abdicate

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: ab=di=cate

CIDE DICTIONARY

abdicate, v. t. [L. abdicatus, p. p. of abdicare; ab + dicare to proclaim, akin to dicere to say. See Diction.].

•  To surrender 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.  [1913 Webster]

  " The word abdicate was held to mean, in the case of James II., to abandon without a formal surrender."  [1913 Webster]

  "The cross-bearers abdicated their service."  [1913 Webster]
•  To renounce; to relinquish; -- said of authority, a trust, duty, right, etc.  [1913 Webster]

  "He abdicates all right to be his own governor."  [1913 Webster]

  "The understanding abdicates its functions."  [1913 Webster]
•  To reject; to cast off.  Bp. Hall.  [1913 Webster]
•  To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To give up; quit; vacate; relinquish; forsake; abandon; resign; renounce; desert.

abdicate, v. i. 

 To relinquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or dignity.  [1913 Webster]
"Though a king may abdicate for his own person, he cannot abdicate for the monarchy."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

abdicate, v.tr.
1 (usu. absol.) give up or renounce (the throne).
2 renounce (a responsibility, duty, etc.).

Derivative

abdication n. abdicator n.

Etymology

L abdicare abdicat- (as AB-, dicare declare)

THESAURUS

abdicate

abandon, abjure, acknowledge defeat, be pensioned, be superannuated, cashier, cast, cease, cede, cry quits, demit, desist from, drop, forgo, forswear, give over, give up, hand over, have done with, jettison, lay down, leave, leave off, pension off, quit, reject, relinquish, renounce, renounce the throne, resign, retire, retire from office, scrap, shed, slough, stand aside, stand down, step aside, superannuate, surrender, throw away, throw out, throw up, vacate, waive, withdraw from, wrest, yield

ROGET THESAURUS

abdicate

Laxity

VB be lax, laisser faire, laisser aller, hold a loose rein, give the reins to, give rope enough, give a loose to, tolerate, relax, misrule, go beyond the length of one's tether, have one's swing, have one's fling, act without instructions, act without authority, act outside of one's authority, act on one's own responsibility, usurp authority, dethrone, depose, abdicate.

Resignation

VB resign, give up, throw up, lay down, throw up the cards, wash one's hands of, abjure, renounce, forego, disclaim, retract, deny, abrogate, desert, get rid of, abdicate, vacate, vacate one's seat, accept the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds, retire, tender one's resignation.