Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Secede

Se′cede′

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Seceded
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Seceding
.]
[L.
secedere
,
secessum
; pref
se-
aside +
cedere
to go, move. See
Cede
.]
To withdraw from fellowship, communion, or association; to separate one’s self by a solemn act; to draw off; to retire; especially, to withdraw from a political or religious body.

Webster 1828 Edition


Secede

SECE'DE

,
Verb.
I.
[L. secedo; se, from, and cedo, to move. Se is an inseparable preposition or prefix in Latin, but denoting departure or separation.] To withdraw from fellowship, communion or association; to separate ones's self; as, certain ministers seceded from the church of Scotland about the year 1733.

Definition 2024


secede

secede

English

Verb

secede (third-person singular simple present secedes, present participle seceding, simple past and past participle seceded)

  1. (intransitive) To split from or to withdraw from membership of a political union, an alliance or an organisation.
  2. (transitive, uncommon) To split or to withdraw one or more constituent entities from membership of a political union, an alliance or an organisation.
    • 2002, Darryl E. Brock, "José Agustín Quintero: Cuban Patriot in Confederate Diplomatic Service", Cubans in the Confederacy: José Agustín Quintero, Ambrosio José Gonzales, and Loreta Janeta Velazquez, Ed. Phillip Thomas Tucker, publ. McFarland, ISBN 9780786409761, pg. 103:
      At the same time, Nolan also secretly contracted with the crafty United States Army general James Wilkinson to organize some men to secede Texas from Spanish America.

Usage notes

  • For political entities, the term secede does not apply only to federal states, but also to other kinds of political unions. It is commonly used in the case of provinces seceding from a unitary state.
  • 'Secede' implies conflict, which may amount to physical conflict in the case of seceding from a political or religious entity, but which otherwise amounts to some form of disagreement at least by those who secede.
  • 'Withdrawal from membership' in the definition does not apply to an individual person who simply terminates membership in an organisation, but to a group which withdraws from membership to carry on related activities in a separate entity.

Related terms

Translations


Latin

Verb

sēcēde

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of sēcēdō