Chapter I: Part 1

Transcriber's note: A few typographical errors have been corrected: they are listed at the end of the text.

* * * * *

In this version [=e] signifies "e macron"; [)e] "e breve"; [.e] "e with dot above"; and so forth.

CHAMBERS'S TWENTIETH CENTURY DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

PRONOUNCING, EXPLANATORY, ETYMOLOGICAL, WITH COMPOUND PHRASES, TECHNICAL TERMS IN USE IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES, COLLOQUIALISMS, FULL APPENDICES, AND COPIOUSLY ILLUSTRATED

EDITED BY REV. THOMAS DAVIDSON ASSISTANT-EDITOR OF 'CHAMBERS'S ENCYCLOPÆDIA' EDITOR OF 'CHAMBERS'S ENGLISH DICTIONARY'

LONDON: 47 Paternoster Row W. & R. CHAMBERS, LIMITED EDINBURGH: 339 High Street 1908

* * * * *

CHAMBERS'S NEW LARGE TYPE ENGLISH DICTIONARY EDITED BY REV. THOMAS DAVIDSON _Pronouncing_, _Explanatory_, _Etymological_ 1264 pp. Imp. 8vo, cloth, 12/6; hf.-mor., 18/- ------ "The best one volume dictionary in existence." W. & R. CHAMBERS, LIMITED, LONDON AND EDINBURGH.

* * * * *

PREFACE.

This is the third English Dictionary which the present Editor has prepared, and he may therefore lay claim to an unusually prolonged apprenticeship to his trade. It is surely unnecessary for him to say that he believes this to be the best book of the three, and he can afford to rest content if the Courteous Reader receive it with the indulgence extended to his Library Dictionary, published in the spring of 1898. It is based upon that work, but will be found to possess many serviceable qualities of its own. It is not much less in content, and its greater relative portability is due to smaller type, to thinner paper, and still more to a rigorous compression and condensation in the definitions, by means of which room has been found for many additional words.

The aim has been to include all the common words in literary and conversational English, together with words obsolete save in the pages of Spenser, Shakespeare, Milton, and the Authorised Version of the Bible. An attempt has been made also to include the common terms of the sciences and the arts of life, the vocabulary of sport, those Scotch and provincial words which assert themselves in Burns, Scott, the Brontës, and George Eliot, and even the coinages of word-masters like Carlyle, Browning, and Meredith. Numberless compound idiomatic phrases have also been given a place, in each case under the head of the significant word.

Correctness in technical matters has been ensured by consulting such books as Smyth's _Sailor's Word-Book_, Voyle's _Military Dictionary_, Wilson's _Stock-Exchange Glossary_, Lee's _Glossary of Liturgical and Ecclesiastical Terms_, &c. Besides books of this class, the Editor has made constant use of special books such as Schmidt's _Shakespeare-Lexicon_, Calderwood's edition of Fleming's _Vocabulary of Philosophy_, Jamieson's _Scottish Dictionary_, the _Stanford Dictionary of Anglicised Words and Phrases_, Yule and Burnell's _Anglo-Indian Glossary_, Addis and Arnold's _Catholic Dictionary_, and the Dictionaries of the Bible of Sir William Smith and Dr Hastings.

In Latin, his authority is Lewis and Short; in Greek, Liddell and Scott; in Romance Philology, Diez and Scheler; in French, Littré; in Spanish, Velazquez; in German, Weigand and Flügel; in Gaelic, Macleod and Dewar, and M'Bain; in Hebrew, Gesenius.

In English etymology the Editor has consulted Professor Skeat's _Dictionary_ and his _Principles of English Etymology_--First and Second Series; the magistral _New English Dictionary_ of Dr James A. H. Murray and Mr Henry Bradley, so far as completed; and the only less valuable _English Dialect Dictionary_ of Professor Wright (begun 1896).

Two complete American _English Dictionaries_ still hold the first place as works of reference, Professor Whitney's _Century Dictionary_ and Funk and Wagnall's _Standard Dictionary_.

The Editor has great pleasure in acknowledging his personal obligations to his brothers, the Rev. Robert P. Davidson, B.A., of Trinity College, Oxford, and David G. Davidson, M.D., Edinburgh; and to his equally capable and courteous colleagues, Mr J. R. Pairman and David Patrick, LL.D., Editor of _Chambers's Encyclopædia_.

T. D.

* * * * *

CONTENTS.

PAGE

PREFACE iii

EXPLANATIONS TO THE STUDENT v

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DICTIONARY vii

THE DICTIONARY 1-1150

PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES 1151

ETYMOLOGY OF NAMES OF PLACES, ETC. 1158

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, TOGETHER WITH SIGNS AND SYMBOLS USED IN
MEDICINE AND MUSIC 1161

CORRECT CEREMONIOUS FORMS OF ADDRESS 1174

PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY OF SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES 1176

THE MORE COMMON ENGLISH CHRISTIAN NAMES, WITH THEIR ORIGIN
AND MEANING 1178

WORDS AND PHRASES IN MORE OR LESS CURRENT USE FROM LATIN,
GREEK, AND MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES 1184

ADDENDA 1208

* * * * *

EXPLANATIONS TO THE STUDENT.

THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE WORDS.--Every word is given in its _alphabetical_ order, except in cases where, to save space, derivatives are given after and under the words from which they are derived. Each uncompounded verb has its participles, when irregular, placed after it. Exceptional plurals are also given. When a word stands after another, with no meaning given, its meanings can be at once formed from those of the latter, by adding the signification of the affix: thus the meanings of _Darkness_ are obtained by prefixing the meaning of _ness_, _state of being_, to those of _Dark_.

Many words from French and other tongues, current in English usage, but not yet fairly Anglicised, are inserted in the list of Foreign Phrases, &c., at the end, rather than in the body of the Dictionary.

THE PRONUNCIATION.--The Pronunciation is given immediately after each word, by the word being spelled anew. In this new spelling, every consonant used has its ordinary unvarying sound, _no consonant being employed that has more than one sound_. The same sounds are always represented by the same letters, no matter how varied their actual spelling in the language. No consonant used has any mark attached to it, with the one exception of _th_, which is printed in common letters when sounded as in _thick_, but in italics when sounded as in _th_en. _Unmarked vowels_ have always their short sounds, as in _lad_, _led_, _lid_, _lot_, _but_, _book_. The _marked vowels_ are shown in the following line, which is printed at the top of each page:--

f[=a]te, fär; m[=e], h[.e]r; m[=i]ne; m[=o]te; m[=u]te; m[=oo]n; _th_en.

The vowel _u_ when marked thus, _ü_, has the sound heard in Scotch _bluid_, _gude_, the French _du_, almost that of the German _ü_ in _Müller_. Where more than one pronunciation of a word is given, that which is placed first is more accepted.

THE SPELLING.--When more than one form of a word is given, that which is placed first is the spelling in current English use. Unfortunately our modern spelling does not represent the English we actually speak, but rather the language of the 16th century, up to which period, generally speaking, English spelling was mainly phonetic, like the present German. The fundamental principle of all rational spelling is no doubt the representation of every sound by an invariable symbol, but in modern English the usage of pronunciation has drifted far from the conventional forms established by a traditional orthography, with the result that the present spelling of our written speech is to a large extent a mere exercise of memory, full of confusing anomalies and imperfections, and involving an enormous and unnecessary strain on the faculties of learners. Spelling reform is indeed an imperative necessity, but it must proceed with a wise moderation, for, in the words of Mr Sweet, 'nothing can be done without unanimity, and until the majority of the community are convinced of the superiority of some one system unanimity is impossible.' The true path of progress should follow such wisely moderate counsels as those of Dr J. A. H. Murray:--the dropping of the final or inflexional silent _e_; the restoration of the historical _-t_ after breath consonants; uniformity in the employment of double consonants, as in _traveler_, &c.; the discarding of _ue_ in words like _demagogue_ and _catalogue_; the uniform levelling of the agent _-our_ into _-or_; the making of _ea = [)e]_ short into _e_ and the long _ie_ into _ee_; the restoration of _some_, _come_, _tongue_, to their old English forms, _sum_, _cum_, _tung_; a more extended use of _z_ in the body of words, as _chozen_, _praize_, _raize_; and the correction of the worst individual monstrosities, as _foreign_, _scent_, _scythe_, _ache_, _debt_, _people_, _parliament_, _court_, _would_, _sceptic_, _phthisis_, _queue_, _schedule_, _twopence-halfpenny_, _yeoman_, _sieve_, _gauge_, _barque_, _buoy_, _yacht_, &c.

Already in America a moderate degree of spelling reform may be said to be established in good usage, by the adoption of _-or_ for _-our_, as _color_, _labor_, &c.; of _-er_ for _-re_, as _center_, _meter_, &c.; _-ize_ for _-ise_, as _civilize_, &c.; the use of a uniform single consonant after an unaccented vowel, as _traveler_ for _traveller_; the adoption of _e_ for _oe_ or _æ_ in _hemorrhage_, _diarrhea_, &c.

THE MEANINGS.--The current and most important meaning of a word is usually given first. But in cases like _Clerk_, _Livery_, _Marshal_, where the force of the word can be made much clearer by tracing its history, the original meaning is also given, and the successive variations of its usage defined.

