AURORA

AURORA, aw-rō'ra, n. the dawn: in poetry, the goddess of dawn. [L. for ausosa; cog. with Gr. eos; from a root seen in Sans. ush, to burn.] AURORA BOREALIS, aw-ro'ra bō-rē-a'lis, n., the northern aurora or light: a meteor seen in northern latitudes.-AURORA AUSTRALIS, aws-trā'lis, n. a meteor in the S. hemisphere. [L. borealis, northern -boreas, the north wind. See AUSTRAL.] AURORAL, aw-rō'ral, adj. relating to the

aurora.

AUSCULTATION, aws-kult-a'shun, n. the art of discovering diseases of the lungs and heart by applying the ear to the chest, or to a tube in contact with the chest. [L. ausculto, to listen, from ausicula for auricula. See AURICLE.] AUSCULTATORY, aws-kult'a-tor-i, adj. relating to auscultation. AUSONIAN, aws-o'ni-an, adj. of or pertaining to Italy or the Italians. Longfellow. (Poetical.) [L. Ausonia, a poetical term for the whole Italian peninsula, from Ausones, the name given to the primitive inhabitants of middle and lower Italy.]

AUSPICE, aw'spis, n. an omen drawn from observing birds : augury—generally used in pl. AUSPICES, aw'spis-ez, protection : patronage. [Fr.-L. auspicium-auspex, auspicis, a bird-seer, from avis, a bird, specio, to observe.]

AUSPICIOUS, aw-spish'us, adj. having good auspices or omens of success: favorable: fortunate.-adv. AUSPICIOUSLY.n. AUSPICIOUSNESS. AUSTERE, aws-ter', adj. harsh: severe : stern.-adv. AUSTERE'LY. [L. austerusGr. austeros-auō, to dry.

AUSTERENESS, aws-ter'nes, AUSTERITY, aws-ter'it-i, n. quality of being austere severity of manners or life: harshness.

AUSTRAL, aws'tral, adj., southern. [L. australis-auster, the south wind.] AUSTRALASIAN, aws-tral-a'shi-an, adj., pertaining to Australasia, or the countries that lie to the south of Asia. AUSTRALIAN, aws-tra'li-an, adj., of or pertaining to Australia, a large island between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.n. a native of Australia. AUSTRIAN, aws'tri-an, adj., of or pertain

ing to Austria, an empire of Central Europe.-n. a native of Austria. AUTHENTIC, -AL, aw-thent'ik, -al, adj. having authority or genuineness as if from the author's own hand: original: genuine true.-adv. AUTHENTICALLY. [Gr. authentes, one who does anything with his own hand-autos, self.] AUTHENTICATE, aw-thent'ik-at, v.t. to make authentic: to prove genuine. AUTHENTICATION, aw-thent-ik-a'shun, n. act of authenticating: confirmation. AUTHENTICITY, aw-thent-is’it-i, n. quality of being authentic: genuineness. AUTHOR, awth'or, n., one who originates or brings into being: a beginner or first mover: the writer of an original book :fem. AUTH'ORESS. [Fr. auteur, L. auctor -augeo, auctum, to cause things to increase, to produce.] AUTHORITATIVE, awth-or'it-at-iv, adj. having authority: dictatorial. - adv. AUTHOR'ITATIVELY.-N. AUTHOR'ITATIVE

n. one who writes his own life. AUTOBIOGRAPHY, aw-to-bi-og'raf-i, n., the biography or life of a person written by himself-adjs. AUTOBIOGRAPH'IC, AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL. [Gr. autos one's self, bios, life, graphō, to write.] AUTOCRACY, aw-tok'ras-i, n. an absolute government by one man: despotism. [Gr. autos, self, kratos, power.] AUTOCRAT, aw'to-krat, n. one who rules by his own power: an absolute sovereign. -adj. AUTOCRATIC. [Gr. autokratēs— autos, self, kratos, power.] AUTO-DA-FE, aw'to-da-fa', n. the execution of persons who were condemned by the Inquisition to be burned-pl. AUTOSDA-FE. [Port., from auto, L. actus, act; da, L. de, of; and fe, L. fides, faith-an act of faith.]

AUTOGONY, aw-tog'o-ni, n. the generation of simple organisms from an inorganic formative fluid. Rossiter. [Gr. autos, self, and gonē, generation, birth.] AUTOGRAPH, aw'to-graf, n., one's own handwriting: a signature.-adj. AUTOGRAPH'IC. [Gr. autos, self, graphe, writing.]

AUTOKINETICAL, aw'tō-ki-net'i-kal, adj. self-moving. Dr. H. More. [Gr. autos, self, and kineō, to move.] AUTOMATISM, aw-tom'at-izm, n. automatic action: power of self-moving. AUTOMATIZE, aw-tom'a-tiz, v.t. to make an automaton or self-acting machine of. "A god-created man, all but abnegating the character of man; forced to exist, automatized, mummy-wise . . . as Gentleman or Gigman."-Carlyle. AUTOMATON, aw-tom'a-ton, n., a selfmoving machine, or one which moves by concealed machinery :-pl. AUTOM'ATONS or AUTOM'ATA.-adjs. AUTOMATIC, AUTOMAT'ICAL. [Gr. automatos, self-moving -autos, self, and a stem mat-, to strive after, to move.] AUTONOMIST, aw-ton'o-mist, n. one who advocates or favors the principle of autonomy.

AUTONOMY, aw-ton'om-i, n. the power or right of self-government.-adj. AUTON'OMOUS, self-governing. [Gr.-autos, and nomos, law.]

AUTOPSY, aw'top-si, n., personal inspection, esp. the examination of a body after death. [Gr.-autos, self, and opsis, sight.]

AUTORIAL, aw-to'ri-al, adj. of or pertaining to an author. "Testing the autorial power."-Poe.

AUTOTHEISM, aw-tō-the'izm, n. the worship of one's self; excessive self-esteem. Nineteenth Century. AUTOTHEIST, aw-to-the'ist, n. one given to autotheism; one who makes a god of himself. "He begins to mistake more and more the voice of that very flesh of his, which he fancies he has conquered, for the voice of God, and to become without knowing it an autotheist."-Kingsley. AUTUMN, aw'tum, n. the third season of the year when fruits are gathered in, popularly comprising the months of August, September, and October.-adj. AUTUM'NAL. [L. autumnus, auctumnus -augeo, auctum, to increase, to produce.] | AUXILIAR, awg-zil'i-ar, n. an auxiliary.

