Project Gutenberg's Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, by Noah Webster
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary First 100 Pages
Author: Noah Webster
Posting Date: March 22, 2012 [EBook #247] Release Date: April 1995
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY ***
<— begin Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - 1913 —> <— p. 1 —>
A (named ? in the English, and most commonly „ in other languages). The first letter of the English and of many other alphabets. The capital A of the alphabets of Middle and Western Europe, as also the small letter (a), besides the forms in Italic, black letter, etc., are all descended from the old Latin A, which was borrowed from the Greek Alpha, of the same form; and this was made from the first letter (?) of the Phoenician alphabet, the equivalent of the Hebrew Aleph, and itself from the Egyptian origin. The Aleph was a consonant letter, with a guttural breath sound that was not an element of Greek articulation; and the Greeks took it to represent their vowel Alpha with the „ sound, the Phoenician alphabet having no vowel symbols.
This letter, in English, is used for several different vowel sounds. See Guide to pronunciation, 43Ð74. The regular long a, as in fate, etc., is a comparatively modern sound, and has taken the place of what, till about the early part of the 17th century, was a sound of the quality of „ (as in far).
2. (Mus.) The name of the sixth tone in the model major scale (that in C), or the first tone of the minor scale, which is named after it the scale in A minor. The second string of the violin is tuned to the A in the treble staff. Ð A sharp (A#) is the name of a musical tone intermediate between A and B.Ð A flat (A?) is the name of a tone intermediate between A and G.
A per se (L. per se by itself), one pre‰minent; a nonesuch. [Obs.]
O fair Creseide, the flower and A per se
Of Troy and Greece.
Chaucer.
A (? emph. ?). 1. [Shortened form of an. AS. ? one. See One.] An adjective, commonly called the indefinite article, and signifying one or any, but less emphatically. ½At a birth¸; ½In a word¸; ½At a blow¸. Shak. It is placed before nouns of the singular number denoting an individual object, or a quality individualized, before collective nouns, and also before plural nouns when the adjective few or the phrase great many or good many is interposed; as, a dog, a house, a man; a color; a sweetness; a hundred, a fleet, a regiment; a few persons, a great many days. It is used for an, for the sake of euphony, before words beginning with a consonant sound [for exception of certain words beginning with h, see An]; as, a table, a woman, a year, a unit, a eulogy, a ewe, a oneness, such a one, etc. Formally an was used both before vowels and consonants.
2. [Originally the preposition a (an, on).] In each; to or for each; as, ½twenty leagues a day¸, ½a hundred pounds a year¸, ½a dollar a yard¸, etc.
A (?), prep. [Abbreviated form of an (AS. on). See On.] 1. In; on; at; by. [Obs.] ½A God's name.¸ ½Torn a pieces.¸ ½Stand a tiptoe.¸ ½A Sundays¸ Shak. ½Wit that men have now a days.¸ Chaucer. ½Set them a work.¸ Robynson (More's Utopia)
2. In process of; in the act of; into; to; Ð used with verbal substantives in Ðing which begin with a consonant. This is a shortened form of the preposition an which was used before the vowel sound); as in a hunting, a building, a begging. ½Jacob, when he was a dying¸ Heb. xi. 21. ½We'll a birding together.¸ ½ It was a doing.¸ Shak. ½He burst out a laughing.¸ Macaulay. The hyphen may be used to connect a with the verbal substantive (as, aÐhunting, aÐbilding) or the words may be written separately. This form of expression is now for the most part obsolete, the a being omitted and the verbal substantive treated as a participle.
A. [From AS. of off, from. See Of.] Of. [Obs.] ½The name of John a Gaunt.¸ ½What time a day is it ?¸ Shak. ½It's six a clock.¸ B. Jonson.
A. A barbarous corruption of have, of he, and sometimes of it and of they. ½So would I a done¸ ½A brushes his hat.¸
Shak.
A. An expletive, void of sense, to fill up the meter
A merry heart goes all the day,
Your sad tires in a mileÐa.
Shak.
AÐ. A, as a prefix to English words, is derived from various sources. (1) It frequently signifies on or in (from an, a forms of AS. on), denoting a state, as in afoot, on foot, abed, amiss, asleep, aground, aloft, away (AS. onweg), and analogically, ablaze, atremble, etc. (2) AS. of off, from, as in adown (AS. ofdne off the dun or hill). (3) AS. ? (Goth. usÐ, urÐ, Ger. erÐ), usually giving an intensive force, and sometimes the sense of away, on, back, as in arise, abide, ago. (4) Old English yÐ or iÐ (corrupted from the AS. inseparable particle geÐ, cognate with OHG. gaÐ, giÐ, Goth. gaÐ), which, as a prefix, made no essential addition to the meaning, as in aware. (5) French … (L. ad to), as in abase, achieve. (6) L. a, ab, abs, from, as in avert. (7) Greek insep. prefix ? without, or privative, not, as in abyss, atheist; akin to E. unÐ.
Besides these, there are other sources from which the prefix a takes its origin.
A 1 (?). A registry mark given by underwriters (as at Lloyd's) to ships in firstÐclass condition. Inferior grades are indicated by A 2 and A 3.
A 1 is also applied colloquially to other things to imply superiority; prime; firstÐclass; firstÐrate.
ØAam (?), n. [D. aam, fr. LL. ama; cf. L hama a water bucket, Gr. ?] A Dutch and German measure of liquids, varying in different cities, being at Amsterdam about 41 wine gallons, at Antwerp 36«, at Hamburg 38¬. [Written also Aum and Awm.]
ØAard¶Ðvark· (?), n. [D., earthÐpig.] (Zo”l.) An edentate mammal, of the genus Orycteropus, somewhat resembling a pig, common in some parts of Southern Africa. It burrows in the ground, and feeds entirely on ants, which it catches with its long, slimy tongue.
ØAard¶Ðwolf· (?), n. [D, earthÐwolf] (Zo”l.) A carnivorous quadruped (Proteles Lalandii), of South Africa, resembling the fox and hyena. See Proteles.
AaÏron¶ic (?), AaÏron¶icÏal (?),} a. Pertaining to Aaron, the first high priest of the Jews.
Aar¶on's rod· (?). [See Exodus vii. 9 and Numbers xvii. 8] 1. (Arch.) A rod with one serpent twined around it, thus differing from the caduceus of Mercury, which has two.
2. (Bot.) A plant with a tall flowering stem; esp. the great mullein, or hagÐtaper, and the goldenÐrod.
AbÐ (?). [Latin prep., etymologically the same as E. of, off. See Of.] A prefix in many words of Latin origin. It signifies from, away , separating, or departure, as in abduct, abstract, abscond. See AÐ(6).
ØAb (?), n. [Of Syriac origin.] The fifth month of the Jewish year according to the ecclesiastical reckoning, the eleventh by the civil computation, coinciding nearly with August.
W.Smith.
ØAb¶aÏca (?), n. [The native name.] The ManilaÐhemp plant (Musa textilis); also, its fiber. See Manila hemp under Manila.
AÏbac¶iÏnate (?), v.t. [LL. abacinatus, p.p. of abacinare; ab off+bacinus a basin.] To blind by a redÐhot metal plate held before the eyes. [R.]
AÏbac·iÏna¶tion (?), n. The act of abacinating. [R.]
ØAb·aÏcis¶cus (?), n. [Gr.?, dim of ?. See Abacus.] (Arch.) One of the tiles or squares of a tessellated pavement; an abaculus.
Ab¶aÏcist (?), n. [LL
AÏback¶ (?), adv. [Pref. aÐ + back; AS. on ? at, on, or toward the back. See Back.] 1. Toward the back or rear; backward. ½Therewith aback she started.¸
Chaucer.
2. Behind; in the rear.
Knolles.
3. (Naut.) Backward against the mast;Ðsaid of the sails when pressed by the wind.
Totten.
To be taken aback. (a) To be driven backward against the mast;Ðsaid of the sails, also of the ship when the are thus driven. (b) To be suddenly checked, baffled, or discomfited.
Dickens.
Ab¶ack (?), n. An abacus. [Obs.]
B.Jonson.
AbÏac¶tiÏnal (?), a. [L. ab + E. actinal.] (Zo”l.) Pertaining to the surface or end opposite to the mouth in a radiate animal;Ðopposed to actinal. ½The aboral or abactinal area.¸
L.Agassiz.
AbÏac¶tion (?), n. Stealing cattle on a large scale. [Obs.]
AbÏac¶tor (?), n. [L., fr. abigere to drive away; ab+agere to drive.] (Law) One who steals and drives away cattle or beasts by herds or droves. [Obs.]
ØAÏbac¶uÏlus (?), n. ; pl. Abaculi (?). [L., dim. of abacus.] (Arch.) A small tile of glass, marble, or other substance, of various colors, used in making ornamental patterns in mosaic pavements.
Fairholt.
Ab¶aÏcus (?), n.; E. pl. Abacuses ; L. pl. Abaci (?). [L. abacus, abax, ?] 1. A table or tray strewn with sand, anciently used for drawing, calculating, etc. [Obs.]
2. A calculating table or frame; an instrument for performing arithmetical calculations by balls sliding on wires, or counters in grooves, the lowest line representing units, the second line, tens, etc. It is still employed in China.
3. (Arch.) (a) The uppermost member or division of the capital of a column, immediately under the architrave. See Column. (b) A tablet, panel, or compartment in ornamented or mosaic work.
4. A board, tray, or table, divided into perforated compartments, for holding cups, bottles, or the like; a kind of cupboard, buffet, or sideboard.
Abacus harmonicus (Mus.), an ancient diagram showing the structure and disposition of the keys of an instrument.
Crabb.
Ab¶aÏda (?), n. [Pg., the female rhinoceros.] The rhinoceros. [Obs.]
Purchas.
AÏbad¶don (?), n. [Heb. ? destruction, abyss, fr. ? to be lost, to perish.] 1. The destroyer, or angel of the bottomless pit; Ð the same as Apollyon and Asmodeus.
2. Hell; the bottomless pit. [Poetic]
In all her gates, Abaddon rues
Thy bold attempt.
Milton.
AÏbaft¶ (?), prep. [Pref. aÐon + OE. baft, baften, biaften, AS.?; be by + ? behind. See After, Aft, By.] (Naut.) Behind; toward the stern from; as, abaft the wheelhouse.
Abaft the beam. See under Beam.
AÏbaft¶, adv. (Naut.) Toward the stern; aft; as, to go abaft.
AÏbai¶sance (?), n. [For obeisance; confused with F. abaisser, E. abase] Obeisance. [Obs.]
Jonson.
AÏbai¶ser (?), n. Ivory black or animal charcoal.
Weale.
