absorption 
tion entirely occupied with something, (c) In o/icwi, and 
phys., a. taking in or reception by molecular or chemical 
action : as, absorjttion of gases, light, heat. See below. 
We know the redness of the sun at evening arises, not 
from absorption by the ether, but from absorption by a 
great thickness of our atmosphere. 
J. N. Lockyer, Spect. Anal. , p. :). 
('/) In phyxiol., the process of taking up into the vascular 
system (venous or lymphatic) either food from the ali- 
mentary canal or inflammatory products and other sub- 
stances from the various tissues. Plants absorb moisture 
and nutritive juices principally by their roots, but some- 
times by their general surfaces, as in seaweeds, and car- 
bonic acid by their leaves. Absorption of organic matter 
by leaves takes place in several insectivorous plants. 
Absorption-bands, in K^rfi-inn. aiu^jwfa, dark bands 
in the spectrum more or less broad and in general not 
sharply denned. They are seen when the light has passed 
through a body not necessarily incandescent, and which 
may be a solid (as a salt of dittymium), a liquid (as a solu- 
tion of blood), or a vapor (jus the rain-band caused by the 
aqueous vapor in the terrestrial atmosphere). See absorp- 
tiuii-liin s and si>ect mm.~ Absorption of color, the phe- 
nomenon observed when certain colors are retained or pre- 
vented from passing through certain transparent bodies. 
Thus, pieces of colored glass are almost opaque to some 
parts of the spectrum, while allowing other colors to pass 
through freely. This is merely a special case of the ab- 
sorption of light. Absorption of gases, the action of 
some solids and liquids in taking up or absorbing gases. 
Thus, a porous body like charcoal (that is, one presenting 
a large surface) has the ability to take in, or condense on 
its surface, a large quantity of some gases through the mo- 
lecular attraction exerted between its surface and the mol- 
ecules of the gas, boxwood charcoal, for example, being 
able to absorb 90 times its volume of ammonia-gas. On 
account of this property, charcoal is used as a disinfectant 
to absorb noxious gases. (See occlusion.) Liquids also have 
the power to absorb or dissolve gases, the quantity ab- 
sorbed varying with the nature of the liquid and the gas ; 
it is also proportional to the pressure, and increases as the 
temperature is lowered. For example, at the ordinary 
temperature and pressure water absorbs its own volume 
of carbon dioxid ; at a pressure of two atmospheres, two 
volumes are absorbed, and so on. If this additional press- 
ure is relieved, the excess over one volume is liberated with 
effervescence, as in soda-water. Absorption Of heat, the 
action performed in varying degrees in different bodies 
solids, liquids, and gases of stopping radiant heat, as 
a result of which their own temperature is more or less 
raised. For example, rock-salt and carbon disulphid ab- 
sorb but little radiant heat, that is, are nearly diatherma- 
nous. On the other hand, alum and water arrest a large 
portion of it, that is, are comparatively athermanous. 
The waves of ether once generated may so strike against 
the molecules of a body exposed to their action as to 
yield up their motion to the latter ; and in this transfer 
of the motion from the ether to the molecules consists 
the absorption of radiant heat. Tyndall, Radiation, 2. 
Absorption Of light, that action of an imperfectly trans- 
parent or opaque T>ody by which some portion of an in- 
cident pencil of light is stopped within the body, while 
the rest is either transmitted through it or reflected from 
it. It is owing to this action that, for example, a certain 
thickness of pure water shows a greenish color, of glass a 
bluish-green color, etc. Absorption-lines, in spectrum 
analysis, dark lines produced in an otherwise continuous 
Part of Solar Spectrum, showing Absorption-lines. 
