prescind

American  

[pri-sind] / prɪˈsɪnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to separate or single out in thought; abstract.

2. to cut off, terminate, or remove.

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verb (used without object)

1. to withdraw one's attention (usually followed byfrom ).

2. to turn aside in thought.

prescind British  

/ prɪˈsɪnd /

verb

1. to withdraw attention (from something)

2. (tr) to isolate, remove, or separate, as for special consideration

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Other Word Forms

• unprescinded adjective

Etymology

Origin of prescind

First recorded in 1630–40, prescind is from the Latin word praescindere to cut off in front. See pre-, rescind

Example Sentences

Srinivasan: On one way of understanding it, philosophy is the discipline that proposes to prescind from the particularities of the human perspective, while at the same time showing why this attempt to prescind is doomed.

From Scientific American • Oct. 5, 2019

This is what takes place in the imperfect virtual distinction: the concepts prescind from one another formally, not objectively.

From Ontology or the Theory of Being by Coffey, Peter

It can stand as long as it is content to prescind from the question of ends and origins; but then it is no longer a complete philosophy.

From The Faith of the Millions (2nd series) by Tyrrell, George

At best it can prescind from finalism by a confession of incompleteness and philosophical bankruptcy; by resolutely refusing to face the problem of the whole—of the ultimate whence and whither.

From The Faith of the Millions (2nd series) by Tyrrell, George

Thought therefore prescinds from that unity which material things could not by themselves contain, but from which it is impossible to prescind absolutely unless we wish to be reduced to an absurd conception.

From The Reform of Education by Gentile, Giovanni