ABSTRACT', v.t. [L. abstraho, to draw from or separate; from abs and traho, which is the Eng. draw. See Draw.]

1. Separate; distinct from something else. An abstract idea, in metaphysics, is an idea separated from a complex object, or from other ideas which naturally accompany it; as the solidity of marble contemplated apart from its color or figure. – Encyc. Abstract terms are those which express abstract ideas, as beauty, whiteness, roundness, without regarding any subject 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. – Stewart. Abstract numbers are 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, is that which treats of magnitude or quantity, without restriction to any species of particular magnitude, as arithmetic and geometry; opposed to which is mixed mathematics, which treats of simple properties, and the relations of quantity, as applied to sensible objects, as hydrostatics, navigation, optics, &c. – Encyc.
2. Separate, existing in the mind only; as an abstract subject; an abstract question; and hence, difficult, abstruse.

1. A summary, or epitome, containing the substance, a general view, or the principal heads of a treatise or writing. – Watts.
2. Formerly, an extract, or a smaller quantity, containing the essence of a larger. In the abstract, in a state of separation, as a subject considered in the abstract, i. e. without reference to particular persons or things.

1. To draw from, or to separate; as, to abstract an action from its evil effects; to abstract spirit from any substance by distillation; but in this sense extract is now more generally used.
2. To separate ideas by the operation of the mind; to consider one part of a complex object, or to have a partial idea of it in the mind. – Horne.
3. To select or separate the substance of a book or writing; to epitomize or reduce to a summary. – Watts.
4. In chimistry, to separate, as the more volatile parts of a substance by repented distillation, or at least by distillation.

1. Withdraw; separate.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   The more abstract . . . we are from the body.
   Norris.

2. To withdraw] to separate; to take away.
   
   

   He was incapable of forming any opinion or resolution abstracted from his own prejudices.
   Sir W. Scott.

3. To perform the process of abstraction.
   
   
   [R.]

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

4. That which comprises or concentrates in itself the essential qualities of a larger thing or of several things. Specifically: A summary or an epitome, as of a treatise or book, or of a statement; a brief.
   
   

   An abstract of every treatise he had read.
   Watts.

   Man, the abstract
   Of all perfection, which the workmanship
   Of Heaven hath modeled.
   Ford.

5. 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.
6. 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.

7. A state of separation from other things; as, to consider a subject in the abstract, or apart from other associated things.
8. 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)
9. To separate, as ideas, by the operation of the mind; to consider by itself; to contemplate separately, as a quality or attribute.
   
   
   Whately.
10. An abstract term.
    
    

    The concretes "father" and "son" have, or might have, the abstracts "paternity" and "filiety."
    J. S. Mill.

11. 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.

12. To epitomize; to abridge.
    
    
    Franklin.
13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.