ASSURER, a person who affures. ASTERIAS (acepías, Gr.) a precious Bone that fhines like a ftar. ASTERISM (segioμis of drop a ftar Gr.) a conftellation of clutter of fixed ftars, which on globes is commonly reprefented by fome particular figure of a living creature, St. in order to the more easily distinguishing of their places; as Aries, the ram, Taurus the bull, and the rest of the figns of the nodack; as alfo Ursa Major and Urfa Minor, the two bears. ASTE'RITES (Açúgns Gr.) a precious Bane, a kind of oval, which sparkles with beams like a ftar. ASTHMATICAL (asμátinos, Gr.) pertaining to or troubled with an asthma; purfy. ASTONISHINGNESS (ettonement, F.) forprizing nature or quality. ASTRAGAL (with Arcbites) a member er round moulding like a ring or bracelet; Serving as an ornament on the tops and at the bottoms of columns, or a ring that incircles the bafes, cornices or architraves of pillars, according to the feveral orders; the French call it Talon, and the Italians Tondino. ASTRAGAL (argayan, Gr.) the Afmagal is also used to feparate the falcia of the architrave, in which case it is wrought in chaplets or beads and berries. It is alfo ufed both above and below the lifts, adjoining immediately to the fquare or dye of the pedestal. ASTRAL Year. See Solar Year. ASTRA PIAS (dcgámias, Gr.) a preciops ftone, whofe lustre resembles fiafhes of Lightening. ASTRA'RIUS bæres (of aftra the hearth of a chimney) is where the ancestor by conveyance hath fet his heir apparent and his family in a house in his life time. Old Records. ASTRIDE 2 (of renade, Sax.) ASTRADDLES aftraddle, ftraddling one leg on one fide of an horfe, &c. and the other on the other. ASTRIG/EROUS (aftriger, L.) bearing or carrying stars. ASTRINGINGNESS (of aftringens, L.) bindingness. ASTRO BOLAS, a precious ftone refembling the eye of a fifh, taken by some to te the Afterias. ASTRO'GRAPHY (of gov a ftar and Spa, Gr. defcription) a treatise or philofophical description of the ftars. ASTROITES (argoîtes, Gr.) a precious ftone, a kind of tecolite; alfo the ftar-ftone, fo named because it is fet off with little blackish stars on all fides. ASTROLOGY, an art which takes its rife from Aftronomy, whence aftrologers pretend by obfervations made on the aspects of planets, and by knowing their influences, to relate what is past, and foretel what is to come. Natural ASTRO'LOGY, is the art of predicting natural effects from the ftars or heavenly bodies; as, weather, winds, forms, floods, earthquakes, thunder, &c. ASTRONOMY (d,porquía, Gr.) a fcience which treats concerning the heavenly bodies or ftars; fhewing the magnitudes, order, and diftances of them; measuring and shewing their motions, the time and quantities of eclipfes, &c. In a more extended sense it is understood to fignify or comprehend the doctrine of the fyftem of the world, or theory of the univerfe and primary laws of nature; but this feems rather a branch of Phyficks than of the Mathematicks. It is very ancient, having been studied by the Chaldeans near 2000 years before Alexander took Babylon; the clearness of their Hemifphere giving them a very fair opportunity of making obfervations, which were improved by continual practice. From Chaldea, it was communicated to the Egyptians, among whom Prolomy Philadelphus erected an academy for the study and improvement of it; in which Hipparchus made a great proficiency by obfervations and difcoveries, calculating and foretelling ecliples for feveral ages after. From Egypt it came into Greece, and the Saracens brought a little of it out of Egypt upon their conquest there, in the 8th century, and from thence it came into Europe. And Alphonfus king of Caftile, in the 13th century, is faid to have spent 400000 crowns in compofing more correct tables than had been before known; at this time well known by the name of the Alphonfine tables. About the beginning of the 16th century, the old exploded doctrine of the fun's being the centre of the system and the earth a planet moving round him, was revived by Copernicus. He was follow'd by Kepler, and other great aftronomers, who alfo made very confiderable difcoveries; and efpecially Galilæo, by the help of profpective glaffes, which have fince been improved into Telescopes of various forts, upon which many of the new dícoveries depend. Sir Ifaac Newton has alfo done wonders, and there is ftill room left for further difcovery, in order to compleat what has been begun. ASTRONOMY, the ancients used to paint aftronomy like a goddefs with a filver crefcent on her forehead, clothed in an azure mantle, and a watchet-fcarf, fpangled with golden ftars. ASTRONO'MICALLY (aftronomique, F., of aftronomicus, L. of porousa, of drieov and véu the law or rule, Gr.) by Aftronomy. ASTRO'SE (afrofus, L.) born under an unlucky planet. ASTRO-THEOLOGY, a demonftration of the being and attributes of God, from from the confideration of the heavenly bodies. ASUNDER (aƑundɲan, Sax.) apart; feparately; not together. ASYLUM (L. from a not, and cung, Gr. to pillage) a place out of which he that has fled to it, may not be taken; a fanctuary; a refuge. ASYMMETRY (from a without, and ovuμelçia, Gr. fymmetry) 1. Contrariety to Symmetry; difproportion. 