66

My auxiliars and allies."-Sir. H. Taylor. AUXILIARY, awg-zil'yar-i, adj. helping. -n. a helper: an assistant: (gram.) a verb that helps to form the moods and tenses of other verbs. [L.-auxilium, | help-augeo, to increase.] AVAIL, a-vāl', v.t., to be of value or service

AVOCATION

to: to benefit.-v.i. to be of use: to answer the purpose.-n. benefit: profit: service.-AVAILS, profits: proceeds. (Amer.) [Fr.-L. ad, to, valeo, to be strong, to be worth.]

AVAILABLE, a-vāl'a-bl, adj. that one may avail one's self of: profitable: suitable. -adv. AVAIL'ABLY.

AVAILABLENESS, a-val'a-bl-nes, AVAILABILITY, a-val-a-bil'i-ti, n. quality of being available: power in promoting an end in view: validity. AVALANCHE, av'al-ansh, n. a mass of snow and ice sliding down from a mountain: a snow-slip. [Fr.-avaler, to slip down-L. ad, to, vallis, a valley.] AVARICE, av'ar-is, n. eager desire for wealth covetousness. [Fr.-L. avaritia -avarus, greedy-aveo, to pant after.] AVARICIOUS, av-ar-ish'us, adj. extremely

covetous greedy.-adv. AVARI'CIOUSLY. -n. AVARI CIOUSNESS. AVAST, a-väst', int. (naut.) hold fast! stop! [Dut. houd vast, hold fast.] AVATAR, a-va-tär', n., the descent of a Hindu deity in a visible form: incarnation. [Sans.-ava, away,down, and tara, passage-tri, to cross.]

AVAUNT, a-vawnt', int. move on: begone! [Fr. avant, forward L. ab, from, ante, before.]

AVE, ā'vē, n., be well or happy: hail, an address or prayer to the Virgin Mary: in full, Ave Maria. [L. aveo, to be well or propitious.]

AVENGE, a-venj', v.t. (B.) to inflict punishment for.-n. AVENGEMENT, a-venj'ment. [Fr. venger-L. vindicare. See VENGEANCE.]

AVENGER, a-venj'er, n. one who avenges. AVENOUS, a-vē'nus, adj. in bot. wanting

veins or nerves, as the leaves of certain plants.

AVENUE, av'en-u, n. an alley of trees leading to a house: in Amer. a wide street. [Fr., from L. ad, to, venio, to come.]

AVER, a-ver', v.t. to declare to be true: to affirm or declare positively:- -pr.p. averr'ing; pa.p. averred'. [Fr. avérer— L. ad, and verus, true.] AVERAGE, av'er-aj, n. the mean value or quantity of a number of values or quantities.-adj. containing a mean value.v.t. to fix an average.-v.i. to exist in, or form, a mean quantity. [Low L. averagium, carrying service due to a lord by his tenants with their averia or cattle; loss, expense in carrying — averium, "havings," goods, cattle-O. Fr. averL. habere, to have; confused with Dut. averij, Fr. avarie-Ar. awar, damage; hence a contribution towards damage to a cargo formerly levied on each merchant in proportion to the goods carried.]

AVERMENT, a-ver'ment, n. positive asser

tion.

AVERSE, a-vers', adj. having a disinclination or hatred: disliking.-adv. AVERSE'LY.—n. AVERSE'NESS. [L. aversus, turned away, pa.p. of averto. See AVERT.] AVERSION, a-ver'shun, n. dislike: hatred: the object of dislike. [See AVERT.] AVERT, a-vert', v.t. to turn from or aside. to prevent. [L. averto—ab, from, verto, to turn.]

AVIARY, ā'vi-ar-i, n. a place for keeping birds. [L. aviarium—avis, a bird. AVICULTURE, a'vi-kul-tur, n. the breeding and rearing of birds. Baird. AVIDITY, a-vid'it-i, n. eagerness: greediness. [L. aviditas- avidus, greedy — aveo, to pant after.] AVOCATION, a-vo-kā'shun, n. formerly and properly, a diversion or distraction from one's regular employment: now.

AVOID

one's proper business-VOCATION: business which calls for one's time and attention. [L. avocatio, a calling away-ab, from, voco, to call.]

AVOID, a-void', v.t. to try to escape from: to shun.-adj. AVOIDABLE. [Pfx. a=Fr. es L. ex, out, and VOID.] AVOIDANCE, a-void'ans, n. the act of avoiding or shunning: act of annulling. AVOIRDUPOIS, av-er-du-poiz', adj. or n. a system of weights in which the lb. equals 16 oz. [Fr. avoir du pois, to have (of the) weight-L. habeo, to have, pensum, that which is weighed.] AVOUCH, a-vowch', v.t. to avow: to assert or own positively. [Fr. d, and O. Fr. vocher-L. voco, to call. See VOUCH.] AVOW, a-vow', v.t. to declare openly: to own or confess.-adv. Avow'EDLY.-adj. AVOW'ABLE. [Fr. avouer, orig. to swear fealty to-L. ad, and votum, a vow. See Vow.]

AVOWAL, a-vow'al, n. a positive declaration : : a frank confession.

AWAIT, a-wat', v.t. to wait or look for: to be in store for: to attend. [Through Fr. from root of Ger. wacht, a watch. See WAIT.]

AWAKE, a-wāk', v.t. to rouse from sleep:

to rouse from a state of inaction.-v.i. to cease sleeping: to rouse one's self:pa.p. awaked' or awōke'. adj. not asleep vigilant. [A.S. awacan-a-(Ger. er-, Goth. us-, Ice. or-), inten. or causal, and wacan, to wake.]

:

AWAKEN, a-wāk'n, v.t. and v.i. to awake. AWAKENING, a-wāk'n-ing, n. the act of awaking or ceasing to sleep: a revival of religion.

AWARD, a-wawrd', v.t. to adjudge: to determine.-n. judgment: final decision, esp. of arbitrators. [O. Fr. eswardeir or esgardeir, from es-L. ex and a Teutonic root seen in E. WARD.]

AWARE, a-war', adj. wary: informed. [From an A.S. gewær, from prefix geand war, cautious. See WARY.] AWAY, a-wa', adv. out of the way: absent.-int. begone!-(I cannot) AWAY WITH-bear or endure : AWAY WITH (him) -take away: (make) AWAY WITH-destroy. [A.S. aweg—a, on, weg, way, (lit.) "on one's way."]

