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Synonyms

abridge, curtail, cut back, shorten—more at SHORTEN

ab·bre·vi·a·tion noun 1 : the act or result of abbreviating : ABRIDGMENT

2 : a shortened form of a word or phrase used for brevity esp. in writing

Synonyms

abridgment, condensation, digest—more at ABRIDGMENT

1ABC noun, plural ABC's or ABCs 1 : ALPHABET — usu. used in pl.

2 : RUDIMENTS — usu. used in pl.

2ABC abbreviation American Broadcasting Company

Ab·di·as noun : OBADIAH

ab·di·cate verb -cat·ed; -cat·ing : to give up (as a throne) formally

— ab·di·ca·tion noun

Synonyms

abnegate, cede, relinquish, renounce, resign, step down, surrender; also abjure, disavow, disclaim, disown, deny, waive

ab·do·men noun 1 : the cavity in or area of the body between the chest and the pelvis

2 : the part of the body posterior to the thorax in an arthropod

— ab·dom·i·nal adjective

— ab·dom·i·nal·ly adverb

Synonyms

belly, gut, solar plexus, stomach, tummy—more at STOMACH

ab·duct verb : to take away (a person) by force : KIDNAP

— ab·duc·tion noun

— ab·duc·tor noun

abeam adverb or adjective : on a line at right angles to a ship's keel

abed adverb or adjective : in bed

Abe·na·ki noun, plural Abenaki or Abenakis : a member of a group of American Indian peoples of northern New England and southern Quebec

ab·er·rant adjective 1 : departing from the right or normal way

2 : departing from the usual or natural type : ATYPICAL

Synonyms

[1] abnormal, anomalous, atypical, deviant, irregular, unnatural—more at DEVIANT

[2] abnormal, atypical, exceptional, extraordinary, freak, odd, peculiar, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted—more at EXCEPTIONAL

ab·er·ra·tion noun 1 : deviation esp. from a moral standard or normal state

2 : failure of a mirror or lens to produce exact point-to-point correspondence between an object and its image

3 : unsoundness of mind : DERANGEMENT

Synonyms

dementia, derangement, insanity, lunacy, madness, mania—more at INSANITY

abet verb abet·ted; abet·ting [ORIGIN: ME abetten, fr. AF abeter, fr. beter to bait]

1 : to actively second and encourage (as in wrongdoing) : INCITE

2 : to assist or support in the achievement of a purpose

Synonyms

[1, 2] ferment, foment, incite, instigate, provoke, raise, stir, whip—more at INCITE

[2] aid, assist, back, help, prop, support—more at HELP

abet·tor also abet·ter noun : one that abets

Synonyms

accessory, accomplice, cohort, confederate—more at ACCOMPLICE

ally, backer, confederate, supporter, sympathizer—more at ALLY

abey·ance noun : a condition of suspended activity

Synonyms

doldrums, dormancy, latency, quiescence, suspension; also inaction, inertia, inertness, motionlessness

Antonyms

continuance, continuation

ab·hor verb ab·horred; ab·hor·ring [ORIGIN: ME abhorren, fr. L abhorrēre, fr. ab- + horrēre to shudder]

: to regard with extreme dislike : LOATHE, DETEST

Synonyms

abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe—more at HATE

ab·hor·rence noun 1 : the feeling of one who abhors

2 : one that is abhorred

Synonyms

[1] abomination, execration, hate, hatred, loathing—more at HATE

[2] abomination, anathema, antipathy, aversion, bête noire, hate—more at HATE

ab·hor·rent adjective : causing or deserving strong dislike : LOATHSOME

Synonyms

abominable, appalling, hideous, horrible, horrid, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, shocking—more at OFFENSIVE

abide verb abode or abid·ed; abid·ing 1 : to bear patiently : ENDURE

2 a : to continue in a state or place

b : to have one's abode

— abide by

: to conform or acquiesce to

Synonyms

[1] bear, brook, countenance, endure, meet, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, take, tolerate—more at BEAR

[2a] continue, endure, hold, keep up, last, persist, run on—more at CONTINUE

[2b] dwell, live, reside—more at LIVE

abil·i·ty noun, plural -ties : the quality of being able

Synonyms

capability, capacity, competence, faculty;