The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary — Project Gutenberg

**This is a COPYRIGHTED Project Gutnberg Etext, Details Below**

This is the HTML version, which can also be accessed at:

http://humanities.uchicago.edu/forms_unrest/webster.form.html

WARNING: this is version 0.4 and is NOT up to Project Gutenberg standards, and is being released so YOU can help us fix errors!! If you would like to help, you can send us general email for the correction of errors, or with suggestions; if you are interested in participating in more detail, please read the file "help.out" which is included in the xyz zipped portion of the dictionary in with other files that accompany the dictionary.

The field marks "<...>" in this version are copyrighted, the actual dictionary entries are in the Public Domain, and we hope to re-publish these files in Plain Vanilla ASCII You are welcome to strip all the markup information to help us create such a version, or to create one on your own.

*Unzipped files for this Etext take approximately 40 megabytes!* **Zipped files for this Etext take approximately 12 megabytes!** *Therefore, you should probably have about 60 meg to load them.*

**The HTML version is one large 45M file, which is 15M zipped.** This HTML version is a first draft for my search engine version: http://humanities.uchicago.edu/forms_unrest/webster.form.html and Caveat emptor!!

You will find MANY errors in both versions. We would LOVE your suggestions, corrections, emendations, and new words. help.out is the file you should refer to if you are interested.

Preliminary Version 0.4 so named at the request of the provider; this is going to need some serious proofreading, as much of this material was typed in by hand by non-native speakers of English.

Our thanks to Patrick Cassidy for organizing and financing these efforts on behalf of Project Gutenberg. Please read his note in file "*.*"

This is a LARGE dictionary, the first edition of perhaps what is the most famous dictionary in the world and our communication on the matter of copyright with the publisher has resolved that the publisher has no copyright interest in this material in the U.S. but please check your own country, as below, also, please, watch for changes in both the U.S. Copyright Law AND other country's-- there ARE movements in the U.S. to eliminate this information as part of the Public Domain, which, if successful, might require a revision or retraction of these files.

Please take a look at the important information in this header. We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this.

**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**

**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**

*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations*

Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and further information is included below. We need your donations.

October, 1996

Etext #673

September, 1996 releases were: [Etexts #660-670] [11 files] *The Project Gutenberg Etext of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary* *****This file should be named pgwxx10.txt or pgwxx10.zip******

Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, pgwxx11.txt. VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, pgwxx10a.txt.

Where xx = the letters of the dictionary in each individual file which are listed below:

We have broken the 40 million characters down into .zip files of the size that should fit 1.44M floppies, for easy transport. If you cannot figure out .zip files, let us know.

Here are the filenames and sizes without this Project Gutenberg Header, which is approximately 12500 characters, please keep at least one copy of this header file with files you make of this dictionary.

Zipped File Sizes:

pgwab04.zip 1366502
pgwc04.zip 1128376
pgwde04.zip 1154392
pgwfh04.zip 1325394
pgwil04.zip 1064186
pgwmo04.zip 1024976
pgwpq04.zip 1042626
pgwr04.zip 590065
pgws04.zip 1417870
pgwtw04.zip 1393923
pgwxz04.zip 76621 This is only the dictionary file
there are added files in the .zip
pgwxz04.txt is the ONLY file with
hard cr/lf margination at time of
initial release.
========
Total.zip 11.5849M

Unzipped File Sizes:

pgwab04.txt 4610951
pgwc04.txt 3770127
pgwde04.txt 4043810
pgwfh04.txt 4426984
pgwil04.txt 3683257
pgwmo04.txt 3556153
pgwpq04.txt 3645485
pgwr04.txt 1990022
pgws04.txt 4807758
pgwtw04.txt 4752697
pgwxz04.txt 260233
======
Total.txt 39.5475M

The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment and editing by those who wish to do so. To be sure you have an up to date first edition [xxxxx10x.xxx] please check file sizes in the first week of the next month. Since our ftp program has a bug in it that scrambles the date [tried to fix and failed] a look at the file size will have to do, but we will try to see a new copy has at least one byte more or less.

Information about Project Gutenberg (one page)

We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The fifty hours is one conservative estimate for how long it we take to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value per text is nominally estimated at one dollar, then we produce 2 million dollars per hour this year we, will have to do four text files per month: thus upping our productivity from one million. The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext Files by the December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000=Trillion] This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, which is 10% of the expected number of computer users by the end of the year 2001.

We need your donations more than ever!

All donations should be made to "Project Gutenberg/IBC", and are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law ("IBC" is Illinois Benedictine College). (Subscriptions to our paper newsletter go to IBC, too)

For these and other matters, please mail to:

Project Gutenberg
P. O. Box 2782
Champaign, IL 61825

Internet: dircompg@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu Bitnet: dircompg@uiucux1 CompuServe: >internet:dircompg@.ux1.cso.uiuc.edu Attmail: internet!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!dircompg

When all other email fails try our Michael S. Hart, Executive Director: hart@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (internet) hart@uiucvmd (bitnet)

We would prefer to send you this information by email (Internet, Bitnet, Compuserve, ATTMAIL or MCImail).

****** If you have an FTP program (or emulator), please FTP directly to the Project Gutenberg archives: [Mac users, do NOT point and click. . .type]

ftp mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu
login: anonymous
password: your@login
cd etext/etext90 though etext/etext95
or cd etext/articles
dir [to see files]
get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files]
get INDEX?00.GUT
for a list of books
and
get NEW.GUT for general information
and
mget GUT* for newsletters.

**Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor** (Three Pages)

***START** SMALL PRINT! for COPYRIGHT PROTECTED ETEXTS *** TITLE AND COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

This etext is distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart through the Project Gutenberg Association at Illinois Benedictine College (the "Project") under the Project's "Project Gutenberg" trademark and with the permission of the etext's copyright owner.

LICENSE You can (and are encouraged!) to copy and distribute this Project Gutenberg-tm etext. Since, unlike many other of the Project's etexts, it is copyright protected, and since the materials and methods you use will effect the Project's reputation, your right to copy and distribute it is limited by the copyright laws and by the conditions of this "Small Print!" statement.

[A] ALL COPIES: The Project permits you to distribute copies of this etext electronically or on any machine readable medium now known or hereafter discovered so long as you:

(1) Honor the refund and replacement provisions of this "Small Print!" statement; and

(2) Pay a royalty to the Project of 20% of the net profits you derive calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are payable to "Project Gutenberg Association / Illinois Benedictine College" within the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return.

[B] EXACT AND MODIFIED COPIES: The copies you distribute must either be exact copies of this etext, including this Small Print statement, or can be in binary, compressed, mark- up, or proprietary form (including any form resulting from word processing or hypertext software), so long as *EITHER*:

(1) The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and does *not* contain characters other than those intended by the author of the work, although tilde (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may be used to convey punctuation intended by the author, and additional characters may be used to indicate hypertext links; OR

(2) The etext is readily convertible by the reader at no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent form by the program that displays the etext (as is the case, for instance, with most word processors); OR

(3) You provide or agree to provide on request at no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the etext in plain ASCII.

LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES This etext may contain a "Defect" in the form of incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other infringement, a defective or damaged disk, computer virus, or codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, the Project (and any other party you may receive this etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees, and YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that time to the person you received it from. If you received it on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement copy. If you received it electronically, such person may choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to receive it electronically.

THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you may have other legal rights.

INDEMNITY You will indemnify and hold the Project, its directors, officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost and expense, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration, modification, or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect.

WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine readable form. The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty free copyright licenses, and whatever else you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg Association / Illinois Benedictine College".

*SMALL PRINT! Ver.04.29.93 FOR COPYRIGHT PROTECTED ETEXTS*END*

*The Project Gutenberg Etext of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary*

<hw>A</hw> <tt>(<it>named \'be in the English, and most commonly \'84 in other languages</it>)</tt>. <def> 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 <spn>Alpha</spn>, of the same form; and this was made from the first letter (<i>Aleph</i>, and itself from the Egyptian origin. The <i>Aleph</i> 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 <i>Alpha</i> with the \'84 sound, the Ph\'d2nician alphabet having no vowel symbols.</def>

This letter, in English, is used for several different vowel sounds. See <i>Guide to pronunciation</i>, §§ 43-74. The regular long <i>a</i>, as in <i>fate</i>, 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 \'84 (as in <i>far</i>).

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <def>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. -- A sharp (A#) is the name of a musical tone intermediate between A and B. -- A flat (A&flat;) is the name of a tone intermediate between A and G.</def>

<cs><col>A per se</col> <ety>(L. <ets>per se<ets> by itself)</ety>, <cd>one pre\'89minent; a nonesuch.</cd> <mark>[Obs.]</mark></cs>

<blockquote>O fair Creseide, the flower and <b>A per se</b>

Of Troy and Greece.
<i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<hw>A</hw> <tt>(# <i>emph</i>. #)</tt>. <p><b>1.</b> <ety>[Shortened form of <ets>an</ets>. AS. \'ben one. See <er>One</er>.]</ety> <def>An adjective, commonly called the indefinite article, and signifying <i>one</i> or <i>any</i>, but less emphatically.<def> "At <i>a</i> birth"; "In <i>a</i> word"; "At <i>a</i> blow". <i>Shak</i>. <note>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 <i>few</i> or the phrase <i>great many</i> or <i>good many</i> is interposed; <as>as, <ex>a</ex> dog, <ex>a</ex> house, <ex>a</ex> man; <ex>a</ex> color; <ex>a</ex> sweetness; <ex>a</ex> hundred, <ex>a</ex> fleet, a regiment; <ex>a</ex> few persons, <ex>a</ex> great many days.</as> It is used for <i>an</i>, for the sake of euphony, before words beginning with a consonant sound [for exception of certain words beginning with <i>h</i>, see <er>An</er>]; <as>as, a table, <ex>a woman</ex>, <ex>a</ex> year, <ex>a</ex> unit, <ex>a</ex> eulogy, <ex>a</ex> ewe, <ex>a</ex> oneness, such <ex>a</ex> one, etc.</as> Formally <i>an</i> was used both before vowels and consonants.</note>

<p><b>2.</b> <ety>[Originally the preposition <ets>a</ets> (<ets>an</ets>, <ets>on</ets>).]</ety> <def>In each; to or for each; <as>as, "twenty leagues <ex>a</ex> day", "a hundred pounds <ex>a</ex> year", "a dollar <ex>a</ex> yard", etc.</as></def>

<hw>A</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>prep.</tt> <ety>[Abbreviated form of <ets>an</ets> (AS. <ets>on</ets>). See <er>On</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>In; on; at; by.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> "<i>A</i> God's name." "Torn <i>a</i> pieces." "Stand <i>a</i> tiptoe." "<i>A</i> Sundays" <i>Shak</i>. "Wit that men have now <i>a</i> days." <i>Chaucer</i>. "Set them <i>a</i> work." <i>Robynson (More's Utopia)</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>In process of; in the act of; into; to; -- used with verbal substantives in <i>-ing</i> which begin with a consonant. This is a shortened form of the preposition <i>an</i> (which was used before the vowel sound); as in <i>a</i> hunting, <i>a</i> building, <i>a</i> begging. "Jacob, when he was <i>a</i> dying" <i>Heb. xi. 21</i>. "We'll <i>a</i> birding together." " It was <i>a</i> doing." <i>Shak.</i> "He burst out <i>a</i> laughing." <i>Macaulay</i>. The hyphen may be used to connect <i>a</i> with the verbal substantive (as, <i>a</i>-hunting, <i>a</i>-building) or the words may be written separately. This form of expression is now for the most part obsolete, the <i>a</i> being omitted and the verbal substantive treated as a participle.</def>

<hw>A</hw>. <ety>[From AS. <ets>of</ets> off, from. See <er>Of</er>.]</ety> <def>Of.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> "The name of John <i>a</i> Gaunt." "What time <i>a</i> day is it ?" <i>Shak</i>. "It's six <i>a</i> clock." <i>B. Jonson</i>.

