CTION. used to express any act by doing which a soldier or a TRESS party may have acquired distinction.

ACTION, in Commerce, is a certain part or share of a public company's capital. A proprietor is called an actionary. Also, among merchants, actions often signify the moveable effects upon which creditors seize. ACTIVE VERBS, such verbs as have nouns following them which are the subjects of the action or thing considered to be done. See GRAMMAR, Div. i.

· ACTIVE POWER, in Metaphysics, a term which stands opposed to speculative power, signifying the power of executing any work.

ACTIVE PRINCIPLES, in Chemistry, such as act of themselves without any other aid.

ACTIVITY, the power of acting. Sphere of ACTIVITY, the whole space in which the influence of any object is exerted.

ACTIUM, in Ancient Geography, a small town of Epirus, on the coast of Acarnania, near a promontory at the opening of the Ambracian gulph of a similar name, now called Capo di Figalo. It was celebrated for a temple of Apollo, and for the triumph of Augustus over Antony and Cleopatra in a naval battle, in the year of Rome 723, B. c. 3, in commemoration of which, games, called the Actian games, were instituted. Similar games were established at Rome, for the same purpose. This victory gave name to the Actiun æra.

ACTIUS, in Mythology, a surname of Apollo, from the place where he was worshipped: the name also of a poet, and a prince of the Volsci.

ACTON, a village in the county of Middlesex, once celebrated for its mineral waters, though at present neglected; about five miles from the British metropolis. It also gives name to the parish, which contains about 1670 souls. Acton is also the name of a township in Cheshire, near Nantwich; and of some other places of minor importance.

ACTON-BURNELL, a village in Shropshire, distinguished by the remains of a castle where Edward I. once held a parliament. It is eight miles from Shrewsbury.

ACTOPAN, a district in New Spain, with a capital of the same name, at the distance of twenty-three leagues from Mexico, N. N. E. Indian population 2750.

ACTOR, in Law, the advocate in civil courts or causes; as 'actor dominicus,' the lord's bailiff or attorney; actor ecclesiæ,' the advocate or pleading patron of a church.

ACTOR, in the Drama, one who represents some part, person, or character in the theatre. The Greeks seem to have constructed the drama at first upon the basis of a simple chorus, who sung to the honour of Bacchus in alternate verses. Thespis, an African, introduced a reciter of adventures, in order to diversify the exhibition; and Eschylus improved upon this by inventing the dialogue, and decking his actors in costly dresses. To these, Sophocles added a third person, which was the limit, as to number of actors, in the Grecian theatres. Eschylus and Sophocles, with whom may be united Aristophanes, often took a part in their own plays, and in general actors were held in very high respect; but at Rome they were despised, and degraded from their rank of citizens. England, at least in the metropolis, seems to follow the sentiments of ancient Greece.

ACTRESS, a female who performs on the stage.

the ACTRESS.

The ancients never allowed women to appear upon stage, and in this respect understood far better than ACUTE. the moderns the "modesty of nature," which is outraged by the public exhibition of a female. Charles the Second, after his restoration, is said to have introduced actresses into the British theatre; but there is evidence that the queen of James the First took part in a pastoral drama." Among the Greeks, the place of Women was supplied by eunuchs, in theatrical representations. Sporus, the famous eunuch, in the reign of Nero, was compelled by Vitellius to personate a young girl in the theatre, by which ignominy be was so deeply affected, that he thrust a sword through his breast.

ACTUAL SIN, in Theology, is opposed in meaning to original sin; the latter being considered as derived from Adam by direct inheritance, the other as perpetrated by an adult person, or one arrived at sufficient age to discriminate between good and evil. ACTUARY, a clerk or officer that registers the proceedings and constitutions of the convocation. It is also sometimes applied to the secretaries of fire offices. In the East the term applied to officers who kept the military accounts, and received and delivered the corn. It was also a title of dignity peculiar to physicians, in the court of Constantinople.

ACUL, a sea-port on the north coast of St. Domingo, where the French were expelled in 1794 by the English, who took it by storm. S. S. W. of Cape François, distant eight miles.

ACULER, in Horsemanship, from the French, means that particular action of a horse, in working upon volts, when he does not go forward enough at every motion, so that his shoulders, occupying too little ground, his croupe comes too near the centre of the volt. A horse is said to have acule when the horseman, by neglecting to turn his hand, puts him on with the calf of the inner leg.

