Abstract \Ab*stract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abstracted; p. pr.
   & vb. n. Abstracting.] [See Abstract, a.]
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   1. To withdraw; to separate; to take away.
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            He was incapable of forming any opinion or
            resolution abstracted from his own prejudices. --Sir
                                                  W. Scott.
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   2. To draw off in respect to interest or attention; as, his
      was wholly abstracted by other objects.
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            The young stranger had been abstracted and silent.
                                                  --Blackw. Mag.
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   3. To separate, as ideas, by the operation of the mind; to
      consider by itself; to contemplate separately, as a
      quality or attribute. --Whately.
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   4. To epitomize; to abridge. --Franklin.
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   5. To take secretly or dishonestly; to purloin; as, to
      abstract goods from a parcel, or money from a till.
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            Von Rosen had quietly abstracted the bearing-reins
            from the harness.                     --W. Black.
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   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.
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