1: a French abbot

1: a condenser having 2 or 3 lenses with wide aperture for use in microscopes

1: the superior of a group of nuns [syn: {mother superior}, {prioress}]

1: a church associated with a monastery or convent 2: a convent ruled by an abbess 3: a monastery ruled by an abbot

1: the superior of an abbey of monks [syn: {archimandrite}]

1: United States educator and president of Harvard University (1856-1943) [syn: {Lowell}]

1: shorten; "Abbreviate `New York' and write `NY'" 2: reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened" [syn: {abridge}, {foreshorten}, {shorten}, {cut}, {contract...

1: (of clothing) very short; "an abbreviated swimsuit"; "a brief bikini" [syn: {brief}] 2: cut short in duration; "the abbreviated speech"; "a curtailed visit"; "her shortened life was clearly the res...

1: a shortened form of a word or phrase 2: shortening something by omitting parts of it

1: one who shortens or abridges or condenses a written work [syn: {abridger}]

1: the elementary stages of any subject (usually plural); "he mastered only the rudiments of geometry" [syn: {rudiment}, {first rudiment}, {first principle}, {alphabet}, {ABC's}, {ABCs}]

1: the elementary stages of any subject (usually plural); "he mastered only the rudiments of geometry" [syn: {rudiment}, {first rudiment}, {first principle}, {alphabet}, {ABC}, {ABCs}]

1: a unit of electrical charge equal to 10 coulombs

1: the elementary stages of any subject (usually plural); "he mastered only the rudiments of geometry" [syn: {rudiment}, {first rudiment}, {first principle}, {alphabet}, {ABC}, {ABC's}]

1: a Hebrew minor prophet [syn: {Obadiah}] 2: an Old Testament book telling Obadiah's prophecies; the shortest book in the Christian Bible [syn: {Obadiah}, {Book of Obadiah}]

1: capable of being discarded or renounced or relinquished; "abdicable responsibilites"

1: give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations; "The King abdicated when he married a divorcee" [syn: {renounce}]

1: a formal resignation and renunciation of powers [syn: {stepping down}] 2: the act of abdicating [syn: {stepping down}]

1: one who formally relinquishes and office or responsibility

1: the region of the body of a vertebrate between the thorax and the pelvis [syn: {venter}, {stomach}, {belly}] 2: the cavity containing the major viscera; in mammals it is separated from the thorax b...

1: of or relating to or near the abdomen; "abdominal muscles" n : the muscles of the abdomen [syn: {abdominal muscle}, {ab}]

1: a serious form of actinomycosis that affects the abdomen

1: a branch of the descending aorta

1: an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta associated with old age and hypertension [syn: {AAA}]

1: breathing in which most of the respiratory effort is done by the abdominal muscles; "abdominal breathing is practiced by singers"

1: the cavity containing the major viscera; in mammals it is separated from the thorax by the diaphragm [syn: {abdomen}]

1: the delivery of a fetus by surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus (from the belief that Julius Caesar was born that way) [syn: {cesarean delivery}, {caesarean delivery}, {cesarean ...

1: a diagonally arranged abdominal muscle on either side of the torso [syn: {external oblique muscle}, {musculus obliquus externus abdominis}, {oblique}]

1: the muscles of the abdomen [syn: {abdominal}, {ab}]

1: a large plexus of sympathetic nerves in the abdomen behind the stomach [syn: {solar plexus}, {coeliac plexus}, {plexus celiacus}]

1: ectopic pregnancy in the abdominal cavity

1: a wall of the abdomen

1: centesis of the belly to remove fluid for diagnosis [syn: {paracentesis}]

1: cosmetic surgery of the abdomen to remove wrinkles and tighten the skin over the stomach [syn: {tummy tuck}]

1: having a large belly [syn: {paunchy}, {potbellied}]

1: the bodily property of a protruding belly [syn: {paunchiness}]

1: of or relating to the abdomen and the urinary bladder

1: advance evidence for [syn: {adduce}, {cite}]

1: a small motor nerve supplying the lateral rectus muscle of the eye [syn: {abducent}, {abducent nerve}, {abducens nerve}, {nervus abducens}, {sixth cranial nerve}]

1: the ocular muscle whose contraction turns the eyeball outward [syn: {lateral rectus muscle}, {lateral rectus}, {rectus lateralis}]

1: a small motor nerve supplying the lateral rectus muscle of the eye [syn: {abducent}, {abducent nerve}, {abducens}, {nervus abducens}, {sixth cranial nerve}]

1: especially of muscles; drawing away from the midline of the body or from an adjacent part [syn: {abducting}] [ant: {adducent}] n : a small motor nerve supplying the lateral rectus muscle of the eye...