<hw>A</hw>. <def> A barbarous corruption of <i>have</i>, of <i>he</i>, and sometimes of <i>it</i> and of <i>they</i>.</def> "So would I <i>a</i> done" "<i>A</i> brushes his hat."

<hw>A</hw>. <def> An expletive, void of sense, to fill up the meter</def>

<blockquote>A merry heart goes all the day,
Your sad tires in a mile-<b>a</b>.
<i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<hw>A-.</hw> <def>A, as a prefix to English words, is derived from various sources. (1) It frequently signifies <i>on</i> or <i>in</i> (from <i>an</i>, <i>a</i> forms of AS. <i>on</i>), denoting a state, as in <i>a</i>foot, on foot, <i>a</i>bed, <i>a</i>miss, <i>a</i>sleep, aground, <i>a</i>loft, <i>a</i>way (AS. <i>onweg</i>), and analogically, <i>a</i>blaze, <i>a</i>tremble, etc. (2) AS. <i>of</i> off, from, as in <i>a</i>down (AS. <i>ofd\'81ne</i> off the <i>dun</i> or hill). (3) AS. \'be- (Goth. <i>us-</i>, <i>ur-</i>, Ger. <i>er-</i>), usually giving an intensive force, and sometimes the sense of <i>away</i>, <i>on</i>, <i>back</i>, as in <i>a</i>rise, <i>a</i>bide, <i>a</i>go. (4) Old English <i>y-</i> or <i>i-</i> (corrupted from the AS. inseparable particle <i>ge-</i>, cognate with OHG. <i>ga-</i>, <i>gi-</i>, Goth. <i>ga-</i>), which, as a prefix, made no essential addition to the meaning, as in aware. (5) French <i>\'85</i> (L. <i>ad</i> to), as in <i>a</i>base, <i>a</i>chieve. (6) L. <i>a</i>, <i>ab</i>, <i>abs</i>, from, as in <i>a</i>vert. (7) Greek insep. prefix α without, or privative, not, as in <i>a</i>byss, <i>a</i>theist; akin to E. <i>un-</i>.</def>

<note>Besides these, there are other sources from which the prefix <i>a</i> takes its origin.</note>

<hw>A 1</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>. <def> A registry mark given by underwriters (as at Lloyd's) to ships in first-class condition. Inferior grades are indicated by A 2 and A 3.</def>

<note>A 1 is also applied colloquially to other things to imply superiority; prime; first-class; first-rate.</note>

<hw>Aam</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[D. <ets>aam</ets>, fr. LL. <ets>ama</ets>; cf. L. <ets>hama</ets> a water bucket, Gr. <?/]</ety> <def>A Dutch and German measure of liquids, varying in different cities, being at Amsterdam about 41 wine gallons, at Antwerp 36\'ab, at Hamburg 38\'ac.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>Aum</asp> and <asp>Awm</asp>.]</altsp>

<hw>Aard"-vark`</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[D., earth-pig.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>An edentate mammal, of the genus <spn>Orycteropus</spn>, 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.</def>

<hw>Aard"-wolf`</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[D, earth-wolf]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A carnivorous quadruped (<spn>Proteles Lalandii</spn>), of South Africa, resembling the fox and hyena. See <er>Proteles</er>.</def>

<h1>Aaronic, Aaronical</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw><hw>Aa*ron"ic</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <hw>Aa*ron"ic*al</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>,<hw> <tt>a.</tt> <def>Pertaining to Aaron, the first high priest of the Jews.</def>

<h1>Aaron's rod</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>Aar"on's rod`</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>. <ety>[See Exodus vii. 9 and Numbers xvii. 8]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>A rod with one serpent twined around it, thus differing from the caduceus of Mercury, which has two.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A plant with a tall flowering stem; esp. the great mullein, or hag-taper, and the golden-rod.</def>

<hw>Ab-</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>. <ety>[Latin prep., etymologically the same as E. <ets>of</ets>, <ets>off</ets>. See <er>Of</er>.]</ety> <def>A prefix in many words of Latin origin. It signifies <i>from</i>, <i>away</i> , <i>separating</i>, or <i>departure</i>, as in <i>ab</i>duct, <i>abs</i>tract, <i>abs</i>cond. See <er>A-</er>(6).</def>

<hw>Ab</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Of Syriac origin.]</ety> <def>The fifth month of the Jewish year according to the ecclesiastical reckoning, the eleventh by the civil computation, coinciding nearly with August.</def>

<i>W. Smith.</i>

<h1>Abaca</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>Ab"a*ca</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[The native name.]</ety> <def>The Manila-hemp plant (<spn>Musa textilis</spn>); also, its fiber. See <cref>Manila hemp</cref> under <er>Manila</er>.</def>

<h1>Abacinate</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>A*bac"i*nate</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.t.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>abacinatus</ets>, p.p. of <ets>abacinare</ets>; <ets>ab</ets> off + <ets>bacinus</ets> a basin.]</ety> <def>To blind by a red-hot metal plate held before the eyes.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<h1>Abacination</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>A*bac`i*na"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of abacinating.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<h1>Abaciscus</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>Ab`a*cis"cus</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Gr.<?/, dim of <?/. See <er>Abacus</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>One of the tiles or squares of a tessellated pavement; an abaculus.</def>

<h1>Abacist</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>Ab"a*cist</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL <ets>abacista</ets>, fr. <ets>abacus</ets>.]</ety> <def>One who uses an abacus in casting accounts; a calculator.</def>

<h1>Aback</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>A*back"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <ety>[Pref. <ets>a-</ets> + <ets>back</ets>; AS. <ets>on b\'91c</ets> at, on, or toward the back. See <er>Back</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Toward the back or rear; backward.</def> "Therewith aback she started."

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Behind; in the rear.</def>

<i>Knolles. </i>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>Backward against the mast;-said of the sails when pressed by the wind.</def>

<i>Totten.</i>

<cs><col>To be taken aback</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>To be driven backward against the mast; -- said of the sails, also of the ship when the sails are thus driven. <sd>(b)</sd> To be suddenly checked, baffled, or discomfited.</cd></cs>

<i>Dickens.</i>

<h1>Aback</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>Ab"ack</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>An abacus.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>B. Jonson.</i>

<h1>Abactinal</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>Ab*ac"ti*nal</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>ab</ets> + E. <ets>actinal</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>Pertaining to the surface or end opposite to the mouth in a radiate animal; -- opposed to actinal.</def> "The aboral or <i>abactinal</i> area."

<i>L. Agassiz.</i>

<h1>Abaction</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>Ab*ac"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Stealing cattle on a large scale.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Abactor</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>Ab*ac"tor</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L., fr. <ets>abigere</ets> to drive away; <ets>ab+agere</ets> to drive.]</ety> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>One who steals and drives away cattle or beasts by herds or droves.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Abaculus</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>A*bac"u*lus</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Abaculi</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L., dim. of <ets>abacus</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>A small tile of glass, marble, or other substance, of various colors, used in making ornamental patterns in mosaic pavements.</def>

<i>Fairholt.</i>

<h1>Abacus</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>Ab"a*cus</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>>; E. <plu>pl. <plw>Abacuses</plw> ; L. pl. <plw>Abaci</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L. <ets>abacus</ets>, <ets>abax</ets>, Gr. <?/]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A table or tray strewn with sand, anciently used for drawing, calculating, etc.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>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.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>The uppermost member or division of the capital of a column, immediately under the architrave. See <er>Column</er>.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>A tablet, panel, or compartment in ornamented or mosaic work.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>A board, tray, or table, divided into perforated compartments, for holding cups, bottles, or the like; a kind of cupboard, buffet, or sideboard.</def>

<cs><col>Abacus harmonicus</col> <fld>(Mus.)</fld>, <cd>an ancient diagram showing the structure and disposition of the keys of an instrument.</cd></cs>

<i>Crabb.</i>

<h1>Abada</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>Ab"a*da</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Pg., the female rhinoceros.]</ety> <def>The rhinoceros.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Purchas.</i>

<h1>Abaddon</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>A*bad"don</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Heb. <ets>\'bebadd\'d3n</ets> destruction, abyss, fr. <ets>\'bebad</ets> to be lost, to perish.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The destroyer, or angel of the bottomless pit; -- the same as Apollyon and Asmodeus.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Hell; the bottomless pit.</def> <mark>[Poetic]</mark>

<blockquote>In all her gates, <b>Abaddon</b> rues
Thy bold attempt.
<i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Abaft</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>A*baft"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>prep.</tt> <ety>[Pref. <ets>a</ets>-on + OE. <ets>baft</ets>, <ets>baften</ets>, <ets>biaften</ets>, AS. <ets>be\'91ftan</ets>; <ets>be</ets> by + <ets>\'91ftan</ets> behind. See <er>After</er>, <er>Aft</er>, <er>By</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>Behind; toward the stern from; <as>as, <ex>abaft</ex> the wheelhouse</as>.</def>

<cs><col>Abaft the beam</col>. <cd>See under <er>Beam</er>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Abaft</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>A*baft"</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>Toward the stern; aft; <as>as, to go <ex>abaft</ex></as>.</def>

<h1>Abaisance</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>A*bai"sance</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[For <ets>obeisance</ets>; confused with F. <ets>abaisser</ets>, E. abase]</ety> <def>Obeisance.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Jonson.</i>

<h1>Abaiser</h1>
<Xpage=1>

<hw>A*bai"ser</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Ivory black or animal charcoal.</def>

<i>Weale.</i>

<h1>Abaist</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*baist"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>p.p.</tt> <def>Abashed; confounded; discomfited.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<h1>Abalienate</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab*al"ien*ate</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.t.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>abalienatus</ets>, p.p. of <ets>abalienare</ets>; <ets>ab + alienus</ets> foreign, alien. See <er>Alien</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Civil Law)</fld> <def>To transfer the title of from one to another; to alienate.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To estrange; to withdraw.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To cause alienation of (mind).</def>

<i>Sandys.</i>

<h1>Abalienation</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab*al`ien*a"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>abalienatio</ets>: cf. F. <ets>abalianation</ets>.]</ety> <def>The act of abalienating; alienation; estrangement.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Abalone</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab`a*lo"ne</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A univalve mollusk of the genus <spn>Haliotis</spn>. The shell is lined with mother-of-pearl, and used for ornamental purposes; the sea-ear. Several large species are found on the coast of California, clinging closely to the rocks.</def>

<h1>Aband</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*band"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.t.</tt> <ety>[Contracted from <ets>abandon</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To abandon.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote> Enforced the kingdom to <b>aband</b>. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To banish; to expel.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Abandon</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*ban"don</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p.p.</tt> <er>Abandoned</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p.pr. & vb.n.</tt> <er>Abandoning</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OF. <ets>abandoner</ets>, F.<ets>abandonner</ets>; <ets>a</ets> (L. <ets>ad</ets>)+<ets>bandon</ets> permission, authority, LL. <ets>bandum</ets>, <ets>bannum</ets>, public proclamation, interdiction, <ets>bannire</ets> to proclaim, summon: of Germanic origin; cf. Goth. <ets>bandwjan</ets> to show by signs, to designate OHG. <ets>ban</ets>proclamation. 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 <er>Ban</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To cast or drive out; to banish; to expel; to reject.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>That he might . . . <b>abandon</b> them from him. <i>Udall.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Being all this time <b>abandoned</b> from your bed. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>Hope was overthrown, yet could not be <b>abandoned</b>. <i>I. Taylor.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Reflexively : To give (one's self) up without attempt at self-control ; to yield (one's self) unrestrainedly ; -- often in a bad sense.</def>

