8 AMONG PAINTERS, THE EPITHET ACCESSORY IS GIVEN TO THOSE PARTS OF AN HISTORICAL PIECE WHICH ARE MERELY ORNAMENTAL. ACE] THE ACCENT, OR SYLLABIC EMPHASIS, ALONE REGULATES ENGLISH VERSE. The Scientific and Literary Treasury ; more restricted sense, the term is applicable to a person appointed to keep the accounts of a public company or office: thus, we say the accountant of the India-Company, the Custom-house, the Excise, &c. ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL, in the court of Chancery, is an officer appointed to receive all monies lodged in court. ACCOUTREMENTS, the necessaries of a soldier, as belts, pouches, cartridgeboxes, &c. ACCRETION, the increase or growth of a body by an external addition of new parts; thus shells, stones, and various other substances are formed. ACCUBATION, the posture used among the Greeks and Romans at their meals, which was with the body extended on a couch, and the head resting on a pillow, or on the elbow, supported by a pillow. This practice was not permitted among soldiers, children, and servants; nor was it known until luxury had corrupted manners. Their couches were called ACCUBITA. ACEPH'ALI, a sect of Christians, so called because they admitted no head, or superior, either lay or ecclesiastic. ACER'RA, in Roman antiquity, was a small altar erected near the bed on which a dead person was laid out. Incense and perfumes were burnt upon it, till the time of the funeral. The real intention, probably, was to prevent or overcome any offensive smells that might arise about the corpse. ACETAB'ULUM, in anatomy, is a large round cavity in a bone, which receives the convex head of another, thereby forming that species of articulation termed enarthrosis. Also the name of a Roman measure equal to about one-eighth of our pint. A'CETATES,certain neutral salts formed by the combination of acetic acid with a salifiable base, as the acetate of potash. These salts differ from acetites in this respect; the acid employed in the production of the former is fully saturated with oxygen, or the acidifying principle, that is, it is completely acid; while that which is used to form the latter, contains a less proportion of oxygen than is sufficient to saturate it. ACETIC ACID, a vegetable acid, which is produced by distilling the acetous acid with metallic oxydes. It is of a green colour, but becomes white by rectification; is extremely volatile and inflammable; corrodes and cauterizes the skin; and when heated in contact with air, takes fire. It is the sour principle, in fact, which exists in vinegar. ACETIMETER, an apparatus for determining the strength of vinegar. A'CETITES, compound or neutral salts, formed by the union of the acetous acid, or distilled vinegar, with different bases: the most remarkable of these substances, and those whose properties are best known, are the acetite of alumine, copper and lead. ACE TOUS, an epithet applied to such substances as are sour, or partake of the nature of vinegar.-ACETOUS ACID, dis [ACO tilled vinegar, or the acid of vinegar, is ob- ACIC'ULE, in natural history, certain ACID'ULÆ, or ACIDULATED WATERS, a species of mineral waters which contain a considerable quantity of carbonic acid, and which are known by the pungency of their taste, the sparkling appearance which they assume when shaken or poured from one vessel into another, and the facility with which they boil. ACID'ULOUS, an epithet expressing either a slight degree of acid, or an excess of acid in a compound salt. ACINE'SIA, the interval of rest which takes place between the contraction and dilatation of the pulse. ACI'NUS, in botany, a name given to grapes or berries growing in clusters, in opposition to bacca, or such berries as grow single. ACLIDES, a missile weapon, in use amongst the Romans; it was of the form of a spear with a thong tied to it, by which, after the discharge, it was drawn back. ACOLLE', in heraldry, a term sometimes used to denote two things joined to ACCLAMATIONS WERE GIVEN BY THE VOICE; APPLAUSES, BY THE HANDS. WHEN NERO PLAYED IN THE THEATRE, FIVE THOUSAND SOLDIERS CHANTED ACCLAMATIONS, AND THE SPECTATORS WERE OBLIGED TO JOIN THEM. ACTIONS CONFINED TO A SINGLE SHOCK UPON THE EAR ARE TERMED NOISES; THOSE WHICH PRODUCE A CONTINUED SENSATION, SOUNDS. ACQ] IN PROPORTION AS THE AIR IS DENSER, SOUNDS ARE MORE INTENSE. A New Dictionary of the Belles Lettres. gether; at other times, animals with collars or crowns about their necks; and finally, batons, or swords, placed saltierwise behind the