Abort
/əˈbɔːrt/noun
To terminate a process or action prematurely.
Did you know?The term 'abort' originally referred to the act of 'miscarry' in the context of childbirth, linking it to loss and failure long before its modern usage.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
abortus
“Miscarried or stillborn, literally meaning 'to be carried away'.”
14th Century
Old French
abortar
“To bring forth prematurely or to miscarry.”
16th Century
English
abort
“To terminate a process or development.”
19th Century
English
abort
“To interrupt or terminate a mission or operation.”
Modern English
English
abort
“To end an operation or process prematurely, especially in medical contexts.”
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