Etymology Map
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Abdicate

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to give up a throne

Where does the word "abdicate" come from? It comes from Latin abdicare, adopted directly into English (1540s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
abdicare
Latin · ancient
"to disown"
'ab-', away, plus 'dicare', to proclaim
2
Stage 2 of 2
abdicate
English · 1540s
"to disown"
Edward VIII's abdication in 1936 made it famous; it was first recorded in 1532 in the writing of the schoolmaster Leonard Cox, taken straight from Latin
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Abdicate’s story begins in Latin: abdicare meant “to disown.” 'ab-', away, plus 'dicare', to proclaim. It reached English by 1540s as abdicate. Edward VIII's abdication in 1936 made it famous; it was first recorded in 1532 in the writing of the schoolmaster Leonard Cox, taken straight from Latin. Today, abdicate means to give up a throne.