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A step, stair, or staircase. [Obs.] By ladders, or else by degree. Rom. of R.

To bring down or reduce from a higher to a lower state, number, or degree; to lessen; to diminish; to contract; to moderate; toto cut short; as, to abate a demand; to abate pride, zeal, hope. His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Deut. xxxiv. 7.

Worthy of, or causing, abhorrence, as a thing of evil omen; odious in the utmost degree; very hateful; detestable; loathsome; execrable.

To turn from as ill-omened; to hate in the highest degree, as if with religious dread; loathe; as, to abominate all impiety.

Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as high; -- also of quantity, number, time. "There fell . . . about three thousand men." Exod. xxii. 28.

tively, 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. 13.…

mious, temperate, or sparing in the use of food and strong drinks. It expresses a greater degree of abstinence than temperance.

In a sufficient degree; fully; amply; plentifully; in large measure.

ans of weights lifted or masses put in motion; electricity stored. -- An accumulation of degrees (Eng. Univ.), the taking of several together, or at smaller intervals than usual or than is allowed by the rules.

Hence: A very small quantity or degree; a particle; an atom; a jot. I 'll not wag an ace further. Dryden. To bate an ace, to make the least abatement. [Obs.] -- Within an ace of, very near; on the point of. W. Irving.

The quality of being acescent; the process of acetous fermentation; a moderate degree of sourness. Johnson.

To make sour or acid in a moderate degree; to sour somewhat. Arbuthnot.

State of being acquainted; degree of acquaintance. [R.] Boyle.

A thesis maintained in public, in some English universities, by a candidate for a degree, or to show the proficiency of a student.

Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity, and coming speedily to a crisis; -- opposed to chronic; as, an acute disease. Acute angle (Geom.), an angle less than a right angle.

To love in the highest degree; to regard with the utmost esteem and affection; to idolize. The great mass of the population abhorred Popery and adored Montouth. Macaulay.

An instrument to measure the degree of sensation, by determining at how short a distance two impressions upon the skin can be distinguished, and thus to determine whether the condition of tactile sensibility is normal or altered.

(Min. & Geol.) Having the several component parts adherent to each other only to such a degree as to be separable by mechanical means.

instrument, as a quadrant or astrolabe, carrying the sights or telescope, and showing the degrees cut off on the arc of the instrument Whewell.

In the same manner, form, or degree; in common; equally; as, we are all alike concerne.