Etymology, Origin And Meaning Of Secede By Etymonline

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Origin and history of secede

secede(v.)

1702, "to leave one's companions, go apart, retire, withdraw," from Latin secedere "go away, withdraw, separate; rebel, revolt," from se- "apart" (see se-) + cedere "to go" (from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield").

The sense of "withdraw from a political or religious alliance or union" is recorded from 1755, originally especially in reference to the ministers who left the Church of Scotland about 1733 (Seceders); later, in U.S. history, to the attempt by Southern states to separate from the union (1861). Related: Seceded; seceding.

From the Latin past-participle (secessus), English once had secess "a going away, withdrawal, retirement" (1560s), and Chauliac (early 15c.) has a noun secesse "purging of the bowels."

also from 1702

Entries linking to secede

cede(v.)

1630s, "to yield, give way," from French céder or directly from Latin cedere "to yield, give place; to give up some right or property," originally "to go from, proceed, leave" (from Proto-Italic *kesd-o- "to go away, avoid," from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield").

The original sense in English is now archaic; the transitive meaning "yield or formally surrender (something) to another" is from 1754. The sense evolution in Latin is via the notion of "go away, withdraw, give ground." Related: Ceded; ceding.

Latin cedere, with prefixes attached, is the source of a great many English words: accede, concede, exceed, precede, proceed, recede, secede, etc.

secessionist(n.)

1860, first in a U.S. context, "one who takes part in or justifies the attempt by the Southern states to withdraw from the union," from secession + -ist. Colloquial short form secesh, noun and adjective, is attested from 1861. The earlier noun had been seceder (1755), but this had religious overtones, especially (with capital s-) in reference to Scottish Church history (see secede). Related: Secessionism.

• *ked-
• se-
• See All Related Words (4)

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breakupalso break-up, "a disruption, dissolution of connection, separation of a mass into parts," 1795, from verbal expression break up "separate, dissolve" (mid-15c.); see break (v.) + up (adv.). The verbal phrase was used of plowland, later of groups, assemblies, etc.; of things (alsoraptlate 14c., "carried away in an ecstatic trance," from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off" (see rape (v.)). A figurative sense, the notion is of being "carried up into Heaven" (bodily or in a dream), as in a saint's vision. The Latin literal sense of "carriepartmid-13c., "division, portion of a whole, element or constituent (of something)," from Old French part "share, portion; character; power, dominion; side, way, path," from Latin partem (nominative pars) "a part, piece, a share, a division; a party or faction; a part of the body; a trap"contrivance for catching unawares," late Old English træppe, treppe "snare, trap," from Proto-Germanic *trep- (source also of Middle Dutch trappe "trap, snare"), related to Germanic words for "stair, step, tread" (Middle Dutch, Middle Low German trappe, treppe, German Treppe "stseparateearly 15c., separaten, transitive, "remove, detach completely; divide (something), sever the connection or association of," from Latin separatus, past participle of separare "to pull apart," from se- "apart" (see secret (n.)) + parare "make ready, prepare" (from PIE root *pere- (brakemid-15c., "instrument for crushing or pounding," from Middle Dutch braeke "flax brake," from breken "to break" (see break (v.)). The word was applied to many crushing implements, especially the tool for breaking up the woody part of flax to loosen the fibers. It also was applied breakOld English brecan "to divide solid matter violently into parts or fragments; to injure, violate (a promise, etc.), destroy, curtail; to break into, rush into; to burst forth, spring out; to subdue, tame" (class IV strong verb; past tense bræc, past participle brocen), from ProtobakerOld English bæcere "baker, one who bakes (especially bread)," agent noun from bacan "to bake" (see bake (v.)). Cognate with Dutch bakker, German Bäcker, Becker. In the Middle Ages, the craft had two divisions, braun-bakeres and whit-bakeres. White bakers shall bake no hors bredesplit1580s, transitive and intransitive, "cleave or rend lengthwise, divide longitudinally," not found in Middle English, probably from a Low German source such as Middle Dutch splitten, from Proto-Germanic *spleitanan (source also of Danish and Frisian splitte, Old Frisian splita, GeawayMiddle English awei, from late Old English aweg, earlier on weg "on from this (that) place;" see a- (1) + way (n.). The meaning "from one's own or accustomed place" is from c. 1300; that of "from one state or condition to another" is from mid-14c.; that of "from one's possession

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‘cite’Page URL:https://www.etymonline.com/word/secedeCopyHTML Link:<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/secede">Etymology of secede by etymonline</a>CopyAPA Style:Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of secede. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved March 11, 2026, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/secedeCopyChicago Style:Harper Douglas, "Etymology of secede," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed March 11, 2026, https://www.etymonline.com/word/secede.CopyMLA Style:Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of secede." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/secede. Accessed 11 March, 2026.CopyIEEE Style:D. Harper. "Etymology of secede." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/secede (accessed March 11, 2026).CopyRemove AdsAdvertisement

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TrendingDictionary entries near secede

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