*b*

[ Latin prep., etymologically the same as E. of, off. See Of. ] A prefix in many words of Latin origin. It signifies from, away , separating, or departure, as in abduct, abstract, abscond. See A-(6). [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ The native name. ] The Manila-hemp plant (Musa textilis); also, its fiber. See Manila hemp under Manila. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ LL. abacinatus, p. p. of abacinare; ab off + bacinus a basin. ] To blind by a red-hot metal plate held before the eyes. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of abacinating. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Gr. 'abaki`skos, dim of 'a`bax. See Abacus. ] (Arch.) One of the tiles or squares of a tessellated pavement; an abaculus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL abacista, fr. abacus. ] One who uses an abacus in casting accounts; a calculator. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Pref. a- + back; AS. on bæc at, on, or toward the back. See Back. ] 1. Toward the back or rear; backward. “Therewith aback she started.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Behind; in the rear. Knolles. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) Backward against the mast; -- said of the sails when pressed by the wind. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be taken aback. (a) To be driven backward against the mast; -- said of the sails, also of the ship when the sails are thus driven. (b) To be suddenly checked, baffled, or discomfited. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An abacus. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. ab + E. actinal. ] (Zool.) Pertaining to the surface or end opposite to the mouth in a radiate animal; -- opposed to actinal. “The aboral or abactinal area.” L. Agassiz. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Stealing cattle on a large scale. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. abigere to drive away; ab + agere to drive. ] (Law) One who steals and drives away cattle or beasts by herds or droves. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Abaculi [ L., dim. of abacus. ] (Arch.) A small tile of glass, marble, or other substance, of various colors, used in making ornamental patterns in mosaic pavements. Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; E. pl. Abacuses ; L. pl. Abaci [ L. abacus, abax, Gr. 'a`bax ] 1. A table or tray strewn with sand, anciently used for drawing, calculating, etc. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A calculating table or frame; an instrument for performing arithmetical calculations by balls sliding on wires, or counters in grooves, the lowest line representing units, the second line, tens, etc. It is still employed in China. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) (a) The uppermost member or division of the capital of a column, immediately under the architrave. See Column. (b) A tablet, panel, or compartment in ornamented or mosaic work. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A board, tray, or table, divided into perforated compartments, for holding cups, bottles, or the like; a kind of cupboard, buffet, or sideboard. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abacus harmonicus (Mus.), an ancient diagram showing the structure and disposition of the keys of an instrument. Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pg., the female rhinoceros. ] The rhinoceros. [ Obs. ] Purchas. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Heb. ābaddōn destruction, abyss, fr. ābad to be lost, to perish. ] 1. The destroyer, or angel of the bottomless pit; -- the same as Apollyon and Asmodeus. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hell; the bottomless pit. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

In all her gates, Abaddon rues
Thy bold attempt. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

prep. [ Pref. a- on + OE. baft, baften, biaften, AS. beæftan; be by + æftan behind. See After, Aft, By. ] (Naut.) Behind; toward the stern from; as, abaft the wheelhouse. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abaft the beam. See under Beam. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. (Naut.) Toward the stern; aft; as, to go abaft. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ For obeisance; confused with F. abaisser, E. abase. ] Obeisance. [ Obs. ] Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Ivory black or animal charcoal. Weale. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. Abashed; confounded; discomfited. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. abalienatus, p. p. of abalienare; ab + alienus foreign, alien. See Alien. ] 1. (Civil Law) To transfer the title of from one to another; to alienate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To estrange; to withdraw. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause alienation of (mind). Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. abalienatio: cf. F. abaliénation. ] The act of abalienating; alienation; estrangement. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. (Zool.) A univalve mollusk of the genus Haliotis. The shell is lined with mother-of-pearl, and used for ornamental purposes; the sea-ear. Several large species are found on the coast of California, clinging closely to the rocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 (Electricity) a unit of electrical current equal to 10 amperes.
Syn. -- abamp [ WordNet 1.5 ]