AWE, aw, n. reverential fear: dread.-v.t.

to strike with or influence by fear. [Ice. agi, A.S. ege, fear; cog. with Gael. eaghal, Gr. achos, anguish. From root ag-, seen in ANGER, ANXIOUS.] AWEARY, a-we'ri, n. weary. [Pfx. a, and WEARY.]

AWE-STRUCK, aw'-struk, adj. struck or affected with awe.

AWFUL, aw fool, adj. full of awe.-adv. AW'FULLY.-n. AW'FULNESS. AWHILE, a-hwil', adv. for some time: for a short time. [Pfx. a, and WHILE.] AWKWARD, awkward, adj. clumsy: ungraceful.-adv. AWK'WARDLY.-n. AWK'WARDNESS. [M.E. awk, contrary, wrong, and A.S. ward, direction.] AWL, awl, n. a pointed instrument for boring small holes in leather. [A.S. al.] AWN, awn, n. a scale or husk: beard of corn or grass.-adjs. AWNED, AWN'LESS. [Ice. ögn; Ger. ahne; from root ak-, sharp, seen in ACUTE.] AWNING, awn'ing, n. a covering to shelter from the sun's rays. [Ety. dub.] AWOKE, a-wōk', did awake-past tense of AWAKE.

AWRY, a-ri', adj. twisted to one side: crooked: wrong perverse.-adv. unevenly perversely. [Pfx. a, on, and WRY.]

AXE, aks, n. a well-known instrument for hewing or chopping.-AXE TO GRIND, a member of Congress who supports some

26

favorite project which makes him appear generous, while he acts from a selfish motive, is said to have an axe to grind. (Amer.) [A.S. x; L. ascia; Gr. axine, perhaps from root ak-, sharp.] AXEMAN, aks'man, n. one who wields an axe one who cuts down trees: a woodman. Whittier.

AXIOM, aks'yum, n. a self-evident truth: a universally received principle in an art or science.-adjs. AXIOMATIC, AXIOMATICAL.-adv. AXIOMATICALLY. [Gr. axiōma-axioō, to think worth, to take for granted-axios, worth.]

AXIS, aks'is, n. the axle, or the line, real or imaginary, on which a body revolves: -pl. AXES, aks'ēz.—adj. AX'IAL. [L. axis; cf. Gr. axon, Sans. aksha, A.S. eax.]

AXLE, aks'l, AXLE-TREE, aks’l-trē, n. the pin or rod in the nave of a wheel on which the wheel turns. [Dim. from A.S. eax, and axle; Sw. axel.]

AY, AYE, i, adv., yea: yes: indeed.AYE, i, n. a vote in the affirmative. [A form of YEA.]

AYAH, a'ya, n. a native Indian waitingmaid.

AYE, a, adv., ever: always: for ever. [Ice. ei, ever, A.S. a; conn. with AGE, EVER.]

AYRY, a'ri, n. a hawk's nest. [See EYRY.] AZIMUTH, az'im-uth, n. the arc of the horizon between the meridian of a place and a vertical circle passing through any celestial body. [Ar. al samt, the direction. See ZENITH.]

AZOTE, a-zōt, n. nitrogen, so called because it does not sustain animal life.adj. AZOT'IC. [Gr. a, neg., and zaō, to live.]

AZURE, aʼzhur, adj. of a faint blue: skycolored.-n. a delicate blue color: the sky. [Fr. azur, corr. of Low L. lazur, lazulum, azolum, blue; of Pers. origin.]

B

BAA, ba, n. the cry of a sheep.-v.i. to cry or bleat as a sheep. [From the sound.]

BABBLE, bab'bl, v.i. to speak like a baby: to talk childishly: to tell secrets.-v.t. to prate: to utter. [E.; connected with Dut. babbelen, Ger. babbeln, Fr. babiller, from ba, ba, representing the first attempts of a child to speak.] BABBLE, bab'bl, BABBLEMENT, bab'blment, BABBLING, bab'bling, n. idle senseless talk.

BABBLER, bab'bler, n., one who babbles. BABE, bab, BABY, ba'bi, n. an infant: child.-adj. BA'BYISH. -n. BA'BYHOOD. [Ba, ba. See BABBLE.] BABEL, ba'bel, n. a confused combination of sounds. [From Heb. Babel (confusion), where the language of man was confounded.]

BABOON, ba-bōōn', n. a species of large

monkey, having a long face, dog-like tusks, large lips, and a short tail. [Fr. babouin; remoter origin dub.] BACCARA, bak'ka-ra, BACCARAT, bak'ka-rat, a game of cards introduced from France into England and America. It is played by any number of players, or rather bettors, and a banker. The latter opens the play by dealing two cards to each bettor, and two to himself, and covering the stakes of each individual with an equal sum. The cards are then examined, and those belonging to the bettors which when added score nine points, or nearest that number, take their own stake and the banker's. Should

BACKSLIDE

he, however, be nearest the winning number of points, he takes all the stakes on the table; in any case he takes the stakes of the players who have not scored so near the winning points as himself. Various other numbers, as 19, 29, 18, 28, etc., give certain advantages in the game. Court cards count as ten points, the others according to the number of pips. [Fr., origin unknown.] BACCHANAL, bak'ka-nal, BACCHANALIAN, bak-ka-na'li-an, n. a worshipper of Bacchus: one who indulges in drunken revels. adj. relating to drunken revels. [L. Bacchus, Gr. Bacchos, the god of wine.]

a

BACCHANALIA, bak-ka-nā'li-a, BACCHANALS, bak'ka-nalz, n.pl. orig. feasts in honor of Bacchus: drunken revels. BACCIFORM, bak'si-form, adj. shaped like a berry. [L. bacca, a berry, and forma, form.] BACHELOR, bach'el-or, n. an unmarried man: one who has taken his first degree at a university. ns. BACH'ELORHOOD, BACH'ELORSHIP. [O. Fr. bacheler, young man. Ety. disputed; according to Brachet from Low L. baccalarius, a farm - servant, originally a cow-herd; from baccalia, a herd of cows; and this from bacca, Low L. for vacca, a cow.] BACILLUS, ba-sil'lus, n. a species of rod-like microscopic organisms belonging to the genus Bacterium. Certain diseases are believed to be caused by these bodies being introduced into the system. BACK, bak, n. the hinder part of the body in man, and the upper part in beasts: the hinder part.-adv. to the place from which one came: to a former state or condition: behind: in return: again.BACK AND FORTH, backward and forward. (Amer.)-v.t. to get upon the back of: to help, as if standing at one's back: to put backward.-v.i. to move or go back. -TO BACK OUT, to retreat from difficulty: to withdraw from an engagement or contest. (Amer.) [A.S. bac, Sw. bak, Dan. bag.]

BACKBITE, bak'bit, v.t. to speak evil of any one behind his back or in his absence.-ns. BACK'BITER, BACK'BITING. BACKBONE, bak bōn, n. the bone of the back, the vertebral column; also, firmness, stability of purpose, energy. (Amer.) BACKDOOR, bak'dor, n. a door in the back part of a building.

BACKED, bakt, adj. provided with a back: -used in composition, as Hump-backed. BACKER, bak'er, n. one who backs or supports another in a contest.

BACKGAMMON, bak-gam'un, n. a game played by two persons on a board with dice and fifteen men or pieces each. [Ety. dub., perhaps A.S. bæc, back, and gamen, game.]

BACKGROUND, bak'grownd, n. ground at the back: a place of obscurity: the space

behind the principal figures of a picture. BACK-HANDED, bak'-hand-ed, adj. with the hand turned backward (as of a blow): indirect.

BACK-PIECE, bak'-pēs, BACK-PLATE, bak'-plāt, n. a piece or plate of armor for the back. BACK-SCRAPER, bak'-skrāp-er, BACKSCRATCHER, bak'-skrach-er, n. same as SCRATCH-BACK, 2. "A back-scratcher of which the hand was ivory."-Southey. BACKSHEESH, BACKSHISH, bak'shesh, n., a gift or present of money, in the East. [Pers.]

BACKSLIDE, bak-slīd', v.i. to slide or fall back in faith or morals :-pa.p. backslid' or backslidd'en..-ns. BACKSLID'ER, BACKSLID'ING.

BACK-STRING, bak'-string, n. a leadingstring by which a child is supported or guided from behind. "The back-string and the bib."-Cowper. BACKWARD, bak'ward, BACKWARDS, bak'wardz, adv. towards the back: on the back: towards the past: from a better to a worse state. [BACK and affix WARD. WARDS, in the direction of.] BACKWARD, bak'ward, adj. keeping back: unwilling slow: late; also, bashful, timid. (Amer.)-adv. BACK'WARDLY.-N.

BACK'WARDNESS.

BACKWOODS, bak'woodz, n.pl., the forest or uncultivated part of a country beyond the cleared country, as in N. Amer. -n. BACKWOODS'MAN.

BACON, ba'kn, n. swine's flesh salted or pickled and dried.-TO SAVE ONE'S BACON, to preserve one's self from harm. (Amer.) [O. Fr.-O. Dutch, bak, a pig.] BACONIAN, bak-on'i-an, adj. pertaining to Lord Bacon (1561-1626), or to his philosophy, which was inductive or based on experience.

BAD, bad, adj. ill or evil: wicked: hurtful:-comp. WORSE; superl. WORST. [Ety. dub., perhaps from Celt. baodh, foolish, wicked.]

BADDISH, bad'ish, adj. somewhat bad: not very good. [BAD, and dim. termination ish.]

BADE, bad, past tense of BID.
BADGE, baj, n. a mark or sign by which

one is known or distinguished. [Low L. bagia, a mark, baga, a ring, from a Teut. root, seen in A.S. beah, a ring, mark of distinction.]

BADGER, baj'er, n. a burrowing animal about the size of a fox, eagerly hunted by dogs.-v.t. to pursue with eagerness, as dogs hunt the badger: to pester or worry. [A corr. of bladger-0. Fr. bladier, Low L. bladarius, a corn-dealer, from bladum, corn, because the creature was believed to store up corn. Acc. to Diez, bladum is from L.ablatum, “carried away." See ABLATIVE.] BADIÑAGE, bad'in-äzh, n. light playful talk: banter. [Fr. badinage-badin, playful or bantering.]

BADLY, bad'li, adv. in a bad manner: not well: imperfectly: wrongly.-n. BAD'NESS. BADMINTON, bad-min'ton, n. a kind of claret-cup or summer beverage, so called from being invented at the Duke of Beaufort's seat of that name. "Soothed or stimulated by fragrant cheroots or beakers of Badminton."-Disraeli. BAFFLE, baf'fl, v.t. to elude or defeat by artifice to check or make ineffectual. [O. Fr. béfler, to deceive, to mock; It. beffa, a scoffing.]

BAĞ, bag, n. a sack or pouch.-v.t. to put into a bag: to capture:-pr.p. bagg'ing: pa.p. bagged'. [A.S. bælg, bag, belly; Celt. bag, balg, belly, wallet.] BAGASSE, ba-gas', n. the dry remains of the sugar-cane, after the juice has all been pressed out-used as fuel in boiling the juice. (Amer.)

BAGATELLE, bag-a-tel', n. a trifle: a game played on a board with nine balls and a cue. [Fr.; It. bagatella, a conjurer's trick, a trifle.] BAG-FOX, bag'-foks, n. a fox kept in confinement, and slipped from a bag, when no other victim of a hunt is to be had. Miss Ferrier.

BAGGAGE, bagʻaj, n. the tents, provisions, and other necessaries of an army: traveller's luggage. [Fr. bagage-O. Fr. bagues, goods or effects; from Celt. bag, bundle.]

a

a saucy female. [Fr. bagasse, a prostitute.]

BAGGING, bagʻing, n. cloth or material for bags: usually made of hemp, when used for packing cotton. (Amer.) BAGGY, bagʻi, adj. loose like a bag. BAGMAN, bag'man, n. a commercial traveller.

BAGNIO, ban'yo, n. a house of ill-fame. [It. bagno-L. balneum, a bath.] BAGPIPE, bag'pip, n. a musical wind-instrument, consisting of a leathern bag, which acts as a bellows, and pipes.BAG'PIPER.

-n.

BAH, bä, int. an exclamation of disgust or contempt.

BAIL, bāl, n. one who procures the release of an accused person by becoming guardian or security for his appearing in court: the security given.-v.t. to set a person free by giving security for him: to release on the security of another. [O. Fr. bail, a guardian, a tutor; Low L. baila, a nurse, from L. bajulus, a carrier.] BAIL, bāl, n. one of the cross pieces on the top of the wicket in cricket; also, the handle of a pail, bucket or kettle. (Amer.) [O. Fr. bailles, sticks, a palisade.] BAIL, bal, v.t. to clear (a boat) of water with buckets.-TO BAIL ONE'S OWN BOAT, to mind one's own business without waiting for help from others. (Amer.) [Dut. balie, a tub, Fr. baille (whence Diez derives the Dut. word). Also spelled BALE.]

BAILABLE, bāl'a-bl, adj. admitting of bail.

