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Word of the Day – Abactor

By January 23, 2019Word of the Day

Abactor (noun)

ab-ak-ter

A person who steals livestock, especially herds of cattle, usually by driving the animals away.

Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Henry Hammond (1605–1660), Church of England clergyman and theologian. From classical Latin abactor cattle-thief (2nd cent. a.d. in Apuleius) from abact-, past participial stem of abigere to drive away, specifically to drive away cattle + -or.

Example sentences

“The estate had been trying to catch the abactor for months with little success.”

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