a. [ L. abstractus, p. p. of abstrahere to draw from, separate; ab, abs + trahere to draw. See Trace. ]
The more abstract . . . we are from the body. Norris. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
An abstract idea (Metaph.),
Abstract terms,
Abstract numbers (Math.),
Abstract mathematics
Pure mathematics
v. t.
He was incapable of forming any opinion or resolution abstracted from his own prejudices. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]
The young stranger had been abstracted and silent. Blackw. Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]
Von Rosen had quietly abstracted the bearing-reins from the harness. W. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To perform the process of abstraction. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
I own myself able to abstract in one sense. Berkeley. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ See Abstract, a. ]
An abstract of every treatise he had read. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]
Man, the abstract
Of all perfection, which the workmanship
Of Heaven hath modeled. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]
The concretes “father” and “son” have, or might have, the abstracts “paternity” and “filiety.” J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]
Abstract of title (Law),
a.
The evil abstracted stood from his own evil. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In an abstracted manner; separately; with absence of mind. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The state of being abstracted; abstract character. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. One who abstracts, or makes an abstract. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. F. abstraction. See Abstract, a. ]
A wrongful abstraction of wealth from certain members of the community. J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞
Abstraction is no positive act: it is simply the negative of attention. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Pertaining to abstraction. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. An idealist. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Obtained from plants by distillation. [ Obs. ] Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Cf. F. abstractif. ] Having the power of abstracting; of an abstracting nature. “The abstractive faculty.” I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In a abstract manner; separately; in or by itself. Feltham. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The quality of being abstractive; abstractive property. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In an abstract state or manner; separately; absolutely; by itself;
n. The quality of being abstract. “The abstractness of the ideas.” Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]
prop. n. An order of small aquatic crustaceans lacking a carapace, including the fairy shrimps and the brine shrimps.
‖ n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr.
a. & n. See Astrakhan. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
All bodies and all parts of bodies mutually attract themselves and one another. Derham. [ 1913 Webster ]
Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Attraction. [ Obs. ] Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The quality or fact of being attractable. Sir W. Jones. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Capable of being attracted; subject to attraction. --
n. One who, or that which, attracts. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Having power to attract. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. That attracts. --
n. [ L. attractio: cf. F. attraction. ]
☞ Attraction is exerted at both sensible and insensible distances, and is variously denominated according to its qualities or phenomena. Under attraction at sensible distances, there are, --
Attraction of gravitation, which acts at all distances throughout the universe, with a force proportional directly to the product of the masses of the bodies and inversely to the square of their distances apart.
Magnetic,
diamagnetic, and
electrical attraction
Adhesive attraction, attraction between surfaces of sensible extent, or by the medium of an intervening substance.
Cohesive attraction, attraction between ultimate particles, whether like or unlike, and causing simply an aggregation or a union of those particles, as in the absorption of gases by charcoal, or of oxygen by spongy platinum, or the process of solidification or crystallization. The power in adhesive attraction is strictly the same as that of cohesion.
Capillary attraction, attraction causing a liquid to rise, in capillary tubes or interstices, above its level outside, as in very small glass tubes, or a sponge, or any porous substance, when one end is inserted in the liquid. It is a special case of cohesive attraction.
Chemical attraction, or
affinity, that peculiar force which causes elementary atoms, or groups of atoms, to unite to form molecules.
.
a. [ Cf. F. attractif. ]
Flowers of a livid yellow, or fleshy color, are most attractive to flies. Lubbock. [ 1913 Webster ]
--
n. That which attracts or draws; an attraction; an allurement. [ 1913 Webster ]
Speaks nothing but attractives and invitation. South. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The quality or degree of attractive power. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. One who, or that which, attracts. Sir T. Browne [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr.
a. (Zool.) Pertaining to the Batrachia. --
a. [ Batrachia + -oid. ] (Zool.) Froglike. Specifically: Of or pertaining to the Batrachidæ, a family of marine fishes, including the toadfish. Some have poisonous dorsal spines. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Gr.
a. [ Gr.
n. an endless belt looped over several wheels, used in pairs in place of wheels to propel vehicles, such as tractors or military tanks, over rough ground. [ PJC ]
adj. having caterpillar treads or tracks on the wheels;
n. [ Gr. &unr_; a kind of fish. ] (Zool.) A shark of the genus
a. (Zool.) Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the genus
n. a yellow crystalline antibacterial antibiotic used to treat certain bacterial and rickettsial diseases.
a. [ Citric + aconitic. ] Pertaining to, derived from, or having certain characteristics of, citric and aconitic acids. [ 1913 Webster ]
Citraconic acid (Chem.),
n. the intentional prevention of conception or impregnation, especially when accomplished by the use of contraceptive medications or devices; a form of
adj. capable of preventing conception or impregnation;
n. a substance or device used to prevent conception.
adj. in the direction opposite to the rotation of the hands of a clock; counterclockwise. Opposite of
v. t.
In all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our faculties. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]
Thou didst contract and purse thy brow. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Each from each contract new strength and light. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
Such behavior we contract by having much conversed with persons of high station. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]
We have contracted an inviolable amity, peace, and lague with the aforesaid queen. Hakluyt. [ 1913 Webster ]
Many persons . . . had contracted marriage within the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by law. Strype. [ 1913 Webster ]
The truth is, she and I, long since contracted,
Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]