definitions

abdicate

[ ab-di-keyt ]
/ ˈæb dɪˌkeɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR abdicate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), ab·di·cat·ed, ab·di·cat·ing.

to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, claim, responsibility, or the like, especially in a formal manner: The aging founder of the firm decided to abdicate.

verb (used with object), ab·di·cat·ed, ab·di·cat·ing.

to give up or renounce (authority, duties, an office, etc.), especially in a voluntary, public, or formal manner: King Edward VIII of England abdicated the throne in 1936.

RELATED WORDS

relinquish, vacate, forgo, renounce, quit, retire, waive, cede, drop, resign, leave, abjure, yield, withdraw, abnegate, abandon, surrender, demit, quitclaim

Nearby words

abd., abdelkader, abderhalden, abdias, abdicant, abdicate, abdication, abdom., abdomen, abdomin-, abdominal

Origin of abdicate

1535–45; < Latin abdicātus renounced (past participle of abdicāre), equivalent to ab- ab- + dicātus proclaimed (dic- (see dictum) + -ātus -ate1)

Related forms

Can be confused

abdicate abrogate arrogate derogate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for abdicate

British Dictionary definitions for abdicate

abdicate

/ (ˈæbdɪˌkeɪt) /

verb

to renounce (a throne, power, responsibility, rights, etc), esp formally

Derived Forms

abdicable (ˈæbdɪkəbəl), adjectiveabdication, nounabdicative (æbˈdɪkətɪv), adjectiveabdicator, noun

Word Origin for abdicate

C16: from the past participle of Latin abdicāre to proclaim away, disclaim
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012