Chapter 4

Ab*er"rant (#) , a. [L. aberrans , -rantis , p.pr. of aberrare .] See Aberr .] 1. Wandering; straying from the right way.

2. (Biol.) Deviating from the ordinary or natural type; exceptional; abnormal.

The more aberrant any form is, the greater must have been the number of connecting forms which, on my theory, have been exterminated. Darwin.

Aberrate <Xpage=3>

Ab"er*rate (#) , v.i. [L. aberratus , p.pr. of aberrare ; ab + errare to wander. See Err .] To go astray; to diverge. [R.]

Their own defective and aberrating vision. De Quincey.

Aberration <Xpage=3>

Ab`er*ra"tion (#) , n. [L. aberratio : cf. F. aberration . See Aberrate .] 1. The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type. "The aberration of youth." Hall . " Aberrations from theory." Burke .

2. A partial alienation of reason. "Occasional aberrations of intellect." Lingard .

Whims, which at first are the aberrations of a single brain, pass with heat into epidemic form. I. Taylor.

3. (Astron.) A small periodical change of position in the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer; called annual aberration , when the observer's motion is that of the earth in its orbit, and dairy or diurnal aberration , when of the earth on its axis; amounting when greatest, in the former case, to 20.4'', and in the latter, to 0.3''. Planetary aberration is that due to the motion of light and the motion of the planet relative to the earth.

4. (Opt.) The convergence to different foci, by a lens or mirror, of rays of light emanating from one and the same point, or the deviation of such rays from a single focus; called spherical aberration , when due to the spherical form of the lens or mirror, such form giving different foci for central and marginal rays; and chromatic aberration , when due to different refrangibilities of the colored rays of the spectrum, those of each color having a distinct focus.

5. (Physiol.) The passage of blood or other fluid into parts not appropriate for it.

6. (Law) The producing of an unintended effect by the glancing of an instrument, as when a shot intended for A glances and strikes B.

Syn. -- Insanity; lunacy; madness; derangement; alienation; mania; dementia; hallucination; illusion; delusion. See Insanity .

Aberrational <Xpage=3>

Ab`er*ra"tion*al (#) , a. Characterized by aberration.

Aberuncate <Xpage=3>

Ab`e*run"cate (#) , v.t. [L. aberuncare , for aberruncare . See Averruncate .] To weed out. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Aberuncator <Xpage=3>

Ab`e*run"ca*tor (#) , n. A weeding machine.

Abet <Xpage=3>

A*bet" (#) , v.t. [ imp. & p.p. Abetted (#) ; p.pr. & vb.n. Abetting .] [OF. abeter ; a (L. ad ) + beter to bait (as a bear), fr. Icel. beita to set dogs on, to feed, originally, to cause to bite, fr. Icel. b\'c6ta to bite, hence to bait, to incite. See Bait , Bet .] 1. To instigate or encourage by aid or countenance; -- used in a bad sense of persons and acts; as, to abet an ill-doer; to abet one in his wicked courses; to abet vice; to abet an insurrection. "The whole tribe abets the villany."

South.

Would not the fool abet the stealth, Who rashly thus exposed his wealth? Gay.

2. To support, uphold, or aid; to maintain; -- in a good sense. [Obs.] .

Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted . Jer. Taylor.

3. (Law) To contribute, as an assistant or instigator, to the commission of an offense.

Syn. -- To incite; instigate; set on; egg on; foment; advocate; countenance; encourage; second; uphold; aid; assist; support; sustain; back; connive at.

Abet <Xpage=3>

A*bet" (#) , n. [OF. abet , fr. abeter .] Act of abetting; aid. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Abetment <Xpage=3>

A*bet"ment (#) , n. The act of abetting; as, an abetment of treason, crime, etc.

Abettal <Xpage=3>

A*bet"tal (#) , n. Abetment. [R.]

<page="4"> Page 4

Abetter, Abettor <Xpage=4>

A*bet"ter , A*bet*tor (#) , n. One who abets; an instigator of an offense or an offender.

&hand; The form abettor is the legal term and also in general use.

