nandhakumarms/qualc-wiktionary-en huggingface dataset:
Word: abandoner Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Latin ad Old French a Proto-Germanic *bannanąder. Frankish *bannder. Old French ban Proto-Indo-European *déh₃nom Proto-Italic *dōnom Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Proto-Italic *dōnāō? Latin donāre Old French doner Old French a ban doner Old French abandonerder. Middle English abandounen English abandon Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English abandoner From abandon + -er. Pronunciation: /əˈbændənɚ/, /əˈbændənə/ 1. One who abandons. Example: Sin-hating powers, reformers of all vice, Abandoners of euil and cruell actes, Cease to pursue with weapons of reuenge, Mine haynous and intollerable fact. Example: […] cold and constant Queene, Abandoner of Revells, mute contemplative,
Word: abandonment Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from French abandonnement, from abandonner (“to abandon, relinquish”). abandonner was originally equivalent to mettre à bandon (“to leave to the jurisdiction, i.e. of another”), bandon being from Medieval Latin bandum, bannum (“order, decree, ban”). Equivalent to abandon + -ment. (See also English banns.) Pronunciation: /əˈbæn.d(ə)n.m(ə)nt/, /əˈbeə̯n.d(ə)n.m(ə)nt/, /əˈbɛə̯n.d(ə)n.m(ə)nt/ 1. The act of abandoning, or the state of being abandoned; total desertion; relinquishment. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: To what are we reserved? An adequate compensation "for the sacrifice of powers the most nearly connected with us;"— an adequate compensation "for the direct or indirect annexation to France ot all the ports of the continent, from Dunkirk to Hamburgh;"— an adequate compensation "for the abandonment of the independence of Europe!" Example: The fate of the railway from Ballater to Braemar has been invested with an air of mystery, which has never been completely dispelled. It has been suggested that Queen Victoria was opposed to a railway in the vicinity of Balmoral Castle, and intervened personally to secure the abandonment of the line beyond Ballater. 2. The voluntary leaving of a person to whom one is bound by a special relation, as a wife, husband or child; desertion. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Since he left her, she's suing him for divorce on grounds of abandonment. 3. An abandoned building or structure. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: High-profile abandonments are harder to infiltrate for urban explorers due to their heightened security. 4. The relinquishment of a right, claim, or privilege; relinquishment of right to secure a patent by an inventor; relinquishment of copyright by an author. Labels: countable, uncountable 5. The relinquishment by the insured to the underwriters of what may remain of the property insured after a loss or damage by a peril insured against. Labels: countable, uncountable 6. The cessation of service on a particular segment of the lines of a common carrier, as granted by a government agency. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The railway was in fact shifted in 1937 a little to the west, over a distance of a quarter-mile, to make room for the by-pass at this point, but complete abandonment was firmly vetoed because of the proved strategic value of the line. 7. A refusal to receive freight so damaged in transit as to be worthless and render carrier liable for its value. Labels: countable, uncountable 8. The self-surrender to an outside influence. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: For quotations using this term, see Citations:abandonment. 9. Abandon; careless freedom or ease; surrender to one's emotions. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Roger, in terms of the strengths he brought to the band, was wild abandonment. So if Howard was in the pocket, Roger was bouncing off the walls, and Nancy was somewhere in the middle.
Word: abarticulation Part of Speech: noun Etymology: * From ab- + articulation. * Compare French abarticulation. See article Pronunciation: /æb.ɑɹˌtɪk.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən/, /æb.ɑˌtɪk.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən/, /æb.ɑɹˌtɪk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/, /æb.ɑˌtɪk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/ 1. An articulation, especially one that permits free motion in the joint; a hinge joint. 2. The act of dislocating a joint. 3. A term sometimes used for diarthrosis, and also for synarthrosis. Also called dearticulation.
Word: abase Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Late Middle English abaishen, abashen, abaisse, abassen, abesse, abessen (“to be upset; to embarrass; to surprise; to confound; to bend down, stoop; to abase, degrade, disgrace”), from Middle French abaisser, from Old French abaissier, abessier (“to prostrate oneself; to lower, reduce”) (also compare Old French esbahir (“to amaze”), Vulgar Latin abbassiāre (“to lower”)), from a- (prefix indicating movement towards something) (from Latin ad (“toward, to”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd (“at, to”)) + baissier (“to lower”) (from Medieval Latin bassus (“short of stature, low; base”), possibly from Ancient Greek βᾰ́σῐς (bắsĭs, “foot; base, foundation”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷem- (“to step”)). The spelling of the English word has been influenced by base, thus ostensibly analyzable as a- (“towards”) + base. There exist verb cognates in galloromance languages such as Catalan abaixar (“lower; abase”) and Occitan abaissar, and similar word construction in other romance languages as Spanish abajo (“down, downstairs; below”). Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪs/ 1. To lower, as in condition in life, office, rank, etc., so as to cause pain or hurt feelings; to degrade, to depress, to humble, to humiliate. Labels: transitive Example: For whoſoeuer exalteth himſelfe ſhalbe abaſed: and hee that humbleth himſelfe, ſhalbe exalted. Example: Our adverſaries object againe, that by praying that Chriſts merits may be made ours in particular, we greatly abaſe them. As though the Prophet David did abaſe God in making him his in particular, ſaying, the Lord is my rock, my fortreſſe, my God, and my ſtrength, my ſhield, the horne of my ſalvation, and my refuge: […] 2. To lower physically; to depress; to cast or throw down; to stoop. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: to abase the eye Example: Her gracious words their rancour did appall, / And ſuncke ſo deepe into their boyling breſts, / That downe they lett their cruel weapons fall, / And lowly did abaſe their lofty creſts, / To her faire preſence, and diſcrete beheſts. 3. To lower in value, in particular by altering the content of alloys in coins; to debase. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: Though in the nature thereof, that with which a purer metal is mixed, be not base; yet, it abases the purer metal. […] [T]hough silver be a precious metal, yet it abases gold. Grace, and peace, and faith, are precious parts of our treasure here; yet, if we mingle them, that is, compare them with the joys, and glory of heaven; […] we abase, and over-alloy these joys, and that glory. Example: [H]er majesty [Elizabeth I of England] let them all to understand, that she never intended (God's grace assisting her) to leese the fruit of so famous an act, by abasing the coin of the realm, which she found to be for the more part copper, and had now recovered it to be as fine, or rather finer, sterling silver, than ever it was in the realm by the space of two hundred years or more; a matter worth marking and memory.
