‖n. [ L. adarce, adarca, Gr. &unr_;. ] A saltish concretion on reeds and grass in marshy grounds in Galatia. It is soft and porous, and was formerly used for cleansing the skin from freckles and tetters, and also in leprosy. Dana. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; without head or chief; 'an priv. + &unr_; beginning, the first place, magistracy, government. ] The author of anarchy; one who excites revolt. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Imperial anarchs doubling human woes. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Lawless; anarchical. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We are in the habit of calling those bodies of men anarchal which are in a state of effervescence. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. anarchique. ] Pertaining to anarchy; without rule or government; in political confusion; tending to produce anarchy; as, anarchic despotism; anarchical opinions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. anarchisme. ] The doctrine or practice of anarchists. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. anarchiste. ] An anarch; one who advocates anarchy of aims at the overthrow of civil government. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To reduce to anarchy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. anarchie. See Anarch. ] 1. Absence of government; the state of society where there is no law or supreme power; a state of lawlessness; political confusion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spread anarchy and terror all around. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, confusion or disorder, in general. [ 1913 Webster ]

There being then . . . an anarchy, as I may term it, in authors and their re&unr_;koning of years. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. 'ana` throughout + sa`rx, sarko`s, flesh. ] (Med.) Severe generalized edema. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

a. Belonging, or affected by, anasarca, or dropsy; dropsical. Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. anti- + Gr. &unr_; government. ] Opposition to government in general. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who opposes all government. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Opposed to all human government. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. antartik, OF. antartique, F. antarctique, L. antarcticus, fr. Gr. &unr_;; 'anti` + 'a`rktos bear. See Arctic. ] Opposite to the northern or arctic pole; relating to the southern pole or to the region near it, and applied especially to a circle, distant from the pole 23° 28′. Thus we say the antarctic pole, circle, ocean, region, current, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } Opposed to monarchial government. Bp. Benson. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An enemy to monarchial government. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. arc, L. arcus bow, arc. See Arch, n. ] 1. (Geom.) A portion of a curved line; as, the arc of a circle or of an ellipse. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A curvature in the shape of a circular arc or an arch; as, the colored arc (the rainbow); the arc of Hadley's quadrant. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An arch. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Statues and trophies, and triumphal arcs. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The apparent arc described, above or below the horizon, by the sun or other celestial body. The diurnal arc is described during the daytime, the nocturnal arc during the night. [ 1913 Webster ]

Electric arc,
Voltaic arc. See under Voltaic. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Arcked p. pr. & vb. n. Arcking. ] (Elec.) To form a voltaic arc, as an electrical current in a broken or disconnected circuit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. 1 the type genus of the family Arcidae, including ark shells and blood clams.
Syn. -- genus Arca. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. arcade, Sp. arcada, LL. arcata, fr. L. arcus bow, arch. ] 1. (Arch.) (a) A series of arches with the columns or piers which support them, the spandrels above, and other necessary appurtenances; sometimes open, serving as an entrance or to give light; sometimes closed at the back (as in the cut) and forming a decorative feature. (b) A long, arched building or gallery. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An arched or covered passageway or avenue. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Furnished with an arcade. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. Arcadia, Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. A mountainous and picturesque district of Greece, in the heart of the Peloponnesus, whose people were distinguished for contentment and rural happiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: Any region or scene of simple pleasure and untroubled quiet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where the cow is, there is Arcadia. J. Burroughs. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. Arcadius, Arcadicus, fr. Arcadia: cf. F. Arcadien, Arcadique. ] 1. Of or pertaining to Arcadia; pastoral; ideally rural; as, Arcadian simplicity or scenery. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. the dialect of Ancient Greek spoken by Arcadians. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. arcanus. ] Hidden; secret. [ Obs. ] “The arcane part of divine wisdom.” Berkeley. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Arcana [ L., fr. arcanus closed, secret, fr. arca chest, box, fr. arcere to inclose. See Ark. ] 1. A secret; a mystery; -- generally used in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inquiries into the arcana of the Godhead. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) A secret remedy; an elixir. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] (Arch.) A buttress that stands apart from the main structure and connected to it by an arch; same as flying buttress. Gwilt.
Syn. -- flying buttress [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

