%alam%

n. The quality of being à la mode; conformity to the mode or fashion; fashionableness. [ R. ] Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. & a. [ F. à la mode after the fashion. ] According to the fashion or prevailing mode. “Alamode beef shops.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A thin, black silk for hoods, scarfs, etc.; -- often called simply mode. Buchanan. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. à la mort to the death. Cf. Amort. ] To the death; mortally. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Alkali + amide. ] (Chem.) One of a series of compounds that may be regarded as ammonia in which a part of the hydrogen has been replaced by basic, and another part by acid, atoms or radicals. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'a priv. + &unr_; nuptial bed. ] (Bot.) Not furnished with shields or beds for the spores, as the thallus of certain lichens. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. calamancus, calamacus; cf. camelaucum; a head covering made of camel's hair, NGr. kamelay`kion, and F. calmande a woolen stuff. ] A glossy woolen stuff, plain, striped, or checked. “A gay calamanco waistcoat.” Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

A valuable furniture wood from India and Ceylon, of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes, very hard in texture. It is a species of ebony, and is obtained from the Diospyros quæsita. Called also Coromandel wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. calamari, fr. LL. calamarium inkstand, fr. L. calamus a reed pen: cf. F. calmar, calemar, pen case, calamar. ] (Cookery) Squid, used as a food; -- from the Italian word. See Squid. [ PJC ]

n. [ F. calambac, calambour, from Malay Kalambaq a king of fragrant wood. ] (Bot.) A fragrant wood; agalloch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Calambac. ] A species of agalloch, or aloes wood, of a dusky or mottled color, of a light, friable texture, and less fragrant than calambac; -- used by cabinetmakers. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. calamus reed + ferous. ] Producing reeds; reedy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. calamine, LL. calamina, fr. L. Cadmia. See Cadmia. ] (min.) A mineral, the hydrous silicate of zinc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name was formerly applied to both the carbonate and silicate of zinc each of which is valuabic as an ore; but it is now usually restricted to the latter, the former being called smithsonite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. calamint, calemente (cf. F. calament) fr. L. calamintha, Gr. kalami`nqh, kala`minqos. See 1st Mint. ] (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants (Calamintha) of the Mint family, esp. the Calamintha Nepeta and Calamintha Acinos, which are called also basil thyme. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. calamus a reed. ] One who plays upon a reed or pipe. [ Obs. ] Blount. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ L. calamistratus, curled with the curling iron, fr. calamistrum curling iron, fr. calamus a reed. ] To curl or friz, as the hair. [ Obs. ] Cotgrave.

n. The act or process of curling the hair. [ Obs. ] Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., a curling iron. ] (Zool.) A comblike structure on the metatarsus of the hind legs of certain spiders (Ciniflonidæ), used to curl certain fibers in the construction of their webs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. calamus a reed: cf. F. calamite. ] (Paleon.) A fossil plant of the coal formation, having the general form of plants of the modern Equiseta (the Horsetail or Scouring Rush family) but sometimes attaining the height of trees, and having the stem more or less woody within. See Acrogen, and Asterophyllite. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Calamitosus; cf. F. calamiteux. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Suffering calamity; wretched; miserable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Ten thousands of calamitous persons. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Producing, or attended with distress and misery; making wretched; wretched; unhappy. “This sad and calamitous condition.” South. “A calamitous prison” Milton.

Syn. -- Miserable; deplorable; distressful; afflictive; wretched; grievous; baleful; disastrous; adverse; unhappy; severe; sad; unfortunate.

-- Ca*lam"i*tous*ly, adv. -- Ca*lam"i*tous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n.; pl. Calamities [ L. calamitas, akin to in-columis unharmed: cf. F. calamité ] 1. Any great misfortune or cause of misery; -- generally applied to events or disasters which produce extensive evil, either to communities or individuals. [ 1913 Webster ]

The word calamity was first derived from calamus when the corn could not get out of the stalk. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Strokes of calamity that scathe and scorch the soul. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A state or time of distress or misfortune; misery. [ 1913 Webster ]

The deliberations of calamity are rarely wise. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where'er I came I brought calamity. Tennyson.

Syn. -- Disaster; distress; affliction; adversity; misfortune; unhappiness; infelicity; mishap; mischance; misery; evil; extremity; exigency; downfall. -- Calamity, Disaster, Misfortune, Mishap, Mischance. Of these words, calamity is the strongest. It supposes a somewhat continuous state, produced not usually by the direct agency of man, but by natural causes, such as fire, flood, tempest, disease, etc, Disaster denotes literally ill-starred, and is some unforeseen and distressing event which comes suddenly upon us, as if from hostile planet. Misfortune is often due to no specific cause; it is simply the bad fortune of an individual; a link in the chain of events; an evil independent of his own conduct, and not to be charged as a fault. Mischance and mishap are misfortunes of a trivial nature, occurring usually to individuals. “A calamity is either public or private, but more frequently the former; a disaster is rather particular than private; it affects things rather than persons; journey, expedition, and military movements are often attended with disasters; misfortunes are usually personal; they immediately affect the interests of the individual.” Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Calami [ L., a reed. See Halm. ] 1. (Bot.) The indian cane, a plant of the Palm family. It furnishes the common rattan. See Rattan, and Dragon's blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A species of Acorus (Acorus calamus), commonly called calamus, or sweet flag. The root has a pungent, aromatic taste, and is used in medicine as a stomachic; the leaves have an aromatic odor, and were formerly used instead of rushes to strew on floors. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) The horny basal portion of a feather; the barrel or quill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Chloral + amide. ] (Chem.) A compound of chloral and formic amide used to produce sleep. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. of or relating to the cortex and the hypothalamus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. (Geography) The capital city of Brunei. Population (2000) = 52, 300. [ PJC ]

a. Belonging to, or designed for, an epithalamium. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Epithalamiums L. Epithalamia [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_; , orig. an adj., nuptial; 'epi` upon, at + &unr_; bride chamber. ] A nuptial song, or poem in honor of the bride and bridegroom. [ 1913 Webster ]

The kind of poem which was called epithalamium . . . sung when the bride was led into her chamber. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Epithalamies Epithalamium. [ R. ] Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A salt of malamic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Pg. ] A yellowish aromatic bark, used in medicine and perfumery, said to be from the South American shrub Croton Malambo. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Malamic + ethane. ] (Chem.) A white crystalline substance forming the ethyl salt of malamic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Malic + amic. ] (Chem.) Of or designating an acid intermediate between malic acid and malamide, and known only by its salts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Malic + amide. ] (Chem.) The acid amide derived from malic acid, as a white crystalline substance metameric with asparagine. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. The name given to one the cultivated Dravidian languages, closely related to the Tamil. Yule. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Metal + ammonium. ] (Chem.) A hypothetical radical derived from ammonium by the substitution of metallic atoms in place of hydrogen. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. mo`nos single + qa`lamos a chamber. ] (Zool.) A division of Foraminifera including those that have only one chamber. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Monothalamous. ] (Zool.) A foraminifer having but one chamber. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Mono- + Gr. qa`lamos chamber: cf. F. monothalame. ] (Zool.) One-chambered. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Palamæ [ NL., fr. Gr. pala`mh the palm. ] (Zool.) A membrane extending between the toes of a bird, and uniting them more or less closely together. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Palma. ] (Zool.) Web-footed. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) An order, or suborder, including the kamichi, and allied South American birds; -- called also screamers. In many anatomical characters they are allied to the Anseres, but they externally resemble the wading birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Palempore. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Polythalamous. ] (Zool.) A division of Foraminifera including those having a manychambered shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Poly- + Gr. &unr_; a chamber. ] (Zool.) Many-chambered; -- applied to shells of Foraminifera and cephalopods. See Illust. of Nautilus. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; before + &unr_; chamber, especially, the bridal chamber. ] A song in celebration of a marriage. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Ar. salām peace, safety. ] A salutation or compliment of ceremony in the east by word or act; an obeisance, performed by bowing very low and placing the right palm on the forehead. [ Written also salaam. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. salamandre, L. salamandra, Gr. &unr_;; cf. Per. samander, samandel. ] 1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Urodela, belonging to Salamandra, Amblystoma, Plethodon, and various allied genera, especially those that are more or less terrestrial in their habits. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The salamanders have, like lizards, an elongated body, four feet, and a long tail, but are destitute of scales. They are true Amphibia, related to the frogs. Formerly, it was a superstition that the salamander could live in fire without harm, and even extinguish it by the natural coldness of its body. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have maintained that salamander of yours with fire any time this two and thirty years. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whereas it is commonly said that a salamander extinguisheth fire, we have found by experience that on hot coals, it dieth immediately. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The pouched gopher (Geomys tuza) of the Southern United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A culinary utensil of metal with a plate or disk which is heated, and held over pastry, etc., to brown it. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A large poker. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Metal.) Solidified material in a furnace hearth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Giant salamander. (Zool.) See under Giant. --
Salamander's hair or
Salamander's wool (Min.), a species of asbestos or mineral flax. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) A suborder of Urodela, comprising salamanders. [ 1913 Webster ]