General Information (A)

AAM The aam was a Dutch and German liquid measure of varying capacity, from 170
to 200 litres, once used in England for Rhine wine.

AB Ab is the fifth month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, and the eleventh month of the
Jewish civil year. It coincides nearly with August.

ABAC An abac is a two dimensional matrix or table that shows the distances between
major towns etc. Abacs are often found at the back of a road atlas.

ABACINATION Abacination is a form of torture in which the victim is blinded by

a red-hot metal plate held before his or her eyes.

ABACTION Abaction is the legal term for carrying away by force, and is especially
applied to animals and was formerly a term referring to large-scale cattle rustling.

ABACTOR In old law, the term abactor was applied to one who stole and drove away
cattle or beasts by herds or droves.

ABACULI Abaculi are small cubes of coloured glass, enamel, stone or other material
used in marquetry and mosaic work.

ABACUS An abacus is a counting frame with balls sliding on wires. It was first used
before the adoption of the ten digit numeric system and is still widely used in China.

ABAISER Abaiser is ivory black or animal charcoal.

ABANDONEE In law, an abandonee is one to whom anything is legally abandoned.

ABANDUM In law, the term abandum refers to anything forfeited or confiscated.

ABATABLE In law, the term abatable refers to something that may be reduced,
diminished, discontinued, or ended.

ABATE In law, the term abate means 'to put an end to'.
ABATEMENT In English law, abatement refers to legal proceedings that are
formerly abated, or ended, on the marriage, death or bankruptcy of one party, or some
change of interest in the matter in dispute.

ABATOR In law, an abator is someone who abates a nuisance. Formerly, in law, the
term abator referred to a person who, without right, entered a freehold on the death of the
last possessor, before the heir or devisee.

ABATURE Abature is the name given to the path created by a stag when grass and
sprigs are beaten or trampled down by it passing through them.

ABATVOIX

An abatvoix is the sounding-board over a pulpit or rostrum.

ABBA

Abba is a devotional expression for the Divine Fatherhood, and, apparently, the chief
appellation of God used by Jesus in prayer. The name was also adopted by a Swedish
seventies music group from their initials.

ABBEY

An abbey is a body of monks or a monastic building.

ABBEY THEATRE

The Abbey Theatre is a theatre in Dublin, Ireland, that was home to the Irish Nationalist
movement in the early 1900s. The building itself was purchased by Miss A.E.F.
Horniman to house Frank and W. G. Fay's Irish National Dramatic Society. The Irish
Nationalist movement embraced naturalism, ensemble acting, and plays about Irish life. It
premiered many plays by Irish authors such as W. B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, J. M. Synge
and Sean O'Casey.

ABBOTSFORD CLUB

The Abbotsford Club was founded in 1834 on the model of the Bannatyne and Maitland
Clubs and printed works of history and antiquities having relation to Scott and the
Waverley Novels. Between 1835 and 1864 the club issued thrity-four volumes before it
closed.

ABBREVIATE
Abbreviate means make shorter.

ABBREVIATION

An abbreviation is a short form of a word or words.

ABDEST

Abdest is the Islamic ritual of purification by washing the hands before prayer.

ABDICATE

Abdicate means to renounce one's thrown.

ABDITORY

An abditory is a place for hiding or preserving articles of value.

ABDUCT

Abduct means to take away by force or fraud.

ABDUCTION

In logic abduction is a syllogism or form of argument in which the major is evident, but
the minor is only probable.

ABECEDARIAN

An abecedarian is someone who is learning the alphabet. The term was also given to
someone engaged in teaching the alphabet.

ABERDEEN ACT

The Aberdeen Act was introduced by the earl of Aberdeen, and passed in 1845, to enforce
the observance of a convention made with Brazil in 1826 to put down the slave trade. It
was repealed in 1869.

ABERRANCY OF CURVATURE

In geometry, the aberrancy of curvature is the deviation of a curve from a circular form.
ABERRATION

Aberration is another word for error.

ABET

Abet is a legal term meaning to encourage another to commit a crime.

ABETTOR

An abettor is someone who encourages another to commit a crime (someone who abets).

ABEYANCE

Abeyance is a state of inactivity or suspension.

ABIB

Abib is the Jewish first month of the ecclesiastical year, when the feast of the Passover is
celebrated. It was later named Nisan.

ABILGAIL

An abigail is a lady's maid.

ABINGDON LAW

Abingdon Law is an expression for summary execution, without trial. The term takes its
name from the town of Abingdon then in Berkshire now in Oxfordshire, England. In
1644 and again in 1645, the town was attacked, unsuccessfuly, and the defenders
executed every prisoner taken, without trial.

ABINGTON LAW

Abington Law is an English equivalent of Jeddart Justice - that is of hanging a man in

haste, and trying him at leisure. The term comes from the summary hanging of a man at
Abington by Major-General Brown.

ABJUDICATE

In law, the term abjudicate refers to depriving a person of something by court order or
remove by order of court.
ABLATIVE

In the grammar of certain inflected languages, such as Latin, the ablative case is the form
of a noun, pronoun, or adjective used to indicate the agent in passive sentences or the
instrument, manner, or place of the action described by the verb.

ABLUTION

Ablution is ceremonial washing.

ABNEGATE

In law, the term abnegate means to 'give up' to 'surrender' or to 'renounce'.

ABNORMAL

Abnormal means deviating from normal.

ABODE

Abode is a place where something lives.

ABORT

Abort means to terminate early.

ABORTIFACIENT

In law, an abortifacient is something used to cause an abortion.

ABORTION

Abortion is the expulsion of the foetus from the uterus.

ABRACADABRA

Abracadabra is a qabbalistic magic word used by the Gnostics and others of the second
century and later as a spell to secure the assistance of good spirits against evil. It was
written in the shape of a triangle and worn around the neck for nine days to act as a
charm against fevers etc. The word first occurs in a poem by Sammonicus.

ABRASION
Abrasion is a form of sexual activity involving the stimulation of the surface of the body
with abrasive materials, such as rough silk, chamois leather, fine sandpaper, brushes or
wire wool.

ABRIDGE

Abridge means to shorten by condensing. In literary terms, abridge means to shorten a

work, and yet preserve its essence, by using more succinct language.

ABRIDGMENT

An abridgment is a shortened version of a document or book, which retains the general

essence of the original.

ABROGATE

In law, the term abrogate means to repeal, or render void.

ABSCAM

ABSCAM was an investigation conducted by the FBI from 1978 to 1980 into corruption
within the US Congress. FBI agents posed as an Arab sheikh and his associates and
filmed government officials accepting bribes. Seven Congressmen and several state and
local officials were subsequently charged and convicted of bribery, corruption, conspiracy
and related offences.

ABSCESS

An abscess is a pus filled infection of an animal.

ABSCISSA
In co-ordinate geometry, the abscissa is the x-coordinate of a point (the horizontal
distance of that point from the vertical or y-axis). For example, a point with the
coordinates (9, 6) has an abscissa of 9.

