ABSCISSION
abscission, cutting off
(noun) the act of cutting something off
abscission
(noun) shedding of flowers and leaves and fruit following formation of scar tissue in a plant
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
abscission (countable and uncountable, plural abscissions)
The act or process of cutting off.
(obsolete) The state of being cut off. [Attested only in the mid 17th century.]
(rhetoric) A figure of speech employed when a speaker having begun to say a thing stops abruptly
(botany) The natural separation of a part at a predetermined location, such as a leaf at the base of the petiole. [First attested in the late 19th century.]
Usage notes
Not to be confused with abscision, which only is defined as the first sense.
Anagrams
• abscisions
Source: Wiktionary
Ab*scis"sion, n. Etym: [L. abscissio. See Abscind.]
1. The act or process of cutting off. "Not to be cured without the
abscission of a member." Jer. Taylor.
2. The state of being cut off. Sir T. Browne.
3. (Rhet.)
Definition: A figure of speech employed when a speaker having begun to say
a thing stops abruptly: thus, "He is a man of so much honor and
candor, and of such generosity -- but I need say no more."
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition