neous and energetic hatred and denunciation of what is bad in principle; not the feelings only, but the judgment being concerned in it. It is a perversion of the word, though a common one, to apply it to what is physically impure or personally disagreeable. We abominate what is offensive, we abhor what is essentially uncongenial to us, we detest what is contemptible or evil, we loathe what is nauseous and disgusting. Detestation is that kind of hatred which does not rest in feeling, but tends to find energetic expression in words.

"By reason of his cruelty he became detestable not only to his own subjects but also to his neighbours round about."-Usher.

humble cottage near the hall where the lord of the domain resides.

"Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent."-Bible.

"Now the sojourning of the children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years;"

The two words sojourn and dwell, at once indicating considerable duration, which, however, did not do away with their strangership.

"His Grace (Henry VIII.), therefore, willing and minding to revoke you all by little and little, except you, Sir Gregory, being his ambassador, there continually residing."-Burnet.

ABILITY. SKILL. CAPACITY. CAPABILITY. CLEVERNESS. TALENT.

SIDE.

TO ABIDE (A. S. abidan) expresses no more than a personal halting or staying. It is wholly indefinite, and may be temporary or permanent, according to circumstances; we may abide in a place for a time or for life. It implies, however, some antecedent state of unsettlement. The radical idea seems to be that of remaining fixed, in which sense it is purely used in such phrases as to abide by a decision, that is, to adhere to it with moral fixity of purpose.

SOJOURN (Fr. sejour, sub, and diurnus, dies, a day) expresses a personal stay necessarily temporary. Hence it is commonly connected with some locality which is not one's own or one's home. A sojourner is, by the force of the term, a stranger.

To DWELL (Dan. dvale) indicates a permanent stay in a place which, to some extent at least, has become one's home. The idea of permanent resting may be illustrated, as in the case of abide, by other applications of the term, as when a speaker is said to dwell upon a word, or a singer on a note.

TO RESIDE (Lat. residere, re and sedere, to sit) is a more dignified term, which carries with it a certain notion of civilization and society, with elegance of living and rights of property. The poor man dwells in an

Of these, ABILITY (Fr. habile, Lat. habilis, from habere, to have, having or possessing resources, handy) is the most generic, inasmuch as it may be physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, legal, or casual. It deserves, however, to be observed that, while the adjective able is employed in the widest manner in specific connection, as, "he is able to commit passages rapidly to memory,” or, he is able to lift a great weight," this adjective, when not so connected, is never used (any more than the noun ability) to mean physical power. For instance, we could say, "I doubt your ability to move that stone." But we could not say, "he moved the heavy stone with comparative ease, being a person of great ability." Ability, in its mental meaning, is partly a gift of Nature, partly a product of training. “Natural abilities," said Bacon, using the term in the plural, "are like natural plants, that need pruning by study." In its widest sense, ability means the power of doing, the possession of needful means or needful faculties for the performance of an object, as opposed to inability; or the power of applying knowledge to practical purposes. Quickness of mind combined with readiness in contriving means to an end, whether material or mental, is called CLEVERNESS (Prov. Dan. klöver, klever). Cleverness in

things of pure physical treatment is dexterity. (See DEXTERITY.) It is remarkable that cleverness is not a term of English literature: the old adjective clever having been only of late put into the form of a noun. That cleverness in things physical which requires not only adroitness of manipulation, but judgment and discernment, the result of experience, is SKILL (A. S. scilian, to separate or distinguish). The old meaning of skill was discernment, such accurate 'knowledge as sees and allows for difference. So the old phrase, "it skilleth not," that is, it makes no difference. Hence, it came to mean a professed art, which was called a skill, and finally it was restricted, as mentioned above. Skill is neither of purely abstract knowledge nor of mere physical habituation, but lies mid-way between the two, and practically comprises both.

"The ship would quickly strike against the rocks for want of skilfulness in the pilots."-Search, Light of Nature.

