n. [ Gr. &unr_;, fr. Syr. ōkēl damō the field of blood. ] The potter's field, said to have lain south of Jerusalem, purchased with the bribe which Judas took for betraying his Master, and therefore called the field of blood. Fig.: A field of bloodshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

The system of warfare . . . which had already converted immense tracts into one universal aceldama. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Acetic aldehyde. See Aldehyde. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Prob. p. p. of OE. acolen to grow cold or cool, AS. ācōlian to grow cold; pref. a- (cf. Goth. er-, orig. meaning out) + cōlian to cool. See Cool. ] Cold. [ Obs. ] “Poor Tom's acold.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Pref. a- + field. ] 1. To, in, or on the field. “We drove afield.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

How jocund did they drive their team afield! Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Out of the way; astray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why should he wander afield at the age of fifty-five! Trollope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 (Zool.) a dog (Lycaon pictus) with mottled fur found in Africa, notable for the strong social structure of its family groups.
Syn. -- painted wolf, African hunting dog. [ PJC ]

adj. 1. 1 of very long duration
Syn. -- ancient [ WordNet 1.5 ]

4. having reached a desired or final condition as a result of standing for a period of time; -- of wines, whiskey, fruit, or cheeses. As a result of having been aged, the product may be said to be mature or ripe (vs. green).
Syn. -- ripened [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. [ Pref. a- + hold. ] Near the wind; as, to lay a ship ahold. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 a place where planes take off and land; an airport; -- usually used of airports other than those with regularly sheduled commercial flights, such as those at military bases or small fields for private aircraft.
Syn. -- landing field, flying field, field [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ Sp. alcalde, fr. Ar. al-qādī judge, fr. qada to decide, judge. Hence, the cadi of the Turks. Cf. Cadi. ] A magistrate or judge in Spain and in Spanish America, etc. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Sometimes confounded with Alcaid. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Sp. Alcaldía. ] The jurisdiction or office of an alcalde; also, the building or chamber in which he conducts the business of his office. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. Continually. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. [ Ar. al-debarān, fr. dabar to follow; so called because this star follows upon the Pleiades. ] (Astron.) A red star of the first magnitude, situated in the eye of Taurus; the Bull's Eye. It is the bright star in the group called the Hyades. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now when Aldebaran was mounted high
Above the shiny Cassiopeia's chair. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Abbrev. fr. alcohol dehydrogenatum, alcohol deprived of its hydrogen. ] 1. (Chem.) A colorless, mobile, and very volatile liquid obtained from alcohol by certain processes of oxidation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) Any compound having the group -CHO. Methyl aldehyde, the simplest aldehyde, is more commonly called formaldehyde, H-CHO, and acetic aldehyde is now more commonly called acetaldehyde. The higher aldehydes may be solids. A reducing sugar typically contains the aldehyde group. [ PJC ]

☞ The aldehydes are intermediate between the alcohols and acids, and differ from the alcohols in having two less hydrogen atoms in the molecule, as common aldehyde (called also acetaldehyde, acetic aldehyde or ethyl aldehyde), C2H4O; methyl aldehyde (called also formaldehyde), CH2O. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Aldehyde ammonia (Chem.), a compound formed by the union of aldehyde with ammonia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to aldehyde; as, aldehydic acid. Miller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. aldir, aller, fr. AS. alr, aler, alor, akin to D. els, G. erle, Icel. erlir, erli, Swed. al, Dan. elle, el, L. alnus, and E. elm. ] (Bot.) A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus Alnus. The wood is used by turners, etc.; the bark by dyers and tanners. In the U. S. the species of alder are usually shrubs or small trees. [ 1913 Webster ]

Black alder. (a) A European shrub (Rhamnus frangula); Alder buckthorn. (b) An American species of holly (Ilex verticillata), bearing red berries. [ 1913 Webster ]

