Emily Dickinson Lexicon

A-ER-OL'O-GY, n. [Gr. αηρ, air, and λογος, description.]

A description of the air; that branch of philosophy which treats of the air, its constituent parts, properties, and phenomena. Encyc.

A'ER-O-MAN-CY, n. [Gr. αηρ, and μαντεια, divination.]

Divination by means of the air and winds.

A-ER-OM'E-TER, n. [Gr. αηρ, air, and μετρον, measure.]

1. An instrument for weighing air, or for ascertaining the mean bulk of gases. Journ. of Science.
2. An instrument for ascertaining the density or rarity of air. Morin.

A-ER-OM'E-TRY, n. [as above.]

The science of measuring the air, including the doctrine of its pressure, elasticity, rarefaction, and condensation. Encyc. Rather, aerometry is the art or science of ascertaining the mean bulk of the gases. Encyc. Ure.

A'ER-O-NAUT, n. [Gr. αηρ, and ναυτης, a sailor, from ναυς, a ship.]

One who sails or floats in the air, an aerial navigator; applied to persons who ascend in air balloons. Burke.

A-ER-O-NAUT'IC, a.

Sailing or floating in the air; pertaining to aerial sailing.

A-ER-O-NAUT'ICS, n.

The doctrine, science, or art of sailing in the air, by means of a balloon.

A'ER-O-NAUT-ISM, n.

The practice of ascending and floating in the atmosphere, in balloons. Journ. of Science.

A'ER-O-PHYTE, n. [Gr. αηρ and φυτον, a plant.]

A plant that lives exclusively in air, in distinction from a hydrophyte.

A-ER-OS'CEP-SY, or A-ER-OS'CO-PY, n. [Gr. αηρ and σκεπτομαι, to see.]

The observation or perception of the air.

A-E-RO-SCEP'SY, n. [Gr. αηρ and σκεπτομαι, to explore.]

The faculty of perception by the medium of the air, supposed to reside in the antennæ of insects.

A'ER-O-SITE, n. [See Red-silver.]

A'ER-O-STAT, n. [Gr. αηρ, and στατος, sustaining, from ιστημι, to stand.]

A machine or vessel sustaining weights in the air; a name given to air balloons. Encyc.

A-ER-O-STAT'IC, a.

Suspending in air; pertaining to the art of aerial navigation.

A-E-RO-STAT'ICS, n.

The science of aerial navigation.

A-ER-OS-TA'TION, n.

1. Aerial navigation; the science of raising, suspending, and guiding machines in the air, or of ascending in air balloons. Adams.
2. The science of weighing air.

A'E-RY-LIGHT, a.

In Milton, light as air; used for airy light.

AES-THET'ICS, or ES-THET'ICS, n. [ÆS-THET'ICS; Gr. αισθητικος.]

In the fine arts, that science which derives the first principles in all arts from the effect which certain combinations have on the mind, as connected with nature and right reason. It is intimately related to sentiment. Brande.

AES-TI-VA'TION, n. [ÆS-TI-VA'TION. See ESTIVATION.]

A-E-THE-OG'A-MOUS, a. [Gr. αηθης, unusual, and γαμος, marriage.]

A word intended to express the unusual mode of propagation among the cryptogamic plants, on the supposition that this mode is not hidden, but unusual. Brande.

AE-TI-OL'O-GY, n. [Æ-TI-OL'O-GY; 1841 Addenda only. See ETIOLOGY.]

A-FAR', adv. [a and far. See Far.]

1. At a distance in place; to or from a distance; used with from preceding, or off following; as, he was seen from afar; I saw him afar off.
2. In Scripture, figuratively, estranged in affection; alienated. My kinsmen stand afar off. Psal. xxxviii.
3. Absent; not assisting. Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? Psal. x.
4. Not of the visible church. Eph. ii.

A-FEARD', a. [Sax. aferan, to make afraid. Afeard is the participle passive. See Fear.]

Afraid, affected with fear or apprehension, in a more moderate degree than is expressed by terrified. It is followed by of, but no longer used in books, and even in popular use is deemed vulgar.

AF'FA, n.

A weight used on the Guinea coast, equal to an ounce. The half of it is called eggeba. Encyc.

AF-FA-BIL'I-TY, n. [See Affable.]

The quality of being affable; readiness to converse; civility and courteousness, in receiving others, and in conversation; condescension in manners. Affability of countenance is that mildness of aspect, which invites to free social intercourse.