n. [ Gr. &unr_;, fr. Syr. ōkēl damō the field of blood. ] The potter's field, said to have lain south of Jerusalem, purchased with the bribe which Judas took for betraying his Master, and therefore called
The system of warfare . . . which had already converted immense tracts into one universal aceldama. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Acetic aldehyde. See Aldehyde. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Prob. p. p. of OE. acolen to grow cold or cool, AS. ācōlian to grow cold; pref. a- (cf. Goth. er-, orig. meaning out) + cōlian to cool. See Cool. ] Cold. [ Obs. ] “Poor Tom's acold.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. [ Pref. a- + field. ]
How jocund did they drive their team afield! Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]
Why should he wander afield at the age of fifty-five! Trollope. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
adj.
adv. [ Pref. a- + hold. ] Near the wind;
n.
‖n. [ Sp. alcalde, fr. Ar. al-qādī judge, fr. qada to decide, judge. Hence, the cadi of the Turks. Cf. Cadi. ] A magistrate or judge in Spain and in Spanish America, etc. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ Sometimes confounded with Alcaid. [ 1913 Webster ]
‖n. [ Sp. Alcaldía. ] The jurisdiction or office of an alcalde; also, the building or chamber in which he conducts the business of his office. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
adv. Continually. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
prop. n. [ Ar. al-debarān, fr. dabar to follow; so called because this star follows upon the Pleiades. ] (Astron.) A red star of the first magnitude, situated in the eye of Taurus; the Bull's Eye. It is the bright star in the group called the
Now when Aldebaran was mounted high
Above the shiny Cassiopeia's chair. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Abbrev. fr. alcohol dehydrogenatum, alcohol deprived of its hydrogen. ]
☞ The
Aldehyde ammonia (Chem.),
a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to aldehyde;
n. [ OE. aldir, aller, fr. AS. alr, aler, alor, akin to D. els, G. erle, Icel. erlir, erli, Swed. al, Dan. elle, el, L. alnus, and E. elm. ] (Bot.) A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus
Black alder.
a. [ For allerliefest dearest of all. See Lief. ] Most beloved. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.;
☞ The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to princes, dukes, earls, senators, and presiding magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom or authority. Thus Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called Alderman of all England; and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective districts. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The office of an alderman. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Relating to, becoming to, or like, an alderman; characteristic of an alderman. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
a. Like or suited to an alderman. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Pertaining to, or like, an alderman. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Pertaining to, or like, an alderman. “An aldermanly discretion.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
n. The condition, position, or office of an alderman. Fabyan. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Made of alder. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often called
a. (Bibliog.) An epithet applied to editions (chiefly of the classics) which proceeded from the press of
n. [ Aldehyde + -ol as in alcohol. ] (Chem.) A colorless liquid,
aldol condensation, to the production of many compounds. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
n.
A metal-hubbed wheel of great strength and elasticity, esp. adapted for artillery carriages and motor cars. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
a. [ See Old. ] Old;
A Scottish phrase used in recalling recollections of times long since past. “The days of auld lang syne.” [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ OE. balled, ballid, perh. the p. p. of ball to reduce to the roundness or smoothness of a ball, by removing hair. √85. But cf. W. bali whiteness in a horse's forehead. ]
On the bald top of an eminence. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]
In the preface to his own bald translation. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
Bald buzzard (Zool.),
Bald coot (Zool.),
n. [ LL. baldachinus, baldechinus, a canopy of rich silk carried over the host; fr. Bagdad, It. Baldacco, a city in Turkish Asia from whence these rich silks came: cf. It. baldacchino. Cf. Baudekin. ]
(Zool.) The white-headed eagle (Haliæetus leucocephalus) of America. The young, until several years old, lack the white feathers on the head. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ The bald eagle is represented in the coat of arms, and on the coins, of the United States. [ 1913 Webster ]
prop. n. [ Icel. Baldr, akin to E. bold. ] (Scan. Myth.) The most beautiful and beloved of the gods; the god of peace; the son of
n. [ Of uncertain origin: cf. Dan. balder noise, clatter, and E. dash; hence, perhaps, unmeaning noise, then hodgepodge, mixture; or W. baldorduss a prattling, baldordd, baldorddi, to prattle. ]
Indeed beer, by a mixture of wine, hath lost both name and nature, and is called balderdash. Taylor (Drink and Welcome). [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To mix or adulterate, as liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]
The wine merchants of Nice brew and balderdash, and even
mix it with pigeon's dung and quicklime. Smollett. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Having a white face or a white mark on the face, as a stag. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
adv. Nakedly; without reserve; inelegantly. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The state or condition of being bald;
This gives to their syntax a peculiar character of simplicity and baldness. W. D. Whitney. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
n. A piece of pork cut lower down than the sparerib, and destitute of fat. [ Eng. ] Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]