ANGELOLOGY. A discourse on angels; or the doctrine of angelic beings.-Webster. These questions may easily be answered, by a proper survey of the angelology of the Scripture.-Stuart on the Apocalypse, Vol. II. p. 397. ANNULMENT. (Fr. annullement.) The act of annulling. -Pickering's Vocab. This word was not in any English Dictionary before Todd's edition of Johnson. The annulment of the belligerent edicts.-Cor. of Sec'y of State to Mr. Pinckney, 1810. AN'T, or AINT. A common abbreviation in colloquial language for am not and are not. It is often improperly used for is not. It is equally common in England. ANTAGONIZING. cabulary. Conflicting, opposing.-Pickering's Vo This word, says Mr. Pickering, has been censured by an American critic, in the following passage: Nor can I forbear to remark the tendency of antagonizing appeals.— John Q. Adams's Letter to H. G. Otis. The verb is given by Johnson, but not the participle, nor is it noticed by Webster. Prof. Goodrich has inserted it in his new edition (1848) of Webster's Dictionary. ANTI-FEDERALIST. "This word was formed about the year 1788, to denote a person of the political party that opposed the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, which was then always spoken of by the name of the Federal Constitution. The word is not now much used; having been superseded by various other names, which have been successively given to the same party.”—Pickering's Vocabulary. ANTI-SLAVERY. Hostile to slavery. ANTI-MASON. One hostile to masonry or free-masonry.Worcester. ANTI-MASONIC. Hostile to masonry. ANY HOW. At any rate, on any account, in any way. This expression is not peculiar to this country. All Nelson wanted was to go to Copenhagen; and he said, "Let it be by the Sound, or by the Belt, or any how."--Nelson's Despatches, Vol. IV. ANY HOW YOU CAN FIX IT. At any rate whatever. ANY MANNER OF MEANS. An expression much used instead of any means. TO APE ONE'S BETTERS. To imitate one's superiors. The negroes are good singers; they are an imitative race, and it is not to be wondered at that in this, as in other things, they ape their betters.— Newspaper. APPELLATE. Relating to appeals. In all cases affecting ambassadors, &c. the supreme court shall have original jurisdiction: In all other cases before mentioned, the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction.-Constitut. of the U. States, Art. 3. The king of France is not the fountain of justice; the judges neither the original nor the appellate are of his nomination.-Burke, Revolution. For a fuller account of this word, about which there has been much discussion by lexicographers, see Mr. Pickering's Vocabulary, where many authorities are cited. It was first given by Mason in his supplement to Johnson's Dictionary, and was afterwards adopted by Todd. APPLE BUTTER. A sauce made of apples stewed down in cider. This is generally made in quantity, and kept for use during the winter. APPLE BRANDY, A liquor distilled from cider; also called APPLE JACK. cider brandy. APPLE-PIE ORDER. An expression used in familiar conversation, denoting perfect order. It is used alike in England and America.-Halliwell's Dict'y. As the period for the assembling of Congress approaches, an air of bustling activity is noticeable in everything, from the preparation of the "Message" down to the scrubbing of door-plates. The landladies are putting their lodgings in apple-pie order for the members, &c.-Newspaper. The ferry-boats are kept running in apple-pie order under the vigilant superintendence of Capt. Woolsey.-New York Tribune. APPLICANT. A diligent student.-Pickering's Vocab. One who applies himself closely to his studies. A sense of the word common in New England. The English appear to use the word only in the sense of "one who applies for anything," in which sense it is most commonly employed by us. APPOINTABLE. That may be appointed or constituted; as officers are appointed by the Executive.-Federalist, Webster. TO APPRECIATE. v. a. To raise the value of.-Webster. This sense of the word is not in any English dictionary except Knowles's, which is quite a recent work. Lest a sudden peace should appreciate the money.--Ramsay. The common use of this verb, however, is, as in England, to set a just value on. Also, v. n. to rise in value; as, "the currency of the country appreciates.”—Webster. APPRECIATION. A rising in value; increase of worth or value.-Webster. This noun, like the verb from which it is derived, is commonly used by us in its appropriate meaning of a just valuation; and this will hereafter be understood of all similar words where a peculiar meaning is assigned to them, unless an express statement is made to the contrary. TO APPROBATE. (Lat. approbo, to approve.) To express approbation of; to manifest a liking, or degree of satisfaction; to express approbation officially, as of one's fitness for a public trust.-Webster. Dr. Webster observes that this is a modern word, but in common use in America. Mr. Todd introduces it in his edition of Johnson, from Cockeram's old vocabulary, the definition of which is, to allow, to like. Mr. Todd says it is obsolete. All things contained in Scripture is approbate by the whole consent of all the clergic of Christendom.