EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

recede

to move gradually back or away from a previous position

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "recede" come from? It comes from Latin recedere, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "recede" come from? It comes from Latin recedere, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Recede’s story begins in Latin: recedere meant “to go back, to withdraw.” To go back, to withdraw, from re- (back) and cedere (to go). It reached English by 1500s as recede. Settled as the English word for moving back or away gradually. Today, recede means to move gradually back or away from a previous position.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient recedere "to go back, to withdraw", to go back, to withdraw, from re- (back) and cedere (to go).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s recede "to move back or away gradually", settled as the English word for moving back or away gradually.

Browse by origin