Æolian Harp. A lute placed in the trees for the zephyrs to play upon, so called after Æolus, the god of the winds.
Æsculapius. The generic term for a physician, after the one of this name mentioned by Homer, who was afterwards deified in the Greek mythology.
Afghanistan. Pursuant to the Persian stan, the country of the Afghans.
Africa. From the Phœnician afer, a black man, and the Sanskrit ac, earth, land, country. This great continent is the natural home of the blacks--the negroes of North America and the West Indian Islands being descended from the slaves carried thither from the west coast of Africa since the time of the original slave trader, Sir John Hawkins, in 1562.
Agapæ. Love feasts of the Romans, from the Greek agape, love.
Agapemonites. An old term which has newly come into vogue in our day. Agapemone is Greek for “abode of love.” There was such a retreat early in the nineteenth century at Charlynch, Somerset, the seat of the Agapemonists or Agapemonites, followers of Henry James Prince, an ex-Churchman.
Agar Street. After William Agar, a wealthy lawyer, who resided in it. See “[Agar Town].”
Agar Town. A now vanished district covered by St Pancras Railway Station, the lease of which was acquired by William Agar in 1840 for building purposes.
Agate. From Achates, the Greek name of a Sicilian river, in the bed of which this gem was found in abundance.
Agnostic. From the Greek a, without, and gnomi, to know. One who professes a belief only in what he knows or can discover for himself. Literally a “know-nothing.”