Dictionary: AX'-HEAD – AZ'E-RIT, or AZ-E-RI'TA

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AX'-HEAD, n.

The head or iron of an ax.

AX'I-AL, a.

Pertaining to an axis. – Prout.

AX-IF'ER-OUS, a.

Applied to plants which consist exclusively of an axis, without leaves, &c.

AX'I-FORM, a. [L. axis and forma.]

In the form of an axis. – Encyc.

AX'IL, n. [L. axilla; Ir. asgal; Fr. aisselle; D. oxel, the armpit; Ch. and Heb. אצל, to separate or set apart; whence אצילי, armpits.]

  1. The armpit; a cavity under the upper part of the arm or shoulder.
  2. In botany, the space or angle formed by a branch with the stem, or by a leaf with the stem or branch. – Milne. Darwin.

AX'ILE, a.

Lying in the axis of any thing, or from the base to the opposite end.

AX'IL-LAR, or AX'IL-LA-RY, a.

Pertaining to the armpit, or to the axil of plants. Axillary leaves are those which proceed from the angle formed by the stem and branch. – Martyn. Milne.

AX'IN-ITE, n.

A mineral which sometimes occurs in lamellar masses, but commonly in crystals, whose general form is that of a very oblique rhomb, or rather, four-sided prism, so flattened that some of its edges become thin and sharp, like that of an ax; whence its name, Gr. αξινη. This is the thumerstone of Kirwan. It has been sometimes called yanolite and violet shorl. – Haüy. Brongniart. Cleaveland.

AX-I-NOM'AN-CY, n. [Gr. αξινη, an ax, and μαντεια, divination.]

Among the ancients, a species of divination, by means of an ax or hatchet, performed by laying an agate-stone on a red hot hatchet, or by fixing a hatchet on a round stake, so as to be poised; then the names of those suspected were repeated, and he at whose name the hatchet moved, was pronounced guilty. – Encyc.

AX'IOM, n. [Gr. αξιωμα, authority, an authoritative sentence, or that which is assumed, from αξιος, worthy, αξιοω, to think worthy, to esteem; Eng. to ask (to ax;) that which is asked, sought or esteemed.]

  1. A self-evident truth, or a proposition whose truth is so evident at first sight, that no process of reasoning or demonstration can make it plainer; as, “the whole is greater than a part.” – Johnson. Encyc.
  2. An established principle in some art or science, a principle received without new proof; as, “things which are equal to the same thing, are equal to one another.” Encyc.

AX-IO-MAT'IC, or AX-IO-MAT'IC-AL, a.

Pertaining to an axiom; having the nature of self-evident truths or received principles. Pref. to Bacon's Aphorisms.

AX-I-O-MAT'IC-AL-LY, adv.

By the use of axioms.

AX-I-OP'IST-Y, n. [Gr. αξιος and πιςτη, faith.]

The quality which renders a thing worthy of belief; worthiness of credit.

AX'IS, n. [plur. Axes. L.; Gr. αξων, Russ. os, or osi; Sax. æx; Fr. axe, or aissieu; G. achse; D. as; It. asse; Sp. exe; Port. exo, eixo.]

  1. The straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body, on which it revolves, or may revolve; as the axis of the earth.
  2. In geometry, a straight line in a plane figure, about which it revolves to produce a solid.
  3. In conic sections, a right line dividing the section into two equal parts, and cutting all its ordinates at right angles.
  4. In mechanics, the axis of a balance is that line about which it moves, or rather turns. The axis of oscillation is a right line parallel to the horizon passing through the center, about which a pendulum vibrates. The axis in peritrochio is a wheel concentric with the base of a cylinder, and movable with it about its axis.
  5. In optics, a particular ray of light from any object which falls perpendicularly on the eye.
  6. In architecture, spiral axis is the axis of a twisted column spirally drawn in order to trace the circumvolutions without. Axis of the Ionic capital is a line passing perpendicularly through the middle of the eye of the volute. The axis of a vessel is an imaginary line passing through the middle of it, perpendicular to its base, and equally distant from its sides.
  7. In botany, axis is a taper column in the center of some flowers or catkins, about which the other parts are disposed. The stem or main body of a plant, with its root. It is formed by the development of an embryo or leaf-bud. – Lindley.
  8. In anatomy, axis is the name of the second verteber of the neck; it has a tooth which enters into the first verteber, and this tooth is by some called the axis. – Encyc.

AX'LE, or AX'LE-TREE, n. [Sax. æx, and tree. See Axis.]

A piece of timber or bar of iron, fitted for insertion in the hobs or naves of wheels, on which the wheels turn.

AX'O-LOTE, n.

A water lizard found in the Mexican lake, about eight inches in length, sometimes much larger. The skin is black and soft. It swims with its feet, which resemble those of a frog. It has a periodical evacuation of blood, like the human female. – Clavigero.

AX-OT'O-MOUS, a. [Gr. αξων, axis, and τεμνω, to cleave.]

In mineralogy, having a cleavage with a single face, perpendicular to the axis. – Shepard.

AX'STONE, n.

A mineral, a subspecies of jade; less hard than nephrite; of a leek or grass green, olive green or greenish gray color. It occurs amorphous, or in rolled fragments. It is found chiefly in New-Zealand and the South Sea isles, where it is used by the rude natives for axes and other instruments. – Ure. Cleaveland.

AX'UNGE, n.

Hog's lard.

AY, or AYE, adv. [G. D. Dan. Sw. ja, pron. ya; Dan. eja; Corn. ia; Ar. ya; Fr. oui. It may be a contracted word.]

Yes, yea, a word expressing assent, or an affirmative answer to a question. It is used also to enforce the sense of what is asserted, equivalent to even so, truly, certainly.

AYE, adv. [Sax. aa, a, or awa; Gr. αει; Amh. ai, continually; D. eeuw, an age; Goth. aiw, an age, eternity; L. ævum, which, without its termination, is æv, æw; a contracted word; W. haug. This is in Saxon ece, eternal, whence ecnesse, eternity, from ecan, to increase, extend; Eng. to eke.]

Always; forever; continually; for an indefinite time; used in poetry.

AYLE, n.

In law, a grandfather. [See Besayle.]

A'Y-RY, n.

See AERIE.

AZ'A-ROLE, n. [Fr.]

A species of thorn; the three-grained medlar, a species of Cratægus.

AZ'E-RIT, or AZ-E-RI'TA, n. [or AZ-E-RI'RA.]

A species of plum or Prunus. – Fam. of Plants.