A B S
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A B S
When tile Matter is fully ripen 'd, they are to be open' J with a Lancet or Cauflick, and their Cure attempted by Digef- tives and Incarnadves. See Ripener, Digestive, Incar-
NAT1VE, He.
ABSC1SSE, ABSCISSA, in Conies, a Fart of the Dia- meter, or tranfverfe Axis of a Conic Section, intercepted between the Vertex or Tome other fix'd Point, and a Semior- dinate. See Conic SetJion.
Such are the Lines AP, AP, EJ?c. (Tab. Conies, Fig- 2°) intercepted between the Vertex A and the Semiordinates PM, PM, He. , T _.
They are called Abfciffes of the Latin Abfcmdo, I cut oft; as being Parts cut off from the Axis. Others call 'em Sa- gitt£, Arrows. Sec Sagitta.
In the Parabola, the Abfiifs is a third Proportional to the Parameter and Semiordinate ; and the Parameter a third Proportional to the Jbfiifs and Semiordinate. See Parabo- ia, Semiordinate, He.
In the Ellipfis, the Square of the Semiordinate is equal to the Rectangle of the Parameter into the Abfiiffe, fubtract- ing another" Rectangle of the fame Abfiiffe, into a fourth Proportional to the Axis, Parameter, and Abfiiffe. See El- lipsis.
In the Hyperbola, the Squares of the Semiordinates are to each other as the Rectangles of the Abfiiffe into ano- ther Line, compos'd of the Abfiiffe and the tranfverfe Axis. See Hyperbola.
ABSENT. See Present.
ABSOLUTE, is underftood of fomcthing that is free, or independent of another. ■ Hence, as there are various ways wherein one thing may be confider'd is free in refpect of ano- ther, there arife divers forts of Abfolutes.
Abfolute, e. g. fometimes imports a Thing which does not include the Idea of Relation to another ; in which Senfe it Hands oppos'd to Relative.
Thus, Man is an abfolute Term ; and, on the contrary, Creature and Father are Relatives, the one referring to Creator, the other to Children. See Relative.
In the like Senfe, the Schoolmen hold Abfolute to imply a Thing's not being in ordilie ad, in order to any other Thing. Thus, Man, Tree, He. are Abfolutes ; and every other Thing which has any real Exiffence which it does not owe to another.
In this Senfe too, the Terms of a Propofition are faid to be taken abfolutely ; that is, without Relation to each other.
Thus, Man, confider'd abfolutely, and in himfelf, is an Abfolute Reafonable Creature.
Sometimes, Abfolute denotes a being free from Restric- tion, Limitation, or Modifications ; in which Senfe, fay the Schoolmen, it (lands oppos'd to a -rs ficundum quid.^ Thus, a Prince is faid to be Abfolute, when his Will is his Law ; or when he is no way reftrain'd or tied down by any Laws of his Country. And thus a Thing is faid to be abfolutely and fimply good. >
Sometimes, again, Abfolute denotes a Thing s being free from Conditions : In which Senfe it Hands oppos'd to Condi- tional. See Conditional.
Thus, the Decrees of God are faid to be Abfolute with refpect to Men. The rigid Calvinifts maintain abfolute un- conditional Predeftination and Reprobation. A Prieft does not forgive Men's Sins abfolutely, but on Condition of Re- pentance and Amendment. In this Senfe alfo, we fay, an Abfolute Promife, an Abfolute Propofition, He.
The Divines frequently ufe Abfolute in a ffill further Senfe, viz. in oppofition to Declaratory : Thus, the Church of Rome holds that the Prielt can forgive Sins abfolutely ; the Proteftants fay, only dedaratively and ministerially. See Decree, Absolution, He.
Again, Abfolute is fometimes ufed in refpect of Caufe ; and denotes a Thing's being without any Caufe. In which Senfe, God alone is abfolute. ,
Absolute Number, in Algebra, is the known Quantity which poffeffes one entire Side or Part of an Equation ; be- ing the Rectangle, or Solid whofe Root or Value is to be found. See Equation, and Root.
Thus, in the Equations a -|-itftf = 5<f, the Abfolute Num- ber is 3<f ; which is equal to a multiplied by it felf, added te 1 5 times a.
This is what Victa calls Homogencum Comfarationis. Absolute Equation, in Aftronomy, is the Sum of the Optic and Eccentric Equations, See Equation.
Ablative Absolute, is a Diction detach'd, and indepen- dent of the reft of the Difcourfe ; neither governing, nor being governed of any other Thing. See Ablative.
This is frequent among the Latins ; in Imitation of whom, the modern Languages have likewife adopted it : SDeleto exereitu : The Army being cut to pieces. All things con- fider'd, Reafon will appear the bell Guide in Matters of Religion.
Absolute 'Place. ~) CPlace. Absolute Sface. f SeepSpACE. Absolute Motion. J 'Motion.
ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTE, in Philofophy.and Theo- logy. See Absolute.
