it is condensed within the cylinder. Tomlinson. P Atmospheric line (Steam Engin.), the equilibrium line of an indicator card. Steam is expanded =down to the atmosphere8 when its pressure is equal to that of the atmosphere. (See Indicator card.) P Atmospheric pressure, the pressure exerted by the atmosphere, not merely downwards, but in every direction. In amounts to about 14.7 Ibs. on each square inch. P Atmospheric railway, one in which pneumatic power, obtained from compressed air or the creation of a vacuum, is the propelling force. P Atmospheric tides. See under Tide.
At7mosOpher6icOalOly (?), adv. In relation to the atmosphere.
At7mosOpheOrol6oOgy (?), n. [Atmosphere + Ology.] The science or a treatise on the atmosphere. At6oOkous (?), a. [Gr. ? barren; ? priv. + ? offspring.] (Zol.) Producing only asexual individuals, as the eggs of certain annelids.
AOtoll6 (?), n. [The native name in the Indian Ocean.] A coral island or islands, consisting of a belt of coral reef, partly submerged, surrounding a central lagoon or depression; a lagoon island.
At6om (?), n. [L. atomus, Gr. ?, uncut, indivisible; ? priv. + ?, verbal adj. of ? to cut: cf. F. atome. See Tome.] 1. (Physics) (a) An ultimate indivisible particle of matter. (b) An ultimate particle of matter not necessarily indivisible; a molecule. (c) A constituent particle of matter, or a molecule supposed to be made up of subordinate particles.
5 These three definitions correspond to different views of the nature of the ultimate particles of matter. In the case of the last two, the particles are more correctly called molecules.
Dana.
2.(Chem.) The smallest particle of matter that can enter into combination; one of the elementary constituents of a molecule.
3. Anything extremely small; a particle; a whit. There was not an atom of water.
Sir J. Ross.
At6om, v. t. To reduce to atoms. [Obs.] Feltham.
AOtom6ic (?), AOtom6icOal (?), } a. [Cf. F. atomique.] 1. Of or pertaining to atoms.
2. Extremely minute; tiny.
Atomic philosophy, or Doctrine of atoms, a system which assuming that atoms are endued with gravity and motion accounted thus for the origin and formation of all things. This philosophy was first broached by Leucippus, was developed by Democritus, and afterward improved by Epicurus, and hence is sometimes denominated the Epicurean philosophy. P Atomic theory, or the Doctrine of definite proportions (Chem.), teaches that chemical combinations take place between the supposed ultimate particles or atoms of bodies, in some simple ratio, as of one to one, two to three, or some other, always expressible in whole numbers. P Atomic weight (Chem.), the weight of the atom of an element as compared with the weight of the atom of hydrogen, taken as a standard.
AOtom6icOalOly, adv. In an atomic manner; in accordance with the atomic philosophy.
At7oOmi6cian (?), n. An atomist. [R.] AOtom6iOcism (?), n. Atomism. [Obs.]
At7oOmic6iOty (?), n. [Cf. F. atomicit.] (Chem.) Degree of atomic attraction; equivalence; valence; also (a later use) the number of atoms in an elementary molecule. See Valence. At6omOism (?), n. [Cf. F. atomisme.] The doctrine of atoms. See Atomic philosophy, under Atomic.
At6omOist, n. [Cf. F. atomiste.] One who holds to the atomic philosophy or theory.
Locke.
At7omOis6tic (?), a. Of or pertaining to atoms; relating to atomism. [R.]
It is the object of the mechanical atomistic philosophy to confound synthesis with synartesis.
Coleridge.
At7omOiOza6tion , n. 1. The act of reducing to atoms, or very minute particles; or the state of being so reduced. 2. (Med.) The reduction of fluids into fine spray. At6omOize , v. t. To reduce to atoms, or to fine spray. The liquids in the form of spray are said to be pulverized, nebulized, or atomized.
Dunglison.
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At6omOi7zer , n. One who, or that which, atomizes; esp., an instrument for reducing a liquid to spray for disinfecting, cooling, or perfuming.
At7omOol6oOgy (?), n. [Atom + Ology.] The doctrine of atoms. Cudworth.
At6omOy (?), n. An atom; a mite; a pigmy. At6oOmy (?), n. [For anatomy, taken as an atomy.] A skeleton. [Ludicrous]
Shak.
AOton6aOble (?), a. Admitting an atonement; capable of being atoned for; expiable.
At one6 (?). [OE. at on, atone, atoon, attone.] 1. In concord or friendship; in agreement (with each other); as, to be, bring, make, or set, at one, i. e., to be or bring in or to a state of agreement or reconciliation. If gentil men, or othere of hir contree
Were wrothe, she wolde bringen hem atoon. Chaucer.
2. Of the same opinion; agreed; as, on these points we are at one.
3. Together. [Obs.]
Spenser.
AOtone6 (?), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Atoned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Atoning.] [From at one, i. e., to be, or cause to be, at one. See At one.] 1. To agree; to be in accordance; to accord. [Obs.]
He and Aufidius can no more atone
Than violentest contrariety.
Shak.
2. To stand as an equivalent; to make reparation, compensation, or amends, for an offense or a crime. The murderer fell, and blood atoned for blood. Pope.
The ministry not atoning for their former conduct by any wise or popular measure.
Junius.
AOtone6, v. t. 1. To set at one; to reduce to concord; to reconcile, as parties at variance; to appease. [Obs.] I would do much
To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio. Shak.
2. To unite in making. [Obs. & R.] The four elements… have atoned
A noble league.
Ford.
3. To make satisfaction for; to expiate. Or each atone his guilty love with life. Pope.
AOtone6ment (?), n. 1. (Literally, a setting at one.) Reconciliation; restoration of friendly relations; agreement; concord. [Archaic]
By whom we have now received the atonement. Rom. v. 11.
He desires to make atonement
Betwixt the Duke of Gloucester and your brothers. Shak.
2. Satisfaction or reparation made by giving an equivalent for an injury, or by doing of suffering that which will be received in satisfaction for an offense or injury; expiation; amends; P with for. Specifically, in theology: The expiation of sin made by the obedience, personal suffering, and death of Christ.
When a man has been guilty of any vice, the best atonement be can make for it is, to warn others.
Spectator.
The Phocians behaved with, so much gallantry, that they were thought to have made a sufficient atonement for their former offense.
Potter.
