Chapter 4

{ ||Ab`o*ma"sum (&?;), ||Ab`o*ma"sus (&?;), } n. [NL., fr. L. ab + omasum (a Celtic word).] (Anat.) The fourth or digestive stomach of a ruminant, which leads from the third stomach omasum. See Ruminantia.

A*bom"i*na*ble (&?;), a. [F. abominable. L. abominalis. See Abominate.] 1. Worthy of, or causing, abhorrence, as a thing of evil omen; odious in the utmost degree; very hateful; detestable; loathsome; execrable.

2. Excessive; large; -- used as an intensive. [Obs.]

Juliana Berners . . . informs us that in her time [15th c.], "abomynable syght of monkes" was elegant English for "a large company of friars." G. P. Marsh.

A*bom"i*na*ble*ness, n. The quality or state of being abominable; odiousness. Bentley.

A*bom"i*na*bly (&?;), adv. In an abominable manner; very odiously; detestably.

A*bom"i*nate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abominated; p. pr. & vb. n. Abominating.] [L. abominatus, p. p. or abominari to deprecate as ominous, to abhor, to curse; ab + omen a foreboding. See Omen.] To turn from as ill-omened; to hate in the highest degree, as if with religious dread; loathe; as, to abominate all impiety.

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

A*bom`i*na"tion (&?;), n. [OE. abominacioun, -cion, F. abominatio. See Abominate.] 1. The feeling of extreme disgust and hatred; abhorrence; detestation; loathing; as, he holds tobacco in abomination.

2. That which is abominable; anything hateful, wicked, or shamefully vile; an object or state that excites disgust and hatred; a hateful or shameful vice; pollution.

Antony, most large in his abominations. Shak.

3. A cause of pollution or wickedness.

Syn. -- Detestation; loathing; abhorrence; disgust; aversion; loathsomeness; odiousness. Sir W. Scott.

A*boon" (&?;), prep. and adv. Above. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

Aboon the pass of Bally-Brough. Sir W. Scott.

The ceiling fair that rose aboon. J. R. Drake.

Ab*o"ral (&?;), a. [L. ab. + E. oral.] (Zoöl.) Situated opposite to, or away from, the mouth.

||A*bord" (&?;), n. [F.] Manner of approaching or accosting; address. Chesterfield.

A*bord" (&?;), v. t. [F. aborder, à (L. ad) + bord rim, brim, or side of a vessel. See Border, Board.] To approach; to accost. [Obs.] Digby.

Ab`o*rig"i*nal (&?;), a. [See Aborigines.]

1. First; original; indigenous; primitive; native; as, the aboriginal tribes of America. "Mantled o'er with aboriginal turf." Wordsworth.

2. Of or pertaining to aborigines; as, a Hindoo of aboriginal blood.

Ab`o*rig"i*nal, n. 1. An original inhabitant of any land; one of the aborigines.

2. An animal or a plant native to the region.

It may well be doubted whether this frog is an aboriginal of these islands. Darwin.

Ab`o*rig`i*nal"i*ty (&?;), n. The quality of being aboriginal. Westm. Rev.

Ab`o*rig"i*nal*ly (&?;), adv. Primarily.

Ab`o*rig"i*nes (-rj"*nz), n. pl. [L. Aborigines; ab + origo, especially the first inhabitants of Latium, those who originally (ab origine) inhabited Latium or Italy. See Origin.] 1. The earliest known inhabitants of a country; native races.

2. The original fauna and flora of a geographical area

A*borse"ment (*bôrs"ment), n. Abortment; abortion. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

A*bor"sive (*bôr"sv), a. Abortive. [Obs.] Fuller.

A*bort" (*bôrt"), v. i. [L. abortare, fr. abortus, p. p. of aboriri; ab + oriri to rise, to be born. See Orient.]

1. To miscarry; to bring forth young prematurely.

2. (Biol.) To become checked in normal development, so as either to remain rudimentary or shrink away wholly; to become sterile.

