Abraham's-balm 
Abraham's-balmt (a'bra-hamz- or a'bramz- 
bam), n. An old name of ail Italian willow 
supposed to be a charm for the preservation of 
chastity. See agnus castus, under aijiiiid. 
Abraham's-eyet (a'bra-hamz- or a'bramz-i), n. 
A magical charm supposed to have power to 
deprive of eyesight a thief who refused to con- 
fess his guilt. 
abraidt (a-brad'), v. [< ME. abraiden, abrei- 
den, start up, awake, move, reproach, < AS. 
abregdan, contr. dbredan (a strong verb), move 
quickly: see braid 1 and upbraid.] I. trans. To 
rouse ; awake ; upbraid. 
How now, base brat ! what ! are thy wits thine own, 
That thou dar'st thus abraide me in my land ? 
Greene, Alphonsus, ii. 
II. intrans. To awake ; start. 
And if that he out of his sleepe abraide, 
He might don us bathe a vilanie. 
Chaucer, Reeve's Tale, 1. 270. 
Abramidina (aVra-mi-di'nfi,), n. pi. [NL., 
< Abramis (Abramid-) + -ina.] In Gunther's 
classification of fishes, the twelfth subfamily 
of Cyprinidai, having the anal fin elongate and 
the abdomen, or part of it, compressed. It in- 
cludes the genus Abramis and similar fresh- 
water fishes related to the bream. 
abramidine (ab-rani'i-din), n. One of the Abra- 
midina. 
Abramis (ab'ra-mis), n. [NL., < Gr. a/3pa/i/f 
(afjpafud-), the name of a fish found in the Nile 
and the Mediterranean, perhaps the bream, 
but not etym. related to bream.] A genus 
of fishes of the family Cyprinidee, typified by 
the common fresh-water bream of Europe, A. 
brama. The name has been adopted with various modi- 
fications by different ichthyologists, being restricted by 
some to old-world forms closely allied to the bream, and 
extended by others to include certain American fishes 
less nearly related to it, such as the common American 
shiner, etc. G. Cuvier, 1817. See bream*. 
Abranchia (a-brang'ki-a), n. pi. [NL., neut. 
pi. of abranchius: see abranchious.] A name 
given to several different groups of animals 
which have no gills : (n) To a group of vertebrates, 
comprising mammals, birds, and reptiles (or Mammalia 
and Sauropsida), whose young never possess gills. The 
group is thus contrasted with Batrachia and Puces col- 
lectively. In this sense the term has no exact classiflca- 
tory signification. (6) To a group of gastropodous mol- 
lusks, variously rated by naturalists as a suborder, an or- 
der, or a subclass ; the Apiieusta or Dermatopnoa of some, 
related to the Nudibrat\ehiata, having no branchiae, the up- 
per surface of the body ciliated, and no shell except when in 
the larval state. This group includes the families Lima- 
pontidte, Phyllirhoidcf, and Elysiulce. (c) To an order of 
Anttelida, the OKgochteta, which are without branchiae, 
and respire by the surface of the body. There are several 
families, among them the Lmnbricidai, to which the com- 
mon earthworm belongs. They are mostly hermaphrodite, 
and undergo no metamorphosis. They have no feet, but 
the body is provided with bristles (seta;). The mouth is 
rudimentary, not suctorial, as in the related order Him- 
dinea (leeches). The species are mostly land or fresh- 
water worms, (d) In Cuvier's system of classification, to 
the third family of the order Annelides, containing the 
earthworms (Abrauchia setigera) and the leeches ; thus 
approximately corresponding to the two modern orders 
Oligockceta and Hirudinea. It included, however, some 
heterogeneous elements, as the gordians. Sometimes 
called Abranchiata and also Abranchial. It it is advisable 
to apply the term to any group of animals, it is probably to 
be retained in the second of the senses above noted.] 
abranchial! (a-brang'ki-an), n. One of the 
Abranchia. 
