recede

recede¹ to go or move back

Etymology

The verb meaning to go back is inherited from Middle English receden,^[2][3][4] borrowed from Latin recēdō (“to go back, withdraw”),^[5][2][3][4] alongside Old French receder,^[2][4][6] formed from re- (“back”) and cēdō (“to go, yield”),^[4][5][7] from Proto-Indo-European *ked- (“to go, yield”).^[4][6] The OED, Dictionary.com and the Oxford Dictionary of English name only the Latin verb,^[5][8][9] and Barnhart names Middle French receder in place of the Old French verb.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

To depart or go away: in a letter of 1450 from Christ Church, "to recede and departe frome hys presence".^[5][2] Etymonline likewise says the early 15th century,^[4] and Barnhart probably before 1425,^[3] whereas Dictionary.com gives 1470–80^[8] and the Oxford Dictionary of English the late 15th century, for departing from a usual state or standard.^[9]

Semantic evolution

The first uses, about 1450, were of leaving, drawing back, and departing from a standard or principle.^[5][2] A person could also recede from a post (1452–1791)^[5] or withdraw allegiance (1520–1838).^[5] From 1648 one could also recede from a promise or agreement, as in Johnson's "to desist", his second sense beside "to fall back; to retreat".^[5][10] From the late 17th century the verb describes how things look and not only how they move: from 1686 lying further back or sloping backwards,^[5] a sense that Etymonline dates only by 1866,^[4] especially of the chin;^[5] from 1715 being left behind by an observer's motion;^[5] from 1756 of sounds growing fainter;^[5] from 1859 of colours that seem further away than others on the same plane.^[5] A man's hair has receded since 1787,^[5] and immaterial things have faded or lessened since 1810.^[5] A rare noun, "withdrawal", is recorded from 1649.^[5]

Timeline

• 1450 – to depart, go away.^[5][2]
• c. 1450 – to go or move back; to depart from a usual state or standard.^[5]
• 1570 – of a thing, to differ increasingly from another.^[5]
• 1648 – to withdraw from an agreement or promise.^[5]
• 1649 – noun, withdrawal.^[5]
• 1686 – to lie further back, to slope backwards.^[5]
• 1756 – of a sound, to fade.^[5]
• 1787 – of hair, to stop growing at the front of the head.^[5]
• 1810 – of something immaterial, to diminish or fade.^[5]
• 1859 – of a colour, to seem more distant.^[5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To move back or away; to retreat or withdraw: The lake receded after the long drought.^[6][11][7]
2. To become or seem more distant, and fainter or less clear: Her fear receded as the day wore on.^[6][7][8]
3. To slope backwards: a receding forehead.^[6][7][12]
4. Of hair, to stop growing at the temples and above the forehead; of a man, to begin going bald in this way.^[7][5]
5. To diminish in value, amount or importance.^[6][7][5]
6. (rare) To go away; to depart.^[11][5][4]
7. To draw back from a promise, claim or position.^[7][13][5]
8. Of a colour, to seem further away than others on the same surface.^[8][5][12]
9. (archaic) To differ or vary from something.^[11][13][12]

recede² to cede back to a former possessor

Etymology

The verb meaning to give back is formed from English re- + cede,^[11][8][12] and cede is from Latin cēdō (“to yield, give up”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

To yield again to a former possessor: 1684, according to Merriam-Webster.^[11] Dictionary.com gives 1765–75^[8] and the Shorter Oxford the late 18th century.^[12]

Timeline

• 1684 – to grant or yield back to a former possessor.^[11]

Meanings

Verb

1. (transitive) To cede back; to give up something again to its former owner: The treaty receded the province to its neighbour.^{[11][14][12][7]}