Abolish – Academist

Abolish

ABOL'ISH, verb transitive [Latin abolco; from ab and oleo, olesco, to grow.]

1. To make void; to annul; to abrogate; applied chiefly and appropriately to established laws, contracts, rites, customs and institutions - as to abolish laws by a repeal, actual or virtual.

2. To destroy, or put an end to; as to abolish idols. Isaiah 2:18. To abolish death 2 Timothy 1:10. This sense is not common. To abolish posterity, in the translation of Pausanias, Lib. 3. Ca 6, is hardly allowable.

Abolishable

ABOL'ISHABLE, adjective That may be annulled, abrogated, or destroyed, as a law, rite, custom, etc.

Abolished

ABOL'ISHED, participle passive annulled; repealed; abrogated, or destroyed.

Abolisher

ABOL'ISHER, noun One who abolishes.

Abolishing

ABOL'ISHING, participle present tense Making void; annulling; destroying.

Abolishment

ABOL'ISHMENT, noun The act of annulling; abrogation; destruction.

Abolition

ABOLI'TION, noun abolishun. The act of abolishing; or the state of being abolished; an annulling; abrogation; utter destruction; as the abolition of laws, decrees, ordinances, rites, customs, debts, etc.

The application of this word to persons and things, is now unusual or obsolete. To abolish persons, canals and senses, the language of good writers formerly, is no longer legitimate.

Abominable

ABOM'INABLE, adjective [See Abominate.]

1. Very hateful; detestable; lothesome.

2. This word is applicable to whatever is odious to the mind or offensive to the senses.

3. Unclean. Levit. vli.

Abominableness

ABOM'INABLENESS, noun The quality or state of being very odious; hatefulness.

Abominably

ABOM'INABLY, adverb

1. Very odiously; detestably; sinfully. 1 Kings 21:26.

2. In vulgar language, extremely, excessively.

Abominate

ABOM'INATE, verb transitive [Latin abomino, supposed to be formed by ab and omen; to deprecate as ominous; may the Gods avert the evil.]

To hate extremely; to abhor; to detest

Abominated

ABOM'INATED, participle passive Hated utterly, detested; abhorred.

Abominating

ABOM'INATING, participle present tense Abhorring; hating extremely.

Abomination

ABOMINA'TION, noun

1. Extreme hatred; detestation.

2. The object of detestation, a common signification in scripture.

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 15:8.

3. Hence, defilement, pollution, in a physical sense, or evil doctrines and practices, which are moral defilements, idols and idolatry, are called abominations. The Jews were an abomination to the Egyptians; and the sacred animals of the Egyptians were an abomination to the Jews. The Roman army is called the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24:15. In short, whatever is an object of extreme hatred, is called an abomination

Abord

ABO'RD, noun [Fr. See Border.] Literally, arrival, but used for first appearance, manner of accosting, or address, but not an English word.

ABO'RD, verb transitive To accost. [Not in use.]

Aborea

ABO'REA, noun A species of duck, called by Edwards, the black-bellied whistling duck. This fowl is of a reddish brown color, with a sort of crest on its head; the belly is spotted with black and white. It belongs to the genus, anas.

Aboriginal

ABORIG'INAL, adjective [Latin ab and origo, origin. See Origin.]

First; original; primitive; aboriginal people are the first inhabitants of a country.

Aboriginal tribes of America.

ABORIG'INAL, adjective an original, or primitive inhabitant. The first settlers in a country are called aboriginals; as the Celts in Europe, and Indians in America.

Aborinines

ABORIN'INES, noun plur. Aboriginals - but not an English word.

It may be well to let it pass into disuse. [See Aboriginal.]

Aborsement

ABORSEMENT, noun abors'ment. [See Abort.]

Abortion. [Not in use.]

Abort

ABORT', verb intransitive [Latin aborto; ab and ortus, orior.]

To miscarry in birth. [Not in use.]

ABORT', noun an abortion. [Not in use.]

Abortion

ABOR'TION, noun [Latin abortio, a miscarriage; usually deduced from ab and orior.]

1. The act of miscarrying, or producing young before the natural time, or before the fetus is perfectly formed.

2. In a figurative sense, any fruit or produce that does not come to maturity, or any thing which fails in its progress, before it is matured or perfect, as a design or project.

3. The fetus brought forth before it is perfectly formed.

Abortive

ABOR'TIVE, adjective

1. Brought forth in an immature state; failing, or coming to naught, before it is complete.

2. Failing in its effect; miscarrying; producing nothing; as an abortive scheme.

3. Rendering abortive; as abortive gulf, in Milton, but not legitimate.

4. Pertaining to abortion; as abortive vellum, made of the skin of an abortive calf.

5. In botany, an abortive flower is one which falls without producing fruit.

ABOR'TIVE, noun That which is brought forth or born prematurely. [Little used.]

Abortively

ABOR'TIVELY, adverb Immaturely; in an untimely manner.

Abortiveness

ABOR'TIVENESS, noun The state of being abortive; a failing in the progress to perfection or maturity; a failure of producing the intended effect.

Abortment

ABORT'MENT, noun An untimely birth.

Abound

ABOUND', verb intransitive. [Latin abundo. If this word is from Latin unda, a wave, the latter has probably lost its first consonant. abound may naturally be deduced from the Celtic. Latin fons, a fountain.]

1. To have or possess in great quantity; to be copiously supplied; followed by with or in; as to abound with provisions; to abound in good things.

2. To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent.

Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound Romans 5:20.

Abounding

ABOUND'ING, participle present tense Having in great plenty; being in great plenty, being very prevalent; generally prevailing.

ABOUND'ING, noun Increase.

About

ABOUT', preposition [Gr. butan, without, [see but, ] literally, around, on the outside.]

1. Around; on the exterior part or surface.

Bind them about thy neck. Proverbs 3:3. Isa. Latin Hence,

2. Near to in place, with the sense of circularity.

Get you up from about the tabernacle. Numbers 16:24.

3. Near to in time.

He went out about the third hour. Matthew 21:3.

4. Near to, in action, or near to the performance of some act.

Paul was about to open his mouth.

They were about to flee out of the ship. Acts 28:14 - 28:30.

5. Near to the person; appended to the clothes. Every thing about him is in order. Is your snuff box about you? From nearness on all sides, the transition is easy to a concern with. Hence,

6. Concerned in, engaged in, relating to, respecting.

I must be about my father's business. Luke 2:49. The painter is not to take so much pains about the drapery as about the face

What is he about?

7. In compass or circumference; two yards about the trunk.

ABOUT', adverb

1. Near to in number or quantity.

There fell that day about three thousand men. Exodus 32:28.

2. Near to in quality or degree; as about as high, or as cold.

3. Here and there; around; in one place and another.

Wandering about from house to house. 1 Timothy 5:13.

4. round, or the longest way, opposed to across, or the shortest way. A mile about and half a mile across.

To bring about to bring to the end; to effect or accomplish a purpose.

To come about to change or turn; to come to the desired point. In a like sense, seamen say go about when a ship changes her course and goes on the other tack.

Ready about about ship, are orders for tacking.

To go about signifies to enter upon; also to prepare; to seek the means.

Why go ye about to kill me. John 7:14.

Above

ABOVE', preposition

1. Literally, higher in place.

The fowls that fly above the earth. Genesis 1:20.

2. Figuratively, superior in any respect.

I saw a light above the brightness of the Sun, Acts 26:13.

The price of a virtuous woman is above rubies, Proverbs 31:10.

3. More in number or quantity.

He was seen by above five hundred brethren at once, 1 Corinthians 15:6.

The weight is above a tun.

4. More in degree; in a greater degree.

Hannaniah feared God above many. Nehemiah 7:2.

The serpent is cursed above all cattle. Genesis 3:14.

5. Beyond; in excess.

In stripes above measure. 2 Corinthians 11:23.

God will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able, 1 Corinthians 10:13.

6. Beyond; in a state to be unattainable; as things above comprehension.

7. Too proud for.

This man is above his business.

8. Too elevated in mind or rank; having too much dignity for; as

This man is above mean actions.

9. It is often used elliptically, for heaven, or the celestial regions.

Let not God regard it from above Job 3:4.

The powers above

10. In a book or writing, it denotes before or in a former place, as what has been said above; supra. This mode of speaking originated in the ancient manner of writing, on a strip of parchment, beginning at one end and proceeding to the other. The beginning was the upper end.

ABOVE', adverb

1. Overhead; in a higher place.

2. Before.

3. Chief in rank or power. Deuteronomy 28:1.

ABOVE all is elliptical; above all considerations; chiefly; in preference to other things.

ABOVE board; above the board or table; in open sight; without trick, concealment or deception. This expression is said by Johnson to be borrowed from gamesters, who, when they change their cards, put their hands under the table.

Above-Cited

ABOVE-CITED, Cited before, in the preceding part of a book or writing.

Above-Ground

ABOVE-GROUND, Alive, not buried.

Above-Mentioned

ABOVE-MENTIONED, Mentioned before. adjective Bp. Abbrev. for Archbishop.

Abracadabra

ABRACADAB'RA, The name of a deity worshipped by the Syrians: a cabalistic word. The letters of his name, written on paper, in the form of an inverted cone, were recommended by Samonicus as an antidote against certain diseases.

Abrade

ABRA'DE, verb transitive [Latin abrado, to scrape, from rado.]

To rub or wear off; to waste by friction; used especially to express the action of sharp, corrosive medicines, in wearing away or removing the mucus of the membranes.

Abraded

ABRA'DED, participle passive Rubbed or worn off; worn; scraped.

Abrading

ABRA'DING, participle present tense Rubbing off; wearing.

Abrahamic

ABRAHAM'IC, adjective Pertaining to Abraham, the patriarch, as abrahamic Covenant.

Abrasion

ABRA'SION, noun abra'zhun. The act of wearing or rubbing off; also substance worn off by attrition.

