Search the Dictionary

A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or convent of nuns, having the same authority over the nuns which the abbots have over the monks. See Abbey.

The superior or head of an abbey.

ominal ring (Anat.), a fancied ringlike opening on each side of the abdomen, external and superior to the pubes; -- called also inguinal ring.

To support, uphold, or aid; to maintain; -- in a good sense. [Obs.]. Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted. Jer. Taylor.

Suspension; temporary suppression. Keeping the sympathies of love and admiration in a dormant state, or state of abeyance. De Quincey.

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…

Wearing away; superficial waste. Tyndall.

superl. of Able.

To be copiously supplied; -- followed by in or with. To abound in, to posses in such abundance as to be characterized by. -- To abound with, to be filled with; to possess in great numbers. Men abounding in natural courage. Macaulay. A faithful man shall abound with blessings. Prov. xxviii. 20. It abounds with cabinets…

Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach. "Thy worth . . . is actions above my gifts." Marlowe. I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun. Acts xxxvi.…

ystical word or collocation of letters written as in the figure. Worn on an amulet it was supposed to ward off fever. At present the word is used chiefly in jest to denote something without meaning; jargon.

A superficial excoriation, with loss of substance under the form of small shreds. Dunglison.

An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; wealth: -- strictly applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number. It is lamentable to remember what abundance of noble blood hath been shed with small benefit to the Christian state. Raleigh.…

Fully sufficient; plentiful; in copious supply; -- followed by in, rarely by with. "Abundant in goodness and truth." Exod. xxxiv. 6. Abundant number (Math.), a number, the sum of whose aliquot parts exceeds the number itself. Thus, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, the aliquot parts of 12, make the number 16. This is opposed to a deficie…

Pertaining to a race supposed to have lived in Babylonia before the Assyrian conquest. -- Ac*ca"di*an, n., Ac"cad, n. Sayce.

ho had acceded to the throne in the year 1461. T. Warton. If Frederick had acceded to the supreme power. Morley.

A superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some particular syllable of a word or a phrase, distinguishing it from the others.

ir deaths thou shalt be accessary. Shak. Amongst many secondary and accessary causes that support monarchy, these are not of least reckoning. Milton.

Whatever supplies a want or affords ease, refreshment, or convenience; anything furnished which is desired or needful; -- often in the plural; as, the accomodations -- that is, lodgings and food -- at an inn. Sir W. Scott.

Supported on both sides by other charges; also, side by side.