AOton6er (?), n. One who makes atonement. AtOones (?), adv. [See At one.] [Obs.]
Down he fell atones as a stone.
Chaucer.
AOton6ic (?), a. [Cf. F. atonique. See Atony.] 1. (Med.) Characterized by atony, or want of vital energy; as, an atonic disease.
2. (Gram.) Unaccented; as, an atonic syllable. 3. Destitute of tone vocality; surd.
Rush.
AOton6ic, n. 1. (Gram.) A word that has no accent. 2. An element of speech entirely destitute of vocality, or produced by the breath alone’ a nonvocal or surd consonant; a breathing.
Rush.
3. (Med.) A remedy capable of allaying organic excitement or irritation.
Dunglison.
At6oOny (?), n. [Gr. ? slackness; ? priv. + ? tone, strength, ? to stretch: cf. F. atonie.] (Med.) Want of tone; weakness of the system, or of any organ, especially of such as are contractile.
AOtop6 (?), adv. On or at the top.
Milton.
At7raObiOla6riOan (?), At7raObiOla6riOous (?), } a. [LL. atrabilarius, fr. L. atra bilis black bile: cf. F. atrabilaire, fr. atrabile.] Affected with melancholy; atrabilious.
Arbuthnot.
At7raObiOla6riOan, n. A person much given to melancholy; a hypochondriac.
I. Disraeli.
At7raObil6iar (?), a. Melancholy; atrabilious. At7raObil6iaOry (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to atra bilis or black bile, a fluid formerly supposed to be produced by the kidneys.
2. Melancholic or hypohondriac; atrabilious; P from the supposed predominance of black bile, to the influence of which the ancients attributed hypochondria, melancholy, and mania.
w arteries, capsules, and veins (Anat.), those pertaining to the kidney; P called also renal arteries, capsules, and veins.
At7raObil6ious (?), a. Melancholic or hypochondriac; atrabiliary.
Dunglision.
A hardPfaced, atrabilious, earnestPeyed race. Lowell.
He was constitutionally atrabilious and scornful. Froude.
At7raOmenOta6ceous (?), a. [L. atramentum ink, fr. ater black.] Black, like ink; inky; atramental. [Obs.] Derham.
At7raOmen6tal (?), At7raOmen6tous (?), } a. Of or pertaining to ink; inky; black, like ink; as, atramental galls; atramentous spots.
At7raOmenOta6riOous (?), a. [Cf. F. atramentaire. See Atramentaceous.] Like ink; suitable for making ink. Sulphate of iron (copperas, green vitriol) is called atramentarious, as being used in making ink.
AtOrede (?), v. t. [OE. at (AS. t) out + rede.] To surpass in council. [Obs.]
Men may the olde atrenne, but hat atrede. Chaucer.
AtOrenne6 (?), v. t. [OE. at + renne to run.] To outrun. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
X AOtre6siOa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? not perforated.] (Med.) Absence or closure of a natural passage or channel of the body; imperforation.
A6triOal , a. Of or pertaining to an atrium. AOtrip6 (?), adv. [Pref. aO + trip.] (Naut.) (a) Just hove clear of the ground; Psaid of the anchor. (b) Sheeted home, hoisted taut up and ready for trimming; P said of sails. (c) Hoisted up and ready to be swayed across; P said of yards. X A6triOum (?), n.; pl. Atria (?). [L., the fore court of a Roman house.] 1. (Arch.) (a) A square hall lighted from above, into which rooms open at one or more levels. (b) An open court with a porch or gallery around three or more sides; especially at the entrance of a basilica or other church. The name was extended in the Middle Ages to the open churchyard or cemetery.
2.(Anat.) The main part of either auricle of the heart as distinct from the auricular appendix. Also, the whole articular portion of the heart.
3.(Zol.) A cavity in ascidians into which the intestine and generative ducts open, and which also receives the water from the gills. See Ascidioidea.
X At7roOcha (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? priv. + ? a circle.] (Zol.) A kind of chtopod larva in which no circles of cilia are developed.
AOtro6cious (?), a. [L. atrox, atrocis, cruel, fierce: cf. F. atroce.] 1. Extremely heinous; full of enormous wickedness; as, atrocious quilt or deeds. 2. Characterized by, or expressing, great atrocity, great atrocity.
Revelations… so atrocious that nothing in history approaches them.
De Quincey.
3. Very grievous or violent; terrible; as, atrocious distempers. [Obs.]
Cheyne.
Syn. – Atrocious, Flagitious, Flagrant. Flagitious points to an act as grossly wicked and vile; as, a flagitious proposal. Flagrant marks the vivid impression made upon the mind by something strikingly wrong or erroneous; as, a flagrant misrepresentation; a flagrant violation of duty. Atrocious represents the act as springing from a violent and savage spirit. If Lord Chatham, instead of saying =the atrocious crime of being a young man,8 had used either of the other two words, his irony would have lost all its point, in his celebrated reply to Sir Robert Walpole, as reported by Dr. Johnson.
P AOtro6ciousOly, adv. P AOtro6ciousOness, n. AOtroc6iOty (?), n.; pl. Atrocities (?). [F. atrocit, L. atrocitas, fr. atrox, atrocis, cruel.] 1. Enormous wickedness; extreme heinousness or cruelty. 2. An atrocious or extremely cruel deed. The atrocities which attend a victory.
Macaulay.
AOtroph6ic , a. Relating to atrophy. At6roOphied (?), p. a. Affected with atrophy, as a tissue or organ; arrested in development at a very early stage; rudimentary.
At6roOphy (?), n. [L. atrophia, Gr. ?; ? priv. + ? to nourish: cf. F. atrophie.] A wasting away from of nourishment; diminution in bull or slow emaciation of the body or of any part.
Milton.
At6roOphy, v. t. [p. p. Atrophied (?).] To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken. At6roOphy, v. i. To waste away; to dwindle. AOtro6piOa (?), n. Same as Atropine.
At6roOpine (?), n. [Gr. ? inflexible; hence ? ?, one of the three Parc; ? priv. + ? to turn.] (Chem.) A poisonous, white, crystallizable alkaloid, extracted from the Atropa belladonna, or deadly nightshade, and the Datura Stramonium, or thorn apple. It is remarkable for its power in dilating the pupil of the eye. Called also daturine. At6roOpism (?), n. (Med.) A condition of the system produced by long use of belladonna.