BAILIE, bāl'i, n. a municipal officer in Scotland corresponding to an alderman. [Fr. bailli, land-steward, officer of justice. See BAILIFF.]

BAILIFF, bāl'if, n. a sheriff's officer: an agent or land-steward. [O. Fr. baillif (old form of bailli, see BAILIE); from root of BAIL.]

BAILIWICK, bāl'i-wik, n. the jurisdiction of a bailiff. [O. Fr. baillie, lordship, authority, and A.S. wic—L. vicus, a village, station.]

BAIRN, barn, n. a child. [Scot. bairn, A.S. bearn-beran, to bear.]

BAIT, bat, n. food put on a hook to allure fish or make them bite: any allurement: a refreshment taken on a journey.-v.t. to set food as a lure: to give refreshment on a journey.-v.i. to take refreshment on a journey. [See BAIT, v.]

BAIT, bat, v.t. to provoke an animal by inciting dogs to bite it: to harass. [Ice. beita, from root of BITE.]

BAIZE, bās, n. a coarse woollen cloth.

[From pl. of Fr. baye; so called from its color. See BAY, adj.]

BAKE, bāk. v.t. to dry, harden, or cook by the heat of the sun or of fire: to prepare food in an oven.-v.i. to work as a baker. [A.S. bacan; cog. with Ger. backen, to bake, Gr. phōgō, to roast.] BAKEHOUSE, bak'hows, n. a house or place used for baking in. BAKER, bāk'er, n. one who bakes bread,

etc.

BAKERY, bāk'er-i, n. a bakehouse.

BAKING, bak'ing, n. the process by which bread is baked: the quantity baked at one time.

BAKING-POWDER, bak'ing-pou-der, n. a powder used in baking bread chiefly as a substitute for yeast. The common ingredients are powdered tartaric acid, bicarbonate of soda, and potato farina. BALANCE, bal'ans, n. an instrument for weighing, usually formed of two dishes or scales hanging from a beam supported in the middle act of weighing two things equality or just proportion of

BALL

weight or power, as the balance of power the sum required to make the two sides of an account equal, hence the surplus, or the sum due on an account: also the remainder of anything; as, the "balance of the party stayed.' (Amer.) -v.t. to weigh in a balance: to counterpoise to compare to settle, as an account.-v.i. to have equal weight or power, etc.: to hesitate or fluctuate. [Fr.-L. bilanx, having two scales-bis, double, lanx, lancis, a dish or scale.] BALANCE- HANDLED, bal'ans-han-dld, adj. a term applied to table-knives which have the weight of the handle so adjusted that when the knives are laid on the table the blades do not touch the table-cloth.

BALANCE-SHEET, bal'ans-shēt, n. a sheet of paper showing a summary and balance of accounts. BALANIFEROUS, bal-a-nif'er-us, adj. bearing, yielding, or producing acorns. [L. balanus, Gr. balanos, an acorn, and fero, to bear.]

BALANOID, bal'a-noid, adj. having the

form or appearance of an acorn: relating or pertaining to the cirriped family Balanidæ or acorn shells. BALANOID, bal'a-noid, n. a cirriped of the family Balanidæ or acorn-shells. BALCONY, balk'on-i, n. a platform or gallery outside the window of a room. It. balcone; from O. Ger. balcho (Ger. balken), a beam, cog. with E. BALK in the obs. sense of beam, partition.] BALD, bawld, adj. without hair on the head: bare, unadorned. - adv. BALD'LY.-N. BALD'NESS. [Orig. "shining," "white," Celt. bal, "white" spot; or conn. with BOLD, which in Goth. balthai meant the "brave," 66 shining," Ice. Baldr, "Lightgod."] BALDERDASH, bawl'der-dash, n. idle,

senseless talk: anything jumbled together without judgment. [Ety. dub.] BALDHEAD, bawld'hed, n. a person bald on the head.

BALDICOOT, bawl'di-köt, n. 1, the common coot. Hence-2, (fig.) a monk, on account of his sombre raiment and shaven crown. 66 Princesses that. demean themselves to hob and nob with these black baldicoots."-Kingsley. BALDRIB, bawld'rib, n. 1, a piece cut from the side of a pig lower down than the spare-rib, and consisting of a rib with flesh devoid of fat on it." Baldrib, griskin, chine, or chop."-South. Hence -2, (fig.) a lean, lanky person. T. Middleton. (Rare.)

BALDRICK, bawld'rik, n. a warrior's belt. [O. Fr. baldric, from O. Ger. balderich, girdle.] BALE, bal, n., a ball, bundle, or package of goods.-v.t. to make into bales. [See BALL.]

BALE, bāl, v.t. to throw out water. [See BAIL.]

BALEEN, bā-lēn', n. the whalebone of commerce. [Fr.-L. balana, whale.] BALEFUL, bal'fool, adj. full of misery, destructive: full of sorrow, sad.-adv. BALE FULLY. [Obs. E. bale, A.S. bealo, Ice. böl, woe, evil.]

BALK, bawk, v.i. to stop abruptly in one's course, as a sulky horse. (Amer.) BALK, bawk, n. a hinderance or disap pointment.-v.t. to check, disappoint, or elude: to stop short at: omit. [A.S. balca, a heap or ridge, also a beam, a partition; conn. with BAR. See BALCONY.] BALL, bawl, n. anything round: a bullet: a well-known game. [Fr. balle. Weigand has shown that this is a Romance word, as in It. palla-Gr. pallo, to swing, akin to ballo, to throw.]

BALL

BALL, bawl, n. an entertainment of dancing. [Fr. bal-It. and Low L. batare, to dance, from Gr. balio to throw, the game of ball-throwing having been associated with music and dancing.] BALLAD, ball'ad, n. a short narrative poem: a popular song. [Fr. ballade, It. ballata, from ballare, to dance; a song sung in dancing.]

BALLADMONGER, ball'ad-mung-ger, n. a dealer in ballads. BALLAST, bal'last, n. heavy matter placed in a ship to keep it steady when it has no cargo: that which renders anything steady.-v.t. to load with ballast: to make or keep steady. [Dut.; ety. best seen in Dan. bag-last or ballast, from bag, "behind," the BACK, and last, load; a load placed behind or under to steady a ship.]

BALLET, ball'a, n. a theatrical exhibition acted chiefly in dancing. [Fr. dim. of bal, a dance.]

BALLISTA, ball-is'ta, n. a military engine in the form of a cross-bow, used by the ancients for throwing heavy arrows, darts, large stones, etc. [L.-Gr. ballo, to throw.]

