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abdicate (v.)
1540s, "to disown, disinherit (children)," from Latin abdicatus, past participle of abdicare "to disown, disavow, reject" (specifically abdicare magistratu "renounce office"), literally "proclaim as not belonging to one," from ab "off, away from" (see ab-) + dicare "proclaim" (from PIE root *deik- "to show," also "pronounce solemnly," and see diction). Meaning "divest oneself of office, privilege, etc., before the term expires" first recorded 1610s in English (it was in classical Latin). Related: Abdicated; abdicating.

updated on October 13, 2021
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Definitions of abdicate from WordNet
Dictionary entries near abdicate
abbreviate
abbreviation
ABC
Abd
Abderian
abdicate
abdication
abdomen
abdominal
abdominals
abduce