ability 
To the close of the Republic, the law was the sole flehl 
for all ability except the special talent ot a capacity fur 
generalship. Maine, Village Communities, p. 380. 
We must regard the colloidal compounds of which or- 
ganisms are liuilt as having, by their physical nature, the 
ability to separate colloids from crystalloids. 
//. Spencer, Prin. of Biol., $ 7. 
2. pi. In a concrete sense, talents ; mental 
gifts or endowments. 
Natural ttltilitiex are like natural plants, that need prun- 
ing by study. Bacon, Studies, Essay 50. 
He had good abilities, a genial temper, and no vices. 
Ktnerson, Soc. and Sol. 
3. The condition of being able to pay or to 
meet pecuniary obligations ; possession of 
means : called distinctively financial or pecn- 
niary ability. 
Out of my lean and low abilitu 
111 lend you something. Shak., T. N., HI. 4. 
A draft upon my neighbour was to me the same as 
money ; for I was sufficiently convinced of his ability. 
Goldsmith, Vicar, xiv. 
4. That which is within one's power to do; 
best endeavor. 
Be thou assur'd, good Cassio, I will do 
All my abilities in thy behalf. Shak., Oth., iii. 3. 
= Syn. 1. Ability, Cajtacity, power, strength, skill, dex- 
terity; faculty, capability, qualification, efficiency. Ability 
denotes active power or power to perform, and is used 
with regard to power of any kind. Cajtacity conveys the 
idea of reeeptiveness, of the possession of resources ; it is 
potential rather than actual, and may be no more than 
undeveloped ability. Abilitu is manifested in action, while 
capacity does not imply action, aa when we speak of ca- 
pacity for virtue. Capacity is the gift of nature ; ability 
is partly the result of education or opportunity. 
What is a power, but the ability or faculty of doing a 
thing? What is the ability to do a thing, but the power 
of employing the means necessary to its execution '( 
A. Hamilton, Federalist, No. 33. 
Capacity is requisite to devise, and ability to execute, a 
great enterprise. U. Taylor. 
2. Abilities, Talents, Part*, etc. (see yeniits), gifts, fac- 
ulty, aptitude, accomplishments. 
-ability. See -able, -biliti/, -ibilita. 
abilliamentst (a-bil'i-a-rnents), n. pi. [< OF. 
habillement, armor, war equipments (mod. F., 
clothing) ; the E. spelling -Hi- imitates the 
sound of F. U, as in billiards, q. v. See habili- 
ment.] Same as habiliments, but applied more 
especially to armor and warlike stores. 
And now the temple of Janus being shut, warlike abillia- 
menti grew rusty. Arth. Wilson, Hist. James I. 
abimet, abismet, [< OF. abime, earlier abisme : 
see abysm.] An abysm. 
Column and base upbering from abiine. 
Ballad in Cotnwendacioun ofOure Ladie, 1. 129. 
Feel such a care, as one whom some Abisme 
In the deep Ocean kept had all his Time. 
Drummond of Hawthornden, Works, p. 59. 
ab initio (ab i-nish'i-6). [L. : ab, from ; iiiitio, 
abl. of initium, beginning : see initial.] From 
the beginning. 
abintestate (ab-in-tes'tat), a. [<LL. abintes- 
tatus, < L. ab, from,+ intestatun : see intestate.] 
Inheriting or devolving from one who died in- 
testate. 
ab intra (ab in'trfi). [L. : see aft- and intra-.] 
From within : opposed to ab extra. 
abiogenesis (ab"i-o-jen'e-sis), n. [NL. (Huxley, 
1870), < Gr. a- priv. -t- /3/of, life, -t- yiveetc, gen- 
eration.] In biol., the production of living 
things otherwise than through the growth and 
development of detached portions of a parent 
organism ; spontaneous generation. Abiogenesis 
was formerly supposed to prevail quite widejy even among 
comparatively complex forms of life. It is now proved 
that it occurs, if at all, only in the simplest microscopic 
organisms, and the weight of evidence is adverse to the 
claim that it has been directly demonstrated there. The 
tendency of recent biological discussion, however, is to- 
ward the assumption of a process of natural conversion 
of non-living into living matter at the dawn of life on 
this earth. Also called abioyeny. See biogenesis and het- 
erogene&is. 
