Chapter II: Front Matter (2)

1. Cast down; low-lying. [Obs.] From the safe shore their floating carcasses And broken chariot wheels; so thick bestrown Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood. Milton.

2. Sunk to a law condition; down in spirit or hope; degraded; servile; groveling; despicable; as, abject posture, fortune, thoughts. "Base and abject flatterers." Addison. "An abject liar." Macaulay. And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams. Shak.

Syn. -- Mean; groveling; cringing; mean-spirited; slavish; ignoble; worthless; vile; beggarly; contemptible; degraded.

ABJECT Ab*ject", v. t. Etym: [From Abject, a.]

Defn: To cast off or down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower; to debase. [Obs.] Donne.

ABJECT Ab"ject, n.

Defn: A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a castaway. [Obs.] Shall these abjects, these victims, these outcasts, know any thing of pleasure I. Taylor.

ABJECTEDNESS Ab*ject"ed*ness, n.

Defn: A very abject or low condition; abjectness. [R.] Boyle.

ABJECTION Ab*jec"tion, n. Etym: [F. abjection, L. abjectio.]

1. The act of bringing down or humbling. "The abjection of the king and his realm." Joe.

2. The state of being rejected or cast out. [R.] An adjection from the beatific regions where God, and his angels and saints, dwell forever. Jer. Taylor.

3. A low or downcast state; meanness of spirit; abasement; degradation. That this should be termed baseness, abjection of mind, or servility, is it credible Hooker.

ABJECTLY Ab"ject*ly, adv.

Defn: Meanly; servilely.

ABJECTNESS Ab"ject*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being abject; abasement; meanness; servility. Grew.

ABJUDGE Ab*judge", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ab- + judge, v. Cf. Abjudicate.]

Defn: To take away by judicial decision. [R.]

ABJUDICATE Ab*ju"di*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. abjudicatus, p. p. of abjudicare; ab + judicare. See Judge, and cf. Abjudge.]

Defn: To reject by judicial sentence; also, to abjudge. [Obs.] Ash.

ABJUDICATION Ab*ju`di*ca"tion, n.

Defn: Rejection by judicial sentence. [R.] Knowles.

ABJUGATE Ab"ju*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. abjugatus, p. p. of abjugare.]

Defn: To unyoke. [Obs.] Bailey.

ABJUNCTIVE Ab*junc"tive, a. Etym: [L. abjunctus, p. p. of abjungere; ab + jungere to join.]

Defn: Exceptional. [R.] It is this power which leads on from the accidental and abjunctive to the universal. I. Taylor.

ABJURATION Ab`ju*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. abjuratio: cf. F. abjuration.]

1. The act of abjuring or forswearing; a renunciation upon oath; as, abjuration of the realm, a sworn banishment, an oath taken to leave the country and never to return.

2. A solemn recantation or renunciation; as, an abjuration of heresy. Oath of abjuration, an oath asserting the right of the present royal family to the crown of England, and expressly abjuring allegiance to the descendants of the Pretender. Brande & C.

ABJURATORY Ab*ju"ra*to*ry, a.

Defn: Containing abjuration.

ABJURE Ab*jure", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abjured; p. pr. & vb. n. Abjuring.] Etym: [L. abjurare to deny upon oath; ab + jurare to swear, fr. jus, juris, right, law; cf. F. abjurer. See Jury.]

1. To renounce upon oath; to forswear; to disavow; as, to abjure allegiance to a prince. To abjure the realm, is to swear to abandon it forever.

2. To renounce or reject with solemnity; to recant; to abandon forever; to reject; repudiate; as, to abjure errors. "Magic I here abjure." Shak.

Syn. -- See Renounce.

ABJURE Ab*jure", v. i.

Defn: To renounce on oath. Bp. Burnet.

ABJUREMENT Ab*jure"ment, n.

Defn: Renunciation. [R.]

ABJURER Ab*jur"er, n.

Defn: One who abjures.

ABLACTATE Ab*lac"tate, v. t. Etym: [L. ablactatus, p. p. of ablactare; ab + lactare to suckle, fr. lac milk.]

Defn: To wean. [R.] Bailey.

ABLACTATION Ab`lac*ta"tion. n.

1. The weaning of a child from the breast, or of young beasts from their dam. Blount.

2. (Hort.)

Defn: The process of grafting now called inarching, or grafting by approach.

ABLAQUEATE Ab*la"que*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. ablaqueatus, p. p. of. ablaqueare; fr. ab + laqueus a noose.]

Defn: To lay bare, as the roots of a tree. [Obs.] Bailey.

ABLAQUEATION Ab*la`que*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. ablaqueatio.]

Defn: The act or process of laying bare the roots of trees to expose them to the air and water. [Obs.] Evelyn.

ABLASTEMIC Ab`las*tem"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: Non-germinal.

ABLATION Ab*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. ablatio, fr. ablatus p. p. of auferre to carry away; ab + latus, p. p. of ferre carry: cf. F. ablation. See Tolerate.]

1. A carrying or taking away; removal. Jer. Taylor.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Extirpation. Dunglison.

3. (Geol.)

Defn: Wearing away; superficial waste. Tyndall.

ABLATITIOUS Ab`la*ti"tious, a.

Defn: Diminishing; as, an ablatitious force. Sir J. Herschel.

ABLATIVE Ab"la*tive, a. Etym: [F. ablatif, ablative, L. ablativus fr. ablatus. See Ablation.]

1. Taking away or removing. [Obs.] Where the heart is forestalled with misopinion, ablative directions are found needful to unteach error, ere we can learn truth. Bp. Hall.

2. (Gram.)

Defn: Applied to one of the cases of the noun in Latin and some other languages, -- the fundamental meaning of the case being removal, separation, or taking away.

ABLATIVE Ab"la*tive, (Gram.)

Defn: The ablative case. ablative absolute, a construction in Latin, in which a noun in the ablative case has a participle (either expressed or implied), agreeing with it in gender, number, and case, both words forming a clause by themselves and being unconnected, grammatically, with the rest of the sentence; as, Tarquinio regnante, Pythagoras venit, i. e., Tarquinius reigning, Pythagoras came.

ABLAUT Ab"laut, n. Etym: [Ger., off-sound; ab off + laut sound.] (Philol.)

Defn: The substitution of one root vowel for another, thus indicating a corresponding modification of use or meaning; vowel permutation; as, get, gat, got; sing, song; hang, hung. Earle.

ABLAZE A*blaze", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + blaze.]

1. On fire; in a blaze, gleaming. Milman. All ablaze with crimson and gold. Longfellow.

2. In a state of glowing excitement or ardent desire. The young Cambridge democrats were all ablaze to assist Torrijos. Carlyle.

ABLE A"ble, a. [Comp. Abler; superl. Ablest.] Etym: [OF. habile, L. habilis that may be easily held or managed, apt, skillful, fr. habere to have, hold. Cf. Habile and see Habit.]

