ASSUME, as-sume', v. a. (assumo, I assume, Lat.) To take; to take upon one's self; to arrogate: to claim or seize unjustly; to apply to one's own use; to appropriate;r. n. to be arrogant; to claim more than is due. ASSUMER, as-su'mur, s. An arrogant; an assuming person. ASSUMING, as-su'ming, a. part. Haughty; arrogants. presumption. ASSUMPSIT, as-sum sit, s. (assumo, Lat.) In Law, a voluntary promise, by which a person assumes or takes upon himself to perform or pay anything to another. An action of assumpsit can only be valid where there is a consideration involved in the promise given, and where there is a breach o. promise. ASSUMPT, as-sumpt', v. a. (assumpter, Fr.) To take up from below unto a high place; to take up into heaven.-Obsolete. The souls of such their worthies as were departed from human conversation, and were assumpted into the number of their gods.-Sheldon, ASSUMPTION, as-sum'shun, 8. (assumptio, Lat.) The taking anything to one's self; the supposition of anything without proof; the thing supposed; a postulate; a festival of the Roman Catholic Church, kept on the 15th of August, in celebration of the alleged miraculous ascent of the Virgin Mary into heaven. ASSUMPTIVE, as-sum ́tiv, a. (assumpticus, Lat.) That which is assumed. In Heraldry, applied to such arms or armorial bearings as may be assumed with the consent of the sovereign, or by grant of the heraldic officers. Assumptive arms, is a term also used for such as are presumptuously assumed by the bearer. ASSURANCE, ash-shu'rans, s. (French.) Certain expectation; confidence; freedom from doubt; want of modesty; spirit; intrepidity; sanguineness; readiness to hope; testimony of credit; conviction; a contract or insurance by which the payment of a certain sum is secured to the person assured, at some particular time or period of his life, or to his heirs at his death. Insurance is now more generally applied to securities against loss by fire, or by sea-shipwreck, and Assurance to confidence by a firm promise; to secure to anothe to make firm; to make confident; to exempt fro doubt or fear; to confer security; to make secur to affiance or betroth. ASSURED, ash-shu'red or ash-shurd', a. part. Ce tain; indubitable; immodest; viciously confiden ASSUREDLY, ash-shu' red-le, ad. Certainly; it dubitably. ASSUREDNESS, ash-shu'red-nes, s. The state being assured; certainty. ASSURER, ash-shu'rur, s. One who assures; or who gives security in case of loss. ASSURGENT, as-sur jent, a. (assurgens, Lat.) Ri ing up in a curve or arch. ASSYRIAN, as-sir'e-an, s. A native of Assyria, a ancient and extensive empire in Asia;-a. per taining to Assyria. ASTACIDE, as-ta'se-de, s. (astacus, one of th ASTACINE, as-ta'se-ne, genera.) The Lobste family, embracing those crustaceans which hav long tails, Macura. ASTACOLITE, as-tak 'ko-lite, s. (astacus, Lat. an lithos, a stone, Gr.) A name given by the olde geologists to the fossil remains of the lobster. ASTACUS, as'ta-kus, s. (Latin.) The lobster, genus of long-tailed crustaceans, containing the common lobster, A. marinus, and the craw-fish A. fluvialis. These crustacea have four unequa antennæ, two of which are larger than the body. which is oblong and sub-cylindrical; they are furnished with six legs; first pair long and thick; tail fan-shaped, the lateral pieces of which are divided into two. ASTALLAGE, as tal-lage, 8. A Brazilian inn. ASTARTE, as-tár'te, s. The Ashtoreth of the Sidonians, the same as the Venus of the Romans. The name Asterah is also given to Ashtoreth. It denotes more especially the relation of that goddess to the planet Venus, as the lesser star of good fortune, Baal being the greater under that