THE ETYMOLOGY.--The Etymology of each word is given after the meanings, within brackets. Where further information regarding a word is given elsewhere, it is so indicated by a reference. It must be noted under the etymology that whenever a word is printed thus, BAN, BASE, the student is referred to it; also that here the sign--is always to be read as meaning 'derived from.' Examples are generally given of words that are cognate or correspond to the English words; but it must be remembered that they are inserted merely for illustration. Such words are usually separated from the rest by a semicolon. For instance, when an English word is traced to its Anglo-Saxon form, and then a German word is given, no one should suppose that our English word is derived from the German. German and Anglo-Saxon are alike branches from a common Teutonic stem, and have seldom borrowed from each other. Under each word the force of the prefix is usually given, though not the affix. For fuller explanation in such cases the student is referred to the list of Prefixes and Suffixes in the Appendix.

* * * * *

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DICTIONARY.

_aor._ aorist.
_abbrev._ abbreviation.
_abl._ ablative.
_acc._ according.
_accus._ accusative.
_adj._ adjective.
_adv._ adverb.
_agri._ agriculture.
_alg._ algebra.
_anat._ anatomy.
_app._ apparently.
_arch._ archaic.
_archit._ architecture.
_arith._ arithmetic.
_astrol._ astrology.
_astron._ astronomy.
_attrib._ attributive.
_augm._ augmentative.
_B._ Bible.
_biol._ biology.
_book-k._ book-keeping.
_bot._ botany.
_c._ (_circa_) about.
_c._, _cent._ century.
_carp._ carpentry.
_cf._ compare.
_chem._ chemistry.
_cog._ cognate.
_coll._, _colloq._ colloquially.
_comp._ comparative.
_conch._ conchology.
_conj._ conjunction.
_conn._ connected.
_contr._ contracted.
_cook._ cookery.
_corr._ corruption.
_crystal._ crystallography.
_dat._ dative.
_demons._ demonstrative.
_der._ derivation.
_dial._ dialect, dialectal.
_Dict._ Dictionary.
_dim._ diminutive.
_dub._ doubtful.
_eccles._ ecclesiastical history.
_e.g._ for example.
_elect._ electricity.
_entom._ entomology.
_esp._ especially.
_ety._ etymology.
_fem._ feminine.
_fig._ figuratively.
_fol._ followed; following.
_fort._ fortification.
_freq._ frequentative.
_fut._ future.
_gen._ genitive.
_gener._ generally.
_geog._ geography.
_geol._ geology.
_geom._ geometry.
_ger._ gerundive.
_gram._ grammar.
_gun._ gunnery.
_her._ heraldry.
_hist._ history.
_hort._ horticulture.
_hum._ humorous.
_i.e._ that is.
_imit._ imitative.
_imper._ imperative.
_impers._ impersonal.
_indic._ indicative.
_infin._ infinitive.
_inten._ intensive.
_interj._ interjection.
_interrog._ interrogative.
_jew._ jewellery.
_lit._ literally.
_mach._ machinery.
_masc._ masculine.
_math._ mathematics.
_mech._ mechanics.
_med._ medicine.
_metaph._ metaphysics.
_mil._ military.
_Milt._ Milton.
_min._ mineralogy.
_mod._ modern.
_Mt._ Mount.
_mus._ music.
_myth._ mythology.
_n._, _ns._ noun, nouns.
_nat. hist._ natural history.
_naut._ nautical.
_neg._ negative.
_neut._ neuter.
_n.pl._ noun plural.
_n.sing._ noun singular.
_N.T._ New Testament.
_obs._ obsolete.
_opp._ opposed.
_opt._ optics.
_orig._ originally.
_ornith._ ornithology.
_O.S._ old style.
_O.T._ Old Testament.
_p._, _part._ participle.
_p.adj._ participial adjective.
_paint._ painting.
_paleog._ paleography.
_paleon._ paleontology.
_palm._ palmistry.
_pa.p._ past participle.
_pass._ passive.
_pa.t._ past tense.
_path._ pathology.
_perf._ perfect.
_perh._ perhaps.
_pers._ person.
_pfx._ prefix.
_phil._, _philos._ philosophy.
_philol._ philology.
_phon._ phonetics.
_phot._ photography.
_phrenol._ phrenology.
_phys._ physics.
_physiol._ physiology.
_pl._ plural.
_poet._ poetical.
_pol. econ._ political economy.
_poss._ possessive.
_Pr.Bk._ Book of Common
Prayer.
_pr.p._ present participle.
_prep._ preposition.
_pres._ present.
_print._ printing.
_priv._ privative.
_prob._ probably.
_Prof._ Professor.
_pron._ pronoun;
pronounced;
pronunciation.
_prop._ properly.
_pros._ prosody.
_prov._ provincial.
_q.v._ which see.
_R.C._ Roman Catholic.
_recip._ reciprocal.
_redup._ reduplication.
_refl._ reflexive.
_rel._ related; relative.
_rhet._ rhetoric.
_sculp._ sculpture.
_Shak._ Shakespeare.
_sig._ signifying.
_sing._ singular.
_spec._ specifically.
_Spens_. Spenser.
_subj._ subjunctive.
_suff._ suffix.
_superl._ superlative.
_surg._ surgery.
_term._ termination.
_teleg._ telegraphy.
_Tenn._ Tennyson.
_Test._ Testament.
_theat._ theatre; theatricals.
_theol._ theology.
_trig._ trigonometry.
_ult._ ultimately.
_v.i._ verb intransitive.
_voc._ vocative.
_v.t._ verb transitive.
_vul._ vulgar.
_zool._ zoology.

* * * * *

Amer. American.
Ar. Arabic.
A.S. Anglo-Saxon.
Austr. Australian.
Bav. Bavarian.
Beng. Bengali.
Bohem. Bohemian.
Braz. Brazilian.
Bret. Breton.
Carib. Caribbean.
Celt. Celtic.
Chal. Chaldean.
Chin. Chinese.
Corn. Cornish.
Dan. Danish.
Dut. Dutch.
Egypt. Egyptian.
Eng. English.
Finn. Finnish.
Flem. Flemish.
Fr. French.
Fris. Frisian.
Gael. Gaelic.
Ger. German.
Goth. Gothic.
Gr. Greek.
Heb. Hebrew.
Hind. Hindustani.
Hung. Hungarian.
Ice. Icelandic.
Ind. Indian.
Ion. Ionic.
Ir. Irish.
It. Italian.
Jap. Japanese.
Jav. Javanese.
L. Latin.
Lith. Lithuanian.
L. L. Low or Late Latin.
M. E. Middle English.
Mex. Mexican.
Norm. Norman.
Norw. Norwegian.
O. Fr. Old French.
Pers. Persian.
Peruv. Peruvian.
Pol. Polish.
Port. Portuguese.
Prov. Provençal.
Rom. Romance.
Russ. Russian
Sans. Sanskrit.
Scand. Scandinavian.
Scot. Scottish.
Singh. Singhalese.
Slav. Slavonic.
Sp. Spanish.
Sw. Swedish.
Teut. Teutonic.
Turk. Turkish.
U.S. United States.
W. Welsh.

* * * * *

CHAMBERS'S TWENTIETH CENTURY DICTIONARY.

* * * * *

the first letter in our alphabet, its corresponding symbol standing first also in many other alphabets derived from the Phoenician. It originated in the hieroglyphic picture of an eagle (Old Egyptian _ahom_), the cursive hieratic form of which was the original of the Phoenician _aleph_, an ox, from a fancied resemblance to its head and horns.--A, as a note in music, is the major sixth of the scale of C; A1, the symbol by which first-class vessels are classed in Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping, hence first-rate.

A, the indefinite article, a broken-down form of An, and used before words beginning with the sound of a consonant. [_An_ was a new development, after the Conquest, of the A.S. numeral _án_, one.]

A, ä or [=a], a _prep._, derived from the old prep. _on_, and still used, as a prefix, in _a_foot, _a_field, _a_part, _a_sleep, now_a_days, twice-_a_-day; also with verbal nouns, as _a_-building, to be _a_-doing, to set _a_-going. It is now admitted only colloquially. [Short for A.S. _an_, a dialectic form of _on_, on, in, at. See PREFIXES.]

A, ä, a dialectic corruption of _he_ or _she_, as in quoth_a_, (_Shak._) '_A_ babbled of green fields.'--A, usually written _a'_, Scotch for _all_; A, a form of the L. prep. _ab_, from, of, used before consonants, as in Thomas _à_ Kempis, Thomas _à_ Becket, &c.

AARDVARK, ard'vark, _n._ the ground-hog of South Africa. [Dut. _aarde_, earth; _vark_, found only in dim. _varken_, a pig.]

AARDWOLF, ard'w[=oo]lf, _n._ the earth-wolf of South Africa, a carnivore belonging to a sub-family of the Hyænidæ. [Dut. _aarde_, earth, _wolf_, wolf.]

AARONIC, -AL, [=a]-ron'ik, -al, _adj._ pertaining to AARON, the Jewish high-priest, or to his priesthood.--_n._ AA'RON'S-ROD (_archit._), a rod having one serpent twined round it.--AARON'S BEARD, a popular name for a number of cultivated plants--among the best known, a species of Saxifrage (_S. sarmentosa_), usually grown in hanging pots, from which hang long stems, bearing clumps of roundish, hairy leaves.

AB, ab, _n._ the eleventh month of the Jewish civil year, and the fifth of the ecclesiastical year, answering to parts of July and August. [Syriac.]

ABA, ab'a, _n._ a Syrian woollen stuff, of goat's or camel's hair, usually striped; an outer garment made of this. [Ar.]

ABACA, ab'a-ka, _n._ the native name of the so-called Manilla hemp of commerce--really a plantain, much grown in the Philippine Islands.

ABACK, a-bak', _adv._ (_naut._) said of sails pressed backward against the mast by the wind--hence (_fig._) TAKEN ABACK, taken by surprise, [A.S. _on bæc._ See ON and BACK.]

ABACOT. See BYCOCKET.

ABACTINAL, ab-ak'ti-nal, _adj._ (_zool._) remote from the actinal area, without rays.--_adv._ ABAC'TINALLY.

ABACTION, ab-ak'shun, _n._ (_law_) the stealing of a number of cattle at once.--_n._ ABAC'TOR, one who does this. [L. _abig[)e]re_, _abactum_, to drive off.]

ABACUS, ab'a-kus, _n._ a counting-frame or table: (_archit._) a level tablet on the capital of a column, supporting the entablature:--_pl._ AB'AC[=I].--_ns._ ABACIS'CUS, ABAC'ULUS, dims. of ABACUS; AB'ACIST, one who counts with the abacus. [L.--Gr. _abax_, _abakos_, a board for reckoning on.]

ABADDON, a-bad'don, _n._ the destroyer, or angel of the bottomless pit: (_Milton_) the bottomless pit, or abyss of hell itself. [Heb., from _[=a]bad_, to be lost.]

ABAFT, a-baft', _adv._ and _prep._ on the aft, hind, or stern part of a ship: behind. [Pfx. _a-_, for A.S. _on_, on, and _bæftan_, after, behind; itself made up of pfx. _be-_, and _æftan_. See AFT.]

ABALIENATE, ab-[=a]l'yen-[=a]t, _v.t._ Same as ALIENATE.

ABANDON, a-ban'dun, _v.t._ to give up: to desert: to yield (one's self) without restraint (with _to_).--_v.t._ ABAND' (_Spens._), to abandon.--_n._ ABAN'DON (_n_ to be nasalised), freedom from conventional restraints: careless freedom of manners.--_adj._ ABAN'DONED, given up, as to a vice: profligate: completely deserted: very wicked.--_adv._ ABAN'DONEDLY.--_n._ ABAN'DONMENT, act of abandoning: state of being given up: enthusiastic surrender of self to a cause: (_law_) the renunciation of a claim. [O. Fr. _bandon_, from the Teut. root _ban_, proclamation, came to mean decree, authorisation, permission; hence _à bandon_--at will or discretion, _abandonner_, to give up to the will or disposal of some one. See BAN, BANNS.]

ABASE, a-b[=a]s', _v.t._ to cast down: to humble: to degrade.--_adjs._ AB[=A]'SED, ABAISSÉ (_her._), depressed.--_n._ ABASE'MENT, state of humiliation. [O. Fr. _abaissier_, to bring low--L. _ad_, to, and root of BASE, adj.]

ABASH, a-bash', _v.t._ to confuse with shame or guilt.--_pa.p._ ABASHED' (with _at_, of an occasion; _by_, of a cause).--_n._ ABASH'MENT, confusion from shame. [O. Fr. _esbhir_ (Fr. _s'ébahir_), pr.p. _esbahiss-ant_, to be amazed--L. _ex_, out, and interj. _bah_, expressive of astonishment.]

ABATE, a-b[=a]t', _v.t._ to lessen: to deduct (with _of_): to mitigate: (_law_) to put an end to, do away with, as of an action or a nuisance, to render null, as a writ.--_v.i._ to grow less.--_adjs._ AB[=A]T'ABLE, capable of being abated; AB[=A]T'ED, beaten down or cut away, as the background of an ornamental pattern in relief.--_n._ ABATE'MENT, the act of abating: the sum or quantity abated: (_law_) the act of intruding on a freehold and taking possession before the heir, the abandonment of an action, or the reduction of a legacy: (_her._) a supposed mark of dishonour on a coat of arms--apparently never actually used.--ABATED ARMS, those whose edges have been blunted for the tournament. [O. Fr. _abatre_, to beat down--L. _ab_, from, and _bat[)e]re_, popular form of _batu[)e]re_, to beat: conn. with BEAT.]

ABATIS, ABATTIS, a'bat-is, _n.sing._ and _pl._ (_fort._) a rampart of trees felled and laid side by side, with the branches towards the enemy. [Fr. See ABATE.]

ABATTOIR, a-bat-wär', _n._ a public slaughter-house. [Fr. See ety. of ABATE.]

ABATURE, ab'a-t[=u]r, _n._ the trail of a beast of the chase. [Fr.]

ABB, ab, _n._ properly woof- or weft-yarn, but sometimes warp-yarn. [Pfx. _a-_, and WEB.]

ABBA, ab'a, _n._ father, a term retained in the Gr. text of the New Testament, together with its translation 'father,' hence _Abba father_, applied to God the Father: also a bishop in the Syriac and Coptic Churches. [L.--Gr.--Syriac and Chaldee, _abb[=a]_--Heb. _ab_, father.]

ABBACY, ab'a-si, _n._ the office or dignity of an abbot: the establishment under an abbot: an abbey.--_adj._ ABB[=A]'TIAL. [The earlier form was _abbatie_--said by Dr Murray to have been originally a Scotch form.]

ABBATE, ab-bä'te, _n._ a title loosely applied to ecclesiastics in Italy.--Also ABATE. [It.]

ABBAYE, an _arch._ form of ABBEY.

ABBÉ, ab'[=a], _n._ originally the French name for an abbot, but often used in the general sense of a priest or clergyman. Before the Revolution, abbés were often merely holders of benefices, enjoying a portion of the revenues, although in minor orders, or even laymen. They were often tutors in noble families, or men of letters, and were marked by a short violet-coloured robe.

ABBESS, ab'es, _n._ the female superior of a religious community of women. [Earlier ABBATESS, fem. of ABBOT.]

ABBEY, ab'e, _n._ a monastery of persons of either sex presided over by an abbot or abbess: the church now or formerly attached to it: in Newstead _Abbey_, &c., the name has been retained after the abbatial building had become a private house:--_pl._ ABB'EYS. [O. Fr. _abaïe_ (Fr. _abbaye_)--L. _abbatia_, See ABBA.]

ABBOT, ab'ut, _n._ the father or head of an abbey:--_fem._ ABB'ESS.--_n._ AB'BOTSHIP. [L. _abbas_, _abbatis_--ABBA.]

ABBREVIATE, ab-br[=e]'vi-[=a]t, _v.t._ to make brief or short: to abridge.--_ns._ ABBREVI[=A]'TION, ABBR[=E]'VIATURE, a shortening, a part of a word put for the whole; ABBR[=E]'VIATOR, one who abbreviates.--_adj._ ABBR[=E]'VIATORY. [L. _abbrevi[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_ab_, intensive, and _brevis_, short. See BRIEF.]

ABC, ABCEE, [=a]-b[=e]-s[=e]', _n._ the alphabet from its first letters: a first reading-book (_obs._), hence _fig._ the first rudiments of anything.--ABC BOOK (_Shak._), a book to teach the _a_, _b_, _c_, or alphabet.

ABDICATE, ab'di-k[=a]t, _v.t._ and _v.i._ formally to renounce or give up office or dignity.--_adj._ AB'DICANT.--_n._ ABDIC[=A]'TION. [L. _ab_, from or off, _dic[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to proclaim.]

ABDOMEN, ab-d[=o]'men, _n._ the belly: the lower part of the trunk.--_adj._ ABDOM'INAL.--_adv._ ABDOM'INALLY.--_adj._ ABDOM'INOUS, pot-bellied. [L.]

ABDUCE, ab-d[=u]s', _v.t._ an earlier form of ABDUCT.--_adj._ ABDUC'ENT, drawing back: separating. [L. _abduc[)e]re_--_ab_, from _duc[)e]re_, _ductum_, to draw.]

ABDUCT, ab-dukt', _v.t._ to take away by fraud or violence.--_ns._ ABDUC'TION, the carrying away, esp. of a person by fraud or force; ABDUC'TOR, one guilty of abduction: a muscle that draws away. [L. _abduc[)e]re_. See ABDUCE.]

ABEAM, a-b[=e]m', _adv._ (_naut._) on the beam, or in a line at right angles to a vessel's length. [Pfx. _a-_ (A.S. _on_), on, and BEAM.]

ABEAR, a-b[=a]r', _v.t._ (_Spens._) to bear, to behave: (_prov._) to endure or tolerate.--_n._ ABEAR'ANCE, (_obs._) behaviour. [A.S. pfx. _a-_, and BEAR.]

ABECEDARIAN, [=a]-be-se-d[=a]'ri-an, _adj._ pertaining to the a, b, c: rudimentary.--ABECEDARIAN PSALMS (as the 119th) or HYMNS are such as are divided into successive portions according to the letters of the alphabet.

ABED, a-bed', _adv._ in bed. [Pfx. _a-_, on, and BED.]

ABELE, a-b[=e]l', _n._ the white poplar-tree. [Dut. _abeel_; O. Fr. _abel_, _aubel_--Late L. _albellus_, _albus_, white.]

ABERDEVINE, ab-[.e]r-de-v[=i]n', _n._ a bird-fancier's name for the siskin. [Ety. uncertain; prob. a fanciful coinage.]

ABERRATE, ab'[.e]r-r[=a]t, _v.i._ to wander or deviate from the right way:--_pr.p._ ab'err[=a]ting; _pa.p._ ab'err[=a]ted.--_ns._ ABER'RANCE, ABER'RANCY (_rare forms_).--_adj._ ABER'RANT (_zool._ and _bot._), wandering, deviating in some particulars from its group.--_n._ ABERR[=A]'TION, a wandering from the right path: deviation from truth or rectitude: in science, deviation from the type: abnormal structure or development.--ABERRATION OF LIGHT, an apparent alteration in the place of a star, arising from the motion of the earth in its orbit, combined with the progressive passage of light. [L. _aberr[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_ab_, from, _err[=a]re_, to wander.]

