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ab·di·cate

(ăbdĭ-kāt′)

v. ab·di·cat·ed, ab·di·cat·ing, ab·di·cates

v.tr.

To relinquish (power or responsibility) formally.

v.intr.

To relinquish formally a high office or responsibility.

[Latin abdicāre, abdicāt-, to disclaim : ab-, away; see AB-¹ + dicāre, to proclaim; see deik- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

abdi·ca·ble (-kə-bəl) adj.

ab′di·cation n.

abdi·ca′tor n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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