Meanings
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1
noun
a person who unlawfully carries someone away and holds them captive
Investigators traced the ransom call to the child's abductor.
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2
noun
a muscle that moves a body part away from the body's midline or another reference axis
The physiotherapist prescribed exercises to strengthen the hip abductor.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Medieval Latin abductor, one who leads away, from Latin abducere, to lead away, plus the agent suffix -tor. Anatomy adopted the term for a muscle that draws a limb or other part away from the body's midline; adductor names the opposing action.