A*bort", n. [L. abortus, fr. aboriri.] 1. An untimely birth. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

2. An aborted offspring. [Obs.] Holland.

A*bort"ed, a. 1. Brought forth prematurely.

2. (Biol.) Rendered abortive or sterile; undeveloped; checked in normal development at a very early stage; as, spines are aborted branches.

The eyes of the cirripeds are more or less aborted in their mature state. Owen.

A*bor"ti*cide (*bôr"t*sd), n. [L. abortus + caedere to kill. See Abort.] (Med.) The act of destroying a fetus in the womb; feticide.

A*bor`ti*fa"cient (*bôr`t*f"shent), a. [L. abortus (see Abort, v.) + faciens, p. pr. of facere to make.] Producing miscarriage. -- n. A drug or an agent that causes premature delivery.

A*bor"tion (*bôr"shn), n. [L. abortio, fr. aboriri. See Abort.] 1. The act of giving premature birth; particularly, the expulsion of the human fetus prematurely, or before it is capable of sustaining life; miscarriage.

It is sometimes used for the offense of procuring a premature delivery, but strictly the early delivery is the abortion, "causing or procuring abortion" is the full name of the offense. Abbott.

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2. The immature product of an untimely birth.

3. (Biol.) Arrest of development of any organ, so that it remains an imperfect formation or is absorbed.

4. Any fruit or produce that does not come to maturity, or anything which in its progress, before it is matured or perfect; a complete failure; as, his attempt proved an abortion.

A*bor"tion*al (&?;), a. Pertaining to abortion; miscarrying; abortive. Carlyle.

A*bor"tion*ist, n. One who procures abortion or miscarriage.

A*bor"tive (&?;), a. [L. abortivus, fr. aboriri. See Abort, v.] 1. Produced by abortion; born prematurely; as, an abortive child. [R.]

2. Made from the skin of a still-born animal; as, abortive vellum. [Obs.]

3. Rendering fruitless or ineffectual. [Obs.] "Plunged in that abortive gulf." Milton.

4. Coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying; fruitless; unsuccessful; as, an abortive attempt. "An abortive enterprise." Prescott.

5. (Biol.) Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile; as, an abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc.

6. (Med.) (a) Causing abortion; as, abortive medicines. Parr. (b) Cutting short; as, abortive treatment of typhoid fever.

A*bor"tive, n. 1. That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion. [Obs.] Shak.

2. A fruitless effort or issue. [Obs.]

3. A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing abortion. Dunglison.

A*bor"tive*ly, adv. In an abortive or untimely manner; immaturely; fruitlessly.

A*bor"tive*ness, n. The quality of being abortive.

A*bort"ment (*bôrt"ment), n. Abortion. [Obs.]

A*bought" (&?;), imp. & p. p. of Aby. [Obs.]

A*bound" (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Abounding.] [OE. abounden, F. abonder, fr. L. abundare to overflow, abound; ab + unda wave. Cf. Undulate.] 1. To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent; to be plentiful.

The wild boar which abounds in some parts of the continent of Europe. Chambers.

Where sin abounded grace did much more abound. Rom. v. 20.

2. To be copiously supplied; -- followed by in or with.

To abound in, to possess in such abundance as to be characterized by. -- To abound with, to be filled with; to possess in great numbers.

Men abounding in natural courage. Macaulay.

A faithful man shall abound with blessings. Prov. xxviii. 20.

It abounds with cabinets of curiosities. Addison.

A*bout" (&?;), prep. [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. butan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out. See But, Out.]

1. Around; all round; on every side of. "Look about you." Shak. "Bind them about thy neck." Prov. iii. 3.

2. In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person). "Have you much money about you?" Bulwer.

3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.

Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses. Macaulay.

Roving still about the world. Milton.

4. Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity. "To-morrow, about this time." Exod. ix. 18. "About my stature." Shak.

He went out about the third hour. Matt. xx. 3.

