Chapter 3

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.

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

Ab*hor"rer (&?;), n. One who abhors. Hume.

Ab*hor"ri*ble (&?;), a. Detestable. [R.]

Ab*hor"ring (&?;), n. 1. Detestation. Milton.

2. Object of abhorrence. Isa. lxvi. 24.

||A"bib (&?;), n. [Heb. abb, 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.

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.

A*bide" (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abode (&?;), formerly Abid(&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Abiding (&?;).] [AS. bdan; pref. - (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out) + bdan 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.

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.

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

2. One who dwells; a resident. Speed.

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

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

||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.

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.

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

{ 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.

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

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.

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.

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

A*bil"i*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Abilities(&?;). [F. habileté, earlier spelling habilité (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.

A*bime" or A*byme" (#), n. [F. abîme. See Abysm.] A abyss. [Obs.]

Ab`i*o*gen"e*sis (&?;), n. [Gr. 'a 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A*bit" (&?;), 3d sing. pres. of Abide. [Obs.] Chaucer.

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.

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

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.

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

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.]

An adjection from the beatific regions where God, and his angels and saints, dwell forever. Jer. Taylor.

3. A low or downcast state; meanness of spirit; abasement; degradation.

That this should be termed baseness, abjection of mind, or servility, is it credible? Hooker.

Ab"ject*ly (&?;), adv. Meanly; servilely.

Ab"ject*ness, n. The state of being abject; abasement; meanness; servility. Grew.

Ab*judge" (&?;), v. t. [Pref. ab- + judge, v. Cf. Abjudicate.] To take away by judicial decision. [R.]

Ab*ju"di*cate (&?;), v. t. [L. abjudicatus, p. p. of abjudicare; ab + judicare. See Judge, and cf. Abjudge.] To reject by judicial sentence; also, to abjudge. [Obs.] Ash.

Ab*ju`di*ca"tion (&?;), n. Rejection by judicial sentence. [R.] Knowles.

Ab"ju*gate (&?;), v. t. [L. abjugatus, p. p. of abjugare.] To unyoke. [Obs.] Bailey.

Ab*junc"tive (&?;), a. [L. abjunctus, p. p. of abjungere; ab + jungere to join.] Exceptional. [R.]

It is this power which leads on from the accidental and abjunctive to the universal. I. Taylor.

Ab`ju*ra"tion (&?;), n. [L. abjuratio: cf. F. abjuration.] 1. The act of abjuring or forswearing; a renunciation upon oath; as, abjuration of the realm, a sworn banishment, an oath taken to leave the country and never to return.

2. A solemn recantation or renunciation; as, an abjuration of heresy.

Oath of abjuration, an oath asserting the right of the present royal family to the crown of England, and expressly abjuring allegiance to the descendants of the Pretender. Brande & C.

Ab*ju"ra*to*ry (&?;), a. Containing abjuration.

Ab*jure" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abjured (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Abjuring (&?;).] [L. abjurare to deny upon oath; ab + jurare to swear, fr. jus, juris, right, law; cf. F. abjurer. See Jury.] 1. To renounce upon oath; to forswear; to disavow; as, to abjure allegiance to a prince. To abjure the realm, is to swear to abandon it forever.

2. To renounce or reject with solemnity; to recant; to abandon forever; to reject; repudiate; as, to abjure errors. "Magic I here abjure." Shak.

Syn. -- See Renounce.

Ab*jure", v. i. To renounce on oath. Bp. Burnet.

Ab*jure"ment (-ment), n. Renunciation. [R.]

Ab*jur"er (&?;), n. One who abjures.

Ab*lac"tate (&?;), v. t. [L. ablactatus, p. p. of ablactare; ab + lactare to suckle, fr. lac milk.] To wean. [R.] Bailey.

Ab`lac*ta"tion (&?;). n. 1. The weaning of a child from the breast, or of young beasts from their dam. Blount.

2. (Hort.) The process of grafting now called inarching, or grafting by approach.

Ab*la"que*ate (&?;), v. t. [L. ablaqueatus, p. p. of. ablaqueare; fr. ab + laqueus a noose.] To lay bare, as the roots of a tree. [Obs.] Bailey.

Ab*la`que*a"tion (&?;), n. [L. ablaqueatio.] The act or process of laying bare the roots of trees to expose them to the air and water. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Ab`las*tem"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; growth.] (Biol.) Non-germinal.

