*ague*

n. [ OE. agu, ague, OF. agu, F. aigu, sharp, OF. fem. ague, LL. (febris) acuta, a sharp, acute fever, fr. L. acutus sharp. See Acute. ] 1. An acute fever. [ Obs. ] “Brenning agues.” P. Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) A fever characterized by paroxysms of high fever and shaking chills. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

3. The cold fit or rigor of malaria or any other intermittent fever; as, fever and ague. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

4. A chill, or state of shaking, as with cold. Dryden. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

Ague cake, an enlargement of the spleen produced by ague. --
Ague drop, a solution of the arsenite of potassa used for ague. --
Ague fit, a fit of the ague. Shak. --
Ague spell, a spell or charm against ague. Gay. --
Ague tree, the sassafras, -- sometimes so called from the use of its root formerly, in cases of ague. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 a gentian of East North America having clusters of bristly blue flowers.
Syn. -- ague weed, five-flowered gentian, stiff gentian, Gentianella quinquefolia, Gentiana quinquefolia [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. a perennial herb of the southeastern U. S. having white-rayed flower heads. It was formerly used in folk medicine.
Syn. -- boneset, thoroughwort, Eupatorium perfoliatum [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ F., a ring ] (Arch.) The annular molding or group of moldings dividing a long shaft or clustered column into two or more parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. baguette, prop. a rod&unr_; It. bacchetta, fr. L. baculum, baculu&unr_; stick, staff. ] 1. (Arch.) A small molding, like the astragal, but smaller; a bead. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) One of the minute bodies seen in the divided nucleoli of some Infusoria after conjugation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A cement used in making joints, filling cracks, etc. For iron, the principal constituents are iron borings and sal ammoniac; for wood, white lead or litharge, whiting, and linseed oil. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Beleaguered p. pr. & vb. n. Beleaguering. ] [ D. belegeren (akin to G. belagern, Sw. belägra, Dan. beleire); pref. be- = E. be- + leger bed, camp, army, akin to E. lair. See Lair. ] To surround with an army so as to preclude escape; to besiege; to blockade. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wail of famine in beleaguered towns. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To block up; environ; invest; encompass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who beleaguers. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] Mendacious boasting; falsehood; humbug. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Med.) a severe and often fatal disease caused by infection with the bacterium Yersinia pestis (formerly Pasteurella pestis), transmitted to man by the bite of fleas, themselves usually infected by biting infected rodents. It is characterized by the formation of buboes, most notably on the groin and armpits, and accompanied by weakness and high fever. The disease was known as the black death, and was responsible for several devastating plagues throughout the middle ages. When lungs became infected, the disease was called the pneumonic plague. It is still found occasionally in poor areas of undeveloped countries but is rare in developed countries. [ PJC ]

n. [ F. collègue, L. collega one chosen at the same time with another, a partner in office; col- + legare to send or choose as deputy. See Legate. ] A partner or associate in some civil or ecclesiastical office or employment. It is never used of partners in trade or manufactures.

Syn. -- Helper; assistant; coadjutor; ally; associate; companion; confederate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To unite or associate with another or with others. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Partnership in office. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Pertaining to Daguerre, or to his invention of the daguerreotype. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Daguerre the inventor + -type. ] 1. An early variety of photograph, produced on a silver plate, or copper plate covered with silver, and rendered sensitive by the action of iodine, or iodine and bromine, on which, after exposure in the camera, the latent image is developed by the vapor of mercury. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The process of taking such pictures. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Daguerreotyped p. pr. & vb. n. Daguerreotyping ] 1. To produce or represent by the daguerreotype process, as a picture. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To impress with great distinctness; to imprint; to imitate exactly.

{ } n. One who takes daguerreotypes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art or process of producing pictures by method of Daguerre. [ 1913 Webster ]

A religious organization of Methodist young people, founded in 1889 at Cleveland, Ohio, and taking its name from John Wesley's birthplace, Epworth, Lincolnshire, England. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ Cf. G. fegen to sweep, Icel. fægja to cleanse, polish, E. fair, fay, to fit, fey to cleanse. ] To beat or whip; to drive. [ Obs. ] Otway. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Hagbut. [ 1913 Webster ]

The permanent court of arbitration created by the “International Convention for the Pacific Settle of International Disputes.”, adopted by the International Peace Conference of 1899. It is composed of persons of known competency in questions of international law, nominated by the signatory powers. From these persons an arbitration tribunal is chosen by the parties to a difference submitted to the court. On the failure of the parties to agree directly on the arbitrators, each chooses two arbitrators, an umpire is selected by them, by a third power, or by two powers selected by the parties. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Inleagued p. pr. & vb. n. Inleaguing ] To ally, or form an alliance with; to unite; to combine. [ 1913 Webster ]

With a willingness inleague our blood
With his, for purchase of full growth in friendship. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To beleaguer. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. In Ireland, a combination of tenant farmers and other, organized, with Charles Stewart Parnell as president, in 1879 with a view to the reduction of farm rents and a reconstruction of the land laws. -- Land"*lea`guer n. -- Land"*lea`guism n.

The Land League, of which Michael Davitt was the founder, originated in Mayo in August, and at a Dublin in October the organization was extended to all Ireland, with Parnell as president. Encyc. Brit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Cf. OE. legue, lieue, a measure of length, F. lieue, Pr. lega, legua, It. & LL. lega, Sp. legua, Pg. legoa, legua; all fr. LL. leuca, of Celtic origin: cf. Arm. leo, lev (perh. from French), Ir. leige (perh. from English); also Ir. & Gael. leac a flag, a broad, flat stone, W. llech, -- such stones having perh. served as a sort of milestone (cf. Cromlech). ] 1. A measure of length or distance, varying in different countries from about 2.4 to 4.6 English statute miles of 5, 280 feet each, and used (as a land measure) chiefly on the continent of Europe, and in the Spanish parts of America. The marine league of England and the United States is equal to three marine, or geographical, miles of 6080 feet each. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The English land league is equal to three English statute miles. The Spanish and French leagues vary in each country according to usage and the kind of measurement to which they are applied. The Dutch and German leagues contain about four geographical miles, or about 4.6 English statute miles. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A stone erected near a public road to mark the distance of a league. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ligue, LL. liga, fr. L. ligare to bind; cf. Sp. liga. Cf. Ally a confederate, Ligature. ] 1. An alliance or combination of two or more nations, parties, organizations, or persons, for the accomplishment of a purpose which requires a continued course of action, as for mutual defense, or for furtherance of commercial, religious, or political interests, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

And let there be
'Twixt us and them no league, nor amity. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically: (Sports) An association of sports teams that establishes rules of play, decides questions of membership in the league, and organizes matches between the member teams. In some cases a sports league is called a conference, as in the National Football Conference. [ PJC ]

☞ A league may be offensive or defensive, or both; offensive, when the parties agree to unite in attacking a common enemy; defensive, when they agree to a mutual defense of each other against an enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Holy League, an alliance of Roman Catholics formed in 1576 by influence of the Duke of Guise for the exclusion of Protestants from the throne of France. --
Solemn League and Covenant. See Covenant, 2. --
The land league, an association, organized in Dublin in 1879, to promote the interests of the Irish tenantry, its avowed objects being to secure fixity of tenure, fair rent, and free sale of the tenants' interest. It was declared illegal by Parliament, but vigorous prosecutions have failed to suppress it.

