Part 24

<i>Eng. Cyc.</i>

<h1>Abigail</h1> <Xpage=4>

<hw>Ab"i*gail</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[The proper name used as an appellative.]</ety> <def>A lady's waiting-maid.</def>

<i>Pepys.</i>

<blockquote>Her <b>abigail</b> reported that Mrs. Gutheridge had a set of night curls for sleeping in. <i>Leslie.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Abiliment</h1> <Xpage=4>

<hw>A*bil"i*ment</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Habiliment.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Ability</h1> <Xpage=4>

<hw>A*bil"i*ty</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Abilities</plw><tt>(#)</tt>.</plu> <ety>[F. <ets>habilet\'82</ets>, earlier spelling <ets>habilit\'82</ets> (with silent <ets>h</ets>), L. <ets>habilitas</ets> aptitude, ability, fr. <ets>habilis</ets> apt. See <er>Able</er>.]</ety> <def>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 <i>plural</i>, faculty, talent.</def>

<blockquote>Then the disciples, every man according to his <b>ability</b>, determined to send relief unto the brethren. <i>Acts xi. 29.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Natural <b>abilities</b> are like natural plants, that need pruning by study. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of <b>ability</b>. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Capacity; talent; cleverness; faculty; capability; efficiency; aptitude; aptness; address; dexterity; skill.</syn> <usage> <er>Ability</er>, <er>Capacity</er>. These words come into comparison when applied to the higher intellectual powers. <i>Ability</i> has reference to the <i>active</i> exercise of our faculties. It implies not only native vigor of mind, but that ease and promptitude of execution which arise from mental training. Thus, we speak of the <i>ability</i> with which a book is written, an argument maintained, a negotiation carried on, etc. It always something to be <i>done</i>, and the power of <i>doing</i> it. <i>Capacity</i> has reference to the <i>receptive</i> powers. In its higher exercises it supposes great quickness of apprehension and breadth of intellect, with an uncommon aptitude for acquiring and retaining knowledge. Hence it carries with it the idea of <i>resources</i> and undeveloped power. Thus we speak of the extraordinary <i>capacity</i> of such men as Lord Bacon, Blaise Pascal, and Edmund Burke. "<i>Capacity</i>," says H. Taylor, "is requisite to devise, and <i>ability</i> to execute, a great enterprise." The word <i>abilities</i>, in the plural, embraces both these qualities, and denotes high mental endowments.</usage>

<mhw><h1>Abime or Abyme</h1> <Xpage=4>

<hw>A*bime"</hw> or <hw>A*byme"</hw></mhw> (#), <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>ab\'8cme</ets>. See <er>Abysm</er>.]</ety> <def>A abyss.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Abiogenesis</h1> <Xpage=4>

<hw>Ab`i*o*gen"e*sis</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Gr. <?/ priv. + <?/ life + <?/, origin, birth.]</ety> <fld>(Biol.)</fld> <def>The supposed origination of living organisms from lifeless matter; such genesis as does not involve the action of living parents; spontaneous generation; -- called also <altname>abiogeny</altname>, and opposed to <contr>biogenesis</contr>.</def>

<blockquote>I shall call the . . . doctrine that living matter may be produced by not living matter, the hypothesis of <b>abiogenesis</b>. <i>Huxley, 1870.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Abiogenetic</h1> <Xpage=4>

<hw>Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Biol.)</fld> <def>Of or pertaining to abiogenesis.</def> <wordforms><wf>Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic*al*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Abiogenist</h1> <Xpage=4>

<hw>Ab`i*og"e*nist</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Biol.)</fld> <def>One who believes that life can be produced independently of antecedent.</def>

<i>Huxley.</i>

<h1>Abiogenous</h1> <Xpage=4>

<hw>Ab`i*og"e*nous</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Biol.)</fld> <def>Produced by spontaneous generation.</def>

<h1>Abiogeny</h1> <Xpage=4>

<hw>Ab`i*og"e*ny</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Biol.)</fld> <def>Same as <er>Abiogenesis</er>.</def>

<h1>Abiological</h1> <Xpage=4>