See Also: abstraction(medicine)
abstraction(dictionary)
abstraction(dictionary)

abstraction (iou)



abstraction noun. LME.
[Old & mod. French, or late Latin abstractio(n-), from abstract-: see ABSTRACT verb, -ION.]
The act of taking away; withdrawal; euphem. stealing. LME.
C. Lamb He robs..the revenue,an abstraction I never greatly cared about.
A state of withdrawal from worldly things or things of the senses. LME.
E. Waugh Dennis awoke from a deep abstraction.
b. Absence of mind. L18.
Boswell Wrapped up in grave abstraction.
a. The act of considering something independently of its associations, attributes, or concrete accompaniments; the state of being so considered. L16.
vicious abstraction: see VICIOUS adjective.
J. Wain We had been asked to drink a toast to success, in abstractionnot success to this or that person, but success itself.
b. A thing so considered; a thing which exists only in idea; something visionary. L16.
B. Russell 'The State' is an abstraction; it does not feel pleasure or pain, it has no hopes or fears.
Freedom from representational qualities in art; an abstract work of art. E20.
M. Shadbolt The paintings were not..abstractions. They were landscapes, more or less.
abstractional adjective M19.
abstractionism noun the pursuit of abstraction(s); esp. the principles or pursuit of abstract art: E20.
abstractionist noun a person who deals with abstractions; an advocate or practitioner of abstract art: M19.