Part 274

<hw>Ai"no</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Said to be the native name for man.]</ety> <def>One of a peculiar race inhabiting Yesso, the Kooril Islands etc., in the northern part of the empire of Japan, by some supposed to have been the progenitors of the Japanese. The Ainos are stout and short, with hairy bodies.</def>

<h1>Ain't</h1> <Xpage=34>

<hw>Ain't</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>. <def> A contraction for <i>are not</i> and <i>am not</i>; also used for <i>is not</i>. <mark>[Colloq. or llliterate speech]</mark>. See <er>An't</er>.</def>

<h1>Air</h1> <Xpage=34>

<hw>Air</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>air</ets>, <ets>eir</ets>, F. <ets>air</ets>, L. <ets>a\'89r</ets>, fr. Gr. <?/, air, mist, for <?/, fr. root <?/ to blow, breathe, probably akin to E. <ets>wind</ets>. In sense 10 the French has taking a meaning fr. It. <ets>aria</ets> atmosphere, air, fr. the same Latin word; and in senses 11, 12, 13 the French meaning is either fr. L. <ets>aria</ets>, or due to confusion with F. <ets>aire</ets>, in an older sense of origin, descent. Cf. <er>A<?/ry</er>, <er>Debonair</er>, <er>Malaria</er>, <er>Wind</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The fluid which we breathe, and which surrounds the earth; the atmosphere. It is invisible, inodorous, insipid, transparent, compressible, elastic, and ponderable.</def>

<note>&hand; By the ancient philosophers, <i>air</i> was regarded as an element; but modern science has shown that it is essentially a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, with a small amount of carbon dioxide, the average proportions being, by volume: oxygen, 20.96 per cent.; nitrogen, 79.00 per cent.; carbon dioxide, 0.04 per cent. These proportions are subject to a very slight variability. Air also always contains some vapor of water.</note>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Symbolically: Something unsubstantial, light, or volatile.</def> "Charm ache with <i>air</i>."

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>He was still all <b>air</b> and fire. <i>Macaulay</i></blockquote>. [<b>Air</b> and <b>fire</b> being the finer and quicker elements as opposed to <b>earth</b> and <b>water</b>.]

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A particular state of the atmosphere, as respects heat, cold, moisture, etc., or as affecting the sensations; <as>as, a smoky <ex>air</ex>, a damp <ex>air</ex>, the morning <ex>air</ex>, etc.</as></def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Any a\'89riform body; a gas; <as>as, oxygen was formerly called vital <ex>air</ex></as>.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Air in motion; a light breeze; a gentle wind.</def>

<blockquote>Let vernal <b>airs</b> through trembling osiers play. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Odoriferous or contaminated air.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>That which surrounds and influences.</def>

<blockquote>The keen, the wholesome <b>air</b> of poverty. <i>Wordsworth.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>Utterance abroad; publicity; vent.</def>

<blockquote>You gave it <b>air</b> before me. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>9.</b> <def>Intelligence; information.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<p><b>10.</b> <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A musical idea, or <i>motive</i>, rhythmically developed in consecutive single tones, so as to form a symmetrical and balanced whole, which may be sung by a single voice to the stanzas of a hymn or song, or even to plain prose, or played upon an instrument; a melody; a tune; an aria.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>In harmonized chorals, psalmody, part songs, etc., the part which bears the tune or melody -- in modern harmony usually the upper part -- is sometimes called the <i>air</i>.</def>

<p><b>11.</b> <def>The peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person; mien; demeanor; <as>as, the <ex>air</ex> of a youth; a heavy <ex>air</ex>; a lofty <ex>air</ex>.</as></def> "His very <i>air</i>."

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>12.</b> <def>Peculiar appearance; apparent character; semblance; manner; style.</def>

<blockquote>It was communicated with the <b>air</b> of a secret. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>12.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>An artificial or affected manner; show of pride or vanity; haughtiness; <as>as, it is said of a person, he puts on <ex>airs</ex></as>.</def>

<i>Thackeray.</i>

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