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abolish definition

abol·ish (ə bäl′is̸h)

transitive verb

to do away with completely; put an end to; esp., to make (a law, etc.) null and void

Etymology: ME abolisshen < OFr aboliss-, extended stem of abolir < L abolescere, to decay little by little, inceptive of abolere, to retard, destroy: formed, with ab-, from, to contrast with adolere, to increase, grow

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

law abolish definition - legal

abolish Synonyms

abolish

v.

suppress, eradicate, terminate, exterminate, obliterate, do away with, eliminate, remove, revoke, annul, abrogate, put an end to, end, finish, extirpate, nullify, set aside, repeal, rescind, reverse, annihilate, abate, supplant, prohibit, quash, squelch, extinguish, cancel, erase, wipe out, disannul, root out, pull up, uproot, disestablish, demolish, invalidate, overturn, overthrow, declare null and void, make null and void, stamp out, crush, undo, throw out, supersede, deprive of force, vitiate, inhibit, make void, dispense with, subvert, vacate, repudiate, make an end of, cut out, batter down, raze; see also destroy 1.

abolish denotes a complete doing away with something, as a practice, institution, or condition to abolish slavery, to abolish bias; annul and abrogate stress a canceling by authority or formal action the marriage was annulled; the law abrogated certain privileges; rescind, revoke, and repeal all describe the setting aside of laws, orders, etc. to rescind an order, revoke a charter, repeal a law


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

abolish Usage Examples

Object

  • slavery: Robbins compares the new movement with the early battles to abolish slavery in the 18th century.

Subject

  • law: This test has been abolished by the new law; see below.

Modifying Another Word

  • altogether: To the effect that the GP be abolished altogether.

Used with why or when

  • when: But in 1975 the monarchy was all but abolished when the semi-secret and independent kingdom was absorbed by India and became its 22nd state.

Preposition: in

  • favor: The institute said ISAs should be abolished in favor of other schemes that match funding.

Preposition: with

  • effect: The lead management requirements are abolished with immediate effect.

Preposition: for

  • claimant: Severe Disablement Allowance ( SDA ) was abolished for new claimants in April 2001.

Preposition: by

  • law: This test has been abolished by the new law; see below.
abolish usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"abolish." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/abolish>

APA Style

abolish. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/abolish

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