subtract
v.
1530s, "withdraw, withhold, take away, deduct," a back-formation from subtraction, q.v., or else from Latin subtractus, past participle of subtrahere "take away, draw off." Related: Subtracted; subtracting. Mathematical calculation sense is from 1550s. Earlier verb form was subtraien (early 15c. in the mathematical sense), which is directly from the Latin verb.
Here he teches þe Craft how þou schalt know, whan þou hast subtrayd, wheþer þou hast wel ydo or no. ["Craft of Numbering," c.1425]
〔李〕[sub-=from under 自下；tract=to draw 拉⇒“to draw sth. from under 从下面拉低某物”→] v. take（sth.）away from a whole 去掉，减去
〔蒋〕[sub-下，tract抽;’抽下”→抽去] 减，减去，去掉
〔李〕[sub- = under, down 下；tract = to draw 拉→“to draw down a quantity把数量拉下”→] v. take away by deducting去掉；减去