Hire arraye me ravysshed . such ricchesse saw I nevere;
I had wondre what she was . and whas wyf she were.
Alliteration was known to the Latin authors: "O Tite tute, Tati, tibi tanta, tyranne tulisti" (Ennius). In the hands of some English poets and prose writers of later times alliteration became a mere conceit. It is still employed in Icelandic and Finnish poetry. So far has alliteration sometimes been carried that long compositions have been written every word of which commenced with the same letter. It may also be employed in the middle of words: "Un frais parfum sortait des touffes d'asfodile" (Victor Hugo).
Al′lium, a genus of plants, ord. Liliaceæ;, containing numerous well-known species of pot-herbs. They are umbelliferous, and mostly perennial, herbaceous plants, but a few are biennial. Among them are garlic (A. satīvum), onion (A. Cepa), leek (A. Porrum), chives (A. Schœnoprăsum), shallot (A. ascalonĭcum). The peculiar alliaceous flavour that belongs to them is well known.
Al′loa, a river port of Scotland, on the north bank of the Forth (where there is now a bridge), 7 miles from Stirling, county of Clackmannan. It carries on brewing, distilling, and shipbuilding; has manufactures of woollens, bottles, &c., and a shipping trade. Pop. (1921), 12,421.
Allocu′tion, an address, a term particularly applied to certain addresses on important occasions made by the Pope to the cardinals, and through them to the Church in general.
Allo′dium (probably derived from all and odh, property), land held in one's own right, without any feudal obligation to a superior or lord. In England, according to the theory of the British constitution, all land is held of the crown (by feudal tenure); the word allodial is, therefore, never applied to landed property there.
Allogamy (from the Gr. allos, other, and gamos, wedding), meaning the transfer of the pollen of one flower to the pistil of another. The opposite of allogamy is autogamy, or self-pollination.
Allophane, a hydrous aluminium silicate, with the composition Al2SiO5 + 5H2O, forming crusts in the cavities of various rocks and commonly of a delicate blue colour.