Defn: Solely; only. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
ALLER
Al"ler, a. Etym: [For ealra, the AS. gen. pl. of eal all.]
Defn: Same as Alder, of all. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALLERION Al*le"ri*on, n. Etym: [F. alérion, LL. alario a sort of eagle; of uncertain origin.] (Her.)
Defn: Am eagle without beak or feet, with expanded wings. Burke.
ALLEVIATE
Al*le"vi*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alleviated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Alleviating.] Etym: [LL. alleviare, fr. L. ad + levis light. See
Alegge, Levity.]
1. To lighten or lessen the force or weight of. [Obs.] Should no others join capable to alleviate the expense. Evelyn. Those large bladders . . . conduce much to the alleviating of the body [of flying birds]. Ray.
2. To lighten or lessen (physical or mental troubles); to mitigate, or make easier to be endured; as, to alleviate sorrow, pain, care, etc. ; — opposed to aggravate. The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is much alleviated by giving the use of letters. Bp. Horsley.
3. To extenuate; to palliate. [R.] He alleviates his fault by an excuse. Johnson.
Syn. — To lessen; diminish; soften; mitigate; assuage; abate; relieve; nullify; allay. — To Alleviate, Mitigate, Assuage, Allay. These words have in common the idea of relief from some painful state; and being all figurative, they differ in their application, according to the image under which this idea is presented. Alleviate supposes a load which is lightened or taken off; as, to alleviate one's cares. Mitigate supposes something fierce which is made mild; as, to mitigate one's anguish. Assuage supposes something violent which is quieted; as, to assuage one's sorrow. Allay supposes something previously excited, but now brought down; as, to allay one's suffering or one's thirst. To alleviate the distresses of life; to mitigate the fierceness of passion or the violence of grief; to assuage angry feeling; to allay wounded sensibility.