A and R

abbreviation angstrom unit

abbreviation ana

abbreviation 1. administrative assistant 2. Alcoholics Anonymous 3. antiaircraft 4. associate in arts 5. author's alterations

abbreviation 1. Agricultural Adjustment Administration 2. American Automobile Association

abbreviation American Academy of Arts and Letters

abbreviation American Association for the Advancement of Science

abbreviation American Academy of Family Physicians

also ah intransitive verb Date: 1843 to exclaim in amazement, joy, or surprise • aah also ah noun

abbreviation American Association of Medical Colleges

abbreviation 1. agricultural and mechanical 2. ancient and modern

abbreviation artists and repertory; artists and repertoire

abbreviation against all risks

noun Etymology: obsolete Afrikaans (now erdvark), from Afrikaans aard earth + vark pig Date: 1822 a large burrowing nocturnal mammal (Orycteropus afer) of sub-Saharan Africa that has a long snout, extensible tongue, powerful claws, large ears, and heavy tail and feeds especially on termites and ants

noun (plural aardwolves) Etymology: Afrikaans, from aard + wolf Date: 1833 a maned striped nocturnal mammal (Proteles cristatus) of southern and eastern Africa that resembles the related hyenas and feeds chiefly on insects and especially termites

adjective Date: 1821 1. of or stemming from Aaron 2. of or relating to the lower order of the Mormon priesthood

abbreviation American Association of Retired Persons

abbreviation associate in applied science

abbreviation American Association of State Colleges and Universities

abbreviation Amateur Athletic Union

abbreviation American Association of University Professors

abbreviation American Association of University Women

noun Etymology: Hebrew Ābh Date: circa 1771 the 11th month of the civil year or the 5th month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar — see month table

prefix Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin ab-, abs-, a-, from ab, a — more at of from ; away ; off

noun Etymology: Arabic ‘abā' Date: 1811 1. a loose sleeveless outer garment worn as traditional dress by men in the Middle East 2. a fabric woven from the hair of camels or goats

abbreviation 1. Amateur Boxing Association 2. American Bankers Association 3. American Bar Association 4. American Booksellers Association

noun Etymology: Spanish abacá, from Tagalog abaká Date: circa 1818 1. a strong fiber obtained from the leafstalk of a banana (Musa textilis) native to the Philippines — called also Manila hemp 2. the plant that yields abaca

adverb Date: before 12th century 1. archaic backward, back 2. in a position to catch the wind upon the forward surface (as of a sail) 3. by surprise ; unawares

adjective Date: circa 1935 not caused by or characterized by the presence of bacteria

noun (plural abaci or abacuses) Etymology: Latin, from Greek abak-, abax, literally, slab Date: 14th century 1. an instrument for performing calculations by sliding counters along rods or in grooves 2. a slab that forms the uppermost member or division of the capital of a column

noun Etymology: American Spanish abulón, from Rumsen (American Indian language of Monterey Bay, Calif.) aulon Date: 1850 any of a genus (Haliotis) of edible rock-clinging gastropod mollusks that have a flattened shell slightly spiral in form, lined with mother-of-pearl, and with a row of apertures along its outer edge

adjective Date: 14th century 1. wholly free from restraint 2. given up ; forsaken

Etymology: French Date: circa 1897 down with

transitive verb (abased; abasing) Etymology: Middle English abassen, from Anglo-French abesser, abaisser, from a- (from Latin ad-) + -besser, from Vulgar Latin *bassiare to lower Date: 15th century 1. archaic to lower physically 2. to lower in rank, office, prestige, or esteem • abasement noun

transitive verb Etymology: Middle English abaishen, from Anglo-French abaiss-, abair to astonish, alteration of esbair, from ex- + baer to open wide, gape — more at abeyance Date: 14th century to destroy the self-possession or self-confidence of ; disconcert Synonyms: see embarrass • abashment noun

verb (abated; abating) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French abatre to strike down — more at rebate Date: 13th century transitive verb 1. a. to put an end to b. nullify 1 2. a. to reduce in degree or intensity ; moderate b. to reduce in value or amount ; make less especially by way of relief 3. deduct, omit 4. a. to beat down or cut away so as to leave a figure in relief b. obsolete blunt 5. deprive 2 intransitive verb 1. to decrease in force or intensity 2. a. to become defeated or become null or void b. to decrease in amount or value • abater noun Synonyms: abate, subside, wane, ebb mean to die down in force or intensity. abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing . subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation . wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive . ebb suggests the receding of something (as the tide) that commonly comes and goes . Synonym: see in addition decrease.

