Chapter Ancient of Days to Angelica of A by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Andrew Macs (The) The crew of H.M.S. Andromache. Similarly, the Bellerophon was called by English sailors "Billy ruffian," and the Achilles the "Ash heels." (See Beefeater etc.)

Androcles and the Lion Androcles was a runaway slave who took refuge in a cavern. A lion entered, and instead of tearing him to pieces, lifted up his front paw that Androcles might extract from it a thorn. The slave being subsequently captured, was doomed to fight with a lion in the Roman arena. It so happened that the same lion was let out against him, and, recognising his benefactor, showed towards him every demonstration of love and gratitude.

In the Gesta Romanorum (Tale civ.) the same story is told, and there is a similar one in Æsop's Fables. The original tale, however, is from Aulus Gellius, on the authority of Plistonices, who asserts that he was himself an eyewitness of the encounter.

Android An automaton figure of a human being (Greek, andros-eidos, a man's likeness). One of the most famous of these machines is that by M. Vaucanson, called the flute-player. The chess-player by Kempelen is also celebrated. (See Automaton.)

Andromeda Daughter of Cepheus (2 syl.) and Cassiopeia. Her mother boasted that the beauty of Andromeda surpassed that of the Nereids; so the Nereids induced Neptune to send a seamonster on the country, and an oracle declared that Andromeda must be given up to it. She was accordingly chained to a rock, but was delivered by Perseus (2 syl.). After death she was placed among the stars. (See Angelica.) Ovid: Metamorphoses, v. 1, etc.

Andronica (in Orlando Furioso). One of Logistilla's handmaids, famous for her beauty. She was sent with Sophrosyne to conduct Astolpho from India to Arabia.

Anent Over against; concerning. (Old English, on-cmn; later forms, on-efen, on-efent, an-'ent.)

Ange de Grève (French), a hangman or executioner. The "Place de Grève" was at one time the Tyburn of Paris.

Angel Half a sovereign in gold; so called because, at one time, it bore the figure of the archangel Michael slaying the dragon. When the Rev. Mr. Patten, vicar of Whitstable, was dying, the Archbishop of Canterbury sent him #10. The wit said, "Tell his Grace that now I am sure he is a man of God, for I have seen his angels."

Angel (a public-house sign), in compliment to Richard II, who placed an angel above his shield, holding it up in his hands.

To write like an angel (French). The angel referred to was Angelo Vergece [Vergezio], a Cretan of the sixteenth century. He was employed both by Henri II and by François I, and was noted for his caligraphy. (Didot: Nouvelle Biographie Universelle [1852--66]).

Angel of the Schools. St. Thomas Aquinas. (See Angelic Doctor.)

Angels, say the Arabs, were created from pure, bright gems; the gems, of fire; and man, of clay.

Angels, according to Dionysius the Areopagite, were divided into nine orders: -

1. Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones, in the first circle.
2. Dominions, Virtues, and Powers, in the second circle.
3. Principalities, Archangels, and Angels, in the third circle.

St. Gregory the Great: Homily 34.

"In heaven above,
The effulgent bands in triple circles move."
Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered, xi. 13.