Dictionary: AL'COR – A-LEGGE

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AL'COR, n. [Ar.]

A small star adjoining to the large bright one in the middle of the tail of Ursa Major. – Encyc.

AL-CO-RAN, n. [See KORAN and ALKORAN.]

AL-COVE', n. [Sp. alcoba, composed of al, with the Ar. قَبَّ kabba, to arch, to construct with an arch, and its derivatives, an arch, a round house; Eng. cubby.]

  1. A recess, or part of a room, separated by an estrade, or partition of columns, or by other corresponding, ornaments; in which is placed a bed of state, and sometimes seats for company. The bed is sometimes raised two or three steps, with a rail at the foot. These are frequent in Spain. – Encyc.
  2. A recess in a library, or small lateral apartment for books.

AL'CY-ON, n.

A trivial name of the king-fisher. [See Halcyon.]

AL-CY-ON'IC, a.

Relating to submarine plants. – Knowles.

AL'CY-ON-ITE, n. [Supra.]

A fossil zoophite, somewhat resembling a fungus. – J. of Science.

AL-CY-O'NI-UM, n.

The name of a submarine plant, or bastard spunge. Also a kind of astroit or coral, a fossil found in England. – Encyc.

AL'DER, n. [L. alnus; Fr. aune, aulne; Sax. alr.]

A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus Alnus. The name is applied also to some species of other genera.

ALD'ER-MAN, n. [plur. Aldermen. Sax. ald or eald, old, comp. alder, older, and man; Gr. alt; D. oud.]

  1. Among our Saxon ancestors, a senior or superior. The title was applied to princes, dukes, earls, senators and presiding magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom or authority. Thus, Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called alderman of all England; and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective districts.
  2. In present usage, a magistrate or officer of a town corporate, next in rank below the mayor. The number of aldermen is different in different cities. In London the number is twenty-six, one in each ward, and the office is held for life. – Spelman. Cowell. Encyc. In the United States, the number of aldermen depends on the charters of incorporation. In general, aldermen have the powers of a justice of the peace, and, with the mayor, they constitute the court of the corporation. In most of our cities, they are annually elected by the citizens.

AL'DER-MAN-LIKE, a.

Like an alderman.

AL'DER-MAN-LY, a.

Pertaining to or like an alderman. – Swift.

AL'DERN, a.

Made of alder.

ALE, n. [Sax. eala, eale, or aloth; G. äl; Sw. öl; Dan. öl; Ir. ol. Qu. Ir. olam, to drink.]

  1. A liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation. It differs from beer, in having a smaller proportion of hops. It is of different sorts, chiefly pale and brown; the first made from malt slightly dried; the second, from malt more considerably dried or roasted. Ale was the common drink of the ancient inhabitants of Europe. It is usually made with barley; but sometimes with wheat, rye, millet, oats, &c. – Encyc.
  2. A merry meeting in English country places, so called from the liquor drank. – Ben Jonson. Medicated ales are those which are prepared for medicinal purposes, by an infusion of herbs during fermentation. – Encyc.

ALE'-BENCH, n.

A bench in or before an ale-house. – Homilies.

ALE'-BER-RY, n.

A beverage, made by boiling ale with spice, sugar and sops of bread. Johnson.

ALE'-BREW-ER, n.

One whose occupation is to brew ale.

ALE'-CON-NER, n. [ale and con, to know or see.]

An officer in London, whose business is to inspect the measures used in public houses, to prevent frauds in selling liquors. Four of these are chosen annually by the liverymen, in common hall, on midsummer's day. – Act of Parl.

ALE'-COST, n.

Costmary, a plant, a species of Tanacetum.

A-LEC-TO-ROM'A-CHY, n. [Gr. αλεκτωρ, a cock, μαχη, a fight.]

Cock-fighting.

A-LEC-TRY-OM'AN-CY, n. [Gr. αλεκτρυων, a cock, and μαντεια, divination.]

An ancient practice of foretelling events by means of a cock. The twenty-four letters were laid on the ground, and a grain of corn on each; a cock was then permitted to pick up the grains, and the letters under the grains selected, being formed into words, were supposed to foretell the event desired. – Encyc.

A-LEE', adv. [a or at and lee. See Lee.]

In seaman's language, on the side opposite to the wind, that is, opposite to the side on which it strikes. The helm of a ship is alee, when pressed close to the lee side. Hard alee or Luff alee, is an order to put the helm to the lee side. Helm's alee, that is, the helm is alee, a notice given as an order to the seamen to cause the head-sails to shake in the wind, with a view to bring the ship about. – Mar. Dict.

ALE'-FED, a.

Fed with ale. – Stafford.

ALE'-GAR, n. [ale, and Fr. aigre, sour.]

Sour ale; the acid of ale.

A'LE-GER, a. [Fr. Sp. alégre; L. alacer.]

Gay; cheerful; sprightly. [Not used.] – Bacon.

A-LEGGE, v.t.

To lighten; to lessen; to assuage. [Not used.]