Past tense of 'abduct': to take someone away illegally or by force, or to move a limb away from the body's center.
From Latin 'abducere' (ab- meaning away, ducere meaning to lead), literally 'to lead away.' The word entered English in the 16th century meaning to carry off or kidnap. The anatomical meaning (moving a limb outward) came later from the same 'leading away' concept.
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