1. Fit; adapted; suitable. [Obs.] A many man, to ben an abbot able. Chaucer.

2. Having sufficient power, strength, force, skill, means, or resources of any kind to accomplish the object; possessed of qualifications rendering competent for some end; competent; qualified; capable; as, an able workman, soldier, seaman, a man able to work; a mind able to reason; a person able to be generous; able to endure pain; able to play on a piano.

3. Specially: Having intellectual qualifications, or strong mental powers; showing ability or skill; talented; clever; powerful; as, the ablest man in the senate; an able speech. No man wrote abler state papers. Macaulay.

4. (Law)

Defn: Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence; as, able to inherit or devise property.

Note: Able for, is Scotticism. "Hardly able for such a march." Robertson.

Syn. -- Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective; capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.

ABLE A"ble, v. t. Etym: [See Able, a.] [Obs.]

1. To make able; to enable; to strengthen. Chaucer.

2. To vouch for. "I 'll able them." Shak.

ABLE; -ABLE; IBLE; -IBLE *a*ble. Etym: [F. -able, L. -abilis.]

Defn: An adjective suffix now usually in a passive sense; able to be; fit to be; expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense; as, movable, able to be moved; amendable, able to be amended; blamable, fit to be blamed; salable.

Note: The form ible is used in the same sense.

Note: It is difficult to say when we are not to use -able instead of -ible. "Yet a rule may be laid down as to when we are to use it. To all verbs, then, from the Anglo-Saxon, to all based on the uncorrupted infinitival stems of Latin verbs of the first conjugation, and to all substantives, whencesoever sprung, we annex - able only." Fitzed. Hall.

ABLE-BODIED A`ble-bod"ied, a.

Defn: Having a sound, strong body; physically competent; robust. "Able-bodied vagrant." Froude. -- A`ble-bod"ied*ness, n..

ABLEGATE Ab"le*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. ablegatus, p. p. of ablegare; ab + legare to send with a commission. See Legate.]

Defn: To send abroad. [Obs.] Bailey.

ABLEGATE Ab"le*gate, n. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A representative of the pope charged with important commissions in foreign countries, one of his duties being to bring to a newly named cardinal his insignia of office.

ABLEGATION Ab`le*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. ablegatio.]

Defn: The act of sending abroad. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

ABLE-MINDED A`ble-mind"ed, a.

Defn: Having much intellectual power. -- A`ble-mind"ed*ness, n.

ABLENESS A"ble*ness, n.

Defn: Ability of body or mind; force; vigor. [Obs. or R.]

ABLEPSY Ab"lep*sy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Blindness. [R.] Urquhart.

ABLER A"bler, a.,

Defn: comp. of Able. -- A"blest, a.,

Defn: superl. of Able.

ABLET; ABLEN Ab"let, Ab"len Etym: [F. ablet, ablette, a dim. fr. LL. abula, for albula, dim. of albus white. Cf. Abele.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small fresh-water fish (Leuciscus alburnus); the bleak.

ABLIGATE Ab"li*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. ab + ligatus, p. p. of ligare to tie.]

Defn: To tie up so as to hinder from. [Obs.]

ABLIGURITION Ab*lig`u*ri"tion, n. Etym: [L. abligurito, fr. abligurire to spend in luxurious indulgence; ab + ligurire to be lickerish, dainty, fr. lingere to lick.]

Defn: Prodigal expense for food. [Obs.] Bailey.

ABLINS A"blins, adv. Etym: [See Able.]

Defn: Perhaps. [Scot.]

ABLOOM A*bloom", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + bloom.]

Defn: In or into bloom; in a blooming state. Masson.

ABLUDE Ab*lude", v. t. Etym: [L. abludere; ab + ludere to play.]

Defn: To be unlike; to differ. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

ABLUENT Ab"lu*ent, a. Etym: [L. abluens, p. pr. of. abluere to wash away; ab + luere (lavere, lavare). See Lave.]

Defn: Washing away; carrying off impurities; detergent. -- n. (Med.)

Defn: A detergent.

ABLUSH A*blush", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + blush.]

Defn: Blushing; ruddy.

ABLUTION Ab*lu`tion, n. Etym: [L. ablutio, fr. abluere: cf. F. ablution. See Abluent.]

1. The act of washing or cleansing; specifically, the washing of the body, or some part of it, as a religious rite.

2. The water used in cleansing. "Cast the ablutions in the main." Pope.

3. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A small quantity of wine and water, which is used to wash the priest's thumb and index finger after the communion, and which then, as perhaps containing portions of the consecrated elements, is drunk by the priest.

ABLUTIONARY Ab*lu"tion*a*ry, a.

Defn: Pertaining to ablution.

ABLUVION Ab*lu"vi*on, n. Etym: [LL. abluvio. See Abluent.]

Defn: That which is washed off. [R.] Dwight.

ABLY A"bly, adv.

Defn: In an able manner; with great ability; as, ably done, planned, said.

-ABLY -a*bly(#).

Defn: A suffix composed of -able and the adverbial suffix -ly; as, favorably.

ABNEGATE Ab"ne*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abnegated; p. pr. & vb. n. Abnegating.] Etym: [L. abnegatus,p. p. of abnegare; ab + negare to deny. See Deny.]

Defn: To deny and reject; to abjure. Sir E. Sandys. Farrar.

ABNEGATION Ab`ne*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. abnegatio: cf. F. abnégation.]

Defn: a denial; a renunciation. With abnegation of God, of his honor, and of religion, they may retain the friendship of the court. Knox.

ABNEGATIVE Ab"ne*ga*tive, a. Etym: [L. abnegativus.]

Defn: Denying; renouncing; negative. [R.] Clarke.

ABNEGATOR Ab"ne*ga`tor(#), n. [L.]

Defn: One who abnegates, denies, or rejects anything. [R.]

ABNET Ab"net, n. Etym: [Heb.]

Defn: The girdle of a Jewish priest or officer.

ABNODATE Ab"no*date, v. t. Etym: [L. abnodatus, p. p. of abnodare; ab + nodus knot.]

Defn: To clear (tress) from knots. [R.] Blount.

ABNODATION Ab`no*da"tion, n.

Defn: The act of cutting away the knots of trees. [R.] Crabb.

ABNORMAL Ab*nor"mal, a. Etym: [For earlier anormal.F. anormal, LL. anormalus for anomalus, Gr. abnormis. See Anomalous, Abnormous, Anormal.]

Defn: Not conformed to rule or system; deviating from the type; anomalous; irregular. "That deviating from the type; anomalous; irregular. " Froude.

ABNORMALITY Ab`nor*mal"i*ty, n.; pl. Abnormalities.

1. The state or quality of being abnormal; variation; irregularity. Darwin.

2. Something abnormal.

ABNORMALLY Ab*nor"mal*ly, adv.

Defn: In an abnormal manner; irregularly. Darwin.

ABNORMITY Ab*nor"mi*ty, n.; pl. Abnormities. Etym: [LL. abnormitas. See Abnormous.]

Defn: Departure from the ordinary type; irregularity; monstrosity. "An abnormity . . . like a calf born with two heads." Mrs. Whitney.

ABNORMOUS Ab*nor"mous, a. Etym: [L. abnormis; ab + norma rule. See Normal.]

