“abstract [ME] The Latin source of abstract, meant literally ‘drawn away’ and is from abstrahere, from the elements ab- ‘from’ and trahere ‘draw off.’ The use in art dates from the mid 19th century. Trahere is found in many English words including attract [LME] with ad ‘to’; portrait [M16th], something drawn; protract [M16th] with pro ‘out’; retract [LME] and retreat [LME] both drawing back; and words listed at TRAIN.”
Excerpted from: Creswell, Julia. Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.
Mark's Text Terminal 