ABB, ab, _n._ properly woof- or weft-yarn, but sometimes warp-yarn. [Pfx.
_a-_, and WEB.]
ABBA, ab'a, _n._ father, a term retained in the Gr. text of the New
Testament, together with its translation 'father,' hence _Abba father_,
applied to God the Father: also a bishop in the Syriac and Coptic Churches.
[L.--Gr.--Syriac and Chaldee, _abb[=a]_--Heb. _ab_, father.]
ABBACY, ab'a-si, _n._ the office or dignity of an abbot: the establishment
under an abbot: an abbey.--_adj._ ABB[=A]'TIAL. [The earlier form was
_abbatie_--said by Dr Murray to have been originally a Scotch form.]
ABBATE, ab-bä'te, _n._ a title loosely applied to ecclesiastics in
Italy.--Also ABATE. [It.]
ABBAYE, an _arch._ form of ABBEY.
ABBÉ, ab'[=a], _n._ originally the French name for an abbot, but often used
in the general sense of a priest or clergyman. Before the Revolution, abbés
were often merely holders of benefices, enjoying a portion of the revenues,
although in minor orders, or even laymen. They were often tutors in noble
families, or men of letters, and were marked by a short violet-coloured
robe.
ABBESS, ab'es, _n._ the female superior of a religious community of women.
[Earlier ABBATESS, fem. of ABBOT.]
ABBEY, ab'e, _n._ a monastery of persons of either sex presided over by an
abbot or abbess: the church now or formerly attached to it: in Newstead
_Abbey_, &c., the name has been retained after the abbatial building had
become a private house:--_pl._ ABB'EYS. [O. Fr. _abaïe_ (Fr. _abbaye_)--L.
_abbatia_, See ABBA.]
ABBOT, ab'ut, _n._ the father or head of an abbey:--_fem._ ABB'ESS.--_n._
AB'BOTSHIP. [L. _abbas_, _abbatis_--ABBA.]
ABBREVIATE, ab-br[=e]'vi-[=a]t, _v.t._ to make brief or short: to
abridge.--_ns._ ABBREVI[=A]'TION, ABBR[=E]'VIATURE, a shortening, a part of
a word put for the whole; ABBR[=E]'VIATOR, one who abbreviates.--_adj._
ABBR[=E]'VIATORY. [L. _abbrevi[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_ab_, intensive, and
_brevis_, short. See BRIEF.]
ABC, ABCEE, [=a]-b[=e]-s[=e]', _n._ the alphabet from its first letters: a
first reading-book (_obs._), hence _fig._ the first rudiments of
anything.--ABC BOOK (_Shak._), a book to teach the _a_, _b_, _c_, or
alphabet.
ABDICATE, ab'di-k[=a]t, _v.t._ and _v.i._ formally to renounce or give up
office or dignity.--_adj._ AB'DICANT.--_n._ ABDIC[=A]'TION. [L. _ab_, from
or off, _dic[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to proclaim.]
ABDOMEN, ab-d[=o]'men, _n._ the belly: the lower part of the trunk.--_adj._
ABDOM'INAL.--_adv._ ABDOM'INALLY.--_adj._ ABDOM'INOUS, pot-bellied. [L.]
ABDUCE, ab-d[=u]s', _v.t._ an earlier form of ABDUCT.--_adj._ ABDUC'ENT,
drawing back: separating. [L. _abduc[)e]re_--_ab_, from _duc[)e]re_,
_ductum_, to draw.]
ABDUCT, ab-dukt', _v.t._ to take away by fraud or violence.--_ns._
ABDUC'TION, the carrying away, esp. of a person by fraud or force;
ABDUC'TOR, one guilty of abduction: a muscle that draws away. [L.
_abduc[)e]re_. See ABDUCE.]
ABEAM, a-b[=e]m', _adv._ (_naut._) on the beam, or in a line at right
angles to a vessel's length. [Pfx. _a-_ (A.S. _on_), on, and BEAM.]
ABEAR, a-b[=a]r', _v.t._ (_Spens._) to bear, to behave: (_prov._) to endure
or tolerate.--_n._ ABEAR'ANCE, (_obs._) behaviour. [A.S. pfx. _a-_, and
BEAR.]
ABECEDARIAN, [=a]-be-se-d[=a]'ri-an, _adj._ pertaining to the a, b, c:
rudimentary.--ABECEDARIAN PSALMS (as the 119th) or HYMNS are such as are
divided into successive portions according to the letters of the alphabet.