shield. ACOLY'THI, in ecclesiastical history, denotes candidates for the ministry, so called from their continually attending the bishop. It is also an appeilation given to the stoics, on account of their steady adhe. rence to what they had once resolved. ACONITA, a vegetable poison extracted from the aconite, or wolfsbane. A"CONITE, the plant wolfsbane, or monks-hood, the flower of which resembles the hood of a monk; the plant is a violent poison. ACON TIAS, in zoology, a venomous serpent, otherwise called the anguis facu lus, or dart-snake, from its vibrating its body in the manner of a dart. [ACR ACRA'SIA, in medicine, the predominancy of one quality above another. It was also used to express excess of any kind, as the drinking of unmixed wine, which among the Greeks amounted to intempe rance. A'CRE, a measure of land, very general in name, but varying in different places as to the extent which it is intended to denote. The English acre contains 4 square roods, or 160 square poles of 5 yards and a half, or 4840 square yards. The French acre is equal to one and a quarter of an English acre. AC'RID, an epithet to denote such substances as are hot, dry, and pungent to the taste. ACRIS'IA, or A'CRISY, the want of a crisis, or discriminating state, in a disorder which is very fluctuating. ACROATIC, in the Aristotelian schools, a denomination given to such lectures as were calculated only for the intimate ACOUSMATICI, in Grecian antiquity, friends and disciples of that philosopher; such disciples of Pythagoras, as had not being chiefly employed in demonstrating finished their five years' probation. The some speculative or abstruse part of philoacousmatici were instructed by bare posi-sophy. The acroatic lectures stood contive precepts and rules, without reasons or tradistinguished from the exoteric ones, demonstrations, and these precepts they which were adapted to a common auditory. called acousmata. ACROBATICA, or ACROBATICUM, in Grecian antiquity, an engine on which people were raised aloft, that they might have the better prospect. ACON'TIUM, in Grecian antiquity, a kind of dart or javelin, resembling the Roman pilum. ACOUSTICS, that branch of science which treats of the nature and modifications of sound. It is usually divided into two parts, viz. diacoustics, which explains the properties of those sounds that come directly from the sonorous body to the ear; and catacoustics, which treats of reflected sounds. Almost all sounds that affect us are conveyed to the ear by means of the air; but water is a good conductor of sound; so also are timber and flannel. It must be observed, that a body, while in the act of sounding, is in a state of vibration, which it communicates to the surrounding air, and that the undulations of the air affect the ear, and excite in us the sense of sound, Sound, of all kinds, it is ascertained, traIvels at the rate of thirteen miles in a minute: the softest whisper travels as fast as the most tremendous thunder. The knowledge of this fact has been applied to the measurement of distances. Thus, if we see a vivid flash of lightning, and in two seconds hear a tremendous clap of thunder, we may be assured that the thunder cloud is not more than 760 yards distant. ACQUITTAL, a discharge, deliverance, or setting free of a person from the guilt or suspicion of an offence. Acquittal is of two kinds; in law, and in fact. When two are indicted and tried for a felony, one as principal, the other as accessary, the principal being discharged, the accessary is, by consequence, also freed: in which case, as the accessary is acquitted by law, so is the principal in fact.-Acquittal is also used for a freedom from entries and molestations of a superior lord, on account of services issuing out of land. ACQUITTANCE, a discharge in writing for a sum of money, witnessing that the party is paid the same. ACROCERAU'NIAN, an epithet applied to certain mountains, between Epirus and Illyricum, which project into the Adriatic, and obtain their name from being often struck with lightning. ACROCHIRIS'MUS, among the Greeks, was a sort of gymnastic exercise, in which the two combatants contended with their hands and feet only, without closing or engaging the other parts of the body. It was, in fact, a species of wrestling. ACRO'DRYA, in natural history, all fruits that have rinds or shells, such as acorns, almonds, &c. ACRO'MION, in anatomy, that part of the spine of the scapula which receives the end of the clavicle. ACROMONOGRAMMATICUM, a poetical