ABSEIL

In mountaineering, abseil means to descend using a rope.

ABSOLUTE

Something that is absolute is freed from relation, limitation or dependence. As an

adjective, it is therefore applied to the essence of a thing apart from its relations or
appearances, and to the complete or perfect state of being. Hence comes its substantial
meaning of 'The Absolute' as the self-existent, self-sufficient Being, that which is free
from all limitation, the all-inclusive Reality. The absolute in one form or another forms a
central feature in the philosophical systems of Spinoza, Schelling and Hegel.

ABSOLUTISM

Absolutism or Absolute Monarchy is a system of government where the hereditary ruler,

usually a king, has complete power to decide a country's internal and external policy
without having to consult anyone. A good example of an absolute monarchy was Louis
XIV of France. The French Revolution heralded the end of absolutism, and in the
nineteenth century absolute monarchies everywhere gave place to constitutional
monarchies or republics.

ABSTRACT

Abstract means theoretical rather than practical.

ABYSSAL ZONE

The abyssal zone is the lower depths of the ocean below approximately 2000 metres,
where there is effectively no light penetration. Abyssal organisms are adapted for living
under high pressures in cold dark conditions.

AC ACE
The AC Ace was a series of British sportscars built between 1953 and 1963. The AC Ace
was made with various engines: the AC, the Bristol and the Ford, in capacities of 1991,
1971 and 2553 cc providing power between 102 and 170 bhp. The AC Ace was fitted
with a four-speed transmission with optional overdrive and had a top speed of 187 kmh.

AC COBRA

The AC Cobra (known in the USA as the Shelby Cobra and the Ford Cobra) was a British
sportscar built between 1962 and 1968. The AC Cobra resulted after the Texan racer,
Carroll Shelby, approached AC Cars with an idea for fitting a 4.2 litre Ford V-eight
engine into the light AC Ace sportscar to make a competition racing car. The AC Cobra
was produced with various engines between 4261 and 6997 cc capacity with power
between 164 and 490 bhp providing a top speed of between 218 and 290 kmh. In 1967
the AC Cobra with seven-litre engine, won the record as the fastest accelerating
production car, reaching 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds.

ACADEMY OF ART AND LETTERS

The Academy of Art and Letters is a group of American citizens qualified by notable
achievements in art, literature, or music. The members are selected from the membership
of its parent body, the National Institute of Arts and Letters. The academy's aim is the
furtherance of literature and the fine arts in the USA and has its headquarters in New
York. It gives awards in art, literature, and music, jointly with the National Institute of
Arts and Letters. The academy maintains a library of 15,000 volumes; a museum for
book and manuscript exhibitions and storage of a permanent manuscript collection; an art
gallery; and a permanent exhibition of the work of American painters Childe Hassam and
Eugene Speicher. The academy awards the Howells Medal for the Novel (every five
years); the Award of Merit Medal; and a prize of 1000 dollars annually. It holds
exhibitions of works of art, manuscripts, books, and music scores. Paintings by American
artists are purchased from the Childe Hassam Fund and Speicher Fund for distribution to
museums.

ACCADEMIA DELLA CRUSCAOR FURFURATORUM

The Accademia della Cruscaor Furfuratorum is an Italian academy founded in Florence in

1582 by the writer Antonio Francesco Grazzini. It aimed at purifying and cultivating
Italian language and literature, and its Vocabolario degli Accademici della Crusca (first
published in 1612) is still a model for works of the kind. The French Academy was
modelled on this one.

ACCENT

An accent is a local mode of pronunciation in speech.

ACCEPTANCE TEST

An acceptance test is a test operation of a new or modified device or system before usage
by customers; ascertaining performance is to specifications. The FCC equivalent is 'Proof
of Performance Testing'.

ACCION DEMOCRATICA

Accion Democratica is a Venezuelan political party founded in 1945 by Romulo

Betancourt, which advocates agrarian reform and industrial development.

ACCOLADE

Accolade is the ceremony by which knighthood is conferred. Originally it was an

embrace around the neck, today is a gentle blow on the shoulders with the flat of a sword.
An accolade is given by a Sovereign or his representative.

ACCOMPLICE

An accomplice is someone associated with somebody else in the committing of a crime.

ACCUSATIVE

The accusative is the case of a noun or pronoun that is the object of a verb or is governed
by a preposition. For example: 'He stroked the dog' 'I worked in the shed'. Here, 'dog' and
'shed' are both in the accusative case. 'Dog' is the object of the verb 'stroked'; 'shed' is
governed by the preposition 'in'. In the grammar of some inflected languages, such as
Latin, Greek, and Russian, the accusative case is the form of a noun, pronoun, or
adjective used when it is the direct object of a verb. The accusative is also used for the
object of certain prepositions.

ACE

An ace is a playing card with one pip.

ACMEIST MOVEMENT
The Acmeist movement was a movement in early 20th-century Russian poetry reacting
against Symbolism. Acmeists developed a neo-classical emphasis on clear words about
demystified realities. Major figures include Osip Mandelshtam, Anna Akhmatova, and
Nikolay Gumilyov, founder of the Acmeist organ Apollon.

ACOUSTICOPHILIA

Acousticophilia is the sexual arousal by sound or music.

ACRE

An acre is an ancient measurement of land area being (since 1824) 4840 square yards.
Prior to the 1824 standardisation, the acre had been previously standardised by Edward I
in 1305.

ACRONYM

An acronym is a word formed from the initials or syllables of other words and intended
as a pronounceable abbreviation.

ACROPHILIA

Acrophilia is the sexual arousal by heights, high altitudes.

ACROSTIC

An acrostic is a poem in which the first or last letters of each line, read downwards, form
a word or sentence. Double acrostics became very popular in 1867.

ACROTOMOPHILIA

Acrotomophilia is the sexual attraction to people who have lost a limb - amputees.

ACT OF MEDIATION

The Act of Mediation was the Swiss constitution of February the 19th 1803, which
Bonaparte substituted for that of the Helvetic republic, which lasted to the end of 1813. In
it, the name 'Switzerland' was first officially used as the name of the Swiss confederation.

ACT OF SUCCESSION
The Act of Succession in 1534 declared the marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of
Aragon null and void. In doing so it settled the succession to the throne on the heirs of
Henry VIII by Anne Boleyn.

ACTOR

An actor is a dramatic performer. One who performs in plays.

ACTOR'S STUDIO

The Actor's Studio is an acting school in New York that taught an Americanised version
of Stanislavsky's Method and was very influential in 1950s and 60s American drama. It
was founded in 1947-48 either by Lee Strasberg or by Elia Kazan and Cheryl Crawford,
depending on which source you consult. Strasberg served as artistic director of the school
until his death in 1982. Many notable American actors of the 1950s and 1960s were
graduates, including Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger, James Dean, Montgomery Clift and
Eva Marie-Saint.

ACTS OF SUPREMACY

The Acts of Supremacy were passed in 1534 enacting that the King (then Henry VIII)
was the only supreme head on earth of the Church of England. The acts gave the king
power to redress all heresies and abuses.

