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A table or tray strewn with sand, anciently used for drawing, calculating, etc. [Obs.]

univalve mollusk of the genus Haliotis. The shell is lined with mother-of-pearl, and used for ornamental purposes; the sea-ear. Several large species are found on the coast of California, clinging closely to the rocks.

To abandon. [Obs.] Enforced the kingdom to aband. Spenser.

To give up absolutely; to forsake entirely ; to renounce utterly; to relinquish all connection with or concern on; to desert, as a person to whom one owes allegiance or fidelity; to quit; to surrender. Hope was overthrown, yet could not be abandoned. I. Taylor.

Forsaken, deserted. "Your abandoned streams." Thomson.

Anything forfeited or confiscated.

A West Indian palm; also the fruit of this palm, the seeds of which are used as a remedy for diseases of the chest.

; as, to abate a demand; to abate pride, zeal, hope. His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Deut. xxxiv. 7.

ry of a stranger, without right, into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee. Blackstone. Defense in abatement, Plea in abatement, (Law), plea to the effect that from some formal defect (e.g. misnomer, want of jurisdiction) the proceedings should be abated.

A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy.

A public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc.

Among weaves, yarn for the warp. Hence, abb wool is wool for the abb.

One of a class of bishops whose sees were formerly abbeys. Encyc. Brit. Abbot of the people. a title formerly given to one of the chief magistrates in Genoa. -- Abbot of Misrule (or Lord of Misrule), in mediæval times, the master of revels, as at Christmas; in Scotland called the Abbot of Unreason. Encyc. Brit.…

Abbreviated; abridged; shortened. [R.] "The abbreviate form." Earle.

The form to which a word or phrase is reduced by contraction and omission; a letter or letters, standing for a word or phrase of which they are a part; as, Gen. for Genesis; U.S.A. for United States of America.

etition, or reply of the pope to a letter, and afterwards expand the minute into official form.

An abbreviation; an abbreviated state or form. [Obs.]

The first three letters of the alphabet, used for the whole alphabet.

inquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or dignity. Though a king may abdicate for his own person, he cannot abdicate for the monarchy. Burke.

A place for hiding or preserving articles of value. Cowell.