Defn: Abnormal; irregular. Hallam. A character of a more abnormous cast than his equally suspected coadjutor. State Trials.

ABOARD A*board", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- on, in + board.]

Defn: On board; into or within a ship or boat; hence, into or within a railway car.

2. Alongside; as, close aboard. Naut.: To fall aboard of, to strike a ship's side; to fall foul of. -- To haul the tacks aboard, to set the courses. -- To keep the land aboard, to hug the shore. -- To lay (a ship) aboard, to place one's own ship close alongside of (a ship) for fighting.

ABOARD A*board", prep.

1. On board of; as, to go aboard a ship.

2. Across; athwart. [Obs.] Nor iron bands aboard The Pontic Sea by their huge navy cast. Spenser.

ABODANCE A*bod"ance, n. Etym: [See Bode.]

Defn: An omen; a portending. [Obs.]

ABODE A*bode", pret.

Defn: of Abide.

ABODE A*bode", n. Etym: [OE. abad, abood, fr. abiden to abide. See Abide. For the change of vowel, cf. abode, imp. of abide.]

1. Act of waiting; delay. [Obs.] Shak. And with her fled away without abode. Spenser.

2. Stay or continuance in a place; sojourn. He waxeth at your abode here. Fielding.

3. Place of continuance, or where one dwells; abiding place; residence; a dwelling; a habitation. Come, let me lead you to our poor abode. Wordsworth.

ABODE A*bode", n. Etym: [See Bode, v. t.]

Defn: An omen. [Obs.] High-thundering Juno's husband stirs my spirit with true abodes. Chapman.

ABODE A*bode", v. t.

Defn: To bode; to foreshow. [Obs.] Shak.

ABODE A*bode", v. i.

Defn: To be ominous. [Obs.] Dryden.

ABODEMENT A*bode"ment, n.

Defn: A foreboding; an omen. [Obs.] "Abodements must not now affright us." Shak.

ABODING A*bod"ing, n.

Defn: A foreboding. [Obs.]

ABOLISH A*bol"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abolished; p. pr. & vb. n. Abolishing.] Etym: [F. abolir, L. abolere, aboletum; ab + olere to grow. Cf. Finish.]

1. To do away with wholly; to annul; to make void; -- said of laws, customs, institutions, governments, etc.; as, to abolish slavery, to abolish folly.

2. To put an end to, or destroy, as a physical objects; to wipe out. [Archaic] And with thy blood abolish so reproachful blot. Spenser. His quick instinctive hand Caught at the hilt, as to abolish him. Tennyson.

Syn. -- To Abolish, Repeal, Abrogate, Revoke, Annul, Nullify, Cancel. These words have in common the idea of setting aside by some overruling act. Abolish applies particularly to things of a permanent nature, such as institutions, usages, customs, etc.; as, to abolish monopolies, serfdom, slavery. Repeal describes the act by which the legislature of a state sets aside a law which it had previously enacted. Abrogate was originally applied to the repeal of a law by the Roman people; and hence, when the power of making laws was usurped by the emperors, the term was applied to their act of setting aside the laws. Thus it came to express that act by which a sovereign or an executive government sets aside laws, ordinances, regulations, treaties, conventions, etc. Revoke denotes the act or recalling some previous grant which conferred, privilege, etc.; as, to revoke a decree, to revoke a power of attorney, a promise, etc. Thus, also, we speak of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Annul is used in a more general sense, denoting simply to make void; as, to annul a contract, to annul an agreement. Nullify is an old word revived in this country, and applied to the setting of things aside either by force or by total disregard; as, to nullify an act of Congress. Cancel is to strike out or annul, by a deliberate exercise of power, something which has operative force.

ABOLISHABLE A*bol"ish*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. abolissable.]

Defn: Capable of being abolished.

ABOLISHER A*bol"ish*er, n.

Defn: One who abolishes.

ABOLISHMENT A*bol"ish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. abolissement.]

Defn: The act of abolishing; abolition; destruction. Hooker.

ABOLITION Ab"o*li"tion, n. Etym: [L. abolitio, fr. abolere: cf. F. abolition. See Abolish.]

Defn: The act of abolishing, or the state of being abolished; an annulling; abrogation; utter destruction; as, the abolition of slavery or the slave trade; the abolition of laws, decrees, ordinances, customs, taxes, debts, etc.

Note: The application of this word to persons is now unusual or obsolete

ABOLITIONISM Ab`o*li"tion*ism, n.

Defn: The principles or measures of abolitionists. Wilberforce.

ABOLITIONIST Ab`o*li"tion*ist, n.

Defn: A person who favors the abolition of any institution, especially negro slavery.

ABOLITIONIZE Ab`o*li`tion*ize, v. t.

Defn: To imbue with the principles of abolitionism. [R.] Bartlett.

ABOMA A*bo"ma, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large South American serpent (Boa aboma).

ABOMASUM; ABOMASUS Ab`o*ma"sum, Ab`o*ma"sus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. ab + omasum (a Celtic word.] (Anat.)

Defn: The fourth or digestive stomach of a ruminant, which leads from the third stomach omasum. See Ruminantia.

ABOMINABLE A*bom"i*na*ble, a. Etym: [F. abominable. L. abominalis. See Abominate.]

1. Worthy of, or causing, abhorrence, as a thing of evil omen; odious in the utmost degree; very hateful; detestable; loathsome; execrable.

2. Excessive; large; -- used as an intensive. [Obs.]

Note: Juliana Berners . . . informs us that in her time [15th c.], "abomynable syght of monkes" was elegant English for "a large company of friars." G. P. Marsh.

ABOMINABLENESS A*bom"i*na*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being abominable; odiousness. Bentley.

ABOMINABLY A*bom"i*na*bly, adv.

Defn: In an abominable manner; very odiously; detestably.

ABOMINATE A*bom"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abominated; p. pr. & vb. n. Abominating.] Etym: [L. abominatus, p. p. or abominari to deprecate as ominous, to abhor, to curse; ab + omen a foreboding. See Omen.]

Defn: To turn from as ill-omened; to hate in the highest degree, as if with religious dread; loathe; as, to abominate all impiety.

Syn. -- To hate; abhor; loathe; detest. See Hate.

ABOMINATION A*bom`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [OE. abominacioun, -cion, F. abominatio. See Abominate.]

1. The feeling of extreme disgust and hatred; abhorrence; detestation; loathing; as, he holds tobacco in abomination.

2. That which is abominable; anything hateful, wicked, or shamefully vile; an object or state that excites disgust and hatred; a hateful or shameful vice; pollution. Antony, most large in his abominations. Shak.

3. A cause of pollution or wickedness.

Syn. -- Detestation; loathing; abhorrence; disgust; aversion; loathsomeness; odiousness. Sir W. Scott.

ABOON A*boon", prep.

Defn: and adv. Above. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] Aboon the pass of Bally-Brough. Sir W. Scott. The ceiling fair that rose aboon. J. R. Drake.

ABORAL Ab*o"ral, a. Etym: [L. ab. + E. oral.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Situated opposite to, or away from, the mouth.

