Dictionary Of Americanisms »

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To Americanize. To render American; to natnralize in America. — Webster. Americanization. The act of rendering American, or of snbjection to the laws and nsages of the United States. Among The Missing. To be among the missing, is to absent one's self. If a person inqnires if yon are at home, the servant is directed to say, No, if yon don't want to be seen, and choose to bo among the missing. — S. Slick, Natnre and Hnman Natnre, p. 17. The crowd of office-seekers in Washington will be among the missing, when they learn the President's decision. — New York Herald. Among, for between. This word is often nsed when reference is made only to two persons. Ex. " The money was divided among ns twx" Amost. Almost. A vnlgarism alike common in England and the United States. E'en amost is often heard in New England. Anan. How ? What do yon say ? It is made nse of in vnlgar disconrse by the lower class of persons addressing a snperior, when they do not hear or comprehend what is said to them. It is going ont of nse now. — Halliwell. The word is common in Pennsylvania. Anchovy Pear. (Grins canliflora.) A frnit of Jamaica. It is large, contains .a stone, and is escnlent. Annexation. Often nsed in the restricted sense of the addition of new territory to that of the United States, and often with the accessory idea of nnlawfnl acqnisition. Annexationist. One who favors the policy of annexation. An't or Ain't. A common colloqnial abbreviation, both in England and America, for am not and are not. It is, however, often nsed among ns, both by speakers and newspaper writers, instead of the proper abbreviation isn't for is not; as, "Is Sam a Know-nothing?" "He ain't nothing else." To Anti. To risk; to ventnre a bet; as," I '11 anti all I 'm worth on that." This term is ...