- Today's Word
Abrogate
AB-ruh-gayt
Definition
- (verb) To formally repeal, abolish, or do away with a law, rule, or agreement.
Example
The court’s decision abrogated the outdated policy, paving the way for new reforms.
Fun Fact
“Abrogate” comes from the Latin abrogare, meaning “to annul or repeal.” Throughout history, laws and treaties have been abrogated to reflect societal changes—sometimes for the better, sometimes leading to controversy. The word is often associated with governments and legal systems, but it can also apply to personal choices, such as abrogating old habits that no longer serve you.
(noun) A departure from what is normal, expected, or typical; an unusual occurrence or deviation.
The sudden snowstorm in late May was a striking aberration — meteorologists hadn’t seen anything like it in the region for over a century.
Aberration comes from the Latin aberrare, meaning “to wander away from,” built from ab- (“away from”) and errare (“to wander” or “to err”). It entered English in the 16th century, initially used in astronomical contexts to describe the apparent displacement of stars caused by Earth’s motion. By the 18th century it had broadened into general use, describing any significant deviation from an established norm.