Word of the Day

: October 31, 2014

adduce

verb uh-DOOSS

What It Means

: to offer as example, reason, or proof in discussion or analysis

adduce in Context

"The arguments she had adduced rang true." - Agatha Christie, The Secret Adversary, 1922

"Morris asserts that productive war makes governments, which in turn ensure peace and prosperity. He adduces the Roman Empire as his prime example." - Alan Cate, Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH), April 27, 2014

Did You Know?

We won't lead you astray over the history of adduce; it is one of a plethora of familiar words that trace to the Latin root ducere, which means "to lead." Perhaps we can induce you to deduce a few other ducere offspring if we offer a few hints about them. One is a synonym of kidnap, one's a title for a British royal, and one's another word for decrease. Give up? They are abduct, duke, and reduce, respectively. There are also many others, including induce, which means "to persuade" or "to bring about."