abyt

[An old spelling of HABIT.] Raiment, dre , apparel. "In abyt maad with chastité and schame Ye wommen schuld apparayl you." Chaucer: C. Т., 5,924. A.C., in Chronology , is ambiguous. It may stand (1) for Ante Christum = before Christ; or (2) for Anno Christ i = in the year of Christ, i.e., in the year of the Christian era; or (3), for After Christ , as B.C. stands for Before Christ. It should not be used without an explanation of the sense in which it is to be taken. *ạc, conj. [A.S. ac.] But, and, also. ac in composition. A. As a prefix : I. In Anglo-Saxon proper names. [A.S. ac , aac an oak.] An oak, as Actonoak town. In this sense it is sometimes varied, as ak or ake. [AK.] II. In words from the Latin: 41 1. Most commonly as a euphonious change for ad : as accommodate , fr. accommodo = ad commodo to fit to. 2. Sometimes from an obsolete root = sharp as in acid , acrid , . B. As a suffix (Gr.) (1.) To adjectives: Pertaining to, having the property or the energy of, that can or may; hence, that does as ammoniac = having the energy of ammonia. (2.) To substantives: One who or that which has or does as maniac one who has mania; polemac one who makes war.