Abreast

ABREAST', adverb abrest', [from a and breast.]

1. Side by side; with the breasts in a line.

Two men rode abreast

2. In marine language, ships are abreast when their heads are equally advanced; and they are abreast of objects when the objects are on a line with the beam. - Hence,

Opposite; against; on a line with - as a ship was abreast of Montauk point - A seaman's phrase.

Abridge

ABRIDGE', verb transitive abridj', [G. short, or its root, from the root of break or a verb of that family.]

1. To make shorter; to epitomize; to contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense in substance - used of writings.

Justin abridged the history of Trogus Pompeius.

2. To lessen; to diminish; as to abridge labor; to abridge power of rights.

3. To deprive; to cut off from; followed by of; as to abridge one of his rights, or enjoyments. to abridge from, is now obsolete or improper.

4. In algebra, to reduce a compound quantity or equation to its more simple expression. The equation thus abridged is called a formula.

Abridged

ABRIDG'ED, participle passive Made shorter; epitomized; reduced to a smaller compass; lessened; deprived.

Abridger

ABRIDG'ER, noun One who abridges; one who makes a compend.

Abridging

ABRIDG'ING, participle present tense shortening; lessening; depriving; debarring.

Abridgment

ABRIDG'MENT, noun

1. An epitome; a compend, or summary of a book.

2. Diminution; contraction; reduction - as an abridgment of expenses.

3. Deprivation; a debarring or restraint - as an abridgment of pleasures.

Abroach

ABROACH, adverb [See Broach.]

Broached; letter out or yielding liquor, or in a posture for letting out; as a cask is abroach Figuratively used by Shakespeare for setting loose, or in a state of being diffused, 'Set mischief abroach; ' but this sense is unusual.

Abroad

ABROAD, adverb abrawd'. [See Broad]

In a general sense, at large; widely; not confined to narrow limits. Hence,

1. In the open air.

2. Beyond or out of the walls of a house, as to walk abroad

3. Beyond the limits of a camp. Deuteronomy 23:10

4. Beyond the bounds of a country; in foreign countries - as to go abroad for an education. We have broils at home and enemies abroad

5. Extensively; before the public at large.

He began to blaze abroad the matter. Mark 1:45.

Esther 1:17.

6. Widely; with expansion; as a tree spreads its branches abroad

Abrogate

AB'ROGATE, verb transitive [L abrago, to repeal. from ab and rogo, to ask or propose. See the English reach. Class Rg.]

To repeal; to annul by an authoritative act; to abolish by the authority of the maker or his successor; applied to the repeal of laws, decrees, ordinances, the abolition of established customs etc.

Abrogated

AB'ROGATED, participle passive Repealed; annulled by an act of authority.

Abrogating

AB'ROGATING, participle present tense Repealing by authority; making void.

Abrogation

ABROGA'TION, noun the act of abrogating; a repeal of authority of the legislative power.

Abrood

ABROOD', adverb [See Brood.] In the action of brooding. [Not in use.]

Abrooding

ABROOD'ING, noun A sitting abrood. [Not in use.]

Abrook

ABROOK', verb transitive To brook, to endure. [Not in use. See Brook.]

Abrotanum

ABRO'TANUM, noun A species of plant arranged under the Genus, Artemisia; called also southern wood.

Abrupt

ABRUPT', adjective [Latin abruptus, from abrumpo, to break off, of ab and rumpo. See Rupture.]

1. Literally, broken off, or broken short.

Hence,

2. Steep, craggy; applied to rocks, precipices and the like.

3. Figuratively, sudden; without notice to prepare the mind for the event; as an abrupt entrance and address.

4. Unconnected; having sudden transitions from one subject to another; as an abrupt style.

5. In botany, an abrupt pinnate leaf is one which has neither leaflet, nor entril at the end.

ABRUPT', noun A chasm or gulf with steep sides. 'Over the vast abrupt ' [This use of the word is infrequent.]

Abruption

ABRUP'TION, noun A sudden breaking off; a violent separation of bodies.

Abruptly

ABRUPT'LY, adverb suddenly; without giving notice, or without the usual forms; as, the Minister left France abruptly

Abruptness

ABRUPT'NESS, noun

1. A state of being broken; craggedness; steepness.

2. Figuratively, suddenness; unceremonious haste or vehemence.

Abscess

AB'SCESS, noun [Latin abscessus, from ab and cedo, to go from.]

An imposthume. A collection of morbid matter, or pus in the cellular or adipose membrane; matter generated by the suppuration of an inflammatory tumor.

Abscind

ABSCIND', verb transitive [Latin abscindo.] To cut off. [Little used.]

Absciss

AB'SCISS, noun [Latin abscissus, from ab and scindere, to cut; See Scissors.]

In conics, a part of the diameter, or transverse axis of a conic section, intercepted between the vertex or some other fixed point, and a semiordinate.

Abscission

ABSCIS'SION, noun [See Absciss.]

1. A cutting off, or a begin cut off. In surgery, the separation of any corrupted or useless part of the body, by a sharp instrument; applied to the soft parts, as amputation is to the bones and flesh of a limb.

2. In rhetoric, a figure of speech, when having begun to say a thing, a speaker stops abruptly, as supposing the matter sufficiently understood. Thus, He is a man of so much honor and candor, and such generosity--but I need say no more.

Abscond

ABSCOND', verb intransitive [Latin abscondo, to hide, of abs and condo, to hide, i.e. to withdraw, or to thrust aside or into a corner or secret place.]

1. To retire from public view, or from the place in which one resides or is ordinarily to be found; to withdraw, or absent one's self in a private manner; to be concealed; appropriately, used of persons who secrete themselves to avoid a legal process.

2. To hide, withdraw or be concealed; as 'the marmot absconds in winter.' [Little used.]

Absconder

ABSCOND'ER, noun One who withdraws from public notice, or conceals himself from public view.

Absconding

ABSCOND'ING, participle present tense Withdrawing privately from public view; as, an absconding debtor, who confines himself to his apartments, or absents himself to avoid the ministers of justice. In the latter sense, it is properly an adjective.

Absence

AB'SENCE, noun [Latin absens, from absum, abesse, to be away; ab and sum.]

1. A state of being at a distance in place, or not in company. It is used to denote any distance indefinitely, either in the same town, or country, or in a foreign country; and primarily supposes a prior presence. 'Speak well of one in his absence '

2. Want; destitution; implying no previous presence. 'In the absence of conventional law.'

3. In law, non-appearance; a not being in court to answer.

4. Heedlessness; inattention to things present. absence of mind is the attention of the mind to a subject which does not occupy the rest of the company, and which draws the mind from things or objects which are present, to others distant or foreign.

Absent

AB'SENT, adjective

1. Not present; not in company; at such a distance as to prevent communication. It is used also for being in a foreign country.

A gentleman is absent on his travels.

Absent from one another. Genesis 31:49.

2. Heedless; inattentive to persons present, or to subjects of conversation in company.

An absent man is uncivil to the company.

3. In familiar language, not at home; as, the master of the house is absent In other words, he does not wish to be disturbed by company.

ABSENT', verb transitive To depart to such a distance as to prevent intercourse; to retire or withdraw; to forbear to appear in presence; used with the reciprocal pronoun.

Let a man absent himself from the company.

Absentee

ABSENTEE', noun One who withdraws from his country, office or estate; one who removed to a distant place or to another counter.

Absenter

ABSENT'ER, noun One who absents himself.

Absentment

ABSENT'MENT, noun A state of being absent.

Absinthian

ABSINTH'IAN, adjective [from absinthium.] Of the nature of wormwood.

Absinthiated

ABSINTH'IATED, adjective Impregnated with wormwood.

Absinthium

ABSINTH'IUM, noun Budaeus in his commentaries on Theophrast, supposes the word composed of a priv. delight, so named from its bitterness. But it may be an Oriental word.

The common wormwood; a bitter plant, used as a tonic. A species of Artemisia.

Absis

AB'SIS, In astronomy. [See Apsis.]

Absolute

AB'SOLUTE, adjective [Latin absolutus. See Absolve.]

1. Literally, in a general sense, free, independent of any thing extraneous. Hence,

2. Complete in itself; positive; as an absolute declaration.

3. Unconditional, as an absolute promise.

4. Existing independent of any other cause, as God is absolute

5. Unlimited by extraneous power or control, as an absolute government or prince.

6. Not relative, as absolute space.

In grammar, the case absolute is when a word or member of a sentence is not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence in government.

Absolute equation, in astronomy, is the aggregate of the

optic and eccentric equations. The apparent inequality of a planet's motion in its orbit, arising from is unequal distances from the earth at different times, is called its optic equation; the eccentric inequality is caused by the uniformity of the planet's motion, in an elliptical orbit, which, for that reason, appears not to be uniform.

Absolute numbers, in algebra, are such as have no letters annexed, as 2a+36=48. the two latter numbers are absolute or pure.

Absolute space, in physics, is space considered without relation to any other object.

Absolute gravity, in philosophy, is that property in bodies by which they are said to weigh so much, without regard to circumstances of modification, and this is always as the quantity of matter they contain.

Absolutely

AB'SOLUTELY, adverb

1. Completely, wholly, as a thing is absolutely unintelligible.

2. Without dependence or relation; in a state unconnected

Absolutely we cannot discommend, we cannot absolutely approve, either willingness to live, or forwardness to die.

3. Without restriction or limitation; as God reigns absolutely

4. Without condition, as God does not forgive absolutely but upon condition of faith and repentance.

5. Positively, peremptorily, as command me absolutely not to go.

Absoluteness

AB'SOLUTENESS, noun Independence, completeness in itself.

2. Despotic authority, or that which is subject to no extraneous restriction, or control.

Absolution

ABSOLU'TION, noun In the civil law, an acquittal or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent. In the canon law, a remission of sins pronounced by a priest in favor of a penitent. Among protestants, a sentence by which an excommunicated person is released from his liability to punishment.

