xref: /dports/chinese/dictd-database/dict-zh-1.6/src/data/dict-format-example

00-database-url
     ftp://ftp.uga.edu/pub/misc/webster/

00-database-short
     Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

00-database-long
     Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (G & C. Merriam
     Co., 1913, edited by Noah Porter). Online version prepared
     by MICRA, Inc., Plainfield, N.J. and edited by Patrick
     Cassidy <cassidy@micra.com>.
     ftp://ftp.uga.edu/pub/misc/webster/
     ftp://uiarchive.cso.uiuc.edu/pub/etext/gutenberg/etext96/pgw*
     http://humanities.uchicago.edu/forms_unrest/webster.form.html

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      Begin file 1 of 24:  A.  (Version 0.46) of
               An electronic field-marked version of:

              Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
                      Version published 1913
                    by the  C. & G. Merriam Co.
                        Springfield, Mass.
                      Under the direction of
                     Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D.

        This version is copyrighted (C) 1996, 1998 by MICRA,
     Inc. of Plainfield, NJ.
        Last edit February 3, 1998.

         This electronic version may be used freely for personal
     use or for research, and may be freely distributed provided
     that the entire set of files are copied, and the headers
     and copyright notices are not modified or deleted.
         The inclusion of more than one per cent of the text of
     this dictionary in a product for sale requires the express
     written permission of MICRA Inc.  Sale of entire copies,
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     considered a violation of this provision.
         This version is only a first typing, and has numerous
     typographic errors, including errors in the field-marks.
     Assistance in bringing this dictionary to a more accurate
     and useful state will greatly appreciated.
         This electronic dictionary is made available as a
     potential starting point for development of a modern
     on-line comprehensive encyclopedic dictionary, by the
     efforts of all individuals willing to help build a large
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     assist in any way in constructing such a knowledge base
     should contact:

          Patrick Cassidy          cassidy@micra.com
          735 Belvidere Ave.       Office: (908)668-5252
          Plainfield, NJ 07062
          (908) 561-3416





A \A\ (named [=a] in the English, and most commonly ["a] in
   other languages).
   The first letter of the English and of many other alphabets.
   The capital A of the alphabets of Middle and Western Europe,
   as also the small letter (a), besides the forms in Italic,
   black letter, etc., are all descended from the old Latin A,
   which was borrowed from the Greek {Alpha}, of the same form;
   and this was made from the first letter (?) of the
   Ph[oe]nician alphabet, the equivalent of the Hebrew Aleph,
   and itself from the Egyptian origin. The Aleph was a
   consonant letter, with a guttural breath sound that was not
   an element of Greek articulation; and the Greeks took it to
   represent their vowel Alpha with the ["a] sound, the
   Ph[oe]nician alphabet having no vowel symbols. This letter,
   in English, is used for several different vowel sounds. See
   Guide to pronunciation, [sect][sect] 43-74. The regular long
   a, as in fate, etc., is a comparatively modern sound, and has
   taken the place of what, till about the early part of the
   17th century, was a sound of the quality of ["a] (as in far).

   2. (Mus.) The name of the sixth tone in the model major scale
      (that in C), or the first tone of the minor scale, which
      is named after it the scale in A minor. The second string
      of the violin is tuned to the A in the treble staff. -- A
      sharp (A[sharp]) is the name of a musical tone
      intermediate between A and B. -- A flat (A[flat]) is the
      name of a tone intermediate between A and G.

   {A per se} (L. per se by itself), one pre["e]minent; a
      nonesuch. [Obs.]

            O fair Creseide, the flower and A per se Of Troy and
            Greece.                               --Chaucer.

A \A\ ([.a] emph. [=a]).
   1. [Shortened form of an. AS. [=a]n one. See {One}.] An
      adjective, commonly called the indefinite article, and
      signifying one or any, but less emphatically. ``At a
      birth''; ``In a word''; ``At a blow''. --Shak.

   Note: It is placed before nouns of the singular number
         denoting an individual object, or a quality
         individualized, before collective nouns, and also
         before plural nouns when the adjective few or the
         phrase great many or good many is interposed; as, a
         dog, a house, a man; a color; a sweetness; a hundred, a
         fleet, a regiment; a few persons, a great many days. It
         is used for an, for the sake of euphony, before words
         beginning with a consonant sound [for exception of
         certain words beginning with h, see {An}]; as, a table,
         a woman, a year, a unit, a eulogy, a ewe, a oneness,
         such a one, etc. Formally an was used both before
         vowels and consonants.

   2. [Originally the preposition a (an, on).] In each; to or
      for each; as, ``twenty leagues a day'', ``a hundred pounds
      a year'', ``a dollar a yard'', etc.

A \A\ ([.a]), prep. [Abbreviated form of an (AS. on). See {On}.]
   1. In; on; at; by. [Obs.] ``A God's name.'' ``Torn a
      pieces.'' ``Stand a tiptoe.'' ``A Sundays'' --Shak. ``Wit
      that men have now a days.'' --Chaucer. ``Set them a
      work.'' --Robynson (More's Utopia).

   2. In process of; in the act of; into; to; -- used with
      verbal substantives in -ing which begin with a consonant.
      This is a shortened form of the preposition an (which was
      used before the vowel sound); as in a hunting, a building,
      a begging. ``Jacob, when he was a dying'' --Heb. xi. 21.
      ``We'll a birding together.'' `` It was a doing.'' --Shak.
      ``He burst out a laughing.'' --Macaulay.

   Note: The hyphen may be used to connect a with the verbal
         substantive (as, a-hunting, a-building) or the words
         may be written separately. This form of expression is
         now for the most part obsolete, the a being omitted and
         the verbal substantive treated as a participle.

A \A\ [From AS. of off, from. See {Of}.]
   Of. [Obs.] ``The name of John a Gaunt.'' ``What time a day is
   it ?'' --Shak. ``It's six a clock.'' --B. Jonson.

A \A\
   A barbarous corruption of have, of he, and sometimes of it
   and of they. ``So would I a done'' ``A brushes his hat.''
   --Shak.

A \A\
   An expletive, void of sense, to fill up the meter

         A merry heart goes all the day, Your sad tires in a
         mile-a.                                  --Shak.

A- \A-\
   A, as a prefix to English words, is derived from various
   sources. (1) It frequently signifies on or in (from an, a
   forms of AS. on), denoting a state, as in afoot, on foot,
   abed, amiss, asleep, aground, aloft, away (AS. onweg), and
   analogically, ablaze, atremble, etc. (2) AS. of off, from, as
   in adown (AS. ofd[=u]ne off the dun or hill). (3) AS. [=a]-
   (Goth. us-, ur-, Ger. er-), usually giving an intensive
   force, and sometimes the sense of away, on, back, as in
   arise, abide, ago. (4) Old English y- or i- (corrupted from
   the AS. inseparable particle ge-, cognate with OHG. ga-, gi-,
   Goth. ga-), which, as a prefix, made no essential addition to
   the meaning, as in aware. (5) French [`a] (L. ad to), as in
   abase, achieve. (6) L. a, ab, abs, from, as in avert. (7)
   Greek insep. prefix [alpha] without, or privative, not, as in
   abyss, atheist; akin to E. un-.

