Page 252 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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abacus (AB i kuhs) n. a frame with beads on wires in rows of fives and twos
separated by a “reckoning bar,” of Chinese origin
• The abacus is one of the earliest arithmetic calculators.
• Don’t confuse an abacus with the very similar Japanese soroban that has
rows of beads split into fours and ones.
aberration (ab oer AY shin) n. 1. a departure from the normal; 2. a deviation
from what is right or correct
• Barbara’s taking the shortcut home was an aberration from her normal driv-
ing pattern.
• Jack was prone to mental aberrations that caused him to believe he was
being persecuted.
abeyance (uh BAY ins) n. a temporary suspension or delay of a function or
activity
• The rainstorm caused the baseball game to be held in abeyance.
• The judge decided to hold sentencing in abeyance until the convicted per-
son’s counsel could arrange for character witnesses.
abjure (ab JOOR) vt. 1. to give up rights, allegiance, and so on under oath; to
renounce; 2. to recant
• By his divorce agreement, Ken abjured all rights to the family car.
• On cross-examination, Doris abjured her previous testimony about having
seen the burglar.
[-d, abjuring] [Syn. renounce]
abrade (uh BRAYD) vt. scrape; wear out by rubbing; rub off
• Sally used a pumice stone to abrade the dead skin off her right foot.
• Sanding is a good way to abrade rough spots off a piece of furniture before
applying the finish.
• Grinding wheels are used to abrade metal objects.
[-d, abrading] [Syn. scrape]
abrogate (AB ruh GAYT) vt. to repeal or cancel (by authority); annul
• Only a court has the right to abrogate a wedding.
• You may not abrogate your obligation to support your children unless a
court rules so.
[-d, abrogating] [Syn. abolish]
accretion (uh KREE shin) n. 1. growth in size, especially by addition or accu-
mulation of material; 2. accumulated matter
• The accretion of sand brought in by the ocean has caused certain beaches to
grow in size.
• Regular brushing is needed to remove the accretion of plaque on one’s
teeth.
[(to) accrete vi., vt.]

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