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ab·duct

(ăb-dŭkt)

tr.v. ab·duct·ed, ab·duct·ing, ab·ducts

1. To carry off by force; kidnap.

2. Physiology To draw away from the midline of the body or from an adjacent part or limb.

[Latin abdūcere, abduct- : ab-, away; see AB-¹ + dūcere, to lead; see deuk- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

ab·duct·ee n.

ab·duction n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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