<blockquote>He <b>abandoned</b> himself . . . to his favorite vice. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Mar. Law)</fld> <def>To relinquish all claim to; -- 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.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- To give up; yield; forego; cede; surrender; resign; abdicate; quit; relinquish; renounce; desert; forsake; leave; retire; withdraw from.</syn> -- <usage><er>To Abandon</er>, <er>Desert</er>, <er>Forsake</er>. These words agree in representing a person as <i>giving up</i> or <i>leaving</i> 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. <i>Abandon</i> is more widely applicable than <i>forsake</i> or <i>desert</i>. The Latin original of <i>desert</i> appears to have been originally applied to the case of deserters from military service. Hence, the verb, when used of <i>persons</i> 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 <i>desert</i> one's colors, to <i>desert</i> one's post, to <i>desert</i> one's principles or duty. When used in the passive, the sense is not necessarily bad; as, the fields were <i>deserted</i>, a <i>deserted</i> village, <i>deserted</i> halls. <i>Forsake</i> 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 <i>forsake</i> the paths of rectitude, the blood forsook his cheeks. It may be used either in a good or in a bad sense.</usage>

<h1>Abandon</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*ban"don</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>abandon</ets>. fr. <ets>abandonner</ets>. See <er>Abandon</er>, <ets>v</ets>.]</ety> <def>Abandonment; relinquishment.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Abandon</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A`ban`don"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. See <er>Abandon</er>.]</ety> <def>A complete giving up to natural impulses; freedom from artificial constraint; careless freedom or ease.</def>

<h1>Abandoned</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*ban"doned</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Forsaken, deserted.</def> "Your <i>abandoned</i> streams."

<i>Thomson.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Self-abandoned, or given up to vice; extremely wicked, or sinning without restraint; irreclaimably wicked ; <as>as, an <ex>abandoned</ex> villain</as>.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- Profligate; dissolute; corrupt; vicious; depraved; reprobate; wicked; unprincipled; graceless; vile.</syn> -- <usage><er>Abandoned</er>, <er>Profligate</er>, <er>Reprobate</er>. These adjectives agree in expressing the idea of great personal depravity. <er>Profligate</er> has reference to open and shameless immoralities, either in private life or political conduct; as, a <er>profligate</er> court, a <er>profligate</er> ministry. <er>Abandoned</er> 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 <er>abandoned</er> character. <er>Reprobate</er> describes the condition of one who has become insensible to reproof, and who is morally abandoned and lost beyond hope of recovery.</usage>

<blockquote> God gave them over to a <b>reprobate</b> mind. <i>Rom. i. 28.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Abandonedly</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*ban"doned*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>Unrestrainedly.</def>

<h1>Abandonee</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*ban`don*ee"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>One to whom anything is legally abandoned.</def>

<h1>Abandoner</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*ban"don*er</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who abandons.</def>

<h1>Abandonment</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*ban"don*ment</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>abandonnement</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of abandoning, or the state of being abandoned; total desertion; relinquishment.</def>

<blockquote>The <b>abandonment</b> of the independence of Europe. <i>Burke.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Mar. Law)</fld> <def>The relinquishment by the insured to the underwriters of what may remain of the property insured after a loss or damage by a peril insured against.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Com. Law)</fld> <def>(a) The relinquishment of a right, claim, or privilege, as to mill site, etc. (b) The voluntary leaving of a person to whom one is bound by a special relation, as a wife, husband, or child; desertion.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Careless freedom or ease; abandon.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Carlyle.</i>

<h1>Abandum</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*ban"*dum</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL. See <er>Abandon</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>Anything forfeited or confiscated.</def>

<h1>Abanet</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab"a*net</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>See <er>Abnet</er>.</def>

<h1>Abanga</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*ban"ga</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Name given by the negroes in the island of St. Thomas.]</ety> <def>A West Indian palm; also the fruit of this palm, the seeds of which are used as a remedy for diseases of the chest.</def>

<h1>Abannation, Abannition</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw><hw>Ab`an*na"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <hw>Ab`an*nition</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>,<hw> <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>abannatio</ets>; <ets>ad</ets> + LL. bannire to banish.]</ety> <fld>(Old Law)</fld> <def>Banishment.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Bailey.</i>

<h1>Abarticulation</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab`ar*tic`u*la"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>ab</ets> + E. <ets>articulation</ets> : cf. F. abarticulation. See <er>Article</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Anat.)</fld> <def>Articulation, usually that kind of articulation which admits of free motion in the joint; diarthrosis.</def>

<h1>Abase</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*base"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp.&p.p.</tt> <er>Abased</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p.pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Abasing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[F. abaisser, LL. <ets>abassare</ets>, <ets>abbassare</ets> ; <ets>ad + bassare</ets>, fr. <ets>bassus</ets> low. See <er>Base</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To lower or depress; to throw or cast down; <as>as, to <ex>abase</ex> the eye</as>.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<blockquote>Saying so, he <b>abased</b> his lance. <i>Shelton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To cast down or reduce low or lower, as in rank, office, condition in life, or estimation of worthiness; to depress; to humble; to degrade.</def>

<blockquote>Whosoever exalteth himself shall be <b>abased</b>. <i>Luke xiv. ll.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To <er>Abase</er>, <er>Debase</er>, <er>Degrade</er>. These words agree in the idea of bringing down from a higher to a lower state. <i>Abase</i> has reference to a bringing down in condition or feelings; as to <i>abase</i> one's self before God. <i>Debase</i> has reference to the bringing down of a thing in purity, or <i>making it base</i>. It is, therefore, always used in a bad sense, as, to <i>debase</i> the coin of the kingdom, to <i>debase</i> the mind by vicious indulgence, to <i>debase</i> one's style by coarse or vulgar expressions. <i>Degrade</i> has reference to a bringing down from some higher <i>grade</i> or from some standard. Thus, a priest is <i>degraded</i> from the clerical office. When used in a moral sense, it denotes a bringing down in character and just estimation; as, <i>degraded</i> by intemperance, a <i>degrading</i> employment, etc. "Art is <i>degraded</i> when it is regarded only as a trade."</syn>

<h1>Abased</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*based"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Lowered; humbled.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <ety>[F. <ets>abaiss\'82</ets>.]</ety> <def>Borne lower than usual, as a fess; also, having the ends of the wings turned downward towards the point of the shield.</def>

<h1>Abasedly</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bas"ed*ly</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>Abjectly; downcastly.</def>

<h1>Abasement</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*base"ment</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>abaissement</ets>.]</ety> <def>The act of abasing, humbling, or bringing low; the state of being abased or humbled; humiliation.</def>

<h1>Abaser</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bas"er</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>He who, or that which, abases.</def>

<h1>Abash</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bash"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p.p.</tt> <er>Abashed</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p.pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Abashing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>abaissen</ets>, <ets>abaisshen</ets>, <ets>abashen</ets>, OF.<ets>esbahir</ets>, F. <ets>\'82bahir</ets>, to astonish, fr. L. <ets>ex</ets> + the interjection <ets>bah</ets>, expressing astonishment. In OE. somewhat confused with <ets>abase</ets>. Cf. <er>Finish</er>.]</ety> <def>To destroy the self-possession of; to confuse or confound, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to put to shame; to disconcert; to discomfit.</def>

<blockquote><b>Abashed</b>, the devil stood,
And felt how awful goodness is.
<i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>He was a man whom no check could <b>abash</b>. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To confuse; confound; disconcert; shame.</syn> <usage> -- To <er>Abash</er>, Confuse, <er>Confound</er>. <i>Abash</i> is a stronger word than <i>confuse</i>, but not so strong as <i>confound</i>. We are <i>abashed</i> when struck either with sudden shame or with a humbling sense of inferiority; as, Peter was <i>abashed</i> in the presence of those who are greatly his superiors. We are confused when, from some unexpected or startling occurrence, we lose clearness of thought and self-possession. Thus, a witness is often confused by a severe cross-examination; a timid person is apt to be confused in entering a room full of strangers. We are <i>confounded</i> when our minds are overwhelmed, as it were, by something wholly unexpected, amazing, dreadful, etc., so that we have nothing to say. Thus, a criminal is usually <i>confounded</i> at the discovery of his guilt.</usage>

<blockquote>Satan stood
Awhile as mute, <b>confounded</b> what to say.
<i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Abashedly</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bash"ed*ly</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In an abashed manner.</def>

<h1>Abashment</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bash"ment</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>\'82bahissement</ets>.]</ety> <def>The state of being abashed; confusion from shame.</def>

<h1>Abassi, Abassis</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw><hw>A*bas"si</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <hw>A*bas"sis</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>,<hw> <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Ar.& Per. <ets>ab\'bes\'c6</ets>, belonging to Abas (a king of Persia).]</ety> <def>A silver coin of Persia, worth about twenty cents.</def>

<h1>Abatable</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bat"a*ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Capable of being abated; <as>as, an <ex>abatable</ex> writ or nuisance</as>.</def>

<h1>Abate</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bate"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp.& p.p.</tt> <er>Abated</er>, <tt>p.pr. & vb.n</tt>. <er>Abating</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OF. <ets>abatre</ets> to beat down, F. <ets>abattre</ets>, LL. <ets>abatere</ets>; <ets>ab</ets> or <ets>ad + batere</ets>, <ets>battere</ets> (popular form for L. <ets>batuere</ets> to beat). Cf. <er>Bate</er>, <er>Batter</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To beat down; to overthrow.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>The King of Scots . . . sore <b>abated</b> the walls. <i>Edw. Hall.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To bring down or reduce from a higher to a lower state, number, or degree; to lessen; to diminish; to contract; to moderate; toto cut short; <as>as, to <ex>abate</ex> a demand; to <ex>abate</ex> pride, zeal, hope.</as></def>

<blockquote>His eye was not dim, nor his natural force <b>abated</b>. <i>Deut. xxxiv. 7.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To deduct; to omit; <as>as, to <ex>abate</ex> something from a price</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Nine thousand parishes, <b>abating</b> the odd hundreds. <i>Fuller.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To blunt.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>To <b>abate</b> the edge of envy. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To reduce in estimation; to deprive.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>She hath <b>abated</b> me of half my train. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>(a) To bring entirely down or put an end to; to do away with; <as>as, to <ex>abate</ex> a nuisance, to <ex>abate</ex> a writ</as>. (b) <fld>(Eng.</fld> <i>Law</i>) To diminish; to reduce. Legacies are liable to be <i>abated</i> entirely or in proportion, upon a deficiency of assets.</def>

<cs><col>To abate a tax</col>, <cd>to remit it either wholly or in part.</cd></cs>

<h1>Abate</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bate"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.i.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Abate</er>, <ets>v</ets>.<ets>t</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To decrease, or become less in strength or violence; <as>as, pain <ex>abates</ex>, a storm <ex>abates</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>The fury of Glengarry . . . rapidly <b>abated</b>. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To be defeated, or come to naught; to fall through; to fail; <as>as, a writ <ex>abates</ex></as>.</def>

<cs><mcol><col>To abate into a freehold</col>, <col>To abate in lands</col></mcol> <fld>(Law)</fld>, <cd>to enter into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, and before the heir takes possession. See <er>Abatement</er>, 4.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- To subside; decrease; intermit; decline; diminish; lessen.</syn> <usage> -- To <er>Abate</er>, <er>Subside</er>. These words, as here compared, imply a coming down from some previously raised or exited state. <i>Abate</i> expresses this in respect to degrees, and implies a diminution of force or of intensity; as, the storm <i>abates</i>, the cold <i>abates</i>, the force of the wind <i>abates</i>; or, the wind <i>abates</i>, a fever <i>abates</i>. Subside (to settle down) has reference to a previous state of agitation or commotion; as, the waves <i>subside</i> after a storm, the wind subsides into a calm. When the words are used figuratively, the same distinction should be observed. If we conceive of a thing as having different degrees of intensity or strength, the word to be used is abate. Thus we say, a man's anger <i>abates</i>, the ardor of one's love abates, "Winter rage <i>abates</i>". But if the image be that of a sinking down into quiet from preceding excitement or commotion, the word to be used is <i>subside</i>; as, the tumult of the people <i>subsides</i>, the public mind <i>subsided</i> into a calm. The same is the case with those emotions which are tumultuous in their nature; as, his passion <i>subsides</i>, his joy quickly <i>subsided</i>, his grief <i>subsided</i> into a pleasing melancholy. Yet if, in such cases, we were thinking of the degree of violence of the emotion, we might use <i>abate</i>; as, his joy will <i>abate</i> in the progress of time; and so in other instances.</usage>

<h1>Abate</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bate</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Abatement.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Sir T. Browne.</i>

<h1>Abatement</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bate"ment</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>abatement</ets>, F. <ets>abattement</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of abating, or the state of being abated; a lessening, diminution, or reduction; removal or putting an end to; <as>as, the <ex>abatement</ex> of a nuisance is the suppression thereof</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The amount abated; that which is taken away by way of reduction; deduction; decrease; a rebate or discount allowed.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>A mark of dishonor on an escutcheon.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>The entry of a stranger, without right, into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee.</def>

<i>Blackstone.</i>

<cs><mcol><col>Defense in abatement</col>, <col>Plea in abatement</col></mcol>, <fld>(Law)</fld>, <col>plea to the effect that from some formal defect (e.g. misnomer, want of jurisdiction) the proceedings should be abated.</cd></cs>

<h1>Abater</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bat"er</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who, or that which, abates.</def>

<h1>Abatis, Abattis</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw><hw>Ab"a*tis</hw>, <hw>Aba"t*tis</hw>,<hw> <tt>(#)</tt> <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>abatis</ets>, <ets>abattis</ets>, mass of things beaten or cut down, fr. <ets>abattre</ets>. See <er>Abate</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Fort.)</fld> <def>A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy.</def>

<h1>Abatised</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab"a*tised</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Provided with an abatis.</def>

<h1>Abator</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A*ba"tor</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>(a) One who abates a nuisance. (b) A person who, without right, enters into a freehold on the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee.</def>

<i>Blackstone.</i>

<h1>Abattoir</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A`bat`toir"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Abattoirs</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[F., fr. <ets>abattre</ets> to beat down. See <er>Abate</er>.]</ety> <def>A public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc.</def>

<h1>Abature</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab"a*ture</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>abatture</ets>, fr. <ets>abattre</ets>. See <er>Abate</er>.]</ety> <def>Grass and sprigs beaten or trampled down by a stag passing through them.</def>

<i>Crabb.</i>

<h1>Abatvoix</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>A`bat`voix"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>abattre</ets> to beat down + <ets>voix</ets> voice.]</ety> <def>The sounding-board over a pulpit or rostrum.</def>

<h1>Abawed</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab*awed"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>p.p.</tt> <ety>[Perh. p.p. of a verb fr. OF. <ets>abaubir</ets> to frighten, disconcert, fr. L. <ets>ad + balbus</ets> stammering.]</ety> <def>Astonished; abashed.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<h1>Abaxial, Abaxile</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw><hw>Ab*ax"i*al</hw> (#), <hw>Ab*ax"ile</hw> (#),<hw> <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>ab</ets> + <ets>axis</ets> axle.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>Away from the axis or central line; eccentric</def>.

<i>Balfour.</i>

<hw>A*bay"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>abay</ets> barking.]</ety> <def>Barking; baying of dogs upon their prey. See <er>Bay</er>.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<hw>Abb</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>\'beweb</ets>, <ets>\'beb</ets>; pref. <ets>a-</ets> + <ets>web</ets>. See <er>Web</er>.]</ety> <def>Among weaves, yarn for the warp. Hence, <i>abb wool</i> is wool for the <i>abb</i>.</def>

<hw>Ab"ba</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Syriac <ets>abb\'be</ets> father. See <er>Abbot</er>.]</ety> <def>Father; religious superior; -- in the Syriac, Coptic, and Ethiopic churches, a title given to the bishops, and by the bishops to the patriarch.</def>

<h1>Abbacy</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab"ba*cy</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Abbacies</plw> <tt>(#)</tt>.</plu> <ety>[L. <ets>abbatia</ets>, fr. <ets>abbas</ets>, <ets>abbatis</ets>, abbot. See <er>Abbey</er>.]</ety> <def>The dignity, estate, or jurisdiction of an abbot.</def>

<h1>Abbatial</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab*ba"tial</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>abbatialis</ets> : cf. F. <ets>abbatial</ets>.]</ety> <def>Belonging to an abbey; <as>as, <ex>abbatial</ex> rights</as>.</def>

<h1>Abbatical</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab*bat"ic*al</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Abbatial.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<hw>Ab"b\'82`</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt><ety>[F. <ets>abb\'82</ets>. See <er>Abbot</er>.]</ety> <def>The French word answering to the English <i>abbot</i>, the head of an abbey; but commonly a title of respect given in France to every one vested with the ecclesiastical habit or dress.</def>

<note>\'b5 After the 16th century, the name was given, in social parlance, to candidates for some priory or abbey in the gift of the crown. Many of these aspirants became well known in literary and fashionable life. By further extension, the name came to be applied to unbeneficed secular ecclesiastics generally.</note>

<i>Littr\'82.</i>

<h1>Abbess</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab"bess</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF.<ets>abaesse</ets>, <ets>abeesse</ets>, F. <ets>abbesse</ets>, L. <ets>abbatissa</ets>, fem. of <ets>abbas</ets>, <ets>abbatis</ets>, abbot. See <er>Abbot</er>.]</ety> <def>A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or convent of nuns, having the same authority over the nuns which the abbots have over the monks. See <er>Abbey</er>.</def>

<h1>Abbey</h1>
<Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab"bey</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Abbeys</plw> <tt>(#)</tt>.</plu> <ety>[OF. <ets>aba\'8be</ets>, F. <ets>abbaye</ets>, L. <ets>abbatia</ets>, fr. abbas abbot. See <er>Abbot</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A monastery or society of persons of either sex, secluded from the world and devoted to religion and celibacy; also, the monastic building or buildings.</def>

<note>&hand; The men are called <it>monks</it>, and governed by an abbot; the women are called <i>nuns</i>, and governed by an abbess.</note>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The church of a monastery.</def>

<note>In London, <i>the Abbey</i> 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 <i>Abbey</i>, the residence of Lord Byron.</note>

<syn>Syn. -- Monastery; convent; nunnery; priory; cloister. See <er>Cloister</er>.</syn>

