| abulia | 1. Loss or impairment of the ability to perform voluntary actions or to make decisions. 2. Reduction in speech, movement, thought, and emotional reaction; a common result of bilateral frontal lobe disease. Synonym: aboulia. Origin: G. A-priv. + boule, will (05 Mar 2000) |
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| abulic | Relating to, or suffering from, abulia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abundance | An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; wealth: strictly applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number. "It is lamentable to remember what abundance of noble blood hath been shed with small benefit to the Christian state." (Raleigh) Synonym: Exuberance, plenteousness, plenty, copiousness, overflow, riches, affluence, wealth. Abundance, Plenty, Exuberance. These words rise upon each other in expressing the idea of fullness. Plenty denotes a sufficiency to supply every want; as, plenty of food, plenty of money, etc. Abundance express more, and gives the idea of superfluity or excess; as, abundance of riches, an abundance of wit and humor; often, however, it only denotes plenty in a high degree. Exuberance rises still higher, and implies a bursting forth on every side, producing great superfluity or redundance; as, an exuberance of mirth, an exuberance of animal spirits, etc. Origin: OE. (h)abudaunce, abundance, F. Abundance, F. Abondance, L. Abundantia, fr. Abundare. See Abound. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| abundant | Fully sufficient; plentiful; in copious supply; followed by in, rarely by with. "Abundant in goodness and truth. <mathematics> " Abundant number, a number, the sum of whose aliquot parts exceeds the number itself. Thus, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, the aliquot parts of 12, make the number 16. This is opposed to a deficient number, as 14, whose aliquot parts are 1, 2, 7, the sum of which is 10; and to a perfect number, which is equal to the sum of its aliquot parts, as 6, whose aliquot parts are 1, 2. Synonym: Ample, plentiful, copious, plenteous, exuberant, overflowing, rich, teeming, profuse, bountiful, liberal. See Ample. Origin: OE. (h)abundant, aboundant, F. Abondant, fr. L. Abudans, p. Pr. Of abundare. See Abound. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| abuse | 1. Improper treatment or use; application to a wrong or bad purpose; misuse; as, an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or of privileges or advantages; an abuse of language. "Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power." (Madison) 2. Physical ill treatment; injury. "Rejoice . . . at the abuse of Falstaff." 3. A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as, the abuses in the civil service. "Abuse after disappeared without a struggle." (Macaulay) 4. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; virulent condemnation; reviling. "The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of abuse, came to blows." (Macaulay) 5. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. "Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?" (Shak) Abuse of distress, a wrongful using of an animal or chattel distrained, by the distrainer. Synonym: Invective, contumely, reproach, scurrility, insult, opprobrium. Abuse, Invective. Abuse is generally prompted by anger, and vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is more personal and coarse than invective. Abuse generally takes place in private quarrels; invective in writing or public discussions. Invective may be conveyed in refined language and dictated by indignation against what is blameworthy. Origin: F. Abus, L. Abusus, fr. Abuti. See Abuse. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| abutilon | <botany> A genus of malvaceous plants of many species, found in the torrid and temperate zones of both continents. Synonym: Indian mallow. Origin: Ar. Aubutilun. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| abutment | <dentistry> The teeth on either side of a missing tooth. (08 Jan 1998) |
| gamma-Abu | gamma-aminobutyric acid |
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