Syn. -- Abettor , Accessory , Accomplice . These words denote different degrees of complicity in some deed or crime. An abettor is one who incites or encourages to the act, without sharing in its performance. An accessory supposes a principal offender. One who is neither the chief actor in an offense, nor present at its performance, but accedes to or becomes involved in its guilt, either by some previous or subsequent act, as of instigating, encouraging, aiding, or concealing, etc., is an accessory . An accomplice is one who participates in the commission of an offense, whether as principal or accessory. Thus in treason, there are no abettors or accessories , but all are held to be principals or accomplices .

Abevacuation <Xpage=4>

Ab`e*vac"u*a"tion (#) , n. [Pref. ab- + evacuation .] (Med.) A partial evacuation.

Mayne.

Abeyance <Xpage=4>

A*bey"ance (#) , n. [OF. abeance expectation, longing; a (L. ad ) + baer , beer , to gape, to look with open mouth, to expect, F. bayer , LL. badare to gape.] 1. (Law) Expectancy; condition of being undetermined.

&hand; When there is no person in existence in whom an inheritance (or a dignity) can vest, it is said to be in abeyance , that is, in expectation; the law considering it as always potentially existing, and ready to vest whenever a proper owner appears.

Blackstone.

2. Suspension; temporary suppression.

Keeping the sympathies of love and admiration in a dormant state, or state of abeyance . De Quincey.

Abeyancy <Xpage=4>

A*bey"an*cy (#) , n. Abeyance. [R.]

Hawthorne.

Abeyant <Xpage=4>

A*bey"ant (#) , a. Being in a state of abeyance.

Abhal <Xpage=4>

Ab"hal (#) , n. The berries of a species of cypress in the East Indies.

Abhominable <Xpage=4>

Ab*hom"i*na*ble (#) , a. Abominable. [A false orthography anciently used; h was foisted into various words; hence abholish , for abolish , etc.]

This is abhominable , which he [Don Armado] would call abominable . Shak. Love's Labor's Lost, v. 1.

Abhominal <Xpage=4>

Ab*hom`i*nal (#) , a. [L. ab away from + homo , hominis , man.] Inhuman. [Obs.]

Fuller.

Abhor <Xpage=4>

Ab*hor" (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Abhorred (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Abhorring .] [L. abhorrere ; ab + horrere to bristle, shiver, shudder: cf. F. abhorrer . See Horrid .] 1. To shrink back with shuddering from; to regard with horror or detestation; to feel excessive repugnance toward; to detest to extremity; to loathe.

Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Rom. xii. 9.

2. To fill with horror or disgust. [Obs.]

It doth abhor me now I speak the word. Shak.

3. (Canon Law) To protest against; to reject solemnly. [Obs.]

I utterly abhor , yea, from my soul Refuse you for my judge. Shak.

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

Abhor <Xpage=4>

Ab*hor" , v. i. To shrink back with horror, disgust, or dislike; to be contrary or averse; -- with from . [Obs.] "To abhor from those vices."

Udall.

Which is utterly abhorring from the end of all law. Milton.

Abhorrence <Xpage=4>

Ab*hor"rence (#) , n. Extreme hatred or detestation; the feeling of utter dislike.

Abhorrency <Xpage=4>

Ab*hor"ren*cy (#) , n. Abhorrence. [Obs.]

Locke.

Abhorrent <Xpage=4>

Ab*hor"rent (#) , a. [L. abhorens , -rentis , p. pr. of abhorrere .] 1. Abhorring; detesting; having or showing abhorrence; loathing; hence, strongly opposed to; as, abhorrent thoughts .

The persons most abhorrent from blood and treason. Burke.

The arts of pleasure in despotic courts I spurn abhorrent . Clover.

2. Contrary or repugnant; discordant; inconsistent; -- followed by to . "Injudicious profanation, so abhorrent to our stricter principles."

Gibbon.

3. Detestable. "Pride, abhorrent as it is."

I. Taylor.

Abhorrently <Xpage=4>

Ab*hor"rent*ly , adv. With abhorrence.

Abhorrer <Xpage=4>

Ab*hor"rer (#) , n. One who abhors.

Hume.

Abhorrible <Xpage=4>

Ab*hor"ri*ble (#) , a. Detestable. [R.]

Abhorring <Xpage=4>

Ab*hor"ring (#) , n. 1. Detestation.

Milton.

2. Object of abhorrence.

Isa. lxvi. 24.

Abib <Xpage=4>

A"bib (#) , n. [Heb. ab\'c6b , lit. an ear of corn. The month was so called from barley being at that time in ear.] The first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding nearly to our April. After the Babylonish captivity this month was called Nisan .

Kitto.

Abidance <Xpage=4>

A*bid"ance (#) , n. The state of abiding; abode; continuance; compliance ( with ).

The Christians had no longer abidance in the holy hill of Palestine. Fuller.

A judicious abidance by rules. Helps.

Abide <Xpage=4>

A*bide" (#) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Abode (#) , formerly Abid (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Abiding (#) .] [AS. \'beb\'c6dan ; pref. \'be- (cf. Goth. us- , G. er- , orig. meaning out ) + b\'c6dan to bide. See Bide .] 1. To wait; to pause; to delay. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

2. To stay; to continue in a place; to have one's abode; to dwell; to sojourn; -- with with before a person, and commonly with at or in before a place.

Let the damsel abide with us a few days. Gen. xxiv. 55.

3. To remain stable or fixed in some state or condition; to continue; to remain.

Let every man abide in the same calling. 1 Cor. vii. 20.

Followed by by : To abide by . (a) To stand to; to adhere; to maintain.

The poor fellow was obstinate enough to abide by what he said at first. Fielding.

(b) To acquiesce; to conform to; as, to abide by a decision or an award.

Abide <Xpage=4>

A*bide" , v. t. 1. To wait for; to be prepared for; to await; to watch for; as, I abide my time . "I will abide the coming of my lord."

Tennyson.

[[Obs.], with a personal object.

Bonds and afflictions abide me. Acts xx. 23.

2. To endure; to sustain; to submit to.

[Thou] shalt abide her judgment on it. Tennyson.

3. To bear patiently; to tolerate; to put up with.

She could not abide Master Shallow. Shak.

4. [Confused with aby to pay for. See Aby .] To stand the consequences of; to answer for; to suffer for.

Dearly I abide that boast so vain. Milton.

Abider <Xpage=4>

A*bid"er (#) , n. 1. One who abides, or continues. [Obs.] "Speedy goers and strong abiders ."

Sidney.

2. One who dwells; a resident.

Speed.

Abiding <Xpage=4>

A*bid"ing , a. Continuing; lasting.

Abidingly <Xpage=4>

A*bid"ing*ly , adv. Permanently.

Carlyle.

Abies <Xpage=4>

A"bi*es (#) , n. [L., fir tree.] (Bot.) A genus of coniferous trees, properly called Fir, as the balsam fir and the silver fir. The spruces are sometimes also referred to this genus.

Abietene <Xpage=4>

Ab"i*e*tene (#) , n. [L. abies , abietis , a fir tree.] A volatile oil distilled from the resin or balsam of the nut pine (Pinus sabiniana) of California.

Abietic <Xpage=4>

Ab`i*et"ic (#) , a. Of or pertaining to the fir tree or its products; as, abietic acid, called also sylvic acid .

Watts.

Abietin, Abietine <Xpage=4>

Ab"i*e*tin , Ab"i*e*tine (#) , n. [See Abietene .] (Chem.) A resinous obtained from Strasburg turpentine or Canada balsam. It is without taste or smell, is insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol (especially at the boiling point), in strong acetic acid, and in ether.

Watts.

Abietinic <Xpage=4>

Ab`i*e*tin"ic (#) , a. Of or pertaining to abietin; as, abietinic acid .

Abietite <Xpage=4>

Ab"i*e*tite (#) , n. (Chem.) A substance resembling mannite, found in the needles of the common silver fir of Europe (Abies pectinata) .

Eng. Cyc.

Abigail <Xpage=4>

Ab"i*gail (#) , n. [The proper name used as an appellative.] A lady's waiting-maid.

Pepys.

Her abigail reported that Mrs. Gutheridge had a set of night curls for sleeping in. Leslie.

Abiliment <Xpage=4>

A*bil"i*ment (#) , n. Habiliment. [Obs.]

Ability <Xpage=4>

A*bil"i*ty (#) , n. ; pl. Abilities (#) . [F. habilet\'82 , earlier spelling habilit\'82 (with silent h ), L. habilitas aptitude, ability, fr. habilis apt. See Able .] The quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; -- in the plural , faculty, talent.

