cession
(ˈsɛʃən)
[a. F. cession, ad. L. cessiōn-em, f. cessus, pa. pple. of cēdĕre to yield.]
† 1. The action of giving way or yielding: a. to physical force or pressure. Obs.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §354 They both [Flame and Air] have quickness of Motion, and facility of Cession, much alike. 1660 Boyle New Exp. Phys.-Mech. i. 36 It is the equal pressure of the Air on all sides upon the Bodies that are in it, which causes the easie Cession of its parts. 1693 Tyrrell Law of Nat. 52 That Cession or giving place to each other, which is so necessary for the performance of their motions. |
† b. to moral force, persuasion, or temptation.
| 1607 Schol. Disc. agst. Antichr. ii. vi. 50 Certaine cessions of the godly, who yelded even to the very doing of certaine things imposed on them. 1612 Bacon Vain-glory, Ess. (Arb.) 464 Excusations, cessions, modesty it selfe well gouerned, are but arts of ostentation. |
† 2. The vacating of an office either by retirement or death; a ceasing to hold office. Obs.
| 1608 Bp. J. King Serm. S. Mary's Oxf. 5 There are two persons, Dauid and Salomon, and accordingly two partes, first the cession or decease of the one, secondly the succession and supply of the other. 1683 Brit. Spec. 65 By the Cession of many little Princes, these Petty Kingdoms were united, and greater Monarchies created. 1718 Hickes & Nelson J. Kettlewell i. ix. 31 The Fellowship..vacant by the Cession of Mr. John Radcliffe. 1738 Warburton Div. Legat. (1741) II. 408 The cession was in consequence of his [God's] own declaration to Samuel. |
b. Eccl. Law. ‘One manner of vacating or voiding an ecclesiastical benefice’; see quots.
| 1641 Termes de la Ley 50 When an Ecclesiasticall person is created Bishop, or when a Parson of a Parsonage taketh another Benefice without dispensation or otherwise not qualified..their first Benefices are.. said to become void by cession. 1809 Tomlins Law Dict., Cession, in the case of bishops does not take place till consecration. |
3. The action of ceding, or surrendering to another, rights, property or anything to which one has a title or claim; also giving up anything in compliance with a demand; concession.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 67 Cessyone, cessio. c 1600 Swinburn Spousals (1686) 179 Who..hath no direct action..without Cession, or grant first made by the Proctor. 1775 Johnson in Boswell (1831) III. 106 Not..that you had personally made any cession of the rights of your house. 1788 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 458 They will make great cessions to the people, rather than small ones to the parliament. 1848 Arnould Mar. Insur. iii. vi. (1866) II. 858 If notice of abandonment have been duly given, a deed of cession, or formal transfer, is unncessary. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. iv. 238 Notwithstanding his former cession of his rights. |
b. Civil Law. The voluntary surrender by a debtor of all his effects to his creditors. (L. cessio bonorum.)
| 1622 Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 429 The manner of Cedere bonis, or to make cession of goods, is verie hainous, and of wonderfull disgrace. 1751 Chambers Cycl. s.v., The Cession originally carried with it a mark of infamy, and obliged the person to wear a green cap or bonnet. 1768 Blackstone Comm. II. 473, I mean the law of cession, introduced by the christian emperors; whereby if a debtor ceded, or yielded up, all his fortune to his creditors, he was secured from being dragged to a gaol. |
c. The ceding, giving up, or ‘handing over’ of a portion of territory to another ruler or state. Sometimes concr. a portion of territory surrendered.
| 1678 Temple Let. Ld. Treasurer, Sept. (R.) To write..about the..cession of Maestricht. 1772 Pennant Tours Scotl. (1774) 207 Content to make a cession of the islands to Alexander III. 1803 Wellington Let. in Gurw. Disp. I. 624 The troops which are hereafter to occupy the Marhatta cessions to the southward. 1862 Ld. Brougham Brit. Const. App. iii. 432 All treaties for any cession or exchange of territory must be ratified by the Legislature. 1879 Lubbock Addr. Pol. & Educ. i. 9 We reluctantly consented to accept the cession of the Fiji Islands. |
¶ Misused for cessation.
| c 1800 K. White Rem. (1837) 407 A golden age and its cession. |