Part 479

<hw>An"swer*less</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Having no answer, or impossible to be answered.</def>

<i>Byron.</i>

<h1>An 't</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>An 't</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>. <def><i>An it</i>, that is, <i>and it</i> or <i>if it</i>. See <er>An</er>, <tt>conj.</tt></def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>An't</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>An't</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>. <def>A contraction for <i>are</i> and <i>am not</i>; also used for <i>is not</i>; -- now usually written <i>ain't</i>.</def> <mark>[Colloq. & illiterate speech.]</mark>

<h1>Ant-</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>Ant-</hw>. <def>See <er>Anti-</er>, <tt>prefix.</tt></def>

<h1>-ant</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>-ant</hw>. <ety>[F. -<ets>ant</ets>, fr. L. -<ets>antem</ets> or -<ets>entem</ets>, the pr. p. ending; also sometimes directly from L. -<ets>antem</ets>.]</ety> <def>A suffix sometimes marking the agent for action; <as>as, merch<ex>ant</ex>, coven<ex>ant</ex>, serv<ex>ant</ex>, pleas<ex>ant</ex>, etc.</as> Cf. <er>-ent</er>.</def>

<h1>Ant</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>Ant</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>ante</ets>, <ets>amete</ets>, <ets>emete</ets>, AS. <ets>\'91mete</ets> akin to G. <ets>ameise</ets>. Cf. <er>Emmet</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A hymenopterous insect of the Linn\'91an genus <spn>Formica</spn>, which is now made a family of several genera; an emmet; a pismire.</def>

<note>&hand; Among ants, as among bees, there are neuter or working ants, besides the males and females; the former are without wings. Ants live together in swarms, usually raising hillocks of earth, variously chambered within, where they maintain a perfect system of order, store their provisions, and nurture their young. There are many species, with diverse habits, as <i>agricultural ants</i>, <i>carpenter ants</i>, <i>honey ants</i>, <i>foraging ants</i>, <i>amazon ants</i>, etc. The <i>white ants</i> or Termites belong to the Neuroptera.</note>

<cs><col>Ant bird</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>one of a very extensive group of South American birds <spn>(Formicariid\'91)</spn>, which live on ants. The family includes many species, some of which are called <stype>ant shrikes</stype>, <stype>ant thrushes</stype>, and <stype>ant wrens</stype>.</cd> -- <col>Ant rice</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a species of grass <spn>(Aristida oligantha)</spn> cultivated by the agricultural ants of Texas for the sake of its seed.</cd></cs>

<h1>Anta</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>An"ta</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Ant\'91</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L.]</ety> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>A species of pier produced by thickening a wall at its termination, treated architecturally as a pilaster, with capital and base.</def>

<note>&hand; Porches, when columns stand between two <i>ant\'91</i>, are called in Latin <i>in antis</i>.</note>

<h1>Antacid</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>Ant*ac"id</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<it>Pref.</it> <ets>anti-</ets> + <ets>acid</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Med.)</fld> <def>A remedy for acidity of the stomach, as an alkali or absorbent.</def> -- <def2><tt>a.</tt> <def>Counteractive of acidity.</def></def2>

<h1>Antacrid</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>Ant*ac"rid</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Pref. <ets>anti-</ets> + <ets>acrid</ets>.]</ety> <def>Corrective of acrimony of the humors.</def>

<h1>Ant\'91an</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>An*t\'91"an</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Gr. <?/.]</ety> <def>Pertaining to Ant\'91us, a giant athlete slain by Hercules.</def>

<h1>Antagonism</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>An*tag"o*nism</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to struggle against; <?/ against + <?/ to contend or struggle, <?/ contest: cf. F. <ets>antagonisme</ets>. See <er>Agony</er>.]</ety> <def>Opposition of action; counteraction or contrariety of things or principles.</def>

<note>&hand; We speak of <i>antagonism between</i> two things, <i>to</i> or <i>against</i> a thing, and sometimes <i>with</i> a thing.</note>

<h1>Antagonist</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>An*tag"o*nist</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>antagonista</ets>, Gr. <?/; <?/ against + <?/ combatant, champion, fr. <?/: cf. F. <ets>antagoniste</ets>. See <er>Antagonism</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>One who contends with another, especially in combat; an adversary; an opponent.</def>