ABET, a-bet', _v.t._ to incite by encouragement or aid (used chiefly in a bad sense):--_pr.p._ abet'ting; _pa.p._ abet'ted.--_ns._ ABET'MENT; ABET'TER, ABET'TOR, one who abets. [O. Fr. _abeter_--_à_ (--L. _ad_, to), and _beter_, to bait, from root of BAIT.]

ABEYANCE, a-b[=a]'ans, _n._ a state of suspension or expectation: temporary inactivity--also ABEY'ANCY.--The _v._ to ABEY is rare. [Fr.--_à_ (--L. _ad_, to), and _bayer_, to gape in expectation, from imitative root _ba_, to gape.]

ABHOMINABLE, an earlier spelling of ABOMINABLE.

ABHOR, ab-hor', _v.t._ to shrink from with horror: to detest: to loathe:--_pr.p._ abhor'ring; _pa.p._ abhorred'.--_ns._ ABHOR'RENCE, extreme hatred; (_obs._) ABHOR'RENCY.--_adj._ ABHOR'RENT, detesting; repugnant (with _of_).--_ns._ ABHOR'RER, one who abhors; ABHOR'RING (_B._ and _Shak._), object of abhorrence. [L. _abhorr[=e]re_, from _ab_, from, and _horr[=e]re_. See HORROR.]

ABIB, [=a]'bib, _n._ the first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical, the seventh of the civil year, later called Nisan, answering to parts of March and April. [Heb., 'an ear of corn'--_[=a]bab_, to produce early fruit.]

ABIDE, a-b[=i]d', _v.t._ to bide or wait for: to endure: to tolerate.--_v.i._ to remain in a place, dwell or stay:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ ab[=o]de'.--_n._ ABID'ANCE.--_adj._ ABID'ING, continual.--_n._ an enduring.--_adv._ ABID'INGLY. [A.S. _ábídan_--pfx. _á-_ (= Goth. _us_ = Ger. _er_), and _bídan_, to wait.]

ABIDE, a-b[=i]d', _v.t._ (_Shak._ and _Milton_) to redeem, pay the penalty for, suffer. [M. E. _abyen_, confounded with ABIDE. See ABY.]

ABIES, ab'i-ez, _n._ the silver-fir.--_adj._ ABIET'IC, pertaining to trees of the genus Abies. [L.]

ABIGAIL, ab'i-g[=a]l, _n._ a lady's-maid. [From _Abigail_, 1 Sam. xxv.]

ABILITY, a-bil'i-ti, _n._ quality of being able: power: strength: skill.--_n.pl._ ABIL'ITIES, the powers of the mind. [O. Fr. _ableté_ (Fr. _habileté_)--L. _habilitas_--_habilis_, easily handled, from _hab[=e]re_, to have, hold. See ABLE.]

ABINTESTATE, ab-in-tes't[=a]t, _adj._ inheriting the estate of one who died without having made a will. [L. _ab_, from, and INTESTATE.]

ABIOGENESIS, ab-i-o-jen'es-is, _n._ the origination of living by not-living matter, spontaneous generation.--_adj._ ABIOGENET'IC--_n._ ABIO'GENIST, one who believes in such. [Coined by Huxley in 1870; Gr. _a_, neg., _bios_, life, _genesis_, birth.]

ABJECT, ab-jekt', _v.t._ (_obs._) to throw or cast down or away. [L. _abjic[)e]re_, _-jectum_--_ab_, away, _jac[)e]re_, to throw.]

ABJECT, ab'jekt, _adj._ cast away: mean: worthless: cowering: base.--_n._ an outcast.--_ns._ ABJEC'TION, AB'JECTNESS, a mean or low state: baseness: degradation.--_adv._ AB'JECTLY. [L. _abjectus_, cast away--_ab_, away, _jac[)e]re_, to throw.]

ABJUDGE, ab-juj', _v.t._ (_rare_) to take away by judicial sentence. [L. _ab_, from, and JUDGE.]

ABJUDICATE, ab-j[=oo]'di-k[=a]t, _v.t._ to give by judgment from one to another. [L. _ab_, from, and JUDICATE.]

ABJURE, ab-j[=oo]r', _v.t._ to renounce on oath or solemnly: to recant: to repudiate.--_n._ ABJUR[=A]'TION, official renunciation on oath of any principle or pretension.--_adj._ ABJUR'ATORY.--_n._ ABJUR'ER. [L. _ab_, from, _jur[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to swear.]

ABKARI, ab-kä'ri, _n._ the manufacture or sale of spirituous liquors: the excise duty levied on such.--Also ABKA'RY. [Pers.]

ABLACTATION, ab-lak-t[=a]'shun, _n._ a weaning. [L. _ab_, from, _lact[=a]re_, to suckle--_lac_, _lactis_, milk.]

ABLATION, ab-l[=a]'shun, _n._ the act of carrying away: (_geol._) the wearing away of rock by the action of water.--_adj._ ABLATI'TIOUS. [L. _ab_, from, _latum_, supine of _ferre_, to bear.]

ABLATIVE, ab'lat-iv, _adj._ used as a noun. The name applied to one of the cases in the declension of nouns and pronouns in the Indo-European languages, retained as in Latin and Sanskrit, or merged in another case, as in the genitive in Greek. Its meaning was to express _direction from_ or _time when_.--_adj._ ABLAT[=I]'VAL. [L. _ablativus_--_ab_, from, _ferre_, _latum_, to take; as if it indicated taking away, or privation.]

ABLAUT, ab'lowt, _n._ (_philol._) vowel permutation, a substitution of one root vowel for another in derivation, as in s_i_ng, s_a_ng, s_o_ng, s_u_ng, distinct from the phonetic influence of a succeeding vowel, as in the Umlaut. It is especially the change of a vowel to indicate tense-change in strong verbs. [Ger., from _ab_, off, and _laut_, sound.]

ABLAZE, a-bl[=a]z', _adj._ in a blaze, on fire: gleaming brightly. [Prep. _a_, and BLAZE.]

ABLE, [=a]'bl, _adj._ (comp. A'BLER; superl. A'BLEST) having sufficient strength, power, or means to do a thing: skilful.--_adj._ A'BLE-BOD'IED, of a strong body: free from disability, of a sailor, labourer, &c.: robust.--_adv._ A'BLY. [See ABILITY.]

ABLEGATE, ab'le-g[=a]t, _n._ a papal envoy who carries the insignia of office to a newly-appointed cardinal.

ABLOOM, a-bl[=oo]m', _adv._ in a blooming state. [Prep. _a_, on, and BLOOM.]

ABLUENT, ab'l[=oo]-ent, _adj._ washing or cleaning by a liquid.--_n._ a medicine which carries off impurities from the system. [L. _abluens_, _-entis_, pr.p. of _ablu[)e]re_, to wash away--_ab_, from, away, and _lu[)e]re_ = _lav[=a]re_, to wash. See LAVE.]

ABLUTION, ab-l[=oo]'shun, _n._ act of washing, esp. the body, preparatory to religious rites: any ceremonial washing, symbolic of moral purification: the wine and water used to rinse the chalice, drunk by the officiating priest.--_adj._ ABLU'TIONARY. [L. _ablutio_--_ab_, away, _lu[)e]re_ = _lav[=a]re_, to wash.]

ABNEGATE, ab'ne-g[=a]t, _v.t._ to deny.--_ns._ ABNEG[=A]'TION, renunciation; AB'NEGATOR, one who abnegates or renounces. [L. _ab_, away, and _neg[=a]re_, to deny.]

ABNORMAL, ab-nor'mal, _adj._ not normal or according to rule: irregular--also ABNOR'MOUS.--_ns._ ABNORMAL'ITY, ABNOR'MITY.--_adv._ ABNOR'MALLY. [L. _ab_, away from, and NORMAL.]

ABOARD, a-b[=o]rd', _adv._ or _prep._ on board: in a ship, or in a train (_Amer._). [Prep. _a_, on, and BOARD.]

ABOCOCKE. See BYCOCKET.

ABODE, a-b[=o]d', _n._ a dwelling-place: stay. [See ABIDE.]

ABODE, a-b[=o]d', _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of ABIDE.

ABODEMENT, a-b[=o]d'ment, _n._ (_obs._) a foreboding: an omen. [From ABODE, with suff. _-ment_. See BODE, FOREBODE.]

ABOLISH, ab-ol'ish, _v.t._ to put an end to: to annul.--_adj._ ABOL'ISHABLE, capable of being abolished.--_ns._ ABOL'ISHMENT (_rare_); ABOLI'TION, the act of abolishing; ABOLI'TIONISM, advocacy of abolitionist principles; ABOLI'TIONIST, one who seeks to abolish anything, esp. slavery. [Fr. _abolir_, _aboliss_--from L. _abol[=e]re_, _-itum_--_ab_, from, _ol[=e]re_, to grow. The prep. _ab_ here reverses the meaning of the simple verb.]

ABOMASUS, ab-[=o]-m[=a]'sus, _n._ the fourth stomach of ruminants, lying close to the omasum or third stomach.--Also ABOM[=A]'SUM. [L. _ab_, and _omasum_, paunch.]