CAPACITY (Lat. capax, capio, to take or hold) is potential rather than actual, and may be no more than undeveloped ability. It is employed commonly of the intellectual nature, though not excluded from the moral nature (as a capacity for virtue), and is not employed at all of the physical powers of men. Generally speaking, capacity stands to understanding as ability to action; though the same person may possess both. So the capacity of a great general would lie rather in his power of remembering, interpreting, and calculating the movements of the enemy, in grasping and recognizing the character and resources of a country in reference to the movements of the campaign; his ability, in his actual direction of those movements, and in the disposition and employment of troops in action.

ABJECT.

plot of ground intended for landscape gardening may be said to have great capability for the purpose. When applied to persons, it may be said generally, that as capacity is the inherent faculty of understanding, so capability is the inherent faculty of action, especially of mental action. So we should say of a hopeful student of philosophy, that he had capacity, the main end being knowledge; of a hopeful student of oratory, that he had capability, the main end being action.

"Sure he that made us with such large dis

course,

Looking before and after, gave us not That capability, and godlike reason, To rust in us unus'd."

Shakespeare.

TALENT, a term borrowed from the Scripture parable on the subject, and GENIUS (Lat. genius, a supposed tutelar deity, born and dying with every person, and directing his actions) differ, in that talent is the capacity of learning rules, and the capability of readily acting upon them; genius is that innate intuition which is hardly conscious of rules, and can in a measure, by natural force, supersede the use of them.

"Like many other men of talent, Fielding was unfortunate."-Sir W. Scott. "Homer was the greater genius, Virgil the better artist."-Pope.

In the oldest Englisa, as in Chaucer, the word talente, of which the accent was on the final syllable, is used in the sense of desire or propensity, the Latin affectus. This comes, no doubt, from the idea of weight, bias. For the Greek Táλavтov meant a certain weight as well as a certain value of metal. So Gower:

"But not to steal a vestmente,

For that is nothing my talente," ie., propensity.

Talent may be hid, requiring to be searched for; genius develops itself. Genius creates, talent learns and executes. Talent needs opportunities: genius makes them for itself.

ABJECT. See MEAN.

ABJURE.

ABJURE. RECANT. REVOKE. RECALL. REPUDIATE.

RETRACT.

RENOUNCE.

All these terms refer to the verbal undoing of what has been or might be maintained or professed. To ÅBJURE (Lat. abjurare, to give up with an oath) retains much of the character of its Latin original, and expresses a deliberate and solemn giving up. Hence, it applies to what is or may be solemnly maintained, as principles of belief or conduct, allegiance to a sovereign. Yet it must be observed that, in order to abjure a thing, it is not necessary to have actually held it. We abjure what we declare ought not to be held. So in this country we abjure allegiance to the Pope not the less for having never rendered it. It implies a protest against the thing abjured; whereas we may renounce what we regard as trifling, or what we still value, though we renounce it; as also we may recant in form, not in heart.

"A Jacobite who is persuaded of the Pretender's right to the crown cannot take the oath of allegiance, or, if he could, the oath of abjuration follows, which contains an express renunciation of all opinions in favour of the exiled family."-Paley.

TO RECANT (Lat. recantare, re, back again, and cantare, to chant or repeat a form of words) refers not so much to any inherent solemnity of what is given up as to the formality and publicity of doing it.

A man

may change his opinions in secret, but he recants them openly. So entirely does the idea of publicity occupy this word, that the recantation might be feigned and hollow, so long as it be openly made. Moreover, the idea of change of opinion, real or professed, is implied in recant, which abjure, as we have seen, does not necessarily imply.

"How soon would ease recant

Vows made in pain as violent as void."
Milton.

TO RETRACT (Lat. re, back, and tractare, from trahere, to draw) is a taking back for the purpose of undoing the practical effects of what has

ABJURE.

been said. Hence, we retract promises on which others have calculated, expressions by which others may. have been wounded or misled, and opinions, only so far as we may have stated them in the hearing of others. Though Henry IV. of France abjured Calvinism, he would not retract the promise of protection he made to the Calvinists.