n. An amoebalike protozoan with a chitinous shell resembling an umbrella. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A natural family of soil and freshwater protozoa; cosmopolitan.
Syn. -- family Arcellidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A genus of chiefly American plants parasitic on conifers.
Syn. -- genus Arceuthobium. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. arche, fr. LL. arca, for arcus. See Arc. ] 1. (Geom.) Any part of a curved line. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) (a) Usually a curved member made up of separate wedge-shaped solids, with the joints between them disposed in the direction of the radii of the curve; used to support the wall or other weight above an opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round (i. e., semicircular), or pointed. (b) A flat arch is a member constructed of stones cut into wedges or other shapes so as to support each other without rising in a curve. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Scientifically considered, the arch is a means of spanning an opening by resolving vertical pressure into horizontal or diagonal thrust. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any place covered by an arch; an archway; as, to pass into the arch of a bridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any curvature in the form of an arch; as, the arch of the aorta. “Colors of the showery arch.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Triumphal arch, a monumental structure resembling an arched gateway, with one or more passages, erected to commemorate a triumph. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Arched p. pr. & vb. n. Arching. ] 1. To cover with an arch or arches. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To form or bend into the shape of an arch. [ 1913 Webster ]

The horse arched his neck. Charlesworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To form into an arch; to curve. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Arch-, pref. ] 1. Chief; eminent; greatest; principal. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most arch act of piteous massacre. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Cunning or sly; sportively mischievous; roguish; as, an arch look, word, lad. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] spoke his request with so arch a leer. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Arch-, pref. ] A chief. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

My worthy arch and patron comes to-night. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ L. arch-, Gr. 'arch- = 'archi-. See Arch-. ] A prefix signifying chief, as in archbuilder, archfiend. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Gr. 'archo`s chief, commander, 'a`rchein to rule. See Arch, a. ] A suffix meaning a ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient, fr. 'archh` beginning. ] Ancient; pertaining to the earliest period in geological history. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Geol.) The earliest period in geological period, extending up to the Lower Silurian. It includes an Azoic age, previous to the appearance of life, and an Eozoic age, including the earliest forms of life. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This is equivalent to the formerly accepted term Azoic, and to the Eozoic of Dawson. [ 1913 Webster ]

, n. (Microbiol.) A group of single-celled microorganisms including the methanogens and some halophiles and thermoacidophiles, recognized in the 1970's by C. R. Woese and his colleagues as being a distinct group on the basis of RNA sequences, cell walls, and coenzymes differing from those of other microbes. It is believed to be an ancient form of living organism that evolved separately from the eubacteria and blue-green algae. It is classified as a separate kingdom by some taxonomists. See also The Archaebacteria. [ PJC ]

n. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient + -graphy. ] A description of, or a treatise on, antiquity or antiquities. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient + liqiko`s pertaining to a stone. ] (Archæol.) Of or pertaining to the earliest Stone age; -- applied to a prehistoric period preceding the Paleolithic age. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An archæologist. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } Relating to archæology, or antiquities; as, archæological researches. -- Ar`*chæ*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. One versed in archæology; an antiquary. Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'archaiologi`a; 'archai^os ancient (fr. 'archh` beginning) + lo`gos discourse, le`gein to speak. ] The science or study of antiquities, esp. prehistoric antiquities, such as the remains of buildings or monuments of an early epoch, inscriptions, implements, and other relics, written manuscripts, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient + pte`ryx wing. ] (Paleon.) A fossil bird, of the Jurassic period, remarkable for having a long tapering tail of many vertebræ with feathers along each side, and jaws armed with teeth, with other reptilian characteristics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. an extinct primitive toothed bird with a long feathered tail and three free clawed digits on each wing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. 1 a subclass of primitive reptilelike fossil birds of the Jurassic or early Cretaceous.
Syn. -- subclass Archaeornithes [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient + sto`ma mouth. ] (Biol.) Applied to a gastrula when the blastopore does not entirely close up. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient + zw^, on animal. ] (Zool.) Like or belonging to the earliest forms of animal life. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Geol.) formed in or belonging to the earlier of two divisions of the Precambrian era. archaeozoic life forms
Syn. -- archeozoic [ WordNet 1.5 ]