Tuesday, July 3, 2007

The Definition of Abattoir

ab·at·toir (āb'ə-twär') Pronunciation Key
n.
A slaughterhouse.
Something likened to a slaughterhouse: "The hand of God and mankind's self-inflicted blows seem equally heavy ... giving a strong cumulative impression of the world as an abattoir" (Manchester Guardian Weekly).


[French, from abattre, to strike down, from Old French; see abate.]

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