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Words

1) aback2) abacus 3) abdicate4) abduct 5) abstain 6) abstract 7) absurd8) bachelor9) beach10) busy

• aback \ə-'bak\ adv (bef. 12c) 1 archaic: backward back2 : in a position to catch the wind upon the forward surface (as of a sail) 3 : by surprise : unawares ‹was taken ~ by her sharp retort›

• aba·cus \'a-bə-kəs, ə-'ba-\ n, pl aba·ci \'a-bə-"sī, -"kē; ə-'ba-"kī\ or aba·cus·es [L, fr. Gk abak-, abax, lit., slab] (14c) 1 : an instrument for performing calculations by sliding counters along rods or in grooves 2 : a slab that forms the uppermost member or division of the capital of a column

• ab·di·cate \'ab-di-"kāt\ vb, -cat·ed -cat·ing [L abdicatus, pp. of abdicare, fr. ab- + dicare to proclaim — more at diction] vt(1541) 1 : to cast off : discard2 : to relinquish (as sovereign power) formally vi: to renounce a throne, high office, dignity, or function — ab·di·ca·ble \-kə-bəl\ adj — ab·di·ca·tion \"ab-di-'kā-shən\ n — ab·di·ca·tor \'ab-di-"kā-tər\ n

• ab·duct \ab-'dəkt, əb-; 2 also 'ab-"\ vt [L abductus, pp. of abducere, lit., to lead away, fr. ab- + ducere to lead — more at tow] (1825) 1 : to seize and take away (as a person) by force 2 : to draw or spread away (as a limb or the fingers) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body or from the axis of a limb — ab·duc·tor \-'dək-tər\ n

• ab·stain \əb-'stān, ab-\ vi [ME absteinen, fr. AF asteign-, absteign-, stem of astenir, abstenir, fr. L abstinēre, fr. abs-, ab- + tenēre to hold — more at thin] (14c) : to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice ‹~ from drinking› — ab·stain·er n

• 1ab·stract \ab-'strakt, 'ab-"\ adj [ML abstractus, fr. L, pp. of abstrahere to drag away, fr. abs-, ab- + trahere to pull, draw] (14c) 1 a : disassociated from any specific instance ‹an ~ entity› b : difficult to understand : abstruse‹~ problems› c : insufficiently factual : formal‹possessed only an ~ right› 2 : expressing a quality apart from an object ‹the word poem is concrete, poetry is ~›

• ab·surd \əb-'sərd, -'zərd\ adj [MF absurde, fr. L absurdus, fr. ab- + surdus deaf, stupid] (1557) 1 : ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous ‹an ~ argument› 2 : having no rational or orderly relationship to human life : meaningless ‹an ~ universe› ; also: lacking order or value ‹an ~ existence› 3 : dealing with the absurd or with absurdism ‹~ theater› — ab·surd·ly adv — ab·surd·ness n

• bach·e·lor \'bach-lər, 'ba-chə-\ n [ME bacheler, fr. AF] (14c) 1 : a young knight who follows the banner of another 2 : a person who has received what is usu. the lowest degree conferred by a 4-year college, university, or professional school ‹~ of arts› ; also: the degree itself ‹received a ~ of laws› 3 a : an unmarried man b : a male animal (as a fur seal) without a mate during breeding time

• bachelor adj (1857) 1 : suitable for or occupied by a single person ‹a ~ apartment› 2 : unmarried‹~ women› ‹~ parents›

• 1beach \'bēch\ n [origin unknown] (1535) 1 : shore pebbles : shingle 2 a : a shore of a body of water covered by sand, gravel, or larger rock fragments b : a seashore area

• 2beach vt (1838) 1 : to run or drive ashore 2 : to strand on or as if on a beach

• 1busy \'bi-zē\ adj, busi·er -est [ME bisy, fr. OE bisig; akin to MD & MLG besich busy] (bef. 12c) 1 a : engaged in action : occupied b : being in use ‹found the telephone ~› 2 : full of activity : bustling ‹a ~ seaport› 3 : foolishly or intrusively active : meddling 4 : full of distracting detail ‹a ~ design› — busi·ly \'bi-zə-lē\ adv — busy·ness \'bi-zē-nəs\ n