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.