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Ahriman

The Evil Principle or Being of the ancient Persians; the Prince of Darkness as opposer to Ormuzd, the King of Light.

Ahu

The Asiatic gazelle.

Ahull

With the sails furled, and the helm lashed alee; -- applied to ships in a storm. See Hull, n.

Ahura-Mazda Ormuzd Ormazd

The supreme deity, the embodiment of the principle of good, creator of the world, source of light, and guardian of mankind. He is the opponent of Ahriman, the spirit of evil, both being sprung from Eternity, or, according to another version, Ahriman being the offspring of a moment of doubt on the part of Ormazd. Ormazd is attended by angels and archangels. He is represented as a bearded man inclosed in a winged circle, a conception probably derived from the Assyrian representations of Ashur.

Ai

The three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) of South America. See Sloth.

Aid

Help; succor; assistance; relief.

Aid-de-camp

An officer selected by a general to carry orders, also to assist or represent him in correspondence and in directing movements.

Aidant

Helping; helpful; supplying aid.

Aider

One who, or that which, aids.

Aiglet Aglet

A tag of a lace or of the points, braids, or cords formerly used in dress. They were sometimes formed into small images. Hence, /aglet baby/ (Shak.), an aglet image.

Aigremore

Charcoal prepared for making powder.

Aiguillette

A point or tag at the end of a fringe or lace; an aglet.

Ail

Indisposition or morbid affection.

Ailantus

A genus of beautiful trees, natives of the East Indies. The tree imperfectly di/cious, and the staminate or male plant is very offensive when blossom.

Aileron

A half gable, as at the end of a penthouse or of the aisle of a church.

Ailette

A small square shield, formerly worn on the shoulders of knights, -- being the prototype of the modern epaulet.

ailing

sick; unhealthy. Opposite of well or healthy.

Ailment

Indisposition; morbid affection of the body; -- not applied ordinarily to acute diseases.

Ailuroidea

A group of the Carnivora, which includes the cats, civets, and hyenas.

Ailuropodidae

in some classifications considered the family comprising the giant pandas.

Ailurus

a genus comprising the lesser pandas.

Aim

The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.

Aimer

One who aims, directs, or points.

Aimless

Without aim or purpose; as, an aimless life.

ain

belonging to or on behalf of a specified person especially one's self; preceded by a possessive.

Ainu

One of a peculiar race found primarily in Hokkaido, in the northern part of the empire of Japan, the Kurile Islands, and nearby. They are believed to be the native inhabitants of the Japanese islands. The Ainus are stout and short, with hairy bodies. Also called Aino and hairy Ainu.

aioli

a French garlic-flavored mayonnaise. It is often served with fish and other seafood, and sometimes with vegetables.

Air

To expose to the air for the purpose of cooling, refreshing, or purifying; to ventilate; as, to air a room.

Air cooling

In devices generating heat, such as gasoline-engine motor vehicles, the cooling of the device by increasing its radiating surface by means of ribs or radiators, and placing it so that it is exposed to a current of air. Cf. Water cooling.

Air-built

Erected in the air; having no solid foundation; chimerical; as, an air-built castle.

Air-slacked

Slacked, or pulverized, by exposure to the air; as, air-slacked lime.

Air-tight

A stove the draft of which can be almost entirely shut off.

airball

A throw at the basket that completely misses, not even hitting the rim. Compare swoosh and nothing but net.

airborne

conveyed by or through air, as dust or pollen; as, a clean room is needed to avoid airborne contaminants.

airbrake

a small parachute or articulated flap to reduce the speed of an aircraft.

Aircraft

Any vehicle, such as an airplane, helicopter, balloon, etc., for floating in, or flying through, the air.

airdock

a large building at an airport where aircraft can be stored and maintained.

airdrome

an airfield equipped with control tower and hangers as well as accommodations for passengers and cargo.

aired

abounding in fresh air.

Airedale

a breed of large wiry-coated terriers, bred in Yorkshire.