This use passes into the adverbial sense.

5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on.

I must be about my Father's business. Luke ii. 49.

6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive: On the point or verge of; going; in act of.

Paul was now aboutto open his mouth. Acts xviii. 14.

7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. "To treat about thy ransom." Milton.

She must have her way about Sarah. Trollope.

A*bout", adv. 1. On all sides; around.

'Tis time to look about. Shak.

2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.

3. Here and there; around; in one place and another.

Wandering about from house to house. 1 Tim. v. 13.

4. Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as high; -- also of quantity, number, time. "There fell . . . about three thousand men." Exod. xxii. 28.

5. To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about.

To bring about, to cause to take place; to accomplish. -- To come about, to occur; to take place. See under Come. -- To go about, To set about, to undertake; to arrange; to prepare. "Shall we set about some revels?" Shak. -- Round about, in every direction around.

A*bout"-sledge" (&?;), n. The largest hammer used by smiths. Weale.

A*bove" (&?;), prep. [OE. above, aboven, abuffe, AS. abufon; an (or on) on + be by + ufan upward; cf. Goth. uf under. &radic;199. See Over.] 1. In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface; over; -- opposed to below or beneath.

Fowl that may fly above the earth. Gen. i. 20.

2. Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach. "Thy worth . . . is actions above my gifts." Marlowe.

I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun. Acts xxxvi. 13.

3. Surpassing in number or quantity; more than; as, above a hundred. (Passing into the adverbial sense. See Above, adv., 4.)

above all, before every other consideration; chiefly; in preference to other things.

Over and above, prep. or adv., besides; in addition to.

A*bove" (&?;), adv. 1. In a higher place; overhead; into or from heaven; as, the clouds above.

2. Earlier in order; higher in the same page; hence, in a foregoing page. "That was said above." Dryden.

3. Higher in rank or power; as, he appealed to the court above.

4. More than; as, above five hundred were present.

Above is often used elliptically as an adjective by omitting the word mentioned, quoted, or the like; as, the above observations, the above reference, the above articles. -- Above is also used substantively. "The waters that come down from above." Josh. iii. 13.

It is also used as the first part of a compound in the sense of before, previously; as, above-cited, above- described, above-mentioned, above-named, abovesaid, abovespecified, above-written, above-given.

A*bove"board` (&?;), adv. Above the board or table. Hence: in open sight; without trick, concealment, or deception. "Fair and aboveboard." Burke.

This expression is said by Johnson to have been borrowed from gamesters, who, when they change their cards, put their hands under the table.

A*bove"-cit`ed (&?;), a. Cited before, in the preceding part of a book or writing.

A*bove"deck` (&?;), a. On deck; and hence, like aboveboard, without artifice. Smart.

A*bove"-men`tioned (&?;), A*bove"-named`(&?;), a. Mentioned or named before; aforesaid.

A*bove"said` (&?;), a. Mentioned or recited before.

A*box" (&?;), adv. & a. (Naut.) Braced aback.

Ab`ra*ca*dab"ra (&?;), n. [L. Of unknown origin.] A mystical word or collocation of letters written as in the figure. Worn on an amulet it was supposed to ward off fever. At present the word is used chiefly in jest to denote something without meaning; jargon.

Ab*ra"dant (&?;), n. A material used for grinding, as emery, sand, powdered glass, etc.

Ab*rade" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abraded; p. pr. & vb. n. Abrading.] [L. abradere, abrasum, to scrape off; ab + radere to scrape. See Rase, Raze.] To rub or wear off; to waste or wear away by friction; as, to abrade rocks. Lyell.

A*brade" (&?;), v. t. Same as Abraid. [Obs.]

A`bra*ham"ic (&?;), a. Pertaining to Abraham, the patriarch; as, the Abrachamic covenant.

A`bra*ham*it"ic, *ic*al(&?;), a. Relating to the patriarch Abraham.

