Past tense of cede; gave up or surrendered something, especially territory or rights, to another person or country.
From Latin cedere meaning to go, move, or yield. The meaning evolved to specifically mean yielding territory or authority in diplomatic contexts.
When countries 'cede' territory, they're using a word that literally means 'to go away'—and that's exactly what the land does from their perspective; the word captures the idea of something departing or leaving your control.
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