*va*

n. [ Pref. ab- + evacuation. ] (Med.) A partial evacuation. Mayne. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be absolved. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Conferring absolution; absolutory. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to the accusative case. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. acervalis, fr. acervus heap. ] Pertaining to a heap. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Heaped, or growing in heaps, or closely compacted clusters. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. acervatus, p. p. of acervare to heap up, fr. acervus heap. ] To heap up. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. acervatio. ] A heaping up; accumulation. [ R. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Heaped up; tending to heap up. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ F., lit., on horseback. ] Astride; with a part on each side; -- used specif. in designating the position of an army with the wings separated by some line of demarcation, as a river or road. [ 1913 Webster ]

A position à cheval on a river is not one which a general willingly assumes. Swinton. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. 1 the possibility of being achieved or accomplished; -- a property which may be possessed by a contemplated act.
Syn. -- attainability, attainableness [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Capable of being achieved. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. achevance. ] Achievement. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Elyot. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make active. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. (Sewage treatment) treated with aeration and bacteria to aid decomposition; -- of sewage [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. (Physics) made reactive or more reactive; -- of e.g. a molecule
Syn. -- activated, excited [ WordNet 1.5 ]

4. rendered active; -- as e.g. radioactive or luminescent or photosensitive or conductive
Syn. -- activated [ WordNet 1.5 ]

5. (Military) set up and placed on active assignment a newly activated unit
Syn. -- activated [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. prenom. 1. causing motion or action or change
Syn. -- actuating(prenominal) [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. same as activation{ 1 }.
Syn. -- energizing, activation [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. the process of making active.
Syn. -- energizing, activating [ WordNet 1.5 2. making active and effective (as a bomb). [ 1913 Webster ]

certain devices, as bombs or artillery shells, are designed to be unable to operate until a specific action (activation or arming) is taken to make them operable. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. any agency bringing about activation; (Biol.) a molecule that increases the activity of an enzyme or a protein that increases the production of a gene product in DNA transcription. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of or relating to the relating to the adjective; of the nature of an adjective; adjective. W. Taylor (1797) [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. As, or in the manner of, an adjective; adjectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. adjuvans, p. pr. of adjuvare to aid: cf. F. adjuvant. See Aid. ] Helping; helpful; assisting. [ R. ] “Adjuvant causes.” Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. adjuvamentum, fr. adjuvare to help; ad + juvare to help. ] 1. An assistant. [ R. ] Yelverton. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) An ingredient in a prescription drug, which aids or modifies the action of the principal ingredient. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med., Immunology) A substance that non-specifically enhances immune response to an antigen, such as by enhancing the production of antibodies. AS [ AS ]

‖ [ L., according to the value. ] (Com.) A term used to denote a duty or charge laid upon goods, at a certain rate per cent upon their value, as stated in their invoice, -- in opposition to a specific sum upon a given quantity or number; as, an ad valorem duty of twenty per cent. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Advanced p. pr. & vb. n. Advancing #). ] [ OE. avancen, avauncen, F. avancer, fr. a supposed LL. abantiare; ab + ante (F. avant) before. The spelling with d was a mistake, a- being supposed to be fr. L. ad. See Avaunt. ] 1. To bring forward; to move towards the van or front; to make to go on. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To raise; to elevate. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They . . . advanced their eyelids. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To raise to a higher rank; to promote. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ahasueres . . . advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes. Esther iii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward; to help on; to aid; to heighten; as, to advance the ripening of fruit; to advance one's interests. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To bring to view or notice; to offer or propose; to show; as, to advance an argument. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some ne'er advance a judgment of their own. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due, or in aid of an enterprise; to supply beforehand; as, a merchant advances money on a contract or on goods consigned to him. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate; as, to advance the price of goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. To extol; to laud. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Greatly advancing his gay chivalry. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To raise; elevate; exalt; aggrandize; improve; heighten; accelerate; allege; adduce; assign. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To move or go forward; to proceed; as, he advanced to greet me. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To increase or make progress in any respect; as, to advance in knowledge, in stature, in years, in price. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To rise in rank, office, or consequence; to be preferred or promoted. [ 1913 Webster ]

Advanced to a level with ancient peers. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. avance, fr. avancer. See Advance, v. ] 1. The act of advancing or moving forward or upward; progress. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally, or socially; as, an advance in health, knowledge, or religion; an advance in rank or office. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An addition to the price; rise in price or value; as, an advance on the prime cost of goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The first step towards the attainment of a result; approach made to gain favor, to form an acquaintance, to adjust a difference, etc.; an overture; a tender; an offer; -- usually in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] made the like advances to the dissenters. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A furnishing of something before an equivalent is received (as money or goods), towards a capital or stock, or on loan; payment beforehand; the money or goods thus furnished; money or value supplied beforehand. [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances. Jay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The account was made up with intent to show what advances had been made. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

In advance (a) In front; before. (b) Beforehand; before an equivalent is received. (c) In the state of having advanced money on account; as, A is in advance to B a thousand dollars or pounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Before in place, or beforehand in time; -- used for advanced; as, an advance guard, or that before the main guard or body of an army; advance payment, or that made before it is due; advance proofs, advance sheets, pages of a forthcoming volume, received in advance of the time of publication. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. In the van or front. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In the front or before others, as regards progress or ideas; as, advanced opinions, advanced thinkers. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Far on in life or time. [ 1913 Webster ]

