АВА

A, is the first letter of the alphabet in most of the known languages of the earth. It is naturally the first letter, because it represents the first sound naturally made by the human organs.

A, called the indefinite article, is a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon an, one, and is used before words beginning with a consonant; like one, it has been called an adjective.

A, as a prefix to many English words, is equivalent to the prepositions in, or on, as asleep, afoot; and also when used before participles, as, a-hunting, a-begging.

AA-RON'I€, a. Pertaining to Aaron, or to the priesthood of which he was the head.

AB, a prefix to words of Latin origin denoting separation.

AB'A-CIST, n. One who casts accounts.
A-BACK', ad. Back; backward; behind.

AB'A-COT, n. The cap of state formerly worn by
English kings.

AB-AЄ'TOR, я. One who steals a herd of cattle.
AB'A-EUS, n. An arithmetical table.
A-BAFT", ad. Toward the stern of a ship.
AB-AL'IEN-ATE, (ab-ál'yen-āte,) v. i. To trans-
fer the title of property.

AB-AL-IEN-A"TIÓN, (ab-al-yen-a'shun,) n. The
transferring the title to property.
A-BAN'DON, v. t. [Fr. abandonner.] To forsake
wholly; to desert. (saken; deserted; very wicked.
A-BAN DON-ED, (a-ban'dund,) pp. or a For-
A-BAN-DON-EE', n. One to whom a thing is
abandoned.

AB-AR-TIE-Q-LA'TION, n. That kind of articulation or structure of joints, which admits of manifest motion.

A-BAN'DON-MENT, n. Entire desertion.
A-BASE', v. t. [Fr. abaisser; L. basis; W. bais.]
To bring low; to humble; to cast down.
A-BASED, pp. Brought low; humbled; disgraced.
A-BASE'MENT, n. The act of humbling; low

state.

A-BASH', v. t. To put to the blush; to confound.
A-BASH'ED, (-basht,) pp. Put out of countenance,
A-BASH'MENT, R. Astonishment; confusion.
A-BATA-BLE, a. That may be abated, defeated,
or remitted.

A-BATE', v. t. [Fr. abattre, to beat down; Sp.
abatir.] To decrease; to lessen; to pull down;
to fail, as a writ; to remit, as a tax; to deduct;
to annul.
[off.
A-BATED, pp. or a. Lessened; lowered; taken
A-BATE'MENT, n. A sum abated; an allowance;

ABE

decrease; a remitting, as of a tax; failure, as of a writ; the removing of a nuisance.

AB'A-TIS, I n. Branches of trees sharpened for AB'AT-TIS, defense.

A-BAT'OR, n. A person who ent hold on the death of the last posse heir or devisee.

a free

fore the

AB'A-TURE, n. Grass trampled down by a stag.
ABB, n. Yarn for the warp.

AB'BA, n. A Syriac name for father.
AB'BA-CY, n. The possession of an abbot,
AB-BATIAL, a. Belonging to an abbey
AB-BATIC-AL, a. Pertaining to an abbey.

AB'BE, (ab'by,) n. [Fr.] In a monastic sense the same as abbot. In papal countries, often a title without office.

AB BESS, n. The governess of a nunnery. AB'BEY, (ab'by,) n.; pl. Abbeys [from abba.] The residence of an abbot, or monks.

AB'BOT, n. The head of a society of monks. AB'BOT-SHIP, n. The state of an abbot. AB-BRE'VI-ATE, v. t. To shorten; to abridge. AB-BRE'VI-A-TED, pp. or a. Shortened; reduced in length. [of shortening. AB-BRE-VI-ATION, (-a'shun,) n. The act or art AB-BRE'VI-A-TOR, n. One who abridges, or reduces to a smaller compass. AB-BRE'VI-A-TURE, n. Abridgment. AB'DALS, n.; pl. Religious fanatics, in some Mohammedan countries.

AB DI CANT, a. Abdicating; renouncing.
AB'DI-CATE, v. t. [L. abdico.] 1. To relinquish ;
to renounce or abandon. 2. To abandon an office
or trust without formal resignation.
AB'DI-CA-TED, pp. or a. Renounced; abandoned.
AB'DI-CA-TING, ppr. Relinquishing without a
formal resignation. [without a formal surrender.
AB-DI-CA'TION, n. The deserting of a public trust
AB'DI-CA-TIVE, or AB-DIЄ'A-TIVE, a. Causing
or implying abdication.

AB'DI-TIVĚ, a. Having the quality of hiding.
AB-DO'MEN, or AB'DO-MEN, n. The lower
part of the belly.
AB-DOM'IN-AL,

AB-DOM'IN-OUS, a. Pertaining to the abdomen. AB-DUCE', v. t. [L. abduco.] To separate; to draw away; used chiefly in anatomy.

AB-DO'CENT, a. Drawing or pulling away. AB-DUCTOR, n. The muscle which pulls back a person guilty of abduction.

A-BE-CE-DA'RI-AN, n. One who teaches or is learning the alphabet.

A-BED', ad. In bed; on the bed.

AB-ER'RANCE, n. A wandering; deviation.
AB-ER'RANT, a. Going astray.

AB-ER-RA'TION, (ab-er-ra'shun,) n. Act of wandering; deviation.

AB ER RING, ppr. or a. Going astray. A-BET', v. t. [A. S. betan, gebetan.] 1. To encourage by aid; but now used chiefly in a bad sense. 2. In law, to encourage or assist in a criminal act. A-BET MENT, n. Encouragement; support. A-BETTING, ppr. Counseling, aiding or encoura

ging to a crime.

or art.

A-BET TOR, n. One who aids or encourages. AB-E-VAC-U-A'TION, n. A partial evacuation of morbid humors of the body, either by nature [A waiting or expectation in law. A-BEY'ANCE, (a-ba'ans,) n. (Norm. abbaiaunce.] AB'GRE-GATE, v. t. To separate from a herd. AB-HOR', v. t. To detest; to hate; to dislike much. AB HOR'RED, pp. Detested; hated very much. AB-HOR'RENCE, n. Detestation; great hatred. AB-HOR RENT, a. Inconsistent with; detesting. AB-HOR'RENT-LY, ad. With abhorrence. AB-HOR'RER, n. One who abbors; a hater. A'BIB, n. The first month of the Jewish year. A-BIDE', v. i. or v. t. pret. and pp. abode. [A. S. bidan, abidan; W. bod, Sw. bida.] 1. To wait for; to be prepared for; to bear or support. 2. To stay or in a place.

A-BID
One who dwells or continues.
A-BIL
r. Continuing; n. continuance.
A-BID Y, ad. In a manner to continue.
A-BIL'I-n. [Fr. habilité; It. abilita.] 1. Phys-
ical power, bodily or mental. 2. Moral power
depending on the will. 3. Civil or regal power.
4. Means. In the pl. abilities is much used for
faculties of the mind.

AB IN I-TI-O, (-ish'e-o.) [L] From the beginning.
AB-IN TEST'ATE, a. In civil law, inheriting the
estate of one dying without a will.
AB'JECT, a. Mean; worthless; sunk very low.
AB'JECT, n. A person in the lowest condition.
AB-JECTION, n. A mean or low state; base-
AB'JECT-NESS, ness.

AB'JECT LY, ad. Meanly; wretchedly; basely.
AB-JU'DI-CA-TED, pp. or a. Given by judgment
from one to another.
[swearing.
AB-JU-RATION, n. The act of abjuring; for-
AB-JO'RA-TO-RY, a. Containing abjuration.
AB-JURE', v. t. To reject upon onth; to quit.
AB-JURED, pp. Renounced upon oath.
AB-JUR'ER. n. One who abjures.
AB-LA€'TĀTE, v. t. To wean from the breast.
AB-LA€-TATION, n. [L. ab and lac, milk.] 1.
A weaning of a child from the breast. 2. A
method of grafting by approach, or inarching.
AB-LAQ-UE-ATION, n. Opening the ground
about the roots of trees.
away; removal.
AB-LA'TION, (ab-la'shun,) n. The act of taking
AB'LA-TIVE, a. or n. Denoting what takes away.
A'BLE, (a'bl.) n. [Norm. ablez; hable, from L.
habilis.] Having power; capable of doing.
A'BLE-BOD-I-ED, a. Strong of body; robust.
A'BLE-NESS, n. Power; strength; sufficiency.
AB'LEP-SY, n. Want of sight; blindness.
A'BLER, a. Having more power or learning.
AB'LU-ENT, a. Washing off, or away; cleansing.
AB-LUTION, (ab-lu'shun,) n. The act of cleans-
ing or washing.

