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`Words are included in this Dictionary on the basis o£ their usage.
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`Illustrations azimuthal equidistant projection and sinusoidal
`projection ·f; 1986 by The A.merican Congress on Surveying and
`Mapping.
`
`ISBN 0-395-96214-5
`
`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`
`·webster's II ne·w college dictionary.
`em.
`p.
`ialk. paper)
`ISBN 0-395-70869-9
`I. English language - Dictionaries.
`Riverside University dictionary
`PE1628.W55164
`1995
`423- dc20
`
`I. Webster's II new
`
`95-5833
`CIP
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`Printed in the United States
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`

`
`
`a-tone-ment (a-ton'mant) n. l. Amends made for an injury or
`wrong : EXPIATION. 2. In the Hebrew Scriptures man’s reconciliation
`with God after having transgressed the covenant. 3. Atonement. a.
`The redemptive life and death of Christ. b. The reconciliation of God
`and man thus brought about by Christ. 4. Christian Science. The rad-
`ical obedience and purification, exemplified in the life of Jesus, by
`which humanity finds oneness with God. 5. Archaic. Reconciliation :
`concord.
`acton-ic (a—ton'ik) adj. [FL atonique < Gk. atonos. —see ATONY.] 1.
`Not accented, as words and syllables. 2. Pathol. Relating to, caused by,
`or marked by atony. —n. An unaccented word, syllable, or sound.
`—at’o-nic'i-ty (it's-nis’i-te) n.
`at-o-ny (it’s-ire) n. {LLat. atonia < Gk. < atanos, slack : a-, without
`+ tonos, stretching, tone] 1. Insufficient muscular tone. 2. Lack of
`accent or stress in phonetics.
`a I.
`a-‘tjop (a-top’) adv. On or at the top. —-prep. On top of. -—a-top’
`—ator suff. [ME ~atour < OFr. < Lat. -ator : -atus, are + -or, -or.] One
`that acts in a given manner <radiator>
`—atory suff. [ME < Lat. -atot1'us : -atus, ~ate + -on'us, -ory.] 1. a. Of
`or relating to <perspiratory> b. Tending to <amendatory> 2. One
`that is connected with <reformatory>
`ATP (a’té'pé’) n. {A(DENOSINE) T(RI)P(HOSPHATE).] An adenosine~
`derived nucleotide, C10H16N5013P3, that supplies energy to cells
`through its conversion to ADP.
`ATPoase (a'té-pe’as) n. An enzyme that hydrolyzes ATP.
`at-ra-bil-ious (at’ra-bil'yas) also atora-biI-i-ar (-bil’é-ar) adj.
`[< Lat. arm bilis, black bile, transl. of Gk. melankholia. —see MEL-
`ANCHOLYJ l. Inclined to melancholy. 2. Ill-tempered : surly. —at’-
`ra-bil’ious-ness n.
`A-treus (a’tro‘os’, a! tie-as) n. [Gk] Gk. Myth. A king of Mycenae,
`father of Agamemnon and Menelaus.
`a-tri-a (a’tré~a} 11. var. p1. of ATRIUM.
`a-tri-o-venstric-u-lar (a’tré—o-ven-trik’ ya-lar) adj. Of or relating
`to the atria and the ventricles of the heart.
`a-trip (:Hrip’ ) adj. e) adv. lust clear of the bottom, as an anchor.
`a-tri-um (a’tré-am) n., pl. n-tri-a (a’tré—a) or -ums. [Lat atrium.)
`1. a. A central courtyard, as in ancient Roman houses. b. A multista-
`ried central court, as in a hotel, often having a skylight. 2. A bodily
`cavity or chamber, as in the heart. —a’tri-a1 adj.
`a-tro-cious (a-tro’shas) adj. [< Lat. atrox, atroc-, cruel.] 1. Ex-
`tremely evil or cruel : MONSTROUS <an atrocious felony> 2. Excep-
`tionally bad : snot/unsure <atrocious cooking> (atrocious
`rudeness> —a-tro’cious-ly adv. ~3-tto’cious-ness n.
`a-troc-i-ty (e-tros’i-té) n., pl. -ties. 1. Atrocious condition, qual-
`ity, or behavior. 2. An atrocious action, situation, or object : OUTRAGE.
`at-mophy (at'ra—fé) 11, p1. -phies. [LLat. atrophr'a < Gk. < atro-
`phos, ill~nourished : a-, without + trophe‘, food.) 1. Pathol. The ema-
`ciation or wasting away of bodily tissues or organs. 2. A diminution or
`degeneration <moral atrophy> —v. -phied, -phy-ing, -pl1ies.
`-—vt. To affect with atrophy. —vi. To waste away : WITHER. —a-
`troph’ic (a-trof'rk), at’ro-phous adj.
`at-ro-pine (at'ra-pEn’, -pin) also at-ro-pin (-pin) n. (G. Atropin
`< NLat. Atropa, genus name of belladonna < Gk. atropos, unchange-
`able.] An extremely poisonous, bitter, crystalline alkaloid,
`C17HBN03, derived from belladonna and related plants and used to
`dilate the pupil of the eye and as an anesthetic and antispasmodic.
`At-ro-pos (it’ro-pos’, -pas) n. (Gk. < atropos,
`inexorable.) Gk.
`Myth. One of the three Fates.
`atvtach (a-tach’ ) v. -tached, -tach-ing, «tack-es. [ME attachen
`< OFr. attachier. of Germanic orig] — Vt. 1. To fasten on or affix to :
`connect or join. 2. To connect as an adjunct or associated part. 3. To
`add, as a signature. 4. To ascribe or assign <attached no importance to
`the incident> 5. To bind by personal ties, as of affection or loyalty
`(very attached to their pets> 6. To appoint officially. 7. To assign
`
`atomy2 o attention key
`
`73.
`
`W a
`
`t;-o-1'ny2 (at’a-me) n, pl. -mies. {< an atamy. respelling of ANAT-
`OMH Archaic. A gaunt person or a skeleton.
`a-to-nal (a-to’nal) adj. Mus. Having apparently no key or tonality.
`—a-to’nail-1y adv.
`a-to-nal-ism (a-to’na-liz’am) n. Mus. 1. The lack of a tonal center
`or key as a principle of musical composition. 2. The theory of atonal
`composition.
`aoto-nal-i-ty (a'to-nal’ivté) n. A style of musical composition in
`which tonal center or key is disregarded.
`at once adv. 1. At one time : smurrurousrr. 2. Immediately <left
`at once when we heard the news>
`intone (o-ton’) V. a-toned, a-ton-ing, a-tones. [ME atonen, to
`be reconciled < at one. in agreement : at, at + one, one] —v1'. 1. To
`make amends, as for a fault or sin. 2. Archaic. To agree. —vt. Ar-
`chaic. 1. To expiate. 2. To reconcile or harmonize. 3. To conciliate :
`APPEASE. —a-ton’a-ble, a-tone’a-hle adj. —a-ton’er n.
`A word history: The derivation of atone. from at and one, has
`been obscured somewhat by the fairly recent change in the pronunci~
`ation of one. One used to be pronounced like own, but since the 17th
`century it has been pronounced like won, the past tense of win. The
`older pronunciation survives in alone. lone, lonely, and only in addi»
`tion to atone and its derivatives; the new pronunciation occurs in
`once.
`
`'
`
`(personnel) to a military unit on a temporary basis. 8. Law. To seize
`(persons or property) by legal writ. —vi. To adhere. —at-tach’a- .
`ble adj. —ot-tach'er a.
`* synamrrscn, arm, cup, counter, courts, FASTEN, m, moon
`SECURE v. core meaning : to join one thing to another <the hinges to
`which the door is attached> ant: DETACH
`at-ta-ché (it’s-shah a-ta'sba') n. (Fr. < p.part. of attacher, to at»
`tach.] One officially assigned to the staff of a diplomatic mission tc
`serve in a given capacity <a commercial attaché>
`attaché case n. A briefcase resembling a small suitcase, with king
`es and flat sides.
`at-tach-ment (a—tach’mant) n. 1. The act of attaching or condition
`of being attached. 2. Something, as a tie, band, or fastening, that joins
`one thing to another. 3. A bond of affection or loyalty. 4. A supple-
`mentary part : ACCESSORY <a vacuum cleaner with attachments> 5.
`Law. a. The legal seizure of a person or property. b. The writ ordering
`an attachment.
`autack (a-tak') v. -tacked, ~tack-ing, -tacks. [Fr attaquer <
`OFr. < OItal. attaccare, of Germanic orig] —vt. 1. To set upon with
`violent force. 2. To criticize strongly or in a hostile manner. 3. To start
`work on with purpose and vigor <attack a backlog of orders> 4. To
`begin to affect harmfully. —vi. To launch an attack. —r1. 1. The act
`of attacking : ASSAULT. 2. The occurrence or onset of a disease. 3. The
`initial movement in a task or undertaking. 4. Mus. The way in which
`a passage or phrase is begun. —at-tack’er n.
