Chapter 9

Ab"sti*nence (#) , n. [F. abstinence , L. abstinentia , fr. abstinere . See Abstain .] 1. The act or practice of abstaining; voluntary forbearance of any action, especially the refraining from an indulgence of appetite, or from customary gratifications of animal or sensual propensities. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating beverages, -- called also total abstinence .

The abstinence from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain, nay, oftentimes, a very great one. Locke.

2. The practice of self-denial by depriving one's self of certain kinds of food or drink, especially of meat.

Penance, fasts, and abstinence , To punish bodies for the soul's offense. Dryden.

Abstinency <Xpage=7>

Ab"sti*nen*cy (#) , n. Abstinence. [R.]

Abstinent <Xpage=7>

Ab"sti*nent (#) , a. [F. abstinent , L. abstinens , p. pr. of abstinere . See Abstain .] Refraining from indulgence, especially from the indulgence of appetite; abstemious; continent; temperate.

Beau. & Fl.

Abstinent <Xpage=7>

Ab"sti*nent , n. 1. One who abstains.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect who appeared in France and Spain in the 3d century.

Abstinently <Xpage=7>

Ab"sti*nent*ly , adv. With abstinence.

Abstorted <Xpage=7>

Ab*stort"ed (#) , a. [As if fr. abstort , fr. L. ab , abs + tortus , p. p. of torquere to twist.] Wrested away. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Abstract <Xpage=7>

Ab"stract` (#; 277) , a. [L. abstractus , p. p. of abstrahere to draw from, separate; ab , abs + trahere to draw. See Trace .] 1. Withdraw; separate. [Obs.]

The more abstract . . . we are from the body. Norris.

2. Considered apart from any application to a particular object; separated from matter; exiting in the mind only; as, abstract truth, abstract numbers . Hence: ideal; abstruse; difficult.

3. (Logic) (a) Expressing a particular property of an object viewed apart from the other properties which constitute it; -- opposed to concrete ; as, honesty is an abstract word . J. S. Mill . (b) Resulting from the mental faculty of abstraction; general as opposed to particular; as, "reptile" is an abstract or general name .

Locke.

A concrete name is a name which stands for a thing; an abstract name which stands for an attribute of a thing. A practice has grown up in more modern times, which, if not introduced by Locke, has gained currency from his example, of applying the expression " abstract name" to all names which are the result of abstraction and generalization, and consequently to all general names, instead of confining it to the names of attributes. J. S. Mill.

4. Abstracted; absent in mind. " Abstract , as in a trance."

Milton.

An abstract idea (Metaph.) , an idea separated from a complex object, or from other ideas which naturally accompany it; as the solidity of marble when contemplated apart from its color or figure. -- Abstract terms , those which express abstract ideas, as beauty, whiteness, roundness, without regarding any object in which they exist; or abstract terms are the names of orders, genera or species of things, in which there is a combination of similar qualities. -- Abstract numbers (Math.) , numbers used without application to things, as 6, 8, 10; but when applied to any thing, as 6 feet, 10 men, they become concrete. -- Abstract &or; Pure mathematics . See Mathematics .

Abstract <Xpage=7>

Ab*stract" (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Abstracted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Abstracting .] [See Abstract , a. ]

1. To withdraw; to separate; to take away.

He was incapable of forming any opinion or resolution abstracted from his own prejudices. Sir W. Scott.

2. To draw off in respect to interest or attention; as, his was wholly abstracted by other objects .

The young stranger had been abstracted and silent. Blackw. Mag.

3. To separate, as ideas, by the operation of the mind; to consider by itself; to contemplate separately, as a quality or attribute.

Whately.

4. To epitomize; to abridge.

Franklin.

5. To take secretly or dishonestly; to purloin; as, to abstract goods from a parcel, or money from a till .

Von Rosen had quietly abstracted the bearing-reins from the harness. W. Black.

6. (Chem.) To separate, as the more volatile or soluble parts of a substance, by distillation or other chemical processes. In this sense extract is now more generally used.

