Dictionary: AB-RUPT' – AB-SIN'THI-UM

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AB-RUPT', a. [L. abruptus, from abrumpo, to break off; of ab and rumpo. See Rupture.]

  1. Literally, broken off, or broken short. Hence,
  2. Steep, craggy; applied to rocks, precipices and the like.
  3. Figuratively, sudden; without notice to prepare the mind for the event; as, an abrupt entrance or address.
  4. Unconnected; having sudden transitions from one subject to another; as, an abrupt style. – Ben Jonson.
  5. In botany, an abrupt pinnate leaf is one which has neither leaflet, nor tendril at the end. – Martyn.

AB-RUPT', n.

A chasm or gulf with steep sides. Over the vast abrupt. – Milton. [This use of the word is infrequent.]

AB-RUPT'ED, a.

Torn off; torn asunder.

AB-RUP'TION, n.

A sudden breaking off; a violent separation of bodies. – Woodward.

AB-RUPT'LY, adv.

Suddenly; without giving notice, or without the usual forms; as, the Minister left France abruptly.

AB-RUPT'NESS, a.

  1. A state of being broken; craggedness; steepness.
  2. Figuratively, suddenness; unceremonious haste or vehemence.

AB'SCESS, n. [L. abscessus, from ab and cedo, to go from.]

An imposthume. A collection of morbid matter, or pus in the cellular or adipose membrane; matter generated by the suppuration of an inflammatory tumor. – Quincy. Hooper.

AB-SCIND', v.t. [L. abscindo.]

To cut off. [Little used.]

AB'SCISS, or AB-SCIS'SA, n. [L. abscissus, from ab and scindo, to cut; Gr. σχιζω. See Scissors.]

In conics, a part of the diameter, or transverse axis of a conic section, intercepted between the vertex or some other fixed point, and a semiordinate. – Encyc.

AB-SCIS'SION, n. [See Absciss.]

  1. A cutting off, or a being cut off. In surgery, the separation of any corrupted or useless part of the body, by a sharp instrument; applied to the soft parts, as amputation is to the bones and flesh of a limb. – Quincy.
  2. In rhetoric, a figure of speech, when having begun to say a thing, a speaker stops abruptly, as supposing the matter sufficiently understood. Thus, “He is a man of so much honor and candor, and such generosity – but I need say no more.”

AB-SCOND', v.i. [L. abscondo, to hide, of abs and condo, to hide, i. e. to withdraw, or to thrust aside or into a corner or secret place.]

  1. To retire from public view, or from the place in which one resides or is ordinarily to be found; to withdraw, or absent one's self in a private manner; to be concealed; appropriately used of persons who secrete themselves to avoid legal process.
  2. To hide, withdraw or be concealed. The marmot absconds in winter. – Ray.

AB-SCOND'ER, n.

One who withdraws from public notice or conceals himself from public view.

AB-SCOND'ING, ppr. [or a.]

Withdrawing privately from public view; as, an absconding debtor, who confines himself to his apartments, or absents himself to avoid the ministers of justice. In the latter sense, it is properly an adjective.

AB'SENCE, n. [L. absens, from absum, abesse, to be away; ab and sum.]

  1. A state of being at a distance in place, or not in company. It is used to denote any distance indefinitely, either in the same town, or country, or in a foreign country; and primarily supposes a prior presence; as, speak well of one in his absence.
  2. Want; destitution; implying no previous presence. In the absence of conventional law. – Ch. Kent.
  3. In law, non-appearance; a not being in court to answer.
  4. Heedlessness; inattention to things present. Absence of mind is the attention of the mind to a subject which does not occupy the rest of the company, and which draws the mind from things or objects which are present, to others distant or foreign.

AB'SENT, a.

  1. Not present; not in company; at such a distance as to prevent communication. It is used also for being in a foreign country; as, a gentleman is absent on his travels. Absent from one another. – Gen. xxxi. 49.
  2. Heedless; inattentive to persons present, or to subjects of conversation in company; as, an absent man is uncivil to the company.
  3. In familiar language, not at home; as, the master of the house is absent. In other words, he does not wish to be disturbed by company.

AB-SENT', v.t.

To depart to such a distance as to prevent intercourse; to retire or withdraw; to forbear to appear in presence; used with the reciprocal pronoun; as, let a man absent himself from the company.

AB-SENT'ED, pp.

Retired or withdrawn.

AB-SEN-TEE', n.

One who withdraws from his country, office or estate; one who removes to a distant place or to another country.

AB-SENT'EE-ISM, n.

Absence from duty or station.

AB-SENT'ER, n.

One who absents himself.

AB-SENT'ING, ppr.

Departing; withdrawing.

AB-SENT'MENT, n.

A state of being absent. – Barrow.

AB-SIN'THI-AN, a. [from absinthium.]

Of the nature of wormwood. – Randolph.

AB-SIN'THI-A-TED, a.

Impregnated with wormwood.

AB-SIN'THI-UM, n. [Gr. αψινθιον; Per. اَفْسِنتِْنْ afsinthin, the same in Chaldaic. Budæus in his commentaries on Theophrast, supposes the word composed of α privative and ψινθος, delight, so named from its bitterness. But it may be an Oriental word.]

The common wormwood; a bitter plant, used as a tonic. A species of Artemisia.