Meaning
To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit.
Etymology
Origin: Middle English
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Italic *ap Latin abder. Latin ab- Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *déyḱs Proto-Italic *-diks Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -dicōbf. Latin dicō Latin abdicō Latin abdicātusbor. English abdicate First attested in 1532; borrowed from Latin abdicātus (“renounced”), perfect passive participle of abdicō (“to renounce, reject, disclaim”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), formed from ab (“away”) + dicō (“proclaim, dedicate, declare”), akin to dīcō (“to say”). Compare Middle English abdicat (“forsaken, renounced”). Compare typologically abandon, Russian отказа́ться (otkazátʹsja), отре́чься (otréčʹsja).
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles, including a pangram: