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abdicate

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The definition of abdicate means to formally and/or publicly give up a position of power or a responsibility, usually by choice.

(verb)

An example of abdicate is a king choosing to no longer be king.

See abdicate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb, intransitive verb abdicated, abdicating

to give up formally (a high office, throne, authority, etc.)
to surrender or repudiate (a right, responsibility, etc.)

Origin: < L abdicatus, pp. of abdicare, to deny, renounce < ab-, off + dicare, to proclaim, akin to dicere, to say: see diction

Related Forms:

abdication noun
abdicator noun

See abdicate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb ab·di·cat·ed, ab·di·cat·ing, ab·di·cates

verb, transitive

To relinquish (power or responsibility) formally.

verb, intransitive

To relinquish formally a high office or responsibility.

Origin:

Origin: Latin abdicāre, abdicāt-, to disclaim

Origin: : ab-, away; see ab-¹

Origin: + dicāre, to proclaim; see deik- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

abˈdi·ca·ble (-kə-bəl) adjective

abˌdi·caˈtion noun

abˈdi·caˌtor noun

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