compositon, wherein each subsequent verse commences with that which the verse preceding terminates. ACRON'ICAL, or ACHRON'YCAL, in astronomy, an appellation given to the rising of a star above the horizon, at sunset; or to its setting, when the sun rises. Acronical is one of the three poetical risings of a star; the other two being called cosmical and helical. ACROPOLIS, the citadel of Athens. It was formerly the whole city, and at first called Acropia, from Acrops the founder; but, after the inhabitants were greatly increased in number, the whole plain around it was filled with buildings, and the original city became the centre, under the denomination of Acropolis, or the upper city. A'CROSPIRE, the popular term for what among botanists is called the germ, plume, or plumule. AN ECHO RETURNS A MONOSYLLABLE AT FORTY FEET DISTANCE. 9 IN ANCIENT THEATRES, ACOUSTIC VESSELS, OR TUBES OF BRASS, WERE USED TO PROPEL THE VOICE OF THE ACTORS TO A GREAT DISTANCE. 10 AT THE CLOSE OF EACH SESSION, THE ACTS OF PARLIAMENT ARE COLLECTED INTO ONE BODY, AND ARRANGED IN SEPARATE CHAPTERS. ACTION, WHEN PRODUCED BY ONE BODY ON ANOTHER, IS CALLED MECHANICAL. ACT] The Scientific and Literary Treasury; ACROSTIC, a poem, the lines of which are so contrived, that the first letters of each, taken together, will make a proper name or other word. ACROSTICUM, in botany, the name of a genus of the cryptogamia class of plants, and of that order called the filices, the fructifications of which are collected into clusters, and cover the whole under-surface of the leaves. ACROSTO'LIUM, in the naval architecture of the ancients, the extreme part of the ornament used on the prows of their ships. It was usual to tear the acrostolia from the prows of vanquished ships, as a token of victory. ACROTE'RIA, in architecture, small pedestals, upon which globes, vases, or statues stand at the ends or middle of pediments. It also denotes the figures themselves placed in such situations. Among ancient physicians, the term ACROTERIA was used to denote the larger extremities of the body. ACROTHYM'IA, in surgery, a large tumour, usually rising in the shape of a wart, though sometimes depressed and flat. ACT, in a gencral sense, denotes the exertion, or effectual application, of some power or faculty. Act is distinguished from power, as the effect from the cause, or as a thing produced, from that which produces it.ACT, among logicians, more particularly denotes an operation of the human mind; in which sense, comprehending, judging, willing, &c. are called acts.ACT, in law, is used for an instrument or deed in writing, serving to prove the truth of some bargain or transaction. Thus, records, certificates, &c. are called acts. ACT is also used for the final resolution, or decree of an assembly, senate, council, &c.ACTS of parliament are called statutes; acts of the royal society, transactions; those of the French academy of sciences, memoirs; those of the academy of sciences at Petersburg, commentaries; those of Leipsic, acta eruditorum; the decrees of the lords of session, at Edinburgh, acta sederunt, &c.-ACT, in the universities, is the delivery of orations, or other exercises, in proof of the proficiency of a student who is to take a degree. At Oxford, the time when masters or doctors complete their degrees, is called the act. At Cambridge, the same period is called the commencement.ACT, in a dramatic sense, is the name given to certain portions of a play, intended to give respite both to the spectators and the actors. In the ancient drama, five acts were required both in tragedy and comedy; and in what is termed the regular drama that rule is still observed, the acts being divided into smaller portions, called scenes. ACT OF FAITH, or AUTO-DA-FE. In dark and barbarous countries, where the Spanish inquisition had power, the act of faith was a solemn murder of infidels and heretics, usually performed on some great festival, and always on a Sunday.-ACT OF GRACE, in English law, an extraordinary [ACT act of the king in council, whereby, at the beginning of a new reign, or on other great occasions, a free pardon has been sometimes granted to criminals. ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, a canonical book of the New Testament, which contains great part of the lives of St. Peter and St. Paul; commencing at the ascension of our Saviour, and continued down to St. Paul's arrival at Rome, after his appeal to Cæsar; comprehending in all about thirty years. St. Luke has been generally taken for the author. ACTA PUBLICA, in Roman history, the journal of the senate. It seems to have resembled the votes of the House of Commons amongst us, wherein a short account was given to the public of what passed in the senate-house. ACTA DIUR'NA, was a sort of Roman gazette, containing an authorised narrative of the transactions worthy of notice, which happened at Rome. ACTA CONSISTOʻRII, the edicts or declarations of the council of state of the emperors. ACTIAN GAMES, or LUDI ACTIACA, were instituted in commemoration of the victory obtained by Augustus over Anthony at Actium. They returned every fifth year, according to the general opinion, and were sacred to Apollo, who was then called Actius Apollo. Actian years became an era, commencing from the battle of Actium, called also the era of Augustus. The Actian games consisted of shows of gladiators, wrestlers, and other exercises, and were kept generally at Nicopolis, a city built by Augustus, near Actium, for that purpose, with a view to perpetuate the fame of his victory. ACTIN'IA, or SEA ANEMONIES, in zoology, a genus belonging to the order of vermes molluscæ. They are viviparous, and form one of those wonderful links in the chain of creation, that connect the animal and vegetable kingdoms, by partaking of the nature of both. ACTIN'OLITE, a mineral, of which there are three varieties, the crystallized, the asbestous, and the glassy. It is principally found in primitive districts, with a magnesian basis. ACTION, in mechanics and physics, is the pressure or percussion of one body against another. It is one of the laws of nature, that action and re-action are equal, that is, the resistance of the body moved is always equal to the force communicated to it; or, which is the same thing, the moving body loses as much of its force as it communicates to the body moved. ACTION, in ethics, something done by a free or moral agent, capable of distinguishing good from evil. The essence of a moral action consists in its being done knowingly and voluntarily: that is, the agent must not only be able to distinguish whether it be good or bad in itself; but he must likewise be entirely free from compulsion of any kind, and at full liberty to follow the dictates of his own understanding. Hence ACTION, WHEN PRODUCED BY ONE'S OWN WILL, IS SPONTANEOUS OR VOLUNTARY. THE WORD ACTION IS GENERALLY USED FOR ORDINARY TRANSACTIONS; AND ACT, FOR SUCH AS ARE REMARKABLE OR DIGNIFIED. ACTIVE CAPITAL, IS PROPERTY THAT MAY READILY BE CONVERTED INTO MONEY, AND USED IN TRADE OR COMMERCE FOR PROFIT. THE COMMERCE OF GREAT BRITAIN IS ACTIVE; THAT OF CHINA IS PASSIVE. ACT] A New Dictionary of the Belles Lettres. the actions of idiots, slaves, &c. cannot be "With those who laugh, our social joy ap- If you would have me weep, begin the strain, ACTION, in a theatrical sense, is nearly the same with action among orators; only the actor adapts his action to an assumed character, whereas the orator is supposed to be in reality what his action expresses. -ACTION, in painting and sculpture, denotes the posture of a statue or picture, serving to express some passion, &c. ACTION, in the military art, is an engage. ment between two armies, or between different bodies of troops belonging thereto. ACTIONS, in law, are either criminal or civil. [For the various kinds, see Dictionary of Law Terms, in the "Treasury of Knowledge."] ACTIONARY, in commerce, a term used among foreigners, for the proprietor of an action or share of a public company's stock. ACTIVE, in a general sense, denotes something that communicates motion or action to another, in which sense it stands opposed to passive.ACTIVE, among grammarians, an appellation given to words expressing some action, as I write, I read, &c. ACTIVE POWER, in metaphysics, the power of executing any work or labour; in contradistinction to speculative powers, as those of seeing, hearing, reasoning, &c. -ACTIVE PRINCIPLES, in chemistry, those which act of themselves, without any foreign assistance: such are mercury, sulphur, and salt, supposed to be. Some authors contend that sulphur, or fire, is the only active principle and source of all the motion in the world; and there are others who call oil, salt, and spirit, active principles, merely because their parts are better fitted for motion than those of earth or water. ACTOR, in a dramatic sense, is a man who enacts some part or character in a play. It is remarkable with what difference actors were treated among the ancients. At Athens they were held in such