n. [ The proper name used as an appellative. ] A lady's waiting-maid. Pepys. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her abigail reported that Mrs. Gutheridge had a set of night curls for sleeping in. Leslie. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ F., shaded enamel. ] (Fine Arts) An art or process of flooding transparent colored glaze over designs stamped or molded on earthenware or porcelain. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (a) A stretched wire or rope elevated above the ground and forming a way along which a trolley may travel, for conveying a load suspended from the trolley. (b) An elevated cableway. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. pl. (Naut.) The sails on the mizzenmast, or on the stays between the mainmast and mizzenmast. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. angnægl; ange vexation, trouble + nægel nail. Cf. Hangnail. ] 1. A corn on the toe or foot. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An inflammation or sore under or around the nail; also, a hangnail. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ailed p. pr. & vb. n. Ailing. ] [ OE. eilen, ailen, AS. eglan to trouble, pain; akin to Goth. us-agljan to distress, agls troublesome, irksome, aglo, aglitha, pain, and prob. to E. awe. √3. ] To affect with pain or uneasiness, either physical or mental; to trouble; to be the matter with; -- used to express some uneasiness or affection, whose cause is unknown; as, what ails the man? I know not what ails him. [ 1913 Webster ]

What aileth thee, Hagar? Gen. xxi. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is never used to express a specific disease. We do not say, a fever ails him; but, something ails him. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be affected with pain or uneasiness of any sort; to be ill or indisposed or in trouble. [ 1913 Webster ]

When he ails ever so little . . . he is so peevish. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Indisposition or morbid affection. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Ailantus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From aylanto, i. e., tree of heaven, the name of the tree in the Moluccas. ] (Bot.) A genus of beautiful trees, natives of the East Indies. The tree imperfectly diœcious, and the staminate or male plant is very offensive when blossom. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., dim. of aile wing. ] 1. A half gable, as at the end of a penthouse or of the aisle of a church. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Aëronautics) A small plane or surface capable of being manipulated by the pilot of a flying machine to control lateral balance; a hinged wing tip; a lateral stabilizing or balancing plane. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F. ailette, dim. of aile wing, L. ala. ] A small square shield, formerly worn on the shoulders of knights, -- being the prototype of the modern epaulet. Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. sick; unhealthy. Opposite of well or healthy.
Syn. -- indisposed, peaked(predicate), poorly(predicate), sickly, unwell. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Indisposition; morbid affection of the body; -- not applied ordinarily to acute diseases. “Little ailments.” Landsdowne. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; cat + -oid. ] (Zool.) A group of the Carnivora, which includes the cats, civets, and hyenas. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 in some classifications considered the family comprising the giant pandas.
Syn. -- family Ailuropodidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. 1 a genus comprising the lesser pandas.
Syn. -- genus Ailurus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

[ All + hail, interj. ] All health; -- a phrase of salutation or welcome. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To salute; to greet. [ Poet. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all-hailed me “Thane of Cawdor.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Apparel, n. & v. ] Preparation. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assailed p. pr. & vb. n. Assailing. ] [ OE. assailen, asailen, OF. asaillir, assailler, F. assaillir; a (L. ad) + saillir to burst out, project, fr. L. salire to leap, spring; cf. L. assilire to leap or spring upon. See Sally. ] 1. To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery. [ 1913 Webster ]

No rude noise mine ears assailing. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

No storm can now assail
The charm he wears within. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; as, to assail one with appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The papal authority . . . assailed. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See Attack. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being assailed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. assaillant, p. pr. of assaillir. ] Assailing; attacking. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. assaillant. ] One who, or that which, assails, attacks, or assaults; an assailer. [ 1913 Webster ]

An assailant of the church. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who assails. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or power of assailing; attack; assault. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His most frequent assailment was the headache. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Native name. ] (Zool.) The sloth bear (Melursus labiatus) of India. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE. for amel, enamel. ] To figure or variegate. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Availed (&unr_;); p. pr. & vb. n. Availing. ] [ OE. availen, fr. F. &unr_; (L. ad) + valoir to be worth, fr. L. valere to be strong, to be worth. See Valiant. ] 1. To turn to the advantage of; to be of service to; to profit; to benefit; to help; as, artifices will not avail the sinner in the day of judgment. [ 1913 Webster ]

O, what avails me now that honor high ! Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To promote; to assist. [ Obs. ] Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

To avail one's self of, to make use of; take advantage of. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have availed myself of the very first opportunity. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be of use or advantage; to answer the purpose; to have strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object; as, the plea in bar must avail, that is, be sufficient to defeat the suit; this scheme will not avail; medicines will not avail to check the disease. “What signs avail ?” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Words avail very little with me, young man. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor, without economy, is of little avail. [ 1913 Webster ]

The avail of a deathbed repentance. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. Proceeds; as, the avails of a sale by auction. [ 1913 Webster ]

The avails of their own industry. Stoddard. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Use; benefit; utility; profit; service. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. See Avale, v. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Availabilities 1. The quality of being available; availableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The word is sometimes used derogatively in the sense of “mere availableness, ” or capability of success without regard to worthiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was . . . nominated for his availability. Lowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is available. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having sufficient power, force, or efficacy, for the object; effectual; valid; as, an available plea. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Laws human are available by consent. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Such as one may avail one's self of; capable of being used for the accomplishment of a purpose; usable; profitable; advantageous; convertible into a resource; as, an available measure; an available candidate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Struggling to redeem, as he did, the available months and days out of so many that were unavailable. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Having no available funds with which to pay the calls on new shares. H. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Competent power; validity; efficacy; as, the availableness of a title. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Quality of being available; capability of being used for the purpose intended. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Profit; advantage. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. esventail. Cf. Ventail. ] The movable front to a helmet; the ventail. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. baille a bucket, pail; cf. LL. bacula, dim. of bacca a sort of vessel. Cf. Bac. ] A bucket or scoop used in bailing water out of a boat. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The bail of a canoe . . . made of a human skull. Capt. Cook. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bailed p. pr. & vb. n. Bailing. ] 1. To lade; to dip and throw; -- usually with out; as, to bail water out of a boat. [ 1913 Webster ]

Buckets . . . to bail out the water. Capt. J. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dip or lade water from; -- often with out to express completeness; as, to bail a boat. [ 1913 Webster ]

By the help of a small bucket and our hats we bailed her out. R. H. Dana, Jr. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OF. bailler to give, to deliver, fr. L. bajulare to bear a burden, keep in custody, fr. bajulus he who bears burdens. ] 1. To deliver; to release. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Ne none there was to rescue her, ne none to bail. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) (a) To set free, or deliver from arrest, or out of custody, on the undertaking of some other person or persons that he or they will be responsible for the appearance, at a certain day and place, of the person bailed. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The word is applied to the magistrate or the surety. The magistrate bails (but admits to bail is commoner) a man when he liberates him from arrest or imprisonment upon bond given with sureties. The surety bails a person when he procures his release from arrest by giving bond for his appearance. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To deliver, as goods in trust, for some special object or purpose, upon a contract, expressed or implied, that the trust shall be faithfully executed on the part of the bailee, or person intrusted; as, to bail cloth to a tailor to be made into a garment; to bail goods to a carrier. Blackstone. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. bail guardian, administrator, fr. L. bajulus. See Bail to deliver. ] 1. Custody; keeping. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Silly Faunus now within their bail. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) (a) The person or persons who procure the release of a prisoner from the custody of the officer, or from imprisonment, by becoming surety for his appearance in court. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bail must be real, substantial bondsmen. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

A. and B. were bail to the arrest in a suit at law. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) The security given for the appearance of a prisoner in order to obtain his release from custody of the officer; as, the man is out on bail; to go bail for any one. [ 1913 Webster ]

Excessive bail ought not to be required. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. beyl; cf. Dan. böile a bending, ring, hoop, Sw. bögel, bygel, and Icel. beyla hump, swelling, akin to E. bow to bend. ] 1. The arched handle of a kettle, pail, or similar vessel, usually movable. Forby. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A half hoop for supporting the cover of a carrier's wagon, awning of a boat, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. bail, baille. See Bailey. ] 1. (Usually pl.) A line of palisades serving as an exterior defense. [ Written also bayle. ] [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The outer wall of a feudal castle. Hence: The space inclosed by it; the outer court. Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A certain limit within a forest. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A division for the stalls of an open stable. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Cricket) The top or cross piece (or either of the two cross pieces) of the wicket. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having the right or privilege of being admitted to bail, upon bond with sureties; -- used of persons. “He's bailable, I'm sure.” Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Admitting of bail; as, a bailable offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That can be delivered in trust; as, bailable goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Law) (a) A bond or obligation given by a prisoner and his surety, to insure the prisoner's appearance in court, at the return of the writ. (b) Special bail in court to abide the judgment. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. baillé, p. p. of bailler. See Bail to deliver. ] (Law) The person to whom goods are committed in trust, and who has a temporary possession and a qualified property in them, for the purposes of the trust. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In penal statutes the word includes those who receive goods for another in good faith. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) See Bailor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who bails or lades. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A utensil, as a bucket or cup, used in bailing; a machine for bailing water out of a pit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ The same word as bail line of palisades; cf. LL. ballium bailey, OF. bail, baille, a palisade, baillier to inclose, shut. ] 1. The outer wall of a feudal castle. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The space immediately within the outer wall of a castle or fortress. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A prison or court of justice; -- used in certain proper names; as, the Old Bailey in London; the New Bailey in Manchester. [ Eng. ] Oxf. Gloss. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Bailiff. ] An officer in Scotland, whose office formerly corresponded to that of sheriff, but now corresponds to that of an English alderman. [ 1913 Webster ]