<p. 2>
AÏbaist¶ (?), p.p. Abashed; confounded; discomfited. [Obs.] Chaucer. AbÏal¶ienÏate (?), v.t. [L. abalienatus, p.p. of abalienare; ab + alienus foreign, alien. See Alien.] 1. (Civil Law) To transfer the title of from one to another; to alienate. 2. To estrange; to withdraw. [Obs.] 3. To cause alienation of (mind). Sandys. AbÏal·ienÏa¶tion (?), n. [L. abalienatio: cf. F. abalianation.] The act of abalienating; alienation; estrangement. [Obs.] ØAb·aÏlo¶ne (?), n. (Zo”l.) A univalve mollusk of the genus Haliotis. The shell is lined with motherÐofÐpearl, and used for ornamental purposes; the seaÐear. Several large species are found on the coast of California, clinging closely to the rocks. AÏband¶ (?), v.t. [Contracted from abandon.] 1. To abandon. [Obs.] Enforced the kingdom to aband. Spenser. 2. To banish; to expel. [Obs.] Mir. for Mag. AÏban¶don (?), v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abandoned (?); p.pr. & vb.n. Abandoning .] [OF. abandoner, F.abandonner; a (L. ad)+bandon permission, authority, LL. bandum, bannum, public proclamation, interdiction, bannire to proclaim, summon: of Germanic origin; cf. Goth. bandwjan to show by signs, to designate OHG. banproclamation. The word meant to proclaim, put under a ban, put under control; hence, as in OE., to compel, subject, or to leave in the control of another, and hence, to give up. See Ban.] 1. To cast or drive out; to banish; to expel; to reject. [Obs.] That he might … abandon them from him. Udall. Being all this time abandoned from your bed. Shak. 2. To give up absolutely; to forsake entirely ; to renounce utterly; to relinquish all connection with or concern on; to desert, as a person to whom one owes allegiance or fidelity; to quit; to surrender. Hope was overthrown, yet could not be abandoned. I. Taylor. 3. Reflexively : To give (one's self) up without attempt at selfÐcontrol ; to yield (one's self) unrestrainedly ; Ð often in a bad sense. He abandoned himself … to his favorite vice. Macaulay. 4. (Mar. Law) To relinquish all claim to; Ð used when an insured person gives up to underwriters all claim to the property covered by a policy, which may remain after loss or damage by a peril insured against. Syn.Ð To give up; yield; forego; cede; surrender; resign; abdicate; quit; relinquish; renounce; desert; forsake; leave; retire; withdraw from. Ð To Abandon, Desert, Forsake. These words agree in representing a person as giving up or leaving some object, but differ as to the mode of doing it. The distinctive sense of abandon is that of giving up a thing absolutely and finally; as, to abandon one's friends, places, opinions, good or evil habits, a hopeless enterprise, a shipwrecked vessel. Abandon is more widely applicable than forsake or desert. The Latin original of desert appears to have been originally applied to the case of deserters from military service. Hence, the verb, when used of persons in the active voice, has usually or always a bad sense, implying some breach of fidelity, honor, etc., the leaving of something which the person should rightfully stand by and support; as, to desert one's colors, to desert one's post, to desert one's principles or duty. When used in the passive, the sense is not necessarily bad; as, the fields were deserted, a deserted village, deserted halls. Forsake implies the breaking off of previous habit, association, personal connection, or that the thing left had been familiar or frequented; as, to forsake old friends, to forsake the paths of rectitude, the blood forsook his cheeks. It may be used either in a good or in a bad sense. AÏban¶don, n. [F. abandon. fr. abandonner. See Abandon, v.] Abandonment; relinquishment. [Obs.] ØA·ban·don¶ (?), n. [F. See Abandon.] A complete giving up to natural impulses; freedom from artificial constraint; careless freedom or ease. AÏban¶doned (?), a. 1. Forsaken, deserted. ½Your abandoned streams.¸ Thomson. 2. SelfÐabandoned, or given up to vice; extremely wicked, or sinning without restraint; irreclaimably wicked ; as, an abandoned villain. Syn.Ð Profligate; dissolute; corrupt; vicious; depraved; reprobate; wicked; unprincipled; graceless; vile. Ð Abandoned, Profligate, Reprobate. These adjectives agree in expressing the idea of great personal depravity. Profligate has reference to open and shameless immoralities, either in private life or political conduct; as, a profligate court, a profligate ministry. Abandoned is stronger, and has reference to the searing of conscience and hardening of heart produced by a man's giving himself wholly up to iniquity; as, a man of abandoned character. Reprobate describes the condition of one who has become insensible to reproof, and who is morally abandoned and lost beyond hope of recovery. God gave them over to a reprobate mind. Rom. i. 28. AÏban¶donedÏly, adv. Unrestrainedly. AÏban·donÏee¶ (?), n. (Law) One to whom anything is legally abandoned. AÏban¶donÏer (?), n. One who abandons.
<— p. 3 —>
In London, the Abbey means Westminster Abbey, and in Scotland, the precincts of the Abbey of Holyrood. The name is also retained for a private residence on the site of an abbey; as, Newstead Abbey, the residence of Lord Byron.
Syn.Ð Monastery; convent; nunnery; priory; cloister. See Cloister.
Ab¶bot (?), n. [AS. abbod, abbad, L. abbas, abbatis, Gr. ?, fr. Syriac ? father. Cf. Abba, Abb.]
1. The superior or head of an abbey.
2. One of a class of bishops whose sees were formerly abbeys.
Encyc.Brit.
Abbot of the people, a title formerly given to one of the chief magistrates in Genoa. Ð Abbot of Misrule (or Lord of Misrule), in medi‘val times, the master of revels, as at Christmas; in Scotland called the Abbot of Unreason.
Encyc.Brit.
Ab¶botÏship (?), n. [Abbot + Ïship.] The state or office of an abbot.
AbÏbre¶viÏate (?), v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abbreviated (?); p.pr. & vb.n. Abbreviating.] [L. abbreviatus, p.p. of abbreviare; ad + breviare to shorten, fr. brevis short. See Abridge.] 1. To make briefer; to shorten; to abridge; to reduce by contraction or omission, especially of words written or spoken.
It is one thing to abbreviate by contracting, another by cutting off.
Bacon.
2. (Math.) To reduce to lower terms, as a fraction.
AbÏbre¶viÏate (?), a. [L. abbreviatus, p.p.] 1. Abbreviated; abridged; shortened. [R.] ½The abbreviate form.¸
Earle.
2. (Biol.) Having one part relatively shorter than another or than the ordinary type.
AbÏbre¶viÏate, n. An abridgment. [Obs.]
Elyot.
AbÏbre¶viÏa·ted (?), a. Shortened; relatively short; abbreviate.
AbÏbre·viÏa¶tion (?), n. [LL. abbreviatio: cf. F. abbr‚viation.] 1. The act of shortening, or reducing.
2. The result of abbreviating; an abridgment.
Tylor.
3. The form to which a word or phrase is reduced by contraction and omission; a letter or letters, standing for a word or phrase of which they are a part; as, Gen. for Genesis; U.S.A. for United States of America.
4. (Mus.) One dash, or more, through the stem of a note, dividing it respectively into quavers, semiquavers, or demiÐsemiquavers.
Moore.
