abridgment 
abridgment (a-brij'ment), . [< late ME. 
abrygement,<.OF. abrigcment, abregement: see 
abridge and -mcnt.] 1. The act of abridging, or 
the state of being abridged ; diminution ; con- 
traction ; reduction ; curtailment ; restriction : 
as, an abridgment of expenses; "abridgment 
of liberty," Locke. 
Persons employed in the mechanic arts are those whom 
the abridgment of commerce would immediately anci't. 
A. Hamilton, Works, II. 15. 
It was his sin and folly which brought him under that 
abrifti/iii'-iit. South. 
2. A condensation, as of a book ; a reduction 
within a smaller space ; a reproduction of any- 
thing in reduced or condensed form. 
A genuine abridgment is a reproduction of the matter 
or substance of a larger work in a condensed form, and in 
language which is not a mere transcript of that of the 
original. Drone, Copyright, p. 158. 
Here lies David Oarrick, describe him who can, 
An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man. 
Goldsmith, Retaliation. 
3. That which abridges or cuts short. [Bare.] 
Look, where my abridi/menls come [namely, the players 
who cut me short in my speech. Compare, however, 
meaning 4J. Shak., Hamlet, ii. 2. 
4. That which shortens anything, as time, or 
makes it appear short; hence, a pastime. 
[Bare.] 
Say, what abridgment have you for this evening 1 
What mask, what music? Shak., M. N. D., v. 1. 
Also spelled abridgement. 
= Syn. 2. Abridgment, Compendium, Epitome, Abstract, 
Conspectus, Synopsis. Summary, Syllabus, Brief, Di/jest. 
An abridgment is a work shortened by condensation of 
statement, or by omitting the less essential parts. A com- 
pendium, or compend, is a concise but comprehensive view 
of a subject ; in general it does not imply, as abridgment 
does, the existence of a larger or previous work. An 
epitome contains only the most important points of a work 
or subject, expressed in the smallest compass. An abstract 
is a bare statement or outline of facts, heads, or leading 
features in a book, lecture, subject, etc. Conspectus and 
synopsis are, literally, condensed views the substance of 
any matter so arranged as to be taken in at a glance ; 
syiwpsis implies orderly arrangement under heads and 
particulars. A summary is a brief statement of the main 
points in a work or treatise, less methodical than an ab- 
stract or a synopsis; it may be a recapitulation. A sylla- 
bus is commonly a synopsis printed for the convenience 
of those hearing lectures ; but the term is also applied to 
certain papal documents. (See syllabus.) Brief is generally 
confined to its technical legal meanings. (See brief.) A 
digest is a methodical arrangement of the material of a 
subject, as under heads or titles ; it may include the 
whole of the matter concerned : as, a digest of laws. 
There may be an abridgment of a dictionary, a compend 
or compendium of literature, an epitome of a political 
situation, an abstract of a sermon, a conspectus or si/nopsis 
of a book, a summary of the arguments in a debate, a 
rfiV/wrf of opinions on some moot point. 
abrigget, ". * A Middle English form of 
abridge. Chaucer. 
abrin (a'brin), n. [< Abrus + -in 2 .] A name 
given to a poisonous principle obtained from 
Abrus precatorius. 
abroach (a-broch'), prep. phr. as adv. or a. [< 
ME. abroche, in the phrase sette(n) abroche, set 
abroach, < a& for on + broche, a spit, spigot, 
pin : see brooch and broach.] Broached ; letting 
out or yielding liquor, or in a position for letting 
out : as, the cask is abroach. 
If the full tun of vengeance be abroach, 
Fill out and swill until you burst again. 
Webster (?), Weakest Ooeth to the Wall, i. 2. 
To set abroach, (a) To set running ; cause to flow or 
let out liquor, as a cask or barrel. 
Barrels of ale set abroach in different places of the road 
had kept the populace in perfect love and loyalty towards 
the Queen and her favourite. Scott, Kenilworth, II. xi. 
(b) Figuratively, to give rise to ; spread abroad ; dissemi- 
nate ; propagate. 
What mischiefs he might set abroach. 
Shak., 2 Hen. IV., iv. i 
abroacht (a-broch'), v. t. [< ME. abrochen, 
broach, tap, < OF. brocher, brochier, broach, 
with prefix a-, due to adv. abroche : see abroach, 
prep. phr., and broach.] To open, as a cask, for 
the purpose of letting out liquor ; tap; broach. 
Thilke tonne that I schal abroche. 
Chaucer, Wife of Bath, Prol., 1. 177. 
abroad (a-brad'), prep. phr. as adv. or a. [< 
ME. abroad, abrod, < a 3 , prep., on, + brood, brod, 
broad: see broad.] 1. Broadly; widely; ex- 
pansively ; outward on all or on both sides. 
The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. Rom. v. 5. 
Her winges bothe abrod she spradde. GOK'I'I-. 
Look now abroad another race has filled 
These populous burden. Bryant, The Ages, st. 32. 