Ab*la"tion (&?;), n. [L. ablatio, fr. ablatus p. p. of auferre to carry away; ab + latus, p. p. of ferre carry: cf. F. ablation. See Tolerate.] 1. A carrying or taking away; removal. Jer. Taylor.

2. (Med.) Extirpation. Dunglison.

3. (Geol.) Wearing away; superficial waste. Tyndall.

Ab`la*ti"tious (&?;), a. Diminishing; as, an ablatitious force. Sir J. Herschel.

Ab"la*tive (&?;), a. [F. ablatif, ablative, L. ablativus fr. ablatus. See Ablation.] 1. Taking away or removing. [Obs.]

Where the heart is forestalled with misopinion, ablative directions are found needful to unteach error, ere we can learn truth. Bp. Hall.

2. (Gram.) Applied to one of the cases of the noun in Latin and some other languages, -- the fundamental meaning of the case being removal, separation, or taking away.

Ab"la*tive, (Gram.) The ablative case.

ablative absolute, a construction in Latin, in which a noun in the ablative case has a participle (either expressed or implied), agreeing with it in gender, number, and case, both words forming a clause by themselves and being unconnected, grammatically, with the rest of the sentence; as, Tarquinio regnante, Pythagoras venit, i. e., Tarquinius reigning, Pythagoras came.

||Ab"laut (&?;), n. [Ger., off-sound; ab off + laut sound.] (Philol.) The substitution of one root vowel for another, thus indicating a corresponding modification of use or meaning; vowel permutation; as, get, gat, got; sing, song; hang, hung. Earle.

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A*blaze" (&?;), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + blaze.] 1. On fire; in a blaze, gleaming. Milman.

All ablaze with crimson and gold. Longfellow.

2. In a state of glowing excitement or ardent desire.

The young Cambridge democrats were all ablaze to assist Torrijos. Carlyle.

A"ble (&?;), a. [Comp. Abler (&?;); superl. Ablest (&?;).] [OF. habile, L. habilis that may be easily held or managed, apt, skillful, fr. habere to have, hold. Cf. Habile and see Habit.] 1. Fit; adapted; suitable. [Obs.]

A many man, to ben an abbot able. Chaucer.

2. Having sufficient power, strength, force, skill, means, or resources of any kind to accomplish the object; possessed of qualifications rendering competent for some end; competent; qualified; capable; as, an able workman, soldier, seaman, a man able to work; a mind able to reason; a person able to be generous; able to endure pain; able to play on a piano.

3. Specially: Having intellectual qualifications, or strong mental powers; showing ability or skill; talented; clever; powerful; as, the ablest man in the senate; an able speech.

No man wrote abler state papers. Macaulay.

4. (Law) Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence; as, able to inherit or devise property.

Able for, is Scotticism. "Hardly able for such a march." Robertson.

Syn. -- Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective; capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.

A"ble, v. t. [See Able, a.] [Obs.] 1. To make able; to enable; to strengthen. Chaucer.

2. To vouch for. "I 'll able them." Shak.

-a*ble (-*b'l). [F. -able, L. -abilis.] An adjective suffix now usually in a passive sense; able to be; fit to be; expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense; as, movable, able to be moved; amendable, able to be amended; blamable, fit to be blamed; salable.

The form -ible is used in the same sense.

It is difficult to say when we are not to use -able instead of -ible. "Yet a rule may be laid down as to when we are to use it. To all verbs, then, from the Anglo-Saxon, to all based on the uncorrupted infinitival stems of Latin verbs of the first conjugation, and to all substantives, whencesoever sprung, we annex -able only." Fitzed. Hall.

A`ble-bod"ied (&?;), a. Having a sound, strong body; physically competent; robust. "Able-bodied vagrant." Froude. -- A`ble-bod"ied*ness, n..

Ab"le*gate (&?;), v. t. [L. ablegatus, p. p. of ablegare; ab + legare to send with a commission. See Legate.] To send abroad. [Obs.] Bailey.

Ab"le*gate (&?;), n. (R. C. Ch.) A representative of the pope charged with important commissions in foreign countries, one of his duties being to bring to a newly named cardinal his insignia of office.

Ab`le*ga"tion (&?;), n. [L. ablegatio.] The act of sending abroad. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

A`ble-mind"ed (#), a. Having much intellectual power. -- A`ble-mind"ed*ness, n.

A"ble*ness (&?;), n. Ability of body or mind; force; vigor. [Obs. or R.]

