Emily Dickinson Lexicon

A-BOL-I'TION, n. [abolish'un.]

1. The act of abolishing; or the state of being abolished; an annulling; abrogation; utter destruction; as the abolition of laws, decrees, ordinances rites, customs, debts, &c.
2. The putting an end to slavery; emancipation. The application of this word to persons and things, is now unusual or obsolete. To abolish persons, canals and senses, the language of good writers formerly, is no longer legitimate.