Part 214

Am"bush (m"bsh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ambushed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Ambushing.] [OE. enbussen, enbushen, OF. embushier, embuissier, F. embûcher, embusquer, fr. LL. imboscare; in + LL. boscus, buscus, a wood; akin to G. bush, E. bush. See Ambuscade, Bush.] 1. To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.

By ambushed men behind their temple laid, We have the king of Mexico betrayed. Dryden.

2. To attack by ambush; to waylay.

Am"bush, v. i. To lie in wait, for the purpose of attacking by surprise; to lurk.

Nor saw the snake that ambushed for his prey. Trumbull.

Am"bush*er (&?;), n. One lying in ambush.

Am"bush*ment (&?;), n. [OF. embuschement. See Ambush, v. t.] An ambush. [Obs.] 2 Chron. xiii. 13.

Am*bus"tion (?; 106), n. [L. ambustio.] (Med.) A burn or scald. Blount.

Am`e*be"an (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) See Am&?;bean.

A*meer", A*mir" (&?;), n. [See Emir.] 1. Emir. [Obs.]

2. One of the Mohammedan nobility of Afghanistan and Scinde.

Am"el (&?;), n. [OE. amell, OF. esmail, F. émail, of German origin; cf. OHG. smelzi, G. schmelz. See Smelt, v. t.] Enamel. [Obs.] Boyle.

Am"el, v. t. [OE. amellen, OF. esmailler, F. émailler, OF. esmail, F. émail.] To enamel. [Obs.]

Enlightened all with stars, And richly ameled. Chapman.

Am"el*corn` (&?;), n. [Ger. amelkorn: cf. MHG. amel, amer, spelt, and L. amylum starch, Gr. &?;.] A variety of wheat from which starch is produced; -- called also French rice.

A*mel"io*ra*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being ameliorated.

A*mel"io*rate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ameliorated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Ameliorating.] [L. ad + meliorare to make better: cf. F. améliorer. See Meliorate.] To make better; to improve; to meliorate.

In every human being there is a wish to ameliorate his own condition. Macaulay.

A*mel"io*rate, v. i. To grow better; to meliorate; as, wine ameliorates by age.

A*mel`io*ra"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. F. amélioration.] The act of ameliorating, or the state of being ameliorated; making or becoming better; improvement; melioration. "Amelioration of human affairs." J. S. Mill.

A*mel"io*ra*tive (&?;), a. Tending to ameliorate; producing amelioration or improvement; as, ameliorative remedies, efforts.

A*mel"io*ra`tor (&?;), n. One who ameliorates.

A`men" (?; 277), interj., adv., & n. [L. amen, Gr. 'amh`n, Heb. mn certainly, truly.] An expression used at the end of prayers, and meaning, So be it. At the end of a creed, it is a solemn asseveration of belief. When it introduces a declaration, it is equivalent to truly, verily. It is used as a noun, to denote: (a) concurrence in belief, or in a statement; assent; (b) the final word or act; (c) Christ as being one who is true and faithful.

And let all the people say, Amen. Ps. cvi. 48.

Amen, amen, I say to thee, except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God. John ii. 3. Rhemish Trans.

To say amen to, to approve warmly; to concur in heartily or emphatically; to ratify; as, I say Amen to all.

A`men", v. t. To say Amen to; to sanction fully.

A*me`na*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. The quality of being amenable; amenableness. Coleridge.