Chapter Adrian to Æon of A by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

A donative advowson is where the Crown gives a living to a clergyman without presentation, institution, or induction. This is done when a church or chapel has been founded by the Crown, and is not subject to the ordinary.

Advowson in gross is an advowson separated from the manor, and belonging wholly to the owner. While attached to the manor it is an advowson appendant. "Gross" (French) means absolute, entire; thus gross weight is the entire weight without deductions. A villain in gross was a villain the entire property of his master, and not attached to the land. A common in gross is one which is entirely your own, and which belongs to the manor.

Sale of Advowsons. When lords of manors built churches upon their own demesnes, and endowed them, they became private property, which the lord might give away or even sell, under certain limitations. These livings are called Advowsons appendant, being appended to the manor. After a time they became regular "commercial property," and we still see the sale of some of them in the public journals.

Adytum The Holy of Holies in the Greek and Roman temples, into which the general public were not admitted. (Greek, a-duton = not to be entered; duo, to go.)

Ædiles (2 syl.) Those who, in ancient Rome, had charge of the public buildings (ædes), such as the temples, theatres, baths, aqueducts, sewers, including roads and streets also.

Ægeus (2 syl.) A fabulous king of Athens who gave name to the Ægean Sea. His son, Theseus, went to Crete to deliver Athens from the tribute exacted by Minos. Theseus said, if he succeeded he would hoist a white sail on his home-voyage, as a signal of his safety. This he neglected to do; and Ægeus, who watched the ship from a rock, thinking his son had perished, threw himself into the sea.

This incident has been copied in the tale of Sir Tristram and Ysolde. Sir Tristram being severely wounded in Brittany, sent for Ysolde to come and see him before he died. He told his messenger, if Ysolde consented to come to hoist a white flag. Sir Tristram's wife told him the ship was in sight with a black flag at the helm, whereupon Sir Tristram bowed his head and died. [TRISTRAM.]

Æginetan Sculptures Sculptures excavated by a company of Germans, Danes, and English (1811), in the little island of Ægina. They were purchased by Ludwig, Crown Prince of Bavaria, and are now the most remarkable ornaments of the Glyptothek, at Münich.

Ægir God of the ocean, whose wife is Rana. They had nine daughters, who wore white robes and veils (Scandinavian mythology). These daughters are the billows, etc. The word means "to flow."

Ægis The shield of Jupiter made by Vulcan was so called, and symbolised "Divine protection." The shield of Minerva was called an ægis also. The shield of Jupiter was covered with the skin of the goat Amalthæa, and the Greek for goat is, in the genitive case, aigos. The ægis made by Vulcan was of brass.

I throw my ægis over you, I give you my protection.

Ægrotat To sport an ægrotat. In university parlance, an ægrotat is a medical certificate of indisposition to exempt the bearer from attending chapel and college lectures.

A E I (A - i), a common motto on jewellery, means "for ever and for aye." (Greek.)

Ælurus The cat. An Egyptian deity held in the greatest veneration. Herodotus (ii. 66) tells us that Diana, to avoid being molested by the giants, changed herself into a cat. The deity used to be represented with a cat's head on a human body. (Greek, ailouros. a cat.)

Æmillian Law Made by Æmilius Mamercus the prætor. It enjoined that the oldest priest should drive a nail every year into the capitol on the ides of September (September 5).

Æmonia Æmonian (HÆMONIA HÆMONIAN).

Æneas