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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Note added April 2004: The original files posted for the "PGW" files omitted the key to the tags and entities used. These files are not standard HTML or XML; they use conventions that had to be made up to fit all of the special cases found in the dictionary. The following lists, from files originally named webfont.asc and tagset.web, may be used to understand the markup. The original text has been edited slightly for line-length and paragraph clarity. Other files from the original production of this text, that may be of help to those who wish to dig deeper, may be found in the ZIP archive pgwxz04.zip, Project Gutenberg etext #670. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= WEBFONT.ASC -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This file describes a modified font for use in visualizing the text of the 1913 "Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary"(W1913), usable for the DOS operating system of IBM-compatible personal computers. The electronic version of that dictionary and this font were prepared by MICRA, Inc., Plainfield NJ, and are copyrighted (C) 1996 by MICRA, Inc. For details of permissions and restrictions on using these files, see the accompanying file "readme.web". The special characters used in the electronic version of the Webster 1913 are required for visualizing unusual characters used in the etymology and pronunciation fields of the dictionary, in a form comparable to the way they appear in the original. Since there are more than 256 characters used in that dictionary, not all can be represented by single-byte codes, and are instead represented by SGML-style "short-form" symbols. (rather than the "entity" format "&xx;" The ampersand is used frequently, and we prefer to leave the "<" as the only "escape" character) of the type and <) because of possible typograhical differences in some fonts. Numbers ÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ Hex codes 1   11   (12 is a hard page break, 13 CR, 14 sect break) 21   31  !"# $%&'( 121 yz{|} ~€‚ 79-7d 7e-82 131 ƒ„…†‡ ˆ‰Š‹Œ 83-87 88-8c 141 Ž‘ ’“”•– 8d-91 92-96 151 —˜™š› œžŸ  97-9b 9c-a0 161 ¡¢£¤¥ ¦§¨©ª a1-a5 a6-aa 171 «¬­®¯ °±²³´ ab-af b0-b4 181 µ¶·¸¹ º»¼½¾ b5-b9 ba-be 191 ¿ÀÁÂà ÄÅÆÇÈ bf-c3 c4-c8 201 ÉÊËÌÍ ÎÏÐÑÒ c9-cd ce-d2 211 ÓÔÕÖ× ØÙÚÛÜ d3-d7 d8-dc 221 ÝÞßàá âãäåæ dd-e1 e2-e6 231 çèéêë ìíîïð e7-eb ec-f0 241 ñòóôõ ö÷øùú f1-f5 f6-fa 251 ûüýþÿ fb-ff Frequently used: decimal hex char definition 21 section symbol -- another section also at 197 (so that 21 can be used as a normal control character) 126 ~ used by typists as a place-holder in word combinations where an uncapitalized headword should be. 128 80 € , using the following roman-letter equivalents for the Greek letters: Accents: (a) initial aspirants -- used only in front of words beginning in vowels, of two types ' (apostrophe) for the left-curving apirant " (double quote) for the right-curving aspirant (b) normal accent: ` (left open quote, ASCII ) -- placed after accented vowel (c) curving accent (appearing as a rounded circumflex): ^ (circumflex) -- placed after accented vowel (d) "iota" subscript (ogonek)-- a comma placed after the vowel having the subscript Where a letter has two accents, both are placed after the vowel Initial letters with an aspirant and an accent have the aspirant before the letter, and the accent after it. Letters (in words) The capitalized Greek letters are represented by the capitalized versions of the letters shown here. ----------------------------------------- Greek letter transliteration alpha a beta b gamma g delta d epsilon e zeta z eta h theta q (used th in some earier sections, but changed due to potential confusion) iota i kappa k lambda l mu m nu n xi x omicron o pi p rho r sigma s (end form not normally distinguished from middle form in words, but when isolated, use , and closes with a similar tag containing the forward slash thus: . The absence of an end-field tag, or the presence of an end-field tag without a prior begin-field tag constitutes a typographical error, of which there may be a significant number. Any errors detected should be brought to the attention of PC. Most of the tags are represented in the text by italic type, with a number of exceptions. Where a word is contained within more than one field, the innermost field determines the font to be used. Wherever recognizable functional fields were found, an attempt was made to tag the field with a functional mark, but in many cases, words were italicised only to represent the word itself as a discourse entity, and in some such cases, the "italic" mark was used, implying nothing regarding functionality of the word. The base font is considered "plain". Where an italic field is indicated, parentheses or brackets within the field are not italicised. Where no font is specified for a tag, the tag is merely a functional division, and was printed in plain font. This is marked by an asterisk (*). The size of the "plain" font is about 1.6 mm for the height of capitalized letters. ============================================================= Explicit typographical tags: These were used where the purpose of a different font was merely to distinguish a word from the body of the text, and no explicit functional tag seemed apropriate. ----------------------------------- Tag Font ----------------------------------- plain font (that used in the body of a definition) -- normally not marked, except within fields of a different front. italic bold small caps (used mostly for "a. d.", "b. c.") A squared bold font approximating the "universe bold" font on the HP Laserjet4, slightly larger than the capitals in a definition body. Used in expositions describing shapes, such as "Y", "T", "U", "X", "V". Font the same as the headword , though the field is not a headword. Used only once. subscript superscript superscript <...type> A series of tags, many unique, designating certain unusual fonts, such as "bourgeoistype" for "bourgeois type", in the section on typography. Sans-serif font A series of point size markers, many unique. Vertically organized column. Vertically organized column -- only part of a table which needs to be completed. Used once. ============================================================= Explicit formatting tags: preceded by two paragraph marks (carriage returns). Not otherwise marked, but can be done automatically if needed. These "authority" fields are right-justified, and usually fit on the same line as the last segment of the preceding definition or quotation. When they don't fit on the last line, they are right-justified on a line of their own. Always right-justified, as described for . Used only for The single letter in the headers to each letter of the alphabet. Right justified Designates a row in a table. Designates one item in a row of a table. Used only when intervening spaces do not serve properly as natural field separaters. Always a filled rectangular array. Always a filled rectangular array.
Just a place-holder. Illustration place-holder. Seldom used. Supra. The two parts of each such field are stacked, one over the other, *without* a horizontal bar between (as in a fraction). Used only in one entry, for a musical notation. Music figure. Ony in a note under the entry "Figure", the two numbers of each such field are bold, 20 point type, stacked as in a fraction with a bar between them, but also having a horizontal stroke midway through each numeral. Unique to this entry. ==================================================================== Functional Tags -------------------------------------------------------------------- Tag Font Meaning (Comparatives are relative to the plain font.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- <-- --> * Comment, not a tag. These segments should be deleted from the written or printed text. Page numbers of the original text are indicated within such comments; these may be left in, if desired. * Multiple headword. This field is used where more than one headword shares a single definition. In the dictionary, the (usually) two headwords are left-justified one below the other in the column, and are tied together on the right side of the headwords by a long right curly brace. This division is strictly functional, for analytical purposes, and does not affect the typography. bold, headword. Each main entry begins with the larger by mark, and ends at the next mark. The 2 points main entries are not otherwise explicitly marked as a distinctive field. The same word may appear as a headword several times, usually as different parts of speech, but sometimes with diferent entries as the same part of speech, presumably to indicate a different etymology. Within the hw field the heavy accent is represented by double quote ("), the light accent by open-single-quote (`), and the short dash separating syllables by an asterisk (*). A hyphen (-) is used to represent the hyphen of hyphenated words. * pronunciation. The default font is normal, but many non-ASCII characters are used. The pronunciation field may have more than one pronunciation, separated by an " italic Part of speech. Always an abbreviation: e.g., n.; v. i.; v. t.; a.; adv.; pron.; prep. Combinations may occur, as "a. & n.". * Plural. The "plural" segment starts with a "pl." which is italicised, but in this segment is not otherwise marked as italicised. Other words occurring in this segment are plain type. The "pl." can be easily explicitly marked if necessary. small caps Plural word. The actual plural form of the word, found within a segment. * Singular. Analogous to the segment, but more rarely used, mostly for Indian tribes. small caps Singular word. The singular form of the plural-form headword. * Morphological derivatives. In this position, the various derivative forms of the verbs are listed (imperfect, present progressive). Adverbial and nominal derivatives of adjectives are also marked as , but are found at the end of each main entry. Also, irregular comparative and superlative derivatives of adjectives may have a "wordforms" segment prior to the definition. In the case of such wordforms prior to the definition, this segment is almost always contained within square brackets, with an occasional exception. The adverbial and nominalized derivatives at the end of a main entry are usually introduced by an em dash [represented as two hyphens (--)]. bold, Same font as , with accents and syllable larger by breaks marked as in the headword. 2 points Small Caps Entry reference. References to headwords within the "etymology" section are in small caps, and so are the morphological derivatives presented in the "wordforms" segment prior to the definition. Such references also occur in the body of definitions, and in "usage" segments. The morphological derivatives (in the segments) do not have entries elsewhere, so "entry reference" is a misleading tag in these cases, where it merely signifies a font, and should be changed in the next version. Such entry referemces, other than in segments, should function as hypertext buttons to access that entry. * Etymology. Always contained within square brackets. Normal type is used for explanatory comments, and italics for the actual words (marked ) considered as etymological sources. italic Etymological source. Words from which the headword was derived, or to which it is related. The Greek words within an etymology segment are invariably etymology sources, and should be marked as such, but are not so marked, even in the rare cases where the Greek word transliteration has been written in. transliteration Greek. The Greek words have been transliterated using the equivalents explained in the file "entities.web". In most cases, the transliterations are typical for Greek letters, except for theta (transl = q), phi (transl. = f), eta (transl. = h), and upsilon (transl. = y, whether pronounced as y or u). This was to eliminate any ambiguity. bold, Sense number. A headword may have over 20 larger by different sense numbers. Within each numbered 2 points sense there may be lettered sub-senses. See the (sub-definition) field. italic Field of specialization. Most often used for Zoology and Botany, but many "fields of specialization" are marked for technical terms. The parentheses are usually within this field, but are not themselves in italics. * definition. The definition may have subfields, particularly (an illustrative phrase starting with "as" or "thus" and containing the headword (or a morphological derivative). The , \'bd...\'b8 quotations (left and right double quotes) and fields may be found within a definition field, but should and usually are located outside the definition proper. The marking macro was inconsistent in this placement, and the exclusion of the , and quotations needs to be completed by the proof-readers. Certain definitions contain fields within them, where the headword is an irregular derivative of another headword. In these cases, the field follows immediately after the tag, and these entries do not have a separate field. In such cases, the field is italic, as usual. italic Authority or author. Used where an authority is (may be right- given for a definition, and also used for the justified. See author, where a quotation within double quotes in the section is given in the same paragraph as the on formatting). definition. The double quotes are indicated by the open-quote (\'bd) and close-quote (\'b8). In both cases, it is typically right-justified, almost always fitting on the same line with the last line of the definition or quotation. Within collocation segments, it is usually used only after quotations, and is not right- justified, except occasionally where it would be close to the right margin, and then apparently is is right-justified. We have not explicitly marked those which are right-justified, but they can be recognized because they are on a line by themselves, preceded by two carriage returns. smaller by Quotation. No bracketing quotation marks, two points, though occasionally \'bd-\'b8 quotations occur centered, within these quotations. These quotations Separate tend to be more complete sentences, rather paragraph than just phrases, such as are contained within quotation marks within the definition paragraph. italic, Quotation author. Used only for the quotations right justified that are centered in their own paragraphs. italic Quotation example. An example of usage within quotations marked .. smaller spacing Collocation segment. The font and size is normal in a cs, but the spacing between lines is smaller (0.9 mm between lower-case letters, rather than 1.1 mm in the main body of the definition). For an on-line dictionary, this typography is probably pointless.
bold, Collocation. A word combination containing the smaller by headword (or a morphological derivative). 1 point The collocations do not have an explicitly marked part of speech. * Multiple collocation. Similar to multiple headword, when two or more collocations share one definition; however, the two collocations are in-line, rather than stacked or justified. There may be "or" or "and" words (italicised), or an "etc." (plain type) within this field. In most cases, the smaller spacing Collocation definition. Similar in structure to headword definitions (the field). May contain an field. Plain type, but with closer spacing than main definitions. * Explanatory note. No explicit font is indicated. These segments may be separate, as in the separate paragraphs starting italic Alternative name. Usually for plants or animals, but also used for other cases where words are introduced by "also called", "called also", "formerly called". These are functionally synonyms for that word-sense. italic Same as , but the marked word is a plural form, whereas the headword is singular. italic, Usage mark. Almost always within square brackets, occasionally in parentheses or without any bracketing. but The most common usage marks, explanatory "Obs." = obsolete "R." = rare, "Colloq." = may be plain. colloquial, "Prov. Eng." = Provincial England, etc. are in italics. Some usage notes are also marked with , but are in plain. For simplicity, all words in this field may be italic, until additional explicti marks are added. * A segment occurring within the definitional sentence, providing an example of usage of the headword. Not conceptually a part of the actual definition. italic Example. An example of usage of the headword, usually found within an segment. * Alternative spelling segment. Almost always contained within square brackets after the main definition segment. Expository words such as "Spelled also" are in plain font. italic Alternative spelling. The actual word which is an alternative spelling to the headword. These are functionally synonyms of the headword. In most cases these also occur as headwords, with reference to the word where the actual definition is found, but no check has been performed to see if they are all listed separately. They should be indexed at this location, also. italic Collocation reference. A reference to a collocation. Each such collocation should have its own entry, and these references should function as hypertext buttons to access that entry. italic Subdefinition, marked (a), (b), (c), etc. THese are finer distinctions of word senses, used within numbered word-sense (for main entries), and also used for subdefinitions within collocation segments, which have no numbering of senses. The letter is italic, the parentheses are not. plain Synonyms. A list of synonyms, sometimes followed by a segment. narrower Comparisons of word usage for words which are spacing sometimes confused. As with collocation segments, font is plain, but spacing is smaller than normal definition spacing. This seems pointlessly complicating for an on-line display. italic Contrasting word. Not exactly an antonym, which is marked , but a contrasting word which is often introduced as "opposite to" or "contrasts with". italic Antonym. * Second definition (occasionally, a third definition is present). This is used where a second or third part of speech with the same orthography is placed under one headword. Within this segment, there will be a field, and sometimes a and/or a quotation. italic. Plural form. Used exclusively to mark the "pl." abbreviation, which introduces a definition for the headword, *when used in the plural form*. Not related to , which spells out the plural form, but does define it. italic Usage example. Used only a few times, within segments. italic Subtype. A functional mark, to point out words which are conceptually subtypes of the headword. plain, Chemical formula. The letters are plain font, numbers but the numbers are subscript. This is mostly subscript useful as a functional mark to pinpoint chemicals. italic Mathematical expression. In this dictionary, essentially all letters (used as variable labels) in math expressions are in italic font. The "+" and "-" may also appear typographically different from elsewhere in the dictionary. italic Also a mathematical expression, but the colon and double colon may have a different typography than usual., as in a:b italic Singular form. Analogous to , to define the singular word where the headword is the plural form. * Morphological derivation. Used to mark the entry-reference portions of those entries which are defined as morphological derivatives (plural, p. p., imp.) of other headwords. Used just as an attempt to mark and regularize the entry format. May be ignored typographically. a stack, Fraction. Used for non-numerical fractions with which cannot be expressed as a superscript, Exponential. Used in mathematical expressions. smaller font. italic Translation (of Greek) in the body of a definition. Used only twice. bold, Collocation font. Same font as used in collocations. smaller This is used only in the list of "un-" words not by 1 point actually defined in the dictionary. Probably could be replaced by a segment mark for the entire list! * Functional expression (math). The function names are in plain type, the variables are italic. italic Illustration reference. italic Figure reference. * Chemical reaction. Similar to chemical formulas (which are contained but not explicitly marked), with some other symbols. italic Verb Particle. Only a few particles were actually marked, but in a future version more may be. ? Table Title. Used only once. * Square root -- differs from the entity field has a bar over the expression within the field, as well as the square root symbol preceding the expression in the field. Used only once. * Vinculum. In a mathematical expression, a bar extending over the expression within the field. Used only once. This apparently serves the same function as a parentheses, of causing the expression within the field to be evaluated and the result used as the (mathematical) value of the field. plain Nultype. An older version of . italic Part. A word which is a part of the headword. * Second collocation definition. Somewhat similar to . Purely a mark to reduce functional ambiguity, with no effect on the typography. ========================================================== =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

A.

A (named ā in the English, and most commonly ä 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 Phœnician 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 ä sound, the Phœnician alphabet having no vowel symbols.

This letter, in English, is used for several different vowel sounds. See Guide to pronunciation, §§ 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 ä (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♯) is the name of a musical tone intermediate between A and B. -- A flat (A♭) is the name of a tone intermediate between A and G.

A per se (L. per se by itself), one preëminent; a nonesuch. [Obs.]

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

A (&adot; emph. ā). 1. [Shortened form of an. AS. ān 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. 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 (&adot;), 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. 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. [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 barbarous corruption of have, of he, and sometimes of it and of they. "So would I a done" "A brushes his hat." Shak.

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, 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. ofdūne off the dun or hill). (3) AS. ā- (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 à (L. ad to), as in abase, achieve. (6) L. a, ab, abs, from, as in avert. (7) Greek insep. prefix α without, or privative, not, as in abyss, atheist; akin to E. un-.

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

A 1 (ā wŭn). 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.

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

||Aam (&add;m or äm), 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 36½, at Hamburg 38¼. [Written also Aum and Awm.]

||Aard"-vark` (ärd"värk`), n. [D., earth-pig.] (Zoöl.) 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` (ärd"w&oocr;lf), n. [D, earth-wolf] (Zoöl.) A carnivorous quadruped (Proteles Lalandii), of South Africa, resembling the fox and hyena. See Proteles.

{ Aa*ron"ic (&asl;*r&obreve;n"&ibreve;k), Aa*ron"ic*al (-&ibreve;*kal), } a. Pertaining to Aaron, the first high priest of the Jews.

Aar"on's rod` (âr"ŭnz r&obreve;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- (ăb). [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 (ăb), 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.

||Ab"a*ca (ăb"&adot;*k&adot;), n. [The native name.] The Manila-hemp plant (Musa textilis); also, its fiber. See Manila hemp under Manila.

A*bac"i*nate (&adot;*băs"&ibreve;*nāt), 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.]

A*bac`i*na"tion (&adot;*băs`&ibreve;*nā"shŭn), n. The act of abacinating. [R.]

||Ab`a*cis"cus (ăb`&adot;*s&ibreve;s"kŭs), n. [Gr. 'abaki`skos, dim of 'a`bax. See Abacus.] (Arch.) One of the tiles or squares of a tessellated pavement; an abaculus.

Ab"a*cist (ăb"&adot;*s&ibreve;st), n. [LL abacista, fr. abacus.] One who uses an abacus in casting accounts; a calculator.

A*back" (&adot;*băk"), adv. [Pref. a- + back; AS. on bæc 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.

Ab"ack (ăb"ak), n. An abacus. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Ab*ac"ti*nal (ăb*ăk"t&ibreve;*nal), a. [L. ab + E. actinal.] (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the surface or end opposite to the mouth in a radiate animal; -- opposed to actinal. "The aboral or abactinal area." L. Agassiz.

Ab*ac"tion (ăb*ăk"shŭn), n. Stealing cattle on a large scale. [Obs.]

Ab*ac"tor (-t&etilde;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.]

||A*bac"u*lus (&adot;b*ăk"&usl;*lŭs), n.; pl. Abaculi (-lī). [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.

Ab"a*cus (ăb"&adot;*kŭs), n.; E. pl. Abacuses ; L. pl. Abaci (-sī). [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.

Ab"a*da (ăb"&adot;*d&adot;), n. [Pg., the female rhinoceros.] The rhinoceros. [Obs.] Purchas.

A*bad"don (&adot;*băd"dŭn), n. [Heb. ābaddōn destruction, abyss, fr. ābad 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.

A*baft" (&adot;*b&adot;ft"), prep. [Pref. a- on + OE. baft, baften, biaften, AS. beæftan; be by + æftan behind. See After, Aft, By.] (Naut.) Behind; toward the stern from; as, abaft the wheelhouse.

Abaft the beam. See under Beam.

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

A*bai"sance (&adot;*bā"sans), n. [For obeisance; confused with F. abaisser, E. abase.] Obeisance. [Obs.] Jonson.

A*bai"ser (&adot;*bā"s&etilde;r), n. Ivory black or animal charcoal. Weale.

A*baist" (&adot;*bāst"), p. p. Abashed; confounded; discomfited. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ab*al"ien*ate (ăb*āl"yen*āt; 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.

Ab*al`ien*a"tion (-āl`yen*ā"shŭn), n. [L. abalienatio: cf. F. abaliénation.] The act of abalienating; alienation; estrangement. [Obs.]

||Ab`a*lo"ne (ăb`&adot;*lō"n&esl;), n. (Zoöl.) 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.

A*band" (&adot;*bănd"), v. t. [Contracted from abandon.] 1. To abandon. [Obs.]

1. To abandon. [Obs.]

Enforced the kingdom to aband.
Spenser.

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

A*ban"don (&adot;*băn"dŭn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abandoned (- dŭnd); 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. -- 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.

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

||A`ban`don" (&adot;`bäN`dôN"), n. [F. See Abandon.] A complete giving up to natural impulses; freedom from artificial constraint; careless freedom or ease.

A*ban"doned (&adot;*băn"dŭnd), 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. -- 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.

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

A*ban`don*ee" (&adot;*băn`dŭn*ē"), n. (Law) One to whom anything is legally abandoned.

A*ban"don*er (&adot;*băn"dŭn*&etilde;r), n. One who abandons. Beau. & Fl.

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.

||A*ban"dum (&adot;*băn"dŭm), n. [LL. See Abandon.] (Law) Anything forfeited or confiscated.

Ab"a*net (ăb"&adot;*n&ebreve;t), n. See Abnet.

||A*ban"ga (&adot;*bă&nsm;"g&adot;), 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.

{ Ab`an*na"tion (ăb`ăn*nā"shŭn), Ab`an*nition (ăb`ăn*n&ibreve;sh"ŭn), } n. [LL. abannatio; ad + LL. bannire to banish.] (Old Law) Banishment. [Obs.] Bailey.

Ab`ar*tic`u*la"tion (acr/b`är*t&ibreve;k`&usl;*lā"shŭn), 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.

A*base" (&adot;*bās"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abased (&adot;*bāst"); 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."

A*based" (&adot;*bāst"), a. 1. Lowered; humbled.

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

A*bas"ed*ly (&adot;*bās"&ebreve;d*l&ybreve;), adv. Abjectly; downcastly.

A*base"ment (&adot;*bās"ment), n. [Cf. F. abaissement.] The act of abasing, humbling, or bringing low; the state of being abased or humbled; humiliation.

A*bas"er (&adot;*bās"&etilde;r), n. He who, or that which, abases.

A*bash" (&adot;*băsh"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abashed (&adot;*băsht"); p. pr. & vb. n. Abashing.] [OE. abaissen, abaisshen, abashen, OF. esbahir, F. ébahir, 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. -- 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.

A*bash"ed*ly (-&ebreve;d*l&ybreve;), adv. In an abashed manner.

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

{ ||A*bas"si (&adot;*băs"s&ibreve;), ||A*bas"sis (&adot;*băs"s&ibreve;s), } n. [Ar. & Per. abāsī, belonging to Abas (a king of Persia).] A silver coin of Persia, worth about twenty cents.

A*bat"a*ble (&adot;*bāt"&adot;*b'l), a. Capable of being abated; as, an abatable writ or nuisance.

A*bate" (&adot;*bāt"), 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.

A*bate" (&adot;*bāt"), 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. -- 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.

A*bate (&adot;*bāt"), n. Abatement. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

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.

A*bat"er (-&etilde;r), n. One who, or that which, abates.

{ Ab"a*tis, Aba"t*tis, } (ăb"&adot;*t&ibreve;s; French &adot;`b&adot;`tē") 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.

Ab"a*tised (ăb"&adot;*t&ibreve;st), a. Provided with an abatis.

A*ba"tor (&adot;*bāt"&etilde;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.

||A`bat`toir" (&adot;`b&adot;t`twär"), n.; pl. Abattoirs (- twärz"). [F., fr. abattre to beat down. See Abate.] A public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc.

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

||A`bat`voix" (&adot;`b&adot;`vwä"), n. [F. abattre to beat down + voix voice.] The sounding- board over a pulpit or rostrum.

Ab*awed" (ăb*&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.

{ Ab*ax"i*al (ăb*ăks"&ibreve;*al), Ab*ax"ile (ăb*ăks"&ibreve;l),} a. [L. ab + axis axle.] (Bot.) Away from the axis or central line; eccentric. Balfour.

A*bay" (&adot;*bā"), n. [OF. abay barking.] Barking; baying of dogs upon their prey. See Bay. [Obs.]

Abb (ăb), n. [AS. āweb, āb; pref. a- + web. See Web.] Among weavers, yarn for the warp. Hence, abb wool is wool for the abb.

Ab"ba (ăb"b&adot;), n. [Syriac abbā 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.

Ab"ba*cy (ăb"b&adot;*s&ybreve;), n.; pl. Abbacies (-s&ibreve;z). [L. abbatia, fr. abbas, abbatis, abbot. See Abbey.] The dignity, estate, or jurisdiction of an abbot.

Ab*ba"tial (ăb*bā"shal), a. [LL. abbatialis : cf. F. abbatial.] Belonging to an abbey; as, abbatial rights.

Ab*bat"ic*al (ăb*băt"&ibreve;*kal), a. Abbatial. [Obs.]

||Ab"bé` (&adot;b"b&asl;`), n. [F. abbé. 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.

&fist; 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. Littré.

Ab"bess (ăb"b&ebreve;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.

Ab"bey (ăb"b&ybreve;), n.; pl. Abbeys (-b&ibreve;z). [OF. abaïe, abbaïe, 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.

&fist; 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.

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.

Ab"bot (&?;), n. [AS. abbod, abbad, L. abbas, abbatis, Gr. 'abba^s, fr. Syriac abbā father. Cf. Abba, Abbé.]

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 mediæval times, the master of revels, as at Christmas; in Scotland called the Abbot of Unreason.Encyc. Brit.

Ab"bot*ship (&?;), n. [Abbot + - ship.] The state or office of an abbot.

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.

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.

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

Ab*bre"vi*a`ted (&?;), a. Shortened; relatively short; abbreviate.

Ab*bre`vi*a"tion (&?;), n. [LL. abbreviatio: cf. F. abbréviation.] 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.

Ab*bre"vi*a`tor (&?;), n. [LL.: cf. F. abbréviateur.] 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.

Ab*bre"vi*a*to*ry (&?;), a. Serving or tending to abbreviate; shortening; abridging.

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 (ăb" w&oocr;l). See Abb.

A B C" (ā bē sē"). 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.

||Ab"dal (&?;), n. [Ar. badīl, pl. abdāl, a substitute, a good, religious man, saint, fr. badala to change, substitute.] A religious devotee or dervish in Persia.

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.

Ab*de"rite (&?;), n. [L. Abderita, Abderites, fr. Gr. 'Abdhri`ths.] An inhabitant of Abdera, in Thrace.

The Abderite, Democritus, the Laughing Philosopher.

Ab"dest (&?;), n. [Per. ābdast; ab water + dast hand.] Purification by washing the hands before prayer; -- a Mohammedan rite. Heyse.

Ab"di*ca*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being abdicated.

Ab"di*cant (&?;), a. [L. abdicans, p. pr. of abdicare.] Abdicating; renouncing; -- followed by of.

