Alcoran

[ALKORAN, KORAN.] †ål-cör-ăn-ic, a. [ALKORANIC.] al-cor-no-co bark, al-cor'-noque ( qu = k ) bark, s. 1. A kind of bark brought to this country from Tropical America. It is said to be the product of Byrsonima laurifolia , rhipalæfolia , and coccolobæfolia , plants of the natural order Malpighiaceæ, or Malpighiads. (Lindley: Veg. Kingd .) 2. The alcornoque of Spain is the bark of the cork-tree ( Quercus suber ). (Treasury of Bot .) ǎl'-cove, s . [In Sw. alkov ; Dan. alkove ; Dut. alkove, alko of ; Ger. alkoven Fr. alcove ; Ital. alcova ; Port. alcova , from Sp. alcoba ; Arab. alcobba , cobb a = a closet. It is not thoroughly settled whether the Arabs adopted the word from the Spaniards, or the Spaniards from the Arabs.] I. Of rece es in sleeping apartments , vaults , or ordinary rooms: 1. A portion of a Spanish or other chamber, separated from the rest, with the view of its being used for the reception of a bed. The idea was borrowed from the ancients. In state bedchambers in Spain, the alcove was a flat form or estrade, raised a few inches above the floor, and, as a rule, cut off from the rest of the chamber by a balustrade provided with doors. "Deep in a rich alcove the prince was laid, And slept beneath the pompous colonnade." Pope : Homer's Ody ey, bk, iii., 510, 511. 2. In smaller chambers in Spain and elsewhere, a rece or closet in which a bed is placed by day, so as to leave the greater portion of the sleeping apartment unencumbered by its presence during the hours when it is not in use. 3. A similar rece in a vault, designed to accommodate the coffins of the dead. "The patriarch or parent of the tribe has the place of honour in the common cemetery, which is usually hewn out of the rock, sometimes into spacious chambers, supported by pillars, and with alcoves in the sides, where the coffins are deposited."-Milman: Hist . of Jews , 3rd ed., bk. i., vol. 1, p. 25. 4. A rece in a library or ordinary room. "This china, that decks the alcove , Which here people call a buffet." Cowper : Gratitude. 5. A niche for a seat or statue. II. Of a complete building: A small ornamental building with seats, erected in a ALCOVE. garden for shelter from rain, for shade in bright sunlight, or other purpose. This is at present the most common signification of the word. "The summit gain'd, behold the proud alcove That crowns it! yet not all its pride secures The grand retreat from injuries impre 'd By rural carvers, who with knives deface The panels, leaving an obscure, rude name, In characters uncouth, and spelt ami ." Cowper: The Task, bk. i III. Of a rece in a grove, a garden, or plea sure ground: "Look where he comes in this embower'd alcove Stands close conceal'd, and see a statue move." Cowper: Retirement . "Clifden's proud alcove, The bower of wanton Shrews bury and love Pope : Moral E ays , iil. 307