Chapter Appetiser to Aranza of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Araf (Al), a sort of limbo between paradise and jehennam, for those who die without sufficient merit to deserve the former, and without sufficient demerit to be confined in the latter. Here idiots, lunatics, and infants go at death, according to the Koran.

Arafat (Mount), a granite hill 15 miles south-east of Mecca, where Adam (conducted by Gabriel) met Eve, after a punitive separation of 200 years. Every pilgrim to this mount enjoys the privilege of a Hadji.

A Hadji is one who has performed his Hadj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.

Aragnol, the son of Arachnê (q.v.). He entertained a secret and deadly hatred against prince Clarion, son of Muscarol, the fly-king. And, weaving a curious net; he soon caught the gay young flutterer, and gave him his death-wound by piercing him under the left wing.—Spenser: Muiopotmos, or The Butterfly’s Fate (1590).

Aram (Eugene, 2 syl), a romance by Lytton Bulwer (lord Lytton), founded on the story of a Knaresborough schoolmaster, who (under very peculiar circumstances) committed a murder. He is described as a learned man, of kindly disposition, and blameless life. The murder so haunted him that he committed suicide.

Thomas Hood has told the story in verse, and W. G. Wills has dramatized it.

Araminta, the wife of Moneytrap, and friend of Clarissa (wife of Gripe the scrivener).—Sir John Vanbrugh: The Confederacy (1695).

Aranza (The duke of). He married Juliana, elder daughter of Balthazar. She was so haughty, arrogant, and overbearing, that, after the marriage, Aranza took her to a mean hut, which he called his home, and pretended that he was only a peasant, who had to work for his living, and expected his bride to perform the household duties. Juliana chafed for a time, but firmness, manliness, and affection won the day; and when the duke saw that she really loved him for himself, he led her to his castle and revealed to her his proper station.—J. Tobin: The Honeymoon (1804).

Of course, this is only a réchauffé of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.