AB-LU'VI-ON, n. That which is washed off.
A'BLY, ad. In an able manner.

AB'NE-GATE, v. t. To deny; to disown; to refuse.
AB-NE-GA'TION, n. A positive denial; a renun-
ciation.
[any thing.
AB'NE-GA-TOR, n. One who denies or renounces
AB'NO-DATE, v. t. To cut knots from trees.
AB-NO-DATION, n. The act of cutting away
knots from trees.

AB-NORM'AL, a. [L. abnormis.] Irregular; de-
AB-NORM'OUS, ( formed.

A-BOARD', ad. In a ship, vessel, or boat.
A-BODE', pret, and pp. of abide.

A-BODE', v. t. To foretoken; to foreshow.
A-BÖDE', n. A habitation; stay; continuance.
A-BODE'MENT, n. A secret anticipation of some-
thing future.

A-BOD'ING, n. Presentiment; prognostication.
A-BOL'ISH, v. t. [Fr. aboler; L. aboleo.] To de-
stroy; to repeal; to make void.

A-BOLISH-A-BLE, a. That may be destroyed.
A-BOL'ISH-ER, n. One who abolishes.
A-BOL'ISH-MENT, n. The act of annulling.
AB-O-LI"TION, (ab-o-lish'un,) n. The act of abol-
ishing; putting an end to slavery.

AB-O-LI "TION-ISM, (ab-o-lish'un-izm,) n. The
principles of an abolitionist.
AB-O-LI"TION-IST,

(ab-o-lish'un-ist,) n. One who favors abolition; especially the abolition of slavery.

AB-O-MA'SUM, n. The fourth stomach of a ru-
AB-O-MA'SUS, minant animal; the maw.
A-BOM'IN-A-BLE, a. Detestable; hateful.
A-BOM'IN-A-BLE NESS, n. Extreme odiousness.
A-BOM'IN-ATE, v. t. To hate; to loathe; to abhor.
A-BOM-IN-A'TION, n. An object of hatred.
AB-O-RIG'IN-AL, a. First, or primitive.

AB-O-RIG'IN-ALS, n. plu. Primitive inhabitants. AB-O-RIG'IN-ES, n. plu. The original inhabitants of a country.

A-BOR'TION, n. A miscarriage in women.
A BORTIVE, a. Untimely; unsuccessful.
A-BOR'TIVE-LY, ad. In an untimely manner.
A-BORTIVE-NESS, n. The state of being abortive.
A-BOUND', v. i. To have, or be in plenty.
A-BOUND'ING, ppr. or a. Increasing; plentiful.
A-BOUT', prep. Near to; concerning.
A-BOUT', ad. Around; every way.
A-BOVE', (a-buv',) ppr. Higher; more.
A-BOVE', ad. Overhead; in a higher place.
AB-RA-CA-DAB'RA, n. A deity worshiped by
the Assyrians.

AB-RADE', v. t. To scrape off; to grate.
AB-RAD'ED, pp. Rubbed, or worn off; scraped.
A-BRA-HAM'TE, a. Pertaining to Abraham.
AB-RA'SION, (-ra'zhun.) n. A rubbing, or scrap-
ing off; substance worn off by attrition.
A-BREAST', (a-brest',) ad. Side by side; on a line.
A-BREU-VOIR', (a-broo-vwor',) n. [Fr.) A wa-
tering place. [tract; to shorten; to deprive.
A-BRIDGE', (a-bridj',) v. t. [Fr. abreger.) To con-
A-BRIDGED, pp. or a. Shortened; deprived of.
A-BRIDG ́ER, . One who abridges or contracts.
A-BRIDG'MENT, n. A work abridged; an epitome;
a cutting off; reduction.

A-BROACH', ad. Being tapped.

A-BROAD', (a-braud',) ad. Out; out of doors; in another country; widely spread.

AB'RO-GATE, v. t. To repeal; to abolish by the
authority of the maker or his successor.
AB-RO-GATION, n. The act of repealing.
AB-RUPT', a. Sudden; broken; unconnected.
AB-RUPTION, (ab-rup'shun,) n. A violent sepa-
ration of bodies.

AB-RUPTLY, ad. Suddenly; unseasonably.
AB-RUPT'NESS, n. Great haste; suddenness.
AB'SCESS, n. A swelling containing matter.
AB-SCIND', v. t. To cut off; to pare off.

AB-SCIS'SION, (ab-sizh'un,) n. The act of cutting off, or a being cut off.

AB-SENT-EE',

AB-SENTER,. One who absents himself. AB-SENT-EE'ISM, n. Absence from one's country, duty or station.

AB-SENT MENT, n. A state of being absent.
AB-SIN'THI-AN, a. Of the nature of wormwood.
AB-SO-LUTE, a. 1. Independent of any thing ex-
traneous. 2. Complete in itself. 3. Unconditional,
as an absolute promise. 4. Not relative, as abso-
lute space.
[plete.
AB'SO-LUTE, a. Not limited; arbitrary; com-
AB'SO-LUTE-LY, ad. Positively; arbitrarily.
AB'SO-LUTE-NESS, n. Arbitrary power.
AB-SO-LUTION, n. Forgiveness; a pardoning.
In the canon law, remission of sins pronounced
by a priest to a penitent.
[government.
AB'SO-LUT-ISM, n. The principles of absolute
AB'SO-LU-TO-RY, {
a. Absolving; that absolves.
AB-SOL'U-TO-RY,
AB-SOLVIA-TO-RY, a. Having power to absolve.
AB-SOLVE', v. t. To pardon; to forgive; to set
free from an engagement or promise; to pronounce
a sin remitted.

AB-SOLV'ER, 6. One who absolves.
AB'SO-NANT, a. Contrary to reason.
AB'SO-NOUS, a. Unmusical, or untunable.

AB SORB', v. t. [L. ab and sorbeo, to drink.] To
suck up; to swallow up; to waste.
AB-SORB-A-BIL'I-TY, n. Capacity of being ab-

sorbed.

AB-SORB'A-BLE, a. That may be imbibed.
AB-SORB' ED,

AB-SORPT', pp. Imbibed; swallowed.
AB-SORB'ENT, a. Sucking up; imbibing; n. A
vessel or substance which absorbs.

AB-SORPTION, (ab-sorp'shun,) n. The act of
swallowing up; occupation of mind.
AB-SORPTIVE, a. Having power to imbibe.
AB-STAIN', v. i. To forbear; to refrain from.
AB-STE'MI-OUS, a. Temperate in diet.
AB-STE'MI-OUS-LY, ad. Temperately; soberly.
AB-STE'MI-OUS-NESS, n. Temperance in diet.
AB-STEN'TION, (ab-sten'shun,) n. The act of
holding off, or restraining.

AB-STERGE', v. t. To cleanse; to wipe off.
AB-STERGENT,

AB-STER'SIVE, a. Cleansing; scouring.
AB-STER'SION, (ab-ster'shun,) n. The act of
cleansing or wiping.

AB'STI-NENCE, n. A refraining from; temperance. AB'STI-NENT, a. Refraining from; temperate. AB'STI-NENT-LY, ad. With abstinence. AB'STI-NENTS, n. pl. A sect which appeared in France and Spain in the third century, who opposed marriage, condemned the use of flesh meats, and placed the Holy Spirit in the class of created beings. [shorten; to reduce to a summary. AB-STRACT', v. t. To separate; to remove; to ABSTRACT, n. An abridgment; a summary. ABSTRACT, a. Abstracted; separated; pure. AB-STRACT'ED, pp. or a. Separated; abstruse. AB-STRACT'ED-LY, ad. By itself; in a separate AB-STRACT'ED-NESS, n. The state of being

AB'STRACT-LY,

abstracted.

AB-STRACT'ER, n. One who makes an abstract. AB-STRACTION, (ab-strak'shun,) n. 1. The act of separation, or the state of being separated. 2. The operation of the mind, when occupied by abstract ideas. 3. A separation from worldly objects. AB-STRACTIVE, a. Having the power or quality of abstracting. AB-STRACTIVE, a. Abstracted or drawn AB-STRACT-ITIOUS, from other substances. AB'STRACT-NESS, n. A state of being abstract. AB-STRUSE', a. Difficult to be understood. [darkly. AB-STRUSE LY, ad. Obscurely; not plainly; AB-STROSE'NESS, n. Obscurity of meaning.