ABOMINATE, ab-om'in-[=a]t, _v.t._ to abhor: to detest extremely.--_adj._ ABOM'INABLE, hateful: detestable, an old spelling is ABHOM'INABLE, to agree with a fancied etymology in Lat. _ab homine_.--_n._ ABOM'INABLENESS.--_adv._ ABOM'INABLY.--_n._ ABOMIN[=A]'TION, extreme aversion: anything disgusting or detestable. [L. _abomin[=a]ri_, _-[=a]tus_, to turn from as of bad omen. See OMEN.]

ABORD, a-b[=o]rd', _v.t._ (_arch._) to accost: (_Spens._) astray, at a loss.--_n._ (_Spens._) harbour: act of approaching: manner of approach. [Fr. _aborder_, _à bord_. See ABOARD and BORDER.]

ABORIGINAL, ab-o-rij'in-al, _adj._ first, primitive, indigenous.--_adv._ ABORIG'INALLY.

ABORIGINES, ab-o-rij'in-[=e]z, _n.pl._ the original inhabitants of a country. [L. See ORIGIN.]

ABORT, ab-ort', _v.i._ to miscarry in birth: to remain in a rudimentary state.--_n._ ABOR'TION, premature delivery, or the procuring of such: anything that does not reach maturity: a mis-shapen being or monster.--_adj._ ABORT'IVE, born untimely: unsuccessful: producing nothing: brought forth in an imperfect condition: rudimentary.--_adv._ ABORT'IVELY.--_n._ ABORT'IVENESS. [L. _abor[=i]ri_, _abortus_--_ab_, from, away, _or[=i]ri_, to rise.]

ABOUND, ab-ownd', _v.i._ to overflow, be in great plenty: to possess in plenty (with _in_): to be filled with (used with _with_). [O. Fr. _abunder_--L. _abund[=a]re_, to overflow, _ab_, from, _unda_, a wave.]

ABOUT, a-bowt', _prep._ round on the outside: around: here and there in: near to: concerning: engaged in.--_adv._ around: nearly: here and there.--BRING ABOUT, to cause to take place; COME ABOUT, to take place; GO ABOUT, to prepare to do; PUT ABOUT, disturbed; TO BE ABOUT, to be astir; TURN ABOUT, alternately. [A.S. _on bútan_; _on_, in, _bútan_, without, itself compounded of _be_, by, and _útan_, locative of _út_, out.]

ABOVE, a-buv', _prep._ on the upside: higher than: more than.--_adv._ overhead: in a higher position, order, or power.--_adjs._ ABOVE'-BOARD, open, honourable; ABOVE'-GROUND, alive: not buried. [A.S. _ábúfan_--_á_, on, _bufan_, above, itself compounded of _be_, by, _ufan_, high, upwards, prop. the locative of _uf_, up.]

ABRACADABRA, ab-ra-ka-dab'ra, _n._ a cabbalistic word, written in successive lines, each shorter by a letter than the one above it, till the last letter A formed the apex of a triangle. It was worn as a charm for the cure of diseases. Now used generally for a spell or conjuring word: mere gibberish. [First found in 2d-cent. poem (_Præcepta de Medicina_) by Q. Serenus Sammonicus; further origin unknown.]

ABRADE, ab-r[=a]d', _v.t._ to scrape or rub off: to wear down by friction. [L. _ab_, off, _rad[)e]re_, _rasum_, to scrape.]

ABRAHAM-MAN, [=a]'bra-ham-man, _n._ originally a lunatic beggar from Bethlehem Hospital in London, marked by a special badge. Many sturdy beggars assumed this, hence the phrase TO SHAM ABRAHAM, to feign sickness, still used among sailors. [The wards in the old Bedlam are said to have been distinguished by the names of saints and patriarchs, as _Abraham_. Some find the origin of the name in an allusion to the parable of the beggar Lazarus, who found his rest in _Abraham's_ bosom (Luke xvi.).]

ABRANCHIATE, a-brang'ki-[=a]t, _adj._ having no gills.--Also ABRAN'CHIAL. [Gr. _a_, priv., and _brangchia_, gills.]

ABRASION, ab-r[=a]'zhun, _n._ the act of rubbing off.--_adj._ and _n._ ABR[=A]'SIVE. [See ABRADE.]

ABRAXAS, a-braks'as, _n._ a mystic word, or an amulet, consisting of a gem engraved therewith on some part of it, often bearing a mystical figure of combined human and animal form, used as a charm. [Said to be coined by the Egyptian Gnostic Basilides in 2d century to express 365 in Greek letters; thus [Greek: abraxas] used as numerals = 1 + 2 + 100 + 1 + 60 + 1 + 200. But Mr C. W. King finds its origin in Heb. _ha-b'r[=a]k[=a]h_, 'the blessing,' or 'sacred name,' used as the title of a Gnostic deity representing the 365 emanations of the Divine Pl[=e]r[=o]ma or fullness.]

ABRAY, a-br[=a]', ABRAYD, a-br[=a]d', _v.i._ (_Spens._) to start out of sleep: to awake.--_v.t._ and _v.i._ to arouse, startle.--The more correct form is _abraid_. [Made up of pfx. _a-_, and _abrédan_. A.S. _breydan_, to twist. See BRAID.]

ABREAST, a-brest', _adv._ with fronts in a line: side by side: (_naut._) opposite to. [Prep. _a_, on, and BREAST.]

ABRICOCK. See APRICOT.

ABRIDGE, a-brij', _v.t._ to make brief or short: to shorten: to epitomise: to curtail, as privileges or authority.--_ns._ ABRIDG'MENT, ABRIDGE'MENT, contraction: shortening of time, labour or privileges: a compendium of a larger work: an epitome or synopsis: (_law_) the leaving out of certain portions Of a plaintiff's demand, the writ still holding good for the remainder. [O. Fr. _abregier_ (Fr. _abréger_)--L. _abbrevi[=a]re_. See ABBREVIATE.]

ABROACH, a-br[=o]ch', _adv._ broached: in a condition to let the liquor run out: in a state to be diffused, afloat: astir. [Prep. _a_, and BROACH.]

ABROAD, a-brawd', _adv._ on the broad or open space: out of doors: public: in another country. [Prep. _a_, and BROAD.]

ABROGATE, ab'ro-g[=a]t, _v.t._ to repeal (a law): to set aside.--_n._ ABROG[=A]'TION, act of repealing or setting aside.--_adj._ AB'ROGATIVE. [L. _ab_, away, _rog[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to ask or propose a law.]

ABROOK, a-brook', _v.t._ (_Shak._) to brook, bear, or endure. [Pfx. _a-_, and BROOK, _v._]

ABRUPT, ab-rupt', _adj._ the opposite of gradual, as if broken off: sudden: unexpected: precipitous: (_of style_) passing from one thought to another without transitions: (_of manners_) short, rude.--_n._ an abrupt place.--_n._ ABRUP'TION, a sudden breaking off: violent separation: (_Shak._) interruption, pause.--_adv._ ABRUPT'LY.--_n._ ABRUPT'NESS. [L. _abruptus_--_ab_, off, _rump[)e]re_, _ruptum_, to break.]

ABSCESS, ab'ses, _n._ a collection of purulent matter within some tissue of the body. [L. _abscessus_--_abs_, away, _ced[)e]re_, _cessum_, to go, to retreat.]

ABSCIND, ab-sind', _v.t._ to cut off.--_n._ ABSCIS'SION, act of cutting off, or state of being cut off: (_rhet._) a figure of speech in which the words demanded by the sense are left unsaid, the speaker stopping short suddenly. [L. _abscindo_; _ab_, off, _scindo_, to cut.]

ABSCISS, ab'sis, ABSCISSA, ab-sis'sa, _n._ the straight line cut off or intercepted between the vertex of a curve and an ordinate, measured along the principal axis:--_pl._ ABSCISS'ES, ABSCISS'Æ, ABSCISS'AS. [L. _abscissus_, cut off, _pa.p._ of _abscind[)e]re_--_ab_, from, _scind[)e]re_, to cut.]

ABSCOND, abs-kond', _v.i._ to hide, or quit the country, in order to escape a legal process. [L. _abscond[)e]re_, _abs_, from or away, _cond[)e]re_, to hide.]

ABSENT, abs'ent, _adj._ being away: not present: inattentive--_v.t._ (abs-ent') to keep one's self away.--_ns._ ABS'ENCE, the state of being away or not present: want: inattention; ABSENTEE', one who is absent on any occasion: one who makes a habit of living away from his estate or his office; ABSENTEE'ISM, the practice of absenting one's self from duty or station, esp. of a landowner living away from his estate.--_adv._ AB'SENTLY. [L. _absent-_, pr.p. of _absum_--_ab_, away from, _sum_, _esse_, to be.]

ABSINTH, ABSINTHE, ab'sinth, _n._ spirit combined with extract of wormwood.--_adjs._ ABSINTH'IAN, ABSINTH'IATED, impregnated with absinth. [Fr.--L. _absinthium_, wormwood--Gr.]

ABSOLUTE, ab'sol-[=u]t, _adj._ free from limits or conditions: complete: unlimited: free from mixture: considered without reference to other things: unconditioned, unalterable: unrestricted by constitutional checks (said of a government): (_gram._) not immediately dependent: (_phil._) existing in and by itself without necessary relation to any other being: capable of being conceived of as unconditioned. In the sense of being finished, perfect, it may be considered as opposed to the Infinite; but, in the sense of being freed from restriction or condition, it is evident the Infinite itself must be absolute. Opposite schools differ on the question whether the Absolute can be known under conditions of consciousness.--_adv._ AB'SOLUTELY, separately: unconditionally: positively: completely.--_ns._ AB'SOLUTENESS; ABSOL[=U]'TION, release from punishment: acquittal: remission of sins declared officially by a priest, or the formula by which such is expressed; AB'SOLUTISM, government where the ruler is without restriction; AB'SOLUTIST, a supporter of absolute government.--_adjs._ ABSOL'UTORY, ABSOLV'ATORY.--THE ABSOLUTE, that which is absolute, self-existent, uncaused. [L. _absolutus_, pa.p. of _absolv[)e]re_. See ABSOLVE.]

