Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Supplement, Volume 1.djvu/63

 A F R

A G A

Affirmation is of divers kinds, tacit, by words, by a nod,

or gefture, &c.

In a civil Jaw fenfe, affirmation may be divided into fiimple,

which is that from which no obligation arifes ; and qualified,

which infers an obligation.

The requifites of this latter are, that it be, lmo. deliberate

and free ; ido. fincere ; ^tio. certain and fpecific ; \to. clear

and perfpicuous. V. Pagenjlecher, Diff. de Obligat. Affirm.

Nov. Liter. Germ. 1705. p. 22. feq. AFFIX, in grammar, a particle added at the beginning of a

word, either to diverfify its form, or alter its fignification.

The word is Latin, affixus, compounded of ad and figo, I fix.

In which fenfe, affix amounts to much the fame with prefix,

and ftands oppofed to fuffflx.

We meet with affixes in the Saxon, the German, and other northern languages ; but more efpecially in the Hebrew, and other oriental tongues.

Wachter gives a lift of feventy-five affixes in the German language, of various lengths, from a fingle letter to two fyllables, in Gloff. Germ. ap. Jour, des Scav. T. 86.

P- 2 73'.

The oriental languages are much the fame as to the radicals ; and differ chiefly from each other as to affixes and /affixes. Mem. Acad. Infcrip. T. 9. p. 334.

The Hebrew Affixes are fingle fyllables, frequently fingle let- ters, prefixed to nouns and verbs, inftead of pronouns poffefiive; and contribute not a little to the brevity of that language. Mem. de Trev. 1705. p. 1842.

AFFLATUS literally denotes a blaft of wind, breath, or va- pour, ftriking with force againft another body. The word is Latin, formed from ad -.miifiare, to blow. Naturalifts fometimes fpeaks of the Afflatus of ferpents. Tully ufes the word figuratively, for a divine infpiration. In which fenfe, he afcribes all great and eminent accomplifh- ments to a divine Afflatus.

The Pythian prieftefs being placed on a tripod, or perforated ffool, over a hollow cave, received the divine Afflatus, as a late author expreffes it, in her belly ; and being thus in- fpired, fell into agitations, like a phrenetic ; during which, file pronounced, in hollow groans, and broken fentences, the will of the deity. Mackenz. Scott. Writ. T. 2. p. 480. This Afflatus is fuppofed, by fome, to have been a fubterra- neous fume, or exhalation, wherewith the prieftefs was lite- rally infpired. Accordingly, it had the effefis of a real phyfi- cal difeafe j the paroxyfm of which was fo vehement, that Plutarch obfetves it fometimes proved mortal. VjuT Dale thinks this indecent attitude of the Pythia to be a fable, invented by Origen, and others of the firft Chriftians. Van Dale himfelf fuppofes the pretended enthufiafm of the Pythia to have arifen from the fumes of aromatics. V. Mem. Acad. Infer. T. 4. p. 212. feq. where M. Hardion oppofes Van Dale.

AFFORCEMENT, Afforciamentum, in fome antient charters, denotes a fortrefs, or work of fortification and De- fence. DuCange, Gloff. Lat. T. 1. p. 102. Prin. Animad. on Cok. p. 184. Blount, Law Diet. See F'ortress, Defence, &c. Cycl.

The word is derived from the barbarous Latin, afforeiare, to ftrengthen, confirm. V. Brad. 1. 4. Tr. 1. c. 19. Du Cange, loc. cit.

Whence alfo afforciatus, is ufed for thickened, made clofer and firmer, in fpeaking of cloth. Du Cange, loc. cit. In an antient chartulary, we find Afflorclamentum curia ufed for the calling or fummoning of a court, on fome folemn or ex- traordinary occafion. Blount, lib. cit,

AIFUIAGE, Affuiacium, in antient cuftoms, a right of cutting fewel-wood in a foreft, or the like, for maintaining famdy fire. Du Cange, Gloff. Lat. T. 1. p. 101. in voc. Affiuare.

The word is derived from affoer, a. d. affocare, to make a fire, of ad zni focus.

AFFUSION, the aft of pouring fome fluid fiibftance on an- other body.

Dr. Grew gives feveral experiments of the luflation arifmg from the Affufion of divers menftruums on all forts of bodies. V. Grew, Difc. of Mixt. Left. 2. p. 238. Divines and church hiftorians fpeak of baptifm by affufion ; which amounts to much the fame with what we now call fprinkling. See Baptism.

AFOBA, in botany, a name given, by the natives of Guinea, to a kind of plant, of the genus of the phafeolus, or kidney- bean. They ufe it pounded and mixed with oil, to cure the itch, and other cutaneous foulnelTes. \t is more hairy than the common kinds, and its leaves are very fmail. Philof. Tranf. N°. 232.

AFRA avis, in natural hiftory. See Pintado.

AFRICANISM, the ftyle, or manner, of writing peculiar to African writers.