Abstract <Xpage=7>

Ab*stract" , v. t. To perform the process of abstraction. [R.]

I own myself able to abstract in one sense. Berkeley.

Abstract <Xpage=7>

Ab"stract` (#) , n. [See Abstract , a. ] 1. That which comprises or concentrates in itself the essential qualities of a larger thing or of several things. Specifically: A summary or an epitome, as of a treatise or book, or of a statement; a brief.

An abstract of every treatise he had read. Watts.

Man, the abstract Of all perfection, which the workmanship Of Heaven hath modeled. Ford.

2. A state of separation from other things; as, to consider a subject in the abstract , or apart from other associated things .

3. An abstract term.

The concretes "father" and "son" have, or might have, the abstracts "paternity" and "filiety." J. S. Mill.

4. (Med.) A powdered solid extract of a vegetable substance mixed with sugar of milk in such proportion that one part of the abstract represents two parts of the original substance.

Abstract of title (Law) , an epitome of the evidences of ownership.

Syn. -- Abridgment; compendium; epitome; synopsis. See Abridgment .

Abstracted <Xpage=7>

Ab*stract"ed (#) , a. 1. Separated or disconnected; withdrawn; removed; apart.

The evil abstracted stood from his own evil. Milton.

2. Separated from matter; abstract; ideal. [Obs.]

3. Abstract; abstruse; difficult. [Obs.]

Johnson.

4. Inattentive to surrounding objects; absent in mind. "An abstracted scholar."

Johnson.

Abstractedly <Xpage=7>

Ab*stract"ed*ly , adv. In an abstracted manner; separately; with absence of mind.

Abstractedness <Xpage=7>

Ab*stract"ed*ness , n. The state of being abstracted; abstract character.

Abstracter <Xpage=7>

Ab*stract"er (#) , n. One who abstracts, or makes an abstract.

Abstraction <Xpage=7>

Ab*strac"tion (#) , n. [Cf. F. abstraction . See Abstract , a. ] 1. The act of abstracting, separating, or withdrawing, or the state of being withdrawn; withdrawal.

A wrongful abstraction of wealth from certain members of the community. J. S. Mill.

2. (Metaph.) The act process of leaving out of consideration one or more properties of a complex object so as to attend to others; analysis. Thus, when the mind considers the form of a tree by itself, or the color of the leaves as separate from their size or figure, the act is called abstraction . So, also, when it considers whiteness , softness , virtue , existence , as separate from any particular objects.

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

Abstraction is no positive act: it is simply the negative of attention. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. An idea or notion of an abstract, or theoretical nature; as, to fight for mere abstractions .

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

5. Absence or absorption of mind; inattention to present objects.

6. The taking surreptitiously for one's own use part of the property of another; purloining. [Modern]

7. (Chem.) A separation of volatile parts by the act of distillation.

Nicholson.

Abstractional <Xpage=7>

Ab*strac"tion*al (#) , a. Pertaining to abstraction.

Abstractionist <Xpage=7>

Ab*strac"tion*ist , n. An idealist.

Emerson.

Abstractitious <Xpage=7>

Ab`strac*ti"tious (#) , a. Obtained from plants by distillation. [Obs.]

Crabb.

Abstractive <Xpage=7>

Ab*strac"tive (#) , a. [Cf. F. abstractif .] Having the power of abstracting; of an abstracting nature. "The abstractive faculty."

I. Taylor.

Abstractively <Xpage=7>

Ab*strac"tive*ly , adv. In a abstract manner; separately; in or by itself.

Feltham.

Abstractiveness <Xpage=7>

Ab*strac"tive*ness , n. The quality of being abstractive; abstractive property.

Abstractly <Xpage=7>

Ab"stract`ly (#; 277) , adv. In an abstract state or manner; separately; absolutely; by itself; as, matter abstractly considered .

Abstractness <Xpage=7>

Ab"stract`ness , n. The quality of being abstract. "The abstractness of the ideas."

Locke.

Abstringe <Xpage=7>

Ab*stringe" (#) , v. t. [L ab + stringere , strictum , to press together.] To unbind. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Abstrude <Xpage=7>

Ab*strude" (#) , v. t. [L. abstrudere . See Abstruse .] To thrust away. [Obs.]

