Chapter Alcade to Alehouse of A by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Alcyonaria
(||Al`cy*o*na"ri*a) n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) One of the orders of Anthozoa. It includes the Alcyonacea, Pennatulacea, and Gorgonacea.

Alcyones
(||Al*cy"o*nes) n. pl. [L., pl. of Alcyon.] (Zoöl.) The kingfishers.

Alcyonic
(Al`cy*on"ic) a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Alcyonaria.

Alcyonium
(||Al`cy*o"ni*um) n. [Gr. a zoöphyte, so called from being like the halcyon's nest.] (Zoöl.) A genus of fleshy Alcyonaria, its polyps somewhat resembling flowers with eight fringed rays. The term was also formerly used for certain species of sponges.

Alcyonoid
(Al"cy*o*noid) a. [Gr. + - oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the Alcyonaria. — n. A zoöphyte of the order Alcyonaria.

Alday
(Al"day) adv. Continually. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Aldebaran
(Al*deb"a*ran) n. [Ar. al- debaran, 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.

Now when Aldebaran was mounted high
Above the shiny Cassiopeia's chair.
Spenser.

Aldehyde
(Al"de*hyde) n. [Abbrev. fr. alcohol dehydrogenatum, alcohol deprived of its hydrogen.] (Chem.) A colorless, mobile, and very volatile liquid obtained from alcohol by certain processes of oxidation.

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 acetic aldehyde or ethyl aldehyde), C₂H₄O; methyl aldehyde, CH₂O.

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

Aldehydic
(Al`de*hy"dic) a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to aldehyde; as, aldehydic acid. Miller.

Alder
(Al"der) 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.

Black alder. (a) A European shrub (Rhamnus frangula); Alder buckthorn. (b) An American species of holly bearing red berries.

Alder
(Al"der Al"ler) 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.

Alder-liefest
(Al`der-lief"est) a. [For allerliefest dearest of all. See Lief.] Most beloved. [Obs.] Shak.

Alderman
(Al"der*man) 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.]

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.