secede

Where does the word "secede" come from? It comes from Latin secedere, and was adopted directly into English (1702).

Secede’s story begins in Latin: secedere meant “to withdraw, to go apart.” To withdraw, to go apart, from se- (apart) and cedere (to go). It reached English by 1702 as secede. Settled as the English word for formally withdrawing from an organization or union. Today, secede means to formally withdraw from a political union, organization, or alliance.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient secedere "to withdraw, to go apart", to withdraw, to go apart, from se- (apart) and cedere (to go).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1702 secede "to formally withdraw from an organization or union", settled as the English word for formally withdrawing from an organization or union.