esteem, as to be sometimes sent on embassies to foreign powers; whereas, at Rome, if a citizen became an actor, he thereby forfeited his freedom. Actors in the present day have little to complain of, in regard to the treatment they receive: according as they contribute to the gratification of the public so are they rewarded; [ADA and if their moral conduct be irreproachable, no persons are more esteemed or lauded. ACTRESS, a female dramatic performer. They were unknown to the ancients, among whom men always took the parts of women. Nor were they introduced on the English stage till the days of the Stuarts. ACTUA'RIUS, or ACTA'RIUS, in Roman antiquity, an officer, or rather notary, appointed to write down the proceedings of a court.-Actuarii were also officers who kept the military accounts, and distributed the corn to the soldiers. ACTUARY, the chief clerk, or person, who compiles minutes of the proceedings of a company in business. ACTUS, in antiquity, a measure of length containing one hundred and twenty Roman feet. ACU'LEATE, or ACU'LEATED, an appellation given to any thing that has aculei, or prickles: thus, in ichthyology, fishes are divided into aculeated, and non-aculeated. ACU'MEN, mental sharpness, or quick discernment; great intellectual capacity. In ancient music, acumen denotes a sound produced by raising the voice to a high pitch. ACU'MINA, in antiquity, a kind of military omen, taken from the points or edges of spears, swords, &c. ACUPUNCTURATION, an oriental practice of puncturing diseased parts of the body with fine needles, by which the morbid galvanic action of the parts is restored, and painful disorders removed. In China and Japan it has been a part of their system of surgery time out of mind, and of late years it has been in some repute in England. ACUTE, an appellation given to such things as terminate in a sharp point, or edge: thus, we say an acute angle, acuteangled triangle, &c.-ACUTE, in music, an epithet given to sharp or shrill sounds, in opposition to those called grave.-ACUTE DISEASES are distinguished from CHRONIC, by being attended with violent symptoms, and requiring immediate aid: chronic diseases, those which usually last long. ACYROLO'GIA, in grammar, denotes an improper word, phrase, or expression: it differs a little from the catachresis. AD, a Latin preposition, expressing the relation of one thing to another. It is frequently prefixed to other words: thus, AD HOMINEM, among logicians, an argument drawn from the professed belief or principles of those with whom we argue.AD LUDOS, in Roman antiquity, a kind of punishment, whereby the criminals entertained the people, either by fighting with wild beasts, or with each other.AD VALOREM, in commerce, according to the value.-AD INFINITUM, indefinitely, or to infinity. ADA'GIO, a degree quicker than grave time, in music, but with graceful and elegant execution. AD'AMANT, a sort of diamond, and the ADAMANTINE SPAR WILL CUT GLASS EASILY, AND SCRATCH ROCK CRYSTAL. ACTIVE COMMERCE, IS THAT IN WHICH A NATION CARRIES ITS OWN PRODUCTIONS AND FOREIGN COMMODITIES IN ITS OWN SHIPS. 11 12 IN THE ROMAN LAW, THE MAKING OVER GOODS TO ANOTHER, EITHER BY SALE OR LEGAL SENTENCE, WAS TERMED BONA ADDICTA. ADJ] ADHESION IS USED IN A LITERAL SENSE; ADHERENCE, METAPHORICALLY. The Scientific and Literary Treasury; hardest, most brilliant, and most valuable of the precious stones. ADDER, a small poisonous serpent with plaits on the belly, and scales under the tail; it is by no means rare in Britain. ADDICTI, in Roman history, those who were delivered over to their creditors to be made slaves until they discharged their debts. ADDITION, in a general sense, is the uniting or joining several things together: or, it denotes something added to another. -ADDITION, in arithmetic, the first of the four fundamental rules of that art, whereby we connect into a total sum several small ones. When the number has only one kind of figures, it is called simple addition; when it has two or several denominations, it is compound.-ADDITIONS in law, denote all kinds of designations given to a man, over and above his proper name and surname, to show his estate, degree, profession, place of abode, &c. ADENOGʻRAPHY, or ADENOLOGY, that part of anatomy which treats of the glands. ADDORSED, a term in heraldry, signifying back to back. A'DEPS, in anatomy, denotes the fat found in the abdomen; differing from the common fat or pinguedo, as being thicker, harder, and of a more earthy substance. ADEPS, among physicians, is used in a more general sense, for all kinds of animal fat. ADHE'SION, the phenomenon by which the particles of bodies continue together. Adhesion denotes union to a certain point between two bodies, and Cohesion retains together the component particles of the same mass.