Search the Dictionary

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.]

A syllogism or form of argument in which the major is evident, but the minor is only probable.

A muscle which serves to draw a part out, or form the median line of the body; as, the abductor oculi, which draws the eye outward.

On the beam, that is, on a line which forms a right angle with the ship's keel; opposite to the center of the ship's side.

Pertaining to, or formed by, the letters of the alphabet; alphabetic; hence, rudimentary. Abecedarian psalms, hymns, etc., compositions in which (like the 119th psalm in Hebrew) distinct portions or verses commence with successive letters of the alphabet. Hook.

An evergreen shrub (Hibiscus -- formerly Abelmoschus- moschatus), of the East and West Indies and Northern Africa, whose musky seeds are used in perfumery and to flavor coffee; -- sometimes called musk mallow.

rectitude, etc. Aberrancy of curvature (Geom.), the deviation of a curve from a circular form.

Deviating from the ordinary or natural type; exceptional; abnormal. The more aberrant any form is, the greater must have been the number of connecting forms which, on my theory, have been exterminated. Darwin.

Whims, which at first are the aberrations of a single brain, pass with heat into epidemic form. I. Taylor.

To acquiesce; to conform to; as, to abide by a decision or an award.

The quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; -- in the plural, faculty, talent. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send reli…

e (either expressed or implied), agreeing with it in gender, number, and case, both words forming a clause by themselves and being unconnected, grammatically, with the rest of the sentence; as, Tarquinio regnante, Pythagoras venit, i. e., Tarquinius reigning, Pythagoras came.

Not conformed to rule or system; deviating from the type; anomalous; irregular. "That deviating from the type; anomalous; irregular. " Froude.

Arrest of development of any organ, so that it remains an imperfect formation or is absorbed.

Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile; as, an abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc.

One of a set of vagabonds who formerly roamed through England, feigning lunacy for the sake of obtaining alms. Nares. To sham Abraham, to feign sickness. Goldsmith.

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

To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by of, and formerly by from; as, to abridge one of his rights.

An epitome or compend, as of a book; a shortened or abridged form; an abbreviation. Ancient coins as abridgments of history. Addison.