Part 140

||A`gar-a"gar (&?;), n. [Ceylonese local name.] A fucus or seaweed much used in the East for soups and jellies; Ceylon moss (Gracilaria lichenoides).

Ag"a*ric (?; 277), n. [L. agaricum, Gr. &?;, said to be fr. Agara, a town in Sarmatia.] 1. (Bot.) A fungus of the genus Agaricus, of many species, of which the common mushroom is an example.

2. An old name for several species of Polyporus, corky fungi growing on decaying wood.

The "female agaric" (Polyporus officinalis) was renowned as a cathartic; the "male agaric" (Polyporus igniarius) is used for preparing touchwood, called punk or German tinder.

Agaric mineral, a light, chalky deposit of carbonate of lime, sometimes called rock milk, formed in caverns or fissures of limestone.

A*gasp" (&?;), adv. & a. [. a- + gasp.] In a state of gasping. Coleridge.

A*gast" or A*ghast" (&?;), v. t. To affright; to terrify. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.

A*gast" (&?;), p. p. & a. See Aghast.

A*gas"tric (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; stomach.] (Physiol.) Having to stomach, or distinct digestive canal, as the tapeworm.

A*gate" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- on + gate way.] On the way; agoing; as, to be agate; to set the bells agate. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Ag"ate (&?;), n. [F. agate, It. agata, L. achates, fr. Gr. &?;.] 1. (Min.) A semipellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen. Its colors are delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds.

The fortification agate, or Scotch pebble, the moss agate, the clouded agate, etc., are familiar varieties.

2. (Print.) A kind of type, larger than pearl and smaller than nonpareil; in England called ruby.

This line is printed in the type called agate.

3. A diminutive person; so called in allusion to the small figures cut in agate for rings and seals. [Obs.] Shak.

4. A tool used by gold-wire drawers, bookbinders, etc.; -- so called from the agate fixed in it for burnishing.

Ag`a*tif"er*ous (&?;), a. [Agate + -ferous.] Containing or producing agates. Craig.

Ag"a*tine (&?;), a. Pertaining to, or like, agate.

Ag"a*tize (&?;), v. t. [Usually p. p. Agatized(&?;).] To convert into agate; to make resemble agate. Dana.

Ag"a*ty (&?;), a. Of the nature of agate, or containing agate.

A*ga"ve (&?;), n. [L. Agave, prop. name, fr. Gr. &?;, fem. of &?; illustrious, noble.] (bot.) A genus of plants (order Amaryllidaceæ) of which the chief species is the maguey or century plant (A. Americana), wrongly called Aloe. It is from ten to seventy years, according to climate, in attaining maturity, when it produces a gigantic flower stem, sometimes forty feet in height, and perishes. The fermented juice is the pulque of the Mexicans; distilled, it yields mescal. A strong thread and a tough paper are made from the leaves, and the wood has many uses.

A*gazed" (&?;), p. p. [Only in p. p.; another spelling for aghast.] Gazing with astonishment; amazed. [Obs.]

The whole army stood agazed on him. Shak.

Age (j), n. [OF. aage, eage, F. âge, fr. L. aetas through a supposed LL. aetaticum. L. aetas is contracted fr. aevitas, fr. aevum lifetime, age; akin to E. aye ever. Cf. Each.] 1. The whole duration of a being, whether animal, vegetable, or other kind; lifetime.

Mine age is as nothing before thee. Ps. xxxix. 5.

2. That part of the duration of a being or a thing which is between its beginning and any given time; as, what is the present age of a man, or of the earth?

3. The latter part of life; an advanced period of life; seniority; state of being old.

Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. Shak.