--Sir T. Elyot's Governor, fol. 226. "This word," says Mr. Pickering, "was formerly much used at our colleges, instead of the old English word approve. The students used to speak of having their performances approbated by their instructors. It is now in common use with our clergy as a sort of technical term, to denote a person who is licensed to preach they would say, such a one is approbated, that is, licensed to preach. It is also common in New England to say of a person, who is licensed by the County Courts to sell spirituous liquors, or to keep a public house, that he is approbated; and the term is adopted in the law of Massachusetts on this subject."-Pickering's Vocabulary. TO ARGUFY. To import, to have weight as an argument; to argue. This vile word has a place in several of the English glossaries. In this country it is only heard among the most illit erate. ARK. The common abbreviation for " Arkansas." ARK. A large boat, used on some of the Western rivers, to transport merchandise. Before the use of steamboats, they were employed on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Dr. Harris thus describes them: "They are made with plank, fastened upon ribs or knees, by wooden bolts. They are from twelve to fifteen feet wide, and from forty to sixty long; carrying, commonly, sixty or eighty tons burden. They float down the stream with the current, and are not worked with oars, except to direct and propel them to the shore. These boats go down the river to New Orleans; and after discharging their cargoes, they are taken apart, and sold for lumber with very little loss."-Tour in Ohio in 1803. ARY, either. A vulgarism used by the illiterate. AS GOOD AS GO. AS GOOD'S GO.) In the phrase, I'd as good's go to New York, instead of "I might as well go to New York." "I'd as good's do this," for, I may as well do this. Only heard among the illiterate. ASH-HOPPER. A lie cask, or an inverted pyramidal box to contain ashes, resembling a hopper in a mill. They are common in the country, where people make their own soap. ASSOCIATION. In ecclesiastical affairs, a society of the clergy, consisting of a number of pastors of neighboring churches, united for promoting the interests of religion and the harmony of the churches.-Webster. ASSOCIATION. In civil affairs, this word is much used at the present day, to denote the principle of uniting the producing classes in societies, for the purpose of obtaining for themselves a larger share of the fruits of their labor. The citizens of Illinois are well prepared for Association. They are, to a great extent, freed from the prejudices and bigotry which pervade every nook and corner of the older States. There is here a feeling of liberality --a spirit of inquiry, before which spurious Civilization cannot long make headway. We say to all friends of Association, come West. But we say, at the same time, don't come, until you are convinced it is for your interest and the interest of the cause of Association that you should come.New York Tribune. We do not claim that our Rules are perfect, but we wish to make them so; being firmly convinced that the Science taught by Fourier will ultimately lead us into true Association, if we follow it as a science, and that we must have some correct rules of progress to govern us during the transition period from Civilization to Association.-Ibid. ASSOCIATIONAL. Pertaining to an association of clergymen. -Webster. In order to obtain a license, and afterwards to be admitted to ordination, they (the students in divinity) must, in each case, pass through the Associational or Presbyterian examination.--Quarterly Rev., 1815. ASSOCIATIONIST. One who advocates the Fourier doctrine of association. AT, for by. Used in this expression, "Sales at auction." The English say-" Sales by auction," and this is in analogy with the expressions-Sales by inch of candle; sales by private contract.-Pickering's Vocab. Sometimes English writers use the word as we do. Those execrable wretches, who could become purchasers at the auction of their fellow-creatures.-Burke's Reflections. ATHENÆUM. A building or an apartment, where a library, periodicals, and newspapers are kept for public use, or for a reading room.-Webster. ATOP. On or at the top, upon. Atop of a horse. A vulgarism common in England and America. ATTACKTED, for attacked. This corruption is only heard among the most illiterate. It is common also in the dialect of the lower classes in London.-Pegge's Anecdotes. ATTITUDINIZE. To assume affected attitudes.-Worcester. AUSPICATE. (Lat. auspicio.) To foreshow or foretell the event.-Richardson. This old word, though unnoticed by Johnson, may be found in Holland's translations, Ben Jonson and other early writers. It is but rarely used at the present day. King Edward therefore presented himself before the strong towne of Berwick, with a mighty haste, there to auspicate his entrance to a conquest of England.-Speed, History of Great Britain. Would to God I could auspicate good influences.-Webster's Speech. |