Part 249

An*frac"tu*ous (&?;), a. [L. anfractuosus, fr. anfractus a turning, a winding, fr. the unused anfringere to wind, bend; an-, for amb- + fractus, p. p. of frangere to break: cf. F. anfractueux.] Winding; full of windings and turnings; sinuous; tortuous; as, the anfractuous spires of a born. -- An*frac"tu*ous*ness, n.

An*frac"ture (&?;), n. A mazy winding.

An*ga"ri*a"tion (&?;), n. [LL. angariatio, fr. L. angaria service to a lord, villenage, fr. angarius, Gr. 'a`ggaros (a Persian word), a courier for carrying royal dispatches.] Exaction of forced service; compulsion. [Obs.] Speed.

An`gei*ol"o*gy (&?;), n., An`gei*ot"o*my, etc. Same as Angiology, Angiotomy, etc.

An"gel (&?;), n. [AS. ængel, engel, influenced by OF. angele, angle, F. ange. Both the AS. and the OF. words are from L. angelus, Gr. 'a`ggelos messenger, a messenger of God, an angel.] 1. A messenger. [R.]

The dear good angel of the Spring, The nightingale. B. Jonson.

2. A spiritual, celestial being, superior to man in power and intelligence. In the Scriptures the angels appear as God's messengers.

O, welcome, pure-eyed Faith, white-handed Hope, Thou hovering angel, girt with golden wings. Milton.

3. One of a class of "fallen angels;" an evil spirit; as, the devil and his angels.

4. A minister or pastor of a church, as in the Seven Asiatic churches. [Archaic]

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write. Rev. ii. 1.

5. Attendant spirit; genius; demon. Shak.

6. An appellation given to a person supposed to be of angelic goodness or loveliness; a darling.

When pain and anguish wring the brow, A ministering angel thou. Sir W. Scott.

7. (Numis.) An ancient gold coin of England, bearing the figure of the archangel Michael. It varied in value from 6s. 8d. to 10s. Amer. Cyc.

Angel is sometimes used adjectively; as, angel grace; angel whiteness.

Angel bed, a bed without posts. -- Angel fish. (Zoöl.) (a) A species of shark (Squatina angelus) from six to eight feet long, found on the coasts of Europe and North America. It takes its name from its pectoral fins, which are very large and extend horizontally like wings when spread. (b) One of several species of compressed, bright colored fishes warm seas, belonging to the family Chætodontidæ. -- Angel gold, standard gold. [Obs.] Fuller. -- Angel shark. See Angel fish. -- Angel shot (Mil.), a kind of chain shot. -- Angel water, a perfumed liquid made at first chiefly from angelica; afterwards containing rose, myrtle, and orange-flower waters, with ambergris, etc. [Obs.]

An"gel*age (&?;), n. Existence or state of angels.

An"gel*et (&?;), n. [OF. angelet.] A small gold coin formerly current in England; a half angel. Eng. Cyc.

An"gel fish. See under Angel.

An"gel*hood (&?;), n. The state of being an angel; angelic nature. Mrs. Browning.

{ An*gel"ic (&?;), An*gel"ic*al (&?;), } a. [L. angelicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. angélique.] Belonging to, or proceeding from, angels; resembling, characteristic of, or partaking of the nature of, an angel; heavenly; divine. "Angelic harps." Thomson."Angelical actions." Hooker.

The union of womanly tenderness and angelic patience. Macaulay.

Angelic Hymn, a very ancient hymn of the Christian Church; -- so called from its beginning with the song of the heavenly host recorded in Luke ii. 14. Eadie.

An*gel"ic, a. [From Angelica.] (Chem.) Of or derived from angelica; as, angelic acid; angelic ether.

Angelic acid, an acid obtained from angelica and some other plants.

An*gel"i*ca (&?;), n. [NL. See Angelic.] (Bot.) 1. An aromatic umbelliferous plant (Archangelica officinalis or Angelica archangelica) the leaf stalks of which are sometimes candied and used in confectionery, and the roots and seeds as an aromatic tonic.

2. The candied leaf stalks of angelica.