Abstract
Example: The abstract ideas in the book are hard to understand.
Definition
"Abstract" in philosophy refers to concepts or ideas that exist apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances. These are general notions that represent qualities, relationships, or principles rather than tangible or physical entities, often challenging to grasp through direct experience.
Etymology
The word "abstract" comes from the Latin 'abstractus,' past participle of 'abstrahere,' meaning 'to draw away' or 'to separate.' It originally referred to something drawn away from concrete reality, which perfectly suits its philosophical use to describe ideas detached from physical objects.
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"Abstract" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - Philosophy - (A2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used words.
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