"I would as freely have retracted the charge of idolatry as I ever made it."Stillingfleet.

A recantation is in words of mouth, a retractation may be in writing.

ence.

REVOKE and RECALL are the same word under a Latin (revocare, to call back) and an English form; but, though identical etymologically, they are employed with some little differRecall is more generic, more conversational and ordinary, less formal and authoritative than revoke. We recall generally, or, in particular, inaccurate or objectionable expressions; but formal acts, authoritative decrees, commands, and solemn promises, are revoked.

RENOUNCE (Lat. renuntiare, re, back, and nuntius, a messenger) is a wide term, applicable to anything which bears a close relationship to oneself, whether mental or external; as hopes, designs, claims, one's friends, the world. It is to proclaim against all personal connection, actual or possible, between oneself and the thing or person renounced. Obligations and duties may be renounced as well as pleasures or possessions. It is an act of direct or indirect preference of something over the thing renounced.

"A solemn renunciation of idolatry and false worship under the general title of the devil and all his pomps."-Waterland.

Unlike all the foregoing, REPUDIATE (repudiare) is essentially rela tive, and can only be where an actual relation has been established towards us from without, either by individuals or in the course of nature or of circumstances. We may renounce opinions entertained irrespectively of others, but we can only repudiate them when others have fastened upon us the charge of holding them.

ABNORMAL. See ABERRANT.

ABODE. See ABIDE and HABI

TATION.

ABOLISH. ABROGATE. REPEAL. REVOKE. ANNUL. CANCEL.

Of these, ABOLISH is the most general, and, indeed, is applicable to many things to which the rest are inapplicable. It implies the exercise or operation of extinctive power. Anything which is entirely done away with, so that it is as if it had never been, may be said to be abolished. (Fr. abolir, Lat. abolere.) As a synonym with the above terms, it denotes the total doing away with laws, customs, and the like, by any power gradual or sudden, personal or impersonal; as a specific act of legislation may abolish a right, or the silent influence of fashion may abolish a custom. The application of the term to persons is now obsolete.

"The abolition of Spiritual Courts, as they are called, would shake the very foundation on which the Establishment is erected." -Warburton.

On the other hand, each of the remaining synonyms has its specific application.

REPEAL (Fr. rappeler, Lat. reappellare) is literally to call back, but is applied characteristically to the acts of a number, as an assembly or council may repeal a law or a resolution, or a social community may consent to repeal a custom. An irresponsible ruler would hardly be said to repeal, because the word wears an air of legality.

"I leave him and the noble lord who sits by him to settle the matter as well as they can together. For if the repeal of American taxes destroys all our government in America, he is the man; and he is the

ABOMINATE.“

worst of all the repealers because he is the last."-Burke.

TO ABROGATE, though primarily applicable to laws (abrogare, to repeal in the general assemblies of citizens at Rome, literally to ask off or back), has been extended to customs as having the force of law. The essential force of abrogation is the exercise of authority to undo what authority had previously established or recognised.

usual

"It appears to have been an practice in Athens, on the establishment of any law esteemed very useful or popular, to prohibit for ever its abrogation and repeal." - Hume.

TO REVOKE (revocare, to call back) stands to individual and personal, as repeal stands to collective, authority. As a despot does not repeal, so a parliament does not revoke. As laws and customs are abrogated or repealed, so edicts may be revoked, and, indeed, any formal expression on the part of individuals; as to revoke an epithet or a promise whether in word or writing.

"A devise by writing may be also revoked by burning, cancelling, tearing, or obliterating thereof by the devisor, or in his presence and with his consent."-Blackstone.

ANNUL (Lat. ad, to, nihil, nothing) expresses no more than the rendering inoperative what before had force, whether by law, custom, or consent.

