ABSORBENT medicines, teſtaceous powders, as chalk, crabs-eyes, &c. which are taken inwardly for drying up or abſorbing any acrid or redundant humours in the ſtomach or inteſtines, They are likewiſe applied outwardly to ulcers or ſores with the ſame intention.
Absorbent veſſels, in anatomy, a name given promiſcuously to the lacteal veſſels, lymphatics, and inhalent arteries. See Anatomy.
Absorbent veſſels, is alſo a name used for the ſmall fibrous roots of plants.
ABSORPTION, in the animal œconomy, is the act whereby the abſorbent veſſels imbibe the juices, &c.
ABSTEMIOUS, an epithet applied to perſons very temperate in eating and drinking. It is likewiſe applied to thoſe who could not partake of the Euchariſt on account of their averſion to wine.
ABSTENTUS, in law, an heir who is with-held by his tutor from entering upon his inheritance.
ABSTERGENT medicines, thoſe employed for reſolving obſtructions, concretions, &c, such as ſoap, &c.
ABSTINENCE, the refraining from ſomething we have a propenſity to. It commonly imports a ſpare diet.
ABSTINENTS, in church hiſtory, a sort of people in the ancient church who carried their abstinence and mortification very far. They have been classed with heretics, though we have no certain account of their particular opinions.
ABSTRACT idea, in metaphyſics, is a partial idea of a complex object, limited to one or more of the component parts or properties, laying aſide or abſtracting from the reſt. Thus, in viewing an object with the eye, or recollecting it in the mind, we can eaſily abſtract from ſome of its parts or properties, and attach ourſelves to others: we can attend to the redneſs of a cherry, without regard to its figure, taſte, or conſiſtence. See Abstraction, Metaphysics.
Abstract terms, words that are uſed to expreſs abſtract ideas. Thus beauty, uglineſs, whiteneſs, roundneſs, life, death, are abſtract terms.
Abstract mathematics, ſometimes denominated pure mathematics, treat of magnitude or quantity abſolutely and generally conſidered, without regard to any particular ſpecies of magnitude.
Abstract numbers, ſuch as have no particular application.
Abstract, is alſo a term in literature to ſignify a conciſe, yet general view or analyſis of ſome larger work. It differs from an abridgment, in being ſhorter and more ſuperficial; and from an extract, as this laſt is a copy of ſome part or paſſage of it.
ABSTRACTION, the operation of the mind when occupied by abſtract ideas. A large oak fixes our attention, and abſtracts us from the ſhrubs that ſurround it. In the ſame manner, a beautiful woman in a crowd, abſtracts our thoughts, and engroſſes our attention ſolely to herſelf. Theſe are examples of real abſtraction: when theſe, or any others of a ſimilar kind, are recalled to the mind, after the objects themſelves are removed from our ſight, they form what is called abſtract ideas, or the mind is ſaid to be employed in abſtract ideas. But the power of abſtraction is not confined to objects that are ſeparable in reality as well as mentally: the ſize, the figure, the colour of a tree are inſeparably connected, and cannot exiſt independent of each other; and yet we can mentally confine our obſervations to any one of theſe properties, neglecting or abſtracting from the reſt.
Abstraction, in chemiſtry, the evaporating or drawing off the menſtruum from any ſubject.
ABSTRACTITIOUS, an obſolete term, among chemiſts, for a vegetable ſpirit obtained without fermentation.
ABSTRUSE, a term applied to any thing that is hard to be underſtood, whether the obſcurity ariſes from the difficulty of the ſubject, or the confuſed manner of the writer.
ABSURD, an epithet for any thing that contradicts an apparent truth.
ABSURDITY, the name of an abſurd action or ſentiment.
ABSUS, in botany, the trivial name of a ſpecies of the caſſia.
ABSYNTHIUM. See Absinthium.
ABUAI, one of the Philippine iſles. See Phillipine.
ABUCCO, Abocco, or Aboochi, a weight uſed in the kingdom of Pegu, equal to 1212 teccalis; two abuccos make an agiro; and two agiri make half a biza, which is equal to 2 lb, 5 oz. of the heavy weight of Venice.
ABUKESO. See Aslani.
ABUNA, the title of the Archbiſhop or Metropolitan of Abyſſinia.
ABUNDANT numbers, such whoſe aliquot parts added together exceed the number itſelf; as 20, the aliquot parts of which are, 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, and make 22.
ABUSAN, an iſland on the coaſt of Africa, in 35. 35. N lat. dependent on the province of Garet, in the kingdom of Fez.
ABUSE, implies the perverting of any thing from its original intention.
ABUTIGE, a town in Upper Egypt, famous for producing the beſt opium.
ABUTTALS. See Abbuttals.
ABUTILON, in botany, the trivial name of ſeveral ſpecies of the ſida. See Sida. Abutilon is alſo a ſynonime of the melochia tomentoſa, and melochia depreſſa, two American plants of the monadelphia pentandria claſs. It it is likewiſe a ſynonime of the lavatora, malva, and hibiſcus.
ABYSS, in a general ſenſe, ſignifies any unfathomable gulph. It is alſo the name of a vaſt cavern filled with water, ſuppoſed to exiſt near the centre of the earth.
Abyss, in ſcripture, is ſometimes uſed for hell.
Abyss, in antiquity, a name given to the temple of Proſerpine,
Abyss, among alchemiſts, signifies the receptacle of the ſeminal matter, and ſometimes the ſeminal matter itſelf.
ABYSSINIA, a kingdom of Africa, bounded on the N. by that of Sennar, or Nubia; on the E. partly by the Red ſea, and partly by Dancala; on the W, by Gorham and Gingiro; and on the S. by Alaba and Ommo-Zaidi. It was formerly of greater
