A.
Acheloüs, n. A river god with whom Hercules wrestled. Like Proteus, Acheloüs could change his shape; he became a serpent and a bull, but Hercules vanquished him nevertheless and tore off his horn, which became the horn of plenty.
Alternate, a. L. alter, another; one following another. Said of leaves standing singly at the nodes of a stem; also of stamens that stand between the petals, and of petals that are placed between the sepals.
Amalthea, n. In Greek mythology, the nurse of Jupiter, probably a goat.
Amœba, n. From a Greek word meaning “change”; the name of one of the lowest forms of life; a bit of living protoplasm capable of existing as a single cell and of changing its form at will.
Ancestors, n. L. antecessor, a foregoer; forefathers; those from whom animals or plants are descended.
Animal cells, n. The cells or minute divisions which make up the animal body.
Animals, n. All living things which are not plants are animals. In the lower forms of life it is impossible to decide whether certain living things are animals or plants.
Anther, n. From a Greek word meaning “flower”; that part of the stamen containing the pollen.
Anther cells, n. The hollow spaces in the anther where the pollen is kept.
Aristocrat, n. From two Greek words meaning “best” and “rule”; one belonging to the best in a community; one among those fit to rule.
Aristocratic, a. Like an aristocrat.
Axil, n. L. axilla, little armpit; the angle formed between the upper side of a leaf and the stem or branch to which it is attached.
Azalea, n. The name of a plant. The “swamp honeysuckle” is not a honeysuckle, but is an azalea.