n. [ L. aberratio: cf. F. aberration. See Aberrate. ] 1. The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type. “The aberration of youth.” Hall. “Aberrations from theory.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A partial alienation of reason. “Occasional aberrations of intellect.” Lingard. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whims, which at first are the aberrations of a single brain, pass with heat into epidemic form. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) A small periodical change of position in the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer; called annual aberration, when the observer's motion is that of the earth in its orbit, and daily or diurnal aberration, when of the earth on its axis; amounting when greatest, in the former case, to 20.4'', and in the latter, to 0.3''. Planetary aberration is that due to the motion of light and the motion of the planet relative to the earth. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Opt.) The convergence to different foci, by a lens or mirror, of rays of light emanating from one and the same point, or the deviation of such rays from a single focus; called spherical aberration, when due to the spherical form of the lens or mirror, such form giving different foci for central and marginal rays; and chromatic aberration, when due to different refrangibilities of the colored rays of the spectrum, those of each color having a distinct focus. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Physiol.) The passage of blood or other fluid into parts not appropriate for it. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) The producing of an unintended effect by the glancing of an instrument, as when a shot intended for A glances and strikes B. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Insanity; lunacy; madness; derangement; alienation; mania; dementia; hallucination; illusion; delusion. See Insanity. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Characterized by aberration. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. abjuratio: cf. F. abjuration. ] 1. The act of abjuring or forswearing; a renunciation upon oath; as, abjuration of the realm, a sworn banishment, an oath taken to leave the country and never to return. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A solemn recantation or renunciation; as, an abjuration of heresy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Oath of abjuration, an oath asserting the right of the present royal family to the crown of England, and expressly abjuring allegiance to the descendants of the Pretender. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. acceleratio: cf. F. accélération. ] The act of accelerating, or the state of being accelerated; increase of motion or action; as, a falling body moves toward the earth with an acceleration of velocity; -- opposed to retardation. [ 1913 Webster ]

A period of social improvement, or of intellectual advancement, contains within itself a principle of acceleration. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Astr. & Physics.)
Acceleration of the moon, the increase of the moon's mean motion in its orbit, in consequence of which its period of revolution is now shorter than in ancient times. --
Acceleration and
retardation of the tides. See Priming of the tides, under Priming. --
Diurnal acceleration of the fixed stars, the amount by which their apparent diurnal motion exceeds that of the sun, in consequence of which they daily come to the meridian of any place about three minutes fifty-six seconds of solar time earlier than on the day preceding. --
Acceleration of the planets, the increasing velocity of their motion, in proceeding from the apogee to the perigee of their orbits. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Acupuncture. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of changing into adipocere. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. adjuratio, fr. adjurare: cf. F. adjuration. See Adjure. ] 1. The act of adjuring; a solemn charging on oath, or under the penalty of a curse; an earnest appeal. [ 1913 Webster ]

What an accusation could not effect, an adjuration shall. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The form of oath or appeal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Persons who . . . made use of prayer and adjurations. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. admensuratio; L. ad + mensurare to measure. See Mensuration. ] Same as Admeasurement. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. administracioun, L. administratio: cf. F. administration. ] 1. The act of administering; government of public affairs; the service rendered, or duties assumed, in conducting affairs; the conducting of any office or employment; direction; management. [ 1913 Webster ]

His financial administration was of a piece with his military administration. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The executive part of government; the persons collectively who are intrusted with the execution of laws and the superintendence of public affairs; the chief magistrate and his cabinet or council; or the council, or ministry, alone, as in Great Britain. [ 1913 Webster ]

A mild and popular administration. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The administration has been opposed in parliament. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of administering, or tendering something to another; dispensation; as, the administration of a medicine, of an oath, of justice, or of the sacrament. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) (a) The management and disposal, under legal authority, of the estate of an intestate, or of a testator having no competent executor. (b) The management of an estate of a deceased person by an executor, the strictly corresponding term execution not being in use. [ 1913 Webster ]

Administration with the will annexed, administration granted where the testator has appointed no executor, or where his appointment of an executor for any cause has failed, as by death, incompetency, refusal to act, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Conduct; management; direction; regulation; execution; dispensation; distribution. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. admiratio. See Admire. ] 1. Wonder; astonishment. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Season your admiration for a while. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Wonder mingled with approbation or delight; an emotion excited by a person or thing possessed of wonderful or high excellence; as, admiration of a beautiful woman, of a landscape, of virtue. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Cause of admiration; something to excite wonder, or pleased surprise; a prodigy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now, good Lafeu, bring in the admiration. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Note of admiration, the mark (!), called also exclamation point. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Wonder; approval; appreciation; adoration; reverence; worship. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. adoratio, fr. adorare: cf. F. adoration. ] 1. The act of playing honor to a divine being; the worship paid to God; the act of addressing as a god. [ 1913 Webster ]

The more immediate objects of popular adoration amongst the heathens were deified human beings. Farmer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Homage paid to one in high esteem; profound veneration; intense regard and love; fervent devotion. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A method of electing a pope by the expression of homage from two thirds of the conclave. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Pole ] might have been chosen on the spot by adoration. Froude. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. adulteratio. ] 1. The act of adulterating; corruption, or debasement (esp. of food or drink) by foreign mixture. [ 1913 Webster ]

