The dictionary of science and technical terms used in philosophy, literature, professions, commerce, arts, and trades / by W.M. Buchanan ; with supplement ; edited by James A. Smith.

  • Buchanan, W. M.
Date:
1884
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The dictionary of science and technical terms used in philosophy, literature, professions, commerce, arts, and trades / by W.M. Buchanan ; with supplement ; edited by James A. Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ci_ 3 A TECHNICAL DICTIONARY. A is the first letter of all known alpha- -ri-? bets, except the Ethiopic, in which it is the thirteenth, and the Runic, in which it is the tenth. A is naturally the first letter, because it represents the first vocal sound na- turally formed by the human organs ; being the sound uttered by merely opening of the mouth, and without effort to alter the natural position of the lips. Hence this letter is found in many words first uttered by infants: which words are the names of objects with which infants are first concerned, as the breast and the parents. Hence in Hebrew, am is mother, and ad is father. In Chaldee and Syriac, abba is father: in Arabic, aba ; in Ethiopic, abi : in Malayan and Bengalese, bappa ; in Welsh, tad, whence Scotch, daddy; in old Greek and Gothic, atta ; in Irish, aithair; in Cantabrian, aita: in Lap- ponic, atki ; in Abyssinian, abba; in Amharic, abain Shilhie and Melin- dane (African dialects), baba ; and papa is found in many languages. Hence the Latin mamma, the breast, which is, in popular use, the name of mother: in Swedish, amma is a nurse. A,, was used by the Romans as a nume- ral to denote 500, and with a dash over it, A, to mean 5000. The Romans also em- ployed A, the initial letter of antique,—I oppose, to signify dissent in voting. The letters TJ.R. (for uti rogas, be it as you desire), were the form of assent. [These letters were marked on two -wooden bal- lots, and given to each voter, who gave one of them as his vote.] In criminal trials, A. stood for absolvo, I acquit; C. for condemno, I condemn : and N. L. for non liquet, it is not evident; and the judges voted by ballots so marked. In Roman nscriptions, A stands for Augustus, argon- um, aur um, & c. ABA A, in music, is the nominal of the sixth note in the natural diatonic scale, and the natural key in the minor mood. It is the open note of the second string of the violin, by which the other strings are tuned and regulated. A, in commerce, stands for “ accepted ; ” a for “ to ; ” and @ for “ at.” Merchants and public officers also number their books and documents by the letters A, B, C, instead of figures. A, in logic, denotes a universal affirma- tive proposition. A asserts, and E denies. In Barbara, the a thrice repeated means that so many of the propositions are uni- versal. A, A, or AA, in pharmacy, are abbre- viations of the Greek word ava, ana, which signifies of each, or that equal quantities of each thing are to be taken. AAA, in old chemistry, stands for amal- gam, or amalgamation. Aam, a Dutch measure for liquids. At Amsterdam it is equal to about thirty-five imperial gallons. Aaron’s Rod, in architecture, a rod with a serpent twined round it. It is some- times confounded with Caduceus, (q v.) A. B. an abbreviation of artium bacca- laureus, bachelor of arts. Ab, in the Jewish Calendar, the llth month of the civil year, and the 5th month of the ecclesiastical year, answering to a part of July and of August. In the Syriac calendar, A b is the last summer month of the year. As a prefix to English names, Ab is usually an abbreviation of abbot, or abbey. Aback.', from Saxon, a, on, and baec, back. A nautical term, signifying the situation of the sails when flattened by the wind against the masts. Taken aback, is when they are carried back suddenly by the wind; laid aback, U when they are purposely placed so to give the ship stern- way. B