All 3 Uses of
abstract
in
Gulliver's Travels
- There are some other articles; but these are the most important, of which I have read you an abstract.
Chpt 1 (definition 1) *abstract = summary
- And as to ideas, entities, abstractions, and transcendentals, I could never drive the least conception into their heads.
Chpt 2 (definition 2) *abstractions = general ideas not associated with any specific instance
- They were indeed excellent in two sciences for which I have great esteem, and wherein I am not unversed; but, at the same time, so abstracted and involved in speculation, that I never met with such disagreeable companions.
Chpt 3 (definition 3) *abstracted = lost in thought
Definitions:
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(1) (abstract as in: read the abstract) a summary; or to summarize -- especially academic writing
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(2) (abstract as in: abstract thought) of a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
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(3) (abstracted as in: abstracted, so didn't notice) lost in thought; or distracted by thoughts