Ab"lep*sy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; to see.] Blindness. [R.] Urquhart.

A"bler (&?;), a., comp. of Able. -- A"blest (&?;), a., superl. of Able.

Ab"let (&?;), Ab"len [F. ablet, ablette, a dim. fr. LL. abula, for albula, dim. of albus white. Cf. Abele.] (Zoöl.) A small fresh-water fish (Leuciscus alburnus); the bleak.

Ab"li*gate (&?;), v. t. [L. ab + ligatus, p. p. of ligare to tie.] To tie up so as to hinder from. [Obs.]

Ab*lig`u*ri"tion (&?;), n. [L. abligurito, fr. abligurire to spend in luxurious indulgence; ab + ligurire to be lickerish, dainty, fr. lingere to lick.] Prodigal expense for food. [Obs.] Bailey.

A"blins (&?;), adv. [See Able.] Perhaps. [Scot.]

A*bloom" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + bloom.] In or into bloom; in a blooming state. Masson.

Ab*lude" (&?;), v. t. [L. abludere; ab + ludere to play.] To be unlike; to differ. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Ab"lu*ent (&?;), a. [L. abluens, p. pr. of. abluere to wash away; ab + luere (lavere, lavare). See Lave.] Washing away; carrying off impurities; detergent. -- n. (Med.) A detergent.

A*blush" (&?;), adv. & a. [Pref. a- + blush.] Blushing; ruddy.

Ab*lu`tion (&?;), n. [L. ablutio, fr. abluere: cf. F. ablution. See Abluent.] 1. The act of washing or cleansing; specifically, the washing of the body, or some part of it, as a religious rite.

2. The water used in cleansing. "Cast the ablutions in the main." Pope.

3. (R. C. Ch.) A small quantity of wine and water, which is used to wash the priest's thumb and index finger after the communion, and which then, as perhaps containing portions of the consecrated elements, is drunk by the priest.

Ab*lu"tion*a*ry (&?;), a. Pertaining to ablution.

Ab*lu"vi*on (&?;), n. [LL. abluvio. See Abluent.] That which is washed off. [R.] Dwight.

A"bly (&?;), adv. In an able manner; with great ability; as, ably done, planned, said.

-a*bly(&?;). A suffix composed of -able and the adverbial suffix -ly; as, favorably.

Ab"ne*gate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abnegated; p. pr. & vb. n. Abnegating.] [L. abnegatus,p. p. of abnegare; ab + negare to deny. See Deny.] To deny and reject; to abjure. Sir E. Sandys. Farrar.

Ab`ne*ga"tion (&?;), n. [L. abnegatio: cf. F. abnégation.] a denial; a renunciation.

With abnegation of God, of his honor, and of religion, they may retain the friendship of the court. Knox.

Ab"ne*ga*tive (&?;), a. [L. abnegativus.] Denying; renouncing; negative. [R.] Clarke.

Ab"ne*ga`tor (&?;), n. [L.] One who abnegates, denies, or rejects anything. [R.]

||Ab"net (&?;), n. [Heb.] The girdle of a Jewish priest or officer.

Ab"no*date (&?;), v. t. [L. abnodatus, p. p. of abnodare; ab + nodus knot.] To clear (tress) from knots. [R.] Blount.

Ab`no*da"tion (&?;), n. The act of cutting away the knots of trees. [R.] Crabb.

Ab*nor"mal (&?;), a. [For earlier anormal.F. anormal, LL. anormalus for anomalus, Gr. &?;. Confused with L. abnormis. See Anomalous, Abnormous, Anormal.] Not conformed to rule or system; deviating from the type; anomalous; irregular. "That deviating from the type; anomalous; irregular. " Froude.

Ab`nor*mal"i*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Abnormalities (&?;). 1. The state or quality of being abnormal; variation; irregularity. Darwin.

2. Something abnormal.

Ab*nor"mal*ly (&?;), adv. In an abnormal manner; irregularly. Darwin.

Ab*nor"mi*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Abnormities (&?;). [LL. abnormitas. See Abnormous.] Departure from the ordinary type; irregularity; monstrosity. "An abnormity . . . like a calf born with two heads." Mrs. Whitney.

Ab*nor"mous (&?;), a. [L. abnormis; ab + norma rule. See Normal.] Abnormal; irregular. Hallam.

A character of a more abnormous cast than his equally suspected coadjutor. State Trials.