AB-SURD', a. Contrary to reason; inconsistent
AB-SURD'I-TY, n. Inconsistency.

AB-SURDLY, ad. Unreasonably; inconsistently.
AB-SURD'NESS, n. Absurdity; inconsistency.
A-BUND'ANCE, n. Great plenty; exuberance.
A-BUND'ANT, a. Plentiful; abounding.
A-BUND'ANT-LY, ad. Plentifully; amply.
A-BUSE', (-büze,) v. t. To treat ill; to impose on
A-BUSE', n. The ill use of any thing; injury.
A-BUS' ED, pp. or a. Used ill; treated roughly.
A-BUS'ER, n. One who uses another ill.

A-BUSIVE, a. Conveying abuse; offensive; rude A-BUSIVE-LY, ad. In an abusive manner; rudely; reproachfully.

A-BUSIVE-NESS, n. Ill usage; rudeness.

A-BUT', v. i. [Fr. abouter, from bout, an end.] To border upon; to join; to terminate.

A-BUTMENT, n. That which joins to another; the solid part of a bridge next the land.

A-BUTTAL, n. The butting or boundary of land at the end; a head-land.

A-BYSM',

A-BYSS',n. A deep pit; a gulf.

A-CA'CIA, n. The Egyptian thorn; a plant.
AC-A-DE'MI-AL, a. Pertaining to an academy.
A€-A-DE'MI-AN, ('
n. A student, or member of an

A€-A-DEM'1€,

A€-A-DEM'IЄ,

academy, college, or uni

versity.

A€-A-DEMIC-AL, 4. Pertaining to A€-A-DEM'I¤-AL-LY, ad. In

manner.

demy.

ical

A€-A-DE-MI"CIAN, (-mish'an,) ) n. A member of A-CAD'E-MIST,

an academy for the promotion of arts and sciences. A-CAD'E-MY, n. A school of arts and sciences. A€-A-NA'CEOUS, (-na'shus,) a. Armed with prickles. [thus.

A-CAN THINE, a. Pertaining to the plant acanA-CAT-E-LE€'TIE, A verse which has a complete number of syllables, without defect or superfluity.

A-CAT'A-LEP-SY, n. Incomprehensibility.
A-CAU'LINE, a. Having no stem, but flowers
A-CAULOUS, ( resting on the ground.

A€-CEDE', v. i. To come near; to join; to agree
AC-CED'ED, pp. of ACCEDE.

AC-CED'ING, ppr. Agreeing; assenting.
AC-CEL'ER-ATE, v. t. To hasten motion.
AC-CEL'ER-A-TED, pp. Increased in motion.

A€-CEL'ER-A-TING, ppr. Hastening; increasing velocity or progression.

(ing.

A-CEL-ERATION, n. A hastening or quicken

A€-CEL'ER-A-TIVE, a. Accelerating; quick-
AC-CEL'ER-A-TO-RY, ( ening motion.
AC-CEND-I-BIL'I-TY, n. Capacity of being

kindled.

AC-CENDI-BLE, a. Capable of being inflamed. AC-CEN'SION, (-sen'shun.) n. The act of kindling, or setting on fire; inflammation. A€'CENT, n. [L. accentus, from ad and cano, cantum, to sing; W. canu, Cor. käna.] 1. Modulation of the voice in reading or speaking. 2. A stress upon certain syllables. 3. A mark used in writing to direct the stress of the voice. A€'CENT, n. A mark; modulation of voice. AC-CENT', v. t. To note the accent. AC-CENTED, pp. or a. Uttered with accent. AE-CENT'U-AL, (ak-sent'yu-al,) a. Relating to [with an accent, or with accents. AC-CENT'U-ATE, v. t. To mark or pronounce AC-CENT-U-A'TION, n. The placing of accent on a particular syllable. AC-CEPT, v. t. [L. accepto; Fr. accepter; Sp. acceptar. To take; to receive favorably; to regard with partiality. In commerce, to agree, or promise to pay, as a bill of exchange. AC-CEPTA-BLE, a. Agreeable; pleasing.

accent.