2. This term is fometimes used in mathematicks, for what is more ufually called incommenfurability; when between two quantities there is no common measure. ASYMPTOTES (drúμaldes, of a priv. úv and low, Gr. to fall or coincide, q. d. that do not fall together) they are lines which continually draw near to each other; but if they were continued infinitely, would never meet. There are feveral forts of thefe, as the curves of the conchoid or ciffoid are the afymptotes in conick fections. ASYMPTOTICAL (in Mathematicks) pertaining to an afymptote. ASYS'TATON (dcúclalov, Gr.) repugnant or contradictory, &c. ASYSTATON (with Logicians) a trifling inconfiftent story, that does not hang together, but contradicts itself. ATCHIEVEMENT (Heraldry) which is corruptly called batchment, is the coat of arms of a nobleman, gentleman, &c. duly marfhalled with fupporters, helmet, wreath Such as and creft, with mantles and hoods. are hung out on the fronts of houses, after the death of noble perfons. ATECH'NY (atechnia, L. ¿rexva, Gr.) unfkilfulness, inartificialnefs. ATEGAR (of aetan, Sax. to fling or throw) a weapon, a fort of hand-dart. AT GAZE (of gerean, Sax. to look upon) a gazing, ftaring at, or locking earnestly. ATHANASIA (abavaria of a privat. and Saval, Gr. death immortality. ATHEISM (from atbeift; it is only of two syllables in poetry) the disbelief of a God. ATHEIST (from abs, Gr. without God) one that denies the exiftence of God. Atheist, ufe thine eyes, And having view'd the order of the skies, Without a Guide, fhould frame this wond'rous Men are atheistical, because they are first vicious; and question the truth of Chriftianibecause they hate the practice. South. ATHEISTICALLY (from atheistical) in an atheistical manner. ATHEISTICALNESS (from atheistical the quality of being atheifltical. Lord, purge out of all hearts profanene fa atbeifm. ATHEOUS (from abs, Gr.) atheistick, godless. AT (ær, Sax.) 1. At before a place, notes the nearness of a place; as, a man is at the house, before he is in it. 2. At before a word, fignifying time, notes the existence of the time with the event; the word time is fome-ty, times included in the adjective. 3. At before a causual word, fignifies nearly the fame as with. 4. At before a fuperlative adjective implies in the state, as atmost, in the state of moft perfection, &c. 5. At before a person, is feldom ufed otherwife than ludicrously; as, he longed to be at him; that is, to attack him. 6. At before a fubftantive fometimes fignifies the particular condition or circumftances of the perfon as, at peace, in a ftate of peace. 7. At before a fubftantive, fometimes marks employment or attention. 8. At fometimes the fame as furnished with; after the French, a. 9. At fometimes notes the place, where any thing is, or acts. 10. Sometimes fignifies in confequence of. 11. At marks fometimes the effect proceeding from an act. 12. At fometimes is nearly the fame as in, noting fituation. 13. At fometimes marks the occafion, like on. fometimes feems to fignify in the power of, or obedient to. 15. At fometimes notes the relation of a man to an action. 16. At fometimes imports the manner of an action. 17. At, like the French chez, means fometimes application to, or dependance on. 18. A all, in any manner, in any degree. 