At6roOpous (?), a. [Gr. ?; ? priv. + ? to turn.] (Bot.) Not inverted; orthotropous.
A6trous (?), a. [L. ater.] CoalPblack; very black. X AOtry6pa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? priv. + ? a hole.] (Paleon.) A extinct genus of Branchiopoda, very common in Silurian limestones.
At6taObal (?), n. See Atabal.
X AtOtac6ca (?). [It., fr. attaccare to tie, bind. See Attach.] (Mus.) Attack at once; P a direction at the end of a movement to show that the next is to follow immediately, without any pause.
AtOtach6 (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attached (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Attaching.] [OF. atachier, F. attacher, to tie or fasten: cf. Celt. tac, tach, nail, E. tack a small nail, tack to fasten. Cf. Attack, and see Tack.] 1. To bind, fasten, tie, or connect; to make fast or join; as, to attach one thing to another by a string, by glue, or the like. The shoulder blade is… attached only to the muscles. Paley.
A huge stone to which the cable was attached. Macaulay.
2. To connect; to place so as to belong; to assign by authority; to appoint; as, an officer is attached to a certain regiment, company, or ship.
3. To win the heart of; to connect by ties of love or selfPinterest; to attract; to fasten or bind by moral influence; P with to; as, attached to a friend; attaching others to us by wealth or flattery.
Incapable of attaching a sensible man. Miss Austen.
God… by various ties attaches man to man. Cowper.
4. To connect, in a figurative sense; to ascribe or attribute; to affix; P with to; as, to attach great importance to a particular circumstance. Top this treasure a curse is attached.
Bayard Taylor.
5. To take, seize, or lay hold of. [Obs.] Shak.
6. To take by legal authority: (a) To arrest by writ, and bring before a court, as to answer for a debt, or a contempt; P applied to a taking of the person by a civil process; being now rarely used for the arrest of a criminal. (b) To seize or take (goods or real estate) by virtue of a writ or precept to hold the same to satisfy a judgment which may be rendered in the suit. See Attachment, 4. The earl marshal attached Gloucester for high treason. Miss Yonge.
Attached column (Arch.), a column engaged in a wall, so that only a part of its circumference projects from it. Syn. – To affix; bind; tie; fasten; connect; conjoin; subjoin; annex; append; win; gain over; conciliate. AtOtach6 (?), v. i. 1. To adhere; to be attached. The great interest which attaches to the mere knowledge of these facts cannot be doubted.
Brougham.
2. To come into legal operation in connection with anything; to vest; as, dower will attach.
Cooley.
AtOtach6, n. An attachment. [Obs.]
Pope.
AtOtach6aOble (?), a. Capable of being attached; esp., liable to be taken by writ or precept.
X At7taOch6 (?), n. [F., p. p. of attacher. See Attach, v. t.] One attached to another person or thing, as a part of a suite or staff. Specifically: One attached to an embassy. AtOtach6ment (?), n. [F. attachment.] 1. The act attaching, or state of being attached; close adherence or affection; fidelity; regard; an? passion of affection that binds a person; as, an attachment to a friend, or to a party. 2. That by which one thing is attached to another; connection; as, to cut the attachments of a muscle. The human mind… has exhausted its forces in the endeavor to rend the supernatural from its attachment to this history.
I. Taylor.
3 Something attached; some adjunct attached to an instrument, machine, or other object; as, a sewing machine attachment (i. e., a device attached to a sewing machine to enable it to do special work, as tucking, etc.). 4. (Giv. Law) (a) A seizure or taking into custody by virtue of a legal process. (b) The writ or percept commanding such seizure or taking.
5 The term is applied to a seizure or taking either of persons or property. In the serving of process in a civil suit, it is most generally applied to the taking of property, whether at common law, as a species of distress, to compel defendant’s appearance, or under local statutes, to satisfy the judgment the plaintiff may recover in the action. The terms attachment and arrest are both applied to the taking or apprehension of a defendant to compel an appearance in a civil action. Attachment are issued at common law and is chancery, against persons for contempt of court. In England, attachment is employed in some cases where capias is with us, as against a witness who fails to appear on summons. In some of the New England States a writ of attachment is a species of mesne process upon which the property of a defendant may be saized at the commencement of a suit and before summons to him, and may be held to satisfy the judgment the plaintiff may recover. In other States this writ can issue only against absconding debtors and those who conceal themselves. See Foreign, Garnishment, Truster process.
Bouvier. Burrill. Blackstone.
Syn. – Attachment, Affection. The leading idea of affection is that of warmth and tenderness; the leading idea of attachment is that of being bound to some object by strong and lasting ties. There is more of sentiment (and sometimes of romance) in affection, and more of principle in preserving attachment. We speak of the ardor of the one, and the fidelity of the other. There is another distinction in the use and application of these words. The term attachment is applied to a wider range of objects than affection. A man may have a strong attachment to his country, to his profession, to his principles, and even to favorite places; in respect to none of these could we use the word affection. AtOtack6 (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attacked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Attacking.] [F. attaquer, orig. another form of attacher to ~: cf. It. attacare to fasten, ~. See Attach, Tack a small nail.] 1. To fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms; to assault. =Attack their lines.8 Dryden.
2. To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; to begin a controversy with; to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by criticism or satire; to censure; as, to attack a man, or his opinions, in a pamphlet.
3. To set to work upon, as upon a task or problem, or some object of labor or investigation.
4. To begin to affect; to begin to act upon, injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste. On the fourth of March he was attacked by fever. Macaulay.
Hydrofluoric acid… attacks the glass. B. Stewart.
Syn. – To Attack, Assail, Assault, Invade. These words all denote a violent onset; attack being the generic term, and the others specific forms of attack. To attack is to commence the onset; to assail is to make a sudden and violent ~, or to make repeated attacks; to assault (literally, to leap upon) is to ~ physically by a hadPtoPhand approach or by unlawful and insulting violence; to invade is to enter by force on what belongs to another. Thus, a person may attack by offering violence of any kind; he may assail by means of missile weapons; he may assault by direct personal violence; a king may invade by marching an army into a country. Figuratively, we may say, men attack with argument or satire; they assail with abuse or reproaches; they may be assaulted by severe temptations; the rights of the people may be invaded by the encroachments of the crown.
AtOtack6, v. i. To make an onset or ~. AtOtack6, n. [Cf. F. attaque.] 1. The act of attacking, or falling on with force or violence; an onset; an assault; P opposed to defense.
