Part 4

Anther. The part of the stamen which contains the pollen.

Anthropogeography. The science which treats of geography as applied to man. That part of anthropology dealing with the effect of the environment on human beings. There are a number of compounds beginning with anthro-. The meaning may often be understood by remembering that the Greek word anthropos means man, not as opposed to woman but as excluding the non-human.

Anthropology. The study of man as an animal, with respect to race, distribution, culture, and social organization.

Anticlinal. Forming a ridge with strata leaning in opposite directions from an axis. Having an upright spine toward which spines on both sides lean.

Anticyclone. An outward and rotary flow of air from an atmospheric area of high pressure.

Antidote. A medicine used to counteract a poison or disease.

Antimony. An element of metallic appearance. Symbol: Sb.

Anus. The posterior opening of the alimentary canal.

Apetalous. Without petals.

Aphasia. Loss of speech from a brain injury.

Aphelion. The point in the orbit of a planet or comet farthest from the sun.

Apheliotropic. Turning away from the sun.

Apogee. The point in the orbit of a planet or the moon where it is farthest from the earth.

Aponeurosis. The flat, dense connective tissue covering and forming the attachments of certain muscles.

Aquatic. Growing or living in or near the water.

Arachnida. A class of animals including spiders and scorpions.

Arachnoid. Covered with long, thin hairs. A serous membrane enveloping the brain and spinal cord.

Arboreal. Living in or connected with trees.

Archeology. The study of prehistoric antiquity, or sometimes of antiquity which is not prehistoric.

Archean. Also: Archaean. Relating to the earliest geological period.

Arenicolous. Living in the sand.

Argon. A gaseous element found in the atmosphere in small amounts. Symbol: A.

Arsenic. A semi-metallic element. Symbol: As.

Art. Skill of various sorts. Knowledge from the practical point of view. H. W. Fowler distinguishes it from science: “Science knows, art does; a science is a body of connected facts, an art is a set of directions; the facts of science (errors not being such) are the same for all people, circumstances, and occasions; the directions of art vary with the artist and the task.” According to the Oxford English Dictionary: “The distinction as commonly apprehended is that a science is concerned with theoretic truth, and an art with methods for effecting certain results. Sometimes, however, the term science is extended to denote a department of practical work which depends on the knowledge and conscious application of principles; an art, on the other hand, being understood to require merely knowledge of traditional rules and skill acquired by habit.”

Articulation. A joint, as between bones or parts of plants, especially between parts which may separate at any time.

Ascendant. Rising toward the zenith.

Asexual. Without sex.

Assay. A sort of analysis, especially of metals.