[Abatement], a mark of disgrace in a coat of arms.
[Abauzit, Firmin], a French Protestant theologian and a mathematician, a friend of Newton, and much esteemed for his learning by Rousseau and Voltaire (1679-1767).
[Abbadie], two brothers of French descent, Abyssinian travellers in the years 1837-1848; also a French Protestant divine (1658-1727).
[Abbas], uncle of Mahomet, founder of the dynasty of the Abbasides (566-652).
[Abbas Pasha], the khedive of Egypt, studied five years in Vienna, ascended the throne at eighteen, accession hailed with enthusiasm; shows at times an equivocal attitude to Britain; b. 1874.
[Abbas the Great], shah of Persia, of the dynasty of the Sophis, great alike in conquest and administration (1557-1628).
[Abbas-Mirza], a Persian prince, a reformer of the Persian army, and a leader of it, unsuccessfully, however, against Russia (1783-1833).
[Abbasides], a dynasty of 37 caliphs who ruled as such at Bagdad from 750 to 1258.
[Ab`bati, Niccolo dell'], an Italian fresco-painter (1512-1571).
[Abbé], name of a class of men who in France prior to the Revolution prepared themselves by study of theology for preferment in the Church, and who, failing, gave themselves up to letters or science.