n. 1. a class mail comprising letters, postcards, and other mail sealed against inspection, having a higher priority than second, third, or fourth-class mail; -- it is the highest class of mail not handled in a special manner, as is registered or priority mail.
Syn. -- first-class, first-class mail, 1st-class mail [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Gr. 'a priv. + &unr_; growth. ] (Biol.) Non-germinal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) A skeletal disorder beginning before birth; cartilage is converted to bone resulting in dwarfism. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. (Med.) of or pertaining to achondroplasia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ Gr. &unr_; not manifest + &unr_; a star. ] (Bot.) A provisional name for a plant which has not had its flowers botanically examined, and therefore has not been referred to its proper genus. [ 1913 Webster ]

interj. [ OE. alas, allas, OF. alas, F. hélas; a interj. (L. ah.) + las wretched (that I am), L. lassus weary, akin to E. late. See Late. ] An exclamation expressive of sorrow, pity, or apprehension of evil; -- in old writers, sometimes followed by day or white; alas the day, like alack a day, or alas the white. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a resident of Alaska. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Gr. 'amfi` + blastiko`s tending to sprout. ] (Biol.) Segmenting unequally; -- said of telolecithal ova with complete segmentation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Amylum + -plastic. ] Starch-forming; amylogenic. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; to bend back and break; to reflect (light); &unr_; + &unr_; to break. ] 1. (Opt.) Produced by the refraction of light, as seen through water; as, anaclastic curves. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Springing back, as the bottom of an anaclastic glass. [ 1913 Webster ]

Anaclastic glass, a glass or phial, shaped like an inverted funnel, and with a very thin convex bottom. By sucking out a little air, the bottom springs into a concave form with a smart crack; and by breathing or blowing gently into the orifice, the bottom, with a like noise, springs into its former convex form. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Opt.) That part of optics which treats of the refraction of light; -- commonly called dioptrics. Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. loss of structural differentiation within a cell or group of cells often with increased capacity for multiplication, as in a malignant tumor. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of or pertaining to anaplasty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; again + &unr_; to form: cf. F. anaplastie. ] (Surg.) The art of operation of restoring lost parts or the normal shape by the use of healthy tissue. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'an priv. + orthoclase. ] (Min.) A feldspar closely related to orthoclase, but triclinic. It is chiefly a silicate of sodium, potassium, and aluminium. Sp. gr., 2.57 -- 2.60. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ Gr. &unr_;; 'anti`/ + 'ana`klasis a bending back and breaking. See Anaclastic. ] (Rhet.) (a) A figure which consists in repeating the same word in a different sense; as, Learn some craft when young, that when old you may live without craft. (b) A repetition of words beginning a sentence, after a long parenthesis; as, Shall that heart (which not only feels them, but which has all motions of life placed in them), shall that heart, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. anti- = Gr. kla^n to break. ] Having opposite curvatures, that is, curved longitudinally in one direction and transversely in the opposite direction, as the surface of a saddle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. anti- + Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, milk. ] Causing a diminution or a suppression of the secretion of milk. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Diminishing plasticity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) Preventing or checking the process of healing, or granulation. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL.; Gr. &unr_; priv. + &unr_; a molding. ] (Med.) 1. Incomplete or faulty development. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Med.) a defect, retardation, or cessation of the process of generation of blood cells. [ PJC ]

a. [ Pref. a- not + plastic. ] Not plastic or easily molded. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ from aplasia{ 2 }. ] (Med.) an anemia characterized by substantial reduction or cessation of production of red blood cells and hemoglobin by the bone marrow. Stedman
Syn. -- Ehrlich's anemia; anemia gravis. [ PJC ]

n. A crossbow. See Arbalest. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Pref. archi + blastula. ] (Biol.) A hollow blastula, supposed to be the primitive form; a cœloblastula. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Archon; Plasma. ] (Biol.) The substance from which attraction spheres develop in mitotic cell division, and of which they consist. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n.; pl. Atlases [ L. Atlas, -antis, Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, one of the older family of gods, who bears up the pillars of heaven; also Mt. Atlas, in W. Africa, regarded as the pillar of heaven. It is from the root of tlh^nai to bear. See Tolerate. ] 1. One who sustains a great burden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) The first vertebra of the neck, articulating immediately with the skull, thus sustaining the globe of the head, whence the name. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A collection of maps in a volume; -- supposed to be so called from a picture of Atlas supporting the world, prefixed to some collections. This name is said to have been first used by Mercator, the celebrated geographer, in the 16th century. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A volume of plates illustrating any subject. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A work in which subjects are exhibited in a tabular from or arrangement; as, an historical atlas. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A large, square folio, resembling a volume of maps; -- called also atlas folio. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A drawing paper of large size. See under Paper, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Atlas powder, see Atlas powder in the vocabulary; a blasting compound containing nitroglycerin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Ar., smooth. ] A rich kind of satin manufactured in India. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A blasting powder or dynamite composed of nitroglycerin, wood fiber, sodium nitrate, and magnesium carbonate. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Of or pertaining to Australasia; as, Australasian regions. -- n. A native or an inhabitant of Australasia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Auto-; Clastic. ] (Geol.) Broken in place; -- said of rocks having a broken or brecciated structure due to crushing, in contrast to those of brecciated materials brought from a distance. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Of or pertaining to autoplasty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Auto- + -plasty. ] (Surg.) The process of artificially repairing lesions by taking a piece of healthy tissue, as from a neighboring part, to supply the deficiency caused by disease or wounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Back, adv. + lash. ] 1. (Mech.) The distance through which one part of connected machinery, as a wheel, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected parts, resulting from looseness in fitting or from wear; also, the jarring or reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A strong and sudden reverse movement in a moving part of a machine. [ PJC ]

