Part 9

<hw>A*bas"er</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>He who, or that which, abases.</def>

<h1>Abash</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bash"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p.p.</tt> <er>Abashed</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p.pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Abashing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>abaissen</ets>, <ets>abaisshen</ets>, <ets>abashen</ets>, OF.<ets>esbahir</ets>, F. <ets>\'82bahir</ets>, to astonish, fr. L. <ets>ex</ets> + the interjection <ets>bah</ets>, expressing astonishment. In OE. somewhat confused with <ets>abase</ets>. Cf. <er>Finish</er>.]</ety> <def>To destroy the self-possession of; to confuse or confound, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to put to shame; to disconcert; to discomfit.</def>

<blockquote><b>Abashed</b>, the devil stood, And felt how awful goodness is. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>He was a man whom no check could <b>abash</b>. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To confuse; confound; disconcert; shame.</syn> <usage> -- To <er>Abash</er>, Confuse, <er>Confound</er>. <i>Abash</i> is a stronger word than <i>confuse</i>, but not so strong as <i>confound</i>. We are <i>abashed</i> when struck either with sudden shame or with a humbling sense of inferiority; as, Peter was <i>abashed</i> in the presence of those who are greatly his superiors. We are confused when, from some unexpected or startling occurrence, we lose clearness of thought and self-possession. Thus, a witness is often confused by a severe cross-examination; a timid person is apt to be confused in entering a room full of strangers. We are <i>confounded</i> when our minds are overwhelmed, as it were, by something wholly unexpected, amazing, dreadful, etc., so that we have nothing to say. Thus, a criminal is usually <i>confounded</i> at the discovery of his guilt.</usage>

<blockquote>Satan stood Awhile as mute, <b>confounded</b> what to say. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Abashedly</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bash"ed*ly</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In an abashed manner.</def>

<h1>Abashment</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bash"ment</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>\'82bahissement</ets>.]</ety> <def>The state of being abashed; confusion from shame.</def>

<h1>Abassi, Abassis</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw><hw>A*bas"si</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <hw>A*bas"sis</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>,<hw> <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Ar.& Per. <ets>ab\'bes\'c6</ets>, belonging to Abas (a king of Persia).]</ety> <def>A silver coin of Persia, worth about twenty cents.</def>

<h1>Abatable</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bat"a*ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Capable of being abated; <as>as, an <ex>abatable</ex> writ or nuisance</as>.</def>

<h1>Abate</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bate"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp.& p.p.</tt> <er>Abated</er>, <tt>p.pr. & vb.n</tt>. <er>Abating</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OF. <ets>abatre</ets> to beat down, F. <ets>abattre</ets>, LL. <ets>abatere</ets>; <ets>ab</ets> or <ets>ad + batere</ets>, <ets>battere</ets> (popular form for L. <ets>batuere</ets> to beat). Cf. <er>Bate</er>, <er>Batter</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To beat down; to overthrow.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>The King of Scots . . . sore <b>abated</b> the walls. <i>Edw. Hall.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To bring down or reduce from a higher to a lower state, number, or degree; to lessen; to diminish; to contract; to moderate; toto cut short; <as>as, to <ex>abate</ex> a demand; to <ex>abate</ex> pride, zeal, hope.</as></def>

<blockquote>His eye was not dim, nor his natural force <b>abated</b>. <i>Deut. xxxiv. 7.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To deduct; to omit; <as>as, to <ex>abate</ex> something from a price</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Nine thousand parishes, <b>abating</b> the odd hundreds. <i>Fuller.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To blunt.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>To <b>abate</b> the edge of envy. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To reduce in estimation; to deprive.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>She hath <b>abated</b> me of half my train. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>(a) To bring entirely down or put an end to; to do away with; <as>as, to <ex>abate</ex> a nuisance, to <ex>abate</ex> a writ</as>. (b) <fld>(Eng.</fld> <i>Law</i>) To diminish; to reduce. Legacies are liable to be <i>abated</i> entirely or in proportion, upon a deficiency of assets.</def>