v.; also 5–6 abolyssh, 6 abholish; Sc. 7 abolliss. [a. Fr. aboliss-, lengthened stem of abolir:—L. abolēsc-ĕre, inceptive of abolē-re to grow out of use, and trans. to destroy, do away with; f. ab off, away + obs. olē-re to grow. In Eng. as in French always trans.] To put an end to, to do away with; to annul or make void; to demolish, destroy or annihilate. Its application to persons or concrete objects is nearly obsolete; it is usually said of institutions, customs or practices. Formerly often followed by from, out of; now usually without complement.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxvi. 94. Thou hast abolysshed my fraunchise.
1542. Contn. Fabyan, VII. 700. This yere was the bishop of Rome … abholished quit out of this realme.
1542. Brinklow, Compl. (1874), xix. 44. How can wickydnesse abolyssh wyckednesse, but rather increase it?
1596. Spenser, F. Q., II. iv. 45. And with thy blood abolish so reprochfull blott.
1607. Topsell, Four-footed Beasts (1673), 371. He doth craftily dissemble and abolish his foot-steps to deceive the Hunters.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 4. The fourtie dayes, or thrie sunnes, granted to the persewer … is discharged and abollissed.
1611. Bible, Is. ii. 18. And the idoles hee shall vtterly abolish.
1718. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett., No. 49, II. 56. The adventure … abolished that heathenish ceremony.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. V. ix. 291. Thus in any case, with what rule soever, shall the Bastille be abolished from our Earth.
1854. Kingsley, Lett. (1878), I. 415. Some dislike the notion of its being possible to abolish pestilence by sanitary reform.
1877. Daily News, 5 Nov., 5/1. We know that the best way to abolish darkness is to give light, that the best way to abolish folly is to spread wisdom.
