abduction

¹ American  

[ab-duhk-shuhn] / æbˈdʌk ʃən /

noun

1. act of abducting.

2. the state of being abducted.

3. Law. the illegal carrying or enticing away of a person, especially by interfering with a relationship, such as the taking of a child from their parent.

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abduction ² American  

[ab-duhk-shuhn] / æbˈdʌk ʃən /

noun

Logic.

1. a syllogism whose major premise is certain but whose minor premise is probable.

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Etymology

Origin of abduction¹

First recorded in 1620–30; abduct + -ion

Origin of abduction²

First recorded in 1690–1700, abduction is from the New Latin word abductiōn- (stem of abductiō; translation of Greek apagōgḗ ). See abduct, -ion

Example Sentences

The family has long maintained the police's theories were attempts to cover up their role in his abduction.

From BBC

“Surreal” has become a kind of all-purpose adjective, one used to describe everything from an alien abduction to a meal at Arby’s.

From The Wall Street Journal

Africa's most populous country has long experienced insecurity but the spate of abductions recently has left it scrambling.

From Barron's

The spate of abductions has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of rural communities.

From BBC

The report suggested that deals struck by neighbouring states in the hopes of getting the bandits to agree to stop their activities may be partly responsible for an uptick in abductions in November.

From Barron's

Related Words

• kidnapping
• rape
• seizure
• theft