Same as Aby. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ G. ] See Legislature, Austria, Prussia. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Gr. 'a priv. + bi`os life + ge`nesis, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall call the . . . doctrine that living matter may be produced by not living matter, the hypothesis of abiogenesis. Huxley, 1870. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to abiogenesis. Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. (Biol.) One who believes that life can be produced independently of antecedent. Huxley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Biol.) Produced by spontaneous generation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biol.) Same as Abiogenesis. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. ab- + judge, v. Cf. Abjudicate. ] To take away by judicial decision. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The largest hammer used by smiths. Weale. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. See Abridge. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Abridged p. pr. & vb. n. Abridging. ] [ OE. abregen, OF. abregier, F. abréger, fr. L. abbreviare; ad + brevis short. See Brief and cf. Abbreviate. ] 1. To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to diminish; to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge power or rights. “The bridegroom . . . abridged his visit.” Smollett. [ 1913 Webster ]

She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her train from state to necessity. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense; as, to abridge a history or dictionary. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by of, and formerly by from; as, to abridge one of his rights. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. 1 shortened by condensing or rewriting; -- said of texts: an abridged version [ Narrower terms: half-length ] unabridged, full-length
Syn. -- condensed [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. 1. a shortened version .
Syn. -- condensation, abridgment [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One who abridges. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. abstergere, abstersum; ab, abs + tergere to wipe. Cf. F absterger. ] To make clean by wiping; to wipe away; to cleanse; hence, to purge. [ R. ] Quincy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. abstergens, p. pr. of abstergere. ] Serving to cleanse, detergent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A substance used in cleansing; a detergent; as, soap is an abstergent. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L ab + stringere, strictum, to press together. ] To unbind. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Abuse. [ Obs. ] Whately (1634). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OF. acoragier; à (L. ad) + corage. See Courage. ] To encourage. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. aciérage, fr. acier steel. ] The process of coating the surface of a metal plate (as a stereotype plate) with steellike iron by means of voltaic electricity; steeling. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. acknowledged p. pr. & vb. n. acknowledging ] [ Prob. fr. pref. a- + the verb knowledge. See Knowledge, and cf. Acknow. ] 1. To own or admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in; as, to acknowledge the being of a God. [ 1913 Webster ]

I acknowledge my transgressions. Ps. li. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

For ends generally acknowledged to be good. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To own or recognize in a particular character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to. [ 1913 Webster ]

In all thy ways acknowledge Him. Prov. iii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To own with gratitude or as a benefit or an obligation; as, to acknowledge a favor, the receipt of a letter. [ 1913 Webster ]

They his gifts acknowledged none. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To own as genuine; to assent to, as a legal instrument, to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form; as, to acknowledge a deed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To avow; proclaim; recognize; own; admit; allow; concede; confess. -- Acknowledge, Recognize. Acknowledge is opposed to keep back, or conceal, and supposes that something had been previously known to us (though perhaps not to others) which we now feel bound to lay open or make public. Thus, a man acknowledges a secret marriage; one who has done wrong acknowledges his fault; and author acknowledges his obligation to those who have aided him; we acknowledge our ignorance. Recognize supposes that we have either forgotten or not had the evidence of a thing distinctly before our minds, but that now we know it (as it were) anew, or receive and admit in on the ground of the evidence it brings. Thus, we recognize a friend after a long absence. We recognize facts, principles, truths, etc., when their evidence is brought up fresh to the mind; as, bad men usually recognize the providence of God in seasons of danger. A foreign minister, consul, or agent, of any kind, is recognized on the ground of his producing satisfactory credentials. See also Confess. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Capable of being acknowledged. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

pos>adj. Generally accepted or recognized as correct or reasonable. Opposite of unacknowledged. [ Narrower terms: given, granted; unquestionable (vs. questionable) ] Also See: known.
Syn. -- accepted, recognized [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adv. Confessedly. [ 1913 Webster ]

/mhw>, n. 1. The act of acknowledging; admission; avowal; owning; confession. “An acknowledgment of fault.” Froude. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of owning or recognizing in a particular character or relationship; recognition as regards the existence, authority, truth, or genuineness; a statement acknowledging something or someone. [ 1913 Webster +WordNet 1.5 ]

Immediately upon the acknowledgment of the Christian faith, the eunuch was baptized by Philip. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The owning of a benefit received; courteous recognition; the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged; an expression of thanks. Shak.
Syn. -- recognition [ 1913 Webster +WordNet 1.5 ]

4. Something given or done in return for a favor, message, etc. Smollett. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A declaration or avowal of one's own act, to give it legal validity; as, the acknowledgment of a deed before a proper officer. Also, the certificate of the officer attesting such declaration. [ 1913 Webster ]

