6/12/2009 Words of the Day

able-bodied:

An able-bodied person is physically strong and healthy, rather than weak or disabled.
           The gym can be used by both able-bodied and disabled people.
      ≠ disabled 

 

The able-bodied are people who are able-bodied.

 

ablutions:

Someone's ablutions are all the activities that are involved in washing himself or herself. (FORMAL or HUMOROUS)

 

ably:

Ably means skilfully and successfully.
           He was ably assisted by a number of other members.

 

abnormality:

An abnormality in something, especially in a person's body or behaviour, is an unusual part or feature of it that may be worrying or dangerous. (FORMAL)
           Further scans are required to confirm the diagnosis of an abnormality...

 

abode:

Your abode is the place where you live. (FORMAL)
           I went round the streets and found his new abode.
     

If someone has no fixed abode, they are homeless. (LEGAL)
           30 per cent of psychiatric hospital beds are occupied by people of no fixed abode.

 

abolish:

If someone in authority abolishes a system or practice, they formally put an end to it.
           The following year Parliament voted to abolish the death penalty for murder...

 

abolition:

The abolition of something such as a system or practice is its formal ending.
           ...the abolition of slavery in Brazil and the Caribbean.

 

abolitionist:

An abolitionist is someone who campaigns for the abolition of a particular system or practice.
           As long as most people are happy to have the monarchy, the abolitionist position is an arrogant fantasy.

 

abominable:

Something that is abominable is very unpleasant or bad.
           The President described the killings as an abominable crime...
     

   •  abominably   

      
           Chloe has behaved abominably...
           Wallis was often abominably rude.

 

abomination:

If you say that something is an abomination, you think that it is completely unacceptable. (FORMAL)
      = outrage

 

aboriginal:

An Aboriginal is an Australian Aborigine.
           He remained fascinated by the Aboriginals' tales.
      = Aborigine 

     

Aboriginal means belonging or relating to the Australian Aborigines.
           ...Aboriginal art.

     

The aboriginal people or animals of a place are ones that have been there from the earliest known times or that were there before people or animals from other countries arrived.
      = native, indigenous

 

abort:

If an unborn baby is aborted, the pregnancy is ended deliberately and the baby is not born alive. (FORMAL)
           Her lover walked out on her after she had aborted their child.
           ...tissue from aborted fetuses.

     

If someone aborts a process, plan, or activity, they stop it before it has been completed.
           The decision was made to abort the mission...

 

abortion:

If a woman has an abortion, she ends her pregnancy deliberately so that the baby is not born alive.
           His girlfriend had an abortion.

 

abortive:

An abortive attempt or action is unsuccessful. (FORMAL)
           ...an abortive attempt to prevent the current President from taking office.
      = unsuccessful

 

abound:

If things abound, or if a place abounds with things, there are very large numbers of them. (FORMAL)
           Stories abound about when he was in charge...
           The book abounds with close-up images from space.

 

about-face:

An about-face is a complete change of attitude or opinion.
           Few observers believe the president will do an about-face and start spending more.
      = U-turn, volte-face

 

about-turn:

An about-turn is the same as an about-face. (BRIT; in AM, use about-face)