adducere

Adducere is a Latin verb meaning to bring toward, lead to, or bring forward. In classical Latin it is used in a range of senses, including physically leading someone or something toward a place, bringing forward arguments or evidence, and inducing or causing effects. In English, the related verb adduce is most commonly used in formal or legal contexts to mean to cite or present as evidence or as an argument.

Etymology and forms: adducere comes from the prefix ad- meaning toward and the verb ducere meaning to lead. It belongs to the third conjugation. Its principal parts are adducō, adducere, adduxī, adductum. The participle is adductus, and the passive participle adductus or adducta. Latin verbal forms include adducit (he leads/produces), adduxit (he led, he brought), and adducam (I will lead/cite), among others.

English usage and significance: In English, adduce functions as a formal verb meaning to present or cite reasons, evidence, or examples. It is common in scholarly, legal, and rhetorical writing. For example, one might adduce several arguments or adduce a piece of testimony to support a claim. Related noun forms include adduction (the act of adducing or bringing forward) and, in anatomy, adduction, a movement toward the midline of the body. The term adducible is rarely used, while adduction is generally understood in specialized senses.

See also: adduction, adducent (rare), ducere (root verb), adducō’s principal parts.