ABSOLVE, ab-zolv', _v.t._ to loose or set free: to pardon: to acquit: to discharge (with _from_).--_ns._ ABSOLV'ER, one who gives absolution or acquits; ABSOLV'ITOR, a decision favourable to a defender.--_v.t._ ASSOIL'ZIE, in Scots law, to absolve the accused on the grounds that the evidence disproves or does not establish the charge. [L. _ab_, from, _solv[)e]re_, _solutum_, to loose. See SOLVE.]

ABSONANT, ab'so-nant, _adj._ discordant: absurd: unnatural (with _to_ or _from_)--opp. to _Consonant_. [L. _ab_, from, _sonant-_, pr.p. of _son[=a]re_, to sound.]

ABSORB, ab-sorb', _v.t._ to suck in: to swallow up: to engage wholly.--_n._ ABSORBABIL'ITY.--_adj._ ABSORB'ABLE, that may be absorbed.--_p.adj._ ABSORBED', swallowed up: entirely occupied.--_advs._ ABSORB'EDLY, ABSORB'INGLY.--_adj._ ABSORB'ENT, imbibing: swallowing.--_n._ that which absorbs.--_n._ ABSORP'TION, the act of absorbing: entire occupation of mind.--_adj._ ABSORP'TIVE, having power to absorb.--_n._ ABSORPTIV'ITY. [Fr.--L. _ab_, from, _sorb[=e]re_, _-sorptum_, to suck in.]

ABSTAIN, abs-t[=a]n', _v.i._ to hold or refrain from.--_ns._ ABSTAIN'ER, specially one who does not take alcoholic drinks; ABSTEN'TION, a refraining. [Fr. _abstenir_--L. _abs_, from, _ten[=e]re_, to hold. See TENABLE.]

ABSTEMIOUS, abs-t[=e]m'i-us, _adj._ temperate: sparing in food, drink, or enjoyments.--_adv._ ABSTEM'IOUSLY.--_n._ ABSTEM'IOUSNESS. [L. _abstemius_--_abs_, from, _temetum_, strong wine.]

ABSTERSION, abs-ter'shun, _n._ act of cleansing or washing away impurities.--_v.t._ ABSTERGE', to cleanse, purge.--_adjs._ ABSTER'GENT, serving to cleanse; ABSTER'SIVE, having the quality of cleansing: purgative. [L. _absterg[=e]re_, _-tersum_, to wipe away.]

ABSTINENT, abs'tin-ent, _adj._ abstaining from: temperate.--_n._ ABS'TINENCE, an abstaining or refraining, especially from some indulgence (with _from_)--also ABS'TINENCY.--_adv._ ABS'TINENTLY. [See ABSTAIN.]

ABSTRACT, abs-trakt', _v.t._ to draw away: to separate: to purloin.--_adj._ ABSTRACT'ED, drawn off (with _from_): removed: absent in mind.--_adv._ ABSTRACT'EDLY.--_ns._ ABSTRACT'EDNESS; ABSTRAC'TION, act of abstracting: state of being abstracted: absence of mind: the operation of the mind by which certain qualities or attributes of an object are considered apart from the rest: a purloining.--_adj._ ABSTRACT'IVE, having the power of abstracting.--_n._ anything abstractive: an abstract.--_adv._ ABS'TRACTLY.--_n._ ABS'TRACTNESS. [L. _abs_, away from, _trah[)e]re_, _tractum_, to draw. See TRACE.]

ABSTRACT, abs'trakt, _adj._ general, as opposed to particular or individual (the opposite of _abstract_ is _concrete_--a red colour is an abstract notion, a red rose is a concrete notion; an abstract noun is the name of a quality apart from the thing, as redness).--_n._ summary: abridgment: essence. [L. _abstractus_, as if a quality common to a number of things were drawn away from the things and considered by itself.]

ABSTRUSE, abs-tr[=oo]s', _adj._ hidden: remote from apprehension: difficult to be understood.--_adv._ ABSTRUSE'LY.--_ns._ ABSTRUSE'NESS; ABSTRUS'ITY (_Sir T. Browne_). [L. _abstrusus_, thrust away (from observation)--_trud[)e]re_, _trusum_, to thrust.]

ABSURD, ab-surd', _adj._ obviously unreasonable or false: ridiculous.--_ns._ ABSURD'ITY, ABSURD'NESS, the quality of being absurd: anything absurd.--_adv._ ABSURD'LY. [L. _absurdus_--_ab_, from, _surdus_, harsh-sounding, deaf.]

ABUNDANCE, ab-und'ans, _n._ ample sufficiency: great plenty.--_adj._ ABUND'ANT, plentiful.--_adv._ ABUND'ANTLY. [See ABOUND.]

ABUSE, ab-[=u]z', _v.t._ to use wrongly: to pervert: to revile: to violate.--_ns._ ABUSE (ab-[=u]s'), ill use: misapplication: reproach: vituperation; AB[=U]'SION (_Spens._), abuse: deception: reproach.--_adj._ ABUS'IVE, containing or practising abuse: full of abuses: vituperative.--_adv._ ABUS'IVELY.--_n._ ABUS'IVENESS. [L. _ab_, away (from what is right), _uti_, _usus_, to use.]

ABUT, a-but', _v.i._ to end: to border (on):--_pr.p._ abut'ting; _pa.p._ abut'ted.--_ns._ ABUT'MENT, that which abuts: (_archit._) what a limb of an arch ends or rests on; ABUT'TAL, an abutment: (_pl._) the boundaries.--_p.adj._ ABUT'TING, facing each other: front to front. [Fr. _abouter_, lit. to join end to end (_à_, to, _bout_, end). See BUTT, the end.]

ABY, ABYE, a-b[=i], _v.t._ or _v.i._ (_arch._) to pay the penalty: to suffer for: to give satisfaction.--ABY occurs in Spens. with sense of 'abide.' [Pfx. _a-_, and A.S. _bycgan_. See BUY.]

ABYSM, a-bizm', _n._ a form of ABYSS.--_adj._ ABYS'MAL, bottomless: unending.--_adv._ ABYSM'ALLY. [O. Fr. _abisme_, from Lat. _abyssimus_, superl. of _abyssus_, bottomless.]

ABYSS, a-bis', _n._ a bottomless gulf: a deep mass of water.--_adj._ ABYSS'AL. [Gr. _abyssos_, bottomless--_a_, without, _byssos_, bottom.]

ACACIA, a-k[=a]'shi-a, _n._ a genus of thorny leguminous plants with pinnate leaves. [L.--Gr. _akakia_--_ak[=e]_, a sharp point.]

ACADEME, ak-a-d[=e]m', _n._ (_obs._) an academy.

ACADEMIC, ak-ad-em'ik, _n._ a Platonic philosopher: a student in a college. [See ACADEMY.]

ACADEMY, ak-ad'em-i, _n._ (_orig._) the school of Plato: a higher school: a society for the promotion of science or art.--_adjs._ ACADEM'IC, -AL, of an academy: theoretical as opposed to practical.--_adv._ ACADEM'ICALLY.--_n.pl._ ACADEM'ICALS, the articles of dress worn by members of an academy or college.--_ns._ ACADEMIC'IAN, ACAD'EMIST, a member of an academy, or, specially, of the French Academy, or the Royal Academy in London. [Gr. _Akad[=e]mia_, the name of the garden near Athens where Plato taught.]

ACADIAN, a-k[=a]'di-an, _adj._ of or native to Nova Scotia, Acadia being the name given to the country by the first French settlers in 1604.

ACAJOU, ak'a-j[=oo], _n._ the gum or resin of a kind of red mahogany. [Origin doubtful. See CASHEW.]

ACALEPHA, ak-a-l[=e]'fa, _n._ a class of Radiate marine animals, consisting of soft gelatinous substance. The name was first applied to the Jelly-fish tribe, but later was made to include the true _Medusæ_ or jelly-fishes, and others.--Other forms are ACALEPH and ACALEPHAN. [Gr. _akal[=e]ph[=e]_, a nettle.]

ACANTHOPTERYGIAN, ak-an-thop-t[.e]r-ij'i-an, _adj._ having spiny fins. [Gr. _akantha_, thorn, _pteryx_, _pterygos_, a wing, a fin.]

ACANTHUS, a-kan'thus, _n._ a prickly plant, called bear's breech or brank-ursine: (_archit._) an ornament resembling its leaves used in the capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders, &c.--also ACAN'THA.--_adjs._ ACAN'THINE, ACANTH[=A]'CEOUS. [L.--Gr. _akanthos_--_ak[=e]_, a point, _anthos_, a flower.]

ACARPOUS, a-kar'pus, _adj._ (_bot._) without, or not producing, fruit. [Gr. _a_, neg., and _karpos_, fruit.]

ACARUS, ak'ar-us, _n._ a genus of minute insects, of the class Arachnides, embracing the mites and ticks:--_pl._ AC'AR[=I]. [L.; Gr. _akares_, minute, too small to cut--_a_, neg., _keirein_, to cut short.]

ACATALECTIC, a-kat-a-lek'tik, _adj._ having the complete number of syllables as a verse: without defect.--_n._ an acatalectic verse. [L.--Gr. _a_, not, and CATALECTIC.]