noun Date: 14th century 1. the act or process of abating ; the state of being abated 2. an amount abated; especially a deduction from the full amount of a tax

noun (plural abatis or abatises) Etymology: French, from abattre to strike down, slaughter, from Old French abatre Date: 1766 a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy

noun Etymology: French, from abattre Date: 1820 slaughterhouse

adjective Date: 1857 situated out of or directed away from the axis

noun (plural -cies) Etymology: Middle English abbatie, from Late Latin abbatia Date: 15th century the office, dignity, jurisdiction, or tenure of an abbot

noun Date: 1788 a member of a dynasty of caliphs (750-1258) ruling the Islamic empire especially from their capital Baghdad and claiming descent from Abbas the uncle of Muhammad

adjective Date: circa 1642 of or relating to an abbot, abbess, or abbey

noun Etymology: French, from Late Latin abbat-, abbas Date: 1530 a member of the French secular clergy in major or minor orders — used as a title

noun Etymology: Middle English abbesse, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin abbatissa, feminine of abbat-, abbas Date: 13th century a woman who is the superior of a convent of nuns

adjective Etymology: Abbeville, France Date: circa 1934 of or relating to an early Lower Paleolithic culture of Europe characterized by bifacial stone hand axes

noun (plural abbeys) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French abbaie, abbeie, from Late Latin abbatia abbey, from abbat-, abbas Date: 13th century 1. a. a monastery ruled by an abbot b. a convent ruled by an abbess 2. an abbey church

noun Etymology: Middle English abbod, from Old English, from Late Latin abbat-, abbas, from Late Greek abbas, from Aramaic abbā father Date: before 12th century the superior of a monastery for men

abbreviation abbreviation

transitive verb (-ated; -ating) Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin abbreviatus, past participle of abbreviare — more at abridge Date: 15th century to make briefer; especially to reduce to a shorter form intended to stand for the whole Synonyms: see shorten • abbreviator noun

noun Date: 15th century 1. the act or result of abbreviating ; abridgment 2. a shortened form of a written word or phrase used in place of the whole

abbreviation accelerated business collection and delivery

or abdom abbreviation abdomen; abdominal

noun (plural ABDs; also ABD's) Etymology: all but dissertation Date: 1965 a doctoral candidate who has completed required courses and examinations but not a dissertation

noun Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek Date: 14th century Obadiah

verb (-cated; -cating) Etymology: Latin abdicatus, past participle of abdicare, from ab- + dicare to proclaim — more at diction Date: 1541 transitive verb 1. to cast off ; discard 2. to relinquish (as sovereign power) formally intransitive verb to renounce a throne, high office, dignity, or function • abdicable adjective • abdication noun • abdicator noun Synonyms: abdicate, renounce, resign mean to give up a position with no possibility of resuming it. abdicate implies a giving up of sovereign power or sometimes an evading of responsibility such as that of a parent . renounce may replace it but often implies additionally a sacrifice for a greater end . resign applies to the giving up of an unexpired office or trust .

noun Etymology: Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin Date: 1543 1. the part of the body between the thorax and the pelvis; also the cavity of this part of the trunk containing the chief viscera 2. the posterior section of the body behind the thorax in an arthropod — see insect illustration • abdominal adjective • abdominally adverb

noun Etymology: New Latin abducent-, abducens, from Latin, present participle of abducere Date: 1947 either of the sixth pair of cranial nerves that are motor nerves supplying the rectus on the outer and lateral side of each eye — called also abducens

noun Date: 1875 abducens nerve

transitive verb Etymology: Latin abductus, past participle of abducere, literally, to lead away, from ab- + ducere to lead — more at tow Date: 1825 1. to seize and take away (as a person) by force 2. to draw or spread away (as a limb or the fingers) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body or from the axis of a limb • abductor noun

noun Date: 1975 a person who has been abducted

noun Date: 1666 1. the action of abducting ; the condition of being abducted 2. the unlawful carrying away of a woman for marriage or intercourse

adverb or adjective Date: circa 1836 off to the side of a ship or plane especially at a right angle to the middle of the ship or plane's length

adverb or adjective Date: 13th century in bed

noun Etymology: New Latin, from Clarke Abel died 1826 English botanist Date: circa 1899 any of a genus (Abelia) of Asian or Mexican shrubs of the honeysuckle family having opposite leaves and white, red, or pink flowers

adjective Usage: often capitalized Etymology: Niels Abel died 1829 Norwegian mathematician Date: 1847 commutative 2

also Abnaki noun (plural Abenaki or Abenakis; also Abnaki or Abnakis) Etymology: Eastern Abenaki wαpánahki, Western Abenaki wǫbanakii, literally, dawn land people, easterners Date: 1721 1. a member of a group of American Indian peoples of northern New England and adjoining parts of Quebec 2. either of the two Algonquian languages spoken by the Abenaki peoples

noun Etymology: Aberdeen & Angus, counties in Scotland Date: 1862 Angus

adjective Etymology: Latin aberratus, past participle of aberrare Date: 1893 aberrant

noun Etymology: Latin aberrare Date: 1594 1. the fact or an instance of being aberrant especially from a moral standard or normal state 2. failure of a mirror, refracting surface, or lens to produce exact point-to-point correspondence between an object and its image 3. unsoundness or disorder of the mind 4. a small periodic change of apparent position in celestial bodies due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer 5. an aberrant individual • aberrational adjective

