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Showing 1-20 of 7122 results in 7122 entries
1. abbozzo, n. View full entry 1846
...An outline or draft of a speech or piece of writing. Obs.rare....
2. abbreviate, v. View full entry ?a1475
...trans. To shorten (a text, speech, etc.) whilst retaining the sense and substance; to edit into a shorter form, esp. by omitting the less important passages; to condense, summarize, abridge....
3. abbreviator, n. View full entry 1529
...A person who shortens or abridges something, esp. a text; a summarizer; a compiler. Also: a person given to the use of abbreviations....
4. abonné, n. View full entry 1858
...A person who subscribes to a periodical; a season-ticket holder at the theatre. Also in extended use. Cf. abonnement...
5. abracadabra, n. and int. View full entry 1565
...An instance or utterance of the magical word ‘abracadabra’, supposed to act as a charm against illness, evil, etc., or (in later use esp.) to assist in the performance of magic; a...
6. abrasive, adj. and n. View full entry 1601
...Having the property of abrading; of the nature of or characterized by abrasion; capable of or used for scraping, rubbing, grinding, etc....
7. abraxas, n. View full entry 1713
...An instance or utterance of the magical word ‘abraxas’, supposed (esp. in Gnosticism) to act as a charm; a gem, amulet, etc., inscribed with this word or other cabbalistic signs. Cf. ...
8. abridge, v. View full entry c1384
...trans. To cut short or reduce (a period of time, as the duration of something); to shorten the duration of; to end (something) earlier than expected or planned. Cf. abbreviate...
9. abridgement, n. View full entry 1439
...The action of reducing something in magnitude, extent, or duration; shortening, cutting short; curtailment, limitation; an instance of this. Cf. abbreviation3....
10. abrupt, adj. and n. View full entry 1565
...Broken off, truncated, cut short; terminating in a break. Obs....
11. absolute, adj. (and adv.) and n. View full entry c1400
...Grammar....
12. abstract, adj. and n. View full entry a1398
...Of a word: denoting an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object. Freq. in abstract noun. Opposed to concrete....
13. abstract, v. View full entry 1449
...trans. Chiefly Sc. in early use. To take away, extract, or remove (something); to move (a person or thing) away, withdraw. Freq. with from....
14. abstraction, n. View full entry c1450
...The action of withdrawing or secluding oneself from worldly or sensual things, or of turning one's mind away from the world towards the contemplation of the spiritual; a state of solitude or...
15. abstractive, adj. and n. View full entry a1398
...Of, relating to, or expressing abstract ideas or concepts; engaged in, or able to engage in, the process of considering something theoretically or in the abstract. Cf. abstract1b....
16. abstractor, n. View full entry 1584
...A person who makes an abstract of a text or document. Cf. abstracter...
17. abstruse, adj. View full entry ?1549
...Difficult to understand; obscure, recondite....
18. absurd, adj. and n. View full entry 1531
...Of a thing: against or without reason or propriety; incongruous, unreasonable, illogical....
19. absurdity, n. View full entry c1429
...Music. Lack of harmony, dissonance; an instance of this. Obs....
20. abuse, n. View full entry 1439-40
...Improper usage; a corrupt practice or custom; esp. one that has become chronic....