Absolutory

AB'SOLUTORY, adjective Absolving; that absolves.

Absolvatory

ABSOLV'ATORY, adjective [from absolve.] Containing absolution, pardon, or release; having power to absolve.

Absolve

ABSOLVE', verb transitive abzolv', [Latin absolvo, from ab and solvo, to loose or release; to absolve to finish; Heb. to loose or loosen. See Solve.]

To set free or release from some obligation, debt or responsibility; or from that which subjects a person to a burden or penalty; as to absolve a person from a promise; to absolve an offender, which amounts to an acquittal and remission of his punishment. Hence, in the civil law, the word was used for acquit; and in the canon law, for forgive, or a sentence of

remission. In ordinary language, its sense is to set free or release from an engagement. Formerly, good writers used the word in the sense of finish, accomplish; as to absolve work, in Milton; but in this sense, it seems to be obsolete.

Absolved

ABSOLV'ED, participle passive Released; acquitted; remitted; declared innocent.

Absolver

ABSOLV'ER, noun One who absolves; also one that pronounces sin to be remit.

Absolving

ABSOLV'ING, participle present tense Setting free from a debt, or charge; acquitting; remitting.

Absonant

AB'SONANT, adjective [See absonous.] Wide from the purpose; contrary to reason.

Absonous

AB'SONOUS, adjective [Latin absonus; ab and sonus, sound.] Unmusical or untunable

Absorb

ABSORB', verb transitive [Latin absorbeo, ab and sorbeo, to drink in; to draw or drink in; whence sirup, sherbet, shrub.]

1. To drink in; to suck up; to imbibe; as a spunge, or as the lacteals of the body.

2. To drink in, swallow up, or overwhelm with water, as a body in a whirlpool.

3. To waste wholly or sink in expenses; to exhaust, ; as, to absorb an estate in luxury.

4. To engross or engage wholly, as absorbed in study or the pursuit of wealth.

Absorbability

ABSORBABIL'ITY, noun a state or quality of being absorbable.

Absorbable

ABSORB'ABLE, adjective That may be imbibed or swallowed.

Absorbed

ABSORB'ED, or ABSORPT', participle passive Imbibed; swallowed; wasted; engaged; lost in study; wholly engrossed.

Absorbent

ABSORB'ENT, adjective Imbibing; swallowing.

ABSORB'ENT, noun In anatomy, a vessel which imbibes, as the lacteals, lymphatics, and inhaling arteries. In medicine, a testaceous powder, or other substance, which imbibes the humors of the body, as chalk or magnesia.

Absorbing

ABSORB'ING, participle present tense Imbibing; engrossing; wasting.

Absorpt

ABSORB'ED, or ABSORPT', participle passive Imbibed; swallowed; wasted; engaged; lost in study; wholly engrossed.

Absorption

ABSORP'TION, noun

1. The act or process of imbibing or swallowing; either by water which overwhelms, or by substances, which drink in and retain liquids; as the absorption of a body in a whirlpool, or of water by the earth, or of the humors of the body by dry powders. It is used also to express the swallowing up of substances by the earth in chasms made by earthquakes, and the sinking of large tracts in violent commotions of the earth.

2. In chimistry, the conversion of a gaseous fluid into a liquid or solid, by union with another substance.

Absorptive

ABSORP'TIVE, adjective Having power to imbibe.

Abstain

ABSTA'IN, verb intransitive [Latin abstineo, to keep from; abs and teneo, to hold. See Tenant.]

In a general sense, to forbear, or refrain from, voluntarily; but used chiefly to denote a restraint upon the passions or appetites; to refrain from indulgence.

Abstain from meats offered to idols. Acts 15:29.

To abstain from the use of ardent spirits; to abstain from luxuries.

Abstemious

ABSTE'MIOUS, adjective [Latin abstemium, from abs and temetum, an ancient name of strong wine, according to Fabius and Gellius. But Vossius supposes it to be from abstineo, by a change of n to m. It may be from the root of timeo, to fear, that is, to withdraw.]

1. Sparing in diet; refraining from a free use of food and strong drinks.

Instances of longevity are chiefly among the abstemious

2. Sparing in the enjoyment of animal pleasures of any kind. [This sense is less common, and perhaps not legitimate.]

3. Sparingly used, or used with temperance; belonging to abstinence; as an abstemious diet; an abstemious life.

Abstemiously

ABSTE'MIOUSLY, adverb Temperately; with a sparing use of meat or drink.

Abstemiousness

ABSTE'MIOUSNESS, noun The quality of being temperate or sparing in the use of food and strong drinks.

This word expresses a greater degree of abstinence than temperance.

Absterge

ABSTERGE', verb transitive abstery'. [Latin abstergeo, of abs and tergeo, to wipe. Tergeo may have a common origin with the Sw. torcka, G. trocknen, D. droogen, Sax. drygan, to dry; for these Teutonic verbs signify to wipe, as well as to dry.]

