Part 62

<h1>Abstruseness</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*struse"ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being abstruse; difficulty of apprehension.</def>

<i>Boyle.</i>

<h1>Abstrusion</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*stru"sion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>abstrusio</ets>. See <er>Abstruse</er>.]</ety> <def>The act of thrusting away.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Ogilvie.</i>

<h1>Abstrusity</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*stru"si*ty</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Abstruseness; that which is abstruse.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

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

<h1>Absume</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sume"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>absumere</ets>, <ets>absumptum</ets>; <ets>ab + sumere</ets> to take.]</ety> <def>To consume gradually; to waste away.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Boyle.</i>

<h1>Absumption</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sump"tion</hw> <tt>(#; 215)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>absumptio</ets>. See <er>Absume</er>.]</ety> <def>Act of wasting away; a consuming; extinction.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

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

<h1>Absurd</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*surd"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>absurdus</ets> harsh-sounding; <ets>ab</ets> + (prob) a derivative fr. a root <ets>svar</ets> to sound; not connected with <ets>surd</ets>: cf. F. <ets>absurde</ets>. See <er>Syringe</er>.]</ety> <def>Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and fiatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; <as>as, an <ex>absurd</ex> person, an <ex>absurd</ex> opinion; an <ex>absurd</ex> dream.</as></def>

<blockquote>This proffer is <b>absurd</b> and reasonless. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>'This phrase <b>absurd</b> to call a villain great. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<i>p. 9</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Foolish; irrational; ridiculous; preposterous; inconsistent; incongruous.</syn> <usage> -- <er>Absurd</er>, <er>Irrational</er>, <er>Foolish</er>, <er>Preposterous</er>. Of these terms, <i>irrational</i> is the weakest, denoting that which is plainly inconsistent with the dictates of sound reason; as, an <i>irrational</i> course of life. <i>Foolish</i> rises higher, and implies either a perversion of that faculty, or an absolute weakness or fatuity of mind; as, <i>foolish</i> enterprises. <i>Absurd</i> rises still higher, denoting that which is plainly opposed to received notions of propriety and truth; as, an <i>absurd</i> man, project, opinion, story, argument, etc. <i>Preposterous</i> rises still higher, and supposes an absolute <i>inversion</i> in the order of things; or, in plain terms, a "putting of the cart before the horse;" as, a <i>preposterous</i> suggestion, <i>preposterous</i> conduct, a <i>preposterous</i> regulation or law.</usage>

<h1>Absurd</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*surd"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>An absurdity.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Pope.</i>

<h1>Absurdity</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*surd"i*ty</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Absurdities</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L. <ets>absurditas</ets>: cf. F. <ets>absurdite</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment.</def> "The <i>absurdity</i> of the actual idea of an infinite number."

<i>Locke.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which is absurd; an absurd action; a logical contradiction.</def>