Now illiterate. [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 † Substractionary a., of subtraction.
1674. Jeake, Arith. (1696), 54. If the Subtrahend and Remain be added, the Substractionary work will be proved.
