Part 385

2. pl. (Zoöl.) A genus of simple ascidians, which formerly included most of the known species. It is sometimes used as a name for the Ascidioidea, or for all the Tunicata.

As*cig"er*ous (&?;), a. [Ascus + - gerous.] (Bot.) Having asci. Loudon.

{ ||As"ci*i (&?;), As"cians (&?;), } n. pl. [L. ascii, pl. of ascius, Gr. &?; without shadow; 'a priv. + &?; shadow.] Persons who, at certain times of the year, have no shadow at noon; -- applied to the inhabitants of the torrid zone, who have, twice a year, a vertical sun.

||As*ci"tes (&?;), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; (sc. &?; disease), fr. &?; bladder, belly.] (Med.) A collection of serous fluid in the cavity of the abdomen; dropsy of the peritoneum. Dunglison.

{ As*cit"ic (&?;), As*cit"ic*al (&?;), } a. Of, pertaining to, or affected by, ascites; dropsical.

As`ci*ti"tious (&?;), a. [See Adscititious.] Supplemental; not inherent or original; adscititious; additional; assumed.

Homer has been reckoned an ascititious name. Pope.

As*cle"pi*ad (&?;), n. (Gr. & L. Pros.) A choriambic verse, first used by the Greek poet Asclepias, consisting of four feet, viz., a spondee, two choriambi, and an iambus.

As*cle`pi*a*da"ceous, a. [See Asclepias.] (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, plants of the Milkweed family.

||As*cle"pi*as, n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, named from Asclepios or Aesculapius.] (Bot.) A genus of plants including the milkweed, swallowwort, and some other species having medicinal properties.

Asclepias butterfly (Zoöl.), a large, handsome, red and black butterfly (Danais Archippus), found in both hemispheres. It feeds on plants of the genus Asclepias.

||As`co*coc"cus (&?;), n.; pl. Ascococci (&?;). [NL., fr. Gr. 'asko`s bladder, bag + &?; kernel.] (Biol.) A form of micrococcus, found in putrid meat infusions, occurring in peculiar masses, each of which is inclosed in a hyaline capsule and contains a large number of spherical micrococci.

As"co*spore (&?;), n. [Ascus + spore.] (Bot.) One of the spores contained in the asci of lichens and fungi. [See Illust. of Ascus.]

As*crib"a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being ascribed; attributable.

As*cribe" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ascribed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Ascribing.] [L. ascribere, adscribere, to ascribe; ad + scribere to write: cf. OF. ascrire. See Scribe.] 1. To attribute, impute, or refer, as to a cause; as, his death was ascribed to a poison; to ascribe an effect to the right cause; to ascribe such a book to such an author.

The finest [speech] that is ascribed to Satan in the whole poem. Addison.

2. To attribute, as a quality, or an appurtenance; to consider or allege to belong.

Syn. -- To Ascribe, Attribute, Impute. Attribute denotes, 1. To refer some quality or attribute to a being; as, to attribute power to God. 2. To refer something to its cause or source; as, to attribute a backward spring to icebergs off the coast. Ascribe is used equally in both these senses, but involves a different image. To impute usually denotes to ascribe something doubtful or wrong, and hence, in general literature, has commonly a bad sense; as, to impute unworthy motives. The theological sense of impute is not here taken into view.

More than good-will to me attribute naught. Spenser.

Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit. Pope.

And fairly quit him of the imputed blame. Spenser.

As"cript (&?;), a. See Adscript. [Obs.]

As*crip"tion (&?;), n. [L. ascriptio, fr. ascribere. See Ascribe.] The act of ascribing, imputing, or affirming to belong; also, that which is ascribed.

As`crip*ti"tious (&?;), a. [L. ascriptitius, fr. ascribere.] 1. Ascribed.

2. Added; additional. [Obs.]

An ascriptitious and supernumerary God. Farindon.

As"cus (&?;), n.; pl. Asci (&?;). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a bladder.] (Bot.) A small membranous bladder or tube in which are inclosed the seedlike reproductive particles or sporules of lichens and certain fungi.

A-sea, adv. [Pref. a- + sea.] On the sea; at sea; toward the sea.