Ab`i*o*gen"e*sis (&?;), n. [Gr. 'a priv. + &?; life + &?;, origin, birth.] (Biol.) The supposed origination of living organisms from lifeless matter; such genesis as does not involve the action of living parents; spontaneous generation; -- called also abiogeny, and opposed to biogenesis.
I shall call the . . . doctrine that living matter may be produced by not living matter, the hypothesis of abiogenesis.
Huxley, 1870.
Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic (&?;), a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to abiogenesis. Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv.
Ab`i*og"e*nist (&?;), n. (Biol.) One who believes that life can be produced independently of antecedent. Huxley.
Ab`i*og"e*nous (&?;), a. (Biol.) Produced by spontaneous generation.
Ab`i*og"e*ny (&?;), n. (Biol.) Same as Abiogenesis.
Ab`i*o*log"ic*al (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a priv. + E. biological.] Pertaining to the study of inanimate things.
Ab*ir"ri*tant (&?;), n. (Med.) A medicine that diminishes irritation.
Ab*ir"ri*tate (&?;), v. t. [Pref. ab- + irritate.] (Med.) To diminish the sensibility of; to debilitate.
Ab*ir`ri*ta"tion (&?;), n. (Med.) A pathological condition opposite to that of irritation; debility; want of strength; asthenia.
Ab*ir"ri*ta*tive (&?;), a. (Med.) Characterized by abirritation or debility.
A*bit" (&?;), 3d sing. pres. of Abide. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ab"ject (&?;), a. [L. abjectus, p. p. of abjicere to throw away; ab + jacere to throw. See Jet a shooting forth.] 1. Cast down; low- lying. [Obs.]
From the safe shore their floating carcasses
And broken chariot wheels; so thick bestrown
Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood.
Milton.
2. Sunk to a law condition; down in spirit or hope; degraded; servile; groveling; despicable; as, abject posture, fortune, thoughts. "Base and abject flatterers." Addison. "An abject liar." Macaulay.
And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams.
Shak.
Syn. -- Mean; groveling; cringing; mean-spirited; slavish; ignoble; worthless; vile; beggarly; contemptible; degraded.
Ab*ject" (&?;), v. t. [From Abject, a.] To cast off or down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower; to debase. [Obs.] Donne.
Ab"ject (&?;), n. A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a castaway. [Obs.]
Shall these abjects, these victims, these outcasts, know any thing of pleasure?
I. Taylor.
Ab*ject"ed*ness (&?;), n. A very abject or low condition; abjectness. [R.] Boyle.
Ab*jec"tion (&?;), n. [F. abjection, L. abjectio.] 1. The act of bringing down or humbling. "The abjection of the king and his realm." Joe.