BALLOON, ball-oon', n. a large bag, made of light material, and filled with a gas lighter than common air, so as to make it ascend.-BALLOONING, the operation of inflating shares or stock by publishing fictitious favorable reports or the like. (Stock exchange slang.) [Fr. ballonballe, a ball; the on is augmentative.] BALLOT, bal'ut, n., a little ball or ticket used in voting: the act of secret voting by putting a ball or ticket into a box. v.i. to vote by ballot :-pr.p. ball'oting; pa.p. ball'oted. [Fr. ballotte, dim. of balle, a ball. See BALL.] BALL-PROOF, bawl'-proof, adj. proof against balls discharged from firearms. BALLROOM, bawl'rōōm, n. a room for balls or dancing.

BALM, bäm, n. an aromatic plant: a fragrant and healing ointment obtained from such a plant: anything that heals or soothes pain. [Fr. baume, O. Fr. basme -L. balsamum. See BALSAM.J BALMY, bäm'i, adj. fragrant: soothing: bearing balm.

BALNEOGRAPHY, bal-ne-og'ra-fi, n. a description of baths. Dunglison. [L. balneum, a bath, and Gr. graphe, a description.]

BALNÉOLOGY, bal-nē-ol'o-ji, n. a treatise on baths or bathing: the branch of knowledge relating to baths and bathing. Dunglison. [L. balneum, a bath, and Gr. logos, a discourse.] BALNEOTHERAPIA, bal'nē-o-ther-a-pi'a,

BALNEOTHERAPY,bal'në-ō-thera-pi,n. the treatment of disease by baths. Dunglison. [L. balneum, a bath, and Gr. therapeia, medical treatment.] BALSAM, bawl'sam, n. the name of certain plants: a resinous oily substance flowing from tnem. [L. balsamum-Gr. balsamon-Heb. baal, a prince, and schaman, oil.]

BALSAMIC, bal-sam'ik, adj. soothing. BALUSTER, bal'ust-er, n. a small pillar used as a support to the rail of a staircase, etc.-adj. BALUSTERED, bal'ust-erd. Fr. balustre-Low L. balaustium-Gr. balaustion, the flower of the pomegranate; from the similarity of form.] BALUSTRADE, bal'ust-rad, n. a row of balusters joined by a rail. BAMBOO, bam-bōō', n. a gigantic Indian reed or grass, with hollow-jointed stem, and of hard texture. [Malay.] BAMBOOZLE, bam-bōo'zl, v.t. to deceive : to confound. [Ety. dub.]

BAN, ban, n. a proclamation: a denuncia

28

66

BAPTIST

BANANĂ, ba-nä'na, n. a gigantic herbaceous plant, remarkable for its nutritious fruit.

BAND, band, n., that which binds together a tie. A.S. bend, from bindan, to bind. See BIND.]

BAND, band, n. a number of persons bound together for any common purpose: a body of musicians. v.t. to bind together. -v.i. to associate. [Fr. bande, from Ger. band, bond, thing used in bindingbinden, E. BIND. See BANNER.] BANDAGE, band'āj, n. a strip of cloth used to bind up a wound or fracture.v.t. to bind with such. BANDANA, BANDANNA, ban-dan'a, n. a kind of silk or cotton colored handkerchief, originally from India. BANDBOX, band'boks, n. a thin kind of box for holding bands, caps, etc. BANDIT, ban'dit, n. an outlaw: a robber: -pl. BAN'DITS or BANDITT'I. [It. bandito -Low L. bannire, bandire, to proclaim, from BAN.]

BANDOG, ban'dog, n. properly band-dog, a large, fierce dog (which, on account of its fierceness, was kept bound or chained). BANDORE, ban-dōr', n. a widow's veil for covering the head and face. Prior. BANDS, bandz, n.pl. a portion of the dress worn by clergymen, barristers, etc.-a relic of the ancient amice. BANDY, ban'di, n. a club bent at the end for striking a ball: a game at ball with such a club.v.t. to beat to and fro as with a bardy: to toss from one to another (as words), like playing at bandy: -pa.p. ban'died. [Fr. bander, to bend -Ger. band, a tie, string.] BANDY-LEGGED, ban'di-legd, adj. naving bandy or crooked legs. BANE, ban, n., destruction: death: mischief: poison. [A.S. bana, a murderer; Ice. bani, death.]

BANEFUL, ban'fool, adj. destructive. adv. BANE'FULLY.

-

BANG, bang, n. a heavy blow.-v.t. to beat to strike violently. [Ice. bang, a hammering; originally perhaps from the sound.]

BANG, BANGUE, bang, n. an intoxicating drug made from Indian hemp. [Pers. bang.]

BANIAN. See BANYAN.

BANISH, ban'ish, v.t. to condemn to exile: to drive away. [Fr. bannir - Low L. bannire, to proclaim, from BAN, and see ABANDON.]

BANISHMENT, ban'ish-ment, n. exile. BANISTER, ban'ist-er, n. corruption of BALUSTER.

BANJO, ban'jo, n. a musical instrument like a fiddle. [Corr. of Fr. bandore or pandore-L. pandura-Gr. pandoura.] BANJORE, ban'jōr, n. Same as BANJO. Miss Edgeworth.

BANK, bangk, n. a mound or ridge of earth the earthy margin of a river, lake, etc. rising ground in the sea. -v.t to inclose with a bank. [A.S. banc; Ger. bank. Conn. with BENCH through the idea of "thing ridged or raised."] BANK, bangk, n. a place where money is deposited an institution for the keeping, lending, and exchanging, etc., of money.-vt. to deposit in a bank, as money. [Fr. banque-It. banco, a bench on which the Italian money-changers displayed their money-Ger.bank, E. BENCH.]

BANK-BILL, bangk'-bil, n. a bank-note. (Amer.)

BANKER, bangk'er, n. a vessel engaged in the Newfoundland fisheries. (Amer.) BANKER, bangk'er, n. one who keeps a bank: one employed in banking busi

ness.

BANKING, bangk'ing, n. the business of a banker. adj. pertaining to a bank. BANKLESS, bangk'les, adj. without banks or limits. "The bankless sea."-Davies. BANK-NOTE, bangk'-nōt, n. a note issued by a bank, which passes as money. BANKRUPT, bangk'rupt,n. one who breaks or fails in business: an insolvent person. -adj. insolvent. [BANK, a bench, and L. ruptus, broken.] BANKRUPTCY, bangk'rupt-si, n. the state of being or act of becoming bankrupt. BANK-STOCK, bangk'-stok, n. a share or shares in the capital stock of a bank. BANNER, ban'er, n. a military standard: a flag or ensign. [Fr. bannière, It. bandiera-Low L. bandum, a standard, from Ger. band, a band, a strip of cloth, a waving or fluttering cloth, used as a flag -Ger. binden. See BAND, BIND.] BANNERED, ban'erd, adj. furn.shed with banners.