   Note: Besides these, there are other sources from which the
         prefix a takes its origin.

A 1 \A 1\ ([=a] w[u^]n).
   A registry mark given by underwriters (as at Lloyd's) to
   ships in first-class condition. Inferior grades are indicated
   by A 2 and A 3.

   Note: A 1 is also applied colloquially to other things to
         imply superiority; prime; first-class; first-rate.

Aam \Aam\ ([add]m or [aum]m), n. [D. aam, fr. LL. ama; cf. L.
   hama a water bucket, Gr. ?]
   A Dutch and German measure of liquids, varying in different
   cities, being at Amsterdam about 41 wine gallons, at Antwerp
   361/2, at Hamburg 383/4. [Written also {Aum} and {Awm}.]

Aard-vark \Aard"-vark`\ ([aum]rd"v[aum]rk`), n. [D., earth-pig.]
   (Zo["o]l.)
   An edentate mammal, of the genus {Orycteropus}, somewhat
   resembling a pig, common in some parts of Southern Africa. It
   burrows in the ground, and feeds entirely on ants, which it
   catches with its long, slimy tongue.

Aard-wolf \Aard"-wolf`\ ([aum]rd"w[oo^]lf), n. [D, earth-wolf]
   (Zo["o]l.)
   A carnivorous quadruped ({Proteles Lalandii}), of South
   Africa, resembling the fox and hyena. See {Proteles}.

Aaronic \Aa*ron"ic\ ([asl]*r[o^]n"[i^]k), Aaronical
\Aa*ron"ic*al\ (-[i^]*kal), a.
   Pertaining to Aaron, the first high priest of the Jews.

Aaron's rod \Aar"on's rod`\ ([^a]r"[u^]nz r[o^]d`). [See Exodus
   vii. 9 and Numbers xvii. 8]
   1. (Arch.) A rod with one serpent twined around it, thus
      differing from the caduceus of Mercury, which has two.

   2. (Bot.) A plant with a tall flowering stem; esp. the great
      mullein, or hag-taper, and the golden-rod.

Ab- \Ab-\ ([a^]b). [Latin prep., etymologically the same as E.
   of, off. See {Of}.]
   A prefix in many words of Latin origin. It signifies from,
   away, separating, or departure, as in abduct, abstract,
   abscond. See {A-}(6).

Ab \Ab\ ([a^]b), n. [Of Syriac origin.]
   The fifth month of the Jewish year according to the
   ecclesiastical reckoning, the eleventh by the civil
   computation, coinciding nearly with August. --W. Smith.

Abaca \Ab"a*ca\ ([a^]b"[.a]*k[.a]), n. [The native name.]
   The Manila-hemp plant ({Musa textilis}); also, its fiber. See
   {Manila hemp} under {Manila}.

Abacinate \A*bac"i*nate\ ([.a]*b[a^]s"[i^]*n[=a]t), v. t. [LL.
   abacinatus, p. p. of abacinare; ab off + bacinus a basin.]
   To blind by a red-hot metal plate held before the eyes. [R.]

Abacination \A*bac`i*na"tion\ ([.a]*b[a^]s`[i^]*n[=a]"sh[u^]n),
   n.
   The act of abacinating. [R.]

Abaciscus \Ab`a*cis"cus\ ([a^]b`[.a]*s[i^]s"k[u^]s), n. [Gr.
   'abaki`skos, dim of 'a`bax. See {Abacus}.] (Arch.)
   One of the tiles or squares of a tessellated pavement; an
   abaculus.

Abacist \Ab"a*cist\ ([a^]b"[.a]*s[i^]st), n. [LL abacista, fr.
   abacus.]
   One who uses an abacus in casting accounts; a calculator.

Aback \A*back"\ ([.a]*b[a^]k"), adv. [Pref. a- + back; AS. on
   b[ae]c at, on, or toward the back. See {Back}.]
   1. Toward the back or rear; backward. ``Therewith aback she
      started.'' --Chaucer.

   2. Behind; in the rear. --Knolles.

   3. (Naut.) Backward against the mast; -- said of the sails
      when pressed by the wind. --Totten.

   {To be taken aback}.
      (a) To be driven backward against the mast; -- said of the
          sails, also of the ship when the sails are thus
          driven.
      (b) To be suddenly checked, baffled, or discomfited.
          --Dickens.

Aback \Ab"ack\ ([a^]b"ak), n.
   An abacus. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.

Abactinal \Ab*ac"ti*nal\ ([a^]b*[a^]k"t[i^]*nal), a. [L. ab + E.
   actinal.] (Zo["o]l.)
   Pertaining to the surface or end opposite to the mouth in a
   radiate animal; -- opposed to {actinal}. ``The aboral or
   abactinal area.'' --L. Agassiz.

Abaction \Ab*ac"tion\ ([a^]b*[a^]k"sh[u^]n), n.
   Stealing cattle on a large scale. [Obs.]

Abactor \Ab*ac"tor\ (-t[~e]r), n. [L., fr. abigere to drive
   away; ab + agere to drive.] (Law)
   One who steals and drives away cattle or beasts by herds or
   droves. [Obs.]

Abaculus \A*bac"u*lus\ ([.a]b*[a^]k"[-u]*l[u^]s), n.; pl.
   {Abaculi} (-l[imac]). [L., dim. of abacus.] (Arch.)
   A small tile of glass, marble, or other substance, of various
   colors, used in making ornamental patterns in mosaic
   pavements. --Fairholt.

Abacus \Ab"a*cus\ ([a^]b"[.a]*k[u^]s), n.; E. pl. {Abacuses}; L.
   pl. {Abaci} (-s[imac]). [L. abacus, abax, Gr. 'a`bax]
   1. A table or tray strewn with sand, anciently used for
      drawing, calculating, etc. [Obs.]

   2. A calculating table or frame; an instrument for performing
      arithmetical calculations by balls sliding on wires, or
      counters in grooves, the lowest line representing units,
      the second line, tens, etc. It is still employed in China.

   3. (Arch.)
      (a) The uppermost member or division of the capital of a
          column, immediately under the architrave. See
          {Column}.
      (b) A tablet, panel, or compartment in ornamented or
          mosaic work.

   4. A board, tray, or table, divided into perforated
      compartments, for holding cups, bottles, or the like; a
      kind of cupboard, buffet, or sideboard.

   {Abacus harmonicus} (Mus.), an ancient diagram showing the
      structure and disposition of the keys of an instrument.
      --Crabb.

Abada \Ab"a*da\ ([a^]b"[.a]*d[.a]), n. [Pg., the female
   rhinoceros.]
   The rhinoceros. [Obs.] --Purchas.

Abaddon \A*bad"don\ ([.a]*b[a^]d"d[u^]n), n. [Heb. [=a]badd[=o]n
   destruction, abyss, fr. [=a]bad to be lost, to perish.]
   1. The destroyer, or angel of the bottomless pit; -- the same
      as Apollyon and Asmodeus.

   2. Hell; the bottomless pit. [Poetic]

            In all her gates, Abaddon rues Thy bold attempt.
                                                  --Milton.

Abaft \A*baft"\ ([.a]*b[.a]ft"), prep. [Pref. a- on + OE. baft,
   baften, biaften, AS. be[ae]ftan; be by + [ae]ftan behind. See
   {After}, {Aft}, {By}.] (Naut.)
   Behind; toward the stern from; as, abaft the wheelhouse.

