Abstracting

Abstract Ab*stract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abstracted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Abstracting}.] [See {Abstract}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. To withdraw; to separate; to take away. [1913 Webster]

He was incapable of forming any opinion or resolution abstracted from his own prejudices. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

2. To draw off in respect to interest or attention; as, his was wholly abstracted by other objects. [1913 Webster]

The young stranger had been abstracted and silent. --Blackw. Mag. [1913 Webster]

3. To separate, as ideas, by the operation of the mind; to consider by itself; to contemplate separately, as a quality or attribute. --Whately. [1913 Webster]

4. To epitomize; to abridge. --Franklin. [1913 Webster]

5. To take secretly or dishonestly; to purloin; as, to abstract goods from a parcel, or money from a till. [1913 Webster]

Von Rosen had quietly abstracted the bearing-reins from the harness. --W. Black. [1913 Webster]

6. (Chem.) To separate, as the more volatile or soluble parts of a substance, by distillation or other chemical processes. In this sense extract is now more generally used. [1913 Webster]