DictionaryRoot: ab-
Latin
ab-
away, off, from
Forms
- ab-
- abs- — Expanded Latin form, especially before t.
- a- — Shortened in some Latin compounds.
Origin
Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *apo, ‘away; off.’
Note
The Greek prefix apo- is a relative from the same older source, not a borrowing from Latin.
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noun
abduction
Reasoning that infers the best explanation from available evidence.
Etymology
Latin abductio means a leading away. Logic gave the word a specialized use for moving from observed facts to a possible explanation, rather than deriving a necessary conclusion.
Related word entries
- abdicate
- abdication
- abductionOutward body movement
- abductionKidnapping
- abductionReasoning to the best explanation
- abductorKidnapper
- abductorMuscle moving a body part outward
- aberrant
- aberration
- abhor
- abhorrent
- abject
- abjure
- ablation
- ablution
- abnormal
- abominable
- abominate
- abomination
- abort
- abortiveUnsuccessful
- abortivePregnancy termination
- abound
- abrade
- abrasion
- abrogateFailure to fulfill a duty
- abrogateOfficial cancellation
- abrupt
- abscess
- absence
- absent
- absolute
- absolution
- absolve
- absorb
- absorbent
- absorption
- abstain
- abstention
- abstinence
- abstinent
- abstractConceptual
- abstractSummary
- abstractRemoval
- abstractionGeneral idea
- abstractionAbsent-mindedness
- abstruse
- absurd
- absurdity
- abundance
- abundant
- abuse
- abusive
- averse
- aversion
- avert
- avocation