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}.
I own myself able to abstract in one sense. --Berkeley.
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.
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}.
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.