2. An assault upon one’s feelings or reputation with unfriendly or bitter words.
3. A setting to work upon some task, etc. 4. An access of disease; a fit of sickness. 5. The beginning of corrosive, decomposing, or destructive action, by a chemical agent.
AtOtack6aOble (?), a. Capable of being attacked. AtOtack6er (?), n. One who attacks.
At6taOgas (?), At6taOgen (?), } n. [L. attagen a kind of bird, Gr. ?, ?.] (Zol.) A species of sand grouse (Syrrghaptes Pallasii) found in Asia and rarely in southern Europe.
<– p. 98 –>
At6taOghan (?), n. See Yataghan.
AtOtain6 (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Attaining.] [Of. atteinen, atteignen, ?tainen, OF. ateindre, ataindre, F. atteindre, fr. L. attingere; ad + tangere to touch, reach. See Tangent, and cf. Attinge, Attaint.] 1. To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; as, to attain rest. Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the means? Abp. Tillotson.
2. To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire. [Obs. with a material object.]
Chaucer.
3. To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain. [Obs.] Not well attaining his meaning.
Fuller.
4. To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at. =Canaan he now attains.8
Milton.
5. To overtake. [Obs.]
Bacon.
6. To reach in excellence or degree; to equal. Syn. – To Attain, Obtain, Procure. Attain always implies an effort toward an object. Hence it is not synonymous with obtain and procure, which do not necessarily imply such effort or motion. We procure or obtain a thing by purchase or loan, and we obtain by inheritance, but we do not attain it by such means.
AtOtain6, v. i. 1. To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.
If by any means they might attain to Phenice. Acts xxvii. 12.
Nor nearer might the dogs attain.
Sir W. Scott.
To see your trees attain to the dignity of timber. Cowper.
Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this. J. R. Green.
2. To come or arrive, by an effort of mind. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain unto it.
Ps. cxxxix. 6.
AtOtain6, n. Attainment. [Obs.]
AtOtain7aObil6iOty (?), n. The quality of being attainable; attainbleness.
AtOtain6aOble (?), a. 1. Capable of being attained or reached by efforts of the mind or body; capable of being compassed or accomplished by efforts directed to the object. The highest pitch of perfection attainable in this life. Addison.
2. Obtainable. [Obs.]
General Howe would not permit the purchase of those articles [clothes and blankets] in Philadelphia, and they were not attainable in the country.
Marshall.
AtOtain6aObleOness, n. The quality of being attainable; attainability.
AtOtain6der (?), n. [OF. ataindre, ateindre, to accuse, convict. Attainder is often erroneously referred to F. teindre tie stain. See Attaint, Attain.] 1. The act of attainting, or the state of being attainted; the extinction of the civil rights and capacities of a person, consequent upon sentence of death or outlawry; as, an act of attainder. Abbott.
5 Formerly attainder was the inseparable consequence of a judicial or legislative sentence for treason or felony, and involved the forfeiture of all the real and personal property of the condemned person, and such =corruption of blood8 that he could neither receive nor transmit by inheritance, nor could he sue or testify in any court, or claim any legal protection or rights. In England attainders are now abolished, and in the United States the Constitution provides that no bill of attainder shall be passed; and no attainder of treason (in consequence of a judicial sentence) shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted.
2. A stain or staining; state of being in dishonor or condemnation. [Obs.]
He lived from all attainder of suspect. Shak.
Bill of ~, a bill brought into, or passed by, a legislative body, condemning a person to death or outlawry, and ~, without judicial sentence.
AtOtain6ment (?), n. 1. The act of attaining; the act of arriving at or reaching; hence, the act of obtaining by efforts.
The attainment of every desired object. Sir W. Jones.
2. That which is attained to, or obtained by exertion; acquirement; acquisition; (pl.), mental acquirements; knowledge; as, literary and scientific attainments. AtOtaint6 (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attainted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attainting.] [OE. atteynten to convict, fr. atteynt, OF. ateint, p. p. of ateindre, ataindre. The meanings 3, 4, 5, and 6 were influenced by a supposed connection with taint. See Attain, Attainder.] 1. To attain; to get act; to hit. [Obs.]
2. (Old Law) To find guilty; to convict; P said esp. of a jury on trial for giving a false verdict. [Obs.] Upon sufficient proof attainted of some open act by men of his own condition.
Blackstone.
3. (Law) To subject (a person) to the legal condition formerly resulting from a sentence of death or outlawry, pronounced in respect of treason or felony; to affect by attainder.
No person shall be attainted of high treason where corruption of blood is incurred, but by the oath of two witnesses.
Stat. 7 & 8 Wm. III.
4. To accuse; to charge with a crime or a dishonorable act. [Archaic]
5. To affect or infect, as with physical or mental disease or with moral contagion; to taint or corrupt. My tender youth was never yet attaint
With any passion of inflaming love. Shak.
6. To stain; to obscure; to sully; to disgrace; to cloud with infamy.
For so exceeding shone his glistring ray, That Ph?bus’ golden face it did attaint. Spenser.
Lest she with blame her honor should attaint. Spenser.
AtOtaint6, p. p. Attainted; corrupted. [Obs.] Shak.
AtOtaint6, n. [OF. attainte. See Attaint, v.] 1. A touch or hit.
Sir W. Scott.
2. (Far.) A blow or wound on the leg of a horse, made by overreaching.
White.
3. (Law) A writ which lies after judgment, to inquire whether a jury has given a false verdict in any court of record; also, the convicting of the jury so tried. Bouvier.
4. A stain or taint; disgrace. See Taint. Shak.
5. An infecting influence. [R.]
Shak.
AtOtain6ment (?), n. Attainder; attainture; conviction. AtOtain6ture (?), n. Attainder; disgrace. At6tal (?), n. Same as Attle.
AtOtame6 (?), v. t. [OF. atamer, from Latin. See Attaminate.] 1. To pierce; to attack. [Obs.] 2. To broach; to begin.
And right anon his tale he hath attamed. Chaucer.
AtOtam6iOnate (?), v. t. [L. attaminare; ad + root of tangere. See Contaminate.] To corrupt; to defile; to contaminate. [Obs.]
Blount.