The shameless adulteration of the coin. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An adulterated state or product. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. adumbratio. ] 1. The act of adumbrating, or shadowing forth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A faint sketch; an outline; an imperfect portrayal or representation of a thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Elegant adumbrations of sacred truth. Bp. Horsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Her.) The shadow or outlines of a figure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. aération. ] 1. Exposure to the free action of the air; airing; as, aëration of soil, of spawn, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physiol.) A change produced in the blood by exposure to the air in respiration; oxygenation of the blood in respiration; arterialization. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act or preparation of charging a liquid with carbon dioxide gas to make it effervescent. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. the act of charging a liquid with air or oxygen for the purpose of purification. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. [ L. aggenerare to beget in addition. See Generate. ] The act of producing in addition. [ Obs. ] T. Stanley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. aggeratio. ] A heaping up; accumulation; as, aggerations of sand. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. agglomération. ] 1. The act or process of collecting in a mass; a heaping together. [ 1913 Webster ]

An excessive agglomeration of turrets. Warton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. State of being collected in a mass; a mass; cluster. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ad + litera letter. See Letter. ] The repetition of the same letter at the beginning of two or more words immediately succeeding each other, or at short intervals; as in the following lines: - [ 1913 Webster ]

Behemoth, biggest born of earth, upheaved
His vastness. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fly o'er waste fens and windy fields. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The recurrence of the same letter in accented parts of words is also called alliteration. Anglo-Saxon poetry is characterized by alliterative meter of this sort. Later poets also employed it. [ 1913 Webster ]

In a somer seson whan soft was the sonne,
I shope me in shroudes as I a shepe were. P. Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. altération. ] 1. The act of altering or making different. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alteration, though it be from worse to better, hath in it incoveniences. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being altered; a change made in the form or nature of a thing; changed condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ere long might perceive
Strange alteration in me. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Appius Claudius admitted to the senate the sons of those who had been slaves; by which, and succeeding alterations, that council degenerated into a most corrupt. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. amélioration. ] The act of ameliorating, or the state of being ameliorated; making or becoming better; improvement; melioration. “Amelioration of human affairs.” J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Law) An administration subordinate to, and in aid of, the primary or principal administration of an estate. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ L. annumeratio. ] Addition to a former number. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A balancing; equipoise. [ R. ] De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. aratio, fr. arare to plow. ] Plowing; tillage. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Lands are said to be in a state of aration when they are under tillage. Brande. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. arbitration, L. arbitratio, fr. arbitrari. ] The hearing and determination of a cause between parties in controversy, by a person or persons chosen by the parties. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This may be done by one person; but it is usual to choose two or three called arbitrators; or for each party to choose one, and these to name a third, who is called the umpire. Their determination is called the award. Bouvier [ 1913 Webster ]

Arbitration bond, a bond which obliges one to abide by the award of an arbitration. --
Arbitration of Exchange, the operation of converting the currency of one country into that of another, or determining the rate of exchange between such countries or currencies. An arbitrated rate is one determined by such arbitration through the medium of one or more intervening currencies. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. relating to or resulting from arbitration. an arbitrational settlement
Syn. -- arbitral [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The act of asperating; a making or becoming rough. Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. aspiratio, fr. aspirare: cf. F. aspiration. ] 1. The act of aspirating; the pronunciation of a letter with a full or strong emission of breath; an aspirated sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

If aspiration be defined to be an impetus of breathing. Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of breathing; a breath; an inspiration. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of aspiring of a ardently desiring; strong wish; high desire. “Aspirations after virtue.” Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vague aspiration after military renown. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. assecuratio, fr. assecurare. ] Assurance; certainty. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. asseveratio. ] The act of asseverating, or that which is asseverated; positive affirmation or assertion; solemn declaration. [ 1913 Webster ]

Another abuse of the tongue I might add, -- vehement asseverations upon slight and trivial occasions. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of attempering or regulating. [ Archaic ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of filling up with earth, or of forming land with alluvial earth. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. auguratio. ] The practice of augury. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. blateratio a babbling. ] Blattering. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of bothering, or state of being bothered; cause of trouble; perplexity; annoyance; vexation. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of curling the hair. [ Obs. ] Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Act of kicking. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The process of estimating the caliber a tube, as of a thermometer tube, in order to graduate it to a scale of degrees; also, more generally, the determination of the true value of the spaces in any graduated instrument. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. cameratio. ] A vaulting or arching over. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or state of becoming cancerous or growing into a cancer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. castratio; cf. F. castration. ] The act of castrating. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. celebratio. ] The act, process, or time of celebrating. [ 1913 Webster ]

His memory deserving a particular celebration. Clarendok. [ 1913 Webster ]

Celebration of Mass is equivalent to offering Mass Cath. Dict. [ 1913 Webster ]

To hasten the celebration of their marriage. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Action of the brain, whether conscious or unconscious. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or habit of chattering. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. cicuration. ] The act of taming. [ Obs. ] Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. cinis ashes: cf. F. cinération. ] The reducing of anything to ashes by combustion; cinefaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of turning, rolling, or whirling round. [ 1913 Webster ]

A certain turbulent and irregular circumgyration. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of working together; united labor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. the act of willingly cooperating with an enemy, especially an enemy nation occupying one's own country. [ PJC ]

n. someone who collaborates with an enemy occupying force.
Syn. -- collaborator, quisling. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The act or art of coloring; the state of being colored. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

The females . . . resemble each other in their general type of coloration. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]