To wipe or make clean by wiping; to cleanse by resolving obstructions in the body. [Used chiefly as a medical term.]

Abstergent

ABSTERG'ENT, adjective Wiping; cleansing.

ABSTERG'ENT, noun a medicine which frees the body from obstructions, as soap; but the use of the word is nearly superseded by detergent, which see.

Abstersion

ABSTER'SION, noun [from Latin abstergeo, abstersus.] The act of wiping clean; or a cleansing by medicines which resolve obstructions. [See Deterge, Detersion.]

Abstersive

ABSTER'SIVE, adjective Cleansing; having the quality of removing obstructions. [See Detersive.]

Abstinence

AB'STINENCE, noun [Latin abstinentia. See Abstain.]

1. In general, the act or practice of voluntarily refraining from, or forbearing any action. 'Abstinence from every thing which can be deemed labor.

More appropriately,

2. The refraining from an indulgence of appetite, or from customary gratifications of animal propensities. It denotes a total forbearance, as in fasting, or a forbearance of the usual quantity. In the latter sense, it may coincide with temperance, but in general, it denotes a more sparing use of enjoyments than temperance. Besides, abstinence implies previous free indulgence; temperance does not.

Abstinent

AB'STINENT, adjective Refraining from indulgence, especially in the use of food and drink.

Abstinently

AB'STINENTLY, adverb With abstinence.

Abstinents

AB'STINENTS, a sect which appeared in France and Spain in the third century, who opposed marriage, condemned the use of flesh meat, and placed the Holy Spirit in the class of created beings.

Abstract

ABSTRACT', verb transitive [Latin abstraho, to draw from or separate; from abs and traho, which is the Eng. draw. See Draw.]

1. To draw from, or to separate; as to abstract an action from its evil effects; to abstract spirit from any substance by distillation; but in this sense extract is now more generally used.

2. To separate ideas by the operation of the mind; to consider one part of a complex object, or to have a partial idea of it in the mind.

3. To select or separate the substance of a book or writing; to epitomize or reduce to a summary.

4. In chimistry, to separate, as the more volatile parts of a substance by repeated distillation, or at least by distillation.

AB'STRACT, adjective [Latin abstractus.]

1. separate; distinct from something else. An abstract idea, in metaphysics, is an idea separated from a complex object, or from other ideas which naturally accompany it, as the solidity of marble contemplated apart from its color or figure.

ABSTRACT terms are those which express abstract ideas, as beauty, whiteness, roundness, without regarding any subject in which they exist; or abstract terms are the names of orders, genera, or species of things, in which there is a combination of similar qualities.

ABSTRACT numbers are numbers used without application to things, as, 6, 8, 10: but when applied to anything, as 6 feet, 10 men, they become concrete.

ABSTRACT or pure mathematics, is that which treats of magnitude or quantity, without restriction to any species of particular magnitude, as arithmetic and geometry; opposed to

which is mixed mathematics, which treats of simple properties,

and the relations of quantity, as applied to sensible objects, as hydrostatics, navigation, optics, etc.

2. Separate, existing in the mind only; as an abstract subject; an abstract question: and hence difficult, abstruse.

AB'STRACT, noun

1. A summary, or epitome, containing the substance, a general view, or the principal heads of a treatise or writing.

2. Formerly, an extract, or a smaller quantity, containing the essence of a larger.

In the abstract in a state of separation, as a subject considered in the abstract i. e. without reference to particular persons or things.

Abstracted

ABSTRACT'ED, participle passive Separated; refined; exalted; abstruse; absent in mind.

Abstractedly

ABSTRACT'EDLY, adverb In a separate state, or in contemplation only.

Abstractedness

ABSTRACT'EDNESS, noun the state of being abstracted.

Abstracter

ABSTRACT'ER, noun One who makes an abstract, or summary.

Abstracting

ABSTRACT'ING, participle present tense Separating, making a summary.

Abstraction

ABSTRAC'TION, noun

1. The act of separating, or state of being separated.

2. The operation of the mind when occupied by abstract ideas; as when we contemplate some particular part, or property of a complex object, as separate from the rest. Thus, when the mind considers the branch of a tree by itself, or the color of the leaves, as separate from their size or figure, the act is abstraction so also, when it considers whiteness, softness, virtue, existence, as separate from any particular objects.

The power which the understanding has of separating the combinations which are presented to it, is distinguished by logicians, by the name of abstraction

Abstraction is the ground-work of classification, by which things are arranged in orders, genera, and species. We separate in idea the qualities of certain objects which are of the same kind, from others which are different in each, and arrange the objects having the same properties in a class, or collected body.

3. A separation from worldly objects, a recluse life; as a hermit's abstraction

4. Absence of mind; inattention to present objects.

5. In the process of distillation, the term is used to denote the separation of the volatile parts, which rise, come over, and are condensed in a receiver, from those which are fixed. It is chiefly used, when a fluid is repeatedly poured upon any substance in a retort, and distilled off, to change its state, or the nature of its composition.

