Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Abortion
1.
The act of giving premature birth; particularly, the expulsion of the human fetus prematurely, or before it is capable of sustaining life; miscarriage.
3.
(Biol.)
Arrest of development of any organ, so that it remains an imperfect formation or is absorbed.
4.
Any fruit or produce that does not come to maturity, or anything which in its progress, before it is matured or perfect; a complete failure;
as, his attempt proved an
. abortion
Webster 1828 Edition
Abortion
ABOR'TION
,Noun.
1.
The act of miscarrying, or producing young before the natural time, or before the fetus is perfectly formed.2.
In a figurative sense, any fruit or produce that does not come to maturity, or any thing which fails in its progress, before it is matured or perfect, as a design or project.3.
The fetus brought forth before it is perfectly formed.