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The act of abetting; as, an abetment of treason, crime, etc.

, strongly opposed to; as, abhorrent thoughts. The persons most abhorrent from blood and treason. Burke. The arts of pleasure in despotic courts I spurn abhorrent. Clover.

lified; capable; as, an able workman, soldier, seaman, a man able to work; a mind able to reason; a person able to be generous; able to endure pain; able to play on a piano.

Discordant; inharmonious; incongruous. [Obs.] "Absonous to our reason." Glanvill.

Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and fiatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; as, an absurd person, an absurd opinion; an absurd dream. This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Shak. 'This phrase absurd to call a vi…

The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment. "The absurdity of the actual idea of an infinite number." Locke.

Open to the influence of; -- with to. "Minds accessible to reason." Macaulay.

an offense, whether a principal or an accessory. "And thou, the cursed accomplice of his treason." Johnson.

A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc., explanatory of some event; as, no satisfactory account has been given of these phenomena. Hence, the word is often used simply for reason, ground, consideration, motive, etc.; as, on no account, on every account, on all accounts.

dit or authority; to sanction. His censure will . . . accredit his praises. Cowper. These reasons . . . which accredit and fortify mine opinion. Shelton.

on its accuracy. The professed end [of logic] is to teach men to think, to judge, and to reason, with precision and accuracy. Reid. The accuracy with which the piston fits the sides. Lardner.

shrewd; -- opposed to Ant: dull or Ant: stupid; as, an acute observer; acute remarks, or reasoning.

gument, passage, or consideration which bears on a statement or case; to cite; to allege. Reasons . . . were adduced on both sides. Macaulay. Enough could not be adduced to satisfy the purpose of illustration. De Quincey.

To assess or reduce, as an arbitrary penalty or amercement, to a certain and reasonable sum. Amercements . . . were affeered by the judges. Blackstone.

action; on the other side; counter to; in contrariety to; hence, adverse to; as, against reason; against law; to run a race against time. The gate would have been shut against her. Fielding. An argument against the use of steam. Tyndale.

asserted, or declared; positive assertion; formal averment I thought their allegation but reasonable. Steele.

To produce or urge as a reason, plea, or excuse; as, he refused to lend, alleging a resolution against lending.

Unreasonableness; absurdity. [Obs.]

The profit which accrues to the priest, by reason of the altar, from the small tithes. Shipley.

One who reasons from analogy, or represent, by analogy. Cheyne.