3. A strong popular reaction serving to counter the effect of an action; -- used especially of adverse reactions to social or political developments. [ PJC ]

[ OE. bales, balais, F. balais, LL. balascus, fr. Ar. balakhsh, so called from Badakhshan, Balashan, or Balaxiam, a place in the neighborhood of Samarkand, where this ruby is found. ] (Min.) A variety of spinel ruby, of a pale rose red, or inclining to orange. See Spinel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ D. ballast; akin to Dan. baglast, ballast, OSw. barlast, Sw. ballast. The first part is perh. the same word as E. bare, adj.; the second is last a burden, and hence the meaning a bare, or mere, load. See Bare, a., and Last load. ] 1. (Naut.) Any heavy substance, as stone, iron, etc., put into the hold to sink a vessel in the water to such a depth as to prevent capsizing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it steadiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Gravel, broken stone, etc., laid in the bed of a railroad to make it firm and solid. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The larger solids, as broken stone or gravel, used in making concrete. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Fig.: That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security. [ 1913 Webster ]

It [ piety ] is the right ballast of prosperity. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ballast engine, a steam engine used in excavating and for digging and raising stones and gravel for ballast. --
Ship in ballast, a ship carrying only ballast. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ballasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ballasting. ] 1. To steady, as a vessel, by putting heavy substances in the hold. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fill in, as the bed of a railroad, with gravel, stone, etc., in order to make it firm and solid. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To keep steady; to steady, morally. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is charity must ballast the heart. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) A toll paid for the privilege of taking up ballast in a port or harbor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which is used for steadying anything; ballast. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Beplastered p. pr. & vb. n. Beplastering. ] To plaster over; to cover or smear thickly; to bedaub. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beplastered with rouge. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. bi`os life + -blast. ] (Biol.) Same as Bioplast. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. bi`os life + pla`sma form, mold, fr. pla`ssein to mold. ] (Biol.) A name suggested by Dr. Beale for the germinal matter supposed to be essential to the functions of all living beings; the material through which every form of life manifests itself; unaltered protoplasm. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or consisting of, bioplasm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. bi`os life + pla`ssein to form. ] (Biol.) A tiny mass of bioplasm, in itself a living unit and having formative power, as a living white blood corpuscle; bioblast. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Biol.) Bioplasmic. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ F., p. p. of blaser. ] 1. Having the sensibilities deadened by excess or frequency of enjoyment; sated or surfeited with pleasure; uninterested because of frequent exposure or indulgence; used up.
Syn. -- bored. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. very sophisticated; versed in the ways of the world. the blase traveler refers to the ocean he has crossed as `the pond'
Syn. -- knowing, worldly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. uninterested and attaching little importance; -- of attitudes toward duties. a blase attitude about housecleaning
Syn. -- unconcerned. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Blasphemed p. pr. & vb. n. Blaspheming. ] [ OE. blasfemēn, L. blasphemare, fr. Gr. blasfhmei^n: cf. F. blasphémer. See Blame, v. ] 1. To speak of, or address, with impious irreverence; to revile impiously (anything sacred); as, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. [ 1913 Webster ]

So Dagon shall be magnified, and God,
Besides whom is no god, compared with idols,
Disglorified, blasphemed, and had in scorn. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge thyself on all those who thus continually blaspheme thy great and all-glorious name? Dr. W. Beveridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Figuratively, of persons and things not religiously sacred, but held in high honor: To calumniate; to revile; to abuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

You do blaspheme the good in mocking me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those who from our labors heap their board,
Blaspheme their feeder and forget their lord. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To utter blasphemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness. Mark iii. 29. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who blasphemes. [ 1913 Webster ]

And each blasphemer quite escape the rod,
Because the insult's not on man, but God ? Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. blasphemus, Gr. &unr_;. ] Speaking or writing blasphemy; uttering or exhibiting anything impiously irreverent; profane; as, a blasphemous person; containing blasphemy; as, a blasphemous book; a blasphemous caricature. “Blasphemous publications.” Porteus. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor from the Holy One of Heaven
Refrained his tongue blasphemous. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Formerly this word was accented on the second syllable, as in the above example. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a blasphemous manner. [ 1913 Webster ]