of Jupiter; both were originally considered, and wor shipped, in relation to the sun and moon, as the greater and lesser of the productive powers of nature; the name given to a genus of bivalve-shelled mollusca, belonging to the sub-family Venerinæ ; the interior of the valves is marked by two muscular impressions, and a simple mantle line; the hinge has two divaricating teeth in the right-hand valve; in the other, one distinct and one obsolete, and the rudiment of a lateral tooth. ASTARTEA, as-tur'te-a, s. (from the goddess As tarte.) A genus of plants, natives of New Hol land: Genus, Myrtaceæ. ASTEISM, as'te-izm, s. (asteismos, civility, Gr.) In Rhetoric, a figure in which some agreeable jest is expressed; a kind of irony. ASTEPHANUS, a-stef a-nus, s. (a, without, and stephanos, a corona, Gr.) A genus of perennial twining exotic plants, so named from the corona being wanting: Order, Asclepiadeæ. ASTER, as'tur, s. (aster, a star, Gr.) Starwort; a genus of plants with beautiful radiated flowers, among which are the China-asters and Christmasdaisy of our gardens;—the Goshawks, a genus of hawks, distinguished by their large size and robust form. ASTERACANTHUS-ASTEROPTYCHIUS. CASTHUS, 8-ter-a-kan ́thus, 8. (astron, a and kostos, a spine, Gr.) A genus of fossil described by Agassiz, from the Lias and white of Etelstl. TILE as-te're-e, s. (astron, Gr.) A section temposte plants, including the daisy, aster, s-te're-a, In Mythology, the mother Hate, who, after enjoying the favours of J was changed into an eagle, and afterto a quail. A stellular variety of the marul corundum, termed likewise asterite, ast, and astrite. STS, a-te re-as, s. (aster, a star, Gr.) The dar-, a genus of radiated animals belonging the section Stelleride, subdivided into the ted or shieldlike, and the radiated starThe first have the body angular, with short and not exceeding the extremity of the disk; there have the rays elongated below the di of the dak; the sub-genera are convoluta, ale, gorgonocephalus, orphuria. A genus of pay plants, one of the species A. lutea; de Gratiana lutea of Linnæus is a strong, bitter, powerful tonic: Order, Gentianeæ. ATATED, as-te're-ay-ted, a. Radiated like a lar, a-ste-rish'e-um, e. (aster, a star, Gr. anterence to the starlike umbels.) A genus of pta, natives of Chili: Order, Umbelliferæ. ASK, as'ter-isk, s. A mark like a star made is books in reference to a note, thus (*). ASTERISM, as ter-izin, s. In Astronomy, a cluster Esed stars. ATES-See Astrite. , as-tem', ad. Towards the stern; behind. ASTERO EFRALOUS, as-ter-o-sef'a-lus, 8. (aster, Arazoans, as'ter‐oydz, s. (aster, and eidos, like, 6.) A name sometimes given by astronomers to the four small planets, Juno, Vesta, Ceres, and ASTERT-ASTREA. ASTERT, as'tert, v. a. affright.-Obsolete. ATZOLINON, as-ter-o-lin'on, s. (aster, and linon, b. Gr.) Flax star, (Lysimachia asterolinon,) a pat: Order, Primulaceæ. To terrify; "to startle; to We deem of death as doom of ill desert; Spenser. ASTHENIA, as-the'ne-a, s. (a, without, and sthenos, strength, Gr.) Bodily debility. ASTHENIC as-then 'ik, a. Applied to diseases attended with great bodily debility. ASTHENURUS, as-then'u-rus, s. (asthenes, weak, and oura, a tail, Gr.) A genus of birds belonging to the family Picidæ or woodpeckers, natives of tropical America. ASTHMA, ast'ma, s. (Greek.) A disease characterized by difficulty of breathing, recurring in paroxysms, accompanied with a wheezing sound, cough, and a sense of constriction in the chest. ASTHMATIC, ast-matʼik, a. Troubled with ASTHMATICAL, ast-mat'e-kal, asthma. ASTIANTHUS, as-te-an'thus, s. (asteios, beautiful, and anthos, a flower, Gr. in reference