Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Ab-stāin'er, n. p. 7One who abstains.Ab-stē'mi-ous, a. p. 7Sparing in diet; refraining from a free use of food and strong drinks; temperate, abstinent. Instances of longevity are chiefly among the abstemious. Arbuthnot. 2. Sparingly used, or used with…Ab-stē'mi-ŏŏs-ly, adv. p. 8In an abstemious manner; temperately.Ab-stē'mi-ŏŏs-ness, n. p. 8The quality of being abstemious, temperate, or sparing in the use of food and strong drinks. ☞ This word expresses a greater degree of abstinence than temperance. It differs from abstinence because…Ab-stēn’tion, n. p. 8The act of holding off or restraining. Bp. Taylor.Ab-stērge', v. t. p. 8To make clean by wiping; to cleanse by lotions or similar applications. [Rare.] Johnson.Ab-stēr'gent, a. p. 8Serving to cleanse; detergent.Ab-stēr'se, v. t. p. 8To cleanse by wiping; to wipe clean; to absterge. Browne.Ab-stēr'sion, n. p. 8The act of wiping clean, or a cleansing by lotions or similar applications. The task of ablution and abstersion having been performed. W. Scott.Ab-stēr'sive, a. p. 8Having the quality of cleansing. Bacon.Ab-stēr'sive, n. p. 8Something cleansing. [Rare.] The strong abstersive of some heroic magistrate. Milton.Ăb'sti-nençe, n. p. 8The act or practice of abstaining; voluntary forbearance of any action, especially the refraining from an indulgence of appetite, or from customary gratifications of animal propensities. The…Ab'sti-nen-cy, n. p. 8Same as ABSTINENCE. [Rare.]Ab'sti-nent, a. p. 8Refraining from indulgence, especially in the use of food and drink. Beau. & Fl.Ăb'sti-nent, n. p. 8(Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect which appeared in France and Spain in the third century, and which opposed marriage, condemned the use of flesh meat, and placed the Holy Spirit in the class of created…Ăb'sti-nent-ly, adv. p. 8With abstinence.Ab-stōrt'ed, a. p. 8Forced away.Ab-strāct', v. t. p. 8Ab-strāct', v. t. p. 8To perform the process of abstraction. [Rare.] I own myself able to abstract in one sense. Berkeley.Ab'stract, a. p. 8Distinct from something else; separate. 2. Withdrawn from the concrete, or from particulars; separate; as, an abstract subject; hence, difficult; abstruse; refined. Locke. A concrete name is a name…Ăb'stract, n. p. 8That which comprises or concentrates in itself the essential qualities of a larger thing, or of several things; specifically, an inventory, summary, or epitome, as of a treatise, book. “An abstract…Ab-străct'ed, p. a. p. 8Separate or disconnected; apart. The evil one abstracted stood from his own evil. Milton. 2. Refined or purified. “Abstracted spiritual love.” Donne. 3. Abstruse; difficult; abstract. Johnson. 4.…Ab-străct'ed-ly, adv. p. 8In an abstracted manner.Ab-strāct'ed-ness, n. p. 8The state of being abstracted. Baxter.Ab-strāct'er, n. p. 8One who abstracts, or makes an abstract.Ab-strac'tion, n. p. 8The act of abstracting or separating, or the state of being separated. 2. (Metaph.) The act or process of leaving out of consideration one or more properties of a complex object, so as to attend to…Ăb`strac-ti'tiŏŭs, a. p. 8Abstracted, or drawn from other substances, particularly from vegetables, without fermentation. [Obs.]Ab-străct'ive, a. p. 8Having the power of abstracting. “The abstractive faculty.” I. Taylor.Ab-străc'tive-ly, adv. p. 8In an abstract manner; separately.Ab'stract-ly, adv. p. 8In an abstract state or manner; separately; absolutely; by itself; as, matter abstractly considered. Regularity requires the accent on the first syllable, as in abstract. Yet most orthoepists give it…Ăb’stract-ness, n. p. 8The state or quality of being abstract. See ABSTRACTLY. Johnson.Ab-strict'ed, a. p. 8Unbound. (Obs.) Ogilvie.Ab-strĭn'ge, v. t. p. 8To unbind.Ab-strūde′, v. t. p. 8To thrust away. [Obs.] Johnson.Ab-struse', a. p. 8Concealed or hidden. The eternal eye whose sight discerns Abstract thoughts. Milton. 2. Remote from apprehension; difficult to be comprehended or understood. “Abstruse points in philosophy.” Locke.Ab-struse'ly, adv. p. 8In an abstruse manner; obscurely.Ab-strūse'ness, n. p. 8The state or quality of being abstruse. Boyle.Ab-stru'sion, n. p. 8The act of thrusting away. Ogilvie.Ab-strū'si-ty, n. p. 8Abstuseness; that which is abstruse. [Rare.] Browne.Ab-sūme’, v. t. p. 8To bring to an end by a gradual waste; to consume. Boyle.Ab-sūmp'tion, n. p. 8Waste; destruction. [Obs.] Browne.Ab-sürd', a. p. 8Opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with reason, or the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory. 'Tis phrase absurd to call a villain great. Pope. This proffer is absurd and…Ab-sûrd', n. p. 8An act of absurdity. [Rare.] This arch absurd that wit and fool delights. Pope.Ab-sûrd'i-ty, n. p. 8The 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. His travels were…Ab-sûrd'ly, adv. p. 8In an absurd manner.Ab-sûrd'ness, n. p. 8The same as ABSURDITY.A-bŭ'na, n. p. 8The head of the Abyssinian church.A-bŭn'dance, n. p. 8An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty; — strictly applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number. It is lamentable to remember what abundance of noble blood hath been…A-bŭn'dant, a. p. 8Fully sufficient; plentiful. Thy abundant goodness shall excuse This deadly blot in thy digressing son. Shak. Syn. — Ample; plentiful; copious; plenteous; exuberant; overflowing; rich. See AMPLE.…A-bŭn'dant-ly, adv. p. 8In a sufficient degree; fully; amply; plentifully.A-bū'sa-ble, a. p. 8That may be abused.A-bŭ'sage, n. p. 8Abuse. [Obs.] Whately.A-būse', v. t. p. 8To make an ill or improper use of; to use ill; to misuse; to use with bad motives, to wrong purposes, or in a wrong way; as, to abuse one's rights or privileges; to abuse words. They that use this…A-būse', n. p. 8Ill use; improper treatment or employment; application to a wrong purpose; as, an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or of religious privileges; abuse of advantages; an abuse of…A-būse'ful, a. p. 9Using or practicing abuse; abusive. [Rare.] Bp. Barlow.A-bŭs'ĕr, n. p. 9One who abuses in speech or behavior.A-bū'sion, n. p. 9Evil or corrupt usage; reproach; deception; abuse. [Obs.] Spenser.A-bū'sĭve, a. p. 9Practicing abuse; offering harsh words or ill treatment; as, an abusive author; an abusive fellow. 2. Containing abuse, or being the instrument of abuse; rude; reproachful; scurrilous. “An abusive…A-bŭ'sĭve-ly, adv. p. 9In an abusive manner; rudely; reproachfully.A-bŭ'sive-ness, n. p. 9The quality of being abusive; rudeness of language, or violence to the person. Pick out of mirth, like stones out of thy ground, Profaneness, filthiness, abusiveness. Herbert.