   {Abaft the beam}. See under {Beam}.

Abaft \A*baft"\, adv. (Naut.)
   Toward the stern; aft; as, to go abaft.

Abaisance \A*bai"sance\ ([.a]*b[=a]"sans), n. [For obeisance;
   confused with F. abaisser, E. abase.]
   Obeisance. [Obs.] --Jonson.

Abaiser \A*bai"ser\ ([.a]*b[=a]"s[~e]r), n.
   Ivory black or animal charcoal. --Weale.



Abaist \A*baist"\ ([.a]*b[=a]st"), p. p.
   Abashed; confounded; discomfited. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Abalienate \Ab*al"ien*ate\ ([a^]b*[=a]l"yen*[=a]t; 94, 106), v.
   t. [L. abalienatus, p. p. of abalienare; ab + alienus
   foreign, alien. See {Alien}.]
   1. (Civil Law) To transfer the title of from one to another;
      to alienate.

   2. To estrange; to withdraw. [Obs.]

   3. To cause alienation of (mind). --Sandys.

Abalienation \Ab*al`ien*a"tion\ (-[=a]l`yen*[=a]"sh[u^]n), n.
   [L. abalienatio: cf. F. abali['e]nation.]
   The act of abalienating; alienation; estrangement. [Obs.]

Abalone \Ab`a*lo"ne\ ([a^]b`[.a]*l[=o]"n[-e]), n. (Zo["o]l.)
   A univalve mollusk of the genus {Haliotis}. The shell is
   lined with mother-of-pearl, and used for ornamental purposes;
   the sea-ear. Several large species are found on the coast of
   California, clinging closely to the rocks.

Aband \A*band"\ ([.a]*b[a^]nd"), v. t. [Contracted from
   abandon.]
   1. To abandon. [Obs.]

            Enforced the kingdom to aband.        --Spenser.

   2. To banish; to expel. [Obs.] --Mir. for Mag.

Abandon \A*ban"don\ ([.a]*b[a^]n"d[u^]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   {Abandoned} (-d[u^]nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Abandoning}.] [OF.
   abandoner, F. abandonner; a (L. ad) + bandon permission,
   authority, LL. bandum, bannum, public proclamation,
   interdiction, bannire to proclaim, summon: of Germanic
   origin; cf. Goth. bandwjan to show by signs, to designate
   OHG. ban proclamation. The word meant to proclaim, put under
   a ban, put under control; hence, as in OE., to compel,
   subject, or to leave in the control of another, and hence, to
   give up. See {Ban}.]
   1. To cast or drive out; to banish; to expel; to reject.
      [Obs.]

            That he might . . . abandon them from him. --Udall.

            Being all this time abandoned from your bed. --Shak.

   2. To give up absolutely; to forsake entirely; to renounce
      utterly; to relinquish all connection with or concern on;
      to desert, as a person to whom one owes allegiance or
      fidelity; to quit; to surrender.

            Hope was overthrown, yet could not be abandoned.
                                                  --I. Taylor.

   3. Reflexively: To give (one's self) up without attempt at
      self-control; to yield (one's self) unrestrainedly; --
      often in a bad sense.

            He abandoned himself . . . to his favorite vice.
                                                  --Macaulay.

   4. (Mar. Law) To relinquish all claim to; -- used when an
      insured person gives up to underwriters all claim to the
      property covered by a policy, which may remain after loss
      or damage by a peril insured against.

   Syn: To give up; yield; forego; cede; surrender; resign;
        abdicate; quit; relinquish; renounce; desert; forsake;
        leave; retire; withdraw from.

   Usage: {To Abandon}, {Desert}, {Forsake}. These words agree
          in representing a person as giving up or leaving some
          object, but differ as to the mode of doing it. The
          distinctive sense of abandon is that of giving up a
          thing absolutely and finally; as, to abandon one's
          friends, places, opinions, good or evil habits, a
          hopeless enterprise, a shipwrecked vessel. Abandon is
          more widely applicable than forsake or desert. The
          Latin original of desert appears to have been
          originally applied to the case of deserters from
          military service. Hence, the verb, when used of
          persons in the active voice, has usually or always a
          bad sense, implying some breach of fidelity, honor,
          etc., the leaving of something which the person should
          rightfully stand by and support; as, to desert one's
          colors, to desert one's post, to desert one's
          principles or duty. When used in the passive, the
          sense is not necessarily bad; as, the fields were
          deserted, a deserted village, deserted halls. Forsake
          implies the breaking off of previous habit,
          association, personal connection, or that the thing
          left had been familiar or frequented; as, to forsake
          old friends, to forsake the paths of rectitude, the
          blood forsook his cheeks. It may be used either in a
          good or in a bad sense.

Abandon \A*ban"don\, n. [F. abandon. fr. abandonner. See
   {Abandon}, v.]
   Abandonment; relinquishment. [Obs.]

Abandon \A`ban`don"\ ([.a]`b[aum]N`d[^o]N"), n. [F. See
   {Abandon}.]
   A complete giving up to natural impulses; freedom from
   artificial constraint; careless freedom or ease.

Abandoned \A*ban"doned\ ([.a]*b[a^]n"d[u^]nd), a.
   1. Forsaken, deserted. ``Your abandoned streams.'' --Thomson.

   2. Self-abandoned, or given up to vice; extremely wicked, or
      sinning without restraint; irreclaimably wicked; as, an
      abandoned villain.

   Syn: Profligate; dissolute; corrupt; vicious; depraved;
        reprobate; wicked; unprincipled; graceless; vile.

   Usage: {Abandoned}, {Profligate}, {Reprobate}. These
          adjectives agree in expressing the idea of great
          personal depravity. {Profligate} has reference to open
          and shameless immoralities, either in private life or
          political conduct; as, a {profligate} court, a
          {profligate} ministry. {Abandoned} is stronger, and
          has reference to the searing of conscience and
          hardening of heart produced by a man's giving himself
          wholly up to iniquity; as, a man of {abandoned}
          character. {Reprobate} describes the condition of one
          who has become insensible to reproof, and who is
          morally abandoned and lost beyond hope of recovery.

                God gave them over to a reprobate mind. --Rom.
                                                  i. 28.

Abandonedly \A*ban"doned*ly\, adv.
   Unrestrainedly.

Abandonee \A*ban`don*ee"\ ([.a]*b[a^]n`d[u^]n*[=e]"), n. (Law)
   One to whom anything is legally abandoned.

Abandoner \A*ban"don*er\ ([.a]*b[a^]n"d[u^]n*[~e]r), n.
   One who abandons. --Beau. & Fl.

Abandonment \A*ban"don*ment\ (-ment), n. [Cf. F. abandonnement.]
   1. The act of abandoning, or the state of being abandoned;
      total desertion; relinquishment.

            The abandonment of the independence of Europe.
                                                  --Burke.

   2. (Mar. Law) The relinquishment by the insured to the
      underwriters of what may remain of the property insured
      after a loss or damage by a peril insured against.

   3. (Com. Law)
      (a) The relinquishment of a right, claim, or privilege, as
          to mill site, etc.
      (b) The voluntary leaving of a person to whom one is bound
          by a special relation, as a wife, husband, or child;
          desertion.

   4. Careless freedom or ease; abandon. [R.] --Carlyle.

Abandum \A*ban"dum\ ([.a]*b[a^]n"d[u^]m), n. [LL. See
   {Abandon}.] (Law)
   Anything forfeited or confiscated.

Abanet \Ab"a*net\ ([a^]b"[.a]*n[e^]t), n.
   See {Abnet}.

Abanga \A*ban"ga\ ([.a]*b[a^][ng]"g[.a]), n. [Name given by the
   negroes in the island of St. Thomas.]
   A West Indian palm; also the fruit of this palm, the seeds of
   which are used as a remedy for diseases of the chest.

Abannation \Ab`an*na"tion\ ([a^]b`[a^]n*n[=a]"sh[u^]n),
Abannition \Ab`an*nition\ ([a^]b`[a^]n*n[i^]sh"[u^]n), n. [LL.
   abannatio; ad + LL. bannire to banish.] (Old Law)
   Banishment. [Obs.] --Bailey.

Abarticulation \Ab`ar*tic`u*la"tion\
   (acr/b`[aum]r*t[i^]k`[-u]*l[=a]"sh[u^]n), n. [L. ab + E.
   articulation : cf. F. abarticulation. See {Article}.] (Anat.)
   Articulation, usually that kind of articulation which admits
   of free motion in the joint; diarthrosis. --Coxe.

Abase \A*base"\ ([.a]*b[=a]s"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abased}
   ([.a]*b[=a]st"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Abasing}.] [F. abaisser,
   LL. abassare, abbassare; ad + bassare, fr. bassus low. See
   {Base}, a.]
   1. To lower or depress; to throw or cast down; as, to abase
      the eye. [Archaic] --Bacon.

            Saying so, he abased his lance.       --Shelton.

   2. To cast down or reduce low or lower, as in rank, office,
      condition in life, or estimation of worthiness; to
      depress; to humble; to degrade.

            Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased. --Luke
                                                  xiv. ll.

   Syn: To {Abase}, {Debase}, {Degrade}. These words agree in
        the idea of bringing down from a higher to a lower
        state. Abase has reference to a bringing down in
        condition or feelings; as, to abase the proud, to abase
        one's self before God. Debase has reference to the
        bringing down of a thing in purity, or making it base.
        It is, therefore, always used in a bad sense, as, to
        debase the coin of the kingdom, to debase the mind by
        vicious indulgence, to debase one's style by coarse or
        vulgar expressions. Degrade has reference to a bringing
        down from some higher grade or from some standard. Thus,
        a priest is degraded from the clerical office. When used
        in a moral sense, it denotes a bringing down in
        character and just estimation; as, degraded by
        intemperance, a degrading employment, etc. ``Art is
        degraded when it is regarded only as a trade.''

Abased \A*based"\ ([.a]*b[=a]st"), a.
   1. Lowered; humbled.

   2. (Her.) [F. abaiss['e].] Borne lower than usual, as a fess;
      also, having the ends of the wings turned downward towards
      the point of the shield.

Abasedly \A*bas"ed*ly\ ([.a]*b[=a]s"[e^]d*l[y^]), adv.
   Abjectly; downcastly.

Abasement \A*base"ment\ ([.a]*b[=a]s"ment), n. [Cf. F.
   abaissement.]
   The act of abasing, humbling, or bringing low; the state of
   being abased or humbled; humiliation.

Abaser \A*bas"er\ ([.a]*b[=a]s"[~e]r), n.
   He who, or that which, abases.

Abash \A*bash"\ ([.a]*b[a^]sh"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abashed}
   ([.a]*b[a^]sht"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Abashing}.] [OE. abaissen,
   abaisshen, abashen, OF. esbahir, F. ['e]bahir, to astonish,
   fr. L. ex + the interjection bah, expressing astonishment. In
   OE. somewhat confused with abase. Cf. {Finish}.]
   To destroy the self-possession of; to confuse or confound, as
   by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or
   inferiority; to put to shame; to disconcert; to discomfit.

         Abashed, the devil stood, And felt how awful goodness
         is.                                      --Milton.

         He was a man whom no check could abash.  --Macaulay.

   Syn: To confuse; confound; disconcert; shame.

   Usage: To {Abash}, Confuse, {Confound}. Abash is a stronger
          word than confuse, but not so strong as confound. We
          are abashed when struck either with sudden shame or
          with a humbling sense of inferiority; as, Peter was
          abashed by the look of his Master. So a modest youth
          is abashed in the presence of those who are greatly
          his superiors. We are confused when, from some
          unexpected or startling occurrence, we lose clearness
          of thought and self-possession. Thus, a witness is
          often confused by a severe cross-examination; a timid
          person is apt to be confused in entering a room full
          of strangers. We are confounded when our minds are
          overwhelmed, as it were, by something wholly
          unexpected, amazing, dreadful, etc., so that we have
          nothing to say. Thus, a criminal is usually confounded
          at the discovery of his guilt.

                Satan stood Awhile as mute, confounded what to
                say.                              --Milton.

Abashedly \A*bash"ed*ly\ (-[e^]d*l[y^]), adv.
   In an abashed manner.

Abashment \A*bash"ment\ (-ment), n. [Cf. F. ['e]bahissement.]
   The state of being abashed; confusion from shame.

Abassi \A*bas"si\ ([.a]*b[a^]s"s[i^]), Abassis \A*bas"sis\
   ([.a]*b[a^]s"s[i^]s), n. [Ar. & Per. ab[=a]s[=i], belonging
   to Abas (a king of Persia).]
   A silver coin of Persia, worth about twenty cents.

Abatable \A*bat"a*ble\ ([.a]*b[=a]t"[.a]*b'l), a.
   Capable of being abated; as, an abatable writ or nuisance.

Abate \A*bate"\ ([.a]*b[=a]t"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abated}, p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Abating}.] [OF. abatre to beat down, F.
   abattre, LL. abatere; ab or ad + batere, battere (popular
   form for L. batuere to beat). Cf. {Bate}, {Batter}.]
   1. To beat down; to overthrow. [Obs.]

            The King of Scots . . . sore abated the walls.
                                                  --Edw. Hall.

   2. To bring down or reduce from a higher to a lower state,
      number, or degree; to lessen; to diminish; to contract; to
      moderate; to cut short; as, to abate a demand; to abate
      pride, zeal, hope.

            His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
                                                  --Deut. xxxiv.
                                                  7.

   3. To deduct; to omit; as, to abate something from a price.

            Nine thousand parishes, abating the odd hundreds.
                                                  --Fuller.

   4. To blunt. [Obs.]

            To abate the edge of envy.            --Bacon.

   5. To reduce in estimation; to deprive. [Obs.]

            She hath abated me of half my train.  --Shak.

   6. (Law)
      (a) To bring entirely down or put an end to; to do away
          with; as, to abate a nuisance, to abate a writ.
      (b) (Eng. Law) To diminish; to reduce. Legacies are liable
          to be abated entirely or in proportion, upon a
          deficiency of assets.

   {To abate a tax}, to remit it either wholly or in part.

