abduction

Meaning

Noun

• Leading away; a carrying away.
• The act of abducing or abducting; a drawing apart; the movement which separates a limb or other part from the axis, or middle line, of the body.
• A syllogism or form of argument in which the major premise is evident, but the minor is only probable.
• The wrongful, and usually forcible, carrying off of a human being.

Related

Similar words

• appropriation; kidnapping; seizure; withdrawal
• retroduction; abstraction

Opposite words

• adduction

Origin

• From Latin abductiō, from abdūcō, from ab + dūcō. Equivalent to abduct + -ion.
• From French, from Latin abductus.
• Compare French abduction.