Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Abolition
Ab′o-li′tion
,Noun.
The act of abolishing, or the state of being abolished; an annulling; abrogation; utter destruction;
as, the
abolition
of slavery or the slave trade; the abolition
of laws, decrees, ordinances, customs, taxes, debts, etc.☞ The application of this word to persons is now unusual or obsolete
Webster 1828 Edition
Abolition
ABOLI'TION
,Noun.
The application of this word to persons and things, is now unusual or obsolete. To abolish persons, canals and senses, the language of good writers formerly, is no longer legitimate.
Definition 2024
abolition
abolition
English
Noun
abolition (plural abolitions)
- The act of abolishing, or the state of being abolished; an annulling; abrogation; utter destruction; as, the abolition of slavery or the slave trade; the abolition of laws, decrees, ordinances, customs, taxes, debts, etc. [First attested around the early 16th century.][2]
- (historical, often capitalised, Britain, US) The ending of the slave trade or of slavery. [First attested around the early 18th century.][2]
- (historical, often capitalised, Australia) The ending of convict transportation. [First attested around the late 18th century.][2]
- (obsolete) An amnesty; a putting out of memory. [Attested from the early 17th century to the early 19th century.][2]
Usage notes
The application of this word to persons is now unusual or obsolete.
Antonyms
- (act of abolishing): establishment, foundation
Translations
act of abolishing
|
|
abolition of slave trade
|
emancipation of slaves
|
References
- ↑ Elliott K. Dobbie, C. William Dunmore, Robert K. Barnhart, et al. (editors), Chambers Dictionary of Etymology (Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2004 [1998], ISBN 0550142304), page 3-4
- 1 2 3 4 Lesley Brown (editor), The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition (Oxford University Press, 2003 [1933], ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7), page 6
- abolition in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913