A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from their originals, and illustrated in their different significations by examples from the best writers : to which are prefixed a history of the language, and an English grammar (Volume 1).

Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784.

Date:: 1819

Credit: A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from their originals, and illustrated in their different significations by examples from the best writers : to which are prefixed a history of the language, and an English grammar (Volume 1). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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$ABL irom, and intestatus, Lat.] A term of law, implying him that inherits from a man, who, though he had the power to make a will, yet did not make it. To A'bjugate, ab'ju-gate. v. a.[abjugo, Lat.] To unyoke, to uncouple. Diet. Abjura'tion, ab-ju-ra'shun. n.s. [from abjure.'] The act of abjuring. The oath taken tor that end. Until Henry VIII. his time, if a man, having committed felony, could go into a church, or church- yard, before he were apprehended, he might not be taken from thence to the usual trial of law, but con- fessing his fault to the justices, or to the coroner, gave his oath to forsake the realm for ever, which was called objuration. There are some abjurations still in force among us here in England; as, by the statute of the 25th of king Charles II. all persons that are admitted into any office, civil or military, must take the test; which is an abjuration of some doctrines of the church of Rome. There is likewise another oath of abjuration, which laymen and clergymen are both obliged to take; and that is to abjure the Pretender. Ayliffe's Purergon Juris Canonici. To ABJU'RE,ab-ju're.T;.a. [abjuro,Lat.] 1. To cast off upon oath, to swear not to do or not to have something. Either to die the death, or to abjure For ever the society of man. Shakspeareh Midswm. Night's Dream, No man, therefore, that hath not abjured his rea- son, and sworn allegiance to a preconceived fantas- tical hypothesis, can undertake the defence of such a supposition. Hale. 2. To retract, recant, or abnegate a posi- tion upon oath. To AHLAC'TATE, ab-lak'tate.91 v. a. [ablacto, Lat.] To wean from the breast. Ablacta'tion, ab-lac-ta'shun. n. s. One of the methods of grafting; and, accord- ing to the signification of the word, as it were a weaning of a cyon by degrees from its mother stock; not cutting it off wholly from the stock, till it is firmly united to that on which it is grafted. Ablaquea'tion, ab-la-kwe-a'shun.fi34 n. s. [ablaqueatio, Lat.] The art or prac- tice of opening the ground about the roots of trees, to let the air and water operate upon them. Trench the ground, and make it ready for the spring: Prepare also soil, and use it where you have occasion: Dig borders. Uncover as yet roots of trees, where ablaqueation is requisite. Evelyn's Kalendar. The tenure in chief is the very root that doth maintain this silver stem, that by many rich and fruitful branches spreadeth itself: so if it be suffer- ed to starve, by want of ablaqueation, and other good husbandry, this yearly fruit will much de- crease. Bacon's Office vf Alienations. ABLA'TION, ab-la'shun. n. s. [ablatio, Lat.] The act of taking away. A blative, ab'la-tiv.168 n. a. [ablativus, Lat.] 1. That which takes away. 2. The sixth case of the Latin nouns; the case which, among other significations, includes the person from whom some- thing is taken away. A term of gram- mar. A'BLE, k'b\.adj. [habile, Fr. habilis, Lat.] skilful, ready. I. Having strong faculties, or great strength ABL or knowledge, riches, or any other pow- er of mind, body, or fortune. Henry VII. was not afraid of an able man, as Lewis the Eleventh was. But, contrariwise, he was served by the ablest men that were to be found; without which his affairs could not have prospered as they did. Bacon's Henry Vll. Such gambol faculties he hath, that shew a weak mind and an able body, for the which the prince admits him. Shaksp. Henry IV. p. ii. 2. Having power sufficient; enabled. All mankind acknowledge themselves able and sufficient to do many things, which actually they never do. South's Se.rm. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God, which he hath given thee. Deut. xvi. 17. 3. Before a verb, with the particle to, it signifies generally having the power. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? Prov. xxvii. 4. 