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability , determined to send relief unto the brethren. Acts xi. 29.

Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study. Bacon.

The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability . Macaulay.

Syn. -- Capacity; talent; cleverness; faculty; capability; efficiency; aptitude; aptness; address; dexterity; skill. Ability , Capacity . These words come into comparison when applied to the higher intellectual powers. Ability has reference to the active exercise of our faculties. It implies not only native vigor of mind, but that ease and promptitude of execution which arise from mental training. Thus, we speak of the ability with which a book is written, an argument maintained, a negotiation carried on, etc. It always something to be done , and the power of doing it. Capacity has reference to the receptive powers. In its higher exercises it supposes great quickness of apprehension and breadth of intellect, with an uncommon aptitude for acquiring and retaining knowledge. Hence it carries with it the idea of resources and undeveloped power. Thus we speak of the extraordinary capacity of such men as Lord Bacon, Blaise Pascal, and Edmund Burke. " Capacity ," says H. Taylor, "is requisite to devise, and ability to execute, a great enterprise." The word abilities , in the plural, embraces both these qualities, and denotes high mental endowments.

Abime or Abyme <Xpage=4>

A*bime" or A*byme" (#), n. [F. ab\'8cme . See Abysm .] A abyss. [Obs.]

Abiogenesis <Xpage=4>

Ab`i*o*gen"e*sis (#) , n. [Gr. <?/ priv. + <?/ life + <?/, origin, birth.] (Biol.) The supposed origination of living organisms from lifeless matter; such genesis as does not involve the action of living parents; spontaneous generation; -- called also abiogeny , and opposed to biogenesis .

I shall call the . . . doctrine that living matter may be produced by not living matter, the hypothesis of abiogenesis . Huxley, 1870.

Abiogenetic <Xpage=4>

Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic (#) , a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to abiogenesis. Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic*al*ly , adv.

Abiogenist <Xpage=4>

Ab`i*og"e*nist (#) , n. (Biol.) One who believes that life can be produced independently of antecedent.

Huxley.

Abiogenous <Xpage=4>

Ab`i*og"e*nous (#) , a. (Biol.) Produced by spontaneous generation.

Abiogeny <Xpage=4>

Ab`i*og"e*ny (#) , n. (Biol.) Same as Abiogenesis .

Abiological <Xpage=4>

Ab`i*o*log"ic*al (#) , a. [Gr. <?/ priv. + E. biological .] Pertaining to the study of inanimate things.

Abirritant <Xpage=4>

Ab*ir"ri*tant (#) , n. (Med.) A medicine that diminishes irritation.

Abirritate <Xpage=4>

Ab*ir"ri*tate (#) , v. t. [Pref. ab- + irritate .] (Med.) To diminish the sensibility of; to debilitate.

Abirritation <Xpage=4>

Ab*ir`ri*ta"tion (#) , n. (Med.) A pathological condition opposite to that of irritation; debility; want of strength; asthenia.

Abirritative <Xpage=4>

Ab*ir"ri*ta*tive (#) , a. (Med.) Characterized by abirritation or debility.

Abit <Xpage=4>

A*bit" (#) , 3d sing. pres. of Abide . [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Abject <Xpage=4>

Ab"ject (#) , a. [L. abjectus , p. p. of abjicere to throw away; ab + jacere to throw. See Jet a shooting forth.] 1. Cast down; low-lying. [Obs.]

From the safe shore their floating carcasses And broken chariot wheels; so thick bestrown Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood. Milton.

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

And banish hence these abject , lowly dreams. Shak.

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

Abject <Xpage=4>

Ab*ject" (#) , v. t. [From Abject , a. ] To cast off or down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower; to debase. [Obs.]

Donne.

Abject <Xpage=4>

Ab"ject (#) , n. A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a castaway. [Obs.]

Shall these abjects , these victims, these outcasts, know any thing of pleasure? I. Taylor.

Abjectedness <Xpage=4>

Ab*ject"ed*ness (#) , n. A very abject or low condition; abjectness. [R.]

Boyle.

Abjection <Xpage=4>

Ab*jec"tion (#) , n. [F. abjection , L. abjectio .] 1. The act of bringing down or humbling. "The abjection of the king and his realm."

Joe.

2. The state of being rejected or cast out. [R.]