astyllent (astilen)

[E. dial.; etym. obscure.] A small temporary dam or partition, made either of branches or twigs interlaced, or perhaps sometimes of a simple piece of board, and used either to check the flow of water under ground or to separate ore from refuse or attle on the surface. [Eng.] asunder (a-sun'der), prep. phr.as adv. [ The vanguard and rear-guard were above half a league asunder, with the cavalgada between them. Irving, Granada, p. 78. ak 2. In or into a divided state; into separate parts; in pieces: as, to tear, rend, break, burst, or cut asunder. The Lord. hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. Ps. cxxix. 4. What a plaguing thing it is to have a man's mind torn asunder by two projects of equal strength. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, iv. 31. Ties the strongest, influences the sweetest, seem falling asunder as smoking flax. R. Choate, Addre es, p. 405. 3. Separately; apart. [Archaic.] It was impo ible to know them asunder. Defoe , Plague, p. 264.