abdicate

verb6

1. •
   To surrender, renounce or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station, dignity; to fail to fulfill responsibility for.

   • Note: The word abdicate was held to mean, in the case of James II, to abandon without a formal surrender.
2. •
   To relinquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or dignity; to renounce sovereignty.

   • Though a king may abdicate for his own person, he cannot abdicate for the monarchy. — 1790
3. •
   [with oneself] (no longer used) To formally separate oneself from or to divest oneself of.
4. •
   (no longer used) To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit.
5. •
   (no longer used) To reject; to cast off; to discard.
6. •
   (no longer used) To depose.