<B>armed forces,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> all of the military, naval, and air forces of a country. <BR> <I>Ex. They are highly dubious about the wisdom of unbalancing the armed forces [by] placing the emphasis on air and nuclear power at the expense of both the Army and the Navy (Newsweek).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="armedforcesday">
<B>Armed Forces Day,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a day in honor of all the United States armed forces, replacing separate days for each branch, observed the third Saturday in May. </DL>
<A NAME="armedneutrality">
<B>armed neutrality,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the status of a nation or nations refraining from war but in readiness for it. </DL>
<A NAME="armedrobbery">
<B>armed robbery,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> robbery involving the coercive use of a weapon or weapons. </DL>
<A NAME="armen">
<B>Armen.,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> Armenian. </DL>
<A NAME="armenian">
<B>Armenian, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>of Armenia, its people, or their language. <DD><B> 2. </B>of the Armenian church. <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a person born or living in Armenia, especially a person whose native language is Armenian. <DD><B> 2. </B>a member of the Armenian Church. <DD><B> 3. </B>the Indo-European language of the Armenians. </DL>
<A NAME="armenianchurch">
<B>Armenian Church,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an independent church close to the Orthodox Church in doctrine. </DL>
<A NAME="armer">
<B>armer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person who arms or equips with arms. </DL>
<A NAME="armet">
<B>armet, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a defensive head covering introduced in the 1400's. It consisted of a round iron helmet with a projection over the back of the neck and a visor, beaver, and gorget to protect the face and throat. </DL>
<A NAME="armful">
<B>armful, </B>noun, pl. <B>-fuls.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> as much as one arm or both arms can hold. <BR> <I>Ex. She carried an armful of groceries to the car.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="armguard">
<B>armguard, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a protective covering for the arm. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Boxing.) defense with the arm. </DL>
<A NAME="armhole">
<B>armhole, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a hole for the arm or sleeve in a garment. </DL>
<A NAME="armiger">
<B>armiger, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a person entitled to heraldic arms. <DD><B> 2. </B>a person who attended a knight to bear his armor; squire. </DL>
<A NAME="armigeral">
<B>armigeral, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of the character of an armiger. </DL>
<A NAME="armigerous">
<B>armigerous, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> entitled to bear heraldic arms. </DL>
<A NAME="armil">
<B>armil</B> or <B>armill, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Historical.) a bracelet or armlet, especially one awarded by an official of a government or church in recognition of exemplary action. </DL>
<B>armillary, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>like a bracelet. <DD><B> 2. </B>consisting of hoops and rings. </DL>
<A NAME="armillarysphere">
<B>armillary sphere,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an old type of celestial globe or sphere, used for determining celestial positions, consisting of movable metal rings or hoops representing the equator, ecliptic, meridian, and other circles. </DL>
<A NAME="arming">
<B>arming, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Nautical.) a piece of tallow at the end of the weight (lead) on a sounding line, used to bring to the surface samples of the sand or other matter covering the bottom. </DL>
<A NAME="arminian">
<B>Arminian, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of Arminius or Arminianism. <DD><I>noun </I> a believer in Arminian doctrines. </DL>
<A NAME="arminianism">
<B>Arminianism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the doctrines of Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609) and his followers, who criticized Calvin's doctrines and believed that there was a chance of salvation for all men through God's grace. </DL>
<A NAME="armipotent">
<B>armipotent, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> mighty in arms or war (originally an epithet of Mars). </DL>
<A NAME="armistice">
<B>armistice, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a stop in fighting; temporary peace; truce. An armistice is arranged by agreement on all sides, often while a permanent peace is being arranged. </DL>
<A NAME="armisticeday">
<B>Armistice Day,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S.) November 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I in 1918. It is called <I>Remembrance Day</I> in the Commonwealth of Nations. As an official holiday it was renamed <I>Veterans Day</I> in the United States in 1954, and between 1971 and 1978 it was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October. </DL>
<A NAME="armless">
<B>armless</B> (1), adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>without either arm. <DD><B> 2. </B>without any branch. </DL>
<A NAME="armless">
<B>armless</B> (2), adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> without arms or weapons. </DL>
<A NAME="armlet">
<B>armlet, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>an ornamental band or bracelet for the upper arm. <DD><B> 2. </B>a small inlet of the sea. </DL>
<A NAME="armload">
