Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “abstraction” come from?

Abstraction comes from Middle French abstraction, derived from the action or process of abstracting or separating mentally.

abstraction (English): The act of abstracting, separating, withdrawing,...

Definitions

  1. The act of abstracting, separating, withdrawing,...

Ancestry of “abstraction”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishabstraccyonereclusiveness; the practising of a monastic...
2Middle Frenchabstraction—
3Latinabstractioseparation; abstraction
4Latin-tiō—
5Latindissertātiō—
6Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
7Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “abstraction”

  • abstractionist
  • abstractionism
  • abstractional
  • semiabstraction
  • abstractionistic
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →