abortion
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Latin abortiō (“miscarriage, abortion”), from aborior (“miscarry”). See abort for more.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
abortion (plural abortions)
- (medicine or dated) The cessation of pregnancy or fetal development: [First attested in the mid 16th century.]
- (medicine or dated) a miscarriage. [First attested in the mid 16th century.]
- (still current) an induced abortion. [First attested in the mid 16th century.]
- The act of inducing the cessation of pregnancy. [First attested in the mid 16th century.]
- (dated) The immature product of an untimely birth. [First attested in the late 16th century.]
- A monstrosity; a misshapen person. [First attested in the late 16th century.]
- (figuratively) Failure of a promise or a goal. [First attested in the early 18th century.]
- (biology) Arrest of development of any organ, so that it remains an imperfect formation or is absorbed. [First attested in the mid 18th century.]
- Any fruit or produce which is interrupted in its progress before it is matured or perfect; an idea, project, or anything that does not come to maturity.
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1800 September 23, Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush[1]:
- The returning good sense of our country threatens abortion to their hopes, & they believe that any portion of power confided to me, will be exerted in opposition to their schemes.
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- (chiefly art) Something ugly, an artistic atrocity.
- 1846, Charles Dickens, Pictures from Italy, Chapter 10.
- Insomuch that I do honestly believe, there can be no place in the world, where such intolerable abortions, begotten of the sculptor’s chisel, are to be found in such profusion, as in Rome.
- 1846, Charles Dickens, Pictures from Italy, Chapter 10.
- The cessation of an illness or disease at a very early stage.
- An unpleasant or poorly executed idea or project.
- 1999, "foo...@my-deja.com", Menace is AN ABORTION OF A MOVIE (on newsgroup alt.fan.starwars)
- 2000, "Jules", please dont buy beacon cd (on newsgroup alt.fan.allman-brothers)
- Dickey on his own manages to turn a simple bo diddley 1-2-3-4 into an absolute abortion of a song.
- 2003, David Kerekes, Headpress 24: Powered by Love (page 133)
- an absolute abortion of a book
Synonyms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Terms derived from abortion
Translations[edit]
miscarriage
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induced abortion
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act of inducing abortion
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immature product of an untimely birth
biology: arrest of development of an organ
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fruit/produce that doesn't come to maturity
the act of aborting a project, etc
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something ugly
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Translations to be checked
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