Chapter Agla to Air one's opinions of A by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Agla to Air one's opinions

Agla A cabalistic name of God, formed from the initial letters of Attâh, Gibbor, Leholâm, Adonâi (Thou art strong for ever, O Lord !). (See Notarica.)

Aglaos The poorest man in Arcadia, pronounced by Apollo to be far happier than Gyges, because he was "contented with his lot."

"Poor and content is rich and rich enough;
But riches endless are as poor as winter
To him who ever fears he shall be poor."
Shakespeare: Othello iii. 3.

Agnes She is an Agnes (elle fait l'Agnès) - i.e., she is a sort of female "Verdant Green," who is so unsophisticated that she does not even know what love means. It is a character in Molière's L'école des Femmes.

Agnes (St.) is represented by Domenichino as kneeling on a pile of fagots, the fire extinguished, and the executioner about to slay her with the sword. The introduction of a lamb (agnus) is a modern innovation, and play on the name. St. Agnes is the patron of young virgins.

"St. Agnes was first tied to a stake, but the fire of the stakes went out; whereupon Aspasius, set to watch the martyrdom, drew his sword, and cut off her head."

Agnes' Day (St.), 21st January. Upon St. Agnes' night, you take a row of pins, and pull out every one, one after another. Saying a pater-noster, stick a pin in your sleeve, and you will dream of him or her you shall marry. - Aubrey: Miscellany, p. 136.

Agnoites (3 syl.) Ag-no-ites, or Ag-no-i-tæ (4 syl.).

(1) Certain heretics in the fourth century who said "God did not know everything."

(2) Another sect, in the sixth century, who maintained that Christ "did not know the time of the day of judgment."

Agnostic (An). A term invented by Prof. Huxley in 1885 to indicate the mental attitude of those who withhold their assent to whatever is incapable of proof, such as the absolute. In regard to miracles and revelation, agnostics neither dogmatically accept nor reject such matters, but simply say Agnosco - I do not know - they are not capable of proof.

Agnus-castus A shrub of the Vitex tribe, called agnos (chaste) by the Greeks, because the Athenian ladies, at the feast of Ceres, used to strew their couches with vitex leaves, as a palladium of chastity. The monks, mistaking agnos (chaste) for agnus (a lamb), but knowing the use made of the plant, added castus to explain its character, making it chaste-lamb. (For another similar blunder, see I.H.S.)

Agnus Dei A cake of wax or dough stamped with the figure of a lamb supporting the banner of the Cross, and distributed by the Pope on the Sunday after Easter as an amulet. Our Lord is called Agnus Dei (the Lamb of God). There is also a prayer so called, because it begins with the words, Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi (O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world).

Agog He is all agog, in nervous anxiety; on the qui vive, like a horse in clover. (French, à gogo, or vivre à gogo, to live in clover.)

Agonistes (4 syl.). Samson Agonistes (the title of Milton's drama) means Samson wrestling with adversity - Samson combating with trouble. (Greek, agonizomai, to combat, to struggle.)

Agonistics A branch of the Donatists of Africa who roamed from town to town affirming they were ministers of justice. The Greek agon (an assembly) = the Latin nundinæ, days when the law-courts were opened, that country people might go and get their law-suits settled.