4. With for it is not often nor very proper- ly used. There have been some inventions also, which have been able for the utterance of articulate sounds, as the speaking of certain words. Wilkins's Mathematical Magic. To A'ble, a'bl.40fi v. a. To make able; to enable, which is the word commonly used. See Enable. Plate sin with gold, And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks: Arm it with rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it. None does offend, none, I say none; I'll able 'em; Take that of me, my friend. Shakspeare's K. Lear. A'ble-bo'died,a'bl-bod'did.99ac(/'. Strong of body. It lies in the power of every fine woman, to secure at least half a dozen able-bodied men to his majesty's service. Addison. Freeholder, No. 4. To A'BLEGATE, ab'le-gate. v. a. [able- go, Lat.] To send abroad upon some employment; to send out of the way. met. ABLEGA'TioNj-ab-le-ga'shun. n.s. [from ablegate.] The act of sending abroad. Diet. A'bleness, a'bl-ness. n. s. [from able.] Ability of body or mind, vigour, force. That nation doth so excel, both for comeliness and ableness, that from neighbour countries they ordinarily come, some to strive, some to learn, some to behold. Sidney, 6. ii. Able'psy, ab-ldp'se.482 n. s. [«£pie\/>/«, Gr.] Want of sight, blindness; unadvisedness. Diet. To A'bligate, ab'li-gate. v. a. [abligo, Lat.] To tie up from. Diet. Abliguri'tion, ab-li-gu-ri'shun. n. s. [abliguritio, Lat.] Prodigal expense on meat and drink. Diet. To A'BLOCATE,ab'l6-kate. v.a. [abloco, Lat.] To let out to hire. Perhaps properly by him who has hired it from another. Calvin's Lexicon Juridicum. Abloca'tion, ab-16-ka'shun. n. s. [from ablocate.] A letting out to hire. To Ablu'de, ab-lu'de. v. n. [abludo, Lat.] To be unlike. Diet. A'bluent, ab'lu-ent. adj. [abluens, Lat. from abluo, to wash away.] 1. That which washes clean. 2. That which has the power of cleansing. Diet. ABO ABLu'TiON,ab-hVshUn. n.s. [ablutio,L^t.] 1. The act of cleansing, or washing clean. There is a natural analogy between the ablution of the body and the purification of the soul; between eating the holy bread and drinking the sacred cha- lice, and a participation of the body and blood of Christ. Taylor's Worthy Communicant. 2. The water used in washing. Wash'd by the briny wave, the pious train Are cleans'd, and cast th' ablutions in the main. Pope's Iliad. 3. The rinsing of chymical preparations in water, to dissolve and wash away any acrimonious particles. 4. The cup given, without consecration, to the laity in the popish churches. To A'BNEGATE,ab'ne-gate .v.a. [from abnego, Lat.] To deny. Abnega'tion, ab-ne-ga'shun. n.s. [abne- gatio, Lat. denial, from abnego, to deny.] Denial, renunciation. The abnegation or renouncing of all his own holds and interests, and trusts of all that man is most apt to depend upon, that he may the more expeditely follow Christ. Hammond. Abnoda'tion, ab-no-da'shun. n.s. [abno. dalio, Lat.] The act of cutting away knots from trees; a term of gardening. Diet. ABNo'RMOus,ab-n6r'mus. adj. [abnormis, Lat. out of rule.] Irregular, mishapen. Diet. Abo'ard, a-bo'rd.296 adv. [a sea-term, but adopted into common language; derived immediately from the French a bord, as, aller d bord, envoyer a bord. Bord is itself a word of very doubtful original, and perhaps, in its different acceptations, deducible from different roots. Bopb, in the ancient Saxon, signified a house; in which sense, to go aboard, is to take up residence in a ship.] 1. In a ship. He loudly call'd to such as were aboard, The little bark unto the shore to draw, And him to ferry over that deep ford. Fairy Queen, b. ii. cant. 6. He might land them, if it pleased him, or other- wise keep them aboard. Sir W. Raleigh's Essays. 2. Into a ship. When morning rose, I sent my mates to bring Supplies of water from a neighb'ring spring, Whilst I the motions of the winds cxplor'd; Then summon'd in my crew, and went aboard. Addison's Ovid's Metamorphoses, b. iii. Abo'de, a-bo'de. n. s. [from abide.] 1. Habitation, dwelling, place of residence. But I know thy abode and thy going out, and thy coming in. 2 Kings, xix. 27. Others may use the ocean as their road, Only the English make it their abode; Whose ready sails with every wind can fly, And make a cov'nant with th' inconstant sky. Waller. 2. Stay, continuance in a place. Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode; Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait. Shakspeare's Merchant of Venice. Making a short abode in Sicily the second time, landing in Italy, and making the war, maybe rea- sonably judged the business but of ten months. Dryden's Dedicat. to AZneid. The woodcocks early visit, and abode Of long continuance in our temp'ratc clime, Foretel a liberal harvest. Phillips. 3. To make abode. To dwell, to reside, to inhabit.$