Noun

1. The act or process of cutting off.
   • Not to be cured without the abscission of a member. - Jer. Taylor
2. The state of being cut off. - Sir T. Browne
3. A figure of speech employed when a speaker having begun to say a thing stops abruptly

   He is a man of so much honor and candor, and of such generosity -- but I need say no more.

4. The separation of a part at a predetermined location, such as a leaf at the base of the petiole.