abstract English · revision 7373

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1398|origins=la abstraho}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæbˌstɹækt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|abstractus|t=drawn away]], the past participle of [[m|la|abstraho|alt=abstrahere|t=to drag away, detach, divert]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|abs|t=away]] and [[m|la|traho|alt=trahere|t=to draw]] (see [[tract]]).^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(NODE 1998) MWU gives Medieval Latin abstractus, removed, incorporeal, for the adjective.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Originally in grammar, of nouns that do not name concrete things: the late 14th century in Etymonline, before 1398 in Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Difficult to understand, abstruse, is from about 1400, and in philosophy, separated from material objects or practical matters, as opposed to concrete, from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline) The noun, a summary of a document, is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The verb, to draw away or remove, is from the 1540s, and to consider as a general idea from the 1610s.^(Etymonline) Withdrawn from present objects, absent-minded, is from 1509.^(OED 1989) In the fine arts, non-representational, it is by 1914, though used of music without words since 1847;^(Etymonline) Word Origins dates the art sense to the mid-19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Abstract expressionism'', exemplified by Jackson Pollock, is from 1952.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1398 – an abstract noun.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – abstruse.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-15th century – philosophical; a summary.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540s – to remove (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1914 – non-representational art.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1952 – abstract expressionism.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical existence.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Dealing with ideas rather than events; theoretical.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(art)'' Not attempting to represent external reality, but using shapes, colours and textures.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A summary of the contents of a book, article or speech.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An abstract work of art.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To consider something theoretically or separately from something else.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To remove or take away.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make a written summary of.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[abstracter]]

+ * [[abstractly]]

+ * [[abstractness]]

+ * [[abstractable]]

+ * [[nonabstract]]

+ * [[overabstract]]

+ * [[semiabstract]]

+ * [[superabstract]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[abstraction]]

+ * [[abstractive]]

+ * [[tract]]

+ * [[attract]]

+ * [[distract]]

+ * [[extract]]

+ * [[subtract]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}