Abstract

Abstract, in Law, means a short statement of the contents of a document, such as the précis writing in diplomacy, but in England it is used most commonly as the technical name of the summary of the deeds and facts constituting a title to land, which every seller is bound to furnish to the purchaser, unless the contrary has been stipulated. The form of this abstract is in four columns, each appropriated to a particular class of clauses in the deed, or of facts, such as dates, death, marriage, &c. Like the Scottish progress of titles, the abstract seldom goes back more than twenty years. If there is any defect in the abstract, the purchaser must object within a certain time by making a requisition. When a deed is submitted for stamping, the commissioners generally require an abstract of it.—ABSTRACT in Arithmetic is applied to numbers considered in themselves, and without reference to any objects numbered; thus 7, 20, are abstract numbers; but 7 feet, 20 horses, are concrete numbers.