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Cavilous litigation; cavillation. [Obs.] Hudibras.

Of or pertaining to the Vulgate, or the old Latin version of the Scriptures.

A small East Indian wild cat (Felis wagati), regarded by some as a variety of the leopard cat.

A gate, or valve, by which a flow of water is permitted, prevented, or regulated.

The tailrace of a mill. Knight.

dulgence in idle imagination; a foolish or useless pursuit or design. His wits were a woolgathering, as they say. Burton.

Hell; the bottomless pit. [Poetic] In all her gates, Abaddon rues Thy bold attempt. Milton.

To instigate or encourage by aid or countenance; -- used in a bad sense of persons and acts; as, to abet an ill-doer; to abet one in his wicked courses; to abet vice; to abet an insurrection. "The whole tribe abets the villany." South. Would not the fool abet the stealth, Who rashly thus exposed his wealth Gay.…

One who abets; an instigator of an offense or an offender.

us indicating a corresponding modification of use or meaning; vowel permutation; as, get, gat, got; sing, song; hang, hung. Earle.

The act of abolishing, or the state of being abolished; an annulling; abrogation; utter destruction; as, the abolition of slavery or the slave trade; the abolition of laws, decrees, ordinances, customs, taxes, debts, etc.

Hence: In a state to be diffused or propagated; afoot; astir. "Mischiefs that I set abroach." Shak.

Capable of being abrogated.

To set free, or release, as from some obligation, debt, or responsibility, or from the consequences of guilt or such ties as it would be sin or guilt to violate; to pronounce free; as, to absolve a subject from his allegiance; to absolve an offender, which amounts to an acquittal and remission of his punishment. Halifa…

Given to misusing; also, full of abuses. [Archaic] "The abusive prerogatives of his see." Hallam.

To receive as obligatory and promise to pay; as, to accept a bill of exchange. Bouvier.

Gratuitous discharge; a release from debt or obligation without payment; free remission.

One who, not being present, contributes as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense. Accessary before the fact (Law), one who commands or counsels an offense, not being present at its commission. -- Accessary after the fact, one who, after an offense, assists or shelters the offender, not being prese…

To gather together; to collect. [Obs.] Spenser.

ential, as an ambassador, envoy, or diplomatic agent; to authorize, as a messenger or delegate. Beton . . . was accredited to the Court of France. Froude.