#lent

• Incitement — The act of inciting or setting animals (especially dogs) to attack, or, by extension, the intentional instigation of a conflict between people through hostile encouragement or manipulation; a structural act of inciting violence or intolerance within a social group.
• Ashoka — A legendary emperor of the Maurya Empire (3rd century BCE) who united almost the entire Indian subcontinent; he is renowned in world history for his profound conversion to Buddhism following the carnage of the Kalinga War, becoming a fervent promoter of non-violence, religious tolerance, and the global spread of Buddhist teachings through his edicts carved on rocks and stone pillars.
• Astigmatic — A person suffering from astigmatism (a refractive error where light rays do not focus on a single point on the retina due to an irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, causing blurred or distorted vision at any distance); as an adjective, it describes an eye, optical system, or lens affected by or designed to correct this geometric aberration.
• Astigmatic — The feminine form of the word 'astigmat'; a woman or female person suffering from astigmatism; as an adjective, it refers to a manifestation, an ocular anatomical structure, a lens, or an image affected by this refractive error or designed to treat it.
• Astigmatic — Relating to astigmatism, exhibiting this refractive error, or designed for its correction; an adjective used to describe an eye whose cornea has an irregular curvature, a light beam that cannot focus on a single point, or a lens (toric or cylindrical) specifically designed to remedy this geometric aberration; as a noun, it denotes an astigmatic person.
• Astigmatic — The feminine form of the word 'astigmatic'; it refers to a woman affected by astigmatism or to a manifestation, lens, or ocular structure displaying characteristics specific to this optical focusing aberration or used for its correction.
• Astigmatism — A refractive error of the eye, either congenital or acquired, characterized by an irregular, asymmetrical curvature of the cornea or lens, which prevents light rays from converging onto a single focal point on the retina, causing blurred, unclear, or distorted vision both at a distance and up close.
• Astroclimate — The totality of local physical and meteorological characteristics of the Earth's atmosphere (turbulence, transparency, humidity, number of clear nights, thermal stability) that influence the quality, clarity, and precision of ground-based astronomical observations. Assessing an astroclimate is essential for determining the optimal location of major astrophysical observatories, aiming to minimize optical distortions caused by the air mass.
• Astrophytum — A genus of succulent plants within the Cactaceae family, native to the arid and semi-desert regions of Mexico and the southern United States (Texas). These cacti are characterized by globose or cylindrical stems, often lacking spines in adult state, decorated with prominent ribs and microscopic white dots formed by coarse hairs (trichomes), possessing a general star-like appearance reminiscent of a star or marine astroid.
• Astrophytum asterias — An endemic species of small succulent plants within the Astrophytum genus (Cactaceae family), with a globose, flattened stem completely lacking spines, typically divided into exactly 8 flat, regular ribs. Its greenish-grey surface is decorated with numerous trichomes (microscopic white dots made of tiny hairs), featuring large, woolly areoles in the center from which yellow flowers with a red-orange center emerge; it is a protected species, endangered in its native habitat of Mexico and Texas.
• Astrophytum capricorne — A species of xerophytic plants within the Astrophytum genus (Cactaceae family), native to the semi-desert regions of Mexico (Chihuahuan Desert), characterized by a spherical stem that becomes cylindrical at maturity, divided into 7-8 sharp ribs. The species is distinguished by its long, flexible, flattened, and twisted spines reminiscent of a goat's horns (or a capricorn's), and by its large, yellow flowers with a deep purple or red center.
• Astrophytum myriostigma — A species of succulent cacti within the Astrophytum genus (Cactaceae family), native to the mountainous and arid regions of central and northern Mexico. The plant has a globose stem completely lacking spines, typically divided into 5 prominent ribs, giving it a three-dimensional star shape; its entire epidermis is densely covered by thousands of trichomes (microscopic white dots), giving it a characteristic silver-white hue, and its large flowers are pure yellow without a red center.
• Astrophytum ornatum — The largest and most vigorous cactus species within the Astrophytum genus (Cactaceae family), endemic to the canyons and limestone slopes of central Mexico (Querétaro and Hidalgo states). The plant has a spherical stem in youth that becomes columnar at maturity, capable of reaching over one meter in height; it features 8 subtly spiraled ribs, is armed with long, rigid, yellowish spines, and its epidermis is decorated with ornamental curved bands of white trichomes, bearing large yellow flowers.
• Short doze — A state of light, brief, and superficial sleep; a transient dozing or slumber where senses remain partially receptive to external stimuli. Broadly, the term describes a short period of daytime rest or the drowsiness preceding deep sleep, often associated with accumulated fatigue or a monotonous atmosphere.
• Austrocephalocereus — A genus of succulent plants in the family Cactaceae, native to the arid and rocky regions of Eastern Brazil. These cacti are characterized by columnar, spiny stems and the development of a lateral cephalium (a dense zone of wool and bristles from which nocturnal flowers emerge).
• Auxometer — A special optical instrument or apparatus used to determine and measure the magnifying power of a lens system, microscope, or telescope; a precision device engineered to measure the exit pupil diameter or the ratio between image size and actual object size.
• Avirulent — Lacking virulence; a microorganism, bacterium, or virus that does not possess the capacity to cause disease or produce toxic effects within a host organism, although it may retain its antigenic properties. In immunology, avirulent strains are frequently used to develop live attenuated vaccines, as they stimulate a protective immune response without triggering the associated pathology.
• Axometry — An experimental method, technical procedure, or applied discipline in metrology and optics dealing with the rigorous measurement of geometric axes, focal distances, or the structural alignment of components within a complex optical assembly. This precision technique allows engineers to accurately determine the spatial orientation of lenses and correct parasitic centering errors, ensuring superior structural performance of analytical devices.
• Axometer — An apparatus, measuring instrument, or precision optical device utilized to determine the exact localization, geometric orientation, and alignment of the optical or geometric axes of lenses (especially cylindrical or toric lenses designed for astigmatism correction). This structural calibration apparatus is widely used in medical optics workshops and engineering laboratories to guarantee a delicate mounting and perfect centering of transparent components.
• Aylostera — A genus of perennial succulent plants in the Cactaceae (cactus) family, native to the high mountainous regions of Bolivia and Argentina, often structurally classified as a subgenus of Rebutia. These specimens are characterized by small globose stems arranged in dense clusters, featuring woolly areoles and spectacular, brightly colored infundibuliform flowers that arise delicately from the plant's base, being highly valued in horticulture for their increased structural resilience.