Chapter III: Part 3

4. (Bot.) Suddenly terminating, as if cut off. Gray. Syn. Ð Sudden; unexpected; hasty; rough; curt; unceremonious; rugged; blunt; disconnected; broken. AbÏrupt¶ (#), n. [L. abruptum.] An abrupt place. [Poetic] ½Over the vast abrupt.¸ Milton. AbÏrupt¶, v. t. To tear off or asunder. [Obs.] ½Till death abrupts them.¸ Sir T. Browne. AbÏrup¶tion (#), n. [L. abruptio, fr. abrumpere: cf. F. abruption.] A sudden breaking off; a violent separation of bodies. Woodward. AbÏrupt¶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. AbÏrupt¶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. AbÏsces¶sion (#), n. [L. abscessio a separation; fr. absedere. See Abscess.] A separating; removal; also, an abscess. [Obs.] Gauden. Barrough. AbÏscind¶ (#), v. t. [L. absindere; ab + scindere to rend, cut. See Schism.] To cut off. [R.] ½Two syllables... abscinded from the rest.¸ Johnson. AbÏsci¶sion (#), n. [L. abscisio.] See Abscission. Ab¶sciss (#), n.; pl. Abscisses (#). See Abscissa. AbÏscis¶sa (#), n.; E. pl. Abscissas, L. pl. Absciss‘. [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 co”rdinate 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 co”rdinates. Ð 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. AbÏscis¶sion (#), n. [L. abscissio. See Abscind.] 1. The act or process of cutting off. ½Not 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, ½He is a man of so much honor and candor, and of such generosity Ð but I need say no more.¸ AbÏscond¶ (#), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Absconded; p. pr. & vb. n. Absconding.] [L. abscondere to hide; ab, abs + condere to lay up; con + d?re (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; Ð used especially of persons who withdraw to avoid a legal process; as, an absconding debtor. That very homesickness which, in regular armies, drives so many recruits to abscond. Macaulay. AbÏscond¶, v. t. To hide; to conceal. [Obs.] Bentley. AbÏscond¶ence (#), n. Fugitive concealment; secret retirement; hiding. [R.] Phillips. AbÏscond¶er (#), n. One who absconds. Ab¶sence (#), n. [F., fr. L. absentia. See Absent.] 1. A state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; Ð opposed to presence. Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. Phil. ii. 12. 2. Want; destitution; withdrawal. ½In the absence of conventional law.¸ Kent. 3. Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind); as, absence of mind. ¸Reflecting on the little absences and distractions of mankind.¸ Addison. To conquer that abstraction which is called absence. Landor. Ab¶sent (#), a. [F., fr. absens, absentis, p. pr. of abesse to be away from; ab + esse to be. Cf. Sooth.] 1. Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present. ½Expecting absent friends.¸ Shak. 2. Not existing; lacking; as, the part was rudimental or absent. 3. Inattentive to what is passing; absentÐminded; preoccupied; as, an absent air. What is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man. Chesterfield. Syn. Ð Absent, Abstracted. These words both imply a want of attention to surrounding objects. We speak of a man as absent when his thoughts wander unconsciously from present scenes or topics of discourse; we speak of him as abstracted when his mind (usually for a brief period) is drawn off from present things by some weighty matter for reflection. Absence of mind is usually the result of loose habits of thought; abstraction commonly arises either from engrossing interests and cares, or from unfortunate habits of association. AbÏsent¶ (#), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absented; p. pr. & vb. n. Absenting.] [Cf. F. absenter.] 1. To take or withdraw (one's self) to such a distance as to prevent intercourse; Ð used with the reflexive pronoun. If after due summons any member absents himself, he is to be fined. Addison. 2. To withhold from being present. [Obs.] ½Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more.¸ Milton. Ab·senÏta¶neÏous (#), a. [LL. absentaneus. See Absent.] Pertaining to absence. [Obs.] Ab·senÏta¶tion (#), n. The act of absenting one's self. Sir W. Hamilton. Ab·senÏtee¶ (#), n. One who absents himself from his country, office, post, or duty; especially, a landholder who lives in another country or district than that where his estate is situated; as, an Irish absentee. Macaulay. Ab·senÏtee¶ism (#), n. The state or practice of an absentee; esp. the practice of absenting one's self from the country or district where one's estate is situated. AbÏsent¶er (#), n. One who absents one's self. Ab¶sentÏly (#), adv. In an absent or abstracted manner. AbÏsent¶ment (#), n. The state of being absent; withdrawal. [R.] Barrow. Ab·sentÐmind¶ed (#), a. Absent in mind; abstracted; preoccupied. Ð Ab·sentÐmind¶edÏness, n. Ð Ab·sentÐmind¶edÏly, adv. Ab¶sentÏness (#), n. The quality of being absentÐminded. H. Miller. Ab¶seyÐbook· (#), n. An AÐBÐC book; a primer. [Obs.] Shak. Ab¶sin¶thate (#), n. (Chem.) A combination of absinthic acid with a base or positive radical. Ab¶sinth·, Ab¶sinthe· } (#), n. [F. absinthe. See Absinthium.] 1. The plant absinthium or common wormwood. 2. A strong spirituous liqueur made from wormwood and brandy or alcohol. AbÏsin¶thiÏal (#), a. Of or pertaining to wormwood; absinthian. AbÏsin¶thiÏan (#), n. Of the nature of wormwood. ½Absinthian bitterness.¸ T. Randolph. Ab¶sin¶thiÏate (#), v. t. [From L. absinthium: cf. L. absinthiatus, a.] To impregnate with wormwood. AbÏsin¶thiÏa·ted (#), a. Impregnated with wormwood; as, absinthiated wine. AbÏsin¶thic (#), a. (Chem.) Relating to the common wormwood or to an acid obtained from it. AbÏsin¶thin (#), n. (Chem.) The bitter principle of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Watts. Ab¶sinÏthism (#), n. The condition of being poisoned by the excessive use of absinth. AbÏsin¶thiÏum (#), n. [L., from Gr. ?.] (Bot.) The common wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), an intensely bitter plant, used as a tonic and for making the oil of wormwood. Ab¶sis (#), n. See Apsis. AbÏsist¶ (#), v. i. [L. absistere, p. pr. absistens; ab + sistere to stand, causal of stare.] To stand apart from; top leave off; to desist. [Obs.] Raleigh. AbÏsist¶ence (#), n. A standing aloof. [Obs.] Ab¶soÏlute (#), a. [L. absolutus, p. p. of absolvere: cf. F. absolu. See Absolve.] 