Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary -- Volume ABBa"al·ism (-ĭz'm), n. Worship of Baal; idolatry. Ba"al·ist (?), Ba"al·ite (?), n. A worshiper of Baal; a devotee of any false religion; an idolater. Bab (?), n. [Per.] Lit., gate; -- a title given to the founder of Babism, and taken from that of Bab-ud-Din, assumed by him. Bab"ism (?), Bab"i·ism (?), n. The doctrine of a modern religious pantheistical sect in Persia, which was founded, about 1844, by Mirza Ali Mohammed ibn Rabhik (1820 -- 1850), who assumed the title of Bab-ed-Din (Per., Gate of the Faith). Babism is a mixture of Mohammedan, Christian, Jewish, and Parsi elements. This doctrine forbids concubinage and polygamy, and frees women from many of the degradations imposed upon them among the orthodox Mohammedans. Mendicancy, the use of intoxicating liquors and drugs, and slave dealing, are forbidden; asceticism is discountenanced. -- Bab"ist, n. Ba"ba (?), n. [F.] A kind of plum cake. Bab"bitt (?), v. t. To line with Babbitt metal. Bab"bitt met`al (?). [From the inventor, Isaac Babbitt of Massachusetts.] A soft white alloy of variable composition (as a nine parts of tin to one of copper, or of fifty parts of tin to five of antimony and one of copper) used in bearings to diminish friction. Bab"ble (băb"b'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Babbled (-b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Babbling.] [Cf.LG. babbeln, D. babbelen, G. bappeln, bappern, F. babiller, It. babbolare; prob. orig., to keep saying ba, imitative of a child learning to talk.] 1. To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds; as, a child babbles. 2. To talk incoherently; to utter unmeaning words. 3. To talk much; to chatter; to prate. 4. To make a continuous murmuring noise, as shallow water running over stones. |