%alan%

a. (Zool.) Belonging to the Acephala. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. alan, alant; cf. Sp. alano. ] A wolfhound. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Pref. a- + land. ] On land; to the land; ashore. “Cast aland.” Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Aldehyde + the ending -ine. The -n- is a euphonic insertion. ] (Chem.) one of the natural amino acids found combined in the proteins of most living tissues. It can be isolated as a white crystalline base, C3H7NO2. The natural form is the L-configuration. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ G. alant elecampane, the Inula helenium of Linnæus. ] (Chem.) See Inulin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An appellant. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. avalanche, fr. avaler to descend, to let down, from aval down, downward; &unr_; (L. ad) + val, L. vallis, valley. See Valley. ] 1. A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx of anything. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. balaunce, F. balance, fr. L. bilanx, bilancis, having two scales; bis twice (akin to E. two) + lanx plate, scale. ] 1. An apparatus for weighing. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In its simplest form, a balance consists of a beam or lever supported exactly in the middle, having two scales or basins of equal weight suspended from its extremities. Another form is that of the Roman balance, our steelyard, consisting of a lever or beam, suspended near one of its extremities, on the longer arm of which a counterpoise slides. The name is also given to other forms of apparatus for weighing bodies, as to the combinations of levers making up platform scales; and even to devices for weighing by the elasticity of a spring. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Act of weighing mentally; comparison; estimate. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fair balance of the advantages on either side. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Equipoise between the weights in opposite scales. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The state of being in equipoise; equilibrium; even adjustment; steadiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

And hung a bottle on each side
To make his balance true. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

The order and balance of the country were destroyed. Buckle. [ 1913 Webster ]

English workmen completely lose their balance. J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An equality between the sums total of the two sides of an account; as, to bring one's accounts to a balance; -- also, the excess on either side; as, the balance of an account. “A balance at the banker's.” Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

I still think the balance of probabilities leans towards the account given in the text. J. Peile. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Horol.) A balance wheel, as of a watch, or clock. See Balance wheel (in the Vocabulary). [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Astron.) (a) The constellation Libra. (b) The seventh sign in the Zodiac, called Libra, which the sun enters at the equinox in September. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A movement in dancing. See Balance, v. t., 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

Balance electrometer, a kind of balance, with a poised beam, which indicates, by weights suspended from one arm, the mutual attraction of oppositely electrified surfaces. Knight. --
Balance fish. (Zool.) See Hammerhead. --
Balance knife, a carving or table knife the handle of which overbalances the blade, and so keeps it from contact with the table. --
Balance of power (Politics), such an adjustment of power among sovereign states that no one state is in a position to interfere with the independence of the others; international equilibrium; also, the ability (of a state or a third party within a state) to control the relations between sovereign states or between dominant parties in a state. --
Balance sheet (Bookkeeping), a paper showing the balances of the open accounts of a business, the debit and credit balances footing up equally, if the system of accounts be complete and the balances correctly taken. --
Balance thermometer, a thermometer mounted as a balance so that the movement of the mercurial column changes the inclination of the tube. With the aid of electrical or mechanical devices adapted to it, it is used for the automatic regulation of the temperature of rooms warmed artificially, and as a fire alarm. --
Balance of torsion. See Torsion Balance. --
Balance of trade (Pol. Econ.), an equilibrium between the money values of the exports and imports of a country; or more commonly, the amount required on one side or the other to make such an equilibrium. --
Balance valve, a valve whose surfaces are so arranged that the fluid pressure tending to seat, and that tending to unseat, the valve, are nearly in equilibrium; esp., a puppet valve which is made to operate easily by the admission of steam to both sides. See Puppet valve. --
Hydrostatic balance. See under Hydrostatic. --
To lay in balance, to put up as a pledge or security. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. --
To strike a balance, to find out the difference between the debit and credit sides of an account. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Balanced p. pr. & vb. n. Balancing ] [ From Balance, n.: cf. F. balancer. ] 1. To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights; to weigh in a balance. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling; as, to balance a plate on the end of a cane; to balance one's self on a tight rope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To equal in number, weight, force, or proportion; to counterpoise, counterbalance, counteract, or neutralize. [ 1913 Webster ]

One expression . . . must check and balance another. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Balance the good and evil of things. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To settle and adjust, as an account; to make two accounts equal by paying the difference between them. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am very well satisfied that it is not in my power to balance accounts with my Maker. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To make the sums of the debits and credits of an account equal; -- said of an item; as, this payment, or credit, balances the account. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To arrange accounts in such a way that the sum total of the debits is equal to the sum total of the credits; as, to balance a set of books. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Dancing) To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally; as, to balance partners. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Naut.) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; as, to balance the boom mainsail. [ 1913 Webster ]

Balanced valve. See Balance valve, under Balance, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To poise; weigh; adjust; counteract; neutralize; equalize. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; as, the scales balance. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fluctuate between motives which appear of equal force; to waver; to hesitate. [ 1913 Webster ]