Word: abased Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From abase + -ed. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪst/ 1. Humbled; lowered, especially in rank, position, or prestige. Example: For quotations using this term, see Citations:abased. 2. Synonym of abaissé. Example: The blazon will be - A fess abased potentée of Champagne towards the point. The peculiar potent of Champagne may be seen in Bouton, Nouveau Traité de Blason, p. 199 (Paris, 1863.) Example: (G) Azure 3 bells in fess, abased.
Word: abased Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From abase + -ed. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪst/ 1. simple past and past participle of abase Labels: form-of, participle, past
Word: abasedly Part of Speech: adv Etymology: Etymology tree English abased Middle English -ly English -ly English abasedly From abased + -ly. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪs.ɪd.li/, /əˈbeɪs.əd.li/ 1. In an abased manner; abjectly.
Word: abasement Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English abaissement, from Middle French abaissement (“astonishment”). Equivalent to abase + -ment. Compare French abaissement. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪs.mənt/ 1. The act of abasing, humbling, or bringing low. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: For quotations using this term, see Citations:abasement. 2. The state of being abased or humbled; humiliation or degradation; a feeling of having been reduced in dignity, reputation, stature, self-esteem or respect. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: After his actions, my abasement is complete, and I can be humiliated no more. Example: He was wearing cavalry twill trousers and a buff crew-neck sweater. The effect was of symbolic abasement mixed with military resolve […]
Word: abaser Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From abase + -er. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪs.ɚ/ 1. One who, or that which, abases. Labels: rhetoric Example: Therefore he that shall be disobedient to [the Deacons], shall be altogither without God, and wicked, and contemning Christe, and an abaser of his ordinance. Example: 1887, E. H. Whinfield (translator), Masnavi I Ma’navi: The Spiritual Couplets of Maulána Jalálu-’d-Dín Muhammad i Rúmi, London: Trübner, Book 6, Story 6, p. 300, God is an Abaser and an Exalter; Without these two processes nothing comes into being.
Word: abash Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Attested from 1303, as Middle English abaisen, abaishen, abashen (“lose one's composure, be upset”), from the later 14th-century also transitive "to make ashamed, to perplex or embarrass"; from Anglo-Norman abaïss, from Middle French abair, abaisser (“lose one's composure, be startled, be stunned”), from Old French esbaïr, (French ébahir), from es- (“utterly”) + baïr (“to astonish”), from Medieval Latin *exbadō, from ex- (“out of”) + bado (“to gape, yawn”), an onomatopoeic word imitating a yawn, see also French badaud (“rubbernecker”). Pronunciation: /əˈbæʃ/ 1. To make ashamed; to embarrass; to destroy the self-possession of, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to disconcert; to discomfit. Labels: transitive Example: He was a man whom no check could abash Example: The stare seemed to abash Poirot. 2. To lose self-possession; to become ashamed. Labels: intransitive, obsolete Example: [...] as King Uther lay by his queen, he asked her, by the faith she owed to him, whose was the body; then she sore abashed to give answer.
Word: abashedly Part of Speech: adv Etymology: Etymology tree English abashed Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English abashedly From abashed + -ly. Pronunciation: /əˈbæʃ.ɪd.li/ 1. In an abashed manner. Example: George, at length, came forward abashedly toward him, and said, — "I have been greatly to blame, Robert, and am very sorry for what I have done. Example: meanwhile, no cash. Finally, Nichan asked me abashedly if perhaps I would lend him a few hundred rubles.
Word: abashment Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English abaisshment, from Middle French abaissement (“astonishment”) alteration of esbaissement, from esbaiss + -ment. Compare French ébahissement. Equivalent to abash + -ment. Pronunciation: /əˈbæʃ.mənt/ 1. The state of feeling abashed; embarrassment from shame; timid shyness as from one's modesty being challenged. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: And the lorde shall smyte the with madnesse, and blyndnesse & abashment of herte. Example: For her faint hart was with the frosen cold Benumbd so inly, that her wits nigh fayld, And all her sences with abashment quite were quayld.
Word: abassi Part of Speech: noun Pronunciation: /əˈbɑ.si/ 1. Obsolete spelling of abbasi. Labels: alt-of, obsolete Example: The most current money in Perſia are the abaſſi's, worth about 1 s. 4 d. ſterling : they are of the fineſt ſilver. An abaſſi is worth two mahmoudi's, a mahmoudi two ſhais, and a ſhai ten ſingle or five double caſbeghi's. Example: Accounts are kept in tomans of 50 abassis = 100 mamoodis = 200 shatrees = 1,000 dinars-bisti. The last is an imaginary money.
