Origin: 1530–40; <
Latin subtractus (past participle of
subtrahere to draw away from underneath), equivalent to
sub- sub- +
trac- (past participle stem of
trahere to draw) +
-tus past participle suffix
Related formssub·tract·er, noun
un·sub·tract·ed, adjective
Synonyms
1, 3. Subtract, deduct express diminution in sum or quantity. To subtract suggests taking a part from a whole or a smaller from a larger: to subtract the tax from one's salary. To deduct is to take away an amount or quantity from an aggregate or total so as to lessen or lower it: to deduct a discount. Subtract is both transitive and intransitive, and has general or figurative uses; deduct is always transitive and usually concrete and practical in application.
Antonyms
1–3. add.