ab-

1. a formal element occurring in loanwords from Latin, where it meant “away from”: abdicate; abolition.

prefix

1. away from; off; outside of; opposite toabnormal; abaxial; aboral

prefix

1. denoting a cgs unit of measurement in the electromagnetic systemabvolt

word-forming element meaning “away, from, from off, down;” from Latin ab-, ab “off, away from,” from PIE root *apo- (see apo-). Reduced to a- before -m-, -p-, or -v-; sometimes abs- before -c- or -t-.