. 1. Any of numerous dark-colored neuropterous insects of the genus Sialis or allied genera. They have predaceous aquatic larvæ, which are used for bait. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Angling) An artificial fly with brown mottled wings, body of peacock harl, and black legs. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ For allerliefest dearest of all. See Lief. ] Most beloved. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Aldermen [ AS. aldormon, ealdorman; ealdor an elder + man. See Elder, n. ] 1. A senior or superior; a person of rank or dignity. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to princes, dukes, earls, senators, and presiding magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom or authority. Thus Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called Alderman of all England; and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective districts. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One of a board or body of municipal officers next in order to the mayor and having a legislative function. They may, in some cases, individually exercise some magisterial and administrative functions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office of an alderman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to, becoming to, or like, an alderman; characteristic of an alderman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Aldermen collectively; the body of aldermen. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being an alderman. [ Jocular ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like or suited to an alderman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or like, an alderman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or like, an alderman. “An aldermanly discretion.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The district or ward of an alderman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The office or rank of an alderman. [ R. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The condition, position, or office of an alderman. Fabyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Made of alder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often called Jersey cattle. See Jersey, 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bibliog.) An epithet applied to editions (chiefly of the classics) which proceeded from the press of Aldus Manitius, and his family, of Venice, for the most part in the 16th century and known by the sign of the anchor and the dolphin. The term has also been applied to certain elegant editions of English works. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Aldehyde + -ol as in alcohol. ] (Chem.) A colorless liquid, C4H8O2, obtained by condensation of two molecules of acetaldehyde: CH3CHO + CH3CHO = H3CH(OH)CH2CO; also, any of various derivatives of this. The same reaction has been applied, under the name of
aldol condensation, to the production of many compounds. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ } a. [ From ealra, alra, gen. pl. of AS. eal. The d is excrescent. ] Of all; -- used in composition; as, alderbest, best of all, alderwisest, wisest of all. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The hold or grip of an anchor, or that to which it holds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: Firm hold: security. [ 1913 Webster ]

A metal-hubbed wheel of great strength and elasticity, esp. adapted for artillery carriages and motor cars. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ See Old. ] Old; as, Auld Reekie (old smoky), i. e., Edinburgh. [ Scot. & Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A Scottish phrase used in recalling recollections of times long since past. “The days of auld lang syne.” [ 1913 Webster ]

{ }. (Eccl. Hist.) (a) A member of the conservative party in the Church of Scotland in the latter part of the 18th century. (b) Same as Burgher, n., 2. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ OE. balled, ballid, perh. the p. p. of ball to reduce to the roundness or smoothness of a ball, by removing hair. √85. But cf. W. bali whiteness in a horse's forehead. ] 1. Destitute of the natural or common covering on the head or top, as of hair, feathers, foliage, trees, etc.; as, a bald head; a bald oak. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the bald top of an eminence. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Destitute of ornament; unadorned; bare; literal. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the preface to his own bald translation. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Undisguised. “ Bald egotism.” Lowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Destitute of dignity or value; paltry; mean. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Bot.) Destitute of a beard or awn; as, bald wheat. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Zool.) (a) Destitute of the natural covering. (b) Marked with a white spot on the head; bald-faced. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bald buzzard (Zool.), the fishhawk or osprey. --
Bald coot (Zool.), a name of the European coot (Fulica atra), alluding to the bare patch on the front of the head. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. baldachinus, baldechinus, a canopy of rich silk carried over the host; fr. Bagdad, It. Baldacco, a city in Turkish Asia from whence these rich silks came: cf. It. baldacchino. Cf. Baudekin. ] 1. A rich brocade; baudekin. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) A structure in form of a canopy, sometimes supported by columns, and sometimes suspended from the roof or projecting from the wall; generally placed over an altar; as, the baldachin in St. Peter's. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A portable canopy borne over shrines, etc., in procession. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Written also baldachino, baldaquin, etc. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) The white-headed eagle (Haliæetus leucocephalus) of America. The young, until several years old, lack the white feathers on the head. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The bald eagle is represented in the coat of arms, and on the coins, of the United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. [ Icel. Baldr, akin to E. bold. ] (Scan. Myth.) The most beautiful and beloved of the gods; the god of peace; the son of Odin and Freya. [ Written also Baldur. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Of uncertain origin: cf. Dan. balder noise, clatter, and E. dash; hence, perhaps, unmeaning noise, then hodgepodge, mixture; or W. baldorduss a prattling, baldordd, baldorddi, to prattle. ] 1. A worthless mixture, especially of liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]

Indeed beer, by a mixture of wine, hath lost both name and nature, and is called balderdash. Taylor (Drink and Welcome). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Senseless jargon; ribaldry; nonsense; trash. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To mix or adulterate, as liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wine merchants of Nice brew and balderdash, and even
mix it with pigeon's dung and quicklime. Smollett. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a white face or a white mark on the face, as a stag. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A person whose head is bald. 2 Kings ii. 23. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A white-headed variety of pigeon. [ 1913 Webster ]

, a. Having a bald head; lacking hair on all or most of the scalp; -- alsp called bald and bald-pated; as, a bald-headed gentleman. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

adv. Nakedly; without reserve; inelegantly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or condition of being bald; as, baldness of the head; baldness of style. [ 1913 Webster ]

This gives to their syntax a peculiar character of simplicity and baldness. W. D. Whitney. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A baldheaded person. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The American widgeon (Anas Americana). [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Destitute of hair on the head; baldheaded. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A piece of pork cut lower down than the sparerib, and destitute of fat. [ Eng. ] Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]