*erica*

n. 1. 1 an American whose ancestors were born in Africa, especially a United States citizen of African descent.
Syn. -- Afro-American, African, black, negro [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. an American whose ancestors were born in Africa.
Syn. -- African-American, African. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. 1 of or pertaining to or characteristic of Americans of African ancestry or their history or culture.
Syn. -- African-American. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } a. [ Gr. 'alexhth`rios fit to keep off or help, fr. 'alexhth`r one who keeps off, helper; 'ale`xein to keep off: cf. F. alexitère. ] (Med.) Resisting poison; obviating the effects of venom; alexipharmic. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. of or pertaining to alphanumerics.
Syn. -- alphanumeric, alphameric, alphamerical [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. (Computers) using or consisting of only alphabetical and numerical characters; -- contrasting with binary or control. alphanumeric characters
Syn. -- alphanumeric, alphanumerical, alphameric, alphamerical [ PJC ]

a. [ Named from Americus Vespucius. ] 1. Of or pertaining to America; as, the American continent: American Indians. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to the United States. “A young officer of the American navy.” Lyell. [ 1913 Webster ]

American ivy. See Virginia creeper. --
American Party (U. S. Politics), a party, about 1854, which opposed the influence of foreign-born citizens, and those supposed to owe allegiance to a foreign power. --
Native american Party (U. S. Politics), a party of principles similar to those of the American party. It arose about 1843, but soon died out. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A native of America; -- originally applied to the aboriginal inhabitants, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America, and especially to the citizens of the United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

The name American must always exalt the pride of patriotism. Washington. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. any artifact (such a books or furniture or art) that is distinctive to America. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. a red-skinned member of a race of people living in North America when Europeans arrived.
Syn. -- Indian, native American, Amerindian, Red Indian [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. of or pertaining to American Indians
Syn. -- Amerindian, Amerind, Amerindic, Indian, native American [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. Attachment to the United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A custom peculiar to the United States or to America; an American characteristic or idea. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A word or phrase peculiar to the United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The process of Americanizing. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Americanizer p. pr. & vb. n. Americanizing. ] To render American; to assimilate to the Americans in customs, ideas, etc.; to stamp with American characteristics. [ 1913 Webster ]

. In hotels, aplan upon which guests pay for both room and board by the day, week, or other convenient period; -- contrasted with European plan. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. A secret organization in the United States, formed in Iowa in 1887, ostensibly for the protection of American institutions by keeping Roman Catholics out of public office. Abbrev. commonly to A. P .A. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. a sign language, used in the United States mostly by the deaf or for communication with the deaf, in which gestures made with the hands symbolize words, alphabetical letters, or ideas, permitting rapid communication in the absence of speech.
Syn. -- Ameslan. [ PJC ]

a. Of or pertaining to the English and Americans, or to the descendants of Englishmen in America. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. an American who was born in England or whose ancestors were English. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Opposed to the Americans, their aims, or interests, or to the genius of American institutions. Marshall. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. atmosphérique. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the atmosphere; of the nature of, or resembling, the atmosphere; as, atmospheric air; the atmospheric envelope of the earth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Existing or occurring in the atmosphere. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lower atmospheric current. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Caused, or operated on, by the atmosphere; as, an atmospheric effect; an atmospheric engine. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Dependent on the atmosphere. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

In am so atmospherical a creature. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Atmospheric engine, a steam engine whose piston descends by the pressure of the atmosphere, when the steam which raised it is condensed within the cylinder. Tomlinson. --
Atmospheric line (Steam Engin.), the equilibrium line of an indicator card. Steam is expanded “down to the atmosphere” when its pressure is equal to that of the atmosphere. (See Indicator card.) --
Atmospheric pressure, the pressure exerted by the atmosphere, not merely downwards, but in every direction. In amounts to about 14.7 Ibs. on each square inch. --
Atmospheric railway, one in which pneumatic power, obtained from compressed air or the creation of a vacuum, is the propelling force. --
Atmospheric tides. See under Tide. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In relation to the atmosphere. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Merely imaginary; fanciful; fantastic; wildly or vainly conceived; having, or capable of having, no existence except in thought; as, chimerical projects.

