abduct

play

verb ab·duct \ab-ˈdəkt, əb-; sense 2 also ˈab-ˌ\

Definition of abduct

transitive verb
1 : to seize and take away (a person) by force The girl was abducted by kidnappers.
2 : to draw or spread away (a part of the body, such as a limb or the fingers) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body or from the axis of a limb a muscle that abducts the arm

abductor

play \-ˈdək-tər\ noun

See abduct defined for English-language learners

See abduct defined for kids

Recent Examples of abduct from the Web

According to Pryor, students at Washington formed their own chapter of the KKK, and were known by the local Freedmen’s Bureau to attempt to abduct and rape black schoolgirls from the nearby black schools.

— adam serwer, The Atlantic, "The Myth of the Kindly General Lee", 4 June 2017
The Fort Wayne, Indiana, woman abducted her children on Sept. 26 from their custodial grandparents' home, prompting authorities to issue an Amber Alert.

— Post-Tribune, "Indiana woman pleads guilty to smothering her 2 children", 1 June 2017
An Amber Alert for a 13-year-old Missouri girl who was reportedly abducted by two men early Wednesday has been canceled after she was found safe.

— robert a. cronkleton, kansascity, "Amber Alert canceled after 13-year-old Missouri girl found safe", 31 May 2017
His lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, told The Associated Press the journalist was abducted outside his home Monday evening, beaten up and taken to the land border between Azerbaijan and Georgia.

— aida sultanova, chicagotribune.com, "Lawyer says independent Azerbaijani journalist abducted from home in nearby Georgia", 31 May 2017
This hilarious Rossini opera is the one in which Figaro’s here, Figaro’s there, and Figaro helps Count Almaviva to abduct Rosina from her disagreeable elderly guardian, Doctor Bartolo.

— OregonLive.com, "14 ideas for keeping the classical musical vibe going this summer", 27 May 2017
The attacks were incited by rumors on the messaging service WhatsApp warning of strangers who were abducting children.

— geeta anand and suhasini raj, New York Times, "Rumors on WhatsApp Ignite 2 Mob Attacks in India, Killing 7", 25 May 2017
June’s daughter Hannah is abducted earlier on the show.

— peggy truong, Cosmopolitan, "10 Major Differences Between The Handmaid’s Tale Book vs. Show So Far", 23 May 2017
Rebels linked to Al Qaeda abducted 13 Catholic nuns from the historic Christian town of Maaloula in 2013; they were later released in a prisoner exchange.

— patrick j. mcdonnell, latimes.com, "Good Friday processions move through ruins of Syria's civil war", 14 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abduct'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of abduct

borrowed from Medieval Latin abdūctus, past participle of abdūcere “to draw (a limb) away from the body,” going back to Latin “to lead away, carry off, remove, entice away,” from ab- ab- + dūcere “to lead” — more at ¹tow

First Known Use: 1765

ABDUCT Defined for Kids

abduct

play

verb ab·duct \ab-ˈdəkt\

Definition of abduct for Students

abducted

;

abducting

: to take a person away by force : kidnap

abduction

\ab-ˈdək-shən\ noun

Medical Dictionary

abduct

play play

transitive verb ab·duct \ab-ˈdəkt, əb- also ˈab-ˌ\

Medical Definition of abduct

: to draw away (as a limb) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body the peroneus longus extends, abducts, and everts the foot—C. R. Bardeen; also : to move (similar parts) apart abduct adjoining fingers

abduction

\ab-ˈdək-shən, əb-\play noun

Law Dictionary

abduct

play

transitive verb ab·duct \ab-ˈdəkt, əb-\

Legal Definition of abduct

: to carry or lead (a person) away by threat or use of force or often by fraud; also : to restrain or conceal (a person) for the purpose of preventing escape or rescue — see also kidnapping