A"bra*ham-man` (&?;) or A"bram-man`(&?;), n. [Possibly in allusion to the parable of the beggar Lazarus in Luke xvi. Murray (New Eng. Dict. ).] One of a set of vagabonds who formerly roamed through England, feigning lunacy for the sake of obtaining alms. Nares.

To sham Abraham, to feign sickness. Goldsmith.

A*braid" (&?;), v. t. & i. [OE. abraiden, to awake, draw (a sword), AS. bredgan to shake, draw; pref. - (cf. Goth. us-, Ger. er-, orig. meaning out) + bregdan to shake, throw. See Braid.] To awake; to arouse; to stir or start up; also, to shout out. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A*bran"chi*al (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Abranchiate.

||A*bran`chi*a"ta (&?;), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. 'a priv. + &?;, pl., the gills of fishes.] (Zoöl.) A group of annelids, so called because the species composing it have no special organs of respiration.

A*bran"chi*ate (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Without gills.

Ab*rase" (&?;), a. [L. abrasus, p. p. of abradere. See Abrade.] Rubbed smooth. [Obs.] "An abrase table." B. Jonson.

Ab*ra"sion (&?;), n. [L. abrasio, fr. abradere. See Abrade.] 1. The act of abrading, wearing, or rubbing off; the wearing away by friction; as, the abrasion of coins.

2. The substance rubbed off. Berkeley.

3. (Med.) A superficial excoriation, with loss of substance under the form of small shreds. Dunglison.

Ab*ra"sive (&?;), a. Producing abrasion. Ure.

A*braum" or A*braum" salts (&?;), n. [Ger., fr. abräumen to remove.] A red ocher used to darken mahogany and for making chloride of potassium.

||A*brax"as (&?;), n. [A name adopted by the Egyptian Gnostic Basilides, containing the Greek letters &alpha;, &beta;, &rho;, &alpha;, &xi;, &alpha;, &sigma;, which, as numerals, amounted to 365. It was used to signify the supreme deity as ruler of the 365 heavens of his system.] A mystical word used as a charm and engraved on gems among the ancients; also, a gem stone thus engraved.

A*bray" (&?;), v. [A false form from the preterit abraid, abrayde.] See Abraid. [Obs.] Spenser.

A*breast" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + breast.] 1. Side by side, with breasts in a line; as, "Two men could hardly walk abreast." Macaulay.

2. (Naut.) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam; -- with of.

3. Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced; as, to keep abreast of [or with] the present state of science.

4. At the same time; simultaneously. [Obs.]

Abreast therewith began a convocation. Fuller.

A*breg"ge (&?;), v. t. See Abridge. [Obs.]

Ab`re*nounce" (&?;), v. t. [L. abrenuntiare; ab + renuntiare. See Renounce.] To renounce. [Obs.] "They abrenounce and cast them off." Latimer.

Ab`re*nun`ci*a"tion (&?;), n. [LL. abrenuntiatio. See Abrenounce.] Absolute renunciation or repudiation. [Obs.]

An abrenunciation of that truth which he so long had professed, and still believed. Fuller.

Ab*rep"tion (&?;), n. [L. abreptus, p. p. of abripere to snatch away; ab + rapere to snatch.] A snatching away. [Obs.]

||A`breu`voir" (&?;), n. [F., a watering place.] (Masonry) The joint or interstice between stones, to be filled with mortar. Gwilt.

A"bri*cock (&?;), n. See Apricot. [Obs.]

A*bridge" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abridged (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Abridging.] [OE. abregen, OF. abregier, F. abréger, fr. L. abbreviare; ad + brevis short. See Brief and cf. Abbreviate.] 1. To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to diminish; to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge power or rights. "The bridegroom . . . abridged his visit." Smollett.

She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her train from state to necessity. Fuller.

2. To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense; as, to abridge a history or dictionary.

3. To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by of, and formerly by from; as, to abridge one of his rights.

A*bridg"er (&?;), n. One who abridges.