BANNERET, ban'er-et, n. a higher class of knight, inferior to a baron. [Fr., dim. of BANNER.]

BANNOCK, ban'nok, n. a cake of Indianmeal fried in lard.

BANNS, banz, n.pl. a proclamation of marriage. [From BAN.J

BANQUET, bangk'wet, n. a feast

any

rich treat or entertainment.-v.t. to give a feast to.-v.i. to fare sumptuously.-n. BANQUET-HOUSE. [Fr.-It. banchetto, dim. of banco, a bench or table-Ger. bank. See BANK, a bench.]

BANQUETTE, ban-ket', n. a name for a

sidewalk in Louisiana.

BANSHEE, ban'shē, n. a female fairy in Ireland and elsewhere, who usually appears and utters a peculiar shrieking wail before a death in a particular family to which she is attached. [Ir. bean, a woman, sidhe, a fairy.]

BANTAM, ban'tam, n. a small variety of the common fowl, brought from the East Indies, and supposed to be named from Bantam in Java.-adj. of the bantam breed.

BANTER, bant'er, v.t. to assail with goodhumored raillery: to joke or jest at; also, to challenge to a match: to provoke to a wager. (Amer.)-n. humorous rail. lery jesting. [Ety. dub.] BANTING, bant'ing, n. a system of diet for reducing superfluous fat. [From W. Banting of London, who recommended it to the public in 1863.] BANTLING, bant'ling, n. a child. [So called from the bands in which it is wrapped.] BANYAN, ban'yan, n. one belonging to the caste of merchants in India.-BANYAN-DAY, a day without meat. [Sans. banij, a merchant.] BANYAN, ban'yan, n. the Indian fig-tree whose branches take root and spread over a large area. [So called by the English because the Banyans (merchants) held their markets under it.] BAOBAB, ba'o-bab, n. a large African tree. [W. African.] BAPTISM, bapt'izm, n. immersion in or sprinkling with water as a religious ceremony.-adj. BAPTISM'AL.

BAPTIST, bapt'ist, n. one who baptizes: one who approves only of adult baptism by immersion.

BAPTISTERY

BAPTISTERY, bapt'ist-er-i, n. a place | where baptism is administered. BAPTIZE, bapt-iz', v.t. to administer baptism to to christen. [Gr. baptizō—baptō, to dip in water.]

BAR, bär, n. a rod of any solid substance: a bolt a hinderance or obstruction: a bank of sand or other matter at the mouth of a river: the railing that incloses a space in a tavern or in a court of law: any tribunal : the pleaders in a court as distinguished from the judges: a division in music.-v.t. to fasten or secure, as with a bar to hinder or exclude :-pr.p. barr'ing; pa.p. barred'. [Fr. barré, Ít. barra; of Celtic origin.]

BARB, bärb, n. the beard-like jag near the point of an arrow, fish-hook, etc.-v.t. to arm with barbs, as an arrow, etc. [Fr.L. barba, a beard.]

BARB, bärb, n. a swift kind of horse, the
breed of which came from Barbary in
North Africa.
BARBACAN,

bär'ba-kan, BARBICAN, bär bi-kan, n. an outer work or defence of a castle, esp. before a gate or bridge. [Low L. barbacana, prob. from Pers.] BARBADOS-NUT, bär-ba'dōz-nut, n. the physic-nut, a product of Curcas purgans (Jatropha Curcas). [See CURCAS.] BARBARESQUE, bär-bär-esk', adj. characteristic of barbarians: barbarous. De Quincey. (Rare.)

BARBARIAN, bar-bār'i-an, adj. uncivilized savage: without taste or refinement.-n. an uncivilized man, a savage: a cruel, brutal man. [L. barbarus, Gr. barbaros-bar, bar, an imitation of unintelligible sounds-applied by the Greeks (and afterwards the Romans) to those speaking a different different language from themselves.]

BARBARIC, bar-bar'ik, adj. foreign: uncivilized.

BARBARISM, bär'bar-izm, n. savage life: rudeness of manners: an incorrect form of speech.

BARBARITY, bar-bar'i-ti, n. savageness: cruelty.

BARBARIZE, bär'bar-iz, v.t. to make barbarous.

BARBAROUS, bär'bar-us, adj. uncivilized : rude savage, brutal.-adv. BAR'BAROUSLY.-N. BAR'BAROUSNESS.

BARBECUE, bärb'e-kū, v.t. to roast whole, as a pig. [Ety. dub.]

BARBEL, bärb'el, n. a fresh-water fish with beard-like appendages at its mouth. [O. Fr. barbel-L. barba, a beard.] BARBER, bärb'er, n. one who

shaves beards and dresses hair. [Fr.-L. barba, a beard.]

BARBERRY, bär′ber-i, n. a thorny shrub with red berries, common in hedges. [Low L. and Sp. berberis-Ar. barbaris.] BARBICAN, bär'bi-kan, n. same as BAR

BACAN.

BARD, bärd, n. a poet and singer among the ancient Celts: a poet. [Celtic.] BARDIC, bärd′ik, adj. pertaining to bards or their poetry..

BARE, bar, adj. uncovered, naked: poor, scanty: unadorned: mere or by itself.v.t. to strip or uncover.-adv. BARE'LY. -n. BARE NESS. [A.S. bær; Ger. baar, bar; Ice. ber.]

BARE, bar, old pa.t. of BEAR. BAREFACED, bar'fast, adj. with the face uncovered: impudent. adv. BARE'FACEDLY.-n. BARE'FACEDNESS. BARGAIN, bär'gin, n. a contract or agreement a favorable transaction.-INTO THE BARGAIN, over: above: besides.v.i. to make a contract or agreement: to chaffer. [Fr. barguigner-Low L. barcaniare; acc. to Diez from barca, a boat, used in carrying goods about.]

29

BARGE, bärj, n. a boat used in the unloading of large vessels: a pleasure or state boat. [0. Fr. barge-Low L. bargia. Prob. a doublet of BARK, a barge.] BARIC, bar'ik, adj. pertaining or relating to weight, more especially the weight of the atmosphere as measured by the barometer. [Gr. barys, heavy.] BARILLA, bar-il'a, n. an alkaline ash obtained by burning several marine plants (that grow chiefly on the east coast of Spain), used for making soap, glass, etc. [Sp.]