Abranchiata (a-brang-ki-a'ta), n. pi. [NL., 
neut. pi. of abranchiatus : see abranchiate.'] A 
term sometimes used as synonymous with 
Abranchia. 
abranchiate (a-'brang'ki-at). a. [< NL. abran- 
chiatus: see abranchious and -ofcf] Devoid of 
gills ; of or pertaining to the Abranchia. 
abranchious (a-brang'ki-us), a. [< NL. abran- 
chius, < Gr. a- priv. + flpayxta, gills.] Same as 
abranchiate. [Bare.] 
The second family of the abranchious Annelides, or, the 
Abranchia without bristles. 
Q. Cuvier, Regne Anlm. (tr. of 1849), p. 398. 
Abrasax (ab'ra-saks), n. Same as Abraxas, 1, 2. 
abraset (ab-raz'), t. [< L. abrasus, pp. of 
dbradere, rub off : see abrade.'] Same as abrade. 
abraset (ab-raz'), a. [< L. abrasus, pp. : seethe 
verb.] Made clean or clear of marks by rubbing. 
A nymph as pure and simple as the soule or as an abraite 
table. B. Jmuon, Cynthia's Revels, v. 3. 
abrasion (ab-ra'zhou), n. [< L. abra$io(n~), 
<abradere: see abrade.'] 1. The act of abrad- 
ing ; the act of wearing or rubbing off or away 
by friction or attrition. Common examples of abra- 
sion are : (a) The wearing or rubbing away of rocks by ice- 
bergs or glaciers, by currents of water laden with sand, 
shingle, etc., by blown sand, or by other means. (6) The 
natural wasting, or wear and tear, to which coins are sub- 
jected in course of circulation, as opposed to intentional 
or accidental defacement. 
18 
It is one of the most curious phenomena of language, 
that words are as subject as coin to defacement and 
abrasion. Q. P. Marsh, Lect. on Eng. Lang., Int., p. 16. 
2. The result of rubbing or abrading; an 
abraded spot or place : applied chiefly to a 
fretting or excoriation of the skin by which the 
underlying tissues are exposed. 3. InpathoL, 
a superficial excoriation of the mucous mem- 
brane of the intestines, accompanied by loss 
of substance in the form of small shreds. 4. 
The substance worn away by abrading or at- 
trition. Berkeley. 
abrasive (ab-ra'siv), a. and n. [< L. as if 
"abrasii'MS, < abrasus, pp. of abradere : see ab- 
rade.] I. a. Tending to produce abrasion ; 
having the property of abrading ; abradant. 
The . . . abrasive materials used in the treatment of 
metallic surfaces. 
C. P. B. Shelley, Workshop Appliances, p. 108. 
H. n. Any material having abrading quali- 
ties ; an abradant. 
The amateur is most strenuously counselled to polish 
the tool upon the oil-stone, or other fine abrasive em- 
ployed for setting the edge. 
0. Byrne, Artisan's Handbook, p. 17. 
abraum (ab'ram ; G. pron. ap'roum), w. [G.; lit., 
what has to be cleared away to get at some- 
thing valuable beneath ; the worthless upper 
portion of a vein or ore-deposit; the earth 
covering the rock in a quarry ; < abraumen, clear 
away, take from the room or place, < ab- (= E. 
off), from, + raum, place, = E. room, q. v.] 
Red ocher, used by cabinet-makers to give a 
red color to new mahogany Abraum salts [G. 
abrautnsalze], a mixture of salts of potash, soda, magnesia, 
etc., overlying the rock-salt deposit at Stassfurt, Prussia, 
and vicinity, the value of which was not immediately rec- 
ognized when these deposits were opened, but which is 
now the chief source of supply of potassic salts in the world. 
Abraxas (ab- 
rak'sas), n. 
[See " def . 2, 
and cf. abra- 
cadabra.] 1. 
