What is "spiriting away"

Spirit \Spir"it\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spirited; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiriting.]

1. To animate with vigor; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit; as, civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men; -- sometimes followed by up.

   Many officers and private men spirit up and assist those obstinate people to continue in their rebellion.
   --Swift.

2. To convey rapidly and secretly, or mysteriously, as if by the agency of a spirit; to kidnap; -- often with away, or off.

   The ministry had him spirited away, and carried abroad as a dangerous person.
   --Arbuthnot & Pope.

   I felt as if I had been spirited into some castle of antiquity.
   --Willis.

   Spiriting away (Law), causing to leave; the offense of inducing a witness to leave a jurisdiction so as to evade process requiring attendance at trial.

vb. (present participle of spirit away English)