AMAUROTS (The), a people whose kingdom was invaded by the Dipsodes (2 syl.), but Pantag’ruel, coming to their defence, utterly routed the invaders.—­Rabelais, Pantagruel, ii. (1533).

AMA’VIA, the personification of Intemperance in grief.  Hearing that her husband, sir Mordant, had been enticed to the Bower of Bliss by the enchantress Acra’sia, she went in quest of him, and found him so changed in mind and body she could scarcely recognize him; however, she managed by tact to bring him away, but he died on the road, and Amavia stabbed herself from excessive grief.—­Spenser, Faery Queen, ii. 1 (1590).

AMAZO’NA, a fairy, who freed a certain country from the Ogri and the Blue Centaur.  When she sounded her trumpet, the sick were recovered and became both young and strong.  She gave the princess Carpil’lona a bunch of gilly-flowers, which enabled her to pass unrecognized before those who knew her well.—­Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales ("The Princess Carpillona,” 1682).

AMAZONS, a fabled race of women-warriors.  It was said that in order to use the bow, they cut off one of their breasts.

AMBER, said to be a concretion of birds’ tears, but the birds were the sisters of Melea’ger, called Meleag’rides, who never ceased weeping for their dead brother.—­Pliny, Natural History, xxxvii. 2, 11.

  Around thee shall glisten the loveliest amber. 
  That ever the sorrowing sea-birds have wept.

T. Moore, Fire-Worshippers.

AM’BROSE (2 syl.), a sharper, who assumed in the presence of Gil Blas the character of a devotee.  He was in league with a fellow who assumed the name of don Raphael, and a young woman who called herself Camilla, cousin of donna Mencia.  These three sharpers allure Gil Blas to a house which Camilla says is hers, fleece him of his ring, his portmanteau, and his money, decamp, and leave him to find out that the house is only a hired lodging.—­Lesage, Gil Blas, i. 15, 16 (1715).

(This incident is borrowed from Espinel’s romance entitled Vida de Escudero, marcos de Obregon, 1618.)

Am’brose (2 syl.), a male domestic servant waiting on Miss Seraphine and Miss Angelica Arthuret.—­Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George II.).

Ambrose (Brother), a monk who attended the prior Aymer, of Jorvaulx Abbey.—­Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Am’brosius (Father), abbot of Kennaquhair, is Edward Glendinning, brother of sir Halbert Glendinning (the knight of Avenel).  He appears at Kinross, disguised as a nobleman’s retainer.—­Sir W. Scott, The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).

AME’LIA, heroine of novel of same name.  Young daughter of a German inn-keeper, who rises to a high position in society, through native merit, graces of mind and person.—­Eliza Leslie (1843).

Ame’lia, a model of conjugal affection, in Fielding’s novel so called.  It is said that the character was modelled from his own wife.  Dr. Johnson read this novel from beginning to end without once stopping.