asportation

[ as-per-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. Law. the act of removing someone else’s property in committing the crime of larceny or theft, or of moving a person against their will as an element in some other crime against them:

   The court ruled that evidence was sufficient to prove both asportation and the intent to permanently deprive the owner of his property.

2. Medicine/Medical. surgical removal, as of a tumor:

   Complete asportation of the tumor was confirmed by the postoperative MRI.

3. any act of carrying away or removing:

   Without proper equipment, asportation of the ore from the mine would be impossible.

Word History and Origins

Origin of asportation¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin asportātiōn-, stem of asportātiō “removal,” from asportāt(us) “removed” (past participle of asportāre “to remove,” from earlier absportāre, apsportāre (unrecorded), from abs- abs- ( def ) + portāre “to carry”; port ⁵( def ) ) + -iō -ion ( def )

Example Sentences

The theft of slaves is a crime; they are a subject-matter of felonious asportation.

From Project Gutenberg

Three usucaptions that are not entitled to a fine: fear, warning, asportation.

From Project Gutenberg