Johnson.

Abstruse <Xpage=7>

Ab*struse" (#) , a. [L. abstrusus , p. p. of abstrudere to thrust away, conceal; ab , abs + trudere to thrust; cf. F. abstrus . See Threat .] 1. Concealed or hidden out of the way. [Obs.]

The eternal eye whose sight discerns Abstrusest thoughts. Milton.

2. Remote from apprehension; difficult to be comprehended or understood; recondite; as, abstruse learning .

Profound and abstruse topics. Milman.

Abstrusely <Xpage=7>

Ab*struse"ly , adv. In an abstruse manner.

Abstruseness <Xpage=7>

Ab*struse"ness , n. The quality of being abstruse; difficulty of apprehension.

Boyle.

Abstrusion <Xpage=7>

Ab*stru"sion (#) , n. [L. abstrusio . See Abstruse .] The act of thrusting away. [R.]

Ogilvie.

Abstrusity <Xpage=7>

Ab*stru"si*ty (#) , n. Abstruseness; that which is abstruse. [R.]

Sir T. Browne.

Absume <Xpage=7>

Ab*sume" (#) , v. t. [L. absumere , absumptum ; ab + sumere to take.] To consume gradually; to waste away. [Obs.]

Boyle.

Absumption <Xpage=7>

Ab*sump"tion (#; 215) , n. [L. absumptio . See Absume .] Act of wasting away; a consuming; extinction. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Absurd <Xpage=7>

Ab*surd" (#) , a. [L. absurdus harsh-sounding; ab + (prob) a derivative fr. a root svar to sound; not connected with surd : cf. F. absurde . See Syringe .] Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and fiatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; as, an absurd person, an absurd opinion; an absurd dream.

This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Shak.

'This phrase absurd to call a villain great. Pope.

p. 9

Syn. -- Foolish; irrational; ridiculous; preposterous; inconsistent; incongruous. -- Absurd , Irrational , Foolish , Preposterous . Of these terms, irrational is the weakest, denoting that which is plainly inconsistent with the dictates of sound reason; as, an irrational course of life. Foolish rises higher, and implies either a perversion of that faculty, or an absolute weakness or fatuity of mind; as, foolish enterprises. Absurd rises still higher, denoting that which is plainly opposed to received notions of propriety and truth; as, an absurd man, project, opinion, story, argument, etc. Preposterous rises still higher, and supposes an absolute inversion in the order of things; or, in plain terms, a "putting of the cart before the horse;" as, a preposterous suggestion, preposterous conduct, a preposterous regulation or law.

Absurd <Xpage=7>

Ab*surd" (#) , n. An absurdity. [Obs.]

Pope.

Absurdity <Xpage=7>

Ab*surd"i*ty (#) , n. ; pl. Absurdities (#) . [L. absurditas : cf. F. absurdite .] 1. The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment. "The absurdity of the actual idea of an infinite number."

Locke.

2. That which is absurd; an absurd action; a logical contradiction.

His travels were full of absurdities . Johnson.

Absurdly <Xpage=7>

Ab*surd"ly , adv. In an absurd manner.

Absurdness <Xpage=7>

Ab*surd"ness , n. Absurdity. [R.]

Abuna <Xpage=7>

A*bu"na (#) , n. [Eth. and Ar., our father.] The Patriarch, or head of the Abyssinian Church.

Abundance <Xpage=7>

A*bun"dance (#) , n. [OE. ( h ) abudaunce , abundance , F. abundance , F. abondance , L. abundantia , fr. abundare . See Abound .] An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; wealth: -- strictly applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number.

It is lamentable to remember what abundance of noble blood hath been shed with small benefit to the Christian state. Raleigh.

