Dictionary: AL-A-BAS'TRITE – A-LAS'

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AL-A-BAS'TRITE, n.

A vase, box, or other vessel used by the Greeks and Romans for holding perfumes. – Elmes.

A-LACK', exclam. [Per. هَاَاك halaka, perdition, destruction, and alaksadan, to perish.]

An exclamation expressive of sorrow.

A-LACK'A-DAY, exclam.

An exclamation uttered to express regret or sorrow.

A-LAC'RI-OUS-NESS, n.

Briskness. [Not used.]

A-LAC'RI-TY, n. [L. alacritas, from alacer, alacris.]

Cheerfulness; gayety; sprightliness; more usually, a cheerful readiness or promptitude to do some act; cheerful willingness; as, the soldiers advanced with alacrity to meet the enemy.

A-LAD'IN-ISTS, n.

Free thinkers among the Mohammedans. – Encyc.

AL'A-LITE, n.

A crystalized mineral; diopside; a semitransparent pyroxene. A variety with twelve-sided prisms, was found by Bonvoisin, near the village of Ala in Piedmont, and by him called Alalite. – Cleaveland.

A-LA-MIRE', n.

The lowest note but one, in Guido Aretine's scale of music. – Johnson.

AL-A-MO-DAL'I-TY, n.

Conformity to the prevailing mode, or fashion of the times. [Little used.] – Encyc.

AL-A-MODE', adv. [Fr. à la mode, after the fashion.]

According to the fashion or prevailing mode. – Whitlock.

AL-A-MODE', n.

A thin glossy silk for hoods, scarfs, &c.

A-LAND, adv.

At or on land. – Sidney.

A-LAN'TINE, n.

An amylaceous substance extracted from the root of the Angelica archangelica.

A-LARM', n. [Dan. larm, noise, bustle, alarm; larmer, to make a noise or bustle, to alarm; G. lärm, lärmen, id.; Sw. larm, larma, id.; Fr. alarme, alarmer; Sp. alarma, alarmar; It. allarme, allarmare; W. alarm, a great shout, compounded of al, very, most, and garm, an outcry. The Welsh gives the true origin and primary signification.]

  1. Any sound, outcry or information, intended to give notice of approaching danger; as, to sound an alarm.
  2. A summon to arms. – Dryden.
  3. Sudden surprise with fear or terror; as, the fire of the enemy excited an alarm.
  4. Terror; a sensation excited by an apprehension of danger, from whatever cause; as, we felt an alarm at the cry of fire.
  5. In fencing, an appeal or challenge. – Encyc.

A-LARM', v.t.

  1. To give notice of danger; to rouse to vigilance, and exertions for safety.
  2. To call to arms for defense.
  3. To surprise with apprehension of danger; to disturb with terror; to fill with anxiety by the prospect of evil.

A-LARM'-BELL, n.

A bell that gives notice of danger.

A-LARM'ED, pp.

Notified of sudden danger; surprised with fear; roused to vigilance or activity by apprehension of approaching danger; solicitous at the prospect or expectation of evil. Thus, we are alarmed at the approach of danger, or alarmed for the safety of friends at sea.

A-LARM'ING, a.

Exciting apprehension; terrifying; awakening a sense of danger; as, an alarming message.

A-LARM'ING, ppr.

Giving notice of approaching danger; rousing to vigilance; exciting solicitude by a prospect of evil.

A-LARM'ING-LY, adv.

With alarm; in a manner to excite apprehension.

A-LARM'IST, n.

One that excites alarm.

A-LARM'-POST, n.

A place to which troops are to repair in eases of an alarm.

A-LARM'-WATCH, n.

A watch that strikes the hour by regulated movement. – Herbert.

ALARUM, n. [or v. for Alarm, is a corruption, and is not to be used.]

A-LAS', exclam. [Dutch, helaas; Fr. hélas.]

An exclamation expressive of sorrow, grief, pity, concern, or apprehension of evil; sometimes followed by day or while; alas the day, like alack a day; or alas the while, [Obs.] Spenser, expressing an unhappy time.