A*bridg"ment (-brj"ment), n. [OE. abregement. See Abridge.] 1. The act of abridging, or the state of being abridged; diminution; lessening; reduction or deprivation; as, an abridgment of pleasures or of expenses.

2. An epitome or compend, as of a book; a shortened or abridged form; an abbreviation.

Ancient coins as abridgments of history. Addison.

3. That which abridges or cuts short; hence, an entertainment that makes the time pass quickly. [Obs.]

What abridgment have you for this evening? What mask? What music? Shak.

Syn. -- Abridgment, Compendium, Epitome, Abstract, Synopsis. An abridgment is made by omitting the less important parts of some larger work; as, an abridgment of a dictionary. A compendium is a brief exhibition of a subject, or science, for common use; as, a compendium of American literature. An epitome corresponds to a compendium, and gives briefly the most material points of a subject; as, an epitome of history. An abstract is a brief statement of a thing in its main points. A synopsis is a bird's-eye view of a subject, or work, in its several parts.

A*broach" (&?;), v. t. [OE. abrochen, OF. abrochier. See Broach.] To set abroach; to let out, as liquor; to broach; to tap. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A*broach", adv. [Pref. a- + broach.] 1. Broached; in a condition for letting out or yielding liquor, as a cask which is tapped.

Hogsheads of ale were set abroach. Sir W. Scott.

2. Hence: In a state to be diffused or propagated; afoot; astir. "Mischiefs that I set abroach." Shak.

A*broad" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + broad.] 1. At large; widely; broadly; over a wide space; as, a tree spreads its branches abroad.

The fox roams far abroad. Prior.

2. Without a certain confine; outside the house; away from one's abode; as, to walk abroad.

I went to St. James', where another was preaching in the court abroad. Evelyn.

3. Beyond the bounds of a country; in foreign countries; as, we have broils at home and enemies abroad. "Another prince . . . was living abroad." Macaulay.

4. Before the public at large; throughout society or the world; here and there; widely.

He went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter. Mark i. 45.

To be abroad. (a) To be wide of the mark; to be at fault; as, you are all abroad in your guess. (b) To be at a loss or nonplused.

Ab"ro*ga*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being abrogated.

Ab"ro*gate (&?;), a. [L. abrogatus, p. p.] Abrogated; abolished. [Obs.] Latimer.

Ab"ro*gate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abrogated; p. pr. & vb. n. Abrogating.] [L. abrogatus, p. p. of abrogare; ab + rogare to ask, require, propose. See Rogation.] 1. To annul by an authoritative act; to abolish by the authority of the maker or his successor; to repeal; -- applied to the repeal of laws, decrees, ordinances, the abolition of customs, etc.

Let us see whether the New Testament abrogates what we so frequently see in the Old. South.

Whose laws, like those of the Medes and Persian, they can not alter or abrogate. Burke.

2. To put an end to; to do away with. Shak.

Syn. -- To abolish; annul; do away; set aside; revoke; repeal; cancel; annihilate. See Abolish.

Ab`ro*ga"tion (&?;), n. [L. abrogatio, fr. abrogare: cf. F. abrogation.] The act of abrogating; repeal by authority. Hume.

Ab"ro*ga*tive (&?;), a. Tending or designed to abrogate; as, an abrogative law.

Ab"ro*ga`tor (&?;), n. One who repeals by authority.

A*brood" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + brood.] In the act of brooding. [Obs.] Abp. Sancroft.

A*brook" (&?;), v. t. [Pref. a- + brook, v.] To brook; to endure. [Obs.] Shak.

Ab*rupt" (&?;), a. [L. abruptus, p. p. of abrumpere to break off; ab + rumpere to break. See Rupture.] 1. Broken off; very steep, or craggy, as rocks, precipices, banks; precipitous; steep; as, abrupt places. "Tumbling through ricks abrupt," Thomson.

2. Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious. "The cause of your abrupt departure." Shak.