Monks abdicant of their orders.
Whitlock.

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

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.

&fist; 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. -- 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.

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.

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.

Ab"di*ca*tive (&?;), a. [L. abdicativus.] Causing, or implying, abdication. [R.] Bailey.

Ab"di*ca`tor (&?;), n. One who abdicates.

Ab"di*tive (&?;), a. [L. abditivus, fr. abdere to hide.] Having the quality of hiding. [R.] Bailey.

Ab"di*to*ry (&?;), n. [L. abditorium.] A place for hiding or preserving articles of value. Cowell.

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. (Zoöl.) The posterior section of the body, behind the thorax, in insects, crustaceans, and other Arthropoda.

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

2. (Zoöl.) 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.

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

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

||Ab*dom`i*na"li*a (&?;), n. pl. [NL., neut. pl.] (Zoöl.) A group of cirripeds having abdominal appendages.

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

Ab*dom`i*no*tho*rac"ic (&?;), a. Relating to the abdomen and the thorax, or chest.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A*bear" (&?;), v. t. [AS. āberan; pref. ā- + 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.

A*bear"ance (&?;), n. Behavior. [Obs.] Blackstone.

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

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.

{ A`be*ce*da"ri*an, 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.

A`be*ce"da*ry (&?;), n. A primer; the first principle or rudiment of anything. [R.] Fuller.

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.

A*beg"ge (&?;). Same as Aby. [Obs.] Chaucer.

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.

{ A*bel"i*an (&?;), A"bel*ite (&?;), 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.

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.

Ab`er-de-vine" (#), n. (Zoöl.) The European siskin (Carduelis spinus), a small green and yellow finch, related to the goldfinch.

Ab*err" (&?;), v. i. [L. aberrare. See Aberrate.] To wander; to stray. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

{ Ab*er"rance (&?;), 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.

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.

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.

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.

Ab`er*ra"tion*al (&?;), a. Characterized by aberration.

Ab`e*run"cate (&?;), v. t. [L. aberuncare, for aberruncare. See Averruncate.] To weed out. [Obs.] Bailey.

Ab`e*run"ca*tor (&?;), n. A weeding machine.

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. bīta 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.

A*bet" (&?;), n. [OF. abet, fr. abeter.] Act of abetting; aid. [Obs.] Chaucer.

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

A*bet"tal (&?;), n. Abetment. [R.]

{ A*bet"ter, A*bet*tor } (&?;), n. One who abets; an instigator of an offense or an offender.

&fist; The form abettor is the legal term and also in general use.

Syn. -- Abettor, Accessory, Accomplice. 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.

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

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.

&fist; 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.

A*bey"an*cy (&?;), n. Abeyance. [R.] Hawthorne.

A*bey"ant (&?;), a. Being in a state of abeyance.

||Ab"hal (&?;), n. The berries of a species of cypress in the East Indies.

Ab*hom"i*na*ble (&?;), a. Abominable. [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.

Ab*hom`i*nal (&?;), a. [L. ab away from + homo, hominis, man.] Inhuman. [Obs.] Fuller.

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.

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.

Ab*hor"rence (&?;), n. Extreme hatred or detestation; the feeling of utter dislike.

Ab*hor"ren*cy (&?;), n. Abhorrence. [Obs.] Locke.

Ab*hor"rent (&?;), a. [L. abhorens, -rentis, p. pr. of abhorrere.] 1. Abhorring; detesting; having or showing abhorrence; loathing; hence, strongly opposed to; as, abhorrent thoughts.

The persons most abhorrent from blood and treason.
Burke.

The arts of pleasure in despotic courts
I spurn abhorrent.
Clover.

2. Contrary or repugnant; discordant; inconsistent; -- followed by to. "Injudicious profanation, so abhorrent to our stricter principles." Gibbon.

3. Detestable. "Pride, abhorrent as it is." I. Taylor.

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

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

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

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

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

||A"bib (&?;), n. [Heb. abīb, lit. an ear of corn. The month was so called from barley being at that time in ear.] The first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding nearly to our April. After the Babylonish captivity this month was called Nisan. Kitto.

A*bid"ance (&?;), n. The state of abiding; abode; continuance; compliance (with).

The Christians had no longer abidance in the holy hill of Palestine.
Fuller.

A judicious abidance by rules.
Helps.

A*bide" (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abode (&?;), formerly Abid(&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Abiding (&?;).] [AS. ābīdan; pref. ā- (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out) + bīdan to bide. See Bide.] 1. To wait; to pause; to delay. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. To stay; to continue in a place; to have one's abode; to dwell; to sojourn; -- with with before a person, and commonly with at or in before a place.

Let the damsel abide with us a few days.
Gen. xxiv. 55.

3. To remain stable or fixed in some state or condition; to continue; to remain.

Let every man abide in the same calling.
1 Cor. vii. 20.

Followed by by:

To abide by. (a)To stand to; to adhere; to maintain.

The poor fellow was obstinate enough to abide by what he said at first.
Fielding.

(b) To acquiesce; to conform to; as, to abide by a decision or an award.

A*bide", v. t. 1. To wait for; to be prepared for; to await; to watch for; as, I abide my time. "I will abide the coming of my lord." Tennyson.

[[Obs.], with a personal object.

Bonds and afflictions abide me.
Acts xx. 23.

2. To endure; to sustain; to submit to.

[Thou] shalt abide her judgment on it.
Tennyson.

3. To bear patiently; to tolerate; to put up with.

She could not abide Master Shallow.
Shak.

4. [Confused with aby to pay for. See Aby.] To stand the consequences of; to answer for; to suffer for.

Dearly I abide that boast so vain.
Milton.

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

2. One who dwells; a resident. Speed.

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

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

||A"bi*es (&?;), n. [L., fir tree.] (Bot.) A genus of coniferous trees, properly called Fir, as the balsam fir and the silver fir. The spruces are sometimes also referred to this genus.

Ab"i*e*tene (&?;), n. [L. abies, abietis, a fir tree.] A volatile oil distilled from the resin or balsam of the nut pine (Pinus sabiniana) of California.

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

{ Ab"i*e*tin, Ab"i*e*tine } (&?;), n. [See Abietene.] (Chem.) A resinous obtained from Strasburg turpentine or Canada balsam. It is without taste or smell, is insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol (especially at the boiling point), in strong acetic acid, and in ether. Watts.

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

Ab"i*e*tite (&?;), n. (Chem.) A substance resembling mannite, found in the needles of the common silver fir of Europe (Abies pectinata). Eng. Cyc.

Ab"i*gail (&?;), n. [The proper name used as an appellative.] A lady's waiting-maid. Pepys.

Her abigail reported that Mrs. Gutheridge had a set of night curls for sleeping in.
Leslie.

A*bil"i*ment (&adot;*b&ibreve;l"&ibreve;*ment), n. Habiliment. [Obs.]

A*bil"i*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Abilities(&?;). [F. habileté, earlier spelling habilité (with silent h), L. habilitas aptitude, ability, fr. habilis apt. See Able.] The quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; -- in the plural, faculty, talent.

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren.
Acts xi. 29.

Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study.
Bacon.

The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability.
Macaulay.

Syn. -- Capacity; talent; cleverness; faculty; capability; efficiency; aptitude; aptness; address; dexterity; skill. Ability, Capacity. These words come into comparison when applied to the higher intellectual powers. Ability has reference to the active exercise of our faculties. It implies not only native vigor of mind, but that ease and promptitude of execution which arise from mental training. Thus, we speak of the ability with which a book is written, an argument maintained, a negotiation carried on, etc. It always something to be done, and the power of doing it. Capacity has reference to the receptive powers. In its higher exercises it supposes great quickness of apprehension and breadth of intellect, with an uncommon aptitude for acquiring and retaining knowledge. Hence it carries with it the idea of resources and undeveloped power. Thus we speak of the extraordinary capacity of such men as Lord Bacon, Blaise Pascal, and Edmund Burke. "Capacity," says H. Taylor, "is requisite to devise, and ability to execute, a great enterprise." The word abilities, in the plural, embraces both these qualities, and denotes high mental endowments.

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

Ab`i*o*gen"e*sis (&?;), n. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; life + &?;, origin, birth.] (Biol.) The supposed origination of living organisms from lifeless matter; such genesis as does not involve the action of living parents; spontaneous generation; -- called also abiogeny, and opposed to biogenesis.

I shall call the . . . doctrine that living matter may be produced by not living matter, the hypothesis of abiogenesis.
Huxley, 1870.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ab"ject (&?;), a. [L. abjectus, p. p. of abjicere to throw away; ab + jacere to throw. See Jet a shooting forth.] 1. Cast down; low- lying. [Obs.]

From the safe shore their floating carcasses
And broken chariot wheels; so thick bestrown
Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood.
Milton.

2. Sunk to a law condition; down in spirit or hope; degraded; servile; groveling; despicable; as, abject posture, fortune, thoughts. "Base and abject flatterers." Addison. "An abject liar." Macaulay.

And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams.
Shak.

Syn. -- Mean; groveling; cringing; mean-spirited; slavish; ignoble; worthless; vile; beggarly; contemptible; degraded.

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

Ab"ject (&?;), n. A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a castaway. [Obs.]

Shall these abjects, these victims, these outcasts, know any thing of pleasure?
I. Taylor.

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

Ab*jec"tion (&?;), n. [F. abjection, L. abjectio.] 1. The act of bringing down or humbling. "The abjection of the king and his realm." Joe.

2. The state of being rejected or cast out. [R.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Syn. -- See Renounce.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. (Med.) Extirpation. Dunglison.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All ablaze with crimson and gold.
Longfellow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

No man wrote abler state papers.
Macaulay.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The form -ible is used in the same sense.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Something abnormal.

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

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

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

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

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

2. Alongside; as, close aboard.

Naut.:

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

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

2. Across; athwart. [Obs.]

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

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

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

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

And with her fled away without abode.
Spenser.

2. Stay or continuance in a place; sojourn.

He waxeth at your abode here.
Fielding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And with thy blood abolish so reproachful blot.
Spenser.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Antony, most large in his abominations.
Shak.

3. A cause of pollution or wickedness.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. The original fauna and flora of a geographical area

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

A*bor"sive (&adot;*bôr"s&ibreve;v), a. Abortive. [Obs.] Fuller.

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

1. To miscarry; to bring forth young prematurely.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. The immature product of an untimely birth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Men abounding in natural courage.
Macaulay.

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

It abounds with cabinets of curiosities.
Addison.

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

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

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

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

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

Roving still about the world.
Milton.

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

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

&fist; This use passes into the adverbial sense.

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

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

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

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

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

She must have her way about Sarah.
Trollope.

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

'Tis time to look about.
Shak.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To sham Abraham, to feign sickness.Goldsmith.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. The substance rubbed off. Berkeley.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Abreast therewith began a convocation.
Fuller.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ancient coins as abridgments of history.
Addison.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The fox roams far abroad.
Prior.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Over the vast abrupt."
Milton.

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

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

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

2. Precipitously.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The marmot absconds all winter.
Ray.

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

That very homesickness which, in regular armies, drives so many recruits to abscond.
Macaulay.

Ab*scond", v. t. To hide; to conceal. [Obs.] Bentley.

Ab*scond"ence (&?;), n. Fugitive concealment; secret retirement; hiding. [R.] Phillips.

Ab*scond"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; -- opposed to presence.

Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence.
Phil. ii. 12.

2. Want; destitution; withdrawal. "In 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. "Expecting absent friends." Shak.

2. Not existing; lacking; as, the part was rudimental or absent.

3. Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; 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. -- 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.

Ab*sent" (&?;), 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; -- 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.] "Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more." Milton.

Ab`sen*ta"ne*ous (&?;), a. [LL. absentaneus. See absent] Pertaining to absence. [Obs.]

Ab`sen*ta"tion (&?;), n. The act of absenting one's self. Sir W. Hamilton.

Ab`sen*tee" (&?;), 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`sen*tee"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.

Ab*sent"er (&?;), n. One who absents one's self.

Ab"sent*ly (&?;), adv. In an absent or abstracted manner.

Ab*sent"ment (ăb*s&ebreve;nt"ment), n. The state of being absent; withdrawal. [R.] Barrow.

Ab`sent-mind"ed(&?;), a. Absent in mind; abstracted; preoccupied. -- Ab`sent-mind"ed*ness, n. -- Ab`sent-mind"ed*ly, adv.

Ab"sent*ness (&?;), n. The quality of being absent-minded. H. Miller.

Ab"sey-book`(&?;), n. An A-B-C book; a primer. [Obs.] Shak.

{ 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.

Ab"sin"thate (&?;), n. (Chem.) A combination of absinthic acid with a base or positive radical.

Ab*sin"thi*al (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to wormwood; absinthian.

Ab*sin"thi*an (&?;), n. Of the nature of wormwood. "Absinthian bitterness." T. Randolph.

Ab"sin"thi*ate (&?;), v. t. [From L. absinthium: cf. L. absinthiatus, a.] To impregnate with wormwood.

Ab*sin"thi*a`ted (&?;), a. Impregnated with wormwood; as, absinthiated wine.

Ab*sin"thic (&?;), a. (Chem.) Relating to the common wormwood or to an acid obtained from it.

Ab*sin"thin (&?;), n. (Chem.) The bitter principle of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Watts.

Ab"sin*thism (&?;), n. The condition of being poisoned by the excessive use of absinth.

Ab*sin"thi*um (&?;), 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.

Ab*sist" (&?;), 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.

Ab*sist"ence (&?;), n. A standing aloof. [Obs.]

Ab"so*lute (&?;), 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; -- 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; self-existent; self-sufficing.

&fist; 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; non-relative.

&fist; 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. -- Absolute equation(Astron.), the sum of the optic and eccentric equations. -- Absolute space(Physics), space considered without relation to material limits or objects. -- Absolute terms. (Alg.), such as are known, or which do not contain the unknown quantity.Davies & Peck. -- Absolute temperature(Physics), the temperature as measured on a scale determined by certain general thermo-dynamic principles, and reckoned from the absolute zero. -- Absolute zero(Physics), the be ginning, or zero point, in the scale of absolute temperature. It is equivalent to -273° centigrade or - 459.4° Fahrenheit.

Syn. -- Positive; peremptory; certain; unconditional; unlimited; unrestricted; unqualified; arbitrary; despotic; autocratic.

Ab"so*lute (&?;), n. (Geom.) In a plane, the two imaginary circular points at infinity; in space of three dimensions, the imaginary circle at infinity.

Ab"so*lute*ly, adv. In an absolute, independent, or unconditional manner; wholly; positively.

Ab"so*lute*ness, n. The quality of being absolute; independence of everything extraneous; unlimitedness; absolute power; independent reality; positiveness.

Ab`so*lu"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. "Government . . . 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.

&fist; In the English and other Protestant churches, this act regarded as simply declaratory, not as imparting forgiveness.

4. (Eccl.) An absolving from ecclesiastical penalties, -- 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"so*lu`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"so*lu`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"so*lu`tist, a. Of or pertaining to absolutism; arbitrary; despotic; as, absolutist principles.

Ab`so*lu*tis"tic (&?;), a. Pertaining to absolutism; absolutist.

Ab*sol"u*to*ry (&?;), a. [L. absolutorius, fr. absolvere to absolve.] Serving to absolve; absolving. "An absolutory sentence." Ayliffe.

Ab*solv"a*ble (&?;), a. That may be absolved.

Ab*solv"a*to*ry (&?;), a. Conferring absolution; absolutory.

Ab*solve" (#; 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); -- 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.] "We shall not absolve the doubt." Sir T. Browne.

Syn. -- 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.

Ab*solv"ent (&?;), a. [L. absolvens, p. pr. of absolvere.] Absolving. [R.] Carlyle.

Ab*solv"ent, n. An absolver. [R.] Hobbes.

Ab*solv"er (&?;), n. One who absolves. Macaulay.

Ab"so*nant (&?;), a. [L. ab + sonans, p. pr. of sonare to sound.] Discordant; contrary; -- opposed to consonant. "Absonant to nature." Quarles.

Ab"so*nous (&?;), a. [L. absonus; ab + sonus sound.] Discordant; inharmonious; incongruous. [Obs.] "Absonous to our reason." Glanvill.

Ab*sorb" (&?;), 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. "Dark 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. p. 8

Syn. -- 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 -- 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.

Ab*sorb`a*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. The state or quality of being absorbable. Graham (Chemistry).

Ab*sorb"a*ble, a. [Cf. F. absorbable.] Capable of being absorbed or swallowed up. Kerr.

Ab*sorb"ed*ly, adv. In a manner as if wholly engrossed or engaged.

Ab*sorb"en*cy (&?;), n. Absorptiveness.

Ab*sorb"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.

Ab*sorb"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.

Ab*sorb"er (&?;), n. One who, or that which, absorbs.

Ab*sorb"ing, a. Swallowing, engrossing; as, an absorbing pursuit. -- Ab*sorb"ing, adv.

Ab`sor*bi"tion (&?;), n. Absorption. [Obs.]

Ab*sorpt` (&?;), a. [L. absorptus, p. p.] Absorbed. [Arcahic.] "Absorpt in care." Pope.

Ab*sorp"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.

Ab*sorp"tive (&?;), a. Having power, capacity, or tendency to absorb or imbibe. E. Darwin.

Ab*sorp"tive*ness, n. The quality of being absorptive; absorptive power.

Ab`sorp*tiv"i*ty (&?;), n. Absorptiveness.

Ab*squat"u*late (&?;), v. i. To take one's self off; to decamp. [A jocular word. U. S.]

||Abs"que hoc (&?;). [L., without this.] (Law) The technical words of denial used in traversing what has been alleged, and is repeated.

Ab*stain" (&?;), 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; -- with from.

Not a few abstained from voting.
Macaulay.

Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt?
Shak.

Syn. -- To refrain; forbear; withhold; deny one's self; give up; relinquish.

Ab*stain", v. t. To hinder; to withhold.

Whether he abstain men from marrying.
Milton.

Ab*stain"er (&?;), n. One who abstains; esp., one who abstains from the use of intoxicating liquors.

Ab*ste"mi*ous (&?;), 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. "One abstemious day." Pope.

5. Promotive of abstemiousness. [R.]

Such is the virtue of the abstemious well.
Dryden.

Ab*ste"mi*ous*ness, 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.

Ab*sten"tion (&?;), a. [F. See Abstain.] The act of abstaining; a holding aloof. Jer. Taylor.

Ab*sten"tious (&?;), a. Characterized by abstinence; self-restraining. Farrar.

Ab*sterge (&?;), 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.

Ab*ster"gent (&?;), a. [L. abstergens, p. pr. of abstergere.] Serving to cleanse, detergent.

Ab*ster"gent, n. A substance used in cleansing; a detergent; as, soap is an abstergent.

Ab*sterse" (&?;), v. t. To absterge; to cleanse; to purge away. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Ab*ster"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.

Ab*ster"sive (&?;), a. [Cf. F. abstersif. See Absterge.] Cleansing; purging. Bacon.

Ab*ster"sive, n. Something cleansing.

The strong abstersive of some heroic magistrate.
Milton.

Ab*ster"sive*ness, n. The quality of being abstersive. Fuller.

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

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

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

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

Ab"sti*nen*cy (&?;), n. Abstinence. [R.]

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

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

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

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

Ab*stort"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; existing in the mind only; as, abstract truth, abstract numbers. Hence: ideal; abstruse; difficult.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. To epitomize; to abridge. Franklin.

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

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

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

Ab*stract", 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 "father" and "son" have, or might have, the abstracts "paternity" and "filiety."
J. S. Mill.

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

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

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

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

The evil abstracted stood from his own evil.
Milton.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

&fist; 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.

Ab*strac"tion*al (&?;), a. Pertaining to abstraction.

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

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

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

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

Ab*strac"tive*ness, 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. "The abstractness of the ideas." Locke.

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

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

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

The eternal eye whose sight discerns
Abstrusest thoughts.
Milton.

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

Profound and abstruse topics.
Milman.

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

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

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

Ab*stru"si*ty (ăb*str&udd;"s&ibreve;*t&ybreve;), n. Abstruseness; that which is abstruse. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

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

Ab*sump"tion (ăb*sŭmp"shŭn; 215), n. [L. absumptio. See Absume.] Act of wasting away; a consuming; extinction. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

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

This proffer is absurd and reasonless.
Shak.

'This phrase absurd to call a villain great.
Pope. p. 9

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

Ab*surd" (ăb*sûrd"), n. An absurdity. [Obs.] Pope.

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

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

His travels were full of absurdities.
Johnson.

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

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

||A*bu"na (&adot;*b&oomac;"n&adot;), n. [Eth. and Ar., our father.] The Patriarch, or head of the Abyssinian Church.

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

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

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

A*bun"dant (&?;), a. [OE. (h)abundant, aboundant, F. abondant, fr. L. abudans, p. pr. of abundare. See Abound.] Fully sufficient; plentiful; in copious supply; -- followed by in, rarely by with. "Abundant in goodness and truth." Exod. xxxiv. 6.

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

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

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

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

A*bus"a*ble (&?;), a. That may be abused.

A*bus"age (&?;), n. Abuse. [Obs.] Whately (1634).

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. To violate; to ravish. Spenser.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Abuse after disappeared without a struggle..
Macaulay.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A*bu"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] "The 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. "An abusive lampoon." Johnson.

5. Tending to deceive; fraudulent; cheating. [Obs.] "An abusive treaty." Bacon.

Syn. -- Reproachful; scurrilous; opprobrious; insolent; insulting; injurious; offensive; reviling.

A*bu"sive*ly, adv. In an abusive manner; rudely; with abusive language.

A*bu"sive*ness, 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.

A*but" (&?;), 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; -- with on, upon, or against; as, his land abuts on the road.

A*bu"ti*lon (&?;), n. [Ar. aubūtīlūn.] (Bot.) A genus of malvaceous plants of many species, found in the torrid and temperate zones of both continents; -- called also Indian mallow.

A*but"ment (&adot;*bŭt"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 breech-loading firearms, the block behind the barrel which receives the pressure due to recoil.

A*but"tal (&?;), n. The butting or boundary of land, particularly at the end; a headland. Spelman.

A*but"ter (&?;), n. One who, or that which, abuts. Specifically, the owner of a contiguous estate; as, the abutters on a street or a river.

A*buzz" (&?;), a. [Pref. a- + buzz.] In a buzz; buzzing. [Colloq.] Dickens.

{ A*by", A*bye" } (&?;), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Abought (&?;).] [AS. ābycgan to pay for; pref. ā- (cf. Goth. us- , Ger. er-, 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.

A*bysm" (&?;), n. [OF. abisme; F. abime, LL. abyssimus, a superl. of L. abyssus; Gr. &?;. See Abyss.] An abyss; a gulf. "The abysm of hell." Shak.

A*bys"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.

A*bys"mal*ly, adv. To a fathomless depth; profoundly. "Abysmally ignorant." G. Eliot.

A*byss" (&?;), n. [L. abyssus a bottomless gulf, fr. Gr. &?; bottomless; 'a 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.

&fist; 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.

A*byss"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`ys*sin"i*an (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Abyssinia.

Abyssinian gold, an alloy of 90.74 parts of copper and 8.33 parts of zink.Ure.

Ab`ys*sin"i*an, n. 1. A native of Abyssinia.

2. A member of the Abyssinian Church.

A*ca"ci*a (&?;), n. (Antiq.) A roll or bag, filled with dust, borne by Byzantine emperors, as a memento of mortality. It is represented on medals.

A*ca"cia (&?;), n.; pl. E. Acacias (&?;), L. Acaciæ (&?;). [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; -- called also gum acacia, and gum arabic.

Ac"a*cin, Ac"a*cine (&?;), n. Gum arabic.

Ac`a*deme" (&?;), n. [L. academia. See Academy.] An academy. [Poetic] Shak.

Ac`a*de"mi*al (&?;), a. Academic. [R.]

Ac`a*de"mi*an (&?;), n. A member of an academy, university, or college.

{ Ac`a*dem"ic (&?;), Ac`a*dem"ic*al (&?;), } a. [L. academicus: cf. F. académigue. 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. "Academic courses." Warburton. "Academical study." Berkeley.

Ac`a*dem"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`a*dem`ic*al*ly, adv. In an academical manner.

Ac`a*dem"ic*als (&?;), n. pl. The articles of dress prescribed and worn at some colleges and universities.

Ac`a*de*mi"cian (#; 277), n. [F. académicien. 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`a*dem"i*cism (&?;), n. 1. A tenet of the Academic philosophy.

2. A mannerism or mode peculiar to an academy.

A*cad"e*mism (&?;), n. The doctrines of the Academic philosophy. [Obs.] Baxter.

A*cad"e*mist (&?;), n. [F. academiste.] 1. An Academic philosopher.

2. An academician. [Obs.] Ray.

A*cad"e*my (&?;), n.; pl. Academies (&?;). [F. académie, 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. "Academies 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 life-size, in crayon or pencil, after a nude model.

A*ca"di*an (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Acadie, or Nova Scotia. "Acadian farmers." Longfellow. -- 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. -- Acadian owl(Zoöl.), a small North American owl (Nyctule Acadica); the saw-whet.

||Ac"a*jou (&?;), n. [F. See Cashew.] (Bot.) (a) The cashew tree; also, its fruit. See Cashew. (b) The mahogany tree; also, its timber.

{ Ac"a*leph (&?;), Ac`a*le"phan (&?;) } n.; pl. Acalephs (&?;), Acalephans (&?;). [See Acalephæ.] (Zoöl.) One of the Acalephæ.

||Ac`a*le"phæ (&?;), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?;, a nettle.] A group of Cœlenterata, including the Medusæ or jellyfishes, and hydroids; -- so called from the stinging power they possess. Sometimes called sea nettles.

Ac`ale"phoid (&?;), a. [Acaleph + - oid.] (Zoöl.) Belonging to or resembling the Acalephæ or jellyfishes.

A*cal"y*cine (&?;), Ac`a*lys`i*nous (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; calyx.] (Bot.) Without a calyx, or outer floral envelope.

A*canth" (&?;), n. Same as Acanthus.

||A*can"tha (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; thorn, fr. &?; point. See Acute.] 1. (Bot.) A prickle.

2. (Zoöl.) A spine or prickly fin.

3. (Anat.) The vertebral column; the spinous process of a vertebra. Dunglison.

Ac"an*tha"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.

A*can"thine (&?;), a. [L. acanthinus, Gr. &?;, thorny, fr. &?;. See Acanthus.] Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the plant acanthus.

A*can`tho*car"pous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; thorn + &?; fruit.] (Bot.) Having the fruit covered with spines.

||A*can`tho*ceph"a*la (&?;), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; a spine, thorn + &?; head.] (Zoöl.) A group of intestinal worms, having the proboscis armed with recurved spines.

A*can`tho*ceph"a*lous (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Having a spiny head, as one of the Acanthocephala.

Ac`an*thoph"o*rous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; spine + &?; to bear.] Spine-bearing. Gray.

A*can`tho*po"di*ous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; thorn + &?;, &?;, foot.] (Bot.) Having spinous petioles.

||Ac`an*thop"ter*i (&?;), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; thorn + &?; wing, fin.] (Zoöl.) A group of teleostean fishes having spiny fins. See Acanthopterygii.

Ac`an*thop"ter*ous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; spine + &?; wing.] 1. (Zoöl.) Spiny- winged.

2. (Zoöl.) Acanthopterygious.

