*ber*

v. i. [ L. aberrare. See Aberrate. ] To wander; to stray. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. the state or condition of being aberrant; a wandering from the right way; deviation from truth, rectitude, etc.
Syn. -- aberrance, aberration, deviance [ 1913 Webster WordNet 1.5 ]

Aberrancy of curvature (Geom.), the deviation of a curve from a circular form. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. an aberrant state or condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. aberrans, -rantis, p. pr. of aberrare. See Aberr. ] 1. Wandering; straying from the right way. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) Deviating from the ordinary or natural type; exceptional; abnormal. [ 1913 Webster ]

The more aberrant any form is, the greater must have been the number of connecting forms which, on my theory, have been exterminated. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ L. aberratus, p. pr. of aberrare; ab + errare to wander. See Err. ] To go astray; to diverge. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Their own defective and aberrating vision. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. aberratio: cf. F. aberration. See Aberrate. ] 1. The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type. “The aberration of youth.” Hall. “Aberrations from theory.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A partial alienation of reason. “Occasional aberrations of intellect.” Lingard. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whims, which at first are the aberrations of a single brain, pass with heat into epidemic form. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) A small periodical change of position in the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer; called annual aberration, when the observer's motion is that of the earth in its orbit, and daily or diurnal aberration, when of the earth on its axis; amounting when greatest, in the former case, to 20.4'', and in the latter, to 0.3''. Planetary aberration is that due to the motion of light and the motion of the planet relative to the earth. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Opt.) The convergence to different foci, by a lens or mirror, of rays of light emanating from one and the same point, or the deviation of such rays from a single focus; called spherical aberration, when due to the spherical form of the lens or mirror, such form giving different foci for central and marginal rays; and chromatic aberration, when due to different refrangibilities of the colored rays of the spectrum, those of each color having a distinct focus. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Physiol.) The passage of blood or other fluid into parts not appropriate for it. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) The producing of an unintended effect by the glancing of an instrument, as when a shot intended for A glances and strikes B. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Insanity; lunacy; madness; derangement; alienation; mania; dementia; hallucination; illusion; delusion. See Insanity. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Characterized by aberration. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. aberuncare, for aberruncare. See Averruncate. ] To weed out. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A weeding machine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, absorbs. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To encumber. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A chamber or cavity filled with air, in an animal or plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A cavity containing air to act as a spring for equalizing the flow of a liquid in a pump or other hydraulic machine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Min.) A bituminous mineral resembling asphaltum, found in the county of Albert, New Brunswick. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A soft ornamental terra-cotta pottery, sold in the biscuit state for decorating. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ From the name of the inventor, Albert, of Munich. ] A picture printed from a kind of gelatine plate produced by means of a photographic negative. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. alebery, alebrey; ale + bre broth, fr. AS. brīw pottage. ] A beverage, formerly made by boiling ale with spice, sugar, and sops of bread. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their aleberries, caudles, possets. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. aumbre, F. ambre, Sp. ámbar, and with the Ar. article, alámbar, fr. Ar. 'anbar ambergris. ] 1. (Min.) A yellowish translucent resin resembling copal, found as a fossil in alluvial soils, with beds of lignite, or on the seashore in many places. It takes a fine polish, and is used for pipe mouthpieces, beads, etc., and as a basis for a fine varnish. By friction, it becomes strongly electric. [ 1913 Webster ]

Amber is classified as a fossil resin, being typically of ancient origin, having solidified from the exudates of certain trees millions of years ago. Many pieces are found with insects embedded, the insects having been trapped by the resin while they were alive. The insects are often very well preserved, due to the antimicrobial action of components of the amber. It typically contains from 5 to 8 percent of succinic acid. "Baltic amber" has been mined for centuries in the region of Poland formerly called East Prussia, and is the variety used in most jewelry made in Poland and Russia. The Baltic strata containing amber extend under the sea, and amber beads may be found there deposited by waves along the shore. Amber was known to the ancient Greeks. The name "electron" comes from the Latin word for amber, electrum, derived from the Greek word, 'h`lektron (see electric), due to the electric charge that amber takes when rubbed, as with cat fur. Although at one time used in fine varnishes, it no longer has any commercial value for that purpose, being used mostly in jewelry. Significant deposits are also found in the Carribean region, and smaller amounts in various other places. The notion, that DNA sufficiently intact to recreate extinct animals might be extracted from amber, was the basis for Michael Crichton's novel "Jurassic Park", but has as yet (1997) not been demonstrated to be possible. [ PJC ]

2. Amber color, or anything amber-colored; a clear light yellow; as, the amber of the sky. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Ambergris. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

You that smell of amber at my charge. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The balsam, liquidambar. [ 1913 Webster ]

Black amber, and old and popular name for jet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Consisting of amber; made of amber. “Amber bracelets.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Resembling amber, especially in color; amber-colored. “The amber morn.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ p. p. & p. a. Ambered . ] 1. To scent or flavor with ambergris; as, ambered wine. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To preserve in amber; as, an ambered fly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 a genus of herbs of Mediterranean to Central Asia cultivated for their flowers.
Syn. -- genus Amberboa. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