We fay the Africanifm of Tertullian, of St. Auguftin, &c. 1 he charaaers of Africanifm are heat, tumidity, exaggera- tion, violent figures, declamatory airs, &c. Some take Ter- tulhan's reprefentation of the multitudes, ftrength, and im- portance of the Chriftians in his time, which he makes to be

equal or fupcrior to that of the heathens », for an Africamfm *. ' —I'. Tertu '> ■ Apolog. c. 37. " V. Moyle, Lett, on Thund. Legion. Bibl. Angl. T. 14. p. 536.] AFTER-hirth, (Cycl.)— Authors fpeak of a ftrange kind of After- birth, of the mole kind, frequent among Dutch women, where it is called fnyger, q. d. leech, by naturalifts mola vo- latile. The fkeleton of one of thefc is reprefented by Tho- mas Bartholine. V. Ephem. Germ. dec. 1. an, 2. obf. 160. p. 255. feq.

The After-birth of ripe children are brought away more cafily than tfiofe of abortions. See fome reafons for this in Medic. Eft". Edinb. Vol. 2. p. 239.

After-hot?;, the latter half of the attif.cial day, or that fpace between noon and night.

The antient Romans dedicated their Afternoons to diverfion, as their forenoons to bufinefs. The former were referved for pleafure, and the enjoyment of life. But though it was the rule not to take any part of the Afternoon for bufinefs, nor any of the forenoon for pleafure, yet fome few of the more laborious magiftrates made it a cuftom to continue their oc- cupation to the tenth hour, anfwering to our four o'clock, as is related of Afinius Polio ; but after that time, he would not fo much as open a letter, from whatever quarter it came. This we have from Cicero. Cato, for all his feverity and application, would not break in upon his Afternoon's eafe, even in his pranorfhip. Plutarch refutes it, as a reproach which fome had fattened on his memory, that he had kept on the bench in the Afternoon.

1 he ufual dirafions in which the Romans fpent their After- noons, were at the game called pila, and other exercifes cf the body, efpecially walking, or riding. Thefe lafted till the eighth or ninth hour, anfwering to our three o'clock ; which wafthe time for the baths. After bathing, they anointed and per- fumed themfelves ; and, about the tenth hour, went to casna, fupper, about three hours before fun-fet : which done, the day was ended at the public fpeaacles, theatrical, or amphi- theatrical fports ; with mufic, tinging, and the like. Vid, Couture, de la Vie Priv. des Rom. Mem. Acad. Infcrip. T. 2. p. 405. Mem. de Trev. 1709. p. 1418.

A-pt ER-fwarms, in fpeaking of bees, are fecondary or pofterioc fwarms, frequently found to quit the hives within a fortnight after the firft.

Butler tells us, that the After-fwarms differ from the. prime, in that the latter are directed by the vulgar, or crowd of bees, whole only rule is the fulnefs of the hive ; whereas the former are appointed by the ruling bees, and indicated by a noife, or call, which thefe make for the fpace of two or three days, as it were to give warning to the common herd to prepare for a march. Within eight or ten days after the prime-fwarm is gone, if the princefs next in order find a competent number fledged and ready, fhe begins to tune her treble voice, in a mournful and begging note, as if fhe prayed the queen-mother to let them go ; to which voice, if fhe vouchfafe a reply, by tuning her bafe to the others treble, it marks her content : in confequence of which, within a day or two after, if the weather allow, the new fwarm appears. If the prime fwarm be broken, the after will both call and fwarm the fooner, perhaps the next day ; in which a third, fometimes a fourth, fucceeds in the fame feafon ; but all ufually within a fortnight after the prime fwarm. V. Butler, Hiff. Bees, c. 5. n. 26. p. 75. feq.

AF TO, in botany, a name given, by the natives of Guinea, to a plant of the eryfimum kind, which they grind to powder, and take as fnuff, to cure the head-ach. Petiver has called this plant the woody and woolly eryfimum, or hedge-muftard of the coafts of Guinea. Phil. Tranf. N°. 232.

AGA, {Cycl.) — The Aga of the janizaries is an officer of great importance. He is the only perfon who is allowed to appear before the grand fignor without his arms acrofs his breaft in the pofture of a flave.

Eunuchs at Conftantinople are in poffeffion of moft of the principal pofts of the feraglio. The title Aga is given to them all, whether in employment, or out. Herbel. Bibl. Orient, p. 67. See alfo Aquin. Lex. Milit. T. 1. p. 27. Trev. Dift. Univ. T. 1. p. 190. Moreri, Dia. Hift. T. 1. p. 50,

We find alfo Aga's in other countries.' The chief officers under the Khan of Tartary are called by this name. And among the Algerines we read of Aga's chofen from among the loluk bafhi's, (the firft rank of military officers) and fent to govern in chief the towns and garrifons of that ftate. Mem. deMiff. T. 1. p. 118.

The Aga of Algiers is the prefident of the divan, or fenate. For fome years the Aga was the fupreme officer, and go- verned the ftate in the place of bafhaw, whofe power dwin- dled to a fhadow. But the foldiery rifing againft the boluk bachi's, or Aga's, maffacred moft of them, and transferred the fovereign power to the calif, with the title of Dey, or king. Mem. de Trev. Sept. an. 1703. p. 1597. feq.

AGALLOCHUM, a medicinal wood imported from the Eaft- Indies, ufually in fmall bits, of a very fragrant fcent. The word is Greek, nyux^^u, from the vetb t«7*Mi«fi»i, I exult, or boaft ; in allufion to the excellency of its odour.

Acai.-