Emily Dickinson Lexicon

astronomer, n. [Fr. < Gk; see astronomy, n.]

Star-gazer; professor of stellar science; scholar of heavenly phenomena.

astronomy, n. [OFr < L. < Gk 'star-arranging', 'one who classes or arranges the stars'; see astrology.]

System of planets, stars, and other bodies in space; science that governs heavenly bodies; study of the laws and features of the universe; [NW] “knowledge of celestial bodies, their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, aspects, eclipses, order … This science depends on observations, made chiefly with instruments, and upon mathematical calculations.”

astute, adj. [Fr. < L. astus, crafty, cunning.]

1. Clever; intelligent; subtle; sharp; shrewd.
2. Sophisticated; cosmopolitan; refined; debonair; elegant; urbane; [possible pun on “a-starred” or “astral”] starry.

at, prep. [OE.]

1. When; during the time of.
2. In or near; in the place of; located by.
3. In the process of.
4. Towards; in the direction of.
5. About; concerning; in doing.

ate, [see eat, v.]

atheist, n. [Fr. < Gk 'without God', 'denying God'.] (webplay: nothing).

Disbeliever; infidel; nihilist; one who does not believe in a god; person who denies the existence of a supreme being.

Athens, proper n. [Gk < Athene < pre-Hellenic ath, long-handled spear.]

Attica; ancient Greek city; center of culture named for Athena; metropolis whose citizens worshiped the goddess of wisdom (see Acts 17:22); [fig.] learning; study; education; philosophy; classical scholarship; arts and letters; [allusion] father of Odysseus in Homer; (see also Byron's “Maid of Athens”).

atmosphere (-s), n. [L. < Gk 'vapor' + 'ball, sphere'.]

1. Air; invisible gaseous area surrounding the earth.
2. Wind current; air flow; [fig.] area; space; surroundings; environment; ambience.

atom (-s, -'s), n. [Fr. < L. < Gk α, not + Τεμνω, to cut; 'indivisible'; 'twinkling of an eye'.] (webplay: admit, chemical, first).

1. Fragment; bit; very small piece; minute part of a whole.
2. Physical component; sub-molecular unit; indivisible body; extremely small part of a molecule; particle having a nucleus, electron valences, and little weight.
3. First principle of matter; individual in a physical, tangible, material state; [word play] Adam; man; first human being according to the Bible.
4. Element; physical material; particle of the decomposing human body; [fig.] decay; mortality.
5. Mote; scent; odor; smell; sense; element existing in the air; [fig.] feeling; mood.

atone, v. [compound of at and one.] (webplay: love).

Expiate; compensate; reward; recompense; pay; restore; make amends; make up for; provide equivalent for an injury.