English

Noun

abolition ‎(plural abolitions)

1. The act of abolishing, or the state of being abolished; an annulling; abrogation; utter destruction; as, the abolition of slavery or the slave trade; the abolition of laws, decrees, ordinances, customs, taxes, debts, etc. [First attested around the early 16^th century.]^[2]
2. (historical, often capitalised, Britain, US) The ending of the slave trade or of slavery. [First attested around the early 18^th century.]^[2]
3. (historical, often capitalised, Australia) The ending of convict transportation. [First attested around the late 18^th century.]^[2]
4. (obsolete) An amnesty; a putting out of memory. [Attested from the early 17^th century to the early 19^th century.]^[2]

Usage notes

The application of this word to persons is now unusual or obsolete.

Antonyms

• (act of abolishing): establishment, foundation

Translations

References

1. ↑ Elliott K. Dobbie, C. William Dunmore, Robert K. Barnhart, et al. (editors), Chambers Dictionary of Etymology (Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2004 [1998], ISBN 0550142304), page 3-4
2. 1 2 3 4 Lesley Brown (editor), The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition (Oxford University Press, 2003 [1933], ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7), page 6

• abolition in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

French

Pronunciation

Noun

abolition f ‎(plural abolitions)

1. abolition.