abs-

prefix = AB-.
Etymology: var. of L ab- used before c, q, t

* * *

var. of ab-: absent; abscond.

* * *

abs-,

prefix. the form of ab-¹ (Cf. ↑ab-) before c and t, as in abscond, abstain.

abs.,

1. absent.

2. a) absolute. b) absolutely.

3. abstract.

ABS (no periods),

1. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (a heavy-duty plastic).

2. alkyl benzene sulfonate (the basis of most hard detergents). The molecules of ABS cannot be broken down completely in sewage treatment systems.

* * *

prefix variant spelling of ab- before c, q, and t (as in abscond, abstain)

* * *

abs- prefix

repr. L. abs- the form of ab- off, away, from, used before c- q- and t-, as in abs-cessus, abs-condere, abs-tractus, abs-tinens. In words that survived into OFr. reduced to as-, as as-traire, as-tenir; subseq. refashioned after L. as abs-traire, abs-tenir. In words taken directly from L. into later Fr. and Eng. abs- from the first.