Part 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABBAYE, an _arch._ form of ABBEY.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABHOMINABLE, an earlier spelling of ABOMINABLE.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABOCOCKE. See BYCOCKET.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABRICOCK. See APRICOT.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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