Syn. -- Alliance; confederacy; confederation; coalition; combination; compact; cooperation. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Leagued p. pr. & vb. n. Leaguing ] [ Cf. F. se liguer. See 2d League. ] To unite in a league or confederacy; to combine for mutual support; to confederate. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To join in a league; to cause to combine for a joint purpose; to combine; to unite; as, common interests will league heterogeneous elements. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ D. leger camp, bed, couch, lair. See Lair, and cf.Beleaguer. ] 1. The camp of a besieging army; a camp in general. b. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A siege or beleaguering. [ R. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To besiege; to beleaguer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A besieger. [ R. ] J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ R. ] A large fish pound used for the capture of the tunny in the Mediterranean; also applied to the seines used for the same purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp. maguey, Mexican maguei and metl. ] (Bot.) Any of several species of Agave, such as the century plant (Agave Americana), a plant requiring many years to come to maturity and blossoming only once before dying; and the Agave atrovirens, a Mexican plant used especially for making pulque, the source of the colorless Mexican liquor mescal; and the cantala (Agave cantala), a Philippine plant yielding a hard fibre used in making coarse twine. See Agave. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A hard fibre used in making coarse twine, derived from the Philippine Agave cantala (Agave cantala); also called cantala. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Sports) The most important league{ 2 } in any sport (especially baseball); contrasted with minor league. Its teams are more competent, its members are paid more, and its games attract more interest and publicity, than those of a minor league. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to a major league; as, major-league football rules. [ PJC ]

2. Among the best or most important of its class; as, a major-league computer manufacturer. [ PJC ]

n. A member of a major-league baseball team. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A sports team that plays in a major league. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A hard fiber used in making coarse twine; from Philippine agave plants.
Syn. -- cantala, Cebu maguey. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Sport) A league of professional sports teams less proficient than a major leagues. Players in the minor leagues generally are paid less than those in the major leagues, and their games attract less atention. Certain minor league sports teams are often owned by those owning a major league club, and the minor league clubs are used to provide practise and opportunity for evaluation for candidates who wish to play in the major leagues.
Syn. -- minor league. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of or pertaining to a minor league. [ PJC ]

2. Of mediocre talent or poor accomplishment; unimportant; -- of people; as, a minor-league physicist. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. plaga a blow, stroke, plague; akin to Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to strike; cf. L. plangere to strike, beat. Cf. Plaint. ] 1. That which smites, wounds, or troubles; a blow; a calamity; any afflictive evil or torment; a great trail or vexation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And men blasphemed God for the plague of hail. Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

The different plague of each calamity. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) An acute malignant contagious fever, that often prevails in Egypt, Syria, and Turkey, and has at times visited the large cities of Europe with frightful mortality; hence, any pestilence; as, the great London plague. “A plague upon the people fell.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cattle plague. See Rinderpest. --
Plague mark,
Plague spot, a spot or mark of the plague; hence, a token of something incurable. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Plagued p. pr. & vb. n. Plaguing. ] 1. To infest or afflict with disease, calamity, or natural evil of any kind. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thus were they plagued
And worn with famine. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: To vex; to tease; to harass. [ 1913 Webster ]

She will plague the man that loves her most. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To vex; torment; distress; afflict; harass; annoy; tease; tantalize; trouble; molest; embarrass; perplex. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Abounding, or infecting, with plagues; pestilential; as, plagueful exhalations. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Free from plagues or the plague. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who plagues or annoys. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Portuguese. ] A Portuguese gold coin formerly current, and variously estimated to be worth from three and one half to four and one half pounds sterling. [ Obs. ] [ Written also portegue and portigue. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Ten thousand portagues, besides great pearls. Marlowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Eng. Politics) A league of both sexes among the Conservatives, founded in 1883. So called because primrose was (erroneously, it is said) taken to be the favorite flower of the Conservative statesman Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ From the North American Indian name. ] (Zool.) An American sciaenoid fish (Cynoscion regalis), abundant on the Atlantic coast of the United States, and much valued as a food fish. It is of a bright silvery color, with iridescent reflections. Called also weakfish, squitee, chickwit, and sea trout. The spotted squeteague (Cynoscion nebulosus) of the Southern United States is a similar fish, but the back and upper fins are spotted with black. It is called also spotted weakfish and squit, and, locally, sea trout, and sea salmon. See also under squitee. [ 1913 Webster ]