Part 99

2. The executive part of government; the persons collectively who are intrusted with the execution of laws and the superintendence of public affairs; the chief magistrate and his cabinet or council; or the council, or ministry, alone, as in Great Britain.

A mild and popular administration. Macaulay.

The administration has been opposed in parliament. Johnson.

3. The act of administering, or tendering something to another; dispensation; as, the administration of a medicine, of an oath, of justice, or of the sacrament.

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4. (Law) (a) The management and disposal, under legal authority, of the estate of an intestate, or of a testator having no competent executor. (b) The management of an estate of a deceased person by an executor, the strictly corresponding term execution not being in use.

Administration with the will annexed, administration granted where the testator has appointed no executor, or where his appointment of an executor for any cause has failed, as by death, incompetency, refusal to act, etc.

Syn. -- Conduct; management; direction; regulation; execution; dispensation; distribution.

Ad*min"is*tra`tive (&?;), a. [L. administrativus: cf. F. administratif.] Pertaining to administration; administering; executive; as, an administrative body, ability, or energy. -- Ad*min"is*tra`tive*ly, adv.

Ad*min`is*tra"tor (&?;), n. [L.] 1. One who administers affairs; one who directs, manages, executes, or dispenses, whether in civil, judicial, political, or ecclesiastical affairs; a manager.

2. (Law) A man who manages or settles the estate of an intestate, or of a testator when there is no competent executor; one to whom the right of administration has been committed by competent authority.

Ad*min`is*tra"tor*ship, n. The position or office of an administrator.

Ad*min`is*tra"trix (&?;), n. [NL.] A woman who administers; esp., one who administers the estate of an intestate, or to whom letters of administration have been granted; a female administrator.

Ad`mi*ra*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. [L. admirabilitac.] Admirableness. [R.] Johnson.

Ad"mi*ra*ble (&?;), a. [L. admirabilis: cf. F. admirable.] 1. Fitted to excite wonder; wonderful; marvelous. [Obs.]

In man there is nothing admirable but his ignorance and weakness. Jer. Taylor.

2. Having qualities to excite wonder united with approbation; deserving the highest praise; most excellent; -- used of persons or things. "An admirable machine." "Admirable fortitude." Macaulay.

Syn. -- Wonderful; marvelous; surprising; excellent; delightful; praiseworthy.

Ad"mi*ra*ble*ness, n. The quality of being admirable; wonderful excellence.

Ad"mi*ra*bly, adv. In an admirable manner.

Ad"mi*ral (&?;), n. [OE. amiral, admiral, OF. amiral, ultimately fr. Ar. amr-al- bahr commander of the sea; Ar. amr is commander, al is the Ar. article, and amr-al, heard in different titles, was taken as one word. Early forms of the word show confusion with L. admirabilis admirable, fr. admirari to admire. It is said to have been introduced into Europe by the Genoese or Venetians, in the 12th or 13th century. Cf. Ameer, Emir.] 1. A naval officer of the highest rank; a naval officer of high rank, of which there are different grades. The chief gradations in rank are admiral, vice admiral, and rear admiral. The admiral is the commander in chief of a fleet or of fleets.

2. The ship which carries the admiral; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet.

Like some mighty admiral, dark and terrible, bearing down upon his antagonist with all his canvas straining to the wind, and all his thunders roaring from his broadsides. E. Everett.

3. (Zoöl.) A handsome butterfly (Pyrameis Atalanta) of Europe and America. The larva feeds on nettles.

Admiral shell (Zoöl.), the popular name of an ornamental cone shell (Conus admiralis).

Lord High Admiral, a great officer of state, who (when this rare dignity is conferred) is at the head of the naval administration of Great Britain.

Ad"mi*ral*ship, n. The office or position oaf an admiral; also, the naval skill of an admiral.

Ad"mi*ral*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Admiralties (&?;). [F. amirauté, for an older amiralté, office of admiral, fr. LL. admiralitas. See Admiral.] 1. The office or jurisdiction of an admiral. Prescott.