ADAMS FAMILY

The Adams family are a major London crime gang specialising in drugs and extortion.
The gang have a reputation for hiring Afro-Caribbeans to carry out the murder of
informants and competitors. In July 1991 Frankie Fraser, former enforcer for the
Richardson gang was shot at point-blank range as he left 'Turnmill's Nite Club' in
Clerkenwell, London, on orders from the Adams family. The Adams family are known to
regularly bribe a quantity of Metropolitan Police officers.

ADDISCOMBE COLLEGE

Addiscombe College was a college near Croydon, Surrey, which was purchased by the
East India Company in 1809, for the education of candidates for scientific branches of the
Indian army. It was closed in 1861.

ADDITIONAL FORCES ACT

The Additional Forces Act was passed in Britain by Pitt, owing to the imminent danger of
the invasion of the country by Napoleon in 1803 and the following years. The act
legalised the formation of second battalions to the regular regiments then serving abroad.
The United Kingdom was divided up into districts, which were required by the act to
furnish quotas of 3000 men each. The act was repealed after the death of Pitt.

ADIT

An adit is the horizontal entrance to a mine.

ADJECTIVE

An adjective is a grammatical part of speech for words that describe nouns (for example,
new and beautiful, as in 'a new hat' and 'a beautiful day'). Adjectives generally have three
degrees: the positive degree (new, beautiful), the comparative degree (newer, more
beautiful), and the superlative degree (newest, most beautiful). Some adjectives do not
normally need comparative and superlative forms; one person cannot be 'more asleep'
than someone else, a lone action is unlikely to be 'the most single-handed action ever
seen', and many people dislike the expression 'most unique' or 'almost unique', because
something unique is supposed to be the only one that exists. For purposes of emphasis or
style these conventions may be set aside ('I don't know who is more unique; they are both
remarkable people'). Double comparatives such as 'more bigger' are not grammatical in
Standard English, but Shakespeare used a double superlative ('the most unkindest cut of
all'). Some adjectives may have both comparative and both superlative forms (commoner
and more common; commonest and most common); shorter words usually take on the
suffixes -er/-est but occasionally they may be given the more/most forms for emphasis or
other reasons ('Which of them is the most clear?'). When an adjective comes before a
noun it is attributive; when it comes after noun and verb (for example, 'It looks good') it
is predicative. Some adjectives can only be used predicatively ('The child was asleep', but
not 'the asleep child'). The participles of verbs are regularly used adjectivally ('a sleeping
child', 'boiled milk'), often in compound forms ('a quick-acting medicine', 'a glass-making
factory', 'a hard-boiled egg', ' well-trained teachers'). Adjectives are often formed by
adding suffixes to nouns (for example sand: sandy; nation: national).

ADJOURNMENT

In law, adjournment is the postponement of the hearing of a case for later consideration.
If a hearing is adjourned sine die ('without day') it is postponed for an indefinite period. If
a party requests an adjournment, the court may find the costs of the adjournment have
been unnecessarily incurred and make an order for costs against that party.

ADULT

An adult is a fully grown being.

ADVERB
An adverb is the grammatical part of speech for words that modify or describe verbs (for
example ' she ran quickly'). Most adverbs are formed from adjectives or past participles
by adding -ly (quick: quickly) or -ally (automatic: automatically). Sometimes adverbs are
formed by adding -wise (likewise and clockwise, as in 'moving clockwise'; in 'a
clockwise direction', clockwise is an adjective). Some adverbs have a distinct form from
their partnering adjective; for example, good/ well ('it was good work; they did it well').
Others do not derive from adjectives (very, in 'very nice'; tomorrow, in 'I'll do it
tomorrow'), and some are unadapted adjectives (pretty, as in 'It's pretty good'). Sentence
adverbs modify whole sentences or phrases: 'Generally, it rains a lot here'; 'Usually, the
town is busy at this time of year.' Sometimes there is controversy in such matters.
Hopefully is universally accepted in sentences like 'He looked at them hopefully' ('He
looked at them full of hope'), but some people dislike it in 'Hopefully, we'll see you again
next year' ('We hope that we'll see you again next year').

ADYTUM

An adytum is the inner most part of a temple.

ADZE

An adze is a carpenter's instrument consisting of an arched cutting blade mounted on a

handle in a transverse arrangement, rather in the parallel arrangement of an axe. The adze
is used for cutting away horizontal surfaces of wood.

AELFRIC SOCIETY

The Aelfric Society was founded in 1842 to publish the Homilies of Aelfric, archbishop
of Canterbury and other Anglo-Saxon works. It closed in 1856.

AENEID

The Aeneid is Virgil's epic poem in twelve books, setting forth the wanderings of Aeneas.
The poem has been translated into English several times, among others by Gawin
Douglas in 1513, Dryden in 1697 and William Morris in 1876.
AEON

An aeon is an immeasurable period.

AEROMANCY

Aeromancy is divination by the air. It later evolved into weather-forecasting.

AETOLIAN LEAGUE

The Aetolian League was a confederacy of independent tribes of Aetolia in central

Greece. It was formed in the 4th cetury BC and expanded in the 3rd century BC to
include Thrace, Epirus, Peloponnesus and Asia Minor. By 220 BC it controlled most of
central Greece and was the main rival to Macedonia. The League resisted attacks from
Philip V of Macedonia, but was defeated by an alliance of Antiochus of Syria and the
Romans in 189 BC. The League was dissolved in 167 BC.

AFFIDAVIT

An affidavit is a sworn written statement by a person (the deponent), who signs it in the
presence of a commissioner for oaths. It sets out facts known to the deponent. In certain
cases, particularly proceedings in the Chancery division of the High Court, evidence may
be taken by affidavit rather than by the witness appearing in person.

AFRIKAANS

Afrikaans, togther with English, is an official language of the Republic of South Africa
and Namibia. Afrikaans is spoken mainly by the Afrikaners and is a variety of the Dutch
language, modified by circumstance and the influence of German, French, other
immigrant and local languages. Afrikaans became a standardised written language about
1875.

AGALMATOPHILIA

Agalmatophilia is the sexual fetish of being attracted to mannequins or statues.

AGE OF CONSENT

Age of consent is a term for an age that depends upon the legal circumstances to which it
refers. For commercial purposes, it is set at 18 years by the Family Law Reform Act
(1969). A contract signed by a minor (i.e. someone below the age of consent) cannot
always be enforced.
AGENDA

An agenda is a list of tasks.

AGGLUTINATIVE LANGUAGES

Agglutinative languages are languages that combine into a single word various linguistic
elements, each of which has a distinct fixed connotation and a separate existence. For
example, in Basque the word ponetekilakoaekin means 'with him who has a ponet'. The
principal agglutinative languages include Turkish, Japanese, Finnish, Hungarian, Swahili,
and Native American languages. English has agglutinating features in such compound
words as ungodliness and unavoidably.

