Amounts subtracted from a total, especially from taxable income, or logical conclusions reached by reasoning from general principles to specific cases.
From Latin deductio meaning 'a leading away or down,' from deducere (de- 'away' + ducere 'to lead'). The logical sense developed in medieval Latin, while the financial sense emerged in modern usage.
Interestingly, tax deductions work backward from the logical meaning - instead of reasoning from general to specific, you're finding specific expenses to reduce a general tax burden. The word bridges ancient philosophy and modern accounting in a delightful way.
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