BARITONE, bar'i-tōn, n. same as BARY

TONE.

BARK, bärk, n. the noise made by a dog, wolf, etc. v.i. to yelp like a dog: to clamor.-TO BARK UP THE WRONG TREE, to mistake one's object: to pursue the wrong course to obtain it. In hunting, a dog drives a squirrel or other game into a tree, where by barking he attracts its attention until the hunter arrives. Sometimes the game escapes, or the dog is deceived, and barks up the wrong tree. [A.S. beorcan, probably a variety of brecan, to crack, snap. See BREAK.] BARK, BARQUE, bärk, n. a barge: a ship of small size: technically, a three-masted vessel with no square sails on her mizzenmast. [Fr. barque-Low L. barca; perh. from Gr. baris, a boat.] BÂRK, bärk, n. the outer rind or covering of a tree.-v.t. to strip or peal the bark from.—TO BARK A SQUIRREL, to strike with a rifle ball the bark on the upper side of a branch on which the animal sits, so that the concussion kills it without mutilation. (Amer.) [Dan. bark, Ice. börkr.]

BARKEN, bärk'en, adj. consisting or made of bark. "Barken knots."-Whittier. (Rare.)

BARLEY, bär'li, n. a grain used for food, but chiefly for making malt. [A.S. bærlic -bere (Scot.bear) and lic-lec, leek, plant; W. barllys-bara, bread, llys, a plant; akin to L. far, corn-from root of to bear.]

BARLEY-CORN, bär'li-korn, n. a grain of barley: a measure of length-the third part of an inch.

BARM, bärm, n. froth of beer or other fermenting liquor used as leaven: yeast. [A.S. beorma, Dan. bärme; akin to L. fermentum, Eng. brew.]

BARMAID, bär'mad, n. a female who waits at the bar of a tavern or beer-shop. BARMECIDE, bär'me-sid, adj. imaginary or pretended. [From a story in the "Arabian Nights," in which a beggar is entertained by one of the Barmecide princes on an imaginary feast.] BÂRMY, bärm'i, adj. containing barm or yeast.

BÄRN, bärn, n. a building in which grain, hay, etc., are stored.-v.t. to store in a barn.-ns. BARN-DOOR, bärn'-dōr, BARNYARD, bärn'-yard. [A.S. berern, contracted bern, from bere, barley, ern, a house.]

BARNABY-BRIGHT, bär'na-bi-brīt, n. the day of St. Barnabas the Apostle, the 11th of June, which in old style was the day of the summer solstice, or as put by the old rhyme: "Barnaby-bright, the longest day and the shortest night." The steward adjourned the court to Barnaby-bright that they might have day enough before them."-Addison. BARNACLE, bär'na-kl, n. a shell-fish

which adheres to rocks and the bottoms of ships a kind of goose. [Ety. dub.] BARNACLES, bär'na-klz, n. spectacles. [O. Fr. bericle, dim. from L. beryllus, beryl, crystal; Ger. brille.] BAROMETER, bar-om'et-er u. an instru

BARROW

ment by which the weight of the atmosphere is measured and changes of weather indicated.-adj. BAROMETRIC.-adv. BAROMETRICALLY. [Gr. baros, weight; metron, measure.]

BAROMETRY, ba-rom'et-ri, n. the art or operation of conducting barometrical measurements, experiments, observations, or the like.

A scrap of parchment hung by geometry, (A great refinement in barometry), Can, like the stars, foretell the weather.-Swift. BARON, bar'on, n. a title of rank next above a baronet and below a viscount, being the lowest in the House of Peers: a title of certain judges: in feudal times, the peers or great lords of the realm. [Fr. baron; in the Romance tongues the word meant a man as opposed to a woman, a strong man, a warrior; either from Celtic bar, a hero, fear, a man, or from O. Ger. bar, man. (O. Ger. bairan, E. BEAR, to carry).]

BARONAGE, bar'on-āj, n. the whole body of barons.

BARONESS, bar'on-es, n. a baron's wife. BARONET, bar'on-et, n. a title of rank next above a knight and below a baronthe lowest hereditary title in England. [Dim. of BARON.]

BARONETAGE, bar'on-et-āj, n. the whole body of baronets.

BARONETCY, bar'on-et-si, n. the rank of

baronet.

BARONIAL, bar-ōn'i-al, adj. pertaining to a baron or barony. BARONY, bar'on-i, n. the territory of a baron.

BAROUCHE, ba-rōōsh', n. a double-seated four-wheeled carriage with a falling top. [It. barrocio-L. birotus, two-wheeled from bis, twice, rota, a wheel.] BARQUE, bärk, n. same as BARK, a ship. BARRACLADE, bar'ra-klad, n. a homemade napless blanket. [D. baare klederen, bare cloths.]

BARRACK, bar‍ak, n. a hut or building for soldiers, esp. in garrison (generally used in the plural). [Fr. baraque, It. baracca, a tent; cf. Celtic barrachad, a hut.]

BARRANCA, bar-rang'kaw, n. a deep ravine produced suddenly by heavy rains, and having steep banks. Used on Mexican border. (Amer.)

BARRAQUE, bar-rak', n. a roof on four posts for sheltering hay or other produce. [Fr. baraque, barrack.] BARREL, bar'el, n. a round wooden vessel made of bars or staves: the quantity which such a vessel contains: anything long and hollow, as the barrel of a gun. -v.t. to put in a barrel. [Fr. baril-barre. See BAR.]

BARREL-VAULT, bar'el-vawlt, n. the simplest form of vault, having a semicircular roof. [See VAULT.] BARREN, bar'en, adj. incapable of bearing offspring unfruitful: dull, stupid.-BARRENS, in the United States, elevated lands or plains on which grow small trees, unfit for timber.-n. BARR'ENNESS. [Fr. bréhaigne, O. Fr. baraigne.] BARRICADE, bar'ik-ad, n. a temporary fortification raised to hinder the advance of an enemy, as in the street fights at Paris.-v.t. to obstruct: to fortify. [Fr -barre, a bar. See BAR.]

BARRIER, bar'i-er, n. a defence against attack: a limit or boundary. [Fr. bar rière.]

BARRISTER, bar'is-ter, n. one who is qualified to plead at the bar in an English law-court.

BARROW, bar'rō, n. a small hand or wheel carriage used to bear or convey a load. [A.S. berewe-beran, to bear.]