Abstracting

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Abstract \Ab*stract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abstracted}; p. pr.
     & vb. n. {Abstracting}.] [See {Abstract}, a.]
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     1. To withdraw; to separate; to take away.
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              He was incapable of forming any opinion or
              resolution abstracted from his own prejudices. --Sir
                                                    W. Scott.
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     2. To draw off in respect to interest or attention; as, his
        was wholly abstracted by other objects.
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              The young stranger had been abstracted and silent.
                                                    --Blackw. Mag.
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     3. To separate, as ideas, by the operation of the mind; to
        consider by itself; to contemplate separately, as a
        quality or attribute. --Whately.
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     4. To epitomize; to abridge. --Franklin.
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     5. To take secretly or dishonestly; to purloin; as, to
        abstract goods from a parcel, or money from a till.
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              Von Rosen had quietly abstracted the bearing-reins
              from the harness.                     --W. Black.
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     6. (Chem.) To separate, as the more volatile or soluble parts
        of a substance, by distillation or other chemical
        processes. In this sense extract is now more generally
        used.
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