A*bor"tion (&adot;*bôr"shŭn), n.
[L. abortio, fr. aboriri. See Abort.]
1. The act of giving premature birth; particularly,
the expulsion of the human fetus prematurely, or before it is capable of
sustaining life; miscarriage.
&fist; It is sometimes used for the offense of procuring a premature
delivery, but strictly the early delivery is the abortion, "causing
or procuring abortion" is the full name of the offense.
Abbott.
2. The immature product of an untimely
birth.
3. (Biol.) Arrest of development of any
organ, so that it remains an imperfect formation or is absorbed.
4. Any fruit or produce that does not come to
maturity, or anything which in its progress, before it is matured or
perfect; a complete failure; as, his attempt proved an
abortion.