Chapter Abietene to Abnet of A by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Abietene to Abnet

Abietene
(Ab"i*e*tene) n. [L. abies, abietis, a fir tree.] A volatile oil distilled from the resin or balsam of the nut pine (Pinus sabiniana) of California.

Abietic
(Ab`i*et"ic) a. Of or pertaining to the fir tree or its products; as, abietic acid, called also sylvic acid. Watts.

Abietin
(Ab"i*e*tin, Ab"i*e*tine) n. [See Abietene.] (Chem.) A resinous obtained from Strasburg turpentine or Canada balsam. It is without taste or smell, is insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol (especially at the boiling point), in strong acetic acid, and in ether. Watts.

Abietinic
(Ab`i*e*tin"ic) a. Of or pertaining to abietin; as, abietinic acid.

Abietite
(Ab"i*e*tite) n. (Chem.) A substance resembling mannite, found in the needles of the common silver fir of Europe Eng. Cyc.

Abigail
(Ab"i*gail) n. [The proper name used as an appellative.] A lady's waiting-maid. Pepys.

Her abigail reported that Mrs. Gutheridge had a set of night curls for sleeping in.
Leslie.

Abiliment
(A*bil"i*ment) n. Habiliment. [Obs.]

Ability
(A*bil"i*ty) n.; pl. Abilities [F. habileté, earlier spelling habilité L. habilitas aptitude, ability, fr. habilis apt. See Able.] The quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; — in the plural, faculty, talent.

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren.
Acts xi. 29.

Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study.
Bacon.

The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability.
Macaulay.

Syn. — Capacity; talent; cleverness; faculty; capability; efficiency; aptitude; aptness; address; dexterity; skill. Ability, Capacity. These words come into comparison when applied to the higher intellectual powers. Ability has reference to the active exercise of our faculties. It implies not only native vigor of mind, but that ease and promptitude of execution which arise from mental training. Thus, we speak of the ability with which a book is written, an argument maintained, a negotiation carried on, etc. It always something to be done, and the power of doing it. Capacity has reference to the receptive powers. In its higher exercises it supposes great quickness of apprehension and breadth of intellect, with an uncommon aptitude for acquiring and retaining knowledge. Hence it carries with it the idea of resources and undeveloped power. Thus we speak of the extraordinary capacity of such men as Lord Bacon, Blaise Pascal, and Edmund Burke. "Capacity," says H. Taylor, "is requisite to devise, and ability to execute, a great enterprise." The word abilities, in the plural, embraces both these qualities, and denotes high mental endowments.

Abime
(A*bime" or A*byme") n. [F. abîme. See Abysm.] A abyss. [Obs.]

Abiogenesis
(Ab`i*o*gen"e*sis) n. [Gr. 'a priv. + life + origin, birth.] (Biol.) The supposed origination of living organisms from lifeless matter; such genesis as does not involve the action of living parents; spontaneous generation; — called also abiogeny, and opposed to biogenesis.

I shall call the . . . doctrine that living matter may be produced by not living matter, the hypothesis of abiogenesis.
Huxley, 1870.

Abiogenetic
(Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic) a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to abiogenesis. Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv.