Word of the Day - 11/01/25
abrogate
/'æbrə,ɡeɪt/(v.): revoke formally
Whenever January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, or August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption, or November 1, the solemnity of All Saints, falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated. -Canon 1246, §2
(v.): to fail to do what is required
The board is abrogating its responsibilities to its shareholders.
Word Origin
The word 'abrogate' originates from the Latin verb 'abrogare', meaning 'to repeal' or 'to annul'. It is formed from the prefix 'ab-', meaning 'away' or 'from', combined with 'rogare', which means 'to propose a law' or 'to ask'. Therefore, 'abrogare' literally conveys the sense of 'to take away by proposing' or 'to repeal a law'.
Words with a similar origin, sharing the Latin root 'rogare' (to ask, to propose a law), include 'interrogate' (to question someone, literally 'to ask between'), 'derogatory' (showing a disrespectful attitude, literally 'to ask away from' or 'to repeal a good opinion'), 'prorogue' (to discontinue a session, literally 'to ask forth'), and 'arrogant' (having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance, literally 'to ask for oneself').