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ab·du·cens

(ăb-dsənz, -dy-)

n. pl. ab·du·cen·tes (ăb′d-sĕntēz′, -dy-)

Either of the sixth pair of cranial nerves that convey motor impulses to the rectus muscle on the lateral side of each eye.

[From Latin abdūcēns, present participle of abdūcere, to take away; see ABDUCT.]

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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