To give up control of something, especially land or territory, usually unwillingly or as part of a treaty.
From Latin 'cedere,' meaning to go, move, or yield. The word came into English from Old French 'ceder.' Originally meant to walk or go, but evolved to mean to surrender or grant something to someone else.
When countries cede territory in treaties, they're using a word that literally means 'to go' in Latin—because the idea is that you're allowing control to move or 'go' from you to another power!
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