ABORD A*bord", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Manner of approaching or accosting; address. Chesterfield.

ABORD A*bord", v. t. Etym: [F. aborder, à (L. ad) + bord rim, brim, or side of a vessel. See Border, Board.]

Defn: To approach; to accost. [Obs.] Digby.

ABORIGINAL Ab`o*rig"i*nal, a. Etym: [See Aborigines.]

1. First; original; indigenous; primitive; native; as, the aboriginal tribes of America. "Mantled o'er with aboriginal turf." Wordsworth.

2. Of or pertaining to aborigines; as, a Hindoo of aboriginal blood.

ABORIGINAL Ab`o*rig"i*nal, n.

1. An original inhabitant of any land; one of the aborigines.

2. An animal or a plant native to the region. It may well be doubted whether this frog is an aboriginal of these islands. Darwin.

ABORIGINALITY Ab`o*rig`i*nal"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being aboriginal. Westm. Rev.

ABORIGINALLY Ab`o*rig"i*nal*ly, adv.

Defn: Primarily.

ABORIGINES Ab`o*rig"i*nes, n. pl. Etym: [L. Aborigines; ab + origo, especially the first inhabitants of Latium, those who originally (ab origine) inhabited Latium or Italy. See Origin.]

1. The earliest known inhabitants of a country; native races.

2. The original fauna and flora of a geographical area

ABORSEMENT A*borse"ment, n.

Defn: Abortment; abortion. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

ABORSIVE A*bor"sive, a.

Defn: Abortive. [Obs.] Fuller.

ABORT A*bort", v. i. Etym: [L. abortare, fr. abortus, p. p. of aboriri; ab + oriri to rise, to be born. See Orient.]

1. To miscarry; to bring forth young prematurely.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: To become checked in normal development, so as either to remain rudimentary or shrink away wholly; to become sterile.

ABORT A*bort", n. Etym: [L. abortus, fr. aboriri.]

1. An untimely birth. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

2. An aborted offspring. [Obs.] Holland.

ABORTED A*bort"ed, a.

1. Brought forth prematurely.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: Rendered abortive or sterile; undeveloped; checked in normal development at a very early stage; as, spines are aborted branches. The eyes of the cirripeds are more or less aborted in their mature state. Owen.

ABORTICIDE A*bor"ti*cide, n. Etym: [L. abortus + caedere to kill. See Abort.] (Med.)

Defn: The act of destroying a fetus in the womb; feticide.

ABORTIFACIENT A*bor`ti*fa"cient, a. Etym: [L. abortus (see Abort, v.) + faciens, p. pr. of facere to make.]

Defn: Producing miscarriage. -- n.

Defn: A drug or an agent that causes premature delivery.

ABORTION A*bor"tion, n. Etym: [L. abortio, fr. aboriri. See Abort.]

1. The act of giving premature birth; particularly, the expulsion of the human fetus prematurely, or before it is capable of sustaining life; miscarriage.

Note: It is sometimes used for the offense of procuring a premature delivery, but strictly the early delivery is the abortion, "causing or procuring abortion" is the full name of the offense. Abbott.

2. The immature product of an untimely birth.

3. (Biol.)

Defn: Arrest of development of any organ, so that it remains an imperfect formation or is absorbed.

4. Any fruit or produce that does not come to maturity, or anything which in its progress, before it is matured or perfect; a complete failure; as, his attempt. proved an abortiori.

ABORTIONAL A*bor"tion*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to abortion; miscarrying; abortive. Carlyle.

ABORTIONIST A*bor"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One who procures abortion or miscarriage.

ABORTIVE A*bor"tive, a. Etym: [L. abortivus, fr. aboriri. See Abort, v.]

1. Produced by abortion; born prematurely; as, an abortive child. [R.]

2. Made from the skin of a still-born animal; as, abortive vellum. [Obs.]

3. Rendering fruitless or ineffectual. [Obs.] "Plunged in that abortive gulf." Milton.

4. Coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying; fruitless; unsuccessful; as, an abortive attempt. "An abortive enterprise." Prescott.

5. (Biol.)

Defn: Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile; as, an abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc.

6. (Med.) (a) Causing abortion; as, abortive medicines. Parr. (b) Cutting short; as, abortive treatment of typhoid fever.

ABORTIVE A*bor"tive, n.

1. That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion. [Obs.] Shak.

2. A fruitless effort or issue. [Obs.]

3. A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing abortion. Dunglison.

ABORTIVELY A*bor"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In an abortive or untimely manner; immaturely; fruitlessly.

ABORTIVENESS A*bor"tive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being abortive.

ABORTMENT A*bort"ment, n.

Defn: Abortion. [Obs.]

ABOUGHT A*bought", imp. & p. p.

Defn: of Aby. [Obs.]

ABOUND A*bound", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Abounding.] Etym: [OE. abounden, F. abonder, fr. L. abundare to overflow, abound; ab + unda wave. Cf. Undulate.]

1. To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent; to be plentiful. The wild boar which abounds in some parts of the continent of Europe. Chambers. Where sin abounded grace did much more abound. Rom. v. 20.

2. To be copiously supplied; -- followed by in or with. To abound in, to posses in such abundance as to be characterized by. -- To abound with, to be filled with; to possess in great numbers. Men abounding in natural courage. Macaulay. A faithful man shall abound with blessings. Prov. xxviii. 20. It abounds with cabinets of curiosities. Addison.

ABOUT A*bout", prep. Etym: [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. abutan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out. See But, Out.]

1. Around; all round; on every side of. "Look about you." Shak. "Bind them about thy neck." Prov. iii. 3.

2. In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person). "Have you much money about you" Bulwer.

3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout. Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses. Macaulay. Roving still about the world. Milton.

4. Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity. "To-morrow, about this time." Exod. ix. 18. "About my stature." Shak. He went out about the third hour. Matt. xx. 3.

Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.

5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on. I must be about my Father's business. Luke ii. 49.

6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive:

Defn: On the point or verge of; going; in act of. Paul was now aboutto open his mouth. Acts xviii. 14.

7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. "To treat about thy ransom." Milton. She must have her way about Sarah. Trollope.

ABOUT A*bout", adv.

1. On all sides; around. 'Tis time to look about. Shak.

2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.

3. Here and there; around; in one place and another. Wandering about from house to house. 1 Tim. v. 13.

4. Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as high; -- also of quantity, number, time. "There fell . . . about three thousand men." Exod. xxii. 28.

5. To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about. To bring about, to cause to take place; to accomplish. -- To come about, to occur; to take place. See under Come. -- To go about, To set about, to undertake; to arrange; to prepare. "Shall we set about some revels Shak. -- Round about, in every direction around.

ABOUT-SLEDGE A*bout"-sledge", n.

Defn: The largest hammer used by smiths. Weale.

ABOVE A*bove", prep. Etym: [OE. above, aboven, abuffe, AS. abufon; an (or on) on + be by + ufan upward; cf. Goth. uf under. *199. See Over.]

1. In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface; over; -- opposed to below or beneath. Fowl that may fly above the earth. Gen. i. 20.

2. Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach. "Thy worth . . . is actions above my gifts." Marlowe. I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun. Acts xxxvi. 13.

3. Surpassing in number or quantity; more than; as, above a hundred. (Passing into the adverbial sense. See Above, adv., 4.) above all, before every other consideration; chiefly; in preference to other things. Over and above, prep. or adv., besides; in addition to.

ABOVE A*bove", adv.

1. In a higher place; overhead; into or from heaven; as, the clouds above.

2. Earlier in order; higher in the same page; hence, in a foregoing page. "That was said above." Dryden.

3. Higher in rank or power; as, he appealed to the court above.

4. More than; as, above five hundred were present.

Note: Above is often used elliptically as an adjective by omitting the word mentioned, quoted, or the like; as, the above observations, the above reference, the above articles. -- Above is also used substantively. "The waters that come down from above." Josh. iii. 13. It is also used as the first part of a compound in the sense of before, previously; as, above-cited, above- described, above-mentioned, above-named, abovesaid, abovespecified, above-written, above-given.

ABOVEBOARD A*bove"board`, adv.

Defn: Above the board or table. Hence: in open sight; without trick, concealment, or deception. "Fair and aboveboard." Burke.

Note: This expression is said by Johnson to have been borrowed from gamesters, who, when they change their cards, put their hands under the table.

ABOVE-CITED A*bove"-cit`ed, a.

Defn: Cited before, in the preceding part of a book or writing.

ABOVEDECK A*bove"deck`, a.

Defn: On deck; and hence, like aboveboard, without artifice. Smart.

ABOVE-MENTIONED; ABOVE-NAMED A*bove"-men`tioned, A*bove"-named`(#), a.

Defn: Mentioned or named before; aforesaid.

ABOVESAID A*bove"said`, a.

Defn: Mentioned or recited before.

ABOX A*box", adv. & a. (Naut.)

Defn: Braced aback.

ABRA A"bra, n. [Sp., a bay, valley, fissure.]

Defn: A narrow pass or defile; a break in a mesa; the mouth of a cañon. [Southwestern U. S.]

ABRACADABRA Ab`ra*ca*dab"ra, n. Etym: [L. Of unknown origin.]

Defn: A mystical word or collocation of letters written as in the figure. Worn on an amulet it was supposed to ward off fever. At present the word is used chiefly in jest to denote something without meaning; jargon.

ABRADANT Ab*ra"dant, n.

Defn: A material used for grinding, as emery, sand, powdered glass, etc.

ABRADE Ab*rade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abraded; p. pr. & vb. n. Abrading.] Etym: [L. abradere, abrasum, to scrape off; ab + radere to scrape. See Rase, Raze.]

Defn: To rub or wear off; to waste or wear away by friction; as, to abrade rocks. Lyell.

ABRADE A*brade", v. t.

Defn: Same as Abraid. [Obs.]

ABRAHAMIC A`bra*ham"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to Abraham, the patriarch; as, the Abrahamic covenant.

ABRAHAMITIC; ABRAHAMITICAL A`bra*ham*it"ic, A`bra*ham*it*ic*al(#), a.

Defn: Relating to the patriarch Abraham.

ABRAHAM-MAN; ABRAM-MAN A"bra*ham-man`(#) or A"bram-man`(#), n. Etym: [Possibly in allusion to the parable of the beggar Lazarus in Luke xvi. Murray (New Eng. Dict. ).]

Defn: One of a set of vagabonds who formerly roamed through England, feigning lunacy for the sake of obtaining alms. Nares. To sham Abraham, to feign sickness. Goldsmith.

ABRAID A*braid", v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. abraiden, to awake, draw (a sword), AS. abredgan to shake, draw; pref. a- (cf. Goth. us-, Ger. er-, orig. meaning out) + bregdan to shake, throw. See Braid.]

Defn: To awake; to arouse; to stir or start up; also, to shout out. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ABRANCHIAL A*bran"chi*al, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Abranchiate.

ABRANCHIATA A*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of annelids, so called because the species composing it have no special organs of respiration.

ABRANCHIATE A*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Without gills.

ABRASE Ab*rase", a. Etym: [L. abrasus, p. p. of abradere. See Abrade.]

Defn: Rubbed smooth. [Obs.] "An abrase table." B. Jonson.

ABRASION Ab*ra"sion, n. Etym: [L. abrasio, fr. abradere. See Abrade.]

1. The act of abrading, wearing, or rubbing off; the wearing away by friction; as, the abrasion of coins.

2. The substance rubbed off. Berkeley.

3. (Med.)

Defn: A superficial excoriation, with loss of substance under the form of small shreds. Dunglison.

ABRASIVE Ab*ra"sive, a.

Defn: Producing abrasion. Ure.

ABRAUM; ABRAUM SALTS A*braum" or A*braum" salts, n. Etym: [Ger., fr. abräumen to remove.]

Defn: A red ocher used to darken mahogany and for making chloride of potassium.

ABRAXAS A*brax"as, n. Etym: [A name adopted by the Egyptian Gnostic Basilides, containing the Greek letters , , , , , , , which, as numerals, amounted to 365. It was used to signify the supreme deity as ruler of the 365 heavens of his system.]

Defn: A mystical word used as a charm and engraved on gems among the ancients; also, a gem stone thus engraved.

ABRAY A*bray", v. Etym: [A false form from the preterit abraid, abrayde.]

Defn: See Abraid. [Obs.] Spenser.

ABREACTION Ab`re*ac"tion, n. [Pref. ab-+ reaction, after G. Abreagirung.] (Psychotherapy)

Defn: See Catharsis, below.

ABREAST A*breast", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + breast.]

1. Side by side, with breasts in a line; as, "Two men could hardly walk abreast." Macaulay.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam; -- with of.

3. Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced; as, to keep abreast of [or with] the present state of science.

4. At the same time; simultaneously. [Obs.] Abreast therewith began a convocation. Fuller.

ABREGGE A*breg"ge, v. t.

Defn: See Abridge. [Obs.]

ABRENOUNCE Ab`re*nounce", v. t. Etym: [L. abrenuntiare; ab + renuntiare. See Renounce.]

Defn: To renounce. [Obs.] "They abrenounce and cast them off." Latimer.

ABRENUNCIATION Ab`re*nun`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. abrenuntiatio. See Abrenounce.]

Defn: Absolute renunciation or repudiation. [Obs.] An abrenunciation of that truth which he so long had professed, and still believed. Fuller.

ABREPTION Ab*rep"tion, n. Etym: [L. abreptus, p. p. of abripere to snatch away; ab + rapere to snatch.]

Defn: A snatching away. [Obs.]

ABREUVOIR A`breu`voir", n. Etym: [F., a watering place.] (Masonry)

Defn: The joint or interstice between stones, to be filled with mortar. Gwilt.

ABRICOCK A"bri*cock, n.

Defn: See Apricot. [Obs.]

ABRIDGE A*bridge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abridged; p. pr. & vb. n. Abridging.] Etym: [OE. abregen, OF. abregier, F. abréger, fr. L. abbreviare; ad + brevis short. See Brief and cf. Abbreviate.]

1. To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to diminish; to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge power or rights. "The bridegroom . . . abridged his visit." Smollett. She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her train from state to necessity. Fuller.

2. To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense; as, to abridge a history or dictionary.

3. To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by of, and formerly by from; as, to abridge one of his rights.

ABRIDGER A*bridg"er, n.

Defn: One who abridges.

ABRIDGMENT A*bridg"ment, n. Etym: [OE. abregement. See Abridge.]

1. The act abridging, or the state of being abridged; diminution; lessening; reduction or deprivation; as, an abridgment of pleasures or of expenses.

2. An epitome or compend, as of a book; a shortened or abridged form; an abbreviation. Ancient coins as abridgments of history. Addison.

3. That which abridges or cuts short; hence, an entertainment that makes the time pass quickly. [Obs.] What abridgment have you for this evening What mask What music Shak.

Syn. -- Abridgment, Compendium, Epitome, Abstract, Synopsis. An abridgment is made by omitting the less important parts of some larger work; as, an abridgment of a dictionary. A compendium is a brief exhibition of a subject, or science, for common use; as, a compendium of American literature. An epitome corresponds to a compendium, and gives briefly the most material points of a subject; as, an epitome of history. An abstract is a brief statement of a thing in its main points. A synopsis is a bird's-eye view of a subject, or work, in its several parts.

ABROACH A*broach", v. t. Etym: [OE. abrochen, OF. abrochier. See Broach.]

Defn: To set abroach; to let out, as liquor; to broach; to tap. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ABROACH A*broach", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + broach.]

1. Broached; in a condition for letting out or yielding liquor, as a cask which is tapped. Hogsheads of ale were set abroach. Sir W. Scott.

2. Hence: In a state to be diffused or propagated; afoot; astir. "Mischiefs that I set abroach." Shak.

ABROAD A*broad", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + broad.]

1. At large; widely; broadly; over a wide space; as, a tree spreads its branches abroad. The fox roams far abroad. Prior.

2. Without a certain confine; outside the house; away from one's abode; as, to walk abroad. I went to St. James', where another was preaching in the court abroad. Evelyn.

3. Beyond the bounds of a country; in foreign countries; as, we have broils at home and enemies abroad. "Another prince . . . was living abroad." Macaulay.

4. Before the public at large; throughout society or the world; here and there; widely. He went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter. Mark i. 45. To be abroad. (a) To be wide of the mark; to be at fault; as, you are all abroad in your guess. (b) To be at a loss or nonplused.

ABROGABLE Ab"ro*ga*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being abrogated.

ABROGATE Ab"ro*gate, a. Etym: [L. abrogatus, p. p.]

Defn: Abrogated; abolished. [Obs.] Latimer.

ABROGATE Ab"ro*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abrogated; p. pr. & vb. n. Abrogating.] Etym: [L. abrogatus, p. p. of abrogare; ab + rogare to ask, require, propose. See Rogation.]

1. To annul by an authoritative act; to abolish by the authority of the maker or his successor; to repeal; -- applied to the repeal of laws, decrees, ordinances, the abolition of customs, etc. Let us see whether the New Testament abrogates what we so frequently see in the Old. South. Whose laws, like those of the Medes and Persian, they can not alter or abrogate. Burke.

2. To put an end to; to do away with. Shak.

Syn. -- To abolish; annul; do away; set aside; revoke; repeal; cancel; annihilate. See Abolish.

ABROGATION Ab`ro*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. abrogatio, fr. abrogare: cf. F. abrogation.]

Defn: The act of abrogating; repeal by authority. Hume.

ABROGATIVE Ab"ro*ga*tive, a.

Defn: Tending or designed to abrogate; as, an abrogative law.

ABROGATOR Ab"ro*ga`tor, n.

Defn: One who repeals by authority.

ABROOD A*brood", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + brood.]

Defn: In the act of brooding. [Obs.] Abp. Sancroft.

ABROOK A*brook", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + brook, v.]

Defn: To brook; to endure. [Obs.] Shak.

ABRUPT Ab*rupt", a. Etym: [L. abruptus, p. p. of abrumpere to break off; ab + rumpere to break. See Rupture.]

1. Broken off; very steep, or craggy, as rocks, precipices, banks; precipitous; steep; as, abrupt places. "Tumbling through ricks abrupt," Thomson.

2. Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious. "The cause of your abrupt departure." Shak.

3. Having sudden transitions from one subject to another; unconnected. The abrupt style, which hath many breaches. B. Jonson.

4. (Bot.)

Defn: Suddenly terminating, as if cut off. Gray.

Syn. -- Sudden; unexpected; hasty; rough; curt; unceremonious; rugged; blunt; disconnected; broken.

ABRUPT Ab*rupt", n. Etym: [L. abruptum.]

Defn: An abrupt place. [Poetic] "Over the vast abrupt." Milton.

ABRUPT Ab*rupt", v. t.

Defn: To tear off or asunder. [Obs.] "Till death abrupts them." Sir T. Browne.

ABRUPTION Ab*rup"tion, n. Etym: [L. abruptio, fr. abrumpere: cf. F. abruption.]

Defn: A sudden breaking off; a violent separation of bodies. Woodward.

ABRUPTLY Ab*rupt"ly, adv.

1. In an abrupt manner; without giving notice, or without the usual forms; suddenly.

2. Precipitously. Abruptly pinnate (Bot.), pinnate without an odd leaflet, or other appendage, at the end. Gray.

ABRUPTNESS Ab*rupt"ness, n.

1. The state of being abrupt or broken; craggedness; ruggedness; steepness.

2. Suddenness; unceremonious haste or vehemence; as, abruptness of style or manner.

ABSCESS Ab"scess, n.; pl. Abscesses. Etym: [L. abscessus a going away, gathering of humors, abscess, fr. abscessus, p. p. of absedere to go away; ab, abs + cedere to go off, retire. See Cede.] (Med.)

Defn: A collection of pus or purulent matter in any tissue or organ of the body, the result of a morbid process. Cold abscess, an abscess of slow formation, unattended with the pain and heat characteristic of ordinary abscesses, and lasting for years without exhibiting any tendency towards healing; a chronic abscess.

ABSCESSION Ab*sces"sion, n. Etym: [L. abscessio a separation; fr. absedere. See Abscess.]

Defn: A separating; removal; also, an abscess. [Obs.] Gauden. Barrough.

ABSCIND Ab*scind", v. t. Etym: [L. absindere; ab + scindere to rend, cut. See Schism.]

Defn: To cut off. [R.] "Two syllables . . . abscinded from the rest." Johnson.

ABSCISION Ab*sci"sion, n. Etym: [L. abscisio.]

Defn: See Abscission.

ABSCISS Ab"sciss, n.; pl. Abscisses.

Defn: See Abscissa.

ABSCISSA Ab*scis"sa, n.; E. pl. Abscissas, L. pl. Abscissæ. Etym: [L., fem. of abscissus, p. p. of absindere to cut of. See Abscind.] (Geom.)

Defn: One of the elements of reference by which a point, as of a curve, is referred to a system of fixed rectilineal coördinate axes.

Note: When referred to two intersecting axes, one of them called the axis of abscissas, or of X, and the other the axis of ordinates, or of Y, the abscissa of the point is the distance cut off from the axis of X by a line drawn through it and parallel to the axis of Y. When a point in space is referred to three axes having a common intersection, the abscissa may be the distance measured parallel to either of them, from the point to the plane of the other two axes. Abscissas and ordinates taken together are called coördinates. -- OX or PY is the abscissa of the point P of the curve, OY or PX its ordinate, the intersecting lines OX and OY being the axes of abscissas and ordinates respectively, and the point O their origin.

ABSCISSION Ab*scis"sion, n. Etym: [L. abscissio. See Abscind.]

1. The act or process of cutting off. "Not to be cured without the abscission of a member." Jer. Taylor.

2. The state of being cut off. Sir T. Browne.

3. (Rhet.)

Defn: A figure of speech employed when a speaker having begun to say a thing stops abruptly: thus, "He is a man of so much honor and candor, and of such generosity -- but I need say no more."

ABSCOND Ab*scond", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Absconded; p. pr. & vb. n. Absconding.] Etym: [L. abscondere to hide; ab, abs + condere to lay up; con + dare (only in comp.) to put. Cf. Do.]

1. To hide, withdraw, or be concealed. The marmot absconds all winter. Ray.

2. To depart clandestinely; to steal off and secrete one's self; -- used especially of persons who withdraw to avoid a legal process; as, an absconding debtor. That very homesickness which, in regular armies, drives so many recruits to abscond. Macaulay.

ABSCOND Ab*scond", v. t.

Defn: To hide; to conceal. [Obs.] Bentley.

ABSCONDENCE Ab*scond"ence, n.

Defn: Fugitive concealment; secret retirement; hiding. [R.] Phillips.

ABSCONDER Ab*scond"er, n.

Defn: One who absconds.

ABSENCE Ab"sence, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. absentia. See Absent.]

1. A state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; -- opposed to presence. Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. Phil. ii. 12.

2. Want; destitution; withdrawal. "In the absence of conventional law." Kent.

3. Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind); as, absence of mind. "Reflecting on the little absences and distractions of mankind." Addison. To conquer that abstraction which is called absence. Landor.

ABSENT Ab"sent, a. Etym: [F., fr. absens, absentis, p. pr. of abesse to be away from; ab + esse to be. Cf. Sooth.]

1. Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present. "Expecting absent friends." Shak.

2. Not existing; lacking; as, the part was rudimental or absent.

3. Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied; as, an absent air. What is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man. Chesterfield.

Syn. -- Absent, Abstracted. These words both imply a want of attention to surrounding objects. We speak of a man as absent when his thoughts wander unconsciously from present scenes or topics of discourse; we speak of him as abstracted when his mind (usually for a brief period) is drawn off from present things by some weighty matter for reflection. Absence of mind is usually the result of loose habits of thought; abstraction commonly arises either from engrossing interests and cares, or from unfortunate habits of association.

ABSENT Ab*sent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absented; p. pr. & vb. n. Absenting.] Etym: [Cf. F. absenter.]

1. To take or withdraw (one's self) to such a distance as to prevent intercourse; -- used with the reflexive pronoun. If after due summons any member absents himself, he is to be fined. Addison.

2. To withhold from being present. [Obs.] "Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more." Milton.

ABSENTANEOUS Ab`sen*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [LL. absentaneus. See absent]

Defn: Pertaining to absence. [Obs.]

ABSENTATION Ab`sen*ta"tion, n.

Defn: The act of absenting one's self. Sir W. Hamilton.

ABSENTEE Ab`sen*tee", n.

Defn: One who absents himself from his country, office, post, or duty; especially, a landholder who lives in another country or district than that where his estate is situated; as, an Irish absentee. Macaulay.

ABSENTEEISM Ab`sen*tee"ism, n.

Defn: The state or practice of an absentee; esp. the practice of absenting one's self from the country or district where one's estate is situated.

ABSENTER Ab*sent"er, n.

Defn: One who absents one's self.

ABSENTLY Ab"sent*ly, adv.

Defn: In an absent or abstracted manner.

ABSENTMENT Ab*sent"ment, n.

Defn: The state of being absent; withdrawal. [R.] Barrow.

ABSENT-MINDED Ab`sent-mind"ed(#), a.

Defn: Absent in mind; abstracted; preoccupied. -- Ab`sent-mind"ed*ness, n. -- Ab`sent-mind"ed*ly, adv.

ABSENTNESS Ab"sent*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being absent-minded. H. Miller.

ABSEY-BOOK Ab"sey-book`(#), n.

Defn: An A-B-C book; a primer. [Obs.] Shak.

ABSINTHATE Ab"sin"thate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A combination of absinthic acid with a base or positive radical.

ABSINTHE; ABSINTH Ab"sinthe`, Ab"sinth`, n. Etym: [F. absinthe. See Absinthium.]

1. The plant absinthium or common wormwood.

2. A strong spirituous liqueur made from wormwood and brandy or alcohol.

ABSINTHIAL Ab*sin"thi*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to wormwood; absinthian.

ABSINTHIAN Ab*sin"thi*an, n.

Defn: Of the nature of wormwood. "Absinthian bitterness." T. Randolph.

ABSINTHIATE Ab"sin"thi*ate, v. t. Etym: [From L. absinthium: cf. L. absinthiatus, a.]

Defn: To impregnate with wormwood.

ABSINTHIATED Ab*sin"thi*a`ted, a.

Defn: Impregnated with wormwood; as, absinthiated wine.

ABSINTHIC Ab*sin"thic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Relating to the common wormwood or to an acid obtained from it.

ABSINTHIN Ab*sin"thin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The bitter principle of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Watts.

ABSINTHISM Ab"sin*thism, n.

Defn: The condition of being poisoned by the excessive use of absinth.

ABSINTHIUM Ab*sin"thi*um, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The common wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), an intensely bitter plant, used as a tonic and for making the oil of wormwood.

ABSIS Ab"sis, n.

Defn: See Apsis.

ABSIST Ab*sist", v. i. Etym: [L. absistere, p. pr. absistens; ab + sistere to stand, causal of stare.]

Defn: To stand apart from; top leave off; to desist. [Obs.] Raleigh.

ABSISTENCE Ab*sist"ence, n.

Defn: A standing aloof. [Obs.]

ABSOLUTE Ab"so*lute, a. Etym: [L. absolutus, p. p. of absolvere: cf. F. absolu. See Absolve.]

1. Loosed from any limitation or condition; uncontrolled; unrestricted; unconditional; as, absolute authority, monarchy, sovereignty, an absolute promise or command; absolute power; an absolute monarch.

2. Complete in itself; perfect; consummate; faultless; as, absolute perfection; absolute beauty. So absolute she seems, And in herself complete. Milton.

3. Viewed apart from modifying influences or without comparison with other objects; actual; real; -- opposed to relative and comparative; as, absolute motion; absolute time or space.