A gentleman advanced in years, with a hard experience written in his wrinkles. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Advanced guard, a detachment of troops which precedes the march of the main body. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. avancement, F. avancement. See Advance, v. t. ] 1. The act of advancing, or the state of being advanced; progression; improvement; furtherance; promotion to a higher place or dignity; as, the advancement of learning. [ 1913 Webster ]

In heaven . . . every one (so well they love each other) rejoiceth and hath his part in each other's advancement. Sir T. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

True religion . . . proposes for its end the joint advancement of the virtue and happiness of the people. Horsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An advance of money or value; payment in advance. See Advance, 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Property given, usually by a parent to a child, in advance of a future distribution. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Settlement on a wife, or jointure. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who advances; a promoter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A second branch of a buck's antler. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Aëronautics) The front edge (in direction of motion) of a supporting surface; -- contr. with following edge, which is the rear edge. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Aëronautics) The first of two or more surfaces arranged in tandem; -- contr. with following surface, which is the rear surface. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Tending to advance. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. avantage, avauntage, F. avantage, fr. avant before. See Advance, and cf. Vantage. ] 1. Any condition, circumstance, opportunity, or means, particularly favorable to success, or to any desired end; benefit; as, the enemy had the advantage of a more elevated position. [ 1913 Webster ]

Give me advantage of some brief discourse. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The advantages of a close alliance. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Superiority; mastery; -- with of or over. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us. 2 Cor. ii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Superiority of state, or that which gives it; benefit; gain; profit; as, the advantage of a good constitution. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Interest of money; increase; overplus (as the thirteenth in the baker's dozen). [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And with advantage means to pay thy love. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Tennis) The first point scored after deuce. [ PJC ]

Advantage ground, vantage ground. [ R. ] Clarendon. --
To have the advantage of (any one), to have a personal knowledge of one who does not have a reciprocal knowledge. “You have the advantage of me; I don't remember ever to have had the honor.” Sheridan. --
To take advantage of, to profit by; (often used in a bad sense) to overreach, to outwit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Advantage, Advantageous, Benefit, Beneficial. We speak of a thing as a benefit, or as beneficial, when it is simply productive of good; as, the benefits of early discipline; the beneficial effects of adversity. We speak of a thing as an advantage, or as advantageous, when it affords us the means of getting forward, and places us on a “vantage ground” for further effort. Hence, there is a difference between the benefits and the advantages of early education; between a beneficial and an advantageous investment of money. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Advantaged p. pr. & vb. n. Advantaging ] [ F. avantager, fr. avantage. See Advance. ] To give an advantage to; to further; to promote; to benefit; to profit. [ 1913 Webster ]

The truth is, the archbishop's own stiffness and averseness to comply with the court designs, advantaged his adversaries against him. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

What is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? Luke ix. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

To advantage one's self of, to avail one's self of. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Advantageous. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. avantageux, fr. avantage. ] Being of advantage; conferring advantage; gainful; profitable; useful; beneficial; as, an advantageous position; trade is advantageous to a nation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Advabtageous comparison with any other country. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

You see . . . of what use a good reputation is, and how swift and advantageous a harbinger it is, wherever one goes. Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Profitably; with advantage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Profitableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. aestivalis, aestivus, fr. aestas summer. ] Of or belonging to the summer; as, æstival diseases. [ Spelt also estival. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ L. aestivare, aestivatum. ] 1. To spend the summer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) To pass the summer in a state of torpor. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Spelt also estivate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Zool.) The state of torpidity induced by the heat and dryness of summer, as in certain snails; -- opposed to hibernation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) The arrangement of the petals in a flower bud, as to folding, overlapping, etc.; prefloration. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Spelt also estivation. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 a natural family of chiefly tropical and xerophytic plants: includes Dracenaceae (Dracaenaceae); comprises plants that in some classifications are divided between the Amaryllidaceae and the Liliaceae.
Syn. -- family Agavaceae, agave family, sisal family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Aggravated p. pr. & vb. n. Aggravating. ] [ L. aggravatus, p. p. of aggravare. See Aggrieve. ] 1. To make heavy or heavier; to add to; to increase. [ Obs. ] “To aggravate thy store.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make worse, or more severe; to render less tolerable or less excusable; to make more offensive; to enhance; to intensify. “To aggravate my woes.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

To aggravate the horrors of the scene. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

The defense made by the prisoner's counsel did rather aggravate than extenuate his crime. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To give coloring to in description; to exaggerate; as, to aggravate circumstances. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To exasperate; to provoke; to irritate. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If both were to aggravate her parents, as my brother and sister do mine. Richardson (Clarissa). [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To heighten; intensify; increase; magnify; exaggerate; provoke; irritate; exasperate. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. 1 made more severe or intense, especially in law; as, aggravated assault.
Syn. -- intensified. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. 1 incited, especially deliberately, to anger. aggravated by passive resistance
Syn. -- provoked. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. 1. Making worse or more heinous; as, aggravating circumstances. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Exasperating; provoking; irritating. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A thing at once ridiculous and aggravating. J. Ingelow. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an aggravating manner. [ 1913 Webster ]