abbess
2
the 1993 Declaration of Principles that started the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. He is also known as Abu Mazen.
**ab·bess** /'æbɪs,'æbes/ *n* a woman who is the head of a CONVENT (=a religious establishment for women called NUNs) **->** compare **ABBOT**
**ab·bey** /'æbi/ *n* **1** (especially formerly) a building in which MONKS or NUNS live and work; MONASTERY or CONVENT **->** compare **PRIORY** **2** [(often *cap.* as part of a name)] a large church where MONKS or NUNS once lived: *Westminster Abbey*
**ab·bot** /'æbǝt/ *n* a man who is the head of a MONASTERY (=a religious establishment for men called MONKS) **->** compare **ABBESS**
**Ab-bott and Cos-tel-lo** /ˌæbǝt nd kǝ'stelǝu||-kɑ:/ Bud Abbott (1896–1974) and Lou Costello (1908–59) two popular American COMEDIANS who appeared in many humorous films together in the 1940s and 1950s
**ab·bre·vi·ate** /ə'bri:vieit/ *v* [T] **1** to make (a word, story etc) shorter by missing out letters or only using the first letter of each word **2** be abbreviated to '*Information technology*' is usually abbreviated to '*IT*'.
**ab·bre·vi·a·tion** /ˌæbri:vi'eɪʃən/ *n* **1** [C] a shortened form of a word, such as '*Dr*' for '*Doctor*' or '*PTO*' for '*please turn over*'. In this dictionary some abbreviations (such as *Dr*) are marked *written abbrev.* showing that they are only used in writing and not in speech. **2** [U] the act of abbreviating
**ABC¹** /ˌeɪ bi: 'si:/ *BrE* || *ABCs* /-'si:z/ *AmE* — *n* [U] **1** (used by children and to children) the letters of the English alphabet: *Kids in kindergarten learning their ABCs* **2** the ABC of *BrE* the ABCs of *AmE* the basic facts about something or the basic skills you need in order to do something. This phrase is often used in the titles of books: *The ABC of cooking* | a short course that teaches the ABC of using a database
**ABC²** *abbrev.* for American Broadcasting Corporation; one of the four main national television networks in the US. The other three are FOX, CBS, and NBC: *ABC News*
**ab·di·cate** /'æbdɪkeɪt/ *v* **1** [(from);T] to give up officially (an official position, especially that of king or Queen): *The king abdicated (the throne).* **2** [T] *fml* to give up (a right, claim, or responsibility); RENOUNCE: *He accused the government of abdicating its responsibility for the economy.* —**ca·tion** /ˌæbdɪ'keɪʃən/ *n* [C;U(of, from)]
**Ab·di·ca·tion, the** /ˌæbdɪ'keɪʃən/ also the **Abdi'cation Crisis** the period in Britain in 1936, in which King Edward VIII was forced to abdicate so that he could marry Wallis Simpson, an American who had been divorced (**DIVORCE**)
**ab·do·men** /'æbdǝmən, æb'dǝu-/ *n* *med* **1** a main part of the front of the body in animals, between the chest and legs, containing the stomach, bowels etc; the **BELLY** **2** the end part of an insect's body, joined to the **THORAX** **->** see picture at **INSECT** —**dom·i·nal** /æb'dɒmɪnǝl||-'dɑ:-/ *adj*: *abdominal pains*
**ab·duct** /əb'dʌkt, æb-/ *v* [T] to take (a person) away illegally, often by force; KIDNAP: *The police think the boy has been abducted.* —**duc·tion** /'dʌkʃən/ *n* [U]
**ab·duc·tee** /ˌæbdʌk'ti:/ *n* someone who believes that they have been taken by force by **ALIENS** (=creatures from another part of the universe) to their spacecraft, especially so that the aliens can examine them or do scientific tests on them. This experience is called **ALIEN ABDUCTION**.
**Ab·dul-Jab·bar, Ka·reem** /ˌæbˌdʊl dʒə'bɑ:·, kə'ri:m/ (1947– ) a US **BASKETBALL** player, considered to be one of the best players ever. He was originally called Lew Alcinor, but changed his name when he became a **BLACK MUSLIM**.