Abstractitious

ABSTRACTI'TIOUS particularly from vegetables, without fermentation.

Abstractive

ABSTRACT'IVE, adjective Having the power or quality of abstracting.

ABSTRACT'IVE, adjective Abstracted, or drawn from other substances.

Abstractly

AB'STRACTLY, adverb separately; absolutely; in a state or manner unconnected with any thing else; as, matter abstractly considered.

Abstractness

AB'STRACTNESS, noun A separate state; a state of being in contemplation only, or not connected with any object.

Abstrude

ABSTRU'DE, verb transitive [Infra.] To thrust or pull away. [Not used.]

Abstruse

ABSTRU'SE, adjective [Latin abstrusus, from abstrudo, to thrust away, to conceal; abs and trudo; Eng. to thrust.] Hid; concealed; hence, remote from apprehension; difficult to be comprehended or understood; opposed to what is obvious. [Not used of material objects.]

Metaphysics is an abstruse science.

Abstrusely

ABSTRU'SELY, adverb In a concealed; hence, remote from apprehension; difficult to be comprehended or understood; opposed to what is obvious. [Not used of material objects.]

Absurd

ABSURD', adjective [Latin absurdus, from ab and surdus, deaf, insensible.] Opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with reason or the plain dictates of common sense. An absurd man acts contrary to the clear dictates of reason or sound judgement. An absurd proposition contradicts obvious truth. An absurd practice or opinion is repugnant to the reason or common apprehension of men. It is absurd to say six and six make ten, or that plants will take root in stone.

Absurdity

ABSURD'ITY, noun

1. The quality of being inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment. Want of judgment, applied to men; want of propriety, applied to things.

2. That which is absurd; in this sense it has a plural; the absurdities of men.

Absurdly

ABSURD'LY, adverb In a manner inconsistent with reason or obvious propriety.

Absurdness

ABSURD'NESS, noun The same as absurdity, and less used.

Abtruseness

ABTRU'SENESS, noun Obscurity of meaning; the state of quality of being difficult to be understood.

Abundance

ABUND'ANCE, noun Great plenty; an overflowing quantity; ample sufficiency; in strictness applicable to quantity only; but customarily used of number, as an abundance of peasants.

In scripture, the abundance of the rich is great wealth. Ecclesiastes 5:10. Mark 12:44. Luke 21:4.

The abundance of the seas is great plenty of fish.

Deuteronomy 33:19.

It denotes also fullness, overflowing, as the abundance of the heart. Matthew 12:34. Luke 6:45.

Abundant

ABUND'ANT, adjective Plentiful; in great quantity; fully sufficient; as an abundant supply. In scripture, abounding; having in great quantity; overflowing with.

The Lord God is abundant in goodness and truth. Exodus 34:6.

Abundant number, in arithmetic, is one, the sum of whose aliquot parts exceeds the number itself. Thus 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, the aliquot parts of 12, make the sum of 16. This is opposed to a deficient number, as 14, whose aliquot parts are 1, 2, 7, the sum of which is 10; and to a perfect number, which is equal to the sum of its aliquot parts, as 6, whose aliquot parts are 1, 2, 3.

Abundantly

ABUND'ANTLY, adverb Fully; amply; plentifully; in a sufficient degree.

Abusage

ABU'SAGE, noun Abuse. [Not used.]

Abuse

ABU'SE, verb transitive s as z. [Latin abutor, abusus of ab and utor, to use; Gr. to accustom. See Use.]

1. To use ill; to maltreat; to misuse; to use with bad motives or to wrong purposes; as, to abuse rights or privileges.

They that use this world as not abusing it. 1 Corinthians 7:31 .

2. To violate; to defile by improper sexual intercourse.

3. To deceive; to impose on.

Nor be with all these tempting words abused.

4. To treat rudely, or with reproachful language; to revile.

He mocked and abused them shamefully.

5. To pervert the meaning of; to misapply; as to abuse words.

ABU'SE, noun Ill use; improper treatment or employment; application to a wrong purpose; as an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or of religious privileges; abuse of advantages, etc.

Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power.

2. A corrupt practice or custom, as the abuses of government.

3. Rude speech; reproachful language addressed to a person; contumely; reviling words.

4. Seduction.

After the abuse he forsook me.

5. Perversion of meaning; improper use or application; as an abuse of words.

Abused

ABU'SED, participle passive s as z. Ill-used; used to a bad purpose; treated with rude language; misemployed; perverted to bad or wrong ends; deceived; defiled; violated.

Abuseful

ABU'SEFUL, adjective Using or practicing abuse; abusive. [Not used.]

Abuser

ABU'SER, noun s as z. One who abuses, in speech or behavior; one that deceives; a ravisher; a sodomite. 1 Corinthians 6:9.

Abusing

ABU'SING, participle present tense s as z. Using ill; employing to bad purposes; deceiving; violating the person; perverting.

Abusion

ABU'SION, noun abu'zhon. Abuse; evil or corrupt usage; reproach. [Little used.]