At6tar (?), n. [Per. ‘atar perfume, essence, Ar. ‘itr, fr. ‘atara to smell sweet. Cf. Otto.] A fragrant essential oil; esp., a volatile and highly fragrant essential oil obtained from the petals of roses. [Also written otto and ottar.] AtOtask6 (?), v. t. [Pref. aO + task.] To take to task; to blame.
Shak.
AtOtaste (?), v. t. [Pref. aO + taste.] To taste or cause to taste. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
At6te (?). At the. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
AtOtem6per (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attempered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Attempering.] [OF. atemprer, fr. L. attemperare; ad + temperare to soften, temper. See Temper, and cf. Attemperate.] 1. To reduce, modify, or moderate, by mixture; to temper; to regulate, as temperature.
If sweet with bitter… were not attempered still. Trench.
2. To soften, mollify, or moderate; to soothe; to temper; as, to attemper rigid justice with clemency. 3. To mix in just proportion; to regulate; as, a mind well attempered with kindness and justice.
4. To accommodate; to make suitable; to adapt. Arts… attempered to the lyre.
Pope.
5 This word is now not much used, the verb temper taking its place.
AtOtem6perOaOment (?), n. [OF. attemprement.] A tempering, or mixing in due proportion.
AtOtem6perOance (?), n. [Cf. OF. atemprance.] Temperance; attemperament. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
AtOtem6perOate (?), a. [L. attemperatus, p. p. of attemperare. See Attemper.] Tempered; proportioned; properly adapted.
Hope must be… attemperate to the promise. Hammond.
AtOtem6perOate (?), v. t. To attemper. [Archaic] AtOtem7perOa6tion (?), n. The act of attempering or regulating. [Archaic]
Bacon.
AtOtem6perOly, adv. Temperately. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AtOtem6perOment (?), n. Attemperament. AtOtempt6 (?; 215), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attempted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attempting.] [OF. atenter, also spelt atempter, F. attenter, fr. L. attentare to ~; ad + tentare, temptare, to touch, try, v. intens. of tendere to stretch. See Tempt, and cf. Attend.] 1. To make trial or experiment of; to try; to endeavor to do or perform (some action); to assay; as, to attempt to sing; to attempt a bold flight. Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night’s repose.
Longfellow.
2. To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt. [Obs. or Archaic]] It made the laughter of an afternoon
That Vivien should attempt the blameless king. Thackeray.
3. To try to win, subdue, or overcome; as, one who attempts the virtue of a woman.
Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute. Shak.
4. To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force; as, to attempt the enemy’s camp. Without attempting his adversary’s life. Motley.
Syn. – See Try.
AtPtempt6, v. i. To make an ~; P with upon. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
AtOtempt6, n. A essay, trial, or endeavor; an undertaking; an attack, or an effort to gain a point; esp. an unsuccessful, as contrasted with a successful, effort. By his blindness maimed for high attempts. Milton.
Attempt to commit a crime (Law), such an intentional preparatory act as will apparently result, if not extrinsically hindered, in a crime which it was designed to effect.
Wharton.
Syn. – Attempt, Endeavor, Effort, Exertion, Trial. These words agree in the idea of calling forth our powers into action. Trial is the generic term; it denotes a putting forth of one’s powers with a view to determine what they can accomplish; as, to make trial of one’s strength. An attempt is always directed to some definite and specific object; as, =The attempt, and not the deed, confounds us.8 Shak. Am endeavor is a continued ~; as, =His high endeavor and his glad success.8 Cowper. Effort is a specific putting forth of strength in order to carry out an ~. Exertion is the putting forth or active exercise of any faculty or power. =It admits of all degrees of effort and even natural action without effort.8 C. J. Smith. See Try.
AtOtemp6aOble (?), a.Capable of being attempted, tried, or attacked.
Shak.
AtOtemp6er (?; 215), n. 1. One who attempts; one who essays anything.
2. An assailant; also, a temper. [Obs.] AtOtempt6ive (?), a. Disposed to attempt; adventurous. [Obs.]
Daniel.
AtOtend6 (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attended; p. pr. & vb. n. Attending.] [OE. atenden, OF. atendre, F. attendre, to expect, to wait, fr. L. attendre to stretch, (sc. animum), to apply the mind to; ad + tendere to stretch. See Tend.] 1. To direct the attention to; to fix the mind upon; to give heed to; to regard. [Obs.]
The diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth not attend the unskillful words of the passenger.
Sir P. Sidney.
2. To care for; to look after; to take charge of; to watch over.
3. To go or stay with, as a companion, nurse, or servant; to visit professionally, as a physician; to accompany or follow in order to do service; to escort; to wait on; to serve. The fifth had charge sick persons to attend. Spenser.
Attends the emperor in his royal court. Shak.
With a sore heart and a gloomy brow, he prepared to attend William thither.
Macaulay.
4. To be present with; to accompany; to be united or consequent to; as, a measure attended with ill effects. What cares must then attend the toiling swain. Dryden.
5. To be present at; as, to attend church, school, a concert, a business meeting.
6. To wait for; to await; to remain, abide, or be in store for. [Obs.]
The state that attends all men after this. Locke.
Three days I promised to attend my doom. Dryden.
Syn. – To Attend, Mind, Regard, Heed, Notice. Attend is generic, the rest are specific terms. To mind is to ~ so that it may not be forgotten; to regard is to look on a thing as of importance; to heed is to ~ to a thing from a principle of caution; to notice is to think on that which strikes the senses. Crabb. See Accompany. AtOtend6 (?), v. i. 1. To apply the mind, or pay attention, with a view to perceive, understand, or comply; to pay regard; to heed; to listen; P usually followed by to. Attend to the voice of my supplications. Ps. lxxxvi. 6.
Man can not at the same time attend to two objects. Jer. Taylor.
2. To accompany or be present or near at hand, in pursuance of duty; to be ready for service; to wait or be in waiting; P often followed by on or upon.
He was required to attend upon the committee. Clarendon.
3. (with to) To take charge of; to look after; as, to attend to a matter of business.
4. To wait; to stay; to delay. [Obs.] For this perfection she must yet attend, Till to her Maker she espoused be.
Sir J. Davies.
Syn. – To Attend, Listen, Hearken. We attend with a view to hear and learn; we listen with fixed attention, in order to hear correctly, or to consider what has been said; we hearken when we listen with a willing mind, and in reference to obeying.