Note: Absolute rights and duties are such as pertain to man in a state of nature as contradistinguished from relative rights and duties, or such as pertain to him in his social relations.

4. Loosed from, or unconnected by, dependence on any other being; self-existent; self-sufficing.

Note: In this sense God is called the Absolute by the Theist. The term is also applied by the Pantheist to the universe, or the total of all existence, as only capable of relations in its parts to each other and to the whole, and as dependent for its existence and its phenomena on its mutually depending forces and their laws.

5. Capable of being thought or conceived by itself alone; unconditioned; non-relative.

Note: It is in dispute among philosopher whether the term, in this sense, is not applied to a mere logical fiction or abstraction, or whether the absolute, as thus defined, can be known, as a reality, by the human intellect. To Cusa we can indeed articulately trace, word and thing, the recent philosophy of the absolute. Sir W. Hamilton.

6. Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful. [R.] I am absolute 't was very Cloten. Shak.

7. Authoritative; peremptory. [R.] The peddler stopped, and tapped her on the head, With absolute forefinger, brown and ringed. Mrs. Browning.

8. (Chem.)

Defn: Pure; unmixed; as, absolute alcohol.

9. (Gram.)

Defn: Not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence in government; as, the case absolute. See Ablative absolute, under Ablative. Absolute curvature (Geom.), that curvature of a curve of double curvature, which is measured in the osculating plane of the curve. -- Absolute equation (Astron.), the sum of the optic and eccentric equations. -- Absolute space (Physics), space considered without relation to material limits or objects. -- Absolute terms. (Alg.), such as are known, or which do not contain the unknown quantity. Davies & Peck. -- Absolute temperature (Physics), the temperature as measured on a scale determined by certain general thermo-dynamic principles, and reckoned from the absolute zero. -- Absolute zero (Physics), the be ginning, or zero point, in the scale of absolute temperature. It is equivalent to -273º centigrade or -459.4º Fahrenheit.

Syn. -- Positive; peremptory; certain; unconditional; unlimited; unrestricted; unqualified; arbitrary; despotic; autocratic.

ABSOLUTE Ab"so*lute, n. (Geom.)

Defn: In a plane, the two imaginary circular points at infinity; in space of three dimensions, the imaginary circle at infinity.

ABSOLUTELY Ab"so*lute*ly, adv.

Defn: In an absolute, independent, or unconditional manner; wholly; positively.

ABSOLUTENESS Ab"so*lute*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being absolute; independence of everything extraneous; unlimitedness; absolute power; independent reality; positiveness.

ABSOLUTION Ab`so*lu"tion, n. Etym: [F. absolution, L. absolutio, fr. absolvere to absolve. See Absolve.]

1. An absolving, or setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty; forgiveness of an offense. "Government . . . granting absolution to the nation." Froude.

2. (Civil Law)

Defn: An acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring and accused person innocent. [Obs.]

3. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: The exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven.

Note: In the English and other Protestant churches, this act regarded as simply declaratory, not as imparting forgiveness.

4. (Eccl.)

Defn: An absolving from ecclesiastical penalties, -- for example, excommunication. P. Cyc.

5. The form of words by which a penitent is absolved. Shipley.

6. Delivery, in speech. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Absolution day (R. C. Ch.), Tuesday before Easter.

ABSOLUTISM Ab"so*lu`tism, n.

1. The state of being absolute; the system or doctrine of the absolute; the principles or practice of absolute or arbitrary government; despotism. The element of absolutism and prelacy was controlling. Palfrey.

2. (Theol.)

Defn: Doctrine of absolute decrees. Ash.

ABSOLUTIST Ab"so*lu`tist, n.

1. One who is in favor of an absolute or autocratic government.

2. (Metaph.)

Defn: One who believes that it is possible to realize a cognition or concept of the absolute. Sir. W. Hamilton.

ABSOLUTIST Ab"so*lu`tist, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to absolutism; arbitrary; despotic; as, absolutist principles.

ABSOLUTISTIC Ab`so*lu*tis"tic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to absolutism; absolutist.

ABSOLUTORY Ab*sol"u*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. absolutorius, fr. absolvere to absolve.]

Defn: Serving to absolve; absolving. "An absolutory sentence." Ayliffe.

ABSOLVABLE Ab*solv"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be absolved.

ABSOLVATORY Ab*solv"a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Conferring absolution; absolutory.

ABSOLVE Ab*solve" (#; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absolved; p. pr. & vb. n. Absolving.] Etym: [L. absolvere to set free, to absolve; ab + solvere to loose. See Assoil, Solve.]

1. To set free, or release, as from some obligation, debt, or responsibility, or from the consequences of guilt or such ties as it would be sin or guilt to violate; to pronounce free; as, to absolve a subject from his allegiance; to absolve an offender, which amounts to an acquittal and remission of his punishment. Halifax was absolved by a majority of fourteen. Macaulay.

2. To free from a penalty; to pardon; to remit (a sin); -- said of the sin or guilt. In his name I absolve your perjury. Gibbon.

3. To finish; to accomplish. [Obs.] The work begun, how soon absolved. Milton.

4. To resolve or explain. [Obs.] "We shall not absolve the doubt." Sir T. Browne.

Syn. -- To Absolve, Exonerate, Acquit. We speak of a man as absolved from something that binds his conscience, or involves the charge of wrongdoing; as, to absolve from allegiance or from the obligation of an oath, or a promise. We speak of a person as exonerated, when he is released from some burden which had rested upon him; as, to exonerate from suspicion, to exonerate from blame or odium. It implies a purely moral acquittal. We speak of a person as acquitted, when a decision has been made in his favor with reference to a specific charge, either by a jury or by disinterested persons; as, he was acquitted of all participation in the crime.

ABSOLVENT Ab*solv"ent, a. Etym: [L. absolvens, p. pr. of absolvere.]

Defn: Absolving. [R.] Carlyle.

ABSOLVENT Ab*solv"ent, n.

Defn: An absolver. [R.] Hobbes.

ABSOLVER Ab*solv"er, n.

Defn: One who absolves. Macaulay.

ABSONANT Ab"so*nant, a. Etym: [L. ab + sonans, p. pr. of sonare to sound.]

Defn: Discordant; contrary; -- opposed to consonant. "Absonant to nature." Quarles.

ABSONOUS Ab"so*nous, a. Etym: [L. absonus; ab + sonus sound.]

Defn: Discordant; inharmonious; incongruous. [Obs.] "Absonous to our reason." Glanvill.

ABSORB Ab*sorb", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absorbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Absorbing.] Etym: [L. absorbere; ab + sorbere to suck in, akin to Gr. absorber.]

1. To swallow up; to engulf; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to use up; to include. "Dark oblivion soon absorbs them all." Cowper. The large cities absorb the wealth and fashion. W. Irving.

2. To suck up; to drink in; to imbibe; as a sponge or as the lacteals of the body. Bacon.

3. To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully; as, absorbed in study or the pursuit of wealth.

4. To take up by cohesive, chemical, or any molecular action, as when charcoal absorbs gases. So heat, light, and electricity are absorbed or taken up in the substances into which they pass. Nichol. p. 8