a-, ab-, abs-

(Latin: prefix; from, away, away from)




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abolisher (s) (noun), abolishers (pl)
Someone who annuls, exterminates, or destroys something: The advancing army could be considered an abolisher of the countryside.

The mayor and his deputies were considered abolishers of good community assets; such as, the library.

abolishment (s) (noun), abolishments (pl)
abolition (ab" uh LISH uhn) (s) (noun), abolitions (pl)
1. The act of officially ending a law, a regulation, or a practice: The petition by the people resulted in the abolition of the unfair taxes.

The senator fought for the abolition of the current income tax law.

2. The process of doing away with or the state of being done away with; such as, an annulment: The students sought further abolitions of unfair practices at the university.
abolitionism (s) (noun), abolitionisms (pl)
1. A belief or system of beliefs that are accepted as authoritative by some group or school of thought: Abolitionism was one of the driving elements behind the Civil War in the United States.
2. A social movement aimed at liquidating or getting rid of some law or an undesirable practice: Women lead the abolitionism against the production of liquor and the operation of taverns and bars.

Abolitionisms; such as, indentured workers or slave-working conditions are often opposed with vigor.

abolitionist (ab" uh LISH uh nist) (s) (noun), abolitionists (pl)
1. Someone who supports getting rid of something; such as, a system, a practice, or an institution: Stanley was considered an abolitionist who was leading the students' cause to eliminate unfair grading systems.

Abolitionists believed that slavery violated the basic human rights of freedom and so they insisted on making slavery illegal by proposing new antislavery laws for the country.

The most influential publication before the Civil War was Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852), the best-selling novel and play by Harriet Beecher Stowe; the most famous abolitionist of the time.

Harriet Stowe emphasized the horrors that abolitionists had long claimed about slavery.

2. People who want to destroy a law or practice of some kind: The abolitionists against the cruel treatment of animals included several groups across the entire country.

As an abolitionist, Monroe Jones fought to end the practice of slavery in the United States before the Civil War.

The elimination of slavery and the conflict between the abolitionists and those in favor of slavery were factors that led to the Civil War in America.

abominable (adjective), more abominable, most abominable

Nathan had the abominable habit of chewing his fingernails in public.





Very unpleasant.
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abominate (verb), abominates; abominated; abominating





The farmers have been abominating the hot and extremely dry weather.

To regard with disgust or hatred.
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To hate to the highest degree.
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Word History



—Compiled from information located in the
Picturesque Word Origins; G. & C. Merriam Company;
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A; 1933; page 5.
abomination (s) (noun), abominations (pl)


Anything that excites disgust, hatred, or loathing.
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That which is hateful and repugnant.
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abominator (s) (noun), abominators (pl)
aboral (adjective), more aboral, most aboral
Opposite to, away from, or distantly remote from the mouth: Dale held his fork in an aboral position waiting for the food on it to cool enough to put into his mouth.
aboriginal (s) (noun), aboriginals (pl)
The native or indigenous people of a geographical area: The New Zealand aboriginals are said to still hunt with spears.

Indian tribes in America are considered to be the aboriginals in various parts of the country.

aboriginal (ab" uh RIJ uh nuhl) (adjective), more aboriginal, most aboriginal
1. Referring to or pertaining to the native people of a geographical area: There are several aboriginal groups in the United States.

The Indians are the aboriginal people of America.

Some of the aboriginal people of Canada are known as Inuit, "the people".

Mike's sister was enrolled in the Aboriginal Studies program at the local university.

aboriginally (adverb), more aboriginally, most aboriginally
A descriptive term referring to original inhabitants: The native people were aboriginally located in the central area of the forests.

There are anthropologists who say that Native Americans were aboriginally from Asia.

aboriginary (adjective), more aboriginary, most aboriginary
1. Describing or relating to where the earliest known inhabitants lived: The aboriginary location of the native people has been established.
2. A reference to where indigenous or original fauna or flora existed or may continue to survive in a geographical area: The animals in these aboriginary areas no longer exist.

The local zoo had an aboriginary section in which the native plants of the region were growing.

aborigine (ab" uh RIJ uh nee) (s) (noun), aborigines (ab" uh RIJ uh neez) (pl)
1. The original inhabitants of a geographical area: The Roman statesman and orator, Cicero, is believed to be the first person to use the term aborigine as it is known in its present sense.
2. A member of the indigenous or earliest known population of a region; a native: Many Australian aborigines still live primitive lives away from cities.
3. The native flora (plants) and fauna (animals) of a geographic area: A special species of poppy is among the aborigines native to the desert area.

Many of the aborigine plants of the region have medicinal properties.

4. Etymology: ab-, "from" + origine, "beginning, original" coming from the Aborigines, an Italian tribe from Latium whom the Latins were said to be descended; hence, "original inhabitants of a country".
A native people who were the earliest known inhabitants.
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