to its brilliant flowers.) A genus of plants, consisting of a branched shrub-a native of Mexico: Order, Bignoniaceæ. ASTILBE, a-stilbe, s. (a, without, and stilbe, brightness, Gr.) A genus of plants: Order, Saxafrageæ. ASTIPULATE, as-tip'u-late, v. a. (a, and stipulate.) To agree to; to contract. ASTIPULATION, a-stip-u-la'shun, s. Agreement; contract. ASTOMA, a-sto'ma, s. (a, without, and stoma, mouth, Gr.) A name proposed by Cuvier for those floating Acephala which have no central mouth, and want the numerous ramifications in the pedicle and open cavities of the ovaries, which characterize the Rhizostoma.-Which see. ASTROLOMA, as-ter-o-lo'ma, s. (aster, and loma, Singe, Gr.) ders: Order, Epicrideæ. genus of plants with starlike ASTEROMA, as-te-ro'ma, s. (aster, Gr.) A genus fated minute fungi, found on the leaves of teen, plum, apple, ash, &c. ASTROPEIA, as-ter-o-pe'e-a, 8. (aster, a star, Gr. fr the starlike form of the calyx.) A genus of pants, natives of Madagascar. AFTEROPHORA, as-ter-of e-ra, s. (aster, and phero, I bear, Gr.) A genus of small starlike, woolly, and puff ball-like Fungi: Class, TrichoderATEROPHYLLITES, as-ter-o-fil'le-tes, s. (aster, and pain, a leaf, Gr.) A genus of fossil plants are arranged in whorls-found in the ASTEROPTYCHIUS, as-ter-op-tik'e-us, s. (aster, and pyche, plaited, Gr.) A name given by Agassiz to a geaus of fossil fishes, found in the Irish car coal formation. banerons limestone. ASTOMOUS, as'to-mus, a. In Botany, applied to those mosses, the thecæ or seed-covers of which have no aperture. ASTONE, as-tone', v. a. (etonner, Fr. stunian, ASTONY, as-ton'ne, Sax.) To terrify; to confound with fear or amazement.-Obsolete. Many were astonied at thee.-Isa. lii, 14, ASTONISH, as-ton'nish, v. a. (stunian, Sax. etonner, ner so as to excite astonishment. ASTONISHINGNESS, as-ton'nish-ing-nes, s. The quality of exciting astonishment. ASTONISHMENT, as-ton'ish-ment, s. Amazement; confusion of mind. ASTOUND, as-townd', v. n. To astonish; to con found with fear or wonder. These thoughts may startle well, but not astound ASTRADDLE, a-strad'dl, ad. With one's legs across. ASTRÆEA, as'tre-a, s. (astron, a star, Gr.) A genus of fixed stoney corals, belonging to the tribe Polypi Vagini. The Astræa form hemispherical or globular masses, which are rarely lobed, and have the upper surface shaded with orbicular or angulated, laminar, or sessile stars. The animals, ASTR.EA-ASTRICT. when alive, present a very beautiful appearance, making the rocks on which they fix their calcareons habitations, seem one living mass of brilliant colouring. ASTREA, as'tre-a, s. In Mythology, according to some, the daughter of Jupiter and Themis. She was termed the goddess of justice. She lived on earth during the golden age, but was forced by the wickedness and impiety of the succeeding iron and brazen ages to leave this world for heaven, where she obtained a place among the constellations as Virgo, the virgin. She is represented as a virgin having a stern but majestic countenance, with a sword in one hand, and a pair of scales in the other. The name given by M. Encke, of Dresden, to a planet discovered by him, 13th Dec., 1845. It has the appearance of a star of the eighth or tenth magnitude. ASTREUS, as'tre-us, s. In Mythology, one of the Titans who made war on Jupiter, the husband of Aurora, and father of Zephyrus, Boreas, Notus, and Argestes. ASTRAGAL, as tra-gal, s. (astragalos, a die or hucklebone, Gr.) In Architecture, a small round fillet or moulding encircling a column. In the more ornamental orders, it forms what is termed the hypertrachelium, that is, the upper part of all between the capital and the