Part 387

Ash"es (&?;), n. pl. [OE. asche, aske, AS. asce, æsce, axe; akin to OHG. asca, G. asche, D. asch, Icel. & Sw. aska, Dan. aske, Goth. azgo.] 1. The earthy or mineral particles of combustible substances remaining after combustion, as of wood or coal.

2. Specifically: The remains of the human body when burnt, or when "returned to dust" by natural decay.

Their martyred blood and ashes sow. Milton.

The coffins were broken open. The ashes were scattered to the winds. Macaulay.

3. The color of ashes; deathlike paleness.

The lip of ashes, and the cheek of flame. Byron.

In dust and ashes, In sackcloth and ashes, with humble expression of grief or repentance; -- from the method of mourning in Eastern lands. -- Volcanic ashes, or Volcanic ash, the loose, earthy matter, or small fragments of stone or lava, ejected by volcanoes.

Ash"-fire, n. A low fire used in chemical operations.

Ash"-fur`nace (&?;), Ash"-ov`en (&?;), n. A furnace or oven for fritting materials for glass making.

A*shine" (&?;), a. Shining; radiant.

{ Ash"lar, Ash"ler } (&?;), n. [OE. ascheler, achiler, OF. aiseler, fr. aiselle, dim. of ais plank, fr. L. axis, assis, plank, axle. See Axle.] 1. (Masonry) (a) Hewn or squared stone; also, masonry made of squared or hewn stone.

Rough ashlar, a block of freestone as brought from the quarry. When hammer-dressed it is known as common ashlar. Knight.

(b) In the United States especially, a thin facing of squared and dressed stone upon a wall of rubble or brick. Knight.

{ Ash"lar*ing, Ash"ler*ing, } n. 1. The act of bedding ashlar in mortar.

2. Ashlar when in thin slabs and made to serve merely as a case to the body of the wall. Brande & C.

3. (Carp.) The short upright pieces between the floor beams and rafters in garrets. See Ashlar, 2.

A*shore" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + shore.] On shore or on land; on the land adjacent to water; to the shore; to the land; aground (when applied to a ship); -- sometimes opposed to aboard or afloat.

Here shall I die ashore. Shak.

I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Shak.

Ash"to*reth (&?;), n.; pl. Ashtaroth (&?;). The principal female divinity of the Phœnicians, as Baal was the principal male divinity. W. Smith.

Ash` Wednes"day (sh` wnz"d). The first day of Lent; -- so called from a custom in the Roman Catholic church of putting ashes, on that day, upon the foreheads of penitents.

Ash"weed` (&?;), n. (Bot.) [A corruption of ache-weed; F. ache. So named from the likeness of its leaves to those of ache (celery).] Goutweed.

Ash"y (&?;), a. 1. Pertaining to, or composed of, ashes; filled, or strewed with, ashes.

2. Ash-colored; whitish gray; deadly pale. Shak.

Ashy pale, pale as ashes. Shak.

A"sian (&?;), a. [L. Asianus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?;, L. Asia.] Of or pertaining to Asia; Asiatic. "Asian princes." Jer. Taylor. -- n. An Asiatic.

A"si*arch (&?;), n. [L. Asiarcha, Gr. &?;; &?; + &?; ruler.] One of the chiefs or pontiffs of the Roman province of Asia, who had the superintendence of the public games and religious rites. Milner.

A`si*at"ic (&?;), a. [L. Asiaticus, Gr. &?;.] Of or pertaining to Asia or to its inhabitants. -- n. A native, or one of the people, of Asia.