1 a : disassociated from any specific instance
b : difficult to understand : ABSTRUSE
c : insufficiently factual : FORMAL
2: expressing a quality apart from an object
3 a : dealing with a subject in its abstract aspects : THEORETICAL
b : IMPERSONAL, DETACHED
4: having only intrinsic form with little or no attempt at pictorial representation or narrative content
TO ABSTRACT
1: REMOVE, SEPARATE
2: to consider apart from application to or association with a particular instance
3: to make an abstract of : SUMMARIZE
4: to draw away the attention of
Origin:
Medieval Latin abstractus, from Latin, past participle of abstrahere to drag away, from abs-, ab- + trahere to pull, draw
First Known Use: 14th century
Source: Merriam - Webster Online
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abstract
