‖n. [ Ger., off-sound; ab off + laut sound. ] (Philol.) The substitution of one root vowel for another, thus indicating a corresponding modification of use or meaning; vowel permutation; as, get, gat, got; sing, song; hang, hung. Earle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ablutio, fr. abluere: cf. F. ablution. See Abluent. ] 1. The act of washing or cleansing; specifically, the washing of the body, or some part of it, as a religious rite. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The water used in cleansing. “Cast the ablutions in the main.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (R. C. Ch.) A small quantity of wine and water, which is used to wash the priest's thumb and index finger after the communion, and which then, as perhaps containing portions of the consecrated elements, is drunk by the priest. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to ablution. [ 1913 Webster ]

prep. [ OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. ābutan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out. See But, Out. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Around; all round; on every side of. “Look about you.” Shak. “Bind them about thy neck.” Prov. iii. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person). “Have you much money about you?” Bulwer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Roving still about the world. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity. “To-morrow, about this time.” Exod. ix. 18. “About my stature.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

He went out about the third hour. Matt. xx. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This use passes into the adverbial sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on. [ 1913 Webster ]

I must be about my Father's business. Luke ii. 49. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive: On the point or verge of; going; in act of. [ 1913 Webster ]

Paul was now aboutto open his mouth. Acts xviii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. “To treat about thy ransom.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

She must have her way about Sarah. Trollope. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. On all sides; around. [ 1913 Webster ]

'Tis time to look about. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Here and there; around; in one place and another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wandering about from house to house. 1 Tim. v. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as high; -- also of quantity, number, time. “There fell . . . about three thousand men.” Exod. xxii. 28. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about. [ 1913 Webster ]

To bring about, to cause to take place; to accomplish. --
To come about, to occur; to take place. See under Come. --
To go about,
To set about, to undertake; to arrange; to prepare. “Shall we set about some revels?” Shak. --
Round about, in every direction around. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

a. [ L. absolutus, p. p. of absolvere: cf. F. absolu. See Absolve. ] 1. Loosed from any limitation or condition; uncontrolled; unrestricted; unconditional; as, absolute authority, monarchy, sovereignty, an absolute promise or command; absolute power; an absolute monarch. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Complete in itself; perfect; consummate; faultless; as, absolute perfection; absolute beauty. [ 1913 Webster ]

So absolute she seems,
And in herself complete. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Viewed apart from modifying influences or without comparison with other objects; actual; real; -- opposed to relative and comparative; as, absolute motion; absolute time or space. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absolute rights and duties are such as pertain to man in a state of nature as contradistinguished from relative rights and duties, or such as pertain to him in his social relations. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Loosed from, or unconnected by, dependence on any other being; self-existent; self-sufficing. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense God is called the Absolute by the Theist. The term is also applied by the Pantheist to the universe, or the total of all existence, as only capable of relations in its parts to each other and to the whole, and as dependent for its existence and its phenomena on its mutually depending forces and their laws. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Capable of being thought or conceived by itself alone; unconditioned; non-relative. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is in dispute among philosopher whether the term, in this sense, is not applied to a mere logical fiction or abstraction, or whether the absolute, as thus defined, can be known, as a reality, by the human intellect. [ 1913 Webster ]

