1 retrocede | Definition of retrocede
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retrocede

verb
ret·​ro·​cede | \ ˌre-trō-ˈsēd How to pronounce retrocede (audio) \
retroceded; retroceding

Definition of retrocede

intransitive verb

: to go back : recede

transitive verb

[ French rétrocéder, from Medieval Latin retrocedere, from Latin retro- + cedere to cede ] : to cede back retrocede a territory
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Other Words from retrocede

retrocession \ ˌre-​trō-​ˈse-​shən How to pronounce retrocession (audio) \ noun

Did You Know?

Retrocede was formed by combining the prefix retro-, meaning "back" or "backward," with the Latin verb cedere, meaning "to go." It was borrowed into English in the mid-17th century with a very similar meaning. "Retrocede" has a bit of a twist, however, because "cedere" can also mean "cede" ("to yield or assign"); the "cede back" meaning of "retrocede" traces back through French and Medieval Latin to this other meaning of "cedere." Other descendants of "cedere" include "accede," "concede," "intercede," "precede," "recede," "secede," and even "cede" itself.

First Known Use of retrocede

1638, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

History and Etymology for retrocede

Latin retrocedere, from retro- + cedere to go, cede

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Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with retrocede

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