substraction Now illiterate.
(səbˈstrækʃən)
[ad. med.L. *substractio, -ōnem, n. of action f. substrahĕre to substract. Cf. OF. sustraction, substraction, Sp. substraccion.]
= subtraction.
1. The operation of taking one number or quantity from another; an instance of this. Also transf. and gen. Deduction, abstraction.
| 1596 Nashe Saffron Walden 141 Quarrelling by Diuision, getting wenches with childe by Multiplication, stealing by Substraction. 1601 W. Barlow Defence 102 Euery addition or substraction is hie treason against his maiestie. 1613 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. iv. (1772) I. 136 Millions admit a small substraction. 1648 Heylin Relat. & Observ. i. 33 The same Ship..having been so often repaired, and thereby suffered so many substractions and additions, that hardly any part of the old Vessell remained. 1703 T. N. City & C. Purchaser 80 Substraction must have been made of all such Deductions. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v., Substraction is the finding of a certain Number from two Homogeneous ones given; which, with one of the given Numbers, is equal to the other. 1818 Bentham Ch. Eng. Introd. 63 A course which,—after substraction made of all punishment and all reward..would remain no less open to rulers than to subjects. 1827 Carlyle Germ. Rom. II. 13 Rendering back to us with additions or substractions, the Beauty which existing things have of themselves presented to him. |
2. The withdrawing or withholding of something necessary, due, essential, or customary.
| 1620 T. Scott Highw. God (1623) 74 Now there is cause to doubt rather substraction, then to hope for restitution. 1626 J. Yates Ibis ad Cæsarem i. 76 In the sorrowes of the soule there was..some substraction of divine consolation. 1643 Prynne Opening Gt. Seal 19 The great and privy Seales wilfull absence and substraction from the Parliament. 1660 R. Coke Power & Subj. 203 A Prior..may chuse either to sue for substraction of his Tithes in the Ecclesiastical court, or in the Exchequer. 1822 (title) Report of a trial in the Consistory Court at Durham in a Cause of Substraction of Easter Offerings. |
Hence † subˈstractionary a., of subtraction.
| 1674 S. Jeake Arith. (1696) 54 If the Subtrahend and Remain be added, the Substractionary work will be proved. |