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abstract

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abstract


  5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Abstract  \Ab"stract`\  (#;  277),  a.  [L.  abstractus  p.  p.  of 
  abstrahere  to  draw  from  separate;  ab  abs  +  trahere  to  draw. 
  See  {Trace}.] 
  1.  Withdraw;  separate.  [Obs.] 
 
  The  more  abstract  .  .  .  we  are  from  the  body. 
  --Norris. 
 
  2.  Considered  apart  from  any  application  to  a  particular 
  object;  separated  from  matter;  existing  in  the  mind  only; 
  as  abstract  truth,  abstract  numbers.  Hence:  ideal; 
  abstruse;  difficult. 
 
  3.  (Logic) 
  a  Expressing  a  particular  property  of  an  object  viewed 
  apart  from  the  other  properties  which  constitute  it 
  --  opposed  to  {concrete};  as  honesty  is  an  abstract 
  word  --J.  S.  Mill. 
  b  Resulting  from  the  mental  faculty  of  abstraction; 
  general  as  opposed  to  particular;  as  ``reptile''  is 
  an  abstract  or  general  name  --Locke. 
 
  A  concrete  name  is  a  name  which  stands  for  a 
  thing  an  abstract  name  which  stands  for  an 
  attribute  of  a  thing  A  practice  has  grown  up  in 
  more  modern  times,  which  if  not  introduced  by 
  Locke,  has  gained  currency  from  his  example,  of 
  applying  the  expression  ``abstract  name''  to  all 
  names  which  are  the  result  of  abstraction  and 
  generalization,  and  consequently  to  all  general 
  names  instead  of  confining  it  to  the  names  of 
  attributes.  --J.  S.  Mill. 
 
  4.  Abstracted;  absent  in  mind.  ``Abstract,  as  in  a  trance.'' 
  --Milton. 
 
  {An  abstract  idea}  (Metaph.),  an  idea  separated  from  a 
  complex  object,  or  from  other  ideas  which  naturally 
  accompany  it  as  the  solidity  of  marble  when  contemplated 
  apart  from  its  color  or  figure. 
 
  {Abstract  terms},  those  which  express  abstract  ideas,  as 
  beauty,  whiteness,  roundness,  without  regarding  any  object 
  in  which  they  exist;  or  abstract  terms  are  the  names  of 
  orders  genera  or  species  of  things  in  which  there  is  a 
  combination  of  similar  qualities. 
 
  {Abstract  numbers}  (Math.),  numbers  used  without  application 
  to  things  as  6,  8,  10;  but  when  applied  to  any  thing  as 
  6  feet,  10  men,  they  become  concrete. 
 
  {Abstract}  or  {Pure  mathematics}.  See  {Mathematics}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Abstract  \Ab*stract"\,  v.  t. 
  To  perform  the  process  of  abstraction.  [R.] 
 
  I  own  myself  able  to  abstract  in  one  sense  --Berkeley. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Abstract  \Ab"stract`\,  n.  [See  {Abstract},  a.] 
  1.  That  which  comprises  or  concentrates  in  itself  the 
  essential  qualities  of  a  larger  thing  or  of  several 
  things  Specifically:  A  summary  or  an  epitome,  as  of  a 
  treatise  or  book,  or  of  a  statement;  a  brief. 
 
  An  abstract  of  every  treatise  he  had  read.  --Watts. 
 
  Man,  the  abstract  Of  all  perfection,  which  the 
  workmanship  Of  Heaven  hath  modeled.  --Ford. 
 
  2.  A  state  of  separation  from  other  things  as  to  consider  a 
  subject  in  the  abstract,  or  apart  from  other  associated 
  things 
 
  3.  An  abstract  term. 
 
  The  concretes  ``father''  and  ``son''  have  or  might 
  have  the  abstracts  ``paternity''  and  ``filiety.'' 
  --J.  S.  Mill. 
 
  4.  (Med.)  A  powdered  solid  extract  of  a  vegetable  substance 
  mixed  with  sugar  of  milk  in  such  proportion  that  one  part 
  of  the  abstract  represents  two  parts  of  the  original 
  substance. 
 
  {Abstract  of  title}  (Law),  an  epitome  of  the  evidences  of 
  ownership. 
 
  Syn:  Abridgment;  compendium;  epitome;  synopsis.  See 
  {Abridgment}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Abstract  \Ab*stract"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Abstracted};  p.  pr 
  &  vb  n.  {Abstracting}.]  [See  {Abstract},  a.] 
  1.  To  withdraw;  to  separate;  to  take  away 
 
  He  was  incapable  of  forming  any  opinion  or 
  resolution  abstracted  from  his  own  prejudices.  --Sir 
  W.  Scott. 
 
  2.  To  draw  off  in  respect  to  interest  or  attention;  as  his 
  was  wholly  abstracted  by  other  objects. 
 
  The  young  stranger  had  been  abstracted  and  silent. 
  --Blackw.  Mag. 
 
  3.  To  separate,  as  ideas,  by  the  operation  of  the  mind;  to 
  consider  by  itself  to  contemplate  separately,  as  a 
  quality  or  attribute.  --Whately. 
 
  4.  To  epitomize;  to  abridge.  --Franklin. 
 
  5.  To  take  secretly  or  dishonestly;  to  purloin;  as  to 
  abstract  goods  from  a  parcel,  or  money  from  a  till. 
 
  Von  Rosen  had  quietly  abstracted  the  bearing-reins 
  from  the  harness.  --W.  Black. 
 
  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 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  abstract 
  adj  1:  existing  only  in  the  mind;  separated  from  embodiment; 
  "abstract  words  like  `truth'  and  `justice'"  [ant:  {concrete}] 
  2:  not  representing  or  imitating  external  reality  or  the 
  objects  of  nature;  "a  large  abstract  painting"  [syn:  {abstractionist}, 
  {nonfigurative},  {nonobjective}] 
  3:  based  on  specialized  theory;  "a  theoretical  analysis"  [syn: 
  {theoretical}] 
  4:  dealing  with  a  subject  in  the  abstract  without  practical 
  purpose  or  intention;  "abstract  reasoning";  "abstract 
  science" 
  n  1:  a  concept  or  idea  not  associated  with  any  specific  instance; 
  "he  loved  her  only  in  the  abstract--not  in  person"  [syn: 
  {abstraction}] 
  2:  a  summary  of  the  main  points  of  an  argument  or  theory  [syn: 
  {outline},  {synopsis},  {precis}] 
  v  1:  consider  a  concept  without  thinking  of  a  specific  example; 
  consider  abstractly  or  theoretically 
  2:  make  off  with  belongings  of  others  [syn:  {pilfer},  {cabbage}, 
  {purloin},  {pinch},  {snarf},  {swipe},  {hook},  {sneak},  {filch}, 
  {nobble},  {lift}] 
  3:  consider  apart  from  a  particular  case  or  instance;  "Let's 
  abstract  away  from  this  particular  example" 
  4:  give  an  abstract  of 




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