Abate \A*bate"\ ([.a]*b[=a]t"), v. i. [See {Abate}, v. t.]
   1. To decrease, or become less in strength or violence; as,
      pain abates, a storm abates.

            The fury of Glengarry . . . rapidly abated.
                                                  --Macaulay.

   2. To be defeated, or come to naught; to fall through; to
      fail; as, a writ abates.

   {To abate into a freehold}, {To abate in lands} (Law), to
      enter into a freehold after the death of the last
      possessor, and before the heir takes possession. See
      {Abatement}, 4.

   Syn: To subside; decrease; intermit; decline; diminish;
        lessen.

   Usage: To {Abate}, {Subside}. These words, as here compared,
          imply a coming down from some previously raised or
          excited state. Abate expresses this in respect to
          degrees, and implies a diminution of force or of
          intensity; as, the storm abates, the cold abates, the
          force of the wind abates; or, the wind abates, a fever
          abates. Subside (to settle down) has reference to a
          previous state of agitation or commotion; as, the
          waves subside after a storm, the wind subsides into a
          calm. When the words are used figuratively, the same
          distinction should be observed. If we conceive of a
          thing as having different degrees of intensity or
          strength, the word to be used is abate. Thus we say, a
          man's anger abates, the ardor of one's love abates,
          ``Winter's rage abates''. But if the image be that of
          a sinking down into quiet from preceding excitement or
          commotion, the word to be used is subside; as, the
          tumult of the people subsides, the public mind
          subsided into a calm. The same is the case with those
          emotions which are tumultuous in their nature; as, his
          passion subsides, his joy quickly subsided, his grief
          subsided into a pleasing melancholy. Yet if, in such
          cases, we were thinking of the degree of violence of
          the emotion, we might use abate; as, his joy will
          abate in the progress of time; and so in other
          instances.

Abate \A*bate\ ([.a]*b[=a]t"), n.
   Abatement. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne.

Abatement \A*bate"ment\ (-ment), n. [OF. abatement, F.
   abattement.]
   1. The act of abating, or the state of being abated; a
      lessening, diminution, or reduction; removal or putting an
      end to; as, the abatement of a nuisance is the suppression
      thereof.

   2. The amount abated; that which is taken away by way of
      reduction; deduction; decrease; a rebate or discount
      allowed.

   3. (Her.) A mark of dishonor on an escutcheon.

   4. (Law) The entry of a stranger, without right, into a
      freehold after the death of the last possessor, before the
      heir or devisee. --Blackstone.

   {Defense in abatement}, {Plea in abatement}, (Law), plea to
      the effect that from some formal defect (e.g. misnomer,
      want of jurisdiction) the proceedings should be abated.

Abater \A*bat"er\ (-[~e]r), n.
   One who, or that which, abates.

Abatis \Ab"a*tis\, Abattis \Aba"t*tis\, ([a^]b"[.a]*t[i^]s;
   French [.a]`b[.a]`t[=e]") n. [F. abatis, abattis, mass of
   things beaten or cut down, fr. abattre. See {Abate}.] (Fort.)
   A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose
   branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the
   enemy.

Abatised \Ab"a*tised\ ([a^]b"[.a]*t[i^]st), a.
   Provided with an abatis.

Abator \A*ba"tor\ ([.a]*b[=a]t"[~e]r), n. (Law)
   (a) One who abates a nuisance.
   (b) A person who, without right, enters into a freehold on
       the death of the last possessor, before the heir or
       devisee. --Blackstone.

Abattoir \A`bat`toir"\ ([.a]`b[.a]t`tw[aum]r"), n.; pl.
   {Abattoirs} (-tw[aum]rz"). [F., fr. abattre to beat down. See
   {Abate}.]
   A public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc.

Abature \Ab"a*ture\ ([.a]b"[.a]*t[-u]r; 135), n. [F. abatture,
   fr. abattre. See {Abate}.]
   Grass and sprigs beaten or trampled down by a stag passing
   through them. --Crabb.

Abatvoix \A`bat`voix"\ ([.a]`b[.a]`vw[aum]"), n. [F. abattre to
   beat down + voix voice.]
   The sounding-board over a pulpit or rostrum.

Abawed \Ab*awed"\ ([a^]b*[add]d"), p. p. [Perh. p. p. of a verb
   fr. OF. abaubir to frighten, disconcert, fr. L. ad + balbus
   stammering.]
   Astonished; abashed. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Abaxial \Ab*ax"i*al\ ([a^]b*[a^]ks"[i^]*al), Abaxile \Ab*ax"ile\
   ([a^]b*[a^]ks"[i^]l),a. [L. ab + axis axle.] (Bot.)
   Away from the axis or central line; eccentric. --Balfour.

Abay \A*bay"\ ([.a]*b[=a]"), n. [OF. abay barking.]
   Barking; baying of dogs upon their prey. See {Bay}. [Obs.]

Abb \Abb\ ([a^]b), n. [AS. [=a]web, [=a]b; pref. a- + web. See
   {Web}.]
   Among weavers, yarn for the warp. Hence, {abb wool} is wool
   for the abb.

Abba \Ab"ba\ ([a^]b"b[.a]), n. [Syriac abb[=a] father. See
   {Abbot}.]
   Father; religious superior; -- in the Syriac, Coptic, and
   Ethiopic churches, a title given to the bishops, and by the
   bishops to the patriarch.

Abbacy \Ab"ba*cy\ ([a^]b"b[.a]*s[y^]), n.; pl. {Abbacies}
   (-s[i^]z). [L. abbatia, fr. abbas, abbatis, abbot. See
   {Abbey}.]
   The dignity, estate, or jurisdiction of an abbot.

Abbatial \Ab*ba"tial\ ([a^]b*b[=a]"shal), a. [LL. abbatialis :
   cf. F. abbatial.]
   Belonging to an abbey; as, abbatial rights.

Abbatical \Ab*bat"ic*al\ ([a^]b*b[a^]t"[i^]*kal), a.
   Abbatial. [Obs.]

Abb'e \Ab"b['e]`\ ([.a]b"b[asl]`), n.[F. abb['e]. See {Abbot}.]
   The French word answering to the English abbot, the head of
   an abbey; but commonly a title of respect given in France to
   every one vested with the ecclesiastical habit or dress.

   Note: After the 16th century, the name was given, in social
         parlance, to candidates for some priory or abbey in the
         gift of the crown. Many of these aspirants became well
         known in literary and fashionable life. By further
         extension, the name came to be applied to unbeneficed
         secular ecclesiastics generally. --Littr['e].

Abbess \Ab"bess\ ([a^]b"b[e^]s), n. [OF. abaesse, abeesse, F.
   abbesse, L. abbatissa, fem. of abbas, abbatis, abbot. See
   {Abbot}.]
   A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or convent of
   nuns, having the same authority over the nuns which the
   abbots have over the monks. See {Abbey}.

Abbey \Ab"bey\ ([a^]b"b[y^]), n.; pl. {Abbeys} (-b[i^]z). [OF.
   aba["i]e, abba["i]e, F. abbaye, L. abbatia, fr. abbas abbot.
   See {Abbot}.]
   1. A monastery or society of persons of either sex, secluded
      from the world and devoted to religion and celibacy; also,
      the monastic building or buildings.

   Note: The men are called monks, and governed by an abbot; the
         women are called nuns, and governed by an abbess.

   2. The church of a monastery.

   Note: In London, the Abbey means Westminster Abbey, and in
         Scotland, the precincts of the Abbey of Holyrood. The
         name is also retained for a private residence on the
         site of an abbey; as, Newstead Abbey, the residence of
         Lord Byron.

   Syn: Monastery; convent; nunnery; priory; cloister. See
        {Cloister}.



Abbot \Ab"bot\, n. [AS. abbod, abbad, L. abbas, abbatis, Gr.
   'abba^s, fr. Syriac abb[=a] father. Cf. {Abba}, {Abb['e]}.]
   1. The superior or head of an abbey.

   2. One of a class of bishops whose sees were formerly abbeys.
      --Encyc. Brit.

   {Abbot of the people}. a title formerly given to one of the
      chief magistrates in Genoa.

   {Abbot of Misrule} (or {Lord of Misrule}), in medi[ae]val
      times, the master of revels, as at Christmas; in Scotland
      called the {Abbot of Unreason}. --Encyc. Brit.

Abbotship \Ab"bot*ship\, n. [Abbot + -ship.]
   The state or office of an abbot.

Abbreviate \Ab*bre"vi*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abbreviated};
   p. pr. & vb. n. {Abbreviating}.] [L. abbreviatus, p. p. of
   abbreviare; ad + breviare to shorten, fr. brevis short. See
   {Abridge}.]
   1. To make briefer; to shorten; to abridge; to reduce by
      contraction or omission, especially of words written or
      spoken.

            It is one thing to abbreviate by contracting,
            another by cutting off.               --Bacon.

   2. (Math.) To reduce to lower terms, as a fraction.

Abbreviate \Ab*bre"vi*ate\, a. [L. abbreviatus, p. p.]
   1. Abbreviated; abridged; shortened. [R.] ``The abbreviate
      form.'' --Earle.

   2. (Biol.) Having one part relatively shorter than another or
      than the ordinary type.

Abbreviate \Ab*bre"vi*ate\, n.
   An abridgment. [Obs.] --Elyot.

Abbreviated \Ab*bre"vi*a`ted\, a.
   Shortened; relatively short; abbreviate.

Abbreviation \Ab*bre`vi*a"tion\, n. [LL. abbreviatio: cf. F.
   abbr['e]viation.]
   1. The act of shortening, or reducing.

   2. The result of abbreviating; an abridgment. --Tylor.

   3. The form to which a word or phrase is reduced by
      contraction and omission; a letter or letters, standing
      for a word or phrase of which they are a part; as, Gen.
      for Genesis; U.S.A. for United States of America.

   4. (Mus.) One dash, or more, through the stem of a note,
      dividing it respectively into quavers, semiquavers, or
      demi-semiquavers. --Moore.

Abbreviator \Ab*bre"vi*a`tor\, n. [LL.: cf. F. abbr['e]viateur.]
   1. One who abbreviates or shortens.

   2. One of a college of seventy-two officers of the papal
      court whose duty is to make a short minute of a decision
      on a petition, or reply of the pope to a letter, and
      afterwards expand the minute into official form.

Abbreviatory \Ab*bre"vi*a*to*ry\, a.
   Serving or tending to abbreviate; shortening; abridging.

Abbreviature \Ab*bre"vi*a*ture\, n.
   1. An abbreviation; an abbreviated state or form. [Obs.]

   2. An abridgment; a compendium or abstract.

            This is an excellent abbreviature of the whole duty
            of a Christian.                       --Jer. Taylor.

Abb wool \Abb" wool\ ([a^]b" w[oo^]l).
   See {Abb}.

A B C \A B C"\ ([=a] b[=e] s[=e]").
   1. The first three letters of the alphabet, used for the
      whole alphabet.

   2. A primer for teaching the alphabet and first elements of
      reading. [Obs.]

   3. The simplest rudiments of any subject; as, the A B C of
      finance.

   {A B C book}, a primer. --Shak.

Abdal \Ab"dal\, n. [Ar. bad[=i]l, pl. abd[=a]l, a substitute, a
   good, religious man, saint, fr. badala to change,
   substitute.]
   A religious devotee or dervish in Persia.

Abderian \Ab*de"ri*an\, a. [From Abdera, a town in Thrace, of
   which place Democritus, the Laughing Philosopher, was a
   native.]
   Given to laughter; inclined to foolish or incessant
   merriment.

Abderite \Ab*de"rite\, n. [L. Abderita, Abderites, fr. Gr.
   'Abdhri`ths.]
   An inhabitant of Abdera, in Thrace.

   {The Abderite}, Democritus, the Laughing Philosopher.

Abdest \Ab"dest\, n. [Per. [=a]bdast; ab water + dast hand.]
   Purification by washing the hands before prayer; -- a
   Mohammedan rite. --Heyse.

Abdicable \Ab"di*ca*ble\, a.
   Capable of being abdicated.

Abdicant \Ab"di*cant\, a. [L. abdicans, p. pr. of abdicare.]
   Abdicating; renouncing; -- followed by of.

         Monks abdicant of their orders.          --Whitlock.

Abdicant \Ab"di*cant\, n.
   One who abdicates. --Smart.

Abdicate \Ab"di*cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abdicated}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Abdicating}.] [L. abdicatus, p. p. of abdicare; ab +
   dicare to proclaim, akin to dicere to say. See {Diction}.]
   1. To surrender or relinquish, as sovereign power; to
      withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high
      office, station, dignity; as, to abdicate the throne, the
      crown, the papacy.

   Note: The word abdicate was held to mean, in the case of
         James II., to abandon without a formal surrender.

               The cross-bearers abdicated their service.
                                                  --Gibbon.

   2. To renounce; to relinquish; -- said of authority, a trust,
      duty, right, etc.

            He abdicates all right to be his own governor.
                                                  --Burke.

            The understanding abdicates its functions. --Froude.

   3. To reject; to cast off. [Obs.] --Bp. Hall.

   4. (Civil Law) To disclaim and expel from the family, as a
      father his child; to disown; to disinherit.

   Syn: To give up; quit; vacate; relinquish; forsake; abandon;
        resign; renounce; desert.

   Usage: To {Abdicate}, {Resign}. Abdicate commonly expresses
          the act of a monarch in voluntary and formally
          yielding up sovereign authority; as, to abdicate the
          government. Resign is applied to the act of any
          person, high or low, who gives back an office or trust
          into the hands of him who conferred it. Thus, a
          minister resigns, a military officer resigns, a clerk
          resigns. The expression, ``The king resigned his
          crown,'' sometimes occurs in our later literature,
          implying that he held it from his people. -- There are
          other senses of resign which are not here brought into
          view.

Abdicate \Ab"di*cate\, v. i.
   To relinquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or
   dignity.

         Though a king may abdicate for his own person, he
         cannot abdicate for the monarchy.        --Burke.

Abdication \Ab`di*ca"tion\, n. [L. abdicatio: cf. F.
   abdication.]
   The act of abdicating; the renunciation of a high office,
   dignity, or trust, by its holder; commonly the voluntary
   renunciation of sovereign power; as, abdication of the
   throne, government, power, authority.

Abdicative \Ab"di*ca*tive\, a. [L. abdicativus.]
   Causing, or implying, abdication. [R.] --Bailey.

Abdicator \Ab"di*ca`tor\, n.
   One who abdicates.

Abditive \Ab"di*tive\, a. [L. abditivus, fr. abdere to hide.]
   Having the quality of hiding. [R.] --Bailey.

Abditory \Ab"di*to*ry\, n. [L. abditorium.]
   A place for hiding or preserving articles of value. --Cowell.

Abdomen \Ab*do"men\, n. [L. abdomen (a word of uncertain
   etymol.): cf. F. abdomen.]
   1. (Anat.) The belly, or that part of the body between the
      thorax and the pelvis. Also, the cavity of the belly,
      which is lined by the peritoneum, and contains the
      stomach, bowels, and other viscera. In man, often
      restricted to the part between the diaphragm and the
      commencement of the pelvis, the remainder being called the
      pelvic cavity.

   2. (Zo["o]l.) The posterior section of the body, behind the
      thorax, in insects, crustaceans, and other Arthropoda.

Abdominal \Ab*dom"i*nal\, a. [Cf. F. abdominal.]
   1. Of or pertaining to the abdomen; ventral; as, the
      abdominal regions, muscles, cavity.

   2. (Zo["o]l.) Having abdominal fins; belonging to the
      Abdominales; as, abdominal fishes.

   {Abdominal ring} (Anat.), a fancied ringlike opening on each
      side of the abdomen, external and superior to the pubes;
      -- called also {inguinal ring}.

Abdominal \Ab*dom"i*nal\, n.; E. pl. {Abdominals}, L. pl.
   {Abdominales}.
   A fish of the group Abdominales.

Abdominales \Ab*dom`i*na"les\, n. pl. [NL., masc. pl.]
   (Zo["o]l.)
   A group including the greater part of fresh-water fishes, and
   many marine ones, having the ventral fins under the abdomen
   behind the pectorals.

Abdominalia \Ab*dom`i*na"li*a\, n. pl. [NL., neut. pl.]
   (Zo["o]l.)
   A group of cirripeds having abdominal appendages.

Abdominoscopy \Ab*dom`i*nos"co*py\, n. [L. abdomen + Gr. ? to
   examine.] (Med.)
   Examination of the abdomen to detect abdominal disease.

Abdominothoracic \Ab*dom`i*no*tho*rac"ic\, a.
   Relating to the abdomen and the thorax, or chest.

Abdominous \Ab*dom"i*nous\, a.
   Having a protuberant belly; pot-bellied.

         Gorgonius sits, abdominous and wan, Like a fat squab
         upon a Chinese fan.                      --Cowper.

Abduce \Ab*duce"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abduced}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Abducing}.] [L. abducere to lead away; ab + ducere to
   lead. See {Duke}, and cf. {Abduct}.]
   To draw or conduct away; to withdraw; to draw to a different
   part. [Obs.]

         If we abduce the eye unto either corner, the object
         will not duplicate.                      --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.

Abduct \Ab*duct"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abducted}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Abducting}.] [L. abductus, p. p. of abducere. See
   {Abduce}.]
   1. To take away surreptitiously by force; to carry away (a
      human being) wrongfully and usually by violence; to
      kidnap.

   2. To draw away, as a limb or other part, from its ordinary
      position.

Abduction \Ab*duc"tion\, n. [L. abductio: cf. F. abduction.]
   1. The act of abducing or abducting; a drawing apart; a
      carrying away. --Roget.

   2. (Physiol.) The movement which separates a limb or other
      part from the axis, or middle line, of the body.

   3. (Law) The wrongful, and usually the forcible, carrying off
      of a human being; as, the abduction of a child, the
      abduction of an heiress.

   4. (Logic) A syllogism or form of argument in which the major
      is evident, but the minor is only probable.

Abductor \Ab*duc"tor\, n. [NL.]
   1. One who abducts.

   2. (Anat.) A muscle which serves to draw a part out, or form
      the median line of the body; as, the abductor oculi, which
      draws the eye outward.

Abeam \A*beam"\, adv. [Pref. a- + beam.] (Naut.)
   On the beam, that is, on a line which forms a right angle
   with the ship's keel; opposite to the center of the ship's
   side.

Abear \A*bear"\, v. t. [AS. [=a]beran; pref. [=a]- + beran to
   bear.]
   1. To bear; to behave. [Obs.]

            So did the faery knight himself abear. --Spenser.

   2. To put up with; to endure. [Prov.] --Dickens.

Abearance \A*bear"ance\, n.
   Behavior. [Obs.] --Blackstone.

Abearing \A*bear"ing\, n.
   Behavior. [Obs.] --Sir. T. More.

Abecedarian \A`be*ce*da"ri*an\, n. [L. abecedarius. A word from
   the first four letters of the alphabet.]
   1. One who is learning the alphabet; hence, a tyro.

   2. One engaged in teaching the alphabet. --Wood.

Abecedarian \A`be*ce*da"ri*an\, Abecedary \A`be*ce"da*ry\, a.
   Pertaining to, or formed by, the letters of the alphabet;
   alphabetic; hence, rudimentary.

   {Abecedarian psalms}, {hymns}, etc., compositions in which
      (like the 119th psalm in Hebrew) distinct portions or
      verses commence with successive letters of the alphabet.
      --Hook.

Abecedary \A`be*ce"da*ry\, n.
   A primer; the first principle or rudiment of anything. [R.]
   --Fuller.

Abed \A*bed"\, adv. [Pref. a- in, on + bed.]
   1. In bed, or on the bed.

            Not to be abed after midnight.        --Shak.

   2. To childbed (in the phrase ``brought abed,'' that is,
      delivered of a child). --Shak.

Abegge \A*beg"ge\
   Same as {Aby}. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Abele \A*bele"\, n. [D. abeel (abeel-boom), OF. abel, aubel, fr.
   a dim. of L. albus white.]
   The white poplar ({Populus alba}).

         Six abeles i' the churchyard grow.       --Mrs.
                                                  Browning.

Abelian \A*bel"i*an\, Abelite \A"bel*ite\, Abelonian
\A`bel*o"ni*an\, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
   One of a sect in Africa (4th century), mentioned by St.
   Augustine, who states that they married, but lived in
   continence, after the manner, as they pretended, of Abel.

Abelmosk \A"bel*mosk`\, n. [NL. abelmoschus, fr. Ar. abu-l-misk
   father of musk, i. e., producing musk. See {Musk}.] (Bot.)
   An evergreen shrub ({Hibiscus} -- formerly {Abelmoschus --
   moschatus}), of the East and West Indies and Northern Africa,
   whose musky seeds are used in perfumery and to flavor coffee;
   -- sometimes called {musk mallow}.

Aber-de-vine \Ab`er-de-vine"\, n. (Zo["o]l.)
   The European siskin ({Carduelis spinus}), a small green and
   yellow finch, related to the goldfinch.

Aberr \Ab*err"\, v. i. [L. aberrare. See {Aberrate}.]
   To wander; to stray. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne.

Aberrance \Ab*er"rance\, Aberrancy \Ab*er"ran*cy\, n.
   State of being aberrant; a wandering from the right way;
   deviation from truth, rectitude, etc.