Word: abatable Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree English abate Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English abatable From abate + -able. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪt.ə.bəl/ 1. Capable of being abated. Example: an abatable writ or nuisance.
Word: abate Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English abaten, from Anglo-Norman abatre, from Late Latin abbattere, from Latin battere. detailed etymology, sense derivation, and cognates The verb is derived from Middle English abaten (“to demolish, knock down; to defeat, strike down; to strike or take down (a sail); to throw down; to bow dejectedly or submissively; to be dejected; to stop; to defeat, humiliate; to repeal (a law); to dismiss or quash (a lawsuit); to lessen, reduce; to injure, impair; to appease; to decline, grow less; to deduct, subtract; to make one’s way; attack (an enemy); (law) to enter or intrude upon (someone’s property); of a hawk: to beat or flap the wings”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman abater, abatier, abatre, abbatre, Middle French abattre, abatre, abattre, Old French abatre, abattre (“to demolish, knock down; to bring down, cut down; to lessen, reduce; to suppress; to stop; to discourage; to impoverish, ruin; to conquer; to overthrow; to kill; to remove (money) from circulation; (law) to annul”), from Late Latin abbattere (“to bring down, take down; to suppress; to debase (currency)”), from Latin ab- (prefix meaning ‘away; from; away from’) + Latin battere, from older battuere (“to beat, hit; to beat up; to fight”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰedʰ- (“to dig; to stab”)). The noun is derived from the verb. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪt/, /əˈbeət/ 1. Abatement; reduction; (countable) an instance of this. Labels: obsolete, uncountable Example: [Letter to Algernon Sidney dated 13 October 1681 (Julian calendar).] There are many things make a man's life uneasy in the world, which are great abates to the pleasure of living, but scarcely one equal to that of the unkindness or injustice of friends. 2. Deduction; subtraction; (countable) an instance of this. Labels: obsolete, uncountable Example: That men weigh heavier dead than alive, if experiment hath not failed us, we cannot reaſonably grant. For though the triall hereof cannot ſo well be made on the body of Man, nor will the difference be ſenſible in the abate of ſcruples or dragmes, yet can we not confirm the ſame in leſſer animalls from whence the inference is good; […]
Word: abate Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Anglo-Norman abatre, probably an alteration of Anglo-Norman and Middle French embatre, enbatre (“to drive or rush into; to enter into a tenement without permission”) (compare Late Latin abatare), from Middle French, Old French em-, en- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’) + Middle French, Old French batre (“to beat, hit, strike”) (from Latin battere, battuere, the present active infinitive of battuō (“to beat, hit; to beat up; to fight”); see further at etymology 1). The English word was probably also influenced by the verb abate. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪt/, /əˈbeət/ 1. To enter upon and unlawfully seize (land) after the owner has died, thus preventing an heir from taking possession of it. Labels: ambitransitive, historical, obsolete Example: So, if Lands be given to Father and Son, and to the heirs of their two bodies begotten, the remainder over in fee, and afterwards the Father dieth without any Iſſue but the Son, and afterwards the Son dieth without Iſſue, and a Stranger abateth, he in the remainder ſhall have one Formedon in the remainder, although the Eſtate tails were ſeveral, […]
Word: abate Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Italian abate (“abbot”), from Latin abbātem, the accusative singular of abbās (“abbot”), from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς (abbâs), a variant of ἀββᾱ (abbā, “father; title of respect for an abbot”), from Aramaic אַבָּא (’abbā, “father; ancestor; teacher; chief, leader; author, originator”), from Proto-Semitic *ʔabw- (“father”), ultimately imitative of a child’s word for “father”. The English word is a doublet of abbot. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪt/, /əˈbeət/ 1. An Italian abbot or other member of the clergy. Labels: obsolete
Word: abate Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Unknown Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪt/, /əˈbeət/ 1. In the habit of. Labels: obsolete Example: He's gotten abate o' drinkin'.
Word: abatement Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English abatement, from Anglo-Norman abatre (“to abate”) (from Old French abatre), + -ment; equivalent to abate + -ment. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪt.mənt/ 1. The act of abating, or the state of being abated; a lessening, diminution, or reduction; a moderation; removal or putting an end to; the suppression. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The abatement of a nuisance is the suppression thereof. Example: For quotations using this term, see Citations:abatement. 2. The deduction of minor revenues incidental to an operation in calculating the cost of the operation. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. The action of a person that abates, or without proper authority enters a residence after the death of the owner and before the heir takes possession. Labels: countable, uncountable 4. The reduction of the proceeds of a will, when the debts have not yet been satisfied; the reduction of taxes due. Labels: countable, uncountable 5. An amount abated; that which is taken away by way of reduction; deduction; decrease; a rebate or discount allowed; in particular from a tax. Labels: countable, uncountable 6. A mark of dishonor on an escutcheon; any figure added to the coat of arms tending to lower the dignity or station of the bearer. Labels: countable, uncountable 7. Waste of stuff in preparing to size. Labels: Scotland, countable, uncountable 8. A beating down, a putting down. Labels: countable, uncountable 9. A quashing, a judicial defeat, the rendering abortive by law. Labels: countable, uncountable 10. Forcible entry of a stranger into an inheritance when the person seised of it dies, and before the heir or devisee can take possession; ouster. Labels: countable, uncountable 11. rebatement, real or imaginary marks of disgrace affixed to an escutcheon. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: abater Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English abatere. Equivalent to abate + -er. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪ.tɚ/ 1. One who, or that which, abates. Example: This is the great Prince of Grecia, called the Knight of the Sunne, restorer of the auncient kingdome of Tinacria, & the abater and breaker of the strength of the most strongest Giants in all the world. Example: Anodyne, or Abaters of Pain of the Alimentary Kind. Such things as relax the Tension of the affected nervous Fibres […]
Word: abatis Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From French abatis, abattis (“mass of things beaten or cut down”), from abattre. See abate. Pronunciation: /ˈæbətiː/, /ˈæbətiːz/, /ˈæbətəs/ 1. A means of defense formed by felled trees, or sometimes by bent trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy, and more recently fortified with barbed wire. 2. In the Middle Ages, an officer of the stables who had the care of measuring out the provender; an avenor. Labels: historical 3. In coal-mining, walls of cord-wood piled up crosswise to keep the underground roads open so as to secure ventilation.