3. Having sudden transitions from one subject to another; unconnected.

The abrupt style, which hath many breaches. B. Jonson.

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4. (Bot.) Suddenly terminating, as if cut off. Gray.

Syn. -- Sudden; unexpected; hasty; rough; curt; unceremonious; rugged; blunt; disconnected; broken.

Ab*rupt" (&?;), n. [L. abruptum.] An abrupt place. [Poetic]

"Over the vast abrupt." Milton.

Ab*rupt", v. t. To tear off or asunder. [Obs.] "Till death abrupts them." Sir T. Browne.

Ab*rup"tion (&?;), n. [L. abruptio, fr. abrumpere: cf. F. abruption.] A sudden breaking off; a violent separation of bodies. Woodward.

Ab*rupt"ly, adv. 1. In an abrupt manner; without giving notice, or without the usual forms; suddenly.

2. Precipitously.

Abruptly pinnate (Bot.), pinnate without an odd leaflet, or other appendage, at the end. Gray.

Ab*rupt"ness, n. 1. The state of being abrupt or broken; craggedness; ruggedness; steepness.

2. Suddenness; unceremonious haste or vehemence; as, abruptness of style or manner.

Ab"scess (&?;), n.; pl. Abscesses (&?;). [L. abscessus a going away, gathering of humors, abscess, fr. abscessus, p. p. of absedere to go away; ab, abs + cedere to go off, retire. See Cede.] (Med.) A collection of pus or purulent matter in any tissue or organ of the body, the result of a morbid process.

Cold abscess, an abscess of slow formation, unattended with the pain and heat characteristic of ordinary abscesses, and lasting for years without exhibiting any tendency towards healing; a chronic abscess.

Ab*sces"sion (&?;), n. [L. abscessio a separation; fr. absedere. See Abscess.] A separating; removal; also, an abscess. [Obs.] Gauden. Barrough.

Ab*scind" (&?;), v. t. [L. absindere; ab + scindere to rend, cut. See Schism.] To cut off. [R.] "Two syllables . . . abscinded from the rest." Johnson.

Ab*sci"sion (&?;), n. [L. abscisio.] See Abscission.

Ab"sciss (&?;), n.; pl. Abscisses (&?;). See Abscissa.

Ab*scis"sa (&?;), n.; E. pl. Abscissas, L. pl. Abscissæ. [L., fem. of abscissus, p. p. of absindere to cut of. See Abscind.] (Geom.) One of the elements of reference by which a point, as of a curve, is referred to a system of fixed rectilineal coördinate axes. When referred to two intersecting axes, one of them called the axis of abscissas, or of X, and the other the axis of ordinates, or of Y, the abscissa of the point is the distance cut off from the axis of X by a line drawn through it and parallel to the axis of Y. When a point in space is referred to three axes having a common intersection, the abscissa may be the distance measured parallel to either of them, from the point to the plane of the other two axes. Abscissas and ordinates taken together are called coördinates. -- OX or PY is the abscissa of the point P of the curve, OY or PX its ordinate, the intersecting lines OX and OY being the axes of abscissas and ordinates respectively, and the point O their origin.

Ab*scis"sion (&?;), n. [L. abscissio. See Abscind.] 1. The act or process of cutting off. "Not to be cured without the abscission of a member." Jer. Taylor.

2. The state of being cut off. Sir T. Browne.

3. (Rhet.) A figure of speech employed when a speaker having begun to say a thing stops abruptly: thus, "He is a man of so much honor and candor, and of such generosity -- but I need say no more."

Ab*scond" (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Absconded; p. pr. & vb. n. Absconding.] [L. abscondere to hide; ab, abs + condere to lay up; con + dre (only in comp.) to put. Cf. Do.] 1. To hide, withdraw, or be concealed.

The marmot absconds all winter. Ray.

2. To depart clandestinely; to steal off and secrete one's self; -- used especially of persons who withdraw to avoid a legal process; as, an absconding debtor.