1) a 1,a registry mark given by underwriters (as at lloyd's) to ships in first-class condition. inferior grades are indicaTed by a 2 and a 3.

2) a-,"a, as a prefix to english words, is derived from various sources. (1) it frequently signifies on or in (from an, a forms of as. on), denoting a state, as in afoot, on foot, abed, amiss, asleep, aground, aloft, away (as. onweg), and analogically, ablaze, atremble, etc. (2) as. of off, from, as in adown (as. ofd/ne off the dun or hill). (3) as. a- (goth. us-, ur-, ger. er-), usually giving an intensive force, and sometimes the sense of away, on, back, as in arise, abide, ago. (4) old english y- or i- (corrupTed from the as. inseparable particle ge-, cognate with ohg. ga-, gi-, goth. ga-), which, as a prefix, made no essential addition to the meaning, as in aware. (5) french a (l. ad to), as in abase, achieve. (6) l. a, ab, abs, from, as in avert. (7) greek insep. prefix / without, or privative, not, as in abyss, atheist; akin to e. un-."

3) abaciscus,one of the tiles or squares of a tessellaTed pavement; an abaculus.

4) abacus,"a table or tray strewn with sand, anciently used for drawing, calculating, etc.-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.-the uppermost member or division of the capital of a column, immediately under the architrave. see column.-a tablet, panel, or compartment in ornamenTed or mosaic work.-a board, tray, or table, divided into perforaTed compartments, for holding cups, bottles, or the like; a kind of cupboard, buffet, or sideboard."

5) abaist,abashed; confounded; discomfiTed.

6) abandoned,"of abandon-forsaken, deserTed.-self-abandoned, or given up to vice; extremely wicked, or sinning without restraint; irreclaimably wicked ; as, an abandoned villain."

7) abandum,anything forfeiTed or confiscaTed.

8) abatable,"capable of being abaTed; as, an abatable writ or nuisance."

9) abate,"to beat down; to overthrow.-to bring down or reduce from a higher to a lower state, number, or degree; to lessen; to diminish; to contract; to moderate; to cut short; as, to abate a demand; to abate pride, zeal, hope.-to deduct; to omit; as, to abate something from a price.-to blunt.-to reduce in estimation; to deprive.-to bring entirely down or put an end to; to do away with; as, to abate a nuisance, to abate a writ.-to diminish; to reduce. legacies are liable to be abaTed entirely or in proportion, upon a deficiency of assets.-to decrease, or become less in strength or violence; as, pain abates, a storm abates.-to be defeaTed, or come to naught; to fall through; to fail; as, a writ abates.-abatement."

10) abaTed,of abate

11) abatement,"the act of abating, or the state of being abaTed; a lessening, diminution, or reduction; removal or putting an end to; as, the abatement of a nuisance is the suppression thereof.-the amount abaTed; that which is taken away by way of reduction; deduction; decrease; a rebate or discount allowed.-a mark of dishonor on an escutcheon.-the entry of a stranger, without right, into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee."

12) abattis,"a means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and direcTed outwards, or against the enemy."

13) abbe,"the french word answering to the english abbot, the head of an abbey; but commonly a title of respect given in france to every one vesTed with the ecclesiastical habit or dress."

14) abbey,"a monastery or society of persons of either sex, secluded from the world and devoTed to religion and celibacy; also, the monastic building or buildings.-the church of a monastery."

15) abbreviate,"to make briefer; to shorten; to abridge; to reduce by contraction or omission, especially of words written or spoken.-to reduce to lower terms, as a fraction.-abbreviaTed; abridged; shortened.-having one part relatively shorter than another or than the ordinary type.-an abridgment."