AGONOPHILIA

Agonophilia is the sexual activity of pseudo-rape, a common form of foreplay involving a

pretended struggle before the partner is overpowered.

AGONY COLUMN

Originally, an agony column was a column in newspapers in which advertisements

regarding missing relatives and friends, secret correspondence etc. were inserted. The
name derived from the distress betrayed in many of the adverts. Today, an agony column
is more associated with a column in a newspaper or magazine in which readers ask for
advice on difficult and usually controversial situations (such as having an affair with a
married person). The advice is given by an 'agony aunt', a regular columnist working for
the newspaper.

AGORAPHILIA

Agoraphilia is sexualual arousal from open, public spaces.

AGREXOPHILIA

Agrexophilia is sexual arousal from the knowledge that other people may become aware
of the lovemaking, for example by being overheard or seen.

AGRICULTURAL HALL

Agricultural Hall is a building in Islington, London. Work commenced on it in 1861, and

it opened in 1862 for an exhibition of dogs. It was constructed chiefly for the meetings of
the Smithfield Club.
AIR TRADE PROVISION

Aid trade provision (ATP) is a major component of the British aid programme, which
seeks to combine aid to developing countries with creating business for UK companies.
Subsidised loans and credits are offered to developing countries on condition that goods
and services are purchased from UK- based enterprises.

AIRSPACE

Airspace is the space that lies above a state's land and sea territory and is subject to its
exclusive jurisdiction.

AISLE

An aisle is a passage between rows of seats.

AKAN

Akan is a language spoken by the Akan people of southern Ghana. Akan is divided into
two main varieties: Twi and Fante.

ALBERT MEDAL

The Albert Medal was a British Naval decoration established in 1866 for gallantry in the
saving of life at sea.
ALBION MARKET

Albion Market was an English television soap-opera created as a rival to the BBC's
'Eastenders' and similarly set in the East End of London and following the lives of a
fictional community. Albion Market was first aired in 1985 but after 100 episodes and
negligble viewers was scrapped.

ALDEBARAN

Aldebaran is the chief star of the constellation of Taurus.

ALECTRYOMANCY

Alectryomancy is a form of divination using a cock and grains of corn.

ALEUROMANCY

Aleuromancy is divination by flour.

ALEUTIAN LOW

The Aleutian low is a sub-arctic belt of low pressure that stretches across the North
Pacific and is centred over the Aleutian Islands. It is separated by an area of relatively
high pressure over the North Pole from a similar North Atlantic low pressure belt centred
over Iceland. The Aleutian lows are most intense during mid- winter.

ALEXANDRIAN LITURGY

The Alexandrian liturgy is a liturgy of the ancient Egyptian Church, especially the
eucharistic rite ascribed traditionally to St Mark.

ALFA 33
The Alfa 33 was a five door hatchback and estate model car made by Alfa Romeo from
1984 to 1994. The Alfa 33 came in three engine sizes: 1.5 litres with 98 BHP, 1.7 litres
with 107 to 110 BHP and a 1.7 litre 16 valve edition providing 132 to 137 BHP, all of
which provided about 30 mpg. The Alfa 33 was criticised for its heavy steering, poor
comfort and unreliable gearchange, and has subsequently proved to be at high risk to
rusting.

ALFA ROMEO

Alfa Romeo is an Italian motor-car manufacturer. The company was founded in 1906 as
'Societa Italiana Automobili Darracq' with the aim of manufacturing low cost Darracq
motor cars. That company quickly ran into difficulties when the once booming car market
began to falter. In 1910 the Darracq factory that had been built in the Portello district of
Milan was sold to a group of Italian car enthusiasts who called themselves 'Anonima
Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili' (ALFA). Success was to be short lived, because the
company went into liquidation in 1915, and was then taken over by an engineer and
entrepreneur called Nicola Romeo. After the Great War the company changed its name to
'Societa Anonima Ing. Nicola Romeo & Co.' having taken over several smaller firms:
Officine Meccaniche di Saronno, Officine Meccaniche Tabanelli of Rome and Officine
Ferroviarie Meridionali of Naples. Formally constituted by the notary, Federico Guasti, in
Milan on February the 3rd 1918, the new company proclaimed its purpose to be 'the
construction and management of engineering, steel, agricultural, mining, chemical and
quarrying companies, with particular emphasis on military, aviation, marine and
agricultural equipment, internal combustion engines for all possible applications:
aeroplanes, automobiles, locomotive and other wheeled transport.' Today Alfa Romeo is
known for its range of sporty motor-cars.

ALFA ROMEO 8C

The Alfa Romeo 8C was an Italian sportscar of the early 1930s. The Alfa Romeo 8C was
powered by a 2300 cc in-line eight-cylinder engine providing between 140 and 175 hp,
varying with model, and a top speed of 170 kmh. The Alfa Romeo 8C was a successful
racing car during the 1930s, winning Grand Prix races and the Le Mans 24 hour race.

ALFA ROMEO SPIDER

The Alfa Romeo Spider was a sportscar produced from 1966 to 1993 designed by Battista
Pininfarina and produced by the Alfa Romeo company. The Alfa Romeo Spider had a
1962 cc 4-cylinder DOHC engine providing 131 bhp and a top speed of 199 kmh. A few
variations were made, with slightly differing body shapes, all renowned for their smooth
steering and slick gear changing.

ALFA SPRINT

The Alfa Sprint is a sporty front-wheel drive coupe automobile plagued by a poor quality
body and powered by a 1500 or 1700 CC engine giving roughly 30 mpg.

ALGEBRA

Algebra is a division of mathematics dealing with relations.

ALGEBRAIC

See "Algebra"

ALGOL

Algol is a star in the constellation of Perseus. It was catalogued by Ptolemy as the lucida
of the Gorgon. It is the model 'eclipse star' varying in brightness over a two day period
through the interpositions of a revolving dark satellite. The light-changes of Algol were
noticed by Montanari in 1669 and methodically observed and explained by Goodricke in
1783.

ALGOLAGNIA

Algolagnia (algophilia) is a psychological term for the love of pain in sex.

ALGOPHILIA

See "Algolagnia"

ALGORITHM
An algorithm is a set of rules.

ALGRAPHY

Algraphy is a printing process in which aluminium plates are used.

ALIBI

The plea of alibi in a criminal prosecution means that the person accused was elsewhere
(alibi) at the time of the commission of the crime. If proved, it is conclusive, however it is
a plea easily and frequently fabricated.

ALIENATION

In law, alienation is the transfer of the title to property from one person to another by
conveyance, and not by inheritance.

ALIMENT

In Scottish law, aliment is the maintenance of children and other persons who are entitled
to claim on the grounds of relationship or marriage.

ALL SAINTS' DAY

All Saints' Day is a Christian feast day, held on November the 1st, held in honour of all
saints. It was instituted by Gregory III.

ALL SOULS' DAY

All Souls' Day is a festival of the Roman Catholic Church on November the 2nd, offering
prayers to the faithful dead. It was instituted in 998 in the monastery of Clugny.