column. The same name is given to a semicircular moulding sometimes cut into beads and berries, which separate the different faces of an architrave. In Guunery, the coronal ring of a piece of ordnance. ASTRAGALUS, as-trag'a-lus, s. (Latin.) The ankle bone; the sling-bone, or first bone of the foot, a bone of the tarsus, upon which the tibia moves; also, the Milk-vetch, a genus of plants; two of the species, A. hypoglottis and A. giycephyllos, are British. Generic character-calyx five-toothed; corolla with an obtuse keel; stamens diadelphous; pod two-celled, or half-two-celled, the lower suture being turned inwards. A. verus, and several other species yield the guin-traganth or gum-dragon of commerce. ASTRAL, as'tral, a. (French.) Pertaining to the stars; starry. ASTRANTHUS, as-tran'thus, s. (astron, and anthos, a flower, Gr. from the lobes radiating in a starlike manner.) A genus of plants, natives of CochinChina: Order, Homalineæ, ASTRANTIA, a-stran ́she-a, s. (astron, a star, Gr.) Masterwort; a genus of umbelliferous plants, having a beautiful starlike arrangement of the involucrum; the umbel fasiculated, and the fruit enclosed in little wrinkled bladders. ASTRAPEA, as-tre-pe'a, s. (astrape, lightning, Gr. from the brilliant colouring of the flowers.) A genus of evergreen-trees with splendid umbellate flowers: Order, Byttneriacea. ASTRAPIA, a-stra'po-a, s. A genus of birds belong ing to the family Sturnidæ or Starlings, with excessively long boat-shaped tails, and brilliant plumage. ASTRAY, as-tra', ad. (astragan, Sax.) Out of the right way. ASTREPHIA, as-tre'fe-a, s. (a, without, and strepho, I turn, Gr. from the calyx not being turned back at the time of flowering.) A genus of plants: Order, Valerianeæ. ASTRICT, as-trikt', v. a. (astringo, astrictus, Lat.) To contract by astringent application; to bind;-a. compendious. ASTRIFEROUS, a-strif e-rus, a. (astrifera, Lat. -Not used. ASTRINGE, a-strinj', v. a. body together; to bind. ASTRINGENCY, as-trin'jen-se, s. The power of con tracting parts of a body. ASTRINGENT, as-trin'jent, a. (astringens, Lat. Binding; contracting; opposed to laxative; applied also to substances, such as alum, which have a tendency to contract the mouth;-8. medicine which, when applied to the body, renders the solids more dense by contracting their fibres. ASTROBLEPAS, as-trob'ble-pas, s. (astron, a star, and blepo, I see, Gr.) A genus of the Cat-fishes, Silurida, with naked heads and truncated tails; Sub-family, Aspredina. ASTROCANTHUS, as-tro-kan' thus, s. (astron, and kanthos, a spine, Gr.) A genus of fishes which have the head and body nearly orbicular, and covered with spines. ASTROCRINITES, as-tro-kre-ni'tes, s. (astron, and krinon, a lily, Gr.) A genus of fossil Crinoideans, found in the carboniferous limestone formation. ASTRODERMINE, as-tro-der'me-ne, s. (astron, and derma, skin, Gr.) A subdivision of the family Caryphænideæ; fishes with lengthened oval bodies; the crown gibbous or obtuse; the mouth small: ventral fins nearly awanting, and the body covered with scattered scales: Type of the genus Astroderma. ASTROGNOSY, as-trog'no-se, s. (astron, and gnosis, knowledge, Gr.) Same as astronomy. ASTROGRAPHY, as-trog'ra-fe, s. (astron, and grapho, I describe, Gr.) The science which describes the nature, position, and properties of the stars. ASTROLABE, as ́tro-labe, s. (astron, and lambano, I take, Gr.) An astronomical instrument, composed of two or more circles, having a common centre; a planisphere or stereographic projection of the sphere on the plane of its great circles, formerly used chiefly in taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies at sea. ASTROLOBIUM, as-tro-lo 'be-um, 8. (astron, and lobos, a pod, Gr.) A genus of annual leguminous plants, named from the starlike arrangement of the pods. ASTROLOGER, as-trol'o-jur, s. (astron, and logos, a discourse, Gr.) One who pretends to foretell events by the aspects of the stars. It was anciently used of one who understood or explained the motions of the planets, without including prediction. ASTROLOGIAN, as-tro-lo'je-an, s. An astrologer. The stars, they say, cannot dispose No more than can the astrologian.