1: a small motor nerve supplying the lateral rectus muscle of the eye [syn: {abducent}, {abducens}, {abducens nerve}, {nervus abducens}, {sixth cranial nerve}]

1: take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom; "The industrialist's son was kidnapped" [syn: {kidnap}, {nobble}, {snatch}] 2: pull away from the b...

1: (of persons) seized and detained unlawfully, often for ransom; "the father restored the kidnapped (or abducted) child to the mother" [syn: {kidnapped}, {kidnaped}]

1: especially of muscles; drawing away from the midline of the body or from an adjacent part [syn: {abducent}] [ant: {adducent}]

1: the criminal act of capturing and carrying away by force a family member; if a man's wife is abducted it is a crime against the family relationship and against the wife 2: (physiology) moving of a ...

1: someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom) [syn: {kidnapper}, {snatcher}] 2: a muscle that draws a part away from the median line [syn: {abductor muscle}]

1: a muscle that draws a part away from the median line [syn: {abductor}]

1: at right angles to the length of a ship or airplane

1: alphabetically arranged (as for beginning readers) n 1: a novice learning the rudiments of some subject 2: a 16th century sect of Anabaptists centered in Germany who had an absolute disdain for hum...

1: a poem having lines beginning with letters of the alphabet in regular order

1: in bed

1: Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829) [syn: {Niels Abel}, {Niels Henrik Abel}] 2: (Old Testament) Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve born after the Fall of Man; Abel was killed by ...

1: Dutch navigator who was the first European to discover Tasmania and New Zealand (1603-1659) [syn: {Tasman}, {Abel Tasman}]

1: Dutch navigator who was the first European to discover Tasmania and New Zealand (1603-1659) [syn: {Tasman}, {Abel Janszoon Tasman}]

1: French philosopher and theologian; lover of Heloise (1079-1142) [syn: {Peter Abelard}, {Pierre Abelard}]

1: a poplar that is widely cultivated in the United States; has white bark and leaves with whitish undersurfaces [syn: {white poplar}, {white aspen}, {aspen poplar}, {silver-leaved poplar}, {Populus a...

1: any of various deciduous or evergreen ornamental shrubs of the genus Abelia having opposite simple leaves and cymes of small white or pink or purplish flowers; Asia and Mexico

1: a group that satisfies the commutative law [syn: {commutative group}]

1: genus of tropical coarse herbs having large lobed leaves and often yellow flowers [syn: {genus Abelmoschus}]

1: tall coarse annual of Old World tropics widely cultivated in southern United States and West Indies for its long mucilaginous green pods used as basis for soups and stews; sometimes placed in genus...

1: bushy herb of tropical Asia grown for its yellow or pink to scarlet blooms that resemble the hibiscus [syn: {abelmosk}, {musk mallow}, {Hibiscus moschatus}]

1: bushy herb of tropical Asia grown for its yellow or pink to scarlet blooms that resemble the hibiscus [syn: {musk mallow}, {Abelmoschus moschatus}, {Hibiscus moschatus}]

1: a mining town in southern Wales

1: a town in western Washington 2: a town in northeastern South Dakota 3: a town in northeastern Maryland 4: a city in northeastern Scotland on the North Sea

1: black hornless breed from Scotland [syn: {Angus}, {black Angus}]

1: of or relating to Aberdeen

1: a state or condition markedly different from the norm [syn: {aberrancy}, {aberration}, {deviance}]

1: a state or condition markedly different from the norm [syn: {aberrance}, {aberration}, {deviance}]

1: markedly different from an accepted norm; "aberrent behavior"; "deviant ideas" [syn: {deviant}] n : one whose behavior departs substantially from the norm of a group

1: diverge from the expected; "The President aberrated from being a perfect gentleman" 2: diverge or deviate from the straight path; produce aberration; "The surfaces of the concave lens may be propor...

1: a state or condition markedly different from the norm [syn: {aberrance}, {aberrancy}, {deviance}] 2: a disorder in one's mental state 3: an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens o...

1: assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing [also: {abetting}, {abetted}]

1: a rare inherited disorder of fat metabolism; characterized by severe deficiency of beta-lipoproteins and abnormal red blood cells (acanthocytes) and abnormally low cholesterol levels

1: the verbal act of urging on [syn: {instigation}]

{abet}

1: one who helps or encourages or incites another [syn: {abettor}]

{abet}

1: one who helps or encourages or incites another [syn: {abetter}]

1: temporary cessation or suspension [syn: {suspension}]

1: temporarily inactive [syn: {inactive}, {in abeyance(p)}, {suspended}]

1: a capacitance unit equal to one billion farads

1: a unit of inductance equal to one billionth of a henry

1: find repugnant; "I loathe that man"; "She abhors cats" [syn: {loathe}, {abominate}, {execrate}] [also: {abhorring}, {abhorred}]

{abhor}

1: hate coupled with disgust [syn: {abomination}, {detestation}, {execration}, {loathing}, {odium}]

1: offensive to the mind; "an abhorrent deed"; "the obscene massacre at Wounded Knee"; "morally repugnant customs"; "repulsive behavior"; "the most repulsive character in recent novels" [syn: {detesta...

