Ab"scess (?), n.; pl.
Abscesses (?). [L. abscessus a going away,
gathering of humors, abscess, fr. abscessus, p. p. of
absedere to go away; ab, abs + cedere to go
off, retire. See Cede.] (Med.) A collection of pus or
purulent matter in any tissue or organ of the body, the result of a morbid
process.
Cold abscess, an abscess of slow formation,
unattended with the pain and heat characteristic of ordinary abscesses, and
lasting for years without exhibiting any tendency towards healing; a
chronic abscess.