`a sync: ATTACK, ASSAIL, ASSAULT, eraser, niT, snore v. core mean-
`ing : to set upon with violent force <enemy troops attacking our po.
`sitions>
`at-tain (a—tan’) v. -cained, -tain-ing, -tains. [ME attel'gnen <
`OFr. ataindrc. to reach to < Lat. attingere : ad-, to + rangers, to
`touch] —vt. 1. To gain or accomplish by mental or physical effort
`<attain an obiective> 2. To arrive at <attained the mountaintop>
`—vz'. To succeed in gaining or accomplishing <attained to the pres-
`idency> —at-tnin’a-hil'i-ty, at-tain’a-ble-ness n. —at-
`tain’a-ble adj.
`at-tain-der (a‘tzin' dar) 11. [ME attendre, conviction < OFr. ataindre,
`to convict, affect. —see ATTAINJ Law. 1. The loss of all civil rights
`legally consequent to a death sentence or to outlawry, esp. for treason.
`2. Archaic. Dishonor.
`at-tain-ment (stan'rnant) n. 1. The act of attaining or condition of
`being attained. 2. Something attained.
`at-taint (a-tint' ) Vt. -taint-ed, -taint-ing, -taints. [ME at-
`taynten < OFL ataint. p.part. of ataindre, to affect. —see ATTAIN.] 1.
`Law. To condemn by a sentence of attainder. 2. Archaic. To disgrace.
`3. Obs. To accuse. —n. 1. Attainder. 2. Archaic. A disgrace : stigma.
`rat-tar (at'ar) 11. (Pets. 'atir. perfumed < Ar. ’utfir, pl. of 'itr, perfume]
`A fragrant essential oil or perfume obtained from the petals of flowers,
`as roses.
`
`at'tempt (a-témpt') Vt. -tempt-ed, -tempt-i.ug, -tempts. [ME
`attempten < OPr. attempter < Lat. attemptare : ad-. to + temptare. to
`test] 1. To try to do, make, or achieve. 2. Archaic. To tempt. 3. Ar
`chaic. To attack in order to subdue. —n. I. An effort or try. 2. An
`attack or assault, as on one's life. —at-tempt’aoble adj. —at-
`tempt'er n.
`at-tend (a-ténd’ ) v. -tend-ed, -tendoing, -tends. [ME attenden
`< OFr. atendre < Lat. attendere, to heed : ad—. to + tenderc, to
`stretch.) ~vt. 1. To be present at. 2. To accompany as a circumstance
`or follow as a result <The announcement was attended by cheers.> 3.
`a. To accompany or wait on as an attendant or servant. b. To take care
`of (e.g., a patient). 4. To take charge of. 5. To listen to : near). 6. Ar-
`chaic. To wait for : EXPECT. — vi. 1. To be present. 2. To apply or direct
`oneself <attended to the difficulty> 3. To pay attention : HEED. 4. To
`remain ready to serve : WAIT <attend upon the queen> 5. Obs. To
`delay or wait. —at-cend’er n.
`at-ten-dance (a-ten’ dons) n. 1. The act of attending. 2. Those that
`attend a function.
`at-ten-dant (a—tén' dant) n. 1. One who attends or serves another. 2.
`One who is present. 3. One that accompanies : CONCOMITANT. ~adj.
`Accompanying or following as a result <the flu and attendant miser-
`ies> —at-tend' ant-1y adv.
`at-ten-tion (a-ten'shan) 11. [ME attencr‘oun < Lat. attentio < at—
`tendere, to heed. ——see ATTEND.) 1. Close or careful observation or
`heed : mental concentration. 2. The ability or power to concentrate
`mentally. 3. observant consideration : NOTICE <Your complaint has
`come to my attention.) 4. Courtesy or considerate regard, as for oth-
`ers’ feelings. 5. attentions. Acts of courtesy, consideration, or gals
`lantry, esp. by a suitor. 6. A military posture, with the body erect, eyes
`to the front, arms at the sides, and heels together. —Used as a com-
`mand. —at-ten’tion-al adj.
`attention deficit disorder 11. A childhood syndrome character
`ized by hyperactivity and short attention span.
`attention key 11. Computer Sci. A function key on terminals that
`interrupts program execution by the central processing unit.
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