To leave a place or position; to empty or give up occupancy of something.
From Latin 'vacare' (to be empty, be free), which also gives us 'vacant' and 'vacation.' It's been used in English legal contexts since the 1600s.
Latin 'vacare' (to be empty) is related to 'vacate,' 'vacation,' 'vacant,' and 'vacuum'—one root word has spawned a whole family about emptiness and freedom, and we've given them slightly different jobs.
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