To Cusa we can indeed articulately trace, word and thing, the recent philosophy of the absolute. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I am absolute 't was very Cloten. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Authoritative; peremptory. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The peddler stopped, and tapped her on the head,
With absolute forefinger, brown and ringed. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Chem.) Pure; unmixed; as, absolute alcohol. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Gram.) Not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence in government; as, the case absolute. See Ablative absolute, under Ablative. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absolute curvature (Geom.), that curvature of a curve of double curvature, which is measured in the osculating plane of the curve. --
Absolute equation (Astron.), the sum of the optic and eccentric equations. --
Absolute space (Physics), space considered without relation to material limits or objects. --
Absolute terms. (Alg.), such as are known, or which do not contain the unknown quantity. Davies & Peck. --
Absolute temperature (Physics), the temperature as measured on a scale determined by certain general thermo-dynamic principles, and reckoned from the absolute zero. --
Absolute zero (Physics), the be ginning, or zero point, in the scale of absolute temperature. It is equivalent to -273° centigrade or -459.4° Fahrenheit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Positive; peremptory; certain; unconditional; unlimited; unrestricted; unqualified; arbitrary; despotic; autocratic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Geom.) In a plane, the two imaginary circular points at infinity; in space of three dimensions, the imaginary circle at infinity. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an absolute, independent, or unconditional manner; wholly; positively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being absolute; independence of everything extraneous; unlimitedness; absolute power; independent reality; positiveness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. absolution, L. absolutio, fr. absolvere to absolve. See Absolve. ] 1. An absolving, or setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty; forgiveness of an offense. “Government . . . granting absolution to the nation.” Froude. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Civil Law) An acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring and accused person innocent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (R. C. Ch.) The exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the English and other Protestant churches, this act regarded as simply declaratory, not as imparting forgiveness. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Eccl.) An absolving from ecclesiastical penalties, -- for example, excommunication. P. Cyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The form of words by which a penitent is absolved. Shipley. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Delivery, in speech. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absolution day (R. C. Ch.), Tuesday before Easter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state of being absolute; the system or doctrine of the absolute; the principles or practice of absolute or arbitrary government; despotism. [ 1913 Webster ]

The element of absolutism and prelacy was controlling. Palfrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Theol.) Doctrine of absolute decrees. Ash. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who is in favor of an absolute or autocratic government. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Metaph.) One who believes that it is possible to realize a cognition or concept of the absolute. Sir. W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to absolutism; arbitrary; despotic; as, absolutist principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to absolutism; absolutist. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. absolutorius, fr. absolvere to absolve. ] Serving to absolve; absolving. “An absolutory sentence.” Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Abutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Abutting. ] [ OF. abouter, aboter; cf. F. aboutir, and also abuter; a (L. ad) + OF. boter, buter, to push: cf. F. bout end, and but end, purpose. ] To project; to terminate or border; to be contiguous; to meet; -- with on, upon, or against; as, his land abuts on the road. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Ar. aubūtīlūn. ] (Bot.) A genus of malvaceous plants of many species, found in the torrid and temperate zones of both continents; -- called also Indian mallow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. State of abutting. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That on or against which a body abuts or presses; as (a) (Arch.) The solid part of a pier or wall, etc., which receives the thrust or lateral pressure of an arch, vault, or strut. Gwilt. (b) (Mech.) A fixed point or surface from which resistance or reaction is obtained, as the cylinder head of a steam engine, the fulcrum of a lever, etc. (c) In breech-loading firearms, the block behind the barrel which receives the pressure due to recoil. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The butting or boundary of land, particularly at the end; a headland. Spelman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, abuts. Specifically, the owner of a contiguous estate; as, the abutters on a street or a river. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Accoutered or Accoutred p. pr. & vb. n. Accoutering or Accoutring. ] [ F. accouter, OF. accoutrer, accoustrer; à (L. ad) + perh. LL. custor, for custos guardian, sacristan (cf. Custody), or perh. akin to E. guilt. ] To furnish with dress, or equipments, esp. those for military service; to equip; to attire; to array. [ 1913 Webster ]

Both accoutered like young men. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

For this, in rags accoutered are they seen. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Accoutered with his burden and his staff. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. provided with necessary articles of equipment for a specialized purpose especially military; as, troops accoutered for battle [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. an item of clothing that is worn or carried, but not part of one's main clothing.
Syn. -- accessory, accouterment [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } n. pl. [ F. accoutrement, earlier also accoustrement, earlier also accoustrement. See Accouter. ] Dress; trappings; equipment; specifically, the devices and equipments worn by soldiers. [ 1913 Webster ]

