# abactor

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abactor
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

someone who steals a whole group of farm animals, like a herd of cows or sheep, at one time. This is an old legal word for a cattle thief.

For teachers: a person who steals cattle or other livestock in large numbers or herds. Archaic in register; historically used in legal contexts to distinguish large-scale theft from the stealing of a single animal.

## Examples

- The abactor drove the entire herd of cattle across the border.
- In historical legal texts, an abactor was punished more severely than a common thief because they stole entire herds.
- The local magistrate struggled to apprehend the abactor who had systematically depleted the valley's livestock over several moonless nights.

## Usage notes

- Primarily found in historical or legal dictionaries; the term is obsolete in modern common law.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.