   {Aberrancy of curvature} (Geom.), the deviation of a curve
      from a circular form.

Aberrant \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 \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 \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 daily 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 \Ab`er*ra"tion*al\, a.
   Characterized by aberration.

Aberuncate \Ab`e*run"cate\, v. t. [L. aberuncare, for
   aberruncare. See {Averruncate}.]
   To weed out. [Obs.] --Bailey.

Aberuncator \Ab`e*run"ca*tor\, n.
   A weeding machine.

Abet \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[=i]ta 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 \A*bet"\, n. [OF. abet, fr. abeter.]
   Act of abetting; aid. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

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

Abettal \A*bet"tal\, n.
   Abetment. [R.]



Abetter \A*bet"ter\, Abettor \A*bet*tor\, n.
   One who abets; an instigator of an offense or an offender.

   Note: The form abettor is the legal term and also in general
         use.

   Syn: {Abettor}, {Accessory}, {Accomplice}.

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

Abeyance \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.

   Note: 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 \A*bey"an*cy\, n.
   Abeyance. [R.] --Hawthorne.

Abeyant \A*bey"ant\, a.
   Being in a state of abeyance.

Abhal \Ab"hal\, n.
   The berries of a species of cypress in the East Indies.

Abhominable \Ab*hom"i*na*ble\, a.
   Abominable.

   Note: [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 \Ab*hom`i*nal\, a. [L. ab away from + homo, hominis,
   man.]
   Inhuman. [Obs.] --Fuller.

Abhor \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 \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 \Ab*hor"rence\, n.
   Extreme hatred or detestation; the feeling of utter dislike.

Abhorrency \Ab*hor"ren*cy\, n.
   Abhorrence. [Obs.] --Locke.

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

Abhorrer \Ab*hor"rer\, n.
   One who abhors. --Hume.

Abhorrible \Ab*hor"ri*ble\, a.
   Detestable. [R.]

Abhorring \Ab*hor"ring\, n.
   1. Detestation. --Milton.

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

Abib \A"bib\, n. [Heb. ab[=i]b, 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 \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 \A*bide"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Abode}, formerly {Abid};
   p. pr. & vb. n. {Abiding}.] [AS. [=a]b[=i]dan; pref. [=a]-
   (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out) + b[=i]dan 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 \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.

   Note: [[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.

   Note: [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 \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 \A*bid"ing\, a.
   Continuing; lasting.

Abidingly \A*bid"ing*ly\, adv.
   Permanently. --Carlyle.

Abies \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 \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 \Ab`i*et"ic\, a.
   Of or pertaining to the fir tree or its products; as, abietic
   acid, called also sylvic acid. --Watts.

Abietin \Ab"i*e*tin\, Abietine \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 \Ab`i*e*tin"ic\, a.
   Of or pertaining to abietin; as, abietinic acid.

Abietite \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 \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 \A*bil"i*ment\ ([.a]*b[i^]l"[i^]*ment), n.
   Habiliment. [Obs.]

Ability \A*bil"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Abilities}. [F. habilet['e],
   earlier spelling habilit['e] (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.

   Usage: {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 \A*bime"\ or Abyme \A*byme"\, n. [F. ab[^i]me. See
   {Abysm}.]
   A abyss. [Obs.]

Abiogenesis \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.

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

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

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

Abiogeny \Ab`i*og"e*ny\, n. (Biol.)
   Same as {Abiogenesis}.

Abiological \Ab`i*o*log"ic*al\, a. [Gr. 'a priv. + E.
   biological.]
   Pertaining to the study of inanimate things.

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

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

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

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

Abit \A*bit"\,
   3d sing. pres. of {Abide}. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Abject \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 \Ab*ject"\, v. t. [From {Abject}, a.]
   To cast off or down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower;
   to debase. [Obs.] --Donne.

Abject \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 \Ab*ject"ed*ness\, n.
   A very abject or low condition; abjectness. [R.] --Boyle.

Abjection \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.

Abjectly \Ab"ject*ly\, adv.
   Meanly; servilely.

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

Abjudge \Ab*judge"\, v. t. [Pref. ab- + judge, v. Cf.
   {Abjudicate}.]
   To take away by judicial decision. [R.]

Abjudicate \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.

Abjudication \Ab*ju`di*ca"tion\, n.
   Rejection by judicial sentence. [R.] --Knowles.

Abjugate \Ab"ju*gate\, v. t. [L. abjugatus, p. p. of abjugare.]
   To unyoke. [Obs.] --Bailey.

Abjunctive \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.

Abjuration \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.

Abjuratory \Ab*ju"ra*to*ry\, a.
   Containing abjuration.

Abjure \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}.

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

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

Abjurer \Ab*jur"er\, n.
   One who abjures.

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

Ablactation \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}.

Ablaqueate \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.

Ablaqueation \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.

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

Ablation \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.

Ablatitious \Ab`la*ti"tious\, a.
   Diminishing; as, an ablatitious force. --Sir J. Herschel.

Ablative \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.

Ablative \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.

Ablaut \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.



Ablaze \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.

Able \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.

   Note:

   {Able for}, is Scotticism. ``Hardly able for such a march.''
      --Robertson.

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

Able \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.

-able \-a*ble\ (-[.a]*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.

   Note: The form {-ible} is used in the same sense.

   Note: 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.

Able-bodied \A`ble-bod"ied\, a.
   Having a sound, strong body; physically competent; robust.
   ``Able-bodied vagrant.'' --Froude. -- {A`ble-bod"ied*ness},
   n..

Ablegate \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.

Ablegate \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.

Ablegation \Ab`le*ga"tion\, n. [L. ablegatio.]
   The act of sending abroad. [Obs.] --Jer. Taylor.

Able-minded \A`ble-mind"ed\, a.
   Having much intellectual power. -- {A`ble-mind"ed*ness}, n.

Ableness \A"ble*ness\, n.
   Ability of body or mind; force; vigor. [Obs. or R.]

Ablepsy \Ab"lep*sy\, n. [Gr. ?; 'a priv. + ? to see.]
   Blindness. [R.] --Urquhart.

Abler \A"bler\, a.,
   comp. of {Able}. -- {A"blest}, a., superl. of {Able}.

Ablet \Ab"let\, Ablen \Ab"len\[F. ablet, ablette, a dim. fr. LL.
   abula, for albula, dim. of albus white. Cf. {Abele}.]
   (Zo["o]l.)
   A small fresh-water fish ({Leuciscus alburnus}); the bleak.

Abligate \Ab"li*gate\, v. t. [L. ab + ligatus, p. p. of ligare
   to tie.]
   To tie up so as to hinder from. [Obs.]

Abligurition \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.

Ablins \A"blins\, adv. [See {Able}.]
   Perhaps. [Scot.]

Abloom \A*bloom"\, adv. [Pref. a- + bloom.]
   In or into bloom; in a blooming state. --Masson.

Ablude \Ab*lude"\, v. t. [L. abludere; ab + ludere to play.]
   To be unlike; to differ. [Obs.] --Bp. Hall.

Abluent \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.

Ablush \A*blush"\, adv. & a. [Pref. a- + blush.]
   Blushing; ruddy.

Ablution \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.