AtOtend6ance (?), n. [OE. attendance, OF. atendance, fr. atendre, F. attendre. See Attend, v. t.] 1. Attention; regard; careful application. [Obs.]
Till I come, give attendance to reading. 1 Tim. iv. 13.
2. The act of attending; state of being in waiting; service; ministry; the fact of being present; presence. Constant attendance at church three times a day. Fielding.
3. Waiting for; expectation. [Obs.] Languishing attendance and expectation of death. Hooker.
4. The persons attending; a retinue; attendants. If your stray attendance by yet lodged.
Milton.
AtOtend6anOcy (?), n. The quality of attending or accompanying; attendance; an attendant. [Obs.] AtOtend6ant (?), a. [F. attendant, p. pr. of attendre. See Attend, v. t.] 1. Being present, or in the train; accompanying; in waiting.
From the attendant flotilla rang notes triumph. Sir W. Scott.
Cherub and Seraph… attendant on their Lord. Milton.
2. Accompanying, connected with, or immediately following, as consequential; consequent; as, intemperance with all its attendant evils.
The natural melancholy attendant upon his situation added to the gloom of the owner of the mansion.
Sir W. Scott.
3. (Law) Depending on, or owing duty or service to; as, the widow attendant to the heir.
Cowell.
Attendant keys (Mus.), the keys or scales most nearly related to, or having most in common with, the principal key; those, namely, of its fifth above, or dominant, its fifth below (fourth above), or subdominant, and its relative minor or major.
AtOtend6ant, n. 1. One who attends or accompanies in any character whatever, as a friend, companion, servant, agent, or suitor. =A train of attendants.8
Hallam.
2. One who is present and takes part in the proceedings; as, an attendant at a meeting.
3. That which accompanies; a concomitant. [A] sense of fame, the attendant of noble spirits. Pope.
4. (Law) One who owes duty or service to, or depends on, another.
Cowell.
AtOtend6eOment (?), n. Intent. [Obs.] Spenser.
AtOtend6er (?), n. One who, or that which, attends. AtOtend6ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. atendement.] An attendant circumstance. [Obs.]
The uncomfortable attendments of hell. Sir T. Browne.
AtOtent6 (?), a. [L. attentus, p. p. of attendere. See Attend, v. t.] Attentive; heedful. [Archaic] Let thine ears be attent unto the prayer. 2 Chron. vi. 40.
AtOtent6, n. Attention; heed. [Obs.] Spenser.
AtOten6tate (?), AtOten6tat (?), } n. [L. attentatum, pl. attentata, fr. attentare to attempt: cf. F. attentat criminal attempt. See Attempt.] 1. An attempt; an assault. [Obs.]
Bacon.
2. (Law) (a) A proceeding in a court of judicature, after an inhibition is decreed. (b) Any step wrongly innovated or attempted in a suit by an inferior judge. AtOten6tion (?), n. [L. attentio: cf. F. attention.] 1. The act or state of attending or heeding; the application of the mind to any object of sense, representation, or thought; notice; exclusive or special consideration; earnest consideration, thought, or regard; obedient or affectionate heed; the supposed power or faculty of attending.
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They say the tongues of dying men
Enforce attention like deep harmony. Shak.
5 Attention is consciousness and something more. It is consciousness voluntarily applied, under its law of limitations, to some determinate object; it is consciousness concentrated.
Sir W. Hamilton.
2. An act of civility or courtesy; care for the comfort and pleasure of others; as, attentions paid to a stranger. To pay attention to, To pay one’s attentions to, or courteous or attentive to; to wait upon as a lover; to court.
Syn. – Care; heed; study; consideration; application; advertence; respect; regard.
AtOten6tive (?), a. [Cf. F. attentif.] 1. Heedful; intent; observant; regarding with care or attention. 5 Attentive is applied to the senses of hearing and seeing, as, an attentive ear or eye; to the application of the mind, as in contemplation; or to the application of the mind, in every possible sense, as when a person is attentive to the words, and to the manner and matter, of a speaker at the same time.
2. Heedful of the comfort of others; courteous. Syn. – Heedful; intent; observant; mindful; regardful; circumspect; watchful.
P AtOten6tiveOly, adv. P AtOten6tiveOness, n. AtOtent6ly, adv. Attentively. [Obs.]
Barrow.
AtOten6uOant (?), a. [L. attenuans, p. pr. of attenuare: cf. F. attnuant. See Attenuate.] Making thin, as fluids; diluting; rendering less dense and viscid; diluent. P n. (Med.) A medicine that thins or dilutes the fluids; a diluent.
AtOten6uOate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attenuated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Attenuating (?).] [L. attenuatus, p. p. of attenuare; ad + tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See Thin.] 1. To make thin or slender, as by mechanical or chemical action upon inanimate objects, or by the effects of starvation, disease, etc., upon living bodies. 2. To make thin or less consistent; to render less viscid or dense; to rarefy. Specifically: To subtilize, as the humors of the body, or to break them into finer parts. 3. To lessen the amount, force, or value of; to make less complex; to weaken.
To undersell our rivals… has led the manufacturer to… attenuate his processes, in the allotment of tasks, to an extreme point.
I. Taylor.
We may reject and reject till we attenuate history into sapless meagerness.
Sir F. Palgrave.
AtOten6uOate, v. i. To become thin, slender, or fine; to grow less; to lessen.
The attention attenuates as its sphere contracts. Coleridge.
AtOten6uOate (?), AtOten6uOa7ted (?), } a. [L. attenuatus, p. p.] 1. Made thin or slender.
2. Made thin or less viscid; rarefied. Bacon.
AtOten7uOa6tion (?), n. [L. attenuatio: cf. F. attnuation.] 1. The act or process of making slender, or the state of being slender; emaciation.
2. The act of attenuating; the act of making thin or less dense, or of rarefying, as fluids or gases. 3. The process of weakening in intensity; diminution of virulence; as, the attenuation of virus. At6ter (?), n. [AS. ?tter.] Poison; venom; corrupt matter from a sore. [Obs.]
Holland.
At6terOcop (?), n. [AS. attercoppa a spider; ?tter poison + coppa head, cup.] 1. A spider. [Obs.]
2. A peevish, illPnatured person. [North of Eng.] AtOterOrate (?), v. t. [It. atterrare (cf. LL. atterrare to cast to earth); L. ad + terra earth, land.] To fill up with alluvial earth. [Obs.]
Ray.