1. Loosed from any limitation or condition; uncontrolled; unrestricted; unconditional; as, absolute authority, monarchy, sovereignty, an absolute promise or command; absolute power; an absolute monarch. 2. Complete in itself; perfect; consummate; faultless; as, absolute perfection; absolute beauty. So absolute she seems, And in herself complete. Milton. 3. Viewed apart from modifying influences or without comparison with other objects; actual; real; Ð opposed to relative and comparative; as, absolute motion; absolute time or space. Absolute rights and duties are such as pertain to man in a state of nature as contradistinguished from relative rights and duties, or such as pertain to him in his social relations. 4. Loosed from, or unconnected by, dependence on any other being; selfÐexistent; selfÐsufficing. µ In this sense God is called the Absolute by the Theist. The term is also applied by the Pantheist to the universe, or the total of all existence, as only capable of relations in its parts to each other and to the whole, and as dependent for its existence and its phenomena on its mutually depending forces and their laws. 5. Capable of being thought or conceived by itself alone; unconditioned; nonÐrelative. µ It is in dispute among philosopher whether the term, in this sense, is not applied to a mere logical fiction or abstraction, or whether the absolute, as thus defined, can be known, as a reality, by the human intellect. To Cusa we can indeed articulately trace, word and thing, the recent philosophy of the absolute. Sir W. Hamilton. 6. Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful. [R.] I am absolute 't was very Cloten. Shak. 7. Authoritative; peremptory. [R.] The peddler stopped, and tapped her on the head, With absolute forefinger, brown and ringed. Mrs. Browning. 8. (Chem.) Pure; unmixed; as, absolute alcohol. 9. (Gram.) Not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence in government; as, the case absolute. See Ablative absolute, under Ablative. Absolute curvature (Geom.), that curvature of a curve of double curvature, which is measured in the osculating plane of the curve. Ð Absolute equation (Astron.), the sum of the optic and eccentric equations. Ð Absolute space (Physics), space considered without relation to material limits or objects. Ð Absolute terms. (Alg.), such as are known, or which do not contain the unknown quantity. Davies & Peck. Ð Absolute temperature (Physics), the temperature as measured on a scale determined by certain general thermoÐdynamic principles, and reckoned from the absolute zero. Ð Absolute zero (Physics), the be ginning, or zero point, in the scale of absolute temperature. It is equivalent to Ð2730 centigrade or Ð459,40 Fahrenheit. Syn. Ð Positive; peremptory; certain; unconditional; unlimited; unrestricted; unqualified; arbitrary; despotic; autocratic. Ab¶soÏlute (#), n. (Geom.) In a plane, the two imaginary circular points at infinity; in space of three dimensions, the imaginary circle at infinity. Ab¶soÏluteÏly, adv. In an absolute, independent, or unconditional manner; wholly; positively. Ab¶soÏluteÏness, n. The quality of being absolute; independence of everything extraneous; unlimitedness; absolute power; independent reality; positiveness. Ab·soÏlu¶tion (#), n. [F. absolution, L. absolutio, fr. absolvere to absolve. See Absolve.] 1. An absolving, or setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty; forgiveness of an offense. ½Government... granting absolution to the nation.¸ Froude. 2. (Civil Law) An acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring and accused person innocent. [Obs.] 3. (R. C. Ch.) The exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven. µ In the English and other Protestant churches, this act regarded as simply declaratory, not as imparting forgiveness. 4. (Eccl.) An absolving from ecclesiastical penalties, Ð for example, excommunication. P. Cyc. 5. The form of words by which a penitent is absolved. Shipley. 6. Delivery, in speech. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Absolution day (R. C. Ch.), Tuesday before Easter. Ab¶soÏlu·tism (#), n. 1. The state of being absolute; the system or doctrine of the absolute; the principles or practice of absolute or arbitrary government; despotism. The element of absolutism and prelacy was controlling. Palfrey. 2. (Theol.) Doctrine of absolute decrees. Ash. Ab¶soÏlu·tist (#), n. 1. One who is in favor of an absolute or autocratic government. 2. (Metaph.) One who believes that it is possible to realize a cognition or concept of the absolute. Sir. W. Hamilton. Ab¶soÏlu·tist, a. Of or pertaining to absolutism; arbitrary; despotic; as, absolutist principles. Ab·soÏluÏtis¶tic (#), a. Pertaining to absolutism; absolutist. AbÏsol¶uÏtoÏry (#), a. [L. absolutorius, fr. absolvere to absolve.] Serving to absolve; absolving. ½An absolutory sentence.¸ Ayliffe. AbÏsolv¶aÏble (#), a. That may be absolved. AbÏsolv¶aÏtoÏry (#), a. Conferring absolution; absolutory. AbÏsolve¶ (#; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absolved (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Absolving.] [L. absolvere to set free, to absolve; ab + solvere to loose. See Assoil, Solve.] 1. To set free, or release, as from some obligation, debt, or responsibility, or from the consequences of guilt or such ties as it would be sin or guilt to violate; to pronounce free; as, to absolve a subject from his allegiance; to absolve an offender, which amounts to an acquittal and remission of his punishment. Halifax was absolved by a majority of fourteen. Macaulay. 2. To free from a penalty; to pardon; to remit (a sin); Ð said of the sin or guilt. In his name I absolve your perjury. Gibbon. 3. To finish; to accomplish. [Obs.] The work begun, how soon absolved. Milton. 4. To resolve or explain. [Obs.] ½We shall not absolve the doubt.¸ Sir T. Browne. Syn. Ð To Absolve, Exonerate, Acquit. We speak of a man as absolved from something that binds his conscience, or involves the charge of wrongdoing; as, to absolve from allegiance or from the obligation of an oath, or a promise. We speak of a person as exonerated, when he is released from some burden which had rested upon him; as, to exonerate from suspicion, to exonerate from blame or odium. It implies a purely moral acquittal. We speak of a person as acquitted, when a decision has been made in his favor with reference to a specific charge, either by a jury or by disinterested persons; as, he was acquitted of all participation in the crime. AbÏsolv¶ent (#), a. [L. absolvens, p. pr. of absolvere.] Absolving. [R.] Carlyle. AbÏsolv¶ent, n. An absolver. [R.] Hobbes. AbÏsolv¶er (#), n. One who absolves. Macaulay. Ab¶soÏnant (#), a. [L. ab + sonans, p. pr. of sonare to sound.] Discordant; contrary; Ð opposed to consonant. ½Absonant to nature.¸ Quarles. Ab¶soÏnous (#), a. [L. absonus; ab + sonus sound.] Discordant; inharmonious; incongruous. [Obs.] ½Absonous to our reason.¸ Glanvill. AbÏsorb¶ (#), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absorbed (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Absorbing.] [L. absorbere; ab + sorbere to suck in, akin to Gr. ?: cf. F. absorber.] 1. To swallow up; to engulf; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to use up; to include. ½Dark oblivion soon absorbs them all.¸ Cowper. The large cities absorb the wealth and fashion. W. Irving. 2. To suck up; to drink in; to imbibe; as a sponge or as the lacteals of the body. Bacon. 3. To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully; as, absorbed in study or the pursuit of wealth. 4. To take up by cohesive, chemical, or any molecular action, as when charcoal absorbs gases. So heat, light, and electricity are absorbed or taken up in the substances into which they pass. Nichol.

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Syn. Ð To Absorb, Engross, Swallow up, Engulf. These words agree in one general idea, that of completely taking up. They are chiefly used in a figurative sense and may be distinguished by a reference to their etymology. We speak of a person as absorbed (lit., drawn in, swallowed up) in study or some other employment of the highest interest. We speak of a person as ebgrossed (lit., seized upon in the gross, or wholly) by something which occupies his whole time and thoughts, as the acquisition of wealth, or the attainment of honor. We speak of a person (under a stronger image) as swallowed up and lost in that which completely occupies his thoughts and feelings, as in grief at the death of a friend, or in the multiplied cares of life. We speak of a person as engulfed in that which (like a gulf) takes in all his hopes and interests; as, engulfed in misery, ruin, etc. That grave question which had begun to absorb the Christian mind Ð the marriage of the clergy. Milman. Too long hath love engrossed Britannia's stage, And sunk to softness all our tragic rage. Tickell. Should not the sad occasion swallow up My other cares? Addison. And in destruction's river Engulf and swallow those. Sir P. Sidney. AbÏsorb·aÏbil¶iÏty (#), n. The state or quality of being absorbable. Graham (Chemistry). AbÏsorb¶aÏble, a. [Cf. F. absorbable.] Capable of being absorbed or swallowed up. Kerr. AbÏsorb¶edÏly, adv. In a manner as if wholly engrossed or engaged. AbÏsorb¶enÏcy (#), n. Absorptiveness. AbÏsorb¶ent (#), a. [L. absorbens, p. pr. of absorbere.] Absorbing; swallowing; absorptive. Absorbent ground (Paint.), a ground prepared for a picture, chiefly with distemper, or water colors, by which the oil is absorbed, and a brilliancy is imparted to the colors. AbÏsorb¶ent, n. 1. Anything which absorbs. The ocean, itself a bad absorbent of heat. Darwin. 2. (Med.) Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also a substance (e. g., iodine) which acts on the absorbent vessels so as to reduce enlarged and indurated parts. 3. pl. (Physiol.) The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants. AbÏsorb¶er (#), n. One who, or that which, absorbs. AbÏsorb¶ing, a. Swallowing, engrossing; as, an absorbing pursuit. Ð AbÏsorb¶ing, adv. Ab·sorÏbi¶tion (#), n. Absorption. [Obs.] AbÏsorpt· (#), a. [L. absorptus, p. p.] Absorbed. [Archaic] ½Absorpt in care.¸ Pope. AbÏsorp¶tion (#), n. [L. absorptio, fr. absorbere. See Absorb.] 1. The act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything, or of being absorbed and made to disappear; as, the absorption of bodies in a whirlpool, the absorption of a smaller tribe into a larger. 2. (Chem. & Physics) An imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action; as, the absorption of light, heat, electricity, etc. 3. (Physiol.) In living organisms, the process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed and conveyed to the tissues and organs. 4. Entire engrossment or occupation of the mind; as, absorption in some employment. AbÏsorp¶tive (#), a. Having power, capacity, or tendency to absorb or imbibe. E. Darwin. AbÏsorp¶tiveÏness, n. The quality of being absorptive; absorptive power. Ab·sorpÏtiv¶iÏty (#), n. Absorptiveness. AbÏsquat¶uÏlate (#), v. i. To take one's self off; to decamp. [A jocular word. U. S.] Ø Abs¶que hoc (#). [L., without this.] (Law) The technical words of denial used in traversing what has been alleged, and is repeated. AbÏstain¶ (#), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abstained (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Abstaining.] [OE. absteynen, abstenen, OF. astenir, abstenir, F. abstenir, fr. L. abstinere, abstentum, v. t. & v. i., to keep from; ab, abs + tenere to hold. See Tenable.] To hold one's self aloof; to forbear or refrain voluntarily, and especially from an indulgence of the passions or appetites; Ð with from. Not a few abstained from voting. Macaulay. Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? Shak. Syn. Ð To refrain; forbear; withhold; deny one's self; give up; relinquish. AbÏstain¶, v. t. To hinder; to withhold. Whether he abstain men from marrying. Milton. AbÏstain¶er (#), n. One who abstains; esp., one who abstains from the use of intoxicating liquors. AbÏste¶miÏous (#), a. [L. abstemius; ab, abs + root of temetum intoxicating drink.] 1. Abstaining from wine. [Orig. Latin sense.] Under his special eye Abstemious I grew up and thrived amain. Milton. 2. Sparing in diet; refraining from a free use of food and strong drinks; temperate; abstinent; sparing in the indulgence of the appetite or passions. Instances of longevity are chiefly among the abstemious. Arbuthnot. 3. Sparingly used; used with temperance or moderation; as, an abstemious diet. Gibbon. 4. Marked by, or spent in, abstinence; as, an abstemious life. ½One abstemious day.¸ Pope. 5. Promotive of abstemiousness. [R.] Such is the virtue of the abstemious well. Dryden. AbÏste¶miÏousÏly, adv. In a abstemious manner; temperately; sparingly. AbÏste¶miÏousÏness, n. The quality of being abstemious, temperate, or sparing in the use of food and strong drinks. It expresses a greater degree of abstinence than temperance. AbÏsten¶tion (#), a. [F. See Abstain.] The act of abstaining; a holding aloof. Jer. Taylor. AbÏsten¶tious (#), a. Characterized by abstinence; selfÐrestraining. Farrar. AbÏsterge (#), v. t. [L. abstergere, abstersum; ab, abs + tergere to wipe. Cf. F absterger.] To make clean by wiping; to wipe away; to cleanse; hence, to purge. [R.] Quincy. AbÏster¶gent (#), a. [L. abstergens, p. pr. of abstergere.] Serving to cleanse, detergent. AbÏster¶gent, n. A substance used in cleansing; a detergent; as, soap is an abstergent. AbÏsterse¶ (#), v. t. To absterge; to cleanse; to purge away. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne. AbÏster¶sion (#), n. [F. abstersion. See Absterge.] Act of wiping clean; a cleansing; a purging. The task of ablution and abstersion being performed. Sir W. Scott. AbÏster¶sive (#), a. [Cf. F. abstersif. See Absterge.] Cleansing; purging. Bacon. AbÏster¶sive, n. Something cleansing. The strong abstersive of some heroic magistrate. Milton. AbÏster¶siveÏness, n. The quality of being abstersive. Fuller. Ab¶stiÏnence (#), n. [F. abstinence, L. abstinentia, fr. abstinere. See Abstain.] 1. The act or practice of abstaining; voluntary forbearance of any action, especially the refraining from an indulgence of appetite, or from customary gratifications of animal or sensual propensities. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating beverages, Ð called also total abstinence. The abstinence from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain, nay, oftentimes, a very great one. Locke. 2. The practice of selfÏdenial by depriving one's self of certain kinds of food or drink, especially of meat. Penance, fasts, and abstinence, To punish bodies for the soul's offense. Dryden. Ab¶stiÏnenÏcy (#), n. Abstinence. [R.] Ab¶stiÏnent (#), a. [F. abstinent, L. abstinens, p. pr. of abstinere. See Abstain.] Refraining from indulgence, especially from the indulgence of appetite; abstemious; continent; temperate. Beau. & Fl. Ab¶stiÏnent, n. 1. One who abstains. 2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect who appeared in France and Spain in the 3d century. Ab¶stiÏnentÏly, adv. With abstinence. AbÏstort¶ed (#), a. [As if fr. abstort, fr. L. ab, abs + tortus, p. p. of torquere to twist.] Wrested away. [Obs.] Bailey. Ab¶stract· (#; 277), a. [L. abstractus, p. p. of abstrahere to draw from, separate; ab, abs + trahere to draw. See Trace.] 1. Withdraw; separate. [Obs.] The more abstract... we are from the body. Norris. 2. Considered apart from any application to a particular object; separated from matter; exiting in the mind only; as, abstract truth, abstract numbers. Hence: ideal; abstruse; difficult. 3. (Logic) (a) Expressing a particular property of an object viewed apart from the other properties which constitute it; Ð opposed to concrete; as, honesty is an abstract word. J. S. Mill. (b) Resulting from the mental faculty of abstraction; general as opposed to particular; as, ½reptile¸ is an abstract or general name. Locke. A concrete name is a name which stands for a thing; an abstract name which stands for an attribute of a thing. A practice has grown up in more modern times, which, if not introduced by Locke, has gained currency from his example, of applying the expression ½abstract name¸ to all names which are the result of abstraction and generalization, and consequently to all general names, instead of confining it to the names of attributes. J. S. Mill. 4. Abstracted; absent in mind. ½Abstract, as in a trance.¸ Milton. An abstract idea (Metaph.), an idea separated from a complex object, or from other ideas which naturally accompany it; as the solidity of marble when contemplated apart from its color or figure. Ð Abstract terms, those which express abstract ideas, as beauty, whiteness, roundness, without regarding any object in which they exist; or abstract terms are the names of orders, genera or species of things, in which there is a combination of similar qualities. Ð Abstract numbers (Math.), numbers used without application to things, as 6, 8, 10; but when applied to any thing, as 6 feet, 10 men, they become concrete. Ð Abstract or Pure mathematics. See Mathematics. AbÏstract¶ (#), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abstracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Abstracting.] [See Abstract, a.] 1. To withdraw; to separate; to take away. He was incapable of forming any opinion or resolution abstracted from his own prejudices. Sir W. Scott. 