abacus

[Ger. abacus; Fr. abaqus; Ital abaco; fr. Lat. abacus, Gr. άβαξ, ακος ( αbaz -akos ). The word appears to have signified originally and specially the Pythagorean multiplication table, and thus to have been derived either from the first two letters of the alphabet, or from the Heb. אבק ( abaq ) = dust, or a corresponding term in some other Syro-Arabian language; the allusion being to the ancient practice of spreading dust on tablets, with the view of tracing diagrams among it. Hence its various significations, which are the same in English as they are in Latin.] IMG:content-0009.png:[blocks in formation] 1. A counting-frame; an instrument inade of wires and beads designed to facilitate arithmetical calculations. It was used in Greece as well as in Rome, and is still employed in China, where it is called Shwanpan. In our own country an abacus of a humble kind is occasionally sold in toy-shops. [See Wright, in Journ. Archæological A oc. ii. (1847), 64.] 2. Arch . A flat stone crowning the capital of a column. It was square in the Tuscan, Doric, and all the ancient Ionic styles. In the Corinthian and Composite orders the sides were hollowed, and the angles in nearly all cases truncated. It is the same in some of the modern Ionic. In the Grecian Doric, the Roman Doric, and the Tuscan, the abacus was thick, while it was thin in the Doric and Corinthian. It was to these last forms that Vitru vius, the Roman writer, who introduced the word abacus into architectural nomenclature, IMG:content-0010.png:[blocks in formation] *a-bad', *a-ba'de, *a-bai'd ( Scotch ), *a-bod', * a-bood' ( Chaucer ), s. [ABIDE.] Delay, abiding, tarrying. "For soone aftir that he was made He fel withouten lenger abade ." IMG:content-0011.png:[blocks in formation] "a-baisch-ite, *a-baischt, *a-bāi ed', a-bai hed', * a-baist', * a-bā'-sit, *a-bāst', pa , par . [ABASE, ABASH.) Abashed, ashamed, frightened, bereaved, disappointed. "I was abaischite , be oure Lorde Of our beste bernea," *a-bait-en, v.t. To bait. ( Stratmann .) ta-bait-měnt, s. [ABATE.] ( Scotch .) Diver- sion, sport. "For quha sa list sere gladsum gam is lere Ful mony mery a bait ment is follow is here." Douglas: Virgil , 125, 55. *a-bak-ward, adv . Backwards. ( Hall i well .) ab-ā-li-en-āte, v.t. [Lat. aba lien at us , pa. par. of abalieno = to alienate property from one to another, to transfer the ownership from one to another ab = from, and alieno = (1) to alienate, to transfer by sale; (2) to set at variance, to render averse; alien us = belong- ing to another, or foreign; ali us = another.] 11. Civil Law : To transfer property, or some- thing else of value, from ourselves to others. IMG:content-0012.png:[blocks in formation] ab-a-li-en-a-těd, pa . par . [A BALI ENATE.] ạ băn dồn-er, s. ab-a-li-en-a-ting, pr . par . [A BALI ENATE.] ab-a-li-en-a-tion, s. The transfer of pro- perty, such as land, goods, or chattels, from one to another. [A BALI ENATE.] ǎb-a-mür-ŭs, s. [Lat. murus = a wall.] Arch: A buttre , or second wall, erected to strengthen another one. *a-band', v.t. [ Poet .: Contracted from aban- don.] To forsake. [ABANDON.] "And Vortiger enforst the king do me to aband." Spenser: F. Q., II. x. 65. a-băn' dồn, v.t. [Fr. abandonner, from à band on at liberty: à Lat . adat ; O. Fr. band on Low Lat. bandum an order, a decree; Sp. & Port. abandonnar ; Ital. abb an- donare.] 1. Prim & special: To cast out an object in consequence of its having been denounced or fallen into evil repute. a-băn' dồn-ing, pr . par., & s. [ABANDON.] As subst . A forsaking; a total desertion. "When thus the helm of Justice is abandoned, universal abandoning of all other posts will succeed." "In the Middle Ages the system derived from the Roman calendar doned."-Lewis: Astron, of the Ancients. 3. To leave, to yield up. "Meanwhile the British Channel seemed to be aban- doned to French rovers."- Macaulay : Hist. of Eng., chap. xiv. 4. To desert a person to whom one owes allegiance, or is under obligation. That durst nane warne to do his will," Barbour. *8. To let loose, to give permi ion to act at pleasure. ( Scotch .) The hardy Bruce ane ost abandonwynt xx you sand he rewyllt be force and wit." Wallace, x. 317, MS. * 9. To destroy, to cut off, in consequence of being given over. ( Scotch .) "Yondyr the king this ost abandon and." Wallace, x. 259, MS. *10. To deter, effectually to prevent. ( Scotch .) "To dant their attempt at is and to abandon thaym in tymes cumyng."- Betlen .: Cron., b. 10, с. 2. Wedgwood considers that signification No. 7 is the primary one. 20