—Hudibras, TOLOGY, as-trol'o-je, s (astrologia, Lat.) The made of pretending to know events by a knowof the stars; an art now generally exploded philosophical and false. ASTROMER, as-tron's-mur, s. (astron, and nomos, A. Gc.) One who studies the nature, magnides distances, and motions of celestial bodies, the laws by which they are governed. ASTRONOMIC, as-tro-nom'ik, a. Belonging ASTROSOMICAL, as-tro-nom'e-kal, to astronomy. LESBICALLY, as-tro-nom'e-kal-le, ad. In an trenical manner. AsoxZE, as-tron'o-mize, v. n. To study Thesis ascetic Christians found a paradise in a drt, and with little converse on earth heid a converbaren, thus they astronomized in caves, and bebe'd not the stars, had the glory of heaven re-Brown's Christ. Mor. ASTRONOMY, as-tron 'o-me, s. (see astronomer.) Da science which ascertains by observation and mestical deduction the nature of the bodies ing the celestial spaces; determines their ective situations, establishes the proofs of the y of some, and the mobility of others; exines the various movements of the latter, and the cores which they describe round their centres motion. ATROsorts, as-tro-no'tus, &. (astron, and notus, the back, Gr.) A genus of fishes, belonging to the family Chaetodon, with broad oval bodies, theads, and large mouths; the under jaw larger than the upper, and the fins very scaly. AsraosCOPE, astro-skope, s. (astron, and skopeo, I new, Gr.) An astronomical instrument, composed of two cones, on the surface of which the stars and stations are exhibited, by which means they arely found in the heavens. ASTROSCOPIA, as-tro-sko'pe-a, s. In Astronomy, ASTROSCOPY, as tro-sko-pe, the art of exam ing the stars by ineans of telescopes. ASTROSPORIUM, as-tro-spore-um, 8. (astron, and gora, a sporale, Gr.) A minute black fungus, found on dead beech branches. ASTRO-THEOLOGY, as-tro-the-ol'o-je, s. (astron, lee, God, and logos, a discourse, Gr.) Proof of the existence and contrivance of a Deity, founded on the observation of the heavenly bodies. ASTROTRICHA, as-trot're-ka, s. (aster, a star, thrix, trichos, hair, Gr. in reference to the starry down apon the outside of the petals.) A genus of Australian under shrubs: Order, Umbelliferæ. ASTROM, as trum, 8. In Astronomy, a cluster of stars. In Alchemy, the power imparted by che mical admixture. ASTRCT, a-strut', ad. In a strutting or swelling ASTCW, as-tun', v. a. (stuniun, Sax.) To stun.— Obsolete. He fell rebounding; breathless and astunn'd ASTUTE-AT. above, with somewhat oval nostrils; the Goshawk, A. palumbarius, is the only European species. ASTUTE, as-tute', a. (astutus, Lat.) Cunning; penetrating; sly. ASTUTENESS, as-tute'nes, s. (astutio, Lat.) Craftiness; cunning. ASTYDAMIA, as-te-da'me-a, s. In Mythology, the daughter of Oceanus; also, the name given to a genus of plants found on the sea-shore in the Canary Islands: Order, Umbelliferæ-nearly allied to the Parsnip, Pastinaa. ASUNDER, a-sun'dur, ad. (asundran, Sax.) Apart; AswOON, a-swoon', ad. (aswunan, to faint, Sax.) The neighbours, both small and grete, Chaucer. ASYLUM, a-siʼlum, s. (asylum, Lat. from the Greek ASYMTOTICAL, a-sim-tot ́e-kal, a. Curves are said to be asymtotical when they continually approach, without a possibility of meeting. ASYNDETON, a-sin'de-ton, s. (a, not, syndeo, I bind together, Gr.) A figure in Grammar when a conjunction copulative is omitted in a sentence, as, 'I came, I saw, I conquered;' where the copulative and is omitted. AT, at, prep. At, before a place, notes the nearness of the place-as, a man is at the house before he is in it; At, before a word signifying time, notes the co-existence of the time with the event; At, before a superlative adjective, implies in the state, as at most, in the state of most perfection, &c. At, signifies the particular condition of the person -as, at peace; At, sometimes marks employment or attention-as, he is at work'; At, sometimes the same as furnished with-as, a man at arms;' At, sometimes notes the place where anything isas, he is at home;' At, sometimes is nearly the same as In, noting situation; At, sometimes seems to signify in the power of, or obedient to-as, 'at your service;' At, all; in any manner; At sometimes signifies in immediate consequence of. Impeachments at the prosecution of the House of Commons, have received their determinations in the House of Lords.-Hale. At, marks sometimes the effect proceeding from an act. ASTURL, astor, 8. A genus of hawks with a short they will not be at the trouble to deduce by reasoning. Those may be of use to confirm by authority, what -Arbuthnot. beak bent downward from the base, and convex 125 ATABAL-ATHANASIA. ATABAL, at'a-bal, 8. A kind of tabor used by the Moors. Children shall beat our atabals and drums, And all the noisy trades of war no more Shall wake the peaceful morn.-Dryden. ATACAMITE, a-tak'a-mite, 8. Native muriate of copper, or prismatoidal green malachite, consisting of oxide of copper, 76.6; muriatic acid, 12.4; water, 11; sp. gr. 4.0-4.3. It is of various shades of green, and occurs in minute crystals, of which the primary form is a right rhombic prism. It is translucent, or nearly transparent, soft, and brittle; streak, apple-green; lustre, vitreous. It is found in the sands of the river Lipos, in the desert of Atamaca, (hence its name,) and in the lavas of Vesuvius. ATAGHAN, at'a-gan, s. A small sword or dagger worn by the Turks. ATALANTHUS, a-ta-lan'thus, s. (atalos, soft, and anthos, a flower. Gr.) A genus of composite plants, the Preanthes of Linnæus. ATAMASCO, a-ta-mas'co, s. A lily of the Amaryllis family: Genus, Zephyranthus. ATARAXY, at'a-rak-se, s. (atarachos, Gr.) Exemption from vexation; tranquillity. ATARGATES, a-tur'ga-tis, s. A Phoenician goddess, represented as a siren, with the head and breasts of a woman, and the tail of a fish. ATAXY, at ak-se, 8. (ataxia, Gr.) Want of order; confusion; with physicians, irregularities in the crises and paroxysms of fevers. ATE, ate. The part. of the verb to eat. ATE, a'te. In Mythology, the goddess of all evil and mischief, and daughter of Jupiter, who, in consequence of her seditions, and malevolent conduct in heaven, banished her far from it, and sent her to earth, where she became the exciting cause of war and wickedness of all kinds. ATEGAR, at'te-gar, s. (aton, to fling, and gar, a dart, Sax.) The name of a kind of hand-dart used by the Anglo-Saxons. ATELLAN, a-tellan, a. Relating to the dramas at Atella. Their fescennin, and Atellan way of wit, was in early days prohibited.—Shaftesbury. ATELLANE, a-tel'lan-e,) s. (from Atella, an ancient ATELLANS, a-tel'lanz, town of Tuscany in Italy, where farces, differing from low comedy, only by a greater licentiousness, originated.) Dramatic representations, satirical or licentious. They were finally suppressed by the Roman Senate. Many old poets did write fescennines atellans, and lascivious songs.-Burton. ATELES, at'el-es, s. (ateles, imperfect, Gr.) A genus of South American monkies, which want thumbs on the anterior hands, but are furnished with long prehensile tails. ATEUCHUS, at'u-kus, s. A genus of coleopterous insects, two species of which were held sacred by the ancient Egyptians, and are found sculptured on their monuments, seals, amulets, &c., and got sometimes in their mummy coffins: Family, Lamillicornis. ATHALAMOUS, a-thal'la-mus, s. (a, without, thalamos, a little chamber, Gr.) Applied to those lichens, the thallus of which is without shields. ATHAMANTA, a-tha-man'ta, s. (mount Athamas.) The Spignel, a genus of herbaceous plants, with umbelliferous flowers. ATHANASIA, a-tha-na'zle-a, s. (a, without, thanatos, ATHANASIAN-ATHENATI. death, Gr.) Goldilocks, a genus of composi plants with yellow enduring flowers. ATHANASIAN, a-tha-na'zhan, s. One who espoused in the early ages of Christianity, the doctrine an opinions of Athanasius;-a. relating to the cree of St. Athanasius, the principal doctrines of whic are given in these extracts--the Catholic fait is this: that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding th persons, nor dividing the substance. For there i one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead o the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one; the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost;'-namely, uncreate-incomprehensible-eternal, &c. Another dogma of this creed, is, 'whosoever will be saved, before al things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic faith; which faith, except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. ATHANOR, ath'a-nor, s. A kind of digesting furnace used by the old chemists. ATHE, athe, s. (ath, Sax.) An cath.-Obsolete. Bot of our bysshop.-MS. Harl., 1022, f. 68, d. The word was used among the Anglo-Saxons and Normans for the privilege of administering an oath in particular cases of right and property. ATHEISM, a'the-ism, s. (from atheist.) Disbelief in the existence of a creative intelligent First Cause. ATHEIST, a'the-ist, s. (a, without, Theos, God, Gr.) One who denies the existence of God;-a. atheistical; denying God. Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy ATHEISTIC, ay-the'is-tik, ? a. Given to athe- atheistical manner. ATHEISTICALNLSS, ay-the-is'te-kal-nes, s. The quality of being atheistical. ATHEIZE, ay the -ize, v. n. To talk or argue like an atheist-r. a, to convert others to atheisim. ATHEL, a'thel, a. (Saxon.) Noble.-Obsolete. ATHELING, a'thel-ing, s. (Saxon.) A nobleman. [The following Saxon names have the attached signifi cations: Ethelred is noble for counsel; Æthelard, a noble genius; Ethelbert, eminently noble; Æthelward, a nolle protector.] ATHELOLOGIAN, ay-the-o-lo'je-an, s. One who is the opposite to a theologian. They of your society, (Jesuits,) as they took their original from a soldier, so they are the only atheologians whose heads entertain no other object but the tumult of realms; whose doctrine is nothing but confusion and bloodshed.-Hayward's Answer to Coleman. ATHENEA, a-then-c'a, s. (athene, one of the names of Minerva.) Greek festivals held in honour of Minerva; also, the name given to public places in the forum and amphitheatres, where poets, orators, and other professors of the liberal arts, rehearsed their productions. ATHEN.EUM, a then-e'um, s. singular of Athenaa. A word now used in this country to denote a club or place of literary resort. ATHENATI, a-the'na-ti, s. In Antiquity, the name given to a body of Persian cavalry, which consisted of 10,000 men, a number which was always |