The manner in which the light strikes upon a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; -- opposed to shade. Cf. Chiaroscuro.

of Abbacy

Conveyance by boat; also, a charge for such conveyance.

The first letter of the English and of many other alphabets. The capital A of the alphabets of Middle and Western Europe, as also the small letter (a), besides the forms in Italic, black letter, etc., are all descended from the old Latin A, which was borrowed from the Greek Alpha, of the same form; and this was made from the first letter (/) of the Phoenician alphabet, the equivalent of the Hebrew Aleph, and itself from the Egyptian origin. The Aleph was a consonant letter, with a guttural breath sound that was not an element of Greek articulation; and the Greeks took it to represent their vowel Alpha with the a sound, the Phoenician alphabet having no vowel symbols.

A person who favors the abolition of any institution, especially negro slavery.

To direct the eyes for the purpose of seeing something; to direct the eyes toward an object; to observe with the eyes while keeping them directed; -- with various prepositions, often in a special or figurative sense. See Phrases below.

Among weavers, yarn for the warp. Hence, abb wool is wool for the abb.

Belonging to an abbey; as, abbatial rights.

The church of a monastery.

The superior or head of an abbey.

An abridgment.

One who abolishes.

The act of abolishing, or the state of being abolished; an annulling; abrogation; utter destruction; as, the abolition of slavery or the slave trade; the abolition of laws, decrees, ordinances, customs, taxes, debts, etc.

The state or quality of being adequate, proportionate, or sufficient; a sufficiency for a particular purpose; as, the adequacy of supply to the expenditure.

See Eggplant.

A small tile of glass, marble, or other substance, of various colors, used in making ornamental patterns in mosaic pavements.

of Abacus

To use a bush harrow on (land), for covering seeds sown; to harrow with a bush; as, to bush a piece of land; to bush seeds into the ground.

The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; -- so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a preeminence in the combined effect.

" To jostle by riding against one."

My lady; -- a French title formerly given to ladies of quality; now, in France, given to all married women.

A South African weaver bird (Philetaerus socius). These weaver birds build many nests together, under a large rooflike shelter, which they make of straw.

The name of the sixth tone in the model major scale (that in C), or the first tone of the minor scale, which is named after it the scale in A minor. The second string of the violin is tuned to the A in the treble staff. -- A sharp (A/) is the name of a musical tone intermediate between A and B. -- A flat (A/) is the name of a tone intermediate between A and G.

An adjective, commonly called the indefinite article, and signifying one or any, but less emphatically.

To blind by a red-hot metal plate held before the eyes.

A board, tray, or table, divided into perforated compartments, for holding cups, bottles, or the like; a kind of cupboard, buffet, or sideboard.

Alt. of Abattis

A person who, without right, enters into a freehold on the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee.

of Addict

Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; -- much used in composition with adjectives and participles.