14. At ATHE'ROMA (aðńpwμa, of dðágn, pulse' or pap, Gr.) a fwelling contained in its own coat, proceeding from a thick and tough humour, like fodden barley, which neither caufes pain, nor changes the colour of the fkin, nor yields eafily to the touch, nor leaves any dent when it is prefied. ATHLETICK Crown, one appointed for the crowning victors at the publick games. ATLANTEAN, of or pertaining to At las. ATLANTICK Sifters (Aftron.) the ftars and conftellation, called the Pleiades, or feMilton. ven ftars. ATLANTIS, an ifland spoken of by Plato and other writers, with extraordinary circumstances, which the controversy among Nothing more true than what you once let the moderns concerning it have rendered famous. fall, Moft women have no characters at all. ATLAS (of arhip, Gr. to carry) the first vertebra of the neck, which fupports AT Pope. the head, ATLASSES (in Architecture) figures or half figures of men, ufed instead of columns er pilafters, to fupport any member of architecture, as a balcony, c. ATMOSPHERE ('Ατμοσφαιρα, οι ατμο, I vapour, and paipa, a sphere, Gr.) that gion or fpace round about the earth, into which exhalations and vapours are raised, ether by being forced up by fubterraneous fre; or, as others define it, an appendage of cur earth, confifting of a thin, fluid, elaftic fubftance called air, furrounding the terraqueous globe, to a confiderable height. By atmosphere is generally understood the whole mafs of ambient air. But more accurate writers reftrain atmosphere to that part of the air next the earth, which receives vapours and exhalations, and is terminated by the refraction of the fun's light. The higher fpaces, altho' perhaps not wholly without air, are fuppofed to be possesfed by a finer fubftance, called Æther, and are thence called the etherial region. virtue of a man's privilege to call another to that court, to which he himself belongs, and in respect whereof he is obliged to answer fome action. ATTACK! (Military Art) the general affault or onfet that is made to gain a poft or upon a body of troops. To ATTACK' in flank (Military term) is in a fiege to attack both fides of the baftion. Regular ATTACK, is an attack made in due form according to the rules of art, called alfo Right or Droit, To gain a place by right ATTACK, is to gain the place by formal attack and regular works without a general form. ATTAINABLE, that may be attained.. ATTAINDER by appearance (in Law) is either by battle, by confeffion, or by Verdict, ATTAINDER by battle, is when the party appealed by another rather chooses to try the truth by combat than by jury, and is vanquished. ATTAINDER by confeffion, is either by pleading guilty at the bar before the judges, and not putting himself upon the trial by the jury; or before the Coroner in fanctuary, where antient times he was obliged to adjure the realm. The atmosphere infinuates itself into all the vacuities of bodies, and fo becomes the great fpring of most of the mutations here below, as generation, corruptions, diffolution, &c. ATMOSHERE of confiftent bodies (accord-in ing to Mr. Boyle) are effluvia, or particles of matter which exhale or steam out from many, tr probably all folid, firm and confiftent bodies; as glafs, ftones, and metals, which being rubbed against one another strongly, emit fenfible and often offenfive smells. ATO'CIUM (árónov, Gr.) any medicament that prevents conception or birth. ATOMICAL Philofopby, the doctrine of atoms, or the method of accounting for the trigin and formation of all things, from the fuppofition of atoms endued with gravity and motion, called alfo Epicurean or Cartefan. ATONIA (árovía, Gr.) a want of tone or tenfion, a loofening of the nerves and fi. news; a failing or decay of strength; infirmity, weakness, faintnefs. ATTAINDER by default is when a perfon flies and does not appear, after he has been five times called into the county court, and is at laft pronounced outlawed. ATTAINDER by Verdict, is when the prifoner at the bar pleads not guilty to the indictment, and is pronounced guilty by the jury. ATTAIN'MENT, an obtaining; also a thing attained or gotten. To ATTEMPERATE (attemperatum, L.) to make fit or meet. ATTENTION of mind (with Moralifts) an act of the will, by which it calls off the understanding from the confideration of other objects, and directs it to the thing in hand. ATRABILIA'RIOUSNESS (of atrabili- ATTENTION as to bearing, is the ftrainarius, L.) the being affected with a humouring the Membrana Tympani, To as to make called arra bilis. it more capable of receiving founds, and more prepared to catch even a weak agitation of the air. ATRA BILIS (with Phyficians) a fort of fulphureous, earthy falt, which breeds in the body of animals, and is carried about in the blood, where caufing an undue fer. mentation, it produces melancholy, &c. L. ATRAMENTOUS (of atramentum, L. ink) inky, like ink. ÁTROCIOUS (atrox, L.) cruel, barba rous. ATROCIOUSNESS (atrocitas, L.) heinousness, outrageoufnels, cruelty. To ATTACH' a person to one (in a Figurative Senfe) to lay him under an obligation, and to engage him to one's felf by good offices. ATTACHMENT of Privilege, is by ATTENTIVENESS, (attention, F. of L.) heedful attention. ATTENUAN TIA, attenuating medicines, i. e. fuch