Dictionary: A-MER'I-CIM – A-MID'-SHIPS

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A-MER'I-CIM, n.

A species of lizard in South America, not more than two inches in length, and the third of an inch in diameter. Its legs are of the size of a hog's bristle. – Dict. of Nat. Hist.

AMES'-ACE, n. [See AMBSACE.]

AM-E-TA-BO'LI-AN, n. [Gr. α neg. and μεταβαλλω, to change.]

In zoology, an animal that does not undergo a metamorphosis. – Kirby.

A-METH'O-DIST, n.

A quack. [Not used.]

AM'E-THYST, n.1 [L. amethystus; Gr. αμεθυστος, which the Greeks supposed to be formed from α and μεθυω, to inebriate, from some supposed quality in the stone of resisting intoxication. Plin. xxxvii. 9, mentions an opinion, that it takes its name from its color approaching that of wine, but not reaching it.]

A sub-species of quartz, of a violet blue color, of different degrees of intensity. It generally occurs crystalized in hexahedral prisms or pyramids; also in rolled fragments, composed of imperfect prismatic crystals. Its fracture is conchoidal or splintery. It is wrought into various articles of jewelry. – Cleaveland. Encyc.

AM'E-THYST, n.2

in heraldry, signifies a purple color. It is the same, in a nobleman's escutcheon, as purpure, in a gentleman's, and mercury, in that of a prince. – Encyc.

AM-E-THYST'INE, a.

Pertaining to, or resembling amethyst; anciently applied to a garment of the color of amethyst, as distinguished from the Tyrian and hyacinthine purple.

AM'I-A, n.

A genus of fish, of the Abdominal order, found in the rivers of Carolina. – Pennant.

A-MI-A-BIL'I-TY, n.

Amiableness.

A'MI-A-BLE, a. [Fr. amiable; L. amabilis, from amo, to love.]

  1. Lovely; worthy of love; deserving of affection; applied usually to persons. But in Ps. lxxxiv. 1, there is an exception: "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord!"
  2. Pretending or showing love. Lay amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife. – Shak. But this use is not legitimate.

A'MI-A-BLE-NESS, n.

The quality of deserving love; loveliness.

A'MI-A-BLY, adv.

In an amiable manner; in a manner to excite or attract love.

AM'I-ANTH, or AM-I-ANT'US, n. [Gr. αμιαντος, of α neg. and μιαινω, to pollute or vitiate; so called from its incombustibility. – Plin. 36. 19.]

Earth-flax, or mountain-flax; a mineral substance somewhat resembling flax; usually grayish, or of a greenish white; sometimes of a yellowish or silvery white, olive or mountain green, of a pale flesh red or ocher color. It is composed of delicate filaments, very flexible and somewhat elastic, often long, and resembling threads of silk. It is incombustible, and has sometimes been wrought into cloth and paper. – Kirwan. Encyc. Cleaveland.

AM-I-ANTH'I-FORM, a. [Amianth and form.]

Having the form or likeness of amianth. Amianthiform arseniate of copper. – Phillips.

AM-I-ANTH'IN-ITE, n.

A species of amorphous mineral, a variety of actinolite; its color ash, greenish or yellowish gray, often mixed with yellow or red; its fracture confusedly foliated and fibrous. – Kirwan.

AM-I-ANTH'OID, a.

Resembling amianth in form.

AM-I-ANTH'OID, n. [Amianth and Gr. ειδος, form.]

A mineral which occurs in tufts, composed of long capillary filaments, flexible and very elastic; more flexible than the fibers of asbestus, but stiffer and more elastic than those of amianth. The color is olive green, or greenish white. – Haüy. Cleaveland.

AM'I-CA-BLE, a. [L. amicabilis, from amicus, a friend, from amo to love.]

  1. Friendly; peaceable; harmonious in social or mutual transactions; usually applied to the dispositions of men who have business with each other, or to their intercourse and transactions; as, nations or men have come to an amicable adjustment of their differences.
  2. Disposed to peace and friendship; as an amicable temper. [But rarely applied to a single person.]

AM'I-CA-BLE-NESS, n.

The quality of being peaceable, friendly, or disposed to peace; friendliness; a disposition to preserve peace and friendship.

AM'I-CA-BLY, adv.

In a friendly manner; with harmony or good will; without controversy; as, the dispute was amicably adjusted.

AM'ICE, n. [L. amictus, from amicior, to clothe; Fr. amict; Sp. amito; Port. amicto.]

A square linen cloth that a Catholic priest ties about his neck, hanging down behind under the alb, when he officiates at mass. – Sp. and Port. Dict.

A-MID', or A-MIDST', prep. [of a and Sax. midd, the middle, L. medius.]

  1. Amidst is the superlative degree middest, a contraction of Sax. mid-mesta, mid-most. [See Middle and Midst.]
  2. In the midst or middle.
  3. Among; mingled with; as, a shepherd amidst his flock.
  4. Surrounded, encompassed, or enveloped with; as, amidst the shade; amid the waves. Amid is used mostly in poetry.

AM'IDE, or AM'I-DET, n. [Formed from ammonia, as bromid and bromuret from bromine. Should not these terms have been ammid and ammidet?]

The name of a substance consisting of one equivalent of nitrogen and two of hydrogen. It has not yet been obtained in a separate state, but it enters into a large number of compounds. These are called by terms made up of the name of the other ingredient prefixed to the word amide, as sodamide, a compound of sodium and amide. – Thomson.

AM'I-DINE, n.

Starch modified by heat so as to become a transparent mass like horn, which is soluble in cold water.

A-MID'-SHIPS,

in marine language, the middle of a ship, with regard to her length and breadth.