ALLARD J2
The Allard J2/J2X was a British sportscar produced in 1949 by Sydney Allard of south
London. They were powered by a 5420 cc Ford V-eight engine providing 180 bhp and a
top speed of 209 kmh and acceleration of 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds.

ALLEY

An alley is a narrow street.

ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG

Allgemeine Zeitung is a German newspaper. It was founded in 1778 by Johann Cota in

Stuttgart.

ALLUVIUM

Alluvium is river transported deposits of mud, sand and gravel that accumulate to form
distinctive features such as levees, flood plains and deltas.

ALPENSTOCK
An alpenstock is a stout staff, iron-tipped, used by mountain climbers. The names of
ascended peaks are often branded onto its shaft.

ALPHA

Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.

ALPHABET
An alphabet is an ordered series of letters used in language.

ALPHONSINE TABLES

The Alphonsine Tables were astronomical tables composed by Spanish and Arab
astronomers, and collected in 1253 under the direction of Alphonso X of Castile. The
tables were reprinted on the orders of the Spanish government in 1863.

ALPINE CLUB

The Alpine Club was an English society formed in London in 1857 to bring together
those people interested in mountain climbing.

ALPINE JOURNAL

The Alpine Journal was the magazine published by the Alpine Club. The magazine was
founded in 1863.
ALT.SEX.BONDAGE

alt.sex.bondage (also known as asb or a.s.b.) is an old, and well established mixed sex
and sexuality Usenet newsgroup concerned with a wide range of SM activities including
bondage.

ALTAR

An altar is a block used for making offerings to a deity.

ALTHING

The Althing is the parliament of Iceland, it was created in 928 on the lines of the
previously existing Norse Thing and is the oldest parliamentary assembly in the world. It
was dissolved in 1800, revived in 1843 as an advisory body and it's modern form was
constituted in 1874 as a legislative body.

ALTITUDE

Altitude is height above mean sea level.

ALTOCALCIPHILIA

Altocalciphilia is the sexual fetish for high heels.

ALTOCUMULUS

Altocumulus is a cloud formation at between 10000 and 25000 feet, made up of many
patches of small, white coloured clouds.

ALTOSTRATUS

Altostratus is a cloud formation at between 10000 and 25000 feet, made up of wide
expanses of flat, grey coloured clouds.

ALTRUISM

Altruism is the act of doing something for someone else's benefit, with no benefit for the
person conducting the act, popularly known as being 'unselfish'. Some argue that true
altruism must be an act that not only benefits another person, but does so to the detriment
of the person conducting the altuistic act. This self-sacrifice is of course contrary to the
basic principles of survival, and as such many psychologists argue that no human act is
ever truly altruistic, but is indeed self-serving. A typical example cited is a parent risking
their life to save their child. In this example the parent is actually serving their basic
instinct to protect the genes which they have passed on and are being carried by the child.
Similarly, an adult risking their life to save a stranger, it is argued, follows the same
pattern. The human race developed from a small family and as such we all share some
genes, the stranger is part of our family, albeit remotely, and we are simply acting -
unconciously - to save our own genes. Other apparently altruistic acts, such as being kind
to someone, it is argued are done with a view to some future payback. The stranger may
help us in the future, or may help someone else who helps someone untill the kindness
goes full circle and someone is kind to us. An act which hopes for a benefit for the
perpetrator of the act, such as a future kindeness being received, or securing a place in a
holy after-life, is not altruistic, but selfish, no matter how kind it may be.

ALVIS TF

The Alvis TF was a luxurious British Graber-styled car produced in 1965. The Alvis TF
was powered by a triple-carburretor 2993 cc straight six engine providing 150 bhp and a
top speed of 193 kmh.

AMAUROPHILIA

Amaurophilia is sexual arousal by a partner who is unable to see one due to artificial
means, such as being blindfolded or having sex in total darkness.

AMBAREE

Ambaree is a fibre similar to jute and largely used in India. It is obtained from Hibiscus
cannabinus.

AMBIDEXTROUS

Ambidextrous is having the facility to use the left hand as effectively as the right.

AMBROSIAN LIBRARY

The Ambrosian Library is a famous library in Milan, founded in 1602 by Carlos

Borromeo, and named in honour of St Ambrose, the patron saint of the city.
AMBRY

An ambry was a cupboard or chest designed to contain the tools of one's profession. Ina
church, the ambry was a niche or cupboard near the altar designed to hold the utensils
requisite for conducting worship.

AMBULANCE

An ambulance is a wagon, litter or other means of transport used for the conveyance of
the sick and disabled.

AMERICAN

American is a term referring to someone or something that comes from, or is found in,
America.

AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION

The American Arbitration Association is a non-profit organization that provides

arbitrators for the arbitration of disputes.

AMHARIC

The Amharic language is a language spoken in Ethiopia since the 13th century when it
succeeded Geez or Ethiopic. It is Semitic in origin and written right to left.

AMICUS CURIAE

Amicus curiae is a legal term for a barrister advising the court in a legal case as a neutral
person, not representing either side. In England and Wales, for example, where the public
interest is concerned, the Attorney General (or his or her representative) may be asked to
express an opinion. Professional bodies such as the Law Society may be represented to
give an opinion on matters affecting their members. In the USA, a person with a strong
interest in or views on the subject matter of an action, but who is not a party to it, may be
given the court's permission to act as amicus curiae, usually only in matters of broad
public interest.

AMNESTY

Amnesty is an act granting forgiveness (literally, forgetfulness) to political and other

offenders.

AMOK
Amok is a Malay term denoting a sudden frenzy that seizes an individual, sometimes
because of intoxicants, but often unaccountably.

AMPHITHEATRE

An amphitheatre is a circular or ovular arena surrounded by tiers of seats.

AMPHORA

An amphora was a Roman two-handled vessel, generally made of clay, used for holding,
wine, oil, honey and the bones or ashes of the dead. The amphora was a Roman unit of
liquid measure containing 48 sectari, equivalent to about six gallons.

AMPHOREUS

The amphoreus was an ancient Greek unit of liquid measure equivalent to about nine
gallons.

ANABAPTIST

The Anabaptists were a 16th century Christian sect, so called because they rejected infant
baptism in reference of adult baptism. They were a fanatical sect led by Nicholas Storck
who intended reorganisation of German society based upon civil and political equality.

ANABAPTISTS

See "Anabaptist"

ANARCHISM

Anarchists (from the Greek word anarchia, meaning nonrule) believe that every form of
government is evil. Towards the end of the last century anarchists assassinated Czar
Alexander of Russia and other political leaders to draw attention to their theories. There
was a strong anarchist movement in Spain during the 1930s.
ANASTEEMAPHILIA

Anasteemaphilia is the preference for sexual partners of a different height to oneself.

ANCIENT LIGHTS

Ancient lights is a legal term for light enjoyed for 20 years or more through a defined
aperture (such as a window) in a building. Under the Prescription Act (1832) the owner of
the building has a right to such light, which may not thereafter be obstructed. Before the
passing of this Act it was very difficult to obtain rights to any light, as the common law
recognises no natural right to light.