Word: abatised Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From abatis + -ed. Pronunciation: /ˈæb.əˌtɪst/, /ˈæb.əˌtid/, /əˈbæt.id/, /əˈbæt.ɪst/ 1. Provided with an abatis. Labels: not-comparable Example: Their defenses at Boston Neck had been built up and greatly strengthened, and on Bunker's Hill they had built an elaborate fortress, with a thick parapet, well ditched, fraised, and abatised, of which Washington said "Twenty thousand men could not have carried it against one thousand had that work been well defended."
Word: abator Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From abate (“to enter without right after the owner dies and before the heir takes over”) + -or. From Anglo-Norman. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪt.ə/, /əˈbeɪt.ɚ/ 1. a person who, without right, enters into a freehold on the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee
Word: abator Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From abate (“do away with”) + -or. From Middle English, from Old French. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪt.ə/, /əˈbeɪt.ɚ/ 1. one who abates, ends, or does away with a nuisance
Word: abattoir Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from French abattoir, from abattre (“to slaughter”) (cognate to abate) + -oir (“-ory”). Pronunciation: /ˈæb.əˌtwɑː(ɹ)/, /ˈæb.əˌtwɑɹ/, /ˈæb.əˌtwɑ/ 1. A public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc. Example: Once the cows reach maturity, they're sent to the abattoir. 2. A place or event likened to a slaughterhouse, because of great carnage or bloodshed. Example: The army's raid on the enemy turned into a major abattoir. Example: The corridors where North Korean troops would be advancing [in a hypothetical invasion of South Korea] would almost certainly be turned into human abattoirs.
Word: abature Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Old French abateure, from the verb abatre (“to knock down, to destroy”). See abate. Pronunciation: /ˈæb.ə.tjʊɹ/ 1. Grass and sprigs beaten or trampled down by a stag passing through them. Labels: plural-normally
Word: abatvoix Part of Speech: noun Pronunciation: /ɑˌbɑvˈwɑ/ 1. Alternative form of abat-voix. Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: abaxial Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree English ab- Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-? Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs-der. Proto-Italic *aksis Latin axisbor. English axis English -al English axial English abaxial From ab- (“away from”) + axial (“axis”). Pronunciation: /ˌæˈbæk.si.əl/, /æbˈæk.si.əl/ 1. Of a side that is facing away from the axis or central line, such as the underside of a leaf, or the back of an animal. Labels: not-comparable Example: The lobule margins, furthermore, are arched away from the lobe, with the consequence that (when fully inflated) the abaxial leaf surface forms the interior lining of the lobule. 2. Not in the axis. Applied to an embryo placed out of the axis of the seed. Labels: not-comparable
Word: abay Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Inherited from Middle English abay, a-bay, from Old French abai, aboi, abay (“barking”), from the verb abayer. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪ/ 1. Barking or baying of dogs at their prey. Labels: obsolete, uncountable
Word: abb Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English ab, abbe, from Old English āweb, āb, ōweb, from away + web (“warp thread”). Pronunciation: /æb/ 1. A type of yarn for the warp. Labels: countable, uncountable 2. A rough wool from the inferior parts of the fleece, used for the woof or weft. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. A filling pick used in weaving. Labels: UK, countable, uncountable
Word: abba Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English, from Latin, from Ancient Greek, from Aramaic אבא/ܐܒܐ (ʼaḇā, “father”); see abbot, Abraham for more. Pronunciation: /ˈæb.ə/, /æˈbɑ/ 1. Father; religious superior; in the Syriac, Coptic, and Ethiopic churches, a title given to the bishops, and by the bishops to the patriarch; a title given to Jewish scholars in the Talmudic period. Labels: Judaism Example: The abba of the coenobion went to him and told him about the brother who had slipped up.
Word: abba Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Variant forms. 1. Alternative form of aba (Middle Eastern garment). Labels: alt-of, alternative Example: The rich turbans and flowing robes of the respectable merchants are finely contrasted with the rude sheepskin covering of the mountaineer, and the dark abba of the wandering Arab. Example: Around their waist, instead of a shawl, they wear a girdle fastened with monstrous silver clasps which may be ornamented, according to the owner's taste, with jewels and in which they stick not only their Koordish dagger, but a pair of great brass or silver-knobbed pistols; from this, too, hang sundry powder-horns and shot-cases, cartridge-boxes, &c. ; and over all they cast a sort of cloak, or abba, of camel's hair, white or black, or striped white brown and black, clasped on the breast, and floating picturesquely behind.
Word: abbacy Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English abbathie, from Late Latin abbātia, from abbās, abbātis (“abbot”). Doublet of abbey and Opatija. Pronunciation: /ˈæb.ə.si/ 1. The dignity, estate, term, or jurisdiction of an abbot or abbess.
