Emily Dickinson Lexicon

A-BYS'MAL, a.

Pertaining to an abyss.

A-BYSS', n. [Gr. {foreign}, bottomless, from a priv. and, {foreign}, bottom, Ion. for {foreign}, See Bottom.]

1. A bottomless gulf; used also for a deep mass of waters, supposed to have encompassed the earth before the flood. Darkness was upon the face of the deep, [or abyss, as it is in the Septuagint.] Gen. i. 2. The word is also used for an immense cavern or cave in the earth in which God is supposed to have collected all the waters or the third day of the creation. It is used also for hell, Erebus. That which is immeasurable; that in which any thing is lost. Thy throne is darkness, in the abyss of light. Milton. The abyss of time. Dryden.
2. In antiquity, the temple of Proserpine, so called from its immense treasures it was supposed to contain.
3. In heraldry, the center of an escutcheon. He bears azure, a fleur de lis, in abyss.

AB-YS-SIN'I-AN, a. [Ar. {foreign} habashon, Abyssinians, Ethiopians, from {foreign} habasha, to collect, or congregate.]

1. A name denoting a mixed multitude or a black race. Ludolf. Castle.]
2. Belonging to Abyssinia.

AB-YS-SIN'I-ANS, n.

A sect of Christians in Abyssinia who admit but one nature in Jesus Christ, and reject the council of Chalcedon. They are governed by a bishop, or metropolitan, called Abuna, who is appointed by the Coptic patriarch of Cairo. Encyc.

AC, n.

In Saxon, oak, the initial syllable of names, as Acton, oaktown.

A-CAC'A-LOT, or AC'A-LOT, n.

A Mexican fowl, the Tantalus Mexicanes, or Cortvus aquaticus, water raven. See Acalot.

A-CA'CIA, a. [L. acacia, a thorn, from Gr. {foreign}, a point.]

Egyptian thorn, a species of plant ranked by Linneus under the genus Mimosa, and by others, made a distinct genus. Of the flowers of one species, the Chinese make a yellow dye which bears washing in silks, and appears with elegance on paper. Encyc.

A-CA'CIA, n.

in medicine, is a name given to the inspissated juice of the unripe fruit of the Mimosa Nilotica, which brought from Egypt in roundish masses, in bladders. Externally, it is of a deep brown color; internally, of a reddish or yellowish brown; of a firm consistence, but not very dry. It is a mild astringent. But most of the drug which passes under this name, is the inspissated juice of sloes. Encyc.

A-CA'CIA, n.

among antiquaries, is a name given to something like a roll or bag, seen on medals, as in the hands of emperors and consuls. Some take it to represent a handkerchief rolled up, with which signals were given at the games others, a roll of petitions; and some, a purple bag of cart to remind them of their mortality. Encyc.

A-CA'CI-ANS,

in Church History, were certain sects, so denominated from their leaders, Acacius bishop of Cesare, and Acacius patriarch of Constantinople. Some of them maintained that the Son was only a similar, not the same substance with the Father; others, that he was not only distinct but a dissimilar substance. Encyc.

AC-A-DEME', n.

An academy; a society of persons. [Not used.]

AC-A-DE'MI-AL, a.

Pertaining to an academy,

AC-A-DE'MI-AN, n.

A member of an academy; a student in a university or college.

ACA-DEM'IC, or AC-A-DEM'IC-AL, a.

Belonging to an academy, or to a college or university – as, academic studies; also noting what belongs to the school or philosophy of Plato – as, the academic sect.

AC-A-DEM'IC, n.

One who belonged to the school or adhered to the philosophy of Socrates and Plato. The latter is considered as the founder of the academic philosophy in Greece. He taught that matter is eternal and infinite, but without form, refractory, and tending to disorder; and that there is an intelligent cause, the author of spiritual being, and of the material world. Enfield.

AC-A-DEM'IC-AL-LY, adv.

In an academical manner.

ACA-DE-MI'CIAN, a. [Fr. academicien.]

A member of an academy, or society for promoting arts and sciences; particularly, a member of the French academies.

A-CAD'E-MISM, n.

The doctrine of the academic philosophy. Baxter.

A-CADE-MY, n. [L. academia, Gr. {foreign}]

1. . Originally, it is said, a garden, grove, or villa, near Athens, where Plato and his followers held their philosophical conferences.]
2. A school, or seminary of learning, holding a rank between a university or college, and a common school; also a school for teaching a particular art, or a particular sciences, as a military academy.
3. A house, in which the students or members of an academy meet; a place of education.
4. A society of men united for the promotion of arts and sciences in general, or of some particular art.

A-CADT-MIST, n.

A member of an academy for promoting arts and sciences; also an academic philosopher.

A-CAL'E-PHA, a.

An order of marine animals. See Acalephe. Currier.

AC'A-LOT, n. [Contracted from avacalotl.]

A Mexican fowl, called by some the aquatic crow. It is the ibis, or a fowl that very much resembles it.

A-CAM'A-CU, n.

A bird, the Brazilian fly catcher, or Todus. Cyc.

ACA-NA'CEOUS, a. acana'shus. [Gr. {foreign}, a prickly shrub.]

Armed with prickles. A class of plants are called Acanacea. Milne.

A-CANTH'A, n. [Gr. {foreign}, a spine or thorn.]

In botany, a prickle; in zoology, a spine or prickly fin; an acute process of the vertebers. Encyc.