AC'UMEN, n. ACU'MINATE,

ACU'MINATED,

ACUMINATION.

akŋ, acuo, to sharpen.

Acumen and acuminate are applied to quickness, sharpness, keenness of mind.

There is no church without a liturgy, nor indeed can there be One conveniently, as there is no school without a grammar. scholar may be taught otherwise upon the stock of his acumen, but not a whole school. Selden's Table Talk.

There is somewhere in infinite space a world that does not roll within the precincts of mercy; and as it is reasonable, and even scriptural, to suppose that there is music in heaven, in those dismal regions perhaps the reverse of it is found; tones so dismal, as to make woe itself more insupportable, and to acuminate even despair. Cowper's Letters.

ACUMINA, in Antiquity, a kind of military omen, most generally supposed to have been taken from the points or edges of darts, swords, or other weapons.

ACUPUNCTURE, the name of a surgical operation among the Chinese and Japanese, which is performed by pricking the part affected with a silver needle. They sions, colics, &c. It is also employed in some parts of employ this operation in headachs, lethargies, convul See Phil. Trans. vol. xiii, No. 148. America, but rather as an ornament than as a remedy.

ACUTE.

ACUTE-angled Cone, a right cone, the axis of which forms an acute angle with its side.

ACUTE, in Music, is a term made use of to intimate a tone that is sharp or high compared with some other. Hence it is opposed to grave.

ACUTE Accent. See ACCENT. ACUTE Diseases, a phrase used to denote all diseases which are not chronic.

ADACT', v. Ad: agere, adactum. compel.

To drive to; to

ADAD, a principal deity of the Assyrians, and believed to be the sun. He was considered as married to Adargatis, one of the godesses, under whose name they adored the moon.

ÅDAES, a lake in the province of the same name, in New Mexico, near Louisiana, about ten leagues in circumference. It abounds in fish to an extraordinary degree, but may be chiefly remarked on account of a pyramidal mount in or near the centre, in circumference about a hundred yards. AD'AGE, n. AD'AGY,

Vossius is perplexed between Scaliger and Varro. E sua propria significatione ADAG'IAL. agatur ad aliud judicandum. (Scaliger.) Quasi abagio, aut ambagio, h. e circumagio: nempe quia adagio sit sermo circumambulans.

The trite and common adage saith, leaue not the certain for the vncertain. Hall, 54.

He [Edw. IV.] forgat the olde adage, saiyng in tyme of peace, prouide for war, and in the tyme of war, prouide for peace, which thing if he eyther had well remembred, or pollitikely prouided for, he had not been chased and expulsed his realm within xi dayes as he was indeede, Grafton, vol. ii. p. 25.

HUGH. But thus you see the old adage verified,
Multa cadunt inter-you can guess the rest,
Many things fall between the cup and lip.

Jonson's Tale of a Tub, act iii. sc. 4.

ADALIA.

MER. Ea ungue; you know the old adage, as these, so are the ADAGE remainder. Jonson's Cynthia's Revels, 2 Masque. That wise Heathen said rarely well in his little adage, mankind. was born to be a riddle, and our nativity is in the dark. Taylor's Polemical Discourses. Pref.

This compute of Aristotle doth generally overthrow the common cause alledged for this effect, that is, a precipitation, or over-hasty exclusion, before the birth be perfect, according unto the vulgar adage, for herein the whelps of longest gestation, are also the latest in vision. Brown's Vulgar Errours.

The antithetic parallelism gives an acuteness and force to adages and moral sentences; and, therefore, abounds in Solomon's Proverbs. Louth's Isaiah, Preliminary Dissertation. ADAGIO, in Music, a word used to signify a slow movement. Sometimes it is repeated, as adagio, adagio, to signify as slow as possible.

of

ADALIA, a town of Karamania, in the south part Asia Minor; probably the ancient fortress of Olbia, the delightful situation of which is alluded to in the ancient name which it derived from the adjective "OXFios, blessed or happy. This coincidence is pointed out by opinion of that eminent geographer. M. D'Anville, and many circumstances confirm the

