abstract etymology

Etymology

  • Origin: Latin abstractus, past participle of abstrahere, meaning "to draw away" or "to separate"
  • Meaning: Not concrete or material; existing only in the mind or as an idea

Meaning and Origin

The term "abstract" comes from the Latin word "abstractus," which means "drawn away" or "separated." It originally referred to the process of separating an idea or concept from its physical or concrete manifestation. In philosophy, abstraction is the process of isolating a particular characteristic or aspect of an object or experience in order to study or discuss it separately.

Abstract concepts, such as love, justice, or beauty, cannot be directly experienced through the senses but must be understood through thought and reflection. They represent ideas or qualities that exist independently of any particular physical or concrete object.

The use of abstract language and concepts is essential for communication, thought, and reasoning. It allows us to describe and discuss ideas that are not directly observable or measurable. Abstract language is also used in mathematics, science, and other fields to represent complex ideas and relationships.

Examples of abstract words include:

  • Love
  • Justice
  • Beauty
  • Truth
  • Goodness
  • Freedom
  • Equality

abstract relate terms

  • abstracted

    Abstracted Etymology Derived from the Latin verb abstrahere meaning to draw away

  • abstract

    Etymology Origin Latin abstractus past participle of abstrahere meaning to draw away

  • tract

    Etymology The word tract comes from the Latin tractus meaning a drawn line a stre

  • drag

    Etymology The word drag originates from the Middle English term dragen which means

  • substract

    Etymology Latin subtrahere to take away subtract withdraw Parts of Speech Verb

  • concrete

    Etymology The word concrete comes from the Latin concretus meaning grown together

  • abstraction

    Etymology The word abstraction is derived from the Latin word abstractio meaning a

  • dearth

    Etymology Middle English derth from Old English deore dear precious costly Proto

  • anesthesia

    Etymology The word anesthesia is derived from the Greek words an α̉ν meani

  • health

    Etymology Origin Old English hælu health welfare salvation Root Proto Germanic

  • length

    Etymology From Middle English length from Old English lencð from Proto Germanic la

  • conception

    Etymology The word conception derives from the Latin conceptio which means taking t

  • reckon

    Etymology Middle English reknen from Old English reccan Proto West Germanic rakōn

  • take

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It seeks to trace t