Final answer:
The prefix 'ab-' typically means 'away from', indicating separation or departure in words where it is used.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prefix "ab-" generally means "away from". It is used in various English words to indicate a sense of separation or a departure from a particular state or location. For example, the word abduct means to take someone away from where they were, or absent means away from a place, typically one's usual environment.