Word: abbatial Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Inherited from Middle English abbacyal, derived from Middle French abbatial, derived from Late Latin abbātiāl|is, ~e, from abbā|s, ~tis (“abbot”) + -āl|is, ~e (“-ial”). Doublet of abbot. Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪ.ʃəl/, /əˈbæɪ.ʃəl/, /əˈbe.ʃəl/ 1. Belonging to, relating to, or pertaining to an abbey, abbot, or abbess. Example: a possible abbatial vacancy Example: Thus the abbatial succession came to be confined to members of the clan of the founder; and although originally the abbots were elected from the "founder's kin," and were distinct from those of the clan who possessed the abbatial lands, yet in process of time ecclesiastical line was merged in the secular, and both were united in one lay official, like the successors of St. Patrick at Armagh, who were the objects of St. Bernard's denunciations
Word: abbatical Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From the stem of Latin abbās + -ical. Pronunciation: /əˈbætɪkəl/ 1. Synonym of abbatial. Labels: not-comparable, uncommon Example: It was many years since the kings of England had bothered over abbatical elections.
Word: abbess Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Afroasiatic *ʔab- Proto-Semitic *ʔabw- Aramaic אַבָּאbor. Ancient Greek ἀββα (abba) Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς (abbâs)der. Latin abbās Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ih₂der. Ancient Greek -ῐᾰ (-ĭă) Ancient Greek -ισσα (-issa)bor. Latin -issa Latin abbātissader. Old French abeesseder. Middle English abbesse English abbess From Middle English abbesse, from Old French abeesse (French abbesse), from Late Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin abbatissa, feminine of Latin abbas, abbatis (“abbot”). Pronunciation: /ˈæb.ɪs/, /ˈæb.ɛs/ 1. 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. Example: The abbess was always after the nuns to keep the convent immaculately clean. 2. A woman who runs a brothel; a woman employed by a prostitute to find clients. Labels: British, archaic, slang Example: Why laſt night, as Colonel Kill'em, Sir William Weezy, Lord Frederick Foretop, and I were careleſsly ſliding the Ranelagh round, picking our teeth, after a damn'd muzzy dinner at Boodle's, who ſhould trip by but an abbeſs, well known about town, with a ſmart little nun in her ſuite. Example: So an old Abbess for the rattling Rakes, / A tempting dish of human nature makes, / And dresses up a luscious Maid: / I rather should have said, indeed, undresses, / To please a youth's unsanctified caresses.
Word: abbey Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From A.D. 1250 in Middle English abbey, abbeye (“convent headed by an abbot”) (compare archaic English abbaye), itself borrowed from Old French abaïe, abbaïe, abeïe, abbeïe (Modern French abbaye) from Late Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin abbātia, from Classical Latin abbās (“abbot”). Doublet of abbacy and Opatija. See abbot. Pronunciation: /ˈæb.i/ 1. The office or dominion of an abbot or abbess. 2. A monastery or society of people, secluded from the world and devoted to religion and celibacy, which is headed by an abbot or abbess; also, the monastic building or buildings. Example: Near-synonym: convent Example: From 1199 to 1203 William Punchard was the abbot of the abbey of Rievaulx, which was part of the Cistercian order of monks. 3. The church of a monastery. Example: No, we can't have alphabetical seating in the abbey. You'd have Iraq and Iran next to each other (laugh track)... Plus Israel and Jordan all sitting in the same pew (laugh track)! We'd be in danger of starting World War III (laugh track)! 4. A residence that was previously an abbatial building. Labels: British, English 5. The abele or white poplar (Populus alba). Labels: dialectal Example: Ab'bey. The great white poplar: one of the varieties of the Populus alba. Example: Abbey-lug, a branch of the abele tree.
Word: abbot Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English abbot, abbod, abbed, from Old English abbat, abbad, abbod, from Latin abbās (“father”), from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς (abbâs), from Aramaic אבא (’abbā, “father”). Doublet of abba, abbé, and bwana. Pronunciation: /ˈæbət/, /ˈabət/, /ˈɛbət/ 1. The superior or head of an abbey or monastery. Example: The newly appointed abbot decided to take a tour of the abbey with the cardinal's emissary. 2. The pastor or administrator of an order, including minor and major orders starting with the minor order of porter. 3. A layman who received the abbey's revenues, after the closing of the monasteries. 4. A brothel-owner's husband or lover. Labels: British, archaic, slang 5. A ponce; a man employed by a prostitute to find clients, and who may also act as a bodyguard or equivalent to a bouncer. Labels: British, archaic, slang
Word: abbotship Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English abboship, abbotshup; equivalent to abbot + -ship. Pronunciation: /ˈæ.bət.ʃɪp/ 1. The state, term, or office of an abbot; abbacy.