Ac`an*thop`ter*yg"i*an (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Belonging to the order of fishes having spinose fins, as the perch. -- n. A spiny-finned fish.

||Ac`an*thop`ter*yg"i*i (&?;), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; thorn + &?; fin, dim. fr. &?; wing.] (Zoöl.) An order of fishes having some of the rays of the dorsal, ventral, and anal fins unarticulated and spinelike, as the perch.

Ac`an*thop`ter*yg"i*ous (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Having fins in which the rays are hard and spinelike; spiny-finned.

A*can"thus (&?;), n.; pl. E. Acanthuses (&?;), L. Acanthi (&?;). [L., from Gr. &?;. Cf. Acantha.]

1. (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous prickly plants, found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India; bear's- breech.

2. (Arch.) An ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of the acanthus (Acanthus spinosus); -- used in the capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders.

||A cap*pel"la (&?;). [It. See Chapel.] (Mus.) (a) In church or chapel style; -- said of compositions sung in the old church style, without instrumental accompaniment; as, a mass a capella, i. e., a mass purely vocal. (b) A time indication, equivalent to alla breve.

A*cap"su*lar (&?;), a. [Pref. a- not + capsular.] (Bot.) Having no capsule.

A*car"di*ac (&?;), a. [Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; heart.] Without a heart; as, an acardiac fetus.

A*car"i*dan (&?;), n. [See Acarus.] (Zoöl.) One of a group of arachnids, including the mites and ticks.

||Ac`a*ri"na (&?;), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; a mite.] (Zoöl.) The group of Arachnida which includes the mites and ticks. Many species are parasitic, and cause diseases like the itch and mange.

Ac"a*rine (&?;), a. (Med.) Of or caused by acari or mites; as, acarine diseases.

Ac"a*roid (&?;), a. [NL., acarus a mite + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Shaped like or resembling a mite.

Ac`ar*pel"lous (&?;), a. [Pref. a- not + carpel.] (Bot.) Having no carpels.

A*car"pous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; fruit.] (Bot.) Not producing fruit; unfruitful.

||Ac"a*rus (&?;), n.; pl. Acari (&?;). [NL., from Gr. &?; the cheese mite, tick.] (Zoöl.) A genus including many species of small mites.

A*cat`a*lec"tic (&?;), a. [L. acatalecticus, Gr. &?;, not defective at the end; 'a priv. + &?; to cease.] (Pros.) Not defective; complete; as, an acatalectic verse. -- n. A verse which has the complete number of feet and syllables.

A*cat"a*lep`sy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; to seize, comprehend.] Incomprehensibility of things; the doctrine held by the ancient Skeptic philosophers, that human knowledge never amounts to certainty, but only to probability.

A*cat`a*lep"tic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?;.] Incapable of being comprehended; incomprehensible.

A*ca"ter (&?;), n. See Caterer. [Obs.]

A*cates" (&?;), n. pl. See Cates. [Obs.]

A*cau"date (&?;), a. [Pref. a- not + caudate.] Tailless.

Ac`au*les"cent (&?;), a. [Pref. a- not + caulescent.] (Bot.) Having no stem or caulis, or only a very short one concealed in the ground. Gray.

A*cau"line (&?;), a. [Pref. a- not + cauline.] (Bot.) Same as Acaulescent.

{ A*cau"lose (&?;), A*cau"lous (&?;), } a. [Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; stalk or L. caulis stalk. See Cole.] (Bot.) Same as Acaulescent.

Ac*ca"di*an (&?;), a. [From the city Accad. See Gen. x. 10.] Pertaining to a race supposed to have lived in Babylonia before the Assyrian conquest.

-- Ac*ca"di*an, n., Ac"cad (&?;), n. Sayce.

Ac*cede" (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Acceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Acceding.] [L. accedere to approach, accede; ad + cedere to move, yield: cf. F. accédere. See Cede.]

1. To approach; to come forward; -- opposed to recede. [Obs.] T. Gale.

2. To enter upon an office or dignity; to attain.

Edward IV., who had acceded to the throne in the year 1461.
T. Warton.

If Frederick had acceded to the supreme power.
Morley.

3. To become a party by associating one's self with others; to give one's adhesion. Hence, to agree or assent to a proposal or a view; as, he acceded to my request.

The treaty of Hanover in 1725 . . . to which the Dutch afterwards acceded.
Chesterfield.

Syn. -- To agree; assent; consent; comply; acquiesce; concur.

Ac*ced"ence (&?;), n. The act of acceding.

Ac*ced"er (&?;), n. One who accedes.

||Ac*cel`er*an"do (&?;), a. [It.] (Mus.) Gradually accelerating the movement.

Ac*cel"er*ate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accelerated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Accelerating.] [L. acceleratus, p. p. of accelerare; ad + celerare to hasten; celer quick. See Celerity.] 1. To cause to move faster; to quicken the motion of; to add to the speed of; -- opposed to retard.

2. To quicken the natural or ordinary progression or process of; as, to accelerate the growth of a plant, the increase of wealth, etc.

3. To hasten, as the occurence of an event; as, to accelerate our departure.

Accelerated motion(Mech.), motion with a continually increasing velocity. -- Accelerating force, the force which causes accelerated motion.Nichol.

Syn. -- To hasten; expedite; quicken; dispatch; forward; advance; further.

Ac*cel`er*a"tion (&?;), n. [L. acceleratio: cf. F. accélération.] The act of accelerating, or the state of being accelerated; increase of motion or action; as, a falling body moves toward the earth with an acceleration of velocity; -- opposed to retardation.

A period of social improvement, or of intellectual advancement, contains within itself a principle of acceleration.
I. Taylor.

(Astr. & Physics.)

Acceleration of the moon, the increase of the moon's mean motion in its orbit, in consequence of which its period of revolution is now shorter than in ancient times. - - Acceleration and retardation of the tides. See Priming of the tides, under Priming. -- Diurnal acceleration of the fixed stars, the amount by which their apparent diurnal motion exceeds that of the sun, in consequence of which they daily come to the meridian of any place about three minutes fifty-six seconds of solar time earlier than on the day preceding. -- Acceleration of the planets, the increasing velocity of their motion, in proceeding from the apogee to the perigee of their orbits.

Ac*cel"er*a*tive (&?;), a. Relating to acceleration; adding to velocity; quickening. Reid.

Ac*cel"er*a`tor (&?;), n. One who, or that which, accelerates. Also as an adj.; as, accelerator nerves.

Ac*cel"er*a*to*ry (&?;), a. Accelerative.

Ac*cel"er*o*graph (&?;), n. [Accelerate + -graph.] (Mil.) An apparatus for studying the combustion of powder in guns, etc.

Ac*cel`er*om"e*ter (&?;), n. [Accelerate + -meter.] An apparatus for measuring the velocity imparted by gunpowder.

Ac*cend" (&?;), v. t. [L. accendere, accensum, to kindle; ad + cand&ebreve;re to kindle (only in compounds); rel. to candēre to be white, to gleam. See Candle.] To set on fire; to kindle. [Obs.] Fotherby.

Ac*cend`i*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. Capacity of being kindled, or of becoming inflamed; inflammability.

Ac*cend"i*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being inflamed or kindled; combustible; inflammable. Ure.

Ac*cen"sion (&?;), n. The act of kindling or the state of being kindled; ignition. Locke.

Ac*cen"sor (&?;), n. [LL., from p. p. accensus. See Accend.] (R. C. Ch.) One of the functionaries who light and trim the tapers.

Ac"cent` (&?;), n. [F. accent, L. accentus; ad + cantus a singing, canere to sing. See Cant.] 1. A superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some particular syllable of a word or a phrase, distinguishing it from the others.

&fist; Many English words have two accents, the primary and the secondary; the primary being uttered with a greater stress of voice than the secondary; as in as′pira\'b6tion, where the chief stress is on the third syllable, and a slighter stress on the first. Some words, as an′tiap′o-plec\'b6tic, in- com′pre-hen′si-bil\'b6i-ty, have two secondary accents. See Guide to Pron., t=t= 30-46.

2. A mark or character used in writing, and serving to regulate the pronunciation; esp.: (a) a mark to indicate the nature and place of the spoken accent; (b) a mark to indicate the quality of sound of the vowel marked; as, the French accents.

&fist; In the ancient Greek the acute accent (′) meant a raised tone or pitch, the grave (`), the level tone or simply the negation of accent, the circumflex ( ~ or ^) a tone raised and then depressed. In works on elocution, the first is often used to denote the rising inflection of the voice; the second, the falling inflection; and the third (^), the compound or waving inflection. In dictionaries, spelling books, and the like, the acute accent is used to designate the syllable which receives the chief stress of voice.

3. Modulation of the voice in speaking; manner of speaking or pronouncing; peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice; tone; as, a foreign accent; a French or a German accent. "Beguiled you in a plain accent." Shak. "A perfect accent." Thackeray.

The tender accent of a woman's cry.
Prior.

4. A word; a significant tone; (pl.) expressions in general; speech.

Winds! on your wings to Heaven her accents bear,
Such words as Heaven alone is fit to hear.
Dryden.

5. (Pros.) Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.

6. (Mus.) (a) A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure. (b) A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure. (c) The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period. (d) The expressive emphasis and shading of a passage. J. S. Dwight.

7. (Math.) (a) A mark placed at the right hand of a letter, and a little above it, to distinguish magnitudes of a similar kind expressed by the same letter, but differing in value, as y′, y″. (b) (Trigon.) A mark at the right hand of a number, indicating minutes of a degree, seconds, etc.; as, 12′27″, i. e., twelve minutes twenty seven seconds. (c) (Engin.) A mark used to denote feet and inches; as, 6′ 10″ is six feet ten inches.

Ac*cent" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accented; p. pr. & vb. n. Accenting.] [OF. accenter, F. accentuer.]

1. To express the accent of (either by the voice or by a mark); to utter or to mark with accent.

2. To mark emphatically; to emphasize.

Ac"cent`less (&?;), a. Without accent.

Ac*cen"tor (&?;), n. [L. ad. + cantor singer, canere to sing.] 1. (Mus.) One who sings the leading part; the director or leader. [Obs.]

2. (Zoöl.) A genus of European birds (so named from their sweet notes), including the hedge warbler. In America sometimes applied to the water thrushes.

Ac*cen"tu*a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being accented.

Ac*cen"tu*al (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to accent; characterized or formed by accent.

Ac*cen`tu*al"i*ty (&?;), n. The quality of being accentual.

Ac*cen"tu*al*ly (&?;), adv. In an accentual manner; in accordance with accent.

Ac*cen"tu*ate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accentuated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Accentuating.] [LL. accentuatus, p. p. of accentuare, fr. L. accentus: cf. F. accentuer.] 1. To pronounce with an accent or with accents.

2. To bring out distinctly; to make prominent; to emphasize.

In Bosnia, the struggle between East and West was even more accentuated.
London Times.

3. To mark with the written accent.

Ac*cen`tu*a"tion (&?;), n. [LL. accentuatio: cf. F. accentuation.] Act of accentuating; applications of accent. Specifically (Eccles. Mus.), pitch or modulation of the voice in reciting portions of the liturgy.

Ac*cept" (ăk*s&ebreve;pt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accepted; p. pr. & vb. n. Accepting.] [F. accepter, L. acceptare, freq. of accipere; ad + capere to take; akin to E. heave.]

1. To receive with a consenting mind (something offered); as, to accept a gift; -- often followed by of.

If you accept them, then their worth is great.
Shak.

To accept of ransom for my son.
Milton.

She accepted of a treat.
Addison.

2. To receive with favor; to approve.

The Lord accept thy burnt sacrifice.
Ps. xx. 3.

Peradventure he will accept of me.
Gen. xxxii. 20.

3. To receive or admit and agree to; to assent to; as, I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse.

4. To take by the mind; to understand; as, How are these words to be accepted?

5. (Com.) To receive as obligatory and promise to pay; as, to accept a bill of exchange. Bouvier.

6. In a deliberate body, to receive in acquittance of a duty imposed; as, to accept the report of a committee. [This makes it the property of the body, and the question is then on its adoption.]

To accept a bill(Law), to agree (on the part of the drawee) to pay it when due. -- To accept service(Law), to agree that a writ or process shall be considered as regularly served, when it has not been. -- To accept the person(Eccl.), to show favoritism. "God accepteth no man's person." Gal. ii. 6.

Syn. -- To receive; take; admit. See Receive.

Ac*cept", a. Accepted. [Obs.] Shak.

Ac*cept`a*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. [LL. acceptabilitas.] The quality of being acceptable; acceptableness. "Acceptability of repentance." Jer. Taylor.

Ac*cept"a*ble (-s&ebreve;pt"&adot;*b'l; 277), a. [F. acceptable, L. acceptabilis, fr. acceptare.] Capable, worthy, or sure of being accepted or received with pleasure; pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; agreeable; welcome; as, an acceptable present, one acceptable to us.

Ac*cept"a*ble*ness (ăk*s&ebreve;pt"&adot;*b'l*n&ebreve;s), n. The quality of being acceptable, or suitable to be favorably received; acceptability.

Ac*cept"a*bly, adv. In an acceptable manner; in a manner to please or give satisfaction.

Ac*cept"ance (&?;), n. 1. The act of accepting; a receiving what is offered, with approbation, satisfaction, or acquiescence; esp., favorable reception; approval; as, the acceptance of a gift, office, doctrine, etc.

They shall come up with acceptance on mine altar.
Isa. lx. 7.

2. State of being accepted; acceptableness. "Makes it assured of acceptance." Shak.

3. (Com.) (a) An assent and engagement by the person on whom a bill of exchange is drawn, to pay it when due according to the terms of the acceptance. (b) The bill itself when accepted.

4. An agreeing to terms or proposals by which a bargain is concluded and the parties are bound; the reception or taking of a thing bought as that for which it was bought, or as that agreed to be delivered, or the taking possession as owner.

5. (Law) An agreeing to the action of another, by some act which binds the person in law.

&fist; What acts shall amount to such an acceptance is often a question of great nicety and difficulty. Mozley & W.

&fist; In modern law, proposal and acceptance are the constituent elements into which all contracts are resolved.

Acceptance of a bill of exchange, check, draft, or order, is an engagement to pay it according to the terms. This engagement is usually made by writing the word "accepted" across the face of the bill.Acceptance of goods, under the statute of frauds, is an intelligent acceptance by a party knowing the nature of the transaction.

6. Meaning; acceptation. [Obs.]

Acceptance of persons, partiality, favoritism. See under Accept.

Ac*cept"an*cy (&?;), n. Acceptance. [R.]

Here's a proof of gift,
But here's no proof, sir, of acceptancy.
Mrs. Browning.

Ac*cept"ant (&?;), a. Accepting; receiving.

Ac*cept"ant, n. An accepter. Chapman.

Ac`cep*ta"tion (&?;), n. 1. Acceptance; reception; favorable reception or regard; state of being acceptable. [Obs.]

This is saying worthy of all acceptation.
1 Tim. i. 15.

Some things . . . are notwithstanding of so great dignity and acceptation with God.
Hooker.

2. The meaning in which a word or expression is understood, or generally received; as, term is to be used according to its usual acceptation.

My words, in common acceptation,
Could never give this provocation.
Gay.

Ac*cept"ed*ly (&?;), adv. In a accepted manner; admittedly.

Ac*cept"er (&?;), n. 1. A person who accepts; a taker.

2. A respecter; a viewer with partiality. [Obs.]

God is no accepter of persons.
Chillingworth.

3. (Law) An acceptor.

Ac*cep`ti*la"tion (&?;), n. [L. acceptilatio entry of a debt collected, acquittance, fr. p. p. of accipere (cf. Accept) + latio a carrying, fr. latus, p. p. of ferre to carry: cf. F. acceptilation.] (Civil Law) Gratuitous discharge; a release from debt or obligation without payment; free remission.

Ac*cep"tion (&?;), n. [L. acceptio a receiving, accepting: cf. F. acception.] Acceptation; the received meaning. [Obs.]

Here the word "baron" is not to be taken in that restrictive sense to which the modern acception hath confined it.
Fuller.

Acception of persons or faces(Eccl.), favoritism; partiality. [Obs.] Wyclif.

Ac*cept"ive (&?;), a. 1. Fit for acceptance.

2. Ready to accept. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Ac*cept"or (#; 277), n. [L.] One who accepts; specifically (Law & Com.), one who accepts an order or a bill of exchange; a drawee after he has accepted.

Ac*cess" (#; 277), n. [F. accès, L. accessus, fr. accedere. See Accede.] 1. A coming to, or near approach; admittance; admission; accessibility; as, to gain access to a prince.

I did repel his letters, and denied
His access to me.
Shak.

2. The means, place, or way by which a thing may be approached; passage way; as, the access is by a neck of land. "All access was thronged." Milton.

3. Admission to sexual intercourse.

During coverture, access of the husband shall be presumed, unless the contrary be shown.
Blackstone.

4. Increase by something added; addition; as, an access of territory. [In this sense accession is more generally used.]

I, from the influence of thy looks, receive
Access in every virtue.
Milton.

5. An onset, attack, or fit of disease.

The first access looked like an apoplexy.
Burnet.

6. A paroxysm; a fit of passion; an outburst; as, an access of fury. [A Gallicism]

Ac*ces"sa*ri*ly (&?;), adv. In the manner of an accessary.

Ac*ces"sa*ri*ness, n. The state of being accessary.

Ac*ces"sa*ry (#; 277), a. Accompanying, as a subordinate; additional; accessory; esp., uniting in, or contributing to, a crime, but not as chief actor. See Accessory.

To both their deaths thou shalt be accessary.
Shak.

Amongst many secondary and accessary causes that support monarchy, these are not of least reckoning.
Milton.

Ac*ces"sa*ry (277), n.; pl. Accessaries (&?;). [Cf. Accessory and LL. accessarius.] (Law) One who, not being present, contributes as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense.

Accessary before the fact(Law), one who commands or counsels an offense, not being present at its commission. -- Accessary after the fact, one who, after an offense, assists or shelters the offender, not being present at the commission of the offense.

&fist; This word, as used in law, is spelt accessory by Blackstone and many others; but in this sense is spelt accessary by Bouvier, Burrill, Burns, Whishaw, Dane, and the Penny Cyclopedia; while in other senses it is spelt accessory. In recent text-books on criminal law the distinction is not preserved, the spelling being either accessary or accessory.

Ac*cess`i*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. [L. accessibilitas: cf. F. accessibilité.] The quality of being accessible, or of admitting approach; receptibility. Langhorne.

Ac*cess"i*ble (&?;), a. [L. accessibilis, fr. accedere: cf. F. accessible. See Accede.] 1. Easy of access or approach; approachable; as, an accessible town or mountain, an accessible person.

2. Open to the influence of; -- with to. "Minds accessible to reason." Macaulay.

3. Obtainable; to be got at.

The best information . . . at present accessible.
Macaulay.

Ac*cess"i*bly (&?;), adv. In an accessible manner.

Ac*ces"sion (&?;), n. [L. accessio, fr. accedere: cf. F. accession. See Accede.] 1. A coming to; the act of acceding and becoming joined; as, a king's accession to a confederacy.

2. Increase by something added; that which is added; augmentation from without; as, an accession of wealth or territory.

The only accession which the Roman empire received was the province of Britain.
Gibbon.

3. (Law) (a) A mode of acquiring property, by which the owner of a corporeal substance which receives an addition by growth, or by labor, has a right to the part or thing added, or the improvement (provided the thing is not changed into a different species). Thus, the owner of a cow becomes the owner of her calf. (b) The act by which one power becomes party to engagements already in force between other powers. Kent.

4. The act of coming to or reaching a throne, an office, or dignity; as, the accession of the house of Stuart; -- applied especially to the epoch of a new dynasty.

5. (Med.) The invasion, approach, or commencement of a disease; a fit or paroxysm.

Syn. -- Increase; addition; augmentation; enlargement.

Ac*ces"sion*al (&?;), a. Pertaining to accession; additional. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Ac*ces"sive (&?;), a. Additional.

Ac`ces*so"ri*al (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to an accessory; as, accessorial agency, accessorial guilt.

Ac*ces"so*ri*ly (&?;), adv. In the manner of an accessory; auxiliary.

Ac*ces"so*ri*ness, n. The state of being accessory, or connected subordinately.

Ac*ces"so*ry (#; 277), a. [L. accessorius. See Access, and cf. Accessary.] Accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; additional; connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal; contributing or contributory; said of persons and things, and, when of persons, usually in a bad sense; as, he was accessory to the riot; accessory sounds in music.

&fist; Ash accents the antepenult; and this is not only more regular, but preferable, on account of easiness of pronunciation. Most orhoëpists place the accent on the first syllable.

Syn. -- Accompanying; contributory; auxiliary; subsidiary; subservient; additional; acceding.

Ac*ces"so*ry, n.; pl. Accessories (&?;). 1. That which belongs to something else deemed the principal; something additional and subordinate. "The aspect and accessories of a den of banditti." Carlyle.

2. (Law) Same as Accessary, n.

3. (Fine Arts) Anything that enters into a work of art without being indispensably necessary, as mere ornamental parts. Elmes.

Syn. -- Abettor; accomplice; ally; coadjutor. See Abettor.

||Ac*ciac`ca*tu"ra (&?;), n. [It., from acciaccare to crush.] (Mus.) A short grace note, one semitone below the note to which it is prefixed; -- used especially in organ music. Now used as equivalent to the short appoggiatura.

Ac"ci*dence (&?;), n. [A corruption of Eng. accidents, pl. of accident. See Accident, 2.] 1. The accidents, of inflections of words; the rudiments of grammar. Milton.

2. The rudiments of any subject. Lowell.

Ac"ci*dent (&?;), n. [F. accident, fr. L. accidens, -dentis, p. pr. of accidere to happen; ad + cadere to fall. See Cadence, Case.] 1. Literally, a befalling; an event that takes place without one's foresight or expectation; an undesigned, sudden, and unexpected event; chance; contingency; often, an undesigned and unforeseen occurrence of an afflictive or unfortunate character; a casualty; a mishap; as, to die by an accident.

Of moving accidents by flood and field.
Shak.

Thou cam'st not to thy place by accident:
It is the very place God meant for thee.
Trench.

2. (Gram.) A property attached to a word, but not essential to it, as gender, number, case.

3. (Her.) A point or mark which may be retained or omitted in a coat of arms.

4. (Log.) (a) A property or quality of a thing which is not essential to it, as whiteness in paper; an attribute. (b) A quality or attribute in distinction from the substance, as sweetness, softness.

5. Any accidental property, fact, or relation; an accidental or nonessential; as, beauty is an accident.

This accident, as I call it, of Athens being situated some miles from the sea.
J. P. Mahaffy.

6. Unusual appearance or effect. [Obs.] Chaucer.

&fist; Accident, in Law, is equivalent to casus, or such unforeseen, extraordinary, extraneous interference as is out of the range of ordinary calculation.

Ac`ci*den"tal (&?;), a. [Cf. F. accidentel, earlier accidental.] 1. Happening by chance, or unexpectedly; taking place not according to the usual course of things; casual; fortuitous; as, an accidental visit.

2. Nonessential; not necessary belonging; incidental; as, are accidental to a play.

Accidental chords(Mus.), those which contain one or more tones foreign to their proper harmony. -- Accidental colors(Opt.), colors depending on the hypersensibility of the retina of the eye for complementary colors. They are purely subjective sensations of color which often result from the contemplation of actually colored bodies. -- Accidental point(Persp.), the point in which a right line, drawn from the eye, parallel to a given right line, cuts the perspective plane; so called to distinguish it from the principal point, or point of view, where a line drawn from the eye perpendicular to the perspective plane meets this plane. -- Accidental lights(Paint.), secondary lights; effects of light other than ordinary daylight, such as the rays of the sun darting through a cloud, or between the leaves of trees; the effect of moonlight, candlelight, or burning bodies.Fairholt.

Syn. -- Casual; fortuitous; contingent; occasional; adventitious. -- Accidental, Incidental, Casual, Fortuitous, Contingent. We speak of a thing as accidental when it falls out as by chance, and not in the regular course of things; as, an accidental meeting, an accidental advantage, etc. We call a thing incidental when it falls, as it were, into some regular course of things, but is secondary, and forms no essential part thereof; as, an incremental remark, an incidental evil, an incidental benefit. We speak of a thing as casual, when it falls out or happens, as it were, by mere chance, without being prearranged or premeditated; as, a casual remark or encounter; a casual observer. An idea of the unimportant is attached to what is casual. Fortuitous is applied to what occurs without any known cause, and in opposition to what has been foreseen; as, a fortuitous concourse of atoms. We call a thing contingent when it is such that, considered in itself, it may or may not happen, but is dependent for its existence on something else; as, the time of my coming will be contingent on intelligence yet to be received.

Ac`ci*den"tal (&?;), n. 1. A property which is not essential; a nonessential; anything happening accidentally.

He conceived it just that accidentals . . . should sink with the substance of the accusation.
Fuller.

2. pl. (Paint.) Those fortuitous effects produced by luminous rays falling on certain objects so that some parts stand forth in abnormal brightness and other parts are cast into a deep shadow.

3. (Mus.) A sharp, flat, or natural, occurring not at the commencement of a piece of music as the signature, but before a particular note.

Ac`ci*den"tal*ism (&?;), n. Accidental character or effect. Ruskin.

Ac`ci*den*tal"i*ty (&?;), n. The quality of being accidental; accidentalness. [R.] Coleridge.

Ac`ci*den"tal*ly (&?;), adv. In an accidental manner; unexpectedly; by chance; unintentionally; casually; fortuitously; not essentially.

Ac`ci*den"tal*ness, n. The quality of being accidental; casualness.

Ac"ci*die (&?;), n. [OF. accide, accidie, LL. accidia, acedia, fr. Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; care.] Sloth; torpor. [Obs.] "The sin of accidie." Chaucer.

Ac`ci*pen"ser (&?;), n. See Acipenser.

Ac*cip"i*ent (&?;), n. [L. accipiens, p. pr. of accipere. See Accept.] A receiver. [R.] Bailey

||Ac*cip"i*ter (&?;), n.; pl. E. Accipiters (&?;). L. Accipitres (&?;). [L., hawk.] 1. (Zoöl.) A genus of rapacious birds; one of the Accipitres or Raptores.

2. (Surg.) A bandage applied over the nose, resembling the claw of a hawk.

Ac*cip"i*tral (&?;), n. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a falcon or hawk; hawklike. Lowell.

||Ac*cip"i*tres (&?;), n. pl. [L., hawks.] (Zoöl.) The order that includes rapacious birds. They have a hooked bill, and sharp, strongly curved talons. There are three families, represented by the vultures, the falcons or hawks, and the owls.

Ac*cip"i*trine (#; 277), a. [Cf. F. accipitrin.] (Zoöl.) Like or belonging to the Accipitres; raptorial; hawklike.

||Ac*cis"mus (&?;), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;.] (Rhet.) Affected refusal; coyness.

Ac*cite" (&?;), v. t. [L. accitus, p. p. of accire, accere, to call for; ad + ciere to move, call. See Cite.] To cite; to summon. [Obs.]

Our heralds now accited all that were
Endamaged by the Elians.
Chapman.

Ac*claim" (&?;), v. t. [L. acclamare; ad + clamare to cry out. See Claim, Clamor.] [R.] 1. To applaud. "A glad acclaiming train." Thomson.

2. To declare by acclamations.

While the shouting crowd
Acclaims thee king of traitors.
Smollett.

3. To shout; as, to acclaim my joy.

Ac*claim", v. i. To shout applause.

Ac*claim", n. Acclamation. [Poetic] Milton.

Ac*claim"er (&?;), n. One who acclaims.

