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Abducting: meaning, definitions and examples

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abducting

 

[ æbˈdʌktɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

criminal activity

Abducting refers to the act of unlawfully taking someone away by force or fraud. This can involve kidnapping individuals against their will, often with the intent to hold them for ransom or other motives. Abduction can leave deep psychological scars on the victim and can have legal consequences for the perpetrator. It is considered a serious crime in most jurisdictions and is subject to severe punishment.

Synonyms

capture, carry off, kidnap, snatch

Examples of usage

  • The child was abducted from the park last weekend.
  • Authorities have issued a warning about potential abductions in the area.
  • The documentary explored the trauma faced by victims of abduction.

Translations

Translations of the word "abducting" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sequestro

🇮🇳 अपहरण

🇩🇪 Entführung

🇮🇩 penculikan

🇺🇦 викрадення

🇵🇱 porwanie

🇯🇵 誘拐

🇫🇷 enlèvement

🇪🇸 secuestro

🇹🇷 kaçırma

🇰🇷 납치

🇸🇦 اختطاف

🇨🇿 únos

🇸🇰 únos

🇨🇳 绑架

🇸🇮 ugrabljenje

🇮🇸 röskun

🇰🇿 ұрлау

🇬🇪 გაყვანება

🇦🇿 qaçırma

🇲🇽 secuestro

Word origin

The word 'abduct' originates from the Latin term 'abductus', which is the past participle of 'abducere', meaning 'to lead away'. This Latin verb is a compound of 'ab-', meaning 'away from', and 'ducere', meaning 'to lead'. The term made its way into English in the 15th century and has since been used primarily in legal and criminal contexts. Initially, it was used in historical texts to describe the act of taking someone from their home or territory. Over time, the meaning has evolved but has retained its core definition, focusing on the illegal and forceful nature of the act. The transition from a broader description of taking to a more specific definition associated with crime reflects societal concerns about safety and personal autonomy. Today, 'abducting' is commonly associated with high-profile criminal cases and psychological studies on the impact of such acts on victims.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,479 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.