Word: abbreviate Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English abbreviaten, from abbreviat(e) (“abbreviated”, used as the participle of abbreviaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin abbreviātus, perfect passive participle of abbreviō (“to shorten”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), formed from ab- + breviō (“to shorten”), from brevis (“short”). Alternatively, a back-formation from abbreviation. Doublet of abridge. Pronunciation: /əˈbɹiː.vi.eɪt/, /əˈbɹi.vi.eɪt/ 1. To shorten by omitting parts or details. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: But it is one Thing, to Abbreuiate by Contracting, Another by Cutting off: […] 2. To speak or write in a brief manner. Labels: intransitive, obsolete 3. To make shorter; to shorten (in time); to abridge; to shorten by ending sooner than planned. Labels: transitive Example: But as delivery schedules have dwindled into hours, even the gigantic warehouse full of stuff in a central place such as the triangle is proving insufficient. Now, companies also need smaller distribution centres around the country, to respond rapidly to orders and to abbreviate the last mile as much as possible. 4. To reduce a word or phrase by means of contraction or omission to a shorter recognizable form. Labels: transitive Example: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is more commonly known by its abbreviated form BSE. Example: Alana abbreviated "involuntarily celibate" to "invcel", until someone suggested that "incel" was easier to say. 5. To reduce to lower terms, as a fraction. Labels: transitive
Word: abbreviate Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English abbreviat(e) (“abbreviated”, used as the past participle of abbreviaten); the noun is derived by subtsantivization from the adjective. See -ate (adjective forming suffix), -ate (noun forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. Participial usage up until Early Modern English. Pronunciation: /əˈbɹi.vi.ət/, /əˈbɹi.vi.eɪt/ 1. Abbreviated. Labels: obsolete 2. Abbreviated, abridged, shortened. Labels: obsolete Example: The curt form of gent as a less ceremonious substitute for the full expression of ‘gentleman,’ had once made considerable way, but its career was blighted in a court of justice. It is about twenty years ago that two young men, being brought before a London magistrate, described themselves as ‘gents.’ The magistrate said that he considered that a designation little better than ‘blackguard.’ The abbreviate form has never been able to recover that shock. 3. Having one part relatively shorter than another or than the ordinary type.
Word: abbreviate Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English abbreviat(e) (“abbreviated”, used as the past participle of abbreviaten); the noun is derived by subtsantivization from the adjective. See -ate (adjective forming suffix), -ate (noun forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. Participial usage up until Early Modern English. Pronunciation: /əˈbɹi.vi.eɪt/, /əˈbriviet/ 1. An abridgment. Labels: Scotland, obsolete
Word: abbreviated Part of Speech: adj Pronunciation: /əˈbɹiːvieɪtɪd/, /əˈbɹi.viˌeɪ.tɪd/ 1. Shortened; made briefer. Example: The abbreviated lesson only took fifteen minutes as opposed to an hour and a half. 2. Relatively short; shorter than normal, or compared to others. 3. Scanty, as in clothing.
Word: abbreviated Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /əˈbɹiːvieɪtɪd/, /əˈbɹi.viˌeɪ.tɪd/ 1. simple past and past participle of abbreviate Labels: form-of, participle, past
Word: abbreviation Part of Speech: noun Etymology: First attested 1400–50. From Middle English abbreviacioun, from Middle French abreviation, from Ecclesiastical Latin abbreviātiō, from Latin ad + breviō (“shorten”), from brevis (“short”). By surface analysis, abbreviate + -ion. Pronunciation: /əˌbɹiː.viˈeɪ.ʃən/, /əˌbɹi.viˈeɪ.ʃn̩/ 1. The result of shortening or reducing; abridgment. Labels: countable, uncountable 2. A shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase used to represent the whole, using omission of letters, and sometimes substitution of letters, or duplication of initial letters to signify plurality, including signs such as +, =, @. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Hants is an abbreviation of Hampshire. Example: Americans, for example, call newcomers to Antarctica “fingies”, which comes from FNGs – a borrowed military abbreviation that means “Fucking New Guy”. 3. The process of abbreviating. Labels: countable, uncountable 4. A notation used in music score to denote a direction, as pp or mf. Labels: countable, uncountable 5. One or more dashes through the stem of a note, dividing it respectively into quavers, semiquavers, demisemiquavers, or hemidemisemiquavers. Labels: countable, uncountable 6. Any convenient short form used as a substitution for an understood or inferred whole. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The phrase "civil rights" is an abbreviation for a whole complex of relationships. 7. Loss during evolution of the final stages of the ancestral ontogenetic pattern. Labels: countable, uncountable 8. Reduction to lower terms, as a fraction. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: abbreviator Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Ecclesiastical Latin abbreviātor. Compare French abbréviateur. Pronunciation: /əˈbɹiː.viˌeɪ.tɚ/, /-ɛɪ.tɚ/, /əˈbɹi.viˌeɪ.tɚ/ 1. A person who abbreviates or shortens. 2. One of a college of seventy-two officers of the papal court whose duty was to make a short minute of a decision on a petition, or reply of the pope to a letter, and afterwards expand the minute into official form. Labels: historical
Word: abbreviatory Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree English abbreviate Latin -tōriusder. Middle English -orie English -ory English abbreviatory From abbreviate + -ory. Pronunciation: /əˈbɹi.vi.əˌtɔɹ.i/ 1. Serving or tending to abbreviate; shortening; abridging.
Word: abbreviature Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Medieval Latin abbreviātūra, from Late Latin abbreviō (“shorten, abbreviate”). See also abbreviate. Pronunciation: /əˈbɹi.vi.əˌt͡ʃʊɹ/ 1. An abridgment; a compendium; an abstract. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: This is an excellent abbreviature of the whole duty of a Christian. 2. An abbreviated state or form. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable 3. A shortened form of a word or phrase, used in place of the whole; an abbreviation. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The hand of PROVIDENCE writes often by abbreviatures, hieroglyphicks or short characters […] 4. The process of abbreviating. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable
Word: abb wool Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative form of abb-wool. Labels: alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable
Word: abdal Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Arabic أَبْدَال (ʔabdāl), plural of بَدَل (badal, “a substitute; a good, religious man; saint”), from بَدَلَ (badala, “to replace”). 1. A religious devotee or dervish in Persia.