Ac`cla*ma"tion (&?;), n. [L. acclamatio: cf. F. acclamation.] 1. A shout of approbation, favor, or assent; eager expression of approval; loud applause.

On such a day, a holiday having been voted by acclamation, an ordinary walk would not satisfy the children.
Southey.

2. (Antiq.) A representation, in sculpture or on medals, of people expressing joy.

Acclamation medalsare those on which laudatory acclamations are recorded.Elmes.

Ac*clam"a*to*ry (&?;), a. Pertaining to, or expressing approval by, acclamation.

Ac*cli"ma*ta*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being acclimated.

Ac*cli`ma*ta"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. F. acclimation. See Acclimate.] Acclimatization.

Ac*cli"mate (#; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acclimated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Acclimating.] [F. acclimater; à (l. ad) + climat climate. See Climate.] To habituate to a climate not native; to acclimatize. J. H. Newman.

Ac*cli"mate*ment (-ment), n. Acclimation. [R.]

Ac`cli*ma"tion (&?;), n. The process of becoming, or the state of being, acclimated, or habituated to a new climate; acclimatization.

Ac*cli"ma*ti`za*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being acclimatized.

Ac*cli"ma*ti*za"tion (ăk`klī"m&adot;*t&ibreve;*zā"shŭn), n. The act of acclimatizing; the process of inuring to a new climate, or the state of being so inured. Darwin.

Ac*cli"ma*tize (ăk`klī"m&adot;*tīz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acclimatized (-tīzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Acclimatizing (- tī`z&ibreve;ng).] To inure or habituate to a climate different from that which is natural; to adapt to the peculiarities of a foreign or strange climate; said of man, the inferior animals, or plants.

Ac*cli"ma*ture (#; 135), n. The act of acclimating, or the state of being acclimated. [R.] Caldwell.

Ac*clive" (&?;), a. Acclivous. [Obs.]

Ac*cliv"i*tous (&?;), a. Acclivous. I. Taylor.

Ac*cliv"i*ty, n.; pl. Acclivities (&?;). [L. acclivitas, fr. acclivis, acclivus, ascending; ad + clivus a hill, slope, fr. root kli to lean. See Lean.] A slope or inclination of the earth, as the side of a hill, considered as ascending, in opposition to declivity, or descending; an upward slope; ascent.

Ac*cli"vous (#; 277), a. [L. acclivis and acclivus.] Sloping upward; rising as a hillside; -- opposed to declivous.

Ac*cloy" (-kloi"), v. t. [OF. encloyer, encloer, F. enclouer, to drive in a nail, fr. L. in + clavus nail.] To fill to satiety; to stuff full; to clog; to overload; to burden. See Cloy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ac*coast" (-kōst"), v. t. & i. [See Accost, Coast.] To lie or sail along the coast or side of; to accost. [Obs.]

Whether high towering or accoasting low.
Spenser.

Ac*coil" (&?;), v. t. [OE. acoillir to receive, F. accueillir; L. ad + colligere to collect. See Coil.] 1. To gather together; to collect. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. (Naut.) To coil together. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Ac`co*lade" (ăk`k&osl;*lād" or -l&adot;d"; 277), n. [F. accolade, It. accolata, fr. accollare to embrace; L. ad + collum neck.] 1. A ceremony formerly used in conferring knighthood, consisting of an embrace, and a slight blow on the shoulders with the flat blade of a sword.

2. (Mus.) A brace used to join two or more staves.

Ac*com*bi*na"tion (&?;), n. [L. ad + E. combination.] A combining together. [R.]

Ac*com"mo*da*ble (&?;), a. [Cf. F. accommodable.] That may be accommodated, fitted, or made to agree. [R.] I. Watts.

Ac*com"mo*dable*ness, n. The quality or condition of being accommodable. [R.] Todd.

Ac*com"mo*date (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accommodated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Accommodating (&?;).] [L. accommodatus, p. p. of accommodare; ad + commodare to make fit, help; con- + modus measure, proportion. See Mode.] 1. To render fit, suitable, or correspondent; to adapt; to conform; as, to accommodate ourselves to circumstances. "They accommodate their counsels to his inclination." Addison.

2. To bring into agreement or harmony; to reconcile; to compose; to adjust; to settle; as, to accommodate differences, a dispute, etc.

3. To furnish with something desired, needed, or convenient; to favor; to oblige; as, to accommodate a friend with a loan or with lodgings.

4. To show the correspondence of; to apply or make suit by analogy; to adapt or fit, as teachings to accidental circumstances, statements to facts, etc.; as, to accommodate prophecy to events.

Syn. -- To suit; adapt; conform; adjust; arrange.

Ac*com"mo*date, v. i. To adapt one's self; to be conformable or adapted. [R.] Boyle.

Ac*com"mo*date (&?;), a. [L. accommodatus, p. p. of accommodare.] Suitable; fit; adapted; as, means accommodate to end. [Archaic] Tillotson.

Ac*com"mo*date*ly, adv. Suitably; fitly. [R.]

Ac*com"mo*date*ness, n. Fitness. [R.]

Ac*com"mo*da`ting (&?;), a. Affording, or disposed to afford, accommodation; obliging; as an accommodating man, spirit, arrangement.

Ac*com`mo*da"tion (&?;), n. [L. accommodatio, fr. accommodare: cf. F. accommodation.]

1. The act of fitting or adapting, or the state of being fitted or adapted; adaptation; adjustment; -- followed by to. "The organization of the body with accommodation to its functions." Sir M. Hale.

2. Willingness to accommodate; obligingness.

3. Whatever supplies a want or affords ease, refreshment, or convenience; anything furnished which is desired or needful; -- often in the plural; as, the accommodations -- that is, lodgings and food -- at an inn. Sir W. Scott.

4. An adjustment of differences; state of agreement; reconciliation; settlement. "To come to terms of accommodation." Macaulay.

5. The application of a writer's language, on the ground of analogy, to something not originally referred to or intended.

Many of those quotations from the Old Testament were probably intended as nothing more than accommodations.
Paley.

6. (Com.) (a) A loan of money. (b) An accommodation bill or note.

Accommodation bill, or note(Com.), a bill of exchange which a person accepts, or a note which a person makes and delivers to another, not upon a consideration received, but for the purpose of raising money on credit. -- Accommodation coach, or train, one running at moderate speed and stopping at all or nearly all stations. -- Accommodation ladder(Naut.), a light ladder hung over the side of a ship at the gangway, useful in ascending from, or descending to, small boats.

Ac*com"mo*da`tor (&?;), n. He who, or that which, accommodates. Warburton.

Ac*com"pa*na*ble (&?;), a. Sociable. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.

Ac*com"pa*ni*er (&?;), n. He who, or that which, accompanies. Lamb.

Ac*com"pa*ni*ment (-ment), n. [F. accompagnement.] That which accompanies; something that attends as a circumstance, or which is added to give greater completeness to the principal thing, or by way of ornament, or for the sake of symmetry. Specifically: (Mus.) A part performed by instruments, accompanying another part or parts performed by voices; the subordinate part, or parts, accompanying the voice or a principal instrument; also, the harmony of a figured bass. P. Cyc.

Ac*com"pa*nist (&?;), n. The performer in music who takes the accompanying part. Busby.

Ac*com"pa*ny (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accompanied (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Accompanying (&?;)] [OF. aacompaignier, F. accompagner, to associate with, fr. OF. compaign, compain, companion. See Company.] 1. To go with or attend as a companion or associate; to keep company with; to go along with; -- followed by with or by; as, he accompanied his speech with a bow.

The Persian dames, . . .
In sumptuous cars, accompanied his march.
Glover.

They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts.
Sir P. Sidney.

He was accompanied by two carts filled with wounded rebels.
Macaulay.

2. To cohabit with. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.

Syn. -- To attend; escort; go with. -- To Accompany, Attend, Escort. We accompany those with whom we go as companions. The word imports an equality of station. We attend those whom we wait upon or follow. The word conveys an idea of subordination. We escort those whom we attend with a view to guard and protect. A gentleman accompanies a friend to some public place; he attends or escorts a lady.

Ac*com"pa*ny, v. i. 1. To associate in a company; to keep company. [Obs.] Bacon.

Men say that they will drive away one another, . . . and not accompany together.
Holland.

2. To cohabit (with). [Obs.] Milton.

3. (Mus.) To perform an accompanying part or parts in a composition.

Ac*com"ple*tive (&?;), a. [L. ad + complere, completum, to fill up.] Tending to accomplish. [R.]

Ac*com"plice (&?;), n. [Ac- (perh. for the article a or for L. ad) + E. complice. See Complice.]

1. A cooperator. [R.]

Success unto our valiant general,
And happiness to his accomplices!
Shak.

2. (Law) An associate in the commission of a crime; a participator in an offense, whether a principal or an accessory. "And thou, the cursed accomplice of his treason." Johnson. It is followed by with or of before a person and by in (or sometimes of) before the crime; as, A was an accomplice with B in the murder of C. Dryden uses it with to before a thing. "Suspected for accomplice to the fire." Dryden.

Syn. -- Abettor; accessory; assistant; associate; confederate; coadjutor; ally; promoter. See Abettor.

Ac*com"plice*ship (&?;), n. The state of being an accomplice. [R.] Sir H. Taylor.

Ac`com*plic"i*ty (&?;), n. The act or state of being an accomplice. [R.]

Ac*com"plish (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accomplished (&?;), p. pr. & vb. n. Accomplishing.] [OE. acomplissen, OF. accomplir, F. accomplir; L. ad + complere to fill up, complete. See Complete, Finish.] 1. To complete, as time or distance.

That He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
Dan. ix. 2.

He had accomplished half a league or more.
Prescott.

2. To bring to an issue of full success; to effect; to perform; to execute fully; to fulfill; as, to accomplish a design, an object, a promise.

This that is written must yet be accomplished in me.
Luke xxii. 37.

3. To equip or furnish thoroughly; hence, to complete in acquirements; to render accomplished; to polish.

The armorers accomplishing the knights.
Shak.

It [the moon] is fully accomplished for all those ends to which Providence did appoint it.
Wilkins.

These qualities . . . go to accomplish a perfect woman.
Cowden Clarke.

4. To gain; to obtain. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. -- To do; perform; fulfill; realize; effect; effectuate; complete; consummate; execute; achieve; perfect; equip; furnish. -- To Accomplish, Effect, Execute, Achieve, Perform. These words agree in the general idea of carrying out to some end proposed. To accomplish (to fill up to the measure of the intention) generally implies perseverance and skill; as, to accomplish a plan proposed by one's self, an object, a design, an undertaking. "Thou shalt accomplish my desire." 1 Kings v. 9.

He . . . expressed his desire to see a union accomplished between England and Scotland.
Macaulay.

To effect (to work out) is much like accomplish. It usually implies some degree of difficulty contended with; as, he effected or accomplished what he intended, his purpose, but little. "What he decreed, he effected." Milton.

To work in close design by fraud or guile
What force effected not.
Milton.

To execute (to follow out to the end, to carry out, or into effect) implies a set mode of operation; as, to execute the laws or the orders of another; to execute a work, a purpose, design, plan, project. To perform is much like to do, though less generally applied. It conveys a notion of protracted and methodical effort; as, to perform a mission, a part, a task, a work. "Thou canst best perform that office." Milton.

The Saints, like stars, around his seat
Perform their courses still.
Keble.

To achieve (to come to the end or arrive at one's purpose) usually implies some enterprise or undertaking of importance, difficulty, and excellence.

Ac*com"plish*a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being accomplished; practicable. Carlyle.

Ac*com"plished (&?;), a. 1. Completed; effected; established; as, an accomplished fact.

2. Complete in acquirements as the result usually of training; -- commonly in a good sense; as, an accomplished scholar, an accomplished villain.

They . . . show themselves accomplished bees.
Holland.

Daughter of God and man, accomplished Eve.
Milton.

Ac*com"plish*er (&?;), n. One who accomplishes.

Ac*com"plish*ment (-ment), n. [F. accomplissement, fr. accomplir.] 1. The act of accomplishing; entire performance; completion; fulfillment; as, the accomplishment of an enterprise, of a prophecy, etc.

2. That which completes, perfects, or equips thoroughly; acquirement; attainment; that which constitutes excellence of mind, or elegance of manners, acquired by education or training. "My new accomplishment of dancing." Churchill. "Accomplishments befitting a station." Thackeray.

Accomplishments have taken virtue's place,
And wisdom falls before exterior grace.
Cowper.

Ac*compt" (#; formerly #), n. See Account.

&fist; Accompt, accomptant, etc., are archaic forms.

Ac*compt"a*ble (&?;), a. See Accountable.

Ac*compt"ant (&?;), n. See Accountant.

Ac*cord" (&?;), n. [OE. acord, accord, OF. acort, acorde, F. accord, fr. OF. acorder, F. accorder. See Accord, v. t.] 1. Agreement or concurrence of opinion, will, or action; harmony of mind; consent; assent.

A mediator of an accord and peace between them.
Bacon.

These all continued with one accord in prayer.
Acts i. 14.

2. Harmony of sounds; agreement in pitch and tone; concord; as, the accord of tones.

Those sweet accords are even the angels' lays.
Sir J. Davies.

3. Agreement, harmony, or just correspondence of things; as, the accord of light and shade in painting.

4. Voluntary or spontaneous motion or impulse to act; -- preceded by own; as, of one's own accord.

That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap.
Lev. xxv. 5.

Of his own accord he went unto you.
2 Cor. vii. 17.

5. (Law) An agreement between parties in controversy, by which satisfaction for an injury is stipulated, and which, when executed, bars a suit. Blackstone.

With one accord, with unanimity.

They rushed with one accord into the theater.
Acts xix. 29.

Ac*cord", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accorded; p. pr. & vb. n. According.] [OE. acorden, accorden, OF. acorder, F. accorder, fr. LL. accordare; L. ad + cor, cordis, heart. Cf. Concord, Discord, and see Heart.] 1. To make to agree or correspond; to suit one thing to another; to adjust; -- followed by to. [R.]

Her hands accorded the lute's music to the voice.
Sidney.

2. To bring to an agreement, as persons; to reconcile; to settle, adjust, harmonize, or compose, as things; as, to accord suits or controversies.

When they were accorded from the fray.
Spenser.

All which particulars, being confessedly knotty and difficult can never be accorded but by a competent stock of critical learning.
South.

3. To grant as suitable or proper; to concede; to award; as, to accord to one due praise. "According his desire." Spenser.

Ac*cord", v. i. 1. To agree; to correspond; to be in harmony; -- followed by with, formerly also by to; as, his disposition accords with his looks.

My heart accordeth with my tongue.
Shak.

Thy actions to thy words accord.
Milton.

2. To agree in pitch and tone.

Ac*cord"a*ble (&?;), a. [OF. acordable, F. accordable.] 1. Agreeing. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Reconcilable; in accordance.

Ac*cord"ance (&?;), n. [OF. acordance.] Agreement; harmony; conformity. "In strict accordance with the law." Macaulay.

Syn. -- Harmony; unison; coincidence.

Ac*cord"an*cy (&?;), n. Accordance. [R.] Paley.

Ac*cord"ant (&?;), a. [OF. acordant, F. accordant.] Agreeing; consonant; harmonious; corresponding; conformable; -- followed by with or to.

Strictly accordant with true morality.
Darwin.

And now his voice accordant to the string.
Coldsmith.

Ac*cord"ant*ly, adv. In accordance or agreement; agreeably; conformably; -- followed by with or to.

Ac*cord"er (&?;), n. One who accords, assents, or concedes. [R.]

Ac*cord"ing, p. a. Agreeing; in agreement or harmony; harmonious. "This according voice of national wisdom." Burke. "Mind and soul according well." Tennyson.

According to him, every person was to be bought.
Macaulay.

Our zeal should be according to knowledge.
Sprat.

&fist; According to has been called a prepositional phrase, but strictly speaking, according is a participle in the sense of agreeing, acceding, and to alone is the preposition.

According as, precisely as; the same as; corresponding to the way in which. According as is an adverbial phrase, of which the propriety has been doubted; but good usage sanctions it. See According, adv.

Is all things well,
According as I gave directions?
Shak.

The land which the Lord will give you according as he hath promised.
Ex. xii. 25.

Ac*cord"ing (&?;), adv. Accordingly; correspondingly. [Obs.] Shak.

Ac*cord"ing*ly, adv. 1. Agreeably; correspondingly; suitably; in a manner conformable.

Behold, and so proceed accordingly.
Shak.

2. In natural sequence; consequently; so.

Syn. -- Consequently; therefore; wherefore; hence; so. -- Accordingly, Consequently, indicate a connection between two things, the latter of which is done on account of the former. Accordingly marks the connection as one of simple accordance or congruity, leading naturally to the result which followed; as, he was absent when I called, and I accordingly left my card; our preparations were all finished, and we accordingly set sail. Consequently all finished, and we accordingly set sail. Consequently marks a closer connection, that of logical or causal sequence; as, the papers were not ready, and consequently could not be signed.

Ac*cor"di*on (&?;), n. [See Accord.] (Mus.) A small, portable, keyed wind instrument, whose tones are generated by play of the wind upon free metallic reeds.

Ac*cor"di*on*ist, n. A player on the accordion.

Ac*cord"ment (ăk*kôrd"ment), n. [OF. acordement. See Accord, v.] Agreement; reconcilement. [Obs.] Gower.

Ac*cor"po*rate (&?;), v. t. [L. accorporare; ad + corpus, corporis, body.] To unite; to attach; to incorporate. [Obs.] Milton.

Ac*cost" (#; 115), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accosted; p. pr. & vb. n. Accosting.] [F. accoster, LL. accostare to bring side by side; L. ad + costa rib, side. See Coast, and cf. Accoast.] 1. To join side to side; to border; hence, to sail along the coast or side of. [Obs.] "So much [of Lapland] as accosts the sea." Fuller.

2. To approach; to make up to. [Archaic] Shak.

3. To speak to first; to address; to greet. "Him, Satan thus accosts." Milton.

Ac*cost", v. i. To adjoin; to lie alongside. [Obs.] "The shores which to the sea accost." Spenser.

Ac*cost", n. Address; greeting. [R.] J. Morley.

Ac*cost"a*ble (&?;), a. [Cf. F. accostable.] Approachable; affable. [R.] Hawthorne.

Ac*cost"ed, a. (Her.) Supported on both sides by other charges; also, side by side.

||Ac*couche"ment (#; 277), n. [F., fr. accoucher to be delivered of a child, to aid in delivery, OF. acouchier orig. to lay down, put to bed, go to bed; L. ad + collocare to lay, put, place. See Collate.] Delivery in childbed

||Ac*cou*cheur" (&?;), n. [F., fr. accoucher. See Accouchement.] A man who assists women in childbirth; a man midwife; an obstetrician.

||Ac*cou*cheuse" (&?;), n. [F.., fem. of accoucher.] A midwife. [Recent] Dunglison.

Ac*count" (&?;), n. [OE. acount, account, accompt, OF. acont, fr. aconter. See Account, v. t., Count, n., 1.] 1. A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time.

A beggarly account of empty boxes.
Shak.

2. A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review; as, to keep one's account at the bank.

3. A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc., explanatory of some event; as, no satisfactory account has been given of these phenomena. Hence, the word is often used simply for reason, ground, consideration, motive, etc.; as, on no account, on every account, on all accounts.

4. A statement of facts or occurrences; recital of transactions; a relation or narrative; a report; a description; as, an account of a battle. "A laudable account of the city of London." Howell.

5. A statement and explanation or vindication of one's conduct with reference to judgment thereon.

Give an account of thy stewardship.
Luke xvi. 2.

6. An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment. "To stand high in your account." Shak.

7. Importance; worth; value; advantage; profit. "Men of account." Pope. "To turn to account." Shak.

Account current, a running or continued account between two or more parties, or a statement of the particulars of such an account. -- In account with, in a relation requiring an account to be kept. -- On account of, for the sake of; by reason of; because of. -- On one's own account, for one's own interest or behalf. -- To make account, to have an opinion or expectation; to reckon. [Obs.]

This other part . . . makes account to find no slender arguments for this assertion out of those very scriptures which are commonly urged against it.
Milton.

--

To make account of, to hold in estimation; to esteem; as, he makes small account of beauty. -- To take account of, or to take into account, to take into consideration; to notice. "Of their doings, God takes no account." Milton. -- A writ of account(Law), a writ which the plaintiff brings demanding that the defendant shall render his just account, or show good cause to the contrary; -- called also an action of account.Cowell.

Syn. -- Narrative; narration; relation; recital; description; explanation; rehearsal. -- Account, Narrative, Narration, Recital. These words are applied to different modes of rehearsing a series of events. Account turns attention not so much to the speaker as to the fact related, and more properly applies to the report of some single event, or a group of incidents taken as whole; as, an account of a battle, of a shipwreck, etc. A narrative is a continuous story of connected incidents, such as one friend might tell to another; as, a narrative of the events of a siege, a narrative of one's life, etc. Narration is usually the same as narrative, but is sometimes used to describe the mode of relating events; as, his powers of narration are uncommonly great. Recital denotes a series of events drawn out into minute particulars, usually expressing something which peculiarly interests the feelings of the speaker; as, the recital of one's wrongs, disappointments, sufferings, etc.

Ac*count" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accounted; p. pr. & vb. n. Accounting.] [OE. acounten, accompten, OF. aconter, à (L. ad) + conter to count. F. conter to tell, compter to count, L. computare. See Count, v. t.]

1. To reckon; to compute; to count. [Obs.]

The motion of . . . the sun whereby years are accounted.
Sir T. Browne.

2. To place to one's account; to put to the credit of; to assign; -- with to. [R.] Clarendon.

3. To value, estimate, or hold in opinion; to judge or consider; to deem.

Accounting that God was able to raise him up.
Heb. xi. 19.

4. To recount; to relate. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ac*count", v. i. 1. To render or receive an account or relation of particulars; as, an officer must account with or to the treasurer for money received.

2. To render an account; to answer in judgment; -- with for; as, we must account for the use of our opportunities.

3. To give a satisfactory reason; to tell the cause of; to explain; -- with for; as, idleness accounts for poverty.

To account of, to esteem; to prize; to value. Now used only in the passive. "I account of her beauty." Shak.

Newer was preaching more accounted of than in the sixteenth century.
Canon Robinson.

Ac*count`a*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. The state of being accountable; liability to be called on to render an account; accountableness. "The awful idea of accountability." R. Hall.

Ac*count"a*ble (&?;), a. 1. Liable to be called on to render an account; answerable; as, every man is accountable to God for his conduct.

2. Capable of being accounted for; explicable. [R.]

True religion . . . intelligible, rational, and accountable, -- not a burden but a privilege.
B. Whichcote.

Syn. -- Amenable; responsible; liable; answerable.

Ac*count"a*ble ness, n. The quality or state of being accountable; accountability.

Ac*count"a*bly, adv. In an accountable manner.

Ac*count"an*cy (&?;), n. The art or employment of an accountant.

Ac*count"ant (&?;), n. [Cf. F. accomptant, OF. acontant, p. pr.] 1. One who renders account; one accountable.

2. A reckoner.

3. One who is skilled in, keeps, or adjusts, accounts; an officer in a public office, who has charge of the accounts.

Accountatn general, the head or superintending accountant in certain public offices. Also, formerly, an officer in the English court of chancery who received the moneys paid into the court, and deposited them in the Bank of England.

Ac*count"ant, a. Accountable. [Obs.] Shak.

Ac*count"ant*ship (&?;), n. [Accountant + -ship.] The office or employment of an accountant.

Ac*count" book` (&?;). A book in which accounts are kept. Swift.

Ac*cou"ple (&?;), v. t. [OF. acopler, F. accoupler. See Couple.] To join; to couple. [R.]

The Englishmen accoupled themselves with the Frenchmen.
Hall.

Ac*cou"ple*ment (-kŭp"'l*ment), n. [Cf. F. accouplement.] 1. The act of coupling, or the state of being coupled; union. [R.] Caxton.

2. That which couples, as a tie or brace. [R.]

Ac*cour"age (&?;), v. t. [OF. acoragier; à (L. ad) + corage. See Courage.] To encourage. [Obs.]

Ac*court" (-kōrt"), v. t. [Ac-, for L. ad. See Court.] To treat courteously; to court. [Obs.] Spenser.

{ Ac*cou"ter, Ac*cou"tre } (ăk*k&oomac;"t&etilde;r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accoutered or Accoutred (-t&etilde;rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Accoutering or Accoutring.] [F. accouter, OF. accoutrer, accoustrer; à (L. ad) + perh. LL. custor, for custos guardian, sacristan (cf. Custody), or perh. akin to E. guilt.] To furnish with dress, or equipments, esp. those for military service; to equip; to attire; to array.

Both accoutered like young men.
Shak.

For this, in rags accoutered are they seen.
Dryden.

Accoutered with his burden and his staff.
Wordsworth.

{ Ac*cou"ter*ments, Ac*cou"tre*ments } (&?;), n. pl. [F. accoutrement, earlier also accoustrement, earlier also accoustrement. See Accouter.] Dress; trappings; equipment; specifically, the devices and equipments worn by soldiers.

How gay with all the accouterments of war!
A. Philips.

Ac*coy" (ăk*koi"), v. t. [OF. acoyer; ac-, for L. ad. See Coy.] 1. To render quiet; to soothe. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. To subdue; to tame; to daunt. [Obs.]

Then is your careless courage accoyed.
Spenser.

Ac*cred"it (ăk*kr&ebreve;d"&ibreve;t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accredited; p. pr. & vb. n. Accrediting.] [F. accréditer; à (L. ad) + crédit credit. See Credit.] 1. To put or bring into credit; to invest with credit or authority; to sanction.

His censure will . . . accredit his praises.
Cowper.

These reasons . . . which accredit and fortify mine opinion.
Shelton.

2. To send with letters credential, as an ambassador, envoy, or diplomatic agent; to authorize, as a messenger or delegate.

Beton . . . was accredited to the Court of France.
Froude.

3. To believe; to credit; to put trust in.

The version of early Roman history which was accredited in the fifth century.
Sir G. C. Lewis.

He accredited and repeated stories of apparitions and witchcraft.
Southey.

4. To credit; to vouch for or consider (some one) as doing something, or (something) as belonging to some one.

To accredit (one) with (something), to attribute something to him; as, Mr. Clay was accredited with these views; they accredit him with a wise saying.

Ac*cred`i*ta"tion (&?;), n. The act of accrediting; as, letters of accreditation.

Ac`cre*men*ti"tial (&?;), a. (Physiol.) Pertaining to accremention.

Ac`cre*men*ti"tion (&?;), n. [See Accresce, Increment.] (Physiol.) The process of generation by development of blastema, or fission of cells, in which the new formation is in all respect like the individual from which it proceeds.

Ac*cresce" (&?;), v. i. [L. accrescere. See Accrue.] 1. To accrue. [R.]

2. To increase; to grow. [Obs.] Gillespie.

Ac*cres"cence (&?;), n. [LL. accrescentia.] Continuous growth; an accretion. [R.]

The silent accrescence of belief from the unwatched depositions of a general, never contradicted hearsy.
Coleridge.

Ac*cres"cent (&?;), a. [L. accrescens, -entis, p. pr. of accrescere; ad + crescere to grow. See Crescent.]

1. Growing; increasing. Shuckford.

2. (Bot.) Growing larger after flowering. Gray.

Ac*crete" (&?;), v. i. [From L. accretus, p. p. of accrescere to increase.] 1. To grow together.

2. To adhere; to grow (to); to be added; -- with to.

Ac*crete", v. t. To make adhere; to add. Earle.

Ac*crete", a. 1. Characterized by accretion; made up; as, accrete matter.

2. (Bot.) Grown together. Gray.

Ac*cre"tion (&?;), n. [L. accretio, fr. accrescere to increase. Cf. Crescent, Increase, Accrue.]

1. The act of increasing by natural growth; esp. the increase of organic bodies by the internal accession of parts; organic growth. Arbuthnot.

2. The act of increasing, or the matter added, by an accession of parts externally; an extraneous addition; as, an accretion of earth.

A mineral . . . augments not by grown, but by accretion.
Owen.

To strip off all the subordinate parts of his as a later accretion.
Sir G. C. Lewis.

3. Concretion; coherence of separate particles; as, the accretion of particles so as to form a solid mass.

4. A growing together of parts naturally separate, as of the fingers toes. Dana.

5. (Law) (a) The adhering of property to something else, by which the owner of one thing becomes possessed of a right to another; generally, gain of land by the washing up of sand or sail from the sea or a river, or by a gradual recession of the water from the usual watermark. (b) Gain to an heir or legatee, failure of a coheir to the same succession, or a co- legatee of the same thing, to take his share. Wharton. Kent.

Ac*cre"tive (&?;), a. Relating to accretion; increasing, or adding to, by growth. Glanvill.

Ac*crim"i*nate (&?;), v. t. [L. ac- (for ad to) + criminari.] To accuse of a crime. [Obs.] -- Ac*crim`i*na"tion (&?;), n. [Obs.]

Ac*croach" (&?;), v. t. [OE. acrochen, accrochen, to obtain, OF. acrochier, F. accrocher; à (L. ad) + croc hook (E. crook).] 1. To hook, or draw to one's self as with a hook. [Obs.]

2. To usurp, as jurisdiction or royal prerogatives.

They had attempted to accroach to themselves royal power.
Stubbs.

Ac*croach"ment (-ment), n. [Cf. F. accrochement.] An encroachment; usurpation. [Obs.] Bailey.

Ac*cru"al (&?;), n. Accrument. [R.]

Ac*crue" (ăk*kr&udd;"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Accrued (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Accruing.] [See Accrue, n., and cf. Accresce, Accrete.] 1. To increase; to augment.

And though power failed, her courage did accrue.
Spenser.

2. To come to by way of increase; to arise or spring as a growth or result; to be added as increase, profit, or damage, especially as the produce of money lent. "Interest accrues to principal." Abbott.

The great and essential advantages accruing to society from the freedom of the press.
Junius.

Ac*crue", n. [F. accrû, OF. acreü, p. p. of accroitre, OF. acroistre to increase; L. ad + crescere to increase. Cf. Accretion, Crew. See Crescent.] Something that accrues; advantage accruing. [Obs.]

Ac*cru"er (ăk*kr&udd;"&etilde;r), n. (Law) The act of accruing; accretion; as, title by accruer.

Ac*cru"ment (-ment), n. The process of accruing, or that which has accrued; increase. Jer. Taylor.

Ac`cu*ba"tion (&?;), n. [L. accubatio, for accubitio, fr. accubare to recline; ad + cubare to lie down. See Accumb.] The act or posture of reclining on a couch, as practiced by the ancients at meals.

Ac*cumb" (ăk*kŭmb"), v. i. [L. accumbere; ad + cumbere (only in compounds) to lie down.] To recline, as at table. [Obs.] Bailey.

Ac*cum"ben*cy (ăk*kŭm"ben*s&ybreve;), n. The state of being accumbent or reclining. [R.]

Ac*cum"bent (-bent), a. 1. Leaning or reclining, as the ancients did at their meals.

The Roman . . . accumbent posture in eating.
Arbuthnot.

2. (Bot.) Lying against anything, as one part of a leaf against another leaf. Gray.

Accumbent cotyledons have their edges placed against the caulicle.
Eaton.

Ac*cum"bent, n. One who reclines at table.

Ac*cum"ber (-b&etilde;r), v. t. To encumber. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ac*cu"mu*late (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accumulated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Accumulating.] [L. accumulatus, p. p. of accumulare; ad + cumulare to heap. See Cumulate.] To heap up in a mass; to pile up; to collect or bring together; to amass; as, to accumulate a sum of money.

Syn. -- To collect; pile up; store; amass; gather; aggregate; heap together; hoard.

Ac*cu"mu*late (ăk*kū"m&usl;*lāt), v. i. To grow or increase in quantity or number; to increase greatly.

Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates, and men decay.
Goldsmith.

Ac*cu"mu*late (-l&asl;t), a. [L. accumulatus, p. p. of accumulare.] Collected; accumulated. Bacon.

Ac*cu`mu*la"tion (&?;), n. [L. accumulatio; cf. F. accumulation.] 1. The act of accumulating, the state of being accumulated, or that which is accumulated; as, an accumulation of earth, of sand, of evils, of wealth, of honors.

2. (Law) The concurrence of several titles to the same proof.

Accumulation of energy or power, the storing of energy by means of weights lifted or masses put in motion; electricity stored. -- An accumulation of degrees(Eng. Univ.), the taking of several together, or at smaller intervals than usual or than is allowed by the rules.

Ac*cu"mu*la*tive (&?;), a. Characterized by accumulation; serving to collect or amass; cumulative; additional. -- Ac*cu"mu*la*tive*ly, adv. -- Ac*cu"mu*la*tive*ness, n.

Ac*cu"mu*la`tor (&?;), n. [L.] 1. One who, or that which, accumulates, collects, or amasses.

2. (Mech.) An apparatus by means of which energy or power can be stored, such as the cylinder or tank for storing water for hydraulic elevators, the secondary or storage battery used for accumulating the energy of electrical charges, etc.

3. A system of elastic springs for relieving the strain upon a rope, as in deep-sea dredging.

Ac"cu*ra*cy (#; 277), n. [See Accurate.] The state of being accurate; freedom from mistakes, this exemption arising from carefulness; exact conformity to truth, or to a rule or model; precision; exactness; nicety; correctness; as, the value of testimony depends on its accuracy.

The professed end [of logic] is to teach men to think, to judge, and to reason, with precision and accuracy.
Reid.

The accuracy with which the piston fits the sides.
Lardner.

Ac"cu*rate (&?;), a. [L. accuratus, p. p. and a., fr. accurare to take care of; ad + curare to take care, cura care. See Cure.] 1. In exact or careful conformity to truth, or to some standard of requirement, the result of care or pains; free from failure, error, or defect; exact; as, an accurate calculator; an accurate measure; accurate expression, knowledge, etc.

2. Precisely fixed; executed with care; careful. [Obs.]

Those conceive the celestial bodies have more accurate influences upon these things below.
Bacon.

Syn. -- Correct; exact; just; nice; particular. -- Accurate, Correct, Exact, Precise. We speak of a thing as correct with reference to some rule or standard of comparison; as, a correct account, a correct likeness, a man of correct deportment. We speak of a thing as accurate with reference to the care bestowed upon its execution, and the increased correctness to be expected therefrom; as, an accurate statement, an accurate detail of particulars. We speak of a thing as exact with reference to that perfected state of a thing in which there is no defect and no redundance; as, an exact coincidence, the exact truth, an exact likeness. We speak of a thing as precise when we think of it as strictly conformed to some rule or model, as if cut down thereto; as a precise conformity instructions; precisely right; he was very precise in giving his directions.

Ac"cu*rate*ly, adv. In an accurate manner; exactly; precisely; without error or defect.

Ac"cu*rate*ness, n. The state or quality of being accurate; accuracy; exactness; nicety; precision.

Ac*curse" (&?;), v. t. [OE. acursien, acorsien; pref. a + cursien to curse. See Curse.] To devote to destruction; to imprecate misery or evil upon; to curse; to execrate; to anathematize.

And the city shall be accursed.
Josh. vi. 17.

Thro' you, my life will be accurst.
Tennyson.

{ Ac*cursed" (&?;), Ac*curst" (&?;), } p. p. & a. Doomed to destruction or misery; cursed; hence, bad enough to be under the curse; execrable; detestable; exceedingly hateful; - - as, an accursed deed. Shak. -- Ac*curs"ed*ly, adv. -- Ac*curs"ed*ness, n.

Ac*cus"a*ble (&?;), a. [L. accusabilis: cf. F. accusable.] Liable to be accused or censured; chargeable with a crime or fault; blamable; -- with of.

Ac*cus"al (&?;), n. Accusation. [R.] Byron.

Ac*cus"ant (&?;), n. [L. accusans, p. pr. of accusare: cf. F. accusant.] An accuser. Bp. Hall.

Ac`cu*sa"tion (&?;), n. [OF. acusation, F. accusation, L. accusatio, fr. accusare. See Accuse.]

1. The act of accusing or charging with a crime or with a lighter offense.

We come not by the way of accusation
To taint that honor every good tongue blesses.
Shak.

2. That of which one is accused; the charge of an offense or crime, or the declaration containing the charge.

[They] set up over his head his accusation.
Matt. xxvii. 37.

Syn. -- Impeachment; crimination; censure; charge.

Ac*cu`sa*ti"val (&?;), a. Pertaining to the accusative case.

Ac*cu"sa*tive (&?;), a. [F. accusatif, L. accusativus (in sense 2), fr. accusare. See Accuse.]

1. Producing accusations; accusatory. "This hath been a very accusative age." Sir E. Dering.

2. (Gram.) Applied to the case (as the fourth case of Latin and Greek nouns) which expresses the immediate object on which the action or influence of a transitive verb terminates, or the immediate object of motion or tendency to, expressed by a preposition. It corresponds to the objective case in English.

Ac*cu"sa*tive, n. (Gram.) The accusative case.

Ac*cu"sa*tive*ly, adv. 1. In an accusative manner.

2. In relation to the accusative case in grammar.

Ac*cu`sa*to"ri*al (&?;), a. Accusatory.

Ac*cu`sa*to"ri*al*ly, adv. By way accusation.

Ac*cu"sa*to*ry (&?;), a. [L. accusatorius, fr. accusare.] Pertaining to, or containing, an accusation; as, an accusatory libel. Grote.

Ac*cuse" (&?;), n. Accusation. [Obs.] Shak.

Ac*cuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accused (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Accusing.] [OF. acuser, F. accuser, L. accusare, to call to account, accuse; ad + causa cause, lawsuit. Cf. Cause.] 1. To charge with, or declare to have committed, a crime or offense; (Law) to charge with an offense, judicially or by a public process; -- with of; as, to accuse one of a high crime or misdemeanor.

Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
Acts xxiv. 13.

We are accused of having persuaded Austria and Sardinia to lay down their arms.
Macaulay.

2. To charge with a fault; to blame; to censure.

Their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another.
Rom. ii. 15.

3. To betray; to show. [L.] Sir P. Sidney.

Syn. -- To charge; blame; censure; reproach; criminate; indict; impeach; arraign. -- To Accuse, Charge, Impeach, Arraign. These words agree in bringing home to a person the imputation of wrongdoing. To accuse is a somewhat formal act, and is applied usually (though not exclusively) to crimes; as, to accuse of treason. Charge is the most generic. It may refer to a crime, a dereliction of duty, a fault, etc.; more commonly it refers to moral delinquencies; as, to charge with dishonesty or falsehood. To arraign is to bring (a person) before a tribunal for trial; as, to arraign one before a court or at the bar public opinion. To impeach is officially to charge with misbehavior in office; as, to impeach a minister of high crimes. Both impeach and arraign convey the idea of peculiar dignity or impressiveness.

Ac*cused" (&?;), a. Charged with offense; as, an accused person.

Commonly used substantively; as, the accused, one charged with an offense; the defendant in a criminal case.

Ac*cuse"ment (-kūz"ment), n. [OF. acusement. See Accuse.] Accusation. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ac*cus"er (&?;), n. [OE. acuser, accusour; cf. OF. acuseor, fr. L. accusator, fr. accusare.] One who accuses; one who brings a charge of crime or fault.

Ac*cus"ing*ly, adv. In an accusing manner.

Ac*cus"tom (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accustomed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Accustoming.] [OF. acostumer, acustumer, F. accoutumer; à (L. ad) + OF. costume, F. coutume, custom. See Custom.] To make familiar by use; to habituate, familiarize, or inure; -- with to.

I shall always fear that he who accustoms himself to fraud in little things, wants only opportunity to practice it in greater.
Adventurer.

Syn. -- To habituate; inure; exercise; train.

Ac*cus"tom, v. i. 1. To be wont. [Obs.] Carew.

2. To cohabit. [Obs.]

We with the best men accustom openly; you with the basest commit private adulteries.
Milton.

Ac*cus"tom, n. Custom. [Obs.] Milton.

Ac*cus"tom*a*ble (&?;), a. Habitual; customary; wonted. "Accustomable goodness." Latimer.

Ac*cus"tom*a*bly, adv. According to custom; ordinarily; customarily. Latimer.

Ac*cus"tom*ance (&?;), n. [OF. accoustumance, F. accoutumance.] Custom; habitual use. [Obs.] Boyle.

Ac*cus"tom*a*ri*ly (&?;), adv. Customarily. [Obs.]

Ac*cus"tom*a*ry (&?;), a. Usual; customary. [Archaic] Featley.

Ac*cus"tomed (&?;), a. 1. Familiar through use; usual; customary. "An accustomed action." Shak.

2. Frequented by customers. [Obs.] "A well accustomed shop." Smollett.

Ac*cus"tomed*ness, n. Habituation.

Accustomedness to sin hardens the heart.
Bp. Pearce.

Ace (&?;), n.; pl. Aces (&?;). [OE. as, F. as, fr. L. as, assis, unity, copper coin, the unit of coinage. Cf. As.]

1. A unit; a single point or spot on a card or die; the card or die so marked; as, the ace of diamonds.

2. Hence: A very small quantity or degree; a particle; an atom; a jot.

I 'll not wag an ace further.
Dryden.

To bate an ace, to make the least abatement. [Obs.] -- Within an ace of, very near; on the point of.W. Irving.

A*cel"da*ma (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. Syr. ōkēl damō the field of blood.] The potter's field, said to have lain south of Jerusalem, purchased with the bribe which Judas took for betraying his Master, and therefore called the field of blood. Fig.: A field of bloodshed.

The system of warfare . . . which had already converted immense tracts into one universal aceldama.
De Quincey.

A*cen"tric (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; a point, a center.] Not centered; without a center.

Ac"e*phal (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; head: cf. F. acéphale, LL. acephalus.] (Zoöl.) One of the Acephala.

||A*ceph"a*la (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, adj. neut. pl., headless. See Acephal.] (Zoöl.) That division of the Mollusca which includes the bivalve shells, like the clams and oysters; -- so called because they have no evident head. Formerly the group included the Tunicata, Brachiopoda, and sometimes the Bryozoa. See Mollusca.

A*ceph"a*lan (&?;), n. Same as Acephal.

A*ceph"a*lan, a. (Zoöl.) Belonging to the Acephala.

||A*ceph"a*li (&?;), n. pl. [LL., pl. of acephalus. See Acephal.] 1. A fabulous people reported by ancient writers to have heads.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) (a) A Christian sect without a leader. (b) Bishops and certain clergymen not under regular diocesan control.

3. A class of levelers in the time of K. Henry I.

A*ceph"a*list (&?;), n. One who acknowledges no head or superior. Dr. Gauden.

A*ceph"a*lo*cyst (&?;), n. [Gr. 'ake`falos without a head + ky`stis bladder.] (Zoöl.) A larval entozoön in the form of a subglobular or oval vesicle, or hydatid, filled with fluid, sometimes found in the tissues of man and the lower animals; -- so called from the absence of a head or visible organs on the vesicle. These cysts are the immature stages of certain tapeworms. Also applied to similar cysts of different origin.

A*ceph`a*lo*cys"tic (&?;), a. Pertaining to, or resembling, the acephalocysts.

A*ceph"a*lous (&?;), a. [See Acephal.] 1. Headless.

2. (Zoöl.) Without a distinct head; -- a term applied to bivalve mollusks.

3. (Bot.) Having the style spring from the base, instead of from the apex, as is the case in certain ovaries.

4. Without a leader or chief.

5. Wanting the beginning.

A false or acephalous structure of sentence.
De Quincey.

6. (Pros.) Deficient and the beginning, as a line of poetry. Brande.

Ac"er*ate (&?;), n. [See Aceric.] (Chem.) A combination of aceric acid with a salifiable base.

Ac"er*ate, a. Acerose; needle- shaped.

A*cerb" (&?;), a. [L. acerbus, fr. acer sharp: cf. F. acerbe. See Acrid.] Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit; sharp and harsh.

A*cerb"ate (&?;), v. t. [L. acerbatus, p. p. of acerbare, fr. acerbus.] To sour; to imbitter; to irritate.

A*cerb"ic (&?;), a. Sour or severe.

A*cerb"i*tude (&?;), n. [L. acerbitudo, fr. acerbus.] Sourness and harshness. [Obs.] Bailey.

A*cerb"i*ty (&?;), n. [F. acerbité, L. acerbitas, fr. acerbus. See Acerb.] 1. Sourness of taste, with bitterness and astringency, like that of unripe fruit.

2. Harshness, bitterness, or severity; as, acerbity of temper, of language, of pain. Barrow.

A*cer"ic (&?;), a. [L. acer maple.] Pertaining to, or obtained from, the maple; as, aceric acid. Ure.

Ac"er*ose` (&?;), a. [(a) L. acerosus chaffy, fr. acus, gen. aceris, chaff; (b) as if fr. L. acus needle: cf. F. acéreux.] (Bot.) (a) Having the nature of chaff; chaffy. (b) Needle-shaped, having a sharp, rigid point, as the leaf of the pine.

Ac"er*ous (&?;), a. Same as Acerose.

Ac"er*ous, a. [Gr. α priv. + ke`ras a horn.] (Zoöl.) (a) Destitute of tentacles, as certain mollusks. (b) Without antennæ, as some insects.

A*cer"val (&?;), a. [L. acervalis, fr. acervus heap.] Pertaining to a heap. [Obs.]

A*cer"vate (&?;), v. t. [L. acervatus, p. p. of acervare to heap up, fr. acervus heap.] To heap up. [Obs.]

A*cer"vate (&?;), a. Heaped, or growing in heaps, or closely compacted clusters.

Ac`er*va"tion (&?;), n. [L. acervatio.] A heaping up; accumulation. [R.] Johnson.

A*cer"va*tive (&?;), a. Heaped up; tending to heap up.

A*cer"vose (&?;), a. Full of heaps. [R.] Bailey.

A*cer"vu*line (&?;), a. Resembling little heaps.

{ A*ces"cence (&?;), A*ces"cen*cy (&?;), } n. [Cf. F. acescence. See Acescent.] The quality of being acescent; the process of acetous fermentation; a moderate degree of sourness. Johnson.

A*ces"cent (&?;), a. [L. acescens, -entis, p. pr. of acescere to turn sour; inchoative of acere to be sour: cf. F. acescent. See Acid.] Turning sour; readily becoming tart or acid; slightly sour. Faraday.

A*ces"cent, n. A substance liable to become sour.

Ac"e*ta*ble (&?;), n. An acetabulum; or about one eighth of a pint. [Obs.] Holland.

Ac`e*tab"u*lar (&?;), a. Cup-shaped; saucer-shaped; acetabuliform.

||Ac`e*tab`u*lif"e*ra (&?;), n. pl. [NL. See Acetabuliferous.] (Zoöl.) The division of Cephalopoda in which the arms are furnished with cup-shaped suckers, as the cuttlefishes, squids, and octopus; the Dibranchiata. See Cephalopoda.

Ac`e*tab`u*lif"er*ous (&?;), a. [L. acetablum a little cup + -ferous.] Furnished with fleshy cups for adhering to bodies, as cuttlefish, etc.

Ac`e*tab"u*li*form (&?;), a. [L. acetabulum + -form.] (Bot.) Shaped like a shallow cup; saucer-shaped; as, an acetabuliform calyx. Gray.

||Ac`e*tab"u*lum (&?;), n. [L., a little saucer for vinegar, fr. acetum vinegar, fr. acere to be sour.] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A vinegar cup; socket of the hip bone; a measure of about one eighth of a pint, etc.

2. (Anat.) (a) The bony cup which receives the head of the thigh bone. (b) The cavity in which the leg of an insect is inserted at its articulation with the body. (c) A sucker of the sepia or cuttlefish and related animals. (d) The large posterior sucker of the leeches. (e) One of the lobes of the placenta in ruminating animals.

Ac"e*tal (&?;), n. [Acetic + alcohol.] (Chem.) A limpid, colorless, inflammable liquid from the slow oxidation of alcohol under the influence of platinum black.

Ac`et*al"de*hyde (&?;), n. Acetic aldehyde. See Aldehyde.

Ac`et*am"ide (&?;), n. [Acetyl + amide.] (Chem.) A white crystalline solid, from ammonia by replacement of an equivalent of hydrogen by acetyl.

Ac`et*an"i*lide (&?;), n. [Acetyl + anilide.] (Med.) A compound of aniline with acetyl, used to allay fever or pain; -- called also antifebrine.

Ac`e*ta"ri*ous (&?;), a. [L. acetaria, n. pl., salad, fr. acetum vinegar, fr. acere to be sour.] Used in salads; as, acetarious plants.

Ac"e*ta*ry (&?;), n. [L. acetaria salad plants.] An acid pulp in certain fruits, as the pear. Grew.

Ac"e*tate (&?;), n. [L. acetum vinegar, fr. acere to be sour.] (Chem.) A salt formed by the union of acetic acid with a base or positive radical; as, acetate of lead, acetate of potash.

Ac"e*ta`ted (&?;), a. Combined with acetic acid.

A*ce"tic (#; 277), a. [L. acetum vinegar, fr. acere to be sour.] (Chem.) (a) Of a pertaining to vinegar; producing vinegar; producing vinegar; as, acetic fermentation. (b) Pertaining to, containing, or derived from, acetyl, as acetic ether, acetic acid. The latter is the acid to which the sour taste of vinegar is due.

A*cet`i*fi*ca"tion (&?;), n. The act of making acetous or sour; the process of converting, or of becoming converted, into vinegar.

A*cet"i*fi`er (&?;), n. An apparatus for hastening acetification. Knight.

A*cet"i*fy (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acetified (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Acetifying (&?;).] [L. acetum vinegar + -fly.] To convert into acid or vinegar.

A*cet"i*fy, v. i. To turn acid. Encyc. Dom. Econ.

Ac`e*tim"e*ter (&?;), n. [L. acetum vinegar + -meter: cf. F. acétimètre.] An instrument for estimating the amount of acetic acid in vinegar or in any liquid containing acetic acid.

Ac`e*tim"e*try (&?;), n. The act or method of ascertaining the strength of vinegar, or the proportion of acetic acid contained in it. Ure.

Ac"e*tin (&?;), n. (Chem.) A combination of acetic acid with glycerin. Brande & C.

Ac"e*tize (&?;), v. i. To acetify. [R.]

Ac`e*tom"e*ter (&?;), n. Same as Acetimeter. Brande & C.

Ac"e*tone (&?;), n. [See Acetic.] (Chem.) A volatile liquid consisting of three parts of carbon, six of hydrogen, and one of oxygen; pyroacetic spirit, -- obtained by the distillation of certain acetates, or by the destructive distillation of citric acid, starch, sugar, or gum, with quicklime.

&fist; The term in also applied to a number of bodies of similar constitution, more frequently called ketones. See Ketone.

Ac`e*ton"ic (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to acetone; as, acetonic bodies.

Ac"e*tose (&?;), a. Sour like vinegar; acetous.

Ac`e*tos"i*ty (&?;), n. [LL. acetositas. See Acetous.] The quality of being acetous; sourness.

A*ce"tous (#; 277), a. [L. acetum vinegar, fr. acere to be sour.] 1. Having a sour taste; sour; acid. "An acetous spirit." Boyle. "A liquid of an acetous kind." Bp. Lowth.

2. Causing, or connected with, acetification; as, acetous fermentation.

Acetous acid, a name formerly given to vinegar.

Ac"e*tyl (&?;), n. [L. acetum vinegar + Gr. &?; substance. See -yl.] (Chem.) A complex, hypothetical radical, composed of two parts of carbon to three of hydrogen and one of oxygen. Its hydroxide is acetic acid.

A*cet"y*lene (&?;), n. (Chem.) A gaseous compound of carbon and hydrogen, in the proportion of two atoms of the former to two of the latter. It is a colorless gas, with a peculiar, unpleasant odor, and is produced for use as an illuminating gas in a number of ways, but chiefly by the action of water on calcium carbide. Its light is very brilliant. Watts.

{ Ach, Ache } (&?;), n. [F. ache, L. apium parsley.] A name given to several species of plants; as, smallage, wild celery, parsley. [Obs.] Holland.

{ A*chæ"an (&?;), A*cha"ian (&?;) } a. [L. Achaeus, Achaius; Gr. &?;.] Of or pertaining to Achaia in Greece; also, Grecian. -- n. A native of Achaia; a Greek.

||A*char"ne*ment (&?;), n. [F.] Savage fierceness; ferocity.

Ach"ate (&?;), n. An agate. [Obs.] Evelyn.

A*chate" (&?;), n. [F. achat purchase. See Cates.] 1. Purchase; bargaining. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. pl. Provisions. Same as Cates. [Obs.] Spenser.

||Ach`a*ti"na (&?;), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; agate.] (Zoöl.) A genus of land snails, often large, common in the warm parts of America and Africa.

A*cha*tour" (&?;), n. [See Cater.] Purveyor; acater. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ache (&?;), n. [OE. ache, AS. æce, ece, fr. acan to ache. See Ache, v. i.] Continued pain, as distinguished from sudden twinges, or spasmodic pain. "Such an ache in my bones." Shak.

&fist; Often used in composition, as, a headache, an earache, a toothache.

Ache (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ached (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Aching (&?;).] [OE. aken, AS. acan, both strong verbs, AS. acan, imp. ōc, p. p. acen, to ache; perh. orig. to drive, and akin to agent.] To suffer pain; to have, or be in, pain, or in continued pain; to be distressed. "My old bones ache." Shak.

The sins that in your conscience ache.
Keble.

A*che"an (&?;), a. & n. See Achæan, Achaian.

{ A*chene" (&?;), A*che"ni*um (&?;) } n. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; to gape.] (Bot.) A small, dry, indehiscent fruit, containing a single seed, as in the buttercup; -- called a naked seed by the earlier botanists. [Written also akene and achænium.]

A*che"ni*al (&?;), a. Pertaining to an achene.

Ach"e*ron (&?;), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;.] (Myth.) A river in the Nether World or infernal regions; also, the infernal regions themselves. By some of the English poets it was supposed to be a flaming lake or gulf. Shak.

Ach`e*ron"tic (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Acheron; infernal; hence, dismal, gloomy; moribund.

A*chiev"a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being achieved. Barrow.

A*chiev"ance (&?;), n. [Cf. OF. achevance.] Achievement. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

A*chieve" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Achieved (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Achieving (&?;).] [OE. acheven, OF. achever, achiever, F. achever, to finish; à (L. ad) + OF. chief, F. chef, end, head, fr. L. caput head. See Chief.] 1. To carry on to a final close; to bring out into a perfected state; to accomplish; to perform; -- as, to achieve a feat, an exploit, an enterprise.

Supposing faculties and powers to be the same, far more may be achieved in any line by the aid of a capital, invigorating motive than without it.
I. Taylor.

2. To obtain, or gain, as the result of exertion; to succeed in gaining; to win.

Some are born great, some achieve greatness.
Shak.