AbÏbre¶viÏa·tor (?), n. [LL.: cf. F. abbr‚viateur.] 1. One who abbreviates or shortens.
2. One of a college of seventyÐtwo officers of the papal court whose duty is to make a short minute of a decision on a petition, or reply of the pope to a letter, and afterwards expand the minute into official form.
AbÏbre¶viÏaÏtoÏry (?), a. Serving or tending to abbreviate; shortening; abridging.
AbÏbre¶viÏaÏture (?), n. 1. An abbreviation; an abbreviated state or form. [Obs.]
2. An abridgment; a compendium or abstract.
This is an excellent abbreviature of the whole duty of a Christian.
Jer. Taylor.
Abb¶ wool (?). See Abb.
A B C¶ (?). 1. The first three letters of the alphabet, used for the whole alphabet.
2. A primer for teaching the alphabet and first elements of reading. [Obs.]
3. The simplest rudiments of any subject; as, the A B Cÿof finance.
A B C book, a primer.
Shak.
ØAb¶dal (?), n. [Ar. badÆl, pl. abd¾l, a substitute, a good, religious man, saint, fr. badalaÿto change, substitute.] A religious devotee or dervish in Persia.
AbÏde¶riÏan (?), a. [From Abdera, a town in Thrace, of which place Democritus, the Laughing Philosopher, was a native.] Given to laughter; inclined to foolish or incessant merriment.
AbÏde¶rite (?), n. [L. Abderita, Abderites, fr. Gr. '?.] An inhabitant of Abdera, in Thrace.
The Abderite, Democritus, the Laughing Philosopher.
Ab¶dest (?), n. [Per. ¾bdast; ab water + dast hand.] Purification by washing the hands before prayer; Ð a Mohammedan rite.
Heyse.
Ab¶diÏcaÏble (?), a. Capable of being abdicated.
Ab¶diÏcant (?), a. [L. abdicans, p.pr. of abdicare.] Abdicating; renouncing; Ð followed by of.
Monks abdicant of their orders.
Whitlock.
Ab¶diÏcant, n. One who abdicates.
Smart.
Ab¶diÏcate (?), v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abdicated (?); p.pr. & vb.n. Abdicating.] [L. abdicatus, p.p. of abdicare; ab + dicare to proclaim, akin to dicere to say. See Diction.] 1. To surrender or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station, dignity; as, to abdicate the throne, the crown, the papacy.
µ The word abdicate was held to mean, in the case of
The crossÐbearers abdicated their service.
Gibbon.
2. To renounce; to relinquish; Ð said of authority, a trust, duty, right, etc.
He abdicates all right to be his own governor.
Burke.
The understanding abdicates its functions.
Froude.
3. To reject; to cast off. [Obs.]
Bp. Hall.
4. (Civil Law) To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit.
Syn. - To give up; quit; vacate; relinquish; forsake; abandon; resign; renounce; desert. Ð To Abdicate, Resign. Abdicate commonly expresses the act of a monarch in voluntary and formally yielding up sovereign authority; as, to abdicate the government. Resign is applied to the act of any person, high or low, who gives back an office or trust into the hands of him who conferred it. Thus, a minister resigns, a military officer resigns, a clerk resigns. The expression, ½The king resigned his crown,¸ sometimes occurs in our later literature, implying that he held it from his people. Ð There are other senses of resign which are not here brought into view.
Ab¶diÏcate (?), v.i. To relinquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or dignity.
Though a king may abdicate for his own person, he cannot abdicate for the monarchy.
Burke.
Ab·diÏca¶tion (?), n. [L. abdicatio: cf. F. abdication.] The act of abdicating; the renunciation of a high office, dignity, or trust, by its holder; commonly the voluntary renunciation of sovereign power; as, abdication of the throne, government, power, authority.
Ab¶diÏcaÏtive (?), a. [L. abdicativus.] Causing, or implying, abdication. [R.]
Bailey.
Ab¶diÏca·tor (?), n. One who abdicates.
Ab¶diÏtive (?), a. [L. abditivus, fr. abdereÿto hide.] Having the quality of hiding. [R.]
Bailey.
Ab¶diÏtoÏry (?), n. [L. abditorium.] A place for hiding or preserving articles of value.
Cowell.
AbÏdo¶men (?), n. [L. abdomen (a word of uncertain etymol.): cf. F. abdomen.] 1. (Anat.) The belly, or that part of the body between the thorax and the pelvis. Also, the cavity of the belly, which is lined by the peritoneum, and contains the stomach, bowels, and other viscera. In man, often restricted to the part between the diaphragm and the commencement of the pelvis, the remainder being called the pelvic cavity.
2. (Zo”l.) The posterior section of the body, behind the thorax, in insects, crustaceans, and other Arthropoda.
AbÏdom¶iÏnal (?), a. [Cf. F. abdominal.] 1. Of or pertaining to the abdomen; ventral; as, the abdominal regions, muscles, cavity.
2. (Zo”l.) Having abdominal fins; belonging to the Abdominales; as, abdominal fishes.
Abdominal ring (Anat.), a fancied ringlike opening on each side of the abdomen, external and superior to the pubes; Ð called also inguinal ring.
AbÏdom¶iÏnal, n.; E. pl. Abdominals, L. pl. Abdominales. A fish of the group Abdominales.
ØAbÏdom·iÏna¶les (?), n. pl. [NL., masc. pl.] (Zo”l.) A group including the greater part of freshÐwater fishes, and many marine ones, having the ventral fins under the abdomen behind the pectorals.
ØAbÏdom·iÏna¶liÏa (?), n. pl. [NL., neut. pl.] (Zo”l.) A group of cirripeds having abdominal appendages.
AbÏdom·iÏnos¶coÏpy (?), n. [L. abdomen + Gr. ? to examine.] (Med.) Examination of the abdomen to detect abdominal disease.
AbÏdom·iÏnoÏthoÏrac¶ic (?), a. Relating to the abdomen and the thorax, or chest.
AbÏdom¶iÏnous (?), a. Having a protuberant belly; potÐbellied.
Gorgonius sits, abdominous and wan,
Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan.
Cowper.
AbÏduce¶ (?), v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abduced (?); p.pr. & vb.n. Abducing.] [L. abducereÿto lead away; ab + ducere to lead. See Duke, and cf. Abduct.] To draw or conduct away; to withdraw; to draw to a different part. [Obs. or Archaic]
If we abduce the eye unto corner, the object will not duplicate.
Sir T.Browne.
AbÏdu¶cent (?), a. [L. abducens, p.pr. of abducere.] (Physiol.) Drawing away from a common center, or out of the median line; as, the abducent muscles. Opposed to adducent.
AbÏduct¶ (?), v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abducted (?); p.pr. & vb.n. Abducting.] [L. abductus, p.p. of abducere. See Abduce.] 1. To take away surreptitiously by force; to carry away (a human being) wrongfully and usually by violence; to kidnap.
2. To draw away, as a limb or other part, from its ordinary position.
AbÏduc¶tion (?), n. [L. abductio: cf. F. abduction.] 1. The act of abducing or abducting; a drawing apart; a carrying away.
Roget.
2. (Physiol.) The movement which separates a limb or other part from the axis, or middle line, of the body.
3. (Law) The wrongful, and usually the forcible, carrying off of a human being; as, the abduction of a child, the abduction of an heiress.
4. (Logic) A syllogism or form of argument in which the major is evident, but the minor is only probable.
AbÏduc¶tor (?), n. [NL.] 1. One who abducts.
2. (Anat.) A muscle which serves to draw a part out, or form the median line of the body; as, the abductor oculi, which draws the eye outward.
AÏbeam¶ (?), adv. [Pref. aÏ + beam.] (Naut.) On the beam, that is, on a line which forms a right angle with the ship's keel; opposite to the center of the ship's side.
AÏbear¶ (?), v.t. [AS. ¾beran; pref. ¾Ï + beran to bear.] 1. To bear; to behave. [Obs.]
So did the faery knight himself abear.
Spenser.
2. To put up with; to endure. [Prov.]
Dickens.
AÏbear¶ance (?), n. Behavior. [Obs.]
Blackstone.
AÏbear¶ing, n. Behavior. [Obs.]
Sir. T.More.
A·beÏceÏda¶riÏan (?), n. [L. abecedarius. A word from the first four letters of the alphabet.] 1. One who is learning the alphabet; hence, a tyro.
2. One engaged in teaching the alphabet.
Wood.
A·beÏceÏda¶riÏan, A·beÏce¶daÏry (?), } a. Pertaining to, or formed by, the letters of the alphabet; alphabetic; hence, rudimentary.
Abecedarian psalms, hymns, etc., compositions in which (like the 119th psalm in Hebrew) distinct portions or verses commence with successive letters of the alphabet.
Hook.
A·beÏce¶daÏry (?), n. A primer; the first principle or rudiment of anything. [R.]
Fuller.
AÏbed¶ (?), adv. [Pref. aÏ in, on + bed.] 1. In bed, or on the bed.
Not to be abed after midnight.
Shak.
2. To childbed (in the phrase ½brought abed,¸ that is, delivered of a child).
Shak.
AÏbeg¶ge (?). Same as Aby. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
AÏbele¶ (?), n. [D. abeel (abeelÐboom), OF. abel, aubel, fr. a dim. of L. albus white.] The white polar (Populus alba).
Six abeles i' the churchyard grow.
Mrs. Browning.
AÏbel¶iÏan (?), A¶belÏite (?), A·belÏo¶niÏan (?), } n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect in Africa (4th century), mentioned by St. Augustine, who states that they married, but lived in continence, after the manner, as they pretended, of Abel.
A¶belÏmosk· (?), n. [NL. abelmoschus, fr. Ar. abuÐlÐmisk father of musk, i.e., producing musk. See Musk.] (Bot.) An evergreen shrub (Hibiscus Ð formerly AbelmoschusÐmoschatus), of the East and West Indies and Northern Africa, whose musky seeds are used in perfumery and to flavor coffee; Ð sometimes called musk mallow.
Ab· erÐdeÐvine¶ (?), n. (Zo”l.) The European siskin (Carduelis spinus), a small green and yellow finch, related to the goldfinch.
AbÏerr¶ (?), v.i. [L. aberrare. See Aberrate.] To wander; to stray. [Obs.]
Sir T.Browne.
AbÏer¶rance (?), AbÏer¶ranÏcy (?), } n. State of being aberrant; a wandering from the right way; deviation from truth, rectitude, etc.
Aberrancy of curvature (Geom.), the deviation of a curve from a circular form.
AbÏer¶rant (?), a. [L. aberrans, Ïrantis, p.pr. of aberrare.] See Aberr.] 1. Wandering; straying from the right way.
2. (Biol.)
The more aberrant any form is, the greater must have been the number of connecting forms which, on my theory, have been exterminated.
Darwin.
Ab¶erÏrate (?), v.i. [L. aberratus, p.pr. of aberrare; ab + errare to wander. See Err.] To go astray; to diverge. [R.]
Their own defective and aberrating vision.
De Quincey.
Ab·erÏra¶tion (?), n. [L. aberratio: cf. F. aberration. See Aberrate.] 1. The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type. ½The aberration of youth.¸ Hall. ½Aberrations from theory.¸ Burke.
2. A partial alienation of reason. ½Occasional aberrations of intellect.¸ Lingard.
Whims, which at first are the aberrations of a single brain, pass with heat into epidemic form.
I.Taylor.
3. (Astron.) A small periodical change of position in the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer; called annual aberration, when the observer's motion is that of the earth in its orbit, and dairy or diurnal aberration, when of the earth on its axis; amounting when greatest, in the former case, to 20.4'', and in the latter, to 0.3''. Planetaryÿaberration is that due to the motion of light and the motion of the planet relative to the earth.
