abstract

abstract
{{11}}abstract (adj.) late 14c., originally in grammar (of nouns), from L. abstractus "drawn away," pp. of abstrahere "to drag away; detach divert," from ab(s)- "away" (see AB- (Cf. ab-)) + trahere "draw" (see TRACT (Cf. tract) (1)). Meaning "withdrawn or separated from material objects or practical matters" is from mid-15c. That of "difficult to understand, abstruse" is from c.1400. Specifically in reference to modern art, it dates from 1914; abstract expressionism as an American-based uninhibited approach to art exemplified by Jackson Pollack is from 1952, but the term itself had been used in the 1920s of Kandinsky and others.
Oswald Herzog, in an article on "Der Abstrakte Expressionismus" (Sturm, heft 50, 1919) gives us a statement which with equal felicity may be applied to the artistic attitude of the Dadaists. "Abstract Expressionism is perfect Expressionism," he writes. "It is pure creation. It casts spiritual processes into a corporeal mould. It does not borrow objects from the real world; it creates its own objects .... The abstract reveals the will of the artist; it becomes expression. ..." [William A. Drake, "The Life and Deeds of Dada," 1922]
{{12}}abstract (n.) "abridgement or summary of a document," mid-15c., from ABSTRACT (Cf. abstract) (adj.). The general sense of "a smaller quantity containing the virtue or power of a greater" [Johnson] is recorded from 1560s.
{{12}}abstract (v.) 1540s, from L. abstractus or else from the adjective ABSTRACT (Cf. abstract). Related: Abstracted; abstracting, abstractedly.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • abstract — ab·stract / ab ˌstrakt/ n 1: a summary of a legal document 2: abstract of title ab·stract /ab strakt, ab ˌstrakt/ vt Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law …   Law dictionary

  • abstract — abstráct, ă I. adj. gândit în mod separat de ansamblul concret, real. ♢ în abstract = pe bază de deducţii logice; exprimat (prea) general, teoretic; (despre un proces de gândire) greu de înţeles; (mat.) număr abstract = număr căruia nu i se… …   Dicționar Român

  • Abstract — Ab stract (#; 277), a. [L. abstractus, p. p. of abstrahere to draw from, separate; ab, abs + trahere to draw. See {Trace}.] 1. Withdraw; separate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] The more abstract . . . we are from the body. Norris. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • abstract — adj Abstract, ideal, transcendent, transcendental are closely analogous rather than synonymous terms. The difference in meaning between abstract and ideal is not apparent when they are applied to things which are admirable in actuality as well as …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Abstract — Ab stract , n. [See {Abstract}, a.] 1. That which comprises or concentrates in itself the essential qualities of a larger thing or of several things. Specifically: A summary or an epitome, as of a treatise or book, or of a statement; a brief.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Abstract — (‘resumen’, en inglés) puede referirse a: Abstract (sumario): resumen de un artículo científico (en:Abstract (summary)). Abstract (derecho): resumen de un texto jurídico (en:Abstract (law)). Véase también Abstract Factory (patrón de diseño)… …   Wikipedia Español

  • abstract — ● abstract nom masculin (mot anglais) Résumé d un texte scientifique, d un article de revue. ● abstract (difficultés) nom masculin (mot anglais) Anglicisme Dans une publication savante, résumé d un article, souvent placé en tête de l article lui… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Abstract — may refer to: * Abstract (law) * Abstract (summary) * Abstract art * Abstract objectee also* Abstraction (disambiguation) …   Wikipedia

  • abstract — ab‧stract [ˈæbstrækt] noun [countable] a short written statement that contains the most important details of a longer piece of writing such as a newspaper article, a report, or a speech: • an abstract of the Chairman s speech to the shareholders… …   Financial and business terms

  • abstract — for adj. [, ab strakt′, ab′strakt΄; ] for n.1 & vt.4 [, ab′strakt΄; ] for n.2 [, ab′strakt΄, ab strakt′; ] for vt.1, 2, & 3 [, ab strakt′] adj. [< L abstractus, pp. of abstrahere, to draw from, separate < ab(s) , from + trahere, to DRAW] 1 …   English World dictionary

  • abstract — [adj] conceptual, theoretical abstruse, complex, deep, hypothetical, ideal, indefinite, intellectual, nonconcrete, philosophical, recondite, transcendent, transcendental, unreal; concept 582 Ant. actual, concrete, factual, material, objective,… …   New thesaurus

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