devoted to sensual love. 
They showed me the state nursery for the children of 
those aphrodisian dames, their favourites. 
C. Reads, Cloister and Hearth, Ivi. 
Aphrodite (af-ro-di'te), . [< Gr. 'A^poSirr], the 
goddess of love, Venus; traditionally said to 
mean ' foam-born,' < a<f>p6f, foam, the second ele- 
ment -SirJi being unexplained.] 1. The Greek 
goddess of love and beauty, identified by the 
Romans with their Venus, who was originally 
a deity of much less importance. By one legend 
she is fabled (as Aphrodite Anadyoitiene) to have sprung 
from the foam of the sea. She was the personification of 
female grace, and from her prototype, the Phenician As- 
tarte, represented the re- 
productive and germinal 
powers of nature. 
2. [NL.] In cool.: (a) 
A genus of chaatopo- 
dous annelids, typi- 
cal of the f amily Aph- 
roditid(E (which see). 
The species are known as 
sea-mice ; the common 
sea-mouse is A. acnl>'iitn. 
Also written Aphrodita. 
See tea-mouse, (ft) A 
genus of lepidopter- 
ous insects. Uiibner, 
1816. (c) A genus 
of bivalve mollusks. 
Also written Aphro- 
dita. Isaac Lea. 
3. [I. c.] A variety 
pf meerschaum. It 
is a hydrous silicate 
of magnesium. 
Aphroditidse (af-ro- 
dlt'i-de), n.pl. [NL'., 
< Aphrodite, 2 (a), + 
-ido3."\ A family of 
free marine chsetop- 
odous annelids, of which the genus Aphrodite is 
the type. There are numerous other genera. 
Also Aphroditacea, Aphroditw. 
Another type altogether is shown by the scale-bearing 
annelids, Aphroditidai ; the upper parapodia, or false feet, 
carry large scales, which lie over the back of the animal 
and form an imbricated covering, serving the double pur- 
pose of protection and respiration. 
Stand. Sat. Hist., I. 230. 
Aphrophora (af-rof'o-ra), H. [NL., < Gr. a<j>po- 
ijiopof, foam-bearing, < a<t>p6f, foam, + -^o/>of, < 
<t>ipeiv = E. ftear 1 .] A genus of homopterous in- 
sects, of the family Cercopidie : so called because 
the larva is enveloped in the frothy or foamy 
substance known as cuckoo-spit. The genus is 
closely related to Ptyclus, and species were for- 
merly placed in Ptyclus or Tettiyonia. 
Aphr'ophorida (af-ro-for'i-dii), . pi. [NL., < 
A/iliropliortt + -i<ld.~] Same as Apliropliori/m'. 
Aphrophorinas (af"ro-fo-ri'ne), . pi. [NL., < 
Aphrophora + -ilia;.'] ' In cntom., the froth- 
opy of the Cnidian Statue by 
Praxiteles, Vatican Museum. 
apiary 
bearing hoppers; a subfamily or other division 
of the great family CereopUUB, represented by 
the gi'tici-u .l/i/ii'ii/ilnim, Lfpyrnnui, 1'tt/elim, and 
many others, and containing a great many spe- 
cies of medium or small size, very generally 
distributed over the world, and especially af- 
fecting pines and willows. 
aphrosiderite (af-ro-sid'o-rit), . [< Gr. a<f>p6f, 
foam, + aidr/pof, iron, + -ite 2 .] A ferruginous 
chloritic mineral occurring in soft dark-green 
scales. 
aphtha (af 'thji), n.; pi. aphtha: (-the). [NL., < L. 
n/i/it/ui', pi., < Gr. aifffai, pi. of a<f>Ua, an eruption, 
ulceration, < airreiv, set on fire, inflame.] In 
pathol., an eruption ; an ulceration : used espe- 
cially in the plural to denote small round ulcers, 
sometimes becoming confluent, and said in some 
cases to be preceded by vesicles which break. 
They occur upon the tongue, gums, inside of the lips, and 
palate. When Mycttderma vini (Oidium albicans) is found 
in these ulcers, the disease is called thrush, or milk-ihrwth. 
Also'aptha. Aphthae epizobticse, foot-and-mouth dis- 
ease (which see, under /""/). 
aphthalose (af'tha-los), n. [As aphtli(it)al(ite) 
+ -one."] Same as aphthitalite. 
Aphthartodocetae (af-thar"t6-do-se'te), n. pi. 
[< LGr. *'AtfttiapTo6oK7j~ai. < Gr. atpOapros, uucor- 
rupted, incorruptible (< a- priv. + tp8apr6f, verbal 
adj. of tfiOeipeiv, destroy, ruin, corrupt), + donelv, 
think. Cf. Vocetce."] A Monophysite sect which 
existed from the sixth to the ninth century, or 
later. They held that the body of Christ was incorruptible 
even before the resurrection, and that he suffered death 
only in a phantasmal appearance. From this they are 
sometimes called jPJtanftuuMft, a name more properly be- 
longing to the Docetre (which see), who denied even the 
reality of Christ's body. 
Aphthartodocetism (af-thar"t6-do-se'tizm), . 
The doctrines of the Aphthartodocete. 
Justinian himself lapsed into heresy, by accepting the 
doctrine that the earthly body of Christ was incorruptible, 
insensible to the weaknesses of the tlesh, a doctrine which 
had been advanced by Julian, bishop of Halicaruassus, 
and went by the name of ApMnartodooetlm. 
EM-UC. Brit., XIII. 796. 
aphthitalite (af-thit'a-llt), n. [< Gr. (ujfiiToi;, 
unchanging, unchangeable (< d- priv. + ^ftrof, 
verbal adj. of </>f)ieiv, commonly folvstv, destroy, 
change), + aXf, salt, + /U0of, a stone.] A na- 
tive potassium sulphate found on Mount Ve- 
suvius in delicate crystallizations. Also called 
aphthalose and Vesuvius-salt. 
aphthoid(af'thoid), a. [< aphtha + -oid.~] Re- 
sembling an aphtha or aphthre. 
aphthong (af 'thong), 11. [< Gr. &(j>6oyyoe, voice- 
less, < a- priv. + <p86yyoi;, voice, sound, < ijtOeyyc- 
a6ai, sound.] A letter or combination of let- 
ters which in the customary pronunciation of a 
word has no sound. [Bare.] 
aphthous (af'thus), a. [= F. aphtheitx, < NL. 
(ij>lithosiis,<ajihtlia,q.v.'] 1. In pa thol., of the 
nature of or characterized by aphthas. 2. In 
liot., appearing as if covered with aphthae. 
Aphyllae (a-fil'e), . pi. [NL., fern. pi. (sc. 
plan tin) of aphyllws, leafless : see aphyllous."] A 
section of cryptogamic plants without leaves, 
comprising lichens, fungi, and algaa. Same as 
thalluqcns. [Not used.] 
aphyllose (a-fil'6s), a. Same as aphyllous. 
aphyllous (a-fil'us), a. [< NL. aphyllus, < Gr. 
a^i'A/iof, leafless, < a- priv. + QrM.ov = L. folium, 
a leaf.] In lot., destitute of leaves: applied 
to flowering plants that are naturally leafless, 
as most Cactacccc, and to thallogenous crypto- 
gams. 
aphylly (a-fil'i), n. [< NL. 'aphyllia, < Gr. as if 
*a^t)A/.('a, < a^uA?.of, leafless : see aphyllous.] In 
bot., the state of being aphyllous; an entire 
suppression of leaves, as ordinarily occurs in 
most Cactacca; etc. 
apian (a'pi-an), a. [< L. apianus, of bees, < 
apis, a bee: see Apis 1 .] Of or pertaining to 
bees. 
Apiariae (a-pi-a'ri-e), n. pi. [NL., fern. pi. of 
L. apiarius: see apiarian."] In Latreille's sys- 
tem of classification, a division of melliferous 
aculeate hymenopterous insects: opposed to 
Andrenctcc, and corresponding to the modern 
family Apida; (which see). 
apiarian (a-pi-a'ri-an), a. and w. [< L. apia- 
riiix, relating to bees, abee-keeper, < apis, a bee : 
see -4pf'*l.] I. a. Relating to bees, or to bee- 
keeping. 
II. . A bee-keeper; an apiarist. 
apiarist (a'pi-a-rist), . [< apiary + -ist."] One 
who keeps an apiary ; one who keeps bees, or 
studies the nature of bees ; a bee-keeper or bee- 
master. 
apiary (a'pi-a-ri), . ; pi. apiaries (-riz). [< L. 
apiarium, a bee-house, beehive, neut. of apia- 
