deduction
UK[dɪˈdʌkʃn]US[dɪˈdʌkʃn]
n
The process of using known facts to form a conclusion or decide something logically.
n
The act of taking away an amount from a total, or the amount taken away.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
duct
ion
de
away
duct
lead
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'deduction' originates from the Latin verb deducere, meaning "to lead down or away." This verb is a compound of the prefix de- ("away from") and ducere ("to lead"). In classical Latin, it was used literally for leading soldiers away or withdrawing, and figuratively for tracing a logical argument from premises to a conclusion. The term entered English via Old French in the late Middle Ages, solidifying its dual modern meanings: the logical process of reasoning from the general to the specific, and the action of subtracting a quantity, both conceptually involving a "leading away" from a starting point.
Analysis
Structure: de (away) + duct (lead) + ion (noun suffix)
de: A Latin prefix meaning "away, down, off, from."
duct: From the Latin root ducere, meaning "to lead."
ion: A suffix of Latin origin used to form nouns indicating an action or process.
Examples
Sherlock Holmes was famous for his brilliant use of logical deduction.
Your gross salary is calculated before the deduction of taxes and insurance.
The philosopher Aristotle developed formal rules for deductive reasoning.