Dictionary: AU'TOP-SY – A-VANT'U-RINE

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AU'TOP-SY, n. [Gr. αυτοψια; αυτος, self, and οψις, sight.]

Personal observation; ocular view. Ray.

AU-TOP'TIC-AL, a.

Seen with one's own eyes. – Johnson.

AU-TOP'TIC-AL-LY, adv.

By means of ocular view, or one's own observation. – Brown. [Autopsy and its derivatives are rarely used.]

AU'TUMN, n. [au'tum; L. autumnus, “Etymon multum torquetur.” Ainsworth.]

The third season of the year, or the season between summer and winter. Astronomically it begins at the equinox, when the sun enters Libra, and ends at the winter solstice; but in popular language, autumn comprises September, October, and November. The golden pomp of autumn. – Irving.

AU-TUM'NAL, a.

Belonging to autumn; produced or gathered in autumn; as, autumnal fruits.

AU-TUM'NAL, n.

A plant that flowers in autumn. The Autumnal form the third division of plants in Du Pas' arrangement. – Milne.

AUX-E'SIS, n. [Gr. αυξησις, increase.]

In rhetoric, a figure by which any thing is magnified too much; an increasing, or exornation, when for amplification, a more grave and magnificent word is put for the proper word. – Smith. Encyc.

AUX-IL'IAR, or AUX-IL'IA-RY, a. [L. auxiliaris, from auxilium, aid, auxilior, to aid.]

Helping; aiding; assisting; subsidiary; conferring aid or support by joint exertion, influence or use; as, auxiliary troops.

AUX-IL'IA-RIES, n. [plur.]

Foreign troops in the service of nations at war.

AUX-IL'IA-RY, n.

  1. A helper; an assistant; a confederate in some action, enterprise or undertaking.
  2. In grammar, a verb which helps to form the modes and tenses of other verbs; as, have, be, may, can, do, must, shall, and will, in English; être and avoir, in French; avére and essere in Italian; estar and haber, in Spanish.

A-VAIL', n.

Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; as, labor without economy is of little avail. It seems usually to convey the idea of efficacious aid or strength.

A-VAIL', v.i.

To be of use, or advantage; to answer the purpose; as, strength without judgment will rarely avail. Generally, it signifies to have strength, force or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object; as, the plea in bar must avail, that is, be sufficient to defeat the suit; this scheme will not avail; medicines will not avail to check the disease; suppositions, without proof, will not avail.

A-VAIL', v.t. [Fr. valoir, to be worth; L. valeo, to be strong or able, to profit, to be of force or authority; Sp. valer, to be valuable, to avail or prevail, to be binding, to be worth; It. valere, to be worth, to be useful; Eng. well; Ar. بَلَّ balla. The primary sense is, to stretch or extend, whence strength, value.]

  1. To profit one's self; to turn to advantage; followed by the pronouns, myself, thyself, himself, herself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves, with of before the thing used; as, let him avail himself of his license.
  2. To assist or profit; to effect the object, or bring to a successful issue; as, what will skill avail us against numbers? Artifices will not avail the sinner in the day of judgment.

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

Availableness.

A-VAIL'A-BLE, a.

  1. Profitable; advantageous; having efficacy; as, a measure is more or less available. – Atterbury.
  2. Having sufficient power, force, or efficacy, for the object; valid; as, an available plea. Laws are available by consent. – Hooker.

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

  1. Power or efficacy, in promoting an end in view.
  2. Competent power; legal force; validity; as, the availableness of a title.

A-VAIL'A-BLY, adv.

Powerfully; profitably; advantageously; validly; efficaciously.

A-VAIL'ING, ppr.

Turning to profit; using to advantage or effect.

A-VAIL'MENT, n.

Profit; efficacy; successful issue. [Little used.]

A-VAILS', n. [plur.]

Profits or proceeds. It is used in New England, for the proceeds of goods sold, or for rents, issues, or profits.

AV-A-LANCHE', or AV-A-LANGE', n. [Fr. from avaler, to fall.]

A snow-slip; a vast body of snow sliding down a mountain.

A-VANT', n.

The front of an army. [Not used.] [See Van.]

A-VANT'-COU-RIER, n. [Fr. See courier.]

A runner; a person dispatched before another person or company, to give notice of their approach.

A-VANT'-GUARD, n.

The van or advanced body of an army. [See Vanguard.]

A-VANT'U-RINE, n.

A variety of quartz rock containing spangles. – Ure.