<B>armload, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> as much as an arm or the arms carry, especially in a cradled position; armful. <BR> <I>Ex. an armload of books.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="armlock">
<B>armlock, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a wrestling hold in which the opponent's arm is held taut and twisted. </DL>
<A NAME="armoire">
<B>armoire, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a large, often ornate cupboard, clothes press, or movable closet, with doors and usually with shelves. </DL>
<B>armor, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a covering, usually of metal or leather, worn to protect the body in fighting. <DD><B> 2. </B>any similar kind of protective covering against wear or accident. A diver's suit and the scales of a fish are armor. <DD><B> 3. </B>the steel or iron plates or other protective covering of a warship, aircraft, tank, or fortification; armor plate. <DD><B> 4. </B>the armored forces and equipment, such as the tanks, of a military unit. <DD><B> 5. </B>a protective metal covering wrapped around an electric cable or telephone line. <DD><B> 6. </B>(Figurative.) anything serving as protective or defensive. <BR> <I>Ex. the armor of knowledge.</I> <DD><I>v.t., v.i. </I> to cover or protect with armor. Also, (British,) <B>armour.</B> adj. <B>armorlike.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="armorbearer">
<B>armorbearer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an attendant who carried the armor or weapons of a warrior. </DL>
<A NAME="armorclad">
<B>armor-clad, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> (formerly) an armored war vessel. <DD><I>adj. </I> wearing armor; protected by armor; armorplated. </DL>
<A NAME="armored">
<B>armored, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>covered or protected with armor. <BR> <I>Ex. an armored personnel carrier.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>using or equipped with armored vehicles. <BR> <I>Ex. He served in an armored division.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="armoredcable">
<B>armored cable,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an electric cable having a protective metal covering of steel wires or of other flexible, rust-resistant material. </DL>
<A NAME="armoredcar">
<B>armored car,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a motor vehicle protected by armor plate against small-arms fire, especially a truck to transport money and other valuables. <DD><B> 2. </B>a military vehicle with similar protection, often carrying a mounted gun, and used especially for reconnaissance. </DL>
<A NAME="armoredcruiser">
<B>armored cruiser,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> one of a class of warships below the battleship class, having less armor and armament and greater speed than a battleship. </DL>
<A NAME="armoredforce">
<B>armored force,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a military assault force of considerable mobility and striking power, made up of tanks supported by infantry and artillery troops. </DL>
<A NAME="armorer">
<B>armorer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a soldier or sailor in charge of firearms and their maintenance, or a member of the armed forces who loads and services weapons aboard a combat airplane. The armorer of a warship takes care of the revolvers, pistols, rifles, and their ammunition on the ship. <DD><B> 2. </B>a manufacturer of firearms. <DD><B> 3. </B>(originally) a person who made or repaired armor. <BR> <I>Ex. Now thrive the armorers (Shakespeare).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="armorial">
<B>armorial, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> having to do with coats of arms or heraldry. <DD><I>noun </I> a book showing coats of arms. adv. <B>armorially.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="armorialbearings">
<B>armorial bearings,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a coat or coats of arms; heraldic devices. </DL>
<A NAME="armoric">
<B>Armoric, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of or having to do with Brittany, its people, or their language; Breton. <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a native of Brittany. <DD><B> 2. </B>the Breton language. </DL>
<B>armorist, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an expert in heraldry. </DL>
<A NAME="armorplate">
<B>armor plate,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> steel or iron plating to protect warships, tanks, aircraft, forts, and the like. Armor plate is now usually a specially toughened alloy of steel. </DL>
<A NAME="armorplated">
<B>armorplated, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> covered or protected by armor plate; ironclad. </DL>
<A NAME="armory">
<B>armory</B> (1), noun, pl. <B>-mories.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1a. </B>a place where weapons are kept; arsenal. <DD><B> b. </B>(Figurative:) <BR> <I>Ex. Intense secrecy, sudden surprise, and attack, attack, attack are very much part of the political armory (Atlantic).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(U.S.) a place where weapons are made. <DD><B> 3. </B>(U.S. and Canadian.) a building with a drill hall, offices, and other facilities, for militia. <BR> <I>Ex. Night after night we made our way to the Toronto armories, where we right wheeled, shouldered arms, changed arms, left turned and halted with a bang that nearly broke our insteps (Maclean's).</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>(Archaic.) armor; arms. </DL>
<A NAME="armory">
<B>armory</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the art of blazoning arms; heraldry. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Archaic.) heraldic bearings; coats of arms. </DL>
