abduction

¹

[ab-duhk-shuhn]

noun

1. act of abducting.

2. the state of being abducted.

3. Law.,  the illegal carrying or enticing away of a person, especially by interfering with a relationship, such as the taking of a child from their parent.

abduction

²

[ab-duhk-shuhn]

noun

Logic.

1. a syllogism whose major premise is certain but whose minor premise is probable.

Word History and Origins

Origin of abduction¹

First recorded in 1620–30; abduct + -ion

Origin of abduction²

First recorded in 1690–1700, abduction is from the New Latin word abductiōn- (stem of abductiō; translation of Greek apagōgḗ ). See abduct, -ion

Example Sentences

President Prabowo himself is accused of human rights abuses, such as the abduction of dissidents, under Suharto’s rule.

From Los Angeles Times

The police have identified at least a dozen abduction cases since last year some of which have since been resolved, with many going back to 2019.

From BBC

Masad, a regular contributor to The Times, probes the mysteries of outer space in dramatizing the first alien abduction story.

From Los Angeles Times

He argued that he was worried they might try to arrest him, which would be "an assault and abduction".

From BBC

Zelensky praised Melania "for her attention to one of the most painful and difficult issues of this war - the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia," adding "we deeply appreciate her compassion".

From BBC

Related Words

• kidnapping www.thesaurus.com
• rape 
• seizure 
• theft