ACATALEPSY, a-kat-a-lep'si, _n._ incomprehensibility, a term of the sceptic school of Carneades, who thought nothing could be known to certainty by man.--_adj._ ACATALEP'TIC. [Gr. _akatal[=e]psia_--_a_, neg., _kata_, thoroughly, _l[=e]psis_, a seizing--_lambanein_, to take hold.]

ACATER, a-k[=a]t'[.e]r, _n._ (_obs._) a caterer.--_n.pl._ ACATES', provisions: food. [O. Fr. _acateor_, _achatour_ (Fr. _acheteur_)--Low L. _accapt[=a]t[=o]r-em_, _accaptare_, to acquire--L. _ad-_, to, and _capt[=a]re_, to seize. See CATES.]

ACAULESCENT, a-kaw-les'ent, _adj._ without a stalk: (_bot._) having no stem above ground, or only a very short one.--Also ACAU'LOUS. [_a_, neg., L. _caulis_, a stalk, formed on pattern of ARBORESCENT.]

ACCABLE, ak-k[=a]'bl, _v.t._ (_obs._) to crush, to encumber. [Fr. _accabler_, to crush.]

ACCADIAN, a-k[=a]'di-an, _adj._ of or belonging to Accad, an ancient city mentioned in Gen. x. 10: the language preserved in the earliest form of cuneiform writing.

ACCEDE, ak-s[=e]d', _v.i._ to come to, or arrive at, a place or condition: to join one's self, hence to agree or assent (with _to_).--_ns._ ACCED'ER; ACCED'ING. [L. _acced[)e]re_, _accessum_, to go near to--_ad_, to, _ced[)e]re_, to go. See CEDE.]

ACCELERATE, ak-sel'[.e]r-[=a]t, _v.t._ to increase the speed of: to hasten the progress of.--_n._ ACCELER[=A]'TION, the act of hastening: increase of speed.--_adj._ ACCEL'ERATIVE, quickening.--_n._ ACCEL'ERATOR, one who or that which accelerates: a light van to take mails between a post-office and a railway station.--_adj._ ACCEL'ERATORY. [L. _acceler[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_ad_, to, _celer_, swift. See CELERITY.]

ACCEND, ak-send', _v.i._ (_obs._) to kindle.--_ns._ ACCENDIBIL'ITY, ACCEN'SION.--_adjs._ ACCEND'IBLE, ACCEND'ING.

ACCENT, ak'sent, _n._ modulation of the voice: stress on a syllable or word: a mark used to direct this stress: any mode of utterance peculiar to a country, a province, or an individual: (_poet._) a significant word, or words generally: (_pl._) speech, language.--_v.t._ ACCENT', to express or note the accent.--_adj._ ACCENT'UAL, relating to accent.--_n._ ACCENTUAL'ITY.--_adv._ ACCENT'UALLY.--_v.t._ ACCENT'UATE, to mark or pronounce with accent: to make prominent.--_n._ ACCENTU[=A]'TION, the act of marking or of pronouncing accents. [Fr.--L. _accentus_, a tone or note--_ad_, to, _can[)e]re_, to sing.]

ACCENTOR, ak-sent'or, _n._ the so-called 'hedge-sparrow' (q.v.).

ACCEPT, ak-sept', _v.t._ to receive: to agree to: to promise to pay: (_B._) to receive with favour.--_adj._ ACCEPTABLE (ak-sept'a-bl, or ak'sept-a-bl), to be accepted: pleasing: agreeable.--_ns._ ACCEPT'ABLENESS, ACCEPTABIL'ITY, quality of being acceptable.--_adv._ ACCEPT'ABLY.--_ns._ ACCEPT'ANCE, a favourable reception: an agreeing to terms: an accepted bill; ACCEPT'ANCY, willingness to receive; ACCEPT'ANT, one who accepts--also _adj._; ACCEPT[=A]'TION, a kind reception: the received meaning of a word; ACCEPT'ER, ACCEPT'OR, one who accepts. [L. _accept[=a]re_--_accip[)e]re_, _acceptum_--_ad_, to, _cap[)e]re_, to take.]

ACCEPTILATION, ak-sept-il-[=a]'shun, _n._ (_Roman_ and _Scots law_) the remission of a debt through an acquittance by the creditor testifying to the receipt of money which never has been paid--a kind of legal fiction for a free remission: (_theol._) the doctrine that the satisfaction rendered by Christ was not in itself really a true or full equivalent, but was merely accepted by God, through his gracious good-will, as sufficient--laid down by Duns Scotus, and maintained by the Arminians. [L. _acceptilatio_.]

ACCESS, ak'ses, or ak-ses', _n._ liberty to come to, approach: increase.--_n._ ACCESSIBIL'ITY.--_adj._ ACCESS'IBLE, that may be approached.--_adv._ ACCESS'IBLY. [See ACCEDE.]

ACCESSARY, ak-ses'ar-i, or ak'ses-ar-i. Same as ACCESSORY. _Accessary_ is now the usual spelling of both the adjective and the noun in their legal sense.

ACCESSION, ak-sesh'un, _n._ a coming to: increase.--A DEED OF ACCESSION (_Scots law_), a deed by which the creditors of a bankrupt approve of a trust settlement executed by the debtor for the general behoof, and consent to the arrangement proposed.

ACCESSORY, ak'ses-sor-i, _adj._ additional: contributing to: aiding: (_law_) participating in a crime, as in reset of theft, and the like.--_n._ anything additional: one who aids or gives countenance to a crime.--_adj._ ACCESS[=O]R'IAL, relating to an accessory.--_adv._ AC'CESSORILY, in the manner of an accessory: by subordinate means.

ACCIDENCE, ak'sid-ens, _n._ the part of grammar treating of the inflections of words (because these changes are 'accidentals' of words and not 'essentials').

ACCIDENT, ak'sid-ent, _n._ that which happens: an unforeseen or unexpected event: chance: an unessential quality or property.--_adj._ ACCIDENT'AL, happening by chance: not essential.--_n._ anything not essential.--_ns._ ACCIDENT'ALISM, ACCIDENTAL'ITY.--_adv._ ACCIDENT'ALLY.--THE CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS, the unforeseen course of events. [L. _accid[)e]re_, to happen--_ad_, to, _cad[)e]re_, to fall.]

ACCITE, ak-s[=i]t', _v.t._ (_Shak._) to cite or call, to summon:--_pr.p._ acc[=i]t'ing; _pa.p._ acc[=i]t'ed. [L. _acc[=i]re_, _-citum_--_ad_, to, _ci[=e]re_, _citum_, to call.]

ACCLAMATION, ak-klam-[=a]'shun, _n._ a shout of applause--(_poet._) ACCLAIM'.--_v.t._ ACCLAIM', to declare by acclamation.--_adj._ ACCLAM'ATORY, expressing acclamation. [L. _acclam[=a]re_--_ad_, to, _clam[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to shout. See CLAIM.]

ACCLIMATISE, ak-kl[=i]m'at-[=i]z, _v.t._ to inure to a foreign climate--also ACCLIM'ATE.--_n._ ACCLIMATIS[=A]'TION, the act of acclimatising: the state of being acclimatised--also ACCLIM[=A]'TION, ACCLIMAT[=A]'TION, the former anomalous, the second used in French. [Fr. _acclimater_, from _à_ and _climat_. See CLIMATE.]

ACCLIMATURE, ak-kl[=i]'ma-t[=u]r, _n._ Same as ACCLIMATISATION.

ACCLIVITY, ak-kliv'i-ti, _n._ a slope upwards--opp. to _Declivity_, a slope downwards.--_adj._ ACCL[=I]'VOUS, rising as an acclivity--also ACCLIV'ITOUS. [L. _ad_, to, _clivus_, a slope.]

ACCLOY, ak-kloi', _v.t._ (_obs._) to cloy or choke: to fill to satiety: to encumber. [See CLOY.]

ACCOAST, ak-k[=o]st', _v.t._ (_Spens._) to fly near the earth. [See ACCOST.]

ACCOIL, ak-koil', _v.i._ (_Spens._) to gather together. [Through Fr.--L. _ad_, to, _collig[)e]ere_, to collect. See COIL.]

ACCOLADE, ak-ol-[=a]d', _n._ a ceremony used in conferring knighthood, formerly an embrace, a kiss, now a slap on the shoulders with the flat of a sword. [Fr.--L. _ad_, to, _collum_, neck.]

ACCOMMODATE, ak-kom'mod-[=a]t, _v.t._ to adapt: to make suitable: to adjust: to harmonise or force into consistency (_to_): to furnish or supply (_with_): to provide entertainment for.--_p.adj._ ACCOM'MODATING, affording accommodation: obliging: pliable: easily corrupted.--_n._ ACCOMMOD[=A]'TION, convenience: fitness: adjustment: obligingness: an arrangement or compromise: (_theol._) an adaptation or method of interpretation which explains the special form in which the revelation is presented as unessential to its contents, or rather as often adopted by way of compromise with human ignorance or weakness: a loan of money.--_adj._ ACCOM'MODATIVE, furnishing accommodation: obliging.--_ns._ ACCOM'MODATIVENESS; ACCOM'MODATOR.--ACCOMMODATION BILL, a bill drawn, accepted, or endorsed by one or more persons as security for a sum advanced to another by a third party, as a banker; ACCOMMODATION LADDER, a stairway at the outside of a ship's gangway to facilitate access to boats. [L. _ad_, to, _commodus_, fitting. See COMMODIOUS.]

