Part 176

<hw>Ad*min`is*tra"trix</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[NL.]</ety> <def>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.</def>

<h1>Admirability</h1> <Xpage=23>

<hw>Ad`mi*ra*bil"i*ty</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>admirabilitac</ets>.]</ety> <def>Admirableness.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Johnson.</i>

<h1>Admirable</h1> <Xpage=23>

<hw>Ad"mi*ra*ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>admirabilis</ets>: cf. F. <ets>admirable</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Fitted to excite wonder; wonderful; marvelous.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>In man there is nothing <b>admirable</b> but his ignorance and weakness. <i>Jer. Taylor.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Having qualities to excite wonder united with approbation; deserving the highest praise; most excellent; -- used of persons or things.</def> "An <i>admirable</i> machine." "<i>Admirable</i> fortitude."

<i>Macaulay.</i>

<syn>Syn. -- Wonderful; marvelous; surprising; excellent; delightful; praiseworthy.</syn>

<h1>Admirableness</h1> <Xpage=23>

<hw>Ad"mi*ra*ble*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being admirable; wonderful excellence.</def>

<h1>Admirably</h1> <Xpage=23>

<hw>Ad"mi*ra*bly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In an admirable manner.</def>

<h1>Admiral</h1> <Xpage=23>

<hw>Ad"mi*ral</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>amiral</ets>, <ets>admiral</ets>, OF. <ets>amiral</ets>, ultimately fr. Ar. <ets>am\'c6r-al-bahr</ets> commander of the sea; Ar. <ets>am\'c6r</ets> is commander, <ets>al</ets> is the Ar. article, and <ets>am\'c6r-al</ets>, heard in different titles, was taken as one word. Early forms of the word show confusion with L. <ets>admirabilis</ets> admirable, fr. <ets>admirari</ets> to admire. It is said to have been introduced into Europe by the Genoese or Venetians, in the 12th or 13th century. Cf. <er>Ameer</er>, <er>Emir</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>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 <i>admiral</i>, <i>vice admiral</i>, and <i>rear admiral</i>. The <i>admiral</i> is the commander in chief of a fleet or of fleets.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The ship which carries the admiral; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet.</def>

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

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A handsome butterfly <spn>(Pyrameis Atalanta)</spn> of Europe and America. The larva feeds on nettles.</def>

<cs><col>Admiral shell</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>the popular name of an ornamental cone shell <spn>(Conus admiralis)</spn>.</cd></cs>

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

<h1>Admiralship</h1> <Xpage=23>

<hw>Ad"mi*ral*ship</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The office or position oaf an admiral; also, the naval skill of an admiral.</def>

<h1>Admiralty</h1> <Xpage=23>

<hw>Ad"mi*ral*ty</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Admiralties</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[F. <ets>amiraut\'82</ets>, for an older <ets>amiralt\'82</ets>, office of admiral, fr. LL. <ets>admiralitas</ets>. See <er>Admiral</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The office or jurisdiction of an admiral.</def>

<i>Prescott.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The department or officers having authority over naval affairs generally.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The court which has jurisdiction of maritime questions and offenses.</def>