#gloss

• Anchusa — A genus of herbaceous plants in the family Boraginaceae, commonly known as bugloss or alkanet. It includes numerous annual, biennial, or perennial species native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, notable for the stiff hairs covering their stems and leaves, and flowers grouped in scorpioid cymes, featuring an intense azure-blue, purple, or white color.
• Anchusa barrelieri — A perennial species of herbaceous plant in the genus Anchusa, commonly known as Barrelier's bugloss. It is native to Southern and Eastern Europe, characterized by erect, stiff stems, branched at the top, and small, bright blue flowers with a yellow or white center, resembling forget-me-nots, arranged in dense inflorescences.
• Anchusa capensis — A species of annual or biennial herbaceous plant in the genus Anchusa, native to South Africa and commonly known as Cape bugloss. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant due to its intense cobalt or azure-blue flowers, arranged in dense cymes, and its high tolerance to drought and poor soils.
• Anchusa italica — A perennial species of herbaceous plant in the genus Anchusa, often considered synonymous with Anchusa azurea, commonly known as Italian bugloss. It is a tall, vigorous plant native to the Mediterranean region, covered with coarse, stiff hairs, and widely cultivated for its large, branching cymes of spectacular azure-blue flowers.
• Kedge anchor — A small and lightweight anchor, usually equipped with four prongs (claws), used on board light watercraft, launches, or lifeboats for temporary fastening. On large vessels, this technical device is utilized as a secondary maneuvering anchor, serving to veer or change the ship's orientation in restricted port spaces by means of a towline.
• Antebrachial — Belonging to the forearm, relating to the forearm; the anatomical segment located between the elbow joint and the wrist joint. In medical and surgical terminology, it describes the bone structures (radius and ulna), muscle bundles, blood vessels, or nerve branches that serve this specific region of the upper limb.
• Antichresis — A convention or real security contract (specific to old civil law and commercial law) whereby a debtor yields the use and possession of an immovable (or movable) property to their creditor, allowing them to retain the fruits, rents, or revenues generated by the asset to cover interest or partially or fully extinguish the principal debt.
• Antidepressive — Combating depression, eliminating states of anxiety, and regulating altered psychic tone; currently used as a noun to designate a medication intended for treating major or minor depressive episodes. It acts structurally at the level of brain receptors to alleviate feelings of hopelessness, chronic mental fatigue, and emotional lability.
• Antituberculosis — Preventing, combating, curing, or acting directly against tuberculosis; a specific antibiotic or chemotherapeutic agent (such as isoniazid, rifampicin, or pyrazinamide) used to destroy or halt the replication of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium (Koch's bacillus) in the body.
• Aphelandra nitens — An exotic plant species in the genus Aphelandra, native to the tropical jungles of Colombia. It is highly renowned in horticulture due to its spectacular leaves, which feature a leathery texture and an intense metallic gloss, deep bronze-green on the upper surface and rich purple underneath, complemented by a fiery red inflorescence.
• Textile finishing — The totality of chemical or mechanical technological operations executed in the final stage of textile production to provide fabrics with the desired commercial appearance, enhanced durability, and superior tactile qualities. This structural process includes sizing, calendering, shearing, or applying waterproofing treatments.
• Female starcher — A skilled female worker in a textile or garment factory who executes the operations of starching, sizing, and finishing fabrics or clothing components. As an adjective, it represents the feminine plural form of the word 'apretor', defining industrial substances, machinery, or installations designed for stiffening, impregnating, or final processing of yarns and materials.
• Fierceness — The quality, trait, or state of being fierce; harshness, violence, doughtiness, fiery nature, or overwhelming intensity of a physical or mental manifestation. It represents an abstract concept used in poetic prose or classical texts to shade the untamed force of a character, conflict, or natural phenomenon.
• Arcading — A decorative or structural element consisting of a row of small arches, either blind or open, supported by small columns, corbels, or pilasters, frequently used in medieval Romanesque and Gothic architecture to ornament and rhythm the facades or exterior friezes of monumental buildings. This linear assembly provides a distinct geometric relief and contributes to the aesthetic articulation of massive masonry.
• Archibombardon — A rare, historical, or experimental name attributed to an oversized variant of the bombardon or bass tuba, structurally designed to emit extremely low sounds (sub-contrabass) in large military bands or brass ensembles from the late 19th century. This massive brass instrument had the role of providing the deep acoustic foundation for the entire wind section.
• Archivolt — A decorative element or prominent ornamental molding that frames and emphasizes the exterior face of an arch or a vault along its curvature. In classical, Romanesque, and Gothic architecture, the archivolt is often composed of several artistically carved concentric bands, serving the visual role of highlighting the opening of a portal or a monumental window.
• Arcicembalo — An historical keyboard musical instrument from the harpsichord family, designed in the 16th century by theorist Nicola Vicentino, structurally equipped with multiple keyboards and complex microtonal divisions (up to 31 intervals per octave). This advanced acoustic device was utilized to experiment with ancient Greek musical genres and to achieve just intonation in Renaissance polyphonic music.
• Arciorgano — An historical keyboard musical instrument from the organ family, designed in the 16th century by theorist Nicola Vicentino, structurally equipped with multiple keyboards and a complex system of microtonal pipes adapted to render up to 31 intervals per octave. This experimental acoustic device was used during the Renaissance to explore the chromatic and enharmonic genres of ancient Greek music and to achieve just intonation in academic polyphonic performances.
• Arciviolata — An alternative historical name or extremely rare variant for the instrument known as 'archiviola'; a type of oversized or hybrid viola from the Italian Renaissance period, structurally designed to extend the grave and polyphonic register through the use of experimental keyboard mechanisms or by adding extra sympathetic strings.
• Arda — A proper name designating a major river in the Balkan Peninsula, a tributary of the Maritsa, rising in the Rhodope Mountains (Bulgaria) and flowing through northeastern Greece and a section of Turkey. In the context of J.R.R. Tolkien's high-fantasy legendarium, the term represents the mystical name of the entire created Earth, including continents and seas, configured as the structural realm for the history of Elves and Men.