At the present moment there is not a shadow of trust- 
worthy direct evidence that abiogenesis does take place, 
or has taken place within the period during which the 
existence of life on the globe is recorded. 
JInxley, Anat. Invert., p. 40. 
abiogenesist (ab'i-o-jen'e-sist), n. [< abiogene- 
sis + -ist.] Same as abiogenist. 
abiogenetic (ab*i-6-je-net'ik), a. [See abio- 
genesis and genetic.'] Of or pertaining to abio- 
genesis. 
abiogenetically (ab"i-o-je-net'i-kal-i), adv. In 
an abiogenetic manner ; by spontaneous gener- 
ation ; as regards abiogenesis. 
abiogenist (ab-i-oj'e-nist), . [< abiogeny + 
-ist. ] A believer in the doctrine of abiogenesis. 
Also called abiogenesist. 
abiogenous (ab-i-oj'e-nus), a. Produced by 
spontaneous generation. 
12 
abiogeny (ab-i-oj'e-ni), n. [< Gr. a- priv. + j3io(, 
life, + -xeMfr, -born : see abiogenesis and -gen,] 
Same as obiootnetu. 
abiological (ab'i-o-loj'i-kal), a. [< Gr. a- priv. 
+ E. biological.] Not biological ; not pertain- 
ing to biology. 
The biological sciences are sharply marked off from the 
abioloffical, or those which treat of the phenomena muni- 
fested by not-living matter. Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 1. 
abiologically (ab"i-o-loj'i-kal-i), adv. Not bio- 
logically ; in an abiological manner. 
abirritant (ab-ir'i-tant), n. [< L. ab, from, 
+ E. irritant.] In 'med., a soothing drug or 
application. 
abirritate (ab-ir'i-tat), v. t.; pret. and pp. abir- 
ritated, ppr. abirritating. [< L. ab, from, + E. 
irritate.] In med., to deaden or lessen irrita- 
tion in; soothe by removing or diminishing 
irritability. 
abirritation (ab-ir-i-ta'shon), M. [< L. ab, away, 
from, + E. irritation.] Inpathol., the removal 
or diminution of irritation or irritability in the 
various tissues. 
abirritative (ab-ir'i-ta-tiv), a. Tending to ab- 
irritate ; due to abirritation. 
abismet, See abime. 
abitt. Third person sing. pres. of abidel. 
abitt, Obsolete form of iiabit. 
abitaclet, . Obsolete form of habitacle. 
abitet, '. '. [ME. abitan, < AS. abitan, bite, eat, 
devour, < a- + bitan, bite.] To bite ; eat ; de- 
vour. 
abitiont (ab-ish'on), . [< L. abitio(n-), < abire, 
go away, < ab, away, + ire, go.] The act of 
departing ; death. 
abject (ab'jekt), a. and . [< ME. abject, < L. 
abjectwi, downcast, low, mean, pp. of abicere, 
also spelled abiicere, < ab, away, + jacere, throw, 
= Gr. lairrctv, throw: see iambic.] I. a. If. Cast 
aside ; cast away ; abjected. 
So thick bestrewn, 
Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, 
Under amazement of their hideous change. 
Milton, f. L., i. 312. 
2. Low in condition or in estimation ; utterly 
humiliating or disheartening ; so low as to be 
hopeless : as. abject poverty, disgrace, or ser- 
vitude. 3. Low in kind or character ; mean; 
despicable ; servile ; groveling. 
Or in this abject posture have ye sworn 
To adore the conqueror? Milton, P. L., i. 322. 