"Your promises are sins of inconsideration at best, and you are bound to repent and annul them."-Swift.

TO CANCEL is relatively to annul (cancelli, grating, which the diagonal lines of erasure resemble), that is, to undo the force of something which affected the condition of another, as a promise, or a contract, or an obligation. It is like the erasure or tearing up of a bond. A thing may be annulled virtually, as by the force of circumstances which neutralize or invalidate it, but it is cancelled by some deliberate or specific exercise of power striking out what had operative force.

"Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows."-Drayton.

ABOMINABLE. See EXECRABLE.
ABOMINATE. See ABHOR.

These terms all have both a physical and a figurative meaning. Physically, ABOVE indicates a superiority of physical altitude; as the sun is above the earth, an interval being supposed, without exact verticality. OVER indicates what is expressed by above, with the addition of the idea of verticality; as a cloud hangs over the sea. UPON denotes what is expressed by over, with the addition of contact or the absence of the interval supposed by above; as the crown is placed upon the king's head." BEYOND relates to the horizontal; or to the measurement of length and not height, though it may chance that this length is measured vertically, and may or may not imply adjacency; as the river and the country beyond; the ivy has grown beyond the first story of the house. This analogy is preserved in the metaphorical uses of the word; So, if we said that the general was above the captain, we should mean that he was of higher rank in the army; over the captain, would mean that he exercised authority in regard to him specifically. When one misfortune comes upon another, it is as if there were no respite or interval between. When a thing is beyond conception, it is as if the stretch and grasp of the mind were insufficient to reach so far. ABRIDGE. ABBREVIATE. CONTRACT.

TAIL.

CUR

Of these ABRIDGE and ABBREVIATE are the same word etymologically, the Latin abbreviare becoming the French abréger (brevis, short). Yet abbreviate is hardly ever used but in the simple sense of to shorten, with a somewhat politer force, while abridge is applied with more play of metaphor, as to abridge powers and privileges. We speak peculiarly of abbreviating words in writing, as Dr., Lieut., Esq.

"This book was composed after two old examples of the same kind in the times of Ethelbert and Alfred, and was laid up as

ABRIDGMENT.

sacred in the church of Winchester, and for that reason, as graver authors say, was called Liber Domus Dei, and by abbreviation, Domesday Book."-Sir W. Temple.

To abridge is to shorten by condensation or compression; to abbreviate is to shorten by cutting or contracting. In literary abridgments we have the same substance in smaller compass; and if the abridgment is well made, the original runs a risk of being neglected for it. Differences deserve notice between abridge, CURTAIL (Fr. court, short, and tailler, to cut), and CONTRACT (Lat. contrahere, to draw together). When used of things not purely physical, abridge refers to number and duration, curtail to extent, and contract to power of exercise. Hence, for instance, pleasures or privileges are abridged and contracted when they are made fewer or shorter, curtailed when the sphere of their exercise is in any way dimi nished, contracted also when the inherent power of enjoyment is lessened in individuals. Commonly also, the exercise of personal power curtails, and the force of circumstances contracts, privileges or enjoyments. It should be observed that, unlike abridge and abbreviate, which may accidentally involve diminution of value, incompleteness, or deficiency, these are necessarily involved in curtail and contract. We may say, generally speaking, that pleasures are abridged; privileges or expenditure curtailed; powers contracted; but they are employed to a large extent interchangeably.

"That man should thus encroach on fellowman,

Abridge him of his just and native rights." Couper. "Have the burdens of the war compelled them to curtail any part of their former expenditure?"-Burke.

"In all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our faculties."-Gov. of the Tongue. ABRIDGMENT. COMPENDIUM. EPITOME. DIGEST. SUMMARY. ABSTRACT. DRAUGHT. SYNOPSIS.

These are all literary terms. An ABRIDGMENT is anything which purports to give the substance of a larger work in a shorter form. Some such