| associative strength | In psychology, the strength of a stimulus response linkage as measured by the frequency with which a stimulus elicits a particular response. See: conditioning. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| assoilyie | To absolve; to acquit by sentence of court. "God assoilzie him for the sin of bloodshed." (Sir W. Scott) Origin: Old form assoile. See Assoil. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| assortative mating | Selection of a mate with preference for (or aversion to) a particular genotype, i.e., nonrandom mating. Synonym: nonrandom mating. (05 Mar 2000) |
| assortment | In genetics, the relationship between nonallelic genetic traits that are transmitted from parent to child more or less independently in accordance with the degree of linkage between the respective loci. (05 Mar 2000) |
| assumption | 1. The act of assuming, or taking to or upon one's self; the act of taking up or adopting. "The assumption of authority." (Whewell) 2. The act of taking for granted, or supposing a thing without proof; supposition; unwarrantable claim. "This gives no sanction to the unwarrantable assumption that the soul sleeps from the period of death to the resurrection of the body." (Thodey) "That calm assumption of the virtues." (W. Black) 3. The thing supposed; a postulate, or proposition assumed; a supposition. "Hold! says the Stoic; your assumption's wrong." (Dryden) 4. <logic> The minor or second proposition in a categorical syllogism. 5. The taking of a person up into heaven. Hence: A festival in honor of the ascent of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Origin: OE. Assumpcioun a taking up into heaven, L. Assumptio a taking, fr. Assumere: cf. F. Assomption. See Assume. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| assurance | 1. The act of assuring; a declaration tending to inspire full confidence; that which is designed to give confidence. "Whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." (Acts xvii. 31) "Assurances of support came pouring in daily." (Macaulay) 2. The state of being assured; firm persuasion; full confidence or trust; freedom from doubt; certainty. "Let us draw with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience." (Heb. X. 22) 3. Firmness of mind; undoubting, steadiness; intrepidity; courage; confidence; self-reliance. "Brave men meet danger with assurance." (Knolles) "Conversation with the world will give them knowledge and assurance." (Locke) 4. Excess of boldness; impudence; audacity; as, his assurance is intolerable. 5. Betrothal; affiance. 6. Insurance; a contract for the payment of a sum on occasion of a certain event, as loss or death. Recently, assurance has been used, in England, in relation to life contingencies, and insurance in relation to other contingencies. It is called temporary assurance, in the time within which the contingent event must happen is limited. See Insurance. 7. Any written or other legal evidence of the conveyance of property; a conveyance; a deed. In England, the legal evidences of the conveyance of property are called the common assurances of the kingdom. Origin: OE. Assuraunce, F. Assurance, fr. Assurer. See Assure. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| assure | 1. To make sure or certain; to render confident by a promise, declaration, or other evidence. "His promise that thy seed shall bruise our foe . . . Assures me that the bitterness of death Is past, and we shall live." (Milton) 2. To declare to, solemnly; to assert to (any one) with the design of inspiring belief or confidence. "I dare assure thee that no enemy Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus." (Shak) 3. To confirm; to make certain or secure. "And it shall be assured to him." (Lev. Xxvii. 19) "And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him." (1 John III. 19) 4. To affiance; to betroth. 5. To insure; to covenant to indemnify for loss, or to pay a specified sum at death. See Insure. Synonym: To declare, aver, avouch, vouch, assert, asseverate, protest, persuade, convince. Origin: OF. Aseurer, F. Assurer, LL. Assecurare; L. Ad + securus secure, sure, certain. See Secure, Sure, and cf. Insure. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| assurgent | <botany> Ascending; rising obliquely; curving upward. Origin: L. Assurgens, p. Pr. Of assurgere; ad + surgere to rise. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| assyriological | Of or pertaining to Assyriology; as, Assyriological studies. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| assyriologist | One versed in Assyriology; a student of Assyrian archaeology. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |