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(a) One who abates a nuisance. (b) A person who, without right, enters into a freehold on the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee. Blackstone.

An abridgment; a compendium or abstract. This is an excellent abbreviature of the whole duty of a Christian. Jer. Taylor.

The act of abdicating; the renunciation of a high office, dignity, or trust, by its holder; commonly the voluntary renunciation of sovereign power; as, abdication of the throne, government, power, authority.

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.

ding; abode; continuance; compliance (with). The Christians had no longer abidance in the holy hill of Palestine. Fuller. A judicious abidance by rules. Helps.

or Canada balsam. It is without taste or smell, is insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol (especially at the boiling point), in strong acetic acid, and in ether. Watts.

A pathological condition opposite to that of irritation; debility; want of strength; asthenia.

To do away with wholly; to annul; to make void; -- said of laws, customs, institutions, governments, etc.; as, to abolish slavery, to abolish folly.

The feeling of extreme disgust and hatred; abhorrence; detestation; loathing; as, he holds tobacco in abomination.

become checked in normal development, so as either to remain rudimentary or shrink away wholly; to become sterile.

To withhold from being present. [Obs.] "Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more." Milton.

One who absents 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.

A strong spirituous liqueur made from wormwood and brandy or alcohol.

Pure; unmixed; as, absolute alcohol.

In an absolute, independent, or unconditional manner; wholly; positively.

The exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven.

To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully; as, absorbed in study or the pursuit of wealth.

In a manner as if wholly engrossed or engaged.

To hold one's self aloof; to forbear or refrain voluntarily, 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.

The act of abstaining; a holding aloof. Jer. Taylor.