(Zool.) Any of several amber to coppery fork-tailed warm-water carangid fishes of the genus Seriola, especially a large vigorous sport fish of the southern Atlantic coast (Seriola Dumerili). It is also called the amberjack. Seriola Carolinensis was the species name given in the 1890 Webster: same fish or different?
Syn. -- amberjack [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. See Ambergris. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ambre gris, i. e., gray amber; F. gris gray, which is of German origin: cf. OS. grîs, G. greis, gray-haired. See Amber. ] A substance of the consistence of wax, found floating in the Indian Ocean and other parts of the tropics, and also as a morbid secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), which is believed to be in all cases its true origin. In color it is white, ash-gray, yellow, or black, and often variegated like marble. The floating masses are sometimes from sixty to two hundred and twenty-five pounds in weight. It is wholly volatilized as a white vapor at 212° Fahrenheit, and is highly valued in perfumery. Dana. [ 1913 Webster ]

A room formerly in the Czar's Summer Palace in Russia, which was richly decorated with walls and fixtures made from amber. The amber was removed by occupying German troops during the Second World War and has, as of 1997, never been recovered. The room is being recreated from old photographs by Russian artisans. [ PJC ]

Seed of the Hibiscus abelmoschus, somewhat resembling millet, brought from Egypt and the West Indies, and having a flavor like that of musk; musk seed. Chambers. [ 1913 Webster ]

A species of Anthospermum, a shrub with evergreen leaves, which, when bruised, emit a fragrant odor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. antichambre. ] 1. A chamber or apartment before the chief apartment and leading into it, in which persons wait for audience; an outer chamber. See Lobby. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A space viewed as the outer chamber or the entrance to an interior part. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mouth, the antechamber to the digestive canal. Todd & Bowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A number that precedes another. [ R. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Obs. ] See Antechamber. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. G. erzkämmerer. See Arch-, pref. ] A chief chamberlain; -- an officer of the old German empire, whose office was similar to that of the great chamberlain in England. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. ad- + sober. Cf. Ensober. ] To make or keep sober. [ Obs. ] Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] An inn. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) The fruit of the Rhamnus infectorius, eand of other species of the same genus; -- so called from the city of Avignon, in France. It is used by dyers and painters for coloring yellow. Called also French berry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Perh. orig. for baboonery. Cf. Baboon, and also Babe. ] Finery of a kind to please a child. [ Obs. ] “Painted babery.” Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A genus (Actæa) of plants, of the order Ranunculaceæ, native in the north temperate zone. The red or white berries are poisonous. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. barbour, OF. barbeor, F. barbier, as if fr. an assumed L. barbator, fr. barba beard. See 1st Barb. ] One whose occupation it is to shave or trim the beard, and to cut and dress the hair of his patrons. [ 1913 Webster ]

Barber's itch. See under Itch. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Formerly the barber practiced some offices of surgery, such as letting blood and pulling teeth. Hence such terms as barber surgeon (old form
barber chirurgeon),
barber surgery, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Barbered p. pr. & vb. n. Barbering. ] To shave and dress the beard or hair of. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Meteor.) A storm accompanied by driving ice spicules formed from sea water, esp. one occurring on the Gulf of St. Lawrence; -- so named from the cutting ice spicules. [ Canada ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Zool.) See Surgeon fish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A fop. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. barbarin, barbere, OF. berbere. ] (Bot.) A shrub of the genus Berberis, common along roadsides and in neglected fields. Berberis vulgaris is the species best known; its oblong red berries are made into a preserve or sauce, and have been deemed efficacious in fluxes and fevers. The bark dyes a fine yellow, esp. the bark of the root. [ Also spelt berberry. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a shop where a barber works, especially one where men can get their hair cut. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. a pole with red and white spiral stripes; -- usually found outside a barbershop. It is often electrically powered, so as to be turning when the barbershop is open for business and stationary when the shop is closed. It symbolizes the practise of surgery, some aspects of which which used to be performed by barbers. [ PJC ]

n. (Bot.) (a) The fruit of the bay tree or Laurus nobilis. (b) A tree of the West Indies related to the myrtle (Pimenta acris). (c) The fruit of Myrica cerifera (wax myrtle); the shrub itself; -- called also candleberry tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bayberry tallow, a fragrant green wax obtained from the bayberry or wax myrtle; -- called also myrtle wax. [ 1913 Webster ]

. [ Written also beach-comber or beach comber. ] (Naut.) 1. A vagrant seaman, usually of low character, who loiters about seaports, particularly on the shores and islands of the Pacific Ocean. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

I was fortunate enough, however, to forgather with a Scotchman who was a beach-comber. F. T. Bullen. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. a vagrant living on a beach. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. a person who searches along a beach for objects of value, such as lost objects or seashells. [ PJC ]

A long, curling wave rolling in from the ocean. See Comber. [ Amer., archaic ] [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. (Bot.) A trailing plant of the heath family (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), having leaves which are tonic and astringent, and glossy red berries of which bears are said to be fond. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make swollen and disfigured or sullied by weeping; as, her eyes or cheeks were beblubbered. [ 1913 Webster ]