Part 57

<i>Jer. Taylor.</i>

<h1>Abstentious</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sten"tious</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Characterized by abstinence; self-restraining.</def>

<i>Farrar.</i>

<h1>Absterge</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sterge</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>abstergere</ets>, <ets>abstersum</ets>; <ets>ab</ets>, <ets>abs + tergere</ets> to wipe. Cf. F <ets>absterger</ets>.]</ety> <def>To make clean by wiping; to wipe away; to cleanse; hence, to purge.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Quincy.</i>

<h1>Abstergent</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*ster"gent</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>abstergens</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>abstergere</ets>.]</ety> <def>Serving to cleanse, detergent.</def>

<h1>Abstergent</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*ster"gent</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A substance used in cleansing; a detergent; <as>as, soap is an <ex>abstergent</ex></as>.</def>

<h1>Absterse</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sterse"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To absterge; to cleanse; to purge away.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Sir T. Browne.</i>

<h1>Abstersion</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*ster"sion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>abstersion</ets>. See <er>Absterge</er>.]</ety> <def>Act of wiping clean; a cleansing; a purging.</def>

<blockquote>The task of ablution and <b>abstersion</b> being performed. <i>Sir W. Scott.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Abstersive</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*ster"sive</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>abstersif</ets>. See <er>Absterge</er>.]</ety> <def>Cleansing; purging.</def>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<h1>Abstersive</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*ster"sive</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Something cleansing.</def>

<blockquote>The strong <b>abstersive</b> of some heroic magistrate. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Abstersiveness</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*ster"sive*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being abstersive.</def>

<i>Fuller.</i>

<h1>Abstinence</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab"sti*nence</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>abstinence</ets>, L. <ets>abstinentia</ets>, fr. <ets>abstinere</ets>. See <er>Abstain</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act or practice of abstaining; voluntary forbearance of any action, especially the refraining from an indulgence of appetite, or from customary gratifications of animal or sensual propensities. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating beverages, -- called also <altname>total abstinence</altname>.</def>