transitive verb (abetted; abetting) Etymology: Middle English abetten, from Anglo-French abeter, from a- (from Latin ad-) + beter to bait, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English bǣtan to bait Date: 14th century 1. to actively second and encourage (as an activity or plan) ; forward 2. to assist or support in the achievement of a purpose Synonyms: see incite • abetment noun • abettor also abetter noun

noun Etymology: Anglo-French, from Old French abaer to expect, await, literally, to gape, from a- + baer to gape, yawn — more at bay Date: 1640 1. a lapse in succession during which there is no person in whom a title is vested 2. temporary inactivity ; suspension • abeyant adjective

transitive verb (abhorred; abhorring) Etymology: Middle English abhorren, from Latin abhorrēre, from ab- + horrēre to shudder — more at horror Date: 15th century to regard with extreme repugnance ; loathe Synonyms: see hate • abhorrer noun

noun Date: 1660 1. a. the act or state of abhorring b. the feeling of one who abhors 2. one that is abhorred

adjective Etymology: Latin abhorrent-, abhorrens, present participle of abhorrēre Date: 1599 1. a. archaic strongly opposed b. feeling or showing abhorrence 2. not agreeable ; contrary 3. being so repugnant as to stir up positive antagonism • abhorrently adverb

noun Etymology: Hebrew Ābhībh, literally, ear of grain Date: 1530 the first month of the ancient Hebrew calendar corresponding to Nisan — see month table

noun Date: 1647 1. an act or state of abiding ; continuance 2. compliance

phrasal 1. to conform to 2. to acquiesce in

verb (abode or abided; abiding) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ābīdan, from ā-, perfective prefix + bīdan to bide; akin to Old High German ir-, perfective prefix — more at bide Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to wait for ; await 2. a. to endure without yielding ; withstand b. to bear patiently ; tolerate 3. to accept without objection intransitive verb 1. to remain stable or fixed in a state 2. to continue in a place ; sojourn Synonyms: see bear, continue • abider noun

adjective Date: 14th century enduring, continuing • abidingly adverb

noun Etymology: Abigail, servant in The Scornful Lady, a play by Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher Date: 1671 a lady's personal maid

noun (plural -ties) Etymology: Middle English abilite, from Anglo-French, from Latin habilitat-, habilitas, from habilis apt, skillful — more at able Date: 14th century 1. a. the quality or state of being able ; especially physical, mental, or legal power to perform b. competence in doing ; skill 2. natural aptitude or acquired proficiency

adverb Etymology: Latin Date: 1599 from the beginning

noun Etymology: New Latin, from 2a- + bio- + Latin genesis Date: 1870 the supposed spontaneous origination of living organisms directly from lifeless matter • abiogenist noun

adjective Date: 1877 not produced by the action of living organisms • abiogenically adverb

adjective Date: 1868 not biological; especially not involving or produced by organisms

adjective Date: circa 1893 not biotic ; abiological • abiotically adverb

adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin abjectus, from past participle of abicere to cast off, from ab- + jacere to throw — more at jet Date: 15th century 1. sunk to or existing in a low state or condition 2. a. cast down in spirit ; servile, spiritless b. showing hopelessness or resignation 3. expressing or offered in a humble and often ingratiating spirit Synonyms: see mean • abjectly adverb • abjectness noun

noun Date: 14th century 1. a low or downcast state ; degradation 2. the act of making abject ; humbling, rejection

noun Date: 15th century 1. the act or process of abjuring 2. an oath of abjuring

transitive verb (abjured; abjuring) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French abjurer, from Latin abjurare, from ab- + jurare to swear — more at jury Date: 15th century 1. a. to renounce upon oath b. to reject solemnly 2. to abstain from ; avoid • abjurer noun Synonyms: abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief. abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath . renounce often equals abjure but may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown . forswear may add to abjure an implication of perjury or betrayal . recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught . retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation .

abbreviation ablative

verb (ablated; ablating) Etymology: Latin ablatus (past participle of auferre to remove), from ab- + latus, past participle of ferre — more at ukase, bear, tolerate Date: 1542 transitive verb to remove or destroy especially by cutting, abrading, or evaporating intransitive verb to become ablated; especially vaporize 1

noun Date: 15th century the process of ablating: as a. surgical removal b. loss of a part (as ice from a glacier or the outside of a nose cone) by melting or vaporization

noun Date: circa 1828 a construction in Latin in which a noun or pronoun and its adjunct both in the ablative case form together an adverbial phrase expressing generally the time, cause, or an attendant circumstance of an action

noun Etymology: German, from ab away from + Laut sound Date: 1849 a systematic variation of vowels in the same root or affix or in related roots or affixes especially in the Indo-European languages that is usually paralleled by differences in use or meaning (as in sing, sang, sung, song)

adjective or adverb Date: 1801 1. being on fire 2. radiant with light or emotion

adjective (abler; ablest) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin habilis apt, from habēre to have — more at habit Date: 14th century 1. a. having sufficient power, skill, or resources to accomplish an object b. susceptible to action or treatment 2. marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence • ably adverb

adjective Date: circa 1622 having a sound strong body

noun Date: circa 1909 able seaman

adjective Date: 1981 capable of unimpaired function — compare differently abled