as with their fharp and viscous particles open the pores of the body, cut the thick and viscous humours, fo that they can país eafily through the vetiels. ATTENUATION, a thinning, &c. the making any fluid thinner or lefs confiftent than it was before. F. of L. ATTICK (in Architecture) the name of a bafis, which the modern architects have given to the Dorick pillar. ATTICK (in Architecture) a kind of build ing wherein there is no roof or covering to be feen; used at Athens. ATTICK Order (Architecture) a fort of fmall order raised upon another that is larger by way of crowning, or to finish the building. ATTICK Bafe (Architecture) a peculiar kind of bafe, ufed by ancient architects in the Ionick order, and by others in the Dorick. ATTICK of a Roof (Architecture) a fort of parapet to a terrace, platform. &c. ATTICK continued (Architecture) is that which encompaffes the whole pourtour of a building, without any interruption, following all jetts, the returns of the pavillions, &:. ATTICK interpofed (Arcbiteure is that which is fituate between two tall stories, and fometimes adorned with columns and pilafters. ATTICK Salt, a delicate, poignant fort of wit and humour, peculiar to the Athenian authors. ATTICK Mufe, an excellent one. ATTICK Witnefs, one incapable of being corrupted. ATTIRE (with Botanifts) the third part belonging to the flower of a plant, of which the two former are the empalement and the foliation, and is called either fiorid or femiform. Florid ATTIRE (Botany) is commonly called thrums, as in the flowers of Marigolds, Tanfey, &c Thefe Thrams Dr. Grew Calls Suits, which confift of the two, but moft commonly of three pieces; the outer parts of the fuit is the Floret, the body of which is divided at the top like the Cowflip flower into five parts or diftinct leaves. Semiform ATTIRE (Botany) this confifts of two parts, i. e. the chives (which by fome are called Stamina) and Cemets or Apices, one upon each attire. ATTIRE (with Sportsmen) the branching horns of a buck. and draw them towards themselves. This by Peripateticks is called the Motion of Attraction, and fometimes Sution. But modernphilofophers do generally explode the notion of attraction, afferting that a body cannot act where it is not, and that all motion is performed by mere impulfion, ATTRACTIVE Power (according to Sir Ifaac Newton) is a power or principle where-. by all bodies and the particles of all bodies mutually tend towards each other. Or Attra&ion is the effect of fuch power whereby every particle of matter tends towards every other particle. ATTRACTIVENESS (of attractif, F. of attra&tivus, L.) the drawing or attracting quality. ATTRAHENTS (in Phyfick) attra&ting or drawing medicines, fuch as by their minute particles open the pores of the body, fo as to difperfe the humours, caufe the parts to draw blifters in the skin, L. ATTRIBUTE (attributum of attribue, L.) a property which agrees to fome perfon or thing; or a quality which determines fomething to be after a certain manner. ATTRIBUTE, a property belonging to, or peculiar to fome perfon or thing, by which he is capable of performing certain acts; or in a more extended fenfe is common to all things of a like kind, altho' different in quantity or extent; as to know and to think is a property common both to God and man; but is very different in extent; that of God being to know all things and perfectly too, and ours being to know but few things, and thofe too imperfectly. ATTRIBUTES (with Divines) certain properties or glorious excellencies, afcribed to God, to render us the more capable to conceive of him, as that he is Eternal, infinitely Wife, Good, Almighty, &c. ATTRIBUTE (with Logicians) an epithet given to any fubject, or it is any predicate thereof; or whatever may be affirmed or deof any thing. ATTITUDES (in Painting, Statuary, &c.) the posture of a figure or flatue; or the difpofition of its parts, by which we discover the action it is engaged in, and the very fenti-nied ment fuppofed to be in its mind. ATTORNEY General (of the King) one who manages all law affairs of the crown, either in criminal profecutions or otherwife; efpecially in matters of treafon, fedition, &c. ATTORNI'SHIP, procuration; alfo the office of an attorney. ATTORN'MENT 2 (in Law) is when ATTURNMENTS the tenant attourns to or acknowledges a new lord; or it is a transferring thofe duties he owed to his former lord to another. ATTRACTION (in Mechanicks) the act of a moving power, whereby a moveable is brought nearer to the mover. The power oppofite to Attraction is called Repulfion. ATTRACTIVE