ANCIENT MARINER

The Ancient Mariner is a poem by Coleridge, published in 'Lyrical Ballads' in 1798. The
idea appears to have been taken from Captain Shelvocke's ' Voyage Round the World'
published in 1757.

ANDIRON

An andiron (fire-dog) is a metal utensil consisting of two upright and generaly

ornamental pillars set at some distance from each other with a horizontal bar connecting
them. They were originally designed to prop up the extremities of logs of wood while
they were being burnt. Later they were used to support the ends of a spit.

ANGLICANISM

Anglicanism is a family of Christian churches. The family includes the Church of

England, the US Episcopal Church, and those holding the same essential doctrines.
Anglicanism holds the Lambeth Quadrilateral 1888 Holy Scripture as the basis of all
doctrine, the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, and the
historic episcopate.
ANGLO-JAPANESE TREATY

The Anglo-Japanese Treaty was a treaty signed by Great Britain and Japan on January
30th 1902, by which the two powers agreed to safeguard their common interests in China
and Korea. In the event of one of them being at war with a foreign power, the other
would maintain a strict neutrality, but would assist her ally if a second foreign power
joined the first. The treaty also stated that neither party would enter into agreements
without the consent of the other and would confide fully in the other if common interests
were endangered. The treaty was agreed for five years.

ANIMAL TRAINING

Animal training are sex games in which one or more partners, take on the role of an
animal, such as a horse (pony girl) or dog. The 'animal' may imitate animal behaviour,
wearing items such as collars, leads, bridles and so on, or carry out tasks associated with
the animal, such as pulling a vehicle.

ANKER

The anker was a measurement used in Britain and Germany for beer, spirits and the like.
It was equivalent to 8.5 gallons. The Scottish anker contained 20 Scottish pints.

ANNATTO

Annatto is a yellow-red colouring obtained from the Aploppas and used for colouring
foods and by the South American Indians as body paint.

ANOLINCTUS

Anolinctus is the sex act of stimulating the anus with the tongue.

ANOLINGUS

Anolingus is the sex act of inserting the tongue into the anus.

ANSI

ANSI is the American National Standards Institute. The official repository of standards
for the USA.

ANTHRAX KILLER
In September 2001 the USA was attacked by letters containg the phrases 'Death to
America' and 'Death to Israel' infected with anthrax being sent through the post. Five
people died, 18 more were injured, and 35000 were forced to take precautionary
antibiotics. Official reports suggested that the anthrax was released by the Muslim al-
Qaeda terrorist movement, but investigations by forensic scientists at the FBI revealed
that the sender of the poisoned letters was most likely a member of the American CIA,
probably trying to encourage support for President Bush's 'war on terrorism' by spreading
terror and paranoia throughout the western world directed at the more fundamental
Islamic countries. The FBI's conclusion was further proved when on the 17th of June,
2003 the head of the British intelligence service, MI5 Ms Manningham-Buller, warned
that an attack on a Western city was 'only a matter of time', and went on to say 'We are
faced with a realistic possibility of a form of unconventional attack that could include
chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN)'. 'It is only a matter of time before a
crude version of a CBRN is launched on a Western city.' Clearly indicating that to date no
such terrorist attack had taken place, and that the FBI were correct in their finding that
the Anthrax attack had been carried out by a member of the CIA, though suggesting that
he was not a rogue criminal at all.

ANTHROPOPHAGY

Anthropophagy is the scientific term for cannibalism.

ANTHROPOSCOPY

Anthroposcopy is divination by observing facial features.

ANTI-CORN LAW LEAGUE

The Anti-Corn Law League was an organisation formed in 1838 with its headquarters at
Manchester, to effect the repeal of the corn laws in Britain. It was led by Cobden, Bright,
Villiers, Joseph Hume and Roebuck. The league held meetings, oratories and published a
paper (the League) and was an organised, aggressive and effective body. With its
objectives achieved by the royal assent given to repeal the corn laws in 1846 to 1849 the
league was dissolved.

ANTI-RENTISM

Anti-rentism was a movement among the leaseholders of certain counties in New York
State, USA during 1839 to 1847 to resist the feudal dues appertaining to the Dutch
manorial and patroonship rights still remaining, though virtually abolished in 1775. In
1839 the heirs of one of the largest landowners in Albany county tried to evict those
tenants who had not paid the feudal rents. The tenants resisted, the movement spread, ant-
rent associations were formed and disturbances occurred. Repressive measures were
adopted, and the resistance was put down. In 1846 feudal tenures of all kinds were
abolished, and agricultural leases were limited to a maximum period of twelve years.

ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY

The Anti-Vivisection Society was formed in London in 1876 to oppose vivisection.

ANTIPODES

In geography, antipodes are two places precisely opposite one another on the earth, such
as Barfleur in Normandy and Antipodes Island, south-east of New Zealand. At antipodes
the hours and seasons are reversed, so that when it is midnight in summer in Barfleur it is
noon in winter on Antipodes.

ANTON PILLER ORDER

An Anton Piller order is a court injunction ordering the defendant to allow the plaintiff to
enter named premises to search for and take copies of specified articles and documents.
These orders are obtained by the plaintiff 'ex parte' (without the other party being present
in court) to allow him to preserve evidence in cases in which he has grounds to think it
will be destroyed. It is especially useful in 'pirating' cases. The order is not a search
warrant, so entry cannot be forced, but the defendant will be in contempt of court if entry
is refused. A solicitor must serve the order. It is named after an order made in the High
Court in 1976 against Anton Piller KG.

ANVIL

An anvil is a block, usually of metal, smooth above used by metal smiths who hammer
metal into a required shaped on it.

AP

Ap is a Welsh prefix indicating 'son', as ApRobert, son of Robert, now often reduced to
simply Probert.

APAREJO
An aparejo is a kind of American packsaddle made of stuffed leather cushions.

APARTHEID

Apartheid is the policy of racial segregation of people. It was first established in South
Africa in 1948 restricting the rights of non-whites and establishing blacks only
homelands.

APHELION

The aphelion is the point at which an object travelling around the sun in an elliptical orbit
is at its furthest from the sun.

APIARY

An apiary is a shed or stand for bee-hives.

APOLLO ASTEROID

The apollo asteroids are a group of small asteroids whose orbits cross that of the earth.
They were first discovered in 1932 and then lost until 1973.

APOLLO PROJECT

The Apollo Project was the US space project to land a person on the moon. It was
achieved by Apollo 11 in July 1969.

APOSIOPESIS

Aposiopesis is an abrupt breaking away from a sentence and leaving it unfinished for the
sake of greater effect.
APOSTLE SPOONS

Apostle spoons were spoons with figures of the apostles crowning the handles. They were
given as baptismal presents during the 16th and 17th centuries.

APOTEMNOPHILIA

Apotemnophilia is sexual arousal by the thought of losing a limb, or having a body part
surgically removed.

