Abrus (abrus)

[NL., prop. * Habrus, licorice, indigenous India, but now found in all tropical countries, where its root is often used as a substitute for licorice. Its polished, party colored seeds, of the size of a small pea, called crabs' eyes, jumble - beads, and jequirity or John Crow beans, are employed for rosaries, necklaces, etc., and as a remedy in diseases of the conjunctiva. They have given their native name of retti [Hind. ratti, rat i ) to a weight (2.1875 grains) used by Hindu jewelers and druggists. See retti - weights. abs-. A prefix of Latin origin; a form of ab-, used (as in Latin) before c, q, t, as in abscond, abstain, absterge, abstract, etc. absce (ab's es), n. [L. absce us, a going away, in medical language an absce , absce i on Neither justly excommunicated out of that particular church to which he was orderly joyned, nor excommunicating himself by voluntary Schisme, declared absce i on, separation, or a post a sie. Bp . Gauden , Tears of the Church, p. 37. 2. In med., an absce . absce -root (ab's es-röt), n. A popular name of the plant Polemonium reptans. abscind (ab-sind'), v. t. [L. abscind ere, cut off, tear off, Two syllables abscinded from the rest. Johnson, Rambler, No. 90.