Part 169

Al`de*hy"dic (&?;), a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to aldehyde; as, aldehydic acid. Miller.

Al"der (l"dr), n. [OE. aldir, aller, fr. AS. alr, aler, alor, akin to D. els, G. erle, Icel. erlir, erli, Swed. al, Dan. elle, el, L. alnus, and E. elm.] (Bot.) A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus Alnus. The wood is used by turners, etc.; the bark by dyers and tanners. In the U. S. the species of alder are usually shrubs or small trees.

Black alder. (a) A European shrub (Rhamnus frangula); Alder buckthorn. (b) An American species of holly (Ilex verticillata), bearing red berries.

{ Al"der (l"dr), Al"ler (l"lr), } a. [From ealra, alra, gen. pl. of AS. eal. The d is excrescent.] Of all; -- used in composition; as, alderbest, best of all, alderwisest, wisest of all. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Al`der-lief"est (l`dr*lf"st), a. [For allerliefest dearest of all. See Lief.] Most beloved. [Obs.] Shak.

Al"der*man (l"dr*man), n.; pl. Aldermen (&?;). [AS. aldormon, ealdorman; ealdor an elder + man. See Elder, n.] 1. A senior or superior; a person of rank or dignity. [Obs.]

The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to princes, dukes, earls, senators, and presiding magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom or authority. Thus Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called Alderman of all England; and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective districts.

3. One of a board or body of municipal officers next in order to the mayor and having a legislative function. They may, in some cases, individually exercise some magisterial and administrative functions.

Al"der*man*cy (&?;), n. The office of an alderman.

Al"der*man"ic (&?;), a. Relating to, becoming to, or like, an alderman; characteristic of an alderman.

Al`der*man"i*ty (&?;), n. 1. Aldermen collectively; the body of aldermen.

2. The state of being an alderman. [Jocular]

Al`der*man*like` (&?;), a. Like or suited to an alderman.

Al"der*man*ly, a. Pertaining to, or like, an alderman.

Al"der*man*ly, a. Pertaining to, or like, an alderman. "An aldermanly discretion." Swift.

Al"der*man*ry (&?;), n. 1. The district or ward of an alderman.

2. The office or rank of an alderman. [R.] B. Jonson.

Al"der*man*ship, n. The condition, position, or office of an alderman. Fabyan.

Al"dern (&?;), a. Made of alder.

Al"der*ney (&?;), n. One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often called Jersey cattle. See Jersey, 3.

Al"dine (?; 277), a. (Bibliog.) An epithet applied to editions (chiefly of the classics) which proceeded from the press of Aldus Manitius, and his family, of Venice, for the most part in the 16th century and known by the sign of the anchor and the dolphin. The term has also been applied to certain elegant editions of English works.

Ale (l), n. [AS. ealu, akin to Icel., Sw., and Dan. öl, Lith. alus a kind of beer, OSlav. ol beer. Cf. Ir. ol drink, drinking.] 1. An intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops.

The word ale, in England and the United States, usually designates a heavier kind of fermented liquor, and the word beer a lighter kind. The word beer is also in common use as the generic name for all malt liquors.

2. A festival in English country places, so called from the liquor drunk. "At wakes and ales." B. Jonson."On ember eves and holy ales." Shak.

A*leak" (&?;), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + leak.] In a leaking condition.

A"le*a*to*ry (&?;), a. [L. aleatorius, fr. alea chance, die.] (Law) Depending on some uncertain contingency; as, an aleatory contract. Bouvier.

Ale"bench` (&?;), n. A bench in or before an alehouse. Bunyan.

Ale"ber`ry (&?;), n. [OE. alebery, alebrey; ale + bre broth, fr. AS. brw pottage.] A beverage, formerly made by boiling ale with spice, sugar, and sops of bread.