A*board" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- on, in + board.] 1. On board; into or within a ship or boat; hence, into or within a railway car.

2. Alongside; as, close aboard.

Naut.: To fall aboard of, to strike a ship's side; to fall foul of. -- To haul the tacks aboard, to set the courses. -- To keep the land aboard, to hug the shore. -- To lay (a ship) aboard, to place one's own ship close alongside of (a ship) for fighting.

A*board", prep. 1. On board of; as, to go aboard a ship.

2. Across; athwart. [Obs.]

Nor iron bands aboard The Pontic Sea by their huge navy cast. Spenser.

A*bod"ance (&?;), n. [See Bode.] An omen; a portending. [Obs.]

A*bode" (&?;), pret. of Abide.

A*bode", n. [OE. abad, abood, fr. abiden to abide. See Abide. For the change of vowel, cf. abode, imp. of abide.] 1. Act of waiting; delay. [Obs.] Shak.

And with her fled away without abode. Spenser.

2. Stay or continuance in a place; sojourn.

He waxeth at your abode here. Fielding.

3. Place of continuance, or where one dwells; abiding place; residence; a dwelling; a habitation.

Come, let me lead you to our poor abode. Wordsworth.

A*bode", n. [See Bode, v. t.] An omen. [Obs.]

High-thundering Juno's husband stirs my spirit with true abodes. Chapman.

A*bode", v. t. To bode; to foreshow. [Obs.] Shak.

A*bode", v. i. To be ominous. [Obs.] Dryden.

A*bode"ment (-ment), n. A foreboding; an omen. [Obs.] "Abodements must not now affright us." Shak.

A*bod"ing (&?;), n. A foreboding. [Obs.]

A*bol"ish (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abolished (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Abolishing.] [F. abolir, L. abolere, aboletum; ab + olere to grow. Cf. Finish.]

1. To do away with wholly; to annul; to make void; -- said of laws, customs, institutions, governments, etc.; as, to abolish slavery, to abolish folly.

2. To put an end to, or destroy, as a physical objects; to wipe out. [Archaic]

And with thy blood abolish so reproachful blot. Spenser.

His quick instinctive hand Caught at the hilt, as to abolish him. Tennyson.

Syn. -- To Abolish, Repeal, Abrogate, Revoke, Annul, Nullify, Cancel. These words have in common the idea of setting aside by some overruling act. Abolish applies particularly to things of a permanent nature, such as institutions, usages, customs, etc.; as, to abolish monopolies, serfdom, slavery. Repeal describes the act by which the legislature of a state sets aside a law which it had previously enacted. Abrogate was originally applied to the repeal of a law by the Roman people; and hence, when the power of making laws was usurped by the emperors, the term was applied to their act of setting aside the laws. Thus it came to express that act by which a sovereign or an executive government sets aside laws, ordinances, regulations, treaties, conventions, etc. Revoke denotes the act of recalling some previous grant which conferred, privilege, etc.; as, to revoke a decree, to revoke a power of attorney, a promise, etc. Thus, also, we speak of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Annul is used in a more general sense, denoting simply to make void; as, to annul a contract, to annul an agreement. Nullify is an old word revived in this country, and applied to the setting of things aside either by force or by total disregard; as, to nullify an act of Congress. Cancel is to strike out or annul, by a deliberate exercise of power, something which has operative force.

A*bol"ish*a*ble (&?;), a. [Cf. F. abolissable.] Capable of being abolished.

A*bol"ish*er (&?;), n. One who abolishes.

A*bol"ish*ment (-ment), n. [Cf. F. abolissement.] The act of abolishing; abolition; destruction. Hooker.

Ab"o*li"tion (&?;), n. [L. abolitio, fr. abolere: cf. F. abolition. See Abolish.] The act of abolishing, or the state of being abolished; an annulling; abrogation; utter destruction; as, the abolition of slavery or the slave trade; the abolition of laws, decrees, ordinances, customs, taxes, debts, etc.

The application of this word to persons is now unusual or obsolete

Ab`o*li"tion*ism (&?;), n. The principles or measures of abolitionists. Wilberforce.

Ab`o*li"tion*ist, n. A person who favors the abolition of any institution, especially negro slavery.

Ab`o*li`tion*ize (&?;), v. t. To imbue with the principles of abolitionism. [R.] Bartlett.

||A*bo"ma (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) A large South American serpent (Boa aboma).