Amadis of Greece
A Spanish continuation of the seventh book of Amadis of Gaul (<y.v.), supposed to be by Feliciano de Silva. It tells the story of Lisuarte of Greece, a grandson of Amadis.
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amalthea's horn
The cornucopia or "horn of plenty" (#.v.). The infant Zeus was fed with goats' milk by Amalthea, one of the daughters of Melisseus, King of Crete.
amateur hour
a situation where inexperienced people are in charge
amazeballs
Amazing.
amazonian chin
A beardless chin, like that of a woman warrior. When with his Amazonian chin he drove The bristled lips before him.
ambassador of morocco
A Shoemaker. (See Mrs. Clarke's Examination.)
amber fluid
Beer.
amber gambler
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
amber light
a warning or signal to be cautious
amber nectar
Beer, especially when considered enjoyable or appealing
ambidexter
A lawyer who takes fees from both plaintiff and defendant, or that goes snacks with both parties in gaming.
Ambrosian Library
Library in Milan founded by Count Federigo Borromeo (1564- 1631), Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, in 1609; so called in compliment to St. Ambrose, the patron saint. It is famous for its collection of illuminated MSS., including the earliest known — a 4th-century codex of Homer. Ambrosia (am bro' zi a) (Gr. a, privative, brotos, mortal). The food of the gods, so called because it made them immortal.
Ambrosian Nights
At Ambrose's Hotel, Edinburgh, John Wilson (Christopher North), James Hogg, and other literary figures of the
Ambrosius Aurelianus
A semi-mythical cham- pion of the British race. The story is that he was a descendant of the Emperor Constantine, that he lived in the 5th century, and that he /ed the Romanized Britons against the Saxon invaders under Hengist. He is mentioned by Gildas as "the last of the Romans," and he may have been a Count of the Saxon Shore. Ambry (am' bn) (Old Fr. armarfe, from Lat. armaria, chest or cupboard, from arma, tools, gear).
amebo
rumormonger
amen
He said Yes and Amen to every thing; he agreed to every thing.
amende honorable
An anglicized French phrase signifying a full and frank apology.
America is God's melting-pot. (Israel Zangwill)
A country where different cultures blend together
American Dream
Prosperity and success achieved through hard work
American Indians
The word is Algonkin, and means either the Great Good Spirit or the Great Evil Spirit.
american tweezers
An instrument used by an hotel-sneak which nips the wards end of a key, and enables him to open a door from the opposite side to that on which it has been locked.
AmeriKKKunt
American.
ames ace
Within ames ace; nearly, very near.
aminadab
A jeering name for a Quaker.
amish bus driver rule
A humorous guideline to not take advice from someone who doesn't follow it themselves.
among the gods
In the uppermost gallery of a theatre, just below the ceiling, which was frequently embellished with a representation of a mythological heaven. The French call this paradis.
amorous gallants’ tongue tipp’d with golden expressions
Or the Art of Courtship refined, being the best and Newest ACADEMY; containing Select Sentences, forms of Courtship; Choice Letters; Interpretation of Dreams: to which is added Bills, Bonds, Releases, Letters of Attorney, &c.; together with A Canting Academy, or the PEDLAR’S FRENCH DICTIONARY, 13th edition. London, for C. Hitch and L. Hawes, n. d. , 12mo.
amusers
Rogues who carried snuff or dust in their pockets, which they threw into the eyes of any person they intended to rob; and running away, their accomplices (pretending to assist and pity the half-blinded person) took that opportunity of plundering him.
Amyclsean Silence
Amyclas was a Laconian town in the south of Sparta, ruled by the mythical Tyndareus." The inhabitants had so often been alarmed by false rumours of the approach of the Spartans, that they made a decree forbidding mention of the sub- ject. When the Spartans actually came no one dare give warning, and the town was taken. Hence the proverb, more silent than Amyclce.
an acre of performance is worth the whole world of promise
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
an affair of honour
A dispute to be settled by a duel. Duels were generally provoked by offences against the arbitrary rules of etiquette, courtesy, or feeling, called the laws "of honour"; and, as these offences were not recognizable in the law courts, they were settled by private combat.
an apple a day keeps the doctor away
Eating healthy food regularly can prevent illness
an apple a day keeps the doctor away--if you have good aim
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
an army marches on its stomach
An organization's success depends on its basic needs being met
an ass in a lion's skin
A coward who* hectors, a fool that apes the wise man. The allusion is to the fable of an ass that put on a lion's hide, but was betrayed when he began to bray.
an ass with two panniers
Said of a man walking the streets with a lady on each arm. The Italian equivalent is a pitcher with two- handles, and formerly it was called in London walking bodkin (#.v.). Our expression is from the French faire le panier a deux anses, a colloquialism for walking with a lady on each arm.
An Englishman's house (home) is his castle. (17th century)
A person's home is their private and secure domain.
An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind (Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948), leader of the Indian independence movement)
Revenge leads to endless retaliation and ultimately destruction
an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
Punishment should fit the crime
an honest man doesn't need to remember much
Honest people don't need to keep track of lies or deceit
An Iliad of woes
A number of evils falling one after another; there is scarce a calamity in the whole catalogue of human ills that finds not mention in the Iliad.
an infant in a cradle
A shepherd playing a flute. An old man meditating on two skulls. According to Lucretius also there are three ages, distinguished by the materials employed in implements (v. 1282), viz.: The age of stone, when celts or implements of stone were employed. The age of bronze, when imple- ments were made of copper or brass. The age of iron, when implements were made of iron, as at present.
an itching palm
A hand ready to receive bribes. The old superstition is that if your palrn itches you are going to receive money. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemned to have an itching palm. Julius Ccesar, iv. 3.
an old screw
A miser who has amassed wealth by "putting on the screw" (see below), and who keeps his money tight, doling it out only in screws.
an open question
A statement, proposal, doctrine, or supposed fact, respecting which private opinion is allowed. In the House of Commons every member may vote as he likes, regardless of party politics, on an open ques- tion.
An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit. (Mieder 2006, p. 906)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Preventing problems is better than fixing them later
an serene
In Cuba the word was used as a countersign by sentinels, and is about equivalent to our "All right," or "All's well." In the late 19th century it was a colloquial catch-word.
anabaptist
A pickpocket caught in the fact, and punished with the discipline of the pump or horse-pond.
anaconda mortgage
A mortgage with initially low payments that increase sharply later.
Anacreon Moore
Thomas Moore (1779- 1852), who not only translated Anacreon into English, but also wrote original poems in the same style.
Anacreon of the Guillotine
Bertrand Barere de Vieuzac (1755-1841), president of the National Convention; so called from the flowery language and convivial jests used by him towards his miserable victims.
Anacreon of the Temple
Guillaume Am- frye (1639-1720), abbe" de Chaulieu; French man of letters and man of the world ; called by Voltaire (whom he encouraged) " the greatest of neglected poets.
anchor
Bring your a-se to an anchor, i.e. sit down. To let go an anchor to the windward of the law; to keep within the letter of the law. SEA WIT.
anchor light
A white light shown from the forward part of an anchored vessel and visible all round the horizon.
anchor watch
A watch of one or two men, while the vessel rides at anchor, in port. See BOWER ANCHOR: SHEET ANCHOR.
Ancien Regime
The old order of things ; a phrase used during the French Revolution for the old Bourbon monarchy, or the system of government, with all its evils, which existed prior to that great change.
ancient history
completely forgotten or no longer relevant
ancient lights
A sign put up on a building to show the owner thereof has a right to the light coming from adjacent property, and consequently, no building may be erected there without his consent, if it would interfere with his light. By the Prescription Act of 1832 a light is ancient if it has been uninterrupted for a period of twenty years.
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