asportation

[ as-per-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. Law. the act of removing someone else’s property in committing the crime of larceny or theft, or of moving a person against their will as an element in some other crime against them:

   The court ruled that evidence was sufficient to prove both asportation and the intent to permanently deprive the owner of his property.

2. Medicine/Medical. surgical removal, as of a tumor:

   Complete asportation of the tumor was confirmed by the postoperative MRI.

3. any act of carrying away or removing:

   Without proper equipment, asportation of the ore from the mine would be impossible.

Word History and Origins

Origin of asportation¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin asportātiōn-, stem of asportātiō “removal,” from asportāt(us) “removed” (past participle of asportāre “to remove,” from earlier absportāre, apsportāre (unrecorded), from abs- abs- ( def ) + portāre “to carry”; port ⁵( def ) ) + -iō -ion ( def )

Example Sentences

Orange County Court said he was fined for shoplifting by asportation.

From BBC

Volutes, asportation, imbricated, Mnemosyne and phthisic are a few of the others.

From Washington Post

Three usucaptions that are not entitled to a fine: fear, warning, asportation.

From Project Gutenberg

The greatest doubt and question will be, whether it be in the power of the Devil to perform such asportation and locall translation of the bodies of Witches....

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, short of getting it upon a trolley or taking 'the steering' down, its asportation could not be compassed.

From Project Gutenberg