Syn. -- Exuberance; plenteousness; plenty; copiousness; overflow; riches; affluence; wealth. -- Abundance , Plenty , Exuberance . These words rise upon each other in expressing the idea of fullness. Plenty denotes a sufficiency to supply every want; as, plenty of food, plenty of money, etc. Abundance express more, and gives the idea of superfluity or excess; as, abundance of riches, an abundance of wit and humor; often, however, it only denotes plenty in a high degree. Exuberance rises still higher, and implies a bursting forth on every side, producing great superfluity or redundance; as, an exuberance of mirth, an exuberance of animal spirits, etc.

Abundant <Xpage=7>

A*bun"dant (#) , a. [OE. ( h ) abundant , aboundant , F. abondant , fr. L. abudans , p. pr. of abundare . See Abound .] Fully sufficient; plentiful; in copious supply; -- followed by in , rarely by with . " Abundant in goodness and truth."

Exod. xxxiv. 6.

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

Syn. -- Ample; plentiful; copious; plenteous; exuberant; overflowing; rich; teeming; profuse; bountiful; liberal. See Ample .

Abundantly <Xpage=7>

A*bun"dant*ly , adv. In a sufficient degree; fully; amply; plentifully; in large measure.

Aburst <Xpage=7>

A*burst" (#) , adv. [Pref. a- + burst .] In a bursting condition.

Abusable <Xpage=7>

A*bus"a*ble (#) , a. That may be abused.

Abusage <Xpage=7>

A*bus"age (#) , n. Abuse. [Obs.]

Whately (1634).

Abuse <Xpage=7>

A*buse" (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Abused (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Abusing .] [F. abuser ; L. abusus , p. p. of abuti to abuse, misuse; ab + uti to use. See Use .] 1. To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to misuse; to put to a bad use; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert; as, to abuse inherited gold ; to make an excessive use of; as, to abuse one's authority .

This principle (if one may so abuse the word) shoots rapidly into popularity. Froude.

2. To use ill; to maltreat; to act injuriously to; to punish or to tax excessively; to hurt; as, to abuse prisoners, to abuse one's powers, one's patience .

3. To revile; to reproach coarsely; to disparage.

The . . . tellers of news abused the general. Macaulay.

4. To dishonor. "Shall flight abuse your name?"

Shak.

5. To violate; to ravish.

Spenser.

6. To deceive; to impose on. [Obs.]

Their eyes red and staring, cozened with a moist cloud, and abused by a double object. Jer. Taylor.

Syn. -- To maltreat; injure; revile; reproach; vilify; vituperate; asperse; traduce; malign.

Abuse <Xpage=7>

A*buse" (#) , n. [F. abus , L. abusus , fr. abuti . See Abuse , v. t. ] 1. Improper treatment or use; application to a wrong or bad purpose; misuse; as, an abuse of our natural powers ; an abuse of civil rights, or of privileges or advantages; an abuse of language.

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

2. Physical ill treatment; injury. "Rejoice . . . at the abuse of Falstaff."

Shak.

3. A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as, the abuses in the civil service .

Abuse after disappeared without a struggle.. Macaulay.

4. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; virulent condemnation; reviling.

The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of abuse , came to blows. Macaulay.

5. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child . [Obs.]

Or is it some abuse , and no such thing? Shak.

Abuse of distress (Law) , a wrongful using of an animal or chattel distrained, by the distrainer.

Syn. -- Invective; contumely; reproach; scurrility; insult; opprobrium. -- Abuse , Invective . Abuse is generally prompted by anger, and vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is more personal and coarse than invective . Abuse generally takes place in private quarrels; invective in writing or public discussions. Invective may be conveyed in refined language and dictated by indignation against what is blameworthy.

C. J. Smith.

Abuseful <Xpage=7>

A*buse"ful (#) , a. Full of abuse; abusive. [R.] " Abuseful names."

Bp. Barlow.

Abuser <Xpage=7>

A*bus"er (#) , n. One who abuses [in the various senses of the verb].

Abusion <Xpage=7>

A*bu"sion (#) , n. [OE. abusion , abusioun , OF. abusion , fr. L. abusio misuse of words, f. abuti . See Abuse , v. t. ] Evil or corrupt usage; abuse; wrong; reproach; deception; cheat.

Chaucer.