APPELLANT

An appellant is a person or organisation that appeals against the decision of a court. The
party resisting the appeal is called the respondent.

APPLIQUE

Applique is a type of embroidery used to create pictures or patterns by applying pieces of

material to a background fabric.

ARAB LEAGUE
The Arab League (properly the League of Arab States) is a group of Arab states formed in
1945 to promote economic and cultural links and to minimise conflicts between Arab
states. It has its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, and official language of Arabic.

ARAF

Araf is the Muslim purgatory, a raised wall of separation between heaven and hell.

ARBITRATION

Arbitration is the determination of a dispute by an arbitrator or arbitrators rather than by a

court of law. Any civil (i.e. non-criminal) matter may be settled in this way; commercial
contracts often contain arbitration clauses providing for this to be done in a specified
way. If each side appoints its own arbitrator, as is usual, and the arbitrators fail to agree,
the arbitrators are often empowered to appoint an umpire, whose decision is final.
Arbitration is made binding on the parties by the Arbitration Acts (1950 and 1975).
Various industries and chambers of commerce set up tribunals for dealing with disputes
in their particular trade or business.

ARCHIPELAGO

An archipelago is a group of islands.

ARCOS

ARCOS (All Russian Cooperative Society) was a Soviet spy-front posing as the Soviet
Trade Mission in London during the 1920s.

ARCOS RAID

The ARCOS Raid was a three-day search of the All Russian Cooperative Society's
premises in Moorgate, London by 200 police officers in 1927, forming the climax of an
attempt by Assistant Commissioner Wyndham Child of Scotland Yard to outlaw the
Communist Party of Great Britain. The raid was intended to prove the Trade Mission was
involved in espionage by finding marked secret papers which were 'allowed' to go
missing from the War Office. The search failed to find the missing War Office papers.

ARE

The are is a French measurement of one square meter.

ARETE
An arete is a steep angular mountain ridge.

ARIES

Aries is a sign of the zodiac. Represented by the ram.

ARISTOCRACY

Aristocracy is a form of government in which the sovereign power is vested in a small

number of citizens who are theoretically the best qualified to rule, as opposed to
monarchy, in which the supreme authority is vested in one person, and to democracy, in
which the ultimate authority is exercised by the entire body of citizens or their
representatives. In an aristocracy, although the power of government is wielded by a few,
theoretically the administration of government is carried on for the welfare of the many.
Whenever the interests of the people as a whole are made subservient to the selfish
interests of the rulers, aristocracy becomes a form of government known as oligarchy.
Athens, before the period of the Persian wars of the 5th century BC, and Sparta, during
practically its entire history, were aristocracies. The same was true of Rome during the
period of the Republic, lasting from the 6th to the 1st century BC. During the Middle
Ages no true aristocracy existed, for although political power reposed in the hands of a
few, each feudal lord was sole master in his own domain. In England, the government
from the accession of the house of Hannover in 1714 through the 19th century, although
parliamentary in form, was in fact an aristocracy, since king and Parliament alike were
under the control of a few great Whig families.

ARITHMANCY

Arithmancy is divination by numbers.

ARMINIANISM

Arminianism is a doctrine in Christianity, formulated in the 17th century and named after
the Dutch Calvinist Jacobus Arminius, which declares that human free will can exist
without limiting God's power or contradicting the Bible. Arminius believed
predestination was biblical and true - that God had intended some persons for heaven and
others for hell, as indicated by Jesus' reference to ' sheep and goats.' But he focused on
God's love more than on God's power in speaking of election, the process by which God
chose those intended for heaven. After Arminius died, a group of ministers who
sympathised with his views developed a systematic and rational theology based on his
teachings. In their declaration, a remonstrance issued in 1610, the Arminians argued that
election was conditioned by faith, that grace could be rejected, that the work of Christ
was intended for all persons, and that it was possible for believers to fall from grace. At
the Synod of Dort, or Dordrecht, the High Calvinists prevailed over the Arminian party
and condemned the Remonstrants. The Synod of Dort declared that Christ's work was
meant only for those elect to salvation, that people believing could not fall from grace,
and that God's election depended on no conditions. Remonstrants were not tolerated at all
in Holland until 1630, and then not fully until 1795. They have, however, continued an
Arminian tradition in the Netherlands into the late 20th century. The British theologian
John Wesley studied and affirmed the work of Arminius in his Methodist movement
during the 18th century in England. American Methodists for the most part have leaned
toward the theology of the Remonstrants. In popular expression Arminianism has come to
mean that no predestination exists and people are free to follow or reject the gospel.

ARMORY SHOW

The Armory Show was an art exhibition in New York City in 1913 that was the first
major showing of avant-garde works in the USA.

ARRAY

In mathematics, an array is a collection of numbers (or letters representing numbers)

arranged in rows and columns. A matrix is an array shown inside a pair of brackets; it
indicates that the array should be treated as a single entity.

ARROBA

Arroba was a Spanish unit of weight equal to about 25 lbs. It was also used in South and
Central America, where it was equivalent to about 32 lbs.

ARSHIN

Arshin is a Russian unit of measurement equivalent to 28 inches.

ART DECO

Art Deco is the name given to a 1920s and 1930s style of design characterised by
geometrical shapes, stylised natural forms and symmetrical designs. The style was used
for furniture, ornaments, crockery and also architecture.

ART NOUVEAU

Art Nouveau is a name given to a style of design from the 1880s to early 1900s
characterised by the application of sinuous natural forms to objet d'art, costume, and
architecture.

ARTICLED CLERK
Articled clerk is the name given to a trainee solicitor. The Law Society lays down
provisions regulating the training of solicitors. All trainees are now graduates and will
have taken professional examinations. They are then required to be articled to (i.e. to sign
an agreement to learn from) a qualified solicitor for two years before being admitted as
solicitors themselves.

ARTICLES

In English law, articles are summaries in writing of matters as are to be inquired of or

presented before justices in eyre, or justices of assize, or of the peace, in their sessions.

ARTIFICIAL PERSON

An artificial person is a person whose identity is recognised by the law but who is not an
individual. For example, a company is a person in the sense that it can sue and be sued,
hold property, etc. in its own name. It is not, however, an individual or real person.

ARTS AND CRAFTS

Arts and Crafts is a name given to a 19th century style of design inspired by and applied
to everyday objects. The style stressed mediaeval styles and skilled craftsmanship in a
reaction against industrialisation.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday is the first day of lent, the seventh Wednesday before Easter.

ASSIZE OF BATTLE

Assize of Battle was by the old law of England, a means whereby a man charged with
murder might fight with the appellant, thereby to make proof of his guilt or innocence.
The law was struck off the statute book in 1819.

ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political and economic
grouping of the capitalist nations of South East Asia, formed in 1967 and comprising:
Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, and Brunei. The countries are
very diverse. For example the per capita income of Singapore in 1986 was some 12 times
that of Indonesia; interests often diverge accordingly. While committed to strengthening
economic ties, progress has been limited. There has also been political co-operation, for
example over policy towards Indochina. There are regular consultations between ASEAN
and the major industrialised countries.

