a-, an- +

Free of bacteria; without bacteria.

The absence of baptism; no baptism.

1. Loss of ability to appreciate the weight of objects held in the hand, or to differentiate objects of different weights.
2. Loss of the sense of weight; unaware of weight.
3. When the primary senses are intact, caused by a lesion of the contralateral parietal lobe.

The inability to walk due to a limitation or absence of muscular coordination; not able to walk.

The sum of all the nonliving components of an environment or habitat.

1. The (supposed) origin or evolution of living organisms from lifeless matter without the action of living parents; “spontaneous generation” (introduced by Professor Thomas H. Huxley when addressing the British Association at Liverpool, September, 1870).
2. The now discredited theory that living organisms can be spontaneously generated directly from nonliving matter. An antonym of biogenesis.
3. Spontaneous generation; the concept that life can simply arise spontaneously from non-living matter by natural processes without the intervention of supernatural powers.

Of or pertaining to abiogenesis; not resulting from the activities of living organisms.

In an abiogenetic manner; by way of abiogenesis.

Not derived from living organisms; occurring independently of life or life processes, but perhaps preceding or leading to them. Antonymous to biogenic.

One who holds or advocates the hypothesis of abiogenesis.

Coming into existence without springing from antecedent living beings; produced by “spontaneous generation”.

The study of non-living things.

1. Devoid of life; non-living.
2. Absence or deficiency of life; abiotrophy.

Absence, or deficiency, of life; devoid of life or specific life conditions.

1. The loss of vitality in or the degeneration of certain cells or tissues, as in the aging process; physical degeneration; loss of vitality.
2. Progressive loss of vitality of certain tissues or organs leading to disorders or loss of function. The longevity of the heart, for instance, may be appreciably shorter than that of other organs of the body, leading to early disturbance in function which upsets organ-equilibrium.
3. The degeneration or loss of function or vitality in an organism or in cells or tissues not due to any apparent injury; such as, senile dementia and related abiotrophies.