Syn. -- Imaginary; fanciful; fantastic; wild; unfounded; vain; deceitful; delusive. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Wildy; vainly; fancifully. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. clericalis. See Clerk. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the clergy; suitable for the clergy. “A clerical education.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or relating to a clerk or copyist, or to writing. “Clerical work.” E. Everett. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. characteristic of the work performed by a clerk, secretary, or copyist, or suitable to be performed by a clerk. “Clerical staff.” [ PJC ]

A clerical error, an error made in copying or writing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An excessive devotion to the interests of the sacerdotal order; undue influence of the clergy; sacerdotalism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. garments worn by the clergy. [ informal ] [ PJC ]

a. & n. See Climacteric. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , a. Belonging to the same genus; allied in origin, nature, or action; of or pertaining to a congener. R. Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Dexterous. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. dysentericus, Gr. &unr_;; cf. F. dysentérigue. ] Of or pertaining to dysentery; having dysentery; as, a dysenteric patient. “Dysenteric symptoms.” Copland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., fr. L. erice heath, Gr. &unr_;. ] (Bot.) A genus of shrubby plants, including the heaths, many of them producing beautiful flowers. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Belonging to the Heath family, or resembling plants of that family; consisting of heats. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. an order including the Ericaceae; Clethraceae; Diapensiaceae; Epacridaceae; Lennoaceae; Pyrolaceae; and Monotropaceae.
Syn. -- order Ericales. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Esoteric. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an esoteric manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ a. [ L. exotericus, Gr. &unr_; fr. &unr_; out: cf. F. exotérique. See Ex- ] External; public; suitable to be imparted to the public; hence, capable of being readily or fully comprehended; -- opposed to esoteric, or secret. [ 1913 Webster ]

The foppery of an exoteric and esoteric doctrine. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. genus, generis, race, kind: cf. F. générique. See Gender. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Biol.) Pertaining to a genus or kind; relating to a genus, as distinct from a species, or from another genus; as, a generic description; a generic difference; a generic name. [ wns=1 ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or their characteristics; -- opposed to specific. [ wns=3 ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Commerce) Not protected by trademark; -- used especially of the names of medications; as, a generic drug; the generic name of Rogaine is minoxidil. [ wns=2 ] [ PJC ]

☞ Since patented medications cannot be sold except under license from the patentee, medication which is still under patent is not typically sold as a generic drug, i.e., sold under its generic name, though it can be referred to by its generic name. [ PJC ]

adv. With regard to a genus, or an extensive class; as, an animal generically distinct from another, or two animals or plants generically allied. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being generic. [ 1913 Webster ]

/mhw>, a. [ Helix + spheric, spherical. ] Spiral. [ 1913 Webster ]

Helispherical line (Math.). the rhomb line in navigation. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. hémisphérique. ] Containing, or pertaining to, a hemisphere; as, a hemispheric figure or form; a hemispherical body. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Pertaining to, or characterized by, sameness of parts; receiving or advocating the doctrine of homogeneity of elements or first principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

. An American who is referred to by a hyphenated term with the first word indicating an origin in a foreign country, and the second term being “American”, as Irish-American, Italian-American, African-American, Asian-American. Used in reference to Americans of foreign birth or ancestry. When used of Americans of European ancestry, it is often used to refer to those who have a strong attachment to the ancestral country or its culture. It implies that the individual is imperfectly assimilated into American culture, and is sometimes used derogatively. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ } a. [ L. hystericus, Gr. &unr_;, fr. "yste`ra the womb; perh. akin to &unr_; latter, later, and E. utter, out.] 1. Of or pertaining to hysteria. [1913 Webster]

With no hysteric weakness or feverish excitement, they preserved their peace and patience. Bancroft. [1913 Webster]

2. In a state of hysteria; affected, or troubled, with hysterics; uncontrollably emotional; convulsive, fitful. [1913 Webster]

3. In a state of panic or behaving in a wild irrational manner, due to fear or emotional trauma. [PJC]

4. Resembling hysteria; as, hysterical laughter. [PJC]

a. Extremely funny. [ Colloq. ] [ PJC ]

{ } a. [ L. ictericus, Gr. 'ikteriko`s, fr. 'i`kteros jaundice: cf. F. ictérique. ] 1. Pertaining to, or affected with, jaundice. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Good against the jaundice. Johnson.

. A native of Ireland who has become an American citizen; also, a child or descendant of such a person. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

prop. n. That part of the American continents that speak Spanish, Portuguese, or French; the part of the American continents south of the United States. [ PJC ]