-ADHESION, among logicians, denotes the maintaining some tenet, merely on account of its supposed advantage, without any positive evidence of its truth. -In medicine, it signifies the junction of parts that ought to be separated. ADIAN THUM, in botany, maiden-hair; a genus of plants of the order filices, and class cryptogamia. They are perennials. ADIPO CERE, a substance resembling spermaceti, which is formed from an animal in its progress towards decomposition. ADIPOSE, in a general sense, denotes something belonging to the fat of the body. The term adipose is chiefly used by physicians and anatomists, in whose writings we read of adipose cells, adipose ducts, adipose membranes, adipose vessels, &c. A'DIT OF A MINE, the aperture whereby it is entered, and the water and ores carried away; it is distinguished from the airshaft, and usually made on the side of a hill. ADIT OF A SHIP, in antiquity, was a space in the upper part, where the ship was widest, at which people entered.ADITS OF A THEATRE, were doors on the stairs, whereby persons entered from the outer porticoes, and descended into the seats. ADJECTIVE, in grammar, a word expressing some quality, or other accident, of the substantive with which it is joined. ADJOURNMENT, the putting off a [ADM court or other meeting till another day. In parliament, adjournment differs from prorogation, the former being not only for the shorter time, but also done by the house itself, whereas the latter is an act of royal authority. AD'JUNCT, some quality belonging either to body or mind, either natural or acquired. Thus, thinking is an adjunct of the mind, and growth of the body. It also denotes something added to another, without being any necessary part of it. Thus water absorbed by a sponge is an adjunct, but no necessary part of that substance. ADJUTANT, a military officer, whose duty it is to carry orders from the major to the colonel and serjeants. When detachments are to be made, he gives the number to be furnished by each company or troop, and assigns the hour and place of rendezvous. He also places the guards, receives and distributes the ammunition to the companies, &c. AD'JUTANT-GENERAL, an officer of distinction, who assists the general, by forming the several details of duty of the army with the brigade majors. ADLOCUTION, or ADLOCUTIO, in Roman antiquity, the address made by generals to their armies, in order to rouse their courage before a battle. ADMIN'ICLE, in Scotch law, signifies any writing or deed referred to by a party, in an action of law, proving his allegations. ADMINISTRATION, the executive government of a country. ADMINISTRATOR, in law, the person to whom the estate and effects of an intestate are committed, for which he is to be accountable when required. ADMIRAL, the commander of a fleet of ships of war; having two subordinate commanders, as vice-admiral and rear-admiral; and distinguished into three classes, by the colour of their flags, as white, blue, and red. The admiral carries his flag at the main-top-mast head; the vice-admiral at the fore-top-mast head; and the rear-admiral, at the mizen-top-mast head.-The LORD HIGH ADMIRAL OF GREAT BRITAIN, called in some ancient records, Capitaneus Marinorum, is judge or president of the court of admiralty. He has the management of all maritime affairs, and the government of the royal navy, with power of deciding in all maritime causes, both civil and criminal. In short, his power is so extensive and absolute in all matters that come under his cognizance, that the office has usually been given to princes of the blood, or the most eminent persons among the nobility. For a short time it was filled by his late Majesty William IV. when duke of Clarence, after having been in abeyance just a century; during which period, as at present, the office was executed by a certain number of commissioners, called lords of the admiralty. ADMIRALTY, COURT OF, is a sovereign court, instituted by Edward III., and held by the lord high-admiral, or the commissioners of the admiralty; where cognizance THE ADIT, OR HORIZONTAL ENTRANCE OF A MINE, IS ALSO CALLED THE DRIFT. AMONG THE JESUITS, A SELECT NUMBER WERE CALLED ADJUTANTS-GENERAL, EACH OF WHOM HAD A PROVINCE OR COUNTRY ASSIGNED HIM. |