Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 1

ACAS'TO (Lord), father of Seri'no, Casta'lio, and Polydore; and guardian of Monimia "the orphan." He lived to see the death of his sons and his ward. Polydore ran on his brother's sword, Castalio stabbed himself, and Monimia took poison.--Otway, The Orphan (1680).

ACES'TES (3 syl.). In a trial of skill, Acestes, the Sicilian, discharged his arrow with such force that it took fire from the friction of the air.--The Æneid, Bk. V.

Like Acestes' shaft of old, The swift thought kindles as it flies.

Longfellow, To a Child.

ACHATES [A-ka'-teze], called by Virgil "fidus Achates." The name has become a synonym for a bosom friend, a crony, but is generally used laughingly.--The Æneid.

He, like Achates, faithful to the tomb.

Byron, Don Juan, i. 159.

ACHER'IA, the fox, went partnership with a bear in a bowl of: milk. Before the bear arrived, the fox skimmed off the cream and d