4. (Opt.) The convergence to different foci, by a lens or mirror, of rays of light emanating from one and the same point, or the deviation of such rays from a single focus; called spherical aberration, when due to the spherical form of the lens or mirror, such form giving different foci for central and marginal rays; and chromatic aberration, when due to different refrangibilities of the colored rays of the spectrum, those of each color having a distinct focus.
5. (Physiol.) The passage of blood or other fluid into parts not appropriate for it.
6. (Law) The producing of an unintended effect by the glancing of an instrument, as when a shot intended for A glances and strikes B.
Syn. - Insanity; lunacy; madness; derangement; alienation; mania; dementia; hallucination; illusion; delusion. See Insanity.
Ab·erÏra¶tionÏal (?), a. Characterized by aberration.
Ab·eÏrun¶cate (?), v.t. [L. aberuncare, for aberruncare. See Averruncate.] To weed out. [Obs.]
Bailey.
Ab·eÏrun¶caÏtor (?), n. A weeding machine.
AÏbet¶ (?), v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abetted (?); p.pr. & vb.n. Abetting.] [OF. abeter; a (L. ad) + beter to bait (as a bear), fr. Icel. beita to set dogs on, to feed, originally, to cause to bite, fr. Icel. bÆtaÿto bite, hence to bait, to incite. See Bait, Bet.] 1. To instigate or encourage by aid or countenance; Ð used in a bad sense of persons and acts; as, to abet an illÐdoer; to abet one in his wicked courses; to abet vice; to abet an insurrection. ½The whole tribe abets the villany.¸
South.
Would not the fool abet the stealth,
Who rashly thus exposed his wealth?
Gay.
2. To support, uphold, or aid; to maintain; Ð in a good sense. [Obs.]r duty is urged, and our confidence abetted.
Jer. Taylor.
3. (Law)To contribute, as an assistant or instigator, to the commission of an offense.
Syn. - To incite; instigate; set on; egg on; foment; advocate; countenance; encourage; second; uphold; aid; assist; support; sustain; back; connive at.
AÏbet¶ (?), n. [OF. abet, fr. abeter.] Act of abetting; aid. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
AÏbet¶ment (?), n. The act of abetting; as, an abetment of treason, crime, etc.
AÏbet¶tal (?), n. Abetment. [R.]
<— p. 4 —>
AÏbet¶ter, AÏbetÏtor } (#), n. One who abets; an instigator of an offense or an offender. µ The form abettor is the legal term and also in general use. Syn. Ð Abettor, Accessory, Accomplice. These words denote different degrees of complicity in some deed or crime. An abettor is one who incites or encourages to the act, without sharing in its performance. An accessory supposes a principal offender. One who is neither the chief actor in an offense, nor present at its performance, but accedes to or becomes involved in its guilt, either by some previous or subsequent act, as of instigating, encouraging, aiding, or concealing, etc., is an accessory. An accomplice is one who participates in the commission of an offense, whether as principal or accessory. Thus in treason, there are no abettors or accessories, but all are held to be principals or accomplices. Ab·eÏvac¶uÏa¶tion (#), n. [Pref. abÏ + evacuation.] (Med.) A partial evacuation. Mayne. AÏbey¶ance (#), n. [OF. abeance expectation, longing; a (L. ad) + baer, beer, to gape, to look with open mouth, to expect, F. bayer, LL. badare to gape.] 1. (Law) Expectancy; condition of being undetermined. µ When there is no person in existence in whom an inheritance (or a dignity) can vest, it is said to be in abeyance, that is, in expectation; the law considering it as always potentially existing, and ready to vest whenever a proper owner appears. Blackstone. 2. Suspension; temporary suppression. Keeping the sympathies of love and admiration in a dormant state, or state of abeyance. De Quincey. AÏbey¶anÏcy (#), n. Abeyance. [R.] Hawthorne. AÏbey¶ant (#), a. Being in a state of abeyance. Ø Ab¶hal (#), n. The berries of a species of cypress in the East Indies. AbÏhom¶iÏnaÏble (#), a. Abominable. [A false orthography anciently used; h was foisted into various words; hence abholish, for abolish, etc.] This is abhominable, which he [Don Armado] would call abominable. Shak. Love's Labor's Lost, v. 1. AbÏhom·iÏnal (#), a. [L. ab away from + homo, hominis, man.] Inhuman. [Obs.] Fuller. AbÏhor¶ (#), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abhorred (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Abhorring.] [L. abhorrere; ab + horrere to bristle, shiver, shudder: cf. F. abhorrer. See Horrid.] 1. To shrink back with shuddering from; to regard with horror or detestation; to feel excessive repugnance toward; to detest to extremity; to loathe. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Rom. xii. 9. 2. To fill with horror or disgust. [Obs.] It doth abhor me now I speak the word. Shak. 3. (Canon Law) To protest against; to reject solemnly. [Obs.] I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul Refuse you for my judge. Shak. Syn. Ð To hate; detest; loathe; abominate. See Hate. AbÏhor¶, v. i. To shrink back with horror, disgust, or dislike; to be contrary or averse; Ð with from. [Obs.] ½To abhor from those vices.¸ Udall. Which is utterly abhorring from the end of all law. Milton. AbÏhor¶rence (#), n. Extreme hatred or detestation; the feeling of utter dislike. AbÏhor¶renÏcy (#), n. Abhorrence. [Obs.] Locke. AbÏhor¶rent (#), a. [L. abhorens, Ïrentis, p. pr. of abhorrere.] 1. Abhorring; detesting; having or showing abhorrence; loathing; hence, strongly opposed to; as, abhorrent thoughts. The persons most abhorrent from blood and treason. Burke. The arts of pleasure in despotic courts I spurn abhorrent. Clover. 2. Contrary or repugnant; discordant; inconsistent; Ð followed by to. ½Injudicious profanation, so abhorrent to our stricter principles.¸ Gibbon. 3. Detestable. ½Pride, abhorrent as it is.¸ I. Taylor. AbÏhor¶rentÏly, adv. With abhorrence. AbÏhor¶rer (#), n. One who abhors. Hume. AbÏhor¶riÏble (#), a. Detestable. [R.] AbÏhor¶ring (#), n. 1. Detestation. Milton. 2. Object of abhorrence. Isa. lxvi. 24. Ø A¶bib (#), n. [Heb. abÆb, lit. an ear of corn. The month was so called from barley being at that time in ear.] The first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding nearly to our April. After the Babylonish captivity this month was called Nisan. Kitto. AÏbid¶ance (#), n. The state of abiding; abode; continuance; compliance (with). The Christians had no longer abidance in the holy hill of Palestine. Fuller. A judicious abidance by rules. Helps. AÏbide¶ (#), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abode (#), formerly Abid (#); p. pr. & vb. n.
<p. 5>
AÏblaze¶ (#), adv. & a. [Pref. aÏ + 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.
A¶ble (#), a. [Comp. Abler (#); superl. Ablest (#).] [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) Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence; as, able to inherit or devise property.
Able for, is Scotticism. ½Hardly able for such a march.¸
Robertson.
Syn. Ð Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective; capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.
A¶ble, v. t. [See Able, a.] [Obs.] 1. To make able; to enable; to strengthen.
Chaucer.
2. To vouch for. ½I 'll able them.¸
Shak.
ÏaÏble (#). [F. Ïable, L. Ïabilis.] 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.
The form Ïible is used in the same sense.
µ It is difficult to say when we are not to use Ïable instead of Ïible. ½Yet a rule may be laid down as to when we are to use it. To all verbs, then, from the AngloÐSaxon, to all based on the uncorrupted infinitival stems of Latin verbs of the first conjugation, and to all substantives, whencesoever sprung, we annex Ïable only.¸
Fitzed. Hall.
A·bleÐbod¶ied (#), a. Having a sound, strong body; physically competent; robust. ½AbleÐbodied vagrant.¸ Froude. Ð A·bleÐbod¶iedÏness, n.
Ab¶leÏgate (#), v. t. [L. ablegatus, p. p. of ablegare; ab + legare to send with a commission. See Legate.] To send abroad. [Obs.]
Bailey.
Ab¶leÏgate (#), n. (R. C. Ch.) 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.
Ab·leÏga¶tion (#), n. [L. ablegatio.] The act of sending abroad. [Obs.]
Jer. Taylor.
A·bleÐmind¶ed (#), a. Having much intellectual power. Ð A·bleÐmind¶edÏness, n.
A¶bleÏness (#), n. Ability of body or mind; force; vigor. [Obs. or R.]
Ab¶lepÏsy (#), n. [Gr. ?; ? priv. + ? to see.] Blindness. [R.]
Urquhart.
A¶bler (#), a., comp. of Able. Ð A¶blest (#), a., superl. of Able.
Ab¶let (#), Ab¶len ] [F. ablet, ablette, a dim. fr. LL. abula, for albula, dim. of albus white. Cf. Abele.] (Zo”l.) A small freshÐwater fish (Leuciscus alburnus); the bleak.
Ab¶liÏgate (#), v. t. [L. ab + ligatus, p. p. of ligare to tie.] To tie up so as to hinder from. [Obs.]
AbÏlig·uÏri¶tion (?), n. [L. abligurito, fr. abligurire to spend in luxurious indulgence; ab + ligurire to be lickerish, dainty, fr. lingere to lick.] Prodigal expense for food. [Obs.]
Bailey.
A¶blins (#), adv. [See Able.] Perhaps. [Scot.]
AÏbloom¶ (#), adv. [Pref. aÏ + bloom.] In or into bloom; in a blooming state.
Masson.
AbÏlude¶ (#), v. t. [L. abludere; ab + ludere to play.] To be unlike; to differ. [Obs.]
Bp. Hall.
Ab¶luÏent (#), a. [L. abluens, p. pr. of. abluere to wash away; ab + luere (lavere, lavare). See Lave.] Washing away; carrying off impurities; detergent. Ð n. (Med.) A detergent.
AÏblush¶ (#), adv. & a. [Pref. aÏ + blush.] Blushing; ruddy.
AbÏlu·tion (#), n. [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. ½Cast the ablutions in the main.¸
Pope.
3. (R. C. Ch.) 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
AbÏlu¶tionÏaÏry (#), a. Pertaining to ablution.
AbÏlu¶viÏon (#), n. [LL. abluvio. See Abluent.] That which is washed off. [R.]
Dwight.
A¶bly (#), adv. In an able manner; with great ability; as, ably done, planned, said.
ÏaÏbly (#). A suffix composed of Ïable and the adverbial suffix Ïly; as, favorably.
Ab¶neÏgate (#), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abnegated; p. pr. & vb. n. Abnegating.] [L. abnegatus,p. p. of abnegare; ab + negare to deny. See Deny.] To deny and reject; to abjure.
Sir E. Sandys. Farrar.
Ab·neÏga¶tion (#), n. [L. abnegatio: cf. F. abn‚gation.] a denial; a renunciation.
With abnegation of God, of his honor, and of religion, they may retain the friendship of the court.
Knox.
Ab¶neÏgaÏtive (#), a. [L. abnegativus.] Denying; renouncing; negative. [R.]
Clarke.
Ab¶neÐga·tor (#), n. [L.] One who abnegates, denies, or rejects anything. [R.]
Ø Ab¶net (#), n. [Heb.] The girdle of a Jewish priest or officer.
Ab¶noÏdate (#), v. t. [L. abnodatus, p. p. of abnodare; ab + nodus knot.] To clear (tress) from knots. [R.]
Blount.
Ab·noÏda¶tion (#), n. The act of cutting away the knots of trees. [R.]
Crabb.
AbÏnor¶mal (#), a. [For earlier anormal.F. anormal, LL. anormalus for anomalus, Gr. ?. Confused with L. abnormis. See Anomalous, Abnormous, Anormal.] Not conformed to rule or system; deviating from the type; anomalous; irregular. ½That deviating from the type; anomalous; irregular. ¸
Froude.
Ab·norÏmal¶iÏty (#), n.; pl. Abnormalities (#). 1. The state or quality of being abnormal; variation; irregularity.
