Abstractness

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /æbˈstɹæk.nəs/

Definitions

1. The quality of existing in a conceptual realm rather than a physical one signifies an essence that lacks tangible representation while focusing on general ideas or qualities
2. The state characterized by a lack of physical presence indicates a focus on ideas or qualities that exist in a theoretical realm rather than in tangible forms
3. The characteristic of being removed from concrete reality and emphasizing theoretical ideas rather than physical objects

Etymology: The word "abstractness" is a plain formation: the adjective "abstract" with the suffix "-ness", which English has attached to adjectives since Old English to turn a quality into a noun. "Abstract" itself came into English in Middle English from Latin "abstractus", the past participle of "abstrahere", meaning "to draw away". That verb combined "ab-", "away from", with "trahere", "to draw", so the core idea is literally something pulled off or separated from something else. That physical sense of drawing away is what makes the modern meaning hang together. An abstract idea is one drawn out from particular objects or circumstances, leaving the general quality behind. "Abstractness," then, names the condition of being removed from concrete, real things, which is the meaning given here: removal from reality.

Synonyms: intangibility, conceptuality, theoretical nature, nonconcreteness, nonphysicality

Antonyms: concreteness, tangibility, physicality, specificity, realism