* First attested in 1541. * From Latin _abdicātus_ (“renounced”), perfect passive participle of _abdicō_ (“renounce, reject, disclaim”), formed from _ab_ (“away”) + _dicō_ (“proclaim, dedicate, declare”), akin to _dīcō_ (“say”).

* (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈæb.dɪˌkeɪt/ * (US)

ABDICATE (_third-person singular simple present_ ABDICATES, _present participle_ ABDICATING, _simple past and past participle_ ABDICATED) * (transitive, obsolete) To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit. [Attested from the mid 16th century until the early 19th century.] * (transitive, reflexive, obsolete) To formally separate oneself from or to divest oneself of. [First attested from the mid 16th century until the late 17th century.] * (transitive, obsolete) To depose. [Attested from the early 17th century until the late 18th century.] * (transitive, obsolete) To reject; to cast off; to discard. [Attested from the mid 16th century until the late 17th century.] (Can we find and add a quotation of Bishop Hall to this entry?) * (transitive) To surrender, renounce or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station, dignity; as, to _abdicate_ the throne, the crown, the papacy; to fail to fulfill responsibility for. [First attested in the mid 17th century.] _Note:_ The word _abdicate_ was held to mean, in the case of James II, to abandon without a formal surrender. * (Can we date this quote?) Edward Gibbon: The cross-bearers ABDICATED their service. * (Can we date this quote?) Edmund Burke: He ABDICATES all right to be his own governor. * (Can we date this quote?) James Anthony Froude: The understanding ABDICATES its functions. * (intransitive) To relinquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or dignity; to renounce sovereignty. [First attested in the early 18th century.] * (Can we date this quote?) Edmund Burke: Though a king may ABDICATE for his own person, he cannot ABDICATE for the monarchy. SYNONYMS * (surrender, renounce, or relinquish): give up, relinquish, renounce, quit, vacate, surrender, relent * (reject; cast off): forsake, abandon, desert, renounce, relent * (disclaim and expel from family; disown; disinherit): forsake, give up * (relinquish or renounce a high office or sovereignty): relinquish, renounce, resign, quit, give up, vacate, relent DERIVED TERMS * abdicable * abdicant * abdicator RELATED TERMS * abdication TRANSLATIONS

* abdicate in _Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary_, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

ABDICATE * second-person plural present indicative of _abdicare_ * second-person plural imperative of _abdicare_

ABDICĀTE * first-person plural present active imperative of _abdicō_