Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AL'LE-GO-RIZ-ING, ppr.

Turning into allegory, or understanding in an allegorical sense.

AL'LE-GO-RY, n. [Gr. αλληγορια, of αλλος, other, and αγορευω, to speak, from αγορα, a forum, an oration.]

A figurative sentence or discourse, in which the principal subject is described by another subject resembling it in its properties and circumstances. The principal subject is thus kept out of view, and we are left to collect the intentions of the writer or speaker, by the resemblance of the secondary to the primary subject. Allegory is in words what hieroglyphics are in painting. We have a fine example of an allegory in the eightieth Psalm, in which God's chosen people are represented by a vineyard. The distinction in Scripture between a parable and an allegory, is said to be, that a parable is a supposed history, and an allegory, a figurative description of real facts. An allegory is called a continued metaphor. The following line in Virgil is an example of an allegory. Claudite jam rivos, pueri, sat prata biberunt. “Stop the currents, young men, the meadows have drank sufficiently;” that is, Let your music cease, our ears have been sufficiently delighted. – Encyc.

AL-LE-GRET'TO, a. [from allegro.]

Denotes, in music, a movement or time quicker than andante, but not so quick as allegro. – Rousseau. Busby.

AL-LE'GRO, a. [It. merry, cheerful; It. leggiére; Sp. ligero; Fr. leger, light, nimble. See Light.]

In music, a word denoting a brisk movement; a sprightly part or strain; the quickest except presto. Piu allegro is a still quicker movement. – Rousseau. Encyc.

ALL-EL'O-QUENT, a.

Eloquent in the highest degree. – Pope.

AL-LE-LU'IAH, n. [Heb. הללויה, Praise to Jah.]

Praise Jehovah; a word used to denote pious joy and exultation, chiefly in hymns and anthems. The Greeks retained the word in their Ελελευ Ιη, Praise to Io; probably a corruption of Jah. The Romans retained the latter word in their Io triumphe.

AL-LE-MAND', n.

A slow air in common time, or grave, solemn music, with a slow movement. Also a brisk dance, or a figure in dancing. – Dict. of Music.

AL-LE-MAN'NIC, a.

Belonging to the Alemanni, ancient Germans, and to Alemannia, their country. The word is generally supposed to be composed of all and manni, all men. Cluver, p. 68. This is probably an error. The word is more probably composed of the Celtic all, other, the root of Latin alius and man, place; one of another place, a stranger. The Welsh allman, is thus rendered, and this seems to be the original word. – Owen, Welsh Dict. The name, Alemanni, seems to have been first given to the Germans who invaded Gaul in the reign of Augustus. – Cluver, Germ. Antiq.

ALL-EM-BRA'CING, a.

Embracing all things. – Crashaw.

ALL-END'ING, a.

Putting an end to all things. – Shak.

ALL-EN-LIGHT-EN-ING, a.

Enlightening all things. – Cotton.

ALL-EN-RA'GED, a.

Highly enraged. – Hall.

AL-LE'RI-ON, n.

In heraldry, an eagle without beak or feet, with expanded wings; denoting Imperialists vanquished and disarmed. – Encyc.

ALL-ES-SEN'TIAL, a.

Wholly essential. – Everett.

AL-LE-VEUR, n.

A small Swedish coin, value about a cent. – Encyc.

AL-LE'VI-ATE, v.t. [Low L. allevio; ad and levo, to raise, levis, light; Fr. lever; It. levare; to raise; Sp. llevar, to carry, levantar, to raise, and levante, a rising, and the eastern coasts of the Mediterranean, the east, so called from the rising of the sun, like oriental, from orior, to rise; Sax. hlifian, to be eminent. See Lift.]

1. To make light; but always in a figurative sense, as it is not applied to material objects. To remove in part; to lessen, mitigate, or make easier to be endured; applied to evils; as, to alleviate sorrow, pain, care, punishment, a burden, &c.; opposed to aggravate.
2. To make less by representation; to lessen the magnitude or criminality; to extenuate; applied to moral conduct; as, alleviate an offense. [This sense of the word is rare.]

AL-LE'VI-A-TED, pp.

Made lighter; mitigated; eased; extenuated.

AL-LE'VI-A-TING, ppr.

Making lighter, or more tolerable; extenuating.

AL-LE-VI-A'TION, n.

1. The act of lightening, allaying, or extenuating; a lessening, or mitigation.
2. That which lessens, mitigates, or makes more tolerable; as, the sympathy of a friend is an alleviation of grief. I have not wanted such alleviations of life, as friendship could supply. – (Dr. Johnson's letter to Mr. Hector.) Boswell. This use of alleviation is hardly legitimate without supplying some word expressing evil, as trouble, sorrow, &c.–Without such alleviations of the cares or troubles of life.

AL-LE'VI-A-TIVE, n.

That which mitigates. [Not in use.]

AL'LEY, n. [al'ly; Fr. allée, a passage, from aller, to go; Ir. alladh. Literally, a passing or going.]

1. A walk in a garden; a narrow passage.
2. A narrow passage or way in a city, as distinct from a public street.
3. A place in London where stocks are bought and sold. – Ash.

ALL-FLA'MING, a.

Flaming in all directions. – Beaumont.

ALL-FOOL'S-DAY, n.

The first of April.

ALL-FOR-GIV'ING, a.

Forgiving or pardoning all. – Dryden.

ALL-FOURS, n. [all and four.]

A game at cards, played by two or four persons; so called from the possession of the four honors, by one person, who is then said to have all fours. To go on all fours, is to move or walk on four legs, or on the two legs and two arms.