He would not balance or err in the determination of his choice. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Dancing) To move toward a person or couple, and then back. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Such as can be balanced. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. being in a state of proper balance or equilibrium; -- opposite of unbalanced. the carefully balanced seesaw a properly balanced symphony orchestra a balanced assessment of intellectual and cultural history a balanced blend of whiskeys the educated man shows a balanced development of all his powers [ Narrower terms: counterbalanced, counter-balanced, counterpoised; well-balanced; poised ] [ Related terms: stable --- (maintaining equilibrium) ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The act or result of balancing or adjusting; equipoise; even adjustment of forces. [ R. ] Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who balances, or uses a balance. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) In Diptera, the rudimentary posterior wing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) The last reef in a fore-and-aft sail, taken to steady the ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Horology) (a) A wheel which regulates the beats or pulses of a watch or chronometer, answering to the pendulum of a clock; -- often called simply a balance. (b) A ratchet-shaped scape wheel, which in some watches is acted upon by the axis of the balance wheel proper (in those watches called a balance). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mach.) A wheel which imparts regularity to the movements of any engine or machine; a fly wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. balanus acorn + -ferous. ] Bearing or producing acorns. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. balanus acorn: cf. F. balanite. ] (Paleon.) A fossil balanoid shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. ba`lanos acorn + glw^ssa tongue. ] (Zool.) A peculiar marine worm. See Enteropneusta, and Tornaria. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. ba`lanos acorn + -oid. ] (Zool.) Resembling an acorn; -- applied to a group of barnacles having shells shaped like acorns. See Acornshell, and Barnacle. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ It. ] (Mus.) Gradually diminishing in rapidity and loudness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a large genus of low-growing herbs; widespread throughout tropical and warm temperate regions having usually basal leaves and panicles of purplish ephemeral flowers.
Syn. -- genus Calandrinia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. any of various showy orchids of the genus Calanthe having white or yellow or rose-colored flowers and broad leaves folded lengthwise. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of or pertaining to Catalonia. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Catalonia; also, the language of Catalonia. [ 1913 Webster ]

Catalan furnace,
Catalan forge (Metal.), a kind of furnace for producing wrought iron directly from the ore. It was formerly much used, esp. in Catalonia, and is still used in some parts of the United States and elsewhere. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; + &unr_; flower. ] (Bot.) Same as Anthodium. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Counterbalanced p. pr. & vb. n. Counterbalancing. ] To oppose with an equal weight or power; to counteract the power or effect of; to countervail; to equiponderate; to balance. [ 1913 Webster ]

The remaining air was not able to counterbalance the mercurial cylinder. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

The study of mind is necessary to counterbalance and correct the influence of the study of nature. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A weight, power, or agency, acting against or balancing another; as: (a) A mass of metal in one side of a driving wheel or fly wheel, to balance the weight of a crank pin, etc., on the opposite side of the wheel. (b) A counterpoise to balance the weight of anything, as of a drawbridge or a scale beam. [ 1913 Webster ]

Money is the counterbalance to all other things purchasable by it. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. brought into equipoise by means of a weight or force that offsets another.
Syn. -- counterpoised. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. dry^s oak + ba`lanos acorn + 'o`psis appearance. The fruit remotely resembles an acorn in its cup. ] (Bot.) The genus to which belongs the single species Dryobalanops Camphora, a lofty resinous tree of Borneo and Sumatra, yielding Borneo camphor and camphor oil. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Equi- + balance. ] Equal weight; equiponderance. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Equibalanced p. pr. & vb. n. Equibalancing ] To make of equal weight; to balance equally; to counterbalance; to equiponderate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. exhalant. ] Having the quality of exhaling or evaporating. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Native name. ] (Zool.) A viverrine mammal of Madagascar (Eupleres Goudotii), allied to the civet; -- called also Falanouc. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n.[ OE. galingale, OF. galingal, garingal, F. galanga (cf. Sp. galanga), prob. fr. Ar. khalanjān. ] The pungent aromatic rhizome or tuber of certain East Indian or Chinese species of Alpinia (Alpinia Galanga and Alpinia officinarum) and of the Kæmpferia Galanga), -- all of the Ginger family. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. galantine. ] A dish of veal, chickens, or other white meat, freed from bones, tied up, boiled, and served cold. Smart. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. 1. A hypothetical continent that (according to plate tectonic theory) broke up later into India and Australia and Africa and South America and Antarctica. See plate tectonics. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a native or inhabitant of Guatemala. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. of or pertaining to Guatemala; as, Guatemalan coffee. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. of or pertaining to the inhabitants of Guatemala; as, Guatemalan rebels. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A member of the Holocephali, fish with high compressed heads and a bodies tapering off into a long tail. See also Hoocephali. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Cf. F. inhalant. ] Inhaling; used for inhaling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An apparatus also called an inhaler (which see); also, that which is to be inhaled, especially a medicine taken by inhalation. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. (Anat.) Between phalanges; as, interphalangeal articulations. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The sea otter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A Philippine timber tree (Toona calantas or Cedrela calantas) having hard red fragrant wood.
Syn. -- Philippine mahogany, Philippine cedar, Toona calantas, Cedrela calantas. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. pl. [ F. malandres, fr. L. malandria blisters or pustules on the neck, especially in horses. ] (Far.) A scurfy eruption in the bend of the knee of the fore leg of a horse. See Sallenders. [ Written also mallenders. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Any language that can be used to describe another language or system of symbols. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } n. [ L. myrobalanum the fruit of a palm tree from which a balsam was made, Gr. myroba`lanos; my`ron any sweet juice distilling from plants, any prepared unguent or sweet oil + ba`lanos an acorn or any similar fruit: cf. F. myrobolan. ] A dried astringent fruit much resembling a prune. It contains tannin, and was formerly used in medicine, but is now chiefly used in tanning and dyeing. Myrobolans are produced by various species of Terminalia of the East Indies, and of Spondias of South America. [ 1913 Webster ]

A group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. [ 1913 Webster ]

New Zealand flax. (a) (Bot.) A tall, liliaceous herb (Phormium tenax), having very long, sword-shaped, distichous leaves which furnish a fine, strong fiber very valuable for cordage and the like. (b) The fiber itself. --
New Zealand tea (Bot.), a myrtaceous shrub (Leptospermum scoparium) of New Zealand and Australia, the leaves of which are used as a substitute for tea. [ 1913 Webster ]