abort

abort · noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromabortus
2. English todayabort

From Middle English, from Latin abortus, perfect active participle of aborior (“miscarry”), formed from ab + orior (“to come into being”). Doublet of abortus.

abort · verb²

1. Latin · derived fromabortare
2. English todayabort

From Latin abortare, from abortus, from aboriri (“miscarry”), from ab- (“not”) + oriri (“come into being, arise, appear”).

First known use, by meaning

• First attested in the early 17ᵗʰ century. The product of a miscarriage; an aborted offspring; an abortion.
• Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the mid 17ᵗʰ century. A miscarriage; an untimely birth; an abortion.
• First attested in the mid 16ᵗʰ century. To miscarry; to bring forth (non-living) offspring prematurely.
• Attested since at least the 19ᵗʰ century. To cause a premature termination of (a fetus); to end a pregnancy before term.
• First attested in the late 16ᵗʰ century. To end prematurely; to stop in the preliminary stages; to turn back.
• First attested in the late 16ᵗʰ century. To stop or fail at something in the preliminary stages.
• First attested in the mid 19ᵗʰ century. To become checked in normal development, so as either to remain rudimentary or shrink away wholly; to cease organic growth before maturation; to become sterile.
• First attested in the mid 19ᵗʰ century. To cause an organism to develop minimally; to cause rudimentary development to happen; to prevent maturation.