I Spy Something Beginning with AB Quiz

Answer: Abode

AB + ode = abode.

An ode is a poem usually in praise of someone or something, such as 'Ode to a Nightingale', written by John Keats or 'Ode to the West Wind' by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

An abode is any place of residence, often used in a slightly ironic way as in "welcome to my humble abode".

Answer: Abridge

AB + ridge = abridge.

A ridge can be used for any raised crest, like a ridge of mountains or a raised seam in cloth.

If you abridge some written work you reduce the length of it, usually by removing extra descriptive passages, while keeping the sense of the narrative. You could say "I couldn't face reading 'War and Peace', so I read the abridged version".

Answer: Abalone

AB + alone = abalone.

If you live by yourself, you are said to be living alone.

An abalone is a particular species of sea snail, which is known by various other names around the world. The flesh is edible while the inner layer of the shells in which the snail lives are made of nacre, or mother-of-pearl, with beautiful iridescent colours.

Answer: Abstain

AB + stain = abstain.

A stain is an unsightly mark or spot which spoils the appearance of something. Most stains tend to be resistant to being removed, which distinguishes them from smudges or spots.

To abstain is to take a considered decision not to take part in something. Examples could be abstaining from chocolate or alcohol for the Lent season, or to abstain from a vote.

Answer: Absolution

AB + solution = absolution.

A solution is the answer to a problem, perhaps mathematical or to a crossword puzzle clue. It can also mean a liquid containing a solute, for example a cough mixture.

Absolution is often used in the religious sense - to absolve someone from their sins. It can refer to any situation where a person is exonerated of blame.

Answer: Abbess

AB + Bess = abbess.

Queen Elizabeth I of England is known by several nicknames, including 'The Virgin Queen', 'Gloriana' and 'Good Queen Bess'.

An abbess is the female equivalent of an abbot, often called Mother Superior, and is in charge of a community of nuns.

Answer: Abuse

AB + use = abuse.

To use something is to employ it for a particular purpose - 'I used my garden rake to clear up the leaves', for example.

Abuse can refer to any kind of mistreatment. If you hit your dog for barking too much, you are abusing him. It can also be used to describe a verbal assault, when someone shouts swear words at you or otherwise castigates you.

Answer: Abroad

AB + road = abroad.

There does seem to be a fine distinction between 'road' and 'street', with road referring to thoroughfares through the countryside and streets having houses or other buildings along them. They are fairly well interchangeable, though.

Abroad means to be in a country other than the one where you usually live. Generally speaking, crossing a body of water would be involved. Travelling from England to Wales would not be considered to be going abroad.

Answer: Abash

AB + ash = abash.

The ash is a large tree, native to many parts of Europe, including the UK. The wood is strong and hard and is used for tool handles and for stairs. In the early part of the twenty-first century the species came under threat, due to a fungus causing the death of many trees.

Abash, as a verb, means to disconcert another person, or make them feel ill at ease, maybe by publicly referring to a past misdemeanour which they would prefer to have kept private.

Answer: Abduct

AB + duct = abduct.

A duct can refer to a part of the body, with some examples being the bile duct or the parotid duct. Generally speaking, a duct can mean any means of transporting a fluid. In Roman times, an aqueduct was a type of bridge to transport water.

To abduct someone is to kidnap them. The word can also be used in a more general sense to describe a movement away from a central point.