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abduct

[ ab-duhkt ]
/ ĂŠbˈdʌkt /
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See synonyms for: abduct / abducted on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
to carry off or lead away (a person) illegally and in secret or by force, especially to kidnap.
Physiology. to move or draw away from the axis of the body or limb (opposed to adduct).

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Origin of abduct

1825–35; <Latin abductus, past participle of abdĆ«cere to abduce

OTHER WORDS FROM abduct

un·ab·duct·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use abduct in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abduct

abduct
/ (ĂŠbˈdʌkt) /

verb (tr)
to remove (a person) by force or cunning; kidnap
(of certain muscles) to pull (a leg, arm, etc) away from the median axis of the bodyCompare adduct

Derived forms of abduct

abductor, noun

Word Origin for abduct

C19: from the past participle of Latin abdƫcere to lead away
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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