n. [ L. alimentum, fr. alere to nourish; akin to Goth. alan to grow, Icel. ala to nourish: cf. F. aliment. See Old. ] 1. That which nourishes; food; nutriment; anything which feeds or adds to a substance in natural growth. Hence: The necessaries of life generally: sustenance; means of support. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aliments of their sloth and weakness. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An allowance for maintenance. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To nourish; to support. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To provide for the maintenance of. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Supplying food; having the quality of nourishing; furnishing the materials for natural growth; as, alimental sap. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. So as to serve for nourishment or food; nourishing quality. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being alimentary; nourishing quality. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. alimentarius, fr. alimentum: cf. F. alimentaire. ] Pertaining to aliment or food, or to the function of nutrition; nutritious; alimental; as, alimentary substances. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alimentary canal, the entire channel, extending from the mouth to the anus, by which aliments are conveyed through the body, and the useless parts ejected. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. alimentation, LL. alimentatio. ] 1. The act or process of affording nutriment; the function of the alimentary canal. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. State or mode of being nourished. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The instinct or faculty of appetite for food. [ Chiefly in Phrenol. ] [ 1913 Webster ]