ACCOMPANABLE, ak-kum'pan-a-bl, _adj._ (_obs._) sociable. [From ACCOMPANY.]

ACCOMPANY, ak-kum'pan-i, _v.t._ to keep company with: to attend: to support a singer by singing or playing on any instrument an additional part (_with_, of music; _on_, of the instrument).--_ns._ ACCOM'PANIER; ACCOM'PANIMENT, that which accompanies: (_mus._) the assisting of a solo part by other parts, which may consist of a whole orchestra, or a single instrument, or even subservient vocal parts; ACCOM'PANIST, one who accompanies a singer on an instrument to sustain his voice. [Fr. _accompagner_. See COMPANY.]

ACCOMPLICE, ak-kom'plis, _n._ an associate, esp. in crime, in modern use (with _of_ and _with_ before a person, and _in_ or _of_ before the crime). [L. _ad_, to, _complex_, _-icis_, joined.]

ACCOMPLISH, ak-kom'plish, _v.t._ to complete: to bring about: to effect: to fulfil: to equip.--_adjs._ ACCOM'PLISHABLE, that may be accomplished; ACCOM'PLISHED, complete in acquirements, especially graceful acquirements: polished.--_n._ ACCOM'PLISHMENT, completion: ornamental acquirement. [Fr. _acomplir_--L. _ad_, to, _compl[=e]re_, to fill up. See COMPLETE.]

ACCOMPT, ak-komt', _n._ an almost obsolete form of ACCOUNT; ACCOMPT'ABLE, of ACCOUNTABLE; ACCOMPT'ANT, of ACCOUNTANT.

ACCORAGE. Same as ACCOURAGE.

ACCORD, ak-kord', _v.i._ to agree: to be in correspondence (_with_).--_v.t._ to cause to agree: to reconcile: to grant (_to_, of a person).--_n._ agreement: harmony.--_n._ ACCORD'ANCE, agreement: conformity--also ACCORD'ANCY.--_adj._ ACCORD'ANT, agreeing: corresponding.--_adv._ ACCORD'ANTLY.--_p.adj._ ACCORD'ING, in accordance: agreeing: harmonious.--_adv._ ACCORD'INGLY, agreeably: suitably: in agreement (with what precedes).--ACCORDING AS, in proportion as, or agreeably as; ACCORDING TO, in accordance with, or agreeably to.--OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD, of one's own spontaneous motion. [O. Fr. _acorder_--L. _ad_, to, _cor_, _cordis_, the heart.]

ACCORDION, ak-kor'di-on, _n._ a portable musical instrument consisting of a hand-bellows, with keyboard on one side, the keys resting on free metal reeds so arranged that each sounds two notes, one in expanding, the other in contracting the bellows. [From ACCORD.]

ACCOST, ak-kost', _v.t._ to speak first to: to address.--_ns._ ACCOST', ACCOST'ING (_obs._), address: greeting.--_adj._ ACCOST'ABLE, easy of access. [O. Fr. _acoster_--Low L. _accost[=a]re_, to be side by side--L. _ad_, to, _costa_, a side.]

ACCOUCHEMENT, ak-k[=oo]sh'mong, _n._ delivery in childbed. [Fr. _accoucher_. See COUCH.]

ACCOUCHEUR, ak-k[=oo]-sh[.e]r', _n._ a man who assists women in child-birth: a medical practitioner with this speciality:--_fem._ ACCOUCHEUSE (ak-k[=oo]-sh[.e]z'). [Fr.]

ACCOUNT, ak-kownt', _v.t._ to reckon: to judge, value.--_v.i._ (with _for_) to give a reason: to give an account of money held in trust.--_n._ a counting: statement: value: sake: a reckoning as to money, as in phrases like, 'to render an account,' 'to settle an account,' 'to square accounts' with any one, &c.--_adj._ ACCOUNT'ABLE, liable to account, responsible (_for_, of the thing; _to_, of the person).--_ns._ ACCOUNT'ABLENESS, ACCOUNTABIL'ITY, liability to give account, responsibility to fulfil obligations.--_adv._ ACCOUNT'ABLY.--_ns._ ACCOUNT'ANCY, the office or work of an accountant; ACCOUNT'ANT, one who keeps, or is skilled in, accounts; ACCOUNT'ANTSHIP, the employment of an accountant; ACCOUNT'-BOOK, a book in which accounts are kept.--ACCOUNT CURRENT, or open account, a course of business dealings still going on between two persons, or a person and a bank.--FOR ACCOUNT OF, on behalf of; FOR THE ACCOUNT, for settlement on the regular fortnightly or monthly settling-day, instead of for cash (of sales on the Stock Exchange).--IN ACCOUNT WITH, in business relations requiring the keeping of an account with some one.--ON or TO ACCOUNT, an instalment or interim payment.--TO MAKE ACCOUNT OF, to set value upon; TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, to take into consideration; TO TAKE NO ACCOUNT OF, to overlook. [O. Fr. _acconter_--L. _ad_, to, _comput[=a]re_, to reckon. See COMPUTE, COUNT.]

ACCOUPLE, ak-kup'l, _v.t._ (_obs._) to couple or link together. [O. Fr. _acopler_--_à_, to, _cople_. See COUPLE.]

ACCOURAGE, ak-kur'[=a]j, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to encourage. [O. Fr. _acorager_--_à_ (L. _ad_), and _corage_ (Fr. _courage_). See COURAGE.]

ACCOURT, ak-k[=o]rt', _v.t._ (_Spens._). Same as COURT.

ACCOUTRE, ak-k[=oo]'t[.e]r, _v.t._ to dress or equip (esp. a warrior):--_pr.p._ accou'tring; _pa.p._ accou'tred.--_n.pl._ ACCOU'TREMENTS, dress: military equipments--(_Spens._) ACCOU'STREMENTS. [Fr. _accoutrer_, earlier _accoustrer_--of doubtful origin, prob. conn. with O. Fr. _coustre_, _coutre_, a sacristan who had charge of sacred vestments--Low L. _custor_--L. _custos_, a keeper.]

ACCOY, ak-koi', _v.t._ (_obs._) to still or quieten: to soothe: to subdue. [O. Fr. _acoyer_--_à_, to, and _coi_, quiet--L. _quiet-um_. See COY.]

ACCREDIT, ak-kred'it, _v.t._ to give credit, countenance, authority, or honour to: to furnish with credentials (with _to_, _at_): to vouch for anything belonging to some one--to ascribe or attribute it to him (_with_).--_v.t._ ACCRED'ITATE (_obs._).--_n._ ACCREDIT[=A]'TION, fact of being accredited.--The _pa.p._ ACCRED'ITED, as _adj._, recognised. [Fr. _accréditer_--_à_, to, _crédit_, credit. See CREDIT.]

ACCRESCENT, ak-kres'ent, _adj._ growing: ever-increasing.--_ns._ ACCRES'CENCE, gradual growth or increase; ACCR[=E]'TION, the process of growing continuously: the growing together of parts externally, or continuous coherence: that which has grown in such a way, any extraneous addition.--_adj._ ACCR[=E]'TIVE. [L. _ad_, in addition, _cresc[)e]re_, to grow.]

ACCREW, ak-kr[=oo]' (_Spens._). Same as ACCRUE.

ACCRUE, ak-kr[=oo]', _v.i._ to spring or grow as a natural result (with _from_): to fall to any one by way of advantage (with _unto_, _to_). [O. Fr. _acrewe_, what grows up in a wood to the profit of the owner; _acreistre_--L. _accresc[)e]re_.]

ACCUBATION, ak-ku-b[=a]'shun, _n._ a lying or reclining on a couch. [L. _ad_, to, and _cubare_, to lie down.]

ACCUMBENT, ak-kumb'ent, _adj._ lying down or reclining on a couch. [L. _ad_, to, _cumb[)e]re_, to lie.]

ACCUMULATE, ak-k[=u]m'[=u]l-[=a]t, _v.t._ to heap or pile up: to amass: to take degrees by accumulation, to take a higher degree at the same time with a lower, or at a shorter interval than usual.--_v.i._ to increase greatly: to go on increasing.--_n._ ACCUMUL[=A]'TION, a heaping up: a heap, mass, or pile.--_adj._ ACCUM'ULATIVE, heaping up.--_n._ ACCUM'ULATOR, a thing or person that accumulates, esp. an apparatus for storing electricity. [L.--_ad_, to, _cumulus_, a heap.]

ACCURATE, ak'k[=u]r-[=a]t, _adj._ done with care: exact.--_n._ AC'CURACY, correctness: exactness.--_adv._ AC'CURATELY.--_n._ AC'CURATENESS. [L. _accuratus_, performed with care (of things)--_ad_, to, _cura_, care.]

ACCURSE, ak-kurs', _v.t._ to curse: to devote to misery or destruction.--_adj._ ACCURS'ED, subjected to a curse: doomed: worthy of a curse: extremely wicked. [Pfx. _à-_, and A.S. _cursian_, to curse.]

ACCUSATIVE, ak-k[=u]z'a-tiv, _adj._ accusing.--_n._ (_gram._) the case which expresses the direct object of transitive verbs (in English, the objective)--primarily expressing destination or the goal of motion.--_adj._ ACCUS'ATIVAL. [Fr. _accusatif_--L. _accusativus_, 'of the nature of accusation,' a translation of the Gr. _(pt[=o]sis) aitiatik[=e]_, (the case) 'of accusing,' but also 'of or pertaining to what is caused or effected' (_aitiaton_, effect, _aitia_, cause); hence, properly, the case of the effect.]