abbey-counter 
abbey-counter (ab'e-koun'ter), . [<<(/</ 1/1 
+ counter^.] A kind of medal, stamped with 
sacred emblems, the arms of an abbey, or 
other device, given to a pilgrim as a token of 
his having visited the shrine ; a kind of pil- 
grim's sign (which see, under pilgrim). 
abbey-laird (ab'e-lard), . [< dbbryl (in ref. 
to the abbey of Holyrood) + laird, proprietor. ] 
In Scotland, a name humorously applied to an 
insolvent debtor who escaped his creditors by 
taking refuge within the legal sanctuary for- 
merly constituted by the precincts of Holy- 
rood Abbey. 
abbey-land (ab'e-land), n. [<. abbey 1 + laud.] 
An estate in land annexed to an abbey. 
abbey-lubber (ab'e-lub'er), . [< abbey 1 + 
lubber. ] An old term of contempt for an able- 
bodied idler who grew sleek and fat upon the 
charity of religious houses : also sometimes 
applied to monks. 
This is no huge, overgrown abbey-lubber. 
Dryden, Spanish Friar, iii. 3. 
abbot (ab'ot), . [<ME. abbot, abbod, < AS. 
abbot, usually abbod, abbud, < L. abbdtem, ace. 
of abbas, an abbot, < L. abba, father : see 
abba 1 .'] 1. Literally, father: a title originally 
given to any monk, but afterward limited to 
the head or superior of a monastery, it was 
formerly especially used in the order of St. Benedict, 
rector being employed by the Jesuits, gua-rdiamut by the 
Franciscans, prior by the Dominicans, and archimandrite 
or heaownenos by the Greek and Oriental churches, to 
designate the same office. Originally the abbots, like the 
monks, were usually laymen ; later they were required to 
be in holy orders. They were at first subject to the bishop 
of the diocese ; but in the contentions between the bishops 
and abbots the latter in many cases gradually acquired 
exemption from jurisdiction of the bishops and became 
subject to the pope directly, or to an abbot-general, or 
archabbot, who exercised a supervision over several asso- 
ciated abbeys. As the influence of the religious orders 
increased, the power, dignity, and wealth of the abbots 
increased proportionally ; many of them held rank as tem- 
poral lords, and, as mitered abbots, exercised certain epis- 
copal functions in the territory surrounding their monas- 
teries. In the reign of Henry VIII. twenty -six abbots sat 
in the House of Lords. Until the sixth century abbots 
were chosen from the monks by the bishop ; since that 
time they have been generally elected by the monks them- 
selves, ordinarily for life. In some instances, where the 
administration of the revenues of an abbey fell under the 
civil authority, the conferring of the benefice, and there- 
fore the nomination of the abbot, came into the hands of 
the temporal sovereign, a practice variously regulated by 
concordats with the different countries. The right of 
confirmation varies ; the solemn benediction of an abbot 
ordinarily belongs to the bishop of the diocese, occasion- 
ally to the head abbot, or to a special bishop chosen by 
the abbot elect. In some instances of exempt abbeys it 
has been conferred by the pope in person. 
2. In later usage, loosely applied to the holder 
of one of certain non-monastic offices, (a) The 
principal of a body of parochial clergy, as an Episcopal 
rector, (b) A cathedral officer at Toledo, Spain, (c) In 
the middle ages, the head of various guilds, associations, 
and popular assemblages : as, abbot of bell-ringers ; the 
abbot of misrule. 
3. A title retained in Hanover, Wurtemberg, 
Brunswick, and Schleswig-Holstein by the 
heads of certain Protestant institutions to 
which the property of various abbeys was 
transferred at the Reformation. See abbess, 
2. Abbot of abbots, a title formerly conferred upon 
the abbot of the original Benedictine monastery of Monte 
Cassino. Abbot of misrule (in England), abbot of un- 
reason (in Scotland), the personage who took the principal 
part in the Christmas revels of the populace before the Ref- 
ormation. Abbot of the people (abbas populi). (a) 
From 1270 to 1339, the nominal chief magistrate of the 
republic of Genoa, (b) The chief magistrate of the Geno- 
ese in Galata. Abbot of yellow-beaks, or freshmen, 
a mock title at the University of Paris. Cardinal ab- 
bot a title borne by the abbots of Cluny and Vendflme, 
who wereexofficio cardinals. Mitered abbot, an abbot 
who has the privilege of using the insignia and exercising 
certain of the functions of a bishop. Regular abbot, 
an abbot duly elected and confirmed, and exercising 
the functions of the office. Secular abbot, a person 
who is not a monk, but holds an abbacy as an ecclesi- 
astical benefice with the title and some of the revenues 
and honors of the office. See def. 3, above. Titular ab- 
bot, a person possessing the title but not exercising the 
functions of an abbot, as when an abbey had been con- 
fiscated or given in commetutam. See abb^. Triennial 
abbot, an abbot appointed for three years instead of, as 
ordinarily, for life. =Syn. Abbot, Prior. See prior. 
abbotcy (ab'ot-si), w. [< abbot + -cy.] Same as 
abbacy. [Rare.] 
abbotesst, . [\ME. abbatesse, -*,< AS. ab- 
bodesse, -isse, abbadisse, abbudfese, < ML. abba- 
dissa, prop, abbatissa (> ult. abbess, q. v.), 
<. abbas (abbat-) + iem. -issa.] An abbess. Also 
written abbatesse. 
Abbots, Abbotegses, Presbyters, and Deacons. Selden. 
And at length became abbatesse there. 
Holinxhed, Chron. 
abbot-general (ab'pt-jen"e-ral), n. The head 
of a congregation of monasteries, 
abbotsnip (ab'qt-ship), n. [<abbot + -ship.] 
The state or office of an abbot. 
abbozZO (ab-bot'so), . [It., also abbn?znt<>, 
ukf.ti.il nutlitio < nhhif-iii-i' tnukr.ti-li ili.lim. 
,cn, outline, ^nooo^aie, to sKetcn, anil <- 
ate, also boseare, < bozza, blotch, rough draft, 
, , , , g a, ,,,,,,, ,, the other hand -ionof 
= Pr. boSSa (>F. boSSe), swelling, < OHG. boZO, certain letters nr sylluhlfH fi""i tin' body of the word, 
' 
abdest 
syllable, taken f..r the wh.,lr. with no indiratiiin ..f there- 
Piminiim portion : :is, .-I . l>. for .!/... /)./, ,iini ; (1* n. for 
itk.tornaU ....... tut, 4fe*. for 
,,,,,,, ,, the other hand -ionof 
a bundle: see boss 1 and beat.'] The dead or 
first coloring laid on a picture after toe sketch 
has been blocked m. Mrs. Merrijield, Ancient 
Practice of Painting (1849), I. ccc. 
abbr. A common abbreviation of abbreviated 
and ahbrfriatiiiti. 
abbreuyoir, n. See abreuvoir. 
abbreviate (a-bre'vi-at), . ; pret. and pp. ab- 
breviated, ppr. abbreviating. K LL. abbreviates, 
pp. of abbreviare, shorten, < ad-, to, + brevis, 
but in such a manner as to indin.u the whole word: a, 
*&gf ^ '"^ 1^ 
usage, however, this ,ii,tin..-ti,,n is not always observed. 
abbreviatio placitorum (a-bre-vi-a'shi-6 plas- 
i-to'rum). [ML.] Literally, an abridgment 
of the pleas ; a brief report of law-cases ; spe- 
ciflcally, notes of cases decided in the reign of 
King John, which constitute the earliest Eng- 
lish law-reports, and embody the germs and 
early developments of the common Taw. 
short. The same L. verb, through the P., has abbreviator (a-bre'vi-a-tor), n. [< ML. a&- 
breriator, < LL. abbreviare: see abbreviate, v.] 
1. One who abbreviates, abridges, or reduces 
to a smaller compass ; specifically, one who 
abridges what has been written by another. 
become E. abridge: see abridge and brief.] 
I. trans. 1 . To make briefer ; abridge ; make 
shorter by contraction or omission of a part : 
as, to abbreviate a writing or a word. 2. In 
math. , to reduce to the lowest terms, as frac- 
tious. = Syn. 1. To shorten, curtail, abridge, epitomize, 
reduce, compress, condense, cut down. 
II. intrans. To practise or use abbreviation. 
It is one thing to abbreriate by contracting, another by 
cutting off. Bacon, Essays, xxvi. 
abbreviate (a-bre'vi-at), a. and n. [< LL. abbre- 
viatus : see abbreviate, v.] I. a. Abbreviated. 
II. n. An abridgment ; an abstract. 
The Speaker, taking the Bill in his hand, reads the Ab- 
breviate or Abstract of the said bill. 
Chamberlayue, State of Great Britain. 
abbreviately (a-bre'vi-at-li), adv. Briefly. 
[Rare.] 
The sweete smacke that Yarmouth findes in it ... 
abbreviatly and meetely according to my old Sarum plaine- 
song I have harpt upon. 
Nathe, Lenten Stuff e (Harl. Misc., VI. 162). 
abbreviation (a-bre-vi-a'shon), n. [= P. abre- 
Neither the archbishop nor his abbreviiitur. 
Sir W. Hamilton, Logic. 
2. One of a number of secretaries in the chan- 
cery of the pope who abbreviate petitions ac- 
cording to certain established and technical 
rules, and draw up the minutes of the apostolic 
letters. They formerly numbered 72, of whom the 12 prin- 
cipal were styled de majori parco (literally, of the greater 
parquet, from the parquet in the chancery where they 
wrote) and 22 others de mmari parco (of the lesser par- 
quet), the remainder being of lower rank. The number iii 
now reduced to 11, all de majori parco. They sign the 
apostolic bulls in the name of the cardinal vice-chancellor. 
