\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.