=Syn. 3. Abject, Low, Mean, Groveling, debased, despi- 
cable, degraded, degenerate, wretched, menial, worthless, 
beggarly. (See list under low.) Abject, low, and mean may 
have essentially the same meaning, but /<"' is more often 
used with respect to nature, condition, or rank ; mean, 
to character or conduct ; abject, to spirit. Groveling has 
the vividness of figurative use ; it represents natural dis- 
position toward what is low and base. Low is generally 
stronger than mean, conformably to the original senses of 
the two words. 
Never debase yourself by treacherous ways, 
Nor by such abject methods seek for praise. 
Dryden, Art of Poetry, iv. 976. 
An abject man he [Wolsey] was, in spite of his pride ; for 
being overtaken riding out of that place towards Esher by 
one of the King's chamberlains, who brought him a kind 
message and a ring, he alighted from his mule, took off 
his cap, and kneeled down in the dirt. 
Dickens, Child's Hist. Eng., xxvii. 
What in me is dark 
Illumine, what is low raise and support. 
MM, P. L., i. 23. 
There is hardly a spirit upon earth so mean and con- 
tracted as to centre all regards on its own interests. 
Bp. Berkeley. 
This vice of intemperance is the arch-abomination of 
our natures, tending ... to drag down the soul to the 
slavery of grovelling lusts. Everett, Orations, I. 374. 
Il.t n. A person who is abjectly base, ser- 
vile, or dependent ; a caitiff or menial. 
Yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against 
me, and I knew it not. Ps. xxxv. 15. 
We are the queen's abjects, and must obey. 
Shak., Rich. III., i. 2. 
abjectt (ab-jekf), v. t. [< L. abjectus, pp. : see 
the adj.] 1. To throw away; cast off or out. 
For that offence only Almighty God abjected Saul, that 
he should no more reign over Israel. 
Sir T. Elyot, The Governour, i. 
2. To make abject ; humiliate ; degrade. 
It abjected his spirit to that degree that he fell danger- 
ously sick. Strype, Memorials, i. 15. 
What is it that can make this gallant so stoop and ab- 
ject himself so basely ? Fotherby, Atheomastix, p. 48. 
abjectednesst (ab-jek'ted-nes), n. The state 
or condition of being abject ; abjectness ; hu- 
miliation. 
Our Saviour sunk himself to the bottom of abjectedness 
to exalt our condition to the contrary extreme. Boyle. 
abjection (ab-jek'shon), . [< ME. abjeccioun, 
< OF. abjection, < L. abjeetio(n-), act of casting 
away, < abicere, abjicere ; see abject, a.] If. The 
abjurer 
act of casting away or down ; the act of hum- 
bling or abasing ; abasement. 
The audacite and bolde speche of Daniel siguifyeth the 
abjection of the kynge and his realme. 
Joye, Exp. of Daniel, ch. v. 
2. The state of being cast down or away ; 
hence, a low state ; meanness of spirit ; base- 
ness ; groveling humility ; abjectness. 
That this should be termed baseness, abjection of mind, 
or servility, is it credible? Hooker, Eccl. Pol., v. 47. 
Contempt for his abjection at the foul feet of the Church. 
S/rinbitriie, Shakespeare, p. 80. 
3. Rejection; expulsion. 
Calvin understands by Christ's descending into hell, 
that he suffered in his soul ... all the torments of hell, 
even to abjection from God's presence. 
Heiilin, Hist, of Presbyterians, p. 350. 
abjective (ab-jek'tiv), . [< abject + -4ve.] 
Tending to abase ; demoralizing : as, abjective 
influence. Pall Mall Gazette. 
abjectly (ab'jekt-li), adv. In an abject, mean, 
or servile manner. 
See the statue which I create. It is abjectly servile to 
my will, and has no capacity whatever to gainsay it. 
//. James, Subs, and Shad., p. 40. 
abjectness (ab'jekt-ues), M. The state or 
quality of being abject, mean-spirited, or de- 
graded ; abasement ; servility. 
