withdraw

Pronunciation

• IPA: /wɪðˈdɹɔː/, /wɪθˈdɹɔː/ (UK); /wɪðˈdɹɔ/, /wɪθˈdɹɔ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English withdrawen, from with in its old sense away, and drawen, to draw (see draw),^[2][3][4][5] probably influenced by, if not a loan translation of, Latin retrahere, to retract;^[2][3] compare German zurückziehen.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

To take back or draw away: probably before 1200, in the Ancrene Riwle;^[2] the early 13th century in Etymonline, before 1225 in the OED.^[3][6]

Semantic evolution

The intransitive sense, to retire, go away, is from the mid-13th century,^[3] and to remove a thing from its place from about 1250.^[6] To remove oneself is recorded from about 1300.^[3] To take money out of a bank or other deposit is by 1776.^[3][6] To withdraw from social or emotional involvement and to stop taking an addictive drug are later senses.^[7] Withdrawal is from 1824, and its sense of discontinuing an addictive drug is first recorded in 1897.^[2] A withdrawing-room, to which one withdraws, is from the 16th century and gave drawing room.^[8]

Timeline

• before 1225 – to take back.^[6]
• mid-13th century – to retire.^[3]
• c. 1300 – to remove oneself.^[3]
• 16th century – withdrawing-room.^[8]
• 1776 – to withdraw money.^[6]
• 1824 – withdrawal.^[2]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To take back or away; to remove.
2. To take money out of an account.
3. To retract or recall a statement, offer or promise.
4. To move back or retreat, as troops do.
5. To stop taking part in something.
6. To become detached from social or emotional involvement.

Word family

• withdrawable
• withdrawer
• withdrawingness
• withdrawal
• withdrawn
• withdrawing room

Related words

• withhold
• withstand
• draw
• retract

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
8. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press