Thou hast achieved our liberty.
Milton.

[[Obs]., with a material thing as the aim.]

Show all the spoils by valiant kings achieved.
Prior.

He hath achieved a maid
That paragons description.
Shak.

3. To finish; to kill. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. -- To accomplish; effect; fulfill; complete; execute; perform; realize; obtain. See Accomplish.

A*chieve"ment (-ment), n. [Cf. F. achèvement, E. Hatchment.] 1. The act of achieving or performing; an obtaining by exertion; successful performance; accomplishment; as, the achievement of his object.

2. A great or heroic deed; something accomplished by valor, boldness, or praiseworthy exertion; a feat.

[The exploits] of the ancient saints . . . do far surpass the most famous achievements of pagan heroes.
Barrow.

The highest achievements of the human intellect.
Macaulay.

3. (Her.) An escutcheon or ensign armorial; now generally applied to the funeral shield commonly called hatchment. Cussans.

A*chiev"er (&?;), n. One who achieves; a winner.

Ach`il*le"an (&?;), a. Resembling Achilles, the hero of the Iliad; invincible.

A*chil"les' ten"don (&?;), n. [L. Achillis tendo.] (Anat.) The strong tendon formed of the united tendons of the large muscles in the calf of the leg, an inserted into the bone of the heel; -- so called from the mythological account of Achilles being held by the heel when dipped in the River Styx.

A*chi"lous (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; lip.] (Bot.) Without a lip.

Ach"ing (&?;), a. That aches; continuously painful. See Ache. -- Ach"ing*ly, adv.

The aching heart, the aching head.
Longfellow.

||A`chi*o"te (&?;), n. [Sp. achiote, fr. Indian achiotl.] Seeds of the annotto tree; also, the coloring matter, annotto.

A*chlam"y*date (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?;. &?;. a short cloak.] (Zoöl.) Not possessing a mantle; -- said of certain gastropods.

Ach`la*myd"e*ous (&?;), a. (Bot.) Naked; having no floral envelope, neither calyx nor corolla.

||A*cho"li*a (&?;), n. [NL., from Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; bile.] (Med.) Deficiency or want of bile.

Ach"o*lous (&?;), a. (Med.) Lacking bile.

Ach`ro*mat"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; colorless; 'a priv. + &?;, &?;, color: cf. F. achromatique.] 1. (Opt.) Free from color; transmitting light without decomposing it into its primary colors.

2. (Biol.) Uncolored; not absorbing color from a fluid; -- said of tissue.

Achromatic lens(Opt.), a lens composed usually of two separate lenses, a convex and concave, of substances having different refractive and dispersive powers, as crown and flint glass, with the curvatures so adjusted that the chromatic aberration produced by the one is corrected by other, and light emerges from the compound lens undecomposed. -- Achromatic prism. See Prism. -- Achromatic telescope, or microscope, one in which the chromatic aberration is corrected, usually by means of a compound or achromatic object glass, and which gives images free from extraneous color.

Ach`ro*mat"ic*al*ly (&?;), adv. In an achromatic manner.

Ach`ro*ma*tic"i*ty (&?;), n. Achromatism.

A*chro"ma*tin (&?;), n. (Biol.) Tissue which is not stained by fluid dyes. W. Flemming.

A*chro"ma*tism (&?;), n. [Cf. F. achromatisme.] The state or quality of being achromatic; as, the achromatism of a lens; achromaticity. Nichol.

A*chro`ma*ti*za"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. F. achromatisation.] The act or process of achromatizing.

A*chro"ma*tize (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Achromatized (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Achromatizing (&?;).] [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; color.] To deprive of color; to make achromatic.

A*chro"ma*top"sy (&?;), n. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; color + &?; sight.] Color blindness; inability to distinguish colors; Daltonism.

A*chron"ic (&?;), a. See Acronyc.

Ach`ro*ö*dex"trin (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; colorless + E. dextrin.] (Physiol. Chem.) Dextrin not colorable by iodine. See Dextrin.

Ach"ro*ous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; color.] Colorless; achromatic.

A*chy"lous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; without juice.] (Physiol.) Without chyle.

A*chy"mous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; without juice.] (Physiol.) Without chyme.

||A*cic"u*la (&?;), n.; pl. Aciculæ (&?;). [L., a small needle, dimin. of acus needle.] (Nat. Hist.) One of the needlelike or bristlelike spines or prickles of some animals and plants; also, a needlelike crystal.

A*cic"u*lar (&?;), a. Needle-shaped; slender like a needle or bristle, as some leaves or crystals; also, having sharp points like needles.

A*cic"u*lar*ly, adv..

{ A*cic"u*late (&?;), A*cic"u*la"ted (&?;) } a. (Nat. Hist.) (a) Furnished with aciculæ. (b) Acicular. (c) Marked with fine irregular streaks as if scratched by a needle. Lindley.

A*cic"u*li*form (&?;), a. [L. acicula needle + -form.] Needle-shaped; acicular.

A*cic"u*lite (&?;), n. (Min.) Needle ore. Brande & C.

Ac"id (&?;), a. [L. acidus sour, fr. the root ak to be sharp: cf. F. acide. Cf. Acute.] 1. Sour, sharp, or biting to the taste; tart; having the taste of vinegar: as, acid fruits or liquors. Also fig.: Sour- tempered.

He was stern and his face as acid as ever.
A. Trollope.

2. Of or pertaining to an acid; as, acid reaction.

Ac"id, n. 1. A sour substance.

2. (Chem.) One of a class of compounds, generally but not always distinguished by their sour taste, solubility in water, and reddening of vegetable blue or violet colors. They are also characterized by the power of destroying the distinctive properties of alkalies or bases, combining with them to form salts, at the same time losing their own peculiar properties. They all contain hydrogen, united with a more negative element or radical, either alone, or more generally with oxygen, and take their names from this negative element or radical. Those which contain no oxygen are sometimes called hydracids in distinction from the others which are called oxygen acids or oxacids.

&fist; In certain cases, sulphur, selenium, or tellurium may take the place of oxygen, and the corresponding compounds are called respectively sulphur acids or sulphacids, selenium acids, or tellurium acids. When the hydrogen of an acid is replaced by a positive element or radical, a salt is formed, and hence acids are sometimes named as salts of hydrogen; as hydrogen nitrate for nitric acid, hydrogen sulphate for sulphuric acid, etc. In the old chemistry the name acid was applied to the oxides of the negative or nonmetallic elements, now sometimes called anhydrides.

A*cid"ic (&?;), a. (Min.) Containing a high percentage of silica; -- opposed to basic.

Ac`id*if"er*ous (&?;), a. [L. acidus sour + -ferous.] Containing or yielding an acid.

A*cid"i*fi`a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being acidified, or converted into an acid.

Ac`id*if"ic (&?;), a. Producing acidity; converting into an acid. Dana.

A*cid`i*fi*ca"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. F. acidification.] The act or process of acidifying, or changing into an acid.

A*cid"i*fi`er (&?;), n. (Chem.) A simple or compound principle, whose presence is necessary to produce acidity, as oxygen, chlorine, bromine, iodine, etc.

A*cid"i*fy (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acidified (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Acidifying (&?;).] [L. acidus sour, acid + -fy: cf. F. acidifier.] 1. To make acid; to convert into an acid; as, to acidify sugar.

2. To sour; to imbitter.

His thin existence all acidified into rage.
Carlyle.

Ac`id*im"e*ter (&?;), n. [L. acidus acid + -meter.] (Chem.) An instrument for ascertaining the strength of acids. Ure.

Ac`id*im"e*try (&?;), n. [L. acidus acid + -metry.] (Chem.) The measurement of the strength of acids, especially by a chemical process based on the law of chemical combinations, or the fact that, to produce a complete reaction, a certain definite weight of reagent is required. -- Ac`id*i*met"ric*al (&?;), a.

A*cid"i*ty (&?;), n. [L. acidites, fr. acidus: cf. F. acidité. See Acid.] The quality of being sour; sourness; tartness; sharpness to the taste; as, the acidity of lemon juice.

Ac"id*ly (&?;), adv. Sourly; tartly.

Ac"id*ness (&?;), n. Acidity; sourness.

A*cid"u*late (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acidulated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Acidulating (&?;).] [Cf. F. aciduler. See Acidulous.] To make sour or acid in a moderate degree; to sour somewhat. Arbuthnot.

A*cid"u*lent (&?;), a. Having an acid quality; sour; acidulous. "With anxious, acidulent face." Carlyle.

A*cid"u*lous (&?;), a. [L. acidulus, dim. of acidus. See Acid.] Slightly sour; sub-acid; sourish; as, an acidulous tincture. E. Burke.

Acidulous mineral waters, such as contain carbonic anhydride.

Ac`i*er*age (&?;), n. [F. aciérage, fr. acier steel.] The process of coating the surface of a metal plate (as a stereotype plate) with steellike iron by means of voltaic electricity; steeling.

Ac"i*form (&?;), a. [L. acus needle + -form.] Shaped like a needle.

Ac"i*na"ceous (&?;), a. [L. acinus a grape, grapestone.] (Bot.) Containing seeds or stones of grapes, or grains like them.

||A*cin"a*ces (&?;), n. [L., from Gr. &?;.] (Anc. Hist.) A short sword or saber.

Ac`i*nac"i*form (ăs`&ibreve;*năs"&ibreve;*fôrm), a. [L. acinaces a short sword + -form: cf. F. acinaciforme.] (Bot.) Scimeter-shaped; as, an acinaciform leaf.

||Ac`i*ne"si*a (ăs`&ibreve;*nē"s&ibreve;*&adot;), n. (Med.) Same as Akinesia.

||Ac`i*ne"tæ (ăs`&ibreve;*nē"tē), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. 'akinhtos immovable.] (Zoöl.) A group of suctorial Infusoria, which in the adult stage are stationary. See Suctoria.

Ac`i*net"i*form (&?;), a. [Acinetæ + -form.] (Zoöl.) Resembling the Acinetæ.

A*cin"i*form (&?;), a. [L. acinus a grape, grapestone + -form: cf. F. acinoforme.] 1. Having the form of a cluster of grapes; clustered like grapes.

2. Full of small kernels like a grape.

{ Ac"i*nose` (&?;), Ac"i*nous (&?;) } a. [L. acinosus, fr. acinus grapestone.] Consisting of acini, or minute granular concretions; as, acinose or acinous glands. Kirwan.

||Ac"i*nus (&?;), n.; pl. Acini (&?;). [L., grape, grapestone.] 1. (Bot.) (a) One of the small grains or drupelets which make up some kinds of fruit, as the blackberry, raspberry, etc. (b) A grapestone.

2. (Anat.) One of the granular masses which constitute a racemose or compound gland, as the pancreas; also, one of the saccular recesses in the lobules of a racemose gland. Quain.

||Ac`i*pen"ser (&?;), n. [L., the name of a fish.] (Zoöl.) A genus of ganoid fishes, including the sturgeons, having the body armed with bony scales, and the mouth on the under side of the head. See Sturgeon.

Ac"i*ur`gy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; a point + &?; work.] Operative surgery.

Ac*know" (&?;), v. t. [Pref. a- + know; AS. oncnāwan.] 1. To recognize. [Obs.] "You will not be acknown, sir." B. Jonson.

2. To acknowledge; to confess. [Obs.] Chaucer.

To be acknown (often with of or on), to acknowledge; to confess. [Obs.]

We say of a stubborn body that standeth still in the denying of his fault, This man will not acknowledge his fault, or, He will not be acknown of his fault.
Sir T. More.

Ac*knowl"edge (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acknowledged (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Acknowledging (&?;).] [Prob. fr. pref. a- + the verb knowledge. See Knowledge, and cf. Acknow.] 1. To of or admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in; as, to acknowledge the being of a God.

I acknowledge my transgressions.
Ps. li. 3.

For ends generally acknowledged to be good.
Macaulay.

2. To own or recognize in a particular character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him.
Prov. iii. 6.

By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee.
Shak.

3. To own with gratitude or as a benefit or an obligation; as, to acknowledge a favor, the receipt of a letter.

They his gifts acknowledged none.
Milton.

4. To own as genuine; to assent to, as a legal instrument, to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form; as, to acknowledgea deed.

Syn. -- To avow; proclaim; recognize; own; admit; allow; concede; confess. -- Acknowledge, Recognize. Acknowledge is opposed to keep back, or conceal, and supposes that something had been previously known to us (though perhaps not to others) which we now feel bound to lay open or make public. Thus, a man acknowledges a secret marriage; one who has done wrong acknowledges his fault; and author acknowledges his obligation to those who have aided him; we acknowledge our ignorance. Recognize supposes that we have either forgotten or not had the evidence of a thing distinctly before our minds, but that now we know it (as it were) anew, or receive and admit in on the ground of the evidence it brings. Thus, we recognize a friend after a long absence. We recognize facts, principles, truths, etc., when their evidence is brought up fresh to the mind; as, bad men usually recognize the providence of God in seasons of danger. A foreign minister, consul, or agent, of any kind, is recognized on the ground of his producing satisfactory credentials. See also Confess.

Ac*knowl"edged*ly (&?;), adv. Confessedly.

Ac*knowl"edg*er (&?;), n. One who acknowledges.

Ac*knowl"edg*ment (-ment), n. 1. The act of acknowledging; admission; avowal; owning; confession. "An acknowledgment of fault." Froude.

2. The act of owning or recognized in a particular character or relationship; recognition as regards the existence, authority, truth, or genuineness.

Immediately upon the acknowledgment of the Christian faith, the eunuch was baptized by Philip.
Hooker.

3. The owning of a benefit received; courteous recognition; expression of thanks. Shak.

4. Something given or done in return for a favor, message, etc. Smollett.

5. A declaration or avowal of one's own act, to give it legal validity; as, the acknowledgment of a deed before a proper officer. Also, the certificate of the officer attesting such declaration.

Acknowledgment money, in some parts of England, a sum paid by copyhold tenants, on the death of their landlords, as an acknowledgment of their new lords.Cowell.

Syn. -- Confession; concession; recognition; admission; avowal; recognizance.

A*clin"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; to incline.] (Physics.) Without inclination or dipping; - - said the magnetic needle balances itself horizontally, having no dip. The aclinic line is also termed the magnetic equator. Prof. August.

Ac"me (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; point, top.] 1. The top or highest point; the culmination.

The very acme and pitch of life for epic poetry.
Pope.

The moment when a certain power reaches the acme of its supremacy.
I. Taylor.

2. (Med.) The crisis or height of a disease.

3. Mature age; full bloom of life. B. Jonson.

Ac"ne (&?;), n. [NL., prob. a corruption of Gr. &?;] (Med.) A pustular affection of the skin, due to changes in the sebaceous glands.

Ac*no"dal (&?;), a. Pertaining to acnodes.

Ac"node (&?;), n. [L. acus needle + E. node.] (Geom.) An isolated point not upon a curve, but whose coördinates satisfy the equation of the curve so that it is considered as belonging to the curve.

A*cock" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + cock.] In a cocked or turned up fashion.

A*cock"bill` (&?;), adv. [Prefix a- + cock + bill: with bills cocked up.] (Naut.) (a) Hanging at the cathead, ready to let go, as an anchor. (b) Topped up; having one yardarm higher than the other.

A*cold" (&?;), a. [Prob. p. p. of OE. acolen to grow cold or cool, AS. ācōlian to grow cold; pref. a- (cf. Goth. er-, orig. meaning out) + cōlian to cool. See Cool.] Cold. [Obs.] "Poor Tom's acold." Shak.

Ac`o*log"ic (&?;), a. Pertaining to acology.

A*col"o*gy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; remedy + - logy.] Materia medica; the science of remedies.

A*col"o*thist (&?;), n. See Acolythist.

Ac`o*lyc"tine (&?;), n. [From the name of the plant.] (Chem.) An organic base, in the form of a white powder, obtained from Aconitum lycoctonum. Eng. Cyc.

Ac`o*lyte (&?;), n. [LL. acolythus, acoluthus, Gr. &?; following, attending: cf. F. acolyte.]

1. (Eccl.) One who has received the highest of the four minor orders in the Catholic church, being ordained to carry the wine and water and the lights at the Mass.

2. One who attends; an assistant. "With such chiefs, and with James and John as acolytes." Motley.

Ac"o*lyth (&?;), n. Same as Acolyte.

A*col"y*thist (&?;), n. An acolyte. [Obs.]

{ A*cond"dy*lose` (&?;), A*con"dy*lous (&?;), } a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; joint.] (Nat. Hist.) Being without joints; jointless.

Ac`o*ni"tal (&?;), a. Of the nature of aconite.

Ac"o*nite (&?;), n. [L. aconitum, Gr. &?;: cf. F. aconit.] 1. (Bot.) The herb wolfsbane, or monkshood; -- applied to any plant of the genus Aconitum (tribe Hellebore), all the species of which are poisonous.

2. An extract or tincture obtained from Aconitum napellus, used as a poison and medicinally.

Winter aconite, a plant (Eranthis hyemalis) allied to the aconites.

||Ac`o*ni"ti*a (&?;), n. (Chem.) Same as Aconitine.

Ac`o*nit"ic (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to aconite.

A*con"i*tine (&?;), n. (Chem.) An intensely poisonous alkaloid, extracted from aconite.

||Ac`o*ni"tum (&?;), n. [L. See Aconite.] The poisonous herb aconite; also, an extract from it.

Strong
As aconitum or rash gunpowder.
Shak.

||A*con"ti*a (&?;), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; a little dart.] (Zoöl.) Threadlike defensive organs, composed largely of nettling cells (cnidæ), thrown out of the mouth or special pores of certain Actiniæ when irritated.

||A*con"ti*as (&?;), n. [NL., from Gr. &?;, fr. &?;, dim. &?; dart.] (Zoöl.) Anciently, a snake, called dart snake; now, one of a genus of reptiles closely allied to the lizards.

A*cop"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; priv. + &?; striking. weariness, &?; to strike.] (Med.) Relieving weariness; restorative.

A"corn (&?;), n. [AS. æcern, fr. æcer field, acre; akin to D. aker acorn, Ger. ecker, Icel. akarn, Dan. agern, Goth. akran fruit, akrs field; -- orig. fruit of the field. See Acre.] 1. The fruit of the oak, being an oval nut growing in a woody cup or cupule.

2. (Naut.) A cone-shaped piece of wood on the point of the spindle above the vane, on the mast-head.

3. (Zoöl.) See Acorn- shell.

A"corn cup (&?;). The involucre or cup in which the acorn is fixed.

A"corned (&?;), a. 1. Furnished or loaded with acorns.

2. Fed or filled with acorns. [R.] Shak.

A"corn-shell` (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) One of the sessile cirripeds; a barnacle of the genus Balanus. See Barnacle.

A*cos"mism (&?;), n. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; world.] A denial of the existence of the universe as distinct from God.

A*cos"mist (&?;), n. [See Acosmism.] One who denies the existence of the universe, or of a universe as distinct from God. G. H. Lewes.

A*cot`y*le"don (#; 277), n. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; anything cup-shaped. See Cotyledon.] (Bot.) A plant which has no cotyledons, as the dodder and all flowerless plants.

A*cot`y*led"on*ous (#; 277), a. Having no seed lobes, as the dodder; also applied to plants which have no true seeds, as ferns, mosses, etc.

A*cou"chy (&?;), n. [F. acouchi, from the native name Guiana.] (Zoöl.) A small species of agouti (Dasyprocta acouchy).

A*cou"me*ter (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; to hear + -meter.] (Physics.) An instrument for measuring the acuteness of the sense of hearing. Itard.

A*cou"me*try (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; to hear + -metry.] The measuring of the power or extent of hearing.

A*cous"tic (#; 277), a. [F. acoustique, Gr. &?; relating to hearing, fr. &?; to hear.] Pertaining to the sense of hearing, the organs of hearing, or the science of sounds; auditory.

Acoustic duct, the auditory duct, or external passage of the ear. -- Acoustic telegraph, a telegraph making audible signals; a telephone. -- Acoustic vessels, brazen tubes or vessels, shaped like a bell, used in ancient theaters to propel the voices of the actors, so as to render them audible to a great distance.

A*cous"tic, n. A medicine or agent to assist hearing.

A*cous"tic*al (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to acoustics.

A*cous"tic*al*ly (&?;), adv. In relation to sound or to hearing. Tyndall.

Ac`ous*ti"cian (&?;), n. One versed in acoustics. Tyndall.

A*cous"tics (#; 277), n. [Names of sciences in -ics, as, acoustics, mathematics, etc., are usually treated as singular. See -ics.] (Physics.) The science of sounds, teaching their nature, phenomena, and laws.

Acoustics, then, or the science of sound, is a very considerable branch of physics.
Sir J. Herschel.

&fist; The science is, by some writers, divided, into diacoustics, which explains the properties of sounds coming directly from the ear; and catacoustica, which treats of reflected sounds or echoes.

Ac*quaint" (&?;), a. [OF. acoint. See Acquaint, v. t.] Acquainted. [Obs.]

Ac*quaint", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acquainted; p. pr. & vb. n. Acquainting.] [OE. aqueinten, acointen, OF. acointier, LL. adcognitare, fr. L. ad + cognitus, p. p. of cognoscere to know; con- + noscere to know. See Quaint, Know.] 1. To furnish or give experimental knowledge of; to make (one) to know; to make familiar; -- followed by with.

Before a man can speak on any subject, it is necessary to be acquainted with it.
Locke.

A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
Isa. liii. 3.

2. To communicate notice to; to inform; to make cognizant; -- followed by with (formerly, also, by of), or by that, introducing the intelligence; as, to acquaint a friend with the particulars of an act.

Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love.
Shak.

I must acquaint you that I have received
New dated letters from Northumberland.
Shak.

3. To familiarize; to accustom. [Obs.] Evelyn.

To be acquainted with, to be possessed of personal knowledge of; to be cognizant of; to be more or less familiar with; to be on terms of social intercourse with.

Syn. -- To inform; apprise; communicate; advise.

Ac*quaint"a*ble (&?;), a. [Cf. OF. acointable]. Easy to be acquainted with; affable. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

Ac*quaint"ance (&?;), n. [OE. aqueintance, OF. acointance, fr. acointier. See Acquaint.] 1. A state of being acquainted, or of having intimate, or more than slight or superficial, knowledge; personal knowledge gained by intercourse short of that of friendship or intimacy; as, I know the man; but have no acquaintance with him.

Contract no friendship, or even acquaintance, with a guileful man.
Sir W. Jones.

2. A person or persons with whom one is acquainted.

Montgomery was an old acquaintance of Ferguson.
Macaulay.

&fist; In this sense the collective term acquaintance was formerly both singular and plural, but it is now commonly singular, and has the regular plural acquaintances.

To be of acquaintance, to be intimate. -- To take acquaintance of or with, to make the acquaintance of. [Obs.]

Syn. -- Familiarity; intimacy; fellowship; knowledge. -- Acquaintance, Familiarity, Intimacy. These words mark different degrees of closeness in social intercourse. Acquaintance arises from occasional intercourse; as, our acquaintance has been a brief one. We can speak of a slight or an intimate acquaintance. Familiarity is the result of continued acquaintance. It springs from persons being frequently together, so as to wear off all restraint and reserve; as, the familiarity of old companions. Intimacy is the result of close connection, and the freest interchange of thought; as, the intimacy of established friendship.

Our admiration of a famous man lessens upon our nearer acquaintance with him.
Addison.

We contract at last such a familiarity with them as makes it difficult and irksome for us to call off our minds.
Atterbury.

It is in our power to confine our friendships and intimacies to men of virtue.
Rogers.

Ac*quaint"ance*ship, n. A state of being acquainted; acquaintance. Southey.

Ac*quaint"ant (&?;), n. [Cf. F. acointant, p. pr.] An acquaintance. [R.] Swift.

Ac*quaint"ed, a. Personally known; familiar. See To be acquainted with, under Acquaint, v. t.

Ac*quaint"ed*ness, n. State of being acquainted; degree of acquaintance. [R.] Boyle.

Ac*quest" (#), n. [OF. aquest, F. acquêt, fr. LL. acquestum, acquisītum, for L. acquisītum, p. p. (used substantively) of acquirere to acquire. See Acquire.]

1. Acquisition; the thing gained. [R.] Bacon.

2. (Law) Property acquired by purchase, gift, or otherwise than by inheritance. Bouvier.

Ac`qui*esce" (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Acquiesced (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Acquiescing (&?;)] [L. acquiescere; ad + quiescere to be quiet, fr. quies rest: cf. F. acquiescer. See Quiet.] 1. To rest satisfied, or apparently satisfied, or to rest without opposition and discontent (usually implying previous opposition or discontent); to accept or consent by silence or by omitting to object; -- followed by in, formerly also by with and to.

They were compelled to acquiesce in a government which they did not regard as just.
De Quincey.

2. To concur upon conviction; as, to acquiesce in an opinion; to assent to; usually, to concur, not heartily but so far as to forbear opposition.

Syn. -- To submit; comply; yield; assent; agree; consent; accede; concur; conform; accept tacitly.

Ac`qui*es"cence (&?;), n. [Cf. F. acquiescence.] 1. A silent or passive assent or submission, or a submission with apparent content; -- distinguished from avowed consent on the one hand, and on the other, from opposition or open discontent; quiet satisfaction.

2. (Crim. Law) (a) Submission to an injury by the party injured. (b) Tacit concurrence in the action of another. Wharton.

Ac`qui*es"cen*cy (&?;), n. The quality of being acquiescent; acquiescence.

Ac`qui*es"cent (&?;), a. [L. acquiescens, -centis; p. pr.] Resting satisfied or submissive; disposed tacitly to submit; assentive; as, an acquiescent policy.

Ac`qui*es"cent*ly, adv. In an acquiescent manner.

Ac*qui"et (&?;), v. t. [LL. acquietare; L. ad + quies rest. See Quiet and cf. Acquit.] To quiet. [Obs.]

Acquiet his mind from stirring you against your own peace.
Sir A. Sherley.

Ac*quir"a*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. The quality of being acquirable; attainableness. [R.] Paley.

Ac*quir"a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being acquired.

Ac*quire" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acquired (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Acquiring (&?;).] [L. acquirere, acquisitum; ad + quarere to seek for. In OE. was a verb aqueren, fr. the same, through OF. aquerre. See Quest..] To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own; as, to acquire a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad habits.

No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step.
Barrow.

Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor, acquires his estate, by right of representation, as his heir at law.
Blackstone.

Syn. -- To obtain; gain; attain; procure; win; earn; secure. See Obtain.

Ac*quire"ment (-ment), n. The act of acquiring, or that which is acquired; attainment. "Rules for the acquirement of a taste." Addison.

His acquirements by industry were . . . enriched and enlarged by many excellent endowments of nature.
Hayward.

Syn. -- Acquisition, Acquirement. Acquirement is used in opposition to a natural gift or talent; as, eloquence, and skill in music and painting, are acquirements; genius is the gift or endowment of nature. It denotes especially personal attainments, in opposition to material or external things gained, which are more usually called acquisitions; but this distinction is not always observed.

Ac*quir"er (&?;), n. A person who acquires.

Ac*quir"y (&?;), n. Acquirement. [Obs.] Barrow.

Ac"qui*site (&?;), a. [L. acquisitus, p. p. of acquirere. See Acquire.] Acquired. [Obs.] Burton.

Ac`qui*si"tion (&?;), n. [L. acquisitio, fr. acquirere: cf. F. acquisition. See Acquire.] 1. The act or process of acquiring.

The acquisition or loss of a province.
Macaulay.

