in general, any thing possessing the faculty of absorbing, or swallowing up another.

ABSORBENT Medicines, tallowaceous powders, as chalk, crab-eyes, &c. which are taken inwardly for drying up or absorbing any acid or redundant humours in the stomach or intestines. They are likewise applied outwardly to ulcers or sores with the same intention.

ABSORBENT Vessels, a name given promiscuously to the lacteal vessels, lymphatics, and inhalent arteries. See Anatomy.

Naturalists speak of the like absorbents in plants, the fibrous or hairy roots of which are as a kind of vast absorbentia, which attract and imbibe the nutritious juices from the earth. See Plants.