In iiii/ii/.. a 
Gnostic amu- 
Abnas, collection of the British Museum. le * Consisting 
of an engraved 
gem, often bearing a mystical figure (which 
generally combines human and brute forms) 
and an unintelligible legend, but sometimes 
inscribed with the word Abraxas, either alone 
or accompanying a figure or a word connected 
with Hebrew or Egyptian 
religion, as lao, Sabaoth, 
Osiris. 2. A mystical 
word used by the Gnostic 
followers of Basilides to 
denote the Supreme Being, 
or, perhaps, its 365 emana- 
tions collectively, or the 
365 orders of spirits oc- 
cupying the 365 heavens. 
Later it was commonly applied to 
any syml>olical representation of 
Onostic ideas. It is said to have 
been coined by Basilides in the Abraxas, f Both examples are 
second century, from the sum of of the Basilidian type.) 
the Greek numeral letters ex- 
Fressing the number 365 ; thus : a = 1, /3 = 2, p = 100, a = 1, 
= 60, a = 1, c = 200 ; total, 365. 
Also written Abrasax. 
3. A genus of lepidopterous insects, of the 
family Geometrida, containing the large mag- 
pie-moth, Abraxas grossulariata. The larvae are 
very destructive to gooseberry- and currant-bushes in 
Europe, consuming their leaves as soon as they appear. 
abrayt (a-bra'), v. i. [A false pres. form, 
made from ME. pret. abrayde, abraide, taken 
for a weak verb, with pret. ending -de (= E. 
-ed), whereas the verb is strong, with pret. 
abrayde, abraide, properly abraid, abreid (< AS. 
abr&gd), similar in form to pres. abrayde, 
abraide, < AS. dbregde, inf. abregdan: see 
abraid.] To awake. 
But, whenas I did out of sleep abray, 
I found her not where I left her whyleare. 
Spenser, F. Q., IV. vi. 36. 
abrazite (ab'ra-zlt), . [< Gr. a- priv., not, + 
fipa&iv, boil, ferment, + -tie 2 .] A mineral 
found at Capo di Bove, near Rome, probably 
the same as that named zeagonite and later 
gismondine (which see). 
abrazitic (ab-ra-zit'ik), a. Not effervescing, as 
in acids or when heated before the blowpipe : 
said of certain minerals. [Bare.] 
abread, abreed (a-bred'), preji. phr. as adv. 
[Sc., < ME. abrede, on brede, in breadth : a, on, 
prep. ; brede, < AS. braidu, breadth, < brad, 
broad: see a 3 and breadth, and cf. abroad.] 
Abroad. Burns. Also spelled abraid. [Scotch.] 
abridger 
abreast (a-bresf ). prrp. />lir. as adv. or a. [< a 3 , 
/iri'/i., im. + liri-iint.] 1. Bide by side, with breasts 
in a line : as, " the riders rode iibrnixt," Jtryrlrii. 
It (the wall of riiuster] has f\ > >> lim . however, a 
rugged outer parapet and a broad hollow flagging, wi<l<- 
enough for two strollers ab,; i 
H. Jaiim, Jr., Trans. Sketches, p. 9. 
2. Naut.: (a) Lying or moving side by side, with 
stems equally advanced. (i)When used to indi- 
cate the situation of a vessel in regard to an- 
other object, opposite ; over against ; lying so 
that the object is on a line with the beam : in 
this sense with of. 
The Bellona . . . kept too close to the starboard shoal, 
and grounded abreast of the outer ship of the enemy. 
Southey, Nelson, II. 121. 
3. Figuratively, up to the sanfe pitch or level : 
used with of or with : as, to keep abreast of the 
times in science, etc. 4f. At the same time ; 
simultaneously. 
Abreast therewith began a convocation. Fuller. 