2. The thing acquired or gained; an acquirement; a gain; as, learning is an acquisition.

Syn. -- See Acquirement.

Ac*quis"i*tive (&?;), a. 1. Acquired. [Obs.]

He died not in his acquisitive, but in his native soil.
Wotton.

2. Able or disposed to make acquisitions; acquiring; as, an acquisitive person or disposition.

Ac*quis"i*tive*ly, adv. In the way of acquisition.

Ac*quis"i*tive*ness, n. 1. The quality of being acquisitive; propensity to acquire property; desire of possession.

2. (Phren.) The faculty to which the phrenologists attribute the desire of acquiring and possessing. Combe.

Ac*quis"i*tor (&?;), n. One who acquires.

Ac*quist" (&?;), n. [Cf. Acquest.] Acquisition; gain. Milton.

Ac*quit" (&?;), p. p. Acquitted; set free; rid of. [Archaic] Shak.

Ac*quit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acquitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Acquitting.] [OE. aquiten, OF. aquiter, F. acquitter; &?; (L. ad) + OF. quiter, F. quitter, to quit. See Quit, and cf. Acquiet.] 1. To discharge, as a claim or debt; to clear off; to pay off; to requite.

A responsibility that can never be absolutely acquitted.
I. Taylor.

2. To pay for; to atone for. [Obs.] Shak.

3. To set free, release or discharge from an obligation, duty, liability, burden, or from an accusation or charge; -- now followed by of before the charge, formerly by from; as, the jury acquitted the prisoner; we acquit a man of evil intentions.

4. Reflexively: (a) To clear one's self. Shak. (b) To bear or conduct one's self; to perform one's part; as, the soldier acquitted himself well in battle; the orator acquitted himself very poorly.

Syn. -- To absolve; clear; exonerate; exonerate; exculpate; release; discharge. See Absolve.

Ac*quit"ment (-ment), n. [Cf. OF. aquitement.] Acquittal. [Obs.] Milton.

Ac*quit"tal (&?;), n. 1. The act of acquitting; discharge from debt or obligation; acquittance.

2. (Law) A setting free, or deliverance from the charge of an offense, by verdict of a jury or sentence of a court. Bouvier.

Ac*quit"tance (&?;), n. [OF. aquitance, fr. aquiter. See Acquit.] 1. The clearing off of debt or obligation; a release or discharge from debt or other liability.

2. A writing which is evidence of a discharge; a receipt in full, which bars a further demand.

You can produce acquittances
For such a sum, from special officers.
Shak.

Ac*quit"tance, v. t. To acquit. [Obs.] Shak.

Ac*quit"ter (&?;), n. One who acquits or releases.

||A*cra"ni*a (&?;), n. [NL., from Gr. 'a priv. + &?; skull.] 1. (Physiol.) Partial or total absence of the skull.

2. pl. (Zoöl.) The lowest group of Vertebrata, including the amphioxus, in which no skull exists.

A*cra"ni*al (&?;), a. Wanting a skull.

{ A*crase", A*craze" } (&?;), v. t. [Pref. a- + crase; or cf. F. écraser to crush. See Crase, Craze.]

1. To craze. [Obs.] Grafton.

2. To impair; to destroy. [Obs.] Hacket.

{ ||A*cra"si*a (&?;), Ac"ra*sy (&?;) } n. [Gr. akrasia.] Excess; intemperance. [Obs. except in Med.] Farindon.

||A*cras"pe*da (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. 'a priv. + &?; border.] (Zoöl.) A group of acalephs, including most of the larger jellyfishes; the Discophora.

A"cre (&?;), n. [OE. aker, AS. æcer; akin to OS. accar, OHG. achar, Ger. acker, Icel. akr, Sw. åker, Dan. ager, Goth. akrs, L. ager, Gr. &?;, Skr. ajra. √2, 206.] 1. Any field of arable or pasture land. [Obs.]

2. A piece of land, containing 160 square rods, or 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet. This is the English statute acre. That of the United States is the same. The Scotch acre was about 1.26 of the English, and the Irish 1.62 of the English.

&fist; The acre was limited to its present definite quantity by statutes of Edward I., Edward III., and Henry VIII.

Broad acres, many acres, much landed estate. [Rhetorical] -- God's acre, God's field; the churchyard.

I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which calls
The burial ground, God's acre.
Longfellow.

A"cre*a*ble (&?;), a. Of an acre; per acre; as, the acreable produce.

A"cre*age (&?;), n. Acres collectively; as, the acreage of a farm or a country.

A"cred (&?;), a. Possessing acres or landed property; -- used in composition; as, large-acred men.

Ac"rid (&?;), a. [L. acer sharp; prob. assimilated in form to acid. See Eager.] 1. Sharp and harsh, or bitter and not, to the taste; pungent; as, acrid salts.

2. Causing heat and irritation; corrosive; as, acrid secretions.

3. Caustic; bitter; bitterly irritating; as, acrid temper, mind, writing.

Acrid poison, a poison which irritates, corrodes, or burns the parts to which it is applied.

{ A*crid"i*ty (&?;), Ac"rid*ness (&?;) } n. The quality of being acrid or pungent; irritant bitterness; acrimony; as, the acridity of a plant, of a speech.

Ac"rid*ly (&?;), adv. In an acid manner.

Ac"ri*mo"ni*ous (&?;), a. [Cf. LL. acrimonious, F. acrimonieux.] 1. Acrid; corrosive; as, acrimonious gall. [Archaic] Harvey.

2. Caustic; bitter-tempered' sarcastic; as, acrimonious dispute, language, temper.

Ac`ri*mo"ni*ous*ly, adv. In an acrimonious manner.

Ac`ri*mo"ni*ous*ness, n. The quality of being acrimonious; asperity; acrimony.

Ac"ri*mo*ny (&?;), n.; pl. Acrimonies (&?;). [L. acrimonia, fr. acer, sharp: cf. F. acrimonie.] 1. A quality of bodies which corrodes or destroys others; also, a harsh or biting sharpness; as, the acrimony of the juices of certain plants. [Archaic] Bacon.

2. Sharpness or severity, as of language or temper; irritating bitterness of disposition or manners.

John the Baptist set himself with much acrimony and indignation to baffle this senseless arrogant conceit of theirs.
South.

Syn. -- Acrimony, Asperity, Harshness, Tartness. These words express different degrees of angry feeling or language. Asperity and harshness arise from angry feelings, connected with a disregard for the feelings of others. Harshness usually denotes needless severity or an undue measure of severity. Acrimony is a biting sharpness produced by an imbittered spirit. Tartness denotes slight asperity and implies some degree of intellectual readiness. Tartness of reply; harshness of accusation; acrimony of invective.

In his official letters he expressed, with great acrimony, his contempt for the king's character.
Macaulay.

It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received.
Johnson.

A just reverence of mankind prevents the growth of harshness and brutality.
Shaftesbury.

{ ||A*cris"i*a (&?;), Ac"ri*sy (&?;), } n. [LL. acrisia, Gr. &?;; 'a priv. + &?; to separate, to decide.] 1. Inability to judge.

2. (Med.) Undecided character of a disease. [Obs.]

||Ac"ri*ta (&?;), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; indiscernible; 'a priv. + &?; to distinguish.] (Zoöl.) The lowest groups of animals, in which no nervous system has been observed.

Ac"ri*tan (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Acrita. -- n. An individual of the Acrita.

Ac"rite (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Acritan. Owen.

A*crit"ic*al (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; critical.] (Med.) Having no crisis; giving no indications of a crisis; as, acritical symptoms, an acritical abscess.

Ac`ri*to*chro"ma*cy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; undistinguishable; 'a priv. + &?; to separate, distinguish + &?; color.] Color blindness; achromatopsy.

Ac"ri*tude (&?;), n. [L. acritudo, from acer sharp.] Acridity; pungency joined with heat. [Obs.]

Ac"ri*ty (&?;), n. [L. acritas, fr. acer sharp: cf. F. âcreté.] Sharpness; keenness. [Obs.]

{ Ac`ro*a*mat"ic (&?;), Ac`ro*a*mat"ic*al (&?;), } a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to hear.] Communicated orally; oral; -- applied to the esoteric teachings of Aristotle, those intended for his genuine disciples, in distinction from his exoteric doctrines, which were adapted to outsiders or the public generally. Hence: Abstruse; profound.

Ac`ro*at"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to hear.] Same as Acroamatic.

Ac"ro*bat (&?;), n. [F. acrobate, fr. Gr. &?; walking on tiptoe, climbing aloft; &?; high + &?; to go.] One who practices rope dancing, high vaulting, or other daring gymnastic feats.

Ac`ro*bat"ic (&?;), a. [Cf. F. acrobatique.] Pertaining to an acrobat.

-- Ac`ro*bat"ic*al*ly, adv.

Ac"ro*bat*ism (&?;), n. Feats of the acrobat; daring gymnastic feats; high vaulting.

Ac`ro*car"pous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; extreme, highest + &?; fruit.] (Bot.) (a) Having a terminal fructification; having the fruit at the end of the stalk. (b) Having the fruit stalks at the end of a leafy stem, as in certain mosses.

Ac`ro*ce*phal"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; highest + &?;. See Cephalic.] Characterized by a high skull.

Ac`ro*ceph"a*ly (&?;), n. Loftiness of skull.

Ac`ro*ce*rau"ni*an (&?;), a. [L. acroceraunius, fr. Gr. &?; high, n. pl. &?; heights + &?; thunderbolt.] Of or pertaining to the high mountain range of "thunder- smitten" peaks (now Kimara), between Epirus and Macedonia. Shelley.

||Ac`ro*dac"tyl*um (&?;), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; topmost + &?; finger.] (Zoöl.) The upper surface of the toes, individually.

Ac"ro*dont (&?;), n. [Gr. 'a`kros summit + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth.] (Zoöl.) One of a group of lizards having the teeth immovably united to the top of the alveolar ridge. -- a. Of or pertaining to the acrodonts.

Ac"ro*gen (&?;), n. [Gr. 'a`kros extreme, high + -gen.] (Bot.) A plant of the highest class of cryptogams, including the ferns, etc. See Cryptogamia.

The Age of Acrogens(Geol.), the age of coal plants, or the carboniferous era.

Ac*rog"e*nous (&?;), a. (Bot.) Increasing by growth from the extremity; as, an acrogenous plant.

A*cro"le*in (&?;), n. [L. acer sharp + olēre to smell.] (Chem.) A limpid, colorless, highly volatile liquid, obtained by the dehydration of glycerin, or the destructive distillation of neutral fats containing glycerin. Its vapors are intensely irritating. Watts.

Ac"ro*lith (&?;), n. [L. acrolthus, Gr. 'akroli`qos with the ends made of stone; 'a`kros extreme + li`qos stone.] (Arch. & Sculp.) A statue whose extremities are of stone, the trunk being generally of wood. Elmes.

{ A*crol"i*than (&?;), Ac`ro*lith"ic (&?;), } a. Pertaining to, or like, an acrolith.

Ac`ro*meg"a*ly (&?;), n. [NL. acromegalia, fr. Gr. 'a`kron point, peak + &?;, &?;, big.] (Med.) Chronic enlargement of the extremities and face.

A*cro"mi*al (&?;), a. [Cf. F. acromial.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the acromion. Dunglison.

||A*cro"mi*on (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;; 'a`kros extreme + &?; shoulder: cf. F. acromion.] (Anat.) The outer extremity of the shoulder blade.

Ac`ro*mon`o*gram*mat"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a`kros extreme + &?; alone + &?; a letter.] Having each verse begin with the same letter as that with which the preceding verse ends.

{ A*cron"yc (&?;), A*cron"ych*al (&?;), } a. [Gr. 'akro`nychos at nightfall; 'a`kros + ny`x night.] (Astron.) Rising at sunset and setting at sunrise, as a star; -- opposed to cosmical.

&fist; The word is sometimes incorrectly written acronical, achronychal, acronichal, and acronical.

A*cron"yc*al*ly, adv. In an acronycal manner as rising at the setting of the sun, and vice versa.

Ac"ro*nyc"tous (&?;), a. [Gr. 'akro`nyktos; 'a`kros + ny`x, nykto`s, night.] (Astron.) Acronycal.

A*crook" (&?;), adv. Crookedly. [R.] Udall.

A*crop"e*tal (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a`kros summit + L. petere to seek.] (Bot.) Developing from below towards the apex, or from the circumference towards the center; centripetal; -- said of certain inflorescence.

A*croph"o*ny (&?;), n. [Gr. 'a`kros extreme + &?; sound.] The use of a picture symbol of an object to represent phonetically the initial sound of the name of the object.

||Ac`ro*po"di*um (&?;), n. [Gr. 'a`kros topmost + poy`s, podo`s, foot.] (Zoöl.) The entire upper surface of the foot.

A*crop"o*lis (&?;), n. [Gr. 'akro`polis; 'a`kros extreme + po`lis city.] The upper part, or the citadel, of a Grecian city; especially, the citadel of Athens.

Ac"ro*pol"i*tan (&?;), a. Pertaining to an acropolis.

Ac"ro*spire (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; + &?; anything twisted.] (Bot.) The sprout at the end of a seed when it begins to germinate; the plumule in germination; -- so called from its spiral form.

Ac"ro*spire, v. i. To put forth the first sprout.

Ac"ro*spore (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; + &?; fruit.] (Bot.) A spore borne at the extremity of the cells of fructification in fungi.

Ac"ro*spor"ous (&?;), a. Having acrospores.

A*cross" (#; 115), prep. [Pref. a- + cross: cf. F. en croix. See Cross, n.] From side to side; athwart; crosswise, or in a direction opposed to the length; quite over; as, a bridge laid across a river. Dryden.

To come across, to come upon or meet incidentally.Freeman. -- To go across the country, to go by a direct course across a region without following the roads.

A*cross", adv. 1. From side to side; crosswise; as, with arms folded across. Shak.

2. Obliquely; athwart; amiss; awry. [Obs.]

The squint-eyed Pharisees look across at all the actions of Christ.
Bp. Hall.

A*cros"tic (&?;) (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; extreme + &?; order, line, verse.] 1. A composition, usually in verse, in which the first or the last letters of the lines, or certain other letters, taken in order, form a name, word, phrase, or motto.

2. A Hebrew poem in which the lines or stanzas begin with the letters of the alphabet in regular order (as Psalm cxix.). See Abecedarian.

Double acrostic, a species of enigma, in which words are to be guessed whose initial and final letters form other words.

{ A*cros"tic (&?;), A*cros"tic*al (&?;), } n. Pertaining to, or characterized by, acrostics.

A*cros"tic*al*ly, adv. After the manner of an acrostic.

||Ac`ro*tar"si*um (&?;), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; topmost + &?; tarsus.] (Zoöl.) The instep or front of the tarsus.

Ac`ro*te*leu"tic (ăk`r&osl;*t&esl;*lū"t&ibreve;k), n. [Gr. 'a`kros extreme + teley`th end.] (Eccles.) The end of a verse or psalm, or something added thereto, to be sung by the people, by way of a response.

Ac"ro*ter (ăk`r&osl;*t&etilde;r or &adot;*krō*t&etilde;r), n. [F. acrotère. See Acroterium.] (Arch.) Same as Acroterium.

Ac`ro*te"ri*al (ăk`r&osl;*tē"r&ibreve;*al), a. Pertaining to an acroterium; as, acroterial ornaments. P. Cyc.

||Ac`ro*te`ri*um (-ŭm), n.; pl. Acroteria (&?;). [L., fr. Gr. 'akrwth`rion summit, fr. 'a`kros topmost.] (Arch.) (a) One of the small pedestals, for statues or other ornaments, placed on the apex and at the basal angles of a pediment. Acroteria are also sometimes placed upon the gables in Gothic architecture. J. H. Parker. (b) One of the pedestals, for vases or statues, forming a part roof balustrade.

A*crot"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; an extreme, fr. &?;.] (Med.) Pertaining to or affecting the surface.

Ac"ro*tism (ăk"r&osl;*t&ibreve;z'm), n. [Gr. 'a priv. + kro`tos a rattling, beating.] (Med.) Lack or defect of pulsation.

A*crot"o*mous (&?;), a. [Gr. 'akro`tomos cut off sharp; 'a`kros extreme + te`mnein to cut.] (Min.) Having a cleavage parallel with the base.

A*cryl"ic (&?;), a. (Chem.) Of or containing acryl, the hypothetical radical of which acrolein is the hydride; as, acrylic acid.

Act (ăkt), n. [L. actus, fr. agere to drive, do: cf. F. acte. See Agent.] 1. That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed.

That best portion of a good man's life,
His little, nameless, unremembered acts
Of kindness and of love.
Wordsworth.

Hence, in specific uses: (a) The result of public deliberation; the decision or determination of a legislative body, council, court of justice, etc.; a decree, edit, law, judgment, resolve, award; as, an act of Parliament, or of Congress. (b) A formal solemn writing, expressing that something has been done. Abbott. (c) A performance of part of a play; one of the principal divisions of a play or dramatic work in which a certain definite part of the action is completed. (d) A thesis maintained in public, in some English universities, by a candidate for a degree, or to show the proficiency of a student.

2. A state of reality or real existence as opposed to a possibility or possible existence. [Obs.]

The seeds of plants are not at first in act, but in possibility, what they afterward grow to be.
Hooker.

3. Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on the point of (doing). "In act to shoot." Dryden.

This woman was taken . . . in the very act.
John viii. 4.

Act of attainder. (Law)See Attainder. -- Act of bankruptcy(Law), an act of a debtor which renders him liable to be adjudged a bankrupt. -- Act of faith. (Ch. Hist.)See Auto-da-Fé. -- Act of God(Law), an inevitable accident; such extraordinary interruption of the usual course of events as is not to be looked for in advance, and against which ordinary prudence could not guard. -- Act of grace, an expression often used to designate an act declaring pardon or amnesty to numerous offenders, as at the beginning of a new reign. -- Act of indemnity, a statute passed for the protection of those who have committed some illegal act subjecting them to penalties.Abbott. -- Act in pais, a thing done out of court (anciently, in the country), and not a matter of record.

Syn. -- See Action.

Act, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acted; p. pr. & vb. n. Acting.] [L. actus, p. p. of agere to drive, lead, do; but influenced by E. act, n.] 1. To move to action; to actuate; to animate. [Obs.]

Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul.
Pope.

2. To perform; to execute; to do. [Archaic]

That we act our temporal affairs with a desire no greater than our necessity.
Jer. Taylor.

Industry doth beget by producing good habits, and facility of acting things expedient for us to do.
Barrow.

Uplifted hands that at convenient times
Could act extortion and the worst of crimes.
Cowper.

3. To perform, as an actor; to represent dramatically on the stage.

4. To assume the office or character of; to play; to personate; as, to act the hero.

5. To feign or counterfeit; to simulate.

With acted fear the villain thus pursued.
Dryden.

To act a part, to sustain the part of one of the characters in a play; hence, to simulate; to dissemble. -- To act the part of, to take the character of; to fulfill the duties of.

Act, v. i. 1. To exert power; to produce an effect; as, the stomach acts upon food.

2. To perform actions; to fulfill functions; to put forth energy; to move, as opposed to remaining at rest; to carry into effect a determination of the will.

He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest.
Pope.

3. To behave or conduct, as in morals, private duties, or public offices; to bear or deport one's self; as, we know not why he has acted so.

4. To perform on the stage; to represent a character.

To show the world how Garrick did not act.
Cowper.

To act as or for, to do the work of; to serve as. -- To act on, to regulate one's conduct according to. -- To act up to, to equal in action; to fulfill in practice; as, he has acted up to his engagement or his advantages.

Act"a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being acted. Tennyson.

Ac"ti*nal (&?;), a. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray.] (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the part of a radiate animal which contains the mouth. L. Agassiz.

||Ac`ti*na"ri*a (&?;), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?;, &?;, ray.] (Zoöl.) A large division of Anthozoa, including those which have simple tentacles and do not form stony corals. Sometimes, in a wider sense, applied to all the Anthozoa, expert the Alcyonaria, whether forming corals or not.

Act"ing (&?;), a. 1. Operating in any way.

2. Doing duty for another; officiating; as, an acting superintendent.

||Ac*tin"i*a (&?;), n.; pl. L. Actiniæ (&?;), E. Actinias (&?;). [Latinized fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, ray.] (Zoöl.) (a) An animal of the class Anthozoa, and family Actinidæ. From a resemblance to flowers in form and color, they are often called animal flowers and sea anemones. [See Polyp.]. (b) A genus in the family Actinidæ.

Ac*tin"ic (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to actinism; as, actinic rays.

Ac*tin"i*form (&?;), a. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray + -form.] Having a radiated form, like a sea anemone.

Ac"tin*ism (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;, &?; ray.] The property of radiant energy (found chiefly in solar or electric light) by which chemical changes are produced, as in photography.

Ac*tin"i*um (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray.] (Chem.) A supposed metal, said by Phipson to be contained in commercial zinc; -- so called because certain of its compounds are darkened by exposure to light.

Ac`ti*no-chem"is*try (&?;), n. Chemistry in its relations to actinism. Draper.

Ac*tin"o*graph (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray + -graph.] An instrument for measuring and recording the variations in the actinic or chemical force of rays of light. Nichol.

Ac"tin*oid (&?;), a. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray + -oid.] Having the form of rays; radiated, as an actinia.

Ac*tin"o*lite (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray + -lite.] (Min.) A bright green variety of amphibole occurring usually in fibrous or columnar masses.

Ac`tin*o*lit"ic (&?;), a. (Min.) Of the nature of, or containing, actinolite.

Ac`ti*nol"o*gy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray + -logy.] The science which treats of rays of light, especially of the actinic or chemical rays.

Ac*tin"o*mere (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray + &?; part.] (Zoöl.) One of the radial segments composing the body of one of the Cœlenterata.

Ac`ti*nom"e*ter (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray + -meter] (a) An instrument for measuring the direct heating power of the sun's rays. (b) An instrument for measuring the actinic effect of rays of light.

Ac`ti*no*met"ric (&?;), a. Pertaining to the measurement of the intensity of the solar rays, either (a) heating, or (b) actinic.

Ac`ti*nom"e*try (&?;), n. 1. The measurement of the force of solar radiation. Maury.

2. The measurement of the chemical or actinic energy of light. Abney.

Ac`ti*noph"o*rous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray + &?; to bear.] Having straight projecting spines.

Ac*tin"o*some (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; ray + &?; body.] (Zoöl.) The entire body of a cœlenterate.

Ac"tin*ost (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray + &?; bone.] (Anat.) One of the bones at the base of a paired fin of a fish.

Ac*tin"o*stome (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, a ray + &?; mouth.] (Zoöl.) The mouth or anterior opening of a cœlenterate animal.

||Ac`ti*not"ro*cha (&?;), n. pl. [NL.; Gr. &?;, &?;, a ray + &?; a ring.] (Zoöl.) A peculiar larval form of Phoronis, a genus of marine worms, having a circle of ciliated tentacles.

||Ac"ti*no*zo"a (&?;), n. pl. [Gr. &?;, &?;, ray + zw^on animal.] (Zoöl.) A group of Cœlenterata, comprising the Anthozoa and Ctenophora. The sea anemone, or actinia, is a familiar example.

Ac`ti*no*zo"al (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Actinozoa.

||Ac"ti*no*zo"ön (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Actinozoa.

||Ac*tin"u*la (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, a ray.] (Zoöl.) A kind of embryo of certain hydroids (Tubularia), having a stellate form.

Ac"tion (&?;), n. [OF. action, L. actio, fr. agere to do. See Act.] 1. A process or condition of acting or moving, as opposed to rest; the doing of something; exertion of power or force, as when one body acts on another; the effect of power exerted on one body by another; agency; activity; operation; as, the action of heat; a man of action.

One wise in council, one in action brave.
Pope.

2. An act; a thing done; a deed; an enterprise. (pl.): Habitual deeds; hence, conduct; behavior; demeanor.

The Lord is a Good of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
1 Sam. ii. 3.

3. The event or connected series of events, either real or imaginary, forming the subject of a play, poem, or other composition; the unfolding of the drama of events.

4. Movement; as, the horse has a spirited action.

5. (Mech.) Effective motion; also, mechanism; as, the breech action of a gun.

6. (Physiol.) Any one of the active processes going on in an organism; the performance of a function; as, the action of the heart, the muscles, or the gastric juice.

7. (Orat.) Gesticulation; the external deportment of the speaker, or the suiting of his attitude, voice, gestures, and countenance, to the subject, or to the feelings.

8. (Paint. & Sculp.) The attitude or position of the several parts of the body as expressive of the sentiment or passion depicted.

9. (Law) (a) A suit or process, by which a demand is made of a right in a court of justice; in a broad sense, a judicial proceeding for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment of a public offense. (b) A right of action; as, the law gives an action for every claim.

10. (Com.) A share in the capital stock of a joint-stock company, or in the public funds; hence, in the plural, equivalent to stocks. [A Gallicism] [Obs.]

The Euripus of funds and actions.
Burke.

11. An engagement between troops in war, whether on land or water; a battle; a fight; as, a general action, a partial action.

12. (Music) The mechanical contrivance by means of which the impulse of the player's finger is transmitted to the strings of a pianoforte or to the valve of an organ pipe. Grove.

Chose in action. (Law)See Chose. -- Quantity of action(Physics), the product of the mass of a body by the space it runs through, and its velocity.

Syn. -- Action, Act. In many cases action and act are synonymous; but some distinction is observable. Action involves the mode or process of acting, and is usually viewed as occupying some time in doing. Act has more reference to the effect, or the operation as complete.

To poke the fire is an act, to reconcile friends who have quarreled is a praiseworthy action.

C. J. Smith.

Ac"tion*a*ble (&?;), a. [Cf. LL. actionabilis. See Action.] That may be the subject of an action or suit at law; as, to call a man a thief is actionable.

Ac"tion*a*bly, adv. In an actionable manner.

{ Ac"tion*a*ry (&?;), Ac"tion*ist (&?;), } n. [Cf. F. actionnaire.] (Com.) A shareholder in joint-stock company. [Obs.]

Ac"tion*less, a. Void of action.

Ac"ti*vate (&?;), v. t. To make active. [Obs.]

Ac"tive (&?;), a. [F. actif, L. activus, fr. agere to act.] 1. Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; -- opposed to passive, that receives; as, certain active principles; the powers of the mind.

2. Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble; as, an active child or animal.

Active and nervous was his gait.
Wordsworth.

3. In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; -- opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct; as, active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano.

4. Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy; -- opposed to dull, sluggish, indolent, or inert; as, an active man of business; active mind; active zeal.

5. Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to sedentary or to tranquil; as, active employment or service; active scenes.

6. Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; -- opposed to speculative or theoretical; as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.

7. Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.

8. Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease; an active remedy.

9. (Gram.) (a) Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to passive. See Active voice, under Voice. (b) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive. (c) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere existence or state.

Active capital, Active wealth, money, or property that may readily be converted into money.

Syn. -- Agile; alert; brisk; vigorous; nimble; lively; quick; sprightly; prompt; energetic.

Ac"tive*ly, adv. 1. In an active manner; nimbly; briskly; energetically; also, by one's own action; voluntarily, not passively.

2. (Gram.) In an active signification; as, a word used actively.

Ac"tive*ness, n. The quality of being active; nimbleness; quickness of motion; activity.

Ac*tiv"i*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Activities (&?;). [Cf. F. activité, LL. activitas.] The state or quality of being active; nimbleness; agility; vigorous action or operation; energy; active force; as, an increasing variety of human activities. "The activity of toil." Palfrey.