Abusive

ABU'SIVE, adjective

1. Practicing abuse; offering harsh words, or ill treatment; as an abusive author; an abusive fellow.

2. Containing abuse, or that is the instrument of abuse, as abusive words; rude; reproachful. In the sense of deceitful, as an abusive treaty. [Little used.]

Abusively

ABU'SIVELY, adverb In an abusive manner; rudely; reproachfully.

Abusiveness

ABU'SIVENESS, noun Ill-usage; the quality of being abusive; rudeness of language, or violence to the person.

Abut

ABUT', verb intransitive To border upon; to be contiguous to; to meet; in strictness, to adjoin to at the end; but this distinction has not always been observed. The word is chiefly used in describing the bounds or situation of land, and in popular language, is contracted into but, as butted and bounded.

Abutment

ABUT'MENT, noun

1. The head or end; that which unites one end of a thing to another; chiefly used to denote the solid pier or mound of earth, stone or timber, which is erected on the bank of a river to support the end of a bridge and connect it with the land.

2. That which abuts or borders on another.

Abuttal

ABUT'TAL, noun The butting or boundary of land at the end; a head-land.

Aby

ABY', verb transitive or i. [Probably contracted from abide.] To endure; to pay dearly; to remain. obsolete

Abysm

ABYSM', noun abyzm'. [See Abyss.] A gulf.

Abyss

ABYSS', noun [Gr. bottomless, from a priv. and bottom, Ion. See Bottom.]

1. A bottomless gulf; used also for a deep mass of waters, supposed by some to have encompassed the earth before the flood.

Darkness was upon the face of the deep, or abyss as it is in the Septuagint. Genesis 1:2.

The word is also used for an immense cavern in the earth, in which God is supposed to have collected all the waters on the third day of the creation. It is used also for hell, Erebus.

2. That which is immeasurable; that in which any thing is lost.

Thy throne is darkness, in the abyss of light.

The abyss of time.

3. In antiquity, the temple of Proserpine, so called from the immense treasures it was supposed to contain.

4. In heraldry, the center of an escutcheon.

He bears azure, a fleur de lis, in abyss

Abyssinian

ABYSSIN'IAN, adjective A name denoting a mixed multitude or a black race.

Abyssinians

ABYSSIN'IANS, noun A sect of christians in Abyssinia, who admit but one nature in Jesus Christ, and reject the council of Chalcedon. They are governed by a bishop, or metropolitan, call Abuna, who is appointed by the Coptic patriarch of Cairo.

Ac

AC, in Saxon, oak, the initial syllable of names, as acton, oaktown.

Acacalot

ACAC'ALOT, noun A Mexican fowl, the Tantalus Mexicanus, or

Acacia

ACA'CIA, noun [Latin acacia a thorn, from Gr., a point.]

Egyptian thorn, a species of plant ranked by Linne under the genus mimosa, and by others, made a distinct genus. Of the flowers of one species, the Chinese make a yellow dye which bears washing in silks, and appears with elegance on paper.

ACACIA, in medicine, is a name given to the inspissated juice of the unripe fruit of the Mimosa Nilotica, which is brought from Egypt in roundish masses, in bladders.

Externally, it is of a deep brown color; internally, of a reddish or yellowish brown; of a firm consistence, but not very dry. It is a mild astringent. But most of the drug which passes under this name, is the inspissated juice of sloes.

ACACIA, among antiquaries, is a name given to something like a roll or bag, seen on medals, as in the hands of emperors and consuls. Some take it to represent a handkerchief rolled up, with which signals were given at the games; others, a roll of petitions; and some, a purple bag of earth, to remind them of their mortality.

Acacians

ACA'CIANS, in Church History, were certain sects, so denominated from their leaders, Acacius, bishop of Cesarea, and Acacius, patriarch of Constantinople. Some of these maintained that the Son was only a similar, not the same, substance with the Father; others, that he was not only a distinct but a dissimilar substance.

Academe

ACADE'ME noun an academy; a society of persons. [Not used.]

Academial

ACADE'MIAL, a Pertaining to an academy.

Academian

ACADE'MIAN, noun A member of an academy; a student in a university or college.

Academic

ACADEM'IC, adjective Belonging to an academy, or to a college or ACADEM'ICAL, university - as academic studies; also noting what belongs to the school or philosophy of Plato - as the academic sect.

ACADEM'IC, noun One who belonged to the school or adhered to the philosophy of Socrates and Plato. The latter is considered as the founder of the academic philosophy in Greece.

He taught, that matter is eternal and infinite, but without form, refractory, and tending to disorder; and that there is an intelligent cause, the author of spiritual being and of the material world.

Academically

ACADEM'ICALLY, adverb In an academical manner.

Academician

ACADEMI'CIAN, noun a member of an academy, or society for promoting arts and sciences; particularly, a member of the French academies.

Academism

ACAD'EMISM, noun The doctrine of the academic philosophy.

Academist

ACAD'EMIST, noun a member of an Academy for promoting arts and sciences; also an academic philosopher.