At7terOra6tion (?), n. The act of filling up with earth, or of forming land with alluvial earth. [Obs.] At6test6 (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attested; p. pr. & vb. n. Attesting.] [L. attestari; ad + testari to bear witness: cf. F. attester.] 1. To bear witness to; to certify; to affirm to be true or genuine; as, to attest the truth of a writing, a copy of record.
Facts… attested by particular pagan authors. Addison.
2. To give proof of; to manifest; as, the ruins of Palmyra attest its ancient magnificence.
3. To call to witness; to invoke. [Archaic] The sacred streams which Heaven’s imperial state Attests in oaths, and fears to violate.
Dryden.
AtOtest6, n. Witness; testimony; attestation. [R.] The attest of eyes and ears.
Shak.
At7tesOta6tion (?), n. [L. attestatio: cf. F. attestation.] The act of attesting; testimony; witness; a solemn or official declaration, verbal or written, in support of a fact; evidence. The truth appears from the attestation of witnesses, or of the proper officer. The subscription of a name to a writing as a witness, is an attestation. AtOtest6aOtive (?), a. Of the nature of attestation. AtOtest6er (?), AtOtest6or (?), } n. One who attests. AtOtest6ive (?), a. Attesting; furnishing evidence. At6tic (?), a. [L. Atticus, Gr. ?.] Of or pertaining to Attica, in Greece, or to Athens, its principal city; marked by such qualities as were characteristic of the Athenians; classical; refined.
w base 9Arch.), a peculiar form of molded base for a column or pilaster, described by Vitruvius, applied under the Roman Empire to the Ionic and Corinthian and =Roman Doric8 orders, and imitated by the architects of the Renaissance. P Attic faith, inviolable faith. P Attic purity, special purity of language. P Attic salt, Attic wit, a poignant, delicate wit, peculiar to the Athenians. P Attic story. See Attic, n. P Attic style, a style pure and elegant.
At6tic, n. [In sense (a) from F. attique, orig. meaning Attic. See Attic, a.] 1. (Arch.) (a) A low story above the main order or orders of a facade, in the classical styles; P a term introduced in the 17th century. Hence: (b) A room or rooms behind that part of the exterior; all the rooms immediately below the roof.
2. An Athenian; am Athenian author. At6ticOal (?), a. Attic. [Obs.]
Hammond.
At6tiOcism (?), n. [Gr. ?.] 1. A favoring of, or attachment to, the Athenians.
2. The style and idiom of the Greek language, used by the Athenians; a concise and elegant expression. At6tiOcize (?), v. t. [Gr. ?.] To conform or make conformable to the language, customs, etc., of Attica. At6tiOcize, v. i. 1. To side with the Athenians. 2. To use the Attic idiom or style; to conform to the customs or modes of thought of the Athenians. AtOtig6uOous (?), a. [L. attiguus, fr. attingere to touch. See Attain.] Touching; bordering; contiguous. [Obs.] P AtOtig6uOousOness, n.[Obs.]
AtOtinge6 (?), v. t. [L. attingere to touch. See Attain.] To touch lightly. [Obs.]
Coles.
AtOtire6 (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Attiring.] [OE. atiren to array, dispose, arrange, OF. atirier; (L. ad) + F. tire rank, order, row; of Ger. origin: cf. As. tier row, OHG. ziarF, G. zier, ornament, zieren to adorn. Cf. Tire a headdress.] To dress; to array; to adorn; esp., to clothe with elegant or splendid garments. Finely attired in a robe of white.
Shak.
With the linen miter shall he be attired. Lev. xvi. 4.
AtOtire6, n. 1. Dress; clothes; headdress; anything which dresses or adorns; esp., ornamental clothing. Earth in her rich attire.
Milton.
I ‘ll put myself in poor and mean attire. Shak.
Can a maid forget her ornament, or a bride her attire? Jer. ii. 32.
2. The antlers, or antlers and scalp, of a stag or buck. 3. (Bot.) The internal parts of a flower, included within the calyx and the corolla. [Obs.]
Johnson.
AtOtired6 (?), p. p. (Her.) Provided with antlers, as a stag.
AtOtire6ment (?), n. Attire; adornment. AtOtir6er (?), n. One who attires.
At6tiOtude (?), n. [It. attitudine, LL. aptitudo, fr. L. aptus suited, fitted: cf. F. attitude. Cf. Aptitude.] 1. (Paint. & Sculp.) The posture, action, or disposition of a figure or a statue.
2. The posture or position of a person or an animal, or the manner in which the parts of his body are disposed; position assumed or studied to serve a purpose; as, a threatening attitude; an attitude of entreaty.
3. Fig.: Position as indicating action, feeling, or mood; as, in times of trouble let a nation preserve a firm attitude; one’s mental attitude in respect to religion. The attitude of the country was rapidly changing. J. R. Green.
To strike an attitude, to take an ~ for mere effect. Syn. – Attitude, Posture. Both of these words describe the visible disposition of the limbs. Posture relates to their position merely; attitude refers to their fitness for some specific object. The object of an attitude is to set forth exhibit some internal feeling; as, attitude of wonder, of admiration, of grief, etc. It is, therefore, essentially and designedly expressive. Its object is the same with that of gesture; viz., to hold forth and represent. Posture has no such design. If we speak of posture in prayer, or the posture of devotion, it is only the natural disposition of the limbs, without any intention to show forth or exhibit. ‘T is business of a painter in his choice of attitudes (positur) to foresee the effect and harmony of the lights and shadows.
Dryden.
Never to keep the body in the same posture half and hour at a time.
Bacon.
At7tiOtu6diOnal (?), a. Relating to attitude. At7tiOtu7diOna6riOan (?), n. One who attitudinizes; a posture maker.
At7tiOtu7diOna6riOanOism (?), n. A practicing of attitudes; posture making.
At7tiOtu6diOnize (?), v. i. To assume affected attitudes; to strike an attitude; to pose.
Maria, who is the most picturesque figure, was put to attitudinize at the harp.
Hannah More.
At7tiOtu6diOni7zer (?), n One who practices attitudes. At6tle (?), n. [Cf. Addle mire.] (Mining) Rubbish or refuse consisting of broken rock containing little or no ore. Weale.
AtOtol6lent (?), a. [L. attollens, p. pr. of attollere; ad + tollere to lift.] Lifting up; raising; as, an attollent muscle.
Derham.
AtOtonce6 (?), adv. [At + once.] At once; together. [Obs.] Spenser.
AtOtone6 (?), adv. See At one. [Obs.] AtOtorn6 (?), v. i. [OF. atorner, aturner, atourner, to direct, prepare, dispose, attorn (cf. OE. atornen to return, adorn); ? (L. ad) + torner to turn; cf. LL. attornare to commit business to another, to attorn; ad + tornare to turn, L. tornare to turn in a lathe, to round off. See Turn, v. t.] 1. (Feudal Law) To turn, or transfer homage and service, from one lord to another. This is the act of feudatories, vassals, or tenants, upon the alienation of the state. Blackstone.
2. (Modern Law) To agree to become tenant to one to whom reversion has been granted.
AtOtor6ney (?), n. pl. Attorneys (?). [OE. aturneye, OF. atorn, p. p. of atorner: cf. LL. atturnatus, attornatus, fr. attornare. See Attorn.] 1. A substitute; a proxy; an agent. [Obs.]
And will have no attorney but myself. Shak.
2. (Law) (a) One who is legally appointed by another to transact any business for him; an attorney in fact. (b) A legal agent qualified to act for suitors and defendants in legal proceedings; an attorney at law.
5 An ~ is either public or private. A private attorney, or an attorney in fact, is a person appointed by another, by a letter or power of ~, to transact any business for him out of court; but in a more extended sense, this class includes any agent employed in any business, or to do any act in pais, for another. A public attorney, or attorney at law, is a practitioner in a court of law, legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court, on the retainer of clients. Bouvier. P The attorney at law to the procurator of the civilians, to the solicitor in chancery, and to the proctor in the ecclesiastical and admiralty courts, and all of these are comprehended under the more general term lawyer. In Great Britain and in some states of the United States, attorneys are distinguished from counselors in that the business of the former is to carry on the practical and formal parts of the suit. In many states of the United States however, no such distinction exists. In England, since 1873, attorneys at law are by statute called solicitors.
A power, or warrant, of ~, a written authority from one person empowering another transact business for him. AtOtor6ney (?), v. t. To perform by proxy; to employ as a proxy. [Obs.]
Shak.
AtOtor6neyPgen6erOal (?), n.; pl. AttorneyPgenerals (?) or AttorneysPgeneral. (Law) The chief law officer of the state, empowered to act in all litigation in which the lawPexecuting power is a party, and to advise this supreme executive whenever required.
Wharton.
AtOtor6neyOism (?), n. The practice or peculiar cleverness of attorneys.
AtOtor6neyOship, n. The office or profession of an attorney; agency for another.
Shak.
AtOtorn6ment (?), n. [OF. attornement, LL. attornamentum. See Attorn.] (Law) The act of a feudatory, vassal, or tenant, by which he consents, upon the alienation of an estate, to receive a new lord or superior, ad transfers to him his homage and service; the agreement of a tenant to acknowledge the purchaser of the estate as his landlord. Burrill. Blackstone.
AtOtract6 (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attracting.] [L. attractus, p. p. of attrahere; ad + trahere to draw. See Trace, v. t.] 1. To draw to, or cause to tend to; esp. to cause to approach, adhere, or combine; or to cause to resist divulsion, separation, or decomposition.
All bodies and all parts of bodies mutually attract themselves and one another.
Derham.
2. To draw by influence of a moral or emotional kind; to engage or fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure; as, to attract admirers.
Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. Milton.
Syn. – To draw; allure; invite; entice; influence. AtOtract6, n. Attraction. [Obs.]
Hudibras.
AtOtract7aObil6iOty (?), n. The quality or fact of being attractable.
Sir W. Jones.
AtOtract6aOble (?), a. Capable of being attracted; subject to attraction. P AtOtract6aObleOness, n. AtOtract6er (?), n. One who, or that which, attracts. AtOtract6ile (?), a. Having power to attract. AtOtract6ing, a. That attracts. P AtOtract6ingOly, adv. AtOtrac6tion (?), n. [L. attractio: cf. F. attraction.] 1. (Physics) An invisible power in a body by which it drawn anything to itself; the power in nature acting mutually between bodies or ultimate particles, tending to draw them together, or to produce their cohesion or combination, and conversely resisting separation.
5 Attraction is exerted at both sensible and insensibledistances, and is variously denominated according to its qualities or phenomena. Under ~ at sensible distances, there are, P
(1.) w of gravitation, which acts at all distances throughout the universe, with a force proportional directly to the product of the masses of the bodies and inversely to the square of their distances apart.
(2.) Magnetic, diamagnetic, and electrical attraction, each of which is limited in its sensible range and is polar in its action, a property dependent on the quality or condition of matter, and not on its quantity.
Under ~ at insensible distances, there are. P (1.) Adhesive attraction, ~ between surfaces of sensible extent, or by the medium of an intervening substance. (2.) Cohesive attraction, ~ between ultimate particles, whether like or unlike, and causing simply an aggregation or a union of those particles, as in the absorption of gases by charcoal, or of oxygen by spongy platinum, or the process of solidification or crystallization. The power in adhesive ~ is strictly the same as that of cohesion. (3.) Capillary attraction, ~ causing a liquid to rise, in capillary tubes or interstices, above its level outside, as in very small glass tubes, or a sponge, or any porous substance, when one end is inserted in the liquid. It is a special case of cohesive ~.
(4.) Chemical attraction, or affinity, that peculiar force which causes elementary atoms, or groups of atoms, to unite to form molecules.
2. The act or property of attracting; the effect of the power or operation of ~.
Newton.
3. The power or act of alluring, drawing to, inviting, or engaging; an attractive quality; as, the attraction of beauty or eloquence.
4. That which attracts; an attractive object or feature. Syn. – Allurement; enticement; charm.
AtOtract6ive (?), a. [Cf. F. attractif.] 1.Having the power or quality of attracting or drawing; as, the attractive force of bodies.
Sir I. Newton.
2. Attracting or drawing by moral influence or pleasurable emotion; alluring; inviting; pleasing. =Attractive graces.8 Milton. =Attractive eyes.8
Thackeray.
Flowers of a livid yellow, or fleshy color, are most attractive to flies.
Lubbock.
P AtOtract6iveOly, adv. P AtOtract6iveOness, n. AtOtract6ive, n. That which attracts or draws; an attraction; an allurement.
Speaks nothing but attractives and invitation. South.
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