affidavit men
Knights of the post, or false witnesses, said to attend Westminster Hall, and other courts of justice, ready to swear any thing for hire.
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affygraphy
"It fits to an AFFYGRAPHY," i.e., to a nicety—to a T.
afraid of one's own shadow
Excessively timid or fearful
africa in general
The Romans used the word sometimes as synonymous with Africa, and sometimes for the fringe containing Carthage. Libya was occupied by the Italians in 1911- 12, and by the Treaty of Ouchy (1912) the sovereignty of the province was transferred from Turkey to Italy. The Italians began its colonization, and so late as 1938 some 16,000 emigrants left Genoa for the province.
african origin
The Spanish Basques are their nearest modern representatives.
after all
used to indicate a final decision or conclusion
after dark
A bookmaker's clerk.
after my own heart
Just what I like; in accordance with my wish. Be of good heart. Cheer up. From the bottom of one's heart.
after one's own heart
Sharing similar interests or values
after the fact
Done or happening after an event has occurred
after the Lord Mayor's show
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
after-clap
A demand after the first given in has been discharged; a charge for pretended omissions; in short, any thing disagreeable happening after all consequences of the cause have been thought at an end.
afternoon farmer
One who wastes his best opportunity, and drives off the large end of his work to the little end of his time.
again and again
Repeatedly, many times
against all odds
Succeeding despite very low chances
against the collar
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
against the hair
Against the grain, contrary to its nature. If you should fight, you go against the hah" of your professions.— Merry Wives of Windsor, ii, 3.
against the law
Not allowed by the rules or laws of a country
against the run of play
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
against the world
Opposed or resisted by everyone
age before beauty
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
age hoc
"Attend to this." In sacrifice the Roman crier perpetually repeated these words to arouse attention. In the Common Prayer Book the attention of the congregation is frequently aroused by the exhortation, "Let us pray," though nearly the whole service is that of prayer.
Age of Animals
An old Celtic rhyme, put into modern English, says: — Thrice the age of a dog is that of a horse; Thrice the age of a horse is that of a man; Thrice the age of a man is that of a deer; Thrice the age of a deer is that of an eagle.
Age of Consent
This is the age at which a girl's consent is valid; beneath that age to have carnal knowledge of her is a criminal offence. In English and Scottish law the age of consent is 16.
Age of Discretion
In English law a sub- ject is deemed capable of using his discretion at the age of 14.
ages and generations
For a very long time or forever
Ages by Jews and almsmen
The word is the Spanish gabardina, a frock worn by pilgrims.
aggerawators
(corruption of Aggravators), the greasy locks of hair in vogue among costermongers and other street folk, worn twisted from the temple back towards the ear. They are also, from a supposed resemblance in form, termed NEWGATE KNOCKERS, and sometimes NUMBER SIXES. This style of adorning the head is, however, fast dying out, and the everyday costermonger or street thief has his hair cut like any one else. The yearly militia drill may have had a good deal to do with this alteration.
Agglutinate Language
A language the chief characteristic of which is that its words are simple or root words combined into com- pounds, without loss of original meaning. Thus, inkstand and comeatable are agglutinate words. Agglutination is a feature of most Turanian languages: it implies that the root words are glued together to form other words, and may be "unglued" so as to leave the roots distinct.
Agnus Bell
See AGNUS DEI. Agnus-castus. See VITEX. Agnus Dei (ag'n us de' I, da' e).
agog, all-a-gog
Anxious, eager, impatient: from the Italian AGOGARE, to desire eagerly.
agony box
A piano.
agramanfs ring
This enchanted ring was given by Agramant to the dwarf Brunello, from whom it was stolen by Bradamant and given to Melissa.
agree to disagree
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
agree with somebody
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
aground
Stuck fast, stopped, at a loss, ruined; like a boat or vessel aground.
Ah Long
Loan shark
AH the world and his wife
Everyone without exception. The world, the flesh, and the devil. "The world,*' i.e. the things of this world, in contra- distinction to religious matters; "the flesh," i.e. love of pleasure and sensual enjoyments; "the devil," i.e. all temptations to evil of every kind, as theft, murder, lying, blasphemy, and so on.
aha moment
A moment of sudden understanding or insight
ahead of one's time
Having ideas or concepts that are more advanced than what is currently accepted.
ahead of the curve
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
ahead of the pack
Leading or more successful than others in a group
Ahura Mazda
See ORMUZD. Aidetoi . . . 18 Aladdin Aide toi et le Ciel t'aidera (ad twa a 16 se el ta de ra'X A line from La Fontaine (vi, 18), meaning "God will help those who help themselves," taken as the motto of a French political society, established in 1824. The society intended to induce the middle classes to resist the Government; it aided in bringing about the Revolution of 1830, and was dis- solved in 1832.
ai
All right.
aid and comfort
Assistance or support that provides relief or consolation.
aim at
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
aim to do something
Intend or plan to accomplish something
aimed at doing something
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
aimed at somebody
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
ain't what it used to was
Something has changed for the worse
ainsworth’s
(William Harrison) Novels and Ballads. London, V. D.
aintcha
perineum
ain’t
The vulgar abbreviation of "am not," "are not," or "is not."
air and exercise
He has had air and exercise, i.e. he has been whipped at the cart's tail; or, as it is generally, though more vulgarly, expressed, at the cart's a-se.
air one's dirty laundry in public
To publicly discuss or disclose one's personal problems or embarrassing issues
air one's dirty linen in public
Discuss private or embarrassing matters openly
air out
to discuss or express something openly
air rage
Violent or aggressive behavior by an airline passenger
air sandwich
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
akeybo
A slang phrase used in the following manner:—"He beats AKEYBO, and AKEYBO beat the devil."