aks
To ask.
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Al Rakim
The dog in the legend of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus. Alruna-wife, An (al roo' na). The Alrunes were the lares or pe nates of the ancient Ger- mans; and an Alruna-wife, the household goddess.
aladdin's lamp
The source of wealth and good fortune. After Aladdin came to his wealth and was married, he suffered his lamp to hang up and get rusty.
Alan Whickers
knickers.
alarm and muster
to alert and assemble people, especially for an emergency
Alarum Bell
"Alarum" is a variant of "alarm," produced by rolling the "r" in prolonging the final syllable. In feudal times a 'larum bell was rung in the castle in times of danger to summon the retainers to arms.
alarums and excursions
A noisy and confusing commotion
alas and alack
Expressing sorrow or regret
alasnanvs mirror
The "touchstone of virtue," given to Alasnam by one of the
albatross around one's neck
A burden or problem that causes worry or trouble
albatross round one's neck
A burden or constant problem
albertopolis
A facetious appellation given by the Londoners to the Kensington Gore district. Now obsolete.
Alcantara from the Moors
In 1835 the Order, which had been under the Benedictine rule, ceased to exist as a religious body, but it remained as a civil and military order under the Crown.
alderman
A roasted turkey garnished with sausages; the latter are supposed to represent the gold chain worn by those magistrates.
alderman
A half-crown—possibly from its rotundity. Also a long pipe.
aldgate
A draught on the pump at Aldgate; a bad bill of exchange, drawn on persons who have no effects of the drawer.
Aldine Editions
Editions of the Greek and Latin classics, published and printed under the superintendence of Aldo Manuzio, his father- in-law Andrea of Asolo, and his son Paolo, from 1490 to 1597; most of them are in small octavo, and all are noted for their accuracy. The father invented the type called italics, once called Aldine, and first used in printing Virgil, 1501.
aled up
Drunk.
Alexander and the Robber
The story is that the pirate Diomedes, having been captured and brought before Alexander, was asked how he dared to molest the seas. "How darest thou molest the earth?" was the reply. "Because I am the master only of a single galley I am termed a robber; but you who oppress the world with huge squadrons are called a king." Alexander was so struck by this reasoning that he made Diomedes rich, a prince, and a dispenser of justice.
ALEXANDER II
"I am sweeping through the gates, washed in the blood of the Lamb." ALFIERI* "Clasp my hand, dear friend, I am dying.
Alexander of the North
Charles XII of Sweden (1682-1718), so called from his military achievements. He was conquered at Pultowa (1709), by Peter the Great.
alexander romance
After Alexander's war in India he comes to England, of which he makes Perceforest, one of his knights, king. The romance tells how Perceforest establishes the Knights of the Franc Palais, how his grandson brings the Grail to England, and includes many popular tales, such as that of the Sleeping Beauty.
Alexander the Corrector
The self-assumed nickname of Alexander Cruden (1701-1770), compiler of the Concordance of the Bible. After being, on more than one occasion, confined in a lunatic asylum he became a reader for the Press, and later developed a mania for going about constantly with a sponge to wipe out the licentious, coarse, and profane chalk scrawls which met his eye.
alexander's beard
A smooth chin, no beard at all. An Amazonian chin (#.v.). I like this trustie glasse of Steele . . . Wherein I see a Sampson's grim regarde Disgraced yet with Alexander's bearde.
Alexandra Day
To celebrate the fiftieth year of her residence in England, Queen Alexandra (1844-1925) inaugurated a fund for the assistance of hospitals, convalescent homes, etc., to be raised by the sale of artificial wild roses made by the blind and cripples. On a day in June these are sold in the streets, the buyers wearing the roses as a sign of having contributed to the fund.
alexandra limp
In the 60s of last century Queen Alexandra (then Princess of Wales) had a slight accident which for a time caused her to walk with an almost impercepti- ble limp. In a spirit of servile imitation many sf the women about the court adopted this method of walking, which hence became known as the "Alexandra limp.
Alexandrian Codex
A Greek MS. of the Scriptures written (probably in the 5th cen- tury) in uncials on parchment, which is sup- posed to have originated at Alexandria. In 1628 it was presented to Charles I by Cyril Sucar, patriarch of Constantinople, and in 1753 was placed in the British Museum. It contains the Septuagint version (except por- tions of the Psalms), a part of the New Testa- ment, and the Epistles of Clemens Romanus.
Alexandrian Library
Founded by Ptolemy Soter, in Alexandria, in Egypt.
Alexandrine Age
From about A.D. 323 to 640, when Alexandria, in Egypt, was the centre of science, philosophy, and literature.
Alexandrine Philosophy
A system of philosophy which flourished at Alexandria in the early centuries of the Christian era, characterized by its attempt to combine Christianity and Greek philosophy. It gave rise to Gnosticism and Neoplatonism.
Alexiares and Anicetus
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
alfred's scholars
When Alfred the Great set about the restoration of letters in England he founded a school and gathered around him learned men from all parts; these became known as "Alfred's scholars"; the chief among them are: Werfrith, Bishop of Worces- ter; Ethelstan and Werwulf, two Mercian priests; Plegmund (a Mercian), afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury; Asser, a Welsh- man; Grimbald, a French scholar from St. Omer, and John the Old Saxon.
Ali Baba
The hero of a story in the Arabian Nights Entertainments, who sees a band of robbers enter a cavern by means
alien priory
A priory which is dependent upon and owes allegiance to another priory in a foreign country. A sub-priory, such as RufTord Abbey, Notts, which was under the prior of Rievaulx in Yorkshire, has sometimes been erroneously called an alien priory.
alive and kicking
Active.
alive and well
Thriving or still existing
all along
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
all and some
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
All and Some
An old English expression meaning "one and all," confused sometimes with "all and sum" meaning the whole total.
all and sundry
Everyone.
all are not friends who speak one fair
Not everyone who appears friendly is a true friend
all are not thieves that dogs bark at
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
all at once
Happening or done simultaneously
all bark and no bite
Someone who threatens but does not act
all bedlam breaks loose
Complete chaos erupts
all but
Very nearly or almost entirely
all cats love fish but hate to get their paws wet
People often desire benefits without taking risks or making efforts.
All colours will agree in the dark. (Francis Bacon)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
all day
In total.
all dressed up and nowhere to go
Feeling prepared or eager but lacking an opportunity to act
all duck or no dinner
a situation where one must commit fully to succeed
all ends up
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
All experience is an arch, to build upon. (Henry Adams)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
all eyes
The center of attention
all eyes and ears
Completely attentive and observant
All Fours
A game of cards ; so called from the four points that are at stake, viz. High, Low, Jack, and Game.
all fur and no knickers
Attractive appearance but lacking substance
all fur coat and no knickers
Someone who appears wealthy or glamorous but lacks substance or real value
all good
Everything is fine or satisfactory
all good things come to him who waits
Patience and waiting will ultimately lead to success or reward.