Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary -- Volume AB

1. A non-nitrogenous starchy food; a starchlike substance.

2. (Med.) The substance deposited in the organs in amyloid degeneration.

Am`y·lol"y·sis (?), n. [Amylum + Gr. ? a loosing.] (Chem.) The conversion of starch into soluble products, as dextrins and sugar, esp. by the action of enzymes.

-- Am`y·lo·lyt"ic (#), a.

Am`y·lo·ly"tic (?), a. [Gr. ? starch + ? solvent; ? to dissolve.] (Physiol.) Effecting the conversion of starch into soluble dextrin and sugar; as, an amylolytic ferment. Foster.

Am`y·lom"e·ter (?), n. [Amylum + -meter.] Instrument for determining the amount of starch in a substance.

Am`y·lo·plas"tic (?), a. [Amylum + -plastic.] Starch-forming; amylogenic.

Am`y·lop"sin (?), n. [Amylum + Gr. ? appearance.] (Physiol. Chem.) The diastase of the pancreatic juice.

Am`y·lose" (?), n. (Chem.) One of the starch group (C₆H₁₀O₅)n of the carbohydrates; as, starch, arabin, dextrin, cellulose, etc.

Am"y·ous (ăm"ĭ·ŭs), a. [Gr. αμυοσ.] (Med.) Wanting in muscle; without flesh.

Am"yss (ăm"ĭs), n. Same as Amice, a hood or cape.

An (ăn). [AS. ān one, the same word as the numeral. See One, and cf. A.] This word is properly an adjective, but is commonly called the indefinite article. It is used before nouns of the singular number only, and signifies one, or any, but somewhat less emphatically. In such expressions as "twice an hour," "once an age," a shilling an ounce (see 2d A, 2), it has a distributive force, and is equivalent to each, every.

An is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound; as, an enemy, an hour. It in also often used before h sounded, when the accent of the word falls on the second syllable; as, an historian, an hyena, an heroic deed. Many writers use a before h in such positions. Anciently an was used before consonants as well as vowels.