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The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section a and B · Project Gutenberg — chapter 9 of 897 · ~505 words · public domain

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||Ab*dom`i*na"li*a (&?;), n. pl. [NL., neut. pl.] (Zoöl.) A group of cirripeds having abdominal appendages.

Ab*dom`i*nos"co*py (&?;), n. [L. abdomen + Gr. &?; to examine.] (Med.) Examination of the abdomen to detect abdominal disease.

Ab*dom`i*no*tho*rac"ic (&?;), a. Relating to the abdomen and the thorax, or chest.

Ab*dom"i*nous (&?;), a. Having a protuberant belly; pot-bellied.

Gorgonius sits, abdominous and wan, Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan. Cowper.

Ab*duce" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abduced (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Abducing.] [L. abducere to lead away; ab + ducere to lead. See Duke, and cf. Abduct.] To draw or conduct away; to withdraw; to draw to a different part. [Obs.]

If we abduce the eye unto either corner, the object will not duplicate. Sir T. Browne.

Ab*duct" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abducted (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Abducting.] [L. abductus, p. p. of abducere. See Abduce.] 1. To take away surreptitiously by force; to carry away (a human being) wrongfully and usually by violence; to kidnap.

2. To draw away, as a limb or other part, from its ordinary position.

Ab*duc"tion (&?;), n. [L. abductio: cf. F. abduction.] 1. The act of abducing or abducting; a drawing apart; a carrying away. Roget.

2. (Physiol.) The movement which separates a limb or other part from the axis, or middle line, of the body.

3. (Law) The wrongful, and usually the forcible, carrying off of a human being; as, the abduction of a child, the abduction of an heiress.

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

Ab*duc"tor (&?;), n. [NL.] 1. One who abducts.

2. (Anat.) 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.

A*beam" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + beam.] (Naut.) 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.

A*bear" (&?;), v. t. [AS. beran; pref. - + beran to bear.] 1. To bear; to behave. [Obs.]

So did the faery knight himself abear. Spenser.

2. To put up with; to endure. [Prov.] Dickens.

A*bear"ance (&?;), n. Behavior. [Obs.] Blackstone.

A*bear"ing, n. Behavior. [Obs.] Sir. T. More.

A`be*ce*da"ri*an (&?;), n. [L. abecedarius. A word from the first four letters of the alphabet.] 1. One who is learning the alphabet; hence, a tyro.

2. One engaged in teaching the alphabet. Wood.

{ A`be*ce*da"ri*an, A`be*ce"da*ry (&?;), } a. 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.

A`be*ce"da*ry (&?;), n. A primer; the first principle or rudiment of anything. [R.] Fuller.

A*bed" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- in, on + bed.] 1. In bed, or on the bed.

Not to be abed after midnight. Shak.

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