How gay with all the accouterments of war! [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'a`kros extreme + teley`th end. ] (Eccles.) The end of a verse or psalm, or something added thereto, to be sung by the people, by way of a response. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Acute-angled. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. acutus, p. p. of acuere to sharpen, fr. a root ak to be sharp. Cf. Ague, Cute, Edge. ] 1. Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; -- opposed to blunt or obtuse; as, an acute angle; an acute leaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute distinctions; penetrating; clever; shrewd; -- opposed to dull or stupid; as, an acute observer; acute remarks, or reasoning. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having nice or quick sensibility; susceptible to slight impressions; acting keenly on the senses; sharp; keen; intense; as, a man of acute eyesight, hearing, or feeling; acute pain or pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; -- opposed to grave or low; as, an acute tone or accent. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Med.) Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity, and coming speedily to a crisis; -- opposed to chronic; as, an acute disease. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

Acute angle (Geom.), an angle less than a right angle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Subtile; ingenious; sharp; keen; penetrating; sagacious; sharp-witted; shrewd; discerning; discriminating. See Subtile. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To give an acute sound to; as, he acutes his rising inflection too much. [ R. ] Walker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having acute angles; as, an acute-angled triangle, a triangle with every one of its angles less than a right angle. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an acute manner; sharply; keenly; with nice discrimination. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality of being acute or pointed; sharpness; as, the acuteness of an angle. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The faculty of nice discernment or perception; acumen; keenness; sharpness; sensitiveness; -- applied to the senses, or the understanding. By acuteness of feeling, we perceive small objects or slight impressions: by acuteness of intellect, we discern fine distinctions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Perhaps, also, he felt his professional acuteness interested in bringing it to a successful close. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Shrillness; high pitch; -- said of sounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) Violence of a disease, which brings it speedily to a crisis. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Penetration; sagacity; keenness; ingenuity; shrewdness; subtlety; sharp-wittedness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. acutus sharp + folium leaf. ] (Bot.) Having sharp-pointed leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. acutus sharp + E. lobe. ] (Bot.) Having acute lobes, as some leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. acus needle + torsion. ] (Med.) The twisting of an artery with a needle to arrest hemorrhage. [ Not in Stedman -- an obsolete procedure? ][ archaic ] AS [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. Same as Ajutage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Adjutant. ] 1. The office of an adjutant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Skillful arrangement in aid; assistance. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was, no doubt, disposed with all the adjutancy of definition and division. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. adjutans, p. pr. of adjutare to help. See Aid. ] 1. A helper; an assistant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) A regimental staff officer, who assists the colonel, or commanding officer of a garrison or regiment, in the details of regimental and garrison duty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Adjutant general (a) (Mil.), the principal staff officer of an army, through whom the commanding general receives communications and issues military orders. In the U. S. army he is brigadier general. (b) (Among the Jesuits), one of a select number of fathers, who resided with the general of the order, each of whom had a province or country assigned to his care. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) A species of very large stork (Ciconia argala), a native of India; -- called also the gigantic crane, and by the native name argala. It is noted for its serpent-destroying habits. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Eng. Hist.) A corruption of Agitator. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ F. ajouter; confused with L. adjutare. ] To add. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. adjuvare. See Aid. ] A helper or assistant. [ Archaic ] Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. adjutorius. ] Serving to help or assist; helping. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. See Adjutor. ] A female helper or assistant. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Allocution. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. advolvere, advolutum, to roll to. ] A rolling toward something. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. avoutre, avoltre, fr. L. adulter. Cf. Adulterer. ] An adulterer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An adulteress. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ OE. avoutrie, avouterie, advoutrie, OF. avoutrie, avulterie, fr. L. adulterium. Cf. Adultery. ] Adultery. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. aéronaute, fr. Gr. &unr_; air + &unr_; sailor. See Nautical. ] An aërial navigator; a balloonist. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. aéronauitique. ] Pertaining to aëronautics, or aërial sailing. [ 1913 Webster ]