Abrogate - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ab·ro·gate

Audio Help [ab-ruh-geyt] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object), -gat·ed, -gat·ing.

1.	to abolish by formal or official means; annul by an authoritative act; repeal: to abrogate a law.

2.	to put aside; put an end to.

[Origin: 1520–30; < L abrogātus repealed (ptp. of abrogāre). See ab-, rogation, -ate¹

]

—Related forms

ab·ro·ga·ble

Audio Help [ab-ruh-guh-buh

l] Pronunciation Key, adjective

ab·ro·ga·tion, noun

ab·ro·ga·tive, adjective

ab·ro·ga·tor, noun

—Synonyms 1. cancel, revoke, rescind, nullify, void, invalidate.

—Antonyms 1. ratify, establish; preserve.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Abrogate

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ab·ro·gate Audio Help (āb'rə-gāt') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. ab·ro·gat·ed, ab·ro·gat·ing, ab·ro·gates
To abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority.

[Latin abrogāre, abrogāt- : ab-, away; see ab-¹ + rogāre, to ask; see reg- in Indo-European roots.]

ab'ro·ga'tion n., ab'ro·ga'tive adj., ab'ro·ga'tor n.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
abrogate (v.)

1526, from abrogate (adj.) (1460), from L. abrogatus, pp. of abrogare "to annul, repeal (a law)," from ab- "away" + rogare "propose a law, request" (see rogation).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

abrogate
verb
revoke formally

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Abrogate

A*bol"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abolished; p. pr. & vb. n. Abolishing.] [F. abolir, L. abolere, aboletum; ab + olere to grow. Cf. Finish.]

1. To do away with wholly; to annul; to make void; -- said of laws, customs, institutions, governments, etc.; as, to abolish slavery, to abolish folly.

2. To put an end to, or destroy, as a physical objects; to wipe out. [Archaic]

And with thy blood abolish so reproachful blot. --Spenser.

His quick instinctive hand Caught at the hilt, as to abolish him. --Tennyson.

Syn: To Abolish, Repeal, Abrogate, Revoke, Annul, Nullify, Cancel.

Usage: These words have in common the idea of setting aside by some overruling act. Abolish applies particularly to things of a permanent nature, such as institutions, usages, customs, etc.; as, to abolish monopolies, serfdom, slavery. Repeal describes the act by which the legislature of a state sets aside a law which it had previously enacted. Abrogate was originally applied to the repeal of a law by the Roman people; and hence, when the power of making laws was usurped by the emperors, the term was applied to their act of setting aside the laws. Thus it came to express that act by which a sovereign or an executive government sets aside laws, ordinances, regulations, treaties, conventions, etc. Revoke denotes the act of recalling some previous grant which conferred, privilege, etc.; as, to revoke a decree, to revoke a power of attorney, a promise, etc. Thus, also, we speak of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Annul is used in a more general sense, denoting simply to make void; as, to annul a contract, to annul an agreement. Nullify is an old word revived in this country, and applied to the setting of things aside either by force or by total disregard; as, to nullify an act of Congress. Cancel is to strike out or annul, by a deliberate exercise of power, something which has operative force.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Abrogate

Ab"ro*gate\, a. [L. abrogatus, p. p.] Abrogated; abolished. [Obs.] --Latimer.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day Archive - Cite This Source - Share This

abrogate

abrogate was Word of the Day on June 19, 2000.

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