In Grammar, we fay, A Word is taken abfolutely, Abfo- lute fumptus, when it has no Regimen, or Governmenr. Thus, in the Phral'e We Jbou'd fray without ceafing ; the Word fray is taken abfolutely, as it governs nothing.
In Geometry, Abfolutely is taken for entirely, compleatly. Thus, we fay, fuch a thing is abfolutely round ; in contra- diftinction from what is only partly fo, as a Spheroid, Cy- cloid, He.
ABSOLUTION, ABSOLUTIO, in the Civil Law, He. a definitive Sentence, whereby a Perfon accufed of any Crime, He. is acquitted, and declared Innocent.
Among the Romans, the ordinary Method of pronouncing Judgment was this : After the Caufe had been pleaded on both fides, the Pretor ufed the Word 2)ixerunt, q. d. rhey have faid what they had to fay. Then, three Ballots were diftributed to each Judge 5 one mark'd with the Letter A. for Abfolution ; another with C. for Condemnation ; and a third with N. L. pen liquet, it is not clear, to require re- fpite of Judgment : and according as the Majority fell of this or that Mark, the Accufed was abfolved or condemn'd, He. If be were abfolved, the Pretor difmifs'd him with Vi- detur noti fecij/e, or nihil in eo damnationis digimm inveuic. When the Votes are equally divided on the Sides of Abfo- lution and Condemnation, the Accufed is abfolved : This Pro- cedure is fuppofed to be founded on the Law of Nature. Such is the Sentiment of Faber on the 11 ;th Law. de Hiv. Reg. Jur. of Cicero, fro Cluentio ; of guntilian, Declam. 254 5 of Stralo, Lib. IX.
Absolution, in the Canon Law, is a Juridical Aft, where- by a Prieft, as a Judge, and in virtue of a Power given him by Jefus Chrift, remits the Sins of fuch as appear to have the Conditions requifite thereto.
The Romanifls hold Abfolution a Part of the Sacrament of Penance : The Council of Trent, SetCXIV. cap. iii. and that of Florence, in the Decree ad Arminos, declare the Form or Effence of the Sacrament to lie in the Words of Abfolution, I abfolve thee of thy Sins.
This Formula of Abfolution in rhe Romijh Church is Ab- folute 5 in the Greek Church, Deprecatory j and in the Churches of the Reformed, Declarative. Arcuvius, indeed, contends that the Greek Formula is abfolute ; and that it confifts in thefe Words, Mea mediocritas habet te venia do- natum. But the Inftances he produces are either no For- mula's of Abfolution, or only of Abfolution from Excom- munication.
Absolution is chiefly ufed in the Reformed Churches foraSenrence whereby aPerfon who ftands excommunicated, is releas'd or freed from thefame. See Excommunication. In the Church of Scotland, if the Excommunicated fhew real Signs of godly Sorrow, and if upon Application to the Presbytery a Warrant be granted for his Abfolution, he is brought before the Congregation to confefs his Sin, and ex- prefs his Sorrow, as often as the Presbytery fhall think meet : When the Congregation is fatisfy'd of his Penitence, the Mi- nifter puts up a Prayer, defiring Jefus Chrift who has infti- tuted the Ordinance of Excommunication, (i. e. of binding and loofing the Sins of Men on Earth) with a Promife of ra- tifying the righteous Sentence above, to accept of this Man, to forgive his Difobedience, He. Thisdone, he pronounces the Sentence of Abfolution ; by which his former Sentence is taken off, and the Sinner is again receiv'd into Communion.
In the Church of Rome there are divers other Political Jbfolutions ; as Abfolutio a fievis, which is neceffary where a Perfon has been concern'd in feeing Sentence of Death exe- cuted on a Criminal, or has any other way difqualify'd him- felf for the holding of a Benefice.
Abfolutio ad Cautelam, is that granted to a Perfon who has lodg'd an Appeal againft a Sentence of Excommunication. It being a Maxim in the Papal Jurifprudence, that the Sen- tence ftands good notwithftanding any Appeal ; this fort a£ Abfolution is fometimes granted till the Ifflue of his Appeal be known : by means hereof, fome Articles, at leaft, ot his Excommunication are taken off ; infomuch that Perfons may converfe with him without danger : And befide, in Cafe of Death, this Sentence is fuppofed to ftand him in fbme Head. ABSORBENTS, in Medicine, Remedies which by the Softnefs or Porofity of their component Parts, become proper to fheath the Afperities of fharp pungent Humors ; or to imbibe or dry away, as with a Sponge, fuperfluous Moiftures. Such are the Teftaceous Pouders, Hartfhorn, Coral, Crabs Eyes and Claws, calcin'd Bones, burnt Ivory, He.
Abforbents are the fame with what we otherwife call tDriers and Sweetners.
The Term Abforbent is frequently confounded with Al- caly ; Alcalies having, really, the Effect ot Abforbents with refpect to Acids. See Acid, and Alcaly.
ABSTEMIOUS, is properly underftood of fuch Perfons as refrain abfolutely from Wine. 'Pliny more exprefly fays, Vini abjlemius ; and Afuleius, Invimui.
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