Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AF-FUS'ING, ppr.

Pouring upon, or sprinkling.

AF-FUS'ION, n. affu'zhun.

The act of pouring upon, or sprinkling with a liquid substance, as water upon a diseased body, or upon a child in baptism.

AF-FY', v.t.

To trust or confide in. [Not used.]

AF-FY', v.t. [Fr. affier.]

To betroth; to bind or join. [Not used.]

A-FIELD', adv. [a and field.]

To the field. Milton.

A-FIRE', adv.

On fire. Gower.

A-FLAT', adv. [a and flat.]

Level with the ground. Bacon.

A-FLOAT', adv.

1. or a. [a and float.]
2. Borne on the water; floating; swimming; as, the ship is afloat.
3. Figuratively, moving; passing from place to place; as, a rumor is afloat.
4. Unfixed; moving without guide or control; as, our affairs are all afloat. [As an adjective, this word always follows the noun.]

A-FOOT', adv. [a or on and foot.]

1. On foot; borne by the feet; opposed to riding.
2. In action; in a state of being planned for execution; as, a design is afoot, or on foot.

A-FORE', adv.

1. or prep. [a and fore.]
2. In front.
3. Between one object and another, so as to intercept a direct view or intercourse; as, to stand between a person and the light of a candle – a popular use of the word.
4. Prior in time; before; anterior; prior time being considered as in front of subsequent time. The grass which withereth afore it groweth up. Psal. cxxix. In all these senses it is now inelegant, and superseded by before.
5. In seaman's language, toward the head of the ship; further forward, or nearer the stem; as, afore the windlas. Afore the mast, is a phrase which is applied to a common sailor, one who does duty on the main deck, or has no office on board the ship. Mar. Dict.

A-FORE'-GO-ING, a.

Going before. [See Foregoing, which is chiefly used.]

A-FORE'-HAND, adv. [afore and hand.]

1. In time previous; by previous provision; as, he is ready aforehand. She is come aforehand to anoint my body. Mark xiv.
2. adj. Prepared; previously provided; as, to be aforehand in business. Hence in popular language, amply provided; well supplied with the means of living; having means beyond the requirements of necessity; moderately wealthy. This word is popularly changed into aforehanded, beforehanded, or rather forehanded; as, a forehanded manner.

A-FORE'-MEN-TION-ED, a. [afore and mentioned.]

Mentioned before in the same writing or discourse. Addison.

A-FORE'-NAM'ED, a. [afore and name.]

Named before. Peacham.

A-FORE'-SAID, a. [afore and say.]

Said or recited before, or in a preceding part.

A-FORE'-THOUGHT, a. [afore and thought.]

Premeditated, prepense; as, malice aforethought, which is required to constitute murder. Com. Law.

A-FORE'-TIME, adv. [afore and time.]

In time past; in a former time. Bible.

A-FOUL', adv.

or a. [a and foul.] Not free; entangled. Columbiad.

A-FRAID', a. [The participle of affray.]

Impressed with fear or apprehension; fearful. This word expresses a less degree of fear than terrified or frightened. It is followed by of before the object of fear; as, to be afraid of death; Joseph was afraid to sin against God.

A-FRESH', adv. [a and fresh.]

Anew; again; recently; after intermission. They crucify the son of God afresh. Heb. vi.

AF'RIC, or AF'RIC-AN, a.

Pertaining to Africa.

AF'RIC-A, n. [Qu. L. a neg. and frigus, cold.]

One of the four quarters or largest divisions of the globe; a continent separated from Europe by the Mediterranean sea.

AF'RIC-AN, n.

A native of Africa. This name is given also to the African marygold. Tate's Cowley.

A-FRONT', adv.

In front. Shak.

AF-SERT'ING, ppr.

Declaring with confidence; maintaining; defending.