Word: Abderian Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree English Abdera Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Italic *-nos Latin -nus Latin -ānus Latin -iānusbor. English -ian English Abderian From Abdera (“a town in Thrace”) + -ian. Pronunciation: /æbˈdɪɹ.i.ən/, /æbˈdɛɹ.i.ən/ 1. Of or belonging to Abdera or its people. 2. Alternative form of abderian. Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: Abderian Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English Abdera Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Italic *-nos Latin -nus Latin -ānus Latin -iānusbor. English -ian English Abderian From Abdera (“a town in Thrace”) + -ian. Pronunciation: /æbˈdɪɹ.i.ən/, /æbˈdɛɹ.i.ən/ 1. An inhabitant or native of Abdera. Example: He regrets that his lines had not fallen in the pleasant places of the past — among the intelligent Abderians of whom it is said, when Hippocrates came to their city to cure Democritus of his madness, not only the men, but also the women and children […] went forth to meet him.
Word: Abderite Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Latin Abderita, Abderites, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδηρίτης (Abdērítēs). Pronunciation: /ˈæb.dəˌɹaɪt/ 1. An inhabitant or native of Abdera, in Thrace. Example: To that end they entered the borders of the Abderites in another part of Thrace, and wasted and spoiled the country […] 2. Democritus, the Laughing Philosopher.
Word: abdest Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish آبدست (modern Turkish abdest), from Classical Persian آبْدَسْت (ābdast), compound of آب (āb, “water”) and دست (dast, “hand”). Pronunciation: /ˈɑb.dɛst/ 1. The Islamic act of washing parts of the body using water for ritual prayers and for handling and reading the Qur'an. Labels: uncountable
Word: abdicable Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Latin abdicō Latin abdicātusbor. English abdicate Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English abdicable From abdicate + -able. Pronunciation: /ˈæb.də.kə.bəl/ 1. Capable of being abdicated.
Word: abdicant Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Latin abdicō Latin abdicātusbor. English abdicate Proto-Indo-European *-onts Latin -ns Latin -āns Old French -antbor. Proto-Indo-European *-onts Proto-Germanic *-ndz Proto-West Germanic *-andī Old English -ende Middle English -ant English -ant English abdicant From abdicate + -ant. Pronunciation: /ˈæb.dɪ.kn̩t/ 1. Abdicating; renouncing. Labels: rare Example: monks abdicant of their orders
Word: abdicant Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Latin abdicō Latin abdicātusbor. English abdicate Proto-Indo-European *-onts Latin -ns Latin -āns Old French -antbor. Proto-Indo-European *-onts Proto-Germanic *-ndz Proto-West Germanic *-andī Old English -ende Middle English -ant English -ant English abdicant From abdicate + -ant. Pronunciation: /ˈæb.dɪ.kn̩t/ 1. One who abdicates.
Word: abdicate Part of Speech: verb Etymology: First attested in 1532; borrowed from Latin abdicātus (“renounced”), perfect passive participle of abdicō (“to renounce, reject, disclaim”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), formed from ab (“away”) + dicō (“proclaim, dedicate, declare”), akin to dīcō (“to say”). Compare Middle English abdicat (“forsaken, renounced”). Compare typologically abandon, Russian отказа́ться (otkazátʹsja), отре́чься (otréčʹsja). Pronunciation: /ˈæb.dɪˌkeɪt/ 1. To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit. Labels: obsolete, transitive 2. To formally separate oneself from or to divest oneself of. Labels: obsolete, reflexive, transitive 3. To depose. Labels: obsolete, transitive 4. To reject; to cast off; to discard. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: [W]e were legally call'd by his Majeſties writ to give our Attendance in Parliament, […] if we did not, we ſhould betray the Truſt committed to us by his Majeſtie, and ſhamefully betray and abdicate the due right both of our ſelves and Succeſſours. 5. To surrender, renounce or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station, dignity; to fail to fulfill responsibility for. Labels: transitive Example: to abdicate the throne, the crown, the papacy Example: Note: The word abdicate was held to mean, in the case of James II, to abandon without a formal surrender. 6. To relinquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or dignity; to renounce sovereignty. Labels: intransitive Example: Though a king may abdicate for his own person, he cannot abdicate for the monarchy.
Word: abdication Part of Speech: noun Etymology: First attested in 1552. From Latin abdicātiō (“renunciation”), from abdicō. By surface analysis, abdicate + -ion. Pronunciation: /ˌæb.dəˈkeɪ.ʃən/ 1. The act of disowning or disinheriting a child. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable 2. The act of abdicating; the renunciation of a high office, dignity, or trust, by its holder. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. The voluntary renunciation of sovereign power. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: abdication of the throne, government, power, authority Example: the king’s abdication 4. The renunciation of interest in a property or a legal claim; abandonment. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable 5. The action of being deposed from the seat of power. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable
Word: abdicative Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Latin abdicō Latin abdicātusbor. English abdicate Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English abdicative From abdicate + -ive. Pronunciation: /ˈæb.dəˌkeɪ.tɪv/, /ˈæb.dəˌkə.tɪv/ 1. Causing, or implying, abdication. Labels: rare
Word: abdicative Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Latin abdicativus. 1. A reasoning from the negative Example: The fourth mood is that which brings together directly a particular abdicative from a particular dedicative and a universal abdicative, e.g., Some just thing is honourable, no honourable thing is base, therefore some just thing is not base.
Word: abdicator Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Latin abdicō Latin abdicātusbor. English abdicate Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin -ātor Old French -eorbor. Middle English -our ▲ Latin -torlbor. English -or English abdicator From abdicate + -or. Pronunciation: /ˈæb.dɪˌkeɪ.tɚ/, /ˈæb.dəˌkeɪ.tɚ/ 1. A person supporting the abdication of another. Labels: obsolete 2. One who abdicates. Example: King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom was an abdicator.