In

Adalia is beautifully situated round a small harbour; the streets appear to rise behind each other, like the the city is inclosed by a ditch, a double wall, and a seats of a theatre; and on the level summit of the hill, series of square towers, about fifty yards asunder. one part of the surrounding wall, there was formerly an have been once a splendid gateway, but is now filled opening between two of the towers, which appears to up. There are still the remains of fourteen columns; the upper rank of which are of the Corinthian order. Four of larger dimensions stand in a line with the outer face of the towers; on their entablature are some large and inverted; but they appear to have belonged oristones, with inscriptions, which are now misplaced ginally to a complete course along the whole front. The inside walls and towers appear to have been subchiselled, and the whole has a look of finish: but the stantial and well built, the quoin stones are neatly two outer walls, which inclose the ditch, seem to be of inferior workmanship.

had towers on the extremities: but they are now in a The port is inclosed by two stone piers, which once ruinous state, and the inroads of the sea unite with the neglect of their present possessors, to insure their the trees are loaded with fruit; every kind of vegetadestruction. The gardens round the town are beautiful; tion is exuberant; and the inhabitants speak of their corn grounds as more than commonly productive. The soil is deep, and every where intersected by streams loaded with calcareous matter; which, often fertilizing the plain, fall over the cliffs, or turn the corn-mills in

their descent to the sea.

Alternate breezes refresh the air in a remarkable manner; for the daily sea breeze sweeps up the western side of the gulf with accumulated strength; and at night the great northern valley, which appears to traverse the chain of Mount Taurus, conducts the land wind from the cold mountains of the interior. Upon the whole, it would be difficult to select a more charming spot for a city.

The population of Adalia probably does not exceed 8000, about two-thirds of which are Mahommedan,

ADAMSTOWN

ADALIA. the other third Greek. These Greeks are acquainted with no other language than the Turkish; yet, though some of their prayers are translated into that tongue, the principal part of the liturgy is repeated in Greek by the papas, or priests; of whom, the greater number are as ignorant of the meaning as their congregation. "The influence of commerce on this coast," says Mr. Beaufort," has been but little felt till lately (1812): but the immense demand for wheat in the British garrisons of the Mediterranean, during the war, and the failure of a supply from that once plenteous granary, Sicily (now hardly adequate to its own consumption) had given such a spur to the enterprising islanders of Psora and Hydra, that in search of it they ransacked the whole surrounding coast of that sea. With dollars in their hands, every creek was explored; and a few quarters, gleaned from each valley, soon completed a cargo. The exportation of corn is prohibited through the Turkish dominions, under penalty of confiscation and slavery; but this extreme severity only serves to give fresh activity to their traffic: for, the aghas, being exorbitantly paid for their connivance, have a direct influence in promoting it; and no agha in the empire is proof against self-interest. In populous countries, and in poor soils, it may be a slow and difficult process to push the sudden culture of corn beyond its accustomed limits, or to divert the necessary capital from other pursuits: but in the rich and thinly inhabited valleys of these countries, a single year is sufficient to produce exertions, which the stimulus of a free trade is alone wanting to perpetuate. The great plain of Adalia had begun to feel the effects of this impulse; and even from distant parts of the interior, camels, horses, and asses were daily bringing in their separate ventures, to load the Greek vessels which lay in the port.

"In the bazaar, or market, we saw cloth, hardware, and many specimens of English and German manufacture; but they had been mostly conveved, by the regular caravans, from Smyrna. Few articles for barter are yet brought by the Greek corn traders: ready money is their staple; and every vessel that we examined on its way up from Malta and Messina to these coasts, had many thousand dollars on board. If this demand continues, both parties will find their advantage in a mutual exchange of goods; as cultivation extends, and affluence increases, new wants will be generated, new markets for European manufactures will be gradually opened, and civilization and industry may one day triumph over the ignorance and sloth that now pervade these semi-barbarous regions." Beaufort's Karamania.

ADAM or ADOM, in ancient Geography, a town of Persa, on the Jordan; where that river began to be dried up when the Israelites passed over.

