ppl. a. [f. ABORT v. + -ED. Cf. mod. Fr. aborté.]

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  1.  Born before its time; hence, imperfect, undeveloped.

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1604.  T. Wright, Pass. of Mind, Ep. Ded. [I] could not tell whether to reioyce to see mine aborted infant revived.

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  2.  Biol. Rendered abortive or sterile; reduced to a state of imperfect development, checked in normal development. Applied in Morphology to the rudimentary or imperfect appendages that, in some species, represent the perfect organs of what may be considered the archetype or ancestral form. Thus spines are aborted branches, the breasts of male beings are aborted teats, etc.

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1859.  Darwin, Orig. Spec. (1873), v. 116. When this occurs, the adherent nectary is quite aborted.

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1867.  J. Hogg, Microsc., II. i. 324. Thorns, such as those of the rose, are aborted branches.

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1870.  Rolleston, An. Life, Introd. 109. This rudimentary or aborted condition of the hepatic organ.

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