Force (in Phyficks) is a natural power inherent in certain bodies, whereby they act on other diftant bodies, Pofitive ATTRIBUTE, fuch as gives a thing fomewhat, as when we fay of man, that he is animate. Negative ATTRIBUTE, that which denies or takes away fomewhat, as when we fay of a stone, that it is inanimate. Common ATTRIBUTE, is that which agrees to feveral different things as animal. Proper ATTRIBUTE, fuch as agrees to one kind only, as Reafon to mankind. ATTRIBUTES communicable of God (with Divines) belonging to the divine faculties of acting, are Power and Dominion, ATTRIBUTES communicable of God (belonging to the divine will) are Justice, Goodness, Faithfulness. ATTRIBUTES communicable of God (belonging to the divine understanding) are Knosoledge, Wisdom, Providence. AT ATTRIBUTES imcommunicable of God, e Simplicity, Unity, Immutability, Infi mremejs. ATTRIBUTES (in Painting and Sculpreare fymbols added to feveral figures to intimate their particular office and character; as an eagle to Jupiter, a peacok to Juno, a caduceus to Mercury, a club to Hercules, and a palm to Victory. ATTRITENESS (of attritus, L.) the beng much worn. ATTRITION (with Divines) a forrow or regret for having offended God, arifing from the fenfe of the odioufness of fin, and the apAthenfion of having incurred the iofs of raven and punishment; or, as others define , the loweft degree of repentance, a flight and imperfect forrow for fin. ATTRITION (in Philofophy) a Triture Friction, fuch a motion of bodies against e another, as ftrikes off fome fuperficial particles, whereby they become less and To AVAIL (of ad and valere, L. valoir, F.) to be profitable, ferviceable, or advantageous to. AVAILABLENESS (of valoir, F. of ad AUDIENCE (in Polit. Affairs) the ceremonies practifed at court at the admitting ambaffadors and publick minifters to a hearing. 7 Catechumens, or perfons AVERAGE (in Navigation and Commerce) fignifies the damage which the veffel or the goods, or loading of it fuftains, from the time of its departure to its return: and alfo the charge or contributions towards defraying fuch damages; alfo the quota or proportion which each merchant or proprietor in the fhip or bading, is adjudged upon a reasonable eftimation to contribute to a common average; alfo a small duty, which thofe merchants who fend goods in another man's fhip, pay to the mafter for his care of them over and above the freight. AVERDUPOISE. See Avoirdupoife. AVER'MENT, an affertion of a thing to be true, an affirming, &c. General AVER'MENT (in Law) is the conclufion of every plea to the writ, or in bar of replications or other pleadings. Particular AVERMENT (in Law) is when the life of a tenant for life, or a tenant in tail is averred; and the averment contains as well the matter as the form. AVER'NI (with ancient Naturalifts) lakes, grottoes, and other places which infect the air with poisonous fteams and vapours. AVERRUNCATION(from averruncate) the act of rooting up any thing. To AVERRUNCATE (averranco, L.) to root up; to tear up by the roots. AVERSATION (from averfor, L.) 1. Hatred; abhorrence; turning away with deteftation. 2. It is moft properly ufed with from before the object of hate. 3. Sometimes with to, lefs properly. 4. Sometimes AUDIENT newly inftructed in the very improperly with towards. AUDITORES To AUDIT an Account, to examine it. AUDITOR (in Law) an officer of the king or fome other great perfon, who yearly examines the accounts of under officers, accountable, and makes up a general book, with the difference between their receipts and charges, and their allocations or allowances; a) an allowance paid by cach merchant, according to his cargo, to a master of a hip aron fpecial occafions when he fuffers da AVERSE (adverfus, L.) 1. Malign; not favourable. 2. Not pleafed with; unwilling to; having such a hatred as to turn away. 3. It has moft properly from, before the object of averfion. 4. Very frequently but improperly to. AVERSELY (from averfe.) 1. Unwillingly. 2. Backwardly. AVERSENESS (from averfe) unwillingbackwardness. nefs; AVERSION (averfco, L.) 1. Hatred; diflike; deteftation; fuch as turns away from the object. 2. It is ufed moft properly with from, before the object of hate. 3. Sometimes lefs properly, with to. 4. Sometimes with for. 5. Sometimes very improperly with towards. 6. The caufe of averfion. To AVERT (averto, L.) 1. To turn afide; to turn off. 2. To put by as a calamity. To AVER'T (avertere, L.) to turn away from, to drive or keep back. To AUGMENT (augmentor, F.) toencreafe; to make bigger, or more. H 2 Το |