Acknowledgment money, in some parts of England, a sum paid by copyhold tenants, on the death of their landlords, as an acknowledgment of their new lords. Cowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Confession; concession; recognition; admission; avowal; recognizance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who acknowledges. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Acres collectively; as, the acreage of a farm or a country. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'a`kros extreme, high + -gen. ] (Bot.) A plant of the highest class of cryptogams, including the ferns, etc. See Cryptogamia. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Age of Acrogens (Geol.), the age of coal plants, or the carboniferous era. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. 1 pertaining to acrogens, flowerless plants (ferns or mosses) in which growth occurs only at the tip of the main stem.
Syn. -- acrogenous [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. (Bot.) Increasing by growth from the extremity; as, an acrogenous plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. adage, fr. L. adagium; ad + the root of L. aio I say. ] An old saying, which has obtained credit by long use; a proverb. [ 1913 Webster ]

Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would, ”
Like the poor cat i' the adage. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Axiom; maxim; aphorism; proverb; saying; saw; apothegm. See Axiom. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Adipose; -genous. ] (Med.) Producing fat. AS [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Adjudged p. pr. & vb. n. Adjudging ] [ OE. ajugen, OF. ajugier, fr. L. adjudicare; ad + judicare to judge. See Judge, and cf. Adjudicate. ] 1. To award judicially in the case of a controverted question; as, the prize was adjudged to the victor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To determine in the exercise of judicial power; to decide or award judicially; to adjudicate; as, the case was adjudged in the November term. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To sentence; to condemn. [ 1913 Webster ]

Without reprieve, adjudged to death
For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To regard or hold; to judge; to deem. [ 1913 Webster ]

He adjudged him unworthy of his friendship. Knolles. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To decree; award; determine; adjudicate; ordain; assign. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who adjudges. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Ajutage. ] Adjustment. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Ajutage. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Astringent. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Aëronautics) The front edge (in direction of motion) of a supporting surface; -- contr. with following edge, which is the rear edge. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ OE. avantage, avauntage, F. avantage, fr. avant before. See Advance, and cf. Vantage. ] 1. Any condition, circumstance, opportunity, or means, particularly favorable to success, or to any desired end; benefit; as, the enemy had the advantage of a more elevated position. [ 1913 Webster ]

Give me advantage of some brief discourse. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The advantages of a close alliance. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Superiority; mastery; -- with of or over. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us. 2 Cor. ii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Superiority of state, or that which gives it; benefit; gain; profit; as, the advantage of a good constitution. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Interest of money; increase; overplus (as the thirteenth in the baker's dozen). [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And with advantage means to pay thy love. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Tennis) The first point scored after deuce. [ PJC ]

Advantage ground, vantage ground. [ R. ] Clarendon. --
To have the advantage of (any one), to have a personal knowledge of one who does not have a reciprocal knowledge. “You have the advantage of me; I don't remember ever to have had the honor.” Sheridan. --
To take advantage of, to profit by; (often used in a bad sense) to overreach, to outwit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Advantage, Advantageous, Benefit, Beneficial. We speak of a thing as a benefit, or as beneficial, when it is simply productive of good; as, the benefits of early discipline; the beneficial effects of adversity. We speak of a thing as an advantage, or as advantageous, when it affords us the means of getting forward, and places us on a “vantage ground” for further effort. Hence, there is a difference between the benefits and the advantages of early education; between a beneficial and an advantageous investment of money. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Advantaged p. pr. & vb. n. Advantaging ] [ F. avantager, fr. avantage. See Advance. ] To give an advantage to; to further; to promote; to benefit; to profit. [ 1913 Webster ]

The truth is, the archbishop's own stiffness and averseness to comply with the court designs, advantaged his adversaries against him. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

What is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? Luke ix. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

To advantage one's self of, to avail one's self of. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Advantageous. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. avantageux, fr. avantage. ] Being of advantage; conferring advantage; gainful; profitable; useful; beneficial; as, an advantageous position; trade is advantageous to a nation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Advabtageous comparison with any other country. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

You see . . . of what use a good reputation is, and how swift and advantageous a harbinger it is, wherever one goes. Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Profitably; with advantage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Profitableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Aegeus; Gr. &unr_;. ] Of or pertaining to the sea, or arm of the Mediterranean sea, east of Greece. See Archipelago. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; fire, light + -gen. ] (Chem.) A compound of nitrogen and boro&unr_;, which, when heated before the blowpipe, gives a brilliant phosphorescent; boric nitride. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Aftergrass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The impression of a vivid sensation retained by the retina of the eye after the cause has been removed; also extended to impressions left of tones, smells, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Gr. &unr_; unmarried ('a priv. + &unr_; marriage) + &unr_; reproduction. ] (Biol.) Reproduction without the union of parents of distinct sexes: asexual reproduction. [ 1913 Webster ]