Chapter Agamarshana to Agist of A by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Agatha (St.) Represented in Christian art with a pair of shears, and holding in her hand a salver, on which her breasts are placed. The reference is to her martyrdom, when her breasts were cut off by a pair of shears.

Agave (3 syl.) or "American aloe," from the Greek, agauos, admirable. The Mexicans plant fences of Agave round their wigwams, as a defence against wild beasts. The Mahometans of Egypt regard it as a charm and religious symbol; and pilgrims to Mecca indicate their exploit by hanging over the door of their dwelling a leaf of Agave, which has the further charm of warding off evil spirits. The Jews in Cairo attribute a similar virtue to the plant, every part of which is utilised.

Agdistes (self-indulgence). The god who kept the porch of the "Bower of Bliss." He united in his own person the two sexes, and sprang from the stone Agdus, parts of which were taken by Deucalion and Pyrrha to cast over their shoulders, after the flood, for re-peopling the world. (Spenser: Faëric Queene, book ii, 12.) Ag-dis-tes in 3 syl.

Age as accords (To). To do what is fit and right (Scotch law term). Here "Age" is from the Latin agere, to do.

"To set about the matter in a regular manner, or, as he termed it ... to "age as accords."" - Sir W. Scott: Redgauntlet, chap. 2.

Age of Animals. An old Celtic rhyme, put into modern English, says:

"Thrice the age of a dog is that of a horse;
Thrice the age of a horse is that of a man;
Thrice the age of a man is that of a deer;
Thrice the age of a deer is that of an eagle."

Age of Women (The). Though many women are mentioned in the Bible, the age of only one (Sarah, Abraham's wife) is recorded, and that to show at her advanced age she would become the mother of Isaac.

"Elizabeth, the mother of the Baptist," we are told by St. Luke, "was well-stricken in age."

Age of the Bishops (The). The ninth century. (Hallam: Middle Ages.)

Age of the Popes (The). The twelfth century. (Hallam: Middle Ages.)

Age hoc "Attend to this." In sacrifice the Roman crier perpetually repeated these words to arouse attention. In the "Common Prayer Book" the attention of the congregation is frequently aroused by the exhortation, "Let us pray," though nearly the whole service is that of prayer.

Ages Varro (Fragments, p. 219, Scaliger's edition, 1623) recognises three ages: -

(1) From the beginning of mankind to the Deluge, a time wholly unknown.
(2) From the Deluge to the First Olympiad, called the mythical period.
(3) From the first olympiad to the present time, called the historic period.

Titian symbolised the three ages of man thus: -

(1) An infant in a cradle.
(2) A shepherd playing a flute.
(3) An old man meditating on two skulls.

According to Lucretius also, there are three ages, distinguished by the materials employed in implements (v. 1282), viz.:

(1) The age of stone, when celts or implements of stone were employed.
(2) The age of bronze, when implements were made of copper or brass.
(3) The age of iron, when implements were made of iron, as at present.