ASTEROID

An asteroid is a minor planetary body.

ASTON MARTIN DB2

The Aston Martin DB2 was a classic British car first produced in 1950, and then
produced in modified forms until 1959. The Aston Martin DB2 was powered by a 2580 to
2922 cc DOHC straight six engine providing from 107 to 196 bhp and a top speed of
between 185 and 209 kmh, depending upon the variant.

ASTON MARTIN DB5

The Aston Martin DB5 was a British sportscar of the 1960s produced from 1963 to 1965.
The DB5 evolved from the earlier touring DB4, and was immortalised in the James Bond
film 'Goldfinger'. The DB5 was powered by a 3955 cc straight six engine providing 282
bhp and a top speed of 225 kmh.

ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA

The Aston Martin Lagonda was a British, hand-built, four-door car hailed as the 'space
age car' when it was introduced in 1976. It was a variant of the Aston Martin V8 and
featured touch sensitive switches, including the gear change, and electronically controlled
instruments with graphic digital displays controlled by a micro-processor. The
speedometer could be changed from mph to kmh by the touch of a switch. The 5340 CC
engine had eight-cylinders in a V-configuration.

ASTON MARTIN V8

The Aston Martin V8 was a family of British cars produced by the Aston Martin
company between 1969 and 1990. The Aston Martin V8 was powered by a 5340 cc V-
eight engine providing between 340 and 436 bhp and a top speed of 257 kmh. Models
were produced with either a 5-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic transmision.

ASTRAGALOMANCY

Astragalomancy is divination using dice or knuckle bones. It seems to have developed

around the 17th century.

ASTROLATRY

Astrolatry is the worship of celestial objects.

ATENISM

Atenism was a form of sun-worship practised in ancient Egypt around 14 BC.

ATOLL
An atoll is a circular, or horseshoe-shaped coral island surrounding a lagoon with one or
more openings to the sea.

ATTAR

Attar (Otto of Roses) is a perfume which consists of the volatile or essential oil distilled
from certain varieties of rose.

AUCASSIN ET NICOLETTE

Aucassin et Nicolette is a celebrated French romance of the 12th century, written in

alternate prose and assonant verse of seven syllables. It recounts the love of Aucassin, son
of the Count of Beaucaire, for Nicolette, the captive daughter of the king of Carthage.

AUDI A2

The Audi A2 is the world's first mass produced motor-car constructed from aluminium
available in a five door hatchback design with either a 1.4 litre petrol model offering 60
mpg and a 1.4 litre diesel model offering 80 mpg.

AUGER
An auger is an instrument used for boring holes in wood, or other soft substances. It
consists of a wooden or plastic handle and a steel shank terminated in a steel bit at the
bottom.

AUGMENTATION COURT

The augmentation court was a court erected by a statute of Henry VIII, to augment the
revenues of the crown by the suppression of monasteries.

AUGURY

Augury is divination from the behaviour of birds.

AUGUST

The month of august was the sixth month of the Roman calendar and was originally
called Sextilis, by a decree of the senate it received its present name in honour of
Augustus Caesar in 8 BC.

AUNE

See "Ell"

AURORA BOREALIS
Aurora borealis (the Northern lights) is an electrical discharge seen by night over the
higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere.

AUSTIN A90 ATLANTIC

The Austin A90 Atlantic was the first British car designed specifically for the American
market. The Austin A90 Atlantic was produced as a convertible with a power-operated
hood and as a saloon model, from 1948 to 1952. It was powered by a 2660 cc OHV in-
line four engine providing 88 bhp and a top speed of 145 kmh. The Austin A90 Atlantic
could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 16.6 seconds and could achieve a fuel consumption of
25 mpg.

AUSTIN HEALEY 3000

The Austin Healey 3000 was a British motor car produced between 1959 and 1967. The
Austin Healey 3000 was powered by a 6-cylinder 2912 cc engine providing between 124
and 150 bhp and a top speed of between 183 and 193 kmh, depending upon the type, later
types being faster.
AUSTIN HEALEY SPRITE

The Austin Healey Sprite (known as the 'frogete') was a British sportscar produced from
1958 to 1961. The Austin Healey Sprite was powered by a 948 cc in-line four engine
providing 43 bhp and a top speed of 135 kmh, with a fuel consumption of 45 mpg
attainable.

AUTAGONISTOPHILIA

Autagonistophilia is the sexual arousal of being on stage or of performing in front of a

camera.

AUTHORITARIAN

In politics, authoritarian is a term denoting a dictatorial system of government.

AUTO DA FE

Auto da fe (Act of Faith) was the ritual execution of heretics by the Inquisition after a
confession had been extracted. The ceremony always took place on a Sunday, but not at
regular intervals, maybe once every two, three or four years. The victims were walked in
procession wearing the san benito, the coroza, the rope around the neck, and carrying a
yellow wax candle in their hand. The san benito was a penitential tunic of yellow cloth
reaching to the knees and painted on it was a picture of the person who wore it, burning
in flames with figures of dragons and devils in the act of fanning the flames. The costume
indicated to the watching crowds the wearer was to be burned alive as an incorrigible
heretic. If the person was only to do penance, then the san benito had on it a cross, and no
painting or flames. If the victim was converted just before being led out, then the san
benito was painted with the flames downward (known as fuego resuelto) and indicated
that the wearer was not to be burned alive, but to be first strangled before burning. At one
time the san benito were hung up in the churches as monuments to the Inquisition. The
coroza was a pasteboard cap, one meter high, ending in a point. On it were likewise
painted crosses, flames and devils. Gags were kept on hand in case a victim insulted the
tribunal or revealed what had occurred to them as they were led along to the place of
execution where a large scaffold was erected. The stake where the victim was to be
burned varied in form, and was either a simple stake mounted in the ground, or was about
three meters tall, with a small board near the top where the victim sat and was chained to
the stake. Following prayers and attempts to convert the victim to the Roman Catholic
faith, burning furzes were thrust into the face until the victim's face was burned before
furzes around the base of the stake were ignited and the victim burned to death.

AUTOCRACY

Autocracy is absolute rule by one man.

AUTOEROTIC ASPHYXIA

Autoerotic asphyxia is the practice of partial strangulation during sex or masturbation.

AUTONOMY

Autonomy is a word of Greek origin meaning 'self-government'.

AVIARY

An aviary is a building, or a portion of a building, netted off, or a large cage designed for
keeping birds.

AVOIRDUPOIS

The avoirdupois scale is a measurement of weight.

AXILLISM

Axillism is the use of the armpit for sex.

AXINOMANCY
Axinomancy is divination by means of an axe-head. It seems to have developed in the
early 17th century.

AXIS

In geography an axis is the imaginary line running from pole to pole through the centre of
the earth.

AZILIAN

Azilian describes a Palaeolithic culture of Spain and south-west France that can be dated
to the 10th millennium BC. It is characterised by flat bone harpoons and schematically
painted pebbles.

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Updated: 06/03/2004