v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Subtracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Subtracting. ] [ L. subtractus, p. p. of subtrahere to draw from beneath, withdraw, remove; sub under + trahere to draw. See Trace, v. t., and cf. Substract. ] To withdraw, or take away, as a part from the whole; to deduct; as, subtract 5 from 9, and the remainder is 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who subtracts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The subtrahend. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. subtractio a drawing back. See Subtract, and cf. Substraction. ] 1. The act or operation of subtracting or taking away a part. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) The taking of a lesser number or quantity from a greater of the same kind or denomination; an operation for finding the difference between two numbers or quantities. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) The withdrawing or withholding from a person of some right to which he is entitled by law. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Thus the subtraction of conjugal rights is when either the husband or wife withdraws from the other and lives separate without sufficient reason. The subtraction of a legacy is the withholding or detailing of it from the legatee by the executor. In like manner, the withholding of any service, rent, duty, or custom, is a subtraction, for which the law gives a remedy. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Tending, or having power, to subtract. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) Having the negative sign, or sign minus. [ 1913 Webster ]