Abatis
(Ab"a*tis, Aba"t*tis), (ab"a*tis; French a`ba`te") n. [F. abatis, abattis, mass of things beaten
or cut down, fr. abattre. See Abate.] (Fort.) A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of
whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy.
Abatised
(Ab"a*tised) a. Provided with an abatis.
Abator
(A*ba"tor) n. (Law) (a) One who abates a nuisance. (b) A person who, without right, enters
into a freehold on the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee. Blackstone.
Abattoir
(||A`bat`toir") n.; pl. Abattoirs (- twärz"). [F., fr. abattre to beat down. See Abate.] A public
slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc.
Abature
(Ab"a*ture) n. [F. abatture, fr. abattre. See Abate.] Grass and sprigs beaten or trampled
down by a stag passing through them. Crabb.
Abatvoix
(||A`bat`voix") n. [F. abattre to beat down + voix voice.] The sounding- board over a pulpit or
rostrum.
Abawed
(Ab*awed") p. p. [Perh. p. p. of a verb fr. OF. abaubir to frighten, disconcert, fr. L. ad +
balbus stammering.] Astonished; abashed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Abaxial
(Ab*ax"i*al) Abaxile
(Ab*ax"ile) a. [L. ab + axis axle.] (Bot.) Away from the axis or central
line; eccentric. Balfour.
Abay
(A*bay") n. [OF. abay barking.] Barking; baying of dogs upon their prey. See Bay. [Obs.]
Abb
(Abb) n. [AS. aweb, ab; pref. a- + web. See Web.] Among weavers, yarn for the warp. Hence,
abb wool is wool for the abb.
Abba
(Ab"ba) n. [Syriac abba father. See Abbot.] Father; religious superior; — in the Syriac, Coptic,
and Ethiopic churches, a title given to the bishops, and by the bishops to the patriarch.
Abbacy
(Ab"ba*cy) n.; pl. Abbacies [L. abbatia, fr. abbas, abbatis, abbot. See Abbey.] The dignity,
estate, or jurisdiction of an abbot.
Abbatial
(Ab*ba"tial) a. [LL. abbatialis : cf. F. abbatial.] Belonging to an abbey; as, abbatial rights.
Abbatical
(Ab*bat"ic*al) a. Abbatial. [Obs.]
Abbé
(||Ab"bé`) n. [F. abbé. See Abbot.] The French word answering to the English abbot, the head
of an abbey; but commonly a title of respect given in France to every one vested with the ecclesiastical
habit or dress.
After the 16th century, the name was given, in social parlance, to candidates for some priory or abbey
in the gift of the crown. Many of these aspirants became well known in literary and fashionable life. By
further extension, the name came to be applied to unbeneficed secular ecclesiastics generally. Littré.
Abbess
(Ab"bess) n. [OF. abaesse, abeesse, F. abbesse, L. abbatissa, fem. of abbas, abbatis,
abbot. See Abbot.] A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or convent of nuns, having the same
authority over the nuns which the abbots have over the monks. See Abbey.
Abbey
(Ab"bey) n.; pl. Abbeys [OF. abaïe, abbaïe, F. abbaye, L. abbatia, fr. abbas abbot. See
Abbot.]
1. A monastery or society of persons of either sex, secluded from the world and devoted to religion and
celibacy; also, the monastic building or buildings.
