Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary -- Volume AB1. Rubbed; worn by friction. Milton. 2. (Theol.) Repentant from fear of punishment; having attrition of grief for sin; -- opposed to contrite. At·tri"tion (?), n. [L. attritio: cf. F. attrition.] 1. The act of rubbing together; friction; the act of wearing by friction, or by rubbing substances together; abrasion. Effected by attrition of the inward stomach. 2. The state of being worn. Johnson. 3. (Theol.) Grief for sin arising only from fear of punishment or feelings of shame. See Contrition. Wallis. At·tri"tus (?), n. [L. attritus, p. p. of atterere; ad + terere to rub.] Matter pulverized by attrition. At"try (?), a. [See Atter.] Poisonous; malignant; malicious. [Obs.] Chaucer. At·tune" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attuned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Attuning.] [Pref. ad- + tune.] 1. To tune or put in tune; to make melodious; to adjust, as one sound or musical instrument to another; as, to attune the voice to a harp. 2. To arrange fitly; to make accordant. Wake to energy each social aim, A·twain" (?), adv. [OE. atwaine, atwinne; pref. a- + twain.] In twain; asunder. [Obs. or Poetic] "Cuts atwain the knots." Tennyson. |