Part 728

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Stern; austere; <as>as, an <ex>astringent</ex> type of virtue</as>.</def>

<h1>Astringent</h1> <Xpage=94>

<hw>As*trin"gent</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A medicine or other substance that produces contraction in the soft organic textures, and checks discharges of blood, mucus, etc.</def>

<blockquote>External <b>astringents</b> are called styptics. <i>Dunglison.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Astringently</h1> <Xpage=94>

<hw>As*trin"gent*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In an astringent manner.</def>

<h1>Astringer</h1> <Xpage=94>

<hw>As*trin"ger</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>ostreger</ets>, OF. <ets>ostrucier</ets>, F. <ets>autoursier</ets>, fr. OF. <ets>austour</ets>, <ets>ostor</ets>, hawk, F. <ets>autour</ets>; cf. L. <ets>acceptor</ets>, for <ets>accipiter</ets>, hawk.]</ety> <def>A falconer who keeps a goschawk.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> <i>Shak.</i> <i>Cowell</i>. <altsp>[Written also <asp>austringer</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Astro-</h1> <Xpage=94>

<hw>As"tro-</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>. <def>The combining form of the Greek word <grk>'a`stron</grk>, meaning <i>star</i>.</def>

<h1>Astrofel, Astrofell</h1> <Xpage=94>

<hw><hw>As"tro*fel</hw>, <hw>As"tro*fell</hw><hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A bitter herb, probably the same as aster, or starwort.</def>

<i>Spenser.</i>

<h1>Astrogeny</h1> <Xpage=94>

<hw>As*trog"e*ny</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Astro-</ets> + Gr. <?/ birth.]</ety> <def>The creation or evolution of the stars or the heavens.</def>

<i>H. Spencer.</i>

<h1>Astrognosy</h1> <Xpage=94>

<hw>As*trog"no*sy</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Astro-</ets> + Gr. <?/ knowledge.]</ety> <def>The science or knowledge of the stars, esp. the fixed stars.</def>

<i>Bouvier.</i>

<h1>Astrogony</h1> <Xpage=94>

<hw>As*trog"o*ny</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Same as <er>Astrogeny</er>.</def> -- <wordforms><wf>As`*tro*gon"ic</wf> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Astrography</h1> <Xpage=94>

<hw>As*trog"ra*phy</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Astro'cf</ets> + <ets>-graphy</ets>.]</ety> <def>The art of describing or delineating the stars; a description or mapping of the heavens.</def>

<h1>Astroite</h1> <Xpage=94>

<hw>As"tro*ite</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>astroites</ets>: cf. F. <ets>astroite</ets>.]</ety> <def>A radiated stone or fossil; star-stone.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> <altsp>[Written also <asp>astrite</asp> and <asp>astrion</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Astrolabe</h1> <Xpage=94>

<hw>As"tro*labe</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>astrolabie</ets>, <ets>astrilabe</ets>, OF. <ets>astrelabe</ets>, F. <ets>astrolabe</ets>, LL. <ets>astrolabium</ets>, fr. Gr. <?/; <?/ star + <?/, <?/, to take.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Astron.)</fld> <def>An instrument for observing or showing the positions of the stars. It is now disused.</def>

<note>&hand; Among the ancients, it was essentially the armillary sphere. A graduated circle with sights, for taking altitudes at sea, was called an astrolabe in the 18th century. It is now superseded by the quadrant and sextant.</note>