When a wild animal is subdued to abjectness, all its in- 
terest is gone. lliyginson, Oldport Days, p. 37. 
abjudge (ab-juj'), v. t. ; pret. and pp. abjudged, 
ppr. abjudgiitg. [< ab- + judge, after abjudicate, 
q. v.] To take away by judicial decision ; rule 
out. [Rare.] 
abjudicatet (ab-jo'di-kat), c. t. [< lt..abjudi- 
catua, pp. of abjudicare, < ab, away, +judicare. 
judge: see judge.] 1. To take away by judicial 
sentence. Ash. 2. To judge to be illegal or 
erroneous; reject as wrong: as, to abjudicate 
a contract. 
abjudication (ab-jo-di-ka'shon), n. [< abjudi- 
cate.] Deprivation by judgment of a court; 
a divesting by judicial decree. Specifically, a 
legal decision by which the real estate of a debtor is ad- 
judged to his creditor. 
abjugatet (ab'jo-gat), v. t. [< L. abjiigatus, 
pp. of abjuyare, unyoke, < ab, from, + jugum 
= E. yoke.] To unyoke. Bailey. 
abjunctive (ab-jungk'tiv), a. [< L. abjunctus, 
pp. of abjungere, unyoke, separate, < ab, from. 
+ jungere, join. Cf. conjunctive and mtbjiinctire,} 
Isolated ; exceptional. [Bare.] 
It is this power which leads on ... from the accidental 
and abjunctice to the universal. /. Taylor, Sat. Eve., xxi. 
abjuration (ab-jo-ra'shon), . [< L. abjura- 
tio(n-), < abjurare: see abjure.] The act of 
abjuring ; a renunciation upon oath, or with 
great solemnity or strong asseveration : as, to 
take an oath of abjuration; an abjuration of 
heresy. The oath of abjuration is the negative part of 
the oath of allegiance. In the United States, foreigners 
seeking naturalization must on oath renounce all alle- 
giance to every foreign sovereignty, as well as swear 
allegiance to the constitution and government of the 
United States. Formerly, in England, public officers were 
required to take an oath of abjuration, in which they 
renounced allegiance to the house of Stuart and acknow- 
ledged the title of the house of Hanover, 
abjuratory (ab-jo'ra-to-ri), a. Pertaining to or 
expressing abjuration. Abjuratory anathema. 
See anathema. 
abjure (ab-jor'), r.; pret. and pp. abjured, ppr. 
abjuring. [< F. abjurer, < L. abjurare, deny on 
oath, < ab, from, + jurare, swear, <jus (jur-), 
law. right. Cf. adjure, conjure, perjure.] \.trana. 
1. To renounce upon oath; forswear; with- 
draw formally from : as, to abjure allegiance to 
a prince. 2. To renounce or repudiate ; aban- 
don ; retract ; especially, to renounce or re- 
tract with solemnity : as, to abjure one's errors 
or wrong practices. 
I put myself to thy direction, and 
Unspeak mine own detraction ; here abjure 
The taints and blames I laid upon myself. 
Shak., Macbeth, iv. 3. 
Not a few impecunious zealots abjured the use of 
money (unless earned by other people), professing to live 
on the internal revenues of the spirit. 
Lowell, Study Windows, p. 194. 
To abjure the realm, formerly, in England, to swear 
to leave the country and never return : an oath by which 
felons taking refuge in a church might in some cases 
save their lives. = Syn. To Kenounce, Recant, Abjure, etc. 
(see renounce), relinquish, abandon, disavow, take back, 
disclaim, repudiate, unsay. 
II. intrans. To take an oath of abjuration. 
One Thomas Harding, . . . who had abjured in the year 
1508. Bp. Burnet, Hist, of Ref., i. 166. 
abjurementt (ab-jor'ment), . The act of ab- 
juring ; renunciation. J. Hall. 
abjurer (ab-jo'rer), n. [< abjure + -er*.] One 
who abjures or forswears. 