Syn. -- Liveliness; briskness; quickness.

Act"less (&?;), a. Without action or spirit. [R.]

Ac"ton (&?;), n. [OF. aketon, auqueton, F. hoqueton, a quilted jacket, fr. Sp. alcoton, algodon, cotton. Cf. Cotton.] A stuffed jacket worn under the mail, or (later) a jacket plated with mail. [Spelled also hacqueton.] [Obs.] Halliwell. Sir W. Scott.

Ac"tor (&?;), n. [L. actor, fr. agere to act.] 1. One who acts, or takes part in any affair; a doer.

2. A theatrical performer; a stageplayer.

After a well graced actor leaves the stage.
Shak.

3. (Law) (a) An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes. Jacobs. (b) One who institutes a suit; plaintiff or complainant.

Ac`tress (&?;), n. [Cf. F. actrice.] 1. A female actor or doer. [Obs.] Cockeram.

2. A female stageplayer; a woman who acts a part.

Ac"tu*al (#; 135), a. [OE. actuel, F. actuel, L. actualis, fr. agere to do, act.] 1. Involving or comprising action; active. [Obs.]

Her walking and other actual performances.
Shak.

Let your holy and pious intention be actual; that is . . . by a special prayer or action, . . . given to God.
Jer. Taylor.

2. Existing in act or reality; really acted or acting; in fact; real; -- opposed to potential, possible, virtual, speculative, conceivable, theoretical, or nominal; as, the actual cost of goods; the actual case under discussion.

3. In action at the time being; now exiting; present; as the actual situation of the country.

Actual cautery. See under Cautery. -- Actual sin(Theol.), that kind of sin which is done by ourselves in contradistinction to "original sin."

Syn. -- Real; genuine; positive; certain. See Real.

Ac"tu*al (&?;), n. (Finance) Something actually received; real, as distinct from estimated, receipts. [Cant]

The accounts of revenues supplied . . . were not real receipts: not, in financial language, "actuals," but only Egyptian budget estimates.
Fortnightly Review.

Ac"tu*al*ist, n. One who deals with or considers actually existing facts and conditions, rather than fancies or theories; -- opposed to idealist. J. Grote.

Ac`tu*al"i*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Actualities (&?;). The state of being actual; reality; as, the actuality of God's nature. South.

Ac`tu*al*i*za"tion (&?;), n. A making actual or really existent. [R.] Emerson.

Ac"tu*al*ize (&?;), v. t. To make actual; to realize in action. [R.] Coleridge.

Ac"tu*al*ly, adv. 1. Actively. [Obs.] "Neither actually . . . nor passively." Fuller.

2. In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.

Ac"tu*al*ness, n. Quality of being actual; actuality.

Ac`tu*a"ri*al (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to actuaries; as, the actuarial value of an annuity.

Ac"tu*a*ry (&?;), n.; pl. Actuaries (&?;). [L. actuarius copyist, clerk, fr. actus, p. p. of agere to do, act.] 1. (Law) A registrar or clerk; -- used originally in courts of civil law jurisdiction, but in Europe used for a clerk or registrar generally.

2. The computing official of an insurance company; one whose profession it is to calculate for insurance companies the risks and premiums for life, fire, and other insurances.

Ac"tu*ate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Actuated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Actuating (&?;).] [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare, fr. L. actus act.] 1. To put into action or motion; to move or incite to action; to influence actively; to move as motives do; -- more commonly used of persons.

Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion.
Johnson.

Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it.
Addison.

2. To carry out in practice; to perform. [Obs.] "To actuate what you command." Jer. Taylor.

Syn. -- To move; impel; incite; rouse; instigate; animate.

Ac"tu*ate (&?;), a. [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare.] Put in action; actuated. [Obs.] South.

Ac`tu*a"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. LL. actuatio.] A bringing into action; movement. Bp. Pearson.

Ac"tu*a`tor (&?;), n. One who actuates, or puts into action. [R.] Melville.

Ac"tu*ose` (&?;), a. [L. actuosus.] Very active. [Obs.]

Ac`tu*os"i*ty (&?;), n. Abundant activity. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Ac"ture (&?;), n. Action. [Obs.] Shak.

Ac*tu"ri*ence (&?;), n. [A desid. of L. agere, actum, to act.] Tendency or impulse to act. [R.]

Acturience, or desire of action, in one form or another, whether as restlessness, ennui, dissatisfaction, or the imagination of something desirable.
J. Grote.

Ac"u*ate (&?;), v. t. [L. acus needle.] To sharpen; to make pungent; to quicken. [Obs.] "[To] acuate the blood." Harvey.

Ac"u*ate (&?;), a. Sharpened; sharp- pointed.

Ac`u*a"tion (&?;), n. Act of sharpening. [R.]

Ac`u*i"tion (&?;), n. [L. acutus, as if acuitus, p. p. of acuere to sharpen.] The act of sharpening. [Obs.]

A*cu"i*ty (&?;), n. [LL. acuitas: cf. F. acuité.] Sharpness or acuteness, as of a needle, wit, etc.

A*cu"le*ate (&?;), a. [L. aculeatus, fr. aculeus, dim. of acus needle.] 1. (Zoöl.) Having a sting; covered with prickles; sharp like a prickle.

2. (Bot.) Having prickles, or sharp points; beset with prickles.

3. Severe or stinging; incisive. [R.] Bacon.

A*cu"le*a`ted (&?;), a. Having a sharp point; armed with prickles; prickly; aculeate.

A*cu"le*i*form (&?;), a. Like a prickle.

A*cu"le*o*late (&?;), a. [L. aculeolus little needle.] (Bot.) Having small prickles or sharp points. Gray.

A*cu"le*ous (&?;), a. Aculeate. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

||A*cu"le*us (&?;), n.; pl. Aculei (&?;). [L., dim. of acus needle.] 1. (Bot.) A prickle growing on the bark, as in some brambles and roses. Lindley.

2. (Zoöl.) A sting.

A*cu"men (&?;), n. [L. acumen, fr. acuere to sharpen. Cf. Acute.] Quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind; the faculty of nice discrimination. Selden.

Syn. -- Sharpness; sagacity; keenness; shrewdness; acuteness.

A*cu"mi*nate (&?;), a. [L. acuminatus, p. p. of acuminare to sharpen, fr. acumen. See Acumen.] Tapering to a point; pointed; as, acuminate leaves, teeth, etc.

A*cu"mi*nate (&?;), v. t. To render sharp or keen. [R.] "To acuminate even despair." Cowper.

A*cu"mi*nate, v. i. To end in, or come to, a sharp point. "Acuminating in a cone of prelacy." Milton.

A*cu`mi*na"tion (&?;), n. A sharpening; termination in a sharp point; a tapering point. Bp. Pearson.

A*cu"mi*nose` (&?;), a. Terminating in a flat, narrow end. Lindley.

A*cu"mi*nous (&?;), a. Characterized by acumen; keen. Highmore.

Ac`u*pres"sure (&?;), n. [L. acus needle + premere, pressum, to press.] (Surg.) A mode of arresting hemorrhage resulting from wounds or surgical operations, by passing under the divided vessel a needle, the ends of which are left exposed externally on the cutaneous surface. Simpson.

Ac`u*punc`tu*ra"tion (&?;), n. See Acupuncture.

Ac`u*punc"ture (&?;), n. [L. acus needle + punctura a pricking, fr. pungere to prick: cf. F. acuponcture.] Pricking with a needle; a needle prick. Specifically (Med.): The insertion of needles into the living tissues for remedial purposes.

Ac`u*punc"ture (&?;), v. t. To treat with acupuncture.

A*cus"tum*aunce (&?;), n. See Accustomance. [Obs.]

A*cut"an`gu*lar (&?;), a. Acute- angled.

A*cute" (&?;), a. [L. acutus, p. p. of acuere to sharpen, fr. a root ak to be sharp. Cf. Ague, Cute, Edge.] 1. Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; -- opposed to blunt or obtuse; as, an acute angle; an acute leaf.

2. Having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute distinctions; penetrating; clever; shrewd; -- opposed to dull or stupid; as, an acute observer; acute remarks, or reasoning.

3. Having nice or quick sensibility; susceptible to slight impressions; acting keenly on the senses; sharp; keen; intense; as, a man of acute eyesight, hearing, or feeling; acute pain or pleasure.

4. High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; -- opposed to grave or low; as, an acute tone or accent.

5. (Med.) Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity, and coming speedily to a crisis; -- opposed to chronic; as, an acute disease.

Acute angle(Geom.), an angle less than a right angle.

Syn. -- Subtile; ingenious; sharp; keen; penetrating; sagacious; sharp-witted; shrewd; discerning; discriminating. See Subtile.

A*cute", v. t. To give an acute sound to; as, he acutes his rising inflection too much. [R.] Walker.

A*cute"-an`gled (-ă&nsm;"g'ld), a. Having acute angles; as, an acute-angled triangle, a triangle with every one of its angles less than a right angle.

A*cute"ly, adv. In an acute manner; sharply; keenly; with nice discrimination.

A*cute"ness, n. 1. The quality of being acute or pointed; sharpness; as, the acuteness of an angle.

2. The faculty of nice discernment or perception; acumen; keenness; sharpness; sensitiveness; -- applied to the senses, or the understanding. By acuteness of feeling, we perceive small objects or slight impressions: by acuteness of intellect, we discern nice distinctions.

Perhaps, also, he felt his professional acuteness interested in bringing it to a successful close.
Sir W. Scott.

3. Shrillness; high pitch; -- said of sounds.

4. (Med.) Violence of a disease, which brings it speedily to a crisis.

Syn. -- Penetration; sagacity; keenness; ingenuity; shrewdness; subtlety; sharp-wittedness.

A*cu`ti*fo"li*ate (&?;), a. [L. acutus sharp + folium leaf.] (Bot.) Having sharp-pointed leaves.

A*cu`ti*lo"bate (&?;), a. [L. acutus sharp + E. lobe.] (Bot.) Having acute lobes, as some leaves.

||Ad- (&?;). [A Latin preposition, signifying to. See At.] As a prefix ad- assumes the forms ac-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, at-, assimilating the d with the first letter of the word to which ad- is prefixed. It remains unchanged before vowels, and before d, h, j, m, v. Examples: adduce, adhere, adjacent, admit, advent, accord, affect, aggregate, allude, annex, appear, etc. It becomes ac- before qu, as in acquiesce.

Ad*act" (&?;), v. t. [L. adactus, p. p. of adigere.] To compel; to drive. [Obs.] Fotherby.

{ A*dac"tyl (&?;), A*dac"tyl*ous (&?;), } a. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; finger.] (Zoöl.) (a) Without fingers or without toes. (b) Without claws on the feet (of crustaceous animals).

Ad"age (&?;), n. [F. adage, fr. L. adagium; ad + the root of L. aio I say.] An old saying, which has obtained credit by long use; a proverb.

Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would,"
Like the poor cat i' the adage.
Shak.

Syn. -- Axiom; maxim; aphorism; proverb; saying; saw; apothegm. See Axiom.

A*da"gi*al (&?;), a. Pertaining to an adage; proverbial. "Adagial verse." Barrow.

||A*da"gio (&?;), a. & adv. [It. adagio; ad (L. ad) at + agio convenience, leisure, ease. See Agio.] (Mus.) Slow; slowly, leisurely, and gracefully. When repeated, adagio, adagio, it directs the movement to be very slow.

||A*da"gio, n. A piece of music in adagio time; a slow movement; as, an adagio of Haydn.

Ad"am (&?;), n. 1. The name given in the Bible to the first man, the progenitor of the human race.

2. (As a symbol) "Original sin;" human frailty.

And whipped the offending Adam out of him.
Shak.

Adam's ale, water. [Coll.] -- Adam's apple. 1.(Bot.)(a)A species of banana (Musa paradisiaca). It attains a height of twenty feet or more.Paxton.(b)A species of lime (Citris limetta).2.The projection formed by the thyroid cartilage in the neck. It is particularly prominent in males, and is so called from a notion that it was caused by the forbidden fruit (an apple) sticking in the throat of our first parent. -- Adam's flannel(Bot.), the mullein (Verbascum thapsus). -- Adam's needle(Bot.), the popular name of a genus (Yucca) of liliaceous plants.

Ad"a*mant (ăd"&adot;*mănt), n. [OE. adamaunt, adamant, diamond, magnet, OF. adamant, L. adamas, adamantis, the hardest metal, fr. Gr. 'ada`mas, -antos; 'a priv. + dama^,n to tame, subdue. In OE., from confusion with L. adamare to love, be attached to, the word meant also magnet, as in OF. and LL. See Diamond, Tame.] 1. A stone imagined by some to be of impenetrable hardness; a name given to the diamond and other substances of extreme hardness; but in modern mineralogy it has no technical signification. It is now a rhetorical or poetical name for the embodiment of impenetrable hardness.

Opposed the rocky orb
Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield.
Milton.

2. Lodestone; magnet. [Obs.] "A great adamant of acquaintance." Bacon.

As true to thee as steel to adamant.
Greene.

Ad`a*man*te"an (&?;), a. [L. adamantēus.] Of adamant; hard as adamant. Milton.

Ad`a*man"tine (&?;), a. [L. adamantinus, Gr. &?;.] 1. Made of adamant, or having the qualities of adamant; incapable of being broken, dissolved, or penetrated; as, adamantine bonds or chains.

2. (Min.) Like the diamond in hardness or luster.

Ad`am*bu*la"cral (&?;), a. [L. ad + E. ambulacral.] (Zoöl.) Next to the ambulacra; as, the adambulacral ossicles of the starfish.

{ A*dam"ic (&?;), A*dam"ic*al (&?;), } a. Of or pertaining to Adam, or resembling him.

Adamic earth, a name given to common red clay, from a notion that Adam means red earth.

Ad"am*ite (&?;), n. [From Adam.] 1. A descendant of Adam; a human being.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of visionaries, who, professing to imitate the state of Adam, discarded the use of dress in their assemblies.

Ad"am's ap"ple (&?;). See under Adam.

A*dance" (&?;), adv. Dancing. Lowell.

A*dan"gle (&?;), adv. Dangling. Browning.

||Ad`an*so"ni*a (&?;), n. [From Adanson, a French botanist.] (Bot.) A genus of great trees related to the Bombax. There are two species, A. digitata, the baobab or monkey-bread of Africa and India, and A. Gregorii, the sour gourd or cream-of-tartar tree of Australia. Both have a trunk of moderate height, but of enormous diameter, and a wide-spreading head. The fruit is oblong, and filled with pleasantly acid pulp. The wood is very soft, and the bark is used by the natives for making ropes and cloth. D. C. Eaton.

A*dapt" (&?;), a. Fitted; suited. [Obs.] Swift.

A*dapt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adapted; p. pr. & vb. n. Adapting.] [L. adaptare; ad + aptare to fit; cf. F. adapter. See Apt, Adept.] To make suitable; to fit, or suit; to adjust; to alter so as to fit for a new use; -- sometimes followed by to or for.

For nature, always in the right,
To your decays adapts my sight.
Swift.

Appeals adapted to his [man's] whole nature.
Angus.

Streets ill adapted for the residence of wealthy persons.
Macaulay.

{ A*dapt`a*bil"i*ty (&?;), A*dapt"a*ble*ness (&?;), } n. The quality of being adaptable; suitableness. "General adaptability for every purpose." Farrar.

A*dapt"a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being adapted.

Ad`ap*ta"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. F. adaptation, LL. adaptatio.] 1. The act or process of adapting, or fitting; or the state of being adapted or fitted; fitness. "Adaptation of the means to the end." Erskine.

2. The result of adapting; an adapted form.

A*dapt"a*tive (&?;), a. Adaptive. Stubbs.

A*dapt"ed*ness (&?;), n. The state or quality of being adapted; suitableness; special fitness.

A*dapt"er (&?;), n. 1. One who adapts.

2. (Chem.) A connecting tube; an adopter.

A*dap"tion (&?;), n. Adaptation. Cheyne.

A*dapt"ive (&?;), a. Suited, given, or tending, to adaptation; characterized by adaptation; capable of adapting. Coleridge. -- A*dapt"ive*ly, adv.

A*dapt"ive*ness, n. The quality of being adaptive; capacity to adapt.

A*dapt"ly, adv. In a suitable manner. [R.] Prior.

A*dapt"ness, n. Adaptedness. [R.]

Ad`ap*to"ri*al (&?;), a. Adaptive. [R.]

||A"dar (&?;), n. [Heb. adär.] The twelfth month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical year, and the sixth of the civil. It corresponded nearly with March.

||A*dar"ce (&?;), n. [L. adarce, adarca, Gr. &?;.] A saltish concretion on reeds and grass in marshy grounds in Galatia. It is soft and porous, and was formerly used for cleansing the skin from freckles and tetters, and also in leprosy. Dana.

||Ad"a*tis (&?;), n. A fine cotton cloth of India.

A*daunt" (&?;), v. t. [OE. adaunten to overpower, OF. adonter; à (L. ad) + donter, F. dompter. See Daunt.] To daunt; to subdue; to mitigate. [Obs.] Skelton.

A*daw" (&?;), v. t. [Cf. OE. adawe of dawe, AS. of dagum from days, i. e., from life, out of life.] To subdue; to daunt. [Obs.]

The sight whereof did greatly him adaw.
Spenser.

A*daw", v. t. & i. [OE. adawen to wake; pref. a- (cf. Goth. us-, Ger. er-) + dawen, dagon, to dawn. See Daw.] To awaken; to arouse. [Obs.]

A man that waketh of his sleep
He may not suddenly well taken keep
Upon a thing, ne seen it parfitly
Till that he be adawed verily.
Chaucer.

A*days" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- (for on) + day; the final s was orig. a genitive ending, afterwards forming adverbs.] By day, or every day; in the daytime. [Obs.] Fielding.

||Ad cap*tan"dum (&?;). [L., for catching.] A phrase used adjectively sometimes of meretricious attempts to catch or win popular favor.

Add (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Added; p. pr. & vb. n. Adding.] [L. addere; ad + dare to give, put. Cf. Date, Do.] 1. To give by way of increased possession (to any one); to bestow (on).

The Lord shall add to me another son.
Gen. xxx. 24.

2. To join or unite, as one thing to another, or as several particulars, so as to increase the number, augment the quantity, enlarge the magnitude, or so as to form into one aggregate. Hence: To sum up; to put together mentally; as, to add numbers; to add up a column.

Back to thy punishment,
False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings.
Milton.

As easily as he can add together the ideas of two days or two years.
Locke.

3. To append, as a statement; to say further.

He added that he would willingly consent to the entire abolition of the tax.
Macaulay.

Syn. -- To Add, Join, Annex, Unite, Coalesce. We add by bringing things together so as to form a whole. We join by putting one thing to another in close or continuos connection. We annex by attaching some adjunct to a larger body. We unite by bringing things together so that their parts adhere or intermingle. Things coalesce by coming together or mingling so as to form one organization. To add quantities; to join houses; to annex territory; to unite kingdoms; to make parties coalesce.

Add (&?;), v. i. 1. To make an addition. To add to, to augment; to increase; as, it adds to our anxiety. "I will add to your yoke." 1 Kings xii. 14.

2. To perform the arithmetical operation of addition; as, he adds rapidly.

Add"a*ble (&?;), a. [Add, v. + - able.] Addible.

Ad"dax (&?;), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) One of the largest African antelopes (Hippotragus, or Oryx, nasomaculatus).

&fist; It is now believed to be the Strepsiceros (twisted horn) of the ancients. By some it is thought to be the pygarg of the Bible.

Ad*deem" (&?;), v. t. [Pref. a- + deem.] To award; to adjudge. [Obs.] "Unto him they did addeem the prise." Spenser.

||Ad*den"dum (&?;), n.; pl. Addenda (&?;). [L., fr. addere to add.] A thing to be added; an appendix or addition.

Addendum circle(Mech.), the circle which may be described around a circular spur wheel or gear wheel, touching the crests or tips of the teeth.Rankine.

Add"er (&?;), n. [See Add.] One who, or that which, adds; esp., a machine for adding numbers.

Ad"der, n. [OE. addere, naddere, eddre, AS. nædre, adder, snake; akin to OS. nadra, OHG. natra, natara, Ger. natter, Goth. nadrs, Icel. naðr, masc., naðra, fem.: cf. W. neidr, Gorn. naddyr, Ir. nathair, L. natrix, water snake. An adder is for a nadder.] 1. A serpent. [Obs.] "The eddre seide to the woman." Wyclif. Gen. iii. 4.)

2. (Zoöl.) (a) A small venomous serpent of the genus Vipera. The common European adder is the Vipera (or Pelias) berus. The puff adders of Africa are species of Clotho. (b) In America, the term is commonly applied to several harmless snakes, as the milk adder, puffing adder, etc. (c) Same as Sea Adder.

&fist; In the sculptures the appellation is given to several venomous serpents, -- sometimes to the horned viper (Cerastles).

Ad"der fly (&?;). A dragon fly.

Ad"der's-tongue` (&?;), n. (Bot.) (a) A genus of ferns (Ophioglossum), whose seeds are produced on a spike resembling a serpent's tongue. (b) The yellow dogtooth violet. Gray.

Ad"der*wort` (&?;), n. (Bot.) The common bistort or snakeweed (Polygonum bistorta).

Add`i*bil"i*ty (&?;), n. The quantity of being addible; capability of addition. Locke.

Add"i*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being added. "Addible numbers." Locke.

Ad"dice (&?;), n. See Adze. [Obs.] Moxon.

Ad*dict" (&?;), p. p. Addicted; devoted. [Obs.]

Ad*dict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Addicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Addicting.] [L. addictus, p. p. of addicere to adjudge, devote; ad + dicere to say. See Diction.] 1. To apply habitually; to devote; to habituate; -- with to. "They addict themselves to the civil law." Evelyn.

He is addicted to his study.
Beau. & Fl.

That part of mankind that addict their minds to speculations.
Adventurer.

His genius addicted him to the study of antiquity.
Fuller.

A man gross . . . and addicted to low company.
Macaulay.

2. To adapt; to make suitable; to fit. [Obs.]

The land about is exceedingly addicted to wood, but the coldness of the place hinders the growth.
Evelyn.

Syn. -- Addict, Devote, Consecrate, Dedicate. Addict was formerly used in a good sense; as, addicted to letters; but is now mostly employed in a bad sense or an indifferent one; as, addicted to vice; addicted to sensual indulgence. "Addicted to staying at home." J. S. Mill. Devote is always taken in a good sense, expressing habitual earnestness in the pursuit of some favorite object; as, devoted to science. Consecrate and dedicate express devotion of a higher kind, involving religious sentiment; as, consecrated to the service of the church; dedicated to God.

Ad*dict"ed*ness, n. The quality or state of being addicted; attachment.

Ad*dic"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. L. addictio an adjudging.] The state of being addicted; devotion; inclination. "His addiction was to courses vain." Shak.

Ad"di*son's dis*ease" (&?;). [Named from Thomas Addison, M. D., of London, who first described it.] (Med.) A morbid condition causing a peculiar brownish discoloration of the skin, and thought, at one time, to be due to disease of the suprarenal capsules (two flat triangular bodies covering the upper part of the kidneys), but now known not to be dependent upon this causes exclusively. It is usually fatal.

Ad*dit"a*ment (ăd*d&ibreve;t"&adot;*ment), n. [L. additamentum, fr. additus, p. p. of addere to add.] An addition, or a thing added. Fuller.

My persuasion that the latter verses of the chapter were an additament of a later age.
Coleridge.

Ad*di"tion (&?;), n. [F. addition, L. additio, fr. addere to add.] 1. The act of adding two or more things together; -- opposed to subtraction or diminution. "This endless addition or addibility of numbers." Locke.

2. Anything added; increase; augmentation; as, a piazza is an addition to a building.

3. (Math.) That part of arithmetic which treats of adding numbers.

4. (Mus.) A dot at the right side of a note as an indication that its sound is to be lengthened one half. [R.]

5. (Law) A title annexed to a man's name, to identify him more precisely; as, John Doe, Esq.; Richard Roe, Gent.; Robert Dale, Mason; Thomas Way, of New York; a mark of distinction; a title.

6. (Her.) Something added to a coat of arms, as a mark of honor; -- opposed to abatement.

Vector addition(Geom.), that kind of addition of two lines, or vectors, AB and BC, by which their sum is regarded as the line, or vector, AC.

Syn. -- Increase; accession; augmentation; appendage; adjunct.

Ad*di"tion*al (&?;), a. Added; supplemental; in the way of an addition.

Ad*di"tion*al, n. Something added. [R.] Bacon.

Ad*di"tion*al*ly, adv. By way of addition.

Ad*di"tion*a*ry (&?;), a. Additional. [R.] Herbert.

Ad`di*ti"tious (&?;), a. [L. addititius, fr. addere.] Additive. [R.] Sir J. Herschel.

Ad"di*tive (&?;), a. [L. additivus.] (Math.) Proper to be added; positive; -- opposed to subtractive.

Ad"di*to*ry (&?;), a. Tending to add; making some addition. [R.] Arbuthnot.

Ad"dle (&?;), n. [OE. adel, AS. adela, mud.] 1. Liquid filth; mire. [Obs.]

2. Lees; dregs. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Ad"dle, a. Having lost the power of development, and become rotten, as eggs; putrid. Hence: Unfruitful or confused, as brains; muddled. Dryden.

Ad"dle, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Addled (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Addling (&?;).] To make addle; to grow addle; to muddle; as, he addled his brain. "Their eggs were addled." Cowper.

Ad"dle, v. t. & i. [OE. adlen, adilen, to gain, acquire; prob. fr. Icel. öðlask to acquire property, akin to oðal property. Cf. Allodial.] 1. To earn by labor. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.

2. To thrive or grow; to ripen. [Prov. Eng.]

Kill ivy, else tree will addle no more.
Tusser.

{ Ad"dle-brain` (&?;), Ad"dle-head` (&?;), Ad"dle- pate (&?;), } n. A foolish or dull-witted fellow. [Colloq.]

{ Ad"dle-brained` (&?;), Ad"dle-head`ed (&?;), Ad"dle-pa`ted (&?;), } a. Dull-witted; stupid. "The addle-brained Oberstein." Motley.

Dull and addle-pated.
Dryden.

Ad"dle-pa`ted*ness (&?;), n. Stupidity.

Ad"dlings (&?;), n. pl. [See Addle, to earn.] Earnings. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Ad*doom" (&?;), v. t. [Pref. a- + doom.] To adjudge. [Obs.] Spenser.

Ad*dorsed" (&?;), a. [L. ad + dorsum, back: cf. F. adossé.] (Her.) Set or turned back to back.

Ad*dress" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Addressed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Addressing.] [OE. adressen to raise erect, adorn, OF. adrecier, to straighten, address, F. adresser, fr. à (L. ad) + OF. drecier, F. dresser, to straighten, arrange. See Dress, v.] 1. To aim; to direct. [Obs.] Chaucer.

And this good knight his way with me addrest.
Spenser.

2. To prepare or make ready. [Obs.]

His foe was soon addressed.
Spenser.

Turnus addressed his men to single fight.
Dryden.

The five foolish virgins addressed themselves at the noise of the bridegroom's coming.
Jer. Taylor.

3. Reflexively: To prepare one's self; to apply one's skill or energies (to some object); to betake.

These men addressed themselves to the task.
Macaulay.

4. To clothe or array; to dress. [Archaic]

Tecla . . . addressed herself in man's apparel.
Jewel.

5. To direct, as words (to any one or any thing); to make, as a speech, petition, etc. (to any one, an audience).

The young hero had addresse