The abbrfitiator of the curia is a prelate not belonging to 
the above college, but attached to the office of the apos- 
tolic datary (seeiiataryV); he expedites bulls relating to 
pontifical laws and constitutions, aa for the canonization 
of saints, and the like. 
abbreviatory (a-bre'vi-a-to-ri), a. [< abbre- 
viate + -ory.] "Abbreviating or tending to 
abbreviate ; shortening ; contracting. 
+ -tire.] 1. A letter or character used as an 
abbreviation. 
The hand of Providence writes often by abbreviature!, 
hieroglyphics, or short characters. 
Sir T. Brownie, Christ. Mor., 25. 
2. An abridgment ; a compendium. 
This is an excellent abbreviature of the whole duty of a 
Christian. Jer. Taylor, Guide to Devotion. 
viation, < LL. dbbreviatio(n-), < abbreviare : see abbreviaturet (a-bre'vi-a-tur), n. [(abbreviate 
abbreviate, v.] 1. The act of abbreviating, 
shortening, or contracting ; the state of being 
abbreviated; abridgment. 
This book, as graver authors say, was called Liber 
Domus Dei, and, by abbreviation, Domesday Book. 
Sir W. Temple, Introd. to Hist, of Eng. 
2. A shortened or contracted form; a part 
used for the whole. Specifically, a part of a word, 
phrase, or title so used ; a syllable, generally the initial a i.i VPn/ ,i 1Tn< 1 tt la hroch'mpnf^ C< ML abro- 
syllable, used for the whole word ; a letter, or a series of aDDrOCnmentt (.a-Bi 11 ment), n i M. aoro- 
letters, standing for a word or words : as, Eq. toTesquire camentum, appar. formed from stem of ii,. brok- 
A. D. for Anno Domini; F. K. S. tot Fellow of the Royal age, brok-er, etc.] The act of forestalling the 
Society. market or monopolizing goods. Erroneously 
3. In math., a reduction of fractions to the low- spelled abroachment. 
est terms. 4. In music, a method of notation abb-WOOl (ab'wul), H. 1. Wool for the abb or 
by means of which certain repeated notes, warp of a web. 2. A variety of wool of a 
chords, or passages are indicated without be- certain fineness. See abb. 
ing written out in full. There are various forms a-b-C (a-be-ce). [ME. abc ; as a word, spelled 
of abbreviation, the most common of which are here var i ous iy abece, apece, apecy, apsie, apcie, absee, 
absie, absey, abeesee } etc., especially for a primer 
or spelling-book ; in comp.,a6*ejr-6oofc, etc. Cf. 
abecedarian and alphabet.] 1. The first three 
letters of the alphabet ; hence, the alphabet. 
2. An a-b-c book; a primer.- A-b-c book, a 
primer for teaching the alphabet. 
Abd (abd). [Ar. 'abd, a slave, servant.] A 
common element in Arabic names of persons, 
meaning servant: as, Abdallah, servant of 
God ; Abd-el-Kader, servant of the Mighty One ; 
Abd-itl-Latif (commonly written Abdullatif or 
Abdallatif), servant of the Gracious One. 
abdalavi, abdelavi (ab-da-, ab-de-la've), n. 
[Ar.] The native name of the hairy melon of 
Egypt, a variety of the muskmelon, Cuciimi.t 
Melo. 
Abderian (ab-de'ri-an), a. [<L. Abdera, <Gr. 
"A(36i/pa, a town in Thrace, birthplace of De- 
mocritus, called the laughing philosopher.] 
Pertaining to the town of Abdera or its inhabi- 
tants ; resembling or recalling in some way 
the philosopher Democritus of Abdera (see 
Abderite); hence, given to incessant or con- 
tinued laughter. 
Abderite (ab'de-rit), . [<L. Abderita, also 
Abderites, < Gr. 'A(3o>ipirr/f, < "AfiSiipa, L. Ab- 
dera. ] 1 . An inhabitant of Abdera, an ancient 
maritime town in Thrace. 2. A stupid per- 
son, the inhabitants of Abdera having been 
proverbial for their stupidity The Abderite. 
Democritus of Abdera, born about 460 B. c., and the most 
learned of the Greek philosophers prior to Aristotle. He 
was, with Leucippus, the founder of the atomic or atomis- 
tic philosophy (see atomic), the first attempt at a complete 
mechanical interpretation of physical and psychical phe- 
nomena. The tradition that Democritus always laughed 
at the follies of mankind gained for him the title of the 
laughing philosopher. Fragments of some of hts numer- 
ous works have been preserved. 
abdest (ab'dest), . [Per. abdast, < ab, water, 
,, . + dast, hand. ] Purification or ablution before 
Svn 2 tbvrffnotwn Contraction. Anaooreviatu>noi& - r J . , 
word is strictly a part of it, generally the first letter or prayer : a Mohammedan rite. 
