Single-source entries: A (18)

Agapis

This is a yellow stone, so called because it promotes love or charity. It cures stings and venomous bites, by being dipped in water and rubbed over the wound.

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Agares

According to Wierius (q.v.) Grand Duke of the eastern region of Hades. He is shown under the form of a benevolent lord mounted on a crocodile, and carrying a hawk on his fist. The army he protects in battle is indeed fortunate, for he disperses their enemies, and puts new courage into the hearts of the cowards who fly before superior numbers. He distributes place and power, titles and prelacies, teaches all languages, and has other equally remarkable powers. Thirty-one legions are under his command.

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Agaricus

a genus of plants, the typical one of the fungus or mushroom family, consisting of species which possesses a fleshy pileus or cap, with a number of nearly parallel or radiating plates or gills on its lower side, bearing spores, the whole being supported upon a more or less lengthened stalk. More than 1,000 species are known. They may be separated into five natural divisions according as the color of the spores is white, pink, ferruginous, purple-brown, or black. There are many sub-genera. Some species are poisonous. See MUSHROOM.

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Agasias

of Ephesus, a Greek sculptor who flourished about 400 B. C. The celebrated statue in the Louvre Museum, called " The Gladiator, " is his work.

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Agate, or Achates

Good against the biting of scorpions or serpents, soothes the mind, drives away contagious air, and puts a stop to thunder and lightning. It is said also to dispose to solitude, promote eloquence, and secure the favour of princes. It gives victory over their enemies to those who wear it.

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Agathion

A familiar spirit which appears only at mid-day. It takes the shape of a man or a beast, or even encloses itself in a talisman, bottle, or magic ring.

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Agathodemon

A good demon, worshipped by the Egyptians under the shape of a serpent with a human head. The dragons or flying serpents venerated by the ancients were also called Agathodemons, or good genies. Agrippa

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Agen

a town of France, capital of the department of Lot-et-Garonne, on the right bank of the Garonne, on the railway from Bordeaux to Toulouse. Its situation, though rather unhealthy, makes it the entrepôt of the commerce between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The town is very ancient, seat of a bishop, and possesses a cathedral dating back to the 6th century. Pop. about 25,000.

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Agent

in law, one person who acts for another, called the principal. If a person acts as agent without authority, the subsequent ratification of the act will make it binding on the principal just as if he had originally directed it. When an agent acts within the scope of his employment, he may bind his principal, and the principal is liable for any fraudulent acts or wrong-doings of the agent so acting. If the agent, having pover to bind his principal, does so expressly, he is not liable; but if he exceeds his authority, he becomes personally responsible. Upon the law of agency is based, to a large degree, the law of partnership.

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Agesander

a famous sculptor of Rhodes, who, in the time of Vespasian, made a representation of the Laocoon's history, which now passes for the finest relic of all ancient sculpture. The Laocoon was discovered at Rome in 1506, and afterward deposited in the Farnese palace, where it still remains.

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Agglutination

The act of uniting, by means of some viscous substance, as glue, molasses, etc., which causes an adhesion or sticking together of parts or particles which of themselves have no adhesiveness. Silica-sand with molasses; the various free-sands for cores with glue, flour, rosin, etc., are familiar examples of agglutinants, and their usefulness in foundry practice. See CORE-SAND; FLOUR; GLUE.

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Agla

A kabalistic word used by the rabbis for the exorcisms of the evil spirit. It is made up of the initial letters of the Hebrew words, Athah gabor leolam, Adonai , meaning, “ Thou art powerful and eternal, Lord." Not only among the Jews was this word employed, but among the more superstitious Christians it was a favourite weapon with which to combat the evil one, even so late as the sixteenth century. It is also to be found in many books on magic, notably in the Enchiridion of Pope Leo III.

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Agnes

ST. or more. The battle lasted three hours, and was a signal victory for the English, due mainly to the archers. As many as 10,000 Frenchmen are said to have fallen. The English lost 1,600 killed.

ST., a holy woman, who suffered martyrdom in the reign of the Emperor Diocletian. Her emblem is a lamb, and her calendar day Jan. 21.

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Agno

an important river in the N. W. part of Luzon, Philippine Islands. It is about 125 miles in length, describing a circuitous course, parallel with a range of coast mountains, and emptying into Lingayen Gulf.

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Agnosticism

a school of thought which believes that, beyond what man can know by his senses or feel by his higher affections, nothing can be known. Facts, or, supposed facts, both of the lower and the higher life, are accepted, but all inferences deduced from these facts as to the existence of an unseen world, or of beings higher than man, are considered unsatisfactory, and are ignored.

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Agnus Dei

in ecclesiastical affairs, the figure of a lamb bearing a cross. The emblem is symbolical of the Saviour, the Lamb of God, a sacrifice offered for the redemption of a guilty world. The medieval sculptors used the emblem freely in their designs. The small cake made with the wax of Easter candles, and imprinted with this figure, is known as an Agnus Dei. The popes used to bless these cakes and distribute them freely on the Sunday after Easter. In later days of the church, however, the pope sends an Agnus Dei only to prominent ecclesiastics and this only on the occasion of his election and every seven years thereafter. The gift of a papal Agnus Dei is considered an honor. An anthem introduced into the Catholic Missal about 700 is called Agnus Dei. It is a paraphrase of John i:29. It takes its name from the opening Latin words which signify "O, Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, have pity on us." This anthem has a prominent part in the celebration of mass.

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