ADAM'S Peak, or Hammaleel, a high mountain in the island of Ceylon, 60 miles E. of Columbo. It is of a conical form, and terminates in a circular plane. From the lake it contains, spring most of the rivers of the island. The natives hold it in the highest veneration, resorting thither from all quarters to the places of worship which they have erected upon it. A tradition is preserved among them, that it was from this spot Adam took his last view of Paradise; others think he was created here. N. lat. 5°, 55'. E. lon.80°, 39′. ADAMSTOWN, a parish and town in the county of Wexford, Ireland. It must ever be lamentably memo

The stone was hard of adamaunt,

Whereof they made the foundemaunt, The tour was round made in compas, In all this world no richer was.

Chaucer. Rom. of R. fol. 135, c. 4.

Right as betwene adamants two
Of euen weight, a pece of yron set,
Ne hath no might to moue to ne fro
For what that one may hale, that other let.

Ib. Assem. of Foules, fol. 245, c. 4.
The porte in forefront was full huge grete,
Of ferme adamant war the pillaris bete,
Sa that na fors of men mycht thame doune myne,
Nor zit the strenth of Goddis with strang engyne.
Douglas, book vi. p. 183.

But if God will it so ordaine, that you and my mayster may ioyne in a league and amitie, I dare both say and swere, that the fine steele

neuer cleued faster to the adamant stone, than he will sticke and

claspe with you, both in welth and wo, in prosperitie and aduersitie.

Grafton, vol. ii. p. 54.

Any bounds made with body, even adamantine walls, are so far from putting a stop to the mind in its farther progress in space and extension, that it rather facilitates and enlarges it.

Locke's Essay on the Human Understanding. Adamantine hardness does not imply the least pain.

Reid's Inquiry into the Human Mind. ADAMANT, one of the names of the diamond; and given also to the scoriæ of gold, the hardest species of iron, &c.

ADAMANTINE SPAR, or Corundum, a stone which is found either as a regular crystal, with little lustre, or in mass. Those which are procured from India, are usually deemed the purest. Both there and in China, being extremely hard, it is used to polish steel and gems. In the vicinity of Carenal, in the Mysore, a vein of adamantine spar is found, which is cut out in considerable masses, and transported on horses and bullocks, into different parts of India. It was first brought into Europe at the commencement of the eighteenth century. Further information may be obtained on this subject, by consulting a paper in the Philosophical Transactions for 1798, written by Mr. Greville, on corundum.

ADAMARA, in Geography, a district in Abyssinia, on a mountain of the same name, between Axum and Gondar, abounding in a Mahometan population, which is diffused through a number of villages. Its name is derived from Adama; which, in the Amharic dialect, signifies pleasant.

ADAMI POMUM, in Anatomy, a name applied to the protuberance in the fore part of the throat, arising from the projection of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx. The traditionary story of the origination of the name is sufficiently whimsical: a part of the forbidden fruit, of which Adam partook, is said to have stuck by the way, and occasioned this formation.

ADAMITES, or ADAMIANS, heretics of the second century, who imitated Adam's nudity, and returned, as they imagined, to his state of pristine innocence. On entering their places of public worship, which were chiefly caves, they threw off their clothes. They professed to live in continence, and condemned marriage, which they affirmed was the consequence of the introduction of sin into the world. Whoever broke the laws of the society was expelled from Paradise, as they termed it; that is, from their assemblies, as one who had eaten of the forbidden fruit, and was henceforth called Adam. Dr. Lardner questions their existence, and the hesitating account of Epiphanius, from whom it is received, is certainly suspicious. The sect soon languished, but appeared again in the twelfth century: and, is said, in the fifteenth to have diffused itself in Germany: but some authors, particularly Beausobre, deem the report of Adamitism a mere calumny of the papists, to render their adversaries odious.

ADAMS, a township of the United States of America, distant about 140 or 150 miles from Boston, and noted for a deep excavation formed in a quarry of white marble, by Hudson's brook. The projection of the rocks over the channel, form a natural bridge 14 feet by 10, and about 62 in elevation.

