ASBESTUS; ASBESTOS As*bes"tus, As*bes"tos, n. Etym: [L. asbestos (NL. asbestus) a kind of mineral unaffected by fire, Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of amphibole or of pyroxene, occurring in long and delicate fibers, or in fibrous masses or seams, usually of a white, gray, or green-gray color. The name is also given to a similar variety of serpentine.
Note: The finer varieties have been wrought into gloves and cloth which are incombustible. The cloth was formerly used as a shroud for dead bodies, and has been recommended for firemen's clothes. Asbestus in also employed in the manufacture of iron safes, for fireproof roofing, and for lampwicks. Some varieties are called amianthus. Dana.
ASBOLIN
As"bo*lin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A peculiar acrid and bitter oil, obtained from wood soot.
ASCARIASIS
As`ca*ri"a*sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. an intestinal worm.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease, usually accompanied by colicky pains and diarrhea, caused by the presence of ascarids in the gastrointestinal canal.
ASCARID
As"ca*rid, n.; pl. Ascarides or Ascarids. Etym: [NL. ascaris, fr. Gr.
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A parasitic nematoid worm, espec. the roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, often occurring in the human intestine and allied species found in domestic animals; also commonly applied to the pinworm (Oxyuris), often troublesome to children and aged persons.
ASCEND
As*cend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ascended; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascending.]
Etym: [L. ascendere; ad + scandere to climb, mount. See Scan.]