abstractedly

Meanings

adverbabstractedly (comparative more abstractedly, superlative most abstractedly)

comparative more abstractedly · superlative most abstractedly

In an abstracted manner; separately; in the abstract.First known use early 17th c.
[…] as the head of a beast is to be placed only upon its shoulders, so neither is a plant, however abstractedly treated, to be placed root uppermost […]
1852, John Pollard Seddon, chapter 3, in Progress in Art and Architecture, London: David Bogue, page 38
4 more examples
Doubtlesse, in the Idaea, or mentall shape before it come as it were into act, by beeing painted, cut, or carued, those terminating, and truly Mathematical lines, abstractedly considered, are manifest, adhering (or inhering rather) without any possibility of separation from the conceaued Image.
1610, Edmund Bolton, chapter 15, in The Elements of Armories, London: George Eld, page 89
[I]t is abundant ſatisfaction to them if they ſee their children do vvell; their chief delight and contentment is in their childrens good abſolutely and abſtractedly, vvithout indirect regards to their ovvn advantage.
a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “An Exposition of the Decalogue. Honour Thy Father, and Thy Mother.”, in A Brief Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer and the Decalogue. […], London: […] M[iles] Flesher, for Brabazon Aylmer, […], published 1681, →OCLC, page 164
Qu[estion] 8. VVhether the Notions of abſolute Time, abſolute Place, and abſolute Motion be not moſt abſtractedly Metaphyſical? VVhether it be poſſible for us to meaſure, compute, or knovv them?
1734, [George Berkeley], “Section L [Occasion of this Address. Conclusion. Queries.]”, in The Analyst; or, A Discourse Addressed to an Infidel Mathematician. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC, page 77
You remember the gentleman in “The Spectator,” who had a commission of lunacy taken out against him for his extreme singularity, such as never wearing a wig, but a night-cap. Now, Sir, abstractedly, the night-cap was best; but, relatively, the advantage was overbalanced by his making the boys run after him.
1791, James Boswell, quoting Samuel Johnson, “[1769]”, in James Boswell, editor, The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. […], volume I, London: […] Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, […], →OCLC, page 311
With absence of mind .First known use the early 19ᵗʰ century.
She looked up over the page, ran her eye abstractedly across the room, but gave no sign at all of seeing him.
2011, Alan Hollinghurst, The Stranger’s Child, London: Picador, section 3, 3
5 more examples
Leaning abstractedly over a hogshead of tallow, her dark dishevelled tresses waved in opposite directions, and a Muse (as she was) appeared to vulgar eyes, a Fury!
1806, Isaac D'Israeli, chapter 38, in Flim-Flams!, 2nd edition, volume 2, London: John Murray, page 219
He is a man of the meditative claſs:—he walks the ſtreets abſtractedly:—as he goes he digeſts enterpriſes, fraught with world-wide benefits.
1860, Isaac Taylor, “Essay V. Epidemic Whims.”, in Ultimate Civilization and Other Essays, London: Bell and Daldy […], →OCLC, section I, page 257
The farmer had never turned his head once, but with eyes fixed on the most advanced point along the road, passed as unconsciously and abstractedly as if Bathsheba and her charms were thin air.
1874, Thomas Hardy, chapter XII, in Far from the Madding Crowd. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], →OCLC
He rose from his knees, and walked slowly across to the mantelpiece, where he stood abstractedly fingering the ornaments, and straightening them—a trick of his when he was agitated.
1920, Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, London: Pan Books, published 1954, page 40
In Montreal, George Stephen was also thinking about money while he walked in sober mood from the Bank to the Canadian Pacific offices; one of the best-known figures in the city […] his passage along St. James Street was noted by many, and he nodded abstractedly to innumerable acquaintances.
1935, Alan Sullivan, chapter 10, in The Great Divide, London: Lovat Dickson & Thompson
Synonyms: absently, absent-mindedly