ant
(-ant). [F. -ant, fr. L. -antem or -entem, the pr. p. ending; also sometimes directly from L. -antem.]
A suffix sometimes marking the agent for action; as, merchant, covenant, servant, pleasant, etc. Cf. -
ent.
Ant
(Ant) n. [OE. ante, amete, emete, AS. æmete akin to G. ameise. Cf. Emmet.] (Zoöl.) A hymenopterous
insect of the Linnæan genus Formica, which is now made a family of several genera; an emmet; a pismire.
Among ants, as among bees, there are neuter or working ants, besides the males and females; the former
are without wings. Ants live together in swarms, usually raising hillocks of earth, variously chambered
within, where they maintain a perfect system of order, store their provisions, and nurture their young.
There are many species, with diverse habits, as agricultural ants, carpenter ants, honey ants, foraging
ants, amazon ants, etc. The white ants or Termites belong to the Neuroptera.
Ant bird (Zoöl.), one of a very extensive group of South American birds which live on ants. The family
includes many species, some of which are called ant shrikes, ant thrushes, and ant wrens. — Ant
rice (Bot.), a species of grass (Aristida oligantha) cultivated by the agricultural ants of Texas for the
sake of its seed.
Anta
(||An"ta) n.; pl. Antæ [L.] (Arch.) A species of pier produced by thickening a wall at its termination,
treated architecturally as a pilaster, with capital and base.
Porches, when columns stand between two antæ, are called in Latin in antis.
Antacid
(Ant*ac"id) n. [Pref. anti- + acid.] (Med.) A remedy for acidity of the stomach, as an alkali
or absorbent. — a. Counteractive of acidity.
Antacrid
(Ant*ac"rid) a. [Pref. anti- + acrid.] Corrective of acrimony of the humors.
Antæan
(An*tæ"an) a. Pertaining to Antæus, a giant athlete slain by Hercules.
Antagonism
(An*tag"o*nism) n. [Gr. fr. to struggle against; against + to contend or struggle, contest: cf.
F. antagonisme. See Agony.] Opposition of action; counteraction or contrariety of things or principles.
We speak of antagonism between two things, to or against a thing, and sometimes with a thing.
Antagonist
(An*tag"o*nist) n. [L. antagonista, Gr. against + combatant, champion, fr. : cf. F. antagoniste.
See Antagonism.]
1. One who contends with another, especially in combat; an adversary; an opponent.
Antagonist of Heaven's Almigthy King.
Milton.
Our antagonists in these controversies.
Hooker.
2. (Anat.) A muscle which acts in opposition to another; as a flexor, which bends a part, is the antagonist
of an extensor, which extends it.
3. (Med.) A medicine which opposes the action of another medicine or of a poison when absorbed into
the blood or tissues.
Syn. — Adversary; enemy; opponent; toe; competitor. See Adversary.
Antagonist
(An*tag"o*nist), a. Antagonistic; opposing; counteracting; as, antagonist schools of philosophy.
