a. [f. L. ablāt-us taken away, removed (see ABLATE) + -ITIOUS, L. -īcius; cf. addit-itious.] Having the quality or character of a withdrawal or deduction. Ablatitious force (in Astr.) that which diminishes the gravitation of a satellite towards its planet, esp. of the moon towards the earth.
The moon being sometimes nearer to, and sometimes farther from, the sun than the earth, the attraction of the sun on the moon will sometimes be greater, and sometimes less, than his attraction on the earth. The difference estimated along the tangent to the moon’s orbit and along the radius drawn from her position to the earth is called the tangential and central disturbing force, respectively. The central disturbing force is ablatitious when it lessens the gravitation of the moon towards the earth. It is ablatitious in syzygies and addititious in quadratures.
1833. Sir J. Herschel, Astron., xi. 352. This … is termed the ablatitious force, because it tends to diminish the gravity. Ibid., 365. The average effect … gives the preponderance to the ablatitious or enfeebling power.
