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

The girl is also at the centre of an abduction plot - something community leader Sue-Anne Hunter called a "particularly insensitive choice", given the "painful historical context" of the Stolen Generations.

From BBC

The latest example of this came when it was accused of being complicit - as Uganda's Observer newspaper put it - in the "brazen cross-border abductions" of 36 Ugandan opposition supporters in July.

From BBC

Such abductions are rare, and this specific scenario — a child taken from her bedroom, by a stranger, in front of witnesses — defied their collective experience.

From Los Angeles Times

Following reports of the kidnapping, Kenyan police told the BBC they were investigating a "kidnapping incident" after a motorcycle driver witnessed the abduction.

From BBC

Kenyan police told the BBC they were investigating a "kidnapping incident" after a motorcycle driver witnessed the abduction.

From BBC

Related Words

• kidnapping
• rape
• seizure
• theft