ADANA, a town of Turkey in Asia, in the province of Karamania, on the river of the same name. A number of beautiful fountains are supplied from the river by means of water works; to which a noble bridge of fifteen arches conducts. The climate is pleasant and healthy, although the heat of the summer is such as to induce the principal inhabitants to avail themselves of the shady trees and grottos of the neighbouring mountains. The town is the residence of a pacha, and is supposed to contain from five to six thousand inhabitants. It is about twelve miles from the sea. The country produces melons, cucumbers, pomegranates, pulse, and herbs of all sorts, throughout the year; besides corn, wine, and fruits, in their proper season. E. lon. 36°, 12'. N. lat. 38°, 10'. ADANSONIA, ETHIOPIAN SOUR-GOURD, MONKEY'S BREAD, or AFRICAN CALABASH TREE, a genus of plants of the class Monadelphia; order Polyandria. Its name is derived from M. Adanson, a French naturalist.

ADAPT, v. ADAPTATION, ADAP'TION, ADEPT', n. ADEPT', adj. An adept is one who is well fitted or suited for any particular purpose, from the

Ad: apio: (Gr. arro) to bind; to join. Aptus is decitur qui convenienter alicei junctus est. To join, fit, or suit to.

in it.

For no man, so soone as hee knowes this [criticism] or reades it, shall be able to write the better; but as he is adapted to it by Nature, he shall grow the perfecter writer. Jonson's Discoveries.

Though there be some flying animals of mixed and participating natures, that is, between bird and quadruped; yet are their wings and legs so set together, that they seem to make each other; there being a commixtion of both, rather than adaptation or cement of prominent parts unto each other. Brown's Vulgar Errours.

I have often heard that your deepest adepts and oldest professors in science are the obscurest. Berkeley's Minute Philosopher.

We have very good evidence that the form of government which Charondas's laws were adapted to, was an aristocracy or oligarchy. Bentley on the Epistles of Phalaris.

Nor is there so much as any appearance of our limbs being endued with a power of moving or directing themselves; though they are adapted, like the several parts of a machine, to be the instruments Butler's Analogy.

of motion to each other.

country, as the language of it is wonderfully adapted to a man who Among many other reasons, I think myself very happy in my is sparing of his words, and an enemy to loquacity.

Spectator, No. 135.
Proceed! nor quit the tales which, simply told,
Could once so well my answering bosom pierce;
Proceed, in forceful sounds, and colours bold,
The native legends of thy land rehearse;
To such adapt thy lyre, and suit thy powerful verse.
Collins's Ode on the Popular Superstitions of the
Highlands of Scotland.

Suppose that an expert mechanic views a well-constructed machine. He sees all its parts to be made of the fittest materials, and of the most proper form; nothing superfluous, nothing deficient, every part adapted to its use; and the whole fitted in the most perfect manner to the end for which it is intended. He pronounces it to be Reid on the Powers of the Human Mind.

a beautiful machine.

ADAR, the name of the 12th month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical year, corresponding with the end of February and beginning of March. The lunar year being shorter than the solar by 11 days, which at the end of three years makes a month; the Jews intercalate a 13th month, which they call Veadar, or the second Adar. In the month of Adar the Jews observe three fasts: the feasts of Purim (Esther, ix. 28), and some minor feasts. The fast on the 7th is in remembrance of the death of Moses; that on the 9th on account of the schism between the schools of Shammai and Hillel; and that on the 13th in remembrance of the conspiracy of Haman. The feasts of Purim fall on the 14th and 15th days of this month.

ADAR

ADARCON, an ancient Jewish coin, usually of gold, CON. and worth about 15s. sterling. It is mentioned in Scripture as early as the time of David. (1 Chron. xxix.7.) ADAYES ADARME, a small weight, used in the Spanish settlements in South America, equal to the 16th part of an ounce.

ADASE', or DASE. See DASE.

In this chapter, he so gaily florished, that he had went ye glittering thereof would have made euery man's eyes so adased, that no man should have spied his falshed, and founden out the truth. Sr. T. More's Workes, p. 459.

ADAUNT', or DAUNT. See DAUNT.

De Gywes, & Herodes (pat here kyng was)
He a dauntede hard y now, and non barm yt was.
R. of Gloucester, p. 61.
Kyng William adauntede pat fole of Walys
And made him bere hym truage, and byhote hym & hys.
Id. p. $72.

Wherewith the rebel rather was the more
Encourag'd than addaunted; and begun
T'adventure further than he did before;
Seeing such a monarch had so little done.
Daniel's Civil War, b. iv.

ADAW'. Adaw (Mr. Tyrwhit says) means to awake. The true Etymology seems to be the A. S. verb Dægian, lucescere; whence, also, are Day and Dawn.

It is difficult to account for Spenser's usage of the word Adaw. It may be applied by him, consequently, from the overspreading, overcoming, overpowering, effect of day-light: but no means have occurred of tracing the word satisfactorily.

Ye, sire, quod she, ye may wene as you lest;
But, sire, a man that waketh of his slepe,

He may no sodenly wel taken kepe

Upon a thing, ne seen it parfitly,
Til that he be adawed veraily.

Chaucer, Marc. T.

She oft him kist, and shortly for to sain
Him to rewaken she did all her pain
And at the last he gan his breath to draw
And of his swough sone after that adaw.

ld. 3 b. Troilus, fo. 172. c. 3.

So spake this bold brere with great disdaine :
Little him aunswered the oake againe,
But yeelded, with shame and grief adawed,
That of a weede hee was overcrawed.

Spenser's Shepheard's Calender, Februarie.

As the bright sunne, what time his fiery teame
Towards the weasterne brim begins to draw.
Gins to abate the brightnesse of his beame,
And feruour of his flames some-what adaw:
So did this mighty lady.

Id. Faerie Queene, b. v. canto ir. ADAYES, or ADAES, a Spanish station in the N. E. extremity of the province of Texas, in New Mexico. Here is a regular garrison, and a small town adjoining; it is about 450 miles from New Orleans. Lon. 93°, 30′ W. Lat. 32°, 9 'N.

ADAYES, a remarkable lake, about two leagues from the above town, in the midst of which is seen a rock of a pyramidal form, about the circumference of 100 yards, which reflects the sun's rays like crystal. This fine sheet of water is nearly ten leagues in circumference, is very deep, abounds in fish, and gives unusual fertility to the country around. There is a small river of this name in the above province, on whose banks are several rich silver mines.

VOL. XVII.

ADAYS', (on days.)

Nouthir for drede nor boist,

The luf of wourschip nor honoure went away is,
Bot certanly the dasit blude now on dayis
Waxis dolf and dull throw myne vnweildy age.
Douglas, b. v. p. 140.

With a meeke visage, sweete wordes in the toung, deliberation in the person, temperaunce in the worke, euerie one may beguile an other now a daies, & by shrewdnes and malice, is beguiled himselfe. Golden Boke, G.

WIL. Thomalin, have no care for-thy;
My selfe will have a double eye,
Ylike to my flocke and thine;
For, alas! at home I have a syre,

A stepdame eke, as hote as fyre,

That dewly adayes counts mine."

Spenser's Shepheard's Calendar for March.

Distillations of celestial days are conveyed in channels not pervious to an eye of sense, and now adays we seldom look with other, be the object never so beauteous or alluring.

Taylor's Episcopacy Asserted, Epist. Ded. 'Nothing,' continued the parson, is commoner than for men now-a-days to pretend to have read Greek authors, who have met with them only in translations, and cannot conjugate a verb in mi,' Fielding's Journey to the Next World. Introduction. ADCO'RPORATE, v. or Ad: corpus, to a body; to join to a body.

ACCO'RPORATE.

To join to, unite or mix with; to embody. now use incorporate. ADD, v. AD'DIBLE, ADDIBILITY, ADDIT'AMENT, ADDITION,

ADDITIONAL, N.

ADDITIONAL, adj.

ADDITIONALLY,

ADDITIONARY,

AD'DITORY.

We

Ad: do, to give or put to. To join or unite to, to increase the number, augment the quantity.

And besides this, giving all diligence, adde to your faith, vertue and to vertue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godlinesse; and to godlinesse, brotherly kindnesse; and to brotherly kindnesse, charity.

2 Peter, c. i. v. 5, 6, 7. MAN. This man, lady, hath robbed many beasts of their particular additions; he is as valiant as the lyon, churlish as the beare, slow Shakespeare, Tr. and Cress. fol. 79. act i. sc. 2. CHAR. Though land and monies be no happiness, Yet they are counted good additions.

as the elephant.

Beaumont and Fletcher's Elder Brother, act iii. sc. 5.

The senate with applause and thankes approoued and confirmed his [Probus's] election, with additions to his title, Augustus, the