spectrum by the absorption of relatively cool vapors 
through which the light has passed. The absorption takes 
place in accordance with the principle that a body, when 
exposed to radiation from a source hotter than itself, ab- 
sorbs the same rays which it emits when incandescent 
Thus, the radiation from a lime light passed through an 
alcohol name colored with sodium vapor yields a continu- 
ous spectrum, interrupted, however, by a dark line in the 
place of the bright line afforded by the sodium vapor 
alone. The solar spectrum shows a multitude of dark 
lines, due to the absorption of the solar atmosphere, and in 
part also to that of the earth. Absorption-spectrum, a 
spectrum with absorption -lines or -bands. Cutaneous or 
external absorption, in med., the process by which cer- 
tain substances, when placed in contact with a living sur- 
face, produce the same effects upon the system as when 
taken into the stomach or injected into the veins, only in 
a less degree. Thus, arsenic, when applied to an external 
wound, will sometimes affect the system as rapidly as when 
introduced into the stomach ; and mercury, applied ex- 
ternally, excites salivation. Interstitial absorption. 
See interstitial. 
absorptive (ab-sorp'tiv), a. [< F. absorptif. 
< L. as if "aosorpiivug, <absorbere : see absorb.] 
Having power to absorb or imbibe ; causing 
absorption ; absorbent. 
The absorptive power of a substance may not be so ex- 
tensive as to enable it to absorb and extinguish light-rays 
or heat-rays of all kinds ; it may arrest some only. 
A. Daniell, Prin. of Physics, p. 449. 
absorptiveness (ab-sorp'tiv-nes), n. The 
quality of being absorptive ; absorptivity. 
absorptivity (ab-sorp-tiv'i-ti), n. The power 
or capacity of absorption. [Rare.] 
The absorptivity inherent in organic beings. J. D. Daiia. 
absquatulate (ab-skwot'u-lat), v. i. ; pret. and 
pp. absquatulated, ppr. absquatulating. [A 
feigned word, of American origin, simulating 
a L. derivation. Cf. abscond, ambulate.] To 
run away ; abscond ; make off. [Slang.] 
23 
absque hoc (abz'kwe hok). [L., without this 
(or that) : absque, without, < abs, off, from, with 
generalizing suffix -qua ; hoc, abl. of hie, this, 
that.] Without this or that : specifically used, 
in laic, in traversing what has been alleged and 
is repeated. 
absque tali causa (abz'kwe ta'li ka'zii). [L. : 
absque, without ; tali, abl. of talis, such ; causa, 
abl. of causa, cause.] Without such cause : a 
phrase used in law. 
abs. re. In law, an abbreviation of Latin ab- 
sente reo (which see), the defendant being ab- 
sent. 
abstain (ab-stau'), . [< ME. abstainen, ab- 
steineii, abstenen, < OF. abstener, abstenir, as- 
tenir, F. abstenir, refl., <L. abstinere, abstain, 
< abs, off, + tenere, hold : see tenable. Cf. con- 
tain, attain, detain, pertain, retain, sustain,] 
1. intrans. To forbear or refrain voluntarily, 
especially from what gratifies the passions or 
appetites : used with from : as, to abstain from 
the use of ardent spirits ; to abstain from lux- 
uries. 
Abstain from meats offered to idols. Acts xv. 29. 
To walk well, it is not enough that a man abstains from 
dancing. De Quincey, Herodotus. 
Il.t trans. To hinder ; obstruct ; debar ; 
cause to keep away from: as, "abstain men 
from marrying," Milton. 
abstainer (ab-sta'ner), n. One who abstains; 
specifically, one who abstains from the use of 
intoxicating liquors ; a teetotaler. 
abstainment (ab-stan'ment), n. The act of ab- 
staining; abstention. 
abstemious (ab-ste'mi-us), a. [<L. abstemius, 
< abs, from, + a supposed "temum, strong drink, 
> temetum, strong drink, and temulentus, drunk- 
en.] 1. Sparing in diet ; moderate in the use 
of food and drink ; temperate ; abstinent. 
Under his special eye 
Abstemious I grew up, and thriv'd amain. 
Milton, S. A., 1. 637. 
Instances of longevity are chiefly among the abstemious. 
Arbutnnot, Nat. and Choice of Aliments. 
Abstemious, refusing luxuries, not sourly and reproach- 
fully, but simply as unfit for his habit. 
Emerson, Misc., p. 201. 
2. Restricted; very moderate and plain ; very 
sparing; spare: opposed to luxurious or rich : 
as, an abstemious diet. 3. Devoted to or spent 
in abstemiousness or abstinence: as, an ab- 
stemious life. 
Till yonder sun descend, O let me pay 
To grief and anguish one abstemious day. 
Pope, Iliad, xix. 328. 
4. Promoting or favoring abstemiousness ; as- 
sociated with temperance. [Bare.] 
Such is the virtue of th' abstemious well. 
Dryden, Fables. 
abstemiously (ab-ste'mi-us-li), adv. In an 
abstemious manner ; temperately ; with a 
sparing use of meat or drink. 
abstemiousness (ab-ste'mi-us-nes), n. The 
quality or habit of being temperate, especially 
in the use of food and drink. = Syn. Abstemious- 
ness, Abstinence, Temperance, Sobriety, soberness, modera- 
tion, temperateness. (See sobriety.) The italicized words 
denote voluntary abstention from objects of desire, most 
commonly abstention from food or drink, regarded either 
as an act or as an element in character. Abstemiousness, 
by derivation and earlier use, suggests abstinence from 
wine ; but it has lost this special sense, and now generally 
signifies habitual moderation in the gratification of the ap- 
petites and desires ; abstinence is simply the refraining 
from gratification, and may be applied to a single act. 
They both suggest self-denial, while temperance and so- 
briety suggest wisdom, balance of mind, and propriety. 
Temperance suggests self-control, the measure of absten- 
tion being proportioned to the individual's idea of what is 
best in that respect. Hence, abstinence and temperance 
often stand in popular use for total abstinence from intoxi- 
cating drink. 
Knowing the abstemiousness of Italians everywhere, 
and seeing the hungry fashion in which the islanders 
clutched our gifts and devoured them, it was our doubt 
whether any of them had ever experienced perfect re- 
pletion. Howetts, Venetian Life, xii. 
If twenty came and sat in my house, there was nothing 
said about dinner, . . . but we naturally practised ab- 
stinence. Thoreau, Walden, p. 154. 
The rule of " not too much," by temperance taught. 
Milton, P. L., xi. 631. 
abstention (ab-sten'shon), TO. [< L. absten- 
tio(n-), < abstinere : see abstain.] A holding off 
or refraining ; abstinence from action ; neglect 
or refusal to do something. 
As may well be supposed, this abstention of our light 
cavalry was observed by the Russians with surprise and 
thankfulness. Kinglake. 
Thus the act [of nursing] is one that is to both exclu- 
sively pleasurable, while abstention entails pain on both. 
H. Spencer, Data of Ethics, 102. 
ger, 
Ha 
abstinency 
abstentionist (ab-sten'shon-ist), n. One who 
practises or is in favor of abstention, as from 
the act of voting, from eating flesh, et< - . 
abstentions (ab-sten'shus), a. [< abstention + 
-OHX. Cf. contentious, etc.] Characterized by 
abstention. Farrar. 
abstert (ab-ster'), t'. t. [<L. absterrere, frighten 
from, < abs, from, + terrere, frighten : see trrri- 
ble.~\ To frighten off ; deter ; hinder. 
So this In like manner should abster and fear me and 
mine from doing evil. Becoii, Christmas Banquet. 
absterge (ab-sterj') , v. t,: pret. and pp. absterged, 
ppr. absterging. [< L. abstergere, wipe off, < abs, 
off, + tergere, wipe : see terse.] 1. To wipe, 
or make clean by wiping ; wash away. 
Baths are used to absterge, belike, that fulsomeness of 
sweat to which they are there subject. 
Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 286. 
2. In med. : (a) To cleanse by lotions, as a wound 
or ulcer, (b) To purge. See deterge. 
abstergent (ab-ster' jeut), a. and n. [<L. abster- 
<en(t-)s, ppr. of abstergere: see absterge.'] I. a. 
