Part 55

<cs><col>Absorbent ground</col> <fld>(Paint.)</fld>, <cd>a ground prepared for a picture, chiefly with distemper, or water colors, by which the oil is absorbed, and a brilliancy is imparted to the colors.</cd></cs>

<h1>Absorbent</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorb"ent</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Anything which absorbs.</def>

<blockquote>The ocean, itself a bad <b>absorbent</b> of heat. <i>Darwin.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Med.)</fld> <def>Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also a substance e. g., iodine) which acts on the absorbent vessels so as to reduce enlarged and indurated parts.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <plu>pl.</plu> <fld>(Physiol.)</fld> <def>The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants.</def>

<h1>Absorber</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorb"er</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who, or that which, absorbs.</def>

<h1>Absorbing</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorb"ing</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Swallowing, engrossing; <as>as, an <ex>absorbing</ex> pursuit</as>.</def> -- <wordforms><wf>Ab*sorb"ing</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Absorbition</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab`sor*bi"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Absorption.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Absorpt</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorpt`</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>absorptus</ets>, p. p.]</ety> <def>Absorbed.</def> <mark>[Arcahic.]</mark> "<i>Absorpt</i> in care."

<i>Pope.</i>

<h1>Absorption</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorp"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>absorptio</ets>, fr. <ets>absorbere</ets>. See <er>Absorb</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything, or of being absorbed and made to disappear; <as>as, the <ex>absorption</ex> of bodies in a whirlpool, the <ex>absorption</ex> of a smaller tribe into a larger</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Chem. & Physics)</fld> <def>An imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action; <as>as, the <ex>absorption</ex> of light, heat, electricity, etc.</as></def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Physiol.)</fld> <def>In living organisms, the process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed and conveyed to the tissues and organs.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Entire engrossment or occupation of the mind; <as>as, <ex>absorption</ex> in some employment</as>.</def>

<h1>Absorptive</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorp"tive</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def> Having power, capacity, or tendency to absorb or imbibe.</def>

<i>E. Darwin.</i>

<h1>Absorptiveness</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorp"tive*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being absorptive; absorptive power.</def>

<h1>Absorptivity</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab`sorp*tiv"i*ty</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Absorptiveness.</def>

<h1>Absquatulate</h1> <Xpage=7>