abduct

[ ab-duhkt ]
See synonyms for abduct on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to carry off or lead away (a person) illegally and in secret or by force, especially to kidnap.

  2. Physiology. to move or draw away from the axis of the body or limb (opposed to adduct).

Origin of abduct

1
1825–35; <Latin abductus, past participle of abdūcere to abduce

Other words from abduct

  • un·ab·duct·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use abduct in a sentence

  • Power rather looked for some biting retort when he spoke of abducting her, and her unexpected meekness was somewhat disconcerting.

  • Practically you will be abducting Miss Nielsen, and that, you must know, is a highly punishable offence.'

    My Danish Sweetheart, Volume 3 of 3 | William Clark Russell
  • By all that was reasonable in woman, however, what possible advantage could she hope to gain by abducting me?

  • Thank goodness she has never done me the honour of abducting me as she did the Sultan of Surabaya and those other Johnnies.

  • “They certainly deserve it, abducting a nice little gentleman like Mr. Winterberry,” said Mrs. Garthwaite.

British Dictionary definitions for abduct

abduct

/ (æbˈdʌkt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to remove (a person) by force or cunning; kidnap

  2. (of certain muscles) to pull (a leg, arm, etc) away from the median axis of the body: Compare adduct

Origin of abduct

1
C19: from the past participle of Latin abdūcere to lead away

Derived forms of abduct

  • abductor, noun

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