Line abreast, a formation of a squadron in which the 
ships are abreast of one another, 
abredet, prq>. phr. as adv. A Middle English 
form of abread. Rom. of tin' Hose. 
abregget, v. t. A Middle English form of 
abridge. Chaucer. 
abrenouncet (ab-re-nouns'), v. t. [< L. <il>, 
from (here intensive), + E. renounce, after LL. 
abrenuntidre, < L. ab + renuntidre, renounce : 
see renounce.] To renounce absolutely. 
Under pain of the pope's curse . . . either to abrenmincc 
their wives or their livings. 
foxe, Book of Martyrs, Acts and Deeds, fol. 159. 
abrenunciationt (ab-re-nun-si-a'shon), n. 
[< ML. abrenuntiatio(n-), <L. abrenuntidre: see 
abrenounce.] Renunciation ; absolute denial. 
An abrenunciatiim of that truth which he so long had 
professed. Hurt uf Sedition, iii. b. 
abreptiont (ab-rep'shon), n. [< L. as if *a&- 
reptio(n-), < abripcre, pp. abreptus, snatch away, 
< ab, away, + rapere, seize : see rapt and rav- 
ish.'] The state of being carried away or forci- 
bly separated; separation. 
abreuvoir (a-bre-vwor'), n. [F., a drinking- 
place, horse-trough, < abreuver, give to drink, 
earlier abrerer, < OF. abetrcr = Sp. abrevar = 
It. abbeverare, < ML. abeverare, orig. "adbibc- 
rare, < ad, to, + "biberare, < L. bibere, drink : 
see W6 1 and beverage.'] 1. A watering-place 
for animals; a horse-trough. 2. In masonry, 
a joint or interstice between stones, to be filled 
up with mortar or cement. Gtrilt. 
Also spelled abbreuvoir. 
abricockt, abricott, Same as apricot. 
abrid (a'brid), n. [Uncertain; perhaps due 
to Sp. "abrido, for irreg. abierto. pp. of abrir, 
open, unlock, < L. aperire, open.] A bushing- 
plate around a hole in which a pintle moves. 
E. H. Knight. 
abridge (a-brij'), r. t. ; pret. and pp. abridged, 
ppr. abridging. [< ME. abregen, abreggen, abrig- 
gen, etc., < OF. abrigier, abridgier, abbregier, 
abrei-ier=fr. abrevjar, < L. abbreriare, shorten, 
< arf.to, + brevis, short : see abbreviate and brief.] 
1. To make snorter; curtail: as, "abridged 
cloaks," Scott, Ivanhoe, xiv. 2. To shorten 
by condensation or omission, or both ; rewrite 
or reconstruct on a smaller scale ; put the 
main or essential parts of into less space : used 
of writings : as, Justin abridged the history of 
Trogus Pompeius. 
The antiquities of Richliorough and Reculver, abridynl 
from the Latin of Mr. Archdeacon Battely. 
X. and Q., 6th ser., X. 143. 
3. To lessen ; diminish : as, to abridge labor. 
Power controlled or abridged is almost always the rival 
and enemy of that power by which it is controlled or 
abridged. A. Hamilton, Federalist, No. 15. 
4. To deprive ; cut off : followed by of, and 
formerly also by from : as, to abridge one of 
rights or enjoyments. 
Nor do I now make moan to be abridged 
From snch a noble rate. Shak., M. of V., i. 1. 
5. In alg., to reduce, as a compound quantity 
or equation, to a more simple form. = Syn. 2. 
To cut down, prune. Sec abbreviate. 4. To dispossess, 
divest, strip, despoil. 
abridgedly (a-brij'ed-li), adv. In a concise or 
shortened form. 
abridger (a-brij'er), H. One who or that 
which abridges, by curtailing, shortening, or 
condensing. 
Criticks have been represented as the great abritlgen of 
the native liberty of genius. //. Blair, Lectures, iii. 
Abridgers are a kind of literary men to whom the indo- 
lence of modern readers . . . give[s] ample employment. 
/. D'lsradi. I'lirins. of Lit., II. 67. 