<h1>Abbot</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab"bot</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>abbod</ets>, <ets>abbad</ets>, L. <ets>abbas</ets>, <ets>abbatis</ets>, Gr. <?/, fr. Syriac <ets>abb\'be</ets> father. Cf. <er>Abba</er>, <er>Abb\'90</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The superior or head of an abbey.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>One of a class of bishops whose sees were formerly abbeys.</def>

<i>Encyc. Brit.</i>

<cs><col>Abbot of the people</col>. <cd>a title formerly given to one of the chief magistrates in Genoa.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Abbot of Misrule</col> (or <col>Lord of Misrule</col>)</mcol>, <cd>in medi\'91val times, the master of revels, as at Christmas; in Scotland called the <er>Abbot of Unreason</er>.</cd></cs>

<i>Encyc. Brit.</i>

<h1>Abbotship</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab"bot*ship</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Abbot</ets> + <ets>-ship</ets>.]</ety> <def>The state or office of an abbot.</def>

<h1>Abbreviate</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab*bre"vi*ate</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p.p.</tt> <er>Abbreviated</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p.pr. & vb.n.</tt> <er>Abbreviating</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[L. <ets>abbreviatus</ets>, p.p. of <ets>abbreviare</ets>; <ets>ad + breviare</ets> to shorten, fr. <ets>brevis</ets> short. See <er>Abridge</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To make briefer; to shorten; to abridge; to reduce by contraction or omission, especially of words written or spoken.</def>

<blockquote>It is one thing to <b>abbreviate</b> by contracting, another by cutting off.

<i>Bacon.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Math.)</fld> <def>To reduce to lower terms, as a fraction.</def>

<h1>Abbreviate</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab*bre"vi*ate</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>abbreviatus</ets>, p.p.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Abbreviated; abridged; shortened.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark> "The <i>abbreviate</i> form."

<i>Earle.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Biol.)</fld> <def>Having one part relatively shorter than another or than the ordinary type.</def>

<h1>Abbreviate</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab*bre"vi*ate</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>An abridgment.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Elyot.</i>

<h1>Abbreviated</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab*bre"vi*a`ted</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Shortened; relatively short; abbreviate.</def>

<h1>Abbreviation</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab*bre`vi*a"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>abbreviatio</ets>: cf. F. <ets>abbr\'82viation</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of shortening, or reducing.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The result of abbreviating; an abridgment.</def>

<i>Tylor.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>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>as, <ex>Gen</ex></as>. for <i>Genesis</i>; <i>U</i>.<i>S</i>.<i>A</i>. for <i>United States of America</i>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <def>One dash, or more, through the stem of a note, dividing it respectively into quavers, semiquavers, or demi-semiquavers.</def>

<i>Moore.</i>

<h1>Abbreviator</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab*bre"vi*a`tor</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL.: cf. F. <ets>abbr\'82viateur</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>One who abbreviates or shortens.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>One of a college of seventy-two 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.</def>

<h1>Abbreviatory</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab*bre"vi*a*to*ry</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Serving or tending to abbreviate; shortening; abridging.</def>

<h1>Abbreviature</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab*bre"vi*a*ture</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>An abbreviation; an abbreviated state or form.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An abridgment; a compendium or abstract.</def>

<blockquote>This is an excellent <b>abbreviature</b> of the whole duty of a Christian. <i>Jer. Taylor.</i></blockquote>

<hw>A B C"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>. <p><b>1.</b> <def>The first three letters of the alphabet, used for the whole alphabet.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A primer for teaching the alphabet and first elements of reading.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The simplest rudiments of any subject; <as>as, the <ex>A B C</ex> of finance</as>.</def>

<cs><col>A B C book</col>, <cd>a primer.</cd></cs>

<h1>Abdal</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab"dal</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Ar. <ets>bad\'c6l</ets>, pl. <ets>abd\'bel</ets>, a substitute, a good, religious man, saint, fr. <ets>badala</ets> to change, substitute.]</ety> <def>A religious devotee or dervish in Persia.</def>

<h1>Abderian</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab*de"ri*an</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[From <ets>Abdera</ets>, a town in Thrace, of which place Democritus, the Laughing Philosopher, was a native.]</ety> <def>Given to laughter; inclined to foolish or incessant merriment.</def>

<h1>Abderite</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab*de"rite</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>Abderita</ets>, <ets>Abderites</ets>, fr. Gr. '<?/.]</ety> <def>An inhabitant of Abdera, in Thrace.</def>

<cs><col>The Abderite</col>, <cd>Democritus, the Laughing Philosopher.</cd></cs>

<h1>Abdest</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab"dest</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Per. <ets>\'bebdast</ets>; <ets>ab</ets> water + <ets>dast</ets> hand.]</ety> <def>Purification by washing the hands before prayer; -- a Mohammedan rite.</def>

<i>Heyse.</i>

<h1>Abdicable</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab"di*ca*ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Capable of being abdicated.</def>

<h1>Abdicant</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab"di*cant</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>abdicans</ets>, p.pr. of <ets>abdicare</ets>.]</ety> <def>Abdicating; renouncing; -- followed by <i>of</i>.</def>

<blockquote>Monks <b>abdicant</b> of their orders. <i>Whitlock.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Abdicant</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab"di*cant</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who abdicates.</def>

<i>Smart.</i>

<h1>Abdicate</h1>
<Xpage=3>

<hw>Ab"di*cate</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p.p.</tt> <er>Abdicated</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p.pr. & vb.n.</tt> <er>Abdicating</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[L. <ets>abdicatus</ets>, p.p. of <ets>abdicare</ets>; <ets>ab + dicare</ets> to proclaim, akin to <ets>dicere</ets> to say. See <er>Diction</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To surrender or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station, dignity; <as>as, to <ex>abdicate</ex> the throne, the crown, the papacy</as>.</def>

<note>&hand; The word <i>abdicate</i> was held to mean, in the case of James II., to abandon without a formal surrender.</note>

<blockquote>The cross-bearers <b>abdicated</b> their service. <i>Gibbon.</i></blockquote>