abstractus

Forms

abstractus (feminine abstracta, neuter abstractum); first/second-declension adjective^[1] Medieval Latin also has a masculine noun abstractus “removal”.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Latin abstrahō (“to drag away, withdraw”), its perfect participle used as an adjective.^[1][4][3] That verb is a compound of ab- (“away”) and trahō (“to draw”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

As an adjective meaning abstract, separated from matter, Köbler first finds it in Boethius;^[3] Isidore of Seville uses it so too.^[1]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it is the participle of abstrahō, “dragged away, withdrawn”.^[1][4] The adjective, “withdrawn, incorporeal, mental”, belongs to Late Latin philosophy.^[3][1] In Thomas Aquinas it is a key term for what is drawn off or separated, in the ontological, psychological, epistemological and mystical senses, a synonym of absolutus and separatus, in phrases such as forma abstracta and linea abstracta.^[6]

In British accounts a noun abstractus meant the removal or taking out of something, such as honey.^[2][3] English took the adjective over as abstract in the late 14th century, first in grammar, and in the philosophical sense from the mid-15th.^[5]

Timeline

• 1st quarter of 6th century AD – Boethius uses it as an adjective, “abstract”.^[3]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville uses it in the same sense.^[1][3]
• c. 1250 – The noun abstractus “removal” is recorded.^[3]
• late 14th century – Borrowed into English as abstract.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (participle) Dragged away, withdrawn, removed.^[1][4]
2. (Late Latin, philosophy) Abstract, incorporeal; separated in thought from matter.^[1][3][6]

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) Removal, taking out.^[2][3]

Related words

• English abstract

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
2. ^ a b c Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh