# abstersive

CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abstersive
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a very old word for something that removes or takes away. It is rarely used today and mostly appears in old books or legal documents.

For teachers: a rare and archaic adjective denoting the power to remove, take away, or deprive. Primarily found in historical legal or literary contexts.

## Examples

- The old law was abstersive of certain rights.
- The judge noted that the new regulation was abstersive of the previous treaty's protections.
- While the term is largely obsolete in modern legal discourse, historical scholars may still encounter it in the context of abstersive clauses designed to strip away specific privileges.

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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.