As
(||As) n.; pl. Asses [L. as. See Ace.]
1. A Roman weight, answering to the libra or pound, equal to nearly eleven ounces Troy weight. It was
divided into twelve ounces.
2. A Roman copper coin, originally of a pound weight (12 oz.); but reduced, after the first Punic war, to
two ounces; in the second Punic war, to one ounce; and afterwards to half an ounce.
Asa
(||As"a) n. [NL. asa, of oriental origin; cf. Per. aza mastic, Ar. asa healing, isa remedy.] An
ancient name of a gum.
Asafetida
(As`a*fet"i*da, As`a*fœt"i*da) n. [Asa + L. foetidus fetid.] The fetid gum resin or inspissated
juice of a large umbelliferous plant (Ferula asafœtida) of Persia and the East Indies. It is used in medicine
as an antispasmodic. [Written also assafœtida.]
Asaphus
(||As"a*phus) n. [NL., fr. Gr. indistinct, uncertain.] (Paleon.) A genus of trilobites found in
the Lower Silurian formation. See Illust. in Append.
Asarabacca
(||As`a*ra*bac"ca) n. [L. asarum + bacca a berry. See Asarone.] (Bot.) An acrid herbaceous
plant the leaves and roots of which are emetic and cathartic. It is principally used in cephalic snuffs.
Asarone
(As"a*rone) n. [L. asarum hazelwort, wild spikenard, Gr. 'a`saron] (Chem.) A crystallized
substance, resembling camphor, obtained from the Asarum Europæum; — called also camphor of asarum.
Asbestic
(As*bes"tic) a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling asbestus; inconsumable; asbestine.
Asbestiform
(As*bes"ti*form) a. [L. asbestus + -form.] Having the form or structure of asbestus.
Asbestine
(As*bes"tine) a. Of or pertaining to asbestus, or partaking of its nature; incombustible; asbestic.
Asbestous
(As*bes"tous) a. Asbestic.
Asbestus
(As*bes"tus As*bes"tos) n. [L. asbestos (NL. asbestus) a kind of mineral unaffected by fire,
Gr. (prop. an adj.) inextinguishable; 'a priv. + to extinguish.] (Min.) A variety of amphibole or of pyroxene,
occurring in long and delicate fibers, or in fibrous masses or seams, usually of a white, gray, or green-
gray color. The name is also given to a similar variety of serpentine.
The finer varieties have been wrought into gloves and cloth which are incombustible. The cloth was
formerly used as a shroud for dead bodies, and has been recommended for firemen's clothes. Asbestus
in also employed in the manufacture of iron safes, for fireproof roofing, and for lampwicks. Some varieties
are called amianthus. Dana.
Asbolin
(As"bo*lin) n. (Chem.) A peculiar acrid and bitter oil, obtained from wood soot.
Ascarid
(As"ca*rid) n.; pl. Ascarides or Ascarids. [NL. ascaris, fr. Gr. .] (Zoöl.) A parasitic nematoid
worm, espec. the roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, often occurring in the human intestine, and allied
species found in domestic animals; also commonly applied to the pinworm often troublesome to children
and aged persons.
Ascend
(As*cend") v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ascended; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascending.] [L. ascendere; ad +
scandere to climb, mount. See Scan.]