2. To draw off in respect to interest or attention; as, his was wholly abstracted by other objects. The young stranger had been abstracted and silent. Blackw. Mag. 3. To separate, as ideas, by the operation of the mind; to consider by itself; to contemplate separately, as a quality or attribute. Whately. 4. To epitomize; to abridge. Franklin. 5. To take secretly or dishonestly; to purloin; as, to abstract goods from a parcel, or money from a till. Von Rosen had quietly abstracted the bearingÐreins from the harness. W. Black. 6. (Chem.) To separate, as the more volatile or soluble parts of a substance, by distillation or other chemical processes. In this sense extract is now more generally used. AbÏstract¶, v. t. To perform the process of abstraction. [R.] I own myself able to abstract in one sense. Berkeley. Ab¶stract· (#), n. [See Abstract, a.] 1. That which comprises or concentrates in itself the essential qualities of a larger thing or of several things. Specifically: A summary or an epitome, as of a treatise or book, or of a statement; a brief. An abstract of every treatise he had read. Watts. Man, the abstract Of all perfection, which the workmanship Of Heaven hath modeled. Ford. 2. A state of separation from other things; as, to consider a subject in the abstract, or apart from other associated things. 3. An abstract term. The concretes ½father¸ and ½son¸ have, or might have, the abstracts ½paternity¸ and ½filiety.¸ J. S. Mill. 4. (Med.) A powdered solid extract of a vegetable substance mixed with sugar of milk in such proportion that one part of the abstract represents two parts of the original substance. Abstract of title (Law), an epitome of the evidences of ownership. Syn. Ð Abridgment; compendium; epitome; synopsis. See Abridgment. AbÏstract¶ed (#), a. 1. Separated or disconnected; withdrawn; removed; apart. The evil abstracted stood from his own evil. Milton. 2. Separated from matter; abstract; ideal. [Obs.] 3. Abstract; abstruse; difficult. [Obs.] Johnson. 4. Inattentive to surrounding objects; absent in mind. ½An abstracted scholar.¸ Johnson. AbÏstract¶edÏly, adv. In an abstracted manner; separately; with absence of mind. AbÏstract¶edÏness, n. The state of being abstracted; abstract character. AbÏstract¶er (#), n. One who abstracts, or makes an abstract. AbÏstrac¶tion (#), n. [Cf. F. abstraction. See Abstract, a.] 1. The act of abstracting, separating, or withdrawing, or the state of being withdrawn; withdrawal. A wrongful abstraction of wealth from certain members of the community. J. S. Mill. 2. (Metaph.) The act process of leaving out of consideration one or more properties of a complex object so as to attend to others; analysis. Thus, when the mind considers the form of a tree by itself, or the color of the leaves as separate from their size or figure, the act is called abstraction. So, also, when it considers whiteness, softness, virtue, existence, as separate from any particular objects. µ Abstraction is necessary to classification, by which things are arranged in genera and species. We separate in idea the qualities of certain objects, which are of the same kind, from others which are different, in each, and arrange the objects having the same properties in a class, or collected body. Abstraction is no positive act: it is simply the negative of attention. Sir W. Hamilton. 3. An idea or notion of an abstract, or theoretical nature; as, to fight for mere abstractions. 4. A separation from worldly objects; a recluse life; as, a hermit's abstraction. 5. Absence or absorption of mind; inattention to present objects. 6. The taking surreptitiously for one's own use part of the property of another; purloining. [Modern] 7. (Chem.) A separation of volatile parts by the act of distillation. Nicholson. AbÏstrac¶tionÏal (#), a. Pertaining to abstraction. AbÏstrac¶tionÏist, n. An idealist. Emerson. Ab·stracÏti¶tious (#), a. Obtained from plants by distillation. [Obs.] Crabb. AbÏstrac¶tive (#), a. [Cf. F. abstractif.] Having the power of abstracting; of an abstracting nature. ½The abstractive faculty.¸ I. Taylor. AbÏstrac¶tiveÏly, adv. In a abstract manner; separately; in or by itself. Feltham. AbÏstrac¶tiveÏness, n. The quality of being abstractive; abstractive property. Ab¶stract·ly (#; 277), adv. In an abstract state or manner; separately; absolutely; by itself; as, matter abstractly considered. Ab¶stract·ness, n. The quality of being abstract. ½The abstractness of the ideas.¸ Locke. AbÏstringe¶ (#), v. t. [L ab + stringere, strictum, to press together.] To unbind. [Obs.] Bailey. AbÏstrude¶ (#), v. t. [L. abstrudere. See Abstruse.] To thrust away. [Obs.] Johnson. AbÏstruse¶ (#), a. [L. abstrusus, p. p. of abstrudere to thrust away, conceal; ab, abs + trudere to thrust; cf. F. abstrus. See Threat.] 1. Concealed or hidden out of the way. [Obs.] The eternal eye whose sight discerns Abstrusest thoughts. Milton. 2. Remote from apprehension; difficult to be comprehended or understood; recondite; as, abstruse learning. Profound and abstruse topics. Milman. AbÏstruse¶ly, adv. In an abstruse manner. AbÏstruse¶ness, n. The quality of being abstruse; difficulty of apprehension. Boyle. AbÏstru¶sion (#), n. [L. abstrusio. See Abstruse.] The act of thrusting away. [R.] Ogilvie. AbÏstru¶siÏty (#), n. Abstruseness; that which is abstruse. [R.] Sir T. Browne. AbÏsume¶ (#), v. t. [L. absumere, absumptum; ab + sumere to take.] To consume gradually; to waste away. [Obs.] Boyle. AbÏsump¶tion (#; 215), n. [L. absumptio. See Absume.] Act of wasting away; a consuming; extinction. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne. AbÏsurd¶ (#), a. [L. absurdus harshÐsounding; ab + (prob) a derivative fr. a root svar to sound; not connected with surd: cf. F. absurde. See Syringe.] Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and fiatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; as, an absurd person, an absurd opinion; an absurd dream. This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Shak. 'This phrase absurd to call a villain great. Pope.