1: a signer of a 1679 address to Charles II in which those who petitioned for the reconvening of Parliament were condemned and abhorred

{abhor}

1: acting according to certain accepted standards [syn: {conformity}, {conformation}, {compliance}] [ant: {disobedience}, {nonconformity}] 2: the act of dwelling in a place [syn: {residency}, {residen...

1: dwell; "You can stay with me while you are in town"; "stay a bit longer--the day is still young" [syn: {bide}, {stay}] 2: put up with something or somebody unpleasant; "I cannot bear his constant c...

1: act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes; "He complied with my instructions"; "You must comply or else!"; "Follow these simple rules"; "abide by the rules" [syn: {comply}, {follo...

1: unceasing; "an abiding belief"; "imperishable truths" [syn: {enduring}, {imperishable}]

1: city recognized by the United States as the capital of the Ivory Coast; largest city of the Ivory Coast

1: (psychology) an urge to withdraw or avoid a situation or an object [ant: {adience}]

1: characterized by avoidance or withdrawal [ant: {adient}]

1: true firs [syn: {genus Abies}]

1: tall timber tree of central and southern Europe having a regular crown and gray bark [syn: {European silver fir}, {Christmas tree}]

1: medium to tall fir of western North America having a conic crown and branches in tiers; leaves smell of orange when crushed [syn: {amabilis fir}, {white fir}, {Pacific silver fir}, {red silver fir}...

1: medium-sized fir of northeastern North America; leaves smell of balsam when crushed; much used for pulpwood and Christmas trees [syn: {balsam fir}, {balm of Gilead}, {Canada balsam}]

1: a pyramidal fir of southwestern California having spiny pointed leaves and cone scales with long spines [syn: {Santa Lucia fir}, {bristlecone fir}, {Abies venusta}]

1: medium to tall fir of central to western United States having a narrow erect crown and soft wood [syn: {white fir}, {Colorado fir}, {California white fir}, {Abies lowiana}]

1: small fast-growing but short-lived fir of southern Alleghenies similar to balsam fir but with very short leaves [syn: {Fraser fir}]

1: lofty fir of the Pacific coast of northwestern America having long curving branches and deep green leaves [syn: {lowland fir}, {lowland white fir}, {giant fir}, {grand fir}]

1: medium-tall timber tree of the Rocky Mountains having a narrowly conic to columnar crown [syn: {Alpine fir}, {subalpine fir}]

1: medium to tall fir of central to western United States having a narrow erect crown and soft wood [syn: {white fir}, {Colorado fir}, {California white fir}, {Abies concolor}]

1: a pyramidal fir of southwestern California having spiny pointed leaves and cone scales with long spines [syn: {Santa Lucia fir}, {bristlecone fir}, {Abies bracteata}]

1: a promontory in northern Morocco opposite the Rock of Gibraltar; one of the Pillars of Hercules [syn: {Jebel Musa}, {Abyla}]

1: a city in central Texas 2: a town in central Kansas west of Topeka; home of Dwight D. Eisenhower

1: the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment [ant: {inability}] 2: possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to...

1: a hypothetical organic phenomenon by which living organisms are created from nonliving matter [syn: {autogenesis}, {autogeny}, {spontaneous generation}]

1: originating by abiogenesis

1: a believer in abiogenesis

1: a loss of vitality and a degeneration of cells and tissues not due to any apparent injury

1: of the most contemptible kind; "abject cowardice"; "a low stunt to pull"; "a low-down sneak"; "his miserable treatment of his family"; "You miserable skunk!"; "a scummy rabble"; "a scurvy trick" [s...

1: a low or downcast state; "each confession brought her into an attitude of abasement"- H.L.Menchken [syn: {abasement}, {degradation}]

1: in a hopeless resigned manner; "she shrugged her shoulders abjectly" [syn: {resignedly}]

1: a disavowal or taking back of a previous assertion [syn: {retraction}, {recantation}]

1: formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure; "He retracted his earlier statements about his religion"; "She abjured her beliefs" [syn: {recant}, {forswear}, {retract},...