Airer

One who exposes to the air.

airfield

a place where planes take off and land; an airport; -- usually used of airports other than those with regularly sheduled commercial flights, such as those at military bases or small fields for private aircraft.

airfoil

a surface such as the wing of an airplane designed to provide reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air.

airframe

the framework and covering of an airplane or rocket (excluding the engines).

airheaded

lacking seriousness; given to frivolity; scatterbrained; stupid; simple-minded; as, airheaded teenagers. Contrasted with serious, solemn

Airily

In an airy manner; lightly; gaily; jauntily; flippantly.

Airiness

The state or quality of being airy; openness or exposure to the air; as, the airiness of a country seat.

Airing

A walk or a ride in the open air; a short excursion for health's sake.

Airless

Not open to a free current of air; wanting fresh air, or communication with the open air.

Airman

A man who ascends or flies in an aircraft; an aviator; an airplane pilot.

Airmanship

Art, skill, or ability in the practice of aerial navigation; aircraft piloting.

Airol

A grayish green antiseptic powder, consisting of a basic iodide and gallate of bismuth, sometimes used in place of iodoform.

Airometer

A hollow cylinder to contain air. It is closed above and open below, and has its open end plunged into water.

airplane

a heavier-than-air aircraft. Same as aeroplane{2}.

airship

a steerable self-propelled light-than-air aircraft.

Airsick

Affected with air sickness or a/rial sickness; feeling nauseous due to riding in an airplane.

airspace

the atmosphere above a nation and deemed to be under its jurisdiction.

airstream

a relatively well-defined prevailing wind.

airstrip

an airfield without normal airport facilities.

airt

to point out the way; to direct or guide.

airwaves

the medium of transmission of signals by radio or television stations; by radio transmission; -- used non-technically; as, over the airwaves, i. e. by radio or television.

airway

a duct that provides ventilation, as in mines.

Airwoman

A woman who ascends or flies in an aircraft; a woman aviator; a woman airplane pilot or balloonist; an aviatrix.

airworthy

fit to fly; -- said of aircraft. Opposite of unairworthy.

Airy

Consisting of air; as, an airy substance; the airy parts of bodies.

Aisle

A lateral division of a building, separated from the middle part, called the nave, by a row of columns or piers, which support the roof or an upper wall containing windows, called the clearstory wall. Improperly used also for the have; -- as in the phrases, a church with three aisles, the middle aisle. Also (perhaps from confusion with alley), a passage into which the pews of a church open.

Aisled

Furnished with an aisle or aisles.

Aitchbone

The bone of the rump; also, the cut of beef surrounding this bone.

Aizoaceae

a natural family of succulent herbs or small shrubs mostly of South Africa but also New Zealand and North America: carpetweeds; fig marigolds.

Ajar

In a state of discord; out of harmony; as, he is ajar with the world.

ajour

of or pertaining to objects which are pierced or decorated with an openwork pattern.

Ajowan Ajouan

The fruit of Ammi Copticum, syn. Carum Ajowan, used both as a medicine and as a condiment. An oil containing thymol is extracted from it. Called also Javanee seed, Javanese seed, and ajava.

Ajutage

A tube through which water is discharged; an efflux tube; as, the ajutage of a fountain.

akee

a tree (Blighia sapida) widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions for its fragrant flowers and colorful fruits; introduced in Jamaica by Captain Bligh of the HMS Bounty.

Akeridae

a family comprising the bubble shells.

Akimbo

With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward.

Akin

Of the same kin; related by blood; -- used of persons; as, the two families are near akin.

akinesia

Loss of the ability for voluntary muscle movement.

akvavit

Scandinavian liquor usually flavored with caroway seeds.

Al

Although; if.

al-

All; wholly; completely; as, almighty, almost. To; at; on; -- in OF. shortened to a-. See ad-. The Arabic definite article answering to the English the; as, Alkoran, the Koran or the Book; alchemy, the chemistry.

ala

A winglike organ, or part.

Alabaman

A native or resident of Alabama.

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