2. Out of or beyond certain limits, (a) Beyond 
the walls of a house or the bounds of any inclosure : as, 
to walk abroad. 
Where as he lay 
So sick alway, 
He myght not come abrade. 
Sir T. More, A -Merry Jest. 
10 
\\ ' arc for the most part more lonely when we go 
l,,-',irrl unions men than when we stay in our chambers. 
Thoreau, Walden, p. 147. 
I nited States used most commonly with reference to 
At home the soldier learned how to value bis rights, 
abrttad how to defend them. 
Macaulay, Hallam's Const. Hist. 
others, still, are introduced from abroad by fashion, or 
are borrowed thence for their usefulness. 
F. Hall, Mod. Eng., p. 153. 
3. Absent; gone away, especially to a consider- 
able distance : as, the head of the firm is abroad. 
4. In an active state; astir; in circulation : 
as, there are thieves abroad; rumors of disaster 
are abroad. 
There's villainy abroad : this letter wilt tell yon more. 
Shak., L. L. L., i. 1. 
To be all abroad, (a) To be wide of the mark, in a 
figurative sense ; be far wrong in one's guess or estimate, 
(fe) To be at a loss ; be puzzled, perplexed, bewildered, 
nonplussed ; be all or quite at sea. The schoolmaster 
is abroad, education is diffused among the people : often 
used ironically or punningly, implying that the school- 
master is absent. See schoolmaster. 
Abrocoma (ab-rok'o-ma), n. Same as ffabro- 
coma. 
abrocome (ab'ro-kom), . Same as habrocomc. 
abrogable (ab'ro-ga-bl), a. [< L. as if *ab- 
rogabilis, < aftrw/arej abrogate : see abrogate, v., 
and -ble.] Capable of being abrogated. 
abrogate (ab'ro-gat), v. t. ; pret. and pp. 
abrogated, ppr. abrogating. [< L. abrogatus, 
pp. of abrogare, annul, repeal, < ab, from, + 
rogare, ask, propose a law: see rogation.] 1. 
To abolish summarily ; annul by an authorita- 
tive act ; repeal. Applied specifically to the repeal 
of laws, customs, etc., whether expressly or by establish- 
ing something inconsistent therewith. See abrogation. 
The supremacy of mind abrogated ceremonies. 
Bancroft, Hist. U. S., II. 346. 
Since I revoke, annul, and abrogate 
All his decrees in all kinds : they are void ! 
Browning, Ring and Book, II. 170. 
2t. To keep clear of ; avoid. 
abscession 
iinrunti, V.oitronc.] A Europeim speeii-H of 
.Irtt-iitixiti, .1. .llimltniiini, frequent In Cultivation 
under the nut 1' southernwood. 
Abrothrix (ab'ro-thriks), . Same as Habro- 
thrix. 
abrupt (a-brupf), a. and . [< L. abruptus, 
steep, disconnected, abrupt, pp. of abrumperc, 
break off, < ab, off, 4- rumpere, break : see rup- 
ture.] I. a. 1. Broken or appearing as if bro- 
ken away or off ; marked by or showing a sud- 
den breach or change of continuity ; wanting 
continuation or completion : as, the path or the 
discourse came to an abrupt termination ; an 
abrupt turn, in a road. Hence 2. Steep; pre- 
cipitous : as, an abrupt cliff ; an abrupt descent. 
The abrupt mountain breaks, 
And seems with its accumulated crags 
To overhang the world. Shelley, Alastor. 
3. Figuratively, sudden ; without notice to pre- 
pare the mind for the event ; unceremonious : 
as, an abrupt entrance or address. 
Abrupt death 
A period puts, and stops his impious breath. 
Oldham, Satires on Jesuits. 
4. Lacking in continuity ; having sudden tran- 
sitions from one subject to another: as, an 
abrupt style. 5. In bot., terminating sud- 
denly : as, an abrupt point : sometimes used in 
the sense of truncate : as, an abrupt leaf. 
Abrupt-pinnate. Same as abruptly pinnate. See abrupt- 
Ill. Syn. 2. Precipitous, perpendicular, sheer, steep. 3. 
Sudden, unexpected, hasty, hurried, rough, rude, brusk, 
blunt, curt, precipitate, short, summary, vehement. 4. 
Broken, disconnected. 
II. n. [<L. abruptum, a steep ascent or de- 
scent, prop. neut. of abruptus, broken off: see 
the adj.] An abrupt place; a precipice or 
chasm. [Bare and poetical.] 
Or spread his aery flight, 
Upborne with indefatigable wings, 
Over the vast abrupt. Milton, P. L., ii. 409. 
abruptt (a-brupf), v. t. To break off; inter- 
rupt ; disturb. 
Insecurity . . . abrupteth our tranquillities. 
