Deduction
/dɪˈdʌkʃən/noun
The process of reaching a conclusion by reasoning from general principles or known facts.
Did you know?In medieval scholastic thought, deduction was treated as a disciplined intellectual path from universal principles toward specific conclusions, giving reasoning an almost ritual structure.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deuk-
“To lead or draw”
Classical Latin
Latin
dūcere
“To lead, guide, or draw”
Classical Latin
Latin
dēdūcere
“To lead away or bring down; later, to derive by reasoning”
Late Latin
Latin
dēductiō
“A leading away, withdrawal, or logical derivation”
Medieval Latin
Latin
deductio
“A drawing out or inference”
15th Century
English
deduction
“The act of reasoning from premises, or the taking away of an amount”
Modern English
English
deduction
“An inference reached through reasoning, or an amount subtracted”