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The supposed origination of living organisms from lifeless matter; such genesis as does not involve the action of living parents; spontaneous generation; -- called also abiogeny, and opposed to biogenesis. I shall call the . . . doctrine that living matter may be produced by not living matter, the hypothesis of abiogen…

The substitution of one root vowel for another, thus indicating a corresponding modification of use or meaning; vowel permutation; as, get, gat, got; sing, song; hang, hung. Earle.

To clear (tress) from knots. [R.] Blount.

The act of cutting away the knots of trees. [R.] Crabb.

Not conformed to rule or system; deviating from the type; anomalous; irregular. "That deviating from the type; anomalous; irregular. " Froude.

A foreboding; an omen. [Obs.] "Abodements must not now affright us." Shak.

Any fruit or produce that does not come to maturity, or anything which in its progress, before it is matured or perfect; a complete failure; as, his attempt. proved an abortiori.

Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity. "To-morrow, about this time." Exod. ix. 18. "About my stature." Shak. He went out about the third hour. Matt. xx. 3.

mulet it was supposed to ward off fever. At present the word is used chiefly in jest to denote something without meaning; jargon.

utside the house; away from one's abode; as, to walk abroad. I went to St. James', where another was preaching in the court abroad. Evelyn.

equently see in the Old. South. Whose laws, like those of the Medes and Persian, they can not alter or abrogate. Burke.

Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious. "The cause of your abrupt departure." Shak.

In an abrupt manner; without giving notice, or without the usual forms; suddenly.

The act or process of cutting off. "Not to be cured without the abscission of a member." Jer. Taylor.

of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; -- opposed to presence. Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. Phil. ii. 12.

Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present. "Expecting absent friends." Shak.

s himself from his country, office, post, or duty; especially, a landholder who lives in another country or district than that where his estate is situated; as, an Irish absentee. Macaulay.

Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful. [R.] I am absolute 't was very Cloten. Shak.

To resolve or explain. [Obs.] "We shall not absolve the doubt." Sir T. Browne.

oluntarily, and especially from an indulgence of the passions or appetites; -- with from. Not a few abstained from voting. Macaulay. Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt Shak.