"aving cleansing or purgative properties. 
II. n. 1. Anything that aids in scouring or 
cleansing, as soap or fuller's earth. 2. In 
med., a lotion or other application for cleans- 
ing a sore : in this sense nearly superseded by 
detergent. 
abstergifyt, v. t. or i. [Improp. < L. abstergere 
(see absterge) + E. -fy.~] To cleanse ; perform 
one's ablutions. 
Specially when wee would absterffijie. 
Beneenuto, Passengers' Dialogues. 
absterse (ab-sters'), r. t. ; pret. and pp. ab- 
stersed, ppr. abstersing. [< L. abstersus, pp. of 
abstergere : see absterge.] To absterge ; cleanse ; 
purify. Sir T. Browne. [Rare.] 
abstersion (ab-ster' shon), n. [< L. *abstersio(n-~), 
(.abstergere, pp. abstersus: see absterge.] 1. 
The act of wiping clean: as, "ablution and 
abstersion," Scott, Waverley, xx. 2. In med., 
a cleansing by substances which remove foul- 
ness from about sores, or humors or obstruc- 
tions from the system. 
Abstersion is plainly a scouring off or incision of the 
more viscous humours, and making the humours more 
fluid ; and cutting between them and the part. 
Bacon, Nat. Hist., 42. 
abstersive (ab-ster' siv), a. and n. [= F. ab- 
stersif, < L. *abstersivus, < abstergere, pp. abster- 
sus: see absterge.] I. n. Cleansing; having the 
quality of removing foulness. See detersive. 
The seats with purple clothe in order due, 
And let the abstersive sponge the board renew. 
Pope, Odyssey, xx. 189. 
A tablet stood of that abstersive tree 
Where ^f.thiop's swarthy bird did build her nest. 
Sir J. Denham, Chess. 
II. n. That which effects abstersion ; that 
which purifies. 
Abstersive* are fuller's earth, soap, linseed-oil, and ox- 
gall. Pftty, in Sprat's Hist. Royal Soc., p. 295. 
abstersiveness (ab-ster'siv-nes), . The qual- 
ity of being abstersive or abstergent. 
A caustick or a healing faculty, abstersiveness, and the 
like. Boyle, Works, II. 117. 
abstinence (ab'sti-nens), n. [< ME. abstinence, 
< OF. abstinence, asiinenee, astenance, < L. ab- 
stinentia, < abstinen(t-)s, ppr. of abstinere : see 
abstinent.] 1. In general, the act or practice 
of voluntarily refraining from the use of some- 
thing or from some action ; abnegation. 
Since materials are destroyed as such by being once 
used, the whole of the labour required for their production, 
as well as the abstinence of the persons who supplied the 
means for carrying it on, must be remunerated. 
J. S. Mill, Pol. Econ. 
More specifically 2. The refraining from 
indulgence in the pleasures of the table, or 
from customary gratifications of the senses or 
the intellect, either partially or wholly. 
Against diseases here the strongest fence 
Is the defensive virtue abstinence. Herrick. 
Men flew to frivolous amusements and to criminal 
pleasures with the greediness which long and enforced 
abstinence naturally produces. Macaulay. 
3. In a still narrower sense (a) Forbearance 
from the use of alcoholic liquors as a beverage : 
in this sense usually preceded by the adjective 
total, (b) Eccles., the refraining from certain 
kinds of food or drink on certain days, as from 
flesh on Fridays. Day of abstinence, in the Rom. 
Cath. Ch., a day on which it is forbidden to eat flesh-meat. 
A fastina-day limits to one full meal, and commonly in- 
cludes abstinence. Syn. Abstemiousness, Abstinence. 
'1'i'ni/wrance, etc. See abstemiousness. 
abstinency (ab'sti-nen-si), . The habit or 
practice of abstaining or refraining, especially 
from food. [Rare.] 