Sir T. Browne, Christ. Mor., ii. 112. 
abrogate! (ab'ro-ga't), a. [< L. abrogates, an- abruption (ab-rup'shon), n. __ 
nulled, pp. of abrogare : see abrogate, v.] An- a breaking off, < abrumperc : see abrupt, a.] A 
[< L. abruptio(n-), 
u see abrupt, a.] A 
sudden breaking off ; a sudden termination ; a 
violent separation of bodies. 
nulled; abolished. 
abrogation (ab-ro-ga'shon), n. [< L. abro- 
gatio(n-), a repeal, < abrogare, repeal : see By this abruption posterity lost more instruction than 
abrogate, v. ] The act of abrogating. Specifl- delight. 
cally, the annulling of a law by legislative action or by abruptly (a-brupt'li), adv. 1. Brokenly; by 
usage. See derogation. Abrogation is .expressed^ when brea \ iug ^ b e i ng broken off suddenly : as, the 
path or the discourse ended 
pronounced by the new law in general or particular 
terms ; it is implied when the new law contains provisions 
positively contrary to the former law. 
There are no such institutions here ; no law that can 
abide one moment when popular opinion demands its 
abrogation. W. Phillips, Speeches, p. 47. 
abrogative (ab'ro-ga-tiv), a. Abrogating or an- 
nulling: as, an abrogative law. 
abrogator (ab'ro-ga-tor), n. One who abro- 
gates or repeals. 
Abruptly Pinnate Leaf. 
abruptly. 2. Precipitously, 
or with a very steep slope : 
as, the rocks rise abruptly 
from the water's edge. 3. 
Suddenly, without giving no- 
tice, or without the usual 
forms: as, the minister left 
France abruptly. 4. With 
ern United States. The showy and sometimes fragrant 
flowers are borne in umbels, much resembling the garden 
verbena in appearance, but very different in structure. 
Two or three species are found in cultivation. 
abroodt (a-brod')t prep. phr. as adv. [< ME. 
abrode, < <J3, prep., on, + brode, E. brood.] In 
or as if in the act of brooding. 
The Spirit of God sat abroad upon the whole rude mass. AbFUS (a bi IS), n. 
Abp. Sancroft, Sermons, p. 135. 
abrookt (a-bruk'), v. t. [< o-l (expletive) + 
ftroofc 2 .] To brook ; endure. See ftroofc 2 . 
Ill can thy noble mind abroofc 
The abject people, gazing in thy face. 
Shak., 2 Hen. VI., ii. 4. 
Abrornis (ab-ror'nis), n. Same as Habrornis. 
abrotanoid (ab-rot'a-noid), n. [< Gr. ajiporovov, 
an aromatic plant, "prob. southernwood (ML. 
ity of being abrupt, (a) The state or quality of being 
broken off, steep, or craggy ; sudden breach of continuity ; 
precipitousness. (6) Suddenness ; unceremonious haste or 
vehemence, (c) Any want of continuity or smoothness. 
Some other languages, for their soft and melting fluency, 
as having no abruptness of consonants, have some advan- 
tage of the English. Hovxll, Forreiue Travel), p. 168. 
[NL., prop. *Habrus, < Gr. 
d/lp6f, graceful, elegant, delicate.] A small 
genus of leguminous plants. A. precatoritis, or 
Indian licorice, is a woody twiner, indigenous to India, 
but now found in all tropical countries, where its root is 
often used as a substitute for licorice. Its polished, party- 
colored seeds, of the size of a small pea, called crabs'- 
eiies, jumble-beads, and jequirity or John Crow beans, are 
employed for rosaries, necklaces, etc., and as a remedy in 
diseases of the conjunctiva. They have given their native 
name of retti [Hind, ratti, rati] to a weight (2.1875 grains) 
used by Hindu jewelers and druggists. See retti-u-eighu. 
abrotanum), ( eMof , form : see idol.] A species abs-. A prefix of Latin origin; a form of ab-, 
of sclerodermatous East Indian reef -coral, Ma- used (as in Latin) before c, q, t, as in abscond, 
drepora abrotanoida. abstain, absterge, abstract, etc. 
abrotanum (ab-rot'a-num), . [<ML. abrota- abscess (ab'ses), n. [<~L. abscessus, a going away, 
num and aprotanum, prop. L. abrotonuni (also in medical language an abscess, <.abscedere, go 
abrotonus), < Gr. afiporovov (also ajiporovoi; ), an away, < abs, lengthened form of ab, away, + 
aromatic plant, prob. southernwood (Artemisia cedere, go : see cede.] In med., a collection of 
Abrotanum), = Skt. mrdtana, a plant, Cyperus pus in the tissues of any part of the body. 
rotundus; less prob. for "aftpArovov, < <i/3poc, deli- abscessed (ab'sest), p. a. Diseased with an 
cate, + rovof, a cord, taken in the sense of fila- abscess or with abscesses, 
ment or fiber. The L. form gave rise to AS. abscessiont (ab-sesh'on), n. [< L. abscessio(n-), 
aprotane, ambrotena, prutene, and other corrupt < abscedcre, go away: see abscess.] 1. De- 
forms, and to It. Sp. Pg. abrotano, OF. abrone, parture. 