Word: abditive Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Latin abditīvus (“removed or separated from”), from abdō (“hide, conceal”). Pronunciation: /ˈæb.dɪ.tɪv/ 1. Having the quality of hiding Labels: not-comparable, rare Example: There is also a species of wit which may be termed abditive; for it conceals or lessens the dignity attached to rank or character. Example: Concepts are either abditive or inabditive; the former being those that do, and the latter those that do not, hide the plurality of the kind they symbolise.
Word: abditory Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Medieval Latin abditorium, from abdō (“to hide”). Pronunciation: /ˈæb.dɪt.ə.ɹi/, /ˈæb.dɪt.ɹi/ 1. A concealed location used for storage or to hide items. Labels: rare
Word: abdomen Part of Speech: noun Etymology: First attested in 1541 as labdomen. Borrowed from Middle French abdomen as well as from its etymon Latin abdōmen, possibly from abdō (“conceal”), from ab (“away”) + -dō (“put, place”). Pronunciation: /ˈæb.də.mən/, /æbˈdəʊ.mən/, /æbˈdoʊ.mən/ 1. The fat surrounding the belly. Labels: obsolete 2. The belly, or that part of the body between the thorax and the pelvis, not including the back; or in some lower vertebrates, the portion between the cardiac and caudal regions. 3. The cavity of the belly, which is lined by the peritoneum, and contains the viscera; often restricted in humans to the part between the diaphragm and the commencement of the pelvis, the remainder being called the pelvic cavity. Example: He was all bent over complaining of pains in the abdomen. 4. The posterior section of the body, behind the thorax, in insects, crustaceans, and other Arthropoda.
Word: abdominal Part of Speech: adj Etymology: First attested in 1746. From New Latin abdōminālis, from Latin abdōmen. Equivalent to abdomin- + -al. Compare French abdominal. Pronunciation: /æbˈdɒm.ə.nl̩/, /əbˈdɒm.ə.nl̩/, /æbˈdɑm.ə.nl̩/, /əbˈdɑm.ə.nl̩/ 1. Of or pertaining to the abdomen; ventral. Example: abdominal muscles Example: abdominal cavity 2. Having the ventral fins under the abdomen and behind the pectoral fins. 3. Ventral, in describing a fin. 4. Belonging to the order Abdominales of fish. Labels: obsolete
Word: abdominal Part of Speech: noun Etymology: First attested in 1746. From New Latin abdōminālis, from Latin abdōmen. Equivalent to abdomin- + -al. Compare French abdominal. Pronunciation: /æbˈdɒm.ə.nl̩/, /əbˈdɒm.ə.nl̩/, /æbˈdɑm.ə.nl̩/, /əbˈdɑm.ə.nl̩/ 1. A fish of the order Abdominales. Labels: obsolete 2. An abdominal muscle. Labels: colloquial, plural-normally
Word: abdominalia Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Latin. Pronunciation: /ˌæb.dɑ.mɪˈneɪ.li.ə/, /ˌæb.dɒ.mɪˈneɪ.li.ə/ 1. A group of cirriped crustaceans having abdominal appendages. Labels: plural, plural-only
Word: abdominoscopy Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From abdomino- + -scopy. Pronunciation: /æbˌdɑm.ɪnˈɑs.kə.pi/ 1. Examination of the abdomen to detect abdominal disease, using an endoscope. Labels: uncountable
Word: abdominothoracic Part of Speech: adj Etymology: * abdomino- (“abdomen”) + thoracic (“chest”) Pronunciation: /æbˌdɑm.ɪ.noʊ.θɔɹˈæs.ɪk/, /æbˌdɑm.ɪ.noʊ.θəˈɹæs.ɪk/ 1. Relating to the abdomen and the thorax, or chest. Labels: not-comparable
Word: abdominous Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From abdomin- + -ous. Pronunciation: /æbˈdɒm.ə.nəs/, /æbˈdɑm.ə.nəs/ 1. Having a protuberant belly; potbellied. Example: Gorgonius sits, abdominous and wan, Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan
Word: abduce Part of Speech: verb Etymology: (1530's) From Latin abdūcō (“lead away”), formed from ab (“from, away from”) + dūcō (“lead”). * See duke, and compare abduct. Pronunciation: /əbˈdjuːs/, /əbˈd͡ʒuːs/, /æbˈdus/, /əbˈdus/, /əbˈdjʉs/ 1. To draw; to conduct away; to take away; to withdraw; to draw to a different part; to move a limb out away from the center of the body; abduct. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: If we abduce the eye unto either corner, the object will not duplicate. 2. To draw a conclusion, especially in metanalysis; to deduce. Labels: transitive
Word: abduct Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Italic *ap Latin abder. Latin ab- Proto-Indo-European *dewk- Proto-Indo-European *déwkti Proto-Italic *doukō Latin dūcō Latin abdūcō Latin abductusder. English abduct From Latin abductus, perfect passive participle of abduco (“to lead away”), from ab (“away”) + duco (“to lead”). * (physiology): Back-formation from abduction. Pronunciation: /æbˈdʌkt/, /əbˈdʌkt/ 1. To take away by force; to carry away (a human being) wrongfully and usually with violence or deception; to kidnap. Labels: transitive Example: to abduct children Example: I was abducted by aliens. 2. To draw away, as a limb or other part, from the median axis of the body. Labels: transitive