Darwin.
2. Something abnormal.
AbÏnor¶malÏly (#), adv. In an abnormal manner; irregularly.
Darwin.
AbÏnor¶miÏty (#), n.; pl. Abnormities (#). [LL. abnormitas. See Abnormous.] Departure from the ordinary type; irregularity; monstrosity. ½An abnormity… like a calf born with two heads.¸
Mrs. Whitney.
AbÏnor¶mous (#), a. [L. abnormis; ab + norma rule. See Normal.] Abnormal; irregular.
Hallam.
A character of a more abnormous cast than his equally suspected coadjutor.
State Trials.
AÏboard¶ (#), adv. [Pref. aÏ on, in + board.]
. 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. Ð To haul the tacks aboard, to set the courses. Ð To keep the land aboard, to hug the shore. Ð To lay (a ship) aboard, to place one's own ship close alongside of (a ship) for fighting.
AÏboard¶, 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.
AÏbod¶ance (#), n. [See Bode.] An omen; a portending. [Obs.]
AÏbode¶ (#), pret. of Abide.
AÏbode¶, n. [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.
AÏbode¶, n. [See Bode, v. t.] An omen. [Obs.]
HighÐthundering Juno's husband stirs my spirit with true abodes.
Chapman.
AÏbode¶, v. t. To bode; to foreshow. [Obs.]
Shak.
AÏbode¶, v. i. To be ominous. [Obs.]
Dryden.
AÏbode¶ment (#), n. A foreboding; an omen. [Obs.] ½Abodements must not now affright us.¸
Shak.
AÏbod¶ing (#), n. A foreboding. [Obs.]
AÏbol¶ish (#), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abolished (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Abolishing.] [F. abolir, L. abolere, aboletum; ab + olere to grow. Cf. Finish.]
1. To do away with wholly; to annul; to make void; Ð 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. Ð 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.
AÏbol¶ishÏaÏble (#), a. [Cf. F. abolissable.] Capable of being abolished.
AÏbol¶ishÏer (#), n. One who abolishes.
AÏbol¶ishÏment (#), n. [Cf. F. abolissement.] The act of abolishing; abolition; destruction.
Hooker.
Ab¶oÏli¶tion (#), n. [L. abolitio, fr. abolere: cf. F. abolition. See Abolish.] 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.
µ The application of this word to persons is now unusual or obsolete
Ab·oÏli¶tionÏism (#), n. The principles or measures of abolitionists.
Wilberforce.
Ab·oÏli¶tionÏist, n. A person who favors the abolition of any institution, especially negro slavery.
Ab·oÏli·tionÏize (#), v. t. To imbue with the principles of abolitionism. [R.]
Bartlett.
Ø AÏbo¶ma (#), n. (Zo”l.) A large South American serpent (Boa aboma).
Ø Ab·oÏma¶sum (#), Ø Ab·oÏma¶sus (#), } n. [NL., fr. L. ab + omasum (a Celtic word.) (Anat.) The fourth or digestive stomach of a ruminant, which leads from the third stomach omasum. See Ruminantia.
AÏboom¶iÏnaÏble (#), a. [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; Ð used as an intensive. [Obs.]
µ Juliana Berners… informs us that in her time [15th c.], ½a bomynable syght of monkes¸ was elegant English for ½a large company of friars.¸
G. P. Marsh.
AÏbom¶iÏnaÏbleÏness, n. The quality or state of being abominable; odiousness.
Bentley.
AÏbom¶iÏnaÏbly (#), adv. In an abominable manner; very odiously; detestably.
AÏbom¶iÏnate (#), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abominated; p. pr. & vb. n. Abominating.] [L. abominatus, p. p. or abominari to deprecate as ominous, to abhor, to curse; ab + omen a foreboding. See Omen.] To turn from as illÐomened; to hate in the highest degree, as if with religious dread; loathe; as, to abominate all impiety.
Syn. Ð To hate; abhor; loathe; detest. See
AÏbom·iÏna¶tion (#), n. [OE. abominacioun, Ïcion, 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. Ð Detestation; loathing; abhorrence; disgust; aversion; loathsomeness; odiousness.
AÏbom¶iÏna·tor (#), n. One who abominates.
Sir W. Scott.
AÏboon¶ (#), prep. and adv. Above. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
Aboon the pass of BallyÐBrough.
Sir W. Scott.
The ceiling fair that rose aboon.
J. R. Drake.
AbÏo¶ral (#), a. [L. ab. + E. oral.] (Zo”l.) Situated opposite to, or away from, the mouth.
Ø AÏbord¶ (#), n. [F.] Manner of approaching or accosting; address.
Chesterfield.
AÏbord¶ (#), v. t. [F. aborder, ? (L. ad) + bord rim, brim, or side of a vessel. See Border, Board.] To approach; to accost. [Obs.]
Digby.
Ab·oÏrig¶iÏnal (#), a. [See Aborigines.]
1. First; original; indigenous; primitive; native; as, the aboriginal tribes of America. ½Mantled o'er with aboriginal turf.¸
Wordsworth.
2. Of or pertaining to aborigines; as, a Hindoo of aboriginal blood.
Ab·oÏrig¶iÏnal, 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.
Ab·oÏrig·iÏnal¶iÏty (#), n. The quality of being aboriginal.
Westm. Rev.
Ab·oÏrig¶iÏnalÏly (#), adv. Primarily.
Ab·oÏrig¶iÏness (#), n. pl. [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
AÏborse¶ment (#), n. Abortment; abortion. [Obs.]
Bp. Hall.
AÏbor¶sive (#), a. Abortive. [Obs.]
Fuller.
AÏbort¶ (#), v. i. [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.) To become checked in normal development, so as either to remain rudimentary or shrink away wholly; to become sterile.
AÏbort¶, n. [L. abortus, fr. aboriri.] 1. An untimely birth. [Obs.]
Sir H. Wotton.
2. An aborted offspring. [Obs.]
Holland.
AÏbort¶ed, a. 1. Brought forth prematurely.
2. (Biol.) 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.