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Syn. Ð Foolish; irrational; ridiculous; preposterous; inconsistent; incongruous. Ð Absurd, Irrational, Foolish, Preposterous. Of these terms, irrational is the weakest, denoting that which is plainly inconsistent with the dictates of sound reason; as, an irrational course of life. Foolish rises higher, and implies either a perversion of that faculty, or an absolute weakness or fatuity of mind; as, foolish enterprises. Absurd rises still higher, denoting that which is plainly opposed to received notions of propriety and truth; as, an absurd man, project, opinion, story, argument, etc. Preposterous rises still higher, and supposes an absolute inversion in the order of things; or, in plain terms, a ½putting of the cart before the horse;¸ as, a preposterous suggestion, preposterous conduct, a preposterous regulation or law. AbÏsurd¶ (#), n. An absurdity. [Obs.] Pope. AbÏsurd¶iÏty (#), n.; pl. Absurdities (#). [L. absurditas: cf. F. absurdite.] 1. The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment. ½The absurdity of the actual idea of an infinite number.¸ Locke. 2. That which is absurd; an absurd action; a logical contradiction. His travels were full of absurdities. Johnson. AbÏsurd¶ly, adv. In an absurd manner. AbÏsurd¶ness, n. Absurdity. [R.] Ø AÏbu¶na (#), n. [Eth. and Ar., our father.] The Patriarch, or head of the Abyssinian Church. AÏbun¶dance (#), n. [OE. (h)abudaunce, abundance, F. abundance, F. abondance, L. abundantia, fr. abundare. See Abound.] An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; wealth: Ð strictly applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number. It is lamentable to remember what abundance of noble blood hath been shed with small benefit to the Christian state. Raleigh. Syn. Ð Exuberance; plenteousness; plenty; copiousness; overflow; riches; affluence; wealth. Ð Abundance, Plenty, Exuberance. These words rise upon each other in expressing the idea of fullness. Plenty denotes a sufficiency to supply every want; as, plenty of food, plenty of money, etc. Abundance express more, and gives the idea of superfluity or excess; as, abundance of riches, an abundance of wit and humor; often, however, it only denotes plenty in a high degree. Exuberance rises still higher, and implies a bursting forth on every side, producing great superfluity or redundance; as, an exuberance of mirth, an exuberance of animal spirits, etc. AÏbun¶dant (#), a. [OE. (h)abundant, aboundant, F. abondant, fr. L. abudans, p. pr. of abundare. See Abound.] Fully sufficient; plentiful; in copious supply; Ð followed by in, rarely by with. ½Abundant in goodness and truth.¸ Exod. xxxiv. 6. Abundant number (Math.), a number, the sum of whose aliquot parts exceeds the number itself. Thus, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, the aliquot parts of 12, make the number 16. This is opposed to a deficient number, as 14, whose aliquot parts are 1, 2, 7, the sum of which is 10; and to a perfect number, which is equal to the sum of its aliquot parts, as 6, whose aliquot parts are 1, 2., 3. Syn. Ð Ample; plentiful; copious; plenteous; exuberant; overflowing; rich; teeming; profuse; bountiful; liberal. See Ample. AÏbun¶dantÏly, adv. In a sufficient degree; fully; amply; plentifully; in large measure. AÏburst¶ (#), adv. [Pref. aÐ + burst.] In a bursting condition. AÏbus¶aÏble (#), a. That may be abused. AÏbus¶age (#), n. Abuse. [Obs.] Whately (1634). AÏbuse¶ (#), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abused (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Abusing.] [F. abuser; L. abusus, p. p. of abuti to abuse, misuse; ab + uti to use. See Use.] 1. To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to misuse; to put to a bad use; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert; as, to abuse inherited gold; to make an excessive use of; as, to abuse one's authority. This principle (if one may so abuse the word) shoots rapidly into popularity. Froude. 2. To use ill; to maltreat; to act injuriously to; to punish or to tax excessively; to hurt; as, to abuse prisoners, to abuse one's powers, one's patience. 3. To revile; to reproach coarsely; to disparage. The... tellers of news abused the general. Macaulay. 4. To dishonor. ½Shall flight abuse your name?¸ Shak. 5. To violate; to ravish. Spenser. 6. To deceive; to impose on. [Obs.] Their eyes red and staring, cozened with a moist cloud, and abused by a double object. Jer. Taylor. Syn. Ð To maltreat; injure; revile; reproach; vilify; vituperate; asperse; traduce; malign. AÏbuse¶ (#), n. [F. abus, L. abusus, fr. abuti. See Abuse, v. t.] 1. Improper treatment or use; application to a wrong or bad purpose; misuse; as, an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or of privileges or advantages; an abuse of language. Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power. Madison. 2. Physical ill treatment; injury. ½Rejoice... at the abuse of Falstaff.¸ Shak. 3. A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as, the abuses in the civil service. Abuse after disappeared without a struggle.. Macaulay. 4. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; virulent condemnation; reviling. The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of abuse, came to blows. Macaulay. 5. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. [Obs.] Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? Shak. Abuse of distress (Law), a wrongful using of an animal or chattel distrained, by the distrainer. Syn. Ð Invective; contumely; reproach; scurrility; insult; opprobrium. Ð Abuse, Invective. Abuse is generally prompted by anger, and vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is more personal and coarse than invective. Abuse generally takes place in private quarrels; invective in writing or public discussions. Invective may be conveyed in refined language and dictated by indignation against what is blameworthy. C. J. Smith. AÏbuse¶ful (#), a. Full of abuse; abusive. [R.] ½Abuseful names.¸ Bp. Barlow. AÏbus¶er (#), n. One who abuses [ in the various senses of the verb]. AÏbu¶sion (#), n. [OE. abusion, abusioun, OF. abusion, fr. L. abusio misuse of words, f. abuti. See Abuse, v. t.] Evil or corrupt usage; abuse; wrong; reproach; deception; cheat. Chaucer. AÏbu¶sive (#), a. [Cf. F. abusif, fr. L. abusivus.] 1. Wrongly used; perverted; misapplied. I am... necessitated to use the word Parliament improperly, according to the abusive acceptation thereof. Fuller. 2. Given to misusing; also, full of abuses. [Archaic] ½The abusive prerogatives of his see.¸ Hallam. 3. Practicing abuse; prone to ill treat by coarse, insulting words or by other ill usage; as, an abusive author; an abusive fellow. 4. Containing abuse, or serving as the instrument of abuse; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous. ½An abusive lampoon.¸ Johnson. 5. Tending to deceive; fraudulent; cheating. [Obs.] ½An abusive treaty.¸ Bacon. Syn. Ð Reproachful; scurrilous; opprobrious; insolent; insulting; injurious; offensive; reviling. AÏbu¶siveÏly, adv. In an abusive manner; rudely; with abusive language. AÏbu¶siveÏness, n. The quality of being abusive; rudeness of language, or violence to the person. Pick out mirth, like stones out of thy ground, Profaneness, filthiness, abusiveness. Herbert. AÏbut¶ (#), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Abutting.] [OF. abouter, aboter; cf. F. aboutir, and also abuter; a (L. ad) + OF. boter, buter, to push: cf. F. bout end, and but end, purpose.] To project; to terminate or border; to be contiguous; to meet; Ð with on, upon, or against; as, his land abuts on the road. AÏbu¶tiÏlon (#), n. [Ar. aub?tÆl?n.] (Bot.) A genus of malvaceous plants of many species, found in the torrid and temperate zones of both continents; Ð called also Indian mallow. AÏbut¶ment (#), n. 1. State of abutting. 2. That on or against which a body abuts or presses; as (a) (Arch.) The solid part of a pier or wall, etc., which receives the thrust or lateral pressure of an arch, vault, or strut. Gwilt. (b) (mech.) A fixed point or surface from which resistance or reaction is obtained, as the cylinder head of a steam engine, the fulcrum of a lever, etc. (c) In breechÐloading firearms, the block behind the barrel which receives the pressure due to recoil. AÏbut¶tal (#), n. The butting or boundary of land, particularly at the end; a headland. Spelman. AÏbut¶ter (#), n. One who, or that which, abuts. Specifically, the owner of a contiguous estate; as, the abutters on a street or a river. AÏbuzz¶ (#), a. [Pref. aÏ + buzz.] In a buzz; buzzing. [Colloq.] Dickens. AÏby¶, AÏbye¶ } (#), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Abought (#).] [AS. ¾bycgan to pay for; pref. ¾Ï (cf. Goth. usÏ, Ger. erÏ, orig. meaning out) + bycgan to buy. See Buy, and cf. Abide.] 1. To pay for; to suffer for; to atone for; to make amends for; to give satisfaction. [Obs.] Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear. Shak. 2. To endure; to abide. [Obs.] But nought that wanteth rest can long aby. Spenser. AÏbysm¶ (#), n. [OF. abisme; F. abime, LL. abyssimus, a superl. of L. abyssus; Gr. ?. See Abyss.] An abyss; a gulf. ½The abysm of hell.¸ Shak. AÏbys¶mal (#), a. Pertaining to, or resembling, an abyss; bottomless; unending; profound. Geology gives one the same abysmal extent of time that astronomy does of space. Carlyle. AÏbys¶malÏly, adv. To a fathomless depth; profoundly. ½Abysmally ignorant.¸ G. Eliot. AÏbyss¶ (#), n. [L. abyssus a bottomless gulf, fr. Gr. ? bottomless; ? priv. + ? depth, bottom.] 1. A bottomless or unfathomed depth, gulf, or chasm; hence, any deep, immeasurable, and, specifically, hell, or the bottomless pit. Ye powers and spirits of this nethermost abyss. Milton. The throne is darkness, in the abyss of light. Dryden. 2. Infinite time; a vast intellectual or moral depth. The abysses of metaphysical theology. Macaulay. In unfathomable abysses of disgrace. Burke. 3. (Her.) The center of an escutcheon. µ This word, in its leading uses, is associated with the cosmological notions of the Hebrews, having reference to a supposed illimitable mass of waters from which our earth sprung, and beneath whose profound depths the wicked were punished. Encyc. Brit. AÏbyss¶al (#), a. [Cf. Abysmal.] Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable. Abyssal zone (Phys. Geog.), one of the belts or zones into which Sir E. Forbes divides the bottom of the sea in describing its plants, animals, etc. It is the one furthest from the shore, embracing all beyond one hundred fathoms deep. Hence, abyssal animals, plants, etc. Ab·ysÏsin¶iÏan (#), a. Of or pertaining to Abyssinia. Abyssinian gold, an alloy of 90.74 parts of copper and 8.33 parts of zink. Ure. Ab·ysÏsin¶iÏan, n. 1. A native of Abyssinia. 2. A member of the Abyssinian Church. AÏca¶ciÏa (#), n. (Antiq.) A roll or bag, filled with dust, borne by Byzantine emperors, as a memento of mortality. It is represented on medals. AÏca¶cia (#), n.; pl. E. Acacias (#), L. Acaci‘ (#). [L. from Gr. ?; orig. the name of a thorny tree found in Egypt; prob. fr. the root ak to be sharp. See Acute.] 1. A genus of leguminous trees and shrubs. Nearly 300 species are Australian or Polynesian, and have terete or vertically compressed leaf stalks, instead of the bipinnate leaves of the much fewer species of America, Africa, etc. Very few are found in temperate climates. 2. (Med.) The inspissated juice of several species of acacia; Ð called also gum acacia, and gum arabic. Ac¶aÏcin, Ac¶aÏcine (#), n. Gum arabic. Ac·aÏdeme¶ (#), n. [L. academia. See Academy.] An academy. [Poetic] Shak. Ac·aÏde¶miÏal (#), a. Academic. [R.] Ac·aÏde¶miÏan (#), n. A member of an academy, university, or college. { Ac·aÏdem¶ic (#), Ac·aÏdem¶icÏal (#), } a. [L. academicus: cf. F. acad‚migue. See Academy.] 1. Belonging to the school or philosophy of Plato; as, the Academic sect or philosophy. 2. Belonging to an academy or other higher institution of learning; scholarly; literary or classical, in distinction from scientific. ½Academic courses.¸ Warburton. ½Academical study.¸ Berkeley. Ac·aÏdem¶ic, n. 1. One holding the philosophy of Socrates and Plato; a Platonist. Hume. 2. A member of an academy, college, or university; an academician. Ac·aÏdem·icÏalÏly, adv. In an academical manner. Ac·aÏdem¶icÏals (#), n. pl. The articles of dress prescribed and worn at some colleges and universities. Ac·aÏdeÏmi¶cian (#; 277), n. [F. acad‚micien. See Academy.] 1. A member of an academy, or society for promoting science, art, or literature, as of the French Academy, or the Royal Academy of arts. 2. A collegian. [R.] Chesterfield. Ac·aÏdem¶iÏcism (#), n. 1. A tenet of the Academic philosophy. 2. A mannerism or mode peculiar to an academy. AÏcad¶eÏmism (#), n. The doctrines of the Academic philosophy. [Obs.] Baxter. AÏcad¶eÏmist (#), n. [F. academiste.] 1. An Academic philosopher. 2. An academician. [Obs. or R.] Ray. AÏcad¶eÏmy (#), n.; pl. Academies (#). [F. acad‚mie, L. academia. Cf. Academe.] 1. A garden or grove near Athens (so named from the hero Academus), where Plato and his followers held their philosophical conferences; hence, the school of philosophy of which Plato was head. 2. An institution for the study of higher learning; a college or a university. Popularly, a school, or seminary of learning, holding a rank between a college and a common school. 3. A place of training; a school. ½Academies of fanaticism.¸ Hume. 4. A society of learned men united for the advancement of the arts and sciences, and literature, or some particular art or science; as, the French Academy; the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; academies of literature and philology. 5. A school or place of training in which some special art is taught; as, the military academy at West Point; a riding academy; the Academy of Music. Academy figure (Paint.), a drawing usually half lifeÐsize, in crayon or pencil, after a nude model. AÏca¶diÏan (#), a. Of or pertaining to Acadie, or Nova Scotia. ½Acadian farmers.¸ Longfellow. Ð n. A native of Acadie. Acadian epoch (Geol.), an epoch at the beginning of the American paleozoic time, and including the oldest American rocks known to be fossiliferous. See Geology. Ð Acadian owl (Zo”l.), a small North American owl (Nyctule Acadica); the sawÐwhet. Ø Ac¶aÏjou (#), n. [F. See Cashew.] (Bot.) (a) The cashew tree; also, its fruit. See Cashew. Ð (b) The mahogany tree; also, its timber. Ac¶aÏleph (#), Ac·aÏle¶phan (#) } n.; pl. Acalephs (#), Acalephans (#). [See Acaleph‘.] (Zo”l.) One of the Acaleph‘. Ø Ac·aÏle¶ph‘ (#), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. ?, a nettle.] A group of Coelenterata, including the Medus‘ or jellyfishes, and hydroids; Ð so called from the stinging power they possess. Sometimes called sea nettles. Ac·ale¶phoid (#), a. [Acaleph + Ïoid.] (Zo”l.) Belonging to or resembling the Acaleph‘ or jellyfishes. AÏcal¶yÏcine (#), Ac·aÏlys·iÏnous (#), a. [Gr. ? priv. + ? calyx.] (Bot.) Without a calyx, or outer floral envelope. AÏcanth¶ (#), n. Same as Acanthus. Ø AÏcan¶tha (#), n. [Gr. ? thorn, fr. ? point. See Acute.] 1. (Bot.) A prickle. 2. (Zo”l.) A spine or prickly fin. 3. (Anat.) The vertebral column; the spinous process of a vertebra. Dunglison. Ac¶anÏtha¶ceous (#), a. 1. Armed with prickles, as a plant. 2. (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which the acanthus is the type.

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