English Explanatory Dictionary

abdicate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit.
  2. To formally separate oneself from or to divest oneself of.
  3. To depose.
  4. To reject; to cast off; to discard.
  5. To surrender, renounce or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station, dignity; to fail to fulfill responsibility for.
  6. To relinquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or dignity; to renounce sovereignty.

Pronunciation

/ˈæb.dɪˌkeɪt/ en-ca-abdicate.ogg

Word forms

abdicate abdicates abdicating abdicated

Etymology

First attested in 1532; borrowed from Latin abdicātus (“renounced”), perfect passive participle of abdicō (“to renounce, reject, disclaim”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), formed from ab (“away”) + dicō (“proclaim, dedicate, declare”), akin to dīcō (“to say”). Compare Middle English abdicat (“forsaken, renounced”).

Synonyms

abandon abjure cast aside cast off cede desert disinherit disown forego forsake give up quit refuse reject relent relinquish renounce repudiate resign retire stand down surrender vacate waive yield

Antonyms

claim grasp maintain occupy retain seize usurp

Derived words

abdicable abdicant abdication abdicative abdicator unabdicate
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