masterwort; a genus of the digynia order, belonging to the pentandra class of plants, of which there are three species; but as they are only preserved in botanic gardens for the sake of variety, we omit any particular description of them.

ASTRAEA, in astronomy, a name which some give to the sign Virgo, by others called Erigone, and sometimes Iphit. The poets feign that justice quitted heaven to reside on earth, in the golden age; but, grown weary of the iniquities of mankind, she left the earth, and returned to heaven, where she commenced a constellation of stars, and from her orb still looks down on the ways of men.