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“abdicate”
abdicate (AB di kayt") (verb), abdicates; abdicated; abdicating
1. Edward VIII of England abdicated (vacated the throne) to marry a commoner.
2. He abdicated (abandoned) his responsibilities and fled.
3. To give up one's position, office, or power: "Yielding to the pressure of public opinion, the king abdicated his throne."
2. He abdicated (abandoned) his responsibilities and fled.
3. To give up one's position, office, or power: "Yielding to the pressure of public opinion, the king abdicated his throne."
"The outraged citizens forced the king to abdicate the throne."
The term abdicate came from Latin ab-, "away" + dicare, "to proclaim". So, when a king abdicates, he "proclaims away" his throne.
This entry is located in the following unit:
English Words in Action, Group A +
(page 1)
Word Entries at Word Info:
“abdicate”
abdicate (AB duh kit) (adjective)
A descriptive term for a person who has given up a right, a trust, or an office; either voluntarily or under pressure: "The abdicate congressman resigned his position after his party urged him to leave when he finally admitted presenting himself inappropriately on an internet social-networking site."
This entry is located in the following units:
a-, ab-, abs-
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-ate (to do)
(page 1)
dic-, dict-
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abdicate (AB duh kayt") (verb), abdicates; abdicated; abdicating
1. To formally renounce, which is commonly done by a monarch of a throne; to vacate a throne, to relinquish, to abandon: "Edward VIII of England abdicated the throne so he could marry a commoner."
3. To proclaim or declare to be no longer one's own, to disclaim, disown, cast off; especially, to disown or disinherit children: "Gary Brown abdicated his responsibilities as a husband and father and never returned to be with his wife and children."
4. To formally give up (a right, trust, office, or dignity); to renounce, to lay down, to surrender, to abandon; at first implying voluntary renunciation, but now including the idea of abandonment by default: "Governments, both national and local, seem to be abdicating their responsibilities to provide a good education to all of their citizens by greatly reducing the expenditures that are needed."
"A king who abdicates, renounces, or swears away his kingly privileges and duties."
2. To refuse to accept an obligation or responsibility: "When the author agreed to edit the book, she was abdicating her contract when she suddenly quit without notice."3. To proclaim or declare to be no longer one's own, to disclaim, disown, cast off; especially, to disown or disinherit children: "Gary Brown abdicated his responsibilities as a husband and father and never returned to be with his wife and children."
4. To formally give up (a right, trust, office, or dignity); to renounce, to lay down, to surrender, to abandon; at first implying voluntary renunciation, but now including the idea of abandonment by default: "Governments, both national and local, seem to be abdicating their responsibilities to provide a good education to all of their citizens by greatly reducing the expenditures that are needed."
abdicate, abrogate, arrogate, derogate, delegate, delegate, delicate
abdicate (AB duh kayt") (verb)
1. To formally renounce, which is commonly done by a monarch of a throne; vacate a throne, relinquish, abandon: "Edward VIII of England decided to abdicate the throne so he could marry a commoner."
2. To give up one's responsibilities, office, duties, or rights: "Rafael chose to abdicate his responsibilities as a father and so his family never saw him again."
2. To give up one's responsibilities, office, duties, or rights: "Rafael chose to abdicate his responsibilities as a father and so his family never saw him again."
abrogate (AB ruh gayt") (verb)
1. To abolish or to annul by authority; to nullify, to cancel: "Henry associated himself with those who believe that Congress should abrogate the current tax law."
2. Not doing that which is required of a person or a group of people: "The banking officials were accused of trying to abrogate their duties."
2. Not doing that which is required of a person or a group of people: "The banking officials were accused of trying to abrogate their duties."
arrogate (AIR uh gayt") (verb)
1. To claim, to take, to appropriate, or to assume for oneself without right; as when a person will determine certain privileges for himself: "Monroe did indeed arrogate to himself the powers of a general."
"Some U.S. Presidents have decided to arrogate the power of congress to declare war."
2. To assign or to attribute to another person without justification: "Neil accused the neighbor woman of wanting to arrogate to herself the power to punish people."derogate (DER uh gayt") (verb)
1. To take away or to detract: "Senator Johnson was warned that such a statement will derogate his reputation."
2. To say or to suggest that someone, or something, is not worthy of respect or is not important: "There were times when the man's wife would derogate him for not achieving better pay with his company."
2. To say or to suggest that someone, or something, is not worthy of respect or is not important: "There were times when the man's wife would derogate him for not achieving better pay with his company."
delegate (DEL i git); (noun)
Someone who is authorized or sent to speak and act for others; representative, as at a convention: "Every state will send a delegate to the convention."
delegate (DEL i gayt"), (verb)
To entrust (authority, power, etc.) to a person acting as one's agent or representative; entrust, assign, give over, charge, commit to the care of: "Cheryl wants to delegate her power of attorney to her nephew."
A delegate is someone who is sent with authority to represent another or others; to delegate work or authority is to transfer or to send it to another person.
delicate (DEL i kit) (adjective)
1. Pleasing in its lightness, mildness, subtlety, etc. (a delicate flavor, odor, color, etc.); fine, dainty, exquisite, elegant: "Queen Anne wore a long gown of delicate silk."
2. Easily damaged, spoiled, fragile, frail, perishable; dainty: "The plate was so delicate that Sarah was afraid to wash it."
3. Frail, feeble, debilitated, weakened; infirm, unwell, sickly, ailing: "Marie and Jamie were concerned about their little girl's delicate condition."
4. Palatable, savory, delicious, appetizing, luscious: "Debra Rogers, the hostess, presented a tray of delicate food to her guests."
5. Soft, muted, subdued: "Ted and Cheryl had the walls of their apartment painted with a delicate blue."
6. Exquisite, minute, detailed: "Clyde and Donna admired the delicate workmanship on the bronze doors."
7. Tactful, tasteful, diplomatic, careful, sensitive, refined: "Jessie Brown, the public relations manager, handled the situation in a delicate manner."
2. Easily damaged, spoiled, fragile, frail, perishable; dainty: "The plate was so delicate that Sarah was afraid to wash it."
3. Frail, feeble, debilitated, weakened; infirm, unwell, sickly, ailing: "Marie and Jamie were concerned about their little girl's delicate condition."
4. Palatable, savory, delicious, appetizing, luscious: "Debra Rogers, the hostess, presented a tray of delicate food to her guests."
5. Soft, muted, subdued: "Ted and Cheryl had the walls of their apartment painted with a delicate blue."
6. Exquisite, minute, detailed: "Clyde and Donna admired the delicate workmanship on the bronze doors."
7. Tactful, tasteful, diplomatic, careful, sensitive, refined: "Jessie Brown, the public relations manager, handled the situation in a delicate manner."
The female senator decided to abdicate her senatorial seat after she abrogated a decision that would arrogate her right to become a delegate of a congressional committee when a political opponent felt the need to derogate her because of her delicate physical condition.
This entry is located in the following units:
-ate (to do)
(page 1)
Confusing Words Clarified: Group A; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. +
(page 1)
dic-, dict-
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rog-, roga-, -rogate, -rogation, -rogatory
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