Part 686

<-- what is "Ecclus."? Not in the set of references! --> <h1>Aspalathus</h1> <Xpage=89>

<hw>As*pal"a*thus</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>aspalathus</ets>, Gr. <?/.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A thorny shrub yielding a fragrant oil.</def> <i>Ecclus. xxiv. 15</i>. <sd>(b)</sd> <def>A genus of plants of the natural order <spn>Leguminos\'91</spn>. The species are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope.</def>

<-- amino acid --> <h1>Asparagine</h1> <Xpage=89>

<hw>As*par"a*gine</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>asparagine</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>A white, nitrogenous, crystallizable substance, <chform>C4H8N2O3+H2O</chform>, found in many plants, and first obtained from <ets>asparagus</ets>. It is believed to aid in the disposition of nitrogenous matter throughout the plant; -- called also <altname>altheine</altname>.</def>

<h1>Asparaginous</h1> <Xpage=89>

<hw>As`pa*rag"i*nous</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Pertaining or allied to, or resembling, asparagus; having shoots which are eaten like asparagus; <as>as, <ex>asparaginous</ex> vegetables</as>.</def>

<h1>Asparagus</h1> <Xpage=89>

<hw>As*par"a*gus</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L., fr. Gr. <?/, <?/; cf. <?/ to swell with sap or juice, and Zend <ets><?/paregha</ets> prong, sprout, Pers. <ets>asparag</ets>, Lith. <ets>spurgas</ets> sprout, Skr. <ets>sphurj</ets> to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. <er>Sparrowgrass</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order <i>Liliace\'91</i>, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. <i>Asparagus racemosus</i> is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The <i>Asparagus officinalis</i>, a species cultivated in gardens.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The young and tender shoots of <i>A</i>. <i>officinalis</i>, which form a valuable and well-known article of food.</def>

<note>&hand; This word was formerly pronounced <i>sparrowgrass</i>; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people.</note>

<cs><col>Asparagus beetle</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>a small beetle <spn>(Crioceris asparagi)</spn> injurious to asparagus.</cd></cs>

<h1>Aspartic</h1> <Xpage=89>

<hw>As*par"tic</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>Pertaining to, or derived, asparagine; <as>as, <ex>aspartic</ex> acid</as>.</def>

<h1>Aspect</h1> <Xpage=89>

<hw>As"pect</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>aspectus</ets>, fr. <ets>aspicere</ets>, <ets>aspectum</ets>, to look at; <ets>ad + spicere</ets>, <ets>specere</ets>, to look, akin to E. <ets>spy</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of looking; vision; gaze; glance.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark> "The basilisk killeth by <i>aspect</i>."

<i>Bacon.</i>

<blockquote>His <b>aspect</b> was bent on the ground. <i>Sir W. Scott.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Look, or particular appearance of the face; countenance; mien; air.</def> "Serious in <i>aspect</i>."

<i>Dryden.</i>

<blockquote>[Craggs] with <b>aspect</b> open shall erect his head. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view.</def> "The <i>aspect</i> of affairs."

<i>Macaulay.</i>

<blockquote>The true <b>aspect</b> of a world lying in its rubbish. <i>T. Burnet.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Position or situation with regard to seeing; that position which enables one to look in a particular direction; position in relation to the points of the compass; <as>as, a house has a southern <ex>aspect</ex>, that is, a position which faces the south</as>.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Prospect; outlook.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>This town affords a good <b>aspect</b> toward the hill from whence we descended. <i>Evelyn.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Astrol.)</fld> <def>The situation of planets or stars with respect to one another, or the angle formed by the rays of light proceeding from them and meeting at the eye; the joint look of planets or stars upon each other or upon the earth.</def>

<i>Milton.</i>