**a·bed** /ə'bed/ *adj* [F] *lit* or *old use* in bed
**A·bel** /'eibǝl/ in the Old Testament of the Bible, the second son of **ADAM** and **EVE** who was killed by his brother **CAIN**
**Ab·e·lard, Peter** /'æbəlɑ:d||-lɑ:rd/ (1079–1142) a French **PHILOSOPHER** and **THEOLOGIAN** best remembered for his love for Héloïse, shown in their famous letters to each other
**Ab·er·deen** /ˌæbə'di:n||-bər-/ a port in northeast Scotland, known for being the centre of the **NORTH SEA OIL** industry
**Aberdeen 'Angus** *n* a type of cattle originally from northeast Scotland and bred for meat
**Ab·er·fan** /ˌæbə'væn||-bər-/ a small town in South Wales
where, in 1966, a large pile of waste material from coal MINES fell onto a school and killed 116 children and 28 adults
**a·ber·rant** /'æbərǝnt, ə'bærǝnt/ *adj* **1** changed from what is usual, expected, or right: *aberrant behaviour under the influence of drugs* **2** *tech* not like the rest of its kind: *an aberrant example of a common insect*
**ab·er·ra·tion** /ˌæbǝ'reɪʃǝn/ *n* [C;U] a change away from one's usual way of thinking or of behaving: *She hit him in a moment of aberration.* | *a statistical aberration*
**a·bet** /ə'bet/ *v* -tt- [T(in)] *law* to encourage or give help to (a crime or criminal): *The police say he aided and abetted the thief in robbing the bank.* —**tor** *n*
**a·bey·ance** /ə'beiǝns/ *n* [U] *fml* the condition of not being in use for a certain time: *an old custom that has fallen into abeyance*
**Ab Fab** /ˌæb 'fæb/ an informal name for **ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS**
**ab·hor** /æb'hɔ:r/ *v* -rr- [T not in progressive forms] to hate very much; DETEST: *I abhor cruelty to animals.*
**ab·hor·rent** /æb'hɒrǝnt||-'hɔ:r-/ *adj* [(to)] deeply disliked; REPUGNANT: *The killing of animals for food is (utterly) abhorrent to some people.* —**rence** *n* [U] *The President expressed his abhorrence at the murder.*
**a·bide** /ə'baid/ *v* **1** [T usually in questions and negatives] to bear; TOLERATE: *I can't abide rude people.* | [+v-ing] *I cannot abide seeing such cruelty.* **->** see **BEAR (USAGE)** **2** [+adv/prep] (past tense also *abode*) *lit* or *old use* to stay, wait, or live (in a place or condition)
**abide by sthg.** *phr v* [T] **1** to obey exactly or remain faithful to (laws, promises etc): *If you join the club you must abide by its rules.* | *to abide by a treaty* **2** to accept without complaint: *You must abide by the consequences of your decision.*
**A·bide With 'Me** a well-known **HYMN** (=a song of praise to God). In the UK it is always sung before the **CUP FINAL** (=an important football game).
**a·bid·ing** /ə'baɪdɪŋ/ *adj* [A] lasting for a long time and unlikely to change: *The experience left me with an abiding hatred of dogs.*
**a·bil·i·ty** /ə'bɪləti/ *n* [C;U] **1** the fact of having the skill, power, or other qualities that are needed in order to do something: *a man of great musical ability* | *a job more suited to your abilities* | [+to-v] *She has demonstrated/has got a remarkable ability to get things done.* | *I did the work to the best of my ability.* (as well as I could) **->** see also **GENIUS (USAGE)** **2** from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs *quote* a phrase from a work by Karl Marx, saying that in a society each person should give what they can, and each person should receive what they need
**Ab-i·zaid, John P.** /'æbizaid/ (1951–) an important American **GENERAL** in the US Army. In 2003 he became the Commander-in-Chief of the US Central Command and was put in control of American military activities in an area of 25 countries, including much of the Middle East. In the 1990s he was involved in US military activities in Bosnia, Kosovo, and northern Iraq, where the army was trying to protect the Kurds.
**ab·ject** /'æbdʒekt/ *adj fml* **1** (of a condition) as low as possible; pitiful; WRETCHED: *abject poverty* **2** (especially of people or behaviour) showing lack of self-respect; very HUMBLE: *an abject apology* —**ly** *adv* —**jec·tion** /æb'dʒekʃən, əb-/ *n* [U]
**ab·jure** /əb'dʒʊər, æb-/ *v* [T] *fml* to make a solemn promise, especially publicly, to give up (an opinion, claim etc); RENOUNCE: *They abjured their religion.* —**ju·ra·tion** /ˌæbdʒʊ'reɪʃən/ *n* [U]
**a·blaze** /ə'bleiz/ *adj* [F(with)] **1** burning strongly and uncontrollably: *The wooden house was quickly ablaze.* | (*fig.*) *ablaze with anger/excitement* **2** shining brightly: *The room was ablaze with light.*
**-able** **->** see **WORD FORMATION TABLE**
**a·ble** /'eibəl/ *adj* **1** [F+to-v] having the skill, power, knowledge, time, or other qualities that are needed in order to do something: *Will you be able to come to our party?* | *I think David is more able/better able to deal with this problem than I am.* | *We are not yet able to predict the result.* | *They are willing and able to help.* **2** clever or skilful; COMPETENT: *She's an*