Emily Dickinson Lexicon

apron (-s), n. [OFr naperon < L. mappa, table-napkin.] (webplay: covers, covering, dust, flooring, worn.]

1. Protective outer garment; extra piece of cloth used to keep clothes clean; leather work skirt covering the front of the body.
2. Raiment; garment for cooking; [fig.] colorful clouds; sky with colored clouds.
3. Corolla; [fig.] petal of a flower; white flower of the lily plant.

aptitude, n. [Fr. < L. apt-us, fitted, suited, appropriate.]

Ability; tendency; readiness; faculty; potential; propensity; natural disposition; inborn inclination.

aquatic, adj.

/n. [Fr. < L. aqua, water.] Watery; blue liquid.

arable, adj. [L. arā-re, to plow.]

Fit for plowing; tillable.

Ararat, proper n. [Heb. < Assyrian Urartu, ancient kingdom north of Assyria; poss. < *IE ar, mountain.]

Holy mountain; mountainous district near Armenia and Persia; high peak where Noah's ark landed after the flood (see Genesis 8:4); [fig.] home; temple; permanent haven; long-term sanctuary; final resting place; promised land; restoration of life; spring season of regeneration.

arbitrate, v. [L. 'examine, give judgment as a supreme ruler'.]

Mediate; intervene; negotiate; intercede for someone's welfare; [legal term] hear and decide a case; [ironic] meddle; interfere.

arc (-s), n. [OFr < L. arcum, bow, arch, curve.] (webplay: circumference, stretching, up).

1. Orbit; ellipse; circular path.
2. Upward trajectory; curved path into the sky.
3. Expanse; area; space; realm; domain; universe; reality.
4. Bow; arch; dome; vault; [word play on “architecture”] overpass; suspension bridge; [fig.] spider's web; network of suspended fibers.
5. Length of a semi-circle; geometric measurement of part of a circle; [fig.] extent; degree; magnitude; scale; intensity; power; strength.
6. Crescent; curved line; [fig.] wingspan.

arch, n. [OFr < L. arca, chest, coffer; also, OFr < L. arc-um, bow; see arc, n.]

Door; entrance; gateway; breach; portal; aperture; [fig.] perishable body; mortal life.

archangel (-s, -'s), n. [Gk 'chief' + 'messenger'.]

1. Prophet; seraph; Moses (see Genesis 34:33); heavenly being of the highest order; important inhabitant of heaven; angel of high rank in the celestial hierarchy.
2. Lord; minister; Michael; one who will sound the trumpet for the resurrection of the dead; (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 